What are you reading in April 2014?

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Laurel wrote: "I think there has to be some kind of rule that you can't tease us by saying you splurged on 25 books and not give us still least a FEW titles. Spill!"

Agreed! Spill it!

[Chris , cookie guilt]

I just listened to "Some Desperado" by Joe Abercrombie on the way to my eye doctor appointment. It's from Dangerous Women.

It was very cool indeed.

[Lee]

I read The Girl with a Clock for a Heart over the weekend. No. The girl did not have an actual clock for a heart - that would have been cool... It was a mystery/thriller that reminded me of Gone Girl. I wasn't a big fan of it but I would recommend it to fans of Gone Girl - though it isn't as good.

Now I'm reading Red Rising.... I was expecting Hunger Games from a guy's point of view.... and I guess it is.... sort of.... But this is one f'd up book! Really dark and violent. Its not your typical YA fare - that's for sure.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Nienna wrote: "I read The Girl with a Clock for a Heart over the weekend. No. The girl did not have an actual clock for a heart - that would have been cool... It was a mystery/thriller that reminded me of Gone Gi..."



I think that would probably make me rather upset. I'd want the girl to have a clock heart.

[Luke]

Laurel wrote: "I think there has to be some kind of rule that you can't tease us by saying you splurged on 25 books and not give us still least a FEW titles. Spill!"

Ok, ok lol.

King of Thorns hardcover for $5!!! Now I just need to find the first one in hardcover, fly to the UK, stalk Lawrence, and then beg his signature and then we'll be good.

The entire Riyria Revelations series by Michael Sullivan, as well as his new book Hollow World

The Golem and the Jinni by Helen Wrecker.

Kraken by China Mieville (this was the only book of his that my store carried).

The King Rolen's Kin trilogy by Rowena Cory Daniels.

Brent Weeks' The Night Angel trilogy.

And finally, the last two books in the Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett.

I think that's most of them. There are probably a couple others that I forgot.

[Ala]

Some good books in that haul

[Nan]

Wow Luke, how will you decide what to read first?

[Laurel]

I have to get to Brent Weeks some day!

[Luke]

Nan wrote: "Wow Luke, how will you decide what to read first?"

I have no clue lol. I've been arguing with myself all day over what order to read my current books as well as those new ones in. I'm reading The Thousand Names right now and then I'll read The Lions of Al-Rassa and Promise of Blood. After that I'm pretty lost.

[Laurel]

I'm practically chewing on my knuckles, dying to know what you think of Lions of Al-Rassan and Promise of Blood!

No pressure ;)

I have to get to The Thousand Names as well...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

o_O wrote: "Some good books in that haul"

^

Agreed. Good haul

[Luke]

Oh, and I got Grim Company by Luke Scrull. I'm probably going to avoid the trilogies at the start, just so I can read a little bit by a lot of authors. So Hollow World, Grim Company, The Golem and the Jinni, and Kraken are probably going to be next after Promist of Blood and Lions.

[Paolo]

Nienna wrote: "Now I'm reading Red Rising.... I was expecting Hunger Games from a guy's point of view.... and I guess it is.... sort of.... But this is one f'd up book! Really dark and violent. Its not your typical YA fare - that's for sure."

Heh I think I know what parts you´re talking about! I had similar reactions halfway through - "well THAT was a little violent for YA". I really liked that book.

[Lee]

Red Rising reminded me of a cross between Hunger Games (which I know is a rewritten Battle Royal but I haven't read BR) and Ender's Game.

Now I'm reading Annihilation.

[ally ¯\(ツ)/¯]

Nienna wrote: "Red Rising reminded me of a cross between Hunger Games (which I know is a rewritten Battle Royal but I haven't read BR) and Ender's Game.

Now I'm reading Annihilation."

I'm really excited about Annihilation, but I think I'm going to wait til all three books come out this year and then marathon them. I LOOOOOVE that book 2 has a rabbit on it. Kinda obsessed.

[Karen]

I'm reading The Fountains of Paradise and The Golem and the Jinni. I'm enjoying both so far.

I ambitiously want to read 3 more books before the end of April. Probably And the Mountains Echoed, Red Seas Under Red Skies and The Sandman, Vol. 2: The Doll's House

[Ian]

☆αlly☆ (litєrαry єscαpist) wrote: "Nienna wrote: "Red Rising reminded me of a cross between Hunger Games (which I know is a rewritten Battle Royal but I haven't read BR) and Ender's Game.

Now I'm reading [book:Annihilation|1793453..."

Annihilation is pretty amazing. I was lucky enough to get to see Jeff Vandermeer at Mysterious Galaxies in Redondo Beach last week. (Was it just a week ago?) Got him to sign my copy of Wonderbook. Can't wait for the next book in the Southern Reach.

[Moondog]

My books for April are Kraken and, probably the last one here for this, The Great Hunt.

[Lee]

Ian wrote: "☆αlly☆ (litєrαry єscαpist) wrote: "Nienna wrote: "Red Rising reminded me of a cross between Hunger Games (which I know is a rewritten Battle Royal but I haven't read BR) and Ender's Game.

Now I'm..."

That's where I got my book. Wasn't there for the signing but mine is signed. It was my first time there - but not my last. I liked it. I like B&N okay but since Borders closed there hasn't really been a bookstore that I could call "mine"... You know what I mean?

Oh. And I'm enjoying the book too. :)

[Ian]

Nienna wrote: "Ian wrote: "☆αlly☆ (litєrαry єscαpist) wrote: "Nienna wrote: "Red Rising reminded me of a cross between Hunger Games (which I know is a rewritten Battle Royal but I haven't read BR) and Ender's Gam..."

I'm glad to hear more people are shopping at Mysterious Galaxy. I'm really hopeful that the dying of the big chains might allow for a return of the specialty stores. There used to be a great store in Long Beach called Richard Kyle Books. That guy had so much knowledge and great advice, but his store was killed off... by Crown I think, even before the Borders and Barnes and Noble. More stores like Richard Kyle or Mysterious Galaxy where the people working there give better suggestions than Amazon's "because you read this you'll love this other thing."

[Lee]

Yeah. I've been very nostalgic lately for the days of bookstores. I miss them. I'm actually very close to MG - I just hadn't gone. But they definitely have a new customer.

[Ian]

The Goodreads reply button is a bit wonky, isn't it? Or is it my fault for as usual trying to do too many things at a time? It cuts off somewhat oddly. Is that 144 characters? Is it trying to be twitter friendly?

[Kara]

Adding Annihilation to my reading list. It sounds interesting & I've never heard of the author, thanks guys!

[Lee]

Ian wrote: "The Goodreads reply button is a bit wonky, isn't it? Or is it my fault for as usual trying to do too many things at a time? It cuts off somewhat oddly. Is that 144 characters? Is it trying to be tw..."

It automatically takes the first part of the post. If you want though - you can use reply and then copy and paste the section you want to reply to.

I usually just reply without either - lazy I know.

[Steven]

Currently Reading The Chosen One by Anna Erishkigal, so far is a good read (page 63 of 446 Kindle Iphone style)

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

I'm still reading A Madness of Angels by Katen Griffin.

It's slow going... and I can't really decide what I think of it.

[Ian]

Nienna wrote: "It automatically takes the first part of the post. If you want though - you can use reply and then copy and paste the section you want to reply to. "

Thanks! I didn't realize until I looked back up at the screen. Pretty much it's just that I'm trying to do too many things at once, and perhaps there is such thing as too much caffeine afterall. :)

[Ala]

c.o.lleen ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "I'm still reading A Madness of Angels by Katen Griffin.

It's slow going... and I can't really decide what I think of it."


I found it slow and lacking any sense of connection to the characters. I even forced myself to read the second book and it was still meh.


I read Red Rising today. Started a bit slow for me, and the whole Colors thing was a bit wtf, but it escalated rather quickly which was nice.

[Michelle]

Reading Inkspell, (but I'm hoping for a new book to arrive tomorrow)

[Laurel]

Taking a break from Red Rising to read The Kraken King Part II: The Kraken King and the Abominable Worm . I'm so excited that Amazon has finally decided to make serial's available in Canada!

I think that I'll enjoy Red Rising, it's just a bit darker than I'm in the mood for today. Plus, Heaven's Queen the final book in the trilogy arrives on my doorstep tomorrow and I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!

It's supposed to rain here tomorrow. Open the windows, listen to the rain, drink some coffee or tea and read, read, read!

[Lee]

Finished Annihilation. I liked it. A good science fiction mystery with some horror. My only complaint would be that you can tell it's ⅓ of a story. Reminded me a little of Lost --- but there better be more answers.

Now I've started Half Bad. I am really liking this book.

[ally ¯\(ツ)/¯]

Lost!?! (view spoiler)[ smoke monster??? haha! (hide spoiler)]

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

o_O wrote: "I found it slow and lacking any sense of connection to the characters. I even forced myself to read the second book and it was still meh."


I'm also lacking the sense of connection to the characters.

And I have difficulty reading more than 30-40 pages without falling asleep.

But I'm not hating it. Some of the concepts are really interesting, and I like how she relates some of them.

On the other hand, she never uses one adjective or metaphor when she can cram in 15... and that's... annoying...

Thanks for the heads up on the next book. I think I'll definitely do a one and done on this series. Hope it wraps up enough to work as a standalone...

[Ala]

Yeah. The idea was good, the implementation sucked though

[Lee]

Finished Half Bad. Loved it! Yeah. It reads like a Harry Potter fan fic. But I really liked it. Really. Now I want the 2nd book though...

I started Life After Life - slow and boring beginning I'm hoping it picks up. And - The Last Policeman - I figured this would probably be a sad book but it's even sadder than I expected. It's not a bad book - if you want to read something depressing - but I don't think I'll read the next two books. I'll Google the end though. :(

[Ala]

The Last Policeman is a bit bleak, though I don't see it as depressing personally. Countdown City though... Yeah.

[Lee]

o_O wrote: "The Last Policeman is a bit bleak, though I don't see it as depressing personally. Countdown City though... Yeah."

I think my problem is - the policeman is going on life as normal when it isn't. Nothing he is doing matters. Not really. Not in the long run. He reminds me of the band on the Titanic playing while its sinking.

[Nan]

Nienna wrote: "I think my problem is - the policeman is going on life as normal when it isn't ..."

That's the irony of it, I guess. Or, perhaps (view spoiler)[ he agrees with those who don't think the asteroid will hit the Earth or who think the whole asteroid thing is a fabrication. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Yeah. It just bummed me out. Good book. But definitely not for me. It reminded me of a short story that I think Bradbury wrote but I could be wrong -

In the story this ordinary couple are just having a regular day. Having dinner. Washing the dishes etc. And then go to bed. Business as usual but at the end the reader finds out that (view spoiler)[ the world is ending and this is how the couple decided to spend their last day together. (hide spoiler)] I read it school and it just hit me. This book made me feel the same way.

[Nan]

Nienna wrote: "... It reminded me of a short story ..."

Wow, that is a bummer.

[Paolo]

I finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane, thought it was brilliant. I´m very new to Gaiman, having only read this book and the first couple volumes of Sandman.

I´m wrapping up Altered Carbon now, and I also read the first chapter of The Martian ahead of next month´s group read.

[Karen]

Paolo wrote: "I finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane, thought it was brilliant. I´m very new to Gaiman, having only read this book and the first couple volumes of Sandman.

I´m wrapping up ..."

What did you think of Altered Carbon? It has been on my TBR list ever since The Incomparable podcast recommended it a while back

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

Paolo wrote: "I finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane, thought it was brilliant. I´m very new to Gaiman, having only read this book and the first couple volumes of Sandman. "

I loved 'Ocean'. It was the only book I gave a 5 star to last year.

[Becky]

And I felt let down a bit by it. I was just expecting an adult book more along the lines of American Gods. I wanted something a bit... more. *shrug*

[Paolo]

Karen wrote: "What did you think of Altered Carbon? It has been on my TBR list ever since The Incomparable podcast recommended it a while back"

I´m liking it a lot so far. The prologue along with the first chapter are very memorable and hard-hitting; the pace is a little slower after that, but still good. Pretty heavy on the violence and graphic sex. There are many cool SF concepts including the whole "sleeve" thing which is the basic premise. 26th century Bay City (formerly San Francisco) is also very cool.

Recommended if you want to read a noir story in a sci fi setting.

[Paolo]

c.o.lleen ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "I loved 'Ocean'. It was the only book I gave a 5 star to last year."

I gave it 5 stars as well :) It joins Pump Six and Other Stories and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao as the 5-star books I´ve read this year.

[Kara]

I liked Ocean a lot too! Unique as always.

[Kara]

And apparently the rest of what I wrote there just got lost... *sigh*

[Lee]

I'm ready to drop Life After Life - Seriously - Does it pick up at all? I'm 27% in (I know because my kindle has an annoying habit of keeping track) and I'm bored out of my mind with it. Cool idea - boring book.

I read Dominion. Pre- Novella of C.S. Friedman's Coldfire series. This was one of my favorite series in school but I remember very little about it. I think I'll start the first book tonight.

[Lee]

There were parts of Oceans I liked. But I thought it would've worked better as a short story or novella. The marketing didn't help either. The marketing in the US anyway - we marketed it as Gaiman's return to "adult" fantasy. I disagree. It was YA. I have nothing against YA. Some of my favorite books are YA. (Sarcasm implied). I love YA. But that wasn't what I was expecting. So when it was what I got I was disappointed.