What Else Are You Reading in 2021? Showing 551-600 of 2,230

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Wowza, Petit! You're planning a marathon! Good luck!

[Ozsaur]

The Ninth Sorceress - I don't know why I'm not as engaged with this book as I'd like to be.

[Catnap]

Allison wrote: "Wowza, Petit! You're planning a marathon! Good luck!"

Yes and thank you :)

[Don]

Wildfires, Floods and NOW spider invasions... Jacqueline, you Ok?

[Beth]

Soft DNF on This Alien Shore. It does seem like there's some interesting takes on mental health, genetics (even eugenics), and some other topics floating around in all this non-stylish, obvious, interminable verbiage, but for now I'm not willing to wade through it to find them.

[Susan]

I'm reading through John Brunner's early Ace paperbacks, taking care not to spend silly money on them. I tracked down "The World Swappers" last month, a book I first read in 1971, and it was good stuff; space opera basically, but with interesting ideas in it. I've just finished "Listen! The Stars!", and I think it's brilliant. He's taken bits of 1960s pop culture - secret agents, transistor radios, hifi snobs, noisy music, hallucinogenic drugs, CND, and the Aetherius Society - and made something quite fascinating from it.

[Christopher]

Just finished The Trials of Koli, book two in the series. I thought it was a solid continuation of the story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed book one.

[CBRetriever]

I finished Riot Baby yesterday and wasn't overwhelmed by the book. A glossary would have helped (I had no idea what dap meant). It did get more interesting towards the end, but it's definitely not one I'll ever re-read.

[Stephen]

Susan wrote: "I'm reading through John Brunner's early Ace paperbacks, taking care not to spend silly money on them. I tracked down "The World Swappers" last month, a book I first read in 1971, and it was good s..."

I’m not familiar with those books, but last year I read “To Conquer Chaos” and thought it was pretty good. I found a copy of the 1981 DAW reissue in a used book store and couldn’t resist the cover:

[Gabi]

The last weeks I've read several books where I gave an average rating:

Ring Shout (the other book I've read by this author was the same. I'm not happy with the structure of the novellas)
The Bees (no idea what the intention of this book was)
The Midnight Bargain (the story of this one was so 'impressive' that I can't recall what it was about, now that I go through my read-list ... ^^')
Unfortunately all the Murderbot novellas and the novel. (I tried, but I don't get the fascination for them.)
Black Sun (I picked it up after dnf'ing it last year, cause I think it comes up as a BotM in one of my groups. The prose is better than trail of lightning, but still not my cup of tea)

The good ones were
Eartheater by Dolores Reyes - I was quite impressed by this one. More on the literary, social comment side.
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, our group read - simple, nerdy fun with a good basic SF idea.
Or What You Will by Jo Walton - very philosophical and very meta. Definitely not for everyone, but I was fascinated. I put it on my last slot in the Hugo ballot before sending it.
Machinehood by S.B. Divya, - after a suspicious start this one turned into a really good story about human-AI fluidity and the question of 'human' rights.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I've also been stuck in a "they're fine" reading journey.

The Gilda Stories was one I really anticipated reading. I think it was important and did some interesting experiments, but as a reading adventure, I wasn't overjoyed.

Wool was another I was stoked about. But after a fantastic start, it petered out into improbable scenarios made with questionable logic. I had a real fancy digital copy though with moving illustrations, so that was awesome.

Starsight same kinda deal. Started out great, got lost somewhere in the middle and instead of trying to get found again it sort of just fell over.

The Grace of Kings is a labor of love by the author, and sort of just cringey for me. It was...fine. Boring mostly, but boring like a History channel program that happens to be on in the doctor's office. Better than nothing, not sad when you're called away.

I loved Ring Shout lol. The audio was annnnoooying but I could hear the story behind it, and I really admire how he uses settings in unusual time periods from perspectives often overlooked to tell something at once relatable and fresh.

[Araych]

A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor

Chronicles of St. Mary's #4, probably best read in order. I've read #1, really like it, couldn't find #2 or #3 so I have now read #4. I like it OK, 3 stars, but now that the fun of discovering St. Mary's is over it's just a real cute time travel adventure.

[Jacqueline]

This morning I read Memento (Illuminae Files 0.5) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. It’s the story of Aiden leading up to the events of Illuminae. It’s was actually pretty great but I only gave it 4 stars. I had to read it on my phone because of “reasons” (it was a Library ebook and my phone still had it on but my iPad had already returned it to the library and I couldn’t renew it because someone already had it so I turned off all data to my phone and read it before it connected to the library) and if anyone has read the rest do the books you’ll know that it’s formatted differently to a normal book and it was really annoying on the phone.

[Leonie]

Am reading Middlegame by Seanan McGuire. Am about halfway through so far. Totally different to the Incryptid books, but am enjoying it.

[Adwika]

I am reading five little pigs

[dc]

I've started the Sector General series by James White.

[Don]

Just finished & three stars to "In Fury Born" by David Weber. Space Opera by a Prince of Boom. Lots of military, maneuvers, ordinance, honor, offended honor, battles, rousing speeches, etcetera and so forth. Some intriguing ideas and some stretched credulities.
Doing a reread of "Magician: Apprentice" by Raymond E. Fiest and looking forward to it.

[Don]

I have several other books that I'm going through slowly:
"Harbinger" by Olan Thorensen.
"The Body" by Bill Bryson.
"99%invisible" by Kurt Kohlstedt.
They're all interesting do far.

[Marc]

I discovered some J.D. Robb novels that I haven't already read at the library. They're futuristic (2059-2061) crime dramas featuring a really great set of characters, always the heart of any story for me. The author is Norah Roberts, so there's a lot of romance and the occasional steamy sexual interlude, which I skip over.

[Dj]

So got around to my review for Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent 1934-1941 A book that makes you wish it was all some fiction

William L Shirer is best known for writing a massive tome covering Germany during WWII with a well-won reputation of standing the test of time, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich proves why he had such insight into the workings of Hitler's Germany. In this book, he reproduces his Diary from the time he spent in Germany and other countries in the area during Hitler's rise to power and prior to Germany's declaration of war on the US. In this book he is not in the least unbiased. His displeasure with Germany and Germans is very clear. He is astounded that they would swallow the lies of Hitler and allow him to stay in power.

It is an amazing look at the thoughts of a man, who by no means an insider, was there to see it happen and often in key places to be a perfect witness to the events unfolding. A book that is well worth the read.

[Jacqueline]

Back to eye reading The Last Emperox by John Scalzi. I’m enjoying it so far.

Today I had to drive nearly 8 hours so I listened to The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. I wasn’t going to reread it before reading the 4th one but today I just wanted to listen to something I’ve already read so I didn’t have to concentrate too hard but also wanted something that made me feel all warm and fuzzy. It made the time go a bit faster. Usually it only takes 6 hours but it was slow going with the amount of cars on the road.

[W.J.]

[Don]

Thank You DJ, I've long wanted to read the history of WW2 from the German perspective while staying clear if Homeland Security watch lists. I may give this one a try.

[Don]

Jacqueline, I tried reading "a long way to a small angry planet" but it didn't take, should I give it a second try?

[Stephen]

Don wrote: "Thank You DJ, I've long wanted to read the history of WW2 from the German perspective while staying clear if Homeland Security watch lists. I may give this one a try."

Don, try this, it’s excellent: The German War: A Nation Under Arms

[Don]

Stephen Burridge, I appreciate the recommendation, the book looks excellent.

[Dj]

Don wrote: "Thank You DJ, I've long wanted to read the history of WW2 from the German perspective while staying clear if Homeland Security watch lists. I may give this one a try."

So just as a warning, this isn't really from the German perspective. Shirer is an American working as a journalist in Germany and the surrounding countries at the time.

For books from the German side of things, might try Warlimont's book but all of the German works are...somewhat self-serving to say the least.

[Dj]

Don wrote: "Jacqueline, I tried reading "a long way to a small angry planet" but it didn't take, should I give it a second try?"

I would. I found it very entertaining.

[Don]

Thanks DJ. I figure bias is unavoidable so you need both sides.

[Jacqueline]

Yeah Don I don’t know. I loved it but Hubby reckoned it was more chick lit and wasn’t into it. He did finish it though. He has a thing about finishing books. He has only not finished A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton and Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb so he really must have hated them. I enjoyed both of those too. I suspect he would be one of the only people who doesn’t love Murderbot as well but anyhoo. Maybe give it another go and try to go in with no expectations.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Becky Chambers writes no-plot, character-centric social scifi focused on really big "what-ifs" that she follows in intimate and loving detail. So if you're cool just sort of hanging out with nice people while they adapt to something, there's a lot good here. If you're lookin for a thriller, this is...not a good fit haha

Speaking of, i'm reading Record of a Spaceborn Few and LOVING it.

[Jacqueline]

Yeah I loved that one too Allison. TLWTASAP is really good as an audiobook. I eye read it the first time and I loved it but this second time is better. I haven’t reread anything in a while.

Reading isn’t going to be in my plans for the weekend though unfortunately. We’re cleaning out my late parents house so I can sell it and it’s a huge job. Manually as well as physically.

[Beth]

I've been floundering around reading-wise ever since I finished reading Cerulean Sea, and come to find that one of my online spaces has a little reading club that is taking on The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I've been meaning to read the Brontës for years, so this is a great opportunity to get goin' with that!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I empathize, Jacqueline! Maybe an audiobook if you're not necessarily working with other family members for support/kinship? Good luck <3

Nice, Beth! I've not read that one, looking forward to your thoughts.

[Dj]

Don wrote: "Thanks DJ. I figure bias is unavoidable so you need both sides."

Very true. The Major issue with most books from the German side is that the first person works have a lot of, I served but I was never really a Nazi. Sometimes the outside view of their actual records are a little less inclined to agree with that view. Manstein is one that has two works that are very enlightening about his views. His own work and a book Manstein: Hitler's Greatest General Read Manstein's Lost Victories first than read the other. It is very enlightening.

[Dj]

Allison wrote: "Becky Chambers writes no-plot, character-centric social scifi focused on really big "what-ifs" that she follows in intimate and loving detail. So if you're cool just sort of hanging out with nice p..."

I am reading that one as well and enjoying it. I can see the chick-lit application in a sense, but I don't think it applies all that well. Or maybe I am just more in tune with my feminine side. LOL unlikely as that might be to anyone that knows me. So maybe just really good Sci-Fi with well-written characters where the female characters seem to take the lead.

[Jacqueline]

Wish I could listen to an audiobook. I have Hubby here as my taskmaster. He dragged a heap of stuff outside and then I had to find all the rubbish so he could go to the tip as well as sort everything so he could put it on the Ute to take it back to the farm after the tip run. He pushes too hard and I can’t keep up with him and it’s all very overwhelming when everything is out in the yard and you have to get it sorted and packed before nightfall. He’s a pain when he wants something done.

[Harry]

Just finished Golden State
It was a good read.

[Jess]

Just finished Hamnet and I loved it! My best book of the year up with the Stormlight Archives books.

[Phrynne]

I just treated myself to Matt Haig's latest fantasy The Midnight Library. His imagination knows no bounds!
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[MadProfessah]

@Bill have you read other stuff by Ben Winters, like UNDERGROUND AIRLINES?

[Faith]

My review of A Hole in the Sky by Peter F. Hamilton

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

[Emmett]

I have been listening to Magic's Pawn and there is a lot of uhh pining and umm wallowing.

I have also been reading Sorrowland which is my first Rivers Solomon novel. Had a twist that blew my mind (before even halfway through!) to the point that I put it down and just had to whisper-exclaim to myself out loud for an entire minute or two. Definitely enjoying it.

Just finished The Year of the Witching- very fun read, but did feel a little too simplistic. Would give it a 3.5. Love me a good ol'-fashioned witch trial though, ya know? 🤠

[Eric]

I finished the three books of "World of the Five Gods." Book one for the example: The Curse of Chalion. These books while taking place in the same world are stand alone novels. Books one and three were four stars. Book two, three. I had never read Lois McMaster Bujold before. She is talented.

Have started Doomsday Book.

[Faith]

My review of In the Quick by Kate Hope Day

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

[Jan]

I just finished A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. Maybe I'm a little late to the party?

It started off a little slow but ended up being well worth the read. Good story and good world-building. It's a while since I enjoyed a new(ish) sci-fi book so much. I recommend.

[Zat]

Currently reading Caliban's War and Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future.

Loving the expanse series and Zero to one is a good one too.

[Stephen]

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life

Seven classic Russian short stories, with commentaries by George Saunders. The commentaries are part analysis of storytelling technique (Saunders is a creative writing professor as well as a successful writer) and part broader appreciations of the stories. The stories are wonderful, though not very sff-y, with the exception of Gogol’s “The Nose”.

[Ines, Resident Vampire]

I'm reading A Dowry of Blood. It's good so far, but I'm 60% in and hoping it will turn into a vampire story soon. I think the ending will make or break this book for me.

[Naveen]

I just finished reading the His Dark Materials series. It was amazing and it was the perfect blend of fantasy and sci-fi series I have ever read.(view spoiler)[It is a story revolving around dark matter and parallel universes (hide spoiler)]