What Else Are You Reading in 2018? Showing 1,351-1,400 of 3,893

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Finished Jane Steele and I lurved it! I mean, it's going straight to my 'guilty-pleasures' shelf, and I couldn't in good conscious give it higher than 4 stars... but it was ever so much fun.


Now moving on to Daughter of the Pirate King.

Also still slowly trudging through The Black Prism, which I decided to stick with despite the weird sexist descriptions of women.

[Shomeret]

I've started the first Star Trek Discovery novel,Desperate Hours by David Mack. It takes place before the series.

[Jamesboggie]

I just finished Blackfish City.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Phrynne]

My review of Changeless by Gail Carriger

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

[Ariana]

I just finished Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft and am on to Vol. 2. After reading Nimona, I realized it's been forever since I read any graphic novels, so I went with the second choice from the May poll, despite not really being a fan of horror.

It's so good and also too scary! I will of course keep reading despite being totally freaked out by it. It reminds me a little of Sandman in this regard. Has anyone finished it? Does it stay this good all the way to the end?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Ariana wrote: "I just finished Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft and am on to Vol. 2. After reading Nimona, I realized it's been forever since I read any graphic novels, so I went with the ..."

My friends all L-O-V-E Locke & Key the whole way through! I can't wait to start it too!

[Rob]

Locke and Key is excellent. Definitely freaky too.

[Jen]

I did it. Today I finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen. I have such a feeling of accomplishment for a day most of which I was planted on the couch. The Crippled God was a strong finish to a masterpiece of a series. Loved every minute of it.

[Jen]

I have had Locke & Key on my radar for quite a while, I'll need to check it out.

[CBRetriever]

Jen wrote: "I did it. Today I finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen. I have such a feeling of accomplishment for a day most of which I was planted on the couch. The Crippled God was a strong f..."

I have that one and have read the other books in the series in paper, but I'm trying to decide whether or not to pick up the rest of the series in Kindle format or not (I have 1, 2 & 9 already) and read them first again.

[Esther]

Sarah wrote: "Yes sorry- I mean Gnomon. Harkaway’s use of language is brilliant, but very difficult. He uses some uncommon words which meant I was using the definition function on my kindle a lot, and even kindl..."

Thanks. I find new words a challenge but an enjoyable one.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Finished Daughter of the Pirate King yesterday - which leaned more heavily on the romance side vs the action side that I was expecting, but I still enjoyed it and ordered the next book from the library.

Now moving on to The Wee Free Men for my continuing Discworld-a-thon, though I'm now a month behind because it was meant to be my May read but I didn't get to it.

[Phillip]

One of the best books I’ve read was The First Private. So, naturally I’m now reading the sequel, The Last Commander. If it’s half as good as the first, I’m in for a wild ride.

[Sarah]

@Esther sounds perfect for you!! If you do bump it up come back and let us know what you thought.

[Michele]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Now moving on to The Wee Free Men for my continuing Discworld-a-thon, though I'm now a month behind because it was meant to be my May read but I didn't get to it. "

I love that one. Actually all the Tiffany Aching books - they just get better and better with each one.

[Travis]

Jen wrote: "I have such a feeling of accomplishment for a day most of which I was planted on the couch.."

The best!

[Michele]

Still working on Reading Joss Whedon. A couple of the essays seem to be stretching things a bit, but they are all well-written and give me new ways of looking at his work.

[Rob]

I listened to Ascend Online, which I enjoyed but not without its flaws - ★★★☆☆ - (My Review)

I also read The Flame Bearer which I liked better than Warriors of the Storm, but I'm really hoping he wraps the series up soon - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

[Lowell]

I just received an ARC of “Irontown Blues” by John Varley. I suppose I should read it now, like a good little marketing stooge. ;)

I remember the days when my mom was a book-buyer at a large bookstore. We used to get so many ARCs - it was ridiculous. I still have my (signed) ARC of A Game of Thrones on the bookshelf. It’s beat to hell because I read it so many times, but it’s mine...

Hope this one is good!

[Beth]

I didn't rejoin Sword and Laser in time to read Night's Master, but I noticed a minor groundswell in my friends/follows that made me decide to read my long-neglected copy of it.

I've read a couple of Tanith Lee's books over the last year or so, and while I couldn't gorge on her sumptuous, decadent writing all at once, it is a lovely delicacy to have every now and then.

Review of Night's Master here.

[Josh]

I recently finished the new star wars book Star Wars: Last Shot: A Han and Lando Novel by Daniel José Older



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

Just started a re-read of Empire's End by Chuck Wendig

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Michele wrote: "I love that one. Actually all the Tiffany Aching books - they just get better and better with each one.


Yeah. I'd put off reading the Aching books for awhile, for reasons I'm unsure of, but they ended up being some of my faves once I finally read them. Looking forward to the reread, and eventually getting to The Shepherd's Crown, which I haven't read yet.

[Lowell]

Lowell wrote: "I just received an ARC of “Irontown Blues” by John Varley. I suppose I should read it now, like a good little marketing stooge. ;)"

spoiler free blurb review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I will probably write out a bit longer of a review later today, but wanted to get that thought out there.

[Trike]

Lowell wrote: "Lowell wrote: "I just received an ARC of “Irontown Blues” by John Varley. I suppose I should read it now, like a good little marketing stooge. ;)"

spoiler free blurb review:
https://www.goodreads...."

You can’t go wrong with Varley. Even when he’s just messing around his writing is better than 95% of what’s out there.

[Ariana]

So... Say you start a book and it is not speaking to you. When do you give up? Keep trying, it might get better, OR quit, life is short?

I just started Crosstalk for another book group, and I am NOT feeling it. Better to quit now if I'm gonna quit? Should I give it another chapter or two to see if it grows on me? I hate to miss out on next months discussion, but I'm not going to make it through 500 pages if I have to force myself to read it.

I've read other stuff by Connie Willis and enjoyed it, but coming off of the Radch, maybe the contrast was just too much?

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I try to give it roughly 35%, but I have been known to quit sooner if it just wasn't working for me at all.

[Ariana]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "I try to give it roughly 35%, but I have been known to quit sooner if it just wasn't working for me at all."

That's a good rule of thumb!

[Jordan]

Finished The Collapsing Empire, which definitely felt like a first book in a series but with just enough substance to not leave me feeling like I'd read an extended prologue.

Also finished Lumberjanes, Vol. 8: Stone Cold, which is wonderful, as usual.

Started reading Into the Drowning Deep, which was slow to start but excellent so far and really starting to pick up.

Still reading Raven Stratagem and A Land of Permanent Goodbyes.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I usually base my DNF on the book. Anyone know if Crosstalk had some sort of pick up/game changer and where about it was? I felt bad for the folks who pushed through Too Like the Lightning even though they hated it by 10%, because that one didn't change. But I think most folks who were able to hang in until Ninefox Gambit made sense thought it was largely enjoyable--somewhere around 30-40%.

Otherwise, if a book isn't interesting me within 20% or 200 pages (whichever is first) I give up. Too many books that tell too many stories I want to know to waste hundreds of pages on the ones that aren't.

[Sarah]

It's funny- I don't think I ever make a conscious choice to DNF a book. Mostly what happens is I'm sort of bored, I pick up something else. Go back and forth between the two for a bit, and eventually forget about the first. Otherwise I try to just push through- but I don't recommend it. I've wasted too much time on books I don't like.

[Ariana]

Allison wrote: "I usually base my DNF on the book. Anyone know if Crosstalk had some sort of pick up/game changer and where about it was? I felt bad for the folks who pushed through Too Like the Lightning"

This is a really good point! If it's style that's the issue, that's less likely to change vs. pacing or plot confusion which is much more likely to get resolved.

(I also feel less guilty about not finishing Too Like the Lightning, since I know folks who adore that one, but I just couldn't.)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Ariana wrote: "Allison wrote: "I usually base my DNF on the book. Anyone know if Crosstalk had some sort of pick up/game changer and where about it was? I felt bad for the folks who pushed through [book:Too Like ..."

Nah, don't feel bad! I am in the love camp for TLTL, but I readily admit that it's a weird and fairly problematic thing. I'm surprised we haven't heard from a Crosstalk reader yet though! Hopeful you can get either some encouragement or a green light to pull the plug.

[Beth]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "I try to give it roughly 35%, but I have been known to quit sooner if it just wasn't working for me at all."

I was going to come and say something very similar! DNFs that aren't turkeys in the first couple of pages typically get 30-40%, per my e-reader.

[CBRetriever]

Sarah wrote: "It's funny- I don't think I ever make a conscious choice to DNF a book. Mostly what happens is I'm sort of bored, I pick up something else. Go back and forth between the two for a bit, and eventual..."

after two runs at The Alexandria Quartet and only making it partway into book 2 (book 1 from a different point of view), it's one of the few books I've given up on.

[Pam]

Read Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis by Ian Kershaw and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2409078286.

[Trike]

Ariana wrote: "So... Say you start a book and it is not speaking to you. When do you give up? Keep trying, it might get better, OR quit, life is short?

I just started Crosstalk for another book g..."

I didn’t like Crosstalk, and it is the same throughout. I say skip it.

Here’s my non-spoiler review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ariana]

Trike wrote: "I didn’t like Crosstalk, and it is the same throughout. I say skip it."

Awesome, thanks!

[Rachel]

I have a tendency to skim rather than DNF if a book is ... troublesome. Crosstalk is mostly a .....thriller-romance? Is how I’d describe it. I enjoyed it but it was definitely a ‘quick’ read not one to sit with/ponder.

Because In the type that wants to know what happens even if I don’t think it’s that great.

[Jamesboggie]

Ariana wrote: "So... Say you start a book and it is not speaking to you. When do you give up? Keep trying, it might get better, OR quit, life is short?

I always finish books, because I won't complain about a book I didn't finish. Since I reckon I will have more time to complain about any given book than it takes to read, I think it balances out.

[Jordan]

Sarah wrote: "It's funny- I don't think I ever make a conscious choice to DNF a book. Mostly what happens is I'm sort of bored, I pick up something else. Go back and forth between the two for a bit, and eventual..."

I do that a lot as well, just kind of fade away on books I'm really struggling with. Months later I'll find it gathering dust with a bookmark still in it, realize I don't even remember what was happening in it anymore, and give up.

For me to actively DNF a book I have to have really strong feelings of dislike/hatred for it. Otherwise I'm the type of person who is eternally convinced that a book will get better.

[MadProfessah]

@allisoni could barely get through the first chapter of TOO LIKE THE LIGHTNING so I’m not sad about immediately throwing that one on the DNF pile. It was easy to tell the style was not gonna change.

Similarly was NINEFOX GAMBIT. I couldn’t tell WTF was going on from the get go and was uninterested in finding out. DNF at like 6%.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

MadProfessah wrote: "@allisoni could barely get through the first chapter of TOO LIKE THE LIGHTNING so I’m not sad about immediately throwing that one on the DNF pile. It was easy to tell the style was not gonna change..."

Thank goodness there's a neverending supply of books! Sometimes you just know something's not right for you.

[Phrynne]

Ariana wrote: "So... Say you start a book and it is not speaking to you. When do you give up? Keep trying, it might get better, OR quit, life is short?

I just started Crosstalk for another book g..."

I liked it but Willis is always very wordy and this book is more so than most!
Here’s my spoiler free review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lowell]

I was in the mood for light and familiar but new at the same time last night... so I read Lois McMaster Bujold's latest Novella.

She took a break from the Penric novellas and added in a lovely little Vorkosigan novella entitled The Flowers of Vashnoi earlier this month. For any followers of the series, This one is set before the events of CryoBurn, and mostly features Ekaterin having her own The Mountains of Mourning-like experience in the Barrayar back-country.

It's sadder than I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

So Planetfall was interesting! I think it needed a little more structure at the end, but it was still quite enjoyable.

Desperately trying to finish Eye of the World so I can enjoy a clean shelf again. Also started Across the Nightingale Floor which so far is quite pretty! My copy of Into the Drowning Deep and Alif the Unseen (for the BINGO buddy read) should be in pretty soon, too.

Hoping I can finish listening to Nightingale before my audiobook copy of An Ember in the Ashes comes in, too, so I don't end in the same quagmire I've been in all year...

(Yes, I see what I did wrong with how I scheduled my books. No, I'm not going to learn my lesson from it.)

[Lowell]

After a brief kerflufle this morning, Brief Cases was again available on kindle. I'm a big fan of the Dresden Files and most of the things Jim Butcher writes (problematic attitudes and associations aside, his books are just plain fun). So I'll be diving in to this collection of short stories.

[Trike]

Allison wrote: "(Yes, I see what I did wrong with how I scheduled my books. No, I'm not going to learn my lesson from it.)
"

What did we learn?!
NOTHING!
When will we learn it?!
NEVER!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Trike wrote: "Allison wrote: "(Yes, I see what I did wrong with how I scheduled my books. No, I'm not going to learn my lesson from it.)
"

What did we learn?!
NOTHING!
When will we learn it?!
NEVER!"

I need this on a t-shirt!



Lowell wrote: "After a brief kerflufle this morning, Brief Cases was again available on kindle. I'm a big fan of the Dresden Files and most of the things Jim Butcher writes (problematic attitudes ..."

...oh no, what's he associating with?? I love Dresden files.

[Michele]

Ariana wrote: "So... Say you start a book and it is not speaking to you. When do you give up? Keep trying, it might get better, OR quit, life is short?"

When I was younger I hated to give up on a book and would just force myself to power through it. The older I get (and the longer my "to read" list gets!) the easier I find it to throw in the towel. If I get 50 page in and I'm not gripped, I bail.

[Michele]

Allison wrote: "Desperately trying to finish Eye of the World so I can enjoy a clean shelf again. "

I'm sorry, I don't understand that sentence lol