What Else Are You Reading in 2021? Showing 1,801-1,850 of 2,230

[Michelle]

I finished The Eagle's Vengeance which was highly enjoyable. This series just gets better as it progresses. What an intense manhunt!! Before I start the next, I decided to alternate with the most-excellent Wars of Light and Shadow series by Janny Wurts starting with The Curse of the Mistwraith. These books are huge, (this one is 850 pages +/-), so re-reading all eleven books will take me into next year. But I'm not complaining! I love that series. Hopefully the last book will be finished soon.

[Dj]

Chris wrote: "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 ..."

I would say. Read it. It is a past group read on the Bookshelf. So that might be why it didn't get many votes but read it.
It was a very fun read.

[Beth]

Lost Planet Airman wrote: "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?"

Aside from being eye-searing, text-to-speech programs won't parse this as words, so those who don't use their eyes to read won't get anything out of it, either.

[Florian]

Today I finished the last book of the mortal engines series (A Darkling Plain). I´ve read book one and two some years ago, and now I´ve read number three and four.
While for me book three was a bit disappointing (the special steam(punk) atmosphere was a bit missing, and the characters not really convincing) I liked book four the better. I really enjoyed it as it had everything in it, beginning with the atmosphere, good characters and character development, romance and also death.

[Colin]

Finished Devil's Brood, Sharon Kay Penman's exquisitely detailed story of, possibly, the most spectacularly dysfunctional family in history: Henry Fitz Empress and Eleanor of Aquitaine along with their four sons, Hal, Richard, Geoffrey, and John. The book chronicles the conspiracies and outright warfare of the family: Eleanor, Hal, Richard and Geoffrey vs Henry, Hal and Geoffrey vs Richard and Henry, Geoffrey and John vs Richard, and finally Richard vs Henry. It is also a terrific reconstruction of the 12th century world in England and France. If this was a fantasy, the world-building would be superb. One issue is the large number of characters to keep straight, as some have the same first name and are sometimes referred to by name and sometimes by title. There are also some points where the dialog reads like a way of summarizing background history. Minor quibbles. Well worth the read if you like historical fiction.

[Anna]

I finished an audiobook today, eye-read a novelette, listened to another novelette, and eye-read 1 chapter of a novel, and 10% of another novel, making it to 50% in both. I can't say I've been slowly reading these two novels, but I did start them both ages ago, and they've been gathering dust on my Kindle for months now. Not because there's anything wrong with the books, but because I haven't been eye-reading.

I wonder if I could finish another short story tonight? I do know that they're short, but finishing one (in eye format) feels great, and if it helps me feel enthusiastic about other eye-reading, then yay! Also the eye-story I finished was one I bought in February meaning to read it that same day, so finally moving it out of the current folder of my Kindle felt great! And I really liked the story, too, so win-win! It was The Little Homo Sapiens Scientist by S.L. Huang, a flipped scifi retelling of Little Mermaid. Not Disney's Ariel, but the original.

Eye-reading, I love you! ^_^

[CBRetriever]

for short stories, Side Jobs by Jim Butcher has a bunch of really fast reads...

[DivaDiane]

Anna wrote: "I finished an audiobook today, eye-read a novelette, listened to another novelette, and eye-read 1 chapter of a novel, and 10% of another novel, making it to 50% in both. I can't say I've been slow...Eye-reading, I love you! ^_^"

That sounds very promising!

Ever since we moved house, I've had a horrible time with eye-reading. It's taking me forever and I have little time for it. Or maybe it's the other way around? I have little time for it and so it's taking me forever to get through a book. Audio books on the other hand, I'm racing through.

[Anna]

I have way too many short fic collections/anthologies on my Kindle already, I don't need new ones :D I've been reading one when I leave the house, while standing in the underground for 5min at a time, but I could read one story at home, because the next one is a longer one, so I'd make a good dent in that collection, and maybe that way I'll actually finish it before 2021 is over!

I read one eye-story and suddenly I'm the eye-reading champion *eyeroll* :P

[Anna]

Diane, and when it feels like it's taking forever, you don't want to pick it back up, and then it takes even longer. It's a vicious cycle! I normally read fairly fast, but this year it's been a struggle to get to the bottom of page one without wanting to take a break, because my thoughts are all over the place and I can't see properly and I hate my glasses and everything sucks and ooh I wonder if there's anything new on Twitter?!

[Michelle]

CBRetriever wrote: "for short stories, Side Jobs by Jim Butcher has a bunch of really fast reads..."

That's one of my favorite collections.

[Ed]

Colin wrote: "Finished Devil's Brood, Sharon Kay Penman's exquisitely detailed story of, possibly, the most spectacularly dysfunctional family in history..."

I don't think I could read all 700+ pages of that! If you haven't seen it, watch "The Lion in Winter". Katherine Hepburn is fabulous as Eleanor.

[Colin]

Ed wrote: "Colin wrote: "Finished Devil's Brood, Sharon Kay Penman's exquisitely detailed story of, possibly, the most spectacularly dysfunctional family in history..."

I don't think I could r..."

Hi, Ed,
"The Lion In Winter" was an excellent movie, but it's worth reading Penman's Author's Note that addresses some key differences between the book and the movie where she feels the movie is historically inaccurate. These are Henry's relationship (lack of) with Alys and Richard's sexuality (in reality cis-het) and relationship with Philippe. Not that either point would prevent enjoying the book or movie, but they do change the read on some events.
Best, Colin

[CBRetriever]

I can't imagine not eye-reading (often with a football match or cycling race on in the background) and seldom listen to a book. My problem is putting down the book and doing something else.

I just started reading the 13th book in the Harry Dresden series and will be reading it and watching/listening to Arsenal vs Crystal Palace at the same time. I finished a V.I. Warshawski mystery last night that kept me up until after midnight finishing it.

[Eric]

I finished Children of Earth and Sky. A story teller's story. Four stars.

[Mathew]

CBRetriever wrote: "My problem is putting down the book and doing something else."

My problem too!

Or, falling asleep while lying down reading.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

this is all very nice y'all, but I think our involvement is most appreciated being happy that others are happy :) I know I personally have many reasons eye reading, though loved, can't happen for awhile.

[Reed]

I'm reading Little Men by Louisa Alcott

[Jacqueline]

Picked up The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital by Joanna Nell. Probably should be finishing one of the other 20something books I’m currently reading but no…..now where was I?

[Gabi]

I've managed to get my teeth into the Wheel of Times series and can't let loose despite the massive writing shortcomings. I'm in book 5 now and constantly cursing, but I have to read on cause I want to know what happens to the characters. Jordan managed to hook me on characters which are terribly written, but I fell in love with their potential. Hell knows how he did this. His worldbuilding is super interesting but his writing is cringey.
And I've read that the two characters I care for most see each other again in book 8 the earliest ^^'.

[Michelle]

The books in the middle tend to drag, Gabi, but I thought it was worth wading through them by series' end!

[Reed]

I'm reading Little Men by Louisa Alcott and the story is getting better

[Michelle]

I always meant to get around to that one, Reed!

[Gabi]

Michelle wrote: "The books in the middle tend to drag, Gabi, but I thought it was worth wading through them by series' end!"

^^' tbh with the exception of book 3 I so far found every volume dragging.

[Gabi]

Michelle wrote: "The books in the middle tend to drag, Gabi, but I thought it was worth wading through them by series' end!"

^^' tbh with the exception of book 3 I so far found every volume dragging.

[Leticia]

I started The Wheel of time but even with the interesting world it dragged so much, I gave up.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

glad you're liking it, Reed!

[Lora]

Reed wrote: "I'm reading Little Men by Louisa Alcott"

Is it good? I have it on my Kindle and have intended to read it for ages. I loved Little Women.

[Michelle]

Gabi wrote: "Michelle wrote: "The books in the middle tend to drag, Gabi, but I thought it was worth wading through them by series' end!"

^^' tbh with the exception of book 3 I so far found every volume dragging."

And they do. Unnecessary clothing descriptions, etc. pad the books shamelessly. But the plot continues to thicken until the satisfying resolution. I don't blame you if you give up on the series.

[Gabi]

Michelle wrote: "And they do. Unnecessary clothing descriptions, etc. pad the books shamelessly. But the plot continues to thicken until the satisfying resolution. I don't blame you if you give up on the series. ..."

I won't, I can be super stubborn. I want to know a) what will happen to Lan Mandragoran and b) see how Brandon Sanderson finished it.

[Michelle]

Gabi wrote: "Michelle wrote: "And they do. Unnecessary clothing descriptions, etc. pad the books shamelessly. But the plot continues to thicken until the satisfying resolution. I don't blame you if you give up ..."

From someone who doesn't even like Brandon Sanderson's writing, I've got to say that he did a spectacular job wrapping it up.

[CBRetriever]

Michelle wrote: "From someone who doesn't even like Brandon Sanderson's writing, I've got to say that he did a spectacular job wrapping it up."

true

I enjoyed Little Men and if you read that, you should continue with Jo's Boys

[Colin]

Gabi wrote: "Michelle wrote: "And they do. Unnecessary clothing descriptions, etc. pad the books shamelessly. But the plot continues to thicken until the satisfying resolution. I don't blame you if you give up ..."

I stopped in the middle of book 10, waited for the last one, and read that with no sense that I had missed anything critical. I really enjoyed the way he built the world in the first few books, but then it began to drag. After a while, I had the feeling that each book was written as a separate quest in a role-playing game. Ditto to the comment about excessive, and repetitive, descriptions of clothing and other immaterial items. As a contrary point, I did not like the way Sanderson wrapped it up. It did not feel true to the situation.

[Michelle]

Last night I finished the excellent The Curse of the Mistwraith, which was a re-read. I really enjoyed it, and caught some things that I had missed the first time.

Also last night I began the next in Anthony Riches' ancient Rome series, The Emperor's Knives. Although I'm only about 30% in, it really struck me that there are a lot speeches given by the bad guys. I certainly hope that doesn't continue throughout the book!

[DivaDiane]

I recently listened to the Imperial Radch Trilogy (Ancillary Justice etc.). The first was a reread. I’m very glad I read them back to back. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it.

I also just finished Interference (Semiosis 2), by Sue Burke. I am reluctantly disappointed in it. For the fact that the 2 books are billed as a Duology the 2nd very much feels like a middle book. Lots of ideas, most of which are not pursued or delved into enough. But the ending leaves little doubt there should be a 3rd and I’ve since read that she’s writing it and TOR will publish. I’m very glad because I loved Semiosis and wanted to love Interference and am looking forward to some conclusion.

I’m now listening to our group read We are Satellites and loving it. I also started Kiki’s Delivery Service, which is a delightful middle grade about a young witch.

[DivaDiane]

I loved the Curse of the Mistwraith, Melissa!

[DivaDiane]

Oops - Michelle!

[Gabi]

DivaDiane wrote: "I recently listened to the Imperial Radch Trilogy (Ancillary Justice etc.). The first was a reread. I’m very glad I read them back to back. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it..."

That sounds great, Diane. I still have to read the trilogy. I pushed it back after my not so great enthusiasm for book 1, but with a new attempt and all 3 in a row this sounds like a good idea.

[The Joy of Erudition]

Gabi wrote: "I pushed it back after my not so great enthusiasm for book 1"

I thought it was good for what it was, but I liked Murderbot much better!

[Gabi]

The Joy of Erudition wrote: "Gabi wrote: "I pushed it back after my not so great enthusiasm for book 1"

I thought it was good for what it was, but I liked Murderbot much better!"

^^' That can be it ... I'm one of the rare readers who can't see the hype about Murderbot either ... ^^'

[Sue]

I've read The Lost Patrol by Vaughn Heppner. Heppner fans will enjoy!

Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

that looks really good Sue, thanks!

[Beth]

Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction: super fun premise, incredible cover, and, sadly, so-so execution. My advice to potential readers is to enjoy the parade of (presumably) nostalgia-sparking covers, and the occasional interviews and essays, and skim the rest. (review)

Network Effect: what can one say about Murderbot that hasn't been said already? Although I enjoyed the Murderbot novellas, short fiction isn't my strong point, so I was happy to read a full novel. (review that inadequately expresses how this series and book has affected me.)

[Michelle]

I'm re-reading The Ships of Merior, and it's so enjoyable! I love the depth of characterization, he worldbuilding, and the elegance of the writing.

[Ed]

I just finished Palestine +100: Stories from a century after the Nakba, a collection of short SF/F stories by Palestinian authors. Supposedly it is to imagine what Palestine will look like in 2048, but none of the stories is an actual prediction of what it really will be like. I liked most of the stories.

I avoid talking politics online, and won't do it here. Though, honestly, the worst trolling I've encountered on this site is for my not-enthousiastic review of a comic book about a cat that likes lasagna and hates Mondays.

[Anna]

I liked the Iraqi version, Iraq +100: stories from a century after the invasion, but it was pretty hard to read :/ I've wanted to read Palestine +100, but my library doesn't have it. I think they probably only had Iraq +100 because Hassan Blasim lives in Finland.

[CBRetriever]

Ed wrote: "the worst trolling I've encountered on this site is for my not-enthousiastic review of a comic book about a cat that likes lasagna and hates Mondays"

awww, I love that cat though I now prefer the cats in Breaking Cat News

[Chris]

I finally got around to reading a Dresden book Storm Front after hearing so many times about how much better that series is meant to be than Codex Alera. Honestly, while Alera certainly had its flaws, I think it's more my style, but the first Dresden story was a fun read with great pacing and I'll probably go back to the series now and then as I have time.

In the mean time my hold on Royal Assassin popped, so I'm just starting that now.

[Jacqueline]

It’s so long since I read Assassin’s Apprentice I can’t remember what happened. I really enjoyed it though. Gave it to Hubby and he didn’t like it. I have the next two but haven’t got around to them yet.

Talking about Hubby he really likes Harry Dresden. I’ve read Storm Front and did like it but I’m not desperate to read the next ones. I have Fools Moon here for when I want to read more. Have to find the third one for Hubby for Christmas.

[Colin]

Just finished Light from Uncommon Stars and enjoyed it. This is a queer re-telling of the Faust story set around Los Angeles (for the most part). It is a quick read. What works best: the characters. They are well-drawn individuals, mostly sympathetic. Then there are the descriptions of the food! Oh lord, I could have gained four pounds just reading the descriptions. The contrast between the generally light-hearted tone of the narrative and the brutal experiences in the background of one of the main characters, a young, trans woman, can be jarring. It may well have been intentional. What did not work so well was the ending. That felt contrived and a bit forced. Overall, a good book and one I would recommend.