What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed* Showing 3,051-3,100 of 13,523

[[deleted user]]

Mariana wrote: "Just finished The Mirador by Sarah Monette and Reverb by Jet Mykles... both were excellent books; LOTS of angst, but satisfying.

Thanks to a tip on the Montly Read gr..."

I read Reverb this week and LOVED it SJ Frost rocks!

I actually just finished yesterday and after taking a hiatus...ended up really loving it...reading Administration #2 right now.

[Jordan]

And I just finished Andrew Grey's A Taste of Love. It was good. And I was glad to know that the conversation he had with his parent's didn't make everything better all of a sudden. Things were somewhat resolved by the end though. It's a cute, quick read. Though, if I recall, Andrew promised I'd be bawling my eyes out... ummm... I almost did. Oh well. There was a happy ending, which was good.

Now... on to the next book! What to read? What to read?

Since this book marked my 43rd book out of my 50 book goal for the year, I just went ahead and upped my goal to 75 books. I'm still ahead (by 13 books or so), and my eventual goal is 100, but I'd like to try to get there by easy increments. I started at 50, and I have no doubt, unless I should die tomorrow, that I'll finish all 50 by the end of June.

[Candice]

Merith wrote: "Merith wrote: "I'm working my way through Ghost Star Night. I'm liking it, but the world is a little confusing. But, the world is unique and the direction and characters are so very ..."

Thank you. I'll give it a try.

[Lee]

Jordan S. wrote: "Wow, so much reading while I was gone!

I just read Touch Me Gently by JR Loveless.

Would it surprise you to know this book was a Lambda Literary nominee?

[Cheryl]

I started Between Sinners and Saints today and it's quite good. Unfortunately, I can't download it onto my ipod from the Amber Allure website, so I'll also be starting Hell Cop 2 tonight as my bedtime reading.

[Becky]

Cheryl wrote: "I started Between Sinners and Saints today and it's quite good. Unfortunately, I can't download it onto my ipod from the Amber Allure website, so I'll also be starting [book:Hell Co..."

I'm dying to read this one. I'm juggling all the Memorial Day weekend sales, trying not to go too far over budget. But I would be very surprised if I manage to make it past Monday without breaking down and buying it.

[Mariana]

Cheryl wrote: "I started Between Sinners and Saints today and it's quite good. Unfortunately, I can't download it onto my ipod from the Amber Allure website, so I'll also be starting [book:Hell Co..."

I actually just bought it off my iPod from the AQ site. I chose Stanza to open and was off and reading... the screen is too small, so now I'm on my PC to download to my Sony :) I thought I would read Visible Friend, but got sucked into BSaS...

[Cleon Lee]

I just got home from bookstore at the city and bought Josh' collected novellas and Alex Sanchez's the God Box, both in paperback! yay! I want to buy more, but I remember ARe's rebate program.

They have a section just for GLBT books, I am so proud. lol. Josh' have the most titles in the shelf. They have complete Adrien English series. (I was so tempted to buy The Dark Tide's paperback). There are also books by Erastes, Charlie Cochrane, Ally Blue, Sean Michael, and some other authors we are familiar with. Most of the books' price are outrageous though, especially books from Dreamspinner. Special Delivery's paperback is 40$. OMG! Imagine how many ebooks I can buy with 40$, esp with rebate or discounts.

So, Josh' novellas will be what I read this week.

[Jordan]

Wow... Touch Me Gently a nominee? ... *sigh*

[Anne]

Cleon wrote: "I just got home from bookstore at the city and bought Josh' collected novellas and Alex Sanchez's the God Box, both in paperback! yay! I want to buy more, but I remember ARe's rebate program.

Th..."

Wow, Cleon, that's so cool! But $40, ouch.... Did you get both volumes of Josh's novellas?

[Cleon Lee]

Only 1, stupidly I left my wallet at home! I had to borrow money from my mom to pay for the books. How embarassing! The novella also cost almost 30$ each, so I refrained from purchasing the 2nd volume for now. I still have to shop on ARe.

I'm going to take the pic of the cover tomorrow, I am so excited. lol.

[Merith]

Cleon wrote: "Only 1, stupidly I left my wallet at home! I had to borrow money from my mom to pay for the books. How embarassing! The novella also cost almost 30$ each, so I refrained from purchasing the 2nd vol..."

You know, if you had a friend in the states, and were able to have them buy the paperback books you want (for about $11 USD), they could ship it to you for about another $10 USD, and that's save you $10. I've picked up several books for a friend of mine in New Zealand (one of the most expensive places to buy books and ship things to), and that's about what I pay when I send her a book.

[Cleon Lee]

Merith wrote: "Cleon wrote: "Only 1, stupidly I left my wallet at home! I had to borrow money from my mom to pay for the books. How embarassing! The novella also cost almost 30$ each, so I refrained from purchasi..."

I know! I also want to support the bookstore for carrying GLBT titles and do not hide them. However, when I take a look at the prices, I think I'll stick to ebooks. So, I'll just buy books that I know I will like or already like.

[mc]

Cleon, you make me realize how lucky I am to be buying paperbacks in the US, and how hard it is elsewhere. Though these days, it's all about the ebooks, even without having committed to an ereader yet. (Soon! Soon!)

What are you looking to pick up at ARe?

[Cleon Lee]

mc wrote: "Cleon, you make me realize how lucky I am to be buying paperbacks in the US, and how hard it is elsewhere. Though these days, it's all about the ebooks, even without having committed to an ereader..."

Some Samhain titles because FW codes don't work on Samhain titles. I need to check my wish-list & to-read list first. Definitely Hemovore & Tamara Allen's Downtime.

[mc]

I finally read a PsyCop story and boy, was it fun. Thanks for the advice, all.

[Jordan]

mc, I'm hoping you started at the beginning. Which one did you read?

They are good aren't they? Wait till you get to GhosTV. I think that one is the best out of them all. lol, I want to reread it again right now!

[mc]

I started with number one. And I'm about to buy the rest (for some reason I already have number 3 in my library. How'd that happen?)

I'm looking through ARe to see if there are any other authors I've never tried before that I should give a try to, given the sale.

ETA: I'm considering Whistling in the Dark, again given so many of the comments here.

[ns]

mc wrote: "I started with number one. And I'm about to buy the rest (for some reason I already have number 3 in my library. How'd that happen?)

I'm looking through ARe to see if there are any other authors..."

mc, you'll really like the psycops series, but I do advise reading in order.

And "Whistling in the Dark" is Allen's best, although it's hard to choose between that one and "The Only Gold." They were both excellent.

I read Downtime recently. I did love it, but it definitely was a bit raw. The first hitch is that it involves time travel, which is not a subject I'm fond of (physics major issues, can't help it), and a subject very, very, very few authors get right. I can only think of Audrey Niffenegger in recent times who wrote a readable time-travel book.

Downtime starts slow, and about a third of the way in I felt Allen was just rambling and had completely lost control of the plot altogether, but it did get smoother in the second half, and finished pretty well.

Much suspension of belief systems is called for, including some gaps in plot, but she is such a talented writer that she can make you care about her characters, what they're feeling, what happens to them, and she's masterful when it comes to building up relationships.

So Downtime was fun, although I have to say if she wrote it again with a better editor and the experience of her more recent books (she's gotten better with each one) she perhaps could really pull off a masterpiece. Fun, nevertheless. I don't think she's capable of writing a bad book.

[ns]

I'm completely strapped for time (real and Internet), so I'm afraid I haven't been able to wade into any of the thread posts at all (sigh..400 odd unread comments!). Back online (and home) this weekend.

[ns]

FWIW, May reading list.

There were only a couple of books I didn't like this month, hence the full list here again, with the exception of one book I'll discuss next month.

I succumbed to temptation and read Manna Francis's first book in the Administration Series last night, despite the title. Thank god it's a free online/html download read -- it was a terrific, terrific book -- and I have a rule against buying anything with a title I can't keep in public (kids, nieghbors, parents, colleagues, etc.) Stops me from buying a couple of authors I want to read like Kim Dare, but wth, it's just discourteous to readers who don't live in isolation. WHY OH WHY do authors actively damage their own sales like this?


Mind F*** -- Francis
Ghost Star Night -- Kimberling
The Red Thread of Love -- Kimberling
Primal Red -- Kimberling
Always The Young Strangers -- Sandburg
Indian Tales -- Kipling
Kim -- Kipling
The Glass Bead Game -- Hesse
Narcissus and Goldmund -- Hesse
Steppenwolf -- Hesse
Downtime -- Allen
Seeing is Believing -- Miller
The Vampire With The Dragon Tattoo -- Rain
Busted -- O'Toole
Notturno -- Maxfield
Prisoner -- Derr
Holiday Treats -- Anthology
Rifter 3 -- Hale
Betweentimes -- JCP
Many Happy Returns -- JCP
Mind Reader -- JCP
Payback -- JCP
The Voice -- JCP
Stroke of Midnight -- JCP
Thaw -- JCP
Verdant -- JCP
Pretty Ugly -- JCP
Moolah and Moonshine -- JCP
Something About Trevor -- Hunt
All Stirred Up -- Maxfield
Three Turns in the Desert -- Plaxy
The Dragon's Tamer -- Derr
Collected Poems -- Elizabeth Bishop
Striking Sparks -- JCP
Hemovore -- JCP
The Cranberry Hush -- Monopoli

[Calathea]

ns wrote: "The Glass Bead Game -- Hesse
Narcissus and Goldmund -- Hesse
Steppenwolf -- Hesse"

Wow, you read Hermann Hesse. I'm in awe. ;-)
(brings back memories of high school classes... not really good ones btw)

[mc]

ns, love the Hesse. I really should read Siddhartha again. I also agree with you on the Niffenegger book and its use of time travel. I like time travel and can suspend some disbelief, but if I think too much about the physics really involved, well, I'm out of it.

The Administration series was an unexpectedly addictive read. I wish I could have it on pdf! (How did you download it to begin with?)

And welcome back (you are back, right?)

[[deleted user]]

Yesterday read and one of the hardest books I've read in any genre...still not sure what to say about it...Today finished and started so far a very nice read...even though the redhead in the cover is kinda scary...just had to point that out.

[ns]

Calathea wrote: "Wow, you read Hermann Hesse. I'm in awe. ;-)
(brings back memories of high school classes... not reall..."

That sounds like school-drilled antipathy talking :). I was lucky that I wasn't subjected to English literature by my educational institutions, and was left to discover the joys of fiction by myself. Makes a considerable difference in one's enjoyment of said fiction, you'll find!

Hesse's Siddhartha and Beneath the Wheel were favorites in my teenage years (still are, for that matter). Inexplicably, only now getting around to reading his other books. I can't recommend them highly enough, although you do have to be in the right mood for some (can be a bit depressing, however thought-provoking and moving). He writes beautifully, simply beautifully.

[ns]

mc wrote: "ns, love the Hesse. I really should read Siddhartha again. I also agree with you on the Niffenegger book and its use of time travel. I like time travel and can suspend some disbelief, but if I think too much about the physics really involved, well, I'm out of it."

Wasn't The Time Traveller's Wife amazing? One of my all time favorites. She managed that book brilliantly.

"The Administration series was an unexpectedly addictive read. I wish I could have it on pdf! (How did you download it to begin with?)"

So I downloaded the individual html stories from her own slashfic online archive site.

Have not tried to convert html into other formats, but likely Calibre or something should be able to do that if needed (?).

"And welcome back (you are back, right?)"

Almost, not quite! Still travelling, and will be offline next three days, in fact, travelling back to the US. Will be home and back to regularly scheduled life by this weekend, all going well.

[ns]

Lauraadriana wrote: "Yesterday read and one of the hardest books I've read in any genre...still not sure what to say about it...."

LA, what did you think of the other JCP books? Thanks for mentioning them - I hadn't found them on Amazon or JCP Press. Hard to keep track of where people publish these days...

[Calathea]

ns wrote: "That sounds like school-drilled antipathy talking :). I was lucky that I..."

Yes, that. Sadly, it ruined most of our classics for me. :( Maybe, if I give it some more years to settle, I'll try them again...

[[deleted user]]

ns wrote: "Lauraadriana wrote: "Yesterday read and one of the hardest books I've read in any genre...still not sure ..."

Well Psycop is one of my favorites, Vic and Jacob are too good and I must admit I've reading Wild Bill like I'm on crack...I guess that means I really like them...I found these shorts on Fictionwise and used my trusty coupon...Great list for last month...I need to start doing that...I absolutely loved The Cranberry Hush what did you think? You like diversity like me I see...I read last week, it took the Pullitzer this year...I have to say it kind of annoyed me...

[Mandapanda]

Hi I'm a newbie to the group but a big JL fan. I just finished Harper Fox's latest book Last Line. I didn't realise it was being released today until I read Jason's notices. Really enjoyed it but lots of questions left over and I'm itching for others to read so I can see what they thought.:)

[Cheryl]

I filled my Memorial Day weekend with great books: Between Sinners and Saints and The Art of Dying.

Between Sinners and Saints was wonderful, and yes, the cover art could use some help, especially poor Jaime. There's a much better picture of him here: http://mariesexton.net/book-list/betw.... I loved the way each and every character in the book grew, both as individuals and as a family. I also truly appreciated the way the Mormon religion was handled knowledgeably and respectfully. Its so easy to vilify religion that I think I sometimes forget that the core values of any religion are love and family, and this book gently reminded me of that. How often do you walk away form a romance novel a better person than when you began?

I loved Josh's story in The Art of Dying. It might be the first mystery where I didn't skip parts! I didn't figure out who the killer was until the big reveal, and even then I think I was still a little behind. I'm only halfway through JCP's story so far, but that's proving to be an enjoyable read, too, and of course the sex scenes are super smoking hot!

I also started which is a nice, light, fun read after Between Sinners and Saints. The characters are young and not so well developed, it's instalove, which I'm not a fan of, one of the MCs voluntarily lets his stalker sleep over after the restraining order ran out and said stalker decided that meant he could break into the MC's apartment, and it seems like it's heading somewhere (even more) unrealistic, but I love the humor and am finding it to be an enjoyable easy read.

[Cleon Lee]

I read and . Zathyn Priest is brilliant! The book is so funny, wacky, and touching at the same time. A playboy who fell in love with someone with frontal lobe problems. Those are comfort read for sure. Timeless is a light sweet best-friend-turn-gay story.

[Josh]

MandyM wrote: "Hi I'm a newbie to the group but a big JL fan. I just finished Harper Fox's latest book Last Line. I didn't realise it was being released today until I read Jason's..."

I loved that book! Is it out at last? I have to hit Harper up for a copy of the final edition.

It's the first of a series. I know there are those who detest the fact that all story threads cannot -- (cannot and SHOULD NOT) be tied up in a series book, but that's what makes for a richer, deeper series.


I'll be interested to hear what you made of it. Damn! I wish that was our June read.

[Josh]

mc wrote: "The Administration series was an unexpectedly addictive read. I wish I could have it on pdf! (How did you download it to begin with?)
..."

I've got to give this another try. I read a few of the stories a couple of years ago, and though I thought they were very well written, it just didn't engage me. But the series is so highly recommended by reading friends whose opinions I respect (and generally agree with) that I'm thinking it was my mood or that I didn't read far enough.

[Cleon Lee]

Josh wrote: "MandyM wrote: "Hi I'm a newbie to the group but a big JL fan. I just finished Harper Fox's latest book Last Line. I didn't realise it was being released today until..."

We can read it as July read. You do have a veto right, you know, since you own the group and all. lol.

[Josh]

I loved Josh's story in The Art of Dying. It might be the first mystery where I didn't skip parts! I didn't figure out who the killer was until the big reveal, and even then I think I was still a little behind. I'm only halfway through JCP's story so far, but that's proving to be an enjoyable read, too, and of course the sex scenes are super smoking hot!

I'm glad you enjoyed it. That's one of what I always call the "forgotten" stories.

[[deleted user]]

Cleon wrote: "We can read it as July read. You do have a veto right, you know, since you own the group and all. lol. ..."
Oh, I would be SO for it :)

[Cleon Lee]

Suhi wrote: "Cleon wrote: "We can read it as July read. You do have a veto right, you know, since you own the group and all. lol. ..."
Oh, I would SO for it :)"

Me too! I've been putting Harper Fox' books on my wish list but never actually read one. It'd be a great opportunity to read it together.

[Sylvia]

MandyM wrote: "Hi I'm a newbie to the group but a big JL fan. I just finished Harper Fox's latest book Last Line. I didn't realise it was being released today until I read Jason's..."

How did I miss that, I love Harper Fox!

[[deleted user]]

I thought we were talking about "The Administration" :D

[Cleon Lee]

Suhi wrote: "I thought we were talking about "The Administration" :D"

:P

[mc]

Josh, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts about the Administration. I wouldn't have thought that I'd enjoy as much as I did, though I also think it was a case of reading it at the 'right time.' I wonder how many books I enjoyed or didn't enjoy had something to do what was going on in my head and my life at the time.

I've never read Harper Fox, but based on the comments here, I bought several of her books.

I recently also read a long free read by Rock Lane Cooper, the Mike and Danny series. It was so well-done - the setting, the historical components and the character development. It was nominally a m/m story, but the focus was more on these men and their inter-relationships, set in the 60s and 70s in Nebraska. Again, just reading a summary of it, I don't know if I would have picked it up, but it was a case of reading it at the right time - as I've mentioned in other threads, I've been a bit reflective recently, particularly as it relates to aging family (a common theme these days!) and friendships, so I guess I was primed for it. Having said that, it was also just so well-written.

[Josh]

Cleon wrote: "We can read it as July read. You do have a veto right, you know, since you own the group and all. lol.
..."

Oh well. It's not so much fun if I'm trying to force feed people -- but I'd totally forgot this one was coming out. Yes. Maybe for July! I'll try to remember to nominate it.

[Josh]

Josh, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts about the Administration. I wouldn't have thought that I'd enjoy as much as I did, though I also think it was a case of reading it at the 'right time.' I wonder how many books I enjoyed or didn't enjoy had something to do what was going on in my head and my life at the time.

I wish I could remember. I admired the writing, that much I remember. I think it was one of those situations where you really want the author to go in a different direction -- tell a different story than the one the author is interested in? So there was nothing particularly wrong with it but it didn't engage me either.

I think I found the characters a bit cold? (I know one is supposed to be a sociopath -- or psychopath? -- but that didn't do a lot for me).

It could be something as simple as I didn't read far enough? Or, as you say, I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for that kind of story.

[Cleon Lee]

Josh wrote: "Cleon wrote: "We can read it as July read. You do have a veto right, you know, since you own the group and all. lol.
..."

Oh well. It's not so much fun if I'm trying to force feed people -- bu..."

Well, not all the time, definitely. Or perhaps you could bat eyelashes and give us puppy eyes. lol. Hey, that reminds me of Scout. I used to have a German Sheperd puppy and it is so cute! Awww... I want Scout too!

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

The only story by Harper Fox I've read is Nine Lights Over Edinburgh which was in the Christmas anthology together with Icecapade.

I really loved that story, even if it wasn't very light, on the contrary it was pretty angsty, but I enjoyed the Edinburgh setting (I am a bit in love with Scotland). I was amazed at how many of my GR friends didn't like it because it was too dark or not romantic enough.

I think my recs should come with the warning "From someone who keeps Kafka's diaries on her bedside table".

[[deleted user]]

I finished last night and really liked it.I read quick read and really good...Reading so far funny and VERY smexy!

[Blaine]

Emanuela ~Zstyx~ wrote: "I really loved that story, even if it wasn't very light, on the contrary it was pretty angsty, but I enjoyed the Edinburgh setting (I am a bit in love with Scotland). I was amazed at how many of my GR friends didn't like it because it was too dark or not romantic enough. "

I loved it!!
I loved the charactes, the gritty setting/circumstances.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Blaine D. wrote: "I loved the charactes, the gritty setting/circumstances."

nod nod

It's one of the stories which come closer to my how-I'd-love-to-but-I-think-I'll-never-read-that story (mature men, with a lot of baggage, yadda-yadda...)

[Blaine]

Emanuela ~Zstyx~ wrote: "It's one of the stories which come closer to my how-I'd-love-to-but-I-think-I'll-never-read-that story (mature men, with a lot of baggage, yadda-yadda...)"

I like stories about mature men with a lot of baggage :)
Though I have a thing for may-december relationships, which stems from me fancying older blokes ;)