What are you reading in January 2015?

[Nyssa]

Laurel wrote: "He bought you books?!?!

*faints*

That's a keeper!"

Right!?! I was just about to say the same thing! lol

[Jackie]

Yeah, I'm ball and chaining him. LOL. He has a brother who is a big reader and loves to cook, but he's married.

[Valerie]

Current audio: The Silkworm
Current DTE: The Killing Moon
Current Kindle: Dragonfly in Amber

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Still suffering through Lirael. I'm finishing it today! I'm only sticking with it so I can count it on my series challenge.

I should finish The Dark Lord of Derkholm tonight too.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Ok, so it seemed I had about 4.5 hours left in Lirael. I listened today for 4 or 5 hours I think, and still have 2 hours to go. WTF?

[HomeInMyShoes]

Time travel while audiobooking is not advisable. :)

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Heh..makes sense.

[Greg]

Started reading Storm Season yesterday. I'd begun it many years ago having read the first three books in the Thieves' World series back then but I don't know why I didn't finish it as I liked the introduction and first story by Robert Lynn Asprin.

[Valerie]

Started Lock In on audio last night. I have decided to go with the Amber Benson narration.

[Paul]

Valerie wrote: "Started Lock In on audio last night. I have decided to go with the Amber Benson narration."

I loved Lock In! Can't wait for Scalzi's next Old Man's war book though (The End of All Things).

Continuing my buddy reread of the Dresden Files with Dead Beat and then on Thursday I'll be starting Firefight *insert excited noise here*

Also thinking of picking up The Just City. I've never read any Jo Walton but I've heard good things and the premise of this looks really interesting. Anyone read any of her stuff before?

Once I've got through all that I think I'm going to give Promise of Blood a try. Been meaning to pick it up for ages but never got round to it, too many other things to read!

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Paul, I read Among Others awhile back. It was decent, but wasn't quite the sliced bread that the ravings indicated. Heh...I'd be curious to try more of her stuff.

[Matt]

Just finished The Final Empire and started The Well of Ascension

[Paul]

Chris wrote: "Paul, I read Among Others awhile back. It was decent, but wasn't quite the sliced bread that the ravings indicated. Heh...I'd be curious to try more of her stuff."

Thanks Chris. I keep looking at Among Others but the description just doesn't interest me at all. I am interested to try something of hers though so The Just City might be the one.

[Valerie]

Paul - I grabbed Promise of Blood during an Audible promotion and keep trying to find time to get to it. Maybe soon.

[Valerie]

Matt wrote: "Just finished The Final Empire and started The Well of Ascension"

Love, love, love that series.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Chris wrote: "Paul, I read Among Others awhile back. It was decent, but wasn't quite the sliced bread that the ravings indicated. Heh...I'd be curious to try more of her stuff."


Me and Chris agree?

*dies*

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Heh. It happens sometimes.

boneshaker

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Greg wrote: "Started reading Storm Season yesterday. I'd begun it many years ago having read the first three books in the Thieves' World series back then but I don't know why I didn't finish it a..."

I got through most - if not all - of Thieves' World. Good series. Most of the novels (that I read) were good, too.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Paul wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Started Lock In on audio last night. I have decided to go with the Amber Benson narration."

I loved Lock In! Can't wait for Scalzi's next Old Man's war book though..."

I've never read any of his books but I follow his blog - he's pretty funny.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Chris wrote: "Heh. It happens sometimes.

boneshaker"


Verily. I'd say we probably agree roughly half the time.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Finished Derkholm today, and STILL trying to wrap up Lirael. This is the longest 14 hour audiobook ever.

This morning I started Rhune, as a beta reader.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

I'm currently slogging though Land of Love and Drowning.

[ally ¯\(ツ)/¯]

Chris wrote: "Finished Derkholm today, and STILL trying to wrap up Lirael. This is the longest 14 hour audiobook ever.

This morning I started Rhune, as a beta reader."

My jealousy level is at 10 right now...
and not because of your never ending audiobook.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Awww, sorry, Ally...

Oh, but the audiobook did end, finally! I ranted a bit. Heh.

[Ala]

MrsJoseph wrote: "I've never read any of his books but I follow his blog - he's pretty funny"

I've read and liked some of his books, but I can't stand the guy on social media. His blog and on twitter, he comes off to me as an asshole.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Yeah, he kinda does.

[Laurel]

Not sure how many here read Gail Carriger's YA series, but this last one (Waistcoats & Weaponry) was action packed, filled with the same loveable characters fans of Carriger should be used to, and in my mind, a deepening to the tone and lead. I read almost 80% of it in one sitting.

[Valerie]

Laurel wrote: "Not sure how many here read Gail Carriger's YA series, but this last one (Waistcoats & Weaponry) was action packed, filled with the same loveable characters fans of Carriger should ..."

Laurel, I love Gail Carriger. I really struggled about whether or not to give this series a shot, because I am not a YA fan. I am glad that I got over myself. I love this series. I just love the whimsical tone of her writing!

[Laurel]

Have you read this third book?

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

I thought the third was actually not as strong as the second. Too much love triangle angsty crap, and the boys being stupidly possessive.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

I gave it a 3, btw, so I didn't dislike it... but I remember liking the second more.

[Laurel]

Yes, they were angsty. (view spoiler)[ But I think the author used their uncomfortable romantic foibles to force Sophronia to confront what she's looking for in a partner or patron. Always an uncomfortable experience. I was happy to see her grow up a bit through her disappointment and reflection. (hide spoiler)]

[Greg]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Greg wrote: "Started reading Storm Season yesterday. I'd begun it many years ago having read the first three books in the Thieves' World series back then but I don't know why I didn'..."

I started the series when I was a teen but only finished the first 3 books even though I'd bought the 4th and 5th books. I'd be interested in seeing how the novels work compared with the short stories.

[Nyssa]

I'm struggling to finish The Martian. Not because I'm not enjoying it, (I am, very much so) but because I can not seem to string enough minutes together in the day.
It's quite frustrating.

[Laurel]

Sorry, Nyssa :(

[Dennis]

colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "I gave it a 3, btw, so I didn't dislike it... but I remember liking the second more."

Colleen, you said something in another post about your grading reflecting new Goodreads guidelines. I'm new to this forum. Can you tell me what that's about or refer me to a link about it? Thanks.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Greg wrote: "I started the series when I was a teen but only finished the first 3 books even though I'd bought the 4th and 5th books. I'd be interested in seeing how the novels work compared with the short stories. "

I can't wait to hear what you think! I latched on to Shadowspawn so I wasn't as invested in the stories he wasn't featured in.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Dennis wrote: "Colleen, you said something in another post about your grading reflecting new Goodreads guidelines. I'm new to this forum. Can you tell me what that's about or refer me to a link about it? Thanks. "

If you hover over a star a little box pops up which lists goodreads 'recommended meaning' for that star.

1 - didn't like it
2 - it was ok
3 - liked it
4 - really liked it
5 - it was amazing

This differs from Amazon and, well, most other places I've ever been that had a rating system. Those are usually more:

1 - hated it
2 - didn't like it
3 - it was ok
4 - liked it
5 - loved it

[Dennis]

Thanks, Colleen.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

NP, Dennis.

***


I put down Land of Love and Drowning. I'll probably DNF it, but I want to see what some friends say before I decide.

Picked up The Crowfield Demon this morning. I was pretty midling on the first book - good story, boring writing - but I decided to give this one a go 'cause I *think* it's just the duology.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

I wasn't even aware of that hover over the stars thing.

Or I was and forgot.

[Nyssa]

The Amazon type versions has always made the most sense to me.
3 = average = ok. Number < 3 = less than ok. Number > than 3 = greater than ok.

[Ala]

Reading tge latest Sanderson, I hate the word slontze.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Oh gods, I'd forgotten how tired I got of hearing "sparks" and "calamity!" from Steelheart.

[Laurel]

Slontze?! That's going to be troubling...

[Becky]

colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "Oh gods, I'd forgotten how tired I got of hearing "sparks" and "calamity!" from Steelheart."

Yes. He does that in all of his books, but I really felt like it was over the top in Steelheart. Maybe because it's YA?

[ally ¯\(ツ)/¯]

Jim Butcher does the same thing with his "stars and stones" and "hells bells"... I'll take a "calamity" over an hour of ACDC in my head ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

Dammit now I have ACDC in my head.... F*#&!

[Michelle]

Reading Inkspell. I'm really liking it.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

☆αlly☆ (litєrαry єscαpist) wrote: "Jim Butcher does the same thing with his "stars and stones" and "hells bells"... I'll take a "calamity" over an hour of ACDC in my head ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

Dammit now I have ACDC in my head.... F..."


I'll totally take hell's bells over calamity. (Partially because calamity makes me think alternately of Calamity Jane or "Oh, the humanity!".

All I kept thinking was "Oh, the calamity!" - complete with melodramtic swooning with hands on foreheads.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Becky wrote: "Yes. He does that in all of his books, but I really felt like it was over the top in Steelheart. Maybe because it's YA? "

I understand using non-word cusswords for YA books, or sci-fi in general. It comes from a long tradition. (See frell, frak, fark, and several variations thereof.)

I think it was more the *constant* use of them.

Of course, I haven't been blown away by any of Branderson's works as yet, anyway. (Though, admittedly, I haven't read the much lauded Mistborn.)