What Are You Reading in June 2010

[Arthur]

Hi folks.
We are well into June and I believe it is time to start the topic.

I finished by Andrew Davidson yesterday.
Incredible love story. Not for faint-hearted though. Fantastic book.
My thoughts

The next one is by Guy Gavriel Kay
Although, it is a bit difficult to concentrate on it after The Gargoyle.

[Kriss]

I got Asimov's "The Gods Themselves" since I haven't read it in about 35 years.

[Thomas]

Finishing up Heinlein's GLORY ROAD today. Lately, I've been re-discovering classic scifi writers. Completed Asimov's first 5 books of the Foundation series...

[Phoenixfalls]

I finally finished Little, Big. In the end, it just didn't work for me. . .

Now reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, which I'm about halfway through and enjoying (though a plot has yet to materialize).

Up next:

And all of those will take a back seat the instant comes out, because I will have to read it immediately. :)

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

I've been reading my way through C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series. It's all right but ... honestly I find the main character to be pretty annoying a lot of the time.

I've been on a bit of a mystery kick, branching out into a new genre I suppose; the ones featuring Charles Lenox, which start with A Beautiful Blue Death, are the ones I've read most recently. If you know the genre even a little bit there probably won't be any surprises there. Sometimes I think the author put as much (or more) effort into representing 19th century England as he did into the story. Depending in your perspective, this might be good, bad, or merely tolerable.

A few minutes ago I finished Mairelon the Magician. It was okay, but I think I prefer Sorcery and Cecelia (co-written by the same author, and taking place in a similar setting).

I just got a call that my copy of Magic Below Stairs has arrived, and I am very much looking forward to reading that.

[CV]

Just finished Horns by Joe Hill. I really enjoyed it. In fact, I liked it better than his previous book, Heart-Shaped Box.

After that I have The Anubis Gates, 2666, Liar, Jurassic Park, and The Unincorporated Man lined up and ready to go. June is going to be a good month.

[Benjamin]

I just finished The Scar by China Miéville. Felt like it ran out of steam a little toward the end, but on the whole it was very good. I think I enjoyed it just a touch more than PSS.

[Lara Amber]

I finished American Gods this weekend and I'm back on A Tale of Two Cities. I really need to finish it, but it's so slow!

[Jeremy]

Just finished the Seventh Sword series by Dave Duncan, and now finally starting Game of Thrones.

[Alice]

I'm reading Windup Girl right now. I know it's months late, but that's how long it took for me to get a hold of a copy from our local library. Now in retrospect I should've just bought it, because this book is utterly blowing my mind. This guy writes like writing is his second nature.

Funny thing, a few pages into this book it suddenly hit me out of nowhere that this guy might've written one of the most memorable science fiction short stories I've ever read. Mind you his name didn't sound familiar to me at all (I'm horrible with names, especially one like his). But I looked it up, and he did. He wrote "The People of Sand and Slag" and I remember also being utterly stunned by it when I read it in Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse more than a year ago.

[Benjamin]

Marian, Bacigalupi is one of my new favorite authors. He really has a way of writing doesn't he? Have you checked out his new YA book Ship Breaker or the collection Pump Six and Other Stories yet?

Back on topic, I just finished Ex-KOP by Warren Hammond. I didn't like quite as much as KOP, but it was a very decent sequel. It also sets up stuff for more books so I'll definitely have to keep an eye on this author.

[Erin]

I'm reading the Millenium Trilogy right now. Finished both The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire this month and right now I'm working on The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Stieg Larsson, you died too soon and broke all of our hearts along the way. R.I.P.

[Jon]

Finished my wild ride with Kay and the Ninth Driver with Lord of Emperors (my review). Now I'm returning to finish, in the next hour or so, another book club read: The Second Coming

After that, not sure what's next. I should read another Kay book, Under Heaven, but after reading Brooke's review, I may want to separate myself from the Sarantine Mosaic a bit before tackling a similar version in Asia. I've got a couple of anthologies to rush through, on short loan from the library so that could do the trick.

[Alice]

Beniowa, I haven't read his other books yet. I just put a hold on Pump Six from my local library, and I didn't even know about Ship Breaker! Thanks for telling me, I'll look for it today :)

Other books I'm reading: The Rising (Brian Keene), The Stars My Destination (Alfred Bester), Burning Chrome (Gibson), Pump Six (Bacigalupi) if I get it before the month ends. I just finished Candide and just about done with Windup Girl.

I'm really in the mood for more books like Windup Girl. Liquid prose, well-woven plot with a heavy topic. Depressing is good. Anyone got any suggestions?

[Sandi]

Marian--check out The Passage by Justin Cronin. I think it will be just what you're looking for.

[Bronwyn]

So far this month I've finished The Angel Experiment, Going Postal, and Making Money. I'm currently reading The Mysterious Benedict Society, Magic for Marigold, and Manja. Next week I go on vacation and I'm bringing the next few Maximum Ride books and any of the ones I'm reading now that I'm not done with. :)

[stormhawk]

I responded to an offer here on goodreads and am reading a review copy of Spirit by Andrew Feder. Interesting concept, could have used an editor.

[Julia]

I've read this month:Blue Boy* Because I am Furniture* Ash*The Faery Flag: Stories and Poems of Fantasy and the Supernatural* Here There Be Angels* The Storyteller's Daughter: One Woman's Return to Her Lost Homeland*The White Road* Shadow Tag*Helmet For My Pillow.
Now I'm reading How to Ditch Your Fairy.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

I can report that Magic Below Stairs is a fun read. If you enjoy Regency era fantasies, you should give it a whirl. It's more targeted toward the younger demographic, though, so there isn't much in the way of romance. (Which is not to say that it's non-existent. Just that there's no major romantic plot or subplot.)

I just finished Moonshine. If you're on the paranormal romance train, you will probably enjoy it. The main character reminded me a little bit of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan. But in general it seems pretty faithful to the 1920s.

[Jon]

I finished The Second Coming (my review) yesterday morning before driving an hour to my grandmother's funeral. Not the best type of book to read right before attending such a function. :)

Since I can't renew an Interlibrary Loan, I'll have to quickly finish The Solaris Book of New Fantasy so I can return it Monday. If I get that anthology done today (and I hope to), my next book club read is The Last Stormlord.

So glad I have a lazy Saturday to spend indoors where it's cool. Outside, in Kansas for the next several days, it will be highly humid and in the mid to upper 90s. Yuck! And it's not even officially summer yet!

[Lara Amber]

Well I finished A Tale of Two Cities, it really picked up in the last half. I'm about halfway through Around the World in Eighty Days. I'm not sure what's next. I have a good 25 titles left on my quest to reread the classic literature I read in junior high and high school.

[Michael]

I just finished up David Anthonty Durham's Acacia: The War with the Mein. It's an epic fantasy (or so it claims) and it really bogged me down a bit from my other reading. I'm working on a challenge to read the Earthsea trilogy by month's end as well.

[Michael]

Cv wrote: "Just finished Horns by Joe Hill. I really enjoyed it. In fact, I liked it better than his previous book, Heart-Shaped Box.

After that I have [book:The Anubis Gates|1..."

I loved Horns. One of my favorite books this year.

[Richard]

Just finished Old Man's War by John Scalzi. So good I had to pull an all-nighter to finish it in one go. That doesn't happen very often to me. Looks as if I might have to find a copy of The Ghost Brigades now.
Oh well enough fun for the moment, back to The Fabric of the Cosmos to try to stretch the old grey matter a bit.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

The OMW series is a fun read. Personally, I liked The Ghost Brigades even better.

[Laurel]

I loved the entire series, and am now a bit obsessed with Scalzi. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of The Ghost Brigades!

[CV]

I'm halfway through The Unincorporated Man. What a surprise! It's like reading the best of Heinlein's political books - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, etc.

[Rosabelle]

i'm almost finished with The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson. Enjoying it so far. I like the first book better, but the second one is also unputdownable..

[Emma Rose]

Just bought two books that I'm going to start very soon:



Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (steampunk novel, alternate history of American Civil War with zombies, amongst other things)
The Knife of Never Letting Go (YA fantasy novel, Todd Hewitt lives in a world in which all women are dead, and the thoughts of men and animals are constantly audible)

:)

[Beside]

Right now I am reading Junky. I plan on reading 2666 in July.

[Benjamin]

Put me down as another fan of the OMW books. I like them all though I think my favorite is still the first.

Just a few minutes ago I finished The Dervish House by Ian McDonald, which I found to be a very good read. I think it's my favorite so far of McDonald's works.

[stormhawk]

Bookworm wrote: "Right now I am reading Junky. I plan on reading 2666 in July."

Good luck on 2666. I had a free review copy, thought it was interesting, but never cohesive enough to really like.

I'm reading Care of the Soul In Medicine: Healing Guidance for Patients, Families, and the People Who Care for Them - Thomas Moore

[Beside]

Good luck on 2666. I had a free review copy, thought it was interesting, but never cohes..."


wow, I hope I find it interesting. ITS 900 Pages! maybe it was the translation.

[M.]

I just finished The Red Pyramid, which I thought was a fun read. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next installment of the series.

Also in the middle of reading Kraken. It's slow going just because I'm having a bit of a time following the dialogue between the characters. It also seems all over the place when it comes to magic... there seems to be no holds barred with what you can do in the story.

Next on my list is The Synthesis. After reading The Red Pyramid, I'm thinking I might take a look at The Anubis Gates because I'm enjoying the Egyptian mythology.

[[deleted user]]

Just finished The First Law trilogy. Started in on Best Served Cold, but haven't had much time for it yet.

[Amber]

Ala wrote: "Just finished The First Law trilogy. Started in on Best Served Cold, but haven't had much time for it yet."

The First Law trilogy was excellent! Best Served Cold was great, several characters from the trilogy appear or are mentioned, but even without them the book's excellent.

[Katie]

I'm in the process of finishing The Hammer of the Sun which I had almost given up on until, finally, at page 200, it miraculously became interesting. I would have persevered with it anyway as it's the last book in a trilogy the first two books of which I enjoyed, but it's rather a relief to know that it's not all going to be as much of a struggle as the beginning was.

I've also started The Swan Thieves today which is so far so good. Only on page 37 though, so I'm not really in much of a position to pass judgment yet.

Finally, I'm reading the wonderful The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear. It's such a fun read, but it's far too big and unwieldy to read on the train so I only get to read a few pages each night before I fall asleep. It's a great book though and the illustrations are just perfect.

[Sandi]

I'm listening to Best Served Cold and am really glad I only paid $4.95 for it. I'm pretty sure I'm going to remove it from my iPod. The narration is terrible and I'm really not liking the story enough to get past it. I've listened to about 4-1/2 hours and I think that's enough. I liked The First Law Trilogy, but I thought it ran out of steam in the third book. I just may be over Abercrombie.

I've just read Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente and The Passage by Justin Cronin. I'm currently reading WWW:Wake by Robert J. Sawyer.

[[deleted user]]

Amber wrote: "The First Law trilogy was excellent! Best Served Cold was great, several characters from the trilogy appear or are mentioned, but even without them the book's excellent. "
Yeah, I really liked The First Law trilogy. So far,
Best Served Cold is pretty good.

[Elizabeth]

I've been on a bit of a YA kick recently, because I love the less serious voice of many of the writers in that market.

This month I've read:

The Demon's Lexicon (#1)
and

The Demon's Covenant (#2)
Both are YA urban fantasy by the Irish dynamo Sarah Reese Brennan. This series is about two brothers, Nick and Alan Ryves, on the run from magicians whose lives become entangled with a brother and sister, Mae and Jamie Crawford. Brennan's writing is witty, hilarious, and heart wrenching with an amazing ending to the first book. I can't wait for the third book in the series.


Leviathan
Also YA, Leviathan is Scott Westerfeld's steampunk, alternate history set in WW1, where the Axis and the Allies are divided into the Clankers (machines of war) and the Darwinists (beasts of war). This book is action-packed with an amazing "what if" regarding the turn of the century, when machines changed war forever. I also loved Westerfeld's voice as well as the face-paced plot. The two protagonists are so much fun and this book has hydrogen breathing, war whales. Need I say more? I can't wait for the next book, Behemoth coming out in October.


I'm currently reading an ARC for Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel, the first book in the Infernal Devices (the prequel trilogy to her bestselling Mortal Instruments series). So far it's not just a rehashing of the characters and story of The Mortal Instruments, but a fresh voice and perspective on the same world, only set in Victorian England with some steampunk elements. And, I love Tessa, its heroine - love her.

[Lost Planet Airman]

I am continuing in my Golden Age experience, reading early award-winning science fiction. Right now I am in the middle of Famous Science-Fiction Stories: Adventures in Time and Space, the number one list on the 1952 Astounding/Analog All-Time Poll.

[Benjamin]

Just returned from Tokyo in Wicked City: Black Guard by Hideyuki Kikuchi. It's the first book in a ten-book series of supernatural horror and urban fantasy recently translated from Japanese. It's somewhat entertaining, but it reads like an over-energized anime film with too much violence and sex and not enough of anything else.

[Amber]

Ala wrote: "Amber wrote: "The First Law trilogy was excellent! Best Served Cold was great, several characters from the trilogy appear or are mentioned, but even without them the book's excellent. "
Yeah, I rea..."

He's got a new book coming out next year; apparently set in the same world as Best Served Cold...

[Pat]

Sibylle wrote: "Just bought two books that I'm going to start very soon:



Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (steampunk nov..."

I will be reading Boneshaker in July for a library book club. I will be curious to see what you think of it.

[Clay]

I'm finishing up the Night's Dawn Trilogy with The Naked God by Peter F. Hamilton. Altogether it's about 3500 pages... Recommended.

[Daniel]

I'm reading "Cold Fire" by Dean Koontz and rather enjoying it so far.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Today I finished Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare?. It's an interesting overview of the authorship controversy. (i.e., did Shakespeare of Stratford write the plays and sonnets which are attributed to him.)

[Robert]

I will be finishing Neuromancer by William Gibson tomorrow. Teriffic book!

[Robert]

Daniel wrote: "I'm reading "Cold Fire" by Dean Koontz and rather enjoying it so far."

I have always thought this was one of his best, but quite overlooked.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

I've started reading LEGO: A Love Story. I'm only about 40 pages in, but so far it's terribly entertaining. :)