What are you reading in September 2015?

[Nick]

Please tell us what you are reading or attempting to read in September.

[Paul]

The science fiction books that I am currently are Bringer Of Light and the new Alastair Reynolds, Poseidon's Wake

[Helen]

The Element of Fire and it's good.

[Lindsey]

For SFF/comics: Fool's Quest, Spirit Gate, The Mabinogion Tetralogy, and Inhumans: The Origin of the Inhumans.

Otherwise, No-Drama Discipline, How Children Succeed, and The Truth About Retirement Plans and IRAs.

Oh, and currently reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle out loud.

Not ambitious, just WAY behind on my reading goals for the year. If I could finish all these this month, I'd be caught up. I am looking forward to this month's discussion of Uprooted!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Traveling today--long flight and equally long layover--I ought to make some progress with The Bonehunters, which I haven't cracked open even once during the last 3 weeks while on vacation!

[Chris]

I'm reading Old Man's War and am loving it.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of Look to windward, 7th book in The culture series. Really enjoyed this book, one of the best books in culture series.

[Justine]

I'm reading Karen Memory.

[Tani]

I finished up Midnight Tides last night. It was good, but not what I've come to expect from the Malazan series. It never gripped me the way that the three previous books did, which was a shame. I did really enjoy a lot of the characters, but it just wasn't up to the standard that I'm used to. (And by that, I mean that it was a 4 star book still.)

I started The Shadow Throne by Django Wexler as my next book. I'm really excited to read this one!

[Christine]

I'm reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

[Lulu]

I finished The House of Shattered Wings yesterday. I found it utterly addictive, the magic system was interesting, and the story had so much going on while staying uncluttered. I was suspicious of a lot of people, and there was not a single character I did not enjoy or would want to read more about. Even Asmodeous - maybe especially him. I'm so glad to find it is a series, so I look forward to the next one.

Today, I finished The Night Circus. I felt it ran out of some steam nearer the end, which is a shame, and the romance became a little too heavy for me. But other than that, I really loved it. I was especially interested in Bailey's story, more than the main two, but the characters, the setting, the magic...everything was lovely. Not often you get to see a behind the scenes of the "magical circus" trope, too.

I'm going to try and finish up more of my in-progress books over the weekend. At the beginning of the week, my currently reading pile hit 8, and though it is back to 6 now, it is still just far too many.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of Hero of ages the final book in mistborn trilogy.

[Shel, Moderator]

You all are reading some great stuff :) (and Lindsey, I've been trying to decide what chapter book to start reading aloud next to my 4-year-old - maybe The Mouse and the Motorcycle will fit the bill if I can get a copy!)

I'm reading some Georgette Heyer short stories in Pistols For Two. They're good fun, light reading, exactly what I need these days as I'm just about to start a new school year. I tend to read short stories and/or re-read old favorites when I'm especially busy and can't afford to get caught up in a book I won't be able to put down (have been considering a The Belgariad Boxed Set: Pawn of Prophecy / Queen of Sorcery / Magician's Gambit / Castle of Wizardry / Enchanters' End Game re-read next - excellent fluff, as fluff goes, LOL!).

[Justine]

Shel...PM me and let me know what kind of books your 4 year old likes; I might be able to make some suggestions having a 7 and 10 year old who still like being read to myself. :)

[Justine]

I finished Karen Memory, which I really enjoyed. I'm now reading Sorcerer to the Crown.

[Alissa]

Lulu wrote: "I finished The House of Shattered Wings yesterday. I found it utterly addictive, the magic system was interesting, and the story had so much going on while staying uncluttered. I wa..."

The House of Shattered Wings looks so intriguing :D

[Christine]

Alissa wrote: "Lulu wrote: "I finished The House of Shattered Wings yesterday. I found it utterly addictive, the magic system was interesting, and the story had so much going on while staying uncl..."

I agree, have to pump it up on my TBR mountain

[Lindsey]

Shel wrote: "You all are reading some great stuff :) (and Lindsey, I've been trying to decide what chapter book to start reading aloud next to my 4-year-old - maybe The Mouse and the Motorcycle will fit the bill if I can get a copy!)"

My kid's the same age. :-) Mr. Popper's Penguins was a big hit for both of us. My son liked Ramona the Pest but I thought the chapters were too long for bedtime. So I went to the actual bookstore for our next pick and found some with shorter chapters. Up soon-ish are The Wednesday Witch, Muggie Maggie, and Shadow Castle.

[Helen]

The Bonehunters finally. I'm still in the prologue...

[Alissa]

Helen wrote: "The Bonehunters finally. I'm still in the prologue..."

Eh :) I'm finishing King Hereafter, what a ride. Deeply challenging and rewarding on all levels. Unfortunately I didn't pick the best of times for it, and I ended up reading it on weekends only, with lighter books in-between. Definitely not my favourite choice for complex stories.

As next reads, I'm undecided whether to read new releases - there's the last throne of glass, Queen of Shadows; both Sorcerer to the Crown, The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps and The Traitor Baru Cormorant look very intriguing, and let's not forget the latest instalment of the never-ending Legend of Drizzt series, Archmage - or follow my TBR queue...choices, choices.

[Ken]

Finished a Jack Reacher book. Die Trying It was ok. Couple of problems with it but all in all not bad
Started a new book Broken Blade
It's a sort of serious Vlad Taltos book.

[Justine]

Traitor Baru still has a week until release in North America...do you already have it, Alissa?

[Alissa]

No, not yet. The availability is the same as the North American's one, but I was thinking on reading it within the month. I'm reading the last chapters of King's hereafter and it's a work of beauty. I'm both intellectually and emotionally engaged.
I'll probably go with Queen of Shadows next.

[Colleen]

Just finished A Red-Rose Chain, which was excellent. I like most of Seanan McGuire's work. Her stories are very character focused and smartly written, plus her world building is very logical even in a urban fantasy realm. I really recommend them.

[Justine]

I finished Sorcerer to the Crown, which I enjoyed. It's essentially Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell but with a strong female character and the boring parts taken out (that's basically the whole of my review) :)

I'm now reading Superposition.

[Chris]

Finished Old Man's War, which was excellent. I'll definitely be reading more from Scalzi in the future.

Just started Brilliance and am really enjoying that as well.

[Alissa]

Justine wrote: "I finished Sorcerer to the Crown, which I enjoyed. It's essentially Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell but with a strong female character and the boring parts taken out (tha..."

I'm totally curious to read it now!

I've finished Queen of Shadows, an excellent instalment in the throne of glass series. I've picked The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps as my next read, the free preview was intriguing and I read an interesting article at tor.com which encouraged me further, because I'm all for stories which use language as an active part of the world-building (if the authors pulls it off, that is).

Then I'm a bit undecided, there's Sorcerer to the Crown and the latest Drizzt's book, but I was also thinking about Flesh and Spirit by Carol Berg, The House of Shattered Wings and finally trying Robin Hobb with Assassin's Apprentice.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Alissa wrote: "... and finally trying Robin Hobb with Assassin's Apprentice."

I had never read any Hobb until last summer, when I started the Farseer books, beginning with Assassin's Apprentice. I was hooked. I still have not read very many of her books, but I will. The books in the Farseer series got better and better, IMO.

[Paul]

Just started Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

[Nick]

Paul wrote: "Just started Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

How much PKD have you read in the past? There are actually many books out there about Philip K. Dick. I found The Twisted Worlds of Philip K. Dick: A Reading of Twenty Ontologically Uncertain Novels by Umberto Rossi at my public library, and it was really insightful.

[Alissa]

Kathi wrote: "I had never read any Hobb until last summer, when I started the Farseer books, beginning with Assassin's Apprent..."

Sounds great! I'm eager to try another woman fantasist, after the great discoveries that Janny Wurts and Carol Berg were.

[Alexa]

Robin Hobb and Carol Berg are both equally amazing! I would be hard pressed to have to choose between them. One point, Flesh and Spirit is part of a stand-alone duo (although I think her latest duo is set in the same world), while almost everything Robin Hobb writes is connected - so right now that's 15(?) interconnected books.

[Paul]

Nick wrote: "How much PKD have you read in the past? There are actually many books out there about Philip K. Dick...."

I have read several of his Nick, including Ubik, The Minority Report. They are not always brilliant, but the concepts that he has conceived are usually enough to make your head spin

[Justine]

I finished Karen Memory, which I would highly recommend. It's turning out to be one of this month's favourites in my buddy read group. I'm now reading The Library at Mount Char.

I'll be interested in what you think of The Sorcerer of Wildeeps, Alissa, as Liz Bourke's review on Tor.com seemed ambivalent.

[Justine]

Paul - absolutely agree with what you say about PKD. I think he is such a great idea man, if not always able to completely pull off the execution. In particular, I find a lot of his books start very strongly and then sometimes unravel towards the end. I tend to prefer his short stories myself.

[Paul]

What he has also been able to do is make the concept strong enough to stand up to the film adaption process too, as most of the films from his books have been excellent.

[Justine]

That's for sure!

[Shel, Moderator]

Kathi wrote: "Alissa wrote: "... and finally trying Robin Hobb with Assassin's Apprentice."

I had never read any Hobb until last summer, when I started the Farseer books, beginning with [book:Assassin's Apprent..."

Kathi, how on Earth have we been friends this long and I never made you read any Hobb before? LOL!

I LOVE her writing when in the first person, am a little less in love with her third person books (which is unusual because normally I'm not as much of a fan of first person narration - it has to be done really well, and that's what Hobb does).

[Shel, Moderator]

Paul wrote: "What he has also been able to do is make the concept strong enough to stand up to the film adaption process too, as most of the films from his books have been excellent."

Absolutely. I think my favorite of his (out of the ones I've read, anyway) is A Scanner Darkly and I thought the movie was pretty neat, the way they did the animation and all. It fit with the weirdness of the story.

[Lulu]

Alissa wrote: "Justine wrote: "I finished Sorcerer to the Crown, which I enjoyed. It's essentially Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell but with a strong female character and the boring part..."

I can only encourage The House of Shattered Wings, Alissa, since I enjoyed it so thoroughly :)

As for PKD, I love him also! We Can Remember It for You Wholesale is my favourite short story by him for sure. So remarkably skilful!

[Helen]

Kathi!!! Hobbs is awesome. I've not read the soldier series or the current ongoing series but the other four are epic especially in sequence when you spot the overlapping characters.

[Alissa]

Color me sold on Hobbs! But I'll probably get my Berg fix first, I want to read the Lighthouse duet, and if I end up liking Hobbs I'll binge read her as I did Wurts, and no matter what, that will take time.

Ambivalent is the world where Sorcerer of the Wildeeps is concerned, at least for me. I'm almost done, I'm liking it, and it's the kind of book I'd really love to hear other opinions about.

[Ken]

Finished off Broken Blade, not bad. It's a serious Vlad Taltos book.
Started some non-fiction Berlin 1961

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Shel wrote: "Kathi, how on Earth have we been friends this long and I never made you read any Hobb before? LOL!"

Oh, I well remember you and others singing her praises, and I have been accumulating her books, just never read any of them till last summer. I do recall some people saying her books were kind of "downers" or bleak, but I could be wrong. I've only read the Farseer trilogy but plan to continue with the others, sometime...

[Alexa]

Alissa wrote: "...if I end up liking Hobbs I'll binge read her as I did Wurts, and no matter what, that will take time...."

I've never read any Janny Wurts, but if you all put her in the same category as Robin Hobb and Carol Berg, then clearly I need to! Where would you recommend I start?

[Justine]

I just finished The Library at Mount Char, which I thought was funny, disturbing, and excellent. Also, it's a standalone...those are nice to know about so I thought I would mention that.:)

[Lulu]

I finished The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu last night. I had to take a break half way through because I hated it. After said break, I flew through it in the last 2-3 days, and loved what was left. It was definitely let down by its extremely dense first half, which was like wading through treacle rather than an enjoyable read! I'm glad I managed to finish it, and am excited to see where the last one will take the series.

I also finished The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket earlier in the week. It was a lot of fun. I see why I didn’t like it when I tried to read it as a teenager, but I’ve already bought the next book on audio. Tim Curry’s narration is so great! I also finished a non-SFF audiobook of by Truman Capote. I’ve never seen the film, but will have to now, given how much I enjoyed this one. Another excellent narrator, too.

Since then, I’ve started Kindred by Octavia E. Butler for a buddy read in another group. I really like the narration so far, and it’s such an interesting topic to tackle - a black woman who is slipping through time to the era of slavery!

For my Kindle book, I have to choose between A Stranger in Olondria, Station Eleven or Ancillary Sword!

[Alissa]

Alexa wrote: "Alissa wrote: "...if I end up liking Hobbs I'll binge read her as I did Wurts, and no matter what, that will take time...."

I've never read any Janny Wurts, but if you all put her in the same cate..."

Absolutely, yes, I discovered Berg, for example, because she was recommended to me as a Wurts fan. It's no secret I'm a die-hard fan of The Wars of Light and Shadow series, which is my benchmark for any other epic fantasy books, but I would not necessarily recommend it as a starting point into Wurts' works.

Her standalones are great too, there is To Ride Hell’s Chasm, The Master of White Storm and Sorcerer's Legacy (the last two she wrote earlier in her career), the first being my favorite ever, there's psychology, intrigue, action, the theme of diversity and Wurts' gorgeous prose. If it can be of interest, I've reviewed them all (no spoiler of course).

I'd like to know what other readers think about the best entry point into Wurts's work. I also liked a short story, Child of Prophecy, which led me to start with Mistwraith.

[Alissa]

Justine wrote: "I just finished The Library at Mount Char, which I thought was funny, disturbing, and excellent. Also, it's a standalone...those are nice to know about so I thought I would mention that.:)"

I really, really wonder if it's for me. So many good reviews from my friends. Is there horror?

I'm going to start Sorcerer to the Crown today.

[Lulu]

Alissa wrote: "Justine wrote: "I just finished The Library at Mount Char, which I thought was funny, disturbing, and excellent. Also, it's a standalone...those are nice to know about so I thought I would mention ..."

Will be interested in what you have to say for Sorcerer to the Crown, Alissa! I'm really curious.