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CBRetriever wrote: "Allison wrote: "Because I've owned it since I was like 10, never read it, it's in a series, I have a cat and coffee with which to read it and something else about it...it's in my spreadsheet. Anywa..."

I know!! Triple win, I can move right along to something else, too ;-)

Ok.. I finished The Stars Are Legion on the 2nd (I liked it, but I was pretty grossed out, but I wish there was a sequel..)

I’ve started and finished this month:
A Study in Scarlet (I liked the parts when Sherlock was explaining how he knew things; other than that I was kinda bored :/ )
Alanna: The First Adventure (light and fun; reading this for the first time, I’ve been wanting to compare it to one of my childhood favorites, Harry Potter, but I don’t think that’s fair. Hoping for more action in the rest of this series.)
Touch (really good, really thought-provoking! I’ve already decided I want to buy it and reread it some time.)

Currently reading ...
A Game of Thrones
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Once and Future King (loving it SO much)

My kids and I are taking a 5 hour road trip tomorrow (and back home Monday) so I’ve picked out at least two books I/we will be listening to..
Mary Poppins
Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said (I listened to the first chapter today... what was that thing at the end?!)

Also, I plan on starting Ninefox Gambit and In the Hand of the Goddess tonight/this weekend...

:) Happy 2018!

just finished "Himself" by Jess Kidd and it was very good. Jess Kidd is a star though you may not know it yet. "Himself" is a fine Irish ghost story and while some suggest that Mahoney is the hero it is Mrs. Cauley who steals the show. some of the passages are so good, when you finish the chapter you go back and read it again. There's a good bit of profanity but it's in Irish and seems less abrasive than American cussing. Fans of Terry Goodkind and Dirk Pitt might find it Slow but I loved it.

Allison wrote: "Because I've owned it since I was like 10,."

So you’ve owned it for 16 years? How does such an ancient manuscript not crumble into dust when you touch it?

I am on book 3 of The Mistborn Trilogy; Brandon Sanderson is a very gifted and talented writer.

Trike wrote: "Allison wrote: "Because I've owned it since I was like 10,."

So you’ve owned it for 16 years? How does such an ancient manuscript not crumble into dust when you touch it?"

Haha! Is this you asking me how old I am? Cheeky.

Well, Anna, if it's any consolation, I read Wizard of Earthsea for the first time last year and it was magical for me even at...what age was I assigned? 26? Sure, let's go with that. I'm hoping I like the next one a bit more :)

Matt, no argument here! I am still a walking advertisement for Stormlight Archive. So much book per dollar! Explore a world on the brink of change! But wait! There's more! If you act now, you can have 150 hours of reading to get you through the dregs of winter!

Trike wrote: "Allison wrote: "Because I've owned it since I was like 10,."

So you’ve owned it for 16 years? How does such an ancient manuscript not crumble into dust when you touch it?"

Sadly, I have books on my list that were purchased before 1985 including Vietnam: A History that should net me a lot of points (it's really long too) but I have to make myself read it yet

Picking up , to finish out the trilogy.

Finally another series/trilogy completed. Ugh

Alondra wrote: "Picking up , to finish out the trilogy.

Finally another series/trilogy completed. Ugh"

Oo! Was it good? That looks good. I hadn't seen it before.

If anyone has a second and is looking for more to read, I think I've finished the update to our everything you need to know thread. I would appreciate feedback--copy edits, checking the links, anything that remains ambiguous or that you think should be reworded/added. I'll keep the thread open for a week. Please note that once I've resolved your comment, I'll be deleting it, both so I remember what is outstanding and so that at the end the only thing in that thread is the policy.

Thanks for your input!

Allison wrote: "If anyone has a second and is looking for more to read, I think I've finished the update to our everything you need to know thread. I would appreciate feedback--copy edits, checking the links, anyt..."

it's good but the only thing that gave me pause was that I wasn't really noticing the message titles and then I reached message 10 and was wondering why it was a repeat....

It would be nice to have a link to the nominations thread in post 2 and on a side note, would it be possible to list the prior authors in alphabetical order by last name in the nominations thread?

Alondra wrote: "Picking up , to finish out the trilogy.

Finally another series/trilogy completed. Ugh"

Excellent, imaginative series. I thought this book was a great conclusion to the trilogy.

Also, if you haven't read it, there's a delightful novella, Night of Cake & Puppets.

Currently reading Chocolat. Another group I'm in has a challenge going where we're in teams that read in response to prompts - this time it's "read a book set in France."

I'm also in a group that has a "Myths and Legends" theme from January to March 2018. So I read/listened to The Celtic Twilight: Faerie and Folklore yesterday and will be starting Rostam: Tales of Love & War from Persia's Book of Kings soon.

Just finished Imprinted by Jim C. Hines. Part of the Magic ex Libris series. It's good!
My review /review/show...

Allison wrote: "Pam, that's a heck of a name for a book! If you ever felt like sharing a snapshot of your thoughts on the books you read, that would be welcome :)

Hot damn that's a lot of books, Travis! I really ..."

I always put a link to my review - it was tacked on the end of that lot - perhaps you didn't see it ;-)

Allison wrote: "Ah, that's so sad when something doesn't hold up. I'm hesitant to re-read a lot of my old favorites for that. For example, I loved Dragonflight and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but I read both of them before I understood anything more nuanced than "awesome, dragons!" and "hell yeah, freedom and talking computers!" So I'm not sure how grown up-me would handle them."

Know what you mean. I re-read the original Weyr Search novella when I re-read the Hugo Winners volumes last year and found it flawed. However, when I sat down and read it again, as part of Dragonflight, I luckily did manage to get back into it and enjoy it, while acknowledging some weaknesses, though still think 'fancy calling a villain Fax in an age of fax machines'.

Listening to Red Sister
Reading Tumble & Blue
Gave up on Oathbringer, I think I have Sanderson burnout...

Finished a SF novel which I'd mean to get round to for years, having read the first chapter as a Nebula award winning novella: Dreamsnake by Vonda McIntyre. Review follows - /review/show/1367354168.

Kathy I think you've just come up against the fact that the first 3 Mist born books were amazing a the other Sanderson stuff is far less amazing.

Don wrote: "Kathy I think you've just come up against the fact that the first 3 Mist born books were amazing a the other Sanderson stuff is far less amazing."

Totally fair, Kathy, he has so many book and they're all sooo looong! But Don, I didn't love Mistborn. I'm gonna try the second book though before I bow out.

Allison, have you read "The Sarentine Mosaic" by Guy Gavriel Kay (it's one of my favorites)? If you didn't like book one, I don't think you'll enjoy the others.

Don wrote: "Allison, have you read "The Sarentine Mosaic" by Guy Gavriel Kay (it's one of my favorites)? If you didn't like book one, I don't think you'll enjoy the others."

Not yet! He's on my list to try soon. I've somehow completely missed him. Is that where you'd suggest starting?

I just finished Twelve Days. It sucked and I'm glad it didn't win the polls. And what was Tor thinking calling it Fantasy? Some psychic supernatural events do not make a fantasy book.

Allison wrote: "Not yet! He's on my list to try soon. I've somehow completely missed him. Is that where you'd suggest starting? ..."

Tigana!!!

Beth wrote: "Currently reading Chocolat. Another group I'm in has a challenge going where we're in teams that read in response to prompts - this time it's "read a book set in France."

I'm also i..."

I liked Chocolat. I've wanted to read the sequels but I never seem to get there.

when I started reading James Michener, I would skip over the first part about plate tectonics, animal migration patterns, glacier movements etc. and get to the story and if I really liked the story I'd go back for that stuff.
Michener gets a pass, everyone else needs to put out a solid Book One or I do not buy book 2.

Tigana, Under Heaven and Sailing to Saranteum are all very good.

Starting Countdown City, the second Last Policeman novel.

Finished with Bujold's Paladin of Souls. Loved it! Will try her Penric and Desdemona series.

I had reading on hold for a while as I was preparing for an exam, but now I will slowly go back to reading, now starting with

So far this year I’ve read:

1. The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers. I enjoyed this quite a bit. It’s a fun and somewhat twisty time travel story where attention to detail definitely helps with the appreciation of the story. Despite the time travel element, and being on our group shelf as “sci-fi�, I would categorize this as a fantasy. My review.

2. A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan, the 7th book in The Wheel of Time. I can see where people might have gotten frustrated with the pacing in this book. It’s about 900 pages and there really isn’t all that much advancement of many of the plot threads. Despite that, I’m still enjoying the series a lot and haven’t gotten bored yet. My review.

Next, I plan to start Armada by Ernest Cline, which is one of the group shelf reads for this month as per this thread. I don’t have the greatest of expectations for it based on comments and reviews I’ve seen in the past, but I bought it on sale a while back and would like to try it.

I am having a difficult time reading The Handmaid's Tale
Not because it is a bad book, not because it isn't well written, but just because of the subject matter. Oddly I find that a relief.

Don wrote: "Kathy I think you've just come up against the fact that the first 3 Mist born books were amazing a the other Sanderson stuff is far less amazing."

I think you might be correct, I read Mistborn first and the sameness is getting so boring. I will revisit the Stormlight Archives after a fantasy break. Sometimes when I do that, I can get into a series again.

I’ve been avoiding whatever series Oathbringer is in because the other Sanderson I’ve read is just average at best, and his shorter work is genuinely terrible.

Tomas, congrats on being done with exams! Hope you're enjoying your book.

YouKneeK, I'm hoping to read Anubis Gate this year, pretty excited. Hope Armada surprises you!

DJ, it really is a tough book, I had a similar reaction. Great book, just so very hard to read.

Nothin's for everyone, but I hope Stormlight Archive works out for you, Kathy! Or that if not, you're able to get out before you've made too much of an investment :) Nothing like realizing 30 hours into something that actually you hate it.

Is something going on with Wheel of Time? I see that lots of people are reading the series right now.

Allison wrote: "Tomas, congrats on being done with exams! Hope you're enjoying your book.

YouKneeK, I'm hoping to read Anubis Gate this year, pretty excited. Hope Armada surprises you!

DJ, it really is a tough b..."


Oh good, glad to see I am not the only one.

DJ, I read The Handmaid's Tale when it came out, in what 1984?, and have been unable to reread it. I think it's the scariest book I have ever read. I saw the first movie based on it, but have also not been able to watch the series.

Drizzt wrote: "I want to get into Cinder, but first I am delving into the next Allomancer trilogy by Brian Sanderson. (For those who have not tried Mistborn, it is a fantastic series that shook me emotionally.)"

I highly recommend the Cinder (Lunar Chronicles series). Marissa Meyer is very clever. Each book is a variant of a fairy tale. Cinder is scifi lite/space opera.

I am reading A Gathering of Shadows, I am almost done with The Stone Sky, and just started reading Artemis. I'm a new fan of NK Jemisin, but I find her books complex and sometimes hard to follow. It may have to do with the fact that I am listening (audiobook) instead of reading the books. You really have to pay attention every minute!

That's my problem with audiobooks. I lose concentration. I want to listen while I'm driving but I don't think that it would work. Maybe if I was a passenger. Nothing to distract me. I'm better with things I can see.

I've finished:

Proof of Life - which was good just like I expected
and
Yes, Chef which was excellent and not about Gordon Ramsey (only mentioned in the book as calling the author a black b**t*rd)
and
Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich which was interesting but rather outdated
and
The Nature of the Beast and Glass Houses by Louise Penny (the last one was rather disjointed)
and
Shadowrise the third book in the Shadowmarch series which leads me to the books I am currently reading:

Shadowheart - this book has a jagged right margin unlie the rest of the books in the series and it's driving me bonkers
and
Chesapeake by Michener. - this one is special to me as it's set a few miles from where I was born and I see all my ancestral types in it.
and
Kushiel's Dart - which had a bit too much sadomachoism in it for me, but is getting a bit better as I read it.
and
William Styron, The Collected Novels: Lie Down in Darkness, Set This House on Fire, The Confessions of Nat Turner, and Sophie's Choice - I've managed to reach the 25% point on this one finally

CBRetriever wrote: "I've finished:

Proof of Life - which was good just like I expected
and
Yes, Chef which was excellent and not about Gordon Ramsey (only mentioned in the book as call..."

Wow. Go you! You're on a tear! Lol re: Shadowheart. That would drive me nuts, too.

I started several of them before 2018, the mysteries were short and quick, but the Tad Williams ones are long.......

and I'm always reading at least 4 books at the same time with different genres and story lines so i don't get them confused. And at least one of them has to be light reading (mysteries fit this quite well)

Thomas wrote: "I've just finished Crossroads of Twilight in The Wheel of Time."

I look forward to reading your review of it once I catch up to you! :) I’ve been surprised not to find more WoT reviews from my friends and the people I follow, actually. I always check for them after I finish each book. I guess a lot of people read them before joining Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and/or starting to write reviews.

Allison wrote: "I'm hoping to read Anubis Gate this year, pretty excited. Hope Armada surprises you!"

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy The Anubis Gates! I look forward to reading what you think of it.

Allison wrote: "Is something going on with Wheel of Time? I see that lots of people are reading the series right now."

The only thing I can think of is that last year around April it was that Sony Pictures would be producing a TV adaptation. So that might be pushing people to get it read. However, I haven’t seen any news since then about any progress or estimated dates or anything, so I don’t know if it’s still in the works or not. In my case, I have several longer epic fantasy series I want to read, and I'd decided to start one in either late 2017 or early 2018. WoT was one of three top contenders that I was trying to choose between. The possible TV series did give WoT a leg up when I made my choice, but I likely would have gotten to it within the next couple of years anyway.

Also, a lot of people have the entire series in one volume. On September 5th, 2015 it was reduced to $44.99 and contained all 14 books plus the prequel ($2.99 per book). At 12,592 pages that will gain me a lot of points in the TBR thread. It's one I definitely intend to at least start this year as I never finished the series.

Julia wrote: "DJ, I read The Handmaid's Tale when it came out, in what 1984?, and have been unable to reread it. I think it's the scariest book I have ever read. I saw the first movie based on it, b..."

Scariest? Hmm, it might turn out that way for a book that is Fiction. But every two to three years I read another Haulcaust book, and those seem to trump most everything in the department of leaving me sad and unhappy about the future of mankind. Maybe they are just worse cause they are real. Maybe.

I love COUNTDOWN CITY (Book 2 of the Last Policeman trilogy).

I tried to read THE ANUBIS GATES and was not very impressed; in fact I would argue that most sff fans wont like it.

MadProfessah wrote: "I love COUNTDOWN CITY (Book 2 of the Last Policeman trilogy).

I tried to read THE ANUBIS GATES and was not very impressed; in fact I would argue that most sff fans wont like it."

I am already halfway with Countdown City - first half was so-so but it picked up later. Still feeling amused since asteroid would hit my country first haha

As for The Anubis Gates, I liked it quite a lot - it was my first steampunk (that I remember) and made me a fan of Tim Powers (who writes fascinating stand-alones)

Allison wrote: "With thanks for its service, we're retiring the 2017 thread at 44 pages (over 2100 comments! We're a chatty, book-devouring crowd!)

So, whatcha readin'?"

I've been rereading some Iain M. Banks. Started with Excession and now The Hydrogen Sonata.
Anyone have any recommendations for other authors like him? Thanks.

Allison wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Picking up , to finish out the trilogy.

Finally another series/trilogy completed. Ugh"

Oo! Was it good? That looks good. I hadn't se..."

The first two definitely are. This really is a good YA (older) series, and the romance is really not over the top for me. I love these parallel worlds and how Akiva and Karou fit in them. :)