What are you reading in March 2011?

[Aloha]

Nikki, don't forget to keep on repeating One Bloody Thing After Another for Ala. You know how he loves repetition. I appreciate it, too, since I do have a memory problem. I think I got it from the Kuru disease.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Aloha wrote: "I appreciate it, too, since I do have a memory problem. I think I got it from the Kuru disease."

I shouldn't be laughing at this but I am. Thanks for the twisted morning chuckles. :)

[[deleted user]]

Hey now.

Hey.


Now.






shup

[Kevin]

Now that both The Wise Man's Fear and The Crippled God have come out a week or two, they both now have made it to NYT bestsellers list at #1 and #12. Here is the link to the news http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/03/fant...

[Aloha]

Does that mean it's cool to read Fantasy, now? Those books are almost 1,000 pages each! *gasp* I think I'll go read the really sick mean little books first before I tackle another one of those Fantasy tome. I do have them both, though, so if I ever have a craving to make a long journey, I can just load it.

[Rusty]

Just finished Cold Magic by Kate Elliott. Great read by an author I enjoyed so much when I read the Crown of Stars series. What a talent! Highly recommend this read.

[Kim]

Rusty wrote: "Just finished Cold Magic by Kate Elliott. When I saw that one of my favorite fantasy authors had developed a new series beginning with this novel, I had to read it."

You know we just read that last month for the fantasy pick. There's a few threads there you can comment on.

[Rusty]

Kim wrote: "Rusty wrote: "Just finished Cold Magic by Kate Elliott. When I saw that one of my favorite fantasy authors had developed a new series beginning with this novel, I had to read it."

You know we jus..." I know but my read came later from the library.

[Kim]

That's ok you can still comment on the threads.

[Sandy]

I'm reading The Yiddish Policemen's Union which was the runner up in this month's group read. I'm about half way through and it's getting better, but I'm finding it a tough slog. The language is dense, and I'm hampered by not knowing anything of the vocabulary. I finally figured out the word for phone, but I can't visualize any of it. I've put it down twice, but perhaps today I can get to a more interesting part.

I'm disappointed because I really liked The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

[Anne]

Nearly finished Fate of the Fallen and although I've enjoyed it it's not been the easiest of reads so will probably read something a bit lighter before starting on the next in the series. Have some medieval mysteries by Michael Jecks and Candace Robb and may read one of them next

[Aloha]

Ala, are you sick of me copying this in all my forums, yet? How many forums we have in common now?

Finished The Blade Itself. I would highly recommend it for Fantasy fans who like a lot of action. It's a fun book, although I'm realizing that I can't take a purely good tale that doesn't bend my cracked mind, especially if it's 500-1000 pages. So...I'm laying off Fantasy for a little bit.

Also finished within 24 hours, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. Now, this is my kind of book! Recommended by my friend Sparkle, who is trying to get me to read Spinoza again. My review for Perfume is at:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'm starting Fear of Knowledge: Against Relativism and Constructivism, a monthly read at the Philosophy forum, next. It's not Spinoza, but I think I'll learn something.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Hey Aloha, when you're in the mood for fantasy again you might try K.J. Parker's Engineer trilogy. It starts with Devices and Desires. Maybe not exactly mind-bending, but with elements of twistedness.

[Aloha]

Thanks, Nikki. I think I would like that. I'm not saying that Fantasy can't be mind-bending, but some of them are only great tales like a fun movie.

[[deleted user]]

Aloha wrote: "Ala, are you sick of me copying this in all my forums, yet? How many forums we have in common now?"

I should just join every group you're in then never post again.

But you'll know I'm there, seething with rage as you repost and repost and repost.

Oh...you'll know.

[Aloha]

We all have our simple pleasures in life. Mine is to irritate you with repeat postings. LOL

[[deleted user]]

:P

[Bill]

Finished Brighton Rock last night and highly enjoyed. I've pulled Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham off my TBR shelf for my next read. I like the premise.

[Stuart]

I am reading The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

[Karen]

I'm almost done with A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.
I'll be starting The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins soon for my book club.
I'm still working on Eldest by Christopher Paolini, but I haven't had much spare time to read it because I'm just reading it for fun.
I just finished Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen for school, which is what ate up most the the little bit of spare time I had.

[Phoenixfalls]

Mid-Month Update

-The White City review; gave it five stars but it isn't quite as good as the last novella in this world.
-Yarn review; gave it three stars because if it hadn't been for some absolutely brilliant world-building elements I would've tossed this across the room for its choice in twists, but it is brilliant world-building.
-And I finished The Broken Kingdoms but don't plan to review it because I'm discussing it with another book group. So basically. . . I liked it, but it didn't make me forget myself the way The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms did, so I spent much of the book nitpicking with it. Made me wish Jemisin had a few more books under her belt before tackling this series. . . but I'm definitely planning on reading the third volume when it comes out, and the first volume in her next series.
-I also read Frederica and The Grand Sophy; I simply have no will to ignore my Georgette Heyer cravings, because the books can be so ridiculously delightful. . .

I'm now in the middle of Fledgling and The Philosophical Breakfast Club: Four Remarkable Friends Who Transformed Science and Changed the World, with Zoo City waiting impatiently on the shelf; after that I don't know what I'll pick up. I need to get to some more mysteries (maybe Barbara Hambly's Benjamin January series) but I'm really feeling the draw of these:

[Aloha]

I was not going to add another book to my huge monthly read obligations, but after reading a sample of Doomsday Book, I broke down and purchased the eBook. I am such a sucker for science magic. I love time travel themes. I'm also a sucker for tragic and dark events in history like the Black Plague. Whether I'll finish it in time this month, I don't know.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Hey Aloha - have you considered trying Kage Baker's Company series? It starts with In the Garden of Iden.

[Aloha]

Thanks, Nikki. I have her collection. I have so many books that there are no way I can add them all to my Goodreads bookshelf. I'll put it in my to-read. I'll add the first of the series and constantly add as I read them. I have too many of her books to add them in one morning.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Fair enough. :) Just thought I'd mention her since it seemed kinda similar to your description of Doomsday Book.

[Aloha]

Another almost exact posting. Thpffffffff, Ala.

I finished Fear of Knowledge: Against Relativism and Constructivism in the first quick reading. I am now doing a second reading highlighting and taking notes. It's one of those books that I have to do that, and I'm not doing it for a class, only for the joy of knowledge. Yes, I'm crazy. Not as fun as reading Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.

I started listening to A Carnivore's Inquiry: A Novel. There was talk about cannibalism, complicated love/sex affairs, Italy, a chubby guy, history and art. I swear, I thought somebody stole my diary. I've never heard of this book before I became a cannibal. I'm gonna have to stop walking around with foil pyramid hats. I'm picking up all sorts of thought signals. Now that's my fun read.

But I think I ought to pick up Perdido Street Station, since I've been talking about reading China Miéville forever. It's also Fantasy Aficionados' March read. I just finished The Blade Itself. That should complete what I owe them, right? I can go into that forum with my head held high? Just saw Miéville's picture. He's a handsome looking bald guy. I've been dating bald guys lately. Of course, the last time I dated was with my stbx when I was in my early 20s. Not too many bald guys around that age group.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Things I've read since the last time I posted:

F&SF

Casting Fortune, The Wise Man's Fear, Lost Magic, Midnight Riot, Pale Demon, Rage, The Ages of Chaos

I also got a copy of the February 2004 issue of F&SF Magazine, and read the Ysabeau S. Wilce story "Metal More Attractive." I didn't think it was as enjoyable as "The Lineaments of Gratified Desire" (which was collected in Fantasy: The Best of the Year, 2007 Edition), but it was interesting as a prequel to it.

Non-fiction

Down Among the Dead Men: A Year in the Life of a Mortuary Technician, TOPGUN Days: Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of America's Best Fighter Jocks

[Bill]

I finished Janny's Grand Conspiracy last nite (wow) and decided to read some old short SF novels that have been sitting around for sometime.

I just started Way Station by Clifford D. Simak and will do Yesterday's Children by David Gerrold next. Then on to Janny's Peril's Gate

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

I forgot to mention in my last post that I've started to read Catherine of Aragon: The Spanish Queen of Henry VIII. So far it's a very interesting look at a pivotal situation in English history.

Also, I hesitate a little to mention this, but ... it's too interesting not to. I was browsing TVTropes (Danger, Will Robinson!) and stumbled across a reference to Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. Imagine if Harry Potter was an aspiring scientist who prided himself on his rational thinking, and was raised by loving adoptive parents instead of stuffed into a cupboard. There's definitely an element of brutal deconstruction, so tread carefully ... but if you like science and the Harry Potter series is not too sacred a cow for you, you should give it a try. (Unless, of course, you are opposed to or not interested in fanfiction.)

[Aloha]

That Harry Potter alternate reality looks interesting, Nikki. I'll check up on it. Thanks!

[Jon]

So far this month I've read It Cant Happen Here (my review), Doomsday Book, Magician: Master, The Man in the High Castle (my review) and Dragon's Egg (my review).

Last night I finally started reading The Wise Man's Fear. As soon as I finish that long-awaited novel, I'll start Stormed Fortress and round out the month (maybe) with Deadhouse Gates.

[Rachel]

I'm slowly plodding through Perdido Street Station. I already finished The Lies of Locke Lamora and Beyond the Shadows this month, both of which I started reading after I started Perdido Street Station...

[Aloha]

I have Perdido all set to read, in audio and eBook. I kept on telling myself to read a Mieville. One of these days, I'm going to read one of his books and say why I haven't done it sooner, or not. I kept on getting distracted by good friends from the horror forum who recommend great horror authors I have yet to mine. The list of great horror authors to read is growing exponentially. To be fair considering the page count, it should be 1 Fantasy or Sci-Fi to 2 horror.

[Kim]

I've started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as I needed something to break up all the sci-fi and fantasy I've been reading lately.

[[deleted user]]

Aloha wrote: "I have Perdido all set to read, in audio and eBook. I kept on telling myself to read a Mieville. One of these days, I'm going to read one of his books and say why I haven't done it sooner, or not..."

I read it a while ago, before I joined GR so unfortunately no review. But I remember disliking it. A lot.

But apparently my tastes suck or something, so take that with a grain of salt.

[stormhawk]

A Canticle for Leibowitz and Doctor Who: The Myth Makers

[Aloha]

Ala, I think the main reason why I'm dreading reading Mieville was that people do not seem to have a pleasurable reaction to his books. Could it be too dry and cerebral? The only time I put up with a dry book is in non-fiction.

[[deleted user]]

From what I remember, it wasn't dry really. It was, if anything, boring. I cared not a single whit for any of the characters involved nor whatever shenanigans they got themselves up to.

Though I've been told a few times I don't know what I'm talking about and that PSS is just 'the best' with Mieville being 'the man' and whatnot.

It was just a long drawn out story full of meh to me.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Ala, I didn't think PSS was interesting enough to keep reading. Didn't care for the setting or the characters. I did like The City & The City, though.

[[deleted user]]

I keep meaning to pick up another one of his books and give it a go, just haven't decided one which one yet.

Though C&C gets mentioned a lot, so that may be the one I read.

[Rachel]

Aloha wrote: "Ala, I think the main reason why I'm dreading reading Mieville was that people do not seem to have a pleasurable reaction to his books. Could it be too dry and cerebral? The only time I put up wi..."

I absolutely LOVED The City & The City and I gobbled up Kraken... but I'm just finding PSS much harder to get into for some reason. It may be just because the world is REALLY weird, but also, the plot is pretty slow. So far not much action. And I like action ;)

[Maggie]

I just finished it recently and i had a really hard time getting into it until I was about 3/4 through. There is a LOT of over description that makes things all thick and murky. I remember yelling at my book...LET SOMETHING HAPPEN. When it finally did it was good, but the wait was tough. I enjoyed it once it started moving.

[Tonya]

I finally finished The Well of Ascension. I really enjoyed Mistborn but The Well was slow. If I hadn't already bought Hero of the Ages, I probably would have put it down and never picked it up again. It's a good thing I didn't because it did get better. I read a review that said it got better about 3/4 way in and it did but boy it was a long wait. By the way I just started The Hero of Ages, so I'm either an optimist or a glutton for punishment. I'm hoping for optimist.

[Kevin]

I hear a lot of people say the same thing about The Well of Ascension, some because it was too slow stopped the book a hundred pages into it.

[Bill]

I'm about to start Burning Chrome by William Gibson.

[Kim]

Kevin wrote: "some because it was too slow stopped the book a hundred pages into it."

Yup I did that. The first book was great but that second one just kind of got bogged. I will pick it up again eventually as I do want to finish the series but not just yet.

[Jim]

I'm reading Surrender None by Elizabeth Moon. It's a fantasy & very good. Prior to this, I'd only read her SF series, Vatta's War, which was good enough. This fantasy has a more depth to it.

[Stuart]

I am reading The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

[Rachel]

Stuart wrote: "I am reading The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks"

I just finished the third in that series, and absolutely loved them all. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)

[[deleted user]]

Finishing up my Nightside series reading with A Hard Day's Knight.

Starting The Lost Books of the Odyssey tomorrow. And maybe the The Man With the Golden Torc... or another Malazan one.

Or something else entirely that I don't even know about yet... damn plans, never work out.