The Reading Joy & Delight Thread

[ownedbycats]

I just found that one of my survey sites now lets me redeem directly for a Kobo giftcard. Considering the previous option was a prepaid credit card (which I would then use to immediately buy myself a Kobo giftcard), this is useful.

[issybird]

My last three books were five-star reads, which is unprecedented for me.

[jackm8]

Care to share which ones they were? I'm on a slump lately, and willing to be influenced. Two were below mediocre, two, still to finish, are a bit better, but I'm a bit desperate, and for some reason, that's hard to explain, I've just acquired The Letters of Nancy Mitford and Evely Waugh. I guess, that's for the other thread, but I can't be bothered to split the post.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by jackm8

Care to share which ones they were? I'm on a slump lately, and willing to be influenced. Two were below mediocre, two, still to finish, are a bit better, but I'm a bit desperate, and for some reason, that's hard to explain,

I've been there, gotten into a rut and nothing appeals. Here they are:

• Five Came Back by Mark Harris, an account of five top Hollywood directors who spent WWII in the service making films.
• Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo, about an enslaved couple who escaped bondage. It won the Pulitzer for biography this year.
• A Wreath of Roses by Elizabeth Taylor, a dark novel set just after WWII.

I've just acquired The Letters of Nancy Mitford and Evely Waugh.

I loved this, so we have that in common.

What kinds of books do you like? Giving recommendations is fun and I love seeing other people's favorites. Are you on Goodreads? If you can identify people with similar tastes, it's a good source of new-to-me books.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by issybird

Five Came Back by Mark Harris, an account of five top Hollywood directors who spent WWII in the service making films.

I loved this!

[issybird]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

I loved this!

I liked his other book about the five best picture nominees in 1967, too. But this was even better.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by issybird

I liked his other book about the five best picture nominees in 1967, too. But this was even better.

I liked Pictures at a Revolution a little less, but I think its because I listened to it. The author's persistent adoration of Dustin Hoffman just proved a little much for me.

[sansoleil]

Today I learned that I don't have to live within the same council as the Yarra Libraries to become a digital member, just the same state! Libby, here I come!

[hildea]

I've started a book series I've seen recommended here and there for a while, and it's really, really good

It's Naomi Novik's Schoolomance triology, I finished the first book yesterday, and have bought the next two. A deadly school for young magicians (and the deadliness makes sense in the world), and a protagonist who is destined to become an immensely powerful evil sorceress (if she tries to find a spell for creating a small light, the library gives her spells for firebombing a city). She is resisting as hard as she can, while being delightfully snarky about it all.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by hildea

I've started a book series I've seen recommended here and there for a while, and it's really, really good

It's Naomi Novik's Schoolomance triology, I finished the first book yesterday, and have bought the next two. A deadly school for young magicians (and the deadliness makes sense in the world), and a protagonist who is destined to become an immensely powerful evil sorceress (if she tries to find a spell for creating a small light, the library gives her spells for firebombing a city). She is resisting as hard as she can, while being delightfully snarky about it all.

I have it in calibre, but haven't read it yet. Maybe I should move it to my Read Soon pile...

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by hildea

I've started a book series I've seen recommended here and there for a while, and it's really, really good

It's Naomi Novik's Schoolomance triology, I finished the first book yesterday, and have bought the next two. A deadly school for young magicians (and the deadliness makes sense in the world), and a protagonist who is destined to become an immensely powerful evil sorceress (if she tries to find a spell for creating a small light, the library gives her spells for firebombing a city). She is resisting as hard as she can, while being delightfully snarky about it all.

For me the first book of the series was merely ok, the second book I didn't finish after reading a few chapters.


But what I loved was her Temeraire series.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by hobnail

For me the first book of the series was merely ok, the second book I didn't finish after reading a few chapters.


But what I loved was her Temeraire series.

Which I didn't continue after finishing the first book. I find wars and battle scenes boring in fiction - I always fall asleep reading about them.

[hildea]

I liked the Temeraire books too, especially the parts about how dragons fit into society - powerful, intelligent beings with a legal status similar to slaves. The battle scenes were less interesting, although I remember the first sentence of the first book drew me in: "The deck was awash in blood" or something like that

[DrNefario]

I loved book 1 of the Scholomance series. For me, 2 & 3 weren't as good, but were still fun.

Temeraire was great to begin with - I mean, it is very much Hormblower with dragons, and if that's not your thing then it's not going to work, but it is definitely my thing - then really dips in the middle when it turns into a travelogue. I've only just returned to try to finish the series after a long break, and to be fair, book 8 (of 9) was a real step back up.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by hildea

I liked the Temeraire books too, especially the parts about how dragons fit into society - powerful, intelligent beings with a legal status similar to slaves. The battle scenes were less interesting, although I remember the first sentence of the first book drew me in: "The deck was awash in blood" or something like that

I too liked this series.