What Else Are You Reading in 2019? Showing 1,301-1,350 of 3,237

[Jacqueline]

Laini Taylor is an excellent writer. To me her books aren’t just YA. They are suitable for YA but are for everyone. I believe a lot of books are classified under YA because they have younger characters as the main characters but it shouldn’t always be the case. The main characters in Mark Lawrence’s Book of the Ancestor series are teenage girls but there’s no way they’re YA books. Even though they could be suitable for some Young Adults I suppose.

I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini too and picked up the sequels to that in March. They’re about young people and are suitable for YA too but I found them in the normal fantasy section of a big bookshop in Brisbane.

Not reading a book because it’s supposed to be YA closed you off to some of the best writing we’ve seen for years. Some of these authors are brilliant and their books are works of art.

But as we’ve seen from the YA discussion somewhere else in this group everyone has different ideas on YA.

[John]

Anna wrote: "Gabi wrote: "Any more 1000 pagers on the groupshelf …? ;)"

Great question! These are the longest books on our shelf:.."

Throw in almost any Wheel of Time book by Robert Jordan

Start of series is The Eye of the World at 814 pages.

can claim 6, currently reading 1st in Kingkiller Chronicles then on the Wise Man's Fear. Seveneves is also on the listening list for this month.

[YouKneeK]

I just finished Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia A. McKillip. Considering this is on our group shelf, I was surprised by how few people on my friend's list have read it. This was my first McKillip book, and I’ve seen a few comments that it wasn’t the best one to start with, but I really liked it. So if this wasn’t the best, I must have great things to look forward to. :)

The central story is about a teenage girl who works as a translator in a castle library. A strange book with an alphabet shaped like thorns falls into her hands and she becomes obsessed with translating it. It’s only about 300 pages and there are a surprising number of POVs for such a short, standalone fantasy, but they were all interesting to read about and I was never bored. The POVs all tie together nicely by the end. Not in a contrived, overly-convenient way, but in a natural way. I did have a few minor logic complaints, and this has a lot more romance in it than I normally enjoy in a book, but it wasn’t super angsty so I think that kept it from getting on my nerves. My longer review.

The next book I plan to read is Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay. This will be the last Guy Gavriel Kay book from our group shelf that I haven’t read yet, but I usually enjoy his work so I’ll probably continue to read some of his other work. I usually fit him into my reading schedule about once a year.

[Gabi]

John wrote: "Anna wrote: "Gabi wrote: "Any more 1000 pagers on the groupshelf …? ;)"

Great question! These are the longest books on our shelf:.."

Throw in almost any Wheel of Time book by [author:Robert Jorda..."

^^' "The Eye of the World" is one of the few group shelf books I was going to skip. I followed the reading experience of two folks whose taste is similar to mine and that made me decide that it's not for me.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I'm currently reading The Masked City, book 2 in the Invisible Library series. It's an ok enough read, but I'm undecided about continuing the series. Might wait until book 3 to decide for sure.

[Jordan]

Just finished NOS4A2 and Aurora Rising. NOS4A2 was pretty good. I'm typically not a horror reader but I am a big fan of bad guys who believe completely that they're the good guys. Plus it was narrated by Kate Mulgrew! Aurora Rising was a little bit of a letdown. I loved the Illuminae Files and this book wasn't quite on that level. It was a cool concept ruined by too many generic POVs. I probably should have picked audio for it.

Currently reading The Dazzle of Day, which is some nice slow thoughtful sci-fi, Ancestral Night, which I'm just starting but has me hooked already, and Witchmark which I'm kind of struggling to really get into.

[Andy]

Allison wrote: "Andy, hard to answer. it's not like Bone Witch or Divergent or anything."

Thanks, that's workable. I can usually survive a well-written YA(ish) novel by wincing and turning the page whenever Person A breaks Person B's heart, or Person B thinks Person A is, like, totally hot.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Andy wrote: "Allison wrote: "Andy, hard to answer. it's not like Bone Witch or Divergent or anything."

Thanks, that's workable. I can usually survive a well-written YA(ish) novel by wincing and turning the pag..."

Haha that's my tactic too! I only had to do that once or twice, really. If you ever get to it, I'll be curious to hear if you agree!

[Lost Planet Airman]

Allison wrote: "Andy wrote: "Allison wrote: "Andy, hard to answer. it's not like Bone Witch or Divergent or anything."

Thanks, that's workable. I can usually survive a well-written YA(ish) novel by wincing and tu..."

That's funny -- I somehow imagined you being, like, so into YA.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Mike wrote: "Allison wrote: "Andy wrote: "Allison wrote: "Andy, hard to answer. it's not like Bone Witch or Divergent or anything."

Thanks, that's workable. I can usually survive a well-written YA(ish) novel b..."

Thwarted! You see right through me. What gave me away? My profound interest in kissing scenes or my fascination with couture?

[Bobby]

I just finished my re-read of the Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb. It's been a while since I've read multiple books from a series in a row. Lately I have been spreading it out, but once I started this re-read, I couldn't put the books down.

I had been reading The Hobbit or There and Back Again, and got distracted by Tawny Man, but now I'm back at it and loving it just as much as before.

[Pam]

A catch-up on my last 2 reads:

Phil Rickman's The Wine of Angels - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2839108055

and
The Terminal Velocity of Cats by Carol Westron - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2849651732.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Last night I finished Shadow of Night, sequel to A Discovery of Witches. Decent enough middle book of the series, even if some of it had me either rolling my eyes or wanting to smack people.

This morning I started The Shadowglass, finale of the The Bone Witch trilogy. Right now my brain is playing the "Ok, so what happened in the last book again?" game.

[Time]

Children of Time

Children of Ruin

A Closed and Common Orbit

I was out of books. And I was having trouble to find more books, so I changed strategy and went for books with a good score or with some reward nomination, not the first time I do this and as usually it paid off.


The fewer the pov's the better as far as im concerned. Tchaikovsky's books books I dont think could have been written any other way, but I am holding out for a single or two-pov book from Becky Chambers.

edit: I have been quite successful in finding good books, these are all above 3/5 id say.

[Alondra]

A Darker Shade of Magic, which I like, so far.

Sheol. What can I say?? I love zombie stories... 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♂️

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Time, it sounds like you chose well! I've heard great things about all of those.

Alondra, I'm also liking Darker Shade!

[Jonas]

I've been reading A Sellsword's Compassion: Book One of the Seven Virtues lately.

Not bad really, quite funny. I'm on the second book right now.

[Anna]

Ooh, I love Trudi Canavan! You should definitely also read the follow-up trilogy, but don't look at the blurbs yet, because they will totally spoil the end of the first trilogy!

[Pam]

Read The Wind Eye by Robert Westall and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2851973882.

[Pam]

Read The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2852179688.

[Don]

is reading "Mosaic Techniques & Traditions" by Sonia King.

[Don]

is reading "Waylander" by David Gemmell.

[Don]

Rereading "A Brightness long ago" by GG Kay.

[Rob]

Last week I finished listening to Fated. I struggled early on but ended up liking it enough to continue on with the series at some point. - ★★★☆☆ - (My Review)

[V.W.]

Just bought the latest RCN novel "To Clear Away the Shadows" by David Drake.

Also waiting to read "Caine's Mutiny" by Charles E Gannon.

[Kaa]

I am FINALLY catching up on my Le Guin reading for that challenge. Four Ways to Forgiveness was probably my least favorite of her books to date, but I'm enjoying her other short stories and also really liked The Telling.

The Calculating Stars was more intense than I was expecting, but I thought it was fantastic.

I'm loving The Way of Thorn and Thunder, but progress is slow.

I also just started Patternmaster. I've decided to defy all advice and logical book order to start the series here, then move to Wild Seed, and finish with Mind of My Mind and Clay's Ark. You can't tell me what to do!

[Darrell]

I went through an epic fantasy phase to urban fantasy and now I'm on a science fiction kick lately so running through the Honor Harrington series. Only on book 3 so got a ways to go it seems.

[Brick]

I started Philip K. Dick's Lies, Inc. a few days ago. Even though this book didn't give the greatest reviews, I still have to read it. I'm a huge fan of the author's work. And being a big horror fan, Dick's dark worlds and his odd characters give me the creeps.

[Beth]

A Memory Called Empire: this month's SF pick! And what a downer it ended up being. So much promise and it ended up being mostly distancing and dull. YMMV, of course. (My conflicted review)

[John]

multiple threads here that I am also doing so found the right group:

Kaa wrote: "I am FINALLY catching up on my Le Guin reading..."

also doing this as saw several books on the group bookshelf and I need to re-read the Earthsea series and others. Have not read much Octavia E. Butler so another author from here that I need to catch up on.

Brick wrote: "I started Philip K. Dick's Lies, Inc. ..."
Also a huge fan and just saw the Electric Dreams series on Amazon which started me on a read, re-read of his stuff.

Darrell wrote: "I went through an epic fantasy phase to urban fantasy and now I'm on a science fiction kick lately so running through the Honor Harrington series. Only on book 3 so got a ways to go it seems."

Had this same kick a few years ago but am now reversed. Picking up on Fantasy and Horror reading with Sci-Fi sprinkled in. Made it thru all of the Honor Harrington and Prince Roger March Upcountry. If you have not already read, another good series in this vein is Mutineer

[Leticia]

Don wrote: "I remember Altered Carbon as being pretty good."
I didn't like all the visceral/gory details and slow pacing, at a certain point he goes shopping and takes forever to buy a gun. The mystery was interesting but I don't like when a book stretches only so it's a long series instead of a standalone.

[Kaa]

@John: Feel free to jump in on the year-long Le Guin reading challenge! We will be reading Earthsea starting in July.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Nice, John!! It's so great when there's accidental synergy :)

Leticia, those books are deeefinitely gory. I keep meaning to pick up book 2 but so far I haven't felt the need to be that high octane.

[Andy]

Kaa wrote: "I also just started Patternmaster. I've decided to defy all advice and logical book order to start the series here, then move to Wild Seed, and finish with Mind of My Mind and Clay's Ark. You can't tell me what to do!"

LOL. You gotta be you. (And that's actually a perfectly reasonable order IMO.)

After finishing the (pub-order) third book in, Wild Seed, I'm plowing ahead to finish the series with Clay's Ark.

I think that'll make five Octavia E. Butler books in a couple of months. When I'm finished, I'll badly need some time with a therapist. Or maybe just another Murderbot book.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Gadzooks! I can hardly maintain one Butler a year! I definitely prescribe some light fiction!

[John]

Kaa wrote: "@John: Feel free to jump in on the year-long Le Guin reading challenge! We will be reading Earthsea starting in July."

thanks for the links. made a note and will join in.

[Brick]

John wrote: "multiple threads here that I am also doing so found the right group:

Kaa wrote: "I am FINALLY catching up on my Le Guin reading..."

also doing this as saw several books on the group bookshelf and..."

Electric Dreams was a very good series. I might even rewatch it! :)

[John]

Allison wrote: "Gadzooks! I can hardly maintain one Butler a year! I definitely prescribe some light fiction!"

uh oh. I have (had?) plans for a Butler read with Earthseed duology, Kindred, just got Wild Seed from Library and Bloodchild and Other stories. Will start with Wild Seed as library time limit and so I can check off a challenge and then go from there.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

John wrote: "Allison wrote: "Gadzooks! I can hardly maintain one Butler a year! I definitely prescribe some light fiction!"

uh oh. I have (had?) plans for a Butler read with Earthseed duology, Kindred, just go..."

Let us know how it goes! I should clarify for newcomers that I have a pretty weak stomach for a lot of more classically upsetting things in literature, so I'm more the canary in the mine than I am the last man standing. I may not be a great goal post haha

[Marie]

I just finished the first six books (omnibus) in this series and I have 13 more to go! lol

The Dresden Files Collection 1-6 by Jim Butcher

About two weeks ago I read this author and now I am hooked on this series which I need to finish reading the other books.

Malice by John Gwynne

I am also doing a re-read of this urban fantasy series as the fifth book is suppose to be releasing around November. There are supposed to be nine books in this series eventually.

A Subtle Agency by Graeme Rodaughan

[CBRetriever]

Marie wrote: "I just finished the first six books (omnibus) in this series and I have 13 more to go! lol

The Dresden Files Collection 1-6 by Jim Butcher

About two weeks ago I re..."

yep, I loved that one too, but I'm waiting until the rest go down in price a bit

[Marie]

CBRetriever wrote: "Marie wrote: "I just finished the first six books (omnibus) in this series and I have 13 more to go! lol

The Dresden Files Collection 1-6 by Jim Butcher

About two ..."

Well CB, I haven't been buying them as I have been getting them from my library! :-) Since I use my kindle fire, I just connect to my library through their overdrive app and download them to my kindle. They have his whole collection, but the rest of the series right now has a waiting list. I have seven or eight people ahead of me for book #7. So I am just going to have to wait till no one is ahead of me. lol :)

[Kaa]

John wrote: "Allison wrote: "Gadzooks! I can hardly maintain one Butler a year! I definitely prescribe some light fiction!"

uh oh. I have (had?) plans for a Butler read with Earthseed duology, Kindred, just go..."

FWIW, I've already read both Earthseed books and Kindred this year and am planning on reading all four of the Patternmaster books in the near future. It's pretty heavy but so far hasn't been more than I can handle.

[CBRetriever]

I like to reread, so borrowing isn't for me. I just wait until ereaderiq reports a price drop and I get it

I got Book 14 for $1.99
Books 1-6 that you listed above for $7.99 <-- excellent deal
Book 11 for $1.99
and
Book 8 for $4.99
but
I did treat myself to Book 7 for my birthday

[Don]

Leticia Toraci: re. Altered Carbon.
it was gritty and gory. I liked the cortical stack technology and the mystery. the cortical stack was very original and changed everything, getting closer to hard sci-fi than most.

I agree with you about books being stretched. I have encountered multiple books that have been extended into mediocre when they could have had an elegant stand alone ending.

Endings can be tough. even the much ballyhooed "The Stand" got wonky at the end.

[Don]

Just finished "Waylander" by David Gemmell. A fine entry in the "Swords and Sorcery" category. Waylander, sort of a slash first ask questions later guy, reminded me of a Conan character.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I'm about to finish A Darker Shade of Magic which has been a good time and quite dark. I'll be continuing, unless something enraging happens in the next 100 pages or so.

I'm about to start Three Parts Dead which has been on my radar forever. A friend I'm seeing this weekend wants to discuss it, so now feels like a good time to knock it off the list!

It's killing me a little, though, because I was 6 books away from having my "books I've read by men" and my "books I've read by people who aren't men" lists be equal, and I really want to achieve that. But I am AN EXCELLENT FRIEND and will set equality back one book for their sake.

[Monica]

Allison wrote: "...I was 6 books away from having my "books I've read by men" and my "books I've read by people who aren't men" lists be equal, and I really want to achieve that. But I am AN EXCELLENT FRIEND and will set equality back one book for their sake."

You give and you give... ;-)

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I'm reading Scythe for another group's BotM. I'm about 21% in, but I'm pretty sure I can see the direction this is heading.

Next up will be Into the Labyrinth for the continuing Death Gate buddy read.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Monica wrote: "Allison wrote: "...I was 6 books away from having my "books I've read by men" and my "books I've read by people who aren't men" lists be equal, and I really want to achieve that. But I am AN EXCELL..."

Haha!