What are you reading in August 2015?

[Becky]

I just finished Hark! A Vagrant, which was good, and now I'm starting London Falling in earnest. I'm kinda meh on it so far, but only 3% in so I'll give it a bit.

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

London Falling does take a bit to get going. The beginning is kinda weird, though it is relevant to the larger story. It starts picking up and making more sense once the special task force gets started.

[Becky]

Yeah... It seems to be getting interesting now.

[Greg]

Hmm. Since I last posted on this in June I still find myself reading Shadowlands but I'm getting into it now that I have more free time and lots of rainy weather of late. In the meantime, I've also read a good fantasy short story called Harvest of War which is written from the orc point of view.

Much of the stuff I read for research purposes doesn't include 'books' but, as part of my work for one article, I did read a late eighteenth-century pamphlet entitled Report of the trial of Richard Maher, of the City of Waterford, Esq. M.D. for high treason and disaffection to the king and constitution, before a general court-martial, held at Waterford, in June, 1798 (a typically long-winded title for the time!).

[Øystein]

I'm in an audiobook kind of period at the moment, currently listening to Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. Its very entertaining, and I love the slow unfolding of the plot. It's about 45 hours long O.O
I also started Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. Its a bit confusing at the moment, but I am getting into it.

[Becky]

I tried reading Revelation Space a while back, but I couldn't really get into it, so I put it aside. I didn't officially "DNF" it... it's still on the 'possibly maybe retry again one day' mental shelf. LOL

I have Cryptonomicon to read, but lately I've been feeling like I can't remember or focus on anything, so big, smart books like that are kinda daunting. I want to read Stephenson though, so I'll probably get to it sooner rather than later.

[Øystein]

Do you remember how far you got? Did they talk about the Shrouders?

Most of Cryptonomicon is fairly easy to read/listen to, but i have had to go over some parts a couple of times. The language can get very technical/mathematical at times, and it can be a struggle to keep up even in some none-technical bits, like the email about the jeepney (you will understand what I'm saying when you read it)

[Becky]

I still have it on my Kindle, so yeah, I was about 12% in. I don't recall what was going on then, though, and Shrouders doesn't ring any bells.

[Becky]

Group read! :D

[Becky]

Maybe Dawn will accommodate you one of these days. She's a big Robin Hobb fan, too. Me? Not so much. I read one and thought it was good, but I wanted and expected to love it, and it didn't do it for me. :(

Maybe my expectations were just too high. That happens to me a lot, which is one of the reasons I TRY to go in without any whenever possible.

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

I'm currently reading City of Bones which currently, for me, is teetering on that edge between "so bad it's good" and "just bad".

[Dawn, Dawnerys, Mother of Modding]

I try not to nominate Hobb too often. I love it so much, it almost hurts when people hate it!

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Dawn wrote: "I try not to nominate Hobb too often. I love it so much, it almost hurts when people hate it!"

♥ Hobb
♥ Dawn
♥ Rosa

There. Heh

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

[Becky]

Good choice, Rosalinde.

[Craig]

I just finished The Yard--really enjoyed it. Now ready to jump into Fahrenheit 451 for the first time in about 40 years.

[Alvin]

Finished The Well of Ascension a week or 2 ago and decided to take a break so I am currently almost through with The Lies of Locke Lamora

[Chris , cookie guilt]

I finished up the audio of City of Dragons and rolled right into Blood of Dragons, which amazingly has the same narrator. This will wrap up this series.

I started The Cold Dish, for a completely different pace.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Started the audio of The Martian.

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

I'm finishing up a reread of A Matter of Magic, after which I'll be moving on to Off to Be the Wizard.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Started the audio of The Martian."

Loved it.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Chris wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "Started the audio of The Martian."

Loved it."

Good!!

[Becky]

YES! That book is so fucking awesome. Seriously. Looooooooved it.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I'm so glad yall loved it.

Hubby read it (this is his copy) and hated it. Said it was super boring.


You know, I think that authors are lucky that most people don't write reviews. If the "common consumer" really wrote reviews - the book market might spontaneously combust. My husband's reviews would be short and scathing if he were to write them. "Back for More Cash" is some of the nicest things he says.

[Becky]

LOL - I didn't think it was boring at all. I thought it was actually really exciting and fun. But this book is right up my alley, so... yeah.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I'm not bored yet, either.

[Sinistmer]

I am reading The Way of Kingsand The Library at Mount Char and a whole bunch of graphic novels and manga. I have a feeling Way of Kings is going to take me awhile.

[Becky]

Yes but it is worth it. I loved that book.

[Thaddeus]

I really liked Way of Kings too (need to get around to the sequel soon).

Another sequel which took me ages to get to is Sworn in Steel, the second Tales of the Kin book by Douglas Hulick.

I thought the start could've been better. There's a really interesting set of events that occur pre-start, but they're referred back to, rather than actually being described as they happen.

Couple of cunning twists, but I'm only 3/5 in so can't give a definitive view yet.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Fairy-Tale Detectives was pretty good. I read that last week.

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

I enjoyed Mangle Street, though it is not without its flaws.

I want to read Uprooted at some point, too.

[Becky]

I want to read Felicia Day's book. It looks great. :D

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I want to read Felicia Day's book, too. Everyone is talking about it.

I'm still reading The Martian and I'm LOVING it. Seriously. Loving it.

All the technical talk doesn't bother me as much as it did in the The Atrocity Archives - and I've just been taking Mark's word for it that he knows what he's doing it. But considering he's still alive at we're at Sol 386, I think he does know what he's talking about so I'm not second guessing him (anymore, lol).

[Becky]

YES! Exactly what I meant. I'm glad that you are loving it. :)

[Mitch]

Finishing up The Android's Dream by John Scalzi.. It's the first book I have had time to read in awhile and I really enjoyed it.. I will be checking out some of his other work for sure.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Becky wrote: "YES! Exactly what I meant. I'm glad that you are loving it. :)"

:-D

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Mitch wrote: "Finishing up The Android's Dream by John Scalzi.. It's the first book I have had time to read in awhile and I really enjoyed it.. I will be checking out some of his other work for sure."

I keep meaning to read some of Scalzi's work since the puppies hate him so much...but my Mt. TBR is so tall that... maybe one day.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

I've read several of his short stories, and one novel: Fuzzy Nation. It is definitely a favorite of the books I've read in 2015.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Chris wrote: "I've read several of his short stories, and one novel: Fuzzy Nation. It is definitely a favorite of the books I've read in 2015."

That's a good rec! Best of 2015?! I'll put it on the list.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Chris wrote: "I've read several of his short stories, and one novel: Fuzzy Nation. It is definitely a favorite of the books I've read in 2015."

Do i need to read the rest of the fuzzy series to read Fuzzy Nation?

[Chris , cookie guilt]

No, you don't have to. Scalzi's book is a reboot of the story. The audiobook did also contain Little Fuzzy, and I listened to it as well. It's cool to compare, but not necessary.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

:-D

Great!

[Felina]

I've been terrible at reading but doing good with audio's lately. I added Revival to my audible account as well as The Cold Dish and The Book of Lost Things for two other book clubs. I doubt I can finish all three by the end of August but I'm going to try!!

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Ok. I finished The Martian last night. OMG. LOVED IT.

I have to put it up there as one of my top books for 2015 for sure. :-D

I tried to start All You Need Is Kill (audio) as I'm raiding hubby's library. So far, not too far into it but the tone is so drastically different that I just don't want to read it right now.

The Martian had a feeling of...dogged determination. Mark Watney decided he didn't want to die and did everything in his power to stay alive. The entire book is woven with a thread of hope because of that.

All You Need is Kill starts...soo freaking depressingly that it was almost a shock. Both books have MCs in desperate, live endangering situations but All You Need is Kill starts pretty brutal while The Martian starts with a feeling we all understand: I'm Fucked.

[Mitch]

Well I decided to finally start the Wheel of Time series.. Just checked The eye of The World out at the local library....wish me luck

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Hope that works out, Mitch. I really found that series to be a lot of fun.

[Dawn, Dawnerys, Mother of Modding]

I've been "re-reading" it (doing audio books on my commute) for the past couple months. Will finish book 2 today. I'm insane.. I looked at my review and apparently this is my fourth time through the series.

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

I am reading Enshadowed, and I'm hoping to thoroughly enjoy my trashy, YA romance novel. :D

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

lol

[Øystein]

Currently reading Nemesis Games. About halfway in at the moment, and I'm not sure what I think about it yet. It feels a lot slower paced than the prevoius books.