What are you reading in Jan 2014?

[Emily]

I am the only non Abercrombie fan I know, but there it is...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Paul wrote: "Just be aware that his stuff definitely falls into the darker and more realistic sadistic side of fantasy which some people don't particularly care for if they like more escapist "traditional" fantasy. So it depends if that appeals to you."

Fixed that for you. ;-)

[Ala]

Laurel wrote: "Uh oh - I always defer to your judgement!

*crossing fingers it doesn't suck*

Any other recs? *wink*"

If I actually pick up a book again, I'll let you know if I find a goodun.

Becks, which Vorkosigan did you try?

[Chris , cookie guilt]

I need to finish those Abercrombies. And before you offer me the pipe, Paul, I've already read the trilogy so those other books won't kill me in the challenge. Heh

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Emily wrote: "I am the only non Abercrombie fan I know, but there it is..."

Colleen is here. But mayhap that will change when Abercrombie releases his YA series...

[Chris , cookie guilt]

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "Paul wrote: "Just be aware that his stuff definitely falls into the darker and more realistic sadistic side of fantasy which some people don't particularly care for if they like more escapist "trad..."

Hahaha! You funny, MrsJ.

Truth is, I don't even really think of his stuff that way. There's a lot of humor in it and his characters are pretty upbeat.

[Laurel]

I'm trying to resolve in my head how the man who created both Glotka and Nine Fingers can write YA...

Nope, can't do it. I want to read it, but I can't see how he landed the book deal?!

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Nicole wrote: "Has anyone read any sandman slim? Is it kind of like that?"

I read the first one and was underwhelmed.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Chris wrote: "Emily wrote: "I am the only non Abercrombie fan I know, but there it is..."

Colleen is here. But mayhap that will change when Abercrombie releases his YA series..."


Colleen is sometimes here, yes...

Um...

Yeah, not an Abercrombie fan. More a Hot Topic kinda gal.

And can I just say I always thought Chris was joking about an Abercrombie YA?

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Chris wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Has anyone read any sandman slim? Is it kind of like that?"

I read the first one and was underwhelmed."

We... we agree on something...

o_O

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Haha...he is: Half a King

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I'm not a fan of Sandman Slim Nicole but a lot like them. They're UF quite a bit darker, more negative than Dresden but as I said I'm not a fan. Check out the reviews and get some contrasting opinions.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

;) Colleen...

Yeah, Nicole. In terms of gritty violence, it probably compares.

Though I'd rather go with Heroes Die.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

I think I kinda liked Glotka... but I don't even remember the other characters or what happened in the story.

[Felina]

Heroes die is one I've had on my radar for a while.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

It's a good one.

[[deleted user]]

Felina wrote: "Heroes die is one I've had on my radar for a while."

I enjoyed that way more than I expected to. I don't know how I ended up not reading the sequels.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Emily wrote: "I am the only non Abercrombie fan I know, but there it is..."

*raises hand*

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Chris wrote: "Hahaha! You funny, MrsJ.

Truth is, I don't even really think of his stuff that way. There's a lot of humor in it and his characters are pretty upbeat. "

:-D


Hubby wants to know what characters are upbeat. lolol! He's over here scratching his head and really wants to know.

[Becky]

o_O wrote: "Becks, which Vorkosigan did you try? "

The Warrior's Apprentice, and then a short story, The Mountains of Mourning which I liked a little better.

[Laurel]

o_O wrote: "Laurel wrote: "Uh oh - I always defer to your judgement!

*crossing fingers it doesn't suck*

Any other recs? *wink*"

If I actually pick up a book again, I'll let you know if I find a goodun.

Bec..."

If you actually pick up a book again? You've given up reading?

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Those Northmen, MrsJ. Though maybe it was me being upbeat because they kept making me laugh.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Chris wrote: "Those Northmen, MrsJ. Though maybe it was me being upbeat because they kept making me laugh."

He laughed. He said something about one good Northman but I'm sooo clueless as to what yall are talking about. O_o

[Emily]

I feel like I will likely start our Feb group reads soonish. I know it's early but I can't resist that spoilers button so need to be ready!

[Becky]

Marysia, that's a very interesting essay, however, this is the "What are you reading?" thread, not a thread for discussing writing or character development.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I'm going to have to agree with Becky here, Marysia.

This essay, while interesting, doesn't seem to be on topic. I would suggest you start a separate thread to discuss character development.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

That's an idea you can set up a character development thread to discuss it in given books or simply in general.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

I'm finishing up my Harry Potter read. It's taken me longer than I thought it would, 'cause I didn't get nearly as much reading done over the holiday as I'd expected. I should probably finish up Deathly Hallows tonight, though. Tomorrow at the latest...

I actually started tearing up a bit reading the dedication page of this last book. *le sigh*


I wouldn't really mind that it's taken so long, except I have three books from the library, two of which are due back the 14th, and I'm starting to get a bit panicky. (I don't like to renew books if I can help it. It's one of my things... and I've already renewed one of them once, so I'm all antsy about it.)


I can't decide which I should read first, though:

Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw
or
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Probably the first, as I don't think I'm ready to jump into something potentially heavy like 'Name of the Star' just yet.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Took a short break from Swan Song to read the new (in ebook form) short story from Joe Hill: Wolverton Station

Very cool.

[Darren]

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "Emily wrote: "I am the only non Abercrombie fan I know, but there it is..."

*raises hand*"

...sorry, a bit bit late in the discussion I know, but I'm not a fan either.

Going back to another post, I absolutely love the Vorkosigan books - I got my wife to read them on holiday one year when she ran out of books as part of a bet, she devoured the whole series and she doesn't even like sci-fi! They're also the first books I recommend to anyone.

[Becky]

Chris wrote: "Took a short break from Swan Song to read the new (in ebook form) short story from Joe Hill: Wolverton Station

Very cool."

I want to read that.

[Darren]

Where did you get it, Chris? I can't find it on Amazon UK!

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Darren wrote: "Where did you get it, Chris? I can't find it on Amazon UK!"

No? I got mine through Barnes & Noble, for my Nook.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Hope you like it, Nicole.

[Emily]

Ok I guess I need to read this Bujold sci-fi....

[Darren]

Chris wrote: "Darren wrote: "Where did you get it, Chris? I can't find it on Amazon UK!"

No? I got mine through Barnes & Noble, for my Nook."

Thanks Chris. I guess I'll actually have to use my Nook app for something!

[Laurel]

I just finished Caliban's War and quite enjoyed it! As I mentioned, it had some stellar characters. I'm going to try to get to the third in the series quite soon, completely messing up my plan for this month. Oh well, plans are meant to be thrown out the window!

Starting Dreams of the Golden Age and hopefully Fury of the Demon this week!

[Becky]

I didn't know there was a sequel to After the Golden Age.

GAH! Another one to add to my series-in-progress list now. LOL

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Becky wrote: "I didn't know there was a sequel to After the Golden Age.

GAH! Another one to add to my series-in-progress list now. LOL"

Oh yeah, I meant to tell you that was coming out today.

[Emily]

Finished Jepp and am heading on to How To Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia and our Feb group sci-fi read. I tend to have one physical and one Kindle going at any given time - just me?

[Jackie]

I started Lord of the Silver Bow yesterday. Chris had recommended it to me a while back. I haven't had time to really settle into the story, so I'm having trouble figuring out who is who.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Emily, I tend to do that too. An actual book at home and an ebook on the Nook for work and travel. Sometimes an audio too.

Yay! Jackie...It's been so long since I read it, I might not be much help. And I need to finish that series.

How come so many of the posts in here contain either "I need to finish that series" or "I need to start that series"?

[Jackie]

Emily wrote: "I tend to have one physical and one Kindle going at any given time - just me?"

Nope, I usually have 3 going. One physical for home, one ebook for work/travel and one audio for when I have my long commute to work twice a week or for when I clean. I just need to make sure they are different genres so I don't merge stories.

[Jackie]

Chris wrote: "How come so many of the posts in here contain either "I need to finish that series" or "I need to start that series"? "

Bc you guys are addicts!!

Seriously though, it seems like most books these days are no longer standalones. I'm not sure if authors are just cashing into the series craze. I used to think it was just fantasy and sci-fi, but I'm now seeing it in other genres like HF.

[Paul]

Jackie wrote: "Emily wrote: "I tend to have one physical and one Kindle going at any given time - just me?"

Nope, I usually have 3 going. One physical for home, one ebook for work/travel and one audio for when I..."

I find I can only have one book going at a time. If I try to start another one something in my head says: "why are you starting another book, why aren't you totally engrossed in the first book you were reading? Maybe you aren't enjoying it if you've started another book" etc etc.

[Laurel]

I usually only read one at a time, but have a few in my currently reading like a queue. It's an oddity, I know.

My nerves are a bit high today for a big specialist appointment. I keep changing my clothes, picking up different books to take to read in the waiting room... I hate being nervous - gah!

[Becky]

I am perfectly fine having multiple books going on at once, and usually, unless I am completely caught up in a book or series, I do. Even if I'm loving the book, in which case the "spare" will wait for me to get to it. LOL

Right now, I'm reading Steelheart as my "main" book, have Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman going on the side, and I'm thinking about starting one of the library books I picked up yesterday to read before bed.

(That's another one of my goals this year. I'm going to utilize the library more. They added ebooks FINALLY so I'm excited to try it out. :D)

[Paul]

Laurel wrote: "I usually only read one at a time, but have a few in my currently reading like a queue. It's an oddity, I know.

My nerves are a bit high today for a big specialist appointment. I keep changing m..."

I don't even usually take a book if I am going for a big appointment. When I am really nervous I find I can't concentrate anyway.

Good luck with the appointment, I'm sure it will be fine :)

[Felina]

I'm always reading about 5 books at once. I dunno why.

I have about 100 pages of Steelheart left. I love it so far.

[Jackie]

Paul, I used to be a one book at a time kinda girl and then I discovered audio books. Never looked back. Unless I'm super absorbed by a book I like to have multiples to suit my mood.

Laurel, good luck with your appointment :)