What Else Are You Reading in 2021? Showing 1,751-1,800 of 2,230

[Tamara]

I recently finished A Song of Flight, which is the final book in Juliet Marillier's Warrior Bards trilogy. It was pretty good, but had more mystery/suspense than I liked - it was what made up most of the story. I like more balance in a fantasy. I think the 2nd book in this series was the best - I was really moved by it and found it compelling. The 1st and 2nd were good, but not at the same level (for me, anyway).
Does anyone else like this author here?
I also just read The Paris Library. Some very good bits; something that made me reflect a lot in parts, on how we interact with the people in our lives, decisions we make and their consequences, and kindness. Not amazing as a whole, but a decent story.

[Michelle]

Tamara, I believe there are several of us in this group that like her books!

[Christopher]

Reading some Stephen King with it being October and all, working my way through Four Past Midnight. Just finished the first novella (although on the long side for that at 296 pages) "The Langoliers". This was adapted into a made for TV movie and I sorta remember watching part of it, but it didn't leave much of an impression. I enjoyed reading it though and would give it at least 4 stars, maybe more, still thinking about where to rate it, but I enjoyed it.

[Anna]

The Langoliers is one of the few King stories I remember both reading and liking.

[Rachel]

Ag same stupid spammer

[Anna]

The spammers seem to hit every day at about the same time, how nice of them! Easy to make sure someone is ready to boot them.

[Eric]

I finished The Bone Ship's Wake. The final book of The Tide Child Trilogy. Four stars overall, however I enjoy naval tales from the days of sail. Call this a naval fantasy complete with interesting denizens of the deep.

[Beth]

in re Marillier:

Michelle wrote: "Tamara, I believe there are several of us in this group that like her books!"

I've read two of her books--Daughter of the Forest and Heart's Blood--and liked them both! Heart's Blood is a nice autumnal read with a haunted atmosphere (and without splatter).

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I've read so many of her books! I haven't finished the Bard ones--I wasn't in the mood when I picked it up, but I def will some day!

[Michelle]

I haven't read that series yet, but I just checked and I've read 14 others of hers.

[Michelle]

I got in the mood to re-read Michael Sullivan again after finishing another in the Ancient Rome series I've been making my way through, so I'm reading Wintertide.

[Mel]

Tamara, I'm also a fan of Marillier, read a dozen of hers so far, but not the newest series yet. I've been waiting for the Warrior Bard trilogy to finish before picking it up, but now that A Song of Flight is out, it's in the queue, to be sure.

Michelle, I hope you're enjoying your Revelations re-read. Each book just gets better and better, doesn't it? I've been saving The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter for when I need a standalone pick-me-up with Hadrian and Royce.

[Michelle]

Melissa, that one is my favorite of the bunch!!

[Stephen]

Something completely different: The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest.

[CBRetriever]

I'm enjoying my romp through Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series. I'm on book 11 or 12 right now.

[Michelle]

That's a fun series!

[Leonie]

I just read a review from a friend who's scored a Netgalley copy of Aurora's End, and I'm now thoroughly envious. And may re-read the first two, just to be ready when they're released.

[Jacqueline]

I haven’t read Aurora Burning yet. I have been waiting for Aurora’s End before I read it.

Still reading Shards of Earth by Adrian T.

[Mel]

Michelle, glad to hear it! It's simmering on the shelves, but I'll look forward to it once I'm ready.

I'm reading Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat, and excited to read this author again, but still weighing in. It can be hard to judge when a writer of adult fiction takes on YA. It's a classic Light vs. Dark fantasy, and while it's good, I'm not sure if it's unique enough to stand out to my jaded adult tastes. I don't read YA anymore, so I'm perhaps not the best judge. I think my younger self who read Sabriel would have been a fan though.

[The Joy of Erudition]

I'm reading Dune now. I did see the David Lynch movie years ago, and the SciFi channel miniseries, but this is my first time reading the book. So far, I like it more than the visual adaptations. It's a lush epic fantasy.

[Anna]

I have to do a ton of meal prep tomorrow, and I need a great audiobook to keep me company. I've been SUPER MEH about all reading (and audiobooking) lately, and I can't decide what to start. I'd love it if some of you could decide for me which of these books I'll be reading tomorrow! I'm about to go to sleep, so you have until I've had breakfast. (I have no idea what time that'll be.) I'll start the one that has the most "votes" when I'm ready to start chopping vegetables! :D

Activation Degradation by Marina J. Lostetter
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
The Actual Star by Monica Byrne
Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff VanderMeer

Good night and please choose one I'll like, thanks!

[DivaDiane]

I just started Black Sun today and am actually really enjoying it. I’d recommend that one.

[Gabi]

I vote for "Light from Uncommon Stars" or "The Actual Star" - cause I want to read those two and then I can hear from you how you like them ;D.

[Beth]

I'll vote Uncommon Stars because all I really know of it so far is marketing copy, but it sounds nice, and maybe something good to listen to while preparing a big ol' feast.

[Mel]

My vote would be for Activation Degradation, since a bit of sci-fi action seems like it would be a fun pick-me-up from a Meh reading mood.

[Jan]

Melissa wrote: "I'm reading Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat, and excited to read this author again, but still weighing in. It can be hard to judge when a writer of adult fiction takes on YA. It's a classic Light vs. Dark fantasy, and while it's good, I'm not sure if it's unique enough to stand out to my jaded adult tastes. I don't read YA anymore, so I'm perhaps not the best judge. I think my younger self who read Sabriel would have been a fan though."

I feel you Melissa. I'm interested to read Dark Rise but I'm no longer a YA fan either. I too enjoyed the Sabriel series (my fave was Lirael) but not sure how much I would like it on a reread now. I've kinda lost my patience with YA. I want proper grown-up characters! So.... I guess I'll try a kindle sample of Dark Rise and see how much it draws me in.

[Mel]

Jan, Lirael was my favorite of the series too! :)

For what it's worth, I just finished Dark Rise and-- OMG yes. Doooo it!

I admit that starting out, I wondered if the Light vs. Dark motif weren't a bit cliché, but that's just the window dressings. There was a lull for me when the protagonists are spoonfed the plot, but it picks up after, and races to the finish. There are ambiguous loyalties, and delicious drama and an oniony plot. I should have had known Pacat wouldn't let me down.

As someone who is picky with YA, I would recommend it. Just be a bit patient.

[Colin]

Anna wrote: "I have to do a ton of meal prep tomorrow, and I need a great audiobook to keep me company. I've been SUPER MEH about all reading (and audiobooking) lately, and I can't decide what to start. I'd lov..."

I'm going to do what I almost never do and recommend a book I haven't read. I vote for "Light From Uncommon Stars." My older daughter and I both looked at it while we were in a bookstore. We both thought it looked interesting and both want to read it. Our tastes differ, so that says something. I bought it. Go for it.

Having written this, I realize you will be holding a chopping knife...

[Jacqueline]

They all look interesting but I say Black Sun as it’s a club book this month.

[Reed]

I'm reading Xenocide by Orson Scott Card and it's different and interesting

[Anna]

Looks like it’s Uncommon Stars! Thanks all for helping out! 😊

[Gabi]

Some new books I've read (chosen mainly through the book monopoly fields I rolled in another group):

Some of Your Blood by Theodore Sturgeon, which probably was the only Sturgeon novel I had never read before. It's not one of his best works, heavy on the slow, psychological side yet with his trademark good writing. So for fans of his masterful skills (like me) quite interesting.

Angela Merkel ist Hitlers Tochter. Im Land der Verschwörungstheorien by Christian Alt: A book trying to figure out the reason and source for conspiracy theories. For a scientific approach way too shallow and repetitive, but I picked it up to discuss the topic with my boys and here it was perfect. The language is social media youth language and we laughed a lot - til the moment the authors talked about an US school shooting and I broke into tears while reading ... well, my boys are meanwhile used to me doing this ^^'. All in all recommended for school kids, but less for readers who are looking for an in debt analysis.

The Best Thing You Can Steal by Simon R. Green was rather mediocre. A heist story of the sort that left me without any feelings whatsoever. There was nothing I like, but also nothing I disliked. It just gave me nothing at all. - but slowly I guess that the subgenre of heist stories just isn't for me.

Bewilderment by Richard Powers was the slow pacing story of a boy who is different and his father who doesn't trust the doctors with their medications but wants to help his son on his own. It turns into a re-telling of the Flowers for Algernon theme with heavy emphasis on environmental destruction and species extinction. Powerful prose in a very intimate and extremely relatable (to me) story. I wanted to give 4 stars since I had to compare it to his Overstory, which is even more powerful - but then the ending hit me like a sledgehammer and it got 5 stars nonetheless.

The Drowning Girl by Caitlín R. Kiernan was another immensely powerful read. Here it is the weird story told from the unreliable POV of a schizophrenic mc. Sucked me in from the beginning and didn't let me go until I was 'drowned'. Absolutely perfect book for me.

Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress had a mightily interesting topic (due to genetic modification a part of society doesn't have to sleep anymore and thus achieves more through more time to educate themselves) and felt quite appropriate to the division of society we are experiencing right now. But the execution felt a bit dragging and old fashioned, so I'm still not sure if I should go for 3 or 4 stars.

My last two audiobooks were non-fiction from UKLG, No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters and The Wave in the Mind: Talks and Essays on the Writer, the Reader and the Imagination. The first one is a collection of blogs, some very witty and concise, some more chattery - perhaps more enoyable for cat lovers than for me. The second one was a great collection of essays on aspects of writing and reading. A fascinating and intelligent insight in rhythm, oral tales and such.

[Anna]

I'm only in chapter three of Light From Uncommon Stars, but I can already tell it'll be a great companion to my vegetable mountain! I was a tad surprised by the prominent fantasy element (it's in the blurb, which I hadn't read), but now that I sort of (think I) know what's going on, I bet it'll be fun to see what happens! I've already met the (view spoiler)[ donut shop aliens (hide spoiler)] (in the blurb), and I can tell I'm going to love them :)

[Anna]

Well I'm done with meal prep, and I did more than I had planned, because my audio companion was/is so excellent that I wanted to keep going! Thanks for a great choice, I should ask for help more often :)

I think I'm about halfway and the Becky Chambers comparison checks out, except this gets darker, not sure about Good Omens though.

[Sarina]

I've just finished Canellian Eye : Prophecy and posted my review! (in a nutshell: good world-building and some dark plot twists, but the omniscient narrator made everything too passive for me - it's a hard narrator to do well, and I sadly see it done badly more often than not)

I'm now on to:

The Chaos of Stars in paperback for my lunch breaks.

A Court of Mist and Fury in ebook format while I'm working on the desk at the day job.

Neverwhere in audio for my commute and when I do chores.

[Araych]

Provenance by Ann Leckie

Confusing but fun novel about the adventures of a young lady who is the daughter of a powerful politician. NB, Many of the characters have more than 1 name. 3 stars.

[Nicky]

I just finished The Death of Dulgath. It was amazing. I'm too tired to write a review today, but a) the characters were just a little less engaging than in book 2, b) the plot and conspiracy weren't super clear all the time, c) the climax and build-up to that point were sublime. 5 stars overall.

[Phrynne]

Araych wrote: "Provenance by Ann Leckie

Confusing but fun novel about the adventures of a young lady who is the daughter of a powerful politician. NB, Many of the characters have m..."

I remember that one- I only gave it three stars but it stuck in my memory. I particularly liked the characters especially Ingray.

[Chris]

I've heard lots of good things about Sullivan's novels. I own Theft of Swords, which contains The Crown Conspiracy on the group bookshelf. It got only three votes in the last reread poll. 😥

[Michelle]

I love that series, Chris; and Nikki, that is a good one. I just re-read it about a month ago.

[Ozsaur]

The Damned King - reading it for a horror challenge. I recommend this series for people who like cats, eldritch horrors, and alternate realities.

[Jan]

Melissa wrote: "Jan, Lirael was my favorite of the series too! :)

For what it's worth, I just finished Dark Rise and-- OMG yes. Doooo it!

I admit that starting out, I wondered if the Light vs. Dark motif weren't..."

OK thank you for your thoughtful comments Melissa, fellow Lirael fan :) Sounds worth a try. I certainly enjoyed her Captive Prince series and I know she can write.

[Reed]

ᗩᗷOᑌT TO ᖇEᗩᗪ ᗰOᖇE Oᖴ ᙭EᑎOᑕIᗪE ᗷY OᖇᔕOᑎ ᔕᑕOTT ᑕᗩᖇᗪ ᗷEᖴOᖇE I ᖇEᗩᗪ ᗩ ᑎEᗯ ᗷOOK📕TᕼᗩT Iᔕ ᗷY ᗩ ᗪIᖴᖴEᖇEᑎT ᗩᑌTᕼOᖇ

[Beth]

Black Sun: yay, I finished a BOTM during its M! This worked for me, when maybe it shouldn't? I'm looking forward to the VBC (view spoiler)[although I'm not looking forward to oozing out of bed before 7am on a Sunday (hide spoiler)] because I'm really interested in hearing others' takes on it. (review)

[Lora]

I'm doing Halloween reading in another group, so currently reading and

[Mathew]

I recently finished a book of sci-fi short stories. Space Odyssey: an Anthology of Great Science Fiction Stories
A bunch of older stories, but what I love about older sci fi is when the authors pictured the future they still saw computers as giant, room sized machines with ticker tape and lots of wires. Makes me wonder what things we take for granted now will change, or be gone, in fifty years.

[Lost Planet Airman]

Reed wrote: "ᗩᗷOᑌT TO ᖇEᗩᗪ ᗰOᖇE Oᖴ ᙭EᑎOᑕIᗪE ᗷY OᖇᔕOᑎ ᔕᑕOTT ᑕᗩᖇᗪ ᗷEᖴOᖇE I ᖇEᗩᗪ ᗩ ᑎEᗯ ᗷOOK📕TᕼᗩT Iᔕ ᗷY ᗩ ᗪIᖴᖴEᖇEᑎT ᗩᑌTᕼOᖇ"

Reed, cool font. Not to be impolite, but it makes my eyes hurt to read your posts; would you consider using something less unique as a font?

[Phrynne]

Finished Empire of the Vampire. It was great. This one is not YA and the vampires are vicious. The main character reminded me so much of Gavin Guile.
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tamara]

Michelle wrote: "Tamara, I believe there are several of us in this group that like her books!"

Oh good!

[Tamara]

Beth wrote: "in re Marillier:
I've read two of her books--Daughter of the Forest and [book:Heart's B..."

If you liked 'Daughter of the Forest' (depending on how much), then you'd almost certainly like its sequel(s). That's kind of her famous series, which started things off.