What Are You Currently Reading? Showing 4,901-4,950 of 5,689

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Haven't read MI3 yet...

[Bill]

I finished the Stratification SciFi series by Julie E Czerneda and just started that old classic A Canticle for Leibowitz. It has been so long since I read it, I barely remember the novel.

I'm about 80 pages into Canticle and forgot how funny it is (or perhaps am mature enough to appreciate the humor and sarcasm now).

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

I really enjoyed Canticle.

[Chelsea]

I just finished The Summer Tree, which was gorgeous, and totally made up for its awkward start. I am currently reading Sandstorm which is a little corny, and The Sum of All Men which I can already tell is too long.

[Justin]

I'm reading The Memory Eater by Matthew Hance (Anthology). Good stories and wicked illustrations. The plots revolve around the consequences of using a memory erasing device.

[Zuzana]

Finished Some of Your Blood and Bite Me -- both excellent reads in VERY different ways -- and starting on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Seems to be the summer of blood and vampires for ... I truly had not planned it that way!

(Oh well, my next read for book club is Yes, Chef: A Memoir, so that will break the pattern -- unless he makes blood sausage or something, lol!)

[Chelsea]

Now I'm reading Midnight Riot and I am much happier. :D

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Chelsea wrote: "Now I'm reading Midnight Riot and I am much happier. :D"

LOVED Midnight Riot. I need to move on to book Two.

[Tyrone]

It is very good as is the sequel.

[Chelsea]

MrsJoseph wrote: "LOVED Midnight Riot. I need to move on to book Two."

I am LOVING this book. I'm so immersed, and I'm not tempted to draw Dresden comparisons like with most American male-lead UF. I really like his writing, and the upfront sort of humor he uses.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

*considers adding 'Midnight Riot' to to-read list*

**

I'm currently reading The Map of Time. It's a hard one to pin down.

It's very wordy and there are a lot of sort of tangents and digressions - like, when we meet a new character we sort of get their whole life story and background and whatnot.

And I would be annoyed by the fact that nothing's really 'happening', in a way, except I'm mostly really interested in and enjoying the stories.

It's a weird one, Charlie Brown...

[Dave]

± Colleen (of the Crawling Chaos) ± wrote: "*considers adding 'Midnight Riot' to to-read list*

**

I'm currently reading The Map of Time. It's a hard one to pin down.

It's very wordy and there are a lot of sort of tangents and digressions..."

Read Midnight Riot Colleen - its excellent!!

Hmm Map of Time sounds intriguing - another one for my TBR list

[Katy]

I need to stop reading this thread. I always end up adding several more books to my TBR list.

[Dave]

Kathy wrote: "I need to stop reading this thread. I always end up adding several more books to me TBR list."

Same here - must learn to read faster :-)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Kathy wrote: "I need to stop reading this thread. I always end up adding several more books to my TBR list."

LOL! Around here we don't call them TBR "Lists," we call them TBR "Mountains."

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Chelsea wrote: "I am LOVING this book. I'm so immersed, and I'm not tempted to draw Dresden comparisons like with most American male-lead UF..."

I'm a big fan. I also like the multi-culti approach that isn't in your face but is reflective of society.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Carol wrote: "I'm a big fan. I also like the multi-culti approach that isn't in your face but is reflective of society. "

Yes!

While I did have an issue with the changing of the book covers I loved the way that the people were who they were without the added issues of POC in books.

[Chelsea]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Carol wrote: "I'm a big fan. I also like the multi-culti approach that isn't in your face but is reflective of society. "

Yes!

While I did have an issue with the changing of the book covers I lo..."

I realized that with the book cover. Yes, the silhouette of the person on the American cover is the color black, but that kind of symbolic, removed representation of the main character only serves to dehumanize him. Why didn't they just stick with the UK covers? They're really neat.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Sometimes I will go out of my way to get the UK editions of a book if I prefer their cover or artwork - or, sometimes, I just don't want to wait for a UK released book to finally to be released in the States.

There are two sites I recommend:

http://www.bookdepository.com/
http://www.fishpond.com/

Both have a good selection, decent prices/sales and free worldwide shipping.

Naturally the shipping time's a bit longer than if you were ordering from, say, Amazon, but sometimes it's worth it. ;)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Chelsea wrote: "I realized that with the book cover. Yes, the silhouette of the person on the American cover is the color black, but that kind of symbolic, removed representation of the main character only serves to dehumanize him. Why didn't they just stick with the UK covers? They're really neat. "

The editor for the series took part in some of the discussion. If course, I asked. ;-)

She said it was to emphasize the magic elements of the story. She also said that the model for the cover looked nothing like the description of the character in the book.

I should have just bought the UK cover...

[Terry]

- Really enjoying this so far.

[Regina]

Chelsea wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "Carol wrote: "I'm a big fan. I also like the multi-culti approach that isn't in your face but is reflective of society. "

Yes!

While I did have an issue with the changing of th..."

Chelsea I am so glad you are liking it! The humor is great. I didn't see the Dresden comparisons either, and I am a fan of both. I think Dresden is easier to read for me -- less police procedure but I like the humor (I think) in the Peter Grant books. I read an interview with the agent/publicist for Ben Aaronovitich and they were shocked/disliked the American covers as well. The UK ones are so much better.

Oh MrsJ -- I just read your commnet, hmmm maybe I misremembered.

I am reading and it is an adventure/computer fantasy story set in an unnamed middle eastern country. It is one of the best books I have read all year. It is amazing.

[Chelsea]

MrsJoseph wrote: "She also said that the model for the cover looked nothing like the description of the character in the book. "

...Because no mixed race models exist? That was a weak excuse on her part. Anyway! We don't need to turn this into a conversation about America and race. I really loved the depiction of Mama Thames. I also really like how he uses vestigia (sp?) as an extra sensory experience of Peter's surroundings. Really nice touch.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Regina wrote: "Chelsea wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "Carol wrote: "I'm a big fan. I also like the multi-culti approach that isn't in your face but is reflective of society. "

Yes!

While I did have an issue with th..."

message 57: by Betsy
May 09, 2011 07:17am

Betsy Mitchell (BluePencilGirl) | 7 comments Denae wrote: "I agree with the bit about the side cases, although that last one, after the climax, seemed rather random and pointless..."

Hi Denae--Ben Aaronovitch's editor here (I promised I'd join in on this discussion and of coursse I've had no time until now...) The various side cases in MIDNIGHT RIOT aren't random; you'll see them developed a lot more in MOON OVER SOHO and then in this fall's WHISPERS UNDER GROUND, which I am anxiously awaiting in manuscript form. Excuse me for saying nur-ne-nur-ne-nur, but I *love* getting to read things first.



message 59: by Betsy
May 09, 2011 07:36am

Betsy Mitchell (BluePencilGirl) | 7 comments Did Peter's ethnicity matter to anyone? ..."
The fact that he was not only mixed race but grew up in London's version of city housing made Peter street-smart and confident in his ability to deal with many kinds of people, which certainly came in handy when meeting the various river gods and goddesses. I *loved* Mama Thames and her household.
This might also be a place to talk about the cover art, which some have suspected of being a "whitewash"--the truth is that I wasn't happy with the cover model chosen by the art department--the guy wasn't young enough, cute enough, or mixed-race-looking. Unfortunately I never saw the headshots ahead of time, and it was too expensive to do a re-shoot. We also wanted to communicate that this was a story involving both magic and police procedural, and after fiddling around with the art found that silhouetting the character so as to highlight his hands gave us the focus we were looking for.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Chelsea wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "She also said that the model for the cover looked nothing like the description of the character in the book. "

...Because no mixed race models exist? That was a weak excuse on he..."

Agreed. I liked the UK cover and title, to be honest. I thought "Rivers of London" was very apropos.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

They probably figured Americans wouldn't want to read about another country, or something.

[Chelsea]

MrsJoseph wrote: "This might also be a place to talk about the cover art, which some have suspected of being a "whitewash"--the truth is that I wasn't happy with the cover model chosen by the art department--the guy wasn't young enough, cute enough, or mixed-race-looking. Unfortunately I never saw the headshots ahead of time, and it was too expensive to do a re-shoot. We also wanted to communicate that this was a story involving both magic and police procedural, and after fiddling around with the art found that silhouetting the character so as to highlight his hands gave us the focus we were looking for. "

The understanding: I now have it. Thanks, Mrs J! Hopefully the series becomes so popular they repackage them all with an appropriate model, the way Butcher's publisher did.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

± Colleen (of the Crawling Chaos) ± wrote: "They probably figured Americans wouldn't want to read about another country, or something."

I know, right? It's almost like they thought we would say:

*gasp* London is in a different country??! *Goes to toss out rest of Peter Grant series*

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

No problem!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Oh, and about how silhouetting the character highlights the magic and police procedural - does the actual cover continue onto the spine because, just seeing the front if it, I never even noticed the gun in his other hand until I just went to look more closely after this was mentioned.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

MrsJoseph wrote: "I know, right? It's almost like they thought we would say:

*gasp* London is in a different country??! *Goes to toss out rest of Peter Grant series* "

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if that was some of the thinking. I mean, they changed Philosopher's Stone to Sorcerer's Stone 'cause we think philosophers are old, boring dudes and whatnot.

The even sadder thing - I wouldn't be entirely surprised if, at least among certain parts of our population, they wouldn't be entirely wrong.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I don't usually fret the cover art. But I was bugged at the change in the Harry Potter title. If you're right Colleen the idea should be to educate the people who don't get the title, not dumb the title down.

I know that's naive of course.

[Regina]

I am usually not optimistic about these types of things, but at least as they pertainin to the Peter Grant covers, I think the publishers are not understanindg the US market.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I don't usually fret the cover art. But I was bugged at the change in the Harry Potter title. If you're right Colleen the idea should be to educate the people who don't get the title, not dumb the ..."

Exactly.
Stop making changes because you assume we're dumb. Rivers of London made much more sense than Midnight Riot. Men who Hate Women is more honest than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

*chuckle*

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Well, at least there was a girl with a Dragon Tattoo...I saw her in the movie.

Oh know, it's finally happened. I've been dumbed down!!!!!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Men who Hate Women is more honest than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. "

Not only more honest, but it woulda made a hell of a lot more sense, too. I remember reading it and wondering when in the hell the "title character" was going to show up.

[Dave]

I to prefer the UK covers for the Peter Grant novels. Would have been cool if the covers joined up to make a map of London through but alas they do not (yes I checked!!)

Must admit to note realizing Peter's heritage until its specifically mentioned about a third of the way through the first book - my mental image of the character had to suddenly change somewhat - not that it made any specific difference to how much I liked him :-)

Now reading First Lord's Fury. I'll put my thoughts on it in the Codex Alera discussion when I'm done.

[Kevin]

Terry wrote: " - Really enjoying this so far."

I just read it a week ago, and really enjoy it. I really can't wait to see where he takes the second book.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I liked it to..though I'd like to know when the sequel is expected out. :)

[Katy]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I liked it to..though I'd like to know when the sequel is expected out. :)"

Amazon has a release date of September 11, 2012The Blinding Knife

[Susan]

Kathy wrote: "Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I liked it to..though I'd like to know when the sequel is expected out. :)"

Amazon has a release date of September 11, 2012The Blinding Knife"

Iam really looking forward to this book.

[Susan]

I am currently reading The Sharing Knife Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold. Its good so far.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Thanks.

[Kevin]

Susan wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I liked it to..though I'd like to know when the sequel is expected out. :)"

Amazon has a release date of September 11, 2012The Blinding Knife[bookcover:The..."

So am I!

[Traci]

Me too!!!!
Will have to reread The Black Prism soon. :)

[Jalilah]

I am reading Mercy Blade by Faith Hunter

[Traci]

Patrick wrote: "Reading The Gormenghast Novels, though I'm debating dropping them for something else. Much as I appreciate loving crafted prose, it doesn't invest me into a book without something else going on."

I started that once and had to give up. Does it even have characters? I couldn't tell. Just wasn't for me.

[Gavin]

Traci wrote: "Patrick wrote: "Reading The Gormenghast Novels, though I'm debating dropping them for something else. Much as I appreciate loving crafted prose, it doesn't invest me into a book without something e..."

I gave up after about 150 pages. A lack of likable characters combined with an overly descriptive writing style meant it was not my sort of book. Which was a shame because it had come highly recommended.

Since Eragon was better than expected, I'm moving straight onto Eldest.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

I just finished Song of the Beast by Carol Berg. It was pretty wonderful. I read in all in one sitting.