Introductions! What are you reading?

[Heather]

I've read 4 books this year so far! None of them were really long (by my standards) though. All about 275 pages, which I read very quickly.

[Regan]

I just finished Unnatural Creatures, edited by Neil Gaiman. I try to switch up fiction and nonfiction, so I am currently reading Poor Economics by Esther Duflo.

My reading goal for this year is to read more non-fiction and fiction by South Asian authors about South Asia.

[Ana]

Hello, Ana here. I'm currently reading The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova.

[Ashley]

Hello! I'm Ashes, and I'm trying to do more reading here in 2015. Partially so it helps me write more, and partially because I just want to read more. I miss laying around as a teenager and just reading.

I'm currently reading "The Way We Never Were," which is amazing in its treatment of families and gender politics in the last couple hundred years.

I'm also trying to read "The Sword of Shannara," as it is one of my boyfriend's favorite books and he lent me it, but eh.... Tolkien-esque fantasy is not my thing. I haven't had the heart to tell him yet, but I think he knows.

[Rebecca]

Hi, I'm Rebecca. Looking forward to some awesome recommendations, not that my Want to Read list is lacking. I am currently reading Wolf in White Van. Should finish tonight, really interesting book and writing. Next up is Good Omens bu Gaiman and Pratchett.

[Casey]

Hi! I'm Casey, from Australia. I've just started reading Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson.

[Shauna]

Hello all. I'm currently reading Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl...I have a thing for YA novels. I'm also waiting on my library to assign me Broken by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld novels).

I love Fantasy novels, Horror, and the occasional sci-fi. My favorite books are The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Phillip K. Dick). My favorite (current) authors are Laurel K. Hamilton and Dean Koontz. I love her Merry Gentry series, and her Anita Blake series. And I love his Christopher Snow series (if 2 books constitutes a series).

[Kyra]

hi, I'm kyra and I just finished Octavia Butler's The Patternmaster.
Patternmaster

[Elsbeth]

Hi! I'm Elsbeth. Currently reading A Spear of Summer Grass. Generally I love fantasy, scifi, romance and whatever memoir is currently popular.

My favorite reads of 2014 were Margaret Atwood's MADDADDAM series (starting with Oryx and Crake). Very dark, questioning, honest, good scifi.

I also loving the graphic novel series Saga, Volume 1. Perfect for those who love scifi, adventures, and little romance - notably the romance is about a married couple with their first child. It's something many of us can relate to (putting aside the whole alien civil war thing).

[Natalie]

Hi I'm Natalie! I'm currently between three books (ack!) -on Audible, I am loving "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline and narrated by Wil Wheaton!!!! it's awesome!!! I'm also finishing up "Fluke" by Christopher Moore, and recently started "The Kings Deception" by Steve Berry.

[Amanda]

HULLO ALL! I'm Amanda, I live in Oakland and right now I'm reading The Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. It is BANANAS. I'm also listening to the newest in the Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French, The Secret Place. LOVE this series. When I'm not fighting the patriarchy I blog about TV, books and comics over at foreveryoungadult.com, and also run the Oakland FYA book club! I have 3 cats, a husband, and can never get enough tacos in my life.

[Amanda]

LOVE Ready Player One!

Natalie wrote: "Hi I'm Natalie! I'm currently between three books (ack!) -on Audible, I am loving "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline and narrated by Wil Wheaton!!!! it's awesome!!! I'm also finishing up "Fluke" by..."

[Amanda]

Saga is AMAZING. I have very real feelings for The Will.
Elsbeth wrote: "Hi! I'm Elsbeth. Currently reading A Spear of Summer Grass. Generally I love fantasy, scifi, romance and whatever memoir is currently popular.

My favorite reads of 2014 were [auth..."

[Natalie]

Amanda, I am so hooked!

Amanda wrote: "LOVE Ready Player One!

Natalie wrote: "Hi I'm Natalie! I'm currently between three books (ack!) -on Audible, I am loving "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline and narrated by Wil Wheaton!!!! it's aw..."

[Jessica]

Hi folks! I'm Jessica, and I'm another one who just started WoT. I'm about halfway through The Eye of the World. Would love to chat with a fellow reader about it!

[Michelle]

Hi everyone, I'm Michelle and I'm from Georgia.

I'm a little over half way finished with Razor's Edge by Martha Wells and I'm really loving it.

[Lindsay]

Hi all! I'm Lindsay, from Texas. I am perpetually in the middle of Anna Karenina, my current Everest, and when I'm not plodding through that on my Kindle I'm making my way through my physical book to-read shelf. I'm about to start Then Again and am really looking forward to it because I love Diane Keaton!

[Holley]

nic wrote: "I just finished The Bees by Laline Paull (which is completely amazing and i want to recommend it to absolutely everyone I talk to), and The Memory Garden by Mary Rickert. I'm part way through Doro..."

Oooh. My Real Children is fantastic. I've loved everything by Jo Walton. I haven't been able to find her older stuff--Tooth and Claw etc. I hope you enjoy it.

[Holley]

Hi all!
I am Holley and I'm from Ohio. I just finished reading Code Name Verity and then immediately started Orphan Train. I spent last summer devouring the Small Change series by Jo Walton and then Black Out and All Clear by Connie Willis. They just worked so well together.

I love fantasy, alternate history, sci-fi, histories, historical fiction, biography (primarily women's bios)and mysteries.

I've seen tons of my most loved books on this post as well as stuff on my to read list. I've never done a book club before. Can't wait to start.

[Amity]

Hello all! My name is Amity and I just finished the Song of the Lioness quartet. Just started reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and I picked up Cinder today as well. Looking forward to reading/discussing it!

[Jason]

Hello everyone! I'm Jason and I'm a web developer with a love for tabletop RPGs and genre fiction (sci-fi and fantasy, mostly). I'm currently reading Brandon Sanderson's Firefight, because I am a huge Brandon Sanderson fan.

[Michelle]

Jason wrote: "Hello everyone! I'm Jason and I'm a web developer with a love for tabletop RPGs and genre fiction (sci-fi and fantasy, mostly). I'm currently reading Brandon Sanderson's Firefight, because I am a h..."

Loved Firefight! Brandon Sanderson is one my favorite writers

[Alaina]

Hi everyone!

I'm Alaina. I was reading the magicians by Lev Grossman before Cinder was picked for the group. So I've put one down for the other. I use to read alot, but lately have had issues concentrating and with my attention span so it's been taking ages to finish a book. Hoping this year to kickstart my reading again, and maybe this group can help! Deadlines help with stuff like that riiiight?

[Wendy]

Alaina wrote: "Hi everyone!

I'm Alaina. I was reading the magicians by Lev Grossman before Cinder was picked for the group. So I've put one down for the other. I use to read alot, but lately have had issues co..."

I really enjoyed The Magicians! Did you know it's been picked up as a TV show? I don't know that they've gotten as far as casting yet, but it's one of those books that's got so much potential.

[Alaina]

Wendy wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Hi everyone!

I'm Alaina. I was reading the magicians by Lev Grossman before Cinder was picked for the group. So I've put one down for the other. I use to read alot, but lately hav..."


That's awesome! and it gives me more motivation to read it before it comes out!

[Terpsgrl32]

Wow I'm far behind on these posts. My name's Meghan, but if you check through random comments on the Mary Sue, you probably recognize the screen name. I'm hoping by the screen name people can figure out at least 1 thing about me.

I'm mostly on a manga kick at the moment & taking suggestions. I just finished the last volume of Attack on Titan & tore through the first 3 books (the actual light novels this time!) in the Sword Art Online series & the first 2 Accelerate World. I read comics regularly too. I'm looking forward to seeing what gets chosen & try to expand my little world of what I tend to read.

[Sophie]

Hi, I'm Sophie! I'm a history major, women and gender studies minor from Illinois. I haven't been reading for pleasure as much as I'd like recently because school has sucked out my soul, but I just finished reading Only Ever Yours and am reading Changed for Good: A Feminist History of the Broadway Musical. I'm challenging myself to only read books written by women this year! I'm really looking forward to reading The Left Hand of Darkness with this group.

[WheelchairNinja]

Yay, 200th comment!

Ohai! So I've mostly ignored my GoodReads account for ages but decided I'd rebrand it with my TMS profile to participate in this group. Feel free to abbreviate the name to Ninja, I won't mind.

I generally prefer audiobooks, since they let me keep my brain entertained while at my dull office job, but some stuff (like pun-filled Pratchett novels) I *have* to read paper because audio just doesn't cut it.

Finished reading The Ables recently, it was surprisingly good for something written by the CinemaSins guy. Left a review in the Things We Saw Today a couple weeks back if anyone's interested: http://www.themarysue.com/things-we-s...

Not sure what I'm gonna read next. Trying to decide between an old favorite or something completely different. Either way, I'm looking forward to interacting with the TMS crowd to find great new books!

[Louise]

Hi all!

I'm Louise. I'm from the UK and I've been lurking on the Mary Sue for years without ever commenting, but I do love to talk books so here I am being semi-sociable at last.

I like to think I read a pretty eclectic mix of stuff, though fantasy is my go-to genre when I feel I need a break from everything. Currently reading The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth - historical fiction set in England during the Norman invasion of 1066 and written entirely in a 'shadow version' of Old English. Only around 50 pages in so far but I'm really enjoying it and actually it's not all that hard to get used to the bizarre spellings, and quite fun to try and puzzle out what a word is when I do stumble. It also eliminates the 'everyone talks like 21st century time travellers' problem I have with a lot of historical fiction.

Also try (try being the operative word) to read a chapter of non-fiction a day (mostly history or natural history) to get through the piles and piles of non-fiction I've been given as presents over the years. Currently reading The Ocean of Life (natural history), which I don't have much opinion on yet. But other reads this year have been pretty great. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo (a biography of Alexandre Dumas senior) was incredible and a good read for anyone interested in race-relations during (and either side of) the French Revolution. And I really enjoyed The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World which argues that Greek Legends about Amazons were based in large part on the real warrior women of the Steppes.

[Katherine]

Hello Suevians! Katherine the Grape here!

I didn't realize we had a book of the month club until recently, so I decided to join! Yay! Currently I'm reading Johnny Alucard by Kim Newman. It's the fourth in a series started by Anno Dracula. This is perhaps one of the best vampire books I've ever read and I can't recommend them highly enough.

[Anita]

hello! So, since there's another round of intros, I guess I'll chime in too. I'm Anita from Colorado. I like to creep around the Mary Sue and soak up all the geekiness, though I rarely comment. Comments tend to get all blown out of context and sarcasm doesn't carry well digitally...

I'm a total bibliophile and will read pretty much anything, although I'd really like to read some non-fiction/bibliographies of women, so any suggestions are welcome! (Please, really)
So yeah, all types, all formats. I love books. I tend to pick up authors and binge read them as well. That's how Sanderson became one of my favorites- when he picked up WoT, I picked up Mistborn and that was that. I'll even do audio books during semester commutes so I have more than textbooks to digest...

I've picked up comics again when Thor started the new arc, I'm also reading Saga, the Walking Dead, and I just picked up the first Max Ride. Anyone reading the Princess Leia comic? I'm curious about that one.

Also, I just got my hands on the Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy so I'll be digesting that along with the House of Leaves (sometimes I fall asleep with the light on because of this book).

Seriously, I love books. Feel free to add me because I have like 3 friends on here and I am Always on the hunt for book suggestions. I'm probably creeping through your profile right now looking at your book ratings and reviews.
:)

[Crystal]

Hello!
Former English major here, and I'm trying to read more now that I'm a professional in the working world :)

Just picked up "God is Disappointed in You" by Mark Russell with cartoons by Shannon Wheeler, which is a hilarious and wonderful condensing of the Christian bible.

I look forward to reading The Left Hand of Darkness in June, it's been on my to read list for years!

[Amanda]

Howdy! My name is Amanda (also my name in the Mary Sue comments section. Not to brag, but I'm like REALLY good at coming up with user names.)

I used to read a lot right up through my early 20's, but lately it seems I can't get through a chapter without being interrupted/falling asleep/getting distracted by something. I miss reading a lot, so I've set myself a goal of a book a month for the rest of the year.

So, along with this inability to read consistently comes a penchant for switching books midstream, so right now I'm reading:
A Feast for Crows (almost done, but I had to quit reading it for awhile because hot damn these books are stressful)
Oryx and Crake (I <3 dystopian novels, and also Margaret Atwood)
The Age of Miracles (this one almost shouldn't count, because I read like the first chapter over a year ago and then lost the book while moving, but I just found it again and I intend to finish it ASAP)
And I want to jump into The Left Hand of Darkness, even though I'm a little late to the party. I'm quite intrigued...
I'm also literally always in the middle of reading a Jane Austen book, because those are my literary comfort foods.

I'm mostly a fiction reader, although I'm not averse to non-fiction. It just has to be something that grips me. (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is high on my "want to read" list.)

I'm looking forward to chatting with you all about some books!

[Liz]

Hello everyone. I'm currently reading Better World. I like fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy. I haven't been reading much lately, but I'm trying to get back in the habit of reading every night.

[Anita]

Welcome Liz, Amanda, and Coco! This group got a little quiet lately, but hopefully it'll pick back up :)

Amanda, I hope you've finished a Feast for Crows by now? I love those books, don't watch the show. I cringed through the first season and said eff it, they're destroying these ladies!

Coco, isn't it funny that a 500 page book is a "condensation" of the Bible?! It's illustrated, right? how was it?

[Hayley]

If anyone wants to add me as a friend, then bloody add me! I like having lots of people on board who I can share the reading experience with. Especially like-minded people who can introduce me to things I'd be into or may not have considered.

P.S. I've already introduced myself in this thread.

[Tiffany]

Hi! Long time TMS follower. I'm reading:

Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey. A brilliantly realized world with wonderful characters and gripping story.

Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman. It's fantasy set in the old American West, where the heroine is the Left Hand of the Devil. But it's not an outright evil version of the Devil, but the deal-making, get-what-you-deserve version of the Devil, and he also protects his own. It's very different than anything I've read in a long time. I'm not far enough in to give my impressions yet, but I'm looking forward to sitting down with it again tonight.

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher. I'm not sure why I got to the party so late, but I'm a Dresden fan now.

Armada by Ernest Cline. Just downloaded the audiobook from the library and I'm listening to it while crafting. It's a bit more overeager in some ways than I expected, and I'm not feeling the sheer joy I did from Ready Player One, but there's something that's still keeping me entertained, and it's not just Wil Wheaton's voice.

Marvel Comics: Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, and Avengers. I'm reading through the original series in order, at the same time. I'm entering 1986 now. I also chronologically read related side-issues, annuals and limited series related to them. It's been a great experience. I also finally just read God Loves, Man Kills. It was considered outside of continuity for the longest time, but it's so perfect and it really encapsulates what the X-Men stand for. Highly recommended. I also read new titles like Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, All-New X-Men, Ultimate Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and a slew of others.

Indie Comics: The Wicked + The Divine, Bitch Planet, Lumberjanes, Jem, Pretty Deadly, and several others.

I enjoy fantasy, sci-fi, dystopias, YA, and mysteries. Nothing too grimdark, though I do enjoy GRRM's ASoIaF. I read several books at once and switch as my mood dictates.

[Tiffany]

Katie wrote: "I used to be a marathon book reader, but when I lost my train commute, I lost my alone time. The vision of me with a book in my hands apparently drives my family insane with the need to interrupt me."

I know what you mean. I had to develop a system and make sure my husband knows that I'm reading so he doesn't bug me. He has a bad habit of just chatting away randomly while I'm reading and gets frustrated that I get frustrated. Once we talked it over, it got better, but it still helps for me to put on headphones, even if I'm not running music through them, so that he has another visual cue because he can't tell whether I'm reading or playing on my tablet.

[Anita]

I can attest that Haley has already opened me up to quite a few great book choices.

Tiffany, that is an amazingly awesome comic feat you are undertaking. I have recently fallen in love with comics but am not undergoing anything nearly as enormous! As it is I read through and end up picking up other storylines that pop up and sound interesting. This easily fills my plate. A lot.

[Tiffany]

Anita wrote: "I can attest that Haley has already opened me up to quite a few great book choices.

Tiffany, that is an amazingly awesome comic feat you are undertaking. I have recently fallen in love with comics..."

It has been quite the undertaking. It's been a year so far. And only possible because of Marvel Unlimited. I am loving it though. It's not all great, but there are far more gems and far fewer duds than I expected.

I am seeing a lot of good recs. I am not participating in this read because I am not ready to add another yet, but maybe the next book.

[Crystal]

Anita wrote: "Coco, isn't it funny that a 500 page book is a "condensation" of the Bible?! It's illustrated, right? how was it?"

The book is illustrated with a sprinkling of cartoons. The whole thing is really hilarious, I recommend it to anyone who studies Christianity or the Christian bible. Religious people may get different mileage out of it, but the humor in this book isn't malicious in my opinion.

[Jennifer]

I am currently reading The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg, which I am enjoying. It's the first in a series, so that's something to look forward to.
I am also a big fan of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and Ngaio Marsh (the Queens of Crime) and I am a Young Adult Librarian, so I read a fair amount of YA books, as well.

[Shannon]

Hi, I just joined and figured I would introduce myself. My name is Shannon and I read pretty much everything I can get my hands on.

I am currently reading: Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling and Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. by Viv Albertine. I am sort of on a memoir kick right now. Mostly, I read comics such as Saga, Bitch Planet and Rat Queens. I also read a lot of urban fantasy and non-fiction history/ science. And YA Fantasy and Sci Fi.

[Matthew]

Ahoy, Mary Suevians!
I'm currently reading Outlander.
This year my debut novel,The Dolorous Adventure of Brother Banenose, was published!

[Karen]

very cool! congratulations!

[Matthew]

Thank you!

[Anita]

Jennifer wrote: "I am currently reading The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg, which I am enjoying. It's the first in a series, so that's something to look forward to.
I am also a big fan of Agatha Christie, Do..."

Belated welcome, Jennifer! How did you find The Paper Magician? I've seen it around a lot but haven't gotten to it myself.

Shannon wrote: "Hi, I just joined and figured I would introduce myself. My name is Shannon and I read pretty much everything I can get my hands on.

I am currently reading: Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling and Clothes,..."

Shannon, you just listed some of my favorite comics! We'll have to share shelves :) I love that TMS Bookclub brings me all the cool people with all the great books. I've read Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and thought it was pretty funny. I like her darker sense of humor. Hopefully I'll get to Why Not Me? soon.

Matthew wrote: "Ahoy, Mary Suevians!
I'm currently reading Outlander.
This year my debut novel,The Dolorous Adventure of Brother Banenose, was published!"

Welcome Matthew! Your book sounds very intriguing. Congratulations! I've read Outlander and loved it, but no further in the series; they're so hefty!

I hope you all jump in and chat it up in the discussions with us. There's currently a discussion going on for ideas on themes for January's (or any other upcoming month) read. If you have any ideas, go toss them out! We'll need lots of ideas for the new year!

[Tamara]

Hi, I'm Tamara. I've been following TMS for years, but I'm not one for commenting on stuff. I am a literature student, and have a voracious appetite for books.

I'm currently;
1) Reading House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski for my Gothic module
2) Listening to Down Station by Simon Morden
3) and just finished reading volumes 1 to 3 of The Wicked + The Divine.

Fun factoid about me... I used to work for a library that house to authors B to C archives and got into the habit of reading a Barbara Cartland story every lunch time. As such I think I may have read all of them D:

[Anita]

welcome, Tamara! Glad you decided to comment here and hope to hear from you on group discussions.
I've read House of Leaves and it really haunted me for a while, and I'm just about to pick up the third volume of the Wicked + Divine.
welcome, welcome

[Shauna]

Tamara, I've read House of Leaves. I read it because his sister Poe had a few songs on one of her albums that referenced the book. (I think) he also read a few passages in the background of "Hey Pretty". Loved the album, but the book messed with my head space for awhile. Not in a bad way. It just made me think...a lot.