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

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by gmw

Since I was last here...

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood by Wilkie Martin (first book of the Inspector Hobbes series). 2/5. If this hadn't followed on immediately after another 2/5 book I probably would have found that strength to finish it, but as it was I got to around page 100 and then jumped to the last chapter. The writing and editing quality is okay in this one, but it's supposed to be funny (I think it depends on being funny) and none of the humour worked for me. If you happen to like the humour of the story you would probably have a very different reaction.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip. 5/5. That's right, an instant favourite! A rich and poignant fairytale/fable. I think I may have read this many years ago, back when I didn't believe in re-reading, but I'm so glad to have picked it up again now for my list of favourites. It is easy to see why this was winner of World Fantasy Award in 1975 - a short novel that encompasses so much, and in such deceptively simple but eloquent phrasing. (With thanks to a recent post from RobertLCollins that reminded me I had bought this book last year with the intention of getting to it soon.)

The Forgotten Beast of Eld is a wonderful book.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by mewmartigan

Just finished Peter F. Hamilton's Void Trilogy. It was quite good...I think I may have liked it better than the original Commonwealth books.

I recently finished book 1 and really enjoyed parts of it but it was more rambling that I wanted. I suppose it is mostly setup for books 2 and 3 though. Inigo's dreams were the best part for me. I really enjoyed the story of the Waterwalker.

Eventually I will get to the others but it's been slow this year.

[mewmartigan]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I recently finished book 1 and really enjoyed parts of it but it was more rambling that I wanted. I suppose it is mostly setup for books 2 and 3 though. Inigo's dreams were the best part for me. I really enjoyed the story of the Waterwalker.

Eventually I will get to the others but it's been slow this year.

I would say book 2 is actually more Waterwalker story than "outside the void" stuff.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by mewmartigan

Just finished Peter F. Hamilton's Void Trilogy. It was quite good...I think I may have liked it better than the original Commonwealth books.

Not sure what I am moving onto next....may Brent Week's Lightbringer series.

I enjoyed the first two books, but still need to finish the final one. I'm not much of a sci-fi reader, so I need to be in the mood for both sci-fi and a long book if I want to read one of them. But I think it'll be sooner, rather than later that I'll finish the series.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: To Love and be Wise by Josephine Tey.

Which was wonderful. A simply lovely detective novel, beautifully written. I've added the other Inspector Alan Grant novels to my wish list. Highly recommended.

Next up: The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch. Oddly, another police procedural But PC Peter Grant lives in a very different time and place.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Which was wonderful. A simply lovely detective novel, beautifully written. I've added the other Inspector Alan Grant novels to my wish list. Highly recommended.

Next up: The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch. Oddly, another police procedural But PC Peter Grant lives in a very different time and place.

Would you beleive I didn't notice that the main characters were both named Grant until just now?

[EDIT: And another weird co-incidence. This post happened to be written exactly 12 hours after my last one!]

[gmw]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Would you beleive I didn't notice that the main characters were both named Grant until just now?
[...]

I am currently reading the second of two books with identical titles: The Birdwatcher. Different author, different genre, different countries. (I admit choosing to start the second now specifically so I could have this first-time experience, but both books were bought at the same time.)

[astrangerhere]

Just finished the (godawful) Artemis by Andy Weir. I only held on because the audiobook was all I had on a long commute. I liked The Martian, though it wasn't amazing. But this was a huge let-down. Terribly disappointed that a book with a female protagonist was so bleh for me.

Starting AS Byatt's The Children's Book now.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Just finished the (godawful) Artemis by Andy Weir. I only held on because the audiobook was all I had on a long commute. I liked The Martian, though it wasn't amazing. But this was a huge let-down. Terribly disappointed that a book with a female protagonist was so bleh for me.

Starting AS Byatt's The Children's Book now.

Yes, I thought it wasn't up to The Martian, and like you, I wasn't all that impressed with The Martian in the first place. But Artemis? 2 stars at best. I did finish it, but wasn't impressed.

[haertig]

Bummer to hear this about Artemis. That one is on my short list of to-be-reads. However, I did really like The Martian. Not mediocre like others have mentioned, I really liked it. So maybe there's still hope for Artemis, for me at least...

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by haertig

Bummer to hear this about Artemis. That one is on my short list of to-be-reads. However, I did really like The Martian. Not mediocre like others have mentioned, I really liked it. So maybe there's still hope for Artemis, for me at least...

Don't hold your breath. I really liked The Martian too but I will not be re-reading Artemis.

[ZGottlieb]

I'm reading Zombie Complex: The Battle for Chatthoochee Run by Alexander Pain.

A tongue in cheek snarky Zombie Apocalypse that leaves no subject, group, or opinion sacred or untouched. The hero makes fun of himself as a 400lb individual searching for the next meal while preparing to shelter in place and defend his home from the zombies.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FZRQC35

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by haertig

Bummer to hear this about Artemis. That one is on my short list of to-be-reads. However, I did really like The Martian. Not mediocre like others have mentioned, I really liked it. So maybe there's still hope for Artemis, for me at least...

Like you, I really liked The Martian but was disappointed in Artemis

I'm another one who really enjoyed The Martian. I've been surprised by the very broad consensus about Artemis - generally I'll come across a range of opinions, but so far, I've read only negative reviews. The ones here add to that list, so I'm going to say "thank you" and pass.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Don't hold your breath. I really liked The Martian too but I will not be re-reading Artemis.

Different strokes for different folks. I rather liked Artemis. Perhaps it wasn't quite as good as The Martian, but I thought The Martian was a great book. Of course, some of the books that people tell are wonderful, I thought was absolute drek.