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

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I left off after reading #15. From what I can tell, the series is up to #38. Is an ending planned for the series?

I don't know yet. I'm at #17. I think there are 42 or thereabouts now.

[CRussel]

Just read the first of Lois McMaster Bujold's The Sharing Knife series, Beguilement. In fact, I was up until 2AM this morning finishing it, which pretty much says it all. Good thing I'm on vacation this week, if the next three are anything like this one. Five out of five.

[GeckoFriend]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Just read the first of Lois McMaster Bujold's The Sharing Knife series, Beguilement. In fact, I was up until 2AM this morning finishing it, which pretty much says it all. Good thing I'm on vacation this week, if the next three are anything like this one. Five out of five.

You've just started reading one of my favorite series. I still need to buy the other three books to begin rereading them. I keep hoping for a better price but I'll probably cave soon.

[Marrella]

What I read in June 2012:

The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman
Young Adult fantasy novel about a 13 year old girl visiting her aunt for the summer holidays.

Spoiler:

When she enters the maze in the garden, she is transported 100 years into the past by a mysterious creature, where she ends up being a slave in her own family's household.

Even though labelled "YA", I found this very readable and enjoyed it quite a lot.

George R. R. Martin: A Game of Thrones – The graphic novel, part I
I read this in hardcover, though there is an ebook version available. Gorgeous.

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
Even though I am not an Austen fan (she tends to put me to sleep), I wanted to read this because I love Karen Joy Fowler. I found that it is not so much about Austen but about the characters in the book who read Austen. It is some kind of mosaic novel telling us about the lives of those people. For a reason that isn't entirely alien to me I could relate most to the one member of the club who wasn't an Austen fan when he joined the club but a science fiction reader. I enjoyed the novel as a whole, but I prefer Fowler's short fiction.

The Baskerville Legacy by John O'Connell
A fictional account of how The Hound of the Baskervilles was written, from the point of view of the journalist who gave Arthur Conan Doyle the idea. Written in the style of Conan Doyle, I liked this quite a bit.

The Mystery Knight by George R. R. Martin, the third of the Dunk & Egg stories (in the anthology Warriors, edited by George R. R. Martin & Gardner Dozois)
Loved it. More background on the Ice & Fire series.

Lightspeed Magazine #24, May 2012
Still haven't read the serialized novel by Jeffrey Ford, but I enjoyed all of the stories in this issue.
Favorites: The Ruby Incomparable by Kage Baker and Mother of All Russiya by Melanie Rawn.
The short stories can be read online at the Lightspeed website.

Audiobooks I have listened to in June:

The first book in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Gave up halfway through, it just didn't do anything for me.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, read by Rupert Degas. This one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Currently reading:

A Crown of Light by Phil Rickman, the third book in the Merrily Watkins series.

Lancaster and York by Alison Weir.

Kiss Me Twice by Mary Robinette Kowal, from this year's Hugo and Nebula ballots.
I have trouble getting into this, thinking about giving up on it.

Triggers by Robert J. Sawyer.

Rereads:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Currently listening to:

Blackout by Connie Willis
Among Others by Jo Walton, both books read by Katherine Kellgren.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Just read the first of Lois McMaster Bujold's The Sharing Knife series, Beguilement. In fact, I was up until 2AM this morning finishing it, which pretty much says it all. Good thing I'm on vacation this week, if the next three are anything like this one. Five out of five.

You're in for a treat. A really good series.

If you haven't already got it, you might like to pick up her stand-alone fantasy, The Spirit Ring the next time Fictionwise has a good sale.

[Apache]

I want to start reading Warmaid's Choice, the newest in the War God Series by David Weber. It will be a while until I do though. I have decided to reread the others before hand. Since I really enjoyed all of them it will not be a chore.
Apache

[DrNefario]

I finished the fifth and last of the Hugo Best Novel shortlist yesterday, Deadline by Mira Grant. I wasn't expecting to like it much and didn't, but I managed to blast through it pretty quickly and it was quite an easy read. Not as bad as I feared reading on the iPad, either. The weight didn't really bother me at all.

To follow that, I've started reading Mr Midshipman Hornblower by CS Forester. I've never read any Hornblower before, despite having read several things inspired by it (Patrick O'Brian, David Weber, David Feintuch). I have to say I'm finding it a bit disappointing so far. It's quite disjointed, and there doesn't seem to be much time spent developing the characters of any of the rest of the crew. Maybe it will come together.

This is my first library ebook. In fact, it's the omnibus, Young Hornblower, that I've borrowed, and I'm not at all sure I'll manage all three books before the loan is up. I'm not yet convinced I'll want to.

[Rumpelteazer]

It's been a while since I've posted in this thread.
During the last couple of weeks I've been on a historical mystery binge. Reading both Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series and C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr series. I'm enjoying them both and I'm hoping to get up to date with both series before I (temporarily) burn out on this genre.

In between I've been reading books of different genres. Earlier this week I reread the first book of Jennifer Rardin's Jaz Parks series (Once Bitten, Twice Shy), about one and a half years ago I read the first two books of this series and liked them, planning to continue with them. But rereading the first, to freshen up my mind, I found I didn't enjoy it as much as during the first read so I decided to put this series on hold for now.

My planned reading for this summer is, besides trying to finish the two aforementioned series, to read Tai Pan by James Clavell. I've read the first book of his Asian series, Shogun last summer and I'm in the mood for an epic historical novel.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

My planned reading for this summer is, besides trying to finish the two aforementioned series, to read Tai Pan by James Clavell. I've read the first book of his Asian series, Shogun last summer and I'm in the mood for an epic historical novel.

'Taipan' isn't in the same class as 'Shogun,' so don't expect that. But it's a good read in itself, and an interesting history of Hong Kong. If you're familiar with HK, you can actually put 'real' names to the people and the places mentioned in the book! And 'Taipan' gives all the background (the Taipan is the boss of the Noble House which gets established at this time in history,) that makes reading 'Noble House' so very much better! 'Noble House' IS in the same class as 'Shogun,' so it's worth working your way through 'Taipan' to get the history which makes 'Noble House' so much better!

I do recommend that you also read 'King Rat.' Although it takes place within Changi POW camp in Singapore during W.W.II, there are two important characters who play a very important role when they show up again in 'Noble House.' I try to re-read these four of Clavell's Asian Series every few years. It really is THAT good!


Stitchawl

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

'Taipan' isn't in the same class as 'Shogun,' so don't expect that. But it's a good read in itself, and an interesting history of Hong Kong. If you're familiar with HK, you can actually put 'real' names to the people and the places mentioned in the book! And 'Taipan' gives all the background (the Taipan is the boss of the Noble House which gets established at this time in history,) that makes reading 'Noble House' so very much better! 'Noble House' IS in the same class as 'Shogun,' so it's worth working your way through 'Taipan' to get the history which makes 'Noble House' so much better!

I do recommend that you also read 'King Rat.' Although it takes place within Changi POW camp in Singapore during W.W.II, there are two important characters who play a very important role when they show up again in 'Noble House.' I try to re-read these four of Clavell's Asian Series every few years. It really is THAT good!


Stitchawl

I think you were the one who tipped me on this series and I intend to read them all. I don't know how fast I'll read them, I'm not really into big epic stories but I work my way through them.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

I think you were the one who tipped me on this series and I intend to read them all. I don't know how fast I'll read them, I'm not really into big epic stories but I work my way through them.

Both Taipan and King Rat are rather fast reads. As I said, not in the same class as Shogun. Shogun had half a dozen sub-plots going on though out the book. Taipan and King Rat have just one. Noble House does get back to the multi-plot story, but they all manage to come together at the end.

I think I've just talked myself into re-reading the series... LOL!


Stitchawl

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by DanielKoehler

"Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy. Terrific naturalism of how the West differed from the Hollywood fiction. Dark, bloody, violent, and lawless. The character of The Judge is unforgettable.

[Apache]

King Rat is believable because it is based on James Clavell's experiences as a POW in The Changi Prisoner of War Camp.
Apache

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Just read the first of Lois McMaster Bujold's The Sharing Knife series, Beguilement. In fact, I was up until 2AM this morning finishing it, which pretty much says it all. Good thing I'm on vacation this week, if the next three are anything like this one. Five out of five.

Originally Posted by GeckoFriend

You've just started reading one of my favorite series. I still need to buy the other three books to begin rereading them. I keep hoping for a better price but I'll probably cave soon.

Originally Posted by pdurrant

You're in for a treat. A really good series.

If you haven't already got it, you might like to pick up her stand-alone fantasy, The Spirit Ring the next time Fictionwise has a good sale.

I should have been clearer -- this is actually a re-read. I originally read the series as Audible books and loved them, and wanted to re-read them as regular eBooks. So yes, I agree, it's an excellent series and I'm enjoying the re-read just as much as I'd hoped. (And yes, Paul, I already have The Spirit Ring. )

I was inspired to re-read these books by the eArc about Ivan, which reminded me once again how much I really enjoy LMBs writing.

[Stitchawl]

For all you over-the-hill hippies out there, today I re-read Baba Ram Dass's (Dr. Richard Alpert) "Be Here Now," the book that eased us through turbulent times.

Just as great in 2012 as it was in the early 70's, and just as valuable a lesson today. He re-wrote it for 'grown ups' as "The Only Dance There Is" and presented it to an audience of psychologists and psychiatrists with overwhelming acceptance. The man really did find an alternative path, even though he started out on the same road with Tim Leary as psych professors at Harvard. Leary stayed with LSD and Alpert turned to spiritualism. Both interesting. One was fun, the other valid and life affirming.


Stitchawl