2024 Read All The Books 11: Prime Reading Time

[Mihai]

I will follow the current readings for this challenge. Last year was pretty close and since there is a Stormlight Archive novel planned for December, I may get distracted again :D

[Dj]

Jan wrote: "Going for at least ten of the thirteen listed here.

Across the Nightingale Floor by Liam Hearn
Armada by Ernest Cline
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombi..."

some really nice choices you have going there.

[Dj]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "2024: Read All The Books.
Progress: 0/15

Legends & Lattes
Piranesi
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
We Are Satellites
[book:The Way of Kin..."

a good solid list of books to dive into

[HeyT]

Finished my first book of the year and first entry for the RAtB Challenge: Raven Tower

I enjoyed it a lot.

[Steve]

First book of the challenge for this year done! Loved His Majesty's Dragon - or as it's called here in the UK, simply 'Temeraire' after the titular main dragon character (and the name of the series).

Feel like I'm getting my reading groove back after the last few years - did a book in 2 days (not on this shelf - was the latest in Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series) and Temeraire is a book I did in the last 3 days.

Expect I may expand my goal for this group challenge eventually later in the year :)

[Beth]

I've typically read about 7 SFFBC books in any given year. While I don't intend to set a goal this year, I'll track my SFFBC reading here anyhow.

1. Jan. 8: The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

[Marc]

About to start my first book, John Wyndham's Day of the Triffids. looking forward to it!

[Dj]

HeyT wrote: "Finished my first book of the year and first entry for the RAtB Challenge: Raven Tower

I enjoyed it a lot."

Nice with that comment I might have to move it up on my reading list.

[Marc]

Finished Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. Woah! for a book written in 1951, it held up quite well! I can see elements that might have been borrowed for films like 28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead and Blindness. Not a spoiler, all this is at the beginning, but humanity suffered two major crises, earth passing through comet 'dust' that lit up the sky and blinded everyone who saw it, and an accidental release of a bio-engineered plant that can walk and can/does whip deadly poisonous stingers at people. A one-two punch! Anyhoo, I thought it'd be a fun book, and it's not. It ain't no 'troubles with triffids'! A quick read!

Now onto my 2nd book, Naomi Novik's Uprooted

[Dj]

Steve wrote: "First book of the challenge for this year done! Loved His Majesty's Dragon - or as it's called here in the UK, simply 'Temeraire' after the titular main dragon character (and the name ..."

I really enjoyed that read as well, even with the fact that I generally dislike historical fiction.

[Dj]

Beth wrote: "I've typically read about 7 SFFBC books in any given year. While I don't intend to set a goal this year, I'll track my SFFBC reading here anyhow.

1. Jan. 8: The Lathe of Heaven by [au..."

A book I really enjoyed. What were your thoughts on it?

[Beth]

Dj wrote: "A book I really enjoyed. What were your thoughts on it?"

It was more concept-oriented and less character-oriented than I typically go for, but I liked it, too. I'm going to be partcipating in the VBC for this one, so my review isn't extensive: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Dj]

Beth wrote: "Dj wrote: "A book I really enjoyed. What were your thoughts on it?"

It was more concept-oriented and less character-oriented than I typically go for, but I liked it, too. I'm going to be partcipat..."

Thanks.

[DivaDiane]

I finished my first group read this week:

The Terraformers, which I’ve been reading since November. I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it. There are a lot of really interesting ideas, but perhaps too many. I don’t feel like I really needed to know so many details.

[Maarit]

Last year I managed to read one book for this challenge, because I had a lot of things going on and had quite a big reading slump (most of my 2023 books read were either kids books for work purposes, comics and occasional adult books sprinkled here and there).

This year I try to read five books for this challenge, which may or may not be a realistic thing to do. I've already read one, which was Rivers of London by Ben Aarovitch and have two more on the go currently. Only book I'm certain about reading this year is Legends and Lattes, because it's Finnish translation is coming out a bit later this year (spring) and I want to read it asap after that.

[Gabi]

Thanks to a neverending infection, which kept me half of the days from working, and a wrist ganglion that kept me from playing ESO during that time I made a good headstart with reading. Of course this will considerably slow down, but I have read 6 of my 11 books listed and extend now to the prime number 17 in my original post.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I'm sorry you're unwell but impressed by your reading fortitude! I hope you feel better soon and that the books fill the time nicely for you

[Dj]

Maarit wrote: "Last year I managed to read one book for this challenge, because I had a lot of things going on and had quite a big reading slump (most of my 2023 books read were either kids books for work purpose..."

No worries. What you read, is what you read. It is all good.

[DivaDiane]

You’re off to a great start, Maarit! And as DJ said, what you read you read! You’ve already match last year’s challenge!

[Lamilla]

My goal for 2024 is four, probably from the list of the books I already own:

Way Station - DONE
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - DONE
Seveneves
Redshirts
The Passage
Touch
Lock In
To Say Nothing of the Dog

Total: 2/4

[Gabi]

Allison wrote: "I'm sorry you're unwell but impressed by your reading fortitude! I hope you feel better soon and that the books fill the time nicely for you"

As always I'm most motivated at the beginning of the year :D. So I'm sure I will fall back later in the year. But atm it is sure nice to be reading so much again. There are so many books still on my ebook reader and in the audio library that are unread/unlistened.

I'm just about to finish my 7th bookshelf book "Way Station", which is a surprisingly great read.

[Liane]

Two weeks into this year and I want to take the pressure off myself for the quantity of books I read this year,,…bbuuuttttt…, I enjoy trying new authors and don’t like unfinished lists, so will continue to focus on 2024’s monthly group reads plus some 5ish more to achieve that prime 29.

That said, this is my current extra backlist tbd order. Mileage may vary and flights of fancy are certainly desired.

XThe Mere Wife Maria Dahvana Headley Done! 4 stars!
The Fifth Season(1.24 prequel) NK Jemison I’ve struggled starting this before but motivated this year
Shadowshaper Daniel José Older
The Obelisk Gate (2.24) NK Jemison Here’s the motivation
The Power Naomi Alderman Why was this link so hard to find???? 12th page under her name search? Anyway, heard her speak recently and I’m interested.
The House of the Spirits Isabel Allende - another one I’ve put off starting repeatedly
Swords and Deviltry Fritz Leiber - the increasingly rare classics (older than me) on my list
Hyperion Dan Simmons
Wild Seed Octavia Butler always enjoy
Red Mars Kim Stanley Robinson the size of this has put me off before
The Windup Girl Paolo Bacigalupi
War for the Oaks Emma Bull
Tigana Guy Gavriel Kay
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August Claire North
Blackout Connie Willis
The Vanished Birds Simon Jimenez

[DivaDiane]

Liane, if you do audio books, I would recommend listening to Red Mars. It is very well done and I felt it made it much less daunting.

[Dj]

Liane wrote: "Two weeks into this year and I want to take the pressure off myself for the quantity of books I read this year,,…bbuuuttttt…, I enjoy trying new authors and don’t like unfinished lists, so will con..."

Looks like a good list to attempt.

[Cheryl L]

I am crushing this challenge! I have completed the prime number of 1 book so far, Semiosis. 😏

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Look at you all go!

[Marc]

I liked SImac's Way Station too!

Anyhoo, I finished that amazing book Uprooted, what a great read, grabbed me took me on it's ups and downs and ups, and I'll say this, Naomi Novik is an amazing writer! I'm looking forward to reading more work from her!

now, I was going to read RF Kuang's Babel (not on this list), but for some reason (maybe size!), I decided to wait and read Charlie Jane Ander's All the birds in the sky instead! Babel though, you are next!

[Dj]

Cheryl L wrote: "I am crushing this challenge! I have completed the prime number of 1 book so far, Semiosis. 😏"

That is awesome.

[Ivan Darryl]

Ivan wrote: "Since I'm not that really much particular about different book titles, I'll only include the ones that I've already heard before and that are famous. For 2024, I'll just keep it safe and concise fo..."

Just finished The Color of Magic earlier, and I'm really excited to dive into its series. However, it was unfortunate that this is only the Rincewind book in the group shelf.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

We have so much Pratchett on the shelf! he's great, but so many other authors are too!

[Ivan Darryl]

Allison wrote: "We have so much Pratchett on the shelf! he's great, but so many other authors are too!"

I have yet to try some other authors on the shelf, too, especially since it will be my first time reading Kingfisher, Le Guin, and others, as I have searched on the group's past reads

[Economondos]

Ivan wrote: " I'm really excited to dive into its series...."

Pratchett is one of my favorite authors. I like Rincewind, but feel that the City Watch/Sam Vimes books are even better. Hope you enjoy them all!

Right now I am rereading the Tiffany Aching books feeling a need for something lighter during the cold snap.

[DivaDiane]

And a day later I finished My Real Children, which I loved. A quick and engaging read. And this months Group Read too!

[Economondos]

So far I manager a prime number: 2. Assassin's Apprentice and The Princess Bride are pretty darn good.

[a.g.e. montagner]

One so far. That's also a prime number.

1. The Fifth Season
2. The Obelisk Gate
X. The Stone Sky
3. The Lathe of Heaven
4. The Left Hand of Darkness
5. The Word for World Is Forest
6. The Dispossessed
7. Piranesi

[DivaDiane]

Challenge achieved, Alessandro!

[a.g.e. montagner]

With swagger.
(It helps that six out the first eleven natural numbers are prime).

[Ivan Darryl]

Economondos wrote: "Ivan wrote: " I'm really excited to dive into its series...."

Pratchett is one of my favorite authors. I like Rincewind, but feel that the City Watch/Sam Vimes books are even better. Hope you enjo..."

I've heard that the City Watch and Death series are must reads. Might be visiting the Tiffany Aching ones very soon. How is it so far?

[Lamilla]

Ivan wrote: "I've heard that the City Watch and Death series are must reads. Might be visiting the Tiffany Aching ones very soon. How is it so far? "
City Watch is awesome, Night Watch is my personal favourite. The Witches books are also enjoyable, would recommend them to anyone

[Ivan Darryl]

Lamilla wrote: "Ivan wrote: "I've heard that the City Watch and Death series are must reads. Might be visiting the Tiffany Aching ones very soon. How is it so far? "
City Watch is awesome, [book:Night Watch|833428..."

Looking forward to it, Lamilla. Indeed, Discworld is a commitment, to be able to catch up with some of the highest highs of the series. 😀

[Economondos]

Ivan, it is hard not to praise every book in the Discworld series. The first Pratchett book I read was Guards! Guards!. It hooked me decades ago and I am just as caught today. The sub-series set in Ankh Morpork are all good. Carrot Ironfoundersson and Same Vimes lead a crew of amazing characters.

The Tiffany Aching series are technically Young Adult (YA) stories. But it doesn't matter. The characters are wonderful, the situations ring true to life in a way only possible in fantasy.

I consider myself a harsher than average reviewer/rater, but Discworld doesn't have any books below four stars.

I gave a series of talks over the last two years of my career with the lessons of 33+ years of government service. I started almost every section with a quote. Many of them came from Pratchett. He was a wise man who could teach the important things in life while entertaining us.

[Marc]

finished my 3rd book, All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders, a great book! clash of magic vs science in the middle of climate disaster, a very quick and enjoyable read!

Taking a break, diving into some history (and reading a book not on this list, Pat Murphy's The Falling woman).

[Ivan Darryl]

Economondos wrote: "Ivan, it is hard not to praise every book in the Discworld series. The first Pratchett book I read was Guards! Guards!. It hooked me decades ago and I am just as caught today. The sub-..."

Wow, that's wonderful, Eco! No wonder Discworld series is top one fantasy series of all time as it is influential to many readers alike.

[CBRetriever]

finished

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

for the first of 11 books

[Dj]

Marc wrote: "finished my 3rd book, All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders, a great book! clash of magic vs science in the middle of climate disaster, a very quick and enjoyable read!

Taking a break, d..."

Sounds like a good read.

[HeyT]

Just finished Too Like the Lightning which brings me up to three for the year.

[Lamilla]

HeyT wrote: "Just finished Too Like the Lightning which brings me up to three for the year."
Excellent progress for January!

[HeyT]

I'm now up to five read for the year because I finished My Real Children and A Memory Called Empire. Absolutely devoured Memory which was a good palate cleanser after Real Children.

[Dj]

HeyT wrote: "I'm now up to five read for the year because I finished My Real Children and A Memory Called Empire. Absolutely devoured Memory which was a good palate cleanser after Real Children."

Sounds like you might be eating your books. Hope you liked them both.

[Richard]

Just joined in today as I’ve finished my first bookshelf read of the year.
Going to pledge 11 books as that seems to be the in number for this challenge.
One down Furies of Calderon, ten more to go.
I’ve got lots to choose from.