What Else Are You Reading in 2019? Showing 2,401-2,450 of 3,237

[Gabi]

I fear I don't get horror if it hits me on the head :D. I didn't even realise that "The Outside" was meant as horror.
"The Twisted Ones" was horror, but in a quite harmless, feel good goosebumps way.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I should read my signed copy of The Crow this month...but it's sooooo sad! And dark! Idk if I'm old enough to read this thing that I've totally watched a jillion times.

Twisted Ones is so far the cutest horror book I've read. Although that beginning really did get under my skin. Ugh. We'll see how the back half goes :)

Red Mars is plodding a bit. The science seems well thought out but I'm having a hard time grasping the characters, and I'll be honest, a bit annoyed at how distinct the male personas are from the female.

[Anna]

Gabi wrote: "I fear I don't get horror if it hits me on the head :D. I didn't even realise that "The Outside" was meant as horror."

I knew before I started. I was wondering if I should bring it up in the poll, but I thought it'd be a spoiler. Then I read it and never spotted the horror :D I don't think I'm meant to read horror, and that's fine.

[Anna]

Allison wrote: "Twisted Ones is so far the cutest horror book I've read. Although that beginning really did get under my skin. Ugh."

As you said earlier, certain aspects are pure terror for certain types of anxious people! That part was truly great!

[Jen]

Allison wrote: "I should read my signed copy of The Crow this month...."

I didn't know this was a book!!! Oh wow I need to get my hands on this and read it and watch the movie again too

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I'm reading Fever 1793 for my TBR challenge. I was a bit hesitant to start, because I feared it would be dry - more history than fiction - but the author's done a good job of telling the story of the Yellow Fever outbreak through the eyes of a particular family, while also introducing some of the larger historical context through conversations and start-of-chapter-quotes.

[Beth]

Allison wrote: "I started Wool, but read the first installment and haven't gone back!"

I made it through the second one! Wasn't enjoying it all that much, so eventually it fell into the "good intentions" category, and seven years later...

"Started The Twisted Ones and my opinion so far is that this is a horror novel for people with anxiety."

Thanks for the warning! While I don't have anxiety myself, stories that are largely fueled by it (i.e. recent failed attempt Blackout) do not sit well with me. They stimulate irritation more than anything else.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I'm not sure Twisted Ones is fueled by anxiety (although there is some) but there are things that mess with anxious obsession/compulsion things for certain forms of anxiety that are present here and which makes it quite stressful in the early going.

I haven't read Blackout, so I can't see how it compares, sorry!

[Kai]

I am reading Brandon Sanderson's 'Mistborn - The Final Empire'. Enjoying it so far, and love the magic system (allomancy). I also have Joe Abercrombie's 'The Blade Itself' on the go, but struggling to get through it as one of the main POV characters doesn't interest me.

Mistborn has a layer of mystical intrigue which makes the whole thing really atmospheric.

[Krystal]

Kai wrote: "I am reading Brandon Sanderson's 'Mistborn - The Final Empire'. Enjoying it so far, and love the magic system (allomancy). I also have Joe Abercrombie's 'The Blade Itself' on the go, but struggling..."

I LOVED The Final Empire and LOATHED The Blade Itself so we may have similar tastes lol

[Kai]

Krystal wrote: "Kai wrote: "I am reading Brandon Sanderson's 'Mistborn - The Final Empire'. Enjoying it so far, and love the magic system (allomancy). I also have Joe Abercrombie's 'The Blade Itself' on the go, bu..."

Interesting! Everyone seems to love the Blade Itself, but I just found the characters a bit cartoonish and there wasn't much plot.

I realise I may be losing friends in this group already. :)

[Trike]

Kai wrote: "Krystal wrote: "Kai wrote: "I am reading Brandon Sanderson's 'Mistborn - The Final Empire'. Enjoying it so far, and love the magic system (allomancy). I also have Joe Abercrombie's 'The Blade Itsel...

Interesting! Everyone seems to love the Blade Itself, but I just found the characters a bit cartoonish and there wasn't much plot.

I realise I may be losing friends in this group already. :)"

Beat the rush!

I’ve bounced off of Mistborn a couple times and I thought Blade Itself was basically a 500-page first chapter, so you’ll find opinions aligned with yours, never fear.

My review of TBI: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Beth]

Started Zone One with another group. It's my first zombie story, I think. One thing that's struck me is apparently you can describe taking out a zombie in the squishiest, bloodiest way and not faze me, when I'm usually the most squeamish person in the room.

[Scott]

I've been trying to keep up with the posts but haven't posted myself in awhile. I have read House of Leaves, Man in the Empty Suit, The Hunting Party, Rose Madder, Monster Hunter Siege The Monkey's Paw, and The Screaming Skull. Now I'm reading The Institute.

[Lowell]

finished off The Consuming Fire in about 3 days, as an audiobook. Quite fun, and lightweight. I need more of the "fun, popcorny lightweight science fiction" genre, but stuff that isn't hopelessly jingoistic reactionary military sf. And I've already read all Bujold and most of Moon.

my friend recommended Earth Strike to me a while back, and I tried to start it last night.. and after 2 chapters of perfunctory space fighter action with absolutely NO characterization, I gave up and asked audible for a refund. I now recall that this friend has absolutely no taste... he even liked the movie Battlefield Earth.

[Kai]

Scott wrote: "I've been trying to keep up with the posts but haven't posted myself in awhile. I have read House of Leaves, Man in the Empty Suit, The Hunting Party, [..."

I loved House of Leaves so much I even bought the concept album his sister made https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted... .That was pretty good too.

[Gabi]

I finished the series that started with Naoki Urasawa's Monster, Volume 1, a 18 books manga series contemplating the question of the existence of pure evil in a thrilling murder case. I don't know how available it is (I found the books in my attic), but I recommend it to everybody who loves thriller with deeply layered characters and ethical questions.

[DivaDiane]

Lowell, I’ve only read one novel by John Scalzi, but perhaps his stuff might be what you need? Or Spider Robinson’s Callahan stuff?

[HeyT]

In a nod to Spooptober I decided to try out Shirley Jackson so I grabbed a copy of The Lottery and Other Stories from the library today.

[Krystal]

Kai wrote: "Krystal wrote: "Kai wrote: "I am reading Brandon Sanderson's 'Mistborn - The Final Empire'. Enjoying it so far, and love the magic system (allomancy). I also have Joe Abercrombie's 'The Blade Itsel..."

Totally agree with you both, just no plot to TBI and I hated the characters. It felt way too long and more like an intro than a novel where anything actually happened.

My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[CBRetriever]

Show how different we are as a group of SciFi/Fantasy readers: I absolutely loved The Blade Itself and really disliked The Black Prism. And Sanderson's The Way of Kings left me unenthused, but I like most Andre Norton books

[Don]

Lowell, I've got a couple that might foot the bill:
"Cast under an Alien Sun" by Olan Thorensen.

"Poorman's Fight" by Elliot Kay

[Leticia]

I DNFed The Black Prism, just found it boring and couldn't care enough to finish. I enjoyed the two Brandon Sanderson books I read so far, only a bit scared of starting and committing to The Way of Kings book and series.

[Don]

Lowell, Both the above are also excellent on audio.

[Carolyn]

Reading Rosewater Insurrection and just gulping it down. Enjoy reading backstory of Wormwood and learning more about some of the lesser developed characters in the first book. Can’t wait for third book to be released later this fall!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I am so frustrated that the library doesn't have Insurrection!! I have so many books I've purchased and need to read, buying another feels foolish. Perhaps I'll make a suggestion next time I go in. It's killing me to see you all read it when I want to, too!

[~ Giulia ~]

Gabi wrote: "I finished the series that started with Naoki Urasawa's Monster, Volume 1, a 18 books manga series contemplating the question of the existence of pure evil in a thrilling murder case..."

Seconding this recommendation. I love Urasawa.

[Sarah]

I've just finished the wonderful The Rosewater Insurrection and i'm just about to start The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Leticia wrote: "I DNFed The Black Prism, just found it boring and couldn't care enough to finish. I enjoyed the two Brandon Sanderson books I read so far, only a bit scared of starting and committin..."

I forced my way thru the Black Prism, but for no pay off, and I will not continue the series.

Of course, didn't like The Blade Itself, either, and also didn't continue that series.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Sarah, that sounds like a very thought-provoking succession of books!

Y'all hating on TBI and Black Prism is really sinking my desire to start either. Please Thoth, Athena, and whomever else is listening, please let me find an epic fantasy soon that carries me away like a riptide.

Finished The Twisted Ones and was not impressed. I think I'm reading too much genre at once and it's making me cranky, so I've picked up Heads of the Colored People to weave into the 3 other books I'm reading right now.

[Gabi]

@Allison: let me know If you find an epic fantasy with carrying away quality. I'm looking for it myself since "The Stormlight Archives" let me falsely believe that I perhaps nevertheless like Fantasy series. But so far it's more miss than hit.
Yet I disliked "The Black Prism" because of its teenagery style - same reason I was let down by "Gideon the Ninth". Since you had fun with that perhaps you'd like TBP?

I'm curious how I will like "The Blade Itself" with the group re-read.

Regarding "The Twisted Ones": yet Bongo was cute, wasn't he?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Bongo got a shout out in my review! He was adorable. And yes, you will not be able to miss me freaking the flip out if I find a new fantasy world to get lost in.

LOL at Gideon...I liked that strange mess of book for a strange mess of reasons. I don't usually like things that feel that unpolished, but it all hang together in a way that I did enjoy. It was so over the top and knew it. I'm not sure "if you liked Gideon you might like Black Prism" is actually a ringing endorsement XD

[Gabi]

Allison wrote: ". I'm not sure "if you liked Gideon you might like Black Prism" is actually a ringing endorsement XD "

LOL! It was worth a try. ;)

Oh, I missed your review for Bongo, have to have a look ...

[DivaDiane]

Allison and Gabi, they are both old, but if you haven’t already read them, you might try Katherine Kurtz’ Deryni series or Melanie Dawn’s Dragon Prince trilogy.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Thank you, Diane! They are both on my TBR, I think. I'll check again ^^

[Anna]

I've been meaning to read Deryni Rising, but I'm so bad at starting fantasy series these days!

[Gabi]

Thank you, Diane! I put them both in my tbr (although one mentions dragons which instantly gets a one star reduction ;D)

[CBRetriever]

Allison wrote: "Sarah, that sounds like a very thought-provoking succession of books!

Y'all hating on TBI and Black Prism is really sinking my desire to start either. Please Thoth, Athena, and whomever else is li..."

I'm loving on TBI if that helps

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

CBRetriever wrote: "Allison wrote: "Sarah, that sounds like a very thought-provoking succession of books!

Y'all hating on TBI and Black Prism is really sinking my desire to start either. Please Thoth, Athena, and who..."

Haha it does make it hard to dismiss it out of hand if someone I know says it was good!

[Beth]

Diane wrote: "Allison and Gabi, they are both old, but if you haven’t already read them, you might try Katherine Kurtz’ Deryni series or Melanie Dawn’s Dragon Prince trilogy."

Anna wrote: "I've been meaning to read Deryni Rising, but I'm so bad at starting fantasy series these days!"

I'm great at starting fantasy series, but not finishing them! I've read the first of both of these series, and liked DP better. Although knowing her tastes, I suspect Allison wouldn't appreciate it. (view spoiler)[It gets rape-y sometimes. (hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

blarg. thanks for the heads up, it definitely makes books easier to enjoy when I know ahead of time!

[Chris]

If grimdark isn't your style, you might find a good fit in The Blazer Itself by Abercrombie & Fitch.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Chris wrote: "If grimdark isn't your style, you might find a good fit in The Blazer Itself by Abercrombie & Fitch."

Hahaha! I hear jewel tones are in this year.

[Trike]

Chris wrote: "If grimdark isn't your style, you might find a good fit in The Blazer Itself by Abercrombie & Fitch."

I am Jack’s perpetual Schroedinger’s Reaction, not knowing whether to laugh or groan.

[Trike]

I finished The Traitor Baru Cormorant. Unpopular opinion: 1 Star. Controversial opinion: it’s Science Fiction rather than Fantasy.

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

[Ives]

I'm really, really, really hoping to read Jenn Lyon's "The Name of All Things" and L.M. McKinney's "A Dream So Dark".

[MadProfessah]

Well I really like the LIGHTBRINGER series by Brent Weeks. I think it’s amazingly gripping epic fiction.

Other epic fiction you might like though is NK JEMISIN’s Broken Earth series and/or Richard Morgan’s No Land Fit for Heroes.

[CBRetriever]

and i couldn't stand it and a lo of other people didn't like it either (see this page for opinions on it). Different tastes for different people.

I'd suggest The Name of the Wind or A Game of Thrones over it.

[Jade]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Leticia wrote: "I DNFed The Black Prism, just found it boring and couldn't care enough to finish. I enjoyed the two Brandon Sanderson books I read so far, only a bit scared of starti..."

I find Brent Week's stuff a little too scattered and unstructured to really get into. I mean it's okay, but it's not solid. A lot of people gravitate towards him because he packages his stuff in the same kind of fantasy garb as Sanderson and Robert Jordan, but I've found that the package is less important than the overarching story of growth and adversity.

If you are looking for some stuff in this vein but off the beaten past I threw together a list for you, some of it is traditional fantasy, some of its urban fantasy, some of it's sci-fi, or sci-fi/fantasy hybrid, and the last one is YA, but they were all enjoyable reads: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

I tried to keep away from the heavy weights that most of us already have read (Kingkiller, ASOIF, Gentlemen's Bastards). Blood and Shadow is probably the least known on that list, but strangely it was the best written. Someone needs to get that author an artist and a marketing guy.

[Carolyn]

Reading Un Lun Dun by China Mieville, my first by this author. Quite creative.