What Else Are You Reading in 2019? Showing 1,101-1,150 of 3,237

[Trike]

Currently listening to The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top-Secret Military Research Agency, which is really interesting and definitely sci-fi related. Just the stuff about the hydrogen bomb is as nuts as any SF flick, what with the politics and infighting and the whole “we might set the Earth’s atmosphere on fire” angle.

[Raucous]

Trike wrote: "Currently listening to The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top-Secret Military Research Agency, which is really interesting and definitely sci-fi related..."

I used to work on DARPA projects. I also knew some of the people in the middle of that whole hydrogen bomb thing. The description that I heard for one in particular was "Antichrist" and I'm not making that up just because I'm currently rereading Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. Anyway, I have stories. I'm going to have to see how they line up with this book. Thanks.

[MadProfessah]

I love both JACK MCDEVITT ‘s series with a slight preference for the Academy series starring Priscilla Hutchins. I will definitely read this latest installment very soon!

[Lowell]

Interesting. Which series did you read first?

[Leticia]

I read a contemporary mystery which is something I rarely read, and I liked it. It was a very surprising book.

[Jordan]

Just finished and loved A Memory Called Empire, which is going on my favorites shelf.

Started The Priory of the Orange Tree as my latest audiobook. So far I'm interested.

Slogging through Semiosis. Cool concept, terrible characters.

Also slowly inching through Seven Blades in Black and The Psychology of Time Travel. Both really good, I'm just way too busy right now.

[Robert]

Yesterday I finished The Bayern Agenda: Book One of the Galactic Cold War. It's a space opera spy thriller that takes place in the same universe as his first book, The Caledonian Gambit. The new novel has a strong and twisty plot. I enjoyed the two viewpoint characters and the others they met along the way. I liked that the universe is much more filled out in this novel than in the first. I know about both these books because Moren is on The Incomparable podcast quite a lot.

[Pam]

Read Raising Fire by James Bennett and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2814190900.

[Time]

Read a lot since I last posted, probably like 40-50 books. These are the highlights, id rate all of these 4/5 or higher.

A Night in the Lonesome October
Excellent, cozy lovecraftian horror about a dog. I Have read most books by this author and this was the best so far imo.

Fledgling

My first book by this author. I went in with high expectations and they were met, clearly top-notch writer, been avoiding her because I prefer easily digested escapism, this one seamed her “lightest” option. I will eventually read everything by her I except, but I won’t rush it.

There are plenty of things in this book that might want to make someone stay away from it, read up on reviews and content-warnings before going in.


Screw The Galaxy

This series was an unexpected gem, it was a ton of fun. The space station where the story takes place changes about as much as ankh-morpork between the books and does not get stale.

[Pam]

Read Ransom Riggs' Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2816412565.

[Kesten]

I'm reading Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

I plan to read the rest of the DC Icons series when I'm finished. I'll also try to review this one.

[Krystal]

I just finished Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey



Bit of an Aussie classic these days but didn't do it for me.

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

[Estefania :3]

I’m current reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore ^_^.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Wow. Crown Conspiracy was not for me, so I'm giving up on Theft of Swords and I think I'm returning the audio I bought for the first book of Chronicles. I grit my teeth so hard I gave myself a headache finishing this thing.

At least Bryony and Roses is going well.

[Leticia]

I finished for a readathon at Litsy, for the prompt of social media focus. This was a weird dystopian book but very interesting.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Kesten, looking forward to your final thoughts on these books!

Krystal I hope your next book is more appealing to you!

Fanny, great picks, I hope they do well for you :)

Thomas, I'm glad your Horus project is still going well ^^

Leticia, intriguing! I'll have to investigat that book a bit more!

[YouKneeK]

Since my last post, I read the first two books in Sergei Lukyanenko’s Watch series, Night Watch (on our group shelf) followed by Day Watch. It’s a six-book series, but I had really mixed feelings about it and I’ve decided to stop here. Each book was split up into three related stories, so the two books consisted of six stories.

With pretty much every story I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but then I felt let down by the endings. It seemed like characters always took the long way around to achieve their goals, and the stories seemed over-plotted when considering how they ended. I liked the setting and the world-building, and I was tempted to continue on with it, but I think I would have ultimately regretted the time spent on it.

My longer reviews:
Book 1 – Night Watch
Book 2 – Day Watch

I’ve now started reading The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham.

[Kaa]

I just finished The Light Brigade, which is sort of dystopic military sci-fi with time travel. In general, I enjoy Hurley's work, but this was easily my favorite book of hers so far. Grim and bloody, as is typical for her work (although no sexual violence, sexism, or homophobia in this one!), but the ending is well worth it. Even beyond the obvious (and, in my opinion, apt) comparison to The Forever War, there are a lot of nods to earlier sci-fi classics - I was especially pleased to spot a Le Guin reference near the end. For those who enjoy darker reads and/or military sci-fi, this is one I would definitely recommend. Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nathan]

I have just finished Terry Pratchett's Reaper Man, which is now up there with my favourite Discworld books. So now I'm going to move on to Soul Music as would really like to see this Death series through

[Pam]

Read Nora Robert's The Obsession and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2818639873.

[CBRetriever]

any chance that y'all could give a brief one or two sentence idea of you opinion about the book or what it's about rather than just linking to a review? I'll read the review if it sounds interesting but otherwise I'll just skip to the next post. kindle like this:

I just finished The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen which was an odd book about a family living in a basement with no outside contact. It's not a dystopian story, but something weirder.

[Rob]

Allison wrote: "Wow. Crown Conspiracy was not for me, so I'm giving up on Theft of Swords and I think I'm returning the audio I bought for the first book of Chronicles. I grit my teeth so hard I gave myself a head..."

Sorry to hear that. :(

When you say Chronicles, do you mean The Crown Tower?

You'll probably like that better, but his ancient history series might be more your speed starting with Age of Myth.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Thanks, Rob! I won't write him off just yet, then. But I'm'a need a minute. I'm out of whiskey and Great British Bake Off and hoping one of these books I'm reading now will do the work they cannot.

[Krystal]

YouKneeK wrote: "Since my last post, I read the first two books in Sergei Lukyanenko’s Watch series, Night Watch (on our group shelf) followed by Day Watch. It’s a six-book series, but I..."

I read the first book and was pretty disappointed with it so that was enough for me!

[YouKneeK]

Krystal wrote: "I read the first book and was pretty disappointed with it so that was enough for me!"

Haha, I read your review and it sounds like you made a good call to stop there. I went into it mostly blind, so that probably helped me because I had zero expectations. I did share some of your other issues with it though.

I didn’t know about the Harry Potter comparison. I read a Kindle edition, so if it had that tagline I didn’t notice it. That comparison doesn’t make any sense whatsoever to me. I mean, aside from the books both having fantasy elements, what on earth do they have in common? I guess they both have wands? But the main characters are adults, they most certainly aren't in school, there is a completely different atmosphere...

[Lowell]

Nathan wrote: "I have just finished Terry Pratchett's Reaper Man, which is now up there with my favourite Discworld books. So now I'm going to move on to Soul Music as would really like to see this Death series t..."

oh man. Music with Rocks in!

[Thomas]

Recently started Transition, by Vonda McIntyre. I haven't gotten far, but the characters seem like people I might like in real life -- and I admire books with genuinely likable characters.

[MadProfessah]

AGE OF MYTH is also pretty great.

[Nathan]

Lowell wrote: "Nathan wrote: "I have just finished Terry Pratchett's Reaper Man, which is now up there with my favourite Discworld books. So now I'm going to move on to Soul Music as would really like to see this..."

I'm only like 80 pages into it and it is already showing to be a good follow on. Poor Imp having his harp sat on.

[Trike]

I’ve now listened to 9 of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan saga books this year and am about to launch into #10. In this instance I’m glad I’m arriving to the party late, because now I get to consume the sprawling epic in great big gulps.

[Andy]

I'm on an Octavia E. Butler binge—just finished re-reading Parable of the Sower, a great "slowpocalypse" novel.

I'm also working through her Patternmaster series, reading them in publication order (4/2/1/3). A few weeks ago I finished #4 (Patternmaster), and now I'm reading #2 (Mind of My Mind). I enjoyed #4, and am enjoying #2 even more.

[David]

Trike wrote: "I’ve now listened to 9 of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan saga books this year and am about to launch into #10. In this instance I’m glad I’m arriving to the party late, because no..."

Just don't go through withdrawal once you reach the end. That's what happened to me when I first binge-read most of her books seven years ago.

[Pam]

Read The Time of the Ghostby Diana Wynne Jones and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2818695927.

[Trike]

David wrote: "Just don't go through withdrawal once you reach the end. That's what happened to me when I first binge-read most of her books seven years ago."

I shall steel myself against it.

[Krystal]

I'm finally starting The Final Empire

[Kaa]

Andy wrote: "I'm also working through her Patternmaster series, reading them in publication order (4/2/1/3). A few weeks ago I finished #4 (Patternmaster), and now I'm reading #2 (Mind of My Mind). I enjoyed #4, and am enjoying #2 even more."

How did you decide which reading order you were going to go with? I've heard the arguments both ways, and I'm trying to decide whether I should try to get my hands on Patternmaster (I already own Mind of My Mind) before the Wild Seed BR in June. If there are others who have read the series, I'd love your input as well!

[Gabi]

@Kaa: I've chosen the publication order, too. It worked very well for me.

At the moment my RL prevents me from eye reading most of the time, so that my reading schedule is off :(.

On audio I finished Abaddon's Gate, which became good in the last part. But since it took me two thirds to finally get invested into the story the overall impression was average.

I took a break from the Expanse series with listening to Without You, for various reasons a very personal book for me. This time was the first time I got the audio version and this is even better, cause Anthony reads it himself. I had a wonderfully emotional time with it.

And while I'm waiting for Children of Ruin to become available on audible I started listening to The Name of the Wind in the version narrated by Nick Podehl, who reads exactly the way I love, so I'm enjoying it immensely.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Hope you keep enjoying Name of the Wind, Gabi! And that real life takes it easy on you.

I had a great time with Bryony and Roses, a Beauty and the Beast retelling with more snark and kindness than most.

Then I started reading Dreamer's Pool which I expected to love because she's one of the authors I trust to write well no matter the subject matter, and it's a combo of folklore and a detective mystery!!! But, so far, she's doing a lot of things I thought she'd never stoop to, and it's rubbing my fur the wrong way.

I've dipped my toe into Swordspoint, too, and I'm hoping it is more my style than Dreamer's Pool.

[Beth]

CBRetriever wrote: "any chance that y'all could give a brief one or two sentence idea of you opinion about the book or what it's about rather than just linking to a review?"

I also prefer it when people provide a bit more than just a link.

[HeyT]

I'm also in the middle of Dreamer's Pool and like once I figured out what the major plot twist was going to be I was like meh I'm kind of bored because this was too easy.

I've also started The Martian Chronicles and Children of Time and then I'm getting back on the Wheel of Time horse.

[Dj]

Time wrote: "Read a lot since I last posted, probably like 40-50 books. These are the highlights, id rate all of these 4/5 or higher.

A Night in the Lonesome October
Excellent, cozy lovecraftian h..."

If you ever get the chance, listen to A Night in the Lonesome October read by the author. He has an awesome Laconic delievery which is perfect for the story.

[Kaa]

I just finished Children of Time and loved it. I felt like, in a lot of ways, this was the book that I was hoping Semiosis would be and just wasn't. The exploration of social dynamics and development, in both communities, was absolutely wonderful - in the two stories I've read by Tchaikovsky, this seems like something he really excels at.

I want to read a few Le Guin stories today (I mostly just have short stories left to read from the Hainish Cycle) and then jump into Children of Ruin!

[MadProfessah]

Ahhh it must be nice to read children of time and children of ruin right after each other for the first time instead of having to wait 3 years like the rest of us :)

[Gabi]

Kaa wrote: "I just finished Children of Time and loved it. I felt like, in a lot of ways, this was the book that I was hoping Semiosis would be and just wasn't. The exploration of social dynami..."

Yes, yes, yes! Tchaikovsky was the author I would have wished for Semiosis! I didn't want to spell it out, cause I thought it unfair, but now that you brought it up, Kaa, I want to shout an "agreed"!

[CBRetriever]

and if you haven't yet read them, try his Shadows of the Apt series starting with Empire in Black and Gold. It's insect oriented too.

ETA: "The series is set in a hypothetical universe populated by different "kinden". Each kinden is a fictional race of humans, named after (and having certain characteristics of) an insect. Kinden are typically divided into two categories: "Apt" and "Inapt". The Apt do not have magical abilities, but are able to understand, use and design mechanical devices. The Inapt have varying amounts of magical abilities, but cannot use mechanical devices, even those as simple as latches. The series focuses on the attempted conquest of the Lowlands by the Wasp-kinden empire. "

[Robert]

Yesterday I finished reading Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. It was a delightful fantasy novel, told entirely in letters between two cousins. Quite a fun read. I was amazed to learn that the authors chose which cousin to write and that the book started out as a letter game between them.

[Beth]

Allison wrote: "I've dipped my toe into Swordspoint, too, and I'm hoping it is more my style than Dreamer's Pool."

Between this and Arrows of the Queen, you somehow have found the exact wavelength of Beth's Nostalgic Brain. I loved this one to death in the mid-late-'90s. (Also read it a year or two ago and it was still good, but not quite as consciousness consuming.)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Hooray! I'm so far liking your brain very much! I'm not very far into Swordspoint yet, but I like the audio production, so it's been fun to listen to.

[Bobby]

I'm reading The Hobbit or There and Back Again. As a life long fantasy fan, I know I should have read this long ago, but I just never got around to it, and when I was younger I was more interested in newer works.

I'm about 60% in and loving it. I have seen the old animated movie and the recent movies, so I pretty much know the story, but it's such a great experience to read the original. I've had a smile on my face as I read just about the whole time.

I would have finished it in 2 days if I had the time to read, but unfortunately life is getting in the way of me devouring this book like I normally would. Either way, it's been a great experience so far.

[Kaa]

MadProfessah wrote: "Ahhh it must be nice to read children of time and children of ruin right after each other for the first time instead of having to wait 3 years like the rest of us :)"

Heh, I delayed reading CoT until now because I am terrible at waiting for things, and also at remembering books that I've read more than a few months ago. It's very nice to be able to go from one book to the next!

Gabi wrote: "Yes, yes, yes! Tchaikovsky was the author I would have wished for Semiosis! I didn't want to spell it out, cause I thought it unfair, but now that you brought it up, Kaa, I want to shout an "agreed"!"

I hope I'm not being unfair to Burke! I think she and I just have different priorities in storytelling.

CBRetriever wrote: "and if you haven't yet read them, try his Shadows of the Apt series starting with Empire in Black and Gold. It's insect oriented too.

Ooh, thanks for the rec! I'm curious to see what he does with a more fantasy setting.