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Just wanting to know again what everyone is reading in July? I know its going to be a big month with the release of A Dance with Dragons coming out less than 2 weeks away?

Right now I am reading Daughter of the Forest, better than I thought.

I've got a pretty slim month planned ().

I definitely plan to read The Snow Queen as I've had that novel in my book case for years and just never got around to it. I'm also going to read the sequel to last month's fantasy selection (The Summer Tree).

I started reading Catherynne M Valente's Deathless this morning, and I'm hoping to finish that and maybe one more (I'm currently, slowly, reading HG Wells' The Invisible Man as well) before A Dance With Dragons is released. I'm also going to read the latest Temeraire book in July. I haven't quite planned for The World After ADWD yet...

Still trying to get through One Hundred Years of Solitude - I'm really considering giving up, because I am just not enjoying it at all. Other than that, I have Naamah's Blessing and The Concubine's Daughter: A Novel lined up, and I want to continue my ASoIaF re-read in preparation for ADwD. Still not sure whether I want to pre-order it or get it the first day somewhere.

I'm reading Rose Daughter, a lovely Beauty and the Beast retelling. I might also start The Passage. It all depends on school.

Doing the book club books as well as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for another club, The Lives of Christopher Chant the sequel to this months' fantasy book and The Lady in the Lake

I will try and get the new Song of Fire and Ice book and not sure what else is on my list this month. Will have to sort through the piles to see what I like. Maybe even finish the book that's been on my currently reading list for some time :P

Right now I'm reading Ender's Game (forthe first time!). I'll probably be sticking to short Sci-Fi novels till Dance with Dragons is released.

Damnit, how is it already July?!

Jon wrote: "I've got a pretty slim month planned (see my blog entry from this morning for more details).

I definitely plan to read The Snow Queen as I've had that novel in my book case for years and just ne..."

I did not know that you had a blog, nice.

Mark wrote: "Right now I'm reading Ender's Game (forthe first time!). I'll probably be sticking to short Sci-Fi novels till Dance with Dragons is released."

Good boy.

Is... is he your dog?

Maybe?

*backs out of the thread quickly*

Kevin wrote: "I did not know that you had a blog, nice. "

Thanks, Kevin. :)

Just Finished:
Naamah's Blessing by Jacqueline Carey. I found this slightly more emotionally satisfying than the second book in the trilogy, but extremely problematic. I think Carey overreached herself in this latest trilogy rather badly, and I really hope she does something entirely different with her writing for the next several years -- I love this world, but she appear to be tapped out in terms of coming up with new and interesting plots for it.

Currently Reading:
Let's Play White by Chesya Burke
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

Up Next:
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge

How about Anathem? There is a little violence, but it's definitely a novel of ideas. Clear ... um, I guess it depends what you mean by clear. Or on the fantasy side, The Curse of Chalion and its sequel Paladin of Souls. Both have some violence, but also interesting themes dealing with humans and religion. If you give some examples of what you like, we might be able to make other suggestions.

Myself, I'm reading Fort Freak and listening to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. The former has reminded me of the older Wild Cards novels more than most of the recent offerings, and the latter is full of Valente's usual gorgeous prose. It might actually be the rare book that's more enjoyable as something to listen to than as something to read.

I'm currently rereading The Wandering Fire, after rereading The Summer Tree in June. I suspect I'll carry on to The Darkest Road some time this month. The question is whether I go directly to that or fit something in between.

I have The 10 P.M. Question from the library (I LOVE being able to borrow ebooks) so I want to fit that in before the borrowing period expires.

I'm reading The Great Ghost Rescue with my son, which I haven't read since I was about his age, and we're both enjoying that.

As always, it's a case of having so many books I want to read I don't know how to choose.

Kevin wrote: "Maybe?"

WOOF!!!


...and on another note, I second the suggestions of Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls. Its been a few years since I've read them, but I remember both as being very good.

Pia wrote: "I'm in between reads, on a virtual quest through GR SFF threads, looking for something unique with a clear writing style, interesting ideas and minimal-to-no brutality."

Jo Walton had a post on Tor.com recently asking people where all the SFF books without violence were. . . you might want to for idea. Of the ones Walton referenced I've read and enjoyed her novel Tooth and Claw, all of Connie Willis's work, and of course some of the Arthur C. Clarke. Some of the authors mentioned in the comments I've also read and enjoyed are Robin McKinley, Patricia A. McKillip, and Lois McMaster Bujold. . . though McKillip and to a lesser extent McKinley use a slightly more ornate, poetic style that might not be to your tastes.

Valerie wrote: "Still trying to get through One Hundred Years of Solitude - I'm really considering giving up, because I am just not enjoying it at all. Other than that, I have [book:Naamah's Blessing|95..."
I totally understand about not finishing 100 Years. I had to put it up and read it 5 years later and it was much better the second time around. Don't waste your time on a book you aren't enjoying! especially a LONG book! LOL

, , . I actually picked up 5 more books at the library this morning - I just wish I could read FASTER!

Mark wrote: "Right now I'm reading Ender's Game (forthe first time!). I'll probably be sticking to short Sci-Fi novels till Dance with Dragons is released."

How do you like it? I actally liked Bean's version better (aka . O.S. Card is a great author; don't stop with Ender's Game. Try too!

QueenAmidala28 wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Still trying to get through One Hundred Years of Solitude - I'm really considering giving up, because I am just not enjoying it at all. Other than that, I have [book:Naam..."

Yeah, I kind of feel bad for not liking it since my mom recommended it so highly, but it's not grabbing me. :/ I appreciate what Marquez is trying to do, I just don't like it. It was a struggle to get through the first third because I was horrified at the treatment of the female characters. People keep saying that there are funny moments in here, but if there are, I'm either not getting it or it's not my type of humor. If it doesn't grow on me by the 50% mark, I'll drop it.

Continuing with Scarlett.

I think that this month's reading will be a bit strange, but I'm thinking about readingLightpaths, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Keys to the Demon Prison, The Gammage Cup, Wildthorn, Tunnel in the Sky, and Calculating God. That's a mixture of my books, library books, and one book borrowed from a friend. That plan will most likely change.

Ala wrote: "Damnit, how is it already July?!"

If you figure this out, let me know. I have the same question.

My month's plan is heavy on the fantasy. I'm finally reading Kate Elliott's Spirit Gate, Shadow Gate, and Traitors' Gate. I've also got Tongues of Serpents on the list (those four seem to form a "riding large animals" theme). For my non-fiction selection I have God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter. Then back to some light reading with Dead in the Family.

I'm on track with the 2011 Reading Challenge, but why did I make it so hard for myself? 100 books in a year with a one-year-old ruling the house??? Proof that I'm insane.

I am still slowly nibbling away at Embassytown. I'm really enjoying it, but it's one of those books I need to read in bite-sized chunks, taking time to reflect on each before moving on. I'll surely finish it this month, but I'm in no hurry. I'm happy to savor it slowly.

Other than that, I have lined up:



I might squeeze another book or two in if I get on a reading roll, but I'm not planning anything specific just yet.

Edit to add: I'd really like to fit in if I can find a place for it in my challenges, because it's being discussed this month over in the Mythic Fiction group, but I don't know if I can shoehorn it.

@Lara...Elliot's Crossroads series is a good one.
Its not the best fantasy you'll read but it still very enjoyable

Denae wrote: "If you figure this out, let me know. I have the same question."

For some reason, I had thought I had extra time to read through this months selections before July hit.

And here I am, just herpderping through the three Caine books...

I got introduced to the July version of NaNoWriMo, and for some reason decided to try writing something for the first time in roughly a decade. Now I'm even more behind.

I have just finished Hounded which was really good (my review here) http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... . Am currently reading (actually listening but now is not the time to be nitpicky) The Ask and the Answer which is so good I am having a hard time concentrating on my driving. I plan to read The Hunger Games which has just come in at the library

I just started Children of the Mind
yesterday. I love how O.S. Card trusts his readers to remember stuff from the previous books in the series, no long boring passages telling you everything you've already read!

Next I'm going to read Foundation for the first time. I'm excited!

I'm thinking of finally getting into the Game of Thrones books by George R.R. Martin. I know, I'm like the last person on earth who hsn't read them, but there you go. I figured summer is a good time to get started, but they're pretty huge and intimidating and people tell me they have alot of violence toward women. I've never been a big fan of rape as plot device. Can anybody tell me if this is true?

Unicorngirl wrote: "...people tell me they have alot of violence toward women. I've never been a big fan of rape as plot device. Can anybody tell me if this is true?."

There's a lot of violence towards EVERYBODY!. Think of The Wars of the Roses - robber-barons fighting and scheming for power - and you'll get the idea.
That said, I've never found any of the violence, including sexual violence, gratuitous within the context of the books.

I have about 24 books checked out at the moment. Reading "Snow Queen," "Moors of Spain" "City of Salt" and some of Claire Cooks works this week.

Ayla wrote: "I just started Children of the Mind
yesterday. I love how O.S. Card trusts his readers to remember stuff from the previous books in the series, no long boring passages telling you ev..."

I love both of those books, I hope you enjoy them and read the more books in both series.

Finished The Player of Games, am now reading a prepublication galley, Falling to Pieces: A Quilt Shop Murder.

Yes, I am in danger of mind-whiplash.

Falling to Pieces is an Amish Murder Mystery from a Christian Publishing House, and I can already see the romance elements lining up. But it is cute. And fluffy. And everything Iain M. Banks is not.

Amish murder mystery? heh

Sc wrote: "Unicorngirl wrote: "...people tell me they have alot of violence toward women. I've never been a big fan of rape as plot device. Can anybody tell me if this is true?."

There's a lot of violence ..."

It's there, but like sc said, it's not gratuitous or treated casually (compared to, say, the Sword of Truth series or the Black Jewels trilogy), and it's always treated like a Very Bad Thing. And yeah, terrible things happen to everybody in the books, regardless of gender.

The Wild Cards books usually have a lot of violence. Fort Freak has less than usual, as I recall, but there's still some. I didn't mean those as recommendations, more as a general "These are what I'm reading now" contribution to the thread.

For anyone wanting to read/try out TEOM, Asimov's has posted the novella-length version .

Matched by Ally Condie

I finished my ASOIAf re-read with A Feast for Crows.

Now reading Kitty's Big Trouble.

Pia, if you're interested in trying Wild Cards, you might consider starting with the first book, Wild Cards 1, which was reprinted last year. You might also try Inside Straight, which, while being the 18th book, is also essentially a re-boot of the series.

Just finished Ilona Andrews, Magic Bleeds (I'm running one book behind in the series on purpose. I hoard this series. It's my favorite.)

Pia wrote: "I (re)came across The Empress Of Mars on that Tor thread. "Re" because I didn't read it the first time: the library here doesn't have it, and I didn't have the money to buy a copy then. But I do no..."
I'll watch to see what you think of TEOM. I like the humor stuff better myself.

I ended up finishing the Dark Tower series at the end of June, so until ADWD arrives, I've been reading The Lies of Locke Lamora.

Matt wrote: "I ended up finishing the Dark Tower series at the end of June, so until ADWD arrives, I've been reading The Lies of Locke Lamora." Oh, I couldn't get through that one...everyone else loves it though. :>)

I just cannot finish everything I want to this month.

To read in order of priority:

Servant of the Empire, The Snow Queen, Elantris,Shades of Grey

(I had thought I might skip the The Snow Queen, but I read the prologue last night and it grabbed me! Shades of Grey, however, did not and has been bumped back.)

Currently listening to:

Blameless & The Knife of Never Letting Go (I'm probably 1.5 hours in, and this one expired on me... I'll have to check it out again from the library... *sigh*)

Pia, fair enough, though like someone else said, the books aren't that violent. They are fairly dark though. For instance, the first book has a story reminiscent of McCarthy and the Red Scare except with those affected by the Wild Card virus.


Maria wrote: "Oh, I couldn't get through that one...everyone else loves it though. :>)"

Maria, bow and chant three times, "I'm not worthy!" and maybe I'll let you read books again. :P :P :P


I made short work of Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn. For those that follow the books, there's a bit of setup for Kitty in the Long Game. On the other hand, the plot itself was fairly weak. I didn't really enjoy this book as much as I did the previous ones.

Next up is Leviathan Wakes.

I'm reading an oldie -- "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Philip K. Dick