What are you reading? (Reboot 2.0)

[[deleted user]]

Within two weeks I will be starting the Landover series.I've already read Magic Kingdom for sale/sold and really liked it,but last month I got the rest of the series.The first thing I'll have to do is re-read Magic Kingdom.

[[deleted user]]

Currently finishing up with
The West Point atlas of war: the Civil War
by Vincent J. Esposito (Editor).

[Jalilah]

Finished Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead and reading Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

[Benjamin]

[Aelliana]

I started reading Magic Rises yesterday.

I planned to first finish the book I was reading( Retribution Falls), so I only read the short story in the back of the book on Tuesday, but I couldn't resist any longer. I'm weak :)

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Aelliana wrote: "I planned to first finish the book I was reading( Retribution Falls), so I only read the short story in the back of the book on Tuesday, but I couldn't res..."

I'd be that kind of weak too!

[Benjamin]

The Lies of Locke Lamora

[Aelliana]

It took me forever to read Locke Lamora, but I still liked it.

Carol wrote:"I'd be that kind of weak too!"

Yeah, I don't feel very guilty about it ;)
Just happy that I'm finally reading a new Kate Daniels book.

[Olga]

Another group I'm part of came up with an interesting challenge: Read Around the World. During the summer months, people post the countries they visited through reading books. Every country counts only once, no matter how many books they read that are set in it. My list since June:

1. Greece - Wedding Night
2. England - The Mystery Woman
3. France - The Splendour Falls
4. Ankh-Morpork - Going Postal (fantasy)
5. Rannit - Hold the Dark (fantasy)
6. Mandrigyn - The Ladies of Mandrigyn (fantasy)
7. Germany - Shadows and Wings
8. TunFaire - Sweet Silver Blues (fantasy)
9. USA - Cyberbooks (science fiction)

As you can see, half of what I read is fantasy or scifi. I wonder if we could set a similar challenge or just a discussion thread here - how many countries or cities, real or imaginary, can one visit through fantasy books in a certain time period.
Any ideas?

[Sophie]

@Olga, I really like that idea! I was just thinking yesterday how I was going to make it my mission this summer to find second world Urban Fantasies and UF's set outside of the US, even if for a brief amount of time.

That being said, I'm starting on The Hero and the Crown later today when it finally decides to start raining.

[Olga]

Sophie wrote: "@Olga, I really like that idea! I was just thinking yesterday how I was going to make it my mission this summer to find second world Urban Fantasies and UF's set outside of the US, even if for a br..."

Sophie. Try All the Paths of Shadow. It's exactly what you wish: a UF, kind of a steampunk really, set in an imaginary world. And it's a charming, funny story.

[Jenny]

More fantasy for me! I think it's the genre that I read most. Currently I'm reading The Golem and the Jinni and I'm listening to Deadlocked.

[Carly]

Olga wrote: "I wonder if we could set a similar challenge or just a discussion thread here - how many countries or cities, real or imaginary, can one visit through fantasy books in a certain time period.
Any ideas? ..."

I'd love to do this type of thing as themes for the book of the month reads. I really enjoyed the Asian-themed read a couple of months ago and almost every UF I've read takes place in the US or in London--all the UK ones I've read takes place there--so I'd love to diversify my reading. Maybe continent themes? I don't think I even know of any South American UFs.
Speaking of which, I'm reading (The Midnight Mayor), yet another London UF, but a very enjoyable one.

[Kimberly]

I am currently reading the The Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. In the Asian themed suggestions someone mentioned his book Under Heaven, which I loved. So now I'm reading another. This one is set in a fantasy world that is based on medieval Spain and North Africa. I'm really enjoying it.

[Sophie]

Olga wrote: "Sophie. Try All the Paths of Shadow. It's exactly what you wish: a UF, kind of a steampunk really, set in an imaginary world. And it's a charming, funny story. "

Frank Tuttle! funny how he keeps coming up this month. I know Carol really enjoyed his Markhat series, guess I'll have to bump him up the TBR. Thanks for the Rec'. =]


@Carly, a South American theme would be interesting. Sadly, the only author I could think of was Isabel Allende and the only book that came to mind was the YA The Summer Prince.

[L.Y.]

Olga wrote: "Another group I'm part of came up with an interesting challenge: Read Around the World. During the summer months, people post the countries they visited through reading books. Every country counts ..."

That's a great idea! I would do that. :) I don't how we'd do it, though. You could start a thread for it, maybe? Or you could talk to the mods and see what they have to say. Either way, I want to do it. It sounds like a lot of fun!

[L.Y.]

Olga wrote: "Another group I'm part of came up with an interesting challenge: Read Around the World. During the summer months, people post the countries they visited through reading books. Every country counts ..."

That's a great idea! I would do that. :) I don't how we'd do it, though. You could start a thread for it, maybe? Or you could talk to the mods and see what they have to say. Either way, I want to do it. It sounds like a lot of fun!

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

@Sophie--I'd second Olga's suggestion of All the Paths of Shadow (although it is fantasy-land, not modern-world based). I still need to review it, but it's well done, light, interesting and overall optimistic. No blood splatters included.

If you all want to start a Challenge thread, there's two ways to do it--you could set it up in our Challenges folder, which doesn't get a lot of play at the moment, or in Buddy Reads. It's definitely an interesting idea, but I don't know that we'd have a huge amount of interest--our monthly reads are pretty small.

I did notice there is an "80 reads in 80 days" book, but it isn't UF focused. Maybe the other option is to start a Suggestions thread (similar to the Asian theme one) and see what other people come up with. That might get the most ideas.

[Jenny]

I started reading Redshirts last night and it's a lot of fun.

[Carly]

Sophie wrote: @Carly, a South American theme would be interesting. Sadly, the only author I could think of was Isabel Allende and the only book that came to mind was the YA The Summer Prince. ..."

Ooh, Allende. Thanks, Sophie! I forgot about her. I guess the books of hers I read were gothic-ish mythfic, which is less my genre of choice. Summer Prince looks interesting, though. Know of any UF in Africa? I can think of mythfic, but no UF. Most of it seems to be US/London...I know a few from Australia and a few in areas of Europe, but (other than Allende) none in S.America or Africa, and not many in Asia.

[Aelliana]

I'm listening to Trapped. I read the first books in The Iron Druid Chronicles, but listened to Tricked, and really like the narrator. If only the library had more of them in audio!

I've also read Two Ravens and One Crow today. A bit boring, but okay.

[Jalilah]

Carly wrote: "Sophie wrote: @Carly, a South American theme would be interesting. Sadly, the only author I could think of was Isabel Allende and the only book that came to mind was the YA The Summer Prince. ..."
..."

Very true. I too have noticed that Fantasy fiction, both Epic and Urban is dominated by English language writers. For this reason, it might be difficult to do an "Around the World" challenge in this group.

One of the reasons I nominated The Wandering Unicorn for the group read. The author Manuel Mujica Láinez is Argentinian and the book was originally written in Spanish.
Latin America is of course the birth place of Magical Realism one of my favourite types of literature. Isabel Allende is my favourite author of that style, but it can not really be categorized as straight fantasy.

Otherwise The Neverending Story by Michael Ende and Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier were originally written in German. Of course there is Japanese Manga.
From Africa I only know about My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola

Unfortunately I cannot think of any others at the moment!

[Olga]

@Carly
If you want to widen the geographic or cultural horizons of your fantasy, you could try Nalo Hopkinson. Her UF stories are set in the Caribbean or if they're set in America, they have a Caribbean flavor. Very different and utterly original.

[Carly]

Olga wrote: "@Carly
If you want to widen the geographic or cultural horizons of your fantasy, you could try Nalo Hopkinson. Her UF stories are set in the Caribbean or if they're set in America, they have a Cari..."

Olga--Thanks! She looks very interesting. Would you recommend any book in particular?

[Helen]

In another group we have a round the world in 80 books challenge, using countries. Fantasy isn't allowed so I'm still on around 20.

[Jalilah]

Carly wrote: "Olga wrote: "@Carly
If you want to widen the geographic or cultural horizons of your fantasy, you could try Nalo Hopkinson. Her UF stories are set in the Caribbean or if they're set in America, the..."

Helen wrote: "In another group we have a round the world in 80 books challenge, using countries. Fantasy isn't allowed so I'm still on around 20."

Brown Girl in the Ring is the best IMO using Caribbean mythology

[Sophie]

@Carly, my Cousin read Nalo's Sister Mine and really liked it, as well as the one Jalilah just mentioned.

As for African UF...the only thing that remotely comes to mind is Shadow Blade which is egyptian inspired and has a black heroine.

...maybe instead of reading challenge we can put together a Guide instead? After all we have the top 20 UF and Top 100 All Time lists. This way we'll always have the thread in the recommendations folder that will be available to everyone - and we can have a list that we can keep adding to. =]

[Olga]

@Carly
I only read 2 of Nalo Hopkinson's books: Sister Mine and The New Moon's Arms. I liked them both.

[Olga]

Regarding literary traveling - I'm not a fan of challenges. Sophie's suggestion of a Guide or a list sounds interesting, and I'm also attracted to the idea of a buddy read. Let's say: travels in fantasy. Such a thread could have several 'buddies' and we could talk about what we read, where it's set, what we like and dislike in that world, etc. We don't have to read the same books, just share, have a dialogue, which is often absent in general 'What are we reading' discussions, which are mostly information. If you like, I can set up such a discussion in the Buddy read folder. I'm not reading a fantasy novel at the moment, but the next on my to-read shelf is Bitterblue - a fantasy.

[Carly]

Olga, Sophie, and Jalilah--thanks so much! My TBR list has just grown enormously. Much appreciated!
Also, Olga, the guide and/or buddy read idea sounds great!

[Greg]

Kimberly wrote: "I am currently reading the The Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. In the Asian themed suggestions someone mentioned his book Under Heaven, which I loved. So now I'm reading another. This one is..."

I'm looking forward to reading that soon. Right now I'm still moving slowly through Mistborn. I'm a bit distraught, however; I recently found out that I'm missing the second volume!

[Rusty]

Just finished Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, his first novel and it's a winner. I'm not an electronic game player but I enjoyed this romance, thriller, futuristic novel. MEMORABLE READ!

[Helen]

Magician's End is currently 99p in Amazon UK, must be a mistake!

[Scott]

I finished Extinction Machine and Bite Me. Now I'm reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I thought Miss Peregrine a great idea, peculiarly executed.

[Aelliana]

Trapped was a bit underwhelming (and boring at times), but nice enough to listen to while picking raspberries.

I'm listening to Darkfever next. Not sure how I'll like it. So far there's been way to much info about the main characters outfits.

[Jalilah]

Just finished a fun read, A Beastly Scandal by Shereen Vedam It got me in the mood for more Fairy Tale re-tellings so I went on to Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier

[Benjamin]

The Heresy Within by Rob J. Hayes

[Bryan]

I'm reading The Black Company right now, because I like Joe Abercrombie and Steven Erikson and I'd heard that they owe a lot to Glen Cook in terms of the genealogy of military fantasy...but they're both way better writers than Cook. Not too impressed.

[Rob]

Just finished The Grim Company and started The Deed of Paksenarrion after reading some great reviews here, really looking forward to getting in to it!

[malrubius]

Emperor of Thorns

This will be the first fantasy series I complete since Gene Wolfe's Sun Cycle. Probably because it is in the first person, which is pretty much a requirement for me.

[Scott]

I finished Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and now I'm reading Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll.

[Scott]

Carol wrote: "I thought Miss Peregrine a great idea, peculiarly executed."

I really enjoyed it.

[Benjamin]

The Colour of Vengeance by Rob J. Hayes

[Benjamin]

The Price of Faith by Rob J. Hayes

[[deleted user]]

Magic Kingdom For Sale/Soldby Terry Brooks

[Ken]

Jessie's Song by our own Eleni Papanou. And it is glorious.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I'm excited..I startedI Am Legend, have our Epic of the Month, Brent Weeks book and then Angelmaker.

[[deleted user]]

The second book of the first Thomas Covenant trilogy. I managed to get past the infamous scene in the beginning of the first book and found it fairly mild otherwise: a Tolkien clone with very unlikable protagonist.

[Olga]

I just received The Tough Guide to Fantasyland in the mail. This is a great book, an A to Z dictionary of fantasy tropes and stereotypes, so funny that just looking at it makes me smile. I don't think I'll ever read a traditional fantasy again without a mental reference to this book springing up in my mind. LOL.