What are you reading in May 2020?

[Virginie, Meow.]

Hello everyone! I hope you had a great April, current health crisis non-withstanding, and plenty of great reads. At least more than me, since I've read the whopping amount of exactly 0 book last month...

What are you reading/planning to read this month? Share with us (and help us grow our TBR :p)

[Mary]

Beyond the Clouds, tome 1 by Nicke

[Tnkw01]

My first book for May is Redwall.

[Janette]

Tnkw01 wrote: "My first book for May is Redwall."

Love the Redwall series. We still have the whole set having bought them as they came out for my children 20 years ago.

[Janette]

Having finished the Obsidian Mountain trilogy, I'm now moving on the Enduring Flame trilogy with The Phoenix Unchained

[Tnkw01]

Janette wrote: "Tnkw01 wrote: "My first book for May is Redwall."

Love the Redwall series. We still have the whole set having bought them as they came out for my children 20 years ago."

I can't believe I'm just now getting around to reading it. It's actually pretty good.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Virginie wrote: "Hello everyone! I hope you had a great April, current health crisis non-withstanding, and plenty of great reads. At least more than me, since I've read the whopping amount of exactly 0 book last mo..."

I didn't read but I listened - i didn't fancy screens on my downtime. I work in front of one now.

[Mary]

Greek Religion by Walter Burkert

[Aaron]

Tnkw01 wrote: "My first book for May is Redwall."

Always wanted to read them.

Helen wrote: "Virginie wrote: "Hello everyone! I hope you had a great April, current health crisis non-withstanding, and plenty of great reads. At least more than me, since I've read the whopping amount of exact..."

haha i feel that.

I am reading the Planetfall series, up to Wyrd Sisters in Discworld and attempting the Shadow of the Apt series again, starting with Empire in Black and Gold. I enjoyed the 3 books i read last time, but I lost focus and so after years, i need to start at the beginning again.

[Elise]

I finished The Lost Hero. Continuing the series with new characters is tricky, but I enjoyed the new faces. And it was still a fun time. It's not at the standard of Percy Jackson so far, but it's early yet. I'll be starting The Son of Neptune soon.

[Joseph]

Having finished The Initiate, I naturally continued right into The Outcast.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Joseph wrote: "Having finished The Initiate, I naturally continued right into The Outcast."

Oh i read those years and years and years ago :)

[Joseph]

Helen wrote: "Oh i read those years and years and years ago :)"

Me, too! This is the first time I've picked them up in probably 25 years.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I reckon I read it in the 80s, as it was definitely around the time I was dating a lowlife.

[Joseph]

Yeah, they came out starting in 1985 or 1986 (in the US, at least), so I would've been in college when I picked them up. As I recall, I was steered to them by a positive review in Dragon Magazine (the D&D magazine, which back in those days also had a surprisingly solid book review column).

[Janette]

i had forgotten all about that series. I remember reading them too.
I've just finished Call of Wizardry which completes the Company of Strangers series by Melissa McShane.. Nothing too serious or heavy but fun to read. I actually enjoyed the first few most. Book 5 was too heavily based on genies and magic carpets I thought.

[Dhanusha]

Just started Dragons of Autumn Twilight seems fun so far

[Janette]

As I really can't afford to buy too many books, I'm ransacking my bookshelves for stuff to reread. Have discovered the Osserian Saga by David Forbes. I obviously thought is was worth keeping when I first read it even though I can't remember anything about. Have just begun the first book The Amber Wizard

[Tnkw01]

Just a FYI. The nominations are open. I hope we can get more than three books.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Janette wrote: "As I really can't afford to buy too many books, I'm ransacking my bookshelves for stuff to reread. Have discovered the Osserian Saga by David Forbes. I obviously thought is was wor..."

I get most of mine from the library app, it definitely limits mmu v choice mind.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

The House in the Cerulean Sea is my current read, it's cute.

[Elise]

I just finished The Black Khan. Eh, there was a little too much focus on romance, and too many characters to keep track of, some with similar names. So, it lost me. Not planning on continuing the series.

But now I'm excited to be reading the new Murderbot, Network Effect. :D

[Janette]

Have realised why I kept the Osserian books when they aren’t that good. I must have kept them waiting for the series to be completed but it never was. I guess he ran out of ideas but I do find it frustrating when authors don’t finish things. Off to the charity shop they will go when they reopen.

[Aaron]

Finished Wyrd Sisters which was fantastic. On to After Atlas now

[Joseph]

Wrapped up Louise Cooper's Time Master trilogy with The Master (I enjoyed them quite a bit) and went for something even further back -- Lorelei of the Red Mist: Planetary Romances, a collection of Leigh Brackett's stories.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I remember enjoying them too, it was soooo long ago.

I’ve just read The House on the Cerulean Sea. It was charming.

[Tnkw01]

Finished Redwall, Monster Hunter Alpha and now reading Green Rider.

[Joseph]

Finished Lorelei of the Red Mist: Planetary Romances and decided to keep going with Leigh Brackett, so next up is Shannach - The Last: Farewell to Mars.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I’m just trying to decide which book to read..., too many to choose from.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Think I’m going to start June’s book, Girl and the Stars. I’m sure Mark won’t let me down :)

[Tnkw01]

My next book after Green Rider, which is great by the way, will be Age of Empyre by Michael J. Sullivan which completes the The Legends of the First Empire series. I'm sad it's over but I know Michael's next will be just as great.

[Elise]

I just finished The Girl and the Stars, and I enjoyed it.

Now I'm starting The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

[Joseph]

Finished Shannach - The Last: Farewell to Mars and decided to jump right into A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Do we have enough interest in next month’s book to ask Mark if he’s do a Q&A? I don’t want to invite him and take up his time if we have the usual inactivity?

[Aaron]

Just finished Before Mars which was fantastic. On to Guards! Guards!.

I haven't read the Ancestor books which some people recommend you do before the new series.

[Mary]

Worlds of Wonder, Days of Judgment: Popular Religious Belief in Early New England by David D. Hall

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Aaron wrote: "Just finished Before Mars which was fantastic. On to Guards! Guards!.

I haven't read the Ancestor books which some people recommend you do before the new series."

I don't know if it's connected but it's definitely in the same world - you could ask. BUT they're excellent so you should definitely read them.

[Mary]

Cloak of Ashes by Jonathan Moeller

[Virginie, Meow.]

It's round-up time once again! How many books did you read? Any favorites?

Here are some symbols to copy-paste if you want them :)

[★☆☆☆☆]
[★★☆☆☆]
[★★★☆☆]
[★★★★☆]
[★★★★★]
📖 = print books
🎧 = audiobooks

[Joseph]

The Initiate [★★★★☆]
The Outcast [★★★★☆]
The Master [★★★★☆]
Lorelei of the Red Mist: Planetary Romances [★★★★☆]
Shannach - The Last: Farewell to Mars [★★★★☆]

So: A good month, quality-wise.

[Ctgt]

Slowly We Rot [★★★★☆]📖
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter [★★★★☆]📖
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires[★★★★☆]🎧
Fulgrim[★★★★☆]📖
The Dark Horse[★★★★☆]🎧
Eltonsbrody[★★★☆☆]🎧
The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories[★★★★☆]🎧
Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic[★★★★★]📖

[Elise]

Books I completed in May. It was a pretty good month except for one, heh.

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return ★★★★★
The Lost Hero ★★★★★
The Black Khan ★★☆☆☆
The Girl and the Stars ★★★★☆

[Elona]

A solidly good month. Started another read through of Tamora Pierce's Tortall universe. They are very nice to come back to as comfort reads.
The Telling ★★★★☆
Shadow Scale ★★★★☆
The Iliad ★★★★☆
Alanna: The First Adventure ★★★★☆
The Birthday of the World and Other Stories ★★★★☆

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Stepsister ★★★★☆
The Penelopiad ★★★☆☆
The House in the Cerulean Sea★★★★★
A Time of Courage ★★★☆☆
Seven Bridges★★★★☆
Fool Me Once★★★★☆
Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony★★★☆☆
Under My Skin★★★★☆
Beautiful Lies★★★☆☆



Tbird and seventh were read rather than listened to. And the Cerulean Sea is absolutely charming.