What are you reading in March 2021?

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Let us know what you are reading this month (March 2021), and what you think about those books. Any genre is OK here.

[David]

I finished reading Dominion by C J Samson yesterday but didn't have time to post on the February thread before it locked. It was a fascinating alt history novel - what if Churchill hadn't become British PM in 1940. Loved it, but he does wear his politics on his sleeve rather so you'll probably not like it if your politics are different from his!

[Shel, Moderator]

Last night I finished my re-read of Last Call and it reminded me how much I love Tim Powers! It was published in 1992, so there were some outdated attitudes that I found a little jarring, but it was certainly a product of its time (and, um, how is 1992 almost 30 years ago??).

I've got Fool's War lined up to start next.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

David wrote: "I finished reading Dominion by C J Samson yesterday but didn't have time to post on the February thread before it locked."

Yeah, I locked it a little early because I had some routine medical stuff to attend to this morning and wasn’t sure I’d get to it.

[Christopher]

I'm not planning on reading many Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels this month, but I do plan on reading Into the Dark by Claudia Gray. I read the first adult novel in the new High Republic Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule last month and really enjoyed it, so I have some high expectations for these new Star Wars novels.

[Richard]

I’m halfway through The Yiddish Policemen's Union byMichael Chabon. Interesting alternate history detective noir. Although I have briefly visited Tel Aviv a few times I know very little about Jewish communities in general and ultra orthodox in particular, so can’t help wondering how true the District feels to those more familiar with these societies. I’m enjoying it as a gentile but suspect you’d get a lot more out of it being closer to its subject matter.

[Mary]

Ghost in the Vision by Jonathan Moeller

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

At the end of February I finished The Footprints of God by Greg Iles, a thriller with a definite SF flavor, 8/10, and Trace by Patricia Cornwell, 8/10, satisfying in some ways but not in others.

Now I’m into The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks, book 2 in his Lightbringer series, and then I’ll be tacking Fool's War by Sarah Zettel for our SF BotM discussion.

[Mary]

Appendix N: The Eldritch Roots of Dungeons and Dragons by Peter Bebergal

[Random]

Well my progress has seriously stalled. Snow, ice, and an attempt to clear my driveway left me with a broken ankle . . again. I've got nearly a matched set now with almost identical hardware. The left side has an additional screw.

My attempt to convince them to give me bionics right before surgery failed. I wonder what you could do with bionic ankles.

You'd think this would give me more time to read. What actually happens is that I read for a few minutes and then fall asleep. Yay for pain pills.

Been making more progress on Python, but seriously if I hear the word Tuple one more time, I may loose my mind. Or what little of it still exists at least.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Random wrote: "Well my progress has seriously stalled. Snow, ice, and an attempt to clear my driveway left me with a broken ankle . . again.”

Ouch! Hope your recovery is relatively quick and completely uneventful! There will be a time when the pain pills are reduced but you are still less mobile when you can once again tackle reading!

[Ken]

Finished The Mongoliad Book One.
Not bad, a bit uneven.
Finished One Shot
Jack Reacher, it was the book used in the first movie. Not bad, it was different enough to make it enjoyable after seeing the movie a few times.
Started True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee. I understand there is a bit of controversy, mainly with Stan's actions at Marvel. I wanted to read something about him that was not all about how great he was

[Mary]

Letters from Russia by Astolphe de Custine

[Shel, Moderator]

I finished Fool's War yesterday - what a ride! Absolutely loved it. I picked up an old brainless favorite to re-read while I decide what new book to tackle next - The Lark and the Wren.

I also just finished listening to the audiobook of Mo Rocca's Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving, which was both fascinating and funny.

[Carrie]

Finished Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar 5 stars! And now I've picked up Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

[Random]

Kathi wrote: "Ouch! Hope your recovery is relatively quick and completely uneventful! There will be a time when the pain pills are reduced but you are still less mobile when you can once again tackle reading!."

Or I just run out and they don't give me refills.
Now its a concentration problem coupled with a serious lack of sleep.

Plus side, I managed to make more progress on a short story collection. Suited for low attention spans, :D

[Shel, Moderator]

My fourth grader and I finished our bedtime book, The Son of Neptune tonight - will start The Mark of Athena next. Such fun! :)

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks was 9/10. More surprises and better character development in this second book of the Lightbringer series.

Fool's War by Sarah Zettel, 10/10. Comments in our BotM discussion.

[Lindsey]

I finished Siege and Storm and am working on Ruin and Rising with my book club. It's very YA but I've heard good things about the follow up series and I wanted to read them ahead of the new Netflix series that's coming out next month. I just finished Juliet Marillier's Mother Thorn and Other Tales of Courage and Kindness, which was not as good as I was hoping, but I was happy to hand it off to my own middle grade reader. My other book club is reading The Case of the Missing Marquess and I will definitely have met some sort of 2021 YA quota at that point!

In adult SFF land, I'm making progress on Shaman's Crossing (which is different and slower than Fitz but very good) and Rhythm of War. I'm also planning to read the latest Black Jewels book, The Queen's Weapons.

Out of genre, I finished The Restoration of Celia Fairchild, which was a good surprise and a fantastically grounded book about found family.

[Ken]

Random wrote: "Been making more progress on Python, but seriously if I hear the word Tuple one more time, I may loose my mind. Or what little of it still exists at least.."

ha I work in telecom and the phone switch translations always use tuples. Been hearing that word for 30 years

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Currently out of genre with Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, but coming back soon to read the first installment in our next SF series, Dawn by Octavia E. Butler.

[Conrad]

I am reading "The Last Road" the final book in the Gods of the Caravan Road by K. V. Johansen.
The series has been a very pleasant read, with several unexpected twists and turns. The writing is engaging, which makes it easy to fall into the world.
Would recommend the series. It is a good read.

[Shel, Moderator]

I'm out of genre with The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang right now. When I finish that, I just got Arm of the Sphinx from the library - sequel to Senlin Ascends that we read a few months back.

[Carrie]

On audio I have Weather by Jenny Offill and in paperback Malice by John Gwynne

[MadProfessah]

Reading THE SPACE BETWEEN WORLDS now

[Mary]

Tales From the Fermi Resolution: Vol. 1: Shadow of the Tower by Moe Lane

[Mary]

The Sky on Fire: The First Battle of Britain, 1917-1918 by Raymond H. Fredette

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

A few days ago I finished Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, 9/10. This book looks beyond individual prejudice and racism to examine systemic racism under the umbrella of caste in the United States, drawing comparisons with and lessons from the well-established caste system of India and the relatively brief but deadly caste system of Nazism. The author clearly delineates the pillars upholding caste, repeatedly pointing out examples of the pervasiveness and persistence of caste. Not an easy or comfortable book, but I read with an open mind and heart and learned a lot.

Tonight I finished Dawn by Octavia E. Butler, book 1 of her Xenogenesis/Lilith’s Brood trilogy. 10/10, comments in our BotM discussion folder.

Next I’m starting (yet another) another series—Julian May’s Saga of Pliocene Exile with The Many-Colored Land.

[Mary]

Starship's Mage by Glynn Stewart

[Mary]

A Bride's Story, Vol. 10 by Kaoru Mori

[Shel, Moderator]

The Impossible Girl was a 5-star read - macabre but fascinating! Then I finished Arm of the Sphinx, which I think I liked even better than Senlin Ascends. Continues the worldbuilding of the Tower of Babel and I am SO intrigued by the mysteries being revealed.

I'm on a memoir now, Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox, and just got notified that my library loan for A Desolation Called Peace is in. I guess it's my week for sequels to previous books of the month :)

[Christine]

I just finished The Tyrant's Law and am looking forward the the next volume
I'm just starting The House in the Cerulean Sea

[Ken]

Kathi wrote: "Next I’m starting (yet another) another series—Julian May’s Saga of Pliocene Exile with The Many-Colored Land."
Ohhhh. I read this in High School and the sequels when I was in my 20s and 30s and thought they were great. I went looking for an ebook version for a reread. I hope it holds up

[Ken]

Finished True Beleiver, A Stan Lee biography.
In the last 10 years I have been leaning away of him being the great man. He was instrumental in revitalizing the comic book industry but he did not do it by himself, which is what we all thought.

Started a discworld book Small Gods

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Ken wrote: "Ohhhh. I read this in High School and the sequels when I was in my 20s and 30s and thought they were great. I went looking for an ebook version for a reread. I hope it holds up"

Well, I’m not quite half done with this first book, and it is very different from what I expected. The first few chapters, because they are disconnected introductions to various characters, felt disjointed. Once the main story started taking shape, it was certainly easier to get into. Each chapter continues to be full of surprises for me. I am enjoying it—I know it is considered a classic by many and I can’t believe I never ran across it back in the 80s, but that means it’s a new adventure for me now.

[Kirsten]

Fantasy: The House in the Cerulean Sea

Science Fiction: The First Sister

[Lindsey]

I'm finishing up the month with the audiobook of Network Effect. I knew going in that, unlike the previous 4 entries, it was a full length novel but I definitely hit a point where I was like "why is there still so much to wrap up?" before it sank in that I was only 30% done. LOL

I also had a chance to listen to the audiobook-only The Original by Sanderson and Kowal. It was a solid, creepy-in-all-the-right-ways sci fi short story.