What are you reading in July 2014?

[Dawn, Dawnerys, Mother of Modding]

Has anyone heard of / read Off to Be the Wizard? My fiance husband (?!?) read it while we were on our honeymoon, and now is saying he wants me to read it to see what I think.

The thing is.... I'm not sure I trust his taste in books! LOL. I'm much more broadly read than him in the fantasy word. I usually recommend books to him based on what he's in the mood for, not the other way around...

It's supposedly sort of similar to Ready Player One (which he read and loved based on my recommendation, just saying), but from what he said not nearly as good... But still good.

Anyway.. Just curious. Has anyone read it or heard anything about it?

[Cora]

Stephanie wrote: "Finished the Dresden Files series except for a couple of short stories that I don't have. Now reading/listening to some Ed McBain and Terry Pratchett. I needed some shorter books to catch up with..."

I just read the first two Dresden Files books and enjoyed them. I'm a Pratchett fan. If you haven't read Good Omens by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, you might try it. It's not a short book, but it's so funny and entertaining that it's a short read.

[Elise]

I am currently not reading any books that belong in this group. Such as Mary Boleyn: The Great and Infamous Whore and De stille kracht (Dutch). However, I am hoping that I will finish one of those books soon so I can start on Seventh Son and the other books that follow in the series. Perhaps even in July! Anyone here who has read any Orson Scott Card books?

I really liked Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, Cora! I recommend it! It is an easy, but very fun read.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I just bought an anthology for $0.59...

It has 10 books. O_O

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Dawn wrote: "Has anyone heard of / read Off to Be the Wizard? My fiance husband (?!?) read it while we were on our honeymoon, and now is saying he wants me to read it to see what I think.

The t..."

I hadn't heard of it until you...err..asked me about it a couple of weeks ago. We'll have to get Ala to read it and let us know.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Dawn wrote: "Has anyone heard of / read Off to Be the Wizard? My fiance husband (?!?) read it while we were on our honeymoon, and now is saying he wants me to read it to see what I think.

The t..."

I've not read it but the reviews...are saying a slow start and the MC is unlikeable (and stupid) up through the 1st half. After that it gets better.

Main points I saw was that you have to like the humor to enjoy it and that it was predicable.

[Lee]

Late to the discussion, but...

I would join in on a Dark Tower buddy read. I've read the first three, twice, and then get stuck. I like the books. Just for some reason it's one of those series I just can't finish.

I would also join on a Harry Potter reread. I have read them all. But not since the last book came out, and I said I would read the complete series someday.

I've been trying to read classic/literature. I finished To Kill a Mockingbird and loved it. Now I'm reading Dracula. First time. Though, I've seen many, many, movie versions.

Today I also read two quickies. Maleficent. I was on the fence about the movie but after reading this I know it would just piss me off. Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite Disney movies and Maleficent is my favorite villain. I don't know why there's a trend (Wicked, OUaT) to make villains into heroes. Not to mention... Her name is MALEFICENT... meaning to do harm or evil... Sigh...

[Felina]

I liked Maleficent. I liked the strong women element to the story. Otherwise you have catty chicks fighting over beauty, a young woman who can't 'awaken' to her life without the help of a man and a woman so helpless she needs a man to literally fight all her battles for her. The story needed a retelling IMO.

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

Felina wrote: "I liked Maleficent. I liked the strong women element to the story. Otherwise you have catty chicks fighting over beauty, a young woman who can't 'awaken' to her life without the help of a man and a..."

Agreed.

I mean, I like Maleficent from the original cartoon (see last year's Halloween costume) - but I really liked the new movie for all the reasons you mentioned.

And I really liked Diaval (sp?), though I wondered why they changed his name.

And she's more an anti-hero than a hero.

But, then, I also really liked Wicked, too, and Elphaba's totally not a hero. She's more a tragic figure, actually, but she's not a hero.

[Felina]

Exactly!

There are so few people who are evil just to be evil. There is always a reason. I like that people are trying to explore those reasons.

And anti-heroes are super popular right now across the board. I think we'll be seeing many more of these villain POV's coming out soon.

[Lee]

Felina wrote: "I liked Maleficent. I liked the strong women element to the story. Otherwise you have catty chicks fighting over beauty, a young woman who can't 'awaken' to her life without the help of a man and a..."

There were parts I liked. Though, I only read the novelization and haven't seen the movie. But I did really like giving her back story of why she curses the baby. But I wish they hadn't (view spoiler)[ changed the curse so early. I like the original curse, Maleficent curses the child to die, not be put to sleep. I actually don't have a problem with redeeming Maleficent but I think toning down her evilness was a mistake. In my opinion, anyway. It would've been better is her parents had named her and then with all the stuff she had gone through, she named herself Maleficent. And then he love for Aurora saved her. Which- I can agree, I liked. I like the raven boy, and the inclusion of the dragon. Though, I thought I wouldn't. I *do* have a problem with the Philip hate though. He's the only prince to slay a dragon for his princess- shouldn't that account for something?? All joking aside- he does have more personality than the princes in Snow White and Cinderella. At least he has a name. And I do like Disney changing up the whole loves first kiss thing, OUaT did it first if I'm not mistaken. And I don't mind anti heroes, or anti villains I suppose. But I don't like making villains 'heroes' and innocent of any wrong doing. (hide spoiler)]

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

I haven't seen Sleeping Beauty in awhile, but, (view spoiler)[I'd forgotten the curse was to die, but I remembered the third fairy put in the bit about true love's kiss...

But that wouldn't have entirely worked with the story, because the whole dig was at dickface for telling her he gave her true love's kiss and then betraying her. So, with the story the way it was, it sort of had to be put in by Maleficent.

Also, in the context of the movie, it's not about her softening and giving them away out. It's specifically about *not* giving them away out *and* throwing in a giant "fuck you", because she doesn't believe true love exists, so she believes it's an impossible clause to fill...

As for Prince Philip - my opinion of the Sleeping Beauty story was sadly ruined by the actual original story, in which she wakes upon giving birth to a child...

But, in the Disney version, I guess he's ok - but I don't read Philip hate from what Felina said, but more the fact that all the old fairy tales relied on men to save the princesses, but in this version it gave Aurora more agency.

Lastly - I kinda agree about the name issue, and my one real quibble with the movie is that she changed Diaval into the dragon instead of becoming a dragon herself.

But, either way, she's not "innocent of any wrong doing". It's made very clear that she let her feelings of revenge get the better of her, and she's redeemed through Aurora's love and goodness. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Oh, I don't mean to point a finger at Felina, just a general point. I need to be more careful. Sorry if I made anyone feel that way.

[Lee]

As for 'true love's kiss' - yeah. Okay... now I'm thinking of it in a different way. You have a good point.

Still hate the name thing though... Lol.

[Felina]

I wasn't offended by anything and didn't think you were pointing the finger at me. No worries.

[Kara]

Been listening to Taken, book 3 of the Alex Verus Series - which I have been quite enjoying!

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I started reading Wings of Fire last night. It's an anthology of dragon stories.

I've read one so far: a really strange poem by Peter S. Beagle and I'm in the middle of a short by GRRM.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

That looks interesting. "The Ice Dragon" (GRRM) was pretty decent, from what I remember.

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

Currently reading Ruin and Rising, which I'm getting frustrated with 'cause it's the last book of a trilogy, and I'm 66% in and I feel like not much has actually happened - and some of the stuff that has happened has been stupid and makes me wonder if people in this world ever heard of sentries.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Chris wrote: "That looks interesting. "The Ice Dragon" (GRRM) was pretty decent, from what I remember."

SO far it's good! I have to admit to trepidation considering...this IS GRRM. I expect everyone to die at the end...

O_O

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Even in his children stories? Heh

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I've not read any of his children's stories...but I wouldn't be surprised.

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

MrsJoseph wrote: "I've not read any of his children's stories...but I wouldn't be surprised."

Either would I. People die in children's stories all the time... and this *is* GRRM you're talking about. ;)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

So I just finished reading the GRRM short story. :(

Rant below

(view spoiler)[I am done with GRRM. He's a great writer, no doubt about but the choices he makes as a writer always make me pretty upset. I mean, in a 8-9 page short story...he can't help but to have one poor girl gang raped - thank god it's too short of a short for him to go into detail. It's 9 fucking pages! WTF. Between the gang rape, the uncle being burned to death and the father being nailed to a wall...I have lost any reading mojo I had for today and I actually feel like crying. Ugh. (hide spoiler)]

[Kara]

MrsJoseph wrote: "So I just finished reading the GRRM short story. :(

Rant below

[spoilers removed]"

hehe... Had to stop with book 4 GoT. I think I've given up as well.

[Eon Windrunner]

MrsJoseph wrote: "So I just finished reading the GRRM short story. :(

Rant below

[spoilers removed]"

Wow. That's a bit ridiculous.