What Else Are You Reading - August 2011 Edition

[Tamahome]

Tamahome is waiting for someone like Jenny or Luke to read John Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar , which was just reprinted and put on audio too, and explain it to him.

[Derek]

Just finished listen to a great new steampunk book from audible, Phoenix Rising by Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris. It's the 1st book in what I hope will be a long series. It would be a great book to start someone reading steampunk, all the elements are there but the steampunk tech doesn't overwhelm the story, like it can with some other books, very low-key.

I enjoyed these authors when they were putting their 1st books out for free on WWW.podiobooks.com. their teaming up to write this book is a perfect match.

[terpkristin]

Tamahome wrote: "Tamahome is waiting for someone like Jenny or Luke to read John Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar ..."

I loved that book. And his The Sheep Look Up.

I also love that you talked about yourself in the third person.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Who is Luke?

[Tamahome]

http://sfbrp.com

[Tamahome]

terpkristin wrote: "I also love that you talked about yourself in the third person. "

Tamahome basks in your love.

[terpkristin]

Hmm he's kinda cute....

Ok that was way off topic. To make up for it, I'm trucking through the 10th anniversary edition of American Gods. I'm listening to the full-cast audio version and I whole-heartedly recommend it.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

So who is Jenny? I assumed me but we are legion. :)

[Tamahome]

Jenny wrote: "So who is Jenny? I assumed me but we are legion. :)"

There can be only one.

[Joe]

I just finished American Gods and am now starting Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children for a nice light palate cleanser. Overall, I liked American Gods, but I did have some issues with it. Though, that may have more to do with my expectations based on how people tend to rave over it.

[Sean]

terpkristin wrote: "Hmm he's kinda cute...."

If it helps, he's also British.

Because everyone knows women love British accents.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Sean wrote: "terpkristin wrote: "Hmm he's kinda cute...."

If it helps, he's also British.

Because everyone knows women love British accents."

Hmm, I really DO need to start listening to more podcasts. ;)

[Tamahome]

That's why I listen to Galactic Suburbia, for the cute female Australian accents. ;)

[Bob]

Finished A Dance with Dragons. Just started on Ready Player One enjoying it so far.

[Alvin]

Ready Player One

[Alex]

Kevin wrote: "I am reading The Highwayman, try to read it two years ago, maybe I will finally finish the book this time."

The Highwayman was actually the first Salvatore book I read, it was pretty fun. Maybe not the greatest for a hardcore fantasy fan but it could be a great spring board into the genre.

[Kevin]

Alex wrote: "Kevin wrote: "I am reading The Highwayman, try to read it two years ago, maybe I will finally finish the book this time."

The Highwayman was actually the first Salvatore book I read, it was pretty..."

I agree with you, but I read the sequels, which was much better books with a lot more actions and characters.

[Ken]

Finished Odyssey1 which I thought was great given what it it. Now it's on to Neuromancer which so far is like taking Snow Crash and dumping a bunch of sandpaper grit on it.

[Ken]

Wolves of the Calla: why can I never get through these Dark Tower audio books without falling asleep

[Alex]

I always looked at Potter as light fantasy, but my wife was always trying to convince me to read the series... so I finally gave in and read the first Harry Potter in a couple days. I am currently reading The Blade Itself and thoroughly enjoying it.

The Sword and Laser has been excellent for breaking me out of the rut I was in. Thanks to the forum and the pod I now know the glory of George R R Martin and am enjoying Joe Abercrombie's work.

I am also listening to (not reading) the audio book of The Darkest Road. The Fionavar books have been the long drive stories that my wife and I have been listening to over the past year.

[terpkristin]

I'll be finishing American Gods either today or tomorrow. What should I read next? Options:
The Help
The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry
Ready Player One
The Gunslinger (Dark Tower I)

Any suggestions from the audience? :)

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

terpkristin wrote: "I'll be finishing American Gods either today or tomorrow. What should I read next? Options:
The Help
[book:The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry|93..."

I enjoyed The Help but some recent declarations and film criticisms have been making me feel guilty about it instead. If you read The Gunslinger, I say commit to at least also reading the book after it before giving up. I took a big break between that one and the next few, and they are so much more interesting (to me). Ready Player One is on my list and sounds fun!

I've been trying to read some of the Booker long listed books, just read the last page of The Sisters Brothers before jumping into a volume of South African short stories for a class I'm helping with. Still listening to Ulysses here and there, and zipped through a few if the 99 cent Harpers Collins books iBooks recently had on special.

[terpkristin]

I definitely plan on reading the entire Dark Tower series. Maybe not all the side books, but at least the main 7. The real question is, "Do I start them now, or do others first?"

[Kate]

I'm very late to the party with Bitter Seeds. So far it's brilliant and I really wish I had managed to get to it when S&L were reading it.

I'm also reading The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe because the last time I was in Salem I thought to myself, why are the Salem Witch Trials the subject of so much more interest than the larger, bloodier, and longer lasting witch hunts that took place over Western Europe?

[Jeffrey]

terpkristin wrote: "I'll be finishing American Gods either today or tomorrow. What should I read next? Options:
The Help
[book:The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry|93..."

I am almost done with American Gods myself and was about to start The Help, a friend of mine was suggesting it. She then watched the movie and was raving about it and she said I could watch the movie and get a good feel for the story. Of course I am a very slow reading and have so many books to read that I will take this cheat, lol

[Kevin]

I am reading right now two China Mieville books, Embassytown and Un Lun Dun.

[Andrew]

Curious how those reading 'Ready Player One' are enjoying it? thinking about it as my next audiobook listen.

[Matthew]

I am slowly chipping away at Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I probably won't read this in one shot, but will instead knock it out in volumes. It is considered a classic, but ohh so hard to read.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

terpkristin wrote: "I definitely plan on reading the entire Dark Tower series. Maybe not all the side books, but at least the main 7. The real question is, "Do I start them now, or do others first?""
Did you make a decision? Inquiring minds want to know!

I just zipped through The Testament of Jesse Lamb by Jane Rogers, the only post-apocalyptic novel on the Booker Longlist. It was okay, a bit heavy-handed and preachy, so I don't think it is going to replace any of the greats in our universe any time soon.

[Philip]

I'm knee deep in Warriors, a short story anthology, which is new for me. I've shied away from short stories in the past but am really enjoying this audio book. It doesn't hurt that the authors assembled for it are a bit of a who's who list. I think it would make a good dead tree read since one could cherry pick authors and make up a different order to read the stories in. There's a pleasantly surprising amount of character development going on. I've always assumed short stories are heavily idea driven, with weak character development. Glad to see I was wrong.

[Alex]

Matthew wrote: "I am slowly chipping away at Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I probably won't read this in one shot, but will instead knock it out in volumes. It is considered a classic, but ohh so h..."

I read volume 1 about 8 years ago and still haven't finished volume 2. Maybe its just the translation I bought, but that is a very dense read. It is very interesting though.
"Lu Bu! I challenge you to 100 rounds of combat!"

[Nathan]

Philip wrote: "I've always assumed short stories are heavily idea driven, with weak character development. Glad to see I was wrong."
On a recent Writing Excuses podcast, the hosts were talking about Orson Scott Card's four components of stories: Milieu (setting), Ideas, Characters, and Events. They were saying that a novel will include all four, while a short story would pick one of the four to focus on. Novelettes and Novellas would be two and three, respectively. I thought that was an interesting idea. If it's true, you might find the short stories that have the best characters place less emphasis on ideas, events, and setting. The longer stories in that anthology probably fall into the Novelette or Novella category, so they might emphasize two or three of the components.

[Don]

Jenny wrote: "...If you read The Gunslinger, I say commit to at least also reading the book after it before giving up...."

I was convinced by Jenny to listen to the Dark Tower series because I was burning through too many audible books and need some longer ones (this was on Google+). I wonder if she gets a kick back from Stephan King.:) I'm just about done with the Gunslinger, which is quite short, 7+ hours, and I'm not convinced I'm going to like the series but I planned to listen The Drawing of Three before I give up on it.

I'm sure I'll take grief for saying this, but I struggled through a Game of Thrones and probably wouldn't have continued if it was for the HBO series. I find a Clash of Kings to be much more engaging and I want to keep reading where a Game of Thrones felt more like a chore.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Don wrote: "I was convinced by Jenny to listen to the Dark Tower series because I was burning through too many audible books and need some longer ones (this was on Google+). I wonder if she gets a kick back from Stephan King.:) "

Hmm, could that be arranged? ;)

I think I feel like I have to compensate for all the times I declared that I hated him and refused to read anything else by him. For years! This was based on picking the wrong books to read. (I still would never recommend Insomnia....)

[terpkristin]

Jenny wrote: "Did you make a decision? Inquiring minds want to know!"

I went for The Help because it was going to be quick. I made the mistake of reading the criticism (posted here and in other places) first, though, so I'm finding my reading (well, listening) somewhat jaded. If by the time I finish it, S&L doesn't have a new book, I'll probably move into Dark Tower. It's been on my "to-read" list for a loooong time.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Yeah sorry about the angst. I couldn't shoulder it alone!

[Boots]

terpkristin wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Did you make a decision? Inquiring minds want to know!"

I went for The Help because it was going to be quick. I made the mistake of reading the criticism (posted here ..."

If The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry is still on the table I'd recommend it. It provided some entertainment in analyzing my friends and family trying to decide whether they're psychopaths or not.

I just started reading Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything so far the introduction was really good.

[terpkristin]

Boots wrote: "If The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry is still on the table I'd recommend it. It provided some entertainment in analyzing my friends and family trying to decide whether they're psychopaths or not."

I'll be getting to that one in the coming weeks, just not today. :)

[Don]

Finished American Gods, Daemon, and The Gunslinger on Audible as well as Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. Still reading A Clash of Kings and starting The Drawing of the Three on Audible.

[Amy]

I've decided that since I read a lot in a month and it's usually spontaneous, that it's easier to do a post at the end of the thread than try to make any attempt to predict. ^^ August was a particularly productive month, mostly because I had nothing to do at work:

Dark Currents
Anansi Boys
Ice Cracker II
Flash Gold
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World
The Gone-Away World
Hounded
Geek Wisdom
The Falling Machine
Room
The Unwritten Vol. 3: Dead Man's Knock
Hunted The Flash Gold Chronicles
The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer
The Pox Party
The Alchemy of Stone
Ready Player One

and I've just started A Night of Blacker Darkness, which will probably last me until my pre-order of Hellbent arrives on the 30th.

So yeah...that's my August reading list. One graphic novel trade, two novellas, one short story anthology, two non-fiction and the rest standard novels.

[Tamahome]

Trying out a thriller, Nelson DeMille's The Lion's Game.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Amy wrote: "I've decided that since I read a lot in a month and it's usually spontaneous, that it's easier to do a post at the end of the thread than try to make any attempt to predict. ^^ August was a particu..."

Favorites? Anything you regret spending time on?

[Kevin]

Tamahome wrote: "Trying out a thriller, Nelson DeMille's The Lion's Game."

One of my friend just read that book, said that it was good. So I give him a copy of The Lion that I found earlier this year.

[Tamahome]

The Lion is on overdrive too.

[terpkristin]

Thanks to Irene, I've been shut in all day, plenty of time to read! I'm going to finish up The Help either later tonight or tomorrow. Even with the criticism of the book, I'm finding it enjoyable. I think there are parts that are drawn out and there are definitely some parts that are too rosy and/or too predictable, but it's still decent.

I think next up will beThe Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry since it's pretty short. Though I'm eagerly awaiting T&V's next book pick, I'm taking advantage of the time where there's no pick, getting some other stuff read.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I'm reading The Night Train by Clyde Edgerton, another racial tension novel set in the 1960s south. I also watched the musical Memphis today, so it just seems to be the theme of the day. I suspect the theme of both may be that music saves and unites us all even in the face of senseless violence. I'll take it.

[Amy]

Jenny wrote: "Amy wrote: "I've decided that since I read a lot in a month and it's usually spontaneous, that it's easier to do a post at the end of the thread than try to make any attempt to predict. ^^ August w..."

The Gone-Away World is probably now my favourite book out of those I've read this year, so there is that. I also loved The Alchemy of Stone.

My least favourite of the bunch would probably be The Falling Machine. It's hard to screw-up a light-hearted steampunk adventure with superheroes, but it was pretty dull.

[Peter]

Andrew wrote: "Curious how those reading 'Ready Player One' are enjoying it? thinking about it as my next audiobook listen."

I am about 25% into Ready Player One on Audible, and I am enjoying it so far. After a bit of a slow start explaining the world and the main protagonist, the action has been pretty quick and steady. I would give it four stars at this point. Also the narration of Wil Wheaton adds a bit extra to the geeking out factor of all the 80's references as you can almost hear his excitement as it is read.

[terpkristin]

I listened to The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry today. I was pretty underwhelmed. Going to start Ready Player One either today or tomorrow. I don't know if I enjoyed the 80's enough to really dig it, but we shall see.

[Tamahome]

Ok, here's a test. If you enjoy this video, you will enjoy Ready Player One.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz9VN...