What Else Are You Reading - February 2012 Edition

[Philip]

Finished Sisterhood of Dune and started Robert A. Heinlein's Sixth Column, which I read as a wee lad.

[Louis]

Kevin wrote: "Ewan wrote: "This month i'm reading the Kingkiller chronicles, seen as how they come so highly recommended from everyone who ever picked the books up. So far I can see why :)"

Nope, I am about o..."

I also agree Kvothe is arrogant, but then again, so is Ambrose and probably all of the masters at the University. The difference is some are arrogant due to position at birth, and less about ability. And remember that a good story needs conflict. Conflict surrounds Kvothe.

The story is developing slowly but building, with huge amounts of world building and descriptions on the way. You can see that the ships are going to collide, and you know it. After all it's being told by one of the survivors.

Think G.R.R Martin and how little gets done while arrogance reigns supreme

Two books in, and Kvolthe improve music he already had, shown others he does have limits on his magic, finally figured some names, and has learned some sword and philosophy. He made deep enmity with Ambrose, who has bested Kvothe a few times... And the other way round too.

Perhaps it moves too slow?

[running_target]

AndrewP wrote: "running_target wrote: "Just started listening to Wizard's First Rule. Pretty bad so far, only 20ish hours to go. Hooray."

I am on Faith of the Fallen at the moment. Lot'..."

This is Objectivist Fantasy? Lulz. I haven't reached any real "message" yet, just not a big fan of his writing. Tons of Rule 34 to come though? Swell. Oh well, as the homeless wizards on the streets of the Midlands ask "Who is Darken Rahl?"

And since I paid for it, I'll be finishing it. A shame I'm too dumb to use a library.

[AndrewP]

Sean wrote: "I rag on the books and I didn't even get to page fifty. I gave up at the point where someone proposed that they outlaw fire and people, instead of asking "Are you retarded?" actually gave the idea serious consideration. "

I read that as being an allegory of the federal government :)
Here is a recent example - http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/...

[Joseph]

Finished The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man and started Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon.

[Kevin]

AndrewP wrote: "running_target wrote: "Just started listening to Wizard's First Rule. Pretty bad so far, only 20ish hours to go. Hooray."

I am on Faith of the Fallen at the moment. Lot'..."

Yeah, I find a lot of people hate Sword of Truth because it is too preachy as a way for Terry Goodkind to give his political views, which a lot of people find it annoying because they have the opposite views. But overall I love his books, and have read it many times. I hated the last three books.

[terpkristin]

I finished reading Confessions of a Surgeon. It was actually fairly decent but not one to read if you are the type to think you're dying after looking up a symptom on WebMD.

The timing for this is perfect, now I'm ready to start the next S&L pick. Been looking forward to a new pick for quite some time, I hope V & T don't disappoint. No pressure, though. ;) :D

[Been]

Finished listening to Bitter Seeds and absolutely loved it. Not only did I really enjoy the book, but I thought the reader was phenomenal. I enjoyed it so much that I'm actually glad I couldn't get it on the Kindle, just so I could experience it this way.

[Alfredo]

Finished Seeing Further: Ideas, Endeavours, Discoveries and Disputes — The Story of Science Through 350 Years of the Royal Societyand loved it. I am starting [book:Fallen Dragon|45258, which I interrupted months ago to read a bunch of books, while awaiting the next book pick.

[Robert]

I'm reading A Storm of Swords and re-reading The Eye of the World.

I must be a masochist.

[Leavey]

I finally finished the audio version of Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America wich i found quite enjoyable (yet weird) due to the completely unreliable narrator and biography style.

Next audiobook is going to be Wicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and I've started The Sea Thy Mistress in paperback.

[Warren]

A history book, a cyberpunk book
and I'm looking for a fantasy book.

I was told that: "In the Service of Dragons"
was good. It's listed a YA, but I won't let that throw me.
Most fantasy get listed as YA.
(Except maybe a few bodus rippers…cough...cough)

[Marcus]

Reading Empire State and then Crack'd Pot Trail: A Bauchelain And Korbal Broach Novella. After that i wait for the arrival of Orb Sceptre Throne. Got to get my Kruppe fix, the master of epic mule cavalery attacks!

[Nick]

Finished the books I said I was going to read. Read For Want of a Nail and The God Engines also.

Starting on Slaughterhouse Five. Will read Old Man's War after that and of course whatever our next book pick is.

[Kate]

Sort of half starting Nine Princes in Amber and The Sparrowat the moment, but I don't feel ready to commit to either yet. It's even odds on whether I'll get past the first chapters or read something else.

[JRush]

Listening to The Way of Shadows, and finished Dune last night. Will probably read Leviathan Wakes before the next book pick.

[Mark]

Finished The Cloud Roads.

Started Home Fires finally. It's been on my wish list for awhile. It's like reading an old black and white movie.

[Paul]

Finishing off Never Let Me Go, The Etymologicon and the audio of The Windup Girl, then leaping into Angelmaker! Not sure if i'm going for any group reads this month, but may make a start on The Scar, a group read next month, as it's over 700 pages and, I seem t remember, quite dense.

[terpkristin]

Well, seeing as I have ANOTHER week before the next book is picked, I'm at a loss for what I want to do next. Looking through my "to be read and already purchased" stack, I have a few DTE books I could read (see this picture and a fair few Kindle titles (see 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5).

Too many options, I can't decide. I don't want to read anything in a series (since I'll be jumping into the next S&L pick), it should be quick and not too hard (so DFW is probably out)...oi.

Oh, and I'm still listening to Inheritance. I've got about 8 hours left in the audiobook, but I think I'm at the final battle. This only makes me think that the battle description is going to be long and drawn out, and that the rest of the book will be a "what happened to everyone" type thing a la The Return Of The King. Paolini's writing got better as he got older, but the entire story is rather predictable. The narration really makes it work as an audiobook...and since the story is so simple, I can get distracted briefly and not lose much.

[Paul]

An interesting choice! I'd suggest avoiding The Catcher in the Rye (read it a couple of years ago and it didn't work for me; it may have to be read when your a teenager I think. Jumping into Pythagoras' Trousers might have promise...

[Kevin]

Paul 'Pezski' wrote: "An interesting choice! I'd suggest avoiding The Catcher in the Rye (read it a couple of years ago and it didn't work for me; it may have to be read when your a teenager I think. Jumping..."

I loved Cather in the Rye. Its one of my favorite. For me its one of those books that still stands the test of time. Still as good as it was published 60 years ago.

[Greg]

Received A Storm of Swords in the mail yesterday, and I have a mini-vacation this weekend...perfect timing to take off from work. :D

[Philip]

Started Resurrection: The Capstone in the Arch of Christianity by Hank Hanegraaff today, then on to the new Audible release of The Stand(all 47+ hours of it) afterwards.

[Abraham]

I just finished Scott Westerfields's Leviathan trilogy Goliath next i am dipping reading the mountains of madness by lovecraft At The Mountains Of Madness: And Other Tales Of Terror after that Nation by Sir Terry P. Nation then back to the kindle for enders game Ender's Game and then likely Solaris Solaris or kracken Kraken but i wouldn't want to tie myself down too much, i like to remain spontaneous when choosing books.

[Joseph]

Abraham wrote: "I just finished Scott Westerfields's Leviathan trilogy Goliath next i am dipping reading the mountains of madness by lovecraft [book:At The Mountains Of Madness: And Other Tales Of T..."

If you (or anyone else for that matter) wants a free and relatively complete Lovecraft ebook collection, check out http://cthulhuchick.com/.

[Kate]

I've persevered with The Sparrow and omg it's so awesome.
Jesuits in Space!
It's so bizarre and yet so totally obvious.

[AndrewP]

Kevin wrote: "Yeah, I find a lot of people hate Sword of Truth because it is too preachy as a way for Terry Goodkind to give his political views, which a lot of people find it annoying because they have the opposite views. But overall I love his books, and have read it many times. I hated the last three books. "

I agree. It's not great literature or anything, but Goodkind knows how to tell a good story and keeps the pacing at an enjoyable level. A couple of the books are perhaps overlong, but I don't get that annoying "this guy is being payed by the word" feeling that I do with some long books.

[Elianara]

Got really into the Immortals series by Tamora Pierce. Read the two first books, Wild Magic and Wolf-Speaker, and I'm currently reading book three, Emperor Mage. Almost done with that one, so that leaves book four, The Realms of the Gods. These go fast, easy to read young adult fantasy.

[Kevin]

I'm reading Snow Crash, way better than the Diamond Age.

[Mason]

Almost finished re-listening to Eragon while I work but I'm reading The Way of Kings Part Two when I have spare time at the weekend. :)

[Jared]

I'm currently reading two books from the Horus Heresy series.

I started Deliverance Lost first and got about 150 pages into it. I then made the mistake of cracking open Know No Fear and reading the first few pages. Now I'm 200 pages into both and splitting my time. I know I'll end up having to reread both. *sigh*

[kvon]

Kate wrote: "I've persevered with The Sparrow and omg it's so awesome.
Jesuits in Space!
It's so bizarre and yet so totally obvious."

I still love the image of the de-muscled hand draping back.

Finished Meeting book 2 of Nina Kiriki Hoffman's Magic Next Door series, described as for middle readers. Great characters who do unexpected actions ala Hoffman, but little resolution to the ongoing mysteries.

Finished Audible's The Night Circus--I loved the imagery of the circus and the magic, but the romance parts made me feel like Fred Savage in the Princess Bride--not more kissing!

Back to The Wild Ways By Tanya Huff, which I can tell won't be one of my favorites.

[Procrastinador]

Currently reading Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. Enjoying it a lot and have no doubt it would probably be one of my favorite books ever, if I had read it when I was around 20 years old.

[Kate]

I've started Embassytown, have the immediate impression that it's going to be hard going, but it's supposed to be partially a response to The Sparrow so I'm hoping this will sustain me through the confusion.

[Kevin]

Procrastinador wrote: "Currently reading Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. Enjoying it a lot and have no doubt it would probably be one of my favorite books ever, if I had read it when I was a..."

Hey there is a movie based on the book that was done about a year and a half, you should go, and check it out.

[Mark]

Just finished Home Fires and am about to start The Chronicles Of Master Li And Number Ten Ox.

[Arroyo0]

Finished Grave Witch and Grave Dance which I enjoyed and just started Feed by Mira Grant which I'm loving so far.

[Jim]

Just finished Duma Key. I had low expectations based on some of the Goodreads reviews. The first 75% of the book was awesome - I thought the ending had some pacing problems, but overall I really enjoyed this book. The book is structured in a similar manner as Thinner- 1st person narrative, the horror aspect builds slowly, great characters, etc. A must read for Steven King fans.

Moving on to a quick military fiction read - Tin Soldiers and then back to sword and laser land.

Cheers, Jim

[Mark]

Also starting Among Others.

[Kate]

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland just arrived in the post. I'm very eager for my lunch break to roll around so I can crack it open.

[Joseph]

Kate wrote: "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland just arrived in the post. I'm very eager for my lunch break to roll around so I can crack it open."

I love that book so very much. And have often dreamed of buying caselots and mailing them (selectively highlighted) anonymously to any number of authors.

[Aaron]

Reading The Heroes and just finished Who Goes There? Seven Tales of Science-Fiction which was the inspiration for The Thing movies.

[Joseph]

I finished Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon and started The Emperor's Knife by Mazarkis Williams.

[Ree]

I read Hugh Howey's Wool series this month, and I don't think I've ever read anything before and thought "Oh My Soul! This MUST be made into a TV show!" - but seriously, this would make a smashing series. There's so much material - in terms of interesting characters, scenarios that make you scream for more information, and thought provoking social commentary.

That said, the first story isn't the best, but it serves as a great introduction.

Go read it!

[Kate]

Joseph wrote: "I love that book so very much. And have often dreamed of buying caselots and mailing them (selectively highlighted) anonymously to any number of authors. "

It's certainly filled me with trepidation about the world I'm painstakingly constructing to house my high fantasy novel. I suppose that's a good thing.

[terpkristin]

I finally finished Inheritance. Wow, that book dragged on and on and on.

I've started reading Legends to fill the gaps between bigger books. I also started The Lies of Locke Lamora (first time a pick I've selected wins a poll!). Finally, I'm listening to Wild Cards. It's an interesting idea for a story and I'm digging it so far, but I'm only about an hour in (out of nearly 20).

Another book I'm interested in, one which might be a nice "laser-ish" type pick, is one I just read about in Game Informer of all places...The Rook. Looks like it's got real potential.

[itrooper]

I just finished the first "Bitter Seeds" book (pretty good) and I just started "Across the Nightingale Floor: Tales of the Otori, Book 1." I am not sure if the later is a SF series yet. After that I am looking forward to the second "Iron Druid" book or "The Strain" by Guillermo Del Toro

[Rob]

Just completed the first two Star Carrier books...loved them and can't wait to read the third. If you like John Ringo's books you will love these as well. Similar but with less politics. ..but also still need to finish dance w dragons too. :)

[itrooper]

Rob wrote: "Just completed the first two Star Carrier books...loved them and can't wait to read the third. If you like John Ringo's books you will love these as well. Similar but with less politics. ..but also..."


Well then, "you know nothing John Snow." You should really finish Dance.

[Rob]

@itrooper - ur right, gonna try to getter done by end of next week I think. Thanks for the prodding.