What Else Are You Reading in 2021? Showing 451-500 of 2,230

[Michelle]

That's right- that was funny!

[Luci]

Just finished Golden State a dystopian tale about a place where truth is required and to lie is to break the law.
It was pretty good.

[Joel]

Just finished Delta-V by Daniel Suarez. It was awesome!

[MadProfessah]

Id like to hear more about Ben Winters’ Golden State— was it as good as his UNDERGROUND AIRLINES ?

[Don]

Just finished
"Mamelukes" by David Weber, Philip Pournelle.
A decent book that gives a long, long awaited ending to the "Janissaries" series started by Jerry Pournelle.

Currently reading
"On Writers and Writing" by Margaret Atwood. picked this book up as a daily deal.
I'm not a big M.Atwood fan but I really like this book so far. It reminds me of Stephen King's "On Writing" which I loved. Atwood talks about her creative process and lots of autobiographical stuff.
She like King narrates like a pro.

Currently reading "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo for the first time.
Even though the Movie was great the book is better.

[Christopher]

Currently reading The Trials of Koli and Retribution Falls.

[Aditya]

Well, I have a long list for 2021 for example The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: A Trilogy in Five Parts, The Witcher Boxed Set: The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of The Swallow, The Lady of the Lake, Season of Storms and many more. Currently, I am reading Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future and We Are Legion (We Are Bob) and just yesterday I bought Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century and Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Until right now I hadn't considered reading The Godfather, but now I am. Thanks, Don!

Chris, Retribution Falls has been on my list forever forever, excited to hear your thoughts.

Aditya, sounds like a great list! My spouse and I are listening to Sapiens now :)

[Gabi]

I finished

Ring Shout and Die Standing, both books I dnf'ed last year. They came out okay-ish - but certainly more for other readers than for me. (but, I have two dnf's off my list, which is good as well)

[Anna]

I've been rereading a lot in the past few months, and although it's very comforting and I've been loving the books, it also makes me sad and I don't really want to read anything, because nothing can ever be as good as these books! I finished my last Connie Willis reread last night, and I just sat there at 4AM crying because I didn't know what to start next.

I do have some (hopefully) excellent books lined up, but I feel so slumpy I don't want to start them yet. I think I need a MG break or something fun and easy to get over this slump.

Or I could jump into a Jo Walton reread marathon!

[Rachel]

I finished Swordheart and loved it even more than Minor Mage. Now adding all the rest of T Kingfisher!

[Anna]

(Minor Mage is among my least favorite Kingfishers.) I really loved Swordheart, I hope it gets an audiobook at some point, I'd probably listen to it a million times. (The Minor Mage audiobook is simply horrible, can't recommend it to anyone, I don't understand how they dare charge people money for it. I'm still thinking I should return it, even if it is a T. Kingfisher, the quality is so bad.)

Warning for those who care: Swordheart is heavy on the romance :)

[Mary]

Appendix N: The Eldritch Roots of Dungeons and Dragons by Peter Bebergal

[Gabi]

@Anna: feel you! And I'd say, a Jo Walton marathon is just about the right thing to do now.

[Don]

Allison, If you are interested in being transported to the 1940's-1950's and getting a birds eye view of a Mafia family, this is the book for you, though Frank Sinatra who inspired the character Joey Fontaine was not impressed.

[Anna]

Probably yeah, especially since I think I read Passage and My Real Children close together the first time, too, so why not now :D

[Beth]

Finished listening to the short 19th-century novel Cranford yesterday. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It's hard to express the experience of this book, or at least I don't think I did a good job of it in my review. I'm definitely interested in reading or listening to more of Gaskell's works, and both North and South and Wives and Daughters are included in Audible membership now, so there's an additional incentive to do so in the near future.

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

[Meredith]

Beth wrote: "Finished listening to the short 19th-century novel Cranford yesterday. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It's hard to express the experience of this book, or at least I don't think ..."

I haven't read Cranford, but there is a miniseries of it that was nicely done. I also enjoyed the North & South miniseries (and the book).

[Margaret]

I really like that series. Here's what I wrote about it:

This author is nutty as a fruitcake and provided several laughs. Nice action-oriented writing style.
Chronicles of St Mary's will be getting more visits from me.. as soon as I fight off this Velociraptor...

Araych wrote: "Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor

Time travel adventure told from the perspective of a young Englishwoman called Max. Very ..."

[Margaret]

I recently read The Hurricane Code and really liked it.

[Rachel]

Anna what are your top three Kingfishers? I'm wondering which I should pull next. (anyone else also welcome to chime in)

[Anna]

Rachel wrote: "Anna what are your top three Kingfishers? I'm wondering which I should pull next. (anyone else also welcome to chime in)"

For fun, light romancey Swordheart style, continue with Paladin's Grace and Paladin's Strength. The mystery that starts in Grace concludes in Strength, so it's a good idea to treat them as a duology. There's a novella coming maybe this summer, and possibly more books later on with the same crew, each focusing on a different main character. So they're kind of standalones, but also make most sense read in order.

Of course *technically* you'd have to read Clockwork Boys and The Wonder Engine (one book in two parts) first, as it's the first one this this universe. These four all take place in the same world as Swordheart, and I like them all, but Swordheart was my favorite.

Of her collections, Jackalope Wives and Other Stories is my clear favorite.

Of the longer retellings, The Raven and the Reindeer and Bryony and Roses are my favorites.

My least favorites are Minor Mage, Summer in Orcus and Nine Goblins. MM and SiO are clearly younger than her other retellings, I think that's why I don't love them as much. Goblins was just not my style of humor, though it does have a character I liked very much, and I will probably reread it eventually, to see if I like it better when I know what I'm getting into.

So, I'd probably say this is my recommended order:

- Jackalope Wives collection (or the two Grandma Harken stories, which are online for free, called "Jackalope Wives" and "The Tomato Thief", I think they're under Ursula Vernon on the Apex Magazine website.)

- RavenDeer or Bryony (or both)

- Clocktaur duology and/or Swordheart/Paladin, depending on how much romance you want (Clocktaur has a bit less)

[Rachel]

Well I know I already have Found Jackalope wives in hoopla ... but maybe it has more! *wanders off down the rabbithole*

[JCM]

Greetings Everyone,
2 books on the go currently !

The Book of Secret Wisdom: The Prophetic Record of Human Destiny and Evolution
and The Consciousness of the Atom by Alice Bailey.

[Michelle]

Christopher wrote: "Currently reading The Trials of Koli and Retribution Falls."

Retribution Falls was highly enjoyable! As a matter of fact, the whole series was. I binge-read those books last year.

[Don]

I am eyeballing "Retribution Falls" but haven't pulled the trigger.

[Dj]

I finished: Freedom's Forge: How American Business Built the Arsenal of Democracy That Won World War II

Here are my thoughts

A book on the homefront of the United States and the efforts to build up the industrial backbone needed to create all the equipment and munitions needed to fight a global war. It focuses on two individuals more than any others, Knudsen and Kaiser. Knudsen is practically unknown outside of certain circles. Even then he has generally pushed aside as having been a weak individual who was unable to bring industry to heel sooner. The author doesn't take that opinion as being one that applies to Knudsen. Instead showing that he was responsible for industry moving surely towards war production even when it wasn't strictly speaking in their best interest.
Knudsen, the man responsible for bringing Chevy to the forefront of the automotive industry used his connections to get Cheifs of Industry willing to move away from civilian production to the production of war material.
If Knudsen had any failing according to the author it was the fact that he was out of his depth when it came to the vicious politics that took place in Washington DC. Something that for myself at least I don't see as much of a failing.
The second individual was Kaiser. Best know for building Liberty Ships at a prodigious rate it seems he was much more involved than just that. He also started an Aluminum Company and a Manganese Company. The latter was responsible for developing the sludge that was used in the incendiary bombs that were used against Japan. He had a housing construction company that would build homes for the workers that were employed by him and a health insurance company that would provide coverage for his workers and their families.
One thing that modern readers may find unusual about both men in neither was college-educated. At one point Knudsen thought of getting an Engineering degree but didn't follow through after being told that the school couldn't teach him anything he didn't already know and Kaiser was a High School dropout.
A wonderful book and an enjoyable read.

[Mary]

Letters from Russia by Astolphe de Custine

[Ozsaur]

Clockwork Boys

[Raucous]

Ozsaur wrote: "Clockwork Boys"

I'm also reading this one (just starting) - the first in an extended visit to this corner of T. Kingfisher's creative universe.

[Anna]

Start a Clocktaur / White Rat thread if you need/want to! 😊

[Don]

Just finished "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo. Loved the book.
There is so much more to the book than the Movie. Couldn't put it down.

[Leticia]

I read two historical fantasies with Victorian England setting, one was Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged and the other was Any Other Name by Emma Newman.

I liked both books tough the first was an entertaining mystery with some paranormal fantasy elements and the second had important themes and was heart wrenching at times. Between both I will surely continue the Split Worlds series because it's so well written and I might continue the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries series if I want to read something light.

[Leticia]

Rachel wrote: "Anna what are your top three Kingfishers? I'm wondering which I should pull next. (anyone else also welcome to chime in)"

I heard that The Seventh Bride is very good and it's free in KU. That's where I plan to start with this author eventually, tough Anna's recommendations are very interesting too.

[Anna]

Seventh Bride is good, but nowhere near as good as RavenDeer and Bryony! That's why I wouldn't recommend it as a getting to know T. Kingfisher starting point, as it's not as brilliant as most of her other stuff. Nothing wrong with starting with it though, just know that it's not the best she has to offer :)

edit: Hmm, I just realized that 7B is the only T. Kingfisher I've never eye-read, only listened to, so that might be a factor in why it's my least favorite retelling of hers. Like I said, I still like it, I just like the others more!

[Anna]

I loved Convenience Store Woman! And was very disappointed by how gross Earthlings was :S

[Anna]

Kate, I don't know your taste super well yet, but I have a feeling you might like A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. If nothing else, I've recommended CSW to Gabi because she liked Time Being, so might as well rec in reverse, too :D

[Carrie]

Just finished Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar

My review if you want to check it out.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now reading Dragons of Spring Dawning

[Anna]

I forgot to say that the audiobook is great! She reads it herself, and it's one of those rare author-as-narrator gems! It also adds another layer to the magnificent mind-blowiness of the whole thing, to have Ruth read you a book about Ruth, written by Ruth :D

[Bonnie]

Meredith wrote: "Beth wrote: "Finished listening to the short 19th-century novel Cranford yesterday. I enjoyed it from beginning to end..."
I haven't read Cranford, but there is a miniseries of it that was nicely done. I also enjoyed the North & South miniseries (and the book).

I read her Sylvia's Lovers for the Readers Review group. I will get to Cranford and North and South eventually.

[Bonnie]

My IRL group read Station Eleven; because I had read it already (the third book i read for SFFBC I think) I read some other post-apocalyptic titles:
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife,
The Last Man Standing (that one's Italian), and just started
The Dog Stars

I fit in a bunch of novellas:
The Black God's Drums - P. Djeli Clark
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 - P. Djeli Clark
(also a short story in that same universe, "A Dead Djinn in Cairo")
One Day All This Will Be Yours - Adrian Tchaikovsky
This Is How You Lose the Time War
The Deep - Rivers Solomon
Binti - Nnedi Okonafor

[Rachel]

Wow Bonnie that’s a nice lineup

[CBRetriever]

I've read most of those novellas so far too except for

This is How You Lose the Time War
and
The Black Go's Drums

I just finished the third book in the Steerswoman series and am on to the fourth one. And started the oldest short story collection in my TBR pile that I haven't read: A Long December by Richard Chizmar

[Don]

"Convenience Store Woman" was a candidate for Dark Horse Book of the Year when I read it. It warms my heart to see it getting some Love.

[Don]

Does Adrian Tchaikovsky always bring the Thunder?

[Ozsaur]

Clockwork Boys

Raucous wrote: I'm also reading this one (just starting) - the first in an extended visit to this corner of T. Kingfisher's creative universe.

I've already started on the second book. I love the characters! And the humor has me laughing out loud.

[QueenAmidala28]

Currently reading , it's loaded with really cool details about Padme and her guards. One of the best SW books I've read!

[Bonnie]

Rachel wrote: "Wow Bonnie that’s a nice lineup"

I am glad i read every one. But, my enthusiasm did not keep up with the numbers--not one novella did I rate higher than three stars ("I liked it") and some lower.

Now if we're talking about something GREAT to read, I am going to start recommending those Steerswoman books. Allison, Silvana, YouKneek, Dawn C, Gabi, DivaDiane, Hank, Anthony, other GR pals, check these out. Well written, cool premise, strong characters, interesting situations, engrossing.
1. The Steerswoman
2. The Outskirter's Secret and so on.

-Libraries: some have them
-Apple / Kindle ebooks low price, $3-$4 (similar in UK pounds)
-paperback in U.S. $12 apiece

We are raving over in the Steerswoman series thread. Please read! :-)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I can't wait to get to Steerswoman! It is my most anticipated read of the year, I just gotta grab a broom and sweep all these other books into the garbage.

Or, because that hurts my heart to even joke about, read them as fast as my spring-fever-addled brain can read and then dive in to Steerswoman!

[DivaDiane]

I know, I know! I really do want to read them and sorry I’ve missed such an active BR! I think No. 1 is even £.99 on Amazon UK.