What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed* Showing 8,751-8,800 of 13,523

[Dev]

I've been reading a great short story collection - the best gay romance 2011, edited by Richard Labonte (couldn't find it on GR but here's the Amazon page http://www.amazon.com/Best-Romance-20...) They're great little tidbits. I also read the 2009 collection and loved it.

[Karen]

Josh wrote: "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."

I do understand what you're saying and why that would be the case for many readers who may crave that closing bedroom scene, but it's ironic to me since m/m romance is the genre that brought me back to an appreciation of shorter works — some anthologies, the Petit Morts books, Jay Bell's short/sweet LanguageLessons, several others, and of course Perfect Day.

This goes back to something discussed during our SKHE July read — the elegant economy of words possible for someone who has the necessary art and skill, and that a lot of us appreciate an author's respect for the reader's intelligence in not needing everything spelled out.

[Becky]

I want to do more short stories, but I don't seem to get ideas for them. ::sigh::

[Josh]

Karen wrote: "This goes back to something discussed during our SKHE July read — the elegant economy of words possible for someone who has the necessary art and skill, and that a lot of us appreciate an author's respect for the reader's intelligence in not needing everything spelled out.
..."

I think the confusing thing for an author is that in this particular sub-genre you have everything from readers who are just in it for the kink (oohhhh boy on boy!!!!) and readers who really do appreciate the craft -- sometimes we even manage the art -- of storytelling.

So there's such a wide disparity of feelings and opinions. I see the worst dreck (in my humble opinion) praised to the skies -- well, those readers are (generally) not my readers. But sometimes they are -- that's the confusing part.

Once I was able to let go of that, to not care whether some book I think is utter trash is held up as an example of m/m romance -- to simply stay true to my own kooky course -- I have to say it did take a weight off me.

Or maybe that's the healing properties of sabbatical. :-D

[Josh]

Becky wrote: "I want to do more short stories, but I don't seem to get ideas for them. ::sigh::"

Honestly, unless you're willing to price your work at a figure that would seem to confirm the (seemingly) popular notion that anyone can write and all writing is the same, I wouldn't waste my time.

I love short stories. I certainly love writing them. They're a great way to sample someone's work -- but I also just enjoy them in the way you enjoy a piece of chocolate versus a slice of cake.

[K.Z.]

Josh wrote: "Or maybe that's the healing properties of sabbatical. :-D"

Or alcohol, which invariably gives me a more charitable attitude. ;-)

But seriously, I agree with everything you said. Readers' tastes confound and frustrate me no end. All a writer can do is shrug it off, stay true to his/her own voice, and think (usually with false courage and foolish optimism), Damn the torpedoes, and full speed ahead! :-P

[Johanna]

Dev wrote: "I've been reading a great short story collection - the best gay romance 2011, edited by Richard Labonte (couldn't find it on GR but here's the Amazon page http://www.amazon.com/Best-Romance-20......"

Thank you for the recommendation, Dev! That one is also available on Audible.com. I've been a bit disappointed with their m/m selection (the ones that are available for me in Finland), but Best Gay Romance 2011 is available even for me. :)

I'm currently listening The Hobbit. I think it's been at least 20 years since I've read the book and I didn't quite remember how lovely it is! I think it was Josh who recommended this one (with Martin Shaw's narration) a couple of months ago, so thank you for that recommendation, too!

Here is a part of the conversation between Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins to remind you guys of the beauty of it. Somehow it makes me think of a certain, lovable character of Josh's... ;)

"Very pretty!" said Gandalf. "But I have no time to blow smoke-rings this morning. I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone."
"I should think so—in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can't think what anybody sees in them," said our Mr. Baggins, and stuck one thumb behind his braces, and blew out another even bigger smoke-ring.

[Becky]

Josh wrote: "Becky wrote: "I want to do more short stories, but I don't seem to get ideas for them. ::sigh::"

Honestly, unless you're willing to price your work at a figure that would seem to confirm the (seem..."

Thanks for that perspective. Yes, I was having a think about it and trying to decide if they are worth the amount of time they take, or am I better off spending precious time on novels and novellas.

[Johanna]

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..."

I more than agree with your the best moment ever, the turning point thoughts, Emanuela. Because usually the point where a short story ends is the point from where anything and everything is possible. The whole relationship and all the possibilities together. And hope. I'm a sucker for short stories and hope. ;)

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "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/"

Thank you for posting this, Josh! I've never read Mervyn Peake either, but his illustrations (and other art) are fascinating. And the fact that he worked as a war artist during the WWII is interesting - his drawings and poetry from Bergen-Belsen are very moving.

They remind me of an exhibition at Jewish Museum in Prague - one of the most touching museums I've ever visited. The museum has a huge collection of artwork collected from concentration camps (mainly from Terenzin, if I recall correctly). There are lots of drawings and literary works (poems and such) from children. Some of them with extremely distressing subjects, but a lot of pictures with joyful things in them too - happy memories from the time before the war and also their dreams of the new life back home and in peace. And then there is the artwork from adults. Beautiful, skillfull, masterful artwork. No doubt some outstanding artists among them. However the majority of these children and adults didn't live to see the freedom. They were send to Auschwitz (and some other extermination camps) and killed there. Only handful of them survived. What a horrible waste.

So, if you guys are ever going to visit Prague, do not miss this exhibition.

I have one of the children's poems in English. This was written by Frantisek Bass, who died in October 28, 1944 in a gas chamber in Auschwitz only few days before the gas chambers were liquidated.

The garden is small,
the roses smell sweet,
the path is trodden
by little boy's feet.

The boy is tiny,
pretty as bud,
when the bud opens,
the boy will be phut.

[Manda]

Finding myself off to go find the audio of the Hobbit now :) as well as looking up some other books mentioned here.
With short stories being like a piece of good cake, I agree they always seem to leave me wanting more just like a good piece of cake. Josh's in particular.
Now back to lurking......

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Read The Druid Stone, I loved it, because it was full of Ireland and it's magic. It's the first book I've read from these authors, I liked their imagination and their writing. A lot of plot.

I've just finished Aloha Candy Hearts by Anthony Bidulka, the #6 Russell Quant. I liked it more than the previous installments. This was less travel guide and it had more heart in my opinion.



Johanna, that's truly heartbreaking.

[Plainbrownwrapper]

Josh wrote: "So there's such a wide disparity of feelings and opinions. I see the worst dreck (in my humble opinion) praised to the skies -- well, those readers are (generally) not my readers. But sometimes they are -- that's the confusing part. "

Ha, I think I'm probably one of those confusing people. I can appreciate dreck while still loving the "good stuff". I guess I'm the same way with movies -- I enjoy Akira Kurosawa, but I also have a blast watching "Armageddon" or "Independence Day". You might say I have extremely catholic tastes. ;)

The thing is, I appreciate different aspects of each one. I don't expect the "dreck" to serve the same purposes, or to excel in the same areas, as the "good stuff". Ya gotta appreciate each one for what it is. Like, peace out, man, it's all good. ;)

[ED]

Conquest Conquest by S.J. Frost. The first of the series. If you like a bit of over the top love story... fairytale like love story, this is for you. I liked it. There was a bit of drag at some point, but not enough to make me stop reading.

[Plainbrownwrapper]

I just started reading Seducing Stephen. I love the first line: “Gads, there's a boy in my bed. It's Christmas come early.”

LOL!

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Plainbrownwrapper wrote: "Josh wrote: "So there's such a wide disparity of feelings and opinions. I see the worst dreck (in my humble opinion) praised to the skies -- well, those readers are (generally) not my readers. But sometimes they are -- that's the confusing part. "

Ha, I think I'm probably one of those confusing people. I can appreciate dreck while still loving the "good stuff"."

I'm like that too. I like to be entertained and swept away by a book, but I'm also moody. There are books that I'll find eternally beautiful, and some I loved and when I attempted a re-read, I couldn't help the what-was-I-thinking moment. That's why GR is useful and what I use my "reviews" for, I can fix a moment in time.

[Jordan]

Sadly, I'm having trouble reading Doomwyte except when I'm on my lunch break at work. Odd, I know. Plus, I'm exhausted, and a nice romance is easier to read for some other odd reason. Thus, I've been reading L.A. Mischief the second book in P.A. Brown's series. Loving it so far. Especially the bowling scenes.

[K.Z.]

The Picture of Dorian Gray is free at the Kindle Store, so I just might hit this next. It's been a loooong time since I've read Wilde. (Have you all noticed how many literary classics are free for Kindle? I've been hoarding them, figuring Amazon won't be this generous indefinitely!)

[Dev]

K.Z. wrote: "The Picture of Dorian Gray is free at the Kindle Store, so I just might hit this next. It's been a loooong time since I've read Wilde. (Have you all noticed how many literary classics are free for ..."

I read that very recently and was blown away by how much of the story is in dialogue. I'm a big fan of dialogue myself (I talk more than I think - which is, I suppose, an embarrassing revelation) but Wilde reads like a play - which makes sense since he was primarily a playwrite.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Wilde was one of the very first book our teacher made us read and I think it wasn't a wise choice because it was just too good. The book after that was Dubliners by Joyce and I read it wondering why out didn't sound like Wilde :-)

[Susinok]

I still love The Importance of Being Earnest, my favorite Oscar Wilde piece. I love the old BBC production made in the 80s.

I read Portrait of Dorian Grey in high school in a directed reading group. It was an amazing book. Grey was so capital E Evil. (I thought at the time).

I was surprised to come across the painting from the cover of my book at the Chicago Institute of Art on my visit two years ago.

I just finished and will be starting shortly.

[Plainbrownwrapper]

Speaking of LA Heat, I was thinking of that book recently. I read it last year. I kind of liked it, but it seemed so....angry or hostile somehow...as though the author herself were an angry person.

What was your impression?

As for my reading today -- I finished Seducing Stephen, and I'm now reading The Gentleman and the Rogue. Both by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon (a nom de plume, but I forget the real name). I'm not usually real crazy about historicals, but I'm enjoying these. Somehow they seem simple and genuine to me, not overwrought or overly contrived.

[Susinok]

I didn't get an angry author vibe at all. David Laine, the cop, was angry a lot. Especially at the homophobic cops around him and at his situation.

[Plainbrownwrapper]

Susinok wrote: "I didn't get an angry author vibe at all. David Laine, the cop, was angry a lot. Especially at the homophobic cops around him and at his situation."

I should probably reread it, and see how it hits me now. That was the only reason I didn't read the sequel.

[Susinok]

He reminds me of Kimo in the first Mahu book. Kimo was deeply closeted and it made him a little crazy.

[Josh]

Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "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.o..."

That's almost too painful for comment.

[Josh]

Plainbrownwrapper wrote: "Josh wrote: "So there's such a wide disparity of feelings and opinions. I see the worst dreck (in my humble opinion) praised to the skies -- well, those readers are (generally) not my readers. But ..."

Well, to be honest I too am probably one of those confusing people. I have a deep and abiding love for pulp fiction and bad movies. :-D

I am quick to add that I do know the difference, however! :-D :-D :-D

[Reggie]

Has anybody "heard" about Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz?

I see it getting some traction at GR but I am unsure about the story. So if anyone knows.. pm me or I'll see it here.

Thanks!

[Jordan]

Just finished L.A. Mischief this morning. It was really good, and reminded me why I'd set out to read the whole series since it's been so long since I read the first book. Lucky me, at the last book fair I went to, MLR was giving away every book in the series they had in print, so all I had to do was buy Mischief, as I'd already read the first.

Really nice how that worked out, I must say. And yeah, I'm still surprised by it all.

[Anne]

Josh wrote: "Plainbrownwrapper wrote: "Josh wrote: "So there's such a wide disparity of feelings and opinions. I see the worst dreck (in my humble opinion) praised to the skies -- well, those readers are (gener..."

I believe knowing the difference is what counts.

[Plainbrownwrapper]

Anne wrote: "I believe knowing the difference is what counts."

OTOH, I don't think everyone will ever agree on exactly what is dreck and what isn't. One must be careful not to denigrate "dreck" too severely, lest one find oneself placed in that category by others. ;)

[Susinok]

I've only been able to find L.A. Heat, Mischief, and Boneyard in eBook. L.A. Byte and the most recent one are not available yet. I guess they are preparing it for re-publishing at Bristlecone Press.

[Jordan]

Susinok wrote: "I've only been able to find L.A. Heat, Mischief, and Boneyard in eBook. L.A. Byte and the most recent one are not available yet. I guess they are preparing it for re-publishing at Bristlecone Press."

That's interesting to note. Maybe that's why I was able to get them all for free. I started the series before I had an ereader, so print was my choice. And I do like to keep a series either in print or ebook. I don't want every other book in a different medium, you know? So, that worked out well for me.

Let's hope you can get them in ebook soon!

[Karen]

I read Stuart Wakefield's Body of Water — a lot to like despite a few quibbles with the climatic scenes.

Now I'm reading both L.A. Witt's Noble Metals and Sean Kennedy's Wings of Equity. And I finished Carlos Ruiz Zafrón's The Prisoner of Heaven. I'm not always so all over the place, but seem to be losing focus in the waning days of summer vacation.

The Prisoner of Heaven was a full-price hardcover purchase from my "local" (not pub — independent bookstore) to support the bookstore (although it doesn't really mitigate all of my ebook purchases) and because this particular book is a very pretty object. It is the third in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, that may (per the author) be read in any order. Many beautiful phrases (translated from the original Spanish) and an engaging story, but some very difficult subject matter — partly set in a prison in Barcelona during the early days of the Franco regime. It will be interesting to read the other books. I was expecting something like The Alexandria Quartet with dashes of Jerzy Kosiński, but it seems somehow gentler than that.

[Jordan]

I'm now halfway through Brian Jacques' Doomwyte, and loving it. It's much better than some of his others I've read recently. Lots of riddles to solve and new badguys we haven't encountered before, so that all makes it for a fresh new read, even if the setting is the same.

Also just started reading K.Z. Snow's Mongrel for the BOM. Great book so far!

And I just ordered The Persian Boy. Someone posted a picture of Fransisco Bosch as Bagoas, and what a beautiful picture! It's in the Fantasy LGBTQ group, if I recall. I had to know more about him, so even though I have a feeling I'll be blubbering my eyes out at the end of this book, I have to know how she wrote their story.

[Anne]

Persian Boy is wonderful, enjoy! I am in the middle of the latest Chelsea Cain Kill You Twice. Before that it was the latest Harry Bosch novel, by Michael Connelly, one of my favourite detectives. Then I shall also start Mongrel for the BOM reading. Right noe I am sitting at the Bergen airport waiting for my plane back to Oslo. I have just bought my first I pad
so am having fun with it!

[Johanna]

Anne wrote: "I have just bought my first I pad
so am having fun with it!"

Congratulations on you new "library", Anne! :)

[Johanna]

My vacation is almost over and I find myself re-reading AE books for comfort. :) And once again I'm overwhelmed by the scale of the feelings they stir up. I love how Adrien's and Jake's story is so rich in nuances. Comforting? Surprisingly... yes.

I'm also reading Until We Meet Once More from Josh. This one I've been saving for a rainy day. And now when I finally started to read it I'm really impressed. The approach to the story feels very fresh and sharp somehow. Very nice. :)

[Candice]

Have been kissing a lot of frogs to get at the good stuff. I can rec a couple things:

Kim Fielding wrote a trilogy, Stasis, Flux and Equipoise. The first was a little slow, but is the intro and, on the whole, they were a fun read. The only criticism--I found the resolution too quick and easy when it came, but no biggy, and I can recommend.

Am reading a shorter work by Peter Hansen called Night Watch. The cover has you thinking scifi porn (although, there's so much explicit sex in what we read all the time, the line drawn is prob quality and story-telling). Anyway, I'm very impressed. Icky-Sexy monster (of the sort often done for laughs but not here) and a hopeless predicament...

Okay, the more I write about it, the stupider it sounds. But the writing is COOL, and I think Josh or anyone might get a kick out of it.

[Antonella]

Hi, Candice! I think you mean ''First Watch''
http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/f...

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "Plainbrownwrapper wrote: "Josh wrote: "So there's such a wide disparity of feelings and opinions. I see the worst dreck (in my humble opinion) praised to the skies -- well, those readers are (generally) not my readers. But sometimes they are -- that's the confusing part."

Goodreads' Quote of the Day fits nicely to this previous conversation of yours. :) This is Pablo Picasso:

“Ah, good taste! What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness.”

(yours truly is one of those readers with guilty conscience...) LOL.

[Plainbrownwrapper]

Johanna wrote: “Ah, good taste! What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness.”

Perfect! If I could find that quote on the Goodreads site, I'd "like" it right away. :)

(yours truly is one of those readers with guilty conscience...) LOL.

Have no guilt about things like that! Guilt is the tool of the haters. Many people think that all romance is dreck, that all mm romance is dreck, heck, some people think that all fiction is dreck. Enjoy whatever you enjoy with a clear conscience, and don't let anyone else harsh on your mellow. ;)

[Plainbrownwrapper]

Speaking of GOOD, though, I just finished Kaje Harper's Into Deep Waters. What a lovely story -- but I need my hankies! So touching. I especially liked the first part, while the war was still on. Got a little distracted by all the time jumps in the second part. But this was tons better than a lot of the paid-for books out there!

[Karen]

Wow! Just finished Tamara Allen's Downtime, one of the books in Reggie's recent post to E-book Freebies, vetted by a number of you. This is one of the most intelligently written and appealing historical (and modern) romances I've read, near the top.

I'd felt a bit like Candice, also "kissing a lot of frogs," the past couple of days in a detour from the good stuff (Wings of Equity and a re-read of Mongrel for our August BOM). So back to those, and on to The Only Gold. More slowly I imagine; as of tomorrow summer vacation is over.

[Jordan]

Kaje Harper is an awesome writer for sure! I've read several of her books, and can't wait to read everything else by her.

I'm halfway through Mongrel right now and loving it!

Over halfway through Doomwyte and loving that too. It helps when I can give myself goals in my reading. For Doomwyte, it's five chapters a day, so I can finish it by the end of the week, and get started with the next summer reading book on my list. Thankfully, this book is suited for that kind of reading. And, surprisingly, this is the first time I've ever read more than one book at a time. In a single day, even.

I finished reading Lessons from a Dead Girl this afternoon. It's a short YA novel that someone gave me as a gift a couple of years back. Yep, sue me, it took me forever to get to it. Thankfully, it was a quick read. Not sure yet how I feel about it. It definitely hit some nerves (it's about an abusive friendship between two girls) and I didn't quite like the first person present tense that it was written in. But, the topic was good, since I don't think there are many books about that. At least not that I've heard of.

So glad to finally get that off my coffee table. lol, just in time for The Persian Boy to arrive this week. lol. My mood right now tells me that'll be my next m/m book, even though I've been dying to read The Irregulars for awhile now. And just got Wraeththu too.

[Plainbrownwrapper]

Jordan wrote: "Kaje Harper is an awesome writer for sure! I've read several of her books, and can't wait to read everything else by her. "

I started on Lies and Consequences this afternoon. I'm really enjoying it too, so far. I've read several of hers, and none of them have been bad -- yet. ;)

[Anne]

Jordan wrote: "Kaje Harper is an awesome writer for sure! I've read several of her books, and can't wait to read everything else by her.

I'm halfway through Mongrel right now and loving it!

Over halfway throug..."

Tell me what you think of Wraethu when you have read it, please? I read it many years ago and was blown away then, it was unlike anything else I had read at the time. But I don't know anybody else who has read it so I am curious how you will view it. It might be I wouldn't be so impressed now, being so much older and all ;), so I would like your opinion.

[Calathea]

The new Harper Fox is out: In Search of Saints. I just bought it and now can't wait to read it this evening!

[Antonella]

I have to wait. That's why I won't buy it till Monday when I leave for Ireland. Scotland comes later ;-)

[Calathea]

Antonella wrote: "I have to wait. That's why I won't buy it till Monday when I leave for Ireland. Scotland comes later ;-)"

Are you going for fun or for work?
And don't forget to take a photo of one of Josh's books in Ireland... ;)