Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by afa

That's where I was lucky. I only read A Song of Ice and Fire for the first time a couple of months ago, so didn't have to endure the excruciating wait.

Lucky this time. We'll see how lucky you feel by the time you're done waiting for the sixth book to get published.

Hint: prior commitments and other contracts have guaranteed that he won't put pen to paper to work on The Winds of Winter until sometime in 2012. He's already admitted as much. I wouldn't look for #6 until sometime in 2016... at which time he'll announce that he can't possibly wrap up all the various plot-lines satisfactorily in just one more book; hence the need to expand the series from 7 to 8 books ( it was originally planned as a trilogy ).

I love his Dunk 'n Egg novellas set in the same universe, but they're few and far between, too. The fourth (and an omnibus for the previous ones) is due next year some time. I console myself with those while waiting for the main series to be—*crosses fingers*—completed.

I'm reading the latest issue (#73) of Beneath Ceaseless Skies and various other short stories I've collected.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Lucky this time. We'll see how lucky you feel by the time you're done waiting for the sixth book to get published.

Hint: prior commitments and other contracts have guaranteed that he won't put pen to paper to work on The Winds of Winter until sometime in 2012. He's already admitted as much. I wouldn't look for #6 until sometime in 2016... at which time he'll announce that he can't possibly wrap up all the various plot-lines satisfactorily in just one more book; hence the need to expand the series from 7 to 8 books ( it was originally planned as a trilogy ).

I love his Dunk 'n Egg novellas set in the same universe, but they're few and far between, too. The fourth (and an omnibus for the previous ones) is due next year some time. I console myself with those while waiting for the main series to be—*crosses fingers*—completed.

I'm reading the latest issue (#73) of Beneath Ceaseless Skies and various other short stories I've collected.

Hmm, you may not have to wait that long for the announcement:

http://io9.com/5820288/george-rr-mar...stead-of-seven

Cheers,
Marc (who refuses to start a series until it is complete, based on past frustration)

[kennyc]

This is the book that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, just when
you thought you'd see the end, somebody asked and it started again, cause
This is the book that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, just when
you thought you'd see the end, somebody asked and it started again, cause
This is the book that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, just when
you thought you'd see the end, somebody asked and it started again, cause
This is the book that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, just when
you thought you'd see the end, somebody asked and it started again, cause
This is the book that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, just when
you thought you'd see the end, somebody asked and it started again, cause
This is the book that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, just when
you thought you'd see the end, somebody asked and it started again, cause
This is the book that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, just when
you thought you'd see the end, somebody asked and it started again, cause
This is the book that never ends, it goes on and on my friend, just when
you thought you'd see the end, somebody asked and it started again, cause

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Cheers,
Marc (who refuses to start a series until it is complete, based on past frustration)

Oh I've learned my lesson.
I've got a few left that have been grandfathered in, but I haven't really started a new series in quite a while (unless each installment is purported to be largely self contained).

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I've discovered a marvelous new side to an author I've known only as a writer of WW II spy novels. Manning Coles, who wrote a series of Tommy Hambledon spy novels in the 1940's & 1950's, also wrote ghost stories! Madcap, Wodehousian ghost stories, in which 2 members of the Latimer family are allowed to "return" (along with their claret-drinking pet monkey Ulysses) whenever a living family member is threatened. Sparkling dialogue, improbable plots, and lots of comedy!

Unfortunately they are only available AFAIK as pbooks published by Rue Morgue press.

I'm currently reading "Come and Go."

My eyebrows may be permanently raised at that description, Pooh. Currently looking for a good used bookstore in my area - my youngest sister-in-law sent me home from Chris's birthday party with a HUGE tote full of paperbacks....most of which I either have already read or have in ebook form. So I may have to go hunting these.

[SeaBookGuy]

My library has all three of the monkey ghost books - yay! Here's the first one ...

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

My eyebrows may be permanently raised at that description, Pooh. Currently looking for a good used bookstore in my area - my youngest sister-in-law sent me home from Chris's birthday party with a HUGE tote full of paperbacks....most of which I either have already read or have in ebook form. So I may have to go hunting these.

I understand! Trying to describe these books is "challenging" - but they are a hoot! As if Wodehouse tried to write ghost stories! There's even a supercilious butler and overbearing aunt with unwelcome matrimonial plans in "Come and Go"! Lots of fun to read! Worth tracking down.

[FWIW - I guess these aren't too well known - Fantastic Fiction doesn't list them on their web site for Manning Coles - I emailed them & asked them to update their listing.]

[WT Sharpe]

I just finished reading Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Loved it, especially as it moved closer and closer to the climax. I won't say any more about it, as a few of us have decided to start a discussion thread on it on August 1st (which will be open to anyone interested).

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I've discovered a marvelous new side to an author I've known only as a writer of WW II spy novels. Manning Coles, who wrote a series of Tommy Hambledon spy novels in the 1940's & 1950's, also wrote ghost stories! Madcap, Wodehousian ghost stories, in which 2 members of the Latimer family are allowed to "return" (along with their claret-drinking pet monkey Ulysses) whenever a living family member is threatened. Sparkling dialogue, improbable plots, and lots of comedy!

Unfortunately they are only available AFAIK as pbooks published by Rue Morgue press.

I'm currently reading "Come and Go."

That sounds like a series I could really get into. Too bad they aren't available as ebooks.

[orange!]

Well, technically, I'm not reading it yet, but I bought The City & The City in a used bookstore yesterday. I've been slogging (yes, that's exactly the word I wanted) through War and Peace and decided to take a little break from it with something more modern.

[SandyHarper]

I am reading "A New Look at Vegetarianism: Its Positive Effects on Health and Disease Control" It not only covers every aspect of vegetarianism, but is quite good to learn health aspect of these foods. It talks about prevention including heart problems and cancer. It covers Wt control and provides Vege recipes. I may share more after I finish the book.

[Snauzoo]

I just read Jaycee Dugard's memoir, A Stolen Life in a single sitting. It has haunted me ever since. Not for the weak of heart. She is an amazing writer (and person) considering she had only a formal education up till the age of 11. More articulate and expressive than most of the college grads I have to interview at work. Amazing girl. Amazing story.

[melaniejaxn]

Originally Posted by orange!

Well, technically, I'm not reading it yet, but I bought The City & The City in a used bookstore yesterday. I've been slogging (yes, that's exactly the word I wanted) through War and Peace and decided to take a little break from it with something more modern.

I'll be curious to hear if you like it. The City in the City was different-- but Mieville always is :-).

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I just finished reading Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Loved it, especially as it moved closer and closer to the climax. I won't say any more about it, as a few of us have decided to start a discussion thread on it on August 1st (which will be open to anyone interested).



That sounds like a series I could really get into. Too bad they aren't available as ebooks.

I just read the original Wizard of Oz this morning. Like I believe you had previously stated, I had not ever read that. I am glad I did as it was different enough from the Judy Garland movie that to rely on that might not have been enough when it came to discussing Wicked. Incidentally I was surprised at how short Wizard of Oz was, too short to be included in my books read account.

I still plan on reading Wicked before month's end and look forward to the discussion.

[orange!]

Originally Posted by melaniejaxn

I'll be curious to hear if you like it. The City in the City was different-- but Mieville always is :-).

This will be my first Mieville book. From the reviews on Goodreads, sounds like it will be challenging. That's not necessarily bad, as long as the story supports the effort.

How do you say his name, anyway? I've never heard it pronounced and the guy at the bookstore didn't know. What do you think of this guess: Me-ay-vul, accent on the "ay"?

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

...Incidentally I was surprised at how short Wizard of Oz was, too short to be included in my books read account....

But not too short to be considered in mine.

Yes, there were considerable differences from the movie version.