What Else Are You Reading? July 2010 Edition

[Veronica, Supreme Sword]

I'm reading Before They Are Hanged and If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You (OK, not exactly fantasy or sci-fi, but still fun).

[Sandi]

I'm reading Light by M. John Harrison. I'm well over halfway through it and am still not understanding where it's going.

I'm also reading Kraken by China Miéville. I downloaded it to my Nook the first day it was available. (I suspect that the Nook may get me in more book trouble.) Kraken is a lot of fun so far and it seems to be more accessible than the other China Miéville works I've read.

[Cameron]

Technically, as far as Sci-Fi and Fantasy are concerned, I'm not reading anything at the moment. I am listening to Starship Troopers, though. I like it so far, but I wish the narrator was a little more emotive.

Currently, I'm reading Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke. A friend of mine recommended the series to me so I tried the first one a couple months ago. I thought it was a cute little mystery book, so now I'm giving the second one a shot.

I'm also reading a few pages here and there of I Am America by Stephen Colbert (partially). It's a very funny book if you're into satire.

[Tamahome]

I just downloaded The Pillars of the Earth audiobook from my library. It's similar to Game of Thrones I believe.

[terpkristin]

Tamahome wrote: "I just downloads The Pillars of the Earth audiobook from my library. It's similar to Game of Thrones I believe."

It's not all that similar to Game of Thrones (not really fantasy per se), but it's WONDERFUL . I read it last year (listened to the audiobook) and could see myself potentially re-reading it sometime. Its only downside may be that it was at one time an Oprah Book Club selection. ;)

[Rick]

I just started Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America. So far it is excellent. And a little too believable for comfort!

[Tamahome]

terpkristin wrote: "Tamahome wrote: "I just downloads The Pillars of the Earth audiobook from my library. It's similar to Game of Thrones I believe."

It's not all that similar to Game of Thrones (not rea..."

Well my impression was it's a super gritty historical novel. That's how I think of the Song of Ice & Fire books.

Hmm, I got the abridged 8 hr version by mistake, but the unabridged version is 36 hrs! Think I'll stay abridged.

[Kev]

Currently reading a 600+ page tome called "The Orb of Ascera" (or something like that, I don't have it in front of me). It's a Sword *and* Laser title, with both a sword and sorcery setting and a science fiction setting. I'm not very far into it. I'm reading it for a review for IJustFinished.
I have a few other books on my TBR pile, including a book for review for Tyndale House... So I need to find some free time to read!! :-)

[Andris]

Finishing Consider Phlebas on Kindle, so no vote on Look to Windward this time, I have some serious catching-up to do :)

Started to listen to House of Suns and at the moment it sounds very promising. Alastair Reynolds may become the author of this summer for me, who knows.

[Philip]

I'm still unfinished with Heart of the Game: Life, Death, and Mercy in Minor League America, which I began in late April. It's a great book, but difficult to get through in hardcover(almost all my reading is done via audio). I'm also listening to both Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter(which I only have for 2 weeks from my library) and A Game of Thrones, which has got me captivated. G.R.R. Martin has great writing style.

[Eric]

I am listening to Hyperion and so far (about 4 CD's in) I am really enjoying it. I am also reading Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron. I really enjoy Jasper Fforde books (liked The Eyre Affair and absolutely loved The Fourth Bear) and Shades of Grey is similar to his other works, but much quirkier (which is good by me.)

[Amy]

Right now I'm reading Nights of Villjamur, with Infinite Jest sitting in the "When I feel like something different tonight" spot. According to my ReadMore app on my Touch, it will take me 458 days to finish at the rate I'm reading it. :)

I picked up His Majesty's Dragon when it was on for $0 for Kindle, so that will probably be read this month. Then it'll probably be Before They Are Hanged and then, we'll see what strikes my mood.

[Bongo]

I just finished Presumed Innocent and now I've started Contact. I finally got around to getting a library card and I'm putting it to good use.

[Philip]

Amy wrote: "Right now I'm reading Nights of Villjamur, with Infinite Jest sitting in the "When I feel like something different tonight" spot. According to my ReadMore app on my Touch..."

You're in for a treat with His Majesty's Dragon, it's a terrific book.

[Brian]

I'm currently reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Next on my list will likely be The Diamond Age.

[Jon]

I finished The Desert Spear (my review) yesterday. A quick weekend read, even at nearly six hundred pages.

I'll continue on with Fugitive Prince while I wait for Furies of Calderon to arrive.

[Don]

I'm listening to The Poisonwood Bible and reading Year's Best SF 11, a great collection of short stories as always with this series.

[Cameron]

Bongo wrote: "I finally got around to getting a library card and I'm putting it to good use."

Hey, same here. A friend of mine had been pushing the idea on me for quite a while, but I never got around to it until a week ago. I quite like having it now.

Anyway, finished Strawberry Shortcake Murder today. Not quite as good as the first one but still a fun little distraction. Now I just need to go wash all the cute off of me.

I've been wanting to read The Accidental Time Machine for quite a while now, but I don't want to start a new book so close to the new S&L pick. Oh well, I can wait a bit more.

[Tom]

Just about to start The Unincorporated Man. Still reading Battletech 37: Warrior en Garde.

[Sandi]

I just finished Lightand have started One Second After. I'm reading way too much post-apocalyptic fiction lately.

[Patrick]

Just started The Fuller Memorandum

[Paul]

Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

Took me a while to get back into his writing as it has been too long since reading his last one.

[Brian]

I just finished Bret Easton Ellis' Imperial Bedrooms. He's up to his old tricks. If you haven't read any Ellis before I wouldn't recommend starting here.

Also, just finished Alastair Reynold's Terminal World. It has some interesting ideas and set pieces but doesn't really deliver in my opinion. Worth checking out but not near to his best.

Trying Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice . I rarely read medieval fantasy but this one has my interest so far.

Reading Cornwell's Sharpe's Rifles when I'm on planes. Good diversion, I'm excited about getting into this series.

[King]

I just finished Warbreaker (suggested by David, very, very good) - and it's a sword book: very, very much so. I highly recommend it.

Now I'm half-way through Singularity's Ring, so far, a very unique laser book.

[Matty Van]

So far this month I have read Ringworld and The Wasp Factory, now I am about to start The Girl Who Played with Fire

[Ricky]

I finished Bitter Seeds and Let the Right One In, and I'm a couple of chapters from the end of Xenocide.

[John]

Working my way through Consider Phlebas. I'm struggling to relate to this unappealing protagonist and a host of cardboard supporting characters. I'm anxious to discover The Culture universe but Horza is making it tough. Someone please tell me to hang in there.

Recently finished a string of fun books:

Storm Front was a whole lot of fun. A little predictable but hanging out with Dresden was too much fun to care. Also caught the same episode of the SyFy series. Change for change sake? Not as enjoyable but Dresden casting was spot on.

Fablehaven, a surprisingly enjoyable read about the curators of a haven for..um..fables. I actually cheered out loud at one point in the book. Maybe not real loud, I didn't want to seem like a complete goober.

And just before that the The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross. I liked the unique universe of demons and technology. Stross does a great job balancing humor and dark, scary action. Some of the humor is the LOL kind.

[Hope]

I just finished reading The Red Pyramid which I loved. But I'm not sure what I'm going to read next... I have so many books I want to read and reread...

[Don]

Ricky wrote: "I finished Bitter Seeds and Let the Right One In, and I'm a couple of chapters from the end of Xenocide."

Would you recommend Let The Right One In? I loved the movie.

[Phelan]

Just finished the Windup Girl, currently reading Kraken by china mieville. Its good, but I'm having a bit of difficulty with some of the dialogue- I'm sure it fits right in with the cultural context, but I've never been to the UK and it takes me a second sometimes to puzzle out what they are saying.

[Ricky]

DePerch wrote: "Ricky wrote: "I finished Bitter Seeds and Let the Right One In, and I'm a couple of chapters from the end of Xenocide."

Would you recommend Let The Right O..."

They cut a couple of major subplots out of the movie. If you liked the movie then the book is like an expanded director's cut. I couldn't put it down :)

[Richard]

I am reading The Passage. Just finished Bitter Seeds and listened to the podcast interview. How great it is to finish reading a book and listen to an interview!

[Tamahome]

I was checking out Jim Butcher's Blood Rites in the bookstore. Right on page 1, purple monkeys with wings were throwing flaming poo at Dresden, while he is running with a box of puppies he is rescuing. That's hard to beat.

[Josh]

I just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?(Blade Runner) and The Last Colony. I'm finishing up the Old Man's War Series with Zoe's Tale.

[Richard]

Tamahome wrote: "I was checking out Jim Butcher's Blood Rites in the bookstore. Right on page 1, purple monkeys with wings were throwing flaming poo at Dresden, while he is running with a box of puppies he is resc..."

I gobbled up the first 5 Dresden books pretty quickly. When I got to Blood Rites the opening chapter was so much fun. Then when the mystery involving the film producer was introduced, I just hit a brick wall and couldn't continue. Perhaps it was time to run something else--I read Boneshaker instead. Hope to get back to Dresden soon, though.

[Kyanni]

Just finished Cory Doctrow's "For the Win" The book takes you for a wonderful ride and explore the grit of India, China, and America. What binds all of the characters together is MMORPGs. But what differs from what most players in America do, the "kids" are toiling away in what amounts to "sweatshops", working under horrible conditions for bosses who scheme to make life even more miserable. The main characters want changes, and share a desire to make a better life by trying to form a union to unite workers from Asia and the toll it takes.

[Simon]

WEll aside from the stuff on my bookshelf (Kraken, The Player of Games, Perdido Street Station, and Anathem), I just picked up the entire Gene Wolfe The Book of the New Sun 1-4 at the used bookshop in my neighborhood. I hope it's good. It sounds fascinating.

[Neal]

just finished Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, which was a lot better then I thought it would be, probably one of the most unique magic system. and I am now re-reading The Books of the South: Tales of the Black Company by Glen Cook

[Chris]

I'm working through J.R.R Tolkien's The Silmarillion and William Gibson's Neuromancer, along with Robert Heinlein's The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

[terpkristin]

At the moment, I'm still trying to get through The Blade Itself. It's not that it's a bad book (I'm actually quite enjoying it), but work is completely kicking my arse lately and I haven't had time to read or anything. I picked it up in audio so that I can listen to it in the car and at the gym, hopefully that will help. Unfortunately, I'd gotten to a point where it had been so long since I'd picked it up that I forgot what was going on, so I started over. :(

I've ordered The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and Amazon let me know it shipped, so if time permits, I'll read that as well. In addition, I wanted to try out iBooks on my iPod Touch so I bought Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, which I'm hoping will be a quick read (for what it's worth, I've decided I much prefer the Kindle app interface to the iBooks interface).

I soooo cannot wait for my vacation (leaving 8/14), as I plan on bringing a fair few audio and Kindle books with me, including the rest of the First Law trilogy (assuming I don't finish it before my trip), Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy, and maybe also the first in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I may not get through it all, but given that I'll be on a cruise, I expect to get a good bit of reading done during the days.

[Tamahome]

I have a crazy amount of library audio books from overdrive on my iphone: Angel's Game & Shadow of the Wind (not Name of the Wind) by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Drood by Dan Simmons (unabridged 29 hrs :( ), & Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (abridged 8 hrs :) ). Not sure when I'll finish. I'm 7/12 hrs into Angel's Game at least.

[terpkristin]

Tamahome wrote: "Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (abridged 8 hrs :) )"

Wow. I think the unabridged version of that is close to 40 hours. I can't think of how the story might seem different in an unabridged form.

[Tamahome]

Maybe it just doesn't have all the architecture descriptions. :)

[Robert]

Right now I'm reading the First Light Chronicles by Randolph Lalonde. It's a science fiction novel set on a space station.

[Simon]

Neal wrote: "just finished Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, which was a lot better then I thought it would be, probably one of the most unique magic system. and I am now re-reading..."

I love the Black Company books. Reminds me of being in the Infantry, except no guns or heavy armour. :D

[Alan]

About a quarter of the way through Temeraire #4, and also about a quarter of the way through Goodkind's Temple of the Winds. The latter is a re-read, going through it with my daughter.

[Jlawrence, S&L Moderator]

I'm on a non-fiction kick, reading The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648-1815 and Mazes for the Mind: Computers and the Unexpected -- though the latter is filled with bizarre mathematical/scientific conundrums that could easily be used as the basis for science fiction stories (and the author, Clifford Pickover, has written some sci-fi novels himself).

Soon will add Moon is a Harsh Mistress to my currently-reading list.

Interested by the The Pillars of the Earth comments - I have a free copy & have wondered if it was worth taking that thick book on.

[Bruce]

I'm re-reading The_Hobbit for the nth time. I've lost track. I'm amazed at how concise an author J.R.R. Tolkien is. Provides a lot of information in a very short space. Tells a good story. Bilbo and the Dwarfs are entering Mirkwood... Gandalf's last words to them are "DON'T LEAVE THE PATH". I wonder what they'll do.

[Jon]

I finished The Furies of Calderon (my review) yesterday and will continue absorbing the second half of The Fugitive Prince.

[Jim]

Just finished the first Dresden Files book and enjoyed it a great deal.

Not what I would normally read. Accidentally got this on my nook, went to get the code for the free Dresden book and got this one. Went too early. So far it is enjoyable.

Listing to the audio book. Tried reading it in 1984 but got bored with it. I was only 17. Halfway through and really digging it.