What are you reading in August 2011?

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Please let us know what you're reading this month!

[Candiss]

I've just started by Jedediah Berry after reading a wonderful review from someone on my friends list. It's a weird fantasy/steampunk/mystery mix about a detective who must enter people's dreams, and it's getting some really cool buzz, especially for a debut novel.

I'm half-way through Italo Calvino's classic and am finding it enchanting.


Next up:
.

Edit: added another one

[Phoenixfalls]

I'm in the middle of:

And I plan to read at least the following this month:

And I'm hoping to get to these, but it depends on the state of my wallet:

[Jon]

Just posted my third and final blog post about my summer reads.

I started Foreigner this morning in paperback, which easily transports in my purse with my Nook Color. Next up in hardcover, after I finish The Snow Queen, is The Black Prism.

My current-month shelf displays the rest of my anticipated August reads, including:

[Helen]

I have to finish The Witching Hour. Lined up are Basilisk Station and Fortress in the Eye of Time. Then its whatever grabs my fancy on the shelves - I do feel that I need to do a series though.

[Amelia]

I'm in the middle of The Bonehunters. Next up is Mistress of the Empire. I hope to read Foreigner after that. After that I think I might try some Robin Hobb, Assassin's Apprentice.

[Kevin]

Amelia wrote: "I'm in the middle of The Bonehunters. Next up is Mistress of the Empire. I hope to read Foreigner after that. After that I think I might try some Robin H..."

Nice, I hope you enjoy all those books.

[Sandi]

I'm listening to Vortex by Robert Charles Wilson and The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi. In text, I'm reading Blameless by Gail Carriger and Point Omega by Don DeLillo. Then, I'll be reading The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville. I have a lot more books lined up, but those are my top reads.

[Ken]

I am still reading Embassytown. Didn't get as much reading in Vegas as I thought. Who would of thought that. Ha Ha Ha

its a strange read. His use of words is strange. Book is interesting though

[Sandi]

Ken wrote: "I am still reading Embassytown. Didn't get as much reading in Vegas as I thought. Who would of thought that. Ha Ha Ha

its a strange read. His use of words is strange. Book is interesting though"

I picked that one up at the library and was really struggling with it. I realized that it might be better in audio, so I downloaded it from Audible. It is the perfect book for that format.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I started on Low Town: A novel by Daniel Polansky, read and enjoyed the first 50 or so pages, and now I have to set it aside because I need to read The Magician King by Lev Grossman quickly so my review can go up on the release date next week. I read the first 50 or so pages of that one and am loving it so far.

[Jim]

I'm reading Synergy by M.D. Benoit. It's a bleak world dealing with genetic problems compounded by government interference. A really good & logical extension of our own world in a century or so - perfect SF.

I read a fun SF book by her a while back, Metered Space & really liked it. Now I'm going to get all her books. Her range is pretty incredible - kind of reminds me of Harry Harrison with his fun Stainless Steel Rat books & then serious, excellent works like Make Room! Make Room! (Soylent Green).

[Jan]

The holidays are typically 'catch on with those classics you haven't read yet' for me. So I've started the Gunslinger series (like it a lot so far), and next in line is The Waste Lands. I've also started The First Law series (was a bit disappointed by the first book, even though I love Logen and Glokta). Next in line is Before They Are Hanged, hope it'll have a bit more plot. Also planning to finally read Anansi Boys, and I hope to get my hands on a copy of Foreigner before the month is out.

But first I'm reading some Urban fantasy, the Downside Ghosts series, and I'm currently halfway the first book Unholy Ghosts. It's gritty fun, I love that the heroine is a junkie.

[Nick]

Just read Majestic by Whitley Strieber which, I just found out, has a new edition coming out today! It was good for a laugh, as most Roswell stories are.

Also, getting a head's up by starting A Shadow in Summer.

[Hélène]

This month is a hard one with four books to read for group discussion ( and I don't count The Hobbitas I haven't got the book with me on holidays) : Foreigner and Fortress in the Eye of Time by C.J. Cherryh, On Basilisk Station by David Weber, The Black Prism by Brent Weeks.
As I tend to wander, I thought I could add another one and I like listening to Luke Daniels reading Hounded by Kevin Hearne.

[Bill]

I have been reading the new never before published edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray: An Annotated, Uncensored Edition, ie, before the editors and Wilde himself changed it to make it more acceptable to Victorian sensibilities.

[Lindsey]

Wow, travel for a month and miss that we're doing On Basilisk Station! I really enjoy the HH series, need to get the latest book. Can't wait to see the discussion!

I had a super slow July for reading. I'm playing catch up a bit this month:
Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb
The Inheritance by Robin Hobb
What to Expect When You're Expecting (Been reading this month by month, but I should probably skip ahead to see how it ends...)
Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Hoping to get through more than that, since I'm increasingly tired out by everyday activities. And I'll probably take a look back through parts of the HH series, just for good measure.

[Christine]

Last night I finished House of Suns which I thoroughly enjoyed; it shows you can write a good story in one volume of less than 500 pages!! I'll have to try some of his other books. Next up is Dawn folloowed by The Magic Engineer, Little Fuzzy, and Consider Phlebas all of which are on my shelf (from my library). I have On Basilisk Station on my eReader for when I find time...

[Helen]

I have so many that I want/need to read over August, I might have to giveup sleep, tv and food! I really must get some paperbacks done while I'm off work.

[Ken]

Lindsey wrote: "What to Expect When You're Expecting (Been reading this month by month, but I should probably skip ahead to see how it ends...)"

Well it ends on a bit of cliffhanger and continues on with What to Expect the First Year
Ha Ha Ha

[Chris]

I'm reading Assassin's Apprentice as my main novel and listening to the audio of Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell.

I'm also squeezing the occasional short story in from Nightmares & Dreamscapes.

[Kevin]

Chris wrote: "I'm reading Assassin's Apprentice as my main novel and listening to the audio of Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell.

I'm also squeezing the occasional short ..."

Just got to Assassin's Apprentice?

[Chris]

Kevin wrote: "Just got to Assassin's Apprentice?..."

No, I've read it before. I'm re-reading it so I can refresh myself before finishing the trilogy. I never got around to the other two.

[Shel, Moderator]

I'm about halfway through Peril's Gate, finally jumping back into the series read way late. Next up when I finish is Ammonite by Nicola Griffin, for the discussion at Calico Reaction.

[Kevin]

Chris wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Just got to Assassin's Apprentice?..."

No, I've read it before. I'm re-reading it so I can refresh myself before finishing the trilogy. I never got around to the other two."

Hope you enjoy the rest of her books.

[Chris]

Thanks, Kevin. I'm looking forward to them. I really should have read them back when I read AA.

[Marty]

I think they are really enjoyable. I think they are the best of her fantasy at least of what I have read but of course tastes vary.

[Bill]

Finished Dorian Gray last nite, so much better than the movies... and started The Handmaid's Tale. Interesting style compared to Atwood's more recent books. I keep mistyping as "Handmaid's Tail" and have a feeling I know why, but may be wrong?

I's so far behind on my reviews, I wonder if I'll remember enough.

[Lindsey]

Ken wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "What to Expect When You're Expecting (Been reading this month by month, but I should probably skip ahead to see how it ends...)"

Well it ends on a bit of cliffhanger and continues on with What to Expect the First Year
Ha Ha Ha"

Ha! I knew it was related to my normal reading somehow. Cliffhanger endings, never ending series... sounds like a sf&f series to me!

[Deedee]

I'm currently reading the BOTM Fortress in the Eye of Time; and, I have A Night in the Lonesome October next up. (Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel (1994))

[Kevin]

I am reading The City & The City right now.

[Katie]

I'm in the middle of the Lensman series (I've just started Grey Lensman) by E. E. "Doc" Smith.

[Jim]

Katie wrote: "I'm in the middle of the Lensman series (I've just started Grey Lensman) by E. E. "Doc" Smith."

Wow! That's a blast from the past. Campbellian space opera. They were fun reads when I was a young teen. I don't think I've read them since then. I'll bet I still have the books in a box somewhere, though.

[Katie]

Jim wrote: Wow! That's a blast from the past. Campbellian space opera. They were fun reads when I was a young teen. I don't think I've read them since then. I'll bet I still have the books in a box somewhere..."

I'm reading my Dad's copies which he bought in the 70's, some of which are literally falling apart.

[Kara]

Finished up Geist, and since I don't have a copy of Spectyr handy (because I really really like this series and plan on grabbing the next book ASAP), I've decided to pull one down from the TBR, and just recently found myself enjoying the first chapter of Shadow's Edge. It had been a while, but I'm back into the story now, and I had forgotten what a great writer Brent Weeks is.

Also listening to Sheepfarmer's Daughter... about three hours into it.

[Random]

Kara wrote: "Also listening to Sheepfarmer's Daughter... about three hours into it."

How are you liking it so far? Its a series I've been meaning to read for ages now and have just never gotten to it. I've enjoyed her SF books.

[Christine]

I've just finished Dawn and see this is the first in a series; might the group consider this series at some time in the future? Now I'm on to Little Fuzzy

[Kevin]

Christine wrote: "I've just finished Dawn and see this is the first in a series; might the group consider this series at some time in the future? Now I'm on to Little Fuzzy"

Going to read any of the sequels to Little Fuzzy like Fuzzy Sapiens or Fuzzy Bones, but especially Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi? I see a lot of people reading Fuzzy Nation lately, so I want to read all the Fuzzy books in order if I can find a copy.

[Christine]

Kevin wrote: "Christine wrote: "I've just finished Dawn and see this is the first in a series; might the group consider this series at some time in the future? Now I'm on to [book:Little Fuzzy|14401..."

I got mine from my library; I;ll probably read them in order if I like them. There are so many books to read...

[Kevin]

Christine wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Christine wrote: "I've just finished Dawn and see this is the first in a series; might the group consider this series at some time in the future? Now I'm on to [book:Litt..."

Nice!

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I finished reading The Magician King by Lev Grossman for the second time today - I went back to read the early chapters to check quotes for my review and ended up going through the whole thing again.

Now I'm starting on Low Town by Daniel Polansky. Or rather, re-starting it, as I had to put it on hold when I was asked to review The Magician King on short notice. I'm excited to get back to it because the few chapters I've read so far were promising.

[Helen]

I so want to read Magician King, I find myself thinking more about the Magician now than I did while reading it. I've just started The Gargoyle

[Jan]

Ok, so Before They Are Hanged was definitely much better than the first book. Finally got me excited about the series, and there was some real tension this time. Glokta was less funny though. Love how Abercrombie is showing the story through the eyes of the pawns. Onwards to the next one!

[Shel, Moderator]

Yeah, I liked Before They Are Hanged much better than the first book. I LOVED (view spoiler)[that they went all the way to the end of the world to get the Seed and it WASN'T THERE! (hide spoiler)]

[Laurel]

@Stefan,

I've been excited to read both of those books. I'm so glad that Low Town: A novel looks promising!

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I'm about 60 pages in now, and it's surprisingly good for a debut. Dark, but good. Noir fantasy, really. I can't wait to read more!

[Christine]

I finished Little Fuzzy last night and did enjoy this book despite it being a bit dated, technology wise. Now I'm on to Consider Phlebas

[Pickle]

im halfway throughUnder the Dome with either Ubik or The Forever War to read next.

[Kevin]

I finally got to around to reread Foreigner.

[Janny]

Just finished The Onion Girl and Widdershins, and now into a re-read of Fortress in the Eye of Time, which last is dangerous territory - stayed up too late, reading.

Next up will be Ghost Ship