Still reading Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire. First book in her October Daye urban fantasy series.
What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening to lately?
For details on the c/Books Bingo, check the Midpoint check-in post.
After a month of only Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dinniman) and then a let down period without another book in the series, I have just read Water Moon (Sotto Yambao). It was a fun romp through (presumably) Japanese Folklore.
Japanese Time Bending Sci Fi is a surprisingly robust genre! I’ve previously loved A Tale for the Time Being (Ozeki) and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (Murakami). I’m still looking for new books to read outside this genre, but in the meantime I’ll read another Murakami book.
I’m now reading Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers. It’s the novel that inspired both the Tarkovsky movie Stalker and the video game series S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
It’s really well written. I was having a little trouble getting into it at first because it’s different from what I usually read. The story is told from the perspective of a character whom you follow going about their often shady business. It reminded me of the style of film noir detectives. It’s not really my thing, but the book is good enough to keep me reading.
When finished I’m gonna watch the movie with my boyfriend, who has it on DVD. We did this with 1984 as well, which was a good experience.
Reading “the stainless steel rat’s revenge” by Harry Harrison. I like this one better than the first book in the series. I’m about 80% through, so I’ll have to take look which is the next title.
Omg yes!!! I love the stainless steel rat series of books!
Just finished up book 5 of the Star Wars XWing series. It’s the first one of the saga written by a different author and also a slightly different cast. Was a little more difficult to follow for that reason.
Next is a sci-fi anthology from 1977, it’s the sixth “Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year”. Ive been enjoying the Hugo and Nebula ones, I’ve got a bunch from book fairs and planning to get more this year, this one though is a single persons take instead of being award winners.
After this it’ll be book 6 of X-Wing then I’ll switch up the anthologies for the Three Body Problem series.
I’m about 3/4 through The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. It’s a very enjoyable read, similar in feel to his other books.
It’s a blast, so much fun, great world, great plot, insane characters. I was reading reviews when I finished that were saying it wasn’t what people expected and that they were disappointed because of that, but I think it is one of my personal favorites.
I really enjoy the fantasy elements added into this world. To put it with as few spoilers as possible, on The First Law books, magic was this ancient, rare thing (mostly), and in this one, it’s all in your face.
I am a recently made Joe Abercrombie fan and I will have to get to this new series eventually.
I believe it’s a standalone novel, but not 100% certain on it.
I think he confirmed last year he’s got the “first draft” of The Devils 2 complete or that he would by the end of the year, sometime around October.
Oh nice, I’m glad the story will continue after the first book!
I found the link on his site by the way: https://joeabercrombie.com/progress-report-august-25/
Super excited to see where it goes.
Seems neat!
I am reading Circe by Madeline Miller. I was never a big greek lore nerd but the author makes it easy to understand - really enjoying it so far!
Her other book on Achilles was also good. I heard she was writing a book on Persephone, too, which, after Hadestown, I am extremely excited for.
I’ve always enjoyed Greek myths, but she makes them come alive as nearly modern stories. It’s a treat.
I am currently reading Neuromancer by William Gibson. This novel is often credited with starting the cyberpunk genre. It’s a novel that is so iconic that when you read it today, it feels a little generic. If I didn’t know the history, I would say someone wrote a book version of Cyberpunk 2077. It is interesting because he actually uses real life brands, instead of being forced to invent brands for the book (like what Cyberpunk 2077 did).
I have a hard time imagining someone calling Neuromancer generic. While the ideas may have been emulated, the dreamlike nature of the writing blurring the lines of reality is something that few other authors have managed to do on that level
No I am not calling it generic. I’m just saying the book is so iconic and so copied that coming to it for the first time today feels like I’ve already read books and played video games that are like this. It’s not a fault of the work, it’s just that it’s hard for it to feel fresh today.
Basically the “Seinfeld is unfunny” trope
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeinfeldIsUnfunny
I’ve just finished The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, which was a charming little adventure.
My book club is reading Less by Andrew Sean Greer. It’s about an aging writer who decides to accept a bunch of random invites to events around the world simply to avoid going to his ex-lover’s wedding. I’ve just started it, but it seems fun so far!
Finished Dungeon Crawler Carl. I liked it, simple, fun, amd a bit absurd. Will probably start other books once i knock out a few books i picked up about the same time.
Started Disquiet Gods audiobook. Really glad I stuck with the Sun Eater series. First book had me frustrated as it felt like a mish mash of a number of other books and movies. And maybe it still is but I feel like series really grew on me.
Also started reading Sunrise of the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games book. I enjoyed the series and first prequel. Had not realized there was another one or I did and totally forgot until I saw it in store. Its nothing crazy good but comfy.
I’m currently on the bedlem bride from Dungeon crawler Carl Series and I fully agree. Its a great read. Very straight forward, well paced and fun!
The next book is coming out in May, I think. I read through those straight for about a month and there was a let down period of about a week afterwards where I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. Hah.
I just finished Lute by Jennifer Thorne. I picked this up for the Judge a Book by its Cover bingo square. It wasn’t too bad. I liked how atmospheric and creepy it was, and how the world felt broader than the book’s immediate setting. There was one aspect that I felt was very poorly done, but it’s a bit of a spoiler so I won’t go into detail.
Now I’m reading Slow Horses by Mick Herron. I’m surprised by just how faithfully the show followed this book. There are some differences of course, but many scenes feel practically copy/pasted. This will get me the Jerk with a Heart of Gold square.
Squres still remaining: independent author, saddle up, and cozy read. Open to recommendations for all 3, but especially saddle up!
Glad you’re liking Slow Horses!
Open to recommendations for all 3, but especially saddle up!
Two short things I read and liked, that’d work for Saddle Up: Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono (also works for cozy), and River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey (hard mode!). If neither of those sound interesting, maybe look at The Country Under Heaven by Frederic S. Durbin; it’s still on my TBR, so I can’t recommend it, but it looks like it might be fun? Beyond that, I’d argue that driving/piloting counts for Saddle Up, so anything featuring aviators, professional drivers, or mech pilots should also work.
I loved the Kiki studio ghibli film so that sounds like a great option! I hadn’t even thought about broomsticks. Thank you for the recommendations!
Kiki is a great suggestion, I’m “mad” I didn’t think of it.
I’m mainly a fantasy reader so your mileage may vary, but His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik was a lot of fun when I read it years ago. It’s basically what if there was a dragon Air Force during the Napoleonic Wars.
Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers and Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree were both super fun and cozy.
If you prefer a more mysterious bent, The Maid by Nina Prose and The Dog Sitter Detective by Antony Johnston were both fun.
I’m mostly a fantasy reader too so those suggestions are perfect. I’ve been meaning to read more by Naomi Novik and give Becky Chambers a try, so good to know they both have options that can help me reach bingo!
In an attempt to preserve my own sanity I’ve been reading the entire Discworld series since about October. Just finished Lords and Ladies, which I don’t think I read before and am now re-reading Mort for maybe the 5th or 6th time.
You are the expert I need… I’ve read a few books from Discworld, but I’d like to read more Pratchett. Should I read Discworld in order, or is that only for super fans?
Most of the novels are made to stand-alone, though character and world lore grows. Of all the reading orders, I think this path is my favorite - you can decide if you want to go start-to-finish with a particular theme (e.g. all the Rincewind novels), or if you want to read them semi-chronologically (first few Rincewind, first few Witches, first few Watch, etc.). There’s no wrong way to do it though :)
I’m in “the slog” of the Wheel of Time, and making my way through book 9, Winter’s Heart. I took a break and read some other books in the meantime, finished the Licanius trilogy by James Islington and a few others, and was inspired to read New Spring and quite enjoyed it. Now I’m back in winter, but it doesn’t feel quite a slow as 8 so far. Fingers crossed I’ll sail through the next portion of the series as it “picks back up”.
I’m currently struggling to get into City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett. I really enjoyed the first two books in his Leviathan series, so I’m hoping this gets better. Right now I just haven’t connected with the characters or the world.
City of Stairs is the only Robert Jackson Bennett I’ve read, and it put me off reading more of him. (I had kind of the same experience as you’re having. Like, it was fine, but not for me.) If his other stuff is better, I’ll have to give him another shot.
Just finished Red Country by Joe Abercrombie. Best book of his so far (I’m reading them in release order). I liked his other books enough to keep going but on average they were just below 4/5 for me. This one though was a 5/5.
Today I’m starting Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.
I had less time to read this week than I hoped because I’ve been putting preliminary stuff together for this year’s bingo challenge as well as getting and assembling a 3D printer.
I’m still on Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman as well as my re-listen through of Dungeon Crawler Carl. I’m now on The Gate of the Feral Gods.
