What Else Are You Reading in 2022? Showing 1,301-1,350 of 1,359

[Dj]

Brett wrote: "Hitler's Willing Executioners. Not casual reading by any means, but a good place to start a subject that, as a trained historian, I've neglected for too long. Will need something lighter as a palat..."

It is light reading in a sense. In the sense that you want to have the light on while you are reading it. I found it to be something of a nightmare-inducing book.

[Colin]

Received as a gift the hc first edition of The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon K. Penman and just finished. This is her massive historical fiction of Richard III and the War of the Roses. It is not part of her Plantagenet series, although Richard was the last Plantagenet king, this was her debut novel and precedes the others by many years. This could be epic fantasy to rival the best of the genre, except for the fact that the characters were all real people and the events (as unbelievable as some of them are) actually happened. Penman's thesis is that Richard has been the victim of a massive disinformation campaign to cast him as a monster (here's looking at you Will Shakespeare). She presents him as a positive, sympathetic character and as a tragic hero. This is a fabulous read, even though you need a scorecard to keep the profusion of Edwards, Edmunds, Richards, and Elizabeths straight. (Those were the names the people had.)

Richard remains intriguing and controversial and there are two fascinating comparisons of the novel to recent findings. Three decades post-publication, Richard's burial site was found in London and his skeleton exhumed. (Mitochondiral DNA demonstrated that this was Richard.) Penman writes that Richard had only a slight discrepancy in shoulder height, for which she invents a fracture badly set in childhood. The rest of his deformities she ascribes to disinformation. His actual skeleton does have significant scoliosis, but the shoulder height discrepancy would, in fact, only be mild. His left arm and his legs were fine (would not have limped). Score one for the novelist. What of the princes in the Tower? She has the bones in the urn as the remains of the princes (a point of contention over the last century), with Buckingham as the culprit (her reasoning is in her Author's Note). Elizabeth II had blocked further investigation of the remains, but Charles III has just signed off to allow genetic testing. So, we'll see...

I'd call it a must read if you like historical fiction or any type of epic. It has everything: battles, betrayals, a tragic love story, and incredible characters.

[Phrynne]

I was very disappointed in The Three-Body Problem. I had been looking forward to it for ages too!

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

[Christopher]

I recently read Fairy Tale by Stephen King. I thought the beginning was great and had high hopes, but the middle section was a bit of a letdown -- not sure if it was my expectations that were off, but everything bogged down and I had a tough time envisioning what was going on or caring about the characters -- then it picked up again in the last 25% or so and became more of a page-turner again. Overall I don't think I'd go out of my way to recommend this one -- if you're looking for fantasy from King I'd recommend The Eyes of the Dragon or if you want to read one of his longer epics I'd go for The Stand.

[Dj]

Phrynne wrote: "I was very disappointed in The Three-Body Problem. I had been looking forward to it for ages too!

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

It happens. For me almost any time I pick up a book by some author that seems to be loved by all. PKD comes to mind.

[Faith]

My review of Lost in Time by A.G. Riddle

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

[Jacqueline]

Finished the House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune last night. What a lovely book. Put it down with 30 pages to go at around 11.30pm and couldn’t sleep (Hubby was snoring and I couldn’t get the book out of my mind) so I went out into the lounge room around 12.15am and finished it. Loved it.

[Sam]

I thoroughly enjoed A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick. He's a legend, and this is one of my all-time favorite classics, as well as one of my favorite publications of his, alongside Blade Runner!

[Dj]

Sam wrote: "I thoroughly enjoed A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick. He's a legend, and this is one of my all-time favorite classics, as well as one of my favorite publications of his..."


Don't get me wrong, I love Blade Runner, I just didn't care for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. I like PKD reimagined in movies, but reading the books has come up short for me. And I do understand it is a personal opinion thing so I am not upset or confused by other people liking them, it is just a me thing.

[Jen]

Christopher wrote: "I recently read Fairy Tale by Stephen King. I thought the beginning was great and had high hopes, but the middle section was a bit of a letdown -- not sure if it was m..."

I had a similar experience with Fairy Tale. The beginning was soooo good, but it became very plodding in the middle. It reminded me of the Dark Tower series, great ideas and initial execution, but the middle is a headscratcher. I wonder if this is just King's style of writing fantasy.

I did enjoy (view spoiler)[all of the fairy tale easter eggs (hide spoiler)]

[Tomislav]

I’ve been waiting to see what Arkady Martine would write after her Teixcalaan duology. While she has said she'll be writing more in the Teixcalaan universe, her new novella Rose/House is completely separate. It is an engagingly told locked house murder mystery set on a recognizable 22nd century Earth. I rate it as a highly successful entry into the genre, demonstrating that her presence will be felt beyond Teixcalaan. I’m looking forward to more of her future work. Anybody else had a chance to read an ARC yet? It's scheduled for release on 31 March 2023.

[Alexandra]

I've been discovering P. Djèlí Clark's magical steam punk Cairo. I've read the first two short stories in the series, A Dead Djinn in Cairo and The Angel of Khan el-Khalili. Now I am ready to dive into The Haunting of Tram Car 015!

Also, I just finished On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers, a terrifically entertaining pirate yarn :)

[Alexandra]

Tomislav wrote: "I’ve been waiting to see what Arkady Martine would write after her Teixcalaan duology. While she has said she'll be writing more in the Teixcalaan universe, her new novella [book:Rose/House|5226333..."

Thanks for the heads-up! I'll be looking forward to reading it.

[Jacqueline]

I am currently rereading A Memory Called Empire to help me remember all the names so I can read A Desolation Called Peace. I tried reading Desolation when it came out but all the names were confusing so I am rereading. Don’t reread much anymore (except for Harry Potter). I have a few sitting there ready to reread actually. I want to reread Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth before I pick up Nona the Ninth. I will keep an eye out for that new one you mentioned by Arkady, Tomislav.

I’ve read Tramcar, Dead Djinn and Master of Djinn but haven’t been able to source Angel yet Alexandra. Loved them. Gave Hubby Master of Djinn to read and he didn’t finish it. He didn’t like it. His taste is completely different to mine. And not good when it comes to books.

[Kaia]

Jacqueline wrote: "I am currently rereading A Memory Called Empire to help me remember all the names so I can read A Desolation Called Peace. I tried reading Desolation when it came out but all the names were confusi..."

Jacqueline, I loved all of P. Djèlí Clark's stories and books from that world, too. "The Angel of Khan el-Khalili" is available to read for free on tor.com. The link should come up if you do an Internet search for the story title. LeVar Burton also read it on his LeVar Burton Reads podcast in 2021, if you prefer an audio version.

[Tomislav]

Jacqueline wrote: "I am currently rereading A Memory Called Empire to help me remember all the names so I can read A Desolation Called Peace. I tried reading Desolation when it came out but all the names were confusing so I am rereading."

That is probably for the best. Keep in mind that there is a few years of story time elapsed between A Memory Called Empire and A Desolation Called Peace, and that some of the continuing characters have changed roles and relationships with each other. For what it is worth, I enjoyed the second book more than the first.

[Ozsaur]

Listening to The Bone Garden by Heather Kassner and read by Fiona Hardingham. Creepy middle grade horror. Narrator is doing a good job.

[Jacqueline]

Thanks Kaia I’ll check it out.

Yeah Tomislav it had been a while since I read it and I was confused so it’s easier to do it this way. Normally I remember stuff pretty well and don’t need to reread but those names can be a bit much.

[Elaine]

Tomislav wrote: "Keep in mind that there is a few years of story time elapsed between A Memory Called Empire and A Desolation Called Peace"

Actually it's only a few months--Mahit spent two months traveling back to the station and a month avoiding everyone. I loved both books, though they are quite different, plot-wise. But yes, new people to learn about but many favorites return.

[Elaine]

Tomislav wrote: "I’ve been waiting to see what Arkady Martine would write after her Teixcalaan duology. While she has said she'll be writing more in the Teixcalaan universe, her new novella [book:Rose/House|5226333..."

That sounds interesting!

[Dj]

Merry Xmas and Happy Snoggletog

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Merry Christmas to all celebrants! And a good... Snoggletog to you, Dj XD

[Michelle]

Merry Christmas!!

[Anna]

Happy! Merry! Joy!

[Jacqueline]

Yes and best wishes to all of you on whatever holiday you choose to celebrate. I’m quite a fan of Santa Day myself. I hope you all have a Merry, Happy and/or Joyous day/week/month.

I got 45 minutes to myself late yesterday afternoon to continue reading A Memory Called Empire when the stovetop stopped working down at my father in laws (where we are having a last Christmas with our kids before it’s sold) and I had to load up my car with saucepans to bring around to my house which is around the corner to cook the vege. The oven was still working though thankfully so I didn’t have to bring 3 baking dishes of roast vege as well. We have Christmas at night now since most of the time at least one of the kids is still travelling to get to us on Christmas Day so there’s no real rush if we have it at night.

I didn’t get any bookish presents but did get 2 vouchers to use for them. I also got 2 lots of chocolates which I can’t eat after having weight loss surgery so that’s going to be fun keeping away from them.

[Tomislav]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Jacqueline wrote: "I got 45 minutes to myself late yesterday afternoon to continue reading A Memory Called Empire when the stovetop stopped working down at my father in laws "

There are days when the only time I get to read are as I'm falling asleep. The next day I pick up the book, and WHAT??? Then have to read it over.

[CBRetriever]

I usually end up with all sorts of highlights

[Michelle]

I fell asleep reading my Kindle, and the next thing I knew, little Luna dove out from under the blanket next to me. Apparently my Kindle fell on top of her, since it was in her "spot". I felt like a terrible cat mom!

[CBRetriever]

I'm now reading John Scalzi's The Collapsing Empire and even though I'm not a huge Scalzi fan, it sure beats the last two SF&F books I read: Legacy and A Season of Pure Light. All three were part of a huge TBR pile mostly from Tor, Humble Bundle and StoryBundle. Fortunately for my pile, I haven't seen a SF&F book collection offered there for over a year

[Esther]

CBRetriever wrote: "I'm now reading John Scalzi's The Collapsing Empire and even though I'm not a huge Scalzi fan, it sure beats the last two SF&F books I read: Legacy and [..."

I am a big fan of Scalzi but especially The Collapsing Empire trilogy,

[CBRetriever]

maybe it'll convert me but I wasn't a big fan of Redshirts or Old Man's War. But the latter was better than those other two books

[Esther]

CBRetriever wrote: "maybe it'll convert me but I wasn't a big fan of Redshirts or Old Man's War. But the latter was better than those other two books"

I loved Redshirts but it has special place in my heart because my non-reader son heard about it and actually asked to borrow a copy which he then read in a couple of days. So although my real life is basically a barren wasteland for other scifi readers I now have someone on my wavelength to discuss one of my favourite books with.

[Brett]

CBRetriever maybe it'll convert me but I wasn't a big fan of Redshirts or Old Man's War. But the latter was better than those other two books

The Interdependency trilogy is very good - on a level above Lock-In and Kaiju Preservation Society.

[Colin]

The variability in responses to Scalzi's books is interesting. I liked Redshirts because it was funny - tongue-in-cheek, almost to parody. It's a good break from all the serious stuff. I did like Old Man's War (okay, I'm an old man), although I thought the first book of the series was the best. The Interdependency books left me with mixed feelings. I loved the world building, in particular the design of how the star travel and universe worked. The characters, on the other hand, all sounded alike to me and, I felt, sounded like him in his blog. Curious if anyone else had a reaction like that.

[Jacqueline]

I’m not a massive fan of Scalzi but did enjoy the Interdependency series. Redshirts was ok but not as wonderful as people told me. Each to their own.

[Raucous]

Colin wrote: "The variability in responses to Scalzi's books is interesting..."

My reaction to the Scalzi books that you mentioned is very much like yours. I had mixed feelings about the Interdependency series. Great world building but the characters didn't really work for me either. I liked the first book of the Old Man's War series (I have that old thing going on too) but wasn't that taken with the rest. The parody leaning of Redshirts worked in its favor for me - especially given just how many times that particular vein has been mined.

I love some of his books (Fuzzy Nation, Agent to the Stars, and Android's Dream). I'm somewhere between indifferent and irritated by others (Kaiju Preservation Society, Head On, The Human Division, ...). That's a bit surprising to me. I'm usually more single-minded regarding an author.

[Esther]

I find Scalzi easy to read, sometimes too easy but I really connect to his characters. I wish some of the women in The Collapsing Empire were my friends IRL.
I thought I like the Locked In series a little less until I realised how disappointed I am that he hasn't continued.

[Marc]

while I'm waiting for the final 2 vorkosigan books to show up (got them on order), I'm now gonna read Andy Weir's Artemis. looks to be a quick read. Finished Captain Vortpatril's Alliance yesterday, loving the Vorkosigan series!

[Michelle]

Marc wrote: "while I'm waiting for the final 2 vorkosigan books to show up (got them on order), I'm now gonna read Andy Weir's Artemis. looks to be a quick read. Finished Captain Vortpatril's Alliance yesterday..."

It's very re-readable.

[Bnz]

Marc wrote: " Finished Captain Vortpatril's Alliance yesterday..."

That one was hilarious, much more so than the others in this excellent series. The scene at the divorce judge made me laugh aloud. I was very disappointed to learn that the end means the end.
Sorry, Weber, Moon, even Cherryh, Haldeman, and Scalzi - Bojold is the best in this subgenre: the best combination of worldbuilding with convincing societies, action, character development, grittiness, and fun. Heck, she even invented a believable excuse for swords, horses, and counts (not to be confused with Elizabeth Moon's aunts, also quite important)!

[Alexandra]

Bnz wrote: "That one was hilarious, much more so than the others in this excellent series. The scene at the divorce judge made me laugh aloud..."

I couldn't agree more! :)))

[Alexandra]

I am enjoying At the Feet of the Sun, sequel to the wonderful The Hands of the Emperor These books are a great place to be...

[Phrynne]

Finished Lock In and I really liked it maybe because I read a lot of mysteries and this was as much mystery as it was sci fi.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Phrynne]

Just finished an ARC of Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh which is actually a pretty good book but over hyped.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Michelle]

I'm reading Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries, and it's so much fun!

[Stephen]

Phrynne wrote: "Finished Lock In and I really liked it maybe because I read a lot of mysteries and this was as much mystery as it was sci fi.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"

Of the Scalzi books I’ve read (far from all of them) I think that was the best.

[Meredith]

Michelle wrote: "I'm reading Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries, and it's so much fun!"

I've been enjoying that series a lot.

[Ozsaur]

Michelle, I really enjoyed Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries and I hope to get to the next book in the series in 2023.

[Phrynne]

I just found the prequel to Lock In entitled Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome. I thought it was excellent but better read after the main book. It is available free at Tor
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Esther]

Phrynne wrote: "I just found the prequel to Lock In entitled Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome. I thought it was excellent but better read after the main book. It is ava..."

I concur.