Nebula suggested reading list: http://www.sfwa.org/forum/index.php?app=readinglist
I'm pleased at how high Uprooted and Ancillary Mercy are.
I'm pleased at how high Uprooted and Ancillary Mercy are.
What are you reading? (January 2016)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Read The Man Who Spoke Snakish!
I think it's unrelated to the awards, because it's just a user compiled reading list.
Though Uprooted will probably get a nomination.
It's meant to help people find the notable works of the year for award season. As they make sure to note, it's not a ballot or anything official, but it's definitely related.
First book of the year is The Narrator by Michael Cisco. Halfway through. I've seen it compared to Mievelle and Calvino and don't disagree - but in a way that amplifies the things that bother me about some of their writing.
After I push through this (hopefully I'll finish tomorrow night) I'm going to try to zoom through the Percy Jackson series. My 10yo niece has declared them her favorite books EVER and agreed to read a book of my choosing if I read them. I'm hoping they go very quickly and give me a quick jumpstart in the 50/50 challenge.
After I push through this (hopefully I'll finish tomorrow night) I'm going to try to zoom through the Percy Jackson series. My 10yo niece has declared them her favorite books EVER and agreed to read a book of my choosing if I read them. I'm hoping they go very quickly and give me a quick jumpstart in the 50/50 challenge.
Jesus.
AppleSeason
Member
A Game of Thrones, for the second time. I was thinking about re-reading the whole saga before the last book came out as I will have forgotten a lot of details, but I'm not sure it's worth the time and effort. Over-exposure after the series adaptation began airing has made me tired of it.
It has been a while since I last posted on this topics, I got reminded of them from the 50/50 topic of this year...
Btw I'm currently reading Battle Royale with the italian translation.
It was a christmas present that I received on the 31st, I kinda feel embarassed for not reading it before, it's really really good.
Btw I'm currently reading Battle Royale with the italian translation.
It was a christmas present that I received on the 31st, I kinda feel embarassed for not reading it before, it's really really good.
Incredibly so. Red Rising is a guilty pleasure of mine but it's Hunger Games in SPAAAACEEE.
Yep it's in French. And Ewilan is supposed to be aimed a teen-agers in terms of writing, so pretty accessible I guess. But apparently, the whole universe is pretty cool, and one following saga/trilogy is more aimed at adults.
Apparently it is available in NA, on both amazon.com and amazon.ca.
Golden Son gets grittier and less "YA." They both just cook along plot-wise. They won't change your life, but they're very entertaining.
Interfectum
Member
Started reading this
Good shit so far.
Good shit so far.
whatevermort
Member
You mentioned March a few months ago, which is fine by me as I'd just consider it a very generous birthday gift.
It won't be March. Sorry. I'd say it's hugely unlikely to even be this year now. And trust me: that makes me very sad indeed.
I have not read hunger games and to be honest have not read much YA but I did not find red rising to be overly young adult if that makes sense. I enjoyed it, good read.
Thank you! Going to add it to my Goodreads for the future. Think it's going to be a bit before I can read it!
Started A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
I like the premise and I'm really trying to get into it, but why do writers think constant info dumps are such a wonderful idea? It's tedious in the extreme for the story to be moving along only to halt for yet another aspect of the world to be described. As an example: The main character is interrupted by another character looking to buy something from him. The conversation pauses to let us know in tiring detail the entire history and reasons why the person would want to buy the item in question.
You have an entire novel to work with. You do not need to tell us the entire history of the universe in the first 50 pages.
I like the premise and I'm really trying to get into it, but why do writers think constant info dumps are such a wonderful idea? It's tedious in the extreme for the story to be moving along only to halt for yet another aspect of the world to be described. As an example: The main character is interrupted by another character looking to buy something from him. The conversation pauses to let us know in tiring detail the entire history and reasons why the person would want to buy the item in question.
You have an entire novel to work with. You do not need to tell us the entire history of the universe in the first 50 pages.
Finished Lean in : Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
It was a decent book, shorter than I expected though. It was a ~220 page book but the last 25% was just acknowledgements and citations.
Her TED Talks is bacially what the book is about (and uses the same talking points): Why we have too few women leaders
I think I'll start reading it tomorrow.
It was a decent book, shorter than I expected though. It was a ~220 page book but the last 25% was just acknowledgements and citations.
Her TED Talks is bacially what the book is about (and uses the same talking points): Why we have too few women leaders
Thanks for the heads up but I still want to give it a read since its the only book on my hold list that's available lol. Plus, I only have two weeks left until classes start up again.
I think I'll start reading it tomorrow.
Be interested to know this too. Last time I tried it was difficult to follow and I don't know how much of that is down to my ineptitude.
I started both The Forever War and Ghengis Khan and the Making of the Modern World.
I am about 1/3 of the way through Ghengis Khan so far. Its easy to read history, but the author hasnt really offered much in the way of commentary yet. Just tells Khans story like all the shit the Mongols wrote about his early life was fact.
I just started The Forever War so no real opinion on that yet.
I am about 1/3 of the way through Ghengis Khan so far. Its easy to read history, but the author hasnt really offered much in the way of commentary yet. Just tells Khans story like all the shit the Mongols wrote about his early life was fact.
I just started The Forever War so no real opinion on that yet.
About a third of the way into:
Loving it. King is such an excellent writer.
This and The Stand are my two favorites of all time. Incredible.
LordAmused
Member
Hideo Kojima posted about Arnaldur Indriðason on his Twitter page a week ago. Decided to give one of his novels a go.
It's great so far. Dark Iceland, cold hearts and that Northern Humor!
It's great so far. Dark Iceland, cold hearts and that Northern Humor!
EverythingShiny
Member
Just finished Caliban's War and am already 35% into Abaddon's Gate. I'm still not 100% sure I like the writing and some of the characters really bother me (mostly Holden) but I'm totally invested now and am gobbling up everything to do with The Expanse universe. Spoilers for books 1-3:
Yes!! Station Eleven was my book of the year in 2014. I loved it so much. The Interstellar score is also incredible so I can imagine that was a great combination. Also, enjoy On Writing. King's one of my favorites and I absolutely cherish that book.
Miller was by far my favorite character in Leviathan Wakes and I yelped when he popped back up at the end of Caliban's War. I'm not sure if I'm going to like what's going on with Miller/the protomolecule in Abaddon's Gate but it's nice to have him back in some fashion.
Yes!! Station Eleven was my book of the year in 2014. I loved it so much. The Interstellar score is also incredible so I can imagine that was a great combination. Also, enjoy On Writing. King's one of my favorites and I absolutely cherish that book.
Jesus, Victor Hugo's writing style is really testing my patience. Which it's a shame because I am enjoying the story and the characters, but I really can't stand his over-descriptive style and how he felt he needed to tell me every little detail (and I mean every little detail) of what happened in France in 1847.
Wait till you get to the sewers
I don't think I'll ever get to sewers at this rate.
He was narrating about these 4 jolly fellows and their ladies when he started going on about... something. I'm not sure. I started skipping words and my mind started wandering.
Which it's a shame because I do like the story, I want to know more about these characters, but all I can think is WOULD YOU SHUT UP MR. HUGO AND LET THE CHARACTERS TAKE OVER, FOR FUCK SAKE.
TwntyOneTwlv
Member
I just finished this today, and it was amazing. I was in awe the whole time I was reading it. Are all of this author's books so good?
AngmarsKing701
Member
I read the whole thing. 26, 27 years ago. Every. Word. Even all the words in the sewers.
Bucket list, cha-ching. I guess. It's pretty obvious why there's an abridged edition lol.
Also, I just decided, what the hell, let me do a search on Amazon for Guy Gavriel Kay (pretty much my favorite author) and oh my gods he has a book coming out in May.
Bujold in February and Kay in May? Awesome-sauce.
I feel like 18th and 19th century novels in general are fond of their digressions and wordy scenery depictions. War and Peace ends with a second epilogue that's basically a 17 500 word essay on human agency and free will. No story in there at all.
I don't have a problem with that sort of thing personally, but can see how other might.
I don't have a problem with that sort of thing personally, but can see how other might.
Be sure to PM Cyan with your thoughts when you finish.
Edit: (2016-01-08 00:21:02) Cyan: I saw what you did
Or you could just post it here; he's paying pretty close attention.
Max Armstrong
Member
Started reading this last week:
I like it so far, I'm about 11 chapters in. I'm starting to get real mixed up with all these José Arcadio's I don't even remember who's from who now lol
I like it so far, I'm about 11 chapters in. I'm starting to get real mixed up with all these José Arcadio's I don't even remember who's from who now lol
I read half of On Writing last year and then got distracted, so I've just gotta return and read the last two sections, or something like that. It's been great thus far.
I've actually not really read any other Stephen King... I'm pretty certain the only piece of his fiction I've read is The Running Man, unless there's a short story I've forgotten about. Someday I'd like to read a couple of his more notable works.
Maklershed
Member
Finished The City of Stairs (started out very slow but in the end I enjoyed it). Now on to The Last Policeman
The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters
The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters
BrokenFiction
Member
Finished The City of Stairs (started out very slow but in the end I enjoyed it). Now on to The Last Policeman
The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters
This is such a fantastic book and series - you're really in for a treat. One the best out of nowhere surprises for me.
Ol No Bones
Banned
Just finished Name of the Wind and Wise Mans Fear. I hope rothfuss doesn't make me wait for the conclusion too long. I really enjoy it so far. I'm now starting The Magicians cause I heard good things.
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