What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed* Showing 10,501-10,550 of 13,523

[Christine]

Susinok wrote: "Magic happens when a person is good at both"

YES!

I am following Wired for Story up with the book Microstyle, which is about writing really well in few (very few!) words. It's aimed at crafting book titles, brand names, product slogans, Twitter messages, and other micro-writing, but I'm finding it helpful in learning how to craft good prose in general. I am a firm believer of "less is more," especially in writing (Josh is my role-model for an author who crafts really lush lean writing--i.e., can convey a lot in fewer words).

So, I've read a book about creating good stories...and now I'm balancing that out with one about good writing! :D

[Reggie]

For you mystery fans here is a link I got from Chris :

It has a list of mystery books with Gay & Lesbian MC's-

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/Div...

[Sarah]

Reggie wrote: "For you mystery fans here is a link I got from Chris :

It has a list of mystery books with Gay & Lesbian MC's-

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/Div..."

This is great. Thanks!

[Sara]

Reggie wrote: "For you mystery fans here is a link I got from Chris :

It has a list of mystery books with Gay & Lesbian MC's-

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/Div..."

That's a very useful list. Thanks, Reggie!

[Caroline]

Aleksandr wrote: "Oh, she has. If you want it, I can post it to you rather than put it in the charity shop."

That's a most kind offer and from what I've found out on-line Maria McCann does seem to know her stuff. I look forward to reading it.

[Aleksandr]

I met her at a workshop and have a huge respect for her. And the language is amazing. Absolutely top-class and an inspiration for every historical writer. :) I'll put it in the post today or tomorrow.

[Minne]

thank you Reggie! - i am off now until 7 Jan and will be reading some great whodunnits!Yay!

[Susinok]

Just started Gold Digger by Aleksandr Voinov. I wonder if Nikolai's father appears in any of the other books. Seems like he'd be the type. Must read more.

[Aleksandr]

Which other books? :)

[Susinok]

Special Forces or Dark Soul? Haven't read them yet. But the retired military father seems he could come from those.

[Aleksandr]

Oh. He's one of the main characters in Special Forces. :) There's an alternative version of him in Dark Edge of Honor (Sergei is Vadim, young and idealistic). I took the chance to update readers on how he's doing. :)

[Susinok]

Sweet! Something to look forward to then.

[Aleksandr]

:)

[Sara]

Susinok wrote: "Sweet! Something to look forward to then."

Oh, definitely. Make it your priority. If you need any hand-holding let us know :)

[Darkm]

Susinok wrote: "I'm reading Sinner's Gin by Rhys Ford. It is a pretty good mystery and I'm very engaged with the two main characters. There was a 4-5 page masturbation scene I sort of skimmed over after the second..."

This one I haven't read, but I just finished The two Cole McGinnis mysteries, and I'm grateful to the person who recommended those here. They were totally worth it!

Aleks I'm not sure I'd try to read that.

[Tracy]

I am looking forward to getting started on my Christmas stash (but OhMyLORD.) I got , , and -- the last means I need to reread a few and hurry up and catch up on the series! But first I'm rereading because DH got me the movie (miniseries?) and I watched it with my parents & sister and just felt like I needed a reread. Just because, y'know? Anyway, I started last night, and I'm about 2/3 finished, but I have to go to the grocery store before I can finish. Real life is an intrusive force...

[Lady*M]

I finished Dusk Peterson's The Eternal Dungeon (Omnibus of 4 novels and 1 short story = 1000 pages). Very, very interesting premise. A fantasy in pseudo-Victorian world in which psychology was born in torturers' dungeons. Low on graphic scenes, main conflict are psychological. Extremely complex characters. I can't wait to read more of this series.

[K.Z.]

Right now I'm trying to juggle Songs for the New Depression and Immortality is the Suck. It's been . . . strange. :)

[K.Z.]

Lady*M wrote: "I finished Dusk Peterson's The Eternal Dungeon (Omnibus of 4 novels and 1 short story = 1000 pages). Very, very interesting premise. A fantasy in pseudo-Victorian world in which psychology was born..."

This sounds appealing.

[Johanna]

K.Z. wrote: "Right now I'm trying to juggle Songs for the New Depression and Immortality is the Suck. It's been . . . strange. :)"

I'm interested to hear how you liked Immortality is the Suck. I found it... refreshing. ;)

[Christine]

Johanna wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "Right now I'm trying to juggle Songs for the New Depression and Immortality is the Suck. It's been . . . strange. :)"

I'm interested to hear how you liked Immortality is the Suck. I f..."

Ooo. I like the blurb.

[Susinok]

I'm saving Immortality is the Suck for a vampire category in my current challenge. It sounds fun.

[Syfy]

Hey my smart and tasteful friends... I have a question that I hope does not offend anyone.
If you have read Strays, would you send me a pm?

;P

[Johanna]

Syfy wrote: "Hey my smart and tasteful friends... I have a question that I hope does not offend anyone.
If you have read Strays, would you send me a pm?"

This friend apparently isn't a very smart one.... ;) What is a pm?

Not that I can help you anyway because I haven't read Strays... but you got me curious. :)

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Private Message.

I haven't read it, but what a tease Syfy! ;P

[Johanna]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Private Message.

I haven't read it, but what a tease Syfy! ;P"

Aha. Live and learn...Thanks, Manu! :)

[Antonella]

K.Z. wrote: "This sounds appealing."

Here we see once more our tastes *sometimes* diverge. I usually appreciate Lady*M's recs. But I read ''Law of Vengeance'' by Dusk Peterson...

Probably it was a mistake to read only one of the 4 books. Still, it was heavy (like a brick, not because of the content) and boring. In addition - and this is also the author's opinion, see the tags ) it didn't even qualify as m/m IMO, the nearest it came to it is ''male/male platonic feelings, male/male attraction''.

[K.Z.]

Johanna wrote: "I'm interested to hear how you liked Immortality is the Suck. I found it... refreshing. ;)"

That's why I chose it. :) I'm also looking forward to Denise Rossetti's Strongman and Marshall Thornton's The Perils of Praline.

[Syfy]

Johanna got me laughing, I double checked too make sure I hadn't typo'd "bm" instead of "pm".

Strays (view spoiler)[ The characters and story are good, but it's kind of a mess in terms of editing, continuity, etc. Like, I want to quit reading it's such a mess. I have read worse, but the story has such potential that I will be sorely disappointed if it doesn't finish strong enough to offset the awkwardness of it. Was hoping someone could tell me if it was worth finishing? (hide spoiler)]

;P

[Johanna]

Syfy wrote: "Johanna got me laughing, I double checked too make sure I hadn't typo'd "bm" instead of "pm"."

LOL. Hmm... bm wouldn't have meant anything, would it? (I'm really, really bad with the abbreviations in English... *grin*)

[K.Z.]

Antonella wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "This sounds appealing."

Here we see once more our tastes *sometimes* diverge. I usually appreciate Lady*M's recs. But I read ''Law of Vengeance'' by Dusk Peterson...

Probably it was..."

Hm. I do trust your opinion, Antonella. "Heavy like a brick" isn't so appealing. However, the concept did intrigue me.

[Christine]

Johanna wrote: "Syfy wrote: "Johanna got me laughing, I double checked too make sure I hadn't typo'd "bm" instead of "pm"."

LOL. Hmm... bm wouldn't have meant anything, would it? (I'm really, really bad with the ..."

It stands for "bowel movement." *g*

[Antonella]

K.Z. wrote: "Hm. I do trust your opinion, Antonella. "Heavy like a brick" isn't so appealing. However, the concept did intrigue me."

Uh, now I feel guilty, maybe you won't discover a new author because of me. Please check also ''real'' reviewers...

[K.Z.]

I'm always tempted to read books that people consider egregiously bad, like one (by Ryan Field?) that was mentioned here recently. I think I've learned as much about the craft of fiction from reading clunkers as I have from reading genre gems and literary classics.

[Aleksandr]

KZ - Bad books are awesome teachers. :)

[K.Z.]

Aleksandr wrote: "KZ - Bad books are awesome teachers. :)"

Absolutely! I believe that's called learning by negative example. :) But hey, learning is learning, which is always good.

[Aleksandr]

I also have to say I find clunkerrs TREMENDOUSLY motivating. When I think I'm the Most Awfullest Writer on the Planet, nothing lifts me up like a bad book. It triggers my contrarian "I can do better than THAT" reflex.

What's good about BAD writing is also - a good book immerses you, and you tend not to notice what works or how the author did it . A bad one keeps you on the surface and forces you to stare at every mistake.

[Christine]

Aleksandr wrote: "I also have to say I find clunkerrs TREMENDOUSLY motivating. When I think I'm the Most Awfullest Writer on the Planet, nothing lifts me up like a bad book. It triggers my contrarian "I can do bette..."

Agree, on all accounts. :)

But if I read too many bad books in a row, I start to forget what good writing looks like and absorb the bad habits. So, I try to keep my reading diet balanced: a great deal of good books, with a few bad thrown in. ^_~

[Aleksandr]

I'd read maybe one in twenty, and then I rarely finish. If my motivation sags badly, I read "creative writing non-fiction" books. Very little in there I don't know, but I like the "YOU ARE A WRITER AND YOU'RE AWESOME" pep talk. :)

[Susinok]

Aleksandr wrote: "I'd read maybe one in twenty, and then I rarely finish. If my motivation sags badly, I read "creative writing non-fiction" books. Very little in there I don't know, but I like the "YOU ARE A WRITER..."

One of my favorite writing books is Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott. It is by far my favorite writing book. It is more about her (amusing) struggles as a writer rather and encouraging you to write, rather than stuff on plot, character, etc.

I found it in the library years ago. I intend to get a Kindle version.

[Aleksandr]

That's a good one. I'm currently reading Maass's "Writing 21st Century Fiction". I do like his approach to teaching. Another favourite is Noah Lukeman - a Dash of Style is a work of genius.

[Christine]

Ooo. I'm noting all of these writing book recs.

I have Bird by Bird, but haven't read it yet. It was actually first recommended to me by several of my professors. The university bookstore keeps several stacks of this title. Apparently, it is a good book for all writing--including acedemic writing--and not just fiction?

[Susinok]

Aleksandr wrote: "That's a good one. I'm currently reading Maass's "Writing 21st Century Fiction". I do like his approach to teaching. Another favourite is Noah Lukeman - a Dash of Style is a work of genius."

I'm checking those out! Thanks.

[Caroline]

My current craft reads are Monkeys with Typewriters: How to Write Fiction and Unlock the Secret Power of Stories by Scarlett Thomas which is about fiction but is also doing interesting things to the poetry collection I'm working on.

But the winner hands down is Glyn Maxwell and On Poetry. I'm learning so much and he's also making me laugh in places. I'm going to have to buy a print copy of this book though 'cos I can't turn down the corners of the pages on my kindle nor scribble in the margins.

[Lady*M]

Antonella wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "This sounds appealing."

Here we see once more our tastes *sometimes* diverge. I usually appreciate Lady*M's recs. But I read ''Law of Vengeance'' by Dusk Peterson...

Probably it was a mistake to read only one of the 4 books. Still, it was heavy (like a brick, not because of the content) and boring. In addition - and this is also the author's opinion, see the tags ) it didn't even qualify as m/m IMO, the nearest it came to it is ''male/male platonic feelings, male/male attraction''."

The Eternal Dungeon is M/M, though if people expect some dark BDSM, the will be disappointed. They sex scenes are very tame, if you don't count sadist's daydreams. XD I would like more people to read this book so we could discuss the similarities and differences between him and Toreth. :)

[K.Z.]

I, for one, neither expect nor particularly want dark BDSM. And I don't mind tame sex scenes at all.

Are you referring to Toreth in the Administration series? Gotta say, Manna Francis is brilliant.

[Lady*M]

K.Z. wrote: "Are you referring to Toreth in the Administration series? Gotta say, Manna Francis is brilliant."

Yes, yes, yes. Although Layle (MC from The Eternal Dungeon) is a different brand of torturer, they sort of invite the comparison. But, unlike Toreth, he is not a sociopath. His mental shortcomings are different. ^^

Now I have to reread the Administration. Oh, the hard work... XD

[Johanna]

Lady*M wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "Are you referring to Toreth in the Administration series? Gotta say, Manna Francis is brilliant."

Yes, yes, yes. Although Layle (MC from The Eternal Dungeon) is a different brand of t..."

Oh. My. God. There is another character like Toreth out there somewhere?! I'll have to add The Eternal Dungeon into my to-read list, although I'm not sure if I'll ever survive another Toreth. ;)

[Christine]

Reading the second book in the David Brandstetter mysteries, Death Claims. I am again awed by Joseph Hansen's writing ability. I think I read the first page five times just because it was...perfect.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Johanna wrote: "Oh. My. God. There is another character like Toreth out there somewhere?!"

Exactly what I was thinking. "Hey, there's a Toreth in that book" might be the best sale pitch for me :)



ETA to correct a glaring mistake...