What Else Are You Reading - May 2017

[Sumant]

Here is my review for Theft of Swords

[Jennifer]

Sumant wrote: "Here is my review for Theft of Swords"

I really enjoyed that series

[Sumant]

@Jennifer I too liked the first book, going to continue with consequent books in series.

[Jennifer]

Sumant wrote: "@Jennifer I too liked the first book, going to continue with consequent books in series."

I read them one right after the other. They are excellent, easy (not in a bad way to read) and a simply good story.

[Joel]

Reading House of Suns. Super enjoying it so far.

Assassin's Fate. Listening to the audio. Elliot Hill has done a fantastic job. Each Fitz trilogy has had a different narrator, and I have enjoyed them all.

[Rick]

If you like House of Suns, there's a novella set in the time before that novel with some of the same characters - Thousandth Night

[Lariela]

Just started The Grand Tour by Patricia Wrede. Enjoyed the first book in the series.

[Sheila Jean]

It's been a full month: Started with The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, then read a bunch of other stuff (The Masked City (Invisible Library #2), The Thief's Daughter, Shadow Games, Norse Mythology, Dreams of Steel), and picked up and finished off the June pick The Hum and the Shiver over the weekend.

About half of those were Audio books, and half were text. I'm in the process of listening to Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection, and reading another Glen Cook book, The Silver Spike.

I've been surprised by how much I've enjoyed reading The Chronicles of the Black Company. I think there's much less exposition than a lot of the stuff I'd been reading. I will say I'm kinda done, though I didn't really like the way Dreams of Steel ended. I was perfectly content not to read any more right up until I found out how it ended.

I think I only really liked Norse Mythology because it was interesting to hear the myths from a perspective that wasn't Atticus's (The Iron Druid Chronicles), which is really the only place I've been exposed to more than the super hero version.

And I'm loving The Arcanum Unbound. The short stories were fun, and I'm now in the middle of The Secret History. Also, the audio narration of all Sanderson's work by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading is outstanding.

[Silvana]

Finished with Watership Down. Very emotional read. I will never see rabbits the same way again.

Starting Waking Fire by Anthony Ryan (with author Q&A too, woohoo!)

[Trike]

Silvana wrote: "Finished with Watership Down. Very emotional read. I will never see rabbits the same way again."

For a much lighter and less intense version of that kind of story, try Rabbit Hill.

[Sky]

I finished City of Miracles. I thought the first two were a little better, but I still really enjoyed it and found the ending to be quite fitting for the trilogy.

Next up I am starting Ninefox Gambit.

[Jordan]

John (Taloni) wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Finished Second Foundation. I really loved the trilogy as a whole despite some flaws. Taking a break before I think about trying Foundation's Edge. The audiobook time is a lot longer..."

I'm reading Foundation's Edge as part of my Hugo's read through, so I'll at least get to that one even if I don't read any more of the later Foundation books. I read I, Robot years ago and loved it, so I definitely plan to hunt down some of his older stuff. I'll probably track down a copy of The Caves of Steel next.

[Soo]

This newfound love for audiobooks is definitely making it easier to read more. =)

Audiobooks:
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) - Fun! Made me think of Star Trek/etc in a way. Listening to it vs reading made it a tad more confusing with all the "Bobs". Looking forward to the next book in this series.

The Hospital: The First Mountain Man Story - Short story prequel with zombies. It was good for the genre. Totally gross, suspenseful and wince-worthy. I didn't care for the main character. Not sure if I will pursue the series but I may give book one a try just to see. It was well written and narrated. Free on Audible.

Lock In - Narrated by Wil Wheaton. The first time I tried to listen to this story, I was turned off by the opening because my interest was raised and tossed very easily. This time around, something clicked and I gobbled it all up! The story isn't all that complex but the altered world is totally interesting! Make sure to listen to the Unlock novella that is at the end. It's VERY well done and gives a lot of depth to the Lock In world.

The Dead Key - It was cheap. Interesting premise and it has characters that grow on you. The tie up was okay but not entirely satisfying. No creep factor.

The Good House - For anyone that enjoys a good story with a bit of supernatural, I highly recommend this book. The story is very rich. Robin Miles' narration gives it an added warmth, depth and chilling factor. The core of the story is family.

Print:
Slaughterhouse-Five - This is a great book. It ended the way it started. What's normal? Cause is now. I can't believe I didn't read it before now.

The Silent Corner - Great start to a new series! Jane Hawk rocks. I can't wait to read the next book.

Schooled in Magic - A girl gets summoned into another world to be sacrificed, ends up getting saved, told she has a knack for magic and then tossed into a magic school to learn. That's just the very start of the story. It's definitely comes off a bit like Harry Potter but it's not. I am hoping that this one is awkward due to being a first book and that things will settle in the next. There's like eleven books in this series.

Paradox Bound - Fun fun fun! My impulse was the read it again right after I finished it because of the way it wraps up.

Current:
Audio+Book - Nest
I was curious to see what a thriller book by TG would be like and I picked this one up to try. Almost at the end! It's either going to end with a great big bang or piss me off by being lame sacks. I love the way Elisabeth Rodgers narrates this story. She really acts out the parts for characters.

Starting up Menagerie, A Curious Beginning & Lessons In Etiquette.

[Louie]

Jordan wrote: "I'm reading Foundation's Edge as part of my Hugo's read through, so I'll at least get to that one even if I don't read any more of the later Foundation books."

I actually really enjoyed the fourth and fifth books of the Foundation series (Foundation's Edge, Foundation and Earth). They were actually full length novels that accompanied each other, rather than short novellas published as a trilogy. It is when you get to the last two*, the prequels that follow a young Hari Seldon, where it all falls apart. You'd think that would be better than it actually turned out. And, afterwards, you just might be interested in reading his Galactic Empire trilogy, and Robot series, since they all connect somehow. [No spoilers]

*in publication order

[Iain]

Just finished Greg Egan's Dichronauts ★★★☆☆. It is a very hard SF story that is driven by the ideas of alternative Universes with very different physical laws. This is a typical recent Egan book. The characterisation is very 2 dimensional (ironic given the nature of its Universe) that is too similar to his far more developed Clockwork Universe books which are a far better exploration of alternative physical laws.

As usual Egan comes up with compelling aliens that are truly alien. The hybrids in this book are fascinating creatures. However the lack of any character development is a real shame.

You are better off reading some of his more rounded earlier works.

Now diving into The Boy on the Bridge.

[Iain]

Louie wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I'm reading Foundation's Edge as part of my Hugo's read through, so I'll at least get to that one even if I don't read any more of the later Foundation books."

I actually really enj..."

Late Asimov is in dire need of an editor with a big red pen. Those suckers are padded.

He also suffered from wanting to tie all his books into one single Universe. The early books are still great SF.

[Allison]

My library is taking longer than usual to get my books in, and it's effing with my chi. However, I've managed to read The Prose Edda, London Falling, The Collapsing Empire, Seasons Of Horror: A Short Story Anthology, and The Epic of Gilgamesh.

The classics have been so much fun. I'd never experienced the unabridged versions, and I really enjoyed them. Quick reads full of humor, action, and the human experience.

The Collapsing Empire was my first Scalzi, and I loved it. I was incredibly impressed with how he wrote women, as I am informed that writing the opposite sex is Nigh Impossible and I Shouldn't Expect Otherwise. Well, someone figured it out. I hope it's a trend. Funny and profane with a neat universe that moved at a good clip (sorry for the pun).

Seasons of Horror was a light read. Entertaining stories of zombies, demons, and worst case scenarios.

And then London Falling. You ate seven nights of my reading time, London Falling. You ate it and it's gone forever. I hope you choke. I found this book poorly edited, paced, and populated. A real shame.

[Lariela]

Just started Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of The Reality Dysfunction.