SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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What Else Are You Reading?
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What Else Are You Reading in 2021?
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - Really enjoyed the book! Couldn't put the book down, even finished the book almost till midnight. I am looking forward to starting on Crooked Kingdom and seeing the tv show!Now reading:
Fallen Academy Book 1 by Leia Stone
Has anyone read "The Councillor" by E.J. Beaton ? my investigation has turned up mostly "ra-ra-promo-crap"
Don wrote: "Has anyone read "The Councillor" by E.J. Beaton ? my investigation has turned up mostly "ra-ra-promo-crap""I haven't read it, but I did find a review that seems less 'ra-ra-promo-crap' (I really like that phrase.)
https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-...
It does seem a bit spoiler-heavy, but it might give you a more balanced look to let you decide if your going to read it or not.
Currently Reading: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
A Mid April GroupReRead.
Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel
Centered around 5 New York School artists that revolutionized modern art over the 40s and 50s.
Recently Finished:
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino.
A playful novel about reading, creation, publishing, curation, and ultimately the reader.
The Arab of the Future by Raid Sattouf
A graphic novel about growing up in the Middle East.
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
An account of American rowers' quest to the 1936 olympics in Berlin.
Recently Finished:"Think Again" by Adam Grant. This book falls into my Bed Side reading category, informational, interesting and not likely to get me riled up. The book has a Malcom Gladwell feel to it even though the Author claims to be Adam Grant!
Currently reading
"Ring of Fire 1"
Edited by Eric Flint.
I am a big fan of Flint's Ring of Fire books. (A Portal Fantasy, Alternative History story) Flint has done a very clever thing, he has farmed out the idea to many of his writer friends who contribute to building the story, sometimes with established characters in on going plot lines, sometimes introducing new ones for a one time guest appearance . It truly gives the "Ring of Fire" a depth and diversity that would be nearly impossible for one author to do alone.
The End of the World: and Other CatastrophesMore of importance now, values are breaking people thinking theyre god. That they truly understand the world/ nature. A good recommendation
Just started reading The Institute - Stephen King.And so far its really good.
I have started a novel called Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. As a word geek, I'm loving the language!
@Zobad The Institute is REALLY GOOD.I’d also recommend THE OUTSIDER even if you haven’t read the Mr. Mercedes books.
I thought "The Institute" was good BUT like "The Stand" the ending was less good 2ndbut it's still The King.
I finished The Angel of the Crows (which I loved! But I'm only mildly familiar with Sherlock Holmes, so who knows how it will read to those who know the stories well.) Deeplight (also loved, though very different tone) and then Clockwork Boys and The Wonder Engine (which felt like two halves of the same book, but they were a great read. Presently deciding which T. Kingfisher to read next.)
I started The Midnight Bargain last night. I had to go to bed before I finished it and I had dreams about it, lol.
Continue in the Clockwork world, Stephanie! :) So Swordheart, Paladin's Grace, Paladin's Strength. Swordheart is a standalone, the two Paladins can also be read standalone, but they form one mystery arc with different protagonists.
I read recently that the design elements that they use to stop skateboarding is called "defensive design"... I've just been calling it "sucking the fun out of everything" for all these years.
Don wrote: "I read recently that the design elements that they use to stop skateboarding is called "defensive design"... I've just been calling it "sucking the fun out of everything" for all these years."LOL!
The Best Thing You Can Steal
by Simon R. GreenShort entertaining fantasy about a thief and his friends getting together to pull a big robbery in an alternative reality of London. I liked it but it's nothing special. 3 stars.
I'm not even halfway yet, despite starting this 58 page book in February, but I want to tell you about it, because I'm going to forget if I don't!So, I've been dipping in and out of Visiting Friends: Or, What I Did On My Summer Vacation by Jo Walton for almost two months now. How is it taking me this long? I only read a tiny bit every now and then, because it's making me feel so happy, I need to use it sparingly :) It's just travel notes from Walton's trip to Europe from summer 2019, but it's been very comforting to read about sleepy French/Italian villages/towns and historic castles as I suffer through the cold, dark, covid-19 riddled winter. It's spring now, but not quite summer yet, so I'm still trying to read this slow. Also, she decribes in *very much detail* every single thing they eat XD and the cafés and sometimes even the customer service people they interact with. (Gelato, lots of gelato.)
What I really wanted to talk about is Ada Palmer. I know they're friends, and Walton has been very enthusiastic about Palmer's Terra Ignota series. Well, she's traveling with one of Palmer's students, and casually mentions her every now and then. Right now she just bought a card to congratulate Ada on completing the Terra Ignota series, and they're set to meet in Europe a week or two from where I am now. I don't know if that's in the book, but I'm low-key looking forward to it :D
Anyway, just as Walton is "visiting friends", I feel like I'm reading a friend's blog, where she talks about our mutual friends, even though I don't even follow Walton/Palmer on any social media platform. And I'm not at all caught up on the classics, so I shouldn't get anything out this book at all, but I've been enjoying it a lot :)
That sounds lovely, Anna! Have you read her Or What You Will? There is a lot of love for Italy and Italian food in it as well.
Araych wrote: "The Best Thing You Can Steal by Simon R. GreenShort entertaining fantasy about a thief and his friends getting together to pull a big robbery in a..."
I agree with your opinion there Araych. It was an okay book!
@MadProfessah The institute just keeps you sucked in and never lets you go.I will definitely check out The Outsider.
@Don Dunham I have been hearing a lot about The Stand, if it is as good as Institute I will definitely check it out as well
Anna, that sounds so pleasant! Might need to add that to my tbr. Also I started Swordheart today :)
I've already read Paladin's Grace and Paladin's Strength, bc apparently I forgot to check for reading order? (I think I didn't realize they were in the same universe as other books, bc normally I thoroughly google these things)
In other news I've finished The Midnight Bargain! It was quite good, with lots of twists and a satisfying ending IMO. Hopefully that means no more odd dreams 😅
I am hardcore STRUGGLING my way through Graceling. It's a friend's pick for book club, otherwise I probably would've given up on it long ago. It's just so much everything that's bad about YA. :(On a more positive note, I'm back to the audio of A Desolation Called Peace and loving it as much as the first book so far.
Also in non-sff, I'm reading The Quiet American, which I've got some mixed feelings about. The narrator is a bit of an annoyance, but in general I love the book.
Stephanie wrote: "I've already read Paladin's Grace and Paladin's Strength, bc apparently I forgot to check for reading order?"I don't think it matters so much, other than you'll appreciate Zale more if you've read Swordheart before the Paladins :) But then maybe, if you liked Zale in Paladins, you'll be happy to see even more of them in Swordheart, so it works that way, too!
Mod
I'm having sympathetic schadenfreude. Friends recommended it to me too and it was something I would have maybe loved when I was younger, but not so much as a grown up.
Having kind of a tough run. I finished The Salvage Crew and Magic for Liars and despite high hopes was really let down by both.
Anna wrote: "I don't think it matters so much, other than you'll appreciate Zale ..."Oh okay, good to know! I think it also gives me a great excuse to reread Paladin sooner rather than later :)
Oh no, Jordan! It's always hard when it's a book a friend recommended/that you're reading with friends. I had a terrible time with that book, and I think I was especially disappointed because I'd wanted to read it for a long time.
That's disappointing, Allison. I hope you read something you love soon!
I don't know when I've posted last here, so let's just guess. I've readUnconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott, which I dnf'd at around 75%, because I just couldn't go on. For me it was simply boring.
Theory of Bastards by Audrey Schulman is a book I avoided for a long time because of the hideous cover. But it turned out to be a really positive surprise story about social biology, human/ape interaction and the struggle of a disabled MC. It didn't live up to it's potential in the end, which was written as if the author herself was surprised by the fact hat she had to finish her story somehow, but up to there it was a very engaging read.
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett was the first Discworld novel where my younger son gave up on. The book is more adult than his others, which always could be read on a lighter level if one didn't get the undertones. The ending was overdone, but other than that a very thoughtful work on the topic of war and gender identity.
A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine was a good story buried underneath way too many words. Cut half of the book and I think it would be a really decent one.
The Dreaming Jewels by Theodore Sturgeon was a nostalgia trip for me. 70 years old and it still holds up today. When I need an author who knows how to write then it is never wrong for me to get back to my childhood hero.
Oval by Elvia Wilk is in essence not bad, gives a rather good portrait of a society of people who know the world is coming to an end but wait for somebody else to do something about it, while partying to oblivion. Yet the plot felt unbalanced - I'm still not sure how I should rate it.
Other than that I'm reading myself through the short stories and novelettes form the Hugo award shortlist and still wait for anything that blows my mind ...
I'm working on my ABC & 123 Challenge and am currently working on I and M. I is The Identicals which I thought I may like because I recently read a series by this author that I *did* enjoy. It's ok, main characters that are quite annoying in a setting I'm not interested in. Maybe, just maybe, things will pick up and I'll not want to read anything by this author for few years.
M is for The Midnight Library. Interesting concept but it's taken 1/2 of the book to really pick up.
Listening to Babylon's Ashes because #theexpanse.
And when going through my ABC bookshelf I realized I've totally skipped the letter K. What a great librarian I am!
Zobad, "The Stand" is excellent. Certainly the gold standard of Post Apocalyptic fiction.
I'll say that I read The Stand close to 30 years ago (I remember making a chart on graph paper to keep myself accountable on reading pace), but it still sticks with me. Not sure how it'd do with a reread now, would guess maybe it's a bit too long at around 1000 pages. In general feel like I can remember whether I liked something or not from the past, but hard to recommend as memory can be unreliable and I'm a different person now so who knows if my current self would enjoy it. But my past self thought it was a good read and also enjoyed the TV miniseries from back in the 90's (but to a lesser extent), haven't tried the latest TV version.
Reading wise, been on a somewhat bad streak with SFF, recently DNF'ed Retribution Falls at about 75% mark. Have tried starting the Hugo nominated short fiction, but also nothing too amazing so far.
Hi Everyone, Just finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.
Quite an eye opening read on the cultural differences between men and women in the east. This book takes the reader on a journey of oppression including foot binding, obedience, and Chinese women's worthiness based on how many sons they birthed. Lisa See takes us into the life that existed for centuries in China that girls, women had to endure. JCM SEDNA
I've now finished the Rampart trilogy with The Fall of Koli. A wonderful series on so many levels. I'm absolutely glad when I find something among the current SF authors that delights me so much.
I am currently reading a book called Napoleon's hemorrhoids, it's what I call a bedside book in that it has short stories and bits of information, one example is that Russia initially approved The grapes of wrath to be printed and given to his people because it portrayed the American poor and what they thought was a bad way the Russian government later banned the book because the Russian people were very impressed that a poor family could own its own car.
I have to say that when I found out there was a book called the police him rights it was no doubt that I had to give it a try
doing comments verbally through voice recognition doesn't always work out...apparently
I really enjoyed Marie Brennan's A Natural History of Dragons -- I really should get around to reading more of that series!! So much on my TBR. But I also just added Driftwood to it as well after seeing a good review in Locus.
Loved the Lady Trent series and just finished Driftwood! It’s actually a set of short stories in sane world all involving a main character with a framing story - Quick and enjoyable
I've never read Marie Brennan but I see that A Natural History of Dragons is on KU, so I'm going to try it. Thanks for the rec.
CB Retriever- I have to say, when I found out there was a book called "Napoleon's hemorrhoids" I had to give it a try. The book talks about small things that have big impacts, like Napoleon having flare up of screaming piles before Waterloo.
I am currently reading "The Grantville Gazette" another of the short story anthologies that are part of the "Ring of Fire" series. I had avoided them and now I cannot imagine why, they add so much good stuff to the series. All the talented authors putting their unique touches on the Ring of Fire universe.
Don wrote: "CB Retriever- I have to say, when I found out there was a book called "Napoleon's hemorrhoids" I had to give it a try. The book talks about small things that have big impacts, like Napoleon having..."
thanks - I've seen that book and it does sound interesting
Jordan wrote: "I am hardcore STRUGGLING my way through Graceling. It's a friend's pick for book club, otherwise I probably would've given up on it long ago. It's just so much everything that's bad ..."
Jordan wrote: "I am hardcore STRUGGLING my way through Graceling. It's a friend's pick for book club, otherwise I probably would've given up on it long ago. It's just so much everything that's bad ..."
Jordan, are you struggling with The Great American because it's a bit dated or the author's religious views that are embedded in pretty much all of his writing?
Jordan wrote: "I am hardcore STRUGGLING my way through Graceling. It's a friend's pick for book club, otherwise I probably would've given up on it long ago. It's just so much everything that's bad ..."
Jordan, are you struggling with The Great American because it's a bit dated or the author's religious views that are embedded in pretty much all of his writing?
@CB Retriever- Nap's Hem's is very interesting, easy to pick up and easy to put down. I'm consuming it in 15 minute chunks as the somewhat nonlinear stories start to get in each other way after that.
Don wrote: "@CB Retriever- Nap's Hem's is very interesting, easy to pick up and easy to put down. I'm consuming it in 15 minute chunks as the somewhat nonlinear stories start to get in each other way after that."You've convinced me, but I'll wait until it goes down in price again
Recently Finished "The Devil you Know" by Charles Blow. A superior sounding plan for Black America than either of the Two political parties have on offer Because there are no Cities in the Constitution.
Pamela wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I am hardcore STRUGGLING my way through Graceling. It's a friend's pick for book club, otherwise I probably would've given up on it long ago. It's just so much everyth..."Mostly the dated bit. I know it's probably fairly appropriate for the time, but it's awkward to read them now and there's a kind of second hand embarrassment to it, especially concerning the attitudes around Phuong.
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SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Brent Monahan (other topics)Stephen King (other topics)
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Another one would be “Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne“ trilogy by Brian Staveley.