What Else Are You Reading in 2024? Showing 751-800 of 1,529

[Tara]

Just finished my first Murderbot book ---> All Systems Red by Martha Wells. How much fun was that!

[CBRetriever]

just finished

The Machine Dynasty Omnibus by Madeline Ashby which contains vN, iD and ReV. All three were very interesting dealing with AI characters, their interaction with Human characters and their desire to be more than they are. It's definitely gritty

ETA: for my next book I'm attempting to work my way through The Stand, another Cheysuli books, a Sianim book and a Hania Allen (author) mystery

[Marc]

Oh, I did finish Ursula K LeGuin's Farthest Shore. a bit darker book, it was a good book, ending a little abrupt as they worked to that final showdown.

I should move into Tehanu (Dang Economondos passed me!!), and I will but in cleaning some stuff out, I found a few old Fortune magazines from 2017. I figured, I could just toss but I remembered I liked Fortune, so I'm pausing and reading them now. There was a great article on how our two major political parties are failing us, didn't pick sides, and in light of that recent presidential debate, dang, wish the recommendations would have been implemented... Again, not picking sides! can probably google fortune why politics is failing america to read for yourselves.

Anyhoo, most of the info is old, but still, kinda fun reading knowing how things turned out (like Uber and it's now ex-CEO) compared to how those old 2017 articles say. THen I'll dive back into Earthsea!!

[Kaia]

I’ve gotten myself started on too many books at once and am floundering a bit. I’m very slowly working my way though Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny (audio) and The City & the City by China Mieville (eye-read), but I’m feeling a bit bogged down by both. They are interesting but not compelling me to read quickly.

I also started Lake of Souls: The Collected Short Fiction by Ann Leckie, and I was reading it steadily but had to set it aside. The stories in the second half of the book are from the Imperial Radch universe (which I’m realizing that it has been too long since I read the original trilogy, so I’m missing something in my understanding) and The Raven Tower universe. I haven’t read Raven Tower yet, though I have it on my next to read list.

Then, I picked up Beastie Boys Book (not SFF, obviously) which is now distracting me from other reading. 😂 It’s surprisingly interesting - mostly essays written by the surviving band members about their growing up years and history as a band, interspersed with essays by others and lots of photos. Having grown up in the same era, their commentary on friendships, going to local music shows, and the love of radio and mix tapes has a lot of nostalgia for me. They also mention so much music that I have to keep stopping to look up and listen to songs. Anyway, I will make it through all of these books at some point and go back to my usual one audiobook, one eye-read, but for now I’m just accepting that this fickle reading four books thing is fine. 😄

[Marc]

I liked lord of light, but it took me a while to get, like, how is this scifi? it is!

[Kaia]

Marc wrote: "I liked lord of light, but it took me a while to get, like, how is this scifi? it is!"

This aspect of the book is super interesting! I think I would be reading it more quickly / enjoying it more except for the audiobook narrator. It's not the most engaging narration, especially for the non-dialogue parts. I am too far along to switch formats at this point, but I don't recommend the audio for those starting it new.

[Cheryl L]

Kaia wrote: "I’ve gotten myself started on too many books at once and am floundering a bit. I’m very slowly working my way though Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny (audio) and [book:The City & the Cit..."

I'm also reading The City and the City. I'm enjoying it. It seems pretty unique compared to other things I've read in the past. I've got to finish it up so I can read Lonely Castle before VBC.

[CJ]

I had gotten all excited about Service Model and then lost interest in it halfway through. So I started Starless Night (Legend of Drizzt #8) yesterday while I waited on my library hold for The Wings Upon Her Back, which I picked up today, because of course it'd come in as soon as I started another book.

[Raucous]

Thanks for the format warning on Lord of Light. I was wondering, after listening to the audio book preview, if the stiff narration would fade into the background as I listened. It sounds like the answer is "No." Even ignoring that the narrator seemed like an odd choice for a book with this setting.

[Happy Red Panda]

Carl wrote: "oh, the Red Rising series is on my TBR."

Nice it's worth your time!

[Economondos]

At 6:40 this morning finished The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin. Then went back to read some of the best parts of the finale again.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book got better the more I read. I like the new viewpoint character, Alder, but really like the Kargish princess even more. The ending is fantastic, where the characters cooperate to change the world in a most fundamentally Earthsea way.

This one doesn't stand alone, read the prior books first. Marc, you have two good Earthsea novels waiting for you. Happy Reading!

My review here

My first audiobook, The Flowers of Vashnoi: An Ekaterin Vorkosigan Novella, arrived yesterday, so I will listen to that while building benches today. After that, Dan Davis' Vampire Crusader. We enjoy Dan's History 'casts on Youtube, this is the first of his books on the reading shelf.

[Stephen]

Just finished The Saint of Bright Doors. At first I hated it, found it hard to keep reading. Then came reluctant admiration, then genuine enjoyment. Finally, shock at how brilliant - unexpected and yet totally obvious - the ending twistaroo was. Now I'm trying to work out if I've read a better book. It's a work of the highest literature, but written in genre. Like some exceptional things it is hard to chew at times. Anyone else feel this way?
Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Stephen]

I agree it’s very good and would have my Hugo vote

[Stephen]

Mine too

[CJ]

Stephen wrote: "Just finished The Saint of Bright Doors. At first I hated it, found it hard to keep reading. Then came reluctant admiration, then genuine enjoyment. Finally, shock at how brilliant - unexpected and..."

This is so good to hear. I already spent an Audible credit on it because I like the narrator (Sid Sagar) and heard good things about the writing. Every algorithm seems to think I should read it too. LOL.

[Stephen]

Interestingly, it has a relatively low Goodreads rating. I think it's not an easy book for every person to get into ...

[Leonie]

Stephen wrote: "Just finished The Saint of Bright Doors. At first I hated it, found it hard to keep reading. Then came reluctant admiration, then genuine enjoyment. Finally, shock at how brilliant - unexpected and..."

I read it a couple of weeks ago, and really liked it...except for the ending. Which I found disappointing, actually.

I'm steadily working my way through the Hugo packet, with a lot of mixed feelings.

[Eric]

I finished the trilogy, "The Unhewn Throne," with The Last Mortal Bond. A solid four star read for all three books.

[Stephen]

Leonie wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Just finished The Saint of Bright Doors. At first I hated it, found it hard to keep reading. Then came reluctant admiration, then genuine enjoyment. Finally, shock at how brilliant ..."

That's interesting. Can you say why (without spoiling for everyone)? I was blown away by it. The sudden shift in person, a surprise but made complete sense.

[Colin]

Just finished Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky. This is the story of a high-end, human-facing, robot valet who, unaccountably, slits his master's throat while shaving him. The story follows its journey to try to have the defect that caused this remedied and then find a new valet position. What it finds outside its manor is the complete collapse/destruction of human civilization. The robot is joined in its travels by the Wonk, what it considers to be a very defective robot, who is searching for meaning in the collapse. I thought the book was intended as satire, and much of it is, but it has sections that are serious and places where it becomes downright preachy. (view spoiler)[ It also finishes up with a whopper of a deus ex machina, in more ways than one. (hide spoiler)] This book may work for the true apocalyptophile, but it did not work for me. I was disappointed.

[Leonie]

Stephen wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Just finished The Saint of Bright Doors. At first I hated it, found it hard to keep reading. Then came reluctant admiration, then genuine enjoyment. Finally, shock at..."

I think that for me, the ending was trite. Writers often use deliberate foreshadowing, which sort of happened in this story, but for me, after all the other lengthy meanderings through various events involving various characters, there was no build up to the ultimate ending, just a sudden reveal.

I'm not sure if I've explained it well. But my reaction at the end was very much 'Really? That's what you were building up to?'

[Economondos]

Somehow it is appropriate that I finished a vampire novel just after midnight last night. Read Vampire Crusader by Dan Davis.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a 3.4 or 3.5; good, but not rising to a 4 star review. Dan Davis' deep knowledge of history comes through by weaving historical events around the Third Crusade into the story. This was one of his earlier books, so later novels may well overcome the issues in my review.

My review here

Next up will be Leviathan Wakes, which has been strongly recommended to me.

[Economondos]

A few days ago I listened to The Flowers of Vashnoi by Lois McMaster Bujold

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Had trouble deciding between 4 and 5 stars on this, the first audiobook I've listened to. Recommended for all readers of this series.


My review here

Told my wife how much I liked this book. Suddenly there is a complete Lord of the Rings audiobook in our library. She says it has been there a while, but I think it might have been an early birthday present to me. Anyway, that will be the next audiobook for while I am woodworking and DIYing around the house.

[Marc]

Finally started Tehanu from Ursula K LeGuin, so far so good! enjoying it!!

[Stephen]

Leonie wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Just finished The Saint of Bright Doors. At first I hated it, found it hard to keep reading. Then came reluctant admiration, then genuine enjoyment. F..."

I don't think you're alone feeling this way. I guess my own feelings changed when I read that it was a re-telling of Sri Lankan Buddhist mythology (which I only found out just as I was finishing the last chapters), then you realise you're being (re)told about the birth of a world religion in this super-strange way. I found it very moving.

[Silvana]

Finished with Witch King (it was okay, started strongly but became boring 3/4 of the way) and starting another Hugo best novel contender Some Desperate Glory. Hopefully it is great. The novel nominees are definitely a mixed bag.

[Stephen]

I really didn't like Some Desperate Glory (though some people must!) but I loved Translation State and The Saint of Bright Doors.
My wife is reading Witch King and keeps wishing it was another Murderbot.

[Leonie]

Stephen wrote: "I really didn't like Some Desperate Glory (though some people must!) but I loved Translation State and The Saint of Bright Doors.
My wife is reading Witch King and keeps wishing it was another Murd..."

I enjoyed Witch King. It wasn't Murderbot, of course, but there were hints of Murderbot-ish feel in there. I liked it better than the other Martha Wells' fantasies I've read.

[TheBookLounge]

I wish you can post pics in here. I found Lord of the Rings box set, and oh man, the books are beautiful. Hardcover of course. I'm about to get it. 80 bucks, which isn't bad.

[Brett]

Reading The Desert Column, Ion Idriess, the future author and essentially Sam Clemens of Australian literature. This is his wartime memoir as a light cavalry sniper, in Gallipoli, Sinai, and Palestine.

[Kaia]

I finished Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold today, and that completes my reading of the entire Vorkosigan Saga, started in April. I really loved this series and would not have found it were it not for this book group - so thank you to those who recommended it! Now I'm going to have to endure the let down that comes when you finish a good series and there are no more.

I'm also almost done with The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie, which I'm reading for the group re-reads and enjoying very much. After that, I can finally finish Lake of Souls: The Collected Short Fiction, also by Ann Leckie. I only have the stories set in The Raven Tower universe left to go.

[Kaia]

Marc wrote: "I wish you can post pics in here. I found Lord of the Rings box set, and oh man, the books are beautiful. Hardcover of course. I'm about to get it. 80 bucks, which isn't bad."

Congrats on your find, Marc! One of my best ever book purchases was a single volume hardcover of the Lord of the Rings trilogy with illustrated panels by Alan Lee. I bought it when I was a freshman in college, and my mom gave me such a hard time for spending so much money on a book. I have read that book multiple times over the years, however, and moved it all over the country with me. I have never once regretted the money I spent.

[Economondos]

Marc wrote: "I wish you can post pics in here. I found Lord of the Rings box set, and oh man, the books are beautiful."

At our local library there is a complete Earthsea ove-volume set with all the books and stories as well as beautiful cover and interior art. Thing looks like an old time 2000 page dictionary until you get close and see what it really is. Tried to find a link to that edition here on GR, but no dice.

[Kirsten]

I am reading The Courts of Chaos by Roger Zelazny.

[Kirsten]

Economondos wrote: "Marc wrote: "I wish you can post pics in here. I found Lord of the Rings box set, and oh man, the books are beautiful."

At our local library there is a complete Earthsea ove-volume set with all th..."

The Books of Earthsea

[CBRetriever]

Marc wrote: "I wish you can post pics in here. I found Lord of the Rings box set, and oh man, the books are beautiful. Hardcover of course. I'm about to get it. 80 bucks, which isn't bad."

you can

[TheBookLounge]

Kirsten wrote: "Economondos wrote: "Marc wrote: "I wish you can post pics in here. I found Lord of the Rings box set, and oh man, the books are beautiful."

At our local library there is a complete Earthsea ove-vo..."

The hell, lol. It wasn't letting me the other day.

[Eric]

Finished Skullsworn. A back story about the knife wielding assassin from the trilogy, "The Unhewn Throne." The ending brought it up to four stars. Got a little goofy in the middle.

[Michelle]

Kaia wrote: "I finished Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold today, and that completes my reading of the entire Vorkosigan Saga, started in April. I really loved this series and would not have foun..."

I have found that the next book I start after a reread of Vorkosigan always seems to suffer in comparison.

[Marc]

Michelle wrote: "Kaia wrote: "I finished Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold today, and that completes my reading of the entire Vorkosigan Saga, started in April. I really loved this series and would ..."

It is a great series! so many books, all pretty much great!

[TheBookLounge]

Kaia wrote: "Marc wrote: "I wish you can post pics in here. I found Lord of the Rings box set, and oh man, the books are beautiful. Hardcover of course. I'm about to get it. 80 bucks, which isn't bad."

Congrat..."

You can never spend too much money on books, lol.

[Michelle]

Ryan, I finally started Rihasi. I'm enjoying it! I love her writing.

[Marc]

Finally finished Ursula K LeGuin's Tehanu. A good book, only complaint was the ending, bad guys! oh my! blink and they are defeated!

But a good book! On to the next earthsea book, Tales from EarthSea

[Omar]

Busy month.
Ashes of Man
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Children of Memory

[CBRetriever]

I finished Expendable by James Alan Gardner which was actually pretty good. It's another of those books that I bought as part of a bundle. I am considering reading more of the series, but this book is pretty much a stand alone book

[Piezke]

I recently finished Bob Shaw's "Other Days, Other Eyes" and while the concept of the slow glass is ingenious, it's weight within the novel feels miniscule. Three short stories are included and sprinkled in between the chapters and they are vastly superior because they focus on the slow glass as a device for human drama. Sadly, the novel is mostly human melodrama pushing the central idea aside.

[Raucous]

CBRetriever wrote: "I finished Expendable by James Alan Gardner which was actually pretty good. It's another of those books that I bought as part of a bundle. I am considering reading mor..."

I really enjoyed Expendable. I read it back when it was first published and this reminds me that I've been meaning to reread it. I've read most of the other books in this series and liked them, although my memory is that Expendable was my favorite. I suspect that I'd like almost anything with Festina Ramos in it. What an amazing character.

[CBRetriever]

Raucous wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "I finished Expendable by James Alan Gardner which was actually pretty good. It's another of those books that I bought as part of a bundle. I am con..."

not all the books in the series have her, so check the blurbs on the books

[Economondos]

Woke up early this morning and finished Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good space opera. What makes this better than 3 stars is the author's ability to write alternating POV chapters from two very different characters. Not sure this is a book for the Reread Shelf, but it did make me want to pick up the next in the series.

My review here

Next up is The Islander by John Maddox Roberts. Really liked his Space Angel and The Enigma Variations, trying another series from him.

[Eric]

I completed The End of Everything . Katie Mack explores many theories and science in a whimsical way. She outlines how our universe may end. All theorical, of course, but what it tells me is this. With all our science, our measurements, our theories, the more we learn, the more we discover there is much we do not understand.

This was a fun deviation for me from fiction.