What else are you reading - November 2020

[Rob, Roberator]

One month closer to the end of this horrible year. What are you reading to help you cope? Or is that just me?

[terpkristin]

Quite the opposite for me. I’ve been playing more video games, working more, and watching “comfort” TV (ie stuff I’ve seen before and as such doesn’t make me anxious).

That said I did finish Finder yesterday. I haven’t written my review yet but while I enjoyed it while I was reading, I didn’t find myself wanting to see what happened next when I wasn’t reading,

I’ve started the second book in the FBI K-9 series before I move to this month’s pick and then Rhythm of War.

[Trike]

Rob wrote: "One month closer to the end of this horrible year. What are you reading to help you cope? Or is that just me?"

I think this year more than any other New Year’s Eve is going to be an artificial demarcation line. 2020 is going to last deep into 2021. It’s all going to get much, much worse before it gets better, and then we’ll be “Before Vaccine” and “After Vaccine”.

That said, I just started Howl's Moving Castle and Crooked Kingdom, so this week is sorted.



terpkristin wrote: "Quite the opposite for me. I’ve been playing more video games, working more, and watching “comfort” TV (ie stuff I’ve seen before and as such doesn’t make me anxious)."

Which games?

I got to the end of Kim’s Convenience on Netflix. They really need to get those next two seasons up. Although “Okay, see you” has become an earworm now, so maybe a break is good.

[Rob, Roberator]

Sure. It's not getting magically better at midnight on new year's, but hoping things at least START to get better in 2021. I have to hope anyways.

[Rick]

I re-read Claire North's The Gameshouse, originally released as three novellas and available now for a stupidly low price ($2) as one volume, linked above. I love North's writing and this is the work that turned me on to it. I'd not re-read is in years and its still as good as ever.

[Rob, Roberator]

Trike wrote: "I got to the end of Kim’s Convenience on Netflix. They really need to get those next two seasons up. Although “Okay, see you” has become an earworm now, so maybe a break is good.

They have to make them first...

[Trike]

Rob wrote: "Trike wrote: "I got to the end of Kim’s Convenience on Netflix. They really need to get those next two seasons up. Although “Okay, see you” has become an earworm now, so maybe a break is good.

They have to make them first..."

Huh, when I read an interview with Simu Liu about Shang-Chi, I thought he said they were filming season 6. Well shoot.

[Rob, Roberator]

They've been picked up for 2 more seasons, but have only filmed 4.

[Trike]

Rob wrote: "They've been picked up for 2 more seasons, but have only filmed 4."

Curses! Now it’s left on a cliffhanger. :/

[terpkristin]

Trike wrote: "Which games?"

A lot of Animal Crossing, actually. And Pokemon Shield. And the Switch remake of Link's Awakening (which is a FABULOUS game that I played and beat a zillion times on my Gameboy as a kid and still holds up now) and a little of Hades. Also Mario Kart (Switch) online with friends when we do virtual happy hours/game nights. And Jackbox games (various) when we do game nights, too.

[John (Taloni)]

Read both Peace Talks and Battle Ground recently.

Peace Talks was decent as a standalone. I didn't love it but was glad to see that Jim Butcher had broken through his block and was writing Harry Dresden again. It was a smaller set of events than usual. There's some silliness of scale, as for instance in on scene he's running for exercise with a 220 pound weighted vest because the Winter mantle has made him so strong, and in another he's struggling to lift himself out of a hole. There's one decent caper sequence and a lot of focus on family / friends. I enjoyed this as a "small" book.

And then...Battle Ground. This is really the second half of Peace Talks, but there's enough difference to call it two books. Plus, I love Dresden Files and won't begrudge Jim Butcher making some money by splitting it.

I suppose the whole review is spoilerific given the newness of the book, altho I stay away from specific spoilers, but to be polite...(view spoiler)[To call this epic scale is to do an injustice to the word "epic." A hundred pages in I thought I had experienced an entire novel's worth of plot and action. No stinting on characterization either, and we learn more about many major players. Could coldhearted, calculating Mab actually be sympathetic and vulnerable? Actually, yeah.

Another fifty pages in and I was asking, "this book couldn't be *all* crescendo, could it?" Well...yep. It could. Battle after battle after battle, twist after twist, all with that trademark Butcher style. I had brain overload following it all. So many callbacks, so many characters large and small making appearances. The alliances Harry has made over the years come back to help him, and even the smallest entity can take a lifesaving action.

There's one death that bothers me as unnecessary. (Actual spoilers here so spoiler in a spoiler) (view spoiler)[Karrin should have lived. I know she goes to Valhalla and all, and that's a nice coda. But it's too much of a throwaway, an easy solution to a tough question. It's clear that Harry's real life mate has to be Molly. She's the only one who can match him. It would have been more realistic, more poignant, for Karrin and Harry to simply drift apart over the next few books, separated by her increasing apparent age and their life experiences. (hide spoiler)]

Some of the book felt a little odd and derivative. There's a great scene in the last Percy Jackson book, where an unstoppable Titan becomes vulnerable when he steps in the waters off New York. Odd to see such a similar situation here. The Sasquatch feels like an ersatz Hulk, all the way to feigning vulnerability with glasses. And, one jarring note, Butcher twice has Black characters grin with gleaming teeth. Er...I'm not one for sensitivity readers, but this stereotype was odd to see.

Anyway, the occasional off note doesn't spoil the book. Jim Butcher is back and he has done this up right. It's a stunner start to finish. (hide spoiler)]

[Trike]

John (Taloni) wrote: "The Sasquatch feels like an ersatz Hulk"

Sasquatch and Hulk? Hmm, maybe Dresden has become interesting.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I started The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, which I know has been highly anticipated!

[Tamahome]

I think I have that issue. Long live 4 colors and thought bubbles.

[Silvana]

Finished with Orders of Battle - I thought this was the last book, sigh.

Rereading The Dragon Republic to prep for The Burning God two weeks from now.

[Elizabeth]

I'll be reading Rhythm of War the second it hits my Kindle.

In the meantime I've started an Expanse re-listen, with Leviathan Wakes of course. I'm reading The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (which has been retitled and is missing half a death now), and also picked up a new (actual, physical) non-fiction release Songlines: the Power and Promise about this Aboriginal method of archiving and transmitting knowledge.

[Misti]

I'm listening to the full cast recording of The Sandman, which I was enjoying up until Episode 6. I'm sure I'll keep with it though.

Haven't started re-reading this month's pick yet. Hopefully, I will by tonight.

[Trike]

I read Howl's Moving Castle. I found it to be charming.

[Sheila Jean]

I'm listening to Battle Ground by Jim Butcher (library loan) after which I'll try to finish up Blood of Empire by Brian McClellan and Heaven's River by Dennis E. Taylor. [Note to self FINISH ALL THESE BEFORE STARTING [book:Rhythm of War|49021976] by Brandon Sanderson.)

I'm reading The Memory of Souls by Jenn Lyons (library loan) after which I hope to finish up The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty.

[Mark]

Finished Driving the Deep by Suzanne Palmer, her follow-up to Finder. It was a pulse-pounding ride.

[Louie]

Mark wrote: "Finished Driving the Deep by Suzanne Palmer, her follow-up to Finder. It was a pulse-pounding ride."

Heh. I just started it, less than an hour ago.

[Seth]

Trike wrote: "I read Howl's Moving Castle. I found it to be charming."

I think in my review I just wrote: "Enchanting."

Now I'm on to The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water and I got a notice that Hench arrived on hold for me at the library, so that's probably next.

[Trike]

Seth wrote: "Trike wrote: "I read Howl's Moving Castle. I found it to be charming."

I think in my review I just wrote: "Enchanting."

."

Mine consists entirely of “Charming!”

[Ruthifred]

I’m reading Agents of Influence by Henry Hemming. It’s a fascinating nonfiction book about WWII propaganda and the secret effort to bring the US into the war.

Next up is Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir and I finally got a hold of The Ten Thousand Doors of January audiobook through the library.

[Trike]

Ruthifred wrote: "I’m reading Agents of Influence by Henry Hemming. It’s a fascinating nonfiction book about WWII propaganda and the secret effort to bring the US into the war. "

WWII just keeps on giving, with stories we’ve never heard before constantly coming to light. Considering the entire affair only lasted 6 years, almost exactly, it’s kind of amazing.

[Ruthifred]

Trike wrote: "Ruthifred wrote: "I’m reading Agents of Influence by Henry Hemming. It’s a fascinating nonfiction book about WWII propaganda and the secret effort to bring the US into the war. "

WWII just keeps o..."


It's really incredible. It continues to provide interesting insight into current affairs as well.

[Stephen]

Howl's Moving Castle again because I have deep love for that book, We Ride the Storm, runner up in SPBO 5 but snagged a deal with Orbit Press. E-book is still $4.99. Nov 16 9PM PST drop everything and start Rhythm of War . Oh and next week From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back comes to me but that is best read at a slow pace otherwise I kind of get tried of the tales. It is just better to read one story every other day for me to enjoy it more. and finish the month with The Burning God if all goes well in November .

[Sheila Jean]

Just finished Battle Ground. However did I get it in my head that it was supposed to be "The End"? I apparently haven't been paying attention to anything other than "we've been waiting for it for a while."

[AndrewP]

Just started Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection by Ben Aaronovitch. I already had the kindle version and have read many of the stories before, but I was holding out for the Audible version!

[Nicholas]

Today I started Trail of Lightning. I look forward to relistening to the podcast episodes where Veronica and Tom discuss it when I’m finished.

[Silvana]

I too am listening to a Rebecca Roanhorse's book, her latest one: Black Sun

[John (Taloni)]

Has Rebecca Roanhorse given up on the Sixth World books? There was a lot of story left to tell but she took so much flak for them I wondered if she just moved on.

[Mark]

John (Taloni) wrote: "Has Rebecca Roanhorse given up on the Sixth World books? There was a lot of story left to tell but she took so much flak for them I wondered if she just moved on."

An interesting question. I don't know the answer, but in this interview from last year, which doesn't mention controversy, she says book three won't be out for a while. She's focusing on her new series, a YA title, and other stuff. I don't know how I would handle the beatdown she's taken from some reviewers.

https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/no...

[Trike]

Silvana wrote: "I too am listening to a Rebecca Roanhorse's book, her latest one: Black Sun"

I just got that from the library as well as part of the coming-off-hold deluge:

Black Sun
Crooked Kingdom
The Haunting of Tram Car 015
The Memory Police

I extended the hold for The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power because it’s too much of the books all at the once.

[Iain]

Reading Howl's Moving Castlewhile listening to the tree killer The Empire of Gold (which is suffering from bloat but I want to know how it finishes). ..

[[deleted user]]

It seems like whether I try an interlibrary loan or order online I'm waiting a month for books so I'm just a bit into Finder. Loving it so far. I also just finished Double Star in audio. It was brilliantly narrated by Bronson Pinchot. Probably a three star book but the narration elevated it to a four star for me.

I'm waiting on Network Effect, The Relentless Moon, The City We Became, and Howl's Moving Castle to come in. If I don't see any of those by the time I'm done Finder I think the next book to come off my tbr shelf will be The Buried Giant.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I finished:


Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey
Rating: a generous 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading:


Trumps of Doom by Roger Zelazny
(this is the first book in the second Amber series and NOT a book about the ex-President)

[Rick]

While I liked the second Amber series well enough, I think it's a step down from the first. But almost anything would be :) Enjoy!

[Francis x]

Finished Howl's moving castle and now on Castle in the sky, HMC #2.then HMC #3, House of many room.

[Seth]

Francis x wrote: "Finished Howl's moving castle and now on Castle in the sky, HMC #2.then HMC #3, House of many room."

I was thinking about moving forward to the rest of the series too, but got a bunch of others that diverted my attention. I liked The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, but like many novellas, I finished reading and thought, "that's all?" Now I'm half-way through Hench and enjoying it.

[Melina]

Finished All Systems Red and started Black Sun on audio and The Life of Addie LaRue hardcover. Liking both so far!

[Tamahome]

Finished Longmire #1 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joseph]

Tamahome wrote: "Finished Longmire #1 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I should read those. And some of Elmore Leonard's Raylan Givens books.

What I have been reading is: Finished The Ikessar Falcon by K.S. Villoso and started Imaro by Charles R. Saunders.

[Tamahome]

That's funny. Craig Johnson and Elmore Leonard are kind of the opposite in level of description.

[Stephen]

My Overdrive hold of Doctor Aphra came in and it is short and fun with a full cast performing the backstory tale of my favorite new Star Wars character.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I finished:


Books of Blood, Volume Two by Clive Barker
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading:


Books of Blood: Volume Three by Clive Barker

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Rick wrote: "While I liked the second Amber series well enough, I think it's a step down from the first. But almost anything would be :) Enjoy!"

Thanks Rick. I read the first couple books in the second Amber series way back when they came out but then got sidetracked and never finished the series. The first Amber series is a long time favorite of mine.

[Catherine]

I was reading Hella by David Gerrold, which is pretty good, but then Dawnshard dropped yesterday and I just had to read it. It's a novella in the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson set between Oathbringer and the upcoming Rhythm of War.

[Tamahome]

Too bad Hella has no tribbles.

[Louie]

Stephen wrote: "My Overdrive hold of Doctor Aphra came in and it is short and fun with a full cast performing the backstory tale of my favorite new Star Wars character."

Looking forward to the new run of the comic.