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Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (3 Viewers)

KarmaPolice said:
@rcam - what do you think is better?

Honestly, I am usually not a big fantasy guy.   Loved Song of Ice and Fire.   Couldn't get through more than 2 books of Dark Tower.  0 chance I get through Lord of the Rings.   About the only other that I started, really liked and need to get back to was The Name of the Wind.  But I would prefer the final book come out before getting back to that one since it's been forever since book 2. 
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So the question is what else you'd like.  Given you liked Ice and Fire I'd recommend trying the First Law trilogy.  Gritty, funny, great characters.

It may be 2064 before Name of the Wind is finished.

 
The Gator said:
I’m kicking around starting Malazan. Haven’t you read it? Worth it?
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It's very good. I had to keep notes to try and keep up with the characters, gods, demi gods, and all the other life forms. It can get confusing, and is a hard read but there is some big payoffs.

The Troy trilogy by Gemmel and The Warlord Chronicles trilogy by Cornwell are a couple of series I'd recommend. Action, violence, and adventure. Very little magic. 

 
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Finished "Know My Name" by Chanel Miller, the girl sexually assaulted by Brock Turner.  Should be required reading in HS.  She is a very good writer.  Hope she writes something else I can read in the future. 

 
Barry said:
It's very good. I had to keep notes to try and keep up with the characters, gods, demi gods, and all the other life forms. It can get confusing, and is a hard read but there is some big payoffs.
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I’ll be listening to it in audible if that hurts/helps. Sometimes the narrator can make or break it. 

 
KarmaPolice said:
@rcam - what do you think is better?

Honestly, I am usually not a big fantasy guy.   Loved Song of Ice and Fire.   Couldn't get through more than 2 books of Dark Tower.  0 chance I get through Lord of the Rings.   About the only other that I started, really liked and need to get back to was The Name of the Wind.  But I would prefer the final book come out before getting back to that one since it's been forever since book 2.  

As far as WOT goes, I am only about 6 chapters into book 2.  I am trying to give it an honest go of about 2-3 books.   I like it ok, but it's not something that I am dying to get to every night, if that makes any sense.  A little bit is the way the characters are.  It feels like they are 18-20 years old, but act like kids.  Basically the opposite of GOT where everybody was 8-12 and were grossly sexualized and acted more like adults.  

I will say that 
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@KarmaPolice

I guess it kind of depends on the genre. Sword and sorcery type fantasy you probably have been introduced to the two of the best already - GRRM and Rothfuss, though I only think we will see the end of Rothfuss's series. I'd highly recommend Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastards series. Lies of Locke Lamora is the first book in that series (of 3 published). Unfortunately,  I'm not sure when/if we will see the end of that series in our lifetime either.

You might like Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy. I usually don't recommend it but I do have some friends that love the series.

There is some great urban fantasy out there that is finished, will be finished soon, or is diligently being worked upon. The top of that list is Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Wizard in modern day Chicago. First two books in the series aren't anything to write home about but every book after those is great - and there are a boatload of them. Also, James Marsters narrates the novels and does an awesome job. Butcher wrote a sword and sorcery series and is working on a steampunk series - I wouldn't recommend either. Another urban fantasy that would recommend is the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka the last book comes out 12/2021.

A lot of people like the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne and the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. I would put them on that 2nd tier of urban fantasy but, on the plus side, the series are finished. If you like the tone/pacing/setting etc. etc. of the first book in each of those series you will like the rest. 

If you don't like Tolkien stay far away from anything in the Malazan series. For some reason unbeknownst to God himself there is a rabid fanbase of that series. It is good enough for me to poop on.

A unhealthy number of people love Brandon Sanderson. If you like young adult themed writing - go for it. Otherwise, I would stay away (though the Mistborn series was decent as a concept). Audio books are performed by the same WoT readers - Kramer and Reading I think. 

 
Little help please.

I was thinking about jumping into the LOTR. But before taking on that kind of commitment I watched the first movie to judge my true interest, and I hated it.  

With that in mind, I recently watched the first two Harry Potter movies and really liked them. Now I'm thinking about reading that series before continuing down the movie path. 

thoughts?

 
rcam said:
@KarmaPolice

WoT trailer
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Looks great.  Nobody looks like I had imagined in my head though, which is interesting.  

I wonder how much blending of the books there will be.  I had planned on getting through 3 books by that time.   One of the pods mentioned that a chapter title in book 2 is the same as an episode title in Season 1.  

The Expanse did similar, as they started the series with characters who aren't there until book 2. 

 
E Street Brat said:
Little help please.

I was thinking about jumping into the LOTR. But before taking on that kind of commitment I watched the first movie to judge my true interest, and I hated it.  

With that in mind, I recently watched the first two Harry Potter movies and really liked them. Now I'm thinking about reading that series before continuing down the movie path. 

thoughts?
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Trust your gut- go with HP! 

 
Reading "Joe" by Larry Brown after catching the movie on  HBO recently.  It's very good.  I will be reading more of his stuff. 

 
E Street Brat said:
Little help please.

I was thinking about jumping into the LOTR. But before taking on that kind of commitment I watched the first movie to judge my true interest, and I hated it.  

With that in mind, I recently watched the first two Harry Potter movies and really liked them. Now I'm thinking about reading that series before continuing down the movie path. 

thoughts?
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Mixed on Harry Potter.  The series has its moments but a little too Dr. Seuss meets Roald Dahl for me.

 
E Street Brat said:
Little help please.

I was thinking about jumping into the LOTR. But before taking on that kind of commitment I watched the first movie to judge my true interest, and I hated it.  

With that in mind, I recently watched the first two Harry Potter movies and really liked them. Now I'm thinking about reading that series before continuing down the movie path. 

thoughts?
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Loved both.  HP is very well written and I found to be quite an enjoyable read.

rcam said:
You might like Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy. I usually don't recommend it but I do have some friends that love the series.

There is some great urban fantasy out there that is finished, will be finished soon, or is diligently being worked upon. The top of that list is Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Wizard in modern day Chicago. First two books in the series aren't anything to write home about but every book after those is great - and there are a boatload of them. Also, James Marsters narrates the novels and does an awesome job. Butcher wrote a sword and sorcery series and is working on a steampunk series - I wouldn't recommend either. Another urban fantasy that would recommend is the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka the last book comes out 12/2021.

A lot of people like the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne and the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. I would put them on that 2nd tier of urban fantasy but, on the plus side, the series are finished. If you like the tone/pacing/setting etc. etc. of the first book in each of those series you will like the rest. 
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First Law is a favorite of mine.  Logen is one of my top 3 literary characters ever.  Completely concur on Dresden files.  Every book has been good.  I disagree on the steampunk Butcher book - I thought it was awesome and await the next one (taking a long time!).

Need to look up Iron Druid and Kate Daniels - never read those.

 
Sand said:
Loved both.  HP is very well written and I found to be quite an enjoyable read.

First Law is a favorite of mine.  Logen is one of my top 3 literary characters ever.  Completely concur on Dresden files.  Every book has been good.  I disagree on the steampunk Butcher book - I thought it was awesome and await the next one (taking a long time!).

Need to look up Iron Druid and Kate Daniels - never read those.
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I liked Logen, I liked Bayaz - didn't like some of the big plot holes but enjoyed the ending.

 
E Street Brat said:
Little help please.

I was thinking about jumping into the LOTR. But before taking on that kind of commitment I watched the first movie to judge my true interest, and I hated it.  

With that in mind, I recently watched the first two Harry Potter movies and really liked them. Now I'm thinking about reading that series before continuing down the movie path. 

thoughts?
Click to expand...
I just read LOTR for the first time this past spring. I liked it, didn’t love it. Worth it to check off my list, but some times in just trudged along and I wasn’t real excited to open it. 

 
Just finished The Devil All The Time.

Raw, riveting stuff.  From Amazon's review:

Amazon Best Books of the Month, July 2011: With The Devil All the Time, author Donald Ray Pollock has crafted an exceptionally gritty, twisted page-turner. This follow-up to 2008's Knockemstiff is set in the Midwest during the mid-century, but reads more like a gothic Western. Lawlessness roams the rural, god-fearing landscape of Ohio and West Virginia, inhabitated by the likes of Pollock's deranged-yet-compelling cast of characters--a husband and wife who take vacations to murder hitchhikers, a faux preacher and his crippled accomplice on the lam for manslaughter, and an orphan with a penchant for exacting violent justice. Needless to say, The Devil All the Time is a brutal novel, but Pollock exacts the kind of precision and control over his language that keeps the violence from ever feeling gratuitous. The three storylines eventually converge in a riveting moment that will leave readers floored and haunted.
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Downloaded Lies of Locke Lamora thanks to someone mentioning it up thread and from some dude I follow on Tik Tok. Liked it, didn't love it. I did download the 2nd book in the series and have started it, it's okay.

I find I'm chasing the next GOT series and I just can't find it. I worry I never will. Maybe my favorite in the genre over the past couple years was The Name of the Wind, very good.

 
E Street Brat said:
Little help please.

I was thinking about jumping into the LOTR. But before taking on that kind of commitment I watched the first movie to judge my true interest, and I hated it.  

With that in mind, I recently watched the first two Harry Potter movies and really liked them. Now I'm thinking about reading that series before continuing down the movie path. 

thoughts?
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My journey into science fantasy started in 7th grade when my English teacher had the class read the Hobbit. Loved it, read the LOTR 6 times growing up as well as the Silmarillion so I tend to lean toward this series. That said, it's not for everyone, Tolkien can describe a leaf better than just about anyone but when you're half a chapter in and he's still describing the wooded lane, well you lose people.

I read the HP series to my youngest daughter as the books came out and it will always be a great memory and time spent with her. When the last book came out I stayed up all night and read it cover-to-cover. I was in my 40's at the time. I enjoyed the series immensely to say the least. I'll always place LOTR's above HP but I would never disparage HP as it stands on it's own merits. If that's what scratches your itch, dive in, it's a great read.  

 
Summer reads:

Kazuo Ishiguro - "Klara and the Sun".  Takes place in a future where some children are genetically lifted for aptitude (think "Gattaca"). It's written simply because it's narrated by an AF (artificial friend) that the kids now have.  Reminded me a bit of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon because it is so simply written.  Great observations and thought provoking.

Michael Lewis - "The Premonition" It's a Michael Lewis book, so we know what we're getting and he delivers again with the pandemic and the US response to it.  Most intriguing portions of the book had to do with people down the chain thrust into action because of CDC hesitancy and various state's inability or unwillingness to act.  Also, specific medical/data experts acting (or trying to) behind the scenes was incredible.  The book felt like the almost inevitable sequel to his 2018 book "The Fifth Risk".

Hank Green - "A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor" This is the sequel to "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing", his first book.  Light, page-turners in the same vein as Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One" (only without as.many pop culture references).  Overall, enjoyable reads.  Hank's brother John Green is the well-known best-selling author.  John's most recent book "The Anthropocene Reviewed" is fantastic.  It's largely the podcast of the same name transcribed and I'd highly recommend listening to that vs. reading, but if you prefer a book version it's extremely well done.

Sally Rooney - "Beautiful World, Where Are You".  This is her third book, all good. I'd still say "Normal People" is her best work, but all three are so, so good. Her ability to capture complex emotions and how relationships change and morph may be second to none.  Very few writers capture the internal dialogue and motivations as well as her.

Kurt Vonnegut - "The Sirens of Titan" Read "Player Piano" a few years ago and grabbed Sirens next.  Vonnegut was so good at capturing how wealth discrepancies effect people.

Octavia E. Butler - "Parable of the Sower".  I knew some of her story as a female African-American writing Sci-Fi in a time when that just wasn't occurring, but this is the first book of hers I've read.  All the positive things I've read about her work are accurate (it's crazy how many awards she won).  This novel would be ridiculously good if it came out now, but to capture a future that can be eerily accurate at times so long ago is incredible.  Apparently this is book 1 of a 'Earthseed Series', so I've already got the next ("Parable of the Talents") lined up to read next.

 
trader jake said:
Summer reads:

Kazuo Ishiguro - "Klara and the Sun".  Takes place in a future where some children are genetically lifted for aptitude (think "Gattaca"). It's written simply because it's narrated by an AF (artificial friend) that the kids now have.  Reminded me a bit of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon because it is so simply written.  Great observations and thought provoking.

Michael Lewis - "The Premonition" It's a Michael Lewis book, so we know what we're getting and he delivers again with the pandemic and the US response to it.  Most intriguing portions of the book had to do with people down the chain thrust into action because of CDC hesitancy and various state's inability or unwillingness to act.  Also, specific medical/data experts acting (or trying to) behind the scenes was incredible.  The book felt like the almost inevitable sequel to his 2018 book "The Fifth Risk".

Hank Green - "A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor" This is the sequel to "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing", his first book.  Light, page-turners in the same vein as Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One" (only without as.many pop culture references).  Overall, enjoyable reads.  Hank's brother John Green is the well-known best-selling author.  John's most recent book "The Anthropocene Reviewed" is fantastic.  It's largely the podcast of the same name transcribed and I'd highly recommend listening to that vs. reading, but if you prefer a book version it's extremely well done.

Sally Rooney - "Beautiful World, Where Are You".  This is her third book, all good. I'd still say "Normal People" is her best work, but all three are so, so good. Her ability to capture complex emotions and how relationships change and morph may be second to none.  Very few writers capture the internal dialogue and motivations as well as her.

Kurt Vonnegut - "The Sirens of Titan" Read "Player Piano" a few years ago and grabbed Sirens next.  Vonnegut was so good at capturing how wealth discrepancies effect people.

Octavia E. Butler - "Parable of the Sower".  I knew some of her story as a female African-American writing Sci-Fi in a time when that just wasn't occurring, but this is the first book of hers I've read.  All the positive things I've read about her work are accurate (it's crazy how many awards she won).  This novel would be ridiculously good if it came out now, but to capture a future that can be eerily accurate at times so long ago is incredible.  Apparently this is book 1 of a 'Earthseed Series', so I've already got the next ("Parable of the Talents") lined up to read next.
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Good stuff. I liked Klara and the Sun too.  Rooney's book is on my to-read list (I thought "Normal People" was great) --  glad to hear it is good. Debating between that and the new ones by Lauren Groff and Colson Whitehead when I get through my current reads.

 
Don Quixote said:
A couple of new ones coming out today that I'm stoked about. I should be getting my copy of Mike Duncan's Hero of Two Worlds later today (pre-ordered) -- biography of Marquis de Lafayette. I've listened to both Duncan's A History or Rome and Revolutions podcasts, and also read Duncan's prior book, The Storm Before the Storm. Duncan has given me so much free entertainment over the years, I'll support any way that I can.

Today is also the release day of The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois.  Ron Charles of the Washington Post is probably the book critic that I see eye-to-eye with the most, and his review leads off with this: "Whatever must be said to get you to heft this daunting debut novel by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, I’ll say, because “The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois” is the kind of book that comes around only once a decade. Yes, at roughly 800 pages, it is, indeed, a mountain to climb, but the journey is engrossing, and the view from the summit will transform your understanding of America." Sold.
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On these two... I finished "Hero of Two Worlds." That was great.  Anyone interested in learning more about "America's favorite fighting Frenchman" should give it a read.  Anyone that has listened to his podcasts should know that Duncan is a great storyteller, and it translates just as well to his books.

Partway through "The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois." It is a behemoth and taking awhile to go through. Really great read so far though.  I love a good epic novel.

I've also got "American Prometheus", a biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, going on my Kindle. It is another long read, but very thoroughly researched and (so far) worthy of the Pulitzer Prize that it won when it was released.

 
Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land is very good (I'm 200 pages in). 

It’s a wildly inventive novel that teems with life, straddles an enormous range of experience and learning, and embodies the storytelling gifts that it celebrates. It also pulls off a resolution that feels both surprising and inevitable, and that compels you back to the opening of the book with a head-shake of admiration at the Swiss-watchery of its construction
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He's also the author of the Pulitzer prize winning All the Light We Cannot See.

the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II
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I highly recommend both of these books.

 
My Dad sells used books on ebay and donates the $ to orphans over-seas (look at him!!).  But many books he gets donated are worthless.  Robin Cook thrillers are among those my wife and I have not read (actually think I read Outbreak, but might have passed due to watching the movie first). We are passing on several of them that seem pandemic-trauma-triggering, but have I grabbed a few on my periodic visit.  Any thoughts on this pulp fiction?  Seemed kind of up our alley...Greg Iles, John Sandford, Michael Connely esque?

 
Sand said:
Unsouled series  (8-9 books)- Will Wight.  Light, super imaginative and fun.

The Blade Itself  trilogy- Abercrombie.  Gritty (and awesome), and Logen is one of my favorite literary characters ever.

The Shadow of What Was Lost trilogy - Islington. Epic stuff, as good as anything out there.

Dungeon Crawler Carl - up to 3 books so far.  Funniest books I've read in a while.  Pulpy, but in a completely awesome way.

Skipping the obvious Jordan, Sanderson, etc. stuff.  All have lots of super high ratings, so all are really can't miss.  Just depends on what you're in a mood for.

ETA:  If you wanted a modern superhero trilogy, Super Powereds from Drew Hayes was superb.
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:blackdot:

 
facook said:
My Dad sells used books on ebay and donates the $ to orphans over-seas (look at him!!).  But many books he gets donated are worthless.  Robin Cook thrillers are among those my wife and I have not read (actually think I read Outbreak, but might have passed due to watching the movie first). We are passing on several of them that seem pandemic-trauma-triggering, but have I grabbed a few on my periodic visit.  Any thoughts on this pulp fiction?  Seemed kind of up our alley...Greg Iles, John Sandford, Michael Connely esque?
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I went through a Robin Cook phase many years ago. I remember them being fun page turners but at some point he just started really bashing insurances. I am not saying that's a bad thing but if I recall correctly it got old. 

 
Billy Summers by Stephen King.  Not typical King.  I'd say it was very good, not great.  But he did nail the ending which is rare for him, and there was one pretty cool tie-in to the rest of his universe.

 
facook said:
Billy Summers by Stephen King.  Not typical King.  I'd say it was very good, not great.  But he did nail the ending which is rare for him, and there was one pretty cool tie-in to the rest of his universe.
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Read this about a month ago, agree with everything you said. More of a crime thriller, not as much supernatural King in this one, and a solid ending.

 
Big 👍to 'Klara and the Sun,' by Kazuo Ishiguro.  I won't say anything about the plot as that might spoil it.  Just read it. 

 
Don Quixote said:
Partway through "The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois." It is a behemoth and taking awhile to go through. Really great read so far though.  I love a good epic novel.

I've also got "American Prometheus", a biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, going on my Kindle. It is another long read, but very thoroughly researched and (so far) worthy of the Pulitzer Prize that it won when it was released.
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Finished Love Songs of WEB Du Bois. I slowed down a bit at the end. Well-written, but maybe too long even for my epic novel reading tastes. Probably could have been trimmed a little bit -- I still found it worth the time, but one of those I could see people picking up and never finishing.

I also read Answers in the Form of Questions, Claire McNear's book on the history of Jeopardy!  The author got some publicity recently because her reporting led to the eventual dismissal of Mike Richards from Jeopardy. This was written before that though (her book was published while Alex Trebek was fighting cancer, and some of the later timeline entries involve the all-time tournament with Jennings, Holzhauer, and Rutter.  It was solid book; nothing deep about it, but a good quick, entertaining read on the history of the show and insider's guide.

Currently on Colson Whitehead's Harlem Shuffle.  I'm a bit disappointed in this one. Loved Underground Railroad and Nickel Boys by him, but this story is just kind of blah and not really grabbing me. I suppose I'll finish, but more so I can get to my next read.  (Also still on American Promethus too.)

 
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Don Quixote said:
Currently on Colson Whitehead's Harlem Shuffle.  I'm a bit disappointed in this one. Loved Underground Railroad and Nickel Boys by him, but this story is just kind of blah and not really grabbing me. I suppose I'll finish, but more so I can get to my next read.  (Also still on American Promethus too.)
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Interesting. I liked Harlem Shuffle a lot but Underground Railroad, not so much. 

 
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