What are you reading in August 2014?

[Candiss]

Please tell us what you are reading, or plan to read, in August!

[Christine]

I finished The Skin Collector and have started on The Target; Guess I've fallen out of the SciFi/ Fantasy genre for a bit

[Bill]

I finished Jack Glass, a modern space opera, interesting yet ultimately unsatisfying, IMO, even though it won the BSFA.

I'm now reading Queen of Angels by Greg Bear a weird cyber-fi.

[Jim]

Reading Brass Man by Neal Asher and Space Chronicles by Neil deGrasse Tyson. There's a lot different about these two writers aside from how they spell their first names. Tyson provides me with a much needed dose of reality after sailing through Asher's elaborate space operas. I love alternating reading chapters between these two books. :)

[Candiss]

Kernos wrote: "I finished Jack Glass, a modern space opera, interesting yet ultimately unsatisfying, IMO, even though it won the BSFA."

That's a disappointment. I've been toying with reading that one, as I previously enjoyed another of the author's works. The plot seems so promising, too.

[Michelle {Book Hangovers}]

I just finished Half a King by Joe Abercrombie and absolutely loved it. Now I'm reading Anne Rice Interview with the Vampire and The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen.

Think I might try out both of August's BOTM too.
and . Both have been on my TBR list.

[Zachary]

I am working through The Magicians series byLev Grossmanand I am going to finish the Peter F. HamiltonVoid trilogy. That should get me through the first bit of the month.

[Jim]

Just started reading "Descent of Angels" Warhammer 40k.Having fun with this awesome series.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I finished the Farseer Trilogy, wrapping up Assassin's Quest in the first hour of August. Now I'm starting The Magicians' Guild, book 1 of the Black Magician Trilogy. I am reading that trilogy for another Goodreads group so will not race through all 3 books since we will be discussion them over a few months. I have at least one out of genre book lined up, Pigeon Project, then we'll see.

[Laurel]

I'm about halfway through Brandon Sanderson's The Alloy of Law - wasn't enjoying it as much as the other Mistborn books but.... then a wild west style gunfight with allomancy kicked off and now I'm loving it ;)

[Lambros]

Zachary wrote: "I am working through The Magicians series byLev Grossmanand I am going to finish the Peter F. HamiltonVoid trilogy. That should get me through the first bit of the mo..."


I ordered The Magicians a couple of days ago and it will be ariving soon,hopefully.How is your experience so far?

[Pickle]

currently reading:Hyperion & The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick 2: We Can Remember it for You Wholesale

Might start Startide Rising & Wool

[Helen]

Kathi wrote: "I finished the Farseer Trilogy, wrapping up Assassin's Quest in the first hour of August. Now I'm starting The Magicians' Guild, book 1 of the Black Magician Trilogy. I am..."

Don't stop there, read the ships trilogy and see if you can spot the recurring character, then the fool trilogy. The Dragon four, finish better than they start but worth reading for completing the set. It's late, excuse the grammar

[Ken]

Pickle wrote: "Might start Startide Rising"

One of my favorite books.

[Ken]

Still reading The Bonehunters, its very good.

[Shel, Moderator]

I'm on vacation with lots of reading time - during the first week I've read:

The Adorned
Burning Water (Diana Tregarde #1)
Children of the Night (#2)
Jinx High (#3)
And the Mountains Echoed
Pavilion of Women
and some of the short stories in Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded.

I love vacation! and I've got another week! :)

[Sumant]

Finished reading Lies Of Locke Lamora and here is Review.

[Pickle]

Ken wrote: "Pickle wrote: "Might start Startide Rising"

One of my favorite books."

for some reason i feel reluctant to start it after Sundiver. No reason why.

[Kurt]

I'm reading Isaac AsimovI started by The Robots of Dawn. After that I'm thinking about reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams finally.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Helen wrote: "Don't stop there, ..."

I plan to continue with Hobb's other series that are related to the Farseer trilogy, no worries. Just not immediately. I have discovered something about my reading--if I am reading a series and I read them one right after the other, I read faster and less carefully, almost like a race to complete the series. So, a few years ago, I started interspersing books, either from another series or stand-alones, preferably in a different genre, and I read more carefully and enjoy the stories more. So I am now reading the Black Magician trilogy and will intersperse those books with non-fantasy stand-alones. When I finish this trilogy I probably will start Hobb's ship trilogy and intersperse other books with that.

[Jim]

Pickle wrote: for some reason i feel reluctant to start it after Sundiver. No reason why."

Sundiver is an altogether different type of story than the rest of the Uplift tales. Jump right in!

[Ken]

Pickle wrote: "Ken wrote: "Pickle wrote: "Might start Startide Rising"

One of my favorite books."

for some reason i feel reluctant to start it after Sundiver. No reason why."

Oh they are different books. I read Startide then realised Sundiver came first. Startide is the better between the two

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Ken wrote: "Oh they are different books. I read Startide then realised Sundiver came first. Startide is the better between the two "

Sundiver was a good book but the rest of the Uplift books are better, IMO. I sometimes wonder if, after the other books were written, Brin ever thought about going back to tinker with Sundiver.

[Zachary]

Lambros wrote: "Zachary wrote: "I am working through The Magicians series byLev Grossmanand I am going to finish the Peter F. HamiltonVoid trilogy. That should get me through the fir..."

I have enjoyed the series even though the main character reminds me of Holden Caulfield. I have never been a fan of that character haha. If you are looking for just a more adult version of Harry Potter you will be disappointed. It is an interesting read and it is engaging and well written.

[Christine]

I am reading The Sparrow. I really like it. I also read How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back & Servants of the Storm. I will start Zoo City tomorrow.

[Stuart]

I am reading Chosen by K.F. Breene

[Trine]

Jim wrote: "Pickle wrote: for some reason i feel reluctant to start it after Sundiver. No reason why."

Sundiver is an altogether different type of story than the rest of the Uplift tales. Jump ri..."

I was wondering if this is any good. I love sci-fi but have often been disappointed.

[Sumant]

I have started with Chronicles of the Black Company

[Laurel]

I'm reading Embassytown by China Mieville.

[Chris]

I'm reading Stranger in a Strange Land and can't get into it at all.

[Bruce]

Chris, I didn't like Stranger in a Strange Land either. I kept reading til the end but for me it never got more enjoyable.

Now reading Fall of Hyperion. I absolutely loved Hyperion and the sequel looks promising as well.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Bruce wrote: "Now reading Fall of Hyperion. I absolutely loved Hyperion and the sequel looks promising as well. "

Loved both Hyperion books. To me they were very different from so many other books.

Christine wrote: "I am reading The Sparrow. I really like it."

That was a book that really stuck with me after I read it. Excellent. The sequel is also good, but I liked The Sparrow better.

[Matt]

I'm reading Assassin's Apprentice. I'm about 25% in and not all that impressed. The characters seem quite flat.

[Stan]

Chris wrote: "I'm reading Stranger in a Strange Land and can't get into it at all."

Not his best book, though it is the one for which he is most famous.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Matt wrote: "I'm reading Assassin's Apprentice. I'm about 25% in and not all that impressed. The characters seem quite flat."

I thought the book got better and better and the other books in the series are excellent, but it may not be to your liking.

[Natacha]

Currently reading Last Argument of Kings and Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues and I'm really enjoying both.

[Juston]

I'm reading Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

[Juston]

Kathi wrote: "Helen wrote: "Don't stop there, ..."

I plan to continue with Hobb's other series that are related to the Farseer trilogy, no worries. Just not immediately. I have discovered something about my rea..."

I try to read at least one non Sci-Fi/fantasy book each month to break up reads and broaden my horizons.

I'm thinking of having a go at The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson this month.

[Chris]

Bruce wrote: "Chris, I didn't like Stranger in a Strange Land either. I kept reading til the end but for me it never got more enjoyable.
"


Thankfully, I'm just about done. I enjoyed The Door Into Summer a lot more than Stranger In A Strange Land.

[Shel, Moderator]

I just finished The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers, which I didn't like quite as much as some of his other books (because I found parts of it extremely confusing and hard to follow, and also because I wanted more Mary Shelley - how can you have the author of Frankenstein as a character in a book and barely see her?). Now I'm reading his short story collection The Bible Repairman and Other Stories, which includes a tangentially related novella.

[Jenny]

I couldn't stand Stranger in a Strange Land and I didn't even finish it. It's so dated and the way women were written... Blech.

I'm currently reading Boneshaker & I'm listening to The Robots of Dawn.

[Lindsey]

Kathi wrote: "I finished the Farseer Trilogy, wrapping up Assassin's Quest in the first hour of August. Now I'm starting The Magicians' Guild, book 1 of the Black Magician Trilogy. I am reading that trilogy for another Goodreads group..."

All good choices! Would you mind pointing me towards that group? I think I'm all caught up on Canavan's US published works now and would love to discuss. (ETA: n/m, found it! I already belonged and wasn't paying attention!)

I'm slowly working through American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies in the Founding of the Republic by Ellis. I enjoyed his Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation but am questioning his assumptions a lot more in this one.

Just finished Remarkable Creatures for my book club (it was excellent) and started Friedman's Dreamwalker. It's fairly short so I'm trying to finish it in the next couple of days. After all, my copy of The Fool's Assassin shows up on Tuesday!!

[Christine]

I finished reading The Target which I enjoyed despite the padding of a short story within the book and am now reading The Kill Switch

[Chris]

I'm reading Ready Player One and absolutely love it so far.

[Sumant]

Here is My review of Black company loved this book!!.

[Jo]

I just finished The Ocean At The End Of the Lane. Interesting book and a really quick book to read.

[Matt]

Kathi wrote: "Matt wrote: "I'm reading Assassin's Apprentice. I'm about 25% in and not all that impressed. The characters seem quite flat."

I thought the book got better and better and the other b..."

I ended up abandoning it about halfway through. With so many great books, why spend time on something you don't love? I picked up The Way of Shadows instead and I'm enjoying it much more.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Matt wrote: "With so many great books, why spend time on something you don't love?"

Exactly true, Matt. And what makes a group interesting is the different points of view about various books & authors.

[Carolyn]

I'm about halfway through The Martian, and I'm really enjoying it. Someone said that it was going to be made into a movie, and it can see this working perfectly as a movie. I'd definitely see it!

[Juston]

Matt wrote: "Kathi wrote: "Matt wrote: "I'm reading Assassin's Apprentice. I'm about 25% in and not all that impressed. The characters seem quite flat."

I thought the book got better and better a..."

Hi Matt,
I have to admit I wasn't as taken by Assassin's Apprentice as others when I read it. In fact I read it on the back of The Way of Kings which I liked a lot.

However, I did read it all the way through and I did enjoy it. In fact I quickly followed up with the rest of the Farseer trilogy and I thoroughly enjoyed all three books.

It did help that I got to meet Robin Hobb and as such I felt a wee bit obliged to finish Assassin's Apprentice so I guess I had other incentives/pressures to do so.

That said I agree, life's too short and there are too many great reads to struggle through something you're not enjoying.