What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed* Showing 8,701-8,750 of 13,523

[Anne]

Johanna wrote: "Anne wrote: "I am in the middle of reading The Brothers Bishop. It's like sitting on a runaway train hurling towards disaster but unable (and unwilling) to leave. It made me have nightmarish dreams..."

But you might need a sweet romance afterwards just to recoup. I know I do :)

[Johanna]

Anne wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Anne wrote: "I am in the middle of reading The Brothers Bishop. It's like sitting on a runaway train hurling towards disaster but unable (and unwilling) to leave. It made me have ni..."

We can always read All She Wrote afterwards... ;)

[Anne]

Johanna wrote: We can always read All She Wrote afterwards... ;)

"

Great idea :)

[Karen]

Johanna wrote: "I'm sooooo screwed when the school starts and I can't spend my nights reading and commenting on Somebody Killed His Editor. *g* "

Me too! Just two weeks from today I'll be back setting up my classroom. (Sigh.) Work long, intense days during the school year, but the two months of summer break are worth it!

I just downloaded The Student Prince. Coincidentally I'm currently watching the first season of BBC's Merlin on DVD. I never caught it when broadcast on network TV in the U.S. Not exactly deep in content or delivery, but the young actors are very pretty, and Colin Morgan (Merlin) has that extra sparkle (not just in his eyes), and naturally I project homoerotic subtext throughout (that the series works hard to suppress/ignore), 'cause that's just the way I am... ;-)

[ttg]

Thanks for the rec for The Student Prince. Just downloaded and looking forward to checking it out. (And I love it when stories are available for download in mobi/kindle format. So handy!)

[Karen]

I finished The Student Prince today. A sweet read. It is fanfic, referencing the characters pretty much as portrayed in BBC's Merlin, but transposed to a clever modern alt-U.K. that nods openly to Harry Potter and pop culture. Yes, it could have been shorter (particularly with the Gwen-Lance angst), but I enjoyed the dialogue/chemistry between the MCs, well-done sidekicks, and Merlin's inner voice.

[K.Z.]

I've been meaning to read some of Lucius Parhelion's stories but don't know where to start. Any suggestions?

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

K.Z. wrote: "I've been meaning to read some of Lucius Parhelion's stories but don't know where to start. Any suggestions?"

I've only read and liked Faster Than The Speed Of Light, it's set in the late 40s. It drags a bit sometimes, but I liked the writing. This is my review, condensed in The whole story seems to have a shine of polite deception that is written with a touch of humor and a bit of sarcasm. Auto-quotation, yeah!

[Anne]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "I've been meaning to read some of Lucius Parhelion's stories but don't know where to start. Any suggestions?"

I've only read and liked Faster Than The Speed Of Light, it's set in the ..."

I agree, that was a great story in my opinion, and it was interesting to learn about that time as well.

[Antonella]

K.Z. wrote: "I've been meaning to read some of Lucius Parhelion's stories but don't know where to start. Any suggestions?"

I've read basically all of his stories and everything was very good to excellent. If you plan to read only one thing then, yes, Faster Than The Speed Of Light would be the best.

My self-citation is shorter, Manu: ''5 Stars''

[Johanna]

K.Z. wrote: "I've been meaning to read some of Lucius Parhelion's stories but don't know where to start. Any suggestions?"

I bought his Dry Bones sometime ago, because somebody (Christopher, maybe) said such positive things about it in this thread. Unfortunately, I haven't have time to read it yet. But now that you mentioned Lucius Parhelion... ;) I really should read it before I'll forget it altogether. If you start with Faster Than The Speed Of Light, let us know how you liked it. It sure sounds like a good one (based on what Manu, Anne and Antonella said). :)

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Yesterday I finished the adorable Baby, It's Cold Outside, I give my personal award for most interesting body concealment.

I also finished Cards on the Table, I hope you don't think I'm silly if I say it was orgasmic.

This morning I began Sarah Black's Murder at the Heartbreak Hotel from the same book, and I'm heartbroken indeed. I have no idea where this is going.

[K.Z.]

Thank you all!

[Charming]

K.Z. wrote: "I've been meaning to read some of Lucius Parhelion's stories but don't know where to start. Any suggestions?"

I like him a lot. He has a lot of intelligence and humor, and does well portraying other eras.

Possible downsides: He tends to write closed door sex and doesn't always provide happy endings.

[Josh]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "This morning I began Sarah Black's Murder at the Heartbreak Hotel from the same book, and I'm heartbroken indeed. I have no idea where this is going.
..."

Ah! That is an aptly named story, isn't it?

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Josh wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "This morning I began Sarah Black's Murder at the Heartbreak Hotel from the same book, and I'm heartbroken indeed. I have no idea where this is going.
..."

Ah! That..."

I keep reading and I can barely keep myself together plus I can't trust anyone, even the narrator is impossible to grasp

[Johanna]

Today I've been reading Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson. Anne recommended this lovely story from Norwegian author a while ago. Its narration is done in plain, yet very powerful way. It's extremely emotional, even tragic, but the words are used very economically. For me it feels familiar, because it has a strong Scandinavian feel to it: the insightful description of nature, the slow rhythm of the story revealing itself. It's not in a hurry, the story has taken a lifetime to form and it has many layers. I haven't finished it yet, but I already know that I love it. This would be a perfect book to read in a hammock while clouds roll slowly by (hint hint). ;)

Out Stealing Horses reminds me of another book I read a couple of years ago from an author that was born in Sweden, but lives now in New Zealand. The book is called Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs by Linda Olsson. While Out Stealing Horses tells about the men of two families, this is a tale of two women that become friends against all odds. Both books deal with themes like friendship, love and loss, the strange paths of life. They are not m/m books, but they have a unique, beautiful melancholic feel to them that makes me want to recommend them both.

[Vivian]

Johanna wrote: "Today I've been reading Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson. Anne recommended this lovely story from Norwegian author a while ago. Its narration is done in plain, yet very powerful way. It's extre..."

Oooh, I like all things Scandinavian. I have watched some Finnish films and I was spellbound. Thanks for the recommendation, Johanna. :)

[Meraehl]

K.Z. wrote: "I've been meaning to read some of Lucius Parhelion's stories but don't know where to start. Any suggestions?"

I first discovered Parhelion a while ago, and I don't think I've read one story I didn't like. I very much enjoy the historical settings and Parhelion's writing voice. There's lots of charm and characterisation.

You should also pay a visit to http://www.e-fic.com/sundog/original..... There's some free fic there that's well worth reading.

[Anne]

Vivian wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Today I've been reading Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson. Anne recommended this lovely story from Norwegian author a while ago. Its narration is done in plain, yet very powerful..."

I am familiar with and love both books and they both bring me back to my childhood summers.

I am glad you enjoy it Johanna

[ED]

Not a well known, but free download. Indulgence. It is not for everyone. Some violent bits, but if you are able to read Special Forces, you have no issues dealing with this one. I really like it actually. The story line is complex and interesting. It is not as heavy as SF though. After you read that you might read a Cardeno C. Book. Home Again. It is part of a series. A bit kitchy at times, but a good calmer downer after Indulgence LOL.

[Antonella]

Maybe one can read some reviews about ''Home Again'' before exposing oneself to the book ;-).

I recommend this one by Kassa:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Jordan]

Finally finished Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War this morning.

Just wow. Very bloody, yet so beautifully told. And reading the afterword at the back was most interesting because the author tells you why he wrote the book as he did, why he didn't mean for it to contain wonderful literary prose. He wanted to take himself out of the picture and to tell the story from the POV of the boys who were in that battle. Honestly, what other way is there to tell such a story?

It was a stressful book, hard to read at times, and yet, I could not put it down.

Now, I'm off to read Counterpunch. been dying to read that one ever since I got it at the rainbow book fair a few months ago.

After that small deviation, I'll dive back into the last of my summer reading books at the start of August. Can't wait to get them all done!

[Antonella]

Jordan wrote: "I'm off to read Counterpunch. been dying to read that one ever since I got it at the rainbow book fair a few months ago. "

It's absolutely outstanding!

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Antonella wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I'm off to read Counterpunch. been dying to read that one ever since I got it at the rainbow book fair a few months ago. "

It's absolutely outstanding!"

Ditto!

[Jordan]

YAY! So glad to know you enjoyed it. I can't wait!

[ED]

Antonella wrote: "Maybe one can read some reviews about ''Home Again'' before exposing oneself to the book ;-).

I recommend this one by Kassa:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

In general I agree with the review. But I do also judge a book not just by how realistic it is, or how real the characters behave. It is fiction after all. If a book gave me a few hours of entertainment, even if it is a fairy tale, I will give it a thumbs up. I read 3 books in this series and "Where it ends and I begin"... I could not finish it, gave up a few chapters in. I also think it is not fair to judge by one review alone, especially if you pick the most negative one. You will find a few that are more positive.

[Reggie]

ED wrote: "But I do also judge a book not just by how realistic it is, or how real the characters behave. It is fiction after all. If a book gave me a few hours of entertainment, even if it is a fairy tale, I will give it a thumbs up..."

Hi ED, I agree with you! Yes entertainment, I am entertained by different things, depending on my mood. I can enjoy a fairytale every once in awhile too! 8)

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

In the weekend I finished Murder at the Heartbreak Hotel, perfect title. It's a story full of what-ifs.

Then I finished the Petits Morts with Immortal Coil, I liked the concept of this series very much. Some reviewers complained that they were not really satisfied because we only got to see the beginnings of the romantic stories, but for me that was the the point, from that moment on they were fair game for MY imagination. Anyway: a new mythology and 17 seeds of love, I couldn't ask for more.

Then I read Curse of Arachnaman, 4th book in The Masks series, it's YA. I am enjoying this series very very much. Superheroes, but the protagonist is an ordinary teenager with all teenagerish problems. Very very funny and sweet.

[Antonella]

ED wrote: "In general I agree with the review. But I do also judge a book not just by how realistic it is, or how real the characters behave. It is fiction after all. If a book gave me a few hours of entertainment, even if it is a fairy tale, I will give it a thumbs up. I read 3 books in this series and "Where it ends and I begin"... I could not finish it, gave up a few chapters in. I also think it is not fair to judge by one review alone, especially if you pick the most negative one. You will find a few that are more positive."

Of course you can't judge a book by a review. But I've read the book myself and I agree 100% with the review.

Everybody has comfort readings, I just wouldn't pick up this book as such. I wanted to share my experience.

[Anne]

I am currently reading Guardian which is a fantasy (and m/m) and very well written. I like it when the author trusts the reader enough not to dump a lot of information at once but let the information and the world building be uncovered gradually in a way that suits the story.

Just for fun, I have to tell you that Saturday I went with two of my nephews to see an exhibition of Animals You Wish Don't Exist. These animals figure in a series of books for kids written by Jo Nesbø, that some of you, who like Nordic Noir, is familiar with. He has also written a series for kids, a kind of humoristic fantasy, the first book is Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder Book 1. Very enjoyable, also for the adult who reads aloud. The exibition is situated in the Natural History museum in between the real, stuffed animals and consists of several fantastic and slightly grotesque animals, like the Giant Rat and the Moon Chameleon. Like everything this guy does, it is very well done.

[Johanna]

Anne wrote: "He has also written a series for kids, a kind of humoristic fantasy, the first book is Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder Book 1.

Ha! That book is great! I've read it out loud for third graders few years ago and they enjoyed it (so much at times that they were in danger of falling off their chairs while giggling). In Finnish translation there is no "Book 1" in the title, so I didn't realize until now that it's a series with two more books in it. I'll definitely have to get those, too. Thanks, Anne. :)

The exhibition you went to see with your nephews sounded so much fun that I couldn't resist the urge to take a look at some internet sites about it. This was a good one (and it's in English):

http://thisisnotadvertising.wordpress...

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Anne wrote: "I am currently reading Guardian which is a fantasy (and m/m) and very well written. I like it when the author trusts the reader enough not to dump a lot of information at once but let the informati..."

I liked this very much, both for the setting and the protagonists. I should bump the sequel up in my TBR list, probably use that Dreamspinner 25% discount, mmmh, I'm sooooo easy :)

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Ooops, I thought the Aisling series was with Dreamspinner, but it's not, it's with Torquere

[Becky]

Right now I'm reading Bound by Blood by Jourdan Lane. It's not a total trainwreck, but it isn't very good, either. Reminds me of an all male version of Anita Blake, without the flashy powers. Characters keep flip flopping their attitudes, which is really freaking annoying. I'm at 59%, and I haven't quite decided if I'm going to give it up or if I'm so far in that I just want to finish and be done with it.

Possibly the biggest disappointment is that it's theoretically set in Houston. I LOVE Houston. Lived there for years. This book is essentially set on a blank soundstage. There is absolutely no flavor of Houston at all. It could be anywhere, and as a result it's nowhere.

[ED]

This I really enjoyed.. Scarlet Blackwell's Inferno I gave it a solid 4.

[Becky]

I'm just about to start Kay Berrisford's Bound to the Beast. It's been lurking on my Kindle for so long she's already got another out, Catching Kit, which I definitely fancy too.

Kay's books are fun because they are such a mash up of genres, with historical, fantasy, paranormal and BDSM all mixed in. Bound for the Forest made me more than once say "I've never seen THAT before."

[Susinok]

Started Eric Arvin's Another Enchanted April last night. It's got some first book problems with it, but it's an m/m version of a book I really enjoyed. It should be fun. I loved Galley Proof. It was so very different and brilliant.

[Karen]

I'm embarrassed to admit what I've read this week after our amazing Somebody Killed His Editor discussion — two longish books with appealing HMs and plots that involved very unbelievable situations, very wicked antagonists, and long, hot, but routinely described sex scenes one after another; then a short sweet (too sweet) story where everything worked out for the HM so well that I kept racing through pages with the expectation of an inevitable train wreck (both HMs suddenly carjacked and killed or something equally awful), kind of like watching a movie to the end that you would normally walk out of because you can't believe what you're seeing and think you must be missing something. But nothing bad happened and they got their HEA.

OK, so now I'm going back to the Lynn Flewelling series and looking into some of the steampunk titles suggested as possible BOM reads.

[Jordan]

Well, for the moment, I have to get back to the last three summer reading books I promised the world I would read. So, I'm back to catching up with Brian Jacques's Redwall series, reading Doomwyte. I have to say though, as far as recommendations go, Mossflower is my all time favorite book in the Redwall series. This is my favorite YA/Children's fantasy series.

And I can't wait to see what the BOM is this month. And all I really want to do is relax and delve into a bunch of M/M with nothing else. Ah well. September will get here soon enough, even though I don't want the warm weather to end.

[Johanna]

Vivian wrote: "I have watched some Finnish films and I was spellbound."

Wow. That's neat! And unusual since Finnish movie industry isn't that huge... *grin* So I'm guessing that the movies must have been Aki Kaurismäki films? Maybe his Le Havre from last year? He is an auteur director who has a very original way to tell his stories. The way I see it one either loves his movies or just can't stand them at all. I like them. :)

[Reggie]

I am currently reading Death Claims by Joseph Hansen.

I found a site on-line that I found a bunch of his books reasonably priced and a collection of Chandler's that was CHEAP! (i'm excited)

They send outside the USA too. I'll put the info under the spoiler if you are interested. (view spoiler)[ Thriftbooks.com – the world’s largest online retailer of used books. In addition to our unparalleled customer service, we guarantee the best books at the lowest prices.
A few of our benefits:

FREE shipping in the USA
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Discounts on multi-book orders from the same warehouse http://www.thriftbooks.com/category/c... (hide spoiler)]

[Anne]

Reggie wrote: "I am currently reading Death Claims by Joseph Hansen.

I found a site on-line that I found a bunch of his books reasonably priced and a collection of Chandler's that was CHEAP! (i'm excited)

They..."

I picked that series up quite by accident here in Oslo several years ago and liked the books very much. The bookstore I found them in used to have a lot of interesting books not found any where else, but these days they only sell the big bestsellers and mainstream books. Thank goodness for e-books :)

[Becky]

I'm also reading the Lashings of Sauce anthology. Rationing myself to a couple of stories a day. Of course I don't need to read the very last one in there - it's mine, so I've already read it approximately seven million times already. :D

[Josh]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Some reviewers complained that they were not really satisfied because we only got to see the beginnings of the romantic stories,..."

Hmm. But that's kind of the point of a short story? It's just the capture of a moment in time.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Josh wrote: "Hmm. But that's kind of the point of a short story? It's just the capture of a moment in time."

Yep, and it's probably the best moment ever, the turning point, so personally I felt privileged, not dissatisfied. There are a few readers that really don't like short stories :)

[Josh]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Josh wrote: "Hmm. But that's kind of the point of a short story? It's just the capture of a moment in time."

Yep, and it's probably the best moment ever, the turning point, so personally I felt pr..."

Very true! This is a genre which does not, in general, favor the short story -- which is quite odd given how in other parts of the publishing realm the short story has made such a huge comeback.

[Josh]

I'm currently reading -- well, listening to -- Titus Alone by Melvyn Peake. I'd never heard of Peake. He's brilliant. And you know how rarely I feel that way.

http://www.mervynpeake.org/

[Sarah]

Short stories are really growing on me. A big plus point is sometimes I can't concentrate enough for a full novel - a short story gives me the same escapism but in a size I can manage.
And there are many, many good shorts out there - I now find myself looking for them :)

[Aleksandr]

I agree - I love reading shorts on the way to work.