What Else Are You Reading - February 2014

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Picked up I'm Starved for You by Margaret Atwood, no idea what this is, something about it being the first episode in a near future series.

[Viola]

Christopher wrote: "What would those half-assed Urban Fantasies be?"

The one book that I was thinking of when I wrote the post is actually a horror, or supernatural horror story. But recently Dark Time and Three Days to Dead has failed to grab me. I should just accept the fact that urban fantasy isn't my type of genre.

[terpkristin]

Today I was able to finish listening to A New Beginning by first-time author Craig Brummer. I listened to it for my review should go up there soon enough. In short, it was a bit trippy for me to read due to similarities between myself and the main character (also named Kristin, spelled with two i's!), but not a bad novel by a first-time author.

I'm at a loss for what to read next. I'm trying to read books off of my To Be Read in 2014 list (books I bought before the start of 2014 that I still haven't read/listened to), but I'm just not sure what I'm in the mood for. I have The Jester queued in my Audible app, I'm just not sure what I want to read right now. I know that next month I'll have whatever comes up for the club pick, plus Words of Radiance so I think I want out of the SFF genre...but maybe if I stay in-genre, something lighter, given how intense next month will be. ;) I'm very indecisive right now.

[Rob, Roberator]

I looked at your list and the only things on there I've read to recommend would be SFF.

My top non SFF pick would be The Shadow of the Wind.

I know you're avoiding buying new books, but you can always try the library.

[Rob, Roberator]

Oh and if the description peaks your interest, it's a stand alone story. Good reads lists it as a series, but I haven't read any of the other books.

[terpkristin]

Rob wrote: "My top non SFF pick would be The Shadow of the Wind.

I know you're avoiding buying new books, but you can always try the library."

Thanks, I marked it to-read. It's not so much that I'm trying to avoid buying new books (though I am, to some extent, trying to only buy books I think I'll get to sooner than later) as much as it is trying to read the HUGE stack of books I've already purchased and are sitting there looking forlornly at me. ;)

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

terpkristin wrote: "Rob wrote: "My top non SFF pick would be The Shadow of the Wind.

I know you're avoiding buying new books, but you can always try the library."

Thanks, I marked it to-read. It's not so..."

Ooh your list is multiple pages! The first time I looked I wasn't inspired but it was only page 1. I like chicklit or urban fantasy or memoir when I need a break, so maybe Bushell or Hard Magic or Orange is the New Black!

I also really love Kelly Link, you have Magic for Beginners on the list. Short stories can either be more demanding than a novel or less, depending on how you do it!

[Rob, Roberator]

Of course if you're not in the mood for any of those books, that doesn't help.

The Jester is decent short story and should give you a good idea about Theft of Swords which was a series I really enjoyed last year. Alif the Unseen was another I really liked and is different from most traditional fantasy.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Ooh yeah that's the other one I was going to suggest, high 5 Rob.

[Christopher]

terpkristin wrote: "Today I was able to finish listening to A New Beginning by first-time author Craig Brummer. I listened to it for SFFAudio and my review should go up there soon enou..."

If looking for something lighter try the Xanth series by Piers Anthony it is full of puns and puzzles and light heartedness and there is Discworld I hear is supposed to be good and I keep meaning to get to.

[David Sven]

Finished Genghis Lords of the Bow
My review

Continuing on with the series with Genghis Bones of the Hills

[Walter]

The Shadow of the Wind is wonderful. Made my Top Ten list for books I read in 2013.

[Joseph]

Finished King Solomon's Mines -- still excellent!, read a couple of Allan Quatermain short stories, then decided that it was time for something from Angry Robot (since I took advantage of their 100 books for £100 recently) and chose The Dead of Winter by Lee Collins -- based on the first few pages, it seems like it'll be an Old West version of Supernatural or some such.

[terpkristin]

Thanks for the suggestions, all. :)

I'm listening to something super-light and fluffy right now (Red Velvet Cupcake Murder, mystery-thriller type books are my candy), and I think I'll hit up Alif the Unseen to close out the month.

[AndrewP]

As I have now collected all the books I decided to make a start on Narnia with chronologically the first book The Magician's Nephew.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

AndrewP wrote: "As I have now collected all the books I decided to make a start on Narnia with chronologically the first book The Magician's Nephew."
That was always my favorite one,

[Christopher]

AndrewP wrote: "As I have now collected all the books I decided to make a start on Narnia with chronologically the first book The Magician's Nephew."

I enjoyed reading them that way myself and The Magician's Nephew is a good short read and not to heavy a read either.

[Rob, Roberator]

I finally finished listening to Geomancer. If you were thinking about it, don't bother. You can read my full thoughts in My Review

Taking a SFF break to cleanse my palate with The Hunt for Red October

[Jennifer]

I just finished Magician: Apprentice. Which for the longest time I didn't think I was going to like. In the end I thought it was a pretty fun read. Goes to show you I shouldn't always trust my first impressions.

With that done finally got around to buying Last Argument of Kings and I started that up yesterday.

[Scott]

FInally getting to , and

[Rick]

Just finished Emerald Eyes by Daniel Keys Moran. Interesting read (early cyberpunk). Off to read the next book in the series.

[AndrewP]

My dog woke me up at 3:15 am this morning so I used an Audible credit to purchase Like a Mighty Army after it had only been available a few hours. Will get started on that during my commute.

[Dawn]

Finally got around to reading The Broken Kingdoms very different from the first one I think far more emotional but I liked it.

[Dara]

Diving back into Malazan with The Bonehunters.

[Jenny]

I'm reading Vampire Academy.

[Carolina]

Jenny wrote: "I'm reading Vampire Academy."

Just starting the series or re-reading?

[Brian]

In the middle of A Dance with Dragons and Watchmen at the moment.

[Sandi]

I loved the audiobook of William Shakespeare's Star Wars. This is one that's definitely better in audio. R2's lines are hilarious.

[Clyde]

Rick wrote: "Just finished Emerald Eyes by Daniel Keys Moran. Interesting read (early cyberpunk). Off to read the next book in the series."

Oh boy, I'm kinda jealous. That is Moran's The Long Run: A Tale of the Continuing Time. Great book!

[Rick]

Yep. The series has been on my list for a while and they're out in ebook now. $3 for Emerald Eyes, $6 per for the others.

[David Sven]

Clyde wrote: "Rick wrote: "Just finished Emerald Eyes by Daniel Keys Moran. Interesting read (early cyberpunk). Off to read the next book in the series."

Oh boy, I'm kinda jealous..."


Sounds interesting

[Rick]

David - I'll warn you, Emerald Eyes is good, but not like, say, Snow Crash or Neuromancer. While I liked it, it's got some of the 'this is a first book in a longer story' pacing and scene setting. Moran spends time setting the political scene that is the basis for some of the conflicts and it's also got that 'jump from story to story' structure. The Long Run seems, from the reviews, to be where he hits his stride.

[Joseph]

I finished The Dead of Winter and am looking forward to more late 19th Century monster-slaying goodness (think Supernatural meets Deadwood. But with less cussing) with She Returns From War, both by Lee Collins.

[David Sven]

Rick wrote: "David - I'll warn you, Emerald Eyes is good, but not like, say, Snow Crash or Neuromancer. While I liked it, it's got some of the 'this is a first book in a longer story' pacing and scene setting. ..."

Don't bother covering your butt Rick. I'll still hold you personally responsible if I don't enjoy it :)

[Rick]

Oh then you should read Light

[Kevin]

I just finished Shovel Ready: A Novel and it was awesome. A perfect book for Tom I think - Set in a degraded near future New York city with hit men, cyber sex and violence, and all other kinds of apocalyptic goodness. Getting ready to start The Shining Girls.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Kevin wrote: "I just finished Shovel Ready: A Novel and it was awesome. A perfect book for Tom I think - Set in a degraded near future New York city with hit men, cyber sex and violence, and all ..."

I have Shovel Ready on my to-read list! Your's is the second positive review I've seen today.

[Sandi]

It looks like my last update was when I finished listening to Redemption Ark on the 13th. Since then, I finished the audiobooks of The Scar by Sergey & Marina Dyachenko and Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines. I just started listening to The Mongoliad: Book One.

I'm having difficulty finishing any books in text. On the 13th, I did finish the e-book of A Wizard of Earthsea. I've had several e-books going at the same time, but I get distracted. I just started For a Few Demons More and it seems to be doing the trick.

I really want to finish Prince of Thorns as I'm halfway through. But, it's a hardback copy from the library and I'm really struggling with the whole paper book thing lately.

[Rob, Roberator]

I finished reading Heroes Die with my Side Reads group. I enjoyed it, and plan on continuing the series at some point. My Review

[[deleted user]]

Just started Pebble in the Sky. An oldie, but I hope a goodie.

[Fiona]

I'm rereading the Wheel of Time, now I'm on book 9 Winter's Heart.

[Christopher]

Sandi wrote: "It looks like my last update was when I finished listening to Redemption Ark on the 13th. Since then, I finished the audiobooks of The Scar by Sergey & Marina Dyachenk..."

For a Few Demons More is a great read. Kim Harrison is one of my favorite authors. I have read most of that series. Still have a couple in the earlier series to read. And if all you can do is e-books and audiobooks that is fine get Prince Of Thorns as an e-book and finish it that way.

[Sandi]

I downloaded the ebook of Prince of Thorns from the library last night.

[Dawn]

The violence in Prince of Thorns was unexpected so I put it down for awhile but I would like to finish it.

Right now I am reading Lion's Blood I cannot decide if I like it or not

[Kristina]

Finished Breach Zone... it was awesome! I started Myke Coles' shadow ops series after he was on the show. Those books are just really fun -like reading an action movie-and each book is better than the last.

Also just finished Before They Are Hangedand loved it. Giving Empire State a go before I jump into the next Abercrombie though.

[Scott]

Before they are hanged was very good; Breach Zone is on my TBR list; heard good things

[Joseph]

I finished She Returns From War, which was interestingly different from the first book in the series, and, for obvious reasons, am about to start Altered Carbon.

[Rob, Roberator]

I finished listening to The Hunt for Red October (My Review).

Starting The Emperor's Blades for SFF Audio. It's read by Simon Vance who I usually enjoy as a narrator.

[Rick]

Finished The Long Run: A Tale of the Continuing Time, good but not the life changing best SF novel ever written that some reviews contend. Started The Lives of Tao, slightly unsure about it. I like the writing but the premise (long lived aliens in factional war, they symbiotically possess some humans, one of them is forced to join with an overweight IT geek, drama ensues) feels a bit tropish. And no, none of that is a spoiler.

[David Sven]

Finished book 3 of Conn Iggulden's Conqueror series Genghis Bones of the Hills
My review

Continuing the series with Khan Empire of Silver