What Else Are You Reading in 2021? Showing 1,051-1,100 of 2,230

[Nicky]

I have just finished The Black Lung Captain. It's been a while since I read a good book, and damn, this one was so worth it. I was most impressed by the characters. My review can be found here. Hands down, the best series I've read in my life.

[Michelle]

It really is a good one, Nikki!

[Nicky]

Michelle wrote: "It really is a good one, Nikki!"

Oh it's amazing. But I will read some other books before I return to it. This #2 took me quite a while, and I'm in the mood for something easier now. ;P

[Dj]

The Greatest Civilizations of the Americas: The History and Culture of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca

An interesting look at pre-Colombian Mesoamerican civilizations. This exploration of these Civilizations answers some questions but opens up many others. Still, it is a good book to start reading about these Neighbors that never really had a chance to advance past the point of contact with Western encroachment. It is a shame in many ways that this was the case and it is an admirable thing to study how such Civilizations functioned. Doing this can bridge the gulf of understanding of what was and what is now.

[Dj]

War Diaries, 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

This book was interesting but very difficult to read. The information provided is wonderful and a great help in understanding the process that took place to lead to major decisions during the war. Might have given it five stars if it wasn't like reading a diary from the most unfriendly of my relatives. You know the one that comes to all the reunions and hates everybody and everything and isn't in the least afraid to let all and sundry know it. Reading this book you really get the feeling that Alan Brooke was one miserable individual. He rarely had decent comments to say about anyone and usually, if they disagreed with him on any particular they were 'incompetent or strategically inept'

There is one passage where he talks about Eisenhower's books saying that Brooke came up to him and said thank god you held your ground, I was wrong. Brooke states he doesn't recall the conversation going in that vein. I am sure that would be the case since I can't imagine from reading this book that Field Marshal Alan Brooke ever apologized to anyone in the military for anything.

Lot's of great information in the book, but be aware the author doesn't earn points as a likable individual.

[HeyT]

I just finished Piranesi which I enjoyed.

[Dj]

Crossing the Rhine: Breaking into Nazi Germany 1944 and 1945—The Greatest Airborne Battles in History


Informative, but in general nothing, you won't find in other books. It does have the advantage of being easy to read and interspaces actual quotes from individuals who were part of the actual events without disrupting the flow of the narrative. It does suffer from not enough maps and in the end, the conclusion is enough to make me want to kick something.


To go all the way through a book on Market/Garden Plunder/Varsity and then get a helping on how both operations were showing how good a General Montgomery was is not what I was expecting. He concludes that the failure of Market/Garden was due in large measure to the airborne plan with the single road for the advance of XXX Corps thrown in as almost an afterthought. Of course, Monty wasn't to blame for not having a firm handle on the planning. The Americans crossing the Rhine twice before Monty did is tossed aside as sideshow efforts that didn't amount to much. All in all, while the book was enjoyable enough it will be traded in at the first opportunity in the hopes of getting something more substantial.

[CBRetriever]

Finished Guy of Gisburne: The Omnibus by Toby Venables for V in Authors. I enjoyed this one even though it was barely Fantasy. It did turn the Richard the Lion Hearted and Robin Hood story round about in that those were the villains and Guy of Gisburne and Prince John were the good guys. It was an entertaining read

and the first book in the series is only $0.99, the second is $3.99 and the last one is $5.99

[Michelle]

I finished my entertaining re-read of Age of Myth, but my other group doesn't start the buddy read for the next in the series until August 1st. I'll forget things by then if I read it now! Shoot, I'd forget details by tomorrow, let alone three and a half weeks from now. So I started a new series featuring the Romans and Celts by another new-to-me author. It's a big ol' fat book, called Hero of Rome. I like big books and I cannot lie, so this will keep me busy for a bit. I like it so far, although I'm only 23% in to it. Plus there are several more in the series to follow.

[Leonie]

I'm currently reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

[Lilen]

I'm currently reading "The night circus" by Erin Morgenstern. I'm reading it slowly but it's nice

[Phrynne]

Leonie wrote: "I'm currently reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, which I am thoroughly enjoying."

I must get round to that one!

[Anna]

Florence wrote: "I'm currently reading "The night circus" by Erin Morgenstern. I'm reading it slowly but it's nice"

Check out our group discussions!

The Night Circus >> First impressions | Final thoughts

[Lilen]

Anna, the app doesn't let me open the link :(

[Nicky]

I started To Tame a Land on Sunday and I am currently 64% in. I'm really enjoying it, which is strange, because it has a writing style that is very different from what I usually want in books.

[Anna]

Florence wrote: "Anna, the app doesn't let me open the link :("

Yep, the app sucks :( You can find the discussions in the folder called Group Reads Discussions 2017.

[Lilen]

thank you!!

[Christopher]

Finishing out some series, read Necessity which concluded the Thessaly trilogy.

Am now reading The Fall of Koli which I'm enjoying a lot so far.

[AliciaJ]

I'm starting Age of Myth, reading it in paperback this time instead of listening to the audio. Hopefully I'll have it done by the end of the month.

[Michelle]

AliciaJ wrote: "I'm starting Age of Myth, reading it in paperback this time instead of listening to the audio. Hopefully I'll have it done by the end of the month."

I just finished a reread of that myself! It's an excellent book.

[Michelle]

I finished Hero of Rome, and it's certainly not for the faint of heart! It's about the Boudicca-led clash with the Romans in 60-ish AD. I'm about to start Defender of Rome, and I hope things start looking up for the MC in this second book.

[Eric]

Michelle wrote: "I just finished a reread of that myself! It's an excellent book." Age of Myth

How are the sequels to this book?

[Michelle]

Eric wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I just finished a reread of that myself! It's an excellent book." Age of Myth

How are the sequels to this book?"

I found them to be excellent, although I think I've enjoyed everything he's written. His characters are great, and this world is very complex. Hopefully you'll enjoy the series as much as I did!

[Gabi]

My reads from last week:

Foundation and Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov: fall clearly under the category 'at least I've read them'. I left them without review, cause I'm fed up with folks jumping in and telling me what I didn't get and why I can't rate like I did etc. It was boring as hell, no matter how famous the series is.

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson was my first book by this author. I read her biography with my non-fiction group (because it was available on storytel for me) and I got curious about her. Really good writer! It is great how she describes the slow horror in the mundane.

Shakespeare for Squirrels was my first Christopher Moore. Aside from the fact that one never goes wrong with some Midsummer Night's Dream rip off, Moore's prose is witty and clever and wonderful to read. I will read more of his works for sure.

The Seventh Perfection by Daniel Polansky was a terrific experience. A novella written without any narration or description parts. The reader has to get the story solely by one side of various dialogues the protagonist conducts on her way. We never hear the protagonist, only the answers of her respective opposites. Utterly fascinating. Tops easily every single novella on the Hugo shortlist by miles.

[Eric]

Michelle wrote: "I found them to be excellent"

Thanks! It's on my list.

[Eric]

Finished the five book series, which ended with The Spider's War. I gave the series three stars, though there are some four star parts. Pretty innovating writing.

Onto something quick and light: Marauder.

[Eva]

Gabi: please do review them! Just think how many young girls get the recommendation to read them if they want to know what the SF genre is like, and then bounce off of the whole genre in response! Having more diverse opinions than "what a masterwork" could maybe help prevent them from getting such a wrong opinion of a genre they might otherwise grow to like a lot. (But I also understand if you don't want to.)

The Seventh Perfection: so happy you liked it! Looking forward to reading it later this month.

[The Joy of Erudition]

Eva wrote: "Gabi: please do review them!"

I agree with Eva. I haven't read those, but I have read certain other highly-regarded golden age SF, and rated them far lower than you rated these. Ratings are personal, not based on how others feel about things. If nothing else, "They were boring as hell" should stand on its own.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I agree with them, but also say you're allowed to make decisions for your own comfort, and if that decision is "post my own feelings and message Allison so she can beat up meanies" that is a legit stance that I would help with.

[Michelle]

I will join the peanut gallery above! I had a lot of trepidation when I was rating Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn; I gave it one star. I suppose sooner or later the trolls will find me! But I couldn't stand that book.

[Raucous]

Gabi wrote: "My reads from last week:

Foundation and Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov: ... "They were boring as hell"...

I had the same reaction when I read the core trilogy 50 years ago. "Ponderous" is the specific word that comes to mind whenever I think back on them. Sorry that there was so little beyond "at least I've read them" to be gained.

[Jacqueline]

Yeah I read them about 45 or so years ago and I can’t remember a thing about them. Didn’t really like Asimov. There I said it. Some books stay with your forever and others fade away into the mists and stay there. All Asimov books have deleted themselves from my memory. I do remember my a*hole moron of a Brother in law saying he loved them and still does. I’m sure there are lots of people who aren’t a*holes and morons who love them. Each to his/her/their etc own.

[CBRetriever]

I did like his Robot stores back when I first read them

[Jacqueline]

I don’t like robots Chessie. They give me the heebies. Started with Daleks and Cybermen when I was really little on Dr Who and then the Cylons on the original Battlestar Galactica. Not a fan of C3PO either for that matter. I remember reading I, Robot but as with all of his books I can’t remember anything. Other than something about laws of robotics and not harming people and that. I didn’t even watch the Will Smith movie. I’m ok with some AIs and Breq in Ancillary Justice and Murderbot but shiny silver robots....yeah nah

[CBRetriever]

that Will Smith movie had very little to do with the stories - they were mysteries. It was much like Costner's The Postman compared to the book - the book wasn't bad but the movie wasn't

[Jacqueline]

As I said. Didn’t watch it anyway and can’t remember the books anymore. I read a hell of a lot as a kid (only child and spent a lot of time reading) but I can hardly remember anything now.

[Mel]

Foundation: in which over centuries generations of men prophesize, pontificate, and play politics across the galaxy! But when a woman finally appears, she's told to stop her wagging tongue before it's cut out of her mouth.

Needless to say, I was unimpressed, and had no desire to continue with the series.

Makes me think of this SMBC comic.

[Mel]

I read T. Kingfisher's The Hollow Places which unfortunately made me too anxious to enjoy as much as her others. (view spoiler)[Specifically getting lost/trapped in the other place without being able to get back touched a very specific nerve. The creepy things themselves, possessed taxidermy and such, didn't bother me. (hide spoiler)]

I read KJ Charles's pulpy 1920's spy romance trilogy, Will Darling Adventures, but likewise, an otherwise favorite author fell flat. I love the emotional honestly of her characters, so all the lies and betrayals made it rough going until the 3rd book wrapped it all up.

Currently about halfway through The Unbroken for the Amazing Eights Challenge, and also working on Women & Power: A Manifesto for some non-fiction reading on the side.

[Gabi]

Melissa wrote: "Makes me think of this SMBC comic...."

XD - that's perfect!

[Nicky]

I can't say I've ever read any sci-fi classics. I have at least one on my list, Dune, and often I think I'm supposed to like them because they're classics.

@ Melissa, I recently read Clockwork Boys and I absolutely hated it - I won't ever read Kingfisher again.

[Mel]

Nikki wrote: "I can't say I've ever read any sci-fi classics. I have at least one on my list, Dune, and often I think I'm supposed to like them because they're classics.

@ Melissa, I recently r..."

I've both loved and hated classics. Although I understand the feeling, and have felt it too, you certainly shouldn't feel like you have to like them, or even read them at all!

That's a shame you didn't like Clockwork Boys, because I do love so many of her books. Enough so that I was even willing to try out a horror novel, despite not being a horror person at all. My only complaint for the Clocktaur War was that the duology was split into two books, when I think it could have stayed a single volume. But I liked it enough to overlook the publishing pet peeve.

Fair enough though, I can't say I recommend continuing with an author after a 1-star read.

[Nicky]

Melissa wrote: "Nikki wrote: "I can't say I've ever read any sci-fi classics. I have at least one on my list, Dune, and often I think I'm supposed to like them because they're classics.

@ Melissa..."

That was exactly my biggest problem. The first book didn't show any main antagonist and was just an introduction to the conflict. A book should always have a beginning and an ending. The latter wasn't there in Clockwork Boys. I gave it 1*. Aside from that, the character interactions were also very cringeworthy and not realistic at all. It could've been so much subtler. So I promised myself not to pick up any Kingfisher work in my life. Of course, if you enjoy the books, go ahead of course, everyone likes different things, but it's not for me.

[Dj]

Gabi wrote: "My reads from last week:

Foundation and Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov: fall clearly under the category 'at least I've read them'. I left them witho..."

I find that someone's view on a book is their view. Why argue about it. I liked the Foundation series, but I can see it is not for everyone. That is what makes the world go around, well that and money.

I am glad you enjoyed the Christopher Moore book, I am looking forward to getting around and reading that one. So far my favorite is still 'Lamb' but that might be because of my background. Enjoy your exploration.

[Dj]

Michelle wrote: "I will join the peanut gallery above! I had a lot of trepidation when I was rating Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn; I gave it one star. I suppose sooner or later the trolls will find me! But I couldn'..."

I am sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy it. I loved the series, but it would be like telling you that you should love some food you don't like. What you enjoy is a personal thing, it isn't something that anyone else can tell you and make real. And always remember and never forget, that the best way to deal with trolls is to wait for the Sun to come up and then they turn to stone. Three out of four Gandalf's recommend it.

[Dj]

Melissa wrote: "Foundation: in which over centuries generations of men prophesize, pontificate, and play politics across the galaxy! But when a woman finally appears, she's told to stop her wagging tongue before i..."

Yeah, a great deal of 'classic' Sci-Fi/Fantasy does have that edge to it. Although I have to admit I sometimes dislike redone classics where the main protagonist is switched to a Woman. This is mostly beef with historical fiction. If your going to bother to write something historically based should pay a bit of attention to the ugly reality of it. But if you are on another world, or in the distant future, should allow for the fact that things change. Such is life though that authors are a product of their times and only a rare few break the mold.

[Faith]

My review of What Abigail Did That Summer by Ben Aaronovitch

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

[Beth]

Vacation brain decided it wanted to read yet more light novels, and who would want to turn down vacation brain? This time, it's the first three volumes of So I'm a Spider, So What? The basic setup is the same as many other isekai or LitRPG portal fantasies, where the main characters have died on earth and are reincarnated in a video game-like fantasy world. Most are reborn as humans, but one is reborn as a spider, who may in the long term become a demon lord!

This series started off great, with good humor and well-done action scenes, but it unfortunately didn't take long to drift off into treadmill territory. May or may not continue after this.

v. 1 review
v. 2 review
v. 3 review

On to something different! Next up is the ARC of Capture the Crown that I won in a goodreads giveaway. The blurb makes it seem like a fantasy spy adventure, which could be fun.

[DivaDiane]

I started and got through half of the 2nd Murderbot Artificial Condition! It’s great but I don’t like the narrator (a man this time). He does not snark well.

[Leticia]

I had a problem with the male narrator on Fugitive Telemetry too, I always thought Murderbot had a female voice in the other 5 books.

[Leticia]

Gabi wrote: "My reads from last week:

Foundation and Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov: fall clearly under the category 'at least I've read them'. I left them witho..."

Eva wrote: "Gabi: please do review them! Just think how many young girls get the recommendation to read them if they want to know what the SF genre is like, and then bounce off of the whole genre in response! ..."

I think I have thick skin then because Asimov never annoyed me in the 'sexist' direction and I started sci-fi by reading all his books. Robert A. Heinlein however, is an author I completely have given up reading.

I agree that the Foundation series has a bit of outdated and sexist issues but it was the first space opera series I read so I love it for that reason. And Asimov wrote a great female character called Susan Calvin who is a great sci-fi heroine.

More on Susan Calvin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_C...