What Else Are You Reading in 2021? Showing 2,151-2,200 of 2,230

[CBRetriever]

That is absolutely one of the best narrations I've listened to - he even sings the songs which I totally skipped when reading the books

[Beth]

Two books (and two SFFBC BOTMs on top of that) finished in one day!

On the surface, Forty Thousand in Gehenna is not the kind of book I'd enjoy. No character was given the spotlight for long enough for me to develop an attachment to them, the timeline (300 years in about as many pages) is rather abrupt, people are much more treacherous and rivalry-obsessed than nice to each other, etc. But I really liked the spare, almost impressionistic feel of the book, and there was enough else going on conceptually and/or human drama-wise to keep me turning the pages. (review)

Next up in paper I think, is Planetfall. I'm not typically much of a SF reader, but this one should be different enough from 40K to overcome that. If it doesn't, Witchmark, perhaps, which has been pending for a while.

[The Joy of Erudition]

I read a completely different Planetfall.

[CBRetriever]

lots of books with the same name:

Moon Called
and
Moon Called

[Marie]

I am reading too many at once - lol.

I am reading:

Malice by John Gwynne

Night Slayer Boxed Set Books 1-3, An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure: Midnight War, Monster Quest, Shadow Plague by William Massa

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Haunted Florida Boxed Set by Gaby Triana

and

A Bloody Christmas by Brian G. Berry

[Michelle]

You're a busy bee, Marie ;)

[CBRetriever]

Marie wrote: "I am reading too many at once - lol. "

Me too

Quag Keep by Andre Norton - traveling/car book
Inspector Maigret Omnibus, Volume 1: Pietr the Latvian; The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien; The Carter of 'La Providence'; The Grand Banks Café by Georges Simenon
A Liaden Universe Constellation: Volume I by Sharon Lee - part of a Humble Bundle
The Book of Isle: The Complete Series by Nancy Springer
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman

[Marie]

Michelle wrote: "You're a busy bee, Marie ;)"

I think I bit off too much, Michelle! lol :)

[Marie]

CBRetriever wrote: "Marie wrote: "I am reading too many at once - lol. "

Me too

Quag Keep by Andre Norton - traveling/car book
[book:Inspector Maigret Omnibus, Volume 1: Pietr the Latvian..."

I don't feel so bad or alone now. I was thinking it might have been just me. lol :)

[Woman Reading]

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell. As a fan of urban fantasy, it was interesting to read of Campbell's work in comparative mythologies of the world.

My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/4353709378

[Christine]

A just finished a really nice read and a bit of a change up.Foundation by Isaac Asimov

[Jan]

CBRetriever wrote: "lots of books with the same name:

Moon Called
and
Moon Called"

Yeah you're right.

Devil in Disguise

and

Devil in Disguise

I was waiting on a new book from both authors, and ironically they released books with identical titles within a few weeks of each other this year. The first one was really good (historical romance - yeah, I love them). I've stalled on the second one - not one of this author's best. I may finish it eventually. (contemporary romance, yeah, I like those too).

[Mathew]

Done - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
I love the idea of people living on the moon and the struggles that they might face. I also like the idea of catapulting pieces of it at Earth in their fight for independence.

[Christine]

Reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

[MadProfessah]

How is it? It’s in my TBR but I wanna read LEVIATHAN FALLS before the end of the year.

[Gabi]

I did it. I finished The Wheel of Time series.
Luckily the last book A Memory of Light also was the best one in the series so that the long way found a satisfying ending (hell I had to wait some 12.000 pages to get a decent Lan Mandragoran POV). But I would recommend the series only to readers who dearly love great worldbuilding and aren't bothered by mediocre prose and clichés without end.

[Michelle]

The ending was worth the trouble of reading the boring parts, wasn't it?

[Jan]

Gabi wrote: "But I would recommend the series only to readers who dearly love great worldbuilding and aren't bothered by mediocre prose and clichés without end. "

Ha ha. Damned with faint praise. I do admire your perseverance. Not sure whether I'll go there. Might try the series one day?

[Gaines]

I'm finally reading The Eye of the World. Am enjoying it so far, and plan to read at least the first three books in the series before I watch the show that's now out. These books have been on my "to-read" list since I worked in bookstores (selling second hand books in one, new in another) in 2003-2006.

After that I plan on reading A Memory Called Empire.

[Gabi]

@Michelle: The ending certainly was well done. The battle scenes had the larger than life epic I expect from epic Fantasy.

@Jan: yeah, sorry ^^'. But I just bounced off so hard on some of the writing quirks. Ruined more than one character for me.
I only went through with it because I stubbornly got hooked to two characters in book 1 (and with my luck he was nothing but a footnote for the majority of the books and she had POVs, but the fewest if the main characters)

[Gabi]

*of* - damn autocorrection, damn app!

[Leticia]

Gabi wrote: "I did it. I finished The Wheel of Time series.
Luckily the last book A Memory of Light also was the best one in the series so that the long way found a satisfying ending (hell I had ..."

Congrats! That is such a huge series!

[Gabi]

Leticia wrote: "Congrats! That is such a huge series!"

I honestly feel rather spent now and it's the first time that I can think of, that I don't feel compelled to pick up any book to go on with reading. I think I will put in some days of actual non-reading for the end of the year (??? must be a first ???)

[Leticia]

Indeed, take some time to rest. I am also tired now in December and thankfully the Christmas break is coming. Time to cook bratwurst instead of turkey and sleep until late. ;-)

[Michael]

Just fished Peter J Aldin’s https://www.goodreads.com/series/331323. About to start https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[DivaDiane]

Congratulations, Gabi. Quite the feat. And I don’t blame you for having a book hangover! I am not one iota closer to wanting to read that series.

[Eric]

I finished the duology of The Sarantine Mosaic. Four stars. Interesting interaction and treachery among the players. The author uses the Byzantine Empire for this fantasy's backdrop.

[Gaines]

Eric wrote: "I finished the duology of The Sarantine Mosaic. Four stars. Interesting interaction and treachery among the players. The author uses the By..."

Ooo, that sounds pretty cool.

[Eric]

Gaines wrote: "Ooo, that sounds pretty cool.
"

The descriptions of the chariot races are worth the price of admission.

[Beth]

Gabi wrote: "I did it. I finished The Wheel of Time series."

Better you than me.

But seriously, congrats. :) That's a huge series to finish in as short a time as you have. The updates I saw solidified other second hand impressions that it has both its highs and its sloggy lows.

[Jan]

Gaines wrote: "After that I plan on reading A Memory Called Empire"

I read it earlier this year. I took a while to warm up to it, but once I was in, I was very impressed by it and felt it well deserved the Hugo. Hope you enjoy.

I have purchased the sequel A Desolation Called Peace but somehow haven't yet felt ready to begin it. It's just sitting there waiting on Mount TBR.

[Stephen]

Gabi wrote: "I did it. I finished The Wheel of Time series.
Luckily the last book A Memory of Light also was the best one in the series so that the long way found a satisfying ending (hell I had ..."

Quite a feat. I would never have persevered, based on what you say about the books. Even if I liked them it would probably have taken me years to get through them.

[Raucous]

Jan wrote: ... I have purchased the sequel A Desolation Called Peace but somehow haven't yet felt ready to begin it. It's just sitting there waiting on Mount TBR .."

I've always wondered about this. Do I place books that I want to read soon in the foothills where they're easy to reach, or do I put them at the summit of Mount TBR so I see them every time the mountain is out (as we say here in the PNW)?

I was quite impressed by A Memory Called Empire. It took me a very long time to buy into the characters and situations in A Desolation Called Peace.

[CBRetriever]

just finished Nancy Springer's 5 book compilation of The Book of Isle: The Complete Series. First book seemed very YA, but the later books picked up the pace a bit. I'm now reading her The Oddling Prince that I picked up for free (probably from a Humble Bundle)

I'm also continuing on with A Liaden Universe Constellation: Volume I by Sharon Lee. I like some of the stories (the ones with Moonhawk & Lute) but some of them weren't quite my cup of tea

[Michelle]

I had read and enjoyed both Agent of Change and Plan B from the Liaden Universe, but I haven't gotten around to the rest.

I've been re-reading Destiny's Conflict in the War of Light and Shadow series. Once I'm finished I'll be caught up on my re-read. She's still writing the last book, and I hope it won't be much longer!!

[Colin]

Gabi wrote: "I did it. I finished The Wheel of Time series.
Luckily the last book A Memory of Light also was the best one in the series so that the long way found a satisfying ending (hell I had ..."

Let me add my (slightly belated) congratulations on that achievement. You have both amazing reading speed and endurance. I could never do a marathon like that.

I did read the books as they came out and, initially, loved the world so much I lugged the hardcovers on plane trips so that I could read them as soon as possible. By book 10, however, I couldn't take it anymore (the bookmark is still where I quit). Each book felt like a new quest in an RPG and the repetitive description was too much. When the last one came out, I did read that and didn't feel I missed anything despite skipping 3 and a half huge volumes.

[Gabi]

Thanks, Diane, Beth, Stephen and Colin - I'm still in a kind of lag and can't get myself to pick up the another audiobook.

Stephen - I think books 6-11 are really such a chore that it is perhaps better to read the summaries and then go on with the Sanderson finale. I was listening to the audiobooks and I guess that helps a lot in stubbornly persevering.

[Melanie]

I recently finished reading Beneath the Ruins and it was a fantastic read! It is set in a post-apocalyptic world and draws upon elements of adventure, fantasy, dystopian sci-fi and friendship.

[Kirsten]

I'm re-reading The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's available on Kindle Unlimited with narration included. It's wonderful to hear the narration and the songs are actually performed. Very enjoyable.

[Jamie]

I'm finishing up the last quarter of The Son of Neptune, by Rick Riordan. I was all caught up with Riordan's other series at the start of the year, but still had not read the Heroes of Olympus series yet, so it is time to tackle it. Book #1 was good, book #2 is maybe not quite as absorbing, but ok so far. I think I just don't like the Roman camp.

[Leonie]

Colin wrote: "Gabi wrote: "I did it. I finished The Wheel of Time series.
Luckily the last book A Memory of Light also was the best one in the series so that the long way found a satisfying ending..."

I've just begun a bit of a reread of WOT. It's been interesting starting all over again, as it's been years since I read them. I'm finding myself skipping big chunks that I know don't have much bearing on the story, even in Eye of the World.

Will be interesting to see how far I get, or whether I skip some books completely. A good editor would probably have helped. The scope of the story, and the concepts are fabulous. The characters are also excellent - but I'm finding myself preferring the more peripheral ones, rather than Rand, for example.

[Chris]

I've finished The Amber Spyglass. What an odd book to try to explain or talk about. The series started off as a more subtle allegory perhaps, but by book 2 had thrown off most of its efforts to be subtle and book 3 was about as thoroughly blunt with its ideas as one could be, at times outright clubbing the reader with them. It was still a decent read overall, but as a trilogy it definitely felt like it dragged on a lot by the end, and it started to seem as though parts of the book introduced new problems out of nowhere only to quickly resolve them, whether in good or poor fashion.

I think I probably won't read more Pullman any time particularly soon, but neither do I regret diving into it.

In the meantime I'll probably pick up Ship of Magic next before getting to Empire in Black and Gold. I've got due dates to keep up with lol.

[Gabi]

Thank you, Chris! I needed to read this! I really thought I was alone with my impression that Pullman is an overrated writer. Everybody around me gushed over His Dark Materials and when I finally read it I was rather shocked at how bad he writes and felt I was reading another book from what everybody else was talking about.

[Mike]

The Mists of Avalon. Very long and detailed, but it is holding my attention so far. The female perspective on the Arthurian legends is certainly different.

[Beth]

Kirsten wrote: "I'm re-reading The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's available on Kindle Unlimited with narration included. It's wonderful to hear the narration and the ..."

I just finished what must have been this same version not long ago. In fact my post about it is on this page (message 2204). Agreed, it's a wonderful performance! :)

[CBRetriever]

Mike wrote: "The Mists of Avalon. Very long and detailed, but it is holding my attention so far. The female perspective on the Arthurian legends is certainly different."

I won't read The Mists of Avalon or any other of the author's works because of the information in this thread

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

[DivaDiane]

I finished The Dazzle Of Day a few days ago and loved it. The prose is beautiful and the world holding and character/ relationship development is fantastic. Don’t pick this up if you only want fast-paced books with an exciting plot!

[Martin Lowther]

I just finished reading Downward to the Earth it was a interesting read with a good plot I am now into the 22nd volume of The Rising Of the Shield hero which is a Japanese light novel

[Ed]

Martin Lowther wrote: "I just finished reading Downward to the Earth ..."

I read that this year in the graphic novel version Robert Silverberg's COLONIES: RETURN TO BELZAGOR. Loved it.

[Eric]

I finished Nexus. A rip roaring, neurological, techno thriller. A hesitant 5 stars, because of the almost miss use of acronyms. High tech. authors have a tendency to over use abbreviations and that drives me nuts.

Onto a Christmas present. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone.

I'll continue the Nexus series after.