What are you reading? (Reboot 2.0)

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Oh, so hard to have an unlikable character.

[R.A.]

It is, and yet I don't want to stop reading. She's actively unlikable, not just blah, if that makes sense, and so she's still interesting. I just want to smack her, that's all.

[Carrie]

I have 3 books started:
The Rule of Three
Forged in Fire and
Dune

I have a good feeling about all three books.

[John]

The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams

[R.A.]

I finished my last book and moved on to book 2, Lightning Strikes Twice. Oddly, I can't find it on goodreads. I'm a little concerned that it's turning into 'a kissing book', but it's still a cool story so far.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Heh. "Kissing book." ;)

[R.A.]

I imagine that everyone over the age of 30 got that reference, lol. Totally off topic, our local theater is playing 'The Princess Bride' a couple days next month, and I'm desperate to see it there. I already have things going on both days, but somehow I'll fit it in. More on topic, I think I should read the book again. It's been a while...

[Soo]

I finally finished Sorcerer to the Crown! It was worth the work to finish it. I'm glad I felt obligated or I would have given it a pass by chapter three. The good bits were so good that I gave it 4 stars.

Listening to Dark Matter, about 1/3 into it and really enjoying the suspenseful elements. I'm hoping it will end well. I can't stand it when a story starts off promising and ends up rather cheesy.

I'm joining the masses and starting Slaughterhouse-Five.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I'm re-reading Six Wakes which isn't fantasy, but is good sci-fi.

[Sumant]

Here is my review for Theft of Swords

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

You know, I never did finish that book. It just felt too... traditional fantasy, I guess.

[Scott]

I recently reread American Gods. Great book.

This morning, I finished John Dies at the End.

Now, I'm going to reread The Gunslinger.

[R.A.]

I don't remember the names of the books I've read recently or even the one I'm reading now... Reading on a kindle makes me lazy, I guess. But I recently listened to World War Z, and now I'm listening to the Artemis Fowl books. I know Artemis is for young people, but I still enjoy listening and my son can listen with me. The reader does such wonderful accents!

[Scott]

I recently read:
The Gunslinger (3rd time)
Needful Things and
Gwendy's Button Box

Now I'm reading The Girl in the Maze. OK so far, just a little confusing with time jumping.

[James]

Currently reading Two Serpents Rise and The Vagrant.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I love Max Gladstone, James! You enjoying it?

[R.A.]

I recently finished 'The Palace Job' and now I'm reading 'The Prophecy Con' by Patrick Weekes. It's not the deep, epic type of fantasy, it's more like 'Ocean's Eleven' set in a fantasy world. Sometimes I'm really in the mood for this kind of story.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I thought The Palace Job was a fun book as well. I got tired at the second though. I agree, there are times when you just want a fun caper. Hope you enjoy!

[Donna]

I am now in the mood for ghost stories. Anyone got a good one to recommend?

[Emily]

Heart-Shaped Box was scary-Joe Hill
It scared me, anyway.

[Emily]

Anna Dressed in Blood, if you read YA. I really liked that one. Kendare Blake

[Donna]

I haven't read Heart-Shaped Box, though it was on my to-read list a couple years ago. And I read YA quite often if a book looks interesting, so thanks for both recommendations!

As a point of curiosity, how do people differentiate between a ghost story and a horror story (if you acknowledge that it's possible for a "ghost story" to be a little broader than a story with a ghost in it?

[Emily]

Interesting you should ask that. I was just at a library conference, and I went to a presentation on horror. The presenter considered ghost stories a sub-genre of horror, and I guess I would too. There are lots of variations of ghost stories out there too. I probably should have asked you if you wanted to be scared or not, because I don’t think a ghost story has to be scary. Some I find more sad than scary, and if I searched through my books read list, I’d probably find humorous ghost stories there too. In general, I love the combination of horror and humor. The other question I didn’t ask is if you want short stories specifically. Marvin Kaye has edited some great ghost story collections. Roald Dahl edited a ghost story collection with all women writers. I can’t remember if I read all of them.
Now I’m rambling. 🙂
Hope whatever you land on is a winner. I’ve been in a bit of a slump with novels lately.

[Scott]

I recently read The Girl in the Maze, Wonderland, Monster Hunter Nemesis, and Gerald's Game.

Now I'm reading The Fireman.

[Donna]

I've been reading Bujold's Penric series, and just finished The Prisoner of Limnos. I've liked all the stories. This one, perhaps, a bit less than the others. For some reason, stories about do-I-want-this-guy-or-not (the Hesitant Heroine) tend to annoy me, or at least not engage me fully when the question endures all the way to the end. I think I'd rather have the heroine decide sooner and then have other difficulties to overcome. I think that's rather how Pride and Prejudice does it.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Oh, agree on the Hesitant Heroine. That's a great way to put it.

[Haydensdad]

Cleaning up my house came across The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom and decided to see what my late wife was reading.

[R.A.]

I recently finished Cry of the Sea and Beauty and the Beast . I especially enjoyed the first, but both were good reads. Now I just started A Murder of Crones. I read the first book a long time ago and enjoyed it, so here's hoping the second was worth paying for, lol.

[R.A.]

Donna wrote: "I've been reading Bujold's Penric series, and just finished The Prisoner of Limnos. I've liked all the stories. This one, perhaps, a bit less than the others. For some reason, stories about do-I-wa..."
I agree. If you're not REALLY sure he's the one, he's not the one.

[Scott]

I finished The Fireman, You, and The Forever War so far this year.

Now, I'm reading Sleeping Giants.

[Scott]

I finished Sleeping Giants. It was very good.

This morning I started Boy's Life. I have heard great things about this one.

[Scott]

I finished Boy's Life. Fantastic book!

Now I'm reading The Chalk Man.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I really enjoyed Boy's Life as well. My favorite of what I've read by McCammon.

[Sjgomzi]

I just finished Mine by Robert McCammon, and it was fantastic!

[R.A.]

I'm about 1/4 of the way through Oathbringer. I've been waiting a while to get it, and kind of wish I could put life on hold so I could binge it. Sometimes being an adult stinks.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I hear you. Adulting is often very inconvenient :)

[R.A.]

Carol. wrote: "I hear you. Adulting is often very inconvenient :)"
Yes! When I was a teen I might stay up until 2am or later reading, then fuzzed through the day, reading every time I got a moment. Which was a lot because I didn't have that much to do most of the time. Now days, I rarely stay awake after 9:30.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I was just reading an article that said kids these days were sneaking time to play this particularly hot game on their smart phone in class... being pre smart phone days this was never an issue for me, but I'm pretty sure there were occasions where I had a book under the desk :)

[R.A.]

Carol. wrote: "I was just reading an article that said kids these days were sneaking time to play this particularly hot game on their smart phone in class... being pre smart phone days this was never an issue for..."
Oh, I hid my novel inside my math textbook on more than one occasion. I never risked it during church, though. That would have been too big a risk.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

:)

[Tracey the Lizard Queen]

Started The Masked City in paper and The Black Company in audio this morning.

[Scott]

I recently read:
The Chalk Man
The Girl With All the Gifts
Noir
The Call of Cthulhu

Now I'm reading The Outsider.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Touch by Claire North. So good.

[Scott]

I recently finished The Outsider and A Head Full of Ghosts. I liked them both.

Now I'm reading Dolores Claiborne.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I heard so much about a Head Full of Ghosts but think something about it turns me off. Maybe it's the horror aspect?

[R.A.]

I keep starting books and not liking them, so I quit. I finished Deadhead recently but was hohum about it. Maybe I'm just not in a reading mood? That seems so evil to think, let alone write for the world to see! But I started a post-apocalyptic story this morning in a waiting room that seems good so far. I'm not sure if it's fantasy or not, lol. I load books on my phone and then don't read the synopsis before I start. That way I'm surprised. So often they tell too much!

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Interesting. I'd rather know what I'm getting into. I can be quite the moody reader :)

[R.A.]

So, I read a little more last night and I thought it was hilarious because the first scene is a soldier at an American Embassy witnessing the EMP that turns off earth. Very technical, no hint of fantasy. Then the next scene is of an alien on a dying planet ordering his army of orcs, goblins, etc. into battle with a vast army of elves who have invaded his planet. I think earth is about to have visitors and no electricity or machines, lol.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

ha! That does sound a bit bonkers :)

[Kurt]

I am currently reading Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist. I remember seeing this book on the shelves when it first came out in 1982, but for some inexplicable reason, I never picked it up. Then, 1984 rolled by and I became wickedly seduced by the Dragonlance series and never looked back. Fast forward to 2018, and many fantasy novels later, I was finally reminded of this series, so I treated myself by buying them all at once. So far, I can say, I like it. It reminds me more of a YA (before YA was even considered YA back then), with some coming-of-age young lads seeking a place in their world. I really believe I would've enjoyed it more when I was 11 or 12 back in good old '82, but I still think this, so far, is a very gratifying read! I can't wait to see what happens!!!