What Else Are You Reading in 2018? Showing 951-1,000 of 3,893

[Meredith]

can it be mid-June? got a few things in the queue...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

lolol

[CBRetriever]

Spiritride by Mark Shepherd from a Mercedes Lackey series. Very formulaic

Katherine by Anya Seton = a reread from my teen years. It holds up quite well but unfortunately has the dreaded ragged right edge

Fallout by Sara Paretsy. New setting (not in Chicago) so a bit of new interest

Theft of Swords by Michael Sullivan. These were OK, but Fritz Leiber and Lynn Flewelling did it better. I'll probably read more of the series if they're cheap enough.

[Josh]

I just finished The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks



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

A lot of world building but little to progress the broader story

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Allison wrote: "buddy readers, I hear your lament. I propose our new support group select a book on boundaries and prioritizing and discuss it. I'm a little busy, how's June look for you?"

Meredith wrote: "can it be mid-June? got a few things in the queue..."

September please. 2019.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Randy wrote: "Allison wrote: "buddy readers, I hear your lament. I propose our new support group select a book on boundaries and prioritizing and discuss it. I'm a little busy, how's June look for you?"

Meredit..."

XD

No, sorry, 2019 is booked! I'm doing Malazan. How's 2020 look?

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

So, I'm about 33% into The Black Prism and I'm debating about whether or not to continue.

I wasn't really feeling it to begin with, and then I encountered this line:

For as pretty as she was... the most surprising thing about Marissia was how competent she was.

This is one chapter after the moment when an elite, female guardswoman comes to consciousness battered and bruised from an explosion, and momentarily fixates on the fact that, OMG, she has a PIMPLE on top of, ya know, gashes and shit...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "So, I'm about 33% into The Black Prism and I'm debating about whether or not to continue.

I wasn't really feeling it to begin with, and then I encountered this line:

For as pretty ..."

oh. oh no.

[Mark]

I am reading quite an interesting sci-fi book at the mo.

Its a new author, and I am impressed so far.

Unfortunately I cannot find a link for it! But it is called The Alliance.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Lilyn G. (Scifi and Scary) wrote: "Oh dear. I would, uhm, drop that."


Definitely considering it. Not the first examples of casual sexism in this book, either - which I find weird because it's a culture based on magical power and the lead person is a woman, so I'm not really sure what the rationale for it would even be.

Like, a lot of books pull the whole "well, it's historically accurate" thing to excuse their sexism, but this book doesn't even have any kind of internal argument to justify it.

***

Anyway - I enjoyed Supernatural Enhancements. It was weird. Hope you like it. :)

[Sarah]

I’m curious- for those that have read Brent Weeks- is this typical for his writing?

[Rob]

I've always found Brent Weeks work to be "juvenile", but sexist might be a better term.

I do feel like that got better as the series went on, but it doesn't go away. I also don't find Kip a very likeable character for much of the series.

What's kept me reading that series is how much I love the magic system.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

*Scoots Black Prism further down the pile*

[Sarah]

Thanks for chiming in. He seems like one of the bigger names in fantasy so I’m a little surprised by this.

[Trike]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "So, I'm about 33% into The Black Prism and I'm debating about whether or not to continue.

I wasn't really feeling it to begin with, and then I encountered this line:

For as pretty ..."

Are there other examples of sexism or is that just a one-off thing about that character?

I only ask because it seems George R.R. Martin has somehow escaped being tarred with the sexist brush despite having even more cringe-worthy passages in his books, and I think the stereotype that attractive people aren’t smart/competent has a kernel of truth to it. They often go through life on Easy Mode with people handing them things merely because they’re good looking, so they don’t have to try hard.

It’s not universally true, of course, and we all know plenty of counter examples, but we’ve seen enough pretty knuckleheads of both the bimbo and himbo variety to reinforce the perception.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Lilyn G. (Scifi and Scary) wrote: "I'm iffy on The Supernatural Enhancements. The story-telling style really doesn't work for me. The fact that the mute female obsessively notes where every conversation took place is a little too.......convenient and unbelievable. "


Yeah, I get that. I figure I just wrote it off as a plot contrivance and left it at that. Then again, I only gave it 3.5 stars, so maybe it bugged me and I just don't remember. LOL

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Trike wrote: "Are there other examples of sexism or is that just a one-off thing about that character?

I only ask because it seems George R.R. Martin has somehow escaped being tarred with the sexist brush despite having even more cringe-worthy passages in his books, and I think the stereotype that attractive people aren’t smart/competent has a kernel of truth to it. They often go through life on Easy Mode with people handing them things merely because they’re good looking, so they don’t have to try hard..."

Is this question for your own research or meant to suggest that because GRRM is maybe more sexist, Brent Weeks is not sexist?

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Trike wrote: "Are there other examples of sexism or is that just a one-off thing about that character?"

There are other examples, such as the female warrior obsessing about having a pimple when first waking up after escaping an explosion.

And I've read several reviews of his Night Angel series which comment on the sexism in those books, as well - such as this review: "Weeks can't seem to resist Madonna-Whoring every single woman every time she appears on the page. Most of them are introduced by way of their breasts." (https://inverarity.livejournal.com/70...)

Another thing about the slave girl is it's said she was picked for him because of how much she looked like someone he loved - the aforementioned guardswoman - so he shouldn't be unfamiliar with the concept of attractive women being capable...

[Rob]

I should also mention that while I enjoyed The Way of Shadows, I enjoyed each subsequent book in that series less.

I've obviously liked his stuff enough to read 7 books by the guy. Looking over some of my reviews I don't really highlight the way he treats female characters though, which I probably should have.

Anyways, if you're interested, here are my reviews (No plot spoilers) of his books:

Night Angel
The Way of Shadows - ★★★★☆ - My Review
Shadow's Edge - ★★★☆☆ - My Review
Beyond the Shadows - ★★☆☆☆ - My Review


Lightbringer
The Black Prism - ★★★☆☆ - My Review
The Blinding Knife - ★★★★☆ - My Review
The Broken Eye - ★★★½☆ - My Review
The Blood Mirror - ★★★★☆ - My Review

[Trike]

Allison wrote: "Is this question for your own research or meant to suggest that because GRRM is maybe more sexist, Brent Weeks is not sexist? "

What a strange takeaway from what I said.

I’m saying that Martin does this exact same thing all the time, constantly, everywhere, but for some reason it doesn’t stick to him, while other writers get excoriated for much lesser infractions, some of which are perfectly understandable as being something the *character* is doing rather than the author.

So I was asking if Weeks is the former or the latter. Based on what Colleen said, he’s the former, having a sexist bias.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Trike wrote: "Allison wrote: "Is this question for your own research or meant to suggest that because GRRM is maybe more sexist, Brent Weeks is not sexist? "

What a strange takeaway from what I said.

I’m sayin..."

Ah. I see, asking which camp he's in. I see a lot of "whataboutism" from people--tactics used to deflect the current conversation because someone else did something bad, too. I was surprised to hear similar language coming from you, and thought I must surely be missing something, which I was! Thanks for clarifying.

[~ Giulia ~]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Trike wrote: "Are there other examples of sexism or is that just a one-off thing about that character?"

There are other examples, such as the female warrior obsessing about having a pimple when fi..."

Well, if that pimple thing is the way she normally reacts to everything I can kind of see why "competent" might not be the first word that comes to mind when describing her.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I forgot to comment on the GRRM thing.

Personally, I do think GRRM is sexist. He was actually who I was thinking of when I made the comment about the argument that it's "ok" because it's "historical" - but I tend to side with the, "But... but... there are dragons and ice zombies... so how come there can't be equal treatment of women?"

And then there's a lot of people who argue that GRRM isn't sexist because he degrades his male characters, too, and then some who point out that, yeah, but his female characters get raped and assaulted WAY MORE than the male characters... and then some who point out that his female characters are bad ass and not damsels in distress, which apparently makes them totally not at all sexist...

So, anyway, I don't think GRRM gets a pass, at least not by everyone, and I've seen a lot of debates about his work specifically about whether or not it was sexist, and arguments on both sides.

[CBRetriever]

it's about a sexist society - just look at the difference in how the male and female characters are treated by their parents. Both Arya and Cersei are trying to break out of the parental restrictions imposed by one of their parents. Brienne managed to do so, but most of the other female characters have not.

The only character that seems to be treated differently is Danaerys who is more of a hormone ridden teenager in the books

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

May I suggest that the thread "Does Game of Thrones Hate Women" may be better for GRRM's personal shortcomings?

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

And then I heartily encouage people revive the "Are We Sexist" thread, which had some really great discussion!

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

[Dj]

George RR Martin treats his characters like they are playthings in an S and M gallery. He is abusive to them when there is no call for it to move the story forward and he does it without real thought or needs. He is worse for the female characters than for the male and it is a casual, almost seems an afterthought as opposed to something that is needed to complete the story.

I struggled through the books that have been printed so far, but all things considered, I don't think I will be buying any further. He talks about how many of the things in the book have historical comparisons, which may be true, but generally not packed so closely together in time.

[Trike]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Personally, I do think GRRM is sexist. He was actually who I was thinking of when I made the comment about the argument that it's "ok" because it's "historical" - but I tend to side with the, "But... but... there are dragons and ice zombies... so how come there can't be equal treatment of women?""

Exactly. If we were shown an alternative way of life where men weren’t in charge, then the defense would have a better case. It doesn’t even have to be a case of an island of Amazons, just show one of the successful houses being matriarchal and run by women.

I have huge issues with the rape scene in The Warded Man, but when you take the series as a whole you see that Brett does have equality across the board. There are areas where men rule, there are areas where women are in charge, there are areas where there is an uncomfortable balance between the two. So I can mark that scene as a lazy rookie mistake in an otherwise fairly equal treatment of men and women. And beyond that, of gay and lesbian characters. Some are respected and fully-functioning adults, others of whom are petty and vindictive. Same goes for the political spectrum.

I never got the sense from those books as I did from A Song of Ice and Fire that the author felt one way or the other about any of those characters. There are brave and smart people in each group, just as there are cowardly and dumb people in each.


CBRetriever wrote: "it's about a sexist society - just look at the difference in how the male and female characters are treated by their parents. Both Arya and Cersei are trying to break out of the parental restrictio..."

The problem is the authorial descriptions of the characters. The women are always described as being aware of their breasts and whatnot while doing things like walking down the street, yet the men are never described as being aware of their testicles. Constantly commenting on one but not the other underscores the attitudes of the writer.

[Dj]

Trike wrote: "colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Personally, I do think GRRM is sexist. He was actually who I was thinking of when I made the comment about the argument that it's "ok" because it's "histori..."

For a look at a society where Women are in charge, and a book that does have a rape scene in it, I would suggest:
The Gate to Women's Country


The rape scene isn't graphic but does move the story in a very important way.
I was very impressed with the book, although it is a slow starter. I have to keep pointing this out to myself while I struggle through the opening of Grass.

[Patrick]

Thinking about starting the Wheel of Time. Worth it?

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Trike wrote: "The problem is the authorial descriptions of the characters. The women are always described as being aware of their breasts and whatnot while doing things like walking down the street, yet the men are never described as being aware of their testicles. Constantly commenting on one but not the other underscores the attitudes of the writer"


All I can think of now is the scene in GotG2 about Drax's sensitive nipples. ^_^

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Patrick, we're about to start a buddy read! Or, I guess have started a buddy read! I don't know yet if it's "worth it" as I haven't read it, but people who like epic fantasy seem to find it enjoyable for at least a couple books...now's a good time to try out it!

[Rachel]

It really is bizarre that men think women are aware of our breasts. I’m only aware when they are in the damn way!

[Carro]

Rachel wrote: "It really is bizarre that men think women are aware of our breasts. I’m only aware when they are in the damn way!"
Absolutely. :D
What a design flaw they are.

[Carro]

Dj wrote: "For a look at a society where Women are in charge, and a book that does have a rape scene in it, I would suggest:
The Gate to Women's Country
The rape scene isn't graphic but does move the story in a very important way.
I was very impressed with the book, although it is a slow starter. I have to keep pointing this out to myself while I struggle through the opening of Grass"
Read both of those several times. I prefer the Gate to Grass, but once Grass gets moving it is impressive. The opening is a mixture of uncomfortable relations between people and a peculiar world where you can't quite work out what is going on and then it gets into its stride as you start to learn what is happening and the people gradually get to be too busy to be fussing so much over their relationships.
My favourite one of Tepper's is The Fresco - it's lighter in tone than Grass or Gate - but is dealing with serious issues. Also quite funny in places - not comedy but amusing.

[Dj]

Patrick wrote: "Thinking about starting the Wheel of Time. Worth it?"

Mostly. And a lot will depend on your take away from it. But it never really hurts to start.

[Dj]

Carro wrote: "Dj wrote: "For a look at a society where Women are in charge, and a book that does have a rape scene in it, I would suggest:
The Gate to Women's Country
The rape scene isn't graphic but does move t..."

I will keep at Grass then. Thanks.

[Trike]

Rachel wrote: "It really is bizarre that men think women are aware of our breasts. I’m only aware when they are in the damn way!"

I think most guys learned everything they know about women from Hardbodies.
https://youtu.be/fBpevNjJbWU

[Michele]

Trike wrote: "...it seems George R.R. Martin has somehow escaped being tarred with the sexist brush despite having even more cringe-worthy passages in his books"

Are the Game of Thrones books very different from the tv version? I haven't read the books but I've watched the series adaptation, and it's got SO many kick-ass female characters, I would consider it sexist at all.

[Udayan]

IMHO, ASoIaF books are 10x in terms of depth compared to GoT tv series. Simply impossible to capture that depth in a tv series, though. The tv series remains the gold standard in adaptation in terms of what was possible.

[Alondra]

Just finished Speaks the Nightbird, and absolutely loved it. Mr McCammon is one of my favorite authors.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Alondra, that's such a great feeling when you find a new author that speaks your language!

I finished The Three-Body Problem. It was...maybe too sciencey for me? Or not enough people-y?

About 10% into Lord of Light and I love myth stories, so it seems pretty good so far, but the pseudo-archaic language is making me feel like a cornered beast and I will bite eventually.

Really want to jump into Eye of the World but I have Shadow Man already...wait for me, friends!!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I started After Alice by Gregory Maguire. I'm not sure I'm gonna like it.

Funny story, though. When I first read Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West I loved it. The second time I read it I was less enthused, but I still consider it a fave.

A friend of mine recently broke my heart (not really) because he said he hated 'Wicked' and that Maguire's writing was pretentious.

And I'm reading 'After Alice' and all I can think is, "Yeah, maybe he had a point... "

[Dj]

Trike wrote: "Rachel wrote: "It really is bizarre that men think women are aware of our breasts. I’m only aware when they are in the damn way!"

I think most guys learned everything they know about women from Ha..."

According to a book I read recently, guys learn all about Women (or did) from Playboy, but it was only fair since Women learned about guys from Cosmo. Both of which were mostly wrong. LOL.

[Dj]

Lilyn G. (Scifi and Scary) wrote: "Allison wrote: "Alondra, that's such a great feeling when you find a new author that speaks your language!

I finished The Three-Body Problem. It was...maybe too sciencey for me? Or..."

It is twisty that one. When I read it, found it hard to keep focused sometimes since it was hard to maintain a grip on the plot thread and wasn't even really sure about what was the point until about halfway through the book.

[Thaddeus]

I'm readingRed Sister by Mark Lawrence, and The Time Traveller's Guide to Restoration Britain: Life in the Age of Samuel Pepys, Isaac Newton and The Great Fire of London by Ian Mortimer.

Enjoying both so far (reading the latter faster because it's the day rather than night book). Very good for interesting little details of 17th century Britain.

[Carro]

I'm on Diane Duane A Wind from the South. At the start, the style of narration was a bit child's book and I had to take it in small chunks, but the story has now really taken off. It starts as a tale of the life of a daughter of the headman in a mountain village, expands into folk tale dangers (as in weird creatures and ghosts), wraps in ancient goddesses and it is now clear it is a re-telling of the Swiss rebellion against foreign overlords - includes William Tell.

[Trike]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "I started After Alice by Gregory Maguire. I'm not sure I'm gonna like it.

Funny story, though. When I first read Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West I loved it. The second time I read it I was less enthused, but I still consider it a fave.

A friend of mine recently broke my heart (not really) because he said he hated 'Wicked' and that Maguire's writing was pretentious.

And I'm reading 'After Alice' and all I can think is, "Yeah, maybe he had a point... " "

I felt the same way about Wicked as your friend.

But the Broadway musical I absolutely hate for personal reasons which have nothing to do with the quality of the work, and it tars everything Maguire does. I recognize that’s unfair to him but the heart does as it will.

[CBRetriever]

I didn't like Wicked at all and am currently about to dive into the Wheel of Time complete series "book"

[Robert]

Earlier today I finished Curtsies & Conspiracies, the second book in Gail Carriger's Finishing School series. It was a rollicking good time. A good bit of action in the story. A character from the Parasol Protectorate series popped up, which was fun.

I'll get back to the series a bit later. For now, my plan is to read a longer novel next...

[Jordan]

Currently reading:
Raven Stratagem - loving this so much so far.
Dread Nation - also absolutely loving this one.
The Martian - Decent. On the one hand I really appreciate how well everything is explained (or at least seems to be to this non-scientist) but on the other hand the explanations are also sometimes a bit eye-glazing. This is much better than Artemis.

Recently finished:
The Fall of Hyperion - Heck yes. Weird and wonderful.
Southern Cross, Vol. 2: Romulus - What the heck? Maybe I should have re-read volume 1 first.
On a Red Station, Drifting - Really enjoyed this. Picked up a couple other things by her.
Pitch Dark Entertaining fluff.
Children of Blood and Bone Cool world, mediocre plot.
Four Roads Cross Excellent, as usual.