What Else Are You Reading in 2018? Showing 2,701-2,750 of 3,893

[Kirsten]

Anthony wrote: "@Kirsten It’s very good so far. I’m definitely getting a glimpse as to why she’s so popular and celebrated. (It’s not very often a common thing to be both.)"

She's actually very active on Goodreads and even answers questions.

[Pam]

Read a cosy crime by Simon Brett, but wasn't keen - Bones Under the Beach Hut - review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2525692907.

[YouKneeK]

Yesterday I finished the Memoirs of Lady Trent series which starts with A Natural History of Dragons. This was a (mostly) light and fun series, and it made a good change of pace from some of the stuff I’d been reading recently. It could get a little formulaic at times, and it often felt more like a regular adventure series than a fantasy series, but it held my interest consistently, I liked the characters, and the author writes action scenes very well. I especially enjoyed the second half of the final book.

Here are my reviews:
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 3.5 (short story)
Book 4
Book 5

For my next book, I’ve started The Power by Naomi Alderman. I didn’t have time to read much of it last night, only a couple short chapters, but so far it seems interesting.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

After what feels like forever - (roughly a week and a half) - I've finally finished The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories. Some of the stories were good while I was reading them, but none really left any kind of lasting impression... and my first though upon finishing it was, "thank the gods, that's finally over", so...


Moved onto Rebel of the Sands, which is one of my TBR challenge books. Not far enough in to have a real opinion on the story, yet, but the writing is fairly lackluster.

[Pam]

Read Foundation book 1 of Mercedes Lackey's Collegium series and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2527138898

[Trike]

Just finished Trail of Lightning, which is a solid if not terribly original entry in the Badass Woman Warrior genre of Fantasy.

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

[Bobby]

I'm currently reading Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams for the group re-read, and it's great. I read the first Hitchhikers book and loved it, then read the second and thought it was okay, and just couldn't even finish the 3rd.

I was a little apprehensive, but I wanted to try something else by Adams, and this one is working for me. It's very strange, but that is obviously intentional, so I'm enjoying the quirkiness and cleverness.

[Mareike]

Anna wrote: "I forgot to comment earlier about Tiptree. I'm sure there are other stories by her out there online, but for someone who just wants to try one, check out Lightspeed June 2014. "Love Is the Plan the..."

Hadn't read this one before today. Thanks for sharing the link. What a delightfully strange story.

[Anna]

Glad you enjoyed it Mareike! I originally listened to it while trying to fall asleep, and it was not the best decision :D

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Bobby, glad you're liking it! I'm circling around that, Long Way to...Planet, and the Temeraire books to palate cleanse after some of the darker books.

Finished Midnight Robber which was powerful, but like an MMA fighter is powerful. I like it very much when it's not happening to me. Glad I read it, will seek out more by her (I'M READING ABOUT THE SISTERS, DAMMIT) but I need fuzzy slippers and purring housecats and stories of people being nice to each other for a bit.

So, instead, I started The Curse of Chalion which I'm liking a lot but did not get the memo that it was supposed to pur, BYO slippers, or be full of people just being nice. We're sorting out our differences and I like to think we're getting along fine now.

Due to a mix up, I don't yet have Tigana and will therefore try to make headway in Ammonite before I make like Distracted Boyfriend meme and check out a new book.

[Mareike]

Anna wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it Mareike! I originally listened to it while trying to fall asleep, and it was not the best decision :D"

It was quite late where I am when I started it, but I absolutely couldn't stop once I got into it. I might have to re-read it now that I'm fully awake just to get a better grip on why I find it so fascinating. But I think it might be because (view spoiler)[it presents a thoroughly alien mind without bothering to explain it to the reader. And at the same time it's a love story, one very different from "human" love stories, but one that, to me, was nonetheless touching and believable. (hide spoiler)]

I think I might have to keep it in mind as an example for teaching different narrative situations.

[Esther]

I have started Rivers of London and am really enjoying the 'London' feel of it. I think I need to devote some quality reading time over the weekend.

[AndrewP]

Esther wrote: "I have started Rivers of London and am really enjoying the 'London' feel of it. I think I need to devote some quality reading time over the weekend."

For this series the audio books are even better.

[Beth]

Minor catch-up with some things I finished recently:

The Cloud Roads: I loved City of Bones earlier this year, and--much to my disappointment--only liked this one. There's no reason that giving a book three stars should make me sad, but here we are. Lovely settings, interesting social structures, endearing characters, been-there done-that plot. (review)

Widdershins: this is the first of a hybrid romance/dark fantasy series set in a Massachusetts town not too far from Arkham. Neither the romance nor the mystery took a road less traveled. Still, it was fun and I'm interested in reading more. (review)

Almost done with Practical Magic, a contemporary magic realism story with a cast of man-obsessed women.

[Travis]

Finished Tigana and loved it. I couldn't put it down the whole time I was reading and am already eager anticipating a chance to read it again in the future.

Also Midnight Robber, which was brutal and searing and left me feeling at once enlivened by the vibrant prose and a bit beat up by what the protagonist endures.

And just now I finished Raven Stratagem. After reading Ninefox Gambit, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be going forward with the series. But Allison convinced me to carry on, and I'm so glad I did. I'm pretty sure a lot of the hexarchate intrigue passed me by, but I loved the games overlaying games, the twists and turns, and flawed yet endearing characters.

Next up, two days ahead of the September 15th start to the buddy read, I'm really looking forward to Octavia Butler's Dawn.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Travis wrote: "Finished Tigana and loved it. I couldn't put it down the whole time I was reading and am already eager anticipating a chance to read it again in the future.

Also [book:Midnight Robb..."

So glad you liked Raven Stratagem!! Now you really have to finish the series!

I am amazed you can go from Midnight Robber to Dawn. More power to you.

[Anthony]

I had back to back very fulfilling buddy read experiences — the monumentally powerful and moving and epic Tigana followed by the more intimate, delightfully drawn The Curse of Chalion. (With some short fiction tossed in between the two.) Now it’s on to more short fiction, and then the Dawn buddy read.

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. I’ve read a LOT of great books this year, and many of them have been brought into my life or encouraged into my awareness by this group. So thank you, all.

[Jemppu]

Got left 10% in with Dawn before all of these 'surprise' Buddy Reads, and been waiting to dive back in! Quite a drastic move away from this medieval landscape though.

And yes, these have been wonderful back-to-back BRs. Thank you, all!

[Megan]

I finished a re-read of Ninefox Gambit today. I originally read it two years ago, and I enjoyed revisiting it. (I recall my first time around, longing for a Sorting Hat-type song to refer to help keep track of which faction was which. This time was easier!) I'm debating just how fast to jump into the next book.

I actually haven't re-read any books in a long while; there are just SO MANY new-to-me books that I want to read that it's easy for me to push aside even the thought of re-reading. I forgot how enjoyable it can be, to just settle in and not be trying to predict or worry about what happens next.

[Andrew]

I am just about finished with the Foundation series. Loved seeing the transition in Asimov’a writing style from his youth to older years. Just a shame it’s coming to end so soon, next series will probably be Dune or the Garden of Stone bunch.

[Anthony]

I read a bunch more short stories and novellas in The Year's Best Science Fiction: Second Annual Collection and was completely blown away by Kim Stanley Robinson’s WWII alternate-history story “The Lucky Strike.” I’ve read a fair amount of his other work, (although I still need to finish his Mars Trilogy) and I’ve always admired it, but this one really got to me. It was very moving, and I highly recommend it.

[Esther]

AndrewP wrote: "For this series the audio books are even better.."

Several people have told me that but I just can't appreciate audio books and I am enjoying the DT experience so much.

[Don]

#

[Phrynne]

Just finished and really enjoyed The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin .

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

[Jamesboggie]

I just finished Nightflyers & Other Stories. It is my first foray into GRRM. The stories are odd, but two hit me right in the sweet spot. I had expected more horror, but the science fiction elements are strong.

My review (including each story individually): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[ALLEN]

TIA = Transient ischemic attack?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Hi Billyt! I am moving this to the recommendation folder so that more eyes will see it, and so nothing gets lost in the avalanche here :) Welcome and hope you find something great!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

ALLEN wrote: "TIA = Transient ischemic attack?"

haha! "thanks in advance." But I like yours better!

[ALLEN]

That was new to me. Thank you!

[Billyt]

Thanks Allison. Sorry I didn't see that thread. Putting on some more coffee!

[Anthony]

Just finished Dawn by Octavia E. Butler and she just continues to blow me away. Her work is so surprising, spare, complex, and profound.

Now on to the beginning of the highly popular Wheel of Time opener, The Eye of the World. A less-alike book to the work of Butler I could hardly imagine...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Billyt wrote: "Thanks Allison. Sorry I didn't see that thread. Putting on some more coffee!"

Not a problem! There's a lot of moving parts here. But some coffee does sound pretty great right about now...

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I'm currently reading The Serpent of Venice. Not liking this quite as much as Fool, but I'm enjoying the weird mesh of Othello, Merchant of Venice and... Cask of Amontillado?

[Pat the Book Goblin]

Just finished the Game of Thrones books. I think I like the show better. (Ducks thrown object at face)
I’m currently reading Leviathan Wakes and the 1940s Superman comics.

[Rachel]

The show is better b/c it is actually going to have an ending

[Lowell]

Ugh. I'm knee-deep in books in various formats and haven't had a lot of time the last few weeks to focus on any of them.

Jade City by Fonda Lee is my daily commute audiobook.

Zoo City by Lauren Beukes is what I'm reading on my kindle at night before bed (provided I don't drop into an exhausted slumber too fast).

for my 4 year old's bed time, I'm reading aloud The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

sometimes, my family has a read-out-loud together time on the weekeneds. for that, we're reading The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs.

Finally, on weekends when I have to take the kids on a drive longer than 10 minutes, we're listening to one of the Great Courses: Big History: The Big Bang, Life On Earth, And The Rise Of Humanity as presented by David Christian.

[Pat the Book Goblin]

@Rachael Haha true! I just thought the show was better because of the age difference in the book was disturbing for Dany and how she had to marry at such a young age, and the dragons grew quicker in the show lol.

[Beth]

my recent fantasy reviews:

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

Farmer Giles of Ham:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The House of the Wolfings:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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

[Kaa]

It's been a slow couple weeks of reading for me, with a book I had to DNF and a lack of motivation to read anything else I was working on, but I think I'm finally getting back into it. I finished Assassin's Apprentice and yet another fantastic Tor.com novella, The Cage, which is about lesbians and werewolves and totally made up for the lesbian werewolf book I couldn't finish.

I'm currently in the middle of Five-Twelfths of Heaven. I thought this would be my first sci-fi by Melissa Scott, but honestly it reads more like a fantasy in a lot of ways. Enjoying it though.

I've also returned to my re-read of Temeraire. I'm currently on the 4th book, and I just wasn't feeling like picking it up for a while, but I gave it another try this afternoon and I think I've re-discovered my interest in the series. Now I just need to find time to continue with The Poppy War before starting any new books...

[Gabi]

After having read Dawn and Assassin's Apprentice, which I both liked, I'm pondering if I should just give up on my BR projects and read on with the series to stay in the flow.

[Anthony]

Aw I’ll miss your buddy read presence but I understand your dilemma! I personally like to separate out my books-within-a-series reads a little bit at least, but I also know that’s not always a common way of approaching these things.

[ALLEN]

Just picked up Buddy Holly is Alive and Well on Ganymede.

[Pat the Book Goblin]

@Kaa I loved the first Temeraire book. A buddy and I are reading through the series.

[Pam]

Finished The Enchanted by Roberta Murphy and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1773841929.

[Anthony]

I had posted earlier that the appeal of Bruce Sterling’s writing had mostly eluded me. Well, I finally read a story of his that I quite enjoyed: “Green Days in Brunei.” The writing was lucid, well-paced, portraying a credible vision of the future (including early predictors of what a global Internet would be capable of), and populated with interesting, idiosyncratic, recognizably human characters.

I also read a really lovely story by John Crowley called “Snow.” I’d like to read more of his work. His Aegypt cycle has caught my eye...

[Travis]

I read Octavia E. Butler's Dawn and fount it utterly compelling. It's one of those books I can't stop thinking about, and I can't wait to move on in the series.

I also listened to the audiobook of some queer historical fiction, Jordy Rosenberg's Confessions of the Fox. The main plot was certainly fun (a romp of thieves through 18th-century London) but the frame plot (professor in neoliberal U.S. university system finds manuscript) featured a satire that was so blunt and obvious that it became tedious. If I'd been reading, I could have skipped over all the contemporary bits, and then I think I would have enjoyed it much, much more.

[Pat the Book Goblin]

@Travis I just looked up Dawn and it looks very interesting! May have to read it at some point!

[Kaa]

@Patrick: How far have you gotten on Temeraire? I'd love to hear what you think of the later books. I think I actually enjoy the series more as it goes on, but I definitely think the flavor of it changes a lot as you go.

[MadProfessah]

The entire set of books staring with DAWN is great. Is that the CLAY’S ARK series? Basically all of those books are related aren’t they!?

[Travis]

MadProfessah wrote: "The entire set of books staring with DAWN is great. Is that the CLAY’S ARK series? Basically all of those books are related aren’t they!?"

That's even more encouragement to continue... Its the Xenogenesis trilogy, though people also seem to refer to it by the omnibus title, Lilith's Brood.