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I'm still not sure if I'm going to read a doorstopper. I probably would if I were to go alone, like in January, but my sister's coming with me so I have more distractions. Yesteday Amazon had one of Phil Rickman's book on offer for $0.99 so I bought it, with the latest Merrily Watkins book I might go on a Phil Rickman binge since I have several of his non-Merrily books on my TBR list.

Finished two books today:

Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead
Mrs Hudson's Case by Laurie R. King

Which wasn't hard since the latter book wasn't even 20 pages long :)

I don't think I'll go for a doorstopper book during my vacation next week; I've got several horror books on my TBRS (to be read soon) list that I really want to read. I also want to finish Immortal Instruments and Raven King series (because then I can start one new series). In the end I'll probably end up reading whatever I feel like.

Almost two weeks since my last update. What I've read since:

The Secrets of Pain by Phil Rickman
The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb
The Magus of Hay by Phil Rickman
The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb

Instruments of Darkness by Imogen Robertson
Pig Island by Mo Hayder
White Fire by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

The first two were a bit of a disappointment. The first one was, as we say in Dutch, "thirteen in a dozen", in other words; very similar to various other historical mysteries. I probably won't be continuing this series.
Pig Island promised to be a horror and thriller. Well, it didn't scare me even remotely and the twist wasn't much of a surprise.

I did like White Fire. At first I was afraid about Pendergast's mood, but he pulled himself together and it was a really good read.

You make me feel like a slacker, lol...

Mind you, the first of the above list I've read during my vacation and the second I read about half of before going home.

Plus, I need to get up ahead a bit because from about now, late November, until after Christmas is the busy part of the year for us in the store, I'll be working more plus doing things as cleaning and checking/tagging/putting away shipments when the store's closed instead of during work time.

Last night I finished Tuck by Stephen R. Lawhead, the last of his King Raven trilogy. It was an okay book and series, good enough to finish. But I'm now wild about it, I think it's because it's very hard to really like the main characters. Also the way he described Merian, especially in the first book, is just not realistic.

I started Scott Nicholson's The Manor but after a couple of pages realised I've read it before so I abandoned it.

And I've finished another couple of books:

Harbor by John Ajvide Lindqvist
The Skeleton Key by James Rollins
Tracker by James Rollins

The last two are short stories.

During the Steam sale I've bought, up until now, 4 now games, so I might not read as much in the coming weeks.

I'm a slacker, lol.

Who knew computer games and books were so correlated?!?

:)

Homeinmyshoes wrote: "Who knew computer games and books were so correlated?!?

:)"

*raises hand*

Homeinmyshoes wrote: "Who knew computer games and books were so correlated?!?

:)"

Well, one of the games I bought recently is a Nancy Drew games, I love those and other point and click mysteries.

LOL, I've always loved computer games, from the Commodore 64 (which we still got!), then the various Apples, the original Gameboy and later on the PC. We've also had various consoles but I still prefer gaming on a PC.

With all that's been going on this year I've been neglecting my gaming so I'm trying get back into it and watch a little less tv (I've been going to bed early to watch movies and tv series).

Any time my reading has slowed down, it's because I'm gaming instead. Right now I'm actually managing to do both. Working my way through the Mass Effect trilogy again. Reading Harlequin romances and shooting aliens with a sniper rifle just show how well-rounded I am.

Yep.

:D

Christa wrote: "Any time my reading has slowed down, it's because I'm gaming instead. Right now I'm actually managing to do both. Working my way through the Mass Effect trilogy again. Reading Harlequin romances an..."

Why Christa! You're so...Renaissance!

I cannot do that. If I'm gaming, I'm not reading, lol.

I hurt my wrist while bringing a barbell into the house... it would be my gaming wrist. O_O

Aw, man, that would kill me. But you've proven my theory that exercise equipment is just too dangerous to mess with.

I generally play for a while in the evening, then switch to reading before bed. It works as long as I don't lose track of time. With Skyrim, I lose track of time, but ME lends itself to regular breaks so it's easier to manage.

Christa wrote: "Any time my reading has slowed down, it's because I'm gaming instead. Right now I'm actually managing to do both. Working my way through the Mass Effect trilogy again. Reading Harlequin romances an..."

I love shooting games, unfortunately though they make my head hurt and make me nauseous. Unless I'm not wearing my contacts or glasses, which isn't really practical with -6, LOL. So I just play point-and-click and simulation games.

Christa wrote: "Aw, man, that would kill me. But you've proven my theory that exercise equipment is just too dangerous to mess with.

I generally play for a while in the evening, then switch to reading before bed...."

lololol!!!!


I'm all KT & keniso taped up.

Bianca wrote: "Christa wrote: "Any time my reading has slowed down, it's because I'm gaming instead. Right now I'm actually managing to do both. Working my way through the Mass Effect trilogy again. Reading Harle..."

Makes sense.

I found out I'm a great shot. Like...head shot great. :-D

Look out, world!

Bloodline by James Rollins.
I loved this story, only one to go before I'm up to date with this series, if I read it this year it's another longish series I started and finished within a year (Merrily Watkins has 12 books).

Netherworld by Lisa Morton.
Surprisingly enjoyable historical paranormal fantasy, which is going to be released in 2014 (I got the eARC from LibraryThing). I'm hesitant to read these types of stories with female protagonist, they often end up more romance than anything else. This one kept on track, there is some romance at the end but nothing too distracting. It's the start of a new series so I need to keep an eye out for the sequel.

Now onwards with my Phil Rickman binge with his first book Candlenight.

Bianca wrote: "Bloodline by James Rollins.
I loved this story, only one to go before I'm up to date with this series, if I read it this year it's another longish series I started and finished wit..."

Re: Neatherworld. Congrats! Its so hard to find those. I read Clean Sweep and Shadow Blade. Both have a little romance but the main goal is not teh sexy times. Thank goodness. Shadow Blade even has a scene where the couple are making out - then stop because there's a bad guy to kill. I loved it cause so often you'll get a UF couple having sex when they are supposed to be planning/hiding/fighting, etc.

Another two book finished this weekend (my weekend is Sunday and Monday).

Candlenight by Phil Rickman.
His first book, not my favourite but still a good scary horror story.

A Venetian Reckoning by Donna Leon.
I'm really liking the Guido Brunetti series more and more. They are quick and easy reads without it feeling like your just padding your read list.

Now onwards with A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin, #4 of A Song of Ice and Fire and by all accounts the weakest. But I still want to complete the series. I'm also reading a "Mammoth Book of..." so I'll use the short stories to break up Martin's tome.

I'm still reading A Feast for Crows, but I'm enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. Yes, like anyone I like a good battle, murder and intrigue but I also like the reading more about the character and see the story being set up in a certain direction.

I finished A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin. When I started I didn't think I would finish it this year, but I read it in 11 days, not bad for December. I liked it better than the previous book, probably because of the long break between this book and the previous one. It didn't feel like a chore to read it like it did previously.

I'm now reading a short horror story, which I should finish today or tomorrow, which will probably be the last book I will finish this year.

I can't get into GRRM. Too grim for me. But I'm the oddball because everyone else loves it.

Since you read a lot of Fantasy and horror, think you'd be interested in this group: /group/show/...

It's fun and we do horror, fantasy, sci-fi and YA (genre focused) books.

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "I can't get into GRRM. Too grim for me. But I'm the oddball because everyone else loves it.

Since you read a lot of Fantasy and horror, think you'd be interested in this group: ..."

I haven't even tried the series because of how bloody it is.

As to the group - DITTO! It's been a lot of fun so far and we haven't even started reading the books yet. :)

:-D

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "I can't get into GRRM. Too grim for me. But I'm the oddball because everyone else loves it.

Since you read a lot of Fantasy and horror, think you'd be interested in this group: ..."

Thanks for the tip, I'll have a look.

Grim and bloody don't bother me as long as it fits in with the story. I think I read the first three too quickly and got burned out half way through the third book. I really liked the fourth, despite what others say.

Last night I finished The Witching House by Brian Moreland. Which was an okay short horror story.

Today I'll start the next Karin Slaughter book on my list (I read them in published order because her two main series merge at some point). This I expect not to finish this year so it'll count towards my 2014 list.

I managed to squeeze in one last book Fractured by Karin Slaughter. The second book in the Will Trent series. I really loved it and can't understand why I don't read her books in quicker succession.

^Because saving some things for slow periods is sometimes a good idea.

Homeinmyshoes wrote: "^Because saving some things for slow periods is sometimes a good idea."

*nods*

I think it's more to do with the fact that at times I get nervous starting new book in a series I love, that I'm afraid it will disappoint. There are so many series that go bad after several books.

Bianca wrote: "I think it's more to do with the fact that at times I get nervous starting new book in a series I love, that I'm afraid it will disappoint. There are so many series that go bad after several books."

I've had that feeling before, too. In fact, I feel that way about every new Kate Daniels book. I have one I haven't read and she's currently in the final edits of the next one. Pre-sales are already available.

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "Bianca wrote: "I think it's more to do with the fact that at times I get nervous starting new book in a series I love, that I'm afraid it will disappoint. There are so many series that go bad after..."

It's strange, I didn't have that with the Merrily Watkins series, even when the new one was released I bought it and found it very hard to wait with starting to read until my vacation half a week later.

With other series I get the latest book but wait weeks or even months before I can bring myself to start reading it, afraid it will disappoint.