What are you reading in December 2011?

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Let us know what you're reading this month!

[Stuart]

I am reading Between the Assassinations by Aravind Adiga

[Helen]

I've just started last months book (City), then Honor 4, Fortress 5. I'm completely behind the plan I set out! Oh, and Spin, Honor 5, if I like 4!

[Laurel]

Sigh... My favorite part of the month is making my to-read wish list!

. Most Urban Fantasy fans rave about this series.

'Cause Mike raves about this one!

I'm a wee bit of a Sanderson fan!

. I've been waiting for this one to come out!

. This one, too!!

I think this is the first in the series - people rave about this one.

. Can't believe I haven't gotten around to this one as yet...

[Jim]

Just finished Ringworld and am deep into Rome 1960.

[Candiss]

I have no constant net access until Tuesday the 6th, so I'm writing this torturously via my Kindle on the mobile Goodreads site. I can not access the Add Book/Author feature but wanted to say Hi (and get my GR/BR fix...)
In Dec. I'll read: Spin, The Crying of Lot 49 (Pynchon,) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland... (Valente,) Dawn (O. Butler,) Breakfast at Tiffany's (Capote,) Ice (Anna Kavan...under-loved SF,) The Murder of Roger Akroyd (A. Christie,) & Ethan Frome (Wharton.) Challenge books, group reads, all. [Thumbs dead...SO not a texter...]

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Edit:
Ok, I'm back on the grid. Let me clean this post up a bit. In December I'll be reading:

[Maggie]

I SO want to read Dawn Candiss, but I am beseiged by BotM's! I finished Of Blood and Honey and am halfway through Ringworld and my re-read of Toll the Hounds. I want to fit in A Canticle for Leibowitz, Stranger in a Strange Land and started Spin

[Shel, Moderator]

Laurel, I really like that Kelley Armstrong series (and yes, Bitten is the first book). I haven't read them all yet but fully intend on continuing one of these days!

I'm still working on The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer. It took me a while to get into it - Stephenson was clearly having a good time with his world-building, but I had to force myself to skim his lengthy descriptions of cool techologies until I got to the point in the story where something actually happened. I'm into it now though :)

[Jon]

Wow! It's 2012 already!?!? :P

I'm planning on reading Spin, which I've had on my shelf for years. Looking forward to it. I borrowed Ready Player One from the library today to read for another group. I'm almost half done with Dick Van Dyke's autobiography and have a history of Eisenhower's presidency in 1956 to read as well for my nonfiction efforts. Oh, and I also borrowed Scholar. I will read the next Honor Harrington as an ebook (probably the only one this month since I have nearly a half dozen library books to read and return).

I just hope I can reach my reading goal of seventy-five books. I did not get any reading done last week (too busy enjoying my kids during a visit to Texas).

[Kevin]

Shel wrote: "Laurel, I really like that Kelley Armstrong series (and yes, Bitten is the first book). I haven't read them all yet but fully intend on continuing one of these days!

I'm still working on [book:Th..."

One thing I don't like in his books no matter what topic it is, is that he gets too technical with it.

[Paul]

Jon wrote: "Wow! It's 2012 already!?!? :P"

Time flies when you're having fun!

I've a fairly busy month of reading - after not reading that many bookclub reads, I'm going with quite a few this month. Handily, as suddenly I seem to have fallen behind my reading goal!

Still plugging through
and

and have just started
and

I'll also be reading (all with various groups)


and some Warren Ellis graphic novels a friend is lending me.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Might do a Spin trilogy reread (well, a reread of the first 2, I hadn't read the 3rd before). Will continue the Honor series. I'm reading the Dalemark Quartet (on book 2).

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Jon wrote: "Wow! It's 2012 already!?!?"

Okay okay, settle down everyone :) I fixed it. (I often quickly try to set up all these beginning-of-the-month posts early in the morning, and I evidently should try to caffeinate more thoroughly before attempting this.)

[Viv]

I'm reading Of Blood and Honey for this month's group read, plus carrying on Jim Butcher's Codex Alera with Captain's Fury. After that I have lined up Magic Bitesand The Curse of Chalion. Whether I'll get thru all these or not is another matter!

[Hélène]

I'm intend to start on Spin after finishing with Lovers and Other Strangers (this one seems a great Lanyon - very "atmospheric") and The Mote in God's Eye. I might re-read The Curse of Chalion for the umpteenth time with another group, just for the joy of meeting Cazaril once more time. And continue the Honor series.

[Jenny]

I don't know what to pick up next. I've been in a slump lately with books. I've been starting and stopping a lot. Most of the books are ones I think I would enjoy but I just haven't gotten into. I think I'm in a very particular mood. I want to read Spin but I'm worried it will have the same fate...

[Nikita]

I'm currently reading Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson. I have a feeling the author read World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks and decided to write a book similar just with Robots instead.

I don't really plan out my month of reading. When I'm close to finishing a book, I look through my to-read list and pick something I'm in the mood for and pick that book up for my next read.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Snoozerider wrote: "I'm reading Of Blood and Honey for this month's group read, plus carrying on Jim Butcher's Codex Alera with Captain's Fury. After that I have lined up [book:Magic Bit..."

How is the Codex Alera? I have the books but haven't read any of them yet.

[Chris]

Jenny wrote: "I don't know what to pick up next. I've been in a slump lately with books. I've been starting and stopping a lot. Most of the books are ones I think I would enjoy but I just haven't gotten into. I ..."

I've been there. Just recently broke out of a slump like that. It'll come for you.

I'm thinking of reading Spin too, but I'm a little stuck in my current reads. Plus I want to jump into Ready Player One for another group.

I have 300 pages left in Ship of Magic and then I'll have to choose....hehe

[Viv]

Kathi wrote: "Snoozerider wrote: "I'm reading Of Blood and Honey for this month's group read, plus carrying on Jim Butcher's Codex Alera with Captain's Fury. After that I have line..."

I am enjoying them - not terribly original but good adventures and characters, with some ace bad guys!

[Kevin]

Continuing my read of Haruki Murakami with Kafka on the Shore.

[Bill]

I am currently reading The Children of the Sky by Vernor Vinge a long awaited sequel.

[Pickle]

Currently reading with a view to read/re-read:

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I started reading Theft of Swords, which collects the first 2 Riyria books by Michael J. Sullivan. Most of you probably have heard of him by now - he self-published his books, became a big indie hit and has now been picked up by Orbit, who are publishing his books in 3 omnibus editions of 2 books each. It's very light, not something I'd usually pick up, but I'm actually enjoying it a lot. Not a ton of depth, but never boring either. It kinda reminds me of when I first read The Belgariad, *mumble* years ago, that same sort of light, fun fantasy. Anyway, I'm only 200 pages in but having fun with it so far.

[Helen]

I quite enjoyed his first book.

[Stuart]

I am reading Between the Assassinations by Aravind Adiga

[Jon]

Stefan wrote: "I started reading Theft of Swords, which collects the first 2 Riyria books by Michael J. Sullivan. Most of you probably have heard of him by now - he self-publishe..."

I'm curious to read this edition. I plan to purchase the ebook later this month. Had you previous read The Crown Conspiracy and Avampartha? Can you tell a difference?

[Ken]

Stefan wrote: "I started reading Theft of Swords, which collects the first 2 Riyria books by Michael J. Sullivan. Most of you probably have heard of him by now - he self-publishe..."

Never heard of him. I would like to know if orbit edited the books as the do with books that are published through regular channels

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I hadn't read the books before. I can't say if they've been significantly edited or altered in any way (other than, you know, having been combined into omnibus editions of two novels each).

[Ken]

I was just wondering, a self published wunderkind. I publisher picks them up, I wonder if there any changes.

I have a thing with self published writers. I am of the mind that an editor is a good thing

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I agree, most people need editors. In this case, I just never saw the books the way they were published pre-Orbit, so I'm not sure what, if anything, was changed. I'm pretty sure that information won't be too hard to find though, if you're really interested.

[Jim]

I read most of them as ARC copies & they're good, light fantasy fare. They're also well edited. As I understand it, not much got changed except the packaging & covers when Orbit took them over. You can always ask Michael directly. He's around & there's a group for them here:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

The release date of the final book was pushed back a year, too. That's one of the major gripes I see with regular publishers now - the long wait times for book releases.

[Helen]

I agree Crown Conspiracy was well edited and I certainly didn't notice any typos (unlike City of Bones).

[Christine]

I finished Carte Blanche which is another fun James Bond read (but you always know that like Jack Bauer, no matter how dire the circumstances, Bond will come through). I've just started The Magician King; I went back to this group;s discussion of the first book and was surprised to discover how much most people disliked this book. I don't remember disliking the book at all...

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Helen wrote: "I agree Crown Conspiracy was well edited and I certainly didn't notice any typos (unlike City of Bones)."

Well, I did find this in the Orbit edition:

"I had originally planned for you to die accidently in an unfortunate accident [...]" (p.200 in Theft of Swords)

Even if you fix the misspelled adverb, it's still a horrible sentence. I'm not sure if the original edition had more of these and they were all weeded out by Orbit except for this one, or if this is just the one mistake and it slipped through in both editions. In either case, the Orbit edition isn't bad at all from my editor's point of view, aside from one or two dogs like this example. Fun book - I'm taking a break now because I need to work on my review of Unstuck, a brand new SFF magazine (first issue due out next week!), but once that's done I'll tackle book 2 in this omnibus.

[Paul]

Stefan wrote: "Even if you fix the misspelled adverb, it's still a horrible sentence."

Man, that is ugly. Self-published needn't mean un-edited (and shouldn't; everyone needs an editor, if only to pick up things like that), you can make you of friends or writing groups. Obviously a professional will usually be better, and more able to give objective advice, but the way some publishers are farming out editing (or, from the look of some books, dispensing with it all together) means the gap between pro and self published work seems to be narrowing from both directions.

[Jim]

Paul 'Pezter' wrote: "Man, that is ugly. Self-published needn't mean un-edited (and shouldn't; everyone needs an editor, if only to..."

That was a nasty one to get through. I've read ARC's for self-published people who have paid an editor & thought they would have been better off saving their money. That is one of the places where the big publishers used to shine, although there are some examples of very poor proofing from them, too. Anyone who ever read the Ace reprints of the early 90's probably knows what I mean. I have a copy of This Immortal that is absolutely butchered. Apparently they retyped it & never proofed at all.

Proofing is a tough job, though. It's amazing how easily our brains can 'fix' the things we see. I certainly wouldn't want to do it for a living. It's one of the things I hate about writing software code. A simple, stupid mistake can eat up far to long trying to figure out.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I finished Drowned Ammet and will be continuing that series, the Dalemark Quartet. Planned to reread Spin and Axis and read Vortex for the first time, but I discovered I've lent the first 2 books to my dad (who lives 200 miles away) and I don't own the 3rd, so that will go on my list for a later time.

In addition to finishing the Dalemark books, I think I'll try City of Bones. I bought it after the group started it but I know I can look back at the discussion and add my comments.

And I'll be continuing the Honor series with this month's installment.

[Ken]

Still working through The Company: A Novel of the CIA. Enjoying it.

[Shel, Moderator]

I finished The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer last night - gave it four stars. I had a hard time getting into it at the beginning, and didn't love the ending, but was completely enthralled by all the bits in between. Great characters!

Next up is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Really looking forward to it!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I finished Flag in Exile, so I'm ready for that discussion. Started the third book in the Dalemark Quartet, The Spellcoats.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I just finished Empire State by Adam Christopher, a debut novel I had high expectations for but didn't really enjoy as much as I thought. The full review will be up on tor.com at some point this month.

Right now I have no assignments, so I'm reading something just for fun! What a novel concept. I picked up Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan, the second book in his Riyria Revelations series. I read the first one a few weeks back and thought it was fun, light fantasy - just what I felt like.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

It's quiet here, everyone! What are you all reading so silently and attentively? Come on, spill the beans, inquiring moderators want to know.

[Candiss]

I am currently reading both The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. Next up are Dawn by Octavia E. Butler and Ice by Anna Kavan.

I am waiting in a queue at the library for next month's books. There are two people ahead of me for House of Suns, but six people precede me for The Magician King, so I may not get to it in time for the discussion. Feh.

[Christine]

Still working my way through The Magician King; I want to finish it to see where the characters are going, but am not really enjoying it...Next up are World's End and The Summer Queen

[Janny]

Just started Spin.

[Random]

I'm still working my way though the Skolian Empire books. I initially read them as they came out, so I'm catching a lot that I missed the first time around.

[Sandra]

I guess I haven't posted here yet. I've read Flag in Exile and Honor Among Enemies because I couldn't stop eating the popcorn! However, at that point, I'd had enough for a while. So I listened to Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell which was good, but too long. Also read Ship of Magic and have started The Mad Ship, and listened to Rules of Prey. I'm now listening to State of Wonder which is quite interesting with an (only mildly) annoying heroine. Oh, also listened to Hogfather - typical Pratchett silliness and sardonic commentary on human foibles. Anyone know if he and Ann Pratchett are related?

Am working gradually on Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes to broaden my vision.

[Helen]

It's quiet here, everyone! What are you all reading so silently and attentively? Come on, spill the beans, inquiring moderators want to know.
Yes sir! I'm reading Field of Dishonor which I like in parts and then in other parts wish it was finished. Not sure I'll continue with the series. Read Spin, enjoyed that, I liked the ending which I hadn't expected. Have the sample for Of Blood and Honey so should get to that soon, Ship of MAgic is next though.

[Kevin]

I'm reading books that I got from the library, starting with Muarkami's Dance Dance Dance, then its the new Stephen King book, 11/23/63.