What Are You Reading? Showing 1,251-1,300 of 3,049

[Keith]

Thanks - I shall preserve with Games of Thrones. I have now downloaded the Kingfisher series onto my Kindle. Thanks Charlene for the recommendations. I look forward to reading them after I finish with the rest of Burke's collection of books.

[Char]

Happy Reading!

[Jon Recluse]

I'm reading Where the Summer Ends: The Best Horror Stories of Karl Edward Wagner, Volume 1

[Marc]

Just finished reading the large illustrated book Gnomes and am starting to read through Trolls. I haven't read much fantasy at all in my life, so this is unusual for me. Also working through Wings of Fire, a short story collection about dragons. Really pretty good so far. I tried to read some of the big names bursting onto the scene when I was younger, but the prose quality was so lousy I couldn't manage it.

[Jon Recluse]

Kealan wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "I'm reading Where the Summer Ends: The Best Horror Stories of Karl Edward Wagner, Volume 1"

Rocksauce!"

You've either picked up Ohio street slang....or you've had a stroke....

[Marc]

Kealan wrote: "Why the sudden turn to fantasy, Marc? Was it inspired by anything or just time?"

Some months ago, I started writing a narrative poem in response to a picture prompt on a poetry board. I had a lot of fun with it, but realized the story was too involved for anything but a book-length poem. I couldn't conceive of any possible market for that. Too long for kids and adults would probably grow weary of it at that length. Reading it would likely become an ordeal no matter how well it was written.

Plus poetry's paying market is so tiny as to be almost non-existent, so though the story might take years to write with the crazy level of care poetry deserves, the writing would have to be entirely its own reward. And I've got plenty of that type of writing done already. Yet it seemed too good to abandon and there was a fun world opening up as I wrote it. So I'm trying to turn it into prose now.

The book of dragon short stories I picked up on a whim, just as a pacer between more grim or serious-minded stuff, reminded me that all writing in the genre doesn't have to be abysmal or simple-minded, either. It refreshed the genre for me, convincing me it wasn't a total waste of time. So now I'm reading in the genre a bit to get my bearings. I've read many fairy tale collections, and a fair bit about mythology here and there, but have next to no background in modern fantasy aside from some of Italo Calvino's work.

Thanks for asking! Sorry for the long answer.

[Marc]

Kealan wrote: "Not at all, Marc. I was genuinely curious. And that's superb! Keep me in mind if/when you finish it. I'd be very interested in reading it."

Thanks, Kealan,will do. :)

[Keith]

Marc wrote: "Kealan wrote: "Why the sudden turn to fantasy, Marc? Was it inspired by anything or just time?"

Some months ago, I started writing a narrative poem in response to a picture prompt on a poetry boar..."

Marc,

When it comes to publishing your book size poem, you should try the UK market as the poetry market in the UK is still going strong and there is a few avenues you can go down.

Try this website:

http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/publi...

This is published by the Southbank Centre in London which specialises in the arts, theatre, film and writing. This will include addresses, websites, phone numbers, contact names and often a breakdown on what they are looking for.

Beowolf is the first epic poem and that has lasted centuries. Good luck with your writing.

[Char]

That's nice of you, Keith. : )

[Jon Recluse]

Keith's a keeper!

[Marc]

Keith wrote: "Marc wrote: "Kealan wrote: "Why the sudden turn to fantasy, Marc? Was it inspired by anything or just time?"

Some months ago, I started writing a narrative poem in response to a picture prompt on ..."

Thanks, Keith, that's very good to know.

I do plan to make poems out of some parts of the story. I will probably tinker with that as I write the other.

[Keith]

Just finished 'KIN' and have to say that it totally blew me away. Loved it, loved it, loved it. A total must read. The only problem I have is to what to follow it up with.

I'm now reading Jack Ketchum's Sleep Disorder. I thought Jack never lets me down though I think everything is going to pale a bit after reading Kin.

[Jon Recluse]

You need a horror break, Keith.

Go read Terry Pratchett or something......

[Keith]

Don't really like Terry Pratchett which I know it is a blasphemous in its own right.

I have Game of Thrones but I am putting that off because I know it is an epic and with most fantasies the names start to p*^s me off after awhile.

I have a couple of submissions to read but that is work and can be very frustrating as alot of it is just terrible although a diamond does come through every 550th or so.

[Jon Recluse]

That's just sick.

That I can understand.

Work reading won't do.

You gotta distance yourself after reading KIN or you're gonna have a horror burnout.

[Jon Recluse]

There ya go!

[Keith]

Any particular book by John Connolly?

[Jon Recluse]

Every Dead Thing

The first in his Charlie Parker series.

Highly recommended!

[Keith]

I shall download that now. Thanks for that.

[Jon Recluse]

You're welcome, Keith.

[Char]

I second the Connolly recommendation. It will be a palate cleanser and a great read all in one. : )
I hope you enjoy it!

[Gatorman]

Just finished Mandibles. Good, not great. Liked Pressure and Benjamin's Parasite better. Now reading The Wrong Man.

[Marc]

That's how I tend to feel about Jeff's stuff. If nothing else, he's almost always pretty fun to read.

[Char]

I liked your review, Gatorman.

[Marc]

Me too. It was useful in pointing me toward trying one of his other books first. I've read three or four and still have a few left that I got cheap or free during promos. Maybe The Sinister Mr. Corpse should be next.

Anyway I've got too much half-read to start anything new for a while, regardless.

[Char]

John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things is on sale today at Amazon. Just saying.

[Gatorman]

Thanks. I feel like it's coming across as if I didn't like, which I did. It's just not in the league of Dweller, Pressure, Wolf Hunt and Benjamin's Parasite.

[Char]

No, it was not up there those three. But it sure was some B movie fun. : )

[Chris]

I liked Mandibles but I feel the same way about the book that you did. It started off sputtering, with story lines that didn't connect to the rest of the book and lots of throw-away scenes. Sort of like the parts that they were supposed to connect to didn't get written or were removed. The opening scene, for instance, doesn't connect to anything that happens later in the book that I can remember.

[Jon Recluse]

Charlene wrote: "John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things is on sale today at Amazon. Just saying."

YAY!

[Jon Recluse]

So is American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot!!!

[Jon Recluse]

I just read the prologue to NEMESIS: The Death of Timmy Quinn

IT'S GONNA BE EPIC!!!!

[Marc]

Been reading a kindle book on English and Welsh and Irish fairy folk. Great fun. Mention is made of the origins of the stories of Puck (Midsummer Night's Dream) and all sorts of story things westerners have in their backgrounds. I love fairy tale collections, and this work is mostly explanations of where the stories come from with the spice of a few stories inevitably thrown in.

Oddly enough, goblins and fairies are said in this work to historically be the same thing, and ruled by the same king. My reading of goblin lore has them as eaters of the dead, which sounds pretty far from Tinkerbell.

[Jon Recluse]

Actually makes sense.

Disney is known for robbing graves....

[Keith]

Looking forward to Nemesis alot.

[Sharon/ LFrog1386]

Marc wrote: "Been reading a kindle book on English and Welsh and Irish fairy folk. Great fun. Mention is made of the origins of the stories of Puck (Midsummer Night's Dream) and all sorts of story things west..."

That is because fairies were not considered to be friendly, helpful creatures. They were also creatures of cold blood, luring men to their deaths with their siren songs.

[Christine]

I wouldn't like to read those books

[Gatorman]

Jon Recluse wrote: "I just read the prologue to NEMESIS: The Death of Timmy Quinn

IT'S GONNA BE EPIC!!!!"

How?

[Jon Recluse]

Gatorman wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "I just read the prologue to NEMESIS: The Death of Timmy Quinn

IT'S GONNA BE EPIC!!!!"

How?"

Kealan asked people to share a link to the Timmy Quinn series on Facebook in exchange for a chance to read the prologue.

[Marc]

Sharon/ LFrog1386 wrote: "Marc wrote: "Been reading a kindle book on English and Welsh and Irish fairy folk. Great fun. Mention is made of the origins of the stories of Puck (Midsummer Night's Dream) and all sorts of stor..."

Apparently so. Equally, there are some "good" goblins. And a lot of the creatures seem to be either good or bad near randomly, but especially get set off by being spoken badly of or by the irritating presence of the excessively pious.

[Sharon/ LFrog1386]

Marc wrote: "Sharon/ LFrog1386 wrote: "Marc wrote: "Been reading a kindle book on English and Welsh and Irish fairy folk. Great fun. Mention is made of the origins of the stories of Puck (Midsummer Night's Dr..."

By the way, what is the name of the book?

[Char]

I finished the fantasy novel I was reading: The Wise Man's Fear. It was excellent! Now comes the wait for the last and final book.
I started on a Gifune novel: Saying Uncle. I have grown quite fond of Greg Gifune since reading The Bleeding Season. I'm psyched to start this one.

[Chris]

I needed a break from horror or really dark fiction in general so I am reading an old Agatha Christie mystery. The ABC Murders. She was so clever with her plots and her books are a lot of fun. A lot like Sherlock Holmes but with more likeable characters. Holmes, as a character, is an egomaniac and a wasted out druggie when he doesn't have a case to keep him interested. Still love the stories though.

[Chris]

Saying Uncle is one of my favorites by Gifune. I have several more of his in my queue but I am spacing them out to savor them.

[Jon Recluse]

Chris wrote: "I needed a break from horror or really dark fiction in general so I am reading an old Agatha Christie mystery. The ABC Murders. She was so clever with her plots and her books are a lot of fun. A..."

I haven't read Christie in years. I like Peter Robinson, Val McDermid and Ian Rankin.

[Glen]

I love Gifune's writing, but have you noticed the now common set up of bad weather blowing in to town along with whatever evil is the subject of the book? Sometimes weather is a good way to set up a premise, but only sometimes.

[Jon Recluse]

I like atmosphere, but few know how to use it properly.

[Char]

Glen wrote: "I love Gifune's writing, but have you noticed the now common set up of bad weather blowing in to town along with whatever evil is the subject of the book? Sometimes weather is a good way to set up..."

Glen, I have! Since I live in MA where most of his stories are set, (the ones I've read so far), the atmospheres he creates really speak to me. I remember he had one line that said "The sea smelled like work, not play". I've been to Gloucester, MA and I know exactly what he was talking about.

[Sharon/ LFrog1386]

This has got some great recommendations in it! See how many you've read so far (I know I added a few to my Amazon list)

http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/20...

[Jon Recluse]

Read 16.

The list is ridiculous.

Lisey's Story?

Someone is smoking Draino.....