What Else Are You Reading in 2019? Showing 2,801-2,850 of 3,237

[Chris]

Anna wrote: "Polls for the last two books of 2019 close at midnight tomorrow GR time. Make sure you've voted!"

The Fantasy poll is currently very close, with one vote separating the top two books. Anyone can change their vote.

[Sabrina]

Kai wrote: "She has won a couple of UK Fantasy awards for the series..."

So glad to hear that you liked it too and yes, definitively earned!

[Beth]

Raucous wrote: "This is why I usually have so many books in progress. I can never tell on any given day just what's going to appeal to me although I know there's a good chance that it won't be what I was reading yesterday."

I've tried this and all it means is that I never finish any of the several books I have going. Thankfully "fidget brain" doesn't happen all that often, maybe once or twice a year, and an engaging, short book, or a reread, will settle it down.

The Bumblebee Flies Anyway: Gardening and Surviving Against the Odds sounds interesting. Or maybe it would be too close to home. We have a heavily wooded lot that we've left in a natural state."

I think you would like it, Raucous. Our author lives in a suburb of London and her new place has a very small backyard that the previous owners paved over with stones and put up a deck. She is tearing all that stuff out and reclaiming the yard for a garden where birds and insects can comfortably live.

[Jacqueline]

I just planted a heap of lavender plants to attract bees and I have two Buddleia plants to find somewhere for as well. They’re referred to as Butterfly Bush. When I was a kid we had one and it was always covered in butterflies.

I haven’t seen many bees around this spring. Not that there’s been many flowers for them either. This drought is making short work of any trees they used to frequent. I ha d a few at the farm that used to be covered in them but they haven’t flowered this year so no constant buzzing to be heard. One massive tree used to be so covered in bees you could hear the buzzing inside. Not this year.

Anyway sounds like a good book. The more we can do to keep the bees happy the better 🐝

[Carolyn]

Starting Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead for a progressive (meaning book circulates) world fiction book group.

[Paulo]

Ship of Fools

Ship of Fools, I'm a little over a third into the book and enjoying it very much, a real page turner.

[[deleted user]]

I am reading Shannon Hale.....
Her only good book so far is goose girl....
So I went back to Harry Potter!

[[deleted user]]

Kai wrote: "Sabrina wrote: "I just finished The Ninth Rain and urge everyone to give this female author a try. Her excellent book receives far too little attention.

For what its worth my review..."
Is it a romance?

[Sabrina]

Hannah wrote: "Is it a romance? ..."

No, The Ninth Rain is adult fantasy and all about the world and its characters. There is a bit of romance, but rather as a side-story like you'd get in GoT as well.

[[deleted user]]

So... It's about the world... through a girl/boys eyes warning you off certain things?

[Gary]

I finished reading Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold and The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie . I am reading Blood of Cayn (Book 3 of the Cayn Trilogy) by Jason McDonald. I plan to read The Reckoning by John Grisham next.

[Sabrina]

Hannah wrote: "So... It's about the world... through a girl/boys eyes warning you off certain things?"

No, as I've said, it's not a girl meets boy story. It's about a world that has been poisoned by an alien species. The story follows a few people, including a 40ish woman who might just be able to change the outcome, though it's not as black and white as this sounds.

[Jamesboggie]

I recently read Hospital Station as a buddy read with my mother. I really liked the xenomedical drama, but the writing was definitely from the 60s. Does anyone have recommendations for a modern take on space medicine?

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

[Faith]

My review of The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry

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

[CBRetriever]

Jamesboggie wrote: "I recently read Hospital Station as a buddy read with my mother. I really liked the xenomedical drama, but the writing was definitely from the 60s. Does anyone have recommendations f..."

Bio Rescue
Stardoc

[Carrie]

Reading
In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination by Margaret Atwood & Changeless by Gail Carriger

[CBRetriever]

I finished Crown of Shadows and thus finished The Coldfire Trilogy: Black Sun Rising/ When True Night Falls/ Crown of Shadows. Excellent book. Unexpected ending and a very interesting blend of Sci Fi and Fantasy

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I finished:


A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And I started reading:


Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

[Jamesboggie]

CBRetriever wrote: "Jamesboggie wrote: "I recently read Hospital Station as a buddy read with my mother. I really liked the xenomedical drama, but the writing was definitely from the 60s. Does anyone ha..."

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll check those out.

[Bookish]

This seems to be my year to read NK Jemisin’s work. I finished her Broken Earth series a week or so ago and have just started The Killing Moon. Exciting stuff!

[[deleted user]]

Sabrina wrote: "Hannah wrote: "So... It's about the world... through a girl/boys eyes warning you off certain things?"

No, as I've said, it's not a girl meets boy story. It's about a world that has been poisoned ..."
Ohhhhh.. Okay! thank you so much, I think I will read it now!

[Bruce]

I finished Patternmaster by Octavia Butler. It’s the first book I’ve read by her and I loved it. I don’t think it’s even considered one of her best, so only more great ones to come.

[Kaa]

@Bruce: Isn't she fantastic? And you have so much more to explore. I think Patternmaster is the best place to start with the series, then the rest in story order (Wild Seed, Mind of My Mind, Clay's Ark).

[CBRetriever]

Bruce wrote: "I finished Patternmaster by Octavia Butler. It’s the first book I’ve read by her and I loved it. I don’t think it’s even considered one of her best, so only more great ones to come."

I would suggest Kindred which is not really a sci fi book like some of her others.

[Raucous]

Thomas wrote: "I've just returned from the Discworld having read The Light Fantastic. A perfect novel to read after having finished the second book of the Broken Empire trilogy a week before....."

I know that The Light Fantastic and the preceding book, The Colour of Magic, weren't considered Pratchett's best work (even by him) but I love the way these initial books captured so well what became the sprawling Discworld book universe. I read these two when they were first published (so there's some nostalgia value there too), somehow lost track of the whole Discworld thing for 25 years, and am enjoying being back there again.

Most recently read and enjoyed: Going Postal and Making Money.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I've finally started 11/22/63. I doubt I'll be able to wrap it up by Friday...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "I've finally started 11/22/63. I doubt I'll be able to wrap it up by Friday..."

It's okay, I'm told that it's possible you can go back in time and remedy that later.

[Eva]

You're on a roll, Allison!

We should always include one time travel book each month, it would solve so many problems.

[Karen]

I finished Thunderhead and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the final book. The author does such a fantastic job at world building in this series as well as in so many of his other books

I came across Snow, Glass, Apples this weekend and loved it. The illustrations are fantastic and the Snow White retelling is one I have never heard before.

I'm just about finished with Paper and Fire another YA series that I'm loving. An alternate history where the library of Alexandria was never destroyed with evil librarians in power and doling out knowledge as they deem appropriate.

I'm listening to Time's Convert, an offshoot of the All Souls Trilogy. Great narrator and story.

And finally started Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service. Need to get my one NF book in before the year's over.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Allison wrote: "colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "I've finally started 11/22/63. I doubt I'll be able to wrap it up by Friday..."

It's okay, I'm told that it's possible you can go back in t..."


I dunno. Sounds like it might be more trouble than it's worth. ^_^

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Karen wrote: "I'm just about finished with Paper and Fire another YA series that I'm loving. An alternate history where the library of Alexandria was never destroyed with evil librarians in power and doling out knowledge as they deem appropriate."


Really enjoy this series. Looking forward to wrapping it up with the last two books... which was gonna happen this year but will definitely happen next year!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

lots of good books going on around now! I'm glad so many people are wrapping up the year with something fun ^^

[Bookish]

Bruce wrote: "I finished Patternmaster by Octavia Butler. It’s the first book I’ve read by her and I loved it. I don’t think it’s even considered one of her best, so only more great ones to come."

Enjoy! Its like diving into a treasure trove :)

[Sabrina]

Hannah wrote: "Ohhhhh.. Okay! thank you so much, I think I will read it now! ..."

I hope you'll like it!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I finished The Republic of Thieves and it was fun but didn't quite hang together.

I started A Dirty Job but within 20 minutes knew that I was not the audience for this book. Let's say it doesn't age gracefully. So! Onwards! Now trying The Library at Mount Char.

[Gabi]

Allison wrote: "I finished The Republic of Thieves and it was fun but didn't quite hang together.

I started A Dirty Job but within 20 minutes knew that I was not the audience for this ..."

Ooops, that was fast, Allison!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Gabi wrote: "Allison wrote: "I finished The Republic of Thieves and it was fun but didn't quite hang together.

I started A Dirty Job but within 20 minutes knew that I was not the au..."

At this point in the year, I'm not willing to waste time on things that punch me in the nose within the first chapter. I can take a hint when it clobbers me!

[Beth]

Finished the audiobook of Daisy Jones & The Six rather quickly by my standards. A simple, fun, and unfortunately not terribly insightful story (imo). An extra star for Jennifer Beals' performance. (short review)

On to The Blade Itself, again in audio, ideally to participate in its group reread before the next ones come up! I'm not here for torture scenes, but I've read in a review or two they aren't as bad as one might think (really?), and worse come to worst there's always the option of skipping those parts.

[Bobby]

Beth wrote: "On to The Blade Itself, again in audio, ideally to participate in its group reread before the next ones come up! I'm not here for torture scenes, but I've read in a review or two they aren't as bad as one might think (really?), and worse come to worst there's always the option of skipping those parts. "

Beth, at about 80% into the book, there was only one that was bad (to me). It was near the beginning I think. It didn't last too long, so it could easily be skipped over.

The book is pretty dark, but I don't know where your tolerance levels are. I would say it's definitely not the darkest I read, but he doesn't really pull any punches.

[Beth]

Thanks for the info, Bobby. Everybody's tolerances are different, of course--my squeamishness is mostly body horror centered. For example, I decided to stop reading Robin Hobb's Liveship series after the first book because it had (view spoiler)[a detailed amputation scene, with another one seemingly in the offing (hide spoiler)]. Other things associated with grimdark are "if we must" rather than game stoppers.

[Bobby]

Beth wrote: "Thanks for the info, Bobby. Everybody's tolerances are different, of course--my squeamishness is mostly body horror centered. For example, I decided to stop reading Robin Hobb's Liveship series aft..."

Some First Law content warnings with minor non-plot spoilers.

(view spoiler)[The scene I'm talking about is body horror. A man's fingers are partially chopped off. It's short and not as detailed as the one in Liveship, but I thought I'd warn you. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaa]

Allison wrote: "I finished The Republic of Thieves and it was fun but didn't quite hang together.

I started A Dirty Job but within 20 minutes knew that I was not the audience for this ..."

I hope you enjoy Mount Char! I loved it, but I'm probably due for a re-read, since it's been a while.

[MadProfessah]

The Library at Mount Char is GREAT!

[Phrynne]

Loved The Library at Mount Char. Carolyn is just brilliant!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I am glad to hear all the love! I was worried since the beginning seems to be a reskin of Umbrella Academy, but I'm curious where it will go from here

[~ Giulia ~]

Before reading The Library at Mount Char I never thought that having (view spoiler)[a dead dog stuck in your fender (hide spoiler)] could be funny.
I'm sure you've realized that by now, but it's one of those books with pretty much every content warning ever.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

~ Giulia ~ wrote: "Before reading The Library at Mount Char I never thought that having [spoilers removed] could be funny.
I'm sure you've realized that by now, but it's one of those books with pretty much every cont..."

Haha yes! That's why I chose it for "book that intimidates me" on my TBR Challenge ^^ I'm may need to do this in small doses.

[Eric]

I finished The Name of the Wind and have started book two The Wise Man's Fear. Fun stuff!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Now feels like the perfect time of year (assuming you're in the northern hemisphere) for those books, Eric!

[Eric]

Allison wrote: "Now feels like the perfect time of year (assuming you're in the northern hemisphere) for those books, Eric!"

Western Pennsylvania, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh is the location of my hibernation with books cave. 🐻