What Else Are You Reading in 2021? Showing 901-950 of 2,230

[The Joy of Erudition]

I enjoyed the first book very much, even though I normally don't care for political intrigue.

[Jan]

I too recently read and enjoyed the first book. I have purchased the second book on kindle but haven't started yet. GTK it's enjoyable too. Second books don't always cut it, but I'm avoiding reading reviews and possible spoilers so not really aware of the talk about it.

[Midiain]

I just read The Route of Ice and Salt, which was one of the nominees for the Amazin' Eights Challenge, and it was not at all what I was expecting. Dracula is one of my favorite books so a story told from the perspective of the ship captain was intriguing. The sex was... a lot. But it was also extremely philosophical for a horror story. An examination of what makes a person a monster, otherness and persecution, guilt, self acceptance, and redemption were at the core and all the rest was almost a surreal metaphor.

It's always a little hard to know if the prose in a translated book is precisely how the author wrote it or if it's filtered through the translator's interpretation. Either way, the prose was beautiful, dreamlike, and evocative. I've been wanting to read something by José Luis Zárate and I was deeply impressed.

[Don]

Mike, I see what you did there! And it meets with my approval, carry on...please?

[Dj]

Doing some catching up. I finished: Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 and here are my thoughts

Focused on the start of the war and running up through the victory at Midway this is an amazing book. The detail is fantastic without being overwhelming and the breakdowns of the major personalities on both sides are well worth the effort. The flow from one action to the next is pretty seamless with breaks to show the planning and responses of both sides.

While it does have to rush over some aspects that isn't surprising considering the scope of the work and the information that is being presented. The only real question I had at the end of this book was why hadn't I read it before, how soon will I be getting the next one.

[Gabi]

I've spent the weekend with the (not so successful) attempt to get some more books from our group shelf done. I've picked some that were available to me on storytel, cause I had a painting project to finish.

The Sword-Edged Blonde was 3 stars, the rest 2 stars or dnf (Those Who Hunt the Night, Red Sister, Opening Atlantis).

From now on I will have more time for eye reading again, and I hope I will find some gems on my ebook reader.

ETA: One positiv aspect of the weekend reading - I listened to a the New Yorker podcast of Ben Okri reading and discussing some short pieces of Kafka for a popsugar prompt. This one was great (Ben Okri has a marvellous voice). https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/fic...

[Ozsaur]

Illuminae - so glad I got it in hardcover. I'm loving the unique formatting. The story might have been fun told in a traditional way, but the epistolary style makes this book a treat.

[Beth]

Ozsaur, I know that audiobooks of that series exist, but I can't imagine it, or the ebook, being anywhere near the same great experience that the paper versions were. My favorite was the second one, Gemina. (now I want to reread them!)

A couple of equivocal reads for me recently...

Chase Darkness with Me: How One True-Crime Writer Started Solving Murders: an autobiographical account of Billy Jensen's background as a true crime fan, and his eventual life calling as an investigator and solver of crimes. It got a little too deep into the "how to" of citizen investigation for my level of interest in that subject. (review)

Buried Heart: Kate Elliott's first foray into YA didn't nail the landing* as well as I might have hoped. I much prefer her earlier Spiritwalker series. (review)

* an oblique reference to the sport that's central to much of the series

[Mary]

Ozsaur wrote: "Illuminae - so glad I got it in hardcover. I'm loving the unique formatting. The story might have been fun told in a traditional way, but the epistolary style makes this book a treat."

Yes, that one's told very interestingly.

[Ozsaur]

Beth said: Ozsaur, I know that audiobooks of that series exist, but I can't imagine it, or the ebook, being anywhere near the same great experience that the paper versions were.

I agree, I don't know how certain pages could be read, and still give the same experience as seeing the page. I also thought long and hard about getting the ebook, because I rarely buy paper books any more, but this one is well worth getting in hardcover.

I will definitely be getting the next book!

[Michelle]

I just finished Forever Soldiers, which wrapped up the series. And whew! This really got me in the feels. This was an unknown author to me, and he can certainly depict relationships, PTSD and dialogue well! Despite some flaws in the writing, this was an excellent character-driven series.

[Leonie]

Beth wrote: "Ozsaur, I know that audiobooks of that series exist, but I can't imagine it, or the ebook, being anywhere near the same great experience that the paper versions were. My favorite was the second one..."

The audiobooks are excellent. I'd go as far as to say that they're possibly the best ones I've ever listened to. There's a cast of characters, and the Aiden voice is just as I imagined. So good.

[Phrynne]

I agree Leonie. I have the paper copies on my shelf because they are so clever, but the audio is the best. Aiden is perfect.

[Leonie]

Phrynne wrote: "I agree Leonie. I have the paper copies on my shelf because they are so clever, but the audio is the best. Aiden is perfect."

I did a recent re-listen. I think they're even better the second time round. I always pick up extras on a re-read or listen.

[Anna]

I am reading this thread ... ON MY LAPTOP!!! ^_^ My suffering has ended!

And I still haven't read (or listened to) Illuminae, despite meaning to for years.

Currently listening to The End of Men, which is kind of a bit too close to reality and also maybe a bit too everything. It's OK, but there are so many POVs, it's hard to care about (m)any of them.

[Mel]

Huzza! Congratulations Anna on getting your laptop back!

Recent reads include one you pointed out, Tea and Sympathetic Magic, which was a nice little nibble.

I also enjoyed the Amazing Eights read Elatsoe, and had a blast with Project Hail Mary, which was so much fun fun fun and made my heart squee.

[Beth]

Anna wrote: "And I still haven't read (or listened to) Illuminae, despite meaning to for years."

They're fun, super-fast reads, great if you're in the mood for an action-adventure.

[Gabi]

Congratulations, Anna! Better times are ahead!

I'm continuing my how-the-hell-did-this-book-end-up-on-the-groupshelf? journey with

Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones which did nothing for me, but I gave it 3 stars since it is a children's book and is not supposed to do something for an old hag as me. (even though I doubt that my kids would have liked it)

Shadow's Son by Jon Sprunk was so clichéd pulp Fantasy that I honestly was startled when I saw that it was written 2010ish. And a fair warning to those who want to tackle it (for which masochistic reason ever), don't go for the dramatized graphic audio version. It was the first time I listened to one of those productions and it made a mediocre book into something embarrassing.

Please let the next storytel-available groupshelf book be something I can stand! XD

On the positive side: I saw that my "read"-shelf finally surpassed my "want to read"-shelf. I try to keep it that way.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

" I'm continuing my how-the-hell-did-this-book-end-up-on-the-groupshelf? journey with"

Democracy does sometimes make some interesting choices lol Especially when picking from themes!

[Anna]

I was obsessed with Charmed Life as a kid, but I can totally understand why it wouldn't appeal to adults reading it for the first time, and probably kids today also wouldn't love it. Some of the others in the series have aged less well, but there are some I frequently reread as comfort reads :)

[Eva]

Beth wrote: "Anna wrote: "And I still haven't read (or listened to) Illuminae, despite meaning to for years."

They're fun, super-fast reads, great if you're in the mood for an action-adventure."

Putting them higher up on my TBR! I also love the Aurora Rising series by the same author duo, they felt like concentrated fun in book form. Can't wait for the last book in the series to come out later this year.

@Gaby: yes, reducing TBRs is wonderful! I've weeded out my own Want-to-read shelf on GR today - it's still larger than my "Read" shelf, though, but at "only" 802, it doesn't feel so overwhelming anymore. Congrats on having finished so many, as well as so many group books! That takes a lot of commitment.

@Melissa: Project Hail Mary really is a squeeing with joy kind of book! I loved Rocky so much. Can't wait for the movie - I've heard they've cast Ryan Gosling already. :-)

[CBRetriever]

Shadow's Son was included in a Humble Bundle or I wouldn't have read it either. I totally agree with your opinion of the story. It doesn't want me to read anything else by the authro

[Beth]

Gabi wrote: "I'm continuing my how-the-hell-did-this-book-end-up-on-the-groupshelf? journey with"

Gabi does this so I don't have to!

There's no way on earth I'll ever catch up and so I don't try. I'm merciless about DNF-ing ones that aren't working for me, and I've deleted at least 30 books from my personal spreadsheet of SFFBC reads because I have no interest in reading them.

[Gabi]

XD - I have the feeling that with restricting myself atm to those books that are available on storytel I somehow get the worst from the shelf (I HOPE this is the case - LOL) - and I must add that I get super bored with typical Fantasy super quick. Those books have to master a much higher threshold than SF or weird speculative fiction.

[Gabi]

CBRetriever wrote: "Shadow's Son was included in a Humble Bundle or I wouldn't have read it either. I totally agree with your opinion of the story. It doesn't want me to read anything else by the authro"

Right? I was expecting a release date somewhere in the 70ies or 80ies when I looked it up. It feels so dated style wise.

[Eva]

Maybe it's time for taking a break by reading some literary fiction or a classic, as a sort of palate cleanser? Storytel has almost all the Booker winners and many nominees.

[Ozsaur]

Leonie and Phrynne - Hmmm, a full voice cast instead of one reader is probably the only way to make Illuminae work as an audio book. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and the voice acting is often so good.

I heard that Illuminae may become a movie!

[Don]

Tricky-Woo is my Spirit Animal.

[Palash]

Finished reading The Eye of the World. A promising start to a long journey. Liked the detailed worldbuilding and overall plot. Though there were some pacing issues in first half of the book. Similarity with LOTR didn't affect me much as I haven't read LOTR. Overall, a good first book in the series.

I have already started The Great Hunt. It is turning out to be better than first book.

[Leonie]

Ozsaur wrote: "Leonie and Phrynne - Hmmm, a full voice cast instead of one reader is probably the only way to make Illuminae work as an audio book. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and the voice act..."

I really hope it does! But only if it's done well....

[Phrynne]

Leonie wrote: "Ozsaur wrote: "Leonie and Phrynne - Hmmm, a full voice cast instead of one reader is probably the only way to make Illuminae work as an audio book. I listen to a lot of podcasts, an..."

Not sure about it working as a movie. I often don't watch my favourite books as films. I have my own mental image that I don't want spoiled:)

[Ines, Resident Vampire]

Aditya wrote: "Currently reading 'Salem's Lot, but am here to seek help in deciding my next read; I have a number of sequels lined up, which should I go for first?
1. Words of Radiance today so I can get on to the Amazin' Eights group read. Reading Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I always have the feeling I could be watching a movie. She writes very descriptive, I like that. The book itself is a great story, but I saw all the major plot points coming and would have wished for some more surprises. Maybe I'll be proven wrong during the last 10%, though.

[Mel]

Reading A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking and I'm wondering on a scale of 1 to 10 how many dozen cookies should I preemptively bake to handle the potential cravings.

Gabi wrote: "On the positive side: I saw that my "read"-shelf finally surpassed my "want to read"-shelf. I try to keep it that way."

Good luck with that... My Read shelf started with a generous lead, and up until now has been able to maintain it. But over the past couple years my TBR has ballooned, all too quickly narrowing the gap, and I'm afraid the battle likely will be lost in the next couple months.

@Eva
Ooh, thanks for informing me of the Project Hail Mary movie. Looking forward to it already!

[Terry]

Anne wrote: "Anybody else absolutely loving Arkady Martine’s A Memory Called Empire and A Desolation Called Peace? (Sorry, I’m new to this and can’t figure out how to add the links.) I tore through both of them..."
They were two of my favorite recent reads. A Memory Called Empire was so good, but I enjoyed A Desolation Called Peace even more!

[CBRetriever]

Melissa wrote: "Good luck with that... My Read shelf started with a generous lead, and up until now has been able to maintain it. But over the past couple years my TBR has ballooned, all too quickly narrowing the gap, and I'm afraid the battle likely will be lost in the next couple months."

I hope that doesn't happen to me as my Read is currently around 1500 more than my TBR pile

[Mike]

Currently reading 'It's Like Having Sex With God', by David Raymond. According to my Kindle, I'm about 10 per cent into it.

[Gabi]

Melissa wrote: "Good luck with that... My Read shelf started with a generous lead, and up until now has been able to maintain it. But over the past couple years my TBR has ballooned, all too quickly narrowing the gap, and I'm afraid the battle likely will be lost in the next couple months."

I admit, I'm cheating a bit. Books that I buy don't get onto my tbr (since I can find them again scrolling through my ebook reader). On the other hand there are certainly a lot of books on my tbr now which I added in my initial excitement when I joined our group and - after having read a lot and knowing much better what I want and what I don't want to read - wouldn't put there anymore nowadays. If I have nothing else to do I will go through the shelf and delete them.

ETA: my bookshelf-books-on-storytel mission continued and somehow I often end up with the dramatized audionarration by Graphic Audio. The ones I've read so far are bordering on silly, cause the production really overdoes it.

But now I've found two that actually worked pretty well - in case of the second book I would even say that the dramatized reading enhanced the book.

The Magic of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt Jr. is a slow burning narration, where I wasn't sure about what the actual plot should be in he first half. But good atmosphere and character building. I'd say readers who like the pace of the Kingkiller Chronicles would find something to like here as well.

The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan is the complete opposite: fast pace, witty writing, neither story nor characters take themselves seriously in the first half. I loved listening to the dialogues here. The second half goes down a more usual Epic Fantasy road including card board villain, so that it didn't stay at 4 stars. But it definitely got on my read-more-by-this-author list.

[Dj]

I read: Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall

I was underwhelmed by this book. The humor was so over the top that it distorted everything beyond the point of believable. So I have to get done with it as quickly as possible and felt underwhelmed the whole way through. I was kind of sad about the whole thing since I have been looking forward to reading it.

[Dj]

This is my review for: Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning
So far this year this is my only five star book

This is perhaps the best book I have ever read on the holocaust which is not to say it was enjoyable in any sense of the word. This book doesn't focus on the nuts and bolts of the issue, but instead on the how and why of it. This is different from every other book I have read on the subject. Instead of focusing on the numbers, this book focuses on how the Germans were able to start mass killing where and when they did. It also looks at where Jews were nearly whipped out and where they were allowed to survive in greater numbers and what caused the difference in these numbers. It was surprising to me to find out that more French Jews were to survive the war than Dutch Jews. When the author goes over the reasoning for this it becomes clear and understandable.

He also goes over why the Nazi Leadership kept on killing Jews and killing them at a more prodigious rate as the war turned against them. Interestingly enough this explanation seems to make the actions of Hitler more understandable if no less horrific.

I feel that this should be required reading.

[CBRetriever]

Gabi wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I admit, I'm cheating a bit. Books that I buy don't get onto my tbr (since I can find them again scrolling through my ebook reader).."

I add all my Kindle books since it's so easy to do so.. My TBR doesn't contain any books that I don't own. I use the wish lists on Amazon to add books I don't own yet. Doesn't matter if they're Kindle, Audio or DTB books. I also add them to ereaderiq so I get a message if yone of them goes down in price.

Back on subject: I finished two of the Urban Elves series by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Mad Maudlin
Music to My Sorrow

I have two others to read in that series, one of which is a back up to books 4&5 in the series then Bedlam's Edge which is Short Stories set in the same universe

[Anna]

I’m a big pile of meh. Feels like everything I start is super boring and nothing from any of my several TBRs calls to me. I forced myself to finish a book because it knocked off three challenge prompts, and that’s the only positive thing I have to say about it. One of my most anticipated books of 2021 was very meh, I’m tempted to return it, I’m so disappointed. But it’s probably not the book’s fault, so I’ll try not to.

So, I’m in bed, staring alternately at my phone and the ceiling, sighing, changing lounging position and repeating. Pfft, this should be prime reading time!

When I get like this about food, I try to imagine what dish from any restaurant in the world I’d want to magically materialize in front of me, and then break down what it is about that dish that I’m actually craving, and what I have that comes closest to it. (98% of the time I end up making peanut butter noodles.) I tried the same with books, and I’m not in the mood for anything?! I mostly just want to want to read, so I guess motivation is the problem. But I do want to want to, so why don’t I want to?!

No need to reply, I’m probably too meh to type after this. I think I’ll keep sighing dramatically and then take a nap. Woe.

[Stephen]

With any luck the mood will pass more quickly than you expect.

[Gabi]

Anna wrote: "I’m a big pile of meh. Feels like everything I start is super boring and nothing from any of my several TBRs calls to me. I forced myself to finish a book because it knocked off three challenge pro..."

*HUGS* It's the weather (ahem ... supposing there is some similar condition in Finland). I'm the same here at the moment. I'm listening to one book after the other mainly just to cross them off the challenge list. Sometimes I don't even pay attention to what I'm listening to. But I'm more than happy each time something comes up that suddenly can keep my attention. Like finding a pearl in the mud.

[Anna]

Yeah it’s hot and disgusting. (In my apartment, outside is probably nice and breezy but who has the energy to get out of bed?!) I’ve decided to watch Mythic Quest and eat ice cream.

[Gabi]

Anna wrote: "Yeah it’s hot and disgusting. (In my apartment, outside is probably nice and breezy but who has the energy to get out of bed?!) I’ve decided to watch Mythic Quest and eat ice cream."

You can never go wrong with ice cream!

[CBRetriever]

I had that same problem in France too as air conditioners were only for the very rich and even most of them didn't have them installed in their houses

[Anna]

Yep, our houses are still built to keep every bit of warmth in, which is pretty great in the winter, but totally sucks in the summer. No AC in apartment buildings. This means that the first day it's even kinda hot outside, the flat gets up to a boiling temperature and stays there until winter. I feel like a baked couch potato. (Yes, I moved to the couch. I'm not the kind of barbarian who eats ice cream in bed. Yet.)

I started a book. Normally I would never tell anyone how low I've sunk :D but this is just further proof of how meh I am. I started ... wait for it ... The Selection ... in Finnish translation. I've already read the whole series, and it was 1 star all the way, very probably the worst book(s) I've ever finished. I thought the Finnish translation might be hilarious, because there is a "Finnish" character in the later books, and some horribly mangled Finnish, and I'm mildly curious to find out what the translator chose to do with that. I think I have to get through three whole books before I get to that part, and so far the book is even worse than I remembered XD But it does suit my reading mood perfectly! Absolutely horrible! :D Also needs zero brain activity. In fact it's probably best enjoyed without a brain.

[Mel]

Anna wrote: "I’m a big pile of meh. Feels like everything I start is super boring and nothing from any of my several TBRs calls to me. I forced myself to finish a book because it knocked off three challenge pro..."



I feel we've all been there, for one reason or no reason or another. I had about a 5 month stretch this year Jan-May where RL stress had the words just slipping and sloughing off my brain. Very frustrating when there are books I know will be amazing, but it would be a disservice to struggle to read them.

If it's motivation, I find rereads usually help. Sometimes not even the whole book, but favorite scenes and chapters, like flipping through a family album.

Other times, I'll take a break from reading entirely and binge some other media, so I 100% support the Mythic Quest + ice cream tactic. ^_^

(BTW, I also do the same thing with food, listing qualities until something hits. Protein? Carbs? Savoury? Sweet? Hot? Crunchy? This may result in a hodgepodge buffet of dumplings, kimchi, and popcorn... but whatever works.)

[Rachel]

Totally off topic but Anna I cannot recommend enough portable AC units that you plug in and just blow the exhaust (hot air) out your window. So wonderful.

[Anna]

I imagined a new Penric novella, or a new book by T. Kingfisher, and I wasn't interested in reading either of them, and that's how I knew it was hopeless.

I guess YA SFF is my bookish PB noodles? And I went the extra mile with the cheapest refined flour instant noodles and PB with tons of sugar, for all the filler with no substance XD Even the PB is so smooth it slips right off you :P

Thanks everyone for cheering me up! ^_^

(Also I know I'm talking about food in the wrong thread, but a) I refuse to step foot in that thread and b) this isn't about the food, it's about the books and c) I'll stop now. Only follow my example when I'm following the rules! :P )

Rachel wrote: "Totally off topic but Anna I cannot recommend enough portable AC units that you plug in and just blow the exhaust (hot air) out your window. So wonderful."

Those are more common now, but I'm already going crazy with all the humming noises, I don't think I want to add more to the cacophony. I haven't even turned the fan on yet, I'm suffering until I absolutely have to, because I know it'll get much worse later in the summer.