What are you reading in August 2015?

[Nick]

Please tell us what you are reading, or plan to read, in August.

[Shel, Moderator]

I'm about a quarter/third of the way through Go Set a Watchman and I have to say, if it weren't Harper Lee I'd have given up on it already. I'm just finding it not very interesting. Maybe I'd think differently if I tried reading it when I'm not a sleep-deprived mom of a newborn and a stubborn preschooler? It's just not grabbing me, I feel like nothing has happened yet. Still going to power through it, though, at least a little more before giving up.

I have Station Eleven lined up to start when I finish, REALLY excited about that one. And then I have God's War waiting for me on my kindle, hope to get to it in time for the group discussion.

[Jim]

Just started The Martian. Pretty interesting. I want to be through it before the film comes out in October.

[Helen]

I keep thinking I may have to reread The Martian.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I'm reading The Bonehunters. I am not as far as some of the others who have joined our discussion, but I'll get there. I still can't believe I avoided Malazan for so long, although I was waiting for the main series to be finished. I'm really trying to avoid starting series that aren't finished.

[Ken]

Arrgg. The Martian. Damn. I was looking for that book when I was vacation. Then I forgot about it.
Oh well.

Still reading Dust of Dreams
Just started, havent had all that much time to get some reading in. Been unusually busy last week.
Next couple of weeks should be quiet. I hope

[Tani]

I finally finished House of Leaves last night. It really creeped me out in places, but it also really bored me in others, just because of the formatting.

Now I get to start The House of Shattered Wings! I won an ARC last month, and I'm really excited to read it! I was kind of afraid I wouldn't get to it until after the publication date, but I've made it! ;)

I'm also reading Penric's Demon on my phone during my breaks at work. Love Lois McMaster Bujold.

[Lindsey]

I've had a slow couple of weeks for reading. Just started The Way Into Magic and No-Drama Discipline. Neither is pulling me back in at the moment but Spirit Gate has finally picked up in the last 1/3, so hopefully I'll finish that soon.

[Justine]

I have just finished The Bonehunters (excellent...one of the best in the series so far!), and I'm now reading An Autumn War, which is the third book in the Long Price Quartet. After that I plan to read both Vicious and God's War. Also planned for this month are The Fold and the last book of the Long Price Quartet, The Price of Spring.

[Shel, Moderator]

I finished Go Set a Watchman and was not impressed. I didn't hate it, but I was just bored by it. Too bad!

Now I'm about a third of the way through Station Eleven and LOVING it. Next up will be God's War for the group discussion.

[Helen]

Finished Midnight Tides, had to wait for mum to go back home, every time I started reading she'd chat.

Yesterday, I read Vicious, fun, today I'm on Insurgent.

[Lulu]

I finally finished The Bluest Eye today, a non-genre read, which I loved. I'm now a third into Go Set a Watchman, too. Not sure how I'm feeling about it yet, although it certainly has a different feel from To Kill a Mockingbird.

Genre-wise, I've got the audiobook for Terms of Enlistment on the go, and read another story from Her Smoke Rose Up Forever (which I realised I've been reading since April and should really get finished soon). Still trudging along with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, but no real progress with it.

I'm also going to be starting in on Three Men in a Boat and The Dinosaur Lords this week, the latter because who can resist fantasy with dinosaurs thrown in?! The former because I'm reading To Say Nothing of the Dog later this month and want to get any references.

[Joyce]

The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers.

[Jim]

Joyce wrote: "The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers."

One of my favorites.

[Helen]

Allegiant, today's read. Not enjoying the switching of pov. I can't see why we need it in the last book of three. Perhaps it'll become clear.

[Justine]

Helen wrote: "Allegiant, today's read. Not enjoying the switching of pov. I can't see why we need it in the last book of three. Perhaps it'll become clear."

I have to tell you, Helen, after enjoying the first two books I was not a fan of the last one. At all.

[Lulu]

Finished Go Set a Watchman. Though it seems to be an unpopular opinion, I actually really, thoroughly enjoyed it. It was unexpected, and risky to release, but I enjoyed where the story went and what issues were dealt with.

I'm going to start Nine Princes in Amber now, since one of my other Goodreads groups is reading it this month, and I've never gotten around to it before.

[Shel, Moderator]

Justine wrote: "I have to tell you, Helen, after enjoying the first two books I was not a fan of the last one. At all."

Ditto here...

I just finished Station Eleven. Amazing book - off to read through the group's old discussion about it to see if I have anything to add :)

I'll start God's War next.

[Helen]

Justine wrote: "Helen wrote: "Allegiant, today's read. Not enjoying the switching of pov. I can't see why we need it in the last book of three. Perhaps it'll become clear."

I have to tell you, Hel..."

Finished it and I'm not either. I was warned there was a twist but that it wasn't as good a book. Well, I'd hardly describe the plot as a twist and it isn't as good. The pov switch ended up making sense but also meant that I just didn't like Four (now referred to as Tobias).

Now reading The Mirror Empire

[Kammera]

Oh man, what didn't I read??!! just finished Ready Player One. By Ernest Cline. To all you gaming geeks this is the Holy Grail!! The whole book is dedicated to old classic gaming-video, arcade,online. The setting is futuristic and the worlds population is immersed into OASIS , a virtual reality that people are plugged into. Fast paced action as Wade, aka Parzival tries to beat the creator's ultimate game and inherit billions and the power that comes with it in this virtual world. Fast paced with references galore to past 70 and 80's "stuff". 4.5 for sure!!

[Lindsey]

Dropped my other reads to pick up Fool's Quest. Despite a busy week, I'm sacrificing sleep to read it, because Robin Hobb.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of small favor, which is 10th book in dresden files series.

[Christine]

I just finished Legend which I enjoyed and recommend; yes, I was quite angry and one of the protagonists halfway through the book, but I got over it. Now I'm ready to start Dark Orbit

[Lulu]

Been reading The Dark Forest, but I'm finding it so difficult to get into. I apparently remember none of the important parts of the other book, can't remember certain characters, and am finding it dense and difficult.

Has anyone else read it? Does it get better? The Three-Body Problem sucked me in straight away, so I'm surprised at this one.

[Tani]

I finished The House of Shattered Wings last night, finally. I ended up rating it 4 stars because the action picked up at the end, but I was pretty disappointed in this one. There was so much positive buzz that I expected better. But I never really connected with any of the characters, and a lot of it was kind of focused on the murder-mystery, which can be a tough sell for me. (Love crime shows, don't love mystery books.) But at least that's over.

I took a long break from Midnight Tides because things kept popping up, but now I'm back to it. And excited for it! :)

[Alissa]

I'm almost done with The Black Company series, I hope the end will be up to the rest of the story but I really loved it. Dark and sarcastic and never too graphic. The military parts are especially good.

[[deleted user]]

Alissa wrote: "I'm almost done with The Black Company series, I hope the end will be up to the rest of the story but I really loved it. Dark and sarcastic and never too graphic. The military parts a..."

The ending is great.

[Justine]

Lulu wrote: "Been reading The Dark Forest, but I'm finding it so difficult to get into. I apparently remember none of the important parts of the other book, can't remember certain characters, an..."

Lulu, I haven't got to this yet, but my friend Stuart just finished it and wrote a very thorough review of it here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

He also had some issues with the length of the book, which he talks about in the comments - there are also some rather interesting interjections in there as well (if you read them you will see what I mean lol!) - so, I get the sense that, no, it isn't just you.

[Wolf_Maiden]

I just finished Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits. It's basically story collection by Robin McKinley and Philip Dickinson. One of the stories was a bit weak, but I loved all of the rest.
Now, I'm getting to back into To Green Angel Tower, Part 1 by Tad Williams. Long book, but a good series. Can't wait to finally finish it.

[Ken]

Finally decided to take a break from Dust of Dreams. It's good, but I was not that into it.
Spent some time looking for something light to "clean my palette". The second time this summer that I have had to do this.
Started a Jack Reacher book, the second, Die Trying. Its good, not great mind you but ok

[Alissa]

Evgeny wrote: "Alissa wrote: "I'm almost done with The Black Company series, I hope the end will be up to the rest of the story but I really loved it. Dark and sarcastic and never too graphic. The m..."

Indeed! A very satisfying end considering the whole series. I'll definitely be reading more Cook soon. Took a break with a very nice YA book, Ink and Bone, mystery, grim themes and a pacey story. With books, and I do so love to read about books!

[Shel, Moderator]

Alissa wrote: "Evgeny wrote: "Alissa wrote: "I'm almost done with The Black Company series, I hope the end will be up to the rest of the story but I really loved it. Dark and sarcastic and never too..."

I read The Tower of Fear years ago and liked but did not love it; it didn't make me want to read more of Cook, anyway. But I'm interested to hear what you think if you get to it and how it compares to the Black Company series, because so many people love the series that I'd be willing to give it a try (someday when I have more reading time) if you say it's better :)

Still plugging away at God's War - really liking it, but I don't have much time to read it so it's going slowly!

[Alissa]

Shel wrote: "I read The Tower of Fear years ago and liked but did not love it; it didn't make me want to read more of Cook, anyway. But I'm interested to hear what you think if you get to it and how it compares to the Black Company series..."

Thank you! I wonder how it compares too! Evgeny recommended it to me, after I finished the BC series, and I think I'm going to try it next as far as Cook goes. I really love military fantasy, sly characters and twisty plots, so the BC was a great match for me. I was just a bit disappointed about the worldbuilding and the series planning (beyond the original trilogy, I think Cook built the story as he was writing it), sometimes accepting the story developments was an act of faith and some things are never properly explained. This said, action & characters were superb, I devoured the books and I think the ending was one of my favorites ever.

You are reading Kameron Hurley, is God's War your fist book by her? I've never tried anything but I have The Mirror Empire on my to read list (oh, and congratulations! I see your next read book will be your 1000th).

[Justine]

Alissa wrote: "You are reading Kameron Hurley, is God's War your fist book by her? I've never tried anything but I have The Mirror Empire on my to read list (oh, and congratulations! I see your next read book will be your 1000th)."

Alissa, I think maybe you should try God's War...it's very good. It was my first Hurley book as well. It's a fairly short book, so it wouldn't take you long to read. It is more on the fantasy side of SF rather than the science side, which is what made me think it might appeal to you.

Ink and Bone is on my TBR too...I've been hearing good things about that one:)

Just started Seveneves myself, which is very good so far.

[Lulu]

Justine wrote: "Lulu wrote: "Been reading The Dark Forest, but I'm finding it so difficult to get into. I apparently remember none of the important parts of the other book, can't remember certain c..."

Yeah, he seems to share my feelings quite closely. I'm around a quarter in so far, but I'm hoping the jump in time he mentions will help me get into it as it did him! Good luck when you do get to it :)


I'm taking a break from said book now, with The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It seems to be a much gentler book, which should be nice alongside The Dark Forest.

Also about 2/3 of the way through Terms of Enlistment and an actual solid plot has suddenly leapt into it!

[Justine]

Lulu wrote: "I'm taking a break from said book now, with The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern."

I loved that book! :)

[Wolf_Maiden]

I just finished Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin McKinley. It's basically a collection of short stories. They were quite good for the most part.
Now, I'm finally back to reading To Green Angel Tower, Part 1 by Tad Williams.

[Christine]

After a reading slump I am close to finish Dark Orbit

[Christine]

Christine wrote: "After a reading slump I am close to finish Dark Orbit"

I am also reading Dark Orbit...

[Helen]

I finished The Invisible Library, it was alright but at times I felt that it was over-described. I'm now reading The Golem and the Jinni which is great.

[Shel, Moderator]

Alissa wrote: "Shel wrote: "I read The Tower of Fear years ago and liked but did not love it; it didn't make me want to read more of Cook, anyway. But I'm interested to hear what you think if you get to it and ho..."

I have also read The Mirror Empire and quite enjoyed it! I'm about 3/4 through God's War and going to do my best to finish it before the month is up so I can participate in the group discussion on time :)

It was a very long time ago that I read The Tower of Fear, but what I remember about it was that though I appreciated the plot and the characters, I didn't think it was very well-written - clunky, amateurish sentences that kept distracting me from the story. I can't give you an example because I got rid of my copy long ago. But I'm glad you've been enjoying the Black Company books, to each her own!

[Justine]

Helen wrote: "I finished The Invisible Library, it was alright but at times I felt that it was over-described. I'm now reading The Golem and the Jinni which is great."

I knew you would like The Golem and the Jinni Helen:)

[Helen]

Too much, I spent the day reading that and not the journals on mutism!

[Helen]

Covers! USA: UK: . Neither appeal or repel me more than the other.

USA: UK: . Well, I probably would've liked mine, UK, if I hadn't seen yours!

[Alexa]

Oh, I much prefer the USA ones, the UK Vicious looks like a James Bond action movie - I would never have voluntarily picked up that book simply judging by its cover (and that cover might even have put me off a strong recommendation). The USA one is mysterious and intriguing and draws me right in. For Uprooted the UK cover makes it look childish while the USA one looks like classic fantasy, again much more inviting, for me.

[Alissa]

Justine wrote: "Alissa, I think maybe you should try God's War...it's very good. It was my first Hurley book as well. It's a fairly short book, so it wouldn't take you long to read. It is more on the fantasy side of SF rather than the science side, which is what made me think it might appeal to you..."

Thank you! Yes, Hurley is one of those writers I cannot make my mind up about, but I think I should try her.

[Alissa]

Shel wrote: "I have also read The Mirror Empire and quite enjoyed it! I'm about 3/4 through God's War and going to do my best to finish it before the month is up so I can participate in the group discussion on time :)

It was a very long time ago that I read The Tower of Fear..."

:) Well, God's War or The Mirror Empire it is. I'll check the thread when I start. Now I'm reading King Hereafter by Dorothy Dunnett, non an easy read, but gripping so far, and I can't begin to wonder about the insane amount of study behind this story.

I'm curious about the Tower of Fear, actually, and see how it compares. The Black Company's writing style is dry (not in a bad sense), had the story, or the characters been less than very good, I would have had a hard time finishing. So I'll see, I've mixed expectations.

[Shel, Moderator]

Alissa wrote: "Shel wrote: "I have also read The Mirror Empire and quite enjoyed it! I'm about 3/4 through God's War and going to do my best to finish it before the month is up so I can participate in the group d..."

King Hereafter is my least favorite of Dunnett's books - in other words, the only one that I just rated four stars instead of five :) She's that good! Have you read the Lymond chronicles yet? Francis Crawford of Lymond is one of my favorite fictional characters ever.

[Lulu]

I just finished Terms of Enlistment by Marko Kloos. It was pretty much the epitome of pulp military science fiction, and I won't be continuing with the series. It was fun, but there just wasn't enough to keep me interested.

I'm switching it up to a non-genre listen with Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, which I started earlier this year and never got around to finishing.

[Alexa]

I also adore Francis Crawford of Lymond - the quintessential hero! Yet I couldn't seem to finish King Hereafter.... I've been thinking it's time to do a complete Lymond/Niccolo rereading.