What are you reading in May 2015?

[Sumant]

Here is my review of 1st book of gormenghast trilogy.I really liked the book, and writing an review of the book was sort of challenge.

[Shel, Moderator]

Sumant wrote: "Here is my review of 1st book of gormenghast trilogy.I really liked the book, and writing an review of the book was sort of challenge."

I loved the first two books and was meh about the third. I'll be interested to hear what you think!

I started The Magic of Recluce to get ahead for next month's discussion.

[Bill]

I finished Quantum Thief which didn't appeal—Review

I'm now reading The Medici Boy an historical fiction about Donatello and his apprentices.

[Bill]

I finished Quantum Thief which didn't really appeal to me—My Review

I'm reading an historical fiction about Donatello and his young apprentices. The Medici Boy by John L'Heureux—about halfway thru, it's an engaging read.

[Christine]

I am currently listening to The 5th Wave

[Sumant]

Shel wrote: "Sumant wrote: "Here is my review of 1st book of gormenghast trilogy.I really liked the book, and writing an review of the book was sort of challenge."

I loved the first two books and was meh abou..."

Ya the 1st book was really good, lets see how the 2nd book is.

[Alissa]

Finished my review of Mordant's Need, really loved the psychological/mystery themes and unique magic system. Half the World was a quick read but really nothing special. Interesting themes about a female protagonist but no depth (my review).
Loved instead Sorcerer's Legacy, here's my review, not surprised Feist called Wurts for the Empire Trilogy series, she has a knack for female characters.
Lastly I've read BLACKGUARDS: Tales of Assassins, Mercenaries, and Rogues. I liked most of the stories (my review) and I'm looking forward to reading more of many of the authors in the roster of contributors.

Currently reading Traitor's Blade by Sebastien de Castell.

[Bill]

I finished the book The Medici Boy and Reviewed it

I started Alexander's Choice which I thought was about Alexander the Great and turns out to be a boys school book about Eton. Well I am learning some more British culture and slang ;-)

[Shel, Moderator]

I finished The Magic of Recluce, which I enjoyed, but not to the point that I want to read the rest of the series. Going to write a review if I have a chance, but either way I'm ready for the group discussion in a few weeks.

[Lindsey]

Uprooted arrived today so I just dove into it. Two chapters in and it's promising.

[Bob]

Shel wrote: "I finished The Magic of Recluce, which I enjoyed, but not to the point that I want to read the rest of the series. Going to write a review if I have a chance, but either way I'm read..."

I cannot recommend continuing. I got through the first 5 books, but it almost became a chore. I remeber feeling that I wanted to like them more than I did. The next two books, if I recall correctly, are prequels to the first. I found it irritating. It has probably been close to 20 years since I read them and I have never felt inclined to go check out the rest of the series.

[Lulu]

Finished The Three-Body Problem the week before last. I can see what the hype was about now. It felt really fresh and exciting, the tension kept out throughout and I was fascinated by the historical context. While it took a little time to get used to the different expressions because of the original language, I slowly slid into it and it became comfortable pretty quickly.

I also read The Canterville Ghost, a very short story by Oscar Wilde. It was tongue-in-cheek humour mostly, and a lot of fun.

I read The Word for World is Forest, my first Ursula K. Le Guin. I was pleasantly surprised. I saw a lot of griping about her being preachy, but I didn't see it. Maybe because I am politically aligned with her?

I've also read a ton of graphic novels, my favourite so far being the first volume to The Wicked + The Divine. Seems a bit shallow, but a lot of fun, and quite funny.

Hoping to get to Echopraxia over the weekend, to be finished before the end of May if I can help it!

[Tani]

Bob wrote: "Shel wrote: "I finished The Magic of Recluce, which I enjoyed, but not to the point that I want to read the rest of the series. Going to write a review if I have a chance, but either..."

I've read about 15 of the Recluce books, and although I really enjoy them, they are very formulaic, and probably it is best to not continue unless you like them a lot. They do jump around in time, as well. If I remember correctly, the second book goes back to one of the earliest events in the world, then the third jumps forward to a time period somewhere between the first and second books. The fourth takes place just before the first book, and then the fifth is finally a direct sequel to the first. Later in the series, he tends to write duologies focused on a single character, and then jump to a new character. Which is all a long way of saying that if you're not thrilled with the first book, the later books might be not your thing. :)

[Shel, Moderator]

Tani wrote: "Bob wrote: "Shel wrote: "I finished The Magic of Recluce, which I enjoyed, but not to the point that I want to read the rest of the series. Going to write a review if I have a chance..."

That's good to know - thanks :) I don't mind the hopping around in chronology...Brust does that in his Vlad Taltos books, and it can be very effective...but if the other books are in the same vein as this one, I can do without!

I'm just about to start Touch of Power.

[Alissa]

Shel wrote: "Tani wrote: "Bob wrote: "Shel wrote: "I finished The Magic of Recluce, which I enjoyed, but not to the point that I want to read the rest of the series. Going to write a review if I ..."

Touch of power looks interesting, looking forward to your impressions! And thank you all for the comments on Magic of Recluce. I never put it on my to-read but was still undecided.

[Ken]

Shel wrote: "I finished The Magic of Recluce, which I enjoyed, but not to the point that I want to read the rest of the series. Going to write a review if I have a chance, but either way I'm read..."
Same here. I read it many years ago and it never grabbed me. I never bothered with the rest

[Bill]

I started The Gospel of Loki last nite. It is an amusing retelling of Norse mythology by Joanne Harris

[Tani]

I finished up The Accidental Time Machine last night. It was OK, but kind of disappointing. The time travel was fine, maybe not the most original ideas, but well-executed. But the characters.... I was not thrilled. I think I may like the author though, so I will certainly not be writing him off.

I'm now going to focus on Memories of Ice. I have been far too long reading this one.

[Chris]

I'm about 2/3 of the way through The Passage and am enjoying it a lot.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Finished House of Chains last night (well, OK, early this morning). I hope to read Night Watch, The Magic of Recluce, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest before heading back to the Malazan books.

[Sumant]

Here is my review the Dead beat the 7th book in dresden files series.One of the best books so far for me in the series.

[Tani]

I finished off Memories of Ice yesterday, cried my tears, and now am taking a short Malazan break. :)

To replace it, I started Magic Bites for work and Gemini Cell at home. Both of them are shaping up to be quite good, so I'm a very happy reader.

[Christine]

I finished Love Minus Eighty which I enjoyed but must point out that it is a romance novel clothed in SciFi clothing. I'm not much of a romance fan. I next read out of genre Big Little Lies which was okay and started on The Quantum Thief which just doesn't grab me so I picked up another out of genre book at the library today, Look Again. I managed to break a bone in my foot this last weekend so I see a lot of reading time ahead

[Shel, Moderator]

LOVE the Kate Daniels books - enjoy!

I'm genre hopping at the moment: after finishing Touch of Power, fun YA fantasy, I ripped through Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions and am now on to some regency romance with April Lady. Reading one-handed while cradling baby in the other hand is much easier with an e-reader - I may be able to keep up my reading pace after all!

[Alissa]

Finished reading Traitor's Blade and Knight's Shadowby Sebastien de Castell, great swashbuckling fantasy with a refreshing protagonist, not perfect yet not a klutz nor an anti-hero. Pacy books, the plot is okay (nothing original, some bending), but so much fun! My review for the first book.

I would definitely recommend The High Crusade for a quick and humorous fantasy/scifi/historical fiction read (my review), a medieval baron, a cleric and blue aliens.

Currently reading Song of the Beast by Carol Berg, I've wanted to try her for a while now, I guess a standalone is a better place to start and the summary is very intriguing.

[Andreas]

Deathbird Stories, a story collection from Harlan Ellison. I highly recommend it - my review is here.

[Shel, Moderator]

Alissa wrote: "Currently reading Song of the Beast by Carol Berg, I've wanted to try her for a while now, I guess a standalone is a better place to start and the summary is very intriguing. "

Ooh, I'm looking forward to your review. I haven't read that one. Her Rai-Kirah trilogy is wonderful - especially the first book Transformation. The other two were good but not quite up to par with the first :)

[Tani]

Shel, I am excited to read the Kate Daniels books. So far, there's been none of the slow start that a lot of urban fantasy/paranormal romances have, which is great. The writing is very solid too, so it seems like it will be a winner.

I read Song of the Beast years ago, and I liked it. Her Rai-Kirah trilogy is much better though. Of course, I speak from a place of bias, as Transformation is one of my favorite books ever. I really need to read her more recent books...

[Alissa]

So far Song of the Beast is very good, the start was both easy to follow and interesting, I am already at 30% and this is the first moment I've felt a need for a pause. I would say there are classic fantasy elements. I like the fact though the protagonist has been horribly wronged, he contemplates the possibility revenge is best not served at all. Not sure what he is going to do. Great writing style and careful world-building. Hope it will keep.
I'll be sure to try Transformation!

[Bill]

I just finished a delightful mythic fantasy The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris

Am now reading a Cli-Fi called Surviving Abe.

[Lindsey]

Finished Uprooted today. Enjoyed it greatly. It's a solid page turner and great modern take on a fairy tale.

[Christine]

I started Look Again and then learned there were two books available at my library. I went to pick them up and found a stack of seven books waiting. I've now switched to The Escape and have six more books waiting

[Jonathan]

Reading Death Troopers and The Dog Stars. Both are quite different from each other, but enjoying both all the same.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of state of art short story collection in culture series.

Here is my review of restaurant at the end of universe.

[Bill]

Just started The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi another Cli-Fi

[Lulu]

Kernos wrote: "Just started The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi another Cli-Fi"

Ah, read this a little while ago, just after it came out. I thought it was really good - like a summer blockbuster in a book.

I look forward to hearing what you think of it! Hope you enjoy :)