What Are you Reading? Showing 1,751-1,800 of 16,523

[Charming]

K.J. wrote: "The thing I hated most about the Harry Potter epilogue was... well, hands up who wishes they were married to their first crush right now? Ginny Weasley had literally no life whatsoever. Develops cr..."

In Ginny's defense, she did have other boyfriends.

But, yeah, the epilogue was sucky.

[Karen]

Josh wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Josh wrote: "Maybe in the book of the month club we should sometime do the Rifter series? Because I love it so much. "

How I about we do it for December? Rifter, Christmas Coda an..."

I love this idea, especially since it's a great incentive for me to get back to it. And I already have the full ebook set and the first two print books, so I'll order the third and be on board!

[Karen]

I read Harry Potter along with my younger daughter (now 24). She grew up with the characters, graduated high school the same year the series ended. My older daughter had no interest until she and a cousin read the first book in French. : ) The books matter to me because of how we read them, from reading aloud to each other, to reading separately after the midnight sales' events with a living room full of their friends and cousins. We agreed that the epilogue was awful. Watching it was almost more awful. Anyway, we've enjoyed lots of discussions about the author's and filmmakers' choice over the years.

I've got on pre-order and I'm reading .

[K.J.]

Charming wrote: "In Ginny's defense, she did have other boyfriends."

You're doubtless right, I was skimming by the last couple of books.

I'm in a massive book slump. I'm 3 for 3 on anticipated books that I have taken zero enjoyment from. I need to jazz myself up before The Ace Of Skulls comes out because I really don't want to ruin that for myself by being grumpy. Anyone got a sure thing for a book slump?

[ttg]

K.J. wrote: "Charming wrote: "In Ginny's defense, she did have other boyfriends."

You're doubtless right, I was skimming by the last couple of books.

I'm in a massive book slump. I'm 3 for 3 on anticipated b..."

I would recommend your excessively enjoyable book (which I just finished last week), but I don't know if that will help you. :)

I just finished fellow fanyon Lou Harper's Dead in the Desert, very enjoyable sequel to Dead in L.A.. Very fun reads for those who like mysteries.

Besides the wonderful The Magpie Lord, I also finished recently the free online dystopian m/m novel Esperanza. I thought it was well done and creative, albeit a little grim for me. (Not a grim ending though--no worries there.) I had never read Eve Ocotillo before, and I was very impressed with her writing. (I'm kind of shocked that book is still free online.)

I can't remember if I already recc-ed the free LHNB stories The Lion and the Crow (medieval historical m/m) or the The Lodestar of Ys (high fantasy m/m). Both were great reads.

[Sara]

I've just finished which I enjoyed very much. It's a mystery/thriller told solely from Freeman's POV who keeps the reader in the dark as much as he does others in the book. He's come back to London for a job and that's unsettling to his ex-wife, ex-lover and ex-business partner. I like Clare's writing -- she kept me hooked all through the story and while (view spoiler)[it's not a HEA, the HFN was more realistic and I felt confident they could have a life together. Ok, that's enough sappiness (hide spoiler)].

[K.J.]

ttg wrote: "I would recommend your excessively enjoyable book (which I just finished last week), but I don't know if that will help you. :)"

That's no good, I already know what happens. :(

(Thanks, really glad you liked it!)

Those look like good recs, thanks! Will load up the Kindle and hopefully bootstrap out of this slump. There's loads of things I want to read, I just can't seem to get my head in the right place at the moment. Onset of winter and dark days, or something.

[Ame]

Oh, dear. I kind of liked the HP epilogue.....:s Not as good as the books and I think she did it more for her own (selfish?) reasons (leaving people in a good place) than for the fans because I think it was really hard for her to let go of the characters. But it was okay..... didn't want to make me rip up the books and put them on fire....;)

[Antonella]

ttg wrote: "I also finished recently the free online dystopian m/m novel Esperanza. I thought it was well done and creative, albeit a little grim for me. (Not a grim ending though--no worries there.) I had never read Eve Ocotillo before, and I was very impressed with her writing. (I'm kind of shocked that book is still free online.)"

Eve was here on the thread for a while.

I warmly recommend her
, also free online.

[Josh]

Susinok wrote: "Calathea wrote: "I'm going to buy and read Fall Hard by JL Merrow tomorrow. It will be my reward for the work-related stress I have to survive tomorrow. :)"

Mine is pre-ordered. Can't wait!

(Almo..."

Whale you air from Oklahoma, ain't ye?

[Josh]

Becky wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Becky wrote: "Right now I'm reading The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles. I keep seeing people raving about it. Only 15% into it so far, but it's a great start! I think I'm going to real..."

Yes! this is my problem with everyone in M/M using the same narrators. Ack.

[Josh]

KC wrote: "This week i'm reading Whitley Gray's suspense/mystery High Concept, which i find intriguing, and also Sara Gran's mystery Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead which i'm really enjoying. Next, i'l..."

I love Sara Gran.

[Josh]

Charming wrote: "K.J. wrote: "The thing I hated most about the Harry Potter epilogue was... well, hands up who wishes they were married to their first crush right now? Ginny Weasley had literally no life whatsoever..."

I didn't get the Ginny thing. She seemed so utterly secondary all the time.

I guess that was the point.

[Josh]

ttg wrote: "K.J. wrote: "Charming wrote: "In Ginny's defense, she did have other boyfriends."

You're doubtless right, I was skimming by the last couple of books.

I'm in a massive book slump. I'm 3 for 3 on ..."

I'm so glad Oco finally released it. In fact, she wrote me a week or so ago and didn't even mention it!

[Josh]

Na wrote: "I consider all epilogue as the Extended HEA. I view it more as a optional chapter to satisfy our reader unconscious feeling to have an HEA for every stories. I always imagine there were a wishful d..."

I struggle with the epilogue concept. I struggle with the ohmygodthisissosappy concept. But then reading Rifter has been a very good reminder to me that -- assuming you're halfway competent -- it's not overload to the reader. The reader can't get enough of this payoff. Given how hard they've had to work to get here...

[Josh]

K.J. wrote: "Charming wrote: "In Ginny's defense, she did have other boyfriends."

You're doubtless right, I was skimming by the last couple of books.

I'm in a massive book slump. I'm 3 for 3 on anticipated b..."

Read in a COMPLETELY other genre. In fact, abandon fiction and go to non-fiction. I've been there a million times.

[K.J.]

Josh wrote: "Read in a COMPLETELY other genre. In fact, abandon fiction and go to non-fiction. I've been there a million times. "

You may be right. I've just boughtAgamemnon Frost and the Hollow Ships because I loved book 1, but if that doesn't float my boat in the first chapter, I'll get back to the gigantic history of the Plantagenets that I abandoned halfway through Edward I. There's a threat.

[Lady*M]

I'm reading Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb, the only M/F I'm still reading, mainly because the police procedural/mystery is always solid and I like quirky characters. And I like Eve and Roarke.

[Susinok]

Josh wrote: "Whale you air from Oklahoma, ain't ye? ..."

Oklahoma is where I LIVE, it's not where I'm FROM!!!

But the accent has rubbed off a bit. That was an honest typo, but made me laugh.

[Valerie]

Lady*M wrote: "I'm reading Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb, the only M/F I'm still reading, mainly because the police procedural/mystery is always solid and I like quirky characters. And I like Eve and Roarke."

You've made it further than me in that series. For some reason I am stalled at New York to Dallas. I don't know why I can't get through that book.

[Lady*M]

Valerie wrote: "You've made it further than me in that series. For some reason I am stalled at New York to Dallas. I don't know why I can't get through that book.

Well, it's not an easy one to read if you were ever invested in the characters. Plus, since most of it is in Dallas, the secondary characters we love so much barely have any page time.

[Susinok]

K.J. wrote: "You may be right. I've just boughtAgamemnon Frost and the Hollow Ships because I loved book 1, but if that doesn't float my boat in the first chapter, I'll get back to the gigantic history of the Plantagenets that I abandoned halfway through Edward I. There's a threat. ..."

Threat? or treat? Sounds like a fun history to me.

[Valerie]

Lady*M wrote: "Valerie wrote: "You've made it further than me in that series. For some reason I am stalled at New York to Dallas. I don't know why I can't get through that book.

Well, it's not an easy one to re..."

Yes, I think it is probably a combination of that and the fact that I listened to most of the series one after another so have reached saturation point. I seem to have this problem with most long series.

[K.J.]

Susinok wrote: "Threat? or treat? Sounds like a fun history to me. "

Kind of both, it is huge. The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England About 680pp. Very good, but Edward I has worn me out and there's the utterly miserable Edward II to come next. I recently read the magnificent She Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth, which has a huge section on Edward II's queen Isabella, and I'm not sure I can take that ghastly story again. (Especially as I've tickets coming up for Marlowe's Edward II at the National Theatre...)

[J.P.]

K.J. wrote: "Susinok wrote: "Threat? or treat? Sounds like a fun history to me. "

Kind of both, it is huge. The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England About 680pp. Very good, but Edward I ..."

Sounds wonderful! Does anyone know if there's been m/m fiction set in Plantagenet England? I mean, there's Richard and others...

[K.J.]

JP wrote: "Sounds wonderful! Does anyone know if there's been m/m fiction set in Plantagenet England? I mean, there's Richard and others... "

I regret to say that according to the Dan Jones book, Richard almost certainly wasn't gay and the stuff about him sharing a bed with the French king has been wrongly interpreted. Which doesn't stop me suddenly wanting to seek out Richard/Saladin fanfiction.

[J.P.]

K.J. wrote: "JP wrote: "Sounds wonderful! Does anyone know if there's been m/m fiction set in Plantagenet England? I mean, there's Richard and others... "

I regret to say that according to the Dan Jones book, ..."

Bah, historians frequently miss the mark. Trust me. ;) Oh, Richard/Saladin is a potential goldmine. Let us know if you find something worthwhile.

[Susinok]

K.J. wrote: "I recently read the magnificent She Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth, which has a huge section on Edward II's queen Isabella, and I'm not sure I can take that ghastly story again. (Especially as I've tickets coming up for Marlowe's Edward II at the National Theatre...) .."

I'm glad you liked She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth! I have that book. I'm still with Matilda though, so I haven't gotten too far yet.

[Susinok]

I am reading Fall Hard newly out by JL Merrow. I'm tickled about Paul's area of study. I have read Egil's Saga so I get the references.

[Calathea]

Susinok wrote: "I am reading Fall Hard newly out by JL Merrow."

I started reading yesterday but fell asleep after the first few pages. Which has nothing to do with the story and everything with the long day I had. I can't wait to get back home and go on reading. :)

[Josh]

I sneaked in a few pages of last night, knowing I couldn't officially start yet as I've promised to read some other things first. But I really enjoyed the start of it -- very intriguing. Looking forward to when I can really sit down and read.

[Ame]

Susinok wrote: "I am reading Fall Hard newly out by JL Merrow. I'm tickled about Paul's area of study. I have read Egil's Saga so I get the references."

Oh, wow... I have to read this one. Not only because of the location but I love the old Icelandic saga's. This era of history is so fascinating to me, this is the golden age, after 1400 the country went into isolation, a download spiral where life really was rather gloom, deceases, poverty, all kind of natures disasters and art or any kind of enjoying life was repressed.

[Susinok]

Ame wrote: "Oh, wow... I have to read this one. Not only because of the location but I love the old Icelandic saga's. This era of history is so fascinating to me, this is the golden age, after 1400 the country went into isolation, a download spiral where life really was rather gloom, deceases, poverty, all kind of natures disasters and art or any kind of enjoying life was repressed. ..."

Cool! I can't tell you how many books on Scandinavian history and literature from that era are on my shelves. I have a LOT! I've read Egil's Saga and Njal's Saga (twice!) and one or two more.

Then Beowulf a few times too.

[Bluesimplicity]

Josh wrote: "I sneaked in a few pages of last night, knowing I couldn't officially start yet as I've promised to read some other things first. But I really enjoyed the start..."

I know I'm late to the party on this one, but Josh, you were asking for books like the Rifter (was it on this thread or another?) a few days ago. I would recommend anything by Carole Cummings. She a FABULOUS author, and her work is complex and completely immersive and well as fantasy/spec fiction. You might want to give her a try. I highly recommend

Guardian or Ghost. They're multi book series, but I can't say enough about them.

[Ame]

Susinok wrote: "Ame wrote: "Oh, wow... I have to read this one. Not only because of the location but I love the old Icelandic saga's. This era of history is so fascinating to me, this is the golden age, after 1400..."

Me too!!

My grandfather and my great grandfather were total history nerds and very much into preserving old things/times. Plus I grew up in a place where one of those old stories took place so maybe there's no wonder I have this as a hobby. My most favorite thing is to bring our history alive to children.... because this is so much fun and so interesting if served right to kids it can lighten their enthusiasm throughout life.

[Susinok]

Ame wrote: "My most favorite thing is to bring our history alive to children.... because this is so much fun and so interesting if served right to kids it can lighten their enthusiasm throughout life. ..."

History is a great favorite of mine. I especially love pre-history and studying how the cultures lived their lives. I was so envious of a friend of mine who actually got an archaeology degree. It wasn't available at the college I went to.

[Becky]

I didn't major in archaeology, but I was able to take an archaeology class to fulfill a requirement. I don't remember much about the subject, but I remember the professor. He'd been through a pretty acrimonious divorce, and he told us about how he taught his wife's beloved dogs (I don't remember the breed, but they were big dogs, whatever they were) to walk on their hind legs because they looked goofy doing it and it drove her crazy. And I remember him talking about excavating under a whore house where they found a pit filled with glass bottles (it was in operation during prohibition, and they couldn't just put all that glass out with the rest of the trash) and a giant dildo. Apparently nothing sticks with college students like goofy dogs, booze, and dildos.

[Josh]

Bluesimplicity wrote: "Josh wrote: "I sneaked in a few pages of last night, knowing I couldn't officially start yet as I've promised to read some other things first. But I really enjo..."

Okay! I'll make a note. The author is not familiar to me.

[HJ]

I've just finished Fall Hard byJ.L. Merrow. I really enjoyed it - it is set in Iceland (somewhere I want to visit) and involves amnesia. The main character cannot remember the time he spent in Iceland which culminated in a fall which injured him and killed his lover - whom he can't remember either. He goes back to Iceland and slowly pieces things together. It's excellent - I do admire Jamie Merrow's ability to write books which are so very different from each other - Muscling Through and Pressure Head come to mind immediately - and yet which are all very good. The characters are all very distinct (again, something not everyone manages). I liked the mystery element in this one, too.

I recommend it!

[Anne]

Hj wrote: "I've just finished Fall Hard byJ.L. Merrow. I really enjoyed it - it is set in Iceland (somewhere I want to visit) and involves amnesia. The main character cannot remember the time he spent in Ic..."

I just finished it too, and second the recommendation! Very well written, good mystery and Iceland really comes alive in the book. And Viggo, so adorable :)

[Calathea]

Hm, I liked it but didn't love it. Iceland was great, Viggo... oh, well. He was marketed as a Viking (and look at the cover *yummy*) but where he should have been a tiger he came across (to me) as a kitty cat.

[HJ]

I didn't think the cover was really accurate - I think he was bigger than that (and I certainly thought his beard was bigger). But it's a nice cover which isn't too far from the character.

I really liked Viggo; I liked the fact that he wasn't stereotypical and that we slowly discover just how careful he is being with Paul and his amnesia. (Trying to avoid spoilers here!)

[Calathea]

Hj wrote: "I really liked Viggo; I liked the fact that he wasn't stereotypical and that we slowly discover just how careful he is being with Paul and his amnesia."

You're right, of course. I was probably just not in the mood for careful Vikings. ;-)

[Anne]

Calathea wrote: "Hm, I liked it but didn't love it. Iceland was great, Viggo... oh, well. He was marketed as a Viking (and look at the cover *yummy*) but where he should have been a tiger he came across (to me) as ..."

Nothing wrong with a Viking kitty ;)

[HJ]

The author almost made me like large tattoos - she must be good!

[Calathea]

Anne wrote: "Nothing wrong with a Viking kitty ;) "

or

[Anne]

Hj wrote: "The author almost made me like large tattoos - she must be good!"

I would love to see the Yggdrasil tattoo!

[Ame]

Ok.... that's it!

1clicking and reading it tonight!!

[Becky]

I'm reading Fall Hard now. JL is part of a fairly small group of autobuy authors for me. I don't even care what the book is about. I know it will be good, so I grab it.

[Susinok]

I started The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles. I love it so far. I opened it in order to see what it was about and the story sucked me right in. I love when that happens.