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Jon wrote: "I'm currently reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and about a third f..."

Hey Jon....Really glad to see you are enjoying JS&MN. I unfortunately are one of those people struggling with it. I still want to finish it up by the end of this month and I'm hoping I'll feel better about it but I'm about 1/2 way through right now and I do think it is slow.

Amy wrote: "Jon,
I'm listening to the audio cd of The Book Thief right now. I'm about half way through..."

I just finished reading that a few days ago - I agree its a very good book.

Robin wrote: "Hey Jon....Really glad to see you are enjoying JS&MN. I unfortunately are one of those people struggling..."

I'm supplementing my reading by listening to the unabridged audio book version during my 1.5 hour daily commute to work. Really speeds up the "reading" process and I'm very much enjoying the British accent and voice characterizations of the narrator.

I've been going through a reading dry spell, too busy with buying my house, selling my condo. Who knew there was so much to do!

However, I've started Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind, and hope to get the next Brandon Sanderson book in as well.

Only have read one fantasy book this month, Dragons of Autumn Twilight. Currently reading The Eye of the World and Luthiel's Song Dreams of the Ringed Vale.

I have Dragons of Autumn Twilight on my "To Read" shelf, I'll have to go look at your review!

Jon wrote: "Robin wrote: "Hey Jon....Really glad to see you are enjoying JS&MN. I unfortunately are one of those people struggling..."

I'm supplementing my reading by listening to the unabridged audio book v..."

Oh....an audio version would probably have helped a lot -- I should have thought of that ;-)

Cameron wrote: "Only have read one fantasy book this month, Dragons of Autumn Twilight."

I've seen this around and am somewhat interested - please tell me what you think when you are done?

-- Wife of fantasy author Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy | Avempartha (04/09)

Robin wrote: "Oh....an audio version would probably have helped a lot -- I should have thought of that ;-)
"

The narrator is British and does many different British, Scottish, Irish, French, etc. accents for various characters. It really livens it up.

This is my first audio book in several years. The last one was Pride & Prejudice but it was not memorable and I don't think I actually finished it. I didn't have a cell phone that also doubled as an MP3 player so lugging a portable CD player with me while walking (with the inherent skipping issues) was just not fun.

I just finished The Well of Ascension. It ended on a pretty grim note, so it will be interesting to see how The Hero of Ages(which I'm reading now) ties everything up in the end.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight was pretty good. It's the first novel written in the Dragonlance Dungeons and Dragons setting. The only problem I really had with it was the author, or authors I should say, crammed too many characters into the adventure. So many of them didn't have a chance to develop as much as I would have liked. Other than that it was highly enjoyable. I still have to find time to squeeze in the second novel in the trilogy: Dragons of Winter Night.

I can't keep a list of what I'm reading or planning to read. I guess I'm just really fickle in my reading, I'll start a book, go months without reading further, then finish it all in one weekend binge, meanwhile reading any random thing that strikes my fancy. For example, my reading "plan" for January was to re-read The Lord of the Rings, finish The Name of the Rose and Catch Me If You Can (both of which I started ages ago). What has transpired since then-
I got caught up in the Mistborn Trilogy and read straight through them, got distracted by poetry (Keats and Millay), then tied up with my once forgotten but quickly rekindled love of Diana Wynne Jones (House of Many Ways and Unexpected Magic), so that of my original goals all I've managed to accomplish has been a somewhat hasty re-reading of The Fellowship. Sigh...
Part of my problem may lie with the fact that I'm not really bothered by all this, I don't really see it as falling short of my goals, more like my goals falling short of reality.

Megan wrote: "I can't keep a list of what I'm reading or planning to read. I guess I'm just really fickle in my reading, I'll start a book, go months without reading further, then finish it all in one weekend b..."

I am also a little bit fickle in my reading. I am a cross-genre reader, and there are so many books that I want to read that I have started reading in rotation again. That is, I read a little from one book on one day and then from another book the next day. Yesterday I read some of Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk (Urban Fantasy) and just now I read a little of The Intruders by Michael Marshal (Suspence). So actually finishing a book for me can be sporadic, when I get into a rapid cycling of rotation reading. Sigh... But we do what we must for the love of the written word. :-)

Maurice wrote: "Megan wrote: "I can't keep a list of what I'm reading or planning to read. I guess I'm just really fickle in my reading, I'll start a book, go months without reading further, then finish it all in..."

Ha ha, so true! I hardly feel like I choose what to read anymore, the books just sort of flock to me on their own and whichever manages to finnagle its way to my hand first wins, until something else knocks it out.

Megan, you have a great way with words. You've described so many of us, and our reading habits to a tee! Thanks

Just spent a great portion of the day reading, and finishing, the second Harry Potter book. It was excellent, and I very much look forward to starting the third book on Monday.

Laurel wrote: "Megan, you have a great way with words. You've described so many of us, and our reading habits to a tee! Thanks"

Thanks, it's good to know I'm not the only one!

Megan, you said it for me, too. Between GR friends & groups suggesting books, their availability via swap sites & what fits into my current mood, I'm generally reading a few books at a time. i hate getting stalled on some. For a while I was doing really good reading a fact book at home & a fiction book at work, but then I found a few fiction books in a row that I just HAD to read... Oh well, best of intentions & all that.

I am reading Cybele's Secret and Listening to the Warrior heir. Love them both.

Rachel Morgan Series by Kim Harrison and possibly The World of the Lupi Series by Eileen Wilks�

I've already finished the Meredith Gentry series by Laurell K Hamilton and a few other books by her this month.

At the moment I'm reading Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie, Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card and tomorrow in the train to work I'm going to start in The Fire Gospel by Michel Faber.

I finally got my copy of Griffin's Daughter! (and I definitely won't have it done by feb. 1st) YAY! Now I just have to find time to read it....

I just finished the science fiction book, A Thousand Words for Stranger, and am moving on to The Magicians and Mrs. Quent. I bought this new book on impulse when I had a Borders coupon. I hope it's good. I haven't been overly thrilled with the last few books I've read.

I finished Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell over the weekend. I also quickly read Warrior Woman by Marion Zimmer Bradley which was somewhat disappointing. Now, I've switched gears completely out of fantasy and am reading The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which I should finish tonight or by lunch tomorrow.

After that, I'm undecided. I have a long trip this weekend that I will be devoting to audiobooks, so I'm just trying to whiz through some short books until I hit the road.

I'm trying to finish A Civil Campaign before the end of the month but my work schedule suddenly changed.

Dame wrote: "I am reading Cybele's Secret and Listening to the Warrior heir. Love them both."

Let me know how you like Cybele's Secret. I haven't broken down and bought the hardcover yet, but I also haven't heard whether it's worth it. Let me know!

So far I've been reading any books by Juliet Marillier (the Sevenwaters Trilogy, Wildwood Dancing and Cybele's Secret, Wolfskin and Foxmask) as well as the Symphony of the Ages series by Elizabeth Haydon.

I'm going by the library tomorrow in fact to pick up Cybele's Secret! :D

Jon wrote: "I finished Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell..."

Hey Jon,
What was your impression of this one...I'm almost done and sorry to say I really strugggled with it.

Not a fantasy book - but I just finished my re-read of an old favorite (Watership Down) so now I have a reading space open. I'm going to give Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch a try. I was not impressed with Stardust but heard this author is pretty diverse - so far I'm liking it alright.


Well some of these I'm technically starting now but only because I finished with my December reads. And I'm sure I won't be "Done" with them in January because some of them are pretty long but this is what I'll be working on.

-- Wife of GR Author Michael J. Sullivan | The Crown Conspiracy | Avempartha

Robin wrote: "Hey Jon, What was your impression of this one...I'm almost done and sorry to say I really strugggled with it."

I struggle with the first third or first half of the book. After that, I really wanted to know what happened and I was concerned for the fates of Lady Pole and Arabella Strange.

I just finished The Jennifer Morgue by Charlie Stross, which was excellent. Before that, I finished up the published Dresden books. Right now I am reading Barker's The Thief of Always, and next will probably be The Graveyard Book or Princeps Fury.

Robin wrote: "Not a fantasy book - but I just finished my re-read of an old favorite (Watership Down) so now I have a reading space open. I'm going to give [b:Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agn..."

"Good Omens" was one of the best books I read last year. I laughed my butt off all the way through. I did have to pull out my Bible and re-read Revelations though. As a Lutheran, I haven't really focused on that book.

I'm still working on The Shock Doctrine The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Not Fantasy by any means--in fact, everything in it is all too real!! I'm also still working on my fellow L.A. writer Robin Reed's charming little book Xanthan Gumm about an alien who comes to Earth to be in the Movies and meet The King of Earth, Steven Spielberg.

Sandi wrote: "Good Omens" was one of the best books I read last year. I laughed my butt off all the way through...

Yep I'm still really early (the babies are just being switched but I too am enjoying it. It kind of reminds me of Amulet of Samarkand - in how the deamons are portrayed etc. Liking this much more than Stardust which was my only other Gaiman read.

@Elizabeth

Yes, I love the Free Amazons of Darkover. Warrior Woman just didn't do much of anything for me.

I finished SHADOWS ON MY MIND by Marie Gates. It was fascinating.

I have now started THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway. I read this book way back when I was a teen. One of my teens brought it home for a school assignment. Sooooo, I thought I'd re-read it.

Andrea M. Kulman wrote: "I have now started THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway. I read this book way back when I was a teen. One of my teen..."

I really enjoyed that book when I read it in high school.

-- Wife of GR author Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy (10/08) | Avempartha (04/09)

Andrea M. Kulman wrote: "I have now started THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway. I read this book way back when I was a teen. One of my teen..."

I read it for the first time this past year - I really enjoyed it. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I picked it because it was a classic and it was short. I also read Of Mice and Menin the same time period.

Robin, I'm glad you're enjoying Good Omens. It made me laugh out loud several times, and I don't do that often when reading.

Amy wrote: " am a little embarrassed to admit that I picked it because it was a classic and it was short. I also read Of Mice and Menin the same time period..."

Another great book - I loved Of Mice and Men - it's been over 30 years. Are the main characters Lenny and George? That's what I seem to recall.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K. Rowling

Fiona wrote: "The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K. Rowling"

I enjoyed this - though I thought they could have had a bit "more depth". The last one was my favorite and the first one my least favorite ;-)

Yeah I've never read a HP book yet, but will most probably try them. Love the site hun xx

Fiona wrote: "Yeah I've never read a HP book yet, but will most probably try them. Love the site hun xx"

Wow Fiona - I'm shocked - I thought for sure you would have read HP. They really are good - I suggest you check them out.

So I just finished up Griffen's Daughter and really looking forward to the discussion. My current reads now are:

The Road (re-read for another group)
Good Omens (Very funny so far)
Faerie Wars (1/2 way done - injoyable YA)

-- Wife of GR author Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy (10/08) | Avempartha (04/09)

Have finished the Fire Gospel by Michel Faber. An interesting interpretation of the Prometheus myth and a fun parody on books like the Da Vinci Code.

I finished The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett yesterday. It was very, very flawed, but I enjoyed it immensely anyway.

I'm now reading a non-genre novel, The Thirteenth Tale A Novel by Diane Setterfield.

I finished Wizard and Glass a few days ago. I must say that this booked dragged for me in the middle, but the ending was worth the wait. I am now ripping through Wolves of the Calla, so far a much more intrigueing story. I hope to finish the series by the end of Febuary and then on to other things. I have had to ground myself from book stores, mt TBR pile is a monster.

Stephen, I know how you feel. Wizard And Glass is my least favorite of the series. I've read the series several times and I love it, but each time I read W&G, I get to the 1/2 mark and then I get impatient for it to be over.

The love story is sweet, but goes on a bit too long, and I just want the story to move ahead, but it just seems stuck in Roland's memories.

Well, I looked over my original post from earlier this month and have to say my fiction-reading plans didn't go quite the way I had envisioned (the line about "battle plans not surviving contact with the enemy" comes to mind) but for January I managed to read:

The Iron Dragon's Daughter, Michael Swanwick
Modern Love, George Meredith (poems)
Lyonesse, Jack Vance
Warlock, Andre Norton
Richard II and King John, Shakespeare
Death Comes for the Archbishop, Willa Cather
The Man Who Was Thursday, G.K. Chesterton

I finished the Road and now have added "A Game of Thrones" - though now I just see Elizabeth didn't like it EEP - well I already bought it so I'll at least give it a try.