Reading The Twelve by Justin Cronin. Book 2 of The Passage trilogy. Around 180 or so pages in, and we are still in the past, the story is interesting, so reading about these characters, but I am still not sure if it will have any effect in the future / present, or it’s just for world building. I am now invested enough now to see where it goes though.
What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening to lately?
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Finished The Rise of Endymion, finally. It seemed like it would be a good 400-500 page book but instead was a 800+ page slog. I really enjoyed the first two books in the Hyperion cantos but the last two were rough.
Currently finishing rereading Levithan Wakes and just started Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, which is obviously incredibly depressing.
Started reading the Revenger series after it was mentioned in a post a few days ago. Just finished the first book and started the second (Shadow Captain) last night.
Broke down and bought an actual e-reader (rather than reading them on my phone), so I’m holding off reading further until that arrives this afternoon. Edit: That was a lie, lol. I’m totally going to read another chapter on my lunch break since the e-reader won’t be here till later this afternoon / after work.
I find that I can read okay on phones, especially with a night-mode, but an e-Reader hits that sweet spot for an even nicer paper-ish screen and the intentionality of a book, while still having digital convenience. The intentionality may actually be the most important part for me: the Kindle means it’s reading time. I also keep mine on airplane mode 99% of the time, so the battery lasts forever and I can almost treat it like a paper book.
I love being able to throw 150 books into my backpack, pocket, or briefcase. Especially when it means that all of them have the same font, text size, and margins. I bought mine when libraries closed down with covid and it’s one of the best $100 purchases I’ve made
Yeah, I’ve read on my phone for years. It’s nice because it’s always with me, so if I’m ever stuck waiting, I can pick up where I left off. Holding a phone to read, though, does get uncomfortable on both the eyes and hands after a while (I often binge read lol), so figured it was time to get a proper e-reader.
an e-Reader hits that sweet spot for an even nicer paper-ish screen and the intentionality of a book, while still having digital convenience.
Yep, that’s what I’m after :) I’ll probably do similar and leave the wifi off unless I’m syncing new books.
How are you liking the Revenger series? Alastair Reynolds have been mentioned many times but I have yet to read any of his works.
I’ve read it once a few years ago, but don’t remember a lot of the key points, so I’m doing a second read through. That’s usually a good sign since I don’t often go back and re-read a series.
Like most of his books, the hard sci-fi is there in excellent detail. There are two protagonists, sisters, and the reader’s viewpoint switches between them in each book. The action is a lot like a sea pirate story but in space (their ships use solar sails for propulsion, so the analogy actually works quite well).
The first book (Revenger) is excellent and concludes like a self-contained story, so you could just read that and be satisfied. There are some unanswered questions, but even Reynold’s standalone books leave some conclusions ambiguous. It is through the viewpoint of the younger sister.
The second, (Shadow Captain) is good, in and of itself, but definitely feels like it’s just treading water to set up and get you to the third book. I’m on the last chapter of it. It is from the viewpoint of the older sister. Definitely the weakest of the series, though it sets up a lot of elements that pay off in the last book.
The third (Bone Silence) is back on track and explores the mysteries that were set up in the first two books. I still have a lot of gaps from the first read through, but I definitely remember it being pretty good. Will be starting on that one probably this evening.
Nice, thanks for the detailed info.
The Postman by David Brin.
He was a survivor—a wanderer who traded tales for food and shelter in the dark and savage aftermath of a devastating war. Fate touches him one chill winter’s day when he borrows the jacket of a long-dead postal worker to protect himself from the cold. The old, worn uniform still has power as a symbol of hope, and with it he begins to weave his greatest tale, of a nation on the road to recovery.
I’ve never seen the movie, so I plan to watch it after.
Never heard of the book or the movie. Sounds interesting though, will check it out.
2001 A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke: I’m about 70% of the way in and it’s pretty good. I really enjoy reading early/pre-space age stories because the ideas about what would and wouldn’t work in space are so fascinating. The way he talks about moon life, interstellar travel times/methods, and more show so much creativity. It’s also interesting to see the difference between movie HAL9000 and book HAL9000. I’m excited to watch the movie again after I’m done
I’ve been going through the Powder Mage trilogy. It’s not going to be going on my top ten of all time or anything, but I’ve been enjoying it. Gunpowder based magic and a fantasy French revolution are pretty good foundations for a story.
I finished reading the second book almost a month ago. I don’t have the urge to start the third anytime soon (though I eventually will so as to get that ‘closure’).
This used to be recommended a lot on reddit, back in the day, going to keep my expectations in check when I get around to them now.
So this fairly counts as light reading, but my kiddo just finished the Amari YA series by B.B. Alston. It’s basically Harry Potter meets Men in Black, but with an actually diverse cast. The main character and her family are from urban Atlanta. Super derivative of course, with it’s chosen-one narrative and coming of age, but it’s a page turner with fun universe-building, and I like being able to talk to my daughter about what she’s been reading.
I’m also working through 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline. I understand some of the conclusions are a bit dated, but he’s a well-known scholar in the field and it’s very readable. Even if he’s a bit dramatic about who did what to whom, it’s real archaeology and not your Gavin Menzies conspiratorial nonsense.
Ah cool. Amari series looks interesting. Going to order the first book to see if my kid likes it.
The author mentions it as Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black. Have you read Artemis Fowl series? I am wondering which should I get for him first. Which of these is better for younger audience?
How’s the 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed to read? Easy to read or somewhat dense?
So super late here, but while I haven’t read Artemis Fowl, some skimming of summaries makes me think they’re pretty similar. Amari has a setting of a fish out of water in an educational setting that brings in some Hogwart’s and Percy Jackson vibes, but that all share that same low-fantasy (in the sense of “weird shit coexisting with the normal world”) vibe. It’s all very derivative, but it takes its representation seriously and is willing to have sympathetic characters make poor choices.
1177 is dense but good, like listening to a charming professor who’s been given free rein to indulge himself. I was familiar with some of the players and geography from previous reading and podcasts, but even then I find myself glossing over some of the verbiage and long-dead citites in the ancient Near-East. The overall thesis remains pretty easy to follow even if you don’t remember exactly where Ugarit was.
Cool. Thanks for the info!
Shadow of Self. Book two of the second Mistborn arc. It’s been pretty great so far. I’m craving book 5 of Stormlight though!
Keep going! I wrapped those up earlier this year and still miss Vins exploits. Worth it and I wanted more. I need to get through storm light before listening to the next generation of mistborne.
I’m working on the way of kings, Caladan is the freaking man, can’t wait to see how he develops. His little wind spirit just let us in on what she really is… not going to leak storm light here though.
I am following his recommended cosmete order so tress and warbreaker were - nice stand alones that reminds me of Pratchett. Also great tidbits about the cosmere.
I’ll be on Brandon books at least another year I think. Thanks to his work on WoT.
Definitely am! I’m caught up on Stormlight and I’ve listened to dawnshard edgedancer, and Warbreaker on top of the first mistborn arc.
Oh you are in for a WILD ride with Stormlight. It’s definitely my favorite of his works so far.
Just re-read Stormlight 1-4 plus the ancillary novellas for the umpteenth time and it’s always 10/10
The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis. I’m liking it a lot so far. It’s undeniably Ellis, but he also feels more open and honest this time around. Maybe he’s getting old and more comfortable in his own skin.
I’m on Book 4 of the Malazan series by Steven Erikson, “House of Chains”. It’s definitely better than the depressing #2 or the rather erratic #3.
#malazanSummerContinues
I have been trying for almost 2 years to make it through book 1. I just hate his writing style. I always pick it up after I finish another book, and then get bored of it and move to something else.
Yeah, you ain’t gonna make it through the series then, all there is to it. Because I’m okay with his writing style and still get constantly annoyed at things. Book 2 is too depressing, with a dark ending that you see coming for 500+ pages and is entirely unsatisfying when you finally get there. Some of the battles in book 3 go on waaay too long.
He also keeps trying to trigger his readers. I’ve never seen such a display of triggers in anything I’ve ever read, and I am getting annoyed with how often he’s trying to get a rise out of me.
That’s not to say that the series is without it’s strengths and its charms, but it’s both the Best and Worst of modern fantasy. And don’t even get me started with characters suddenly and abruptly turning into Dragons
Thank you for the first honest criticism of this series I’ve read. Most people stubbornly support the book and say, “just push through it and enjoy the best thing ever.”
That said, characters randomly turning into dragons is actually a plus in my book. “Well shit, I guess I’m a dragon now.”
Last summer I went through all 15 Wheel of Time books (late June through November), so this summer I was excited to read Malazan. To be honest it’s been more of a chore than I’d hoped.
I love the magic system, the banter is SO good. Characters just keep dying and then coming back; it’s got a lot going for it. The many, many different races, the 300,000+ years of history in the backstory…
It’s just a shame that it’s burdened by the issues I mentioned earlier; and more. And sooo many more.
I just finished “The Shadow of the Torturer” by Gene Wolfe, first book in the “The Book of the New Sun” series. Very interesting book, excited for the rest of the series. Not the easiest read though
Just finished Slewfoot by Brom. Starting Salem’s Lot by Stephen King next
How was Slewfoot? It’s been on my TBR for ages, but I’ve never gotten around to it.
It’s not exactly scary but has great Fall and Halloween vibes. It was a great witch story. Fair warning - there’s quite a bit of torture if you’re squeamish about that sort of thing. Reading about Puritans can also be annoying.
Currently I’m reading:
Mockeries and Metamorphoses of an Aztec God Tezcatlipoca, “Lord of the Smoking Mirror”
by Guilhem Oliver and translated by Michael Besson
It’s a text book about Tezcatlipoca.
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It really is and it’s thorough. It’s got charts of when Tezcatlipoca shows up visually in codices which I can then cross reference.
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Actually I haven’t. A cursory Google search shows it’s well reviewed and pretty accurate for what we knew in 70’s and 80’s.
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Just started Midnight Kingdom, book 2 of a series by Tara Sim.
It’s fine. Book 1 was also fine, not great but not bad. It’s just a bit flat, and I don’t really care about the characters.
I’m about halfway through Death in the Spires by K.J. Charles. It’s not as detective-y as I was hoping for, but I’m still finding it quick and absorbing.
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Finished Auberon by James S.A. Corey, which was good.
DNFed A Man With One of Those Faces by Caimh McDonnell about 25% through. The story seemed interesting, but I wasn’t vibing with the writing.
Right now I am reading “Hegemony and Socialist Strategy” by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. Just a few days ago, I finished the book “Workers’ Councils” by Anton Pannekoek (5/5).
