Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion
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Mortal Engines
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The Hungry City Chronicles [Binge Read - 19 Dec 2018]
Yup, thanks Angela...@Karishma: I'm chugging along, trying to catch up with my BRs in time for this :)
I'll have my phone loaded up soon...
Take your time! I don't have anything set up for end of the year, so I can even delay this if required!
Karishma wrote: "Take your time! I don't have anything set up for end of the year, so I can even delay this if required!"I'm entering the home stretch on my BRs... almost all my high priority BRs are over with:
Invisible Library, Riyria Chronicles, Brotherhood of the Wheel, Vorkosigan Saga, Kurtherian Gambit, Arcatraz Smedry, Superpowereds...
Even some of my medium priority BRs... all I have left, in semi-order of priority, is:
Codex Alera #6 (now)
St. Mary's #9 (next)
First Law anthology (or maybe this next)
Shadowfever
Monster Baru Cormorant (month late)
Harry Potter 6 & 7 (late)
Then there's the things I just added: Ship of Theseus & this series
I still want to finish out a few other things on my Incomplete list, as well, but I have 12 books listed already, and 19 days to read before New Years...
I'm starting to feel like a broken record, when it comes to all the things I'm behind on... I'll be glad to start fresh in 2019, and hopefully keep up for awhile :)
Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "I'm starting to feel like a broken record, when it comes to all the things I'm behind on... I'll be glad to start fresh in 2019, and hopefully keep up for awhile :)"What is 12 books for you - You can easily read 2 books a day :P
See you on the 19th! And here I thought you had 30-40 books to go XD
But yes I do hope you have a good 2019. I plan to read a lot of novellas and Indian authors (my DNF graveyard is gonna be huge) in 2019. And binge read series so that I don't leave them incomplete.For December I'm going to enjoy the Schaeferverse and Riyria (3rd time this year - yes, I'm obsessed)
Have you read Craig Schaefer?
Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "I'm starting to feel like a broken record, when it comes to all the things I'm behind on... I'll be glad to start fresh in 2019, and hopefully keep up for awhile :)"..."
Looking at the Empress vs Captain sheet, I have all I listed above, plus 2 Harry Bosch books, a Newsflesh book, a Ministry of Peculiar Occurences book, and the DFZ book if the audio releases... so 16-17 books in 18 days... pretty tight schedule, with holidays approaching...
The problems are going to be the long ones... First Lord's Fury is a 24hr book (16 at 1.5x speed), but I've already got that down to 8hrs...
At adjusted speeds, I have:
Newsflesh is 12hrs (maybe)
Harry Bosch is 7hrs + 7hrs (easy work books)
St. Mary's is 8hrs (fun work book)
First Law is 8hrs
Shadowfever is 14hrs
Harry Potter is 11hrs + 12hrs (2x speed instead of 1.5x) (kind of a maybe, at this point)
Monster Baru Cormorant is 12-14hrs (might need to slow down to 1.25x)
Ministry of Peculiar Occurences is 8hrs (this is a maybe because the authors aren't nearly as good as narrators as the guy they used for the first 4 books... it's sad)
Hungry City Chronicles is 6hrs + 6hrs + 7hrs + 10hrs (probably listen at work December 20th-23rd?)
I find myself on the fence about most of these books, lately...
If I read everything, tho, that's 129hrs of audio in the next 18 days... 18 days == 432hrs... that's about 7hrs/day... totally doable... but this all leads back to how over-regimented my reading schedule has become...
Karishma wrote: "But yes I do hope you have a good 2019. I plan to read a lot of novellas and Indian authors (my DNF graveyard is gonna be huge) in 2019. And binge read series so that I don't leave them incomplete...."Haven't read Schaefer... Harmony Black was added to me TBR a few months ago... and Daniel Faust's cover looks familiar... just haven't had much time for UF lately...
Yes it does seem like your reading has become over regimented. Well, I would say that take a break from buddy reading or don't read the ones you are on the fence about. Reading shoud be about fun not stress you out OR become a forced chore.
Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "But yes I do hope you have a good 2019. I plan to read a lot of novellas and Indian authors (my DNF graveyard is gonna be huge) in 2019. And binge read series so that I don't leave..."If you do - do not under any circumstances start with Harmony Black. Like no way absolutely not.
Start with Daniel Faust and follow the author's preference order.
I missed the bus with the movie, today was the last day at the cinemas, I didn't know. I was going to catch the last show but a friend and traffic made me so late that I missed that one too 😞
Karishma wrote: "I missed the bus with the movie, today was the last day at the cinemas, I didn't know. I was going to catch the last show but a friend and traffic made me so late that I missed that one too 😞"how was today the last day?... the movie doesn't even come out until tomorrow in the US... so there 1 early showing tonight, at 7pm
It's been here for a week. Released on Dec 7th. In my city English movies stay for very short periods of time. I didn't expect it to stay for a week only though, that's way less. But maybe because there is a mega south Indian movie on which has most of the screens and they had to make place for Aquaman.
Karishma wrote: "Yes it does seem like your reading has become over regimented. Well, I would say that take a break from buddy reading or don't read the ones you are on the fence about. Reading shoud be about fun n..."You're right... I'm gonna drop most of them...
Harry Potter & Shadowfever are re-reads
Baru Cormorant, Newsflesh, and Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences can wait...
That's 70hrs of reading I don't have to do... THANKS :D
I'm thinking about making Craig Schaefer my flex-read for 2019, for now... in late 2017-2018 I read Something from the Nightside and the 11 books following it... then I read Odd Thomas, altho I started it before finishing Nightside... gives me a UF series to read, when the mood strikes...
Just read up on the blurb to the first one, and it sounds interesting... and the author-preferred reading order...
Yay to 70 hours saved !!Also, thanks for answering the friend request question, even though you didn't have to, I have interacted with you though to accept it. I really appreciate it when people answer it.
The Scaheferverse isn't only UF - Faust is UF , Harmony Black which I didn't like is more police procedural ( though now the author is again self publishing it so he has said it will be better) , Revanche is Dark Fantasy and I have no clue what Wisdom's Grave is.
I read the first 8 books in October/November - now I'm rereading it slowly with a friend( if you remember Mark from the Malazan planning thread) who is reading them for the first time. And then will continue on till the end.
You can try getting a KU trial and reading some from there - all his books are on KU. Excited to know what you think about them.
Karishma wrote: "Yay to 70 hours saved !!Also, thanks for answering the friend request question, even though you didn't have to, I have interacted with you though to accept it. I really appreciate it when people ..."
Even better, genre variety is good, for me... doing so many BRs in this group has me heavily slanted towards Fantasy, with a sprinkling of Sci-fi and other genres...
Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "Yay to 70 hours saved !!Also, thanks for answering the friend request question, even though you didn't have to, I have interacted with you though to accept it. I really appreciat..."
Same, my other two groups are sff based too, I plan to make next year more genre diverse.
Noticed something, while collecting Daniel Faust books:
Same stock photo modified in different ways...
Thanks for sparking my interest in Daniel Faust, by the way... I started Long Way Down last night, around 66% now... it's got elements I liked from the Sandman Slim & Nightside books I read, but I just like the packaging more in this series, for some reason, and the mix of standalone case and hints of future complications to be dealt with... I went and read a bunch of the blurbs already (books 1-5)... looks like the series goes interesting places... I might end up burning through all these series quick, every spare chance I get :)
Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Thanks for sparking my interest in Daniel Faust, by the way... I started Long Way Down last night, around 66% now... it's got elements I liked from the Sandman Slim & Nightside books I read, but I ..."Well, I'm reading them too right now with a friend though slower so feel free to discuss! I love the Schaeferverse and I'm so glad you are liking it!
FYI - http://craig-schaefer-v2.squarespace....
Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Thanks for sparking my interest in Daniel Faust, by the way... I started Long Way Down last night, around 66% now... it's got elements I liked from the Sandman Slim &..."Yea... I found that link a few days ago, before I started... it's why I mentioned the 4th series that hasn't started publishing yet...
I forgot, sorry I'm having a very frustrating day today.
Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Thanks for sparking my interest in Daniel Faust, by the way... I started Long Way Down last night, around 66% now... it's got elements I liked from t..."The 4 the series 2 books are already published
Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Thanks for sparking my interest in Daniel Faust, by the way... I started Long Way Down last night, around 66% now... i..."That chronological list is just a bit old, apparently... cause I just checked, and all 3 books are out already... came out in January 2018, August 2018, and November 2018... he must be a writing machine, cause that's over 1100 pages...
He's managed to build a 19 book mega-series in 4 years, checking his publication dates...
Yes, and that too great books except Harmony Black. I have read upto before Revanche starts.
Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Thanks for sparking my interest in Daniel Faust, by the way... I started Long Way Down last night, ar..."He definitely is a writing machine.
And a standalone's coming out next year too - Ghosts of Gotham's past
Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Thanks for sparking my interest in Daniel Faust, by the way... I start..."Apparently, the Wisdom's Grave trilogy is a crossover trilogy, bringing together characters from the 3 other series... sounds very interesting... makes me wonder if that's the end of the series, or more are planned?
It's the end of this storyline.There will be more Harmony Black books. And there might be more Daniel Faust books
Did you notice that after the first book the ratings steadily rise for these books and the number of ratings drastically drop?
Karishma wrote: "Did you notice that after the first book the ratings steadily rise for these books and the number of ratings drastically drop?"That happens with every series, basically... people who don't like early books, usually quit series... Mayim is one of the few people I know who will read an entire 1-2 star series...
This phenomenon is most noticeable in books people read since Goodreads launched... ratings on older series tend to be based on nostalgia/memory, and don't always noticeably follow the trend, altho #s of ratings still tend to drop...
Later books also tend to suffer from ratings from people that rate books before/without reading...
I'm near the end of the 2nd book... I definitely have theories about this book, where I didn't so much in the first book...(view spoiler)
I love all the complexities of the plots, even if they get kinda ridiculous by the end... I didn't expect Harmony Black to show up so soon in the series...
Eventually, we'll start reading Hungry City, and we'll start using this thread for it's intended purpose...Where are you and Mark reading these books?... Maybe we should have a series chat thread, here or elsewhere, to discuss the books, even if we aren't all necessarily on the same book...
I will reply to your messages tomorrow, tired today.I'm going to read for half an hour before going to sleep.
Karishma wrote: "I will reply to your messages tomorrow, tired today.I'm going to read for half an hour before going to sleep."
No problem... I'll be starting Mortal Engines tomorrow... listening to The Living End today (end of the initial trilogy apparently, so a decent pause point), and catching up on my slower Sharp Ends BR... then I'm good to go... planning on reading the series through the weekend... hopefully be done around Christmas...
Just started... the movie trailer has been very accurate so far... barely touched down on ground...
Up to chapter 15... I really don't understand these cities... altho they make me think of some Katamari Damacy type videogames where you "eat" things to grow bigger and eat other things...
I think I'm going to alternate between this series and Daniel Faust / Harmony Black, instead of just binging... should still be finished with this series by late next week, I think, if that works for you...
I typed a long reply and my phone decided to switch off at that time 😭😭😭😭Short - couldn't read much - very severe foot pain - was at doctor for several hours - had argument with engineers about basic balance sheet finance for 3 hours - paperback after one year - feels so weird - downloaded an ebook copy from net and reading that.
Karishma wrote: "I typed a long reply and my phone decided to switch off at that time 😭😭😭😭Short - couldn't read much - very severe foot pain - was at doctor for several hours - had argument with engineers about b..."
wow... if we're competing, I went in for a physical today, and was put on high blood pressure meds (which is a pretty light diagnoses, compared to the ulcers & athlete's foot sweat I was dealing with back in April/May/June...)
It does NOT sound like you've been having the best luck, lately... Did you find a finance job, then?
Oh damn that's tough. No I haven't found a job yet, my cities a dead job market. I'm planning to give government job exams next year, so whatever job I get is anyway going to be a temporary one - fingers crossed I get one.
So, in one of the telegram groups we were discussing some questions that were asked in the manager level recruitment for India's market regulator. Most people who apply for up to manager level government jobs are engineers who are simultaneously preparing for the civil services ( not for me - I'm interested in the BFSI sector).
So their finance is pretty weak.
Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "I typed a long reply and my phone decided to switch off at that time 😭😭😭😭Short - couldn't read much - very severe foot pain - was at doctor for several hours - had argument with ..."
Hah, it's actually both ways - I am finally happy after being stuck for 6 years in a course I hated/ knew would fail but forced by my dad to continue in - I'm finally free to pursue something else being CFP and my dream of working in either the Central Bank or the market regulator.
So I'm overall very happy, these are minor things which aren't as important.
The fact that I'm not being able to walk now because of the pain is solely on my ignoring the pain which has been steadily increasing over the past 2 months.
Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Karishma wrote: "I typed a long reply and my phone decided to switch off at that time 😭😭😭😭Short - couldn't read much - very severe foot pain - was at doctor for sev..."
That's my problem... I mitigate symptoms, because they're manageable until they aren't... but then I finally broke down and spent a bunch of money on doctor/specialist visits, and it mostly felt like a waste of time/money... dietary changes were the most important part of dealing with my ulcers...
And this stuff with blood pressure has probably been creeping up on me for awhile, but my coworkers are in much more dangerous territory... their BP is like 20 points higher, and they just chain Monster, Red Bull, etc energy drinks at work every night...
Good luck with your career goals... I kinda wasted my time with my college degree, and have been in overnight retail for a decade now, and am kinda locked in, because I like the financial security of maintaining my job vs risks of the job market... I link it back to watching my parents struggle to pay bills with 4 kids, and constantly moving to dodge unpaid bills...
Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Up to chapter 15... I really don't understand these cities... altho they make me think of some Katamari Damacy type videogames where you "eat" things to grow bigger and eat other things..."It's actually a totally unique concept. I have only just started. And I'm glad to see you liking Daniel Faust so much - did you read 1.5 too?
And yes to alternating the two - now that I have started preparing for these my daily readings going to be 100-150 pages.
Stopping at chapter 8. Well, apart from the whole moving and eating cities, it seems like pretty standard YA. Let's see what new comes up. How are you liking it? I have a feeling this will suffer because you are receiving Faust along with this.
Karishma wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Up to chapter 15... I really don't understand these cities... altho they make me think of some Katamari Damacy type videogames where you "eat" things to grow bigger a..."I need to go back and read 1.5 at some point (soonish... I'll do it before moving to Harmony Black / Revanche, I think)
Karishma wrote: "Stopping at chapter 8. Well, apart from the whole moving and eating cities, it seems like pretty standard YA. Let's see what new comes up. How are you liking it? I have a feeling this will suffer b..."It's been purely OK so far... the moving cities are weird... usually something I see in a space episode of Doctor Who... rest of the story has me thinking of other books that did similar things... and I have Faust in the back of my mind... I finished the initial Faust trilogy, but excited to continue with new baddies...
Apprentice Historians spread out a banner reading Happy Valentine's Day! ------- hunh!
Fantasy Buddy Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
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Predator's Gold (other topics)
Something from the Nightside (other topics)
A Darkling Plain (other topics)
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