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[ClosingADoor]

Finished: Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day
Story about ghosts that stick around on Earth and have to earn their time to move on. Pretty unique take on it and a good read.

Also finished: Beneath a Scarlet Sky
The true story of a young Italian man who starts rescuing Jews from Northern Italy during World War 2 at the age of 17, then becomes the driver for a high ranking nazi general and spies for the Allies, while meeting the love of his life with a tragic turn. A handful of books have brought me to tears, and this is one of them. Also infuriating to read what happened to the nazi's involved and how they got away with their crimes afterwards.

 

[TwntyOneTwlv]

I finished The Handmaid's Tale last week, and hoooooooo boy. That was something. I mean that was really something. That one's gonna stick with me for quite awhile, I think.

 

[The JT]

Almost done with All the Pretty Horses. Probably 100 pages left.

Spoiler

Wow, poor Blevins. Rawlings and John Grady in prison. Damn

 

[AngmarsKing701]

Just thought I'd drop this here. Still churning away on the novella per month challenge. I've collected the first 3 books, along with an excerpt from the 4th, in a single volume.

The Knight's Journal I

So you can snag this for $5 for your Kindle (I'm going to make a paperback of it as well) instead of the $9 for the individual volumes.

 

[Atraveller]

Currently reading this, and I'm liking it a lot. The writing is humorous, the story itself interesting, and book had many tidbits of early 17th century Italian customs, etiquette, politics and living conditions that I found fascinating. I also appreciate a thing that the book did, is before it continued on with its story, it gives you tiny history lessons that put the following story into context.

 

[Nymerio]

Seems, like a quick read. Already halfway through and I'm liking it very much.

 

[Maklershed]

Currently reading this, and I'm liking it a lot. The writing is humorous, the story itself interesting, and book had many tidbits of early 17th century Italian customs, etiquette, politics and living conditions that I found fascinating. I also appreciate a thing that the book did, is before it continued on with its story, it gives you tiny history lessons that put the following story into context.

Sounds interesting. Added to my wishlist.

 

[BrokenFiction]

In preparation for the new Netflix series, I'm reading:

Always wanted to and now's a good of chance as any.

 

[BumRush]

Just finished The Girl Who Played with Fire and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I'm currently reading a few business books and want something fiction when I need to break it up.

Any recommendations like "The Girl..." but not another book in the Millennium series??

 

[Peru]

In preparation for the new Netflix series, I'm reading:

Always wanted to and now's a good of chance as any.

Been thinking the same...

 

[Saya]

Does anyone have recommendations for Japanese contemporary novels that are not written by Haruki Murakami?

 

[Jag]

Seems, like a quick read. Already halfway through and I'm liking it very much.

Good to hear. I just picked it up on $1.99 sale, just need to finish my current book first.

 

[Number45]

I had to read it in two stints because it's so soul destroying, but I've finished Everyday Sexism. :-(

Moving on to:

 

[Servbot #42]

Ray Bradbury was amazing, i didn't get all of the stories but the ones i did get were incredible, some were very touching but others were pretty disturbing. My favorites were Tomorrow's Child, The Kilimanjaro Device, I sing the body electric! , The tombling day, Any Friend of Nicholas Nickleby Is a Friend of Mine, The man in the Rorschach Shirt, The Burning Man, GBS Mark 5 and A piece of wood.

I finished The Handmaid's Tale last week, and hoooooooo boy. That was something. I mean that was really something. That one's gonna stick with me for quite awhile, I think.

Yep, that book stayed with me too. It's very powerful writing, also it's nice to see that the upcoming adaptation seems okay.

 

[Cptkrush]

I have taken about a 3 or so year hiatus from reading in general, but this weekend More_Badass' Excellent Cosmic Horror Thread got me itching to read some horror fiction.

I picked up a .99 Lovecraft collection on my Kindle Fire, and read the first two stories - The Nameless City and The Festival. Lovecraft really had a way of creating atmosphere, and The Festival especially was a chilling setup. The concept of ghost towns kind of spooks me, so I really enjoyed both of them. I have to say that the stories have been really predictable, but I don't remember Call of Cthulhu or At The Mountain Of Madness being as predictable, so I imagine they get better as they go on. I cannot wait to read those two again, as it's been well over 10 years.

I also started a for real novel in "14" by Peter Clines. It started a little slow, but I'm about 30% in now and it's starting to get really good. The characters all feel like real people, and are acting as I expect people in a mystery house to act rather than indulging in the cliches that situation normally brings. It's been a super quick read too which is exactly what I needed after taking such a long break.

I plan on tackling the quasi sequel to 14: "The Fold" next. I also have "The Fisherman" by John Langan, and Stephen King's "Revival" after that. It feels nice regularly reading again, maybe I can read the Dark Tower Series finally after I finish up those three. "The Gunslinger" was the last book I read to completion, and that was killer. Not really sure why I fell off during "Drawing of the Three", but I never picked up a book after that hahaha.

 

[kevin1025]

I return! Many moons late, but I finished Swan Song during the time since I posted (maybe in the February thread?). I liked it, but didn't end up loving it. It lingered a little too much on certain scenes or imagery, detailing them ad nauseum, and sometimes several times, while rushing through the cool moments. But those cool moments, and effective scenes, they hit hard and are great. But it's a little bogged down, and so didn't hit me overall as much as I'd hoped. Still glad I read it, though.

I also finished off Half the World by Joe Abercrombie. Enjoyed the heck out of it, great work as always by my favorite fantasy author. He plays to his strengths, and that is always welcome to me, because those strengths are his dark humor, characterization, and bloody fights.

Now I'm finally reading It by Stephen King. That opening, man. Wow.

 

[fakefaker]

Does anyone have recommendations for Japanese contemporary novels that are not written by Haruki Murakami?

I'll just throw a couple out there, it all depends on your likes though.

A True Novel by Minae Mizumura
Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama.
Red Girls: The Legend of the Akakuchibas by Kazuki Sakuraba.
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami.
Out by Natsuo Kirino.
Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe.

Hope that helps!

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

A Deepness In The Sky - Verner Vinge (here's a neat cover from a French edition)

I just finished this prequel to A Fire Upon the Deep not moments ago. And when I say prequel, I mean set thousands of years before.

The book was great, to say the least. It was a bit long in the tooth, though, lacking the pace of AFUTD and running about 200 pages longer at 606 total.

The build-up to the climax takes its time laying plot and world building and character development but in the end the climax delivers in a fantastic way that I found even more satisfying than AFUTD's. Like its predecessor, wonderfully conceived heroes and villians and carefully executed plans and conspiracies abound.

I'm looking forward to reading The Children of the Sky next, which is a direct sequel to A Fire Upon The Deep. It only took 20 years for Vinge to get around to it, lol.

[img ]https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71h7AcdrnAL.jpg[/img]

kind of a bizzare tangent, but I was watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the other day, and it turns out that Dick Van Dyke plays a character that is damn close to a human version of Mr. underhill at the picaresque beginning of the book. Strangely enough, the beginning of the book has an emphasis with automobiles that the musical also shares, and there is also a foreign woman that hates his children. If you want to know how Mr. Underhill would look like if he was a human, and in the way that it is described by the translators but in musical format? take a look a this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBJGpNTP_lY

 

[besada]

Finished all the available Stross Merchant Princes books, which is sad. I want more now.

Reading Penric's Mission by Bujold right now, third in the Penric and Desdemona books. I'll finish it and the fourth tonight and tomorrow and then on to Borne by VanderMeer.

That Joint Book is amazing, by the way. Great illustrations, sensible and easy to understand, and a ton of variety.

 

[Saya]

I'll just throw a couple out there, it all depends on your likes though.

A True Novel by Minae Mizumura
Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama.
Red Girls: The Legend of the Akakuchibas by Kazuki Sakuraba.
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami.
Out by Natsuo Kirino.
Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe.

Hope that helps!

This is awesome. Thank you so much!

 

[More_Badass]

I have taken about a 3 or so year hiatus from reading in general, but this weekend More_Badass' Excellent Cosmic Horror Thread got me itching to read some horror fiction.

I picked up a .99 Lovecraft collection on my Kindle Fire, and read the first two stories - The Nameless City and The Festival. Lovecraft really had a way of creating atmosphere, and The Festival especially was a chilling setup. The concept of ghost towns kind of spooks me, so I really enjoyed both of them. I have to say that the stories have been really predictable, but I don't remember Call of Cthulhu or At The Mountain Of Madness being as predictable, so I imagine they get better as they go on. I cannot wait to read those two again, as it's been well over 10 years.

Check out Laird Barron's stuff as well. Start reading his short stories last week, and they're excellent.

Ray Bradbury was amazing, i didn't get all of the stories but the ones i did get were incredible, some were very touching but others were pretty disturbing. My favorites were Tomorrow's Child, The Kilimanjaro Device, I sing the body electric! , The tombling day, Any Friend of Nicholas Nickleby Is a Friend of Mine, The man in the Rorschach Shirt, The Burning Man, GBS Mark 5 and A piece of wood.

There Will Come Soft Rains is a classic, everyone should read it at least once

 

[Paertan]

Earlier this month I finished American Gods. Had it half finished for a while and been playing more games.
But Now I finished it and really liked it. To bad I realized to late it was not the anniversary edition I had. If I ever read it again I will make sure to read that version.

Also finished "Stjärnfall" by Lars Wilderäng. Swedish apocalyptic novel. Don't think his books are translated to English but if they ever are you shoudl check them out. First book is really great. Second book was still good but not at the same level.

Now I am reading Neuromancer. About halfway through. The writing is really great and it was one of those book I was a little afraid I wouldn't like because of all the hype. But I long to keep reading.


Can't wait to read the next Robin Hobb book coming soon though!!

 

[Nymerio]

I love this Red Rising book. I'm about 75% or so through the book and

Spoiler

the thing with the medieval setting is so ridiculous you just have to like it. Darrow just got back from the dead, carved his slingBlade everywhere in the castle and had his burning sigil ignited in the countryside.

Amazing.
There's nothing really surprising about it but I'm absolutely having a blast reading it.

 

[fakefaker]

This is awesome. Thank you so much!

No problem! Here's a list that'll give you a lot more to choose from.

 

[Fuu]

http://welcometotwinpeaks.com/news/twin-peaks-the-final-dossier-mark-frost-book/

Mark Frost is releasing a second dossier-style Twin Peaks book after the new season airs. I'm down, the first one was enjoyable.

 

[PudieRSC]

Juft finished Dark Matter this weekend. It was....fine. I don't see why it got a lot of praise but it wasn't terrible. A bit long maybe.


Starting Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits. Love me some David Wong.

 

[Jag]

Been trying to find some YA for my 13 year old son. He read Potter, Percy Jackson and Artemis series but he's not a fantasy junkie like me so he wants to get away from magic and dragons.

I gave him Hoot and Holes which he liked, but I need some good recommendations. This is the age where reading really grabbed me, so I need to make sure each book is a hit.

 

[Fuu]

.

 

[BrokenFiction]

Been trying to find some YA for my 13 year old son. He read Potter, Percy Jackson and Artemis series but he's not a fantasy junkie like me so he wants to get away from magic and dragons.

I gave him Hoot and Holes which he liked, but I need some good recommendations. This is the age where reading really grabbed me, so I need to make sure each book is a hit.

If he's into tech get him Cory Doctorow's Little Brother and the sequel Homeland. They're about an oppressive US government agency that tries to take away civil rights after a terrorist attack and the computer savvy hacker kids who get caught up in the mess. My 13 year old loved them.

 

[Nymerio]

Been trying to find some YA for my 13 year old son. He read Potter, Percy Jackson and Artemis series but he's not a fantasy junkie like me so he wants to get away from magic and dragons.

I gave him Hoot and Holes which he liked, but I need some good recommendations. This is the age where reading really grabbed me, so I need to make sure each book is a hit.

Hunger Games? I would've loved it when I was 13.

 

[Jag]

If he's into tech get him Cory Doctorow's Little Brother and the sequel Homeland. They're about an oppressive US government agency that tries to take away civil rights after a terrorist attack and the computer savvy hacker kids who get caught up in the mess. My 13 year old loved them.

Sounds good. I'll check it out.

Hunger Games? I would've loved it when I was 13.

He saw the movies. Apparently he has a thing about reading a book after seeing the movie, which I can actually understand. Totally changes your perception and you already know the story.

 

[besada]

Been trying to find some YA for my 13 year old son. He read Potter, Percy Jackson and Artemis series but he's not a fantasy junkie like me so he wants to get away from magic and dragons.

I gave him Hoot and Holes which he liked, but I need some good recommendations. This is the age where reading really grabbed me, so I need to make sure each book is a hit.

If he liked Hoot maybe try the other Carl Hiassen young reader books: Chomp, Flush, and Scat.

 

[HawksWinStanley]

Trying to get through American Gods before I start the series but it's a little slow to start.

 

[kswiston]

Been trying to find some YA for my 13 year old son. He read Potter, Percy Jackson and Artemis series but he's not a fantasy junkie like me so he wants to get away from magic and dragons.

I gave him Hoot and Holes which he liked, but I need some good recommendations. This is the age where reading really grabbed me, so I need to make sure each book is a hit.

Ender's Game is probably about right for that age.

 

[Jag]

Ender's Game is probably about right for that age.

It is and I just suggested it, but he said it's not worth it to read now because he already knows the twist from the movie. I've read every Ender book too but couldn't convince him.

If he liked Hoot maybe try the other Carl Hiassen young reader books: Chomp, Flush, and Scat.

Thanks. I should have looked into other YA stuff he's done. We also live in South Florida so he can relate to the books. We were discussing Hoot the other day and found out that my older son had Hiassen's sister as a teacher in elementary school. He told me that he remembered his teacher (Ms. Hiassen) telling them she had a brother who was a popular writer.

 

[kswiston]

It is and I just suggested it, but he said it's not worth it to read now because he already knows the twist from the movie. I've read every Ender book too but couldn't convince him.

What types of movies does he like?

 

[Jag]

What types of movies does he like?

Comedies and mysteries. We watch sci-fi and superhero movies, but he doesn't like them as much as I do.

 

[Cyan]

Tor's ebook giveaway this month is Every Heart a Doorway. A novella by Seanan Macguire where kids who come back from portal fantasy worlds come together in a group home to kind of commiserate and get used to the real world again.

I liked it, though as I noted at the time I read it I was disappointed that she stuffed a bog-standard murder mystery in there instead of letting it breathe.

 

[kevin1025]

Tor's ebook giveaway this month is Every Heart a Doorway. A novella by Seanan Macguire where kids who come back from portal fantasy worlds come together in a group home to kind of commiserate and get used to the real world again.

I liked it, though as I noted at the time I read it I was disappointed that she stuffed a bog-standard murder mystery in there instead of letting it breathe.

Thanks for the heads up! I was always curious about this one, now I can give it a shot!

 

[Fuu]

Tor's ebook giveaway this month is Every Heart a Doorway. A novella by Seanan Macguire where kids who come back from portal fantasy worlds come together in a group home to kind of commiserate and get used to the real world again.

I liked it, though as I noted at the time I read it I was disappointed that she stuffed a bog-standard murder mystery in there instead of letting it breathe.

Worldwide, nice. Grabbed it, thanks.

 

[Rug Monkey]

Been trying to find some YA for my 13 year old son. He read Potter, Percy Jackson and Artemis series but he's not a fantasy junkie like me so he wants to get away from magic and dragons.

I gave him Hoot and Holes which he liked, but I need some good recommendations. This is the age where reading really grabbed me, so I need to make sure each book is a hit.

Charlie Higson's The Enemy books, very well written and fantastically paced to keep readers turning the page.

 

[brawly]

Seems, like a quick read. Already halfway through and I'm liking it very much.

It gets better. Way better.

 

[ClosingADoor]

Started on Sherlock Holmes. See how it is.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Came across this awesome piece of Malazan art:

 

[Pau]

Been trying to find some YA for my 13 year old son. He read Potter, Percy Jackson and Artemis series but he's not a fantasy junkie like me so he wants to get away from magic and dragons.

I gave him Hoot and Holes which he liked, but I need some good recommendations. This is the age where reading really grabbed me, so I need to make sure each book is a hit.

The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Thief
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian
The Outsiders

 

[TissueBox]

Got Jerusalem by the doorstep! Will be digging into it over time.

 

[Cptkrush]

Check out Laird Barron's stuff as well. Start reading his short stories last week, and they're excellent.

Excellent, I will add him to the list. Any specific collections?

 

[More_Badass]

Now I'm finally reading It by Stephen King. That opening, man. Wow.

It's been a long time since I read Stephen King. I used to read a lot more of his work, but the last one was checking out The Gunslinger like 5-6 years ago

The recent trailer and posts like that finally got me to pick up It, and it feels good getting acclimated to King's writing style again. He has a way of writing dialogue and descriptions that just flows so well, and how he weaves little details about people and places so seamlessly into the prose

And yeah, that opening was really great.

Excellent, I will add him to the list. Any specific collections?

I got "The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All", but they're all supposed to be good

 

[kevin1025]

It's been a long time since I read Stephen King. I used to read a lot more of his work, but the last one was checking out The Gunslinger like 5-6 years ago

The recent trailer and posts like that finally got me to pick up It, and it feels good getting acclimated to King's writing style again. He has a way of writing dialogue and descriptions that just flows so well, and how he weaves little details about people and places so seamlessly into the prose

And yeah, that opening was really great.

He makes it look easy, in the best way possible. Like you said, it flows, and it's in such a casual way that what he's setting up creeps up on you and then hits you hard. Plus because of the flow I'm blowing through the book, it's been a while since I've read 100+ pages in a day, but that happened today!

 

[More_Badass]

He makes it look easy, in the best way possible. Like you said, it flows, and it's in such a casual way that what he's setting up creeps up on you and then hits you hard. Plus because of the flow I'm blowing through the book, it's been a while since I've read 100+ pages in a day, but that happened today!

Yeah, I used to write short stories when I was younger and my two biggest problems were that I was way too overly descriptive and flowery, and I couldn't do dialogue. I used to love writing action moments and fights because you could get really detailed on the movements, the violence and thought process and reactions; and my dialogue was always really stilted, never could make it feel like natural back-and-forth

So when I read someone like King, and see how he can craft imagery with such precise word choice ("its thick and wormy grip", I could just imagine how I'd try to describe that), and make the dialogue flow so smoothly and ooze with character, I really appreciate it