Beyond Reality discussion

I finished up Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen last night, which I loved for the quiet introspection and the hopeful view of the future. Not to mention a bit more time with some beloved characters.

This morning, I grabbed Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler off my shelf. I think I've had this book floating around for about 10 years, so it's definitely time to get it read. I am still in the early stages of reading it, but I am quite intrigued.

I started The Master by Colm Tóibín. It is a masterful novel.

Tani wrote: "I think I've had this book floating around for about 10 years."

Ha, While reading my latest book and came across a receipt dated April 20 2006. I hadnt thought it had been that long

I finished Not on Fire, but Burning; it wasn't really for me, but it's a pretty fine piece of experimental speculative fiction. I'm now reading Riders by Veronica Rossi

I finished The Diamond Age: or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer last night (well, early this morning), so I am set for the March discussion. Not sure what's up next--my choices are A Breach of Promise (William Monk mystery by Anne Perry), Necromancer (part of Gordon R. Dickson's Childe Cycle), or The Wolf of Winter.

Edited to add that I chose Necromancer and read it in a few hours. I am now a third of the way through the mystery.

I am behind the rest of the world and am reading The Aeronaut's Windlass.

I finished listening to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making narrated by the author. Next up is The House of Shattered Wings, though I'm not sure I like the narrator - hopefully I will grow to like him!

I finished Wuthering Heights (and now need to go back and re-read Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next books to properly appreciate the character of Heathcliff, now that I've finally read the source material). I think back to short stories next; I just downloaded Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances, I do love Neil Gaiman!

Here is my review of Kushiel's dart, first book in Kushiel's universe.

I finished Riders and found it OK, but pretty standard. I'm currently reading Calamity by Brandon Sanderson, the last book in The Reckoners trilogy. The reviews have been a bit mixed and I wasn't completely taken by the last book, but I want to see how everything ends.

I've started the The War Against The Chtorr by David Gerrold

Kernos wrote: "I've started the The War Against The Chtorr by David Gerrold"

Oh good for you! Starting a series that will likely never be finished:) I read these back when they were first written. Still waiting for the end.

Actually...one could say the same thing about SO many things these days...A Song of Ice and Fire of course comes immediately to mind. I was recently called "adorable" for assuming that at some point that one would in fact be finished:)

Yep, read the first two books in high school, on a trip up to the Arctic. Must of been over 30 years ago.
As Justine has pointed out. Its not done yet.

I dont think it because of Gerrold's writing style. More to do with the publisher, Not sure why in this day and age he doesnt self publish this completed book.

and readers block has hit again
Trying to read Iron Council but wasnt into it. Kept rereading passages, Checking my phone etc etc etc.
Finally gave up on it Sunday night.
Started something I know I would enjoy
Hawk

It seemed to do the trick. I am almost done

Justine wrote: "Kernos wrote: "I've started the The War Against The Chtorr by David Gerrold"

Oh good for you! Starting a series that will likely never be finished:) I read these back ..."

I know I have the 4 books available. One can get some sort of copy of the 5th on amazon.ca for $700+ ;-)

lol:) Sounds like an awesome deal!

Ken wrote: "Lindsey wrote: " Currently working through Star Wars and History ."

So how is this?"

Finished it a couple days ago. It was very hit or miss (multiple authors in the essay collection). Some of the essays were good, illuminating even, showing me where certain aspects of the Star Wars political landscape drew their inspiration. Those included the essays on political leaders who were female and slavery.

But other essays were quite poor... gross over-generalizations and amateur level history. For example, one author claimed Elizabeth I's greatest achievement was her navy defeating the Spanish Armada. I literally just finished a book explaining why that wasn't so. No bio of her that I've read has ever even claimed that the British Navy routed the Spanish Armada, often going out of their way to explain otherwise. It made me question how accurate the rest of the information was.

It was worth a look but I'd only recommend it for Star Wars fans who are well enough read in history to be able to spot when an author is over-simplifying a point.

Justine wrote: "lol:) Sounds like an awesome deal!"
Especially if its never been written

Lindsey wrote: "Ken wrote: "Lindsey wrote: " Currently working through Star Wars and History ."
So how is this?"

Finished it a couple days ago. It was very hit or miss (multiple authors in the essay collection)...."

Thats what I heard. Pretty much what your thoughts are.

Finished Hawk
Another excellent entry in the Vlad Taltos books
Vlad finally got out from under the kill order against him with a pretty good plan.

Started another Rebus mystery. Fleshmarket Close

I finished The Wolf of Winter last night. This was my second book by Paula Volsky and better than Illusion, which I scored 4/10. But like that book, this was uneven, with most characters being rather unlikable. My brief review is below.
6/10
**mild spoiler alert **

Necromancy and politics--engrossing at times, tedious at other times.

I almost gave up on this story after the first part. Varis was interesting but increasingly unlikable as a main character. Shalinda's story was better and I ended up enjoying the second half of the book. I will give the author credit for allowing the ending to be unsettling rather than neatly tied up into "happily ever after."

Next up is Soldier, Ask Not.

I finished Calamity, and would not recommend it. The book was a mess and an unfortunate way to finish a series.

I'm now reading A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston.

Justine wrote: "I finished Calamity, and would not recommend it. The book was a mess and an unfortunate way to finish a series.

I'm now reading A Thousand Nights by E.K. Jo..."</i>

That's not good, certainly not paying £10 for it then.

I've read: [book:Infidel, Rapture, Snakewood, Morning Star, The Death of Dulgath, The Grisha trilogy and now Six of Crows

I finished up Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler. It was good, and I found it kind of addictive to read. There was something about it that just made me want to know what was going to happen. On the other hand, I feel like it probably won't stick with me. It definitely made me curious to read more by Octavia Butler, though.

I started Resenting the Hero by Moira J. Moore yesterday, and will probably finish tomorrow. It's been a fun and fast-paced fantasy, and I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series at some point.

I believe that my next read will be Dust of Dreams.

Tani wrote: "I believe that my next read will be Dust of Dreams."

Yay!

Tani that book by Moira J. Moore sounds really good! I'd love to hear what you think of it once you're done.

Tani wrote: "I believe that my next read will be Dust of Dreams. .."

I am going to Cuba in April, I have been thinking of what book to bring. I am leaning towards this one. I really want to finish the series.

Justine, I will definitely let know you once I'm finished up. I'm hoping that will be tonight, but you never know... I'm about 2/3rds of the way through right now, and quite happy with it, but we all know how these things can change. ;)

Ken, I totally get where you're coming from. I've enjoyed the Malazan books very much, but I'm ready to stop spending so much time on them. I've even decided that I'll allow myself to read The Crippled God right after Dust of Dreams, if the mood should strike, just so I can finish. I've really been trying to get through some of my physical books, so I've been spacing out Malazan, but I'm ready to be done.

Tani wrote: "I've even decided that I'll allow myself to read The Crippled God right after Dust of Dreams, if the mood should strike, just so I can finish."

Apparently Erikson wrote Dust of Dreams and The Crippled God as one (very large) book. I had been interspersing other books between the Malazan books, but I read those two back to back. I really wanted answers and wanted to see how the various plot lines wrapped up.

Tani wrote: "Ken, I totally get where you're coming from. I've enjoyed the Malazan books very much, but I'm ready to stop spending so much time on them."

I really disliked Toll the Hounds. I tried to read Dust of Dreams but gave up on it after a couple weeks when I realised I only read 100 pages.

Lol Ken:) Not sure if that was meant to be funny, but it was!

Kathi, I've heard that about the last two books, which is another reason why I want to let myself read them back-to-back, if that's what I want to do. I've also heard that Dust of Dreams ends in a cliffhanger, which is just more incentive to keep going. :)

Ken, my least favorite of the series was Reaper's Gale. I took a good long break after that one, so I definitely understand. My favorite is still Deadhouse Gates, which is kind of sad, considering it was only the second book in the series. I do find that I have to force myself to focus on just the Malazan book when I'm reading them. I usually dabble in several books at a time, but if I do that when I read a Malazan book, I quickly lose patience with how slowly I'm reading.

In non-Malazan news, I just finished up Resenting the Hero. It was a lot of fun. Very fast-paced with just enough world-building to keep me oriented but not bored. There was a mild eventual-romance, but no insta-love, which I had kind of expected from the cover. There are some tropes that it uses that are kind of silly (the involuntary Bonding of Shields and Sources, the premise that music can drive Shields to lose control of themselves), but I found I didn't end up minding. The author keeps their use consistent and serious, with realistic consequences, which I liked. Overall, I would recommend it as a really fun start to a new series.

I have to admit, the shorter length is also nice. Sometimes, it's a relief to just breeze through a book in a few days and still get a complete and engrossing story out of it.

Tani wrote: "I finished up Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler. It was good, and I found it kind of addictive to read. There was something about it that just made me want to know what was..."

I love Butler. Fledgling is not my favorite of hers, though. Read Wild Seed, it's amazing :)

I finished A Thousand Nights and it was great. It's a book I would recommend if you like a Middle Eastern setting. It isn't really a retelling but more a story inspired by the original. Excellent writing with a lot of hidden depth.

I also read the YA book The Wrath and the Dawn which really is more of a retelling type of story. It was very well written, and again, if you like books with Middle Eastern setting and a romance element, then this would be a good pick.

I'm now reading The Darkest Minds series; so far I've finished the first book (The Darkest Minds) and I thought it was a nicely paced, well-developed YA story with interesting characters. I'm enjoying it!

Justine wrote: "I finished A Thousand Nights and it was great. It's a book I would recommend if you like a Middle Eastern setting. It isn't really a retelling but more a story inspired by the origi..."

I read them both too, and I absolutely agree with Justine, great picks! Finished the month with Jurgen, pre-Tolkien comic fantasy. I liked it even if it was a difficult read, because there are many literary references. It was fun anyway.