SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Esther: omgoodness that's scary! I was picturing like a garden snake. I don't blame you for leaving! And I love that story about your daughter. I agree, unicorns are for all of us!

Language friends: You're so funny. And that does sound frustrating. I don't think I'd do well with audiobooks in my non-native tongue so kudos to you who can!

Anna wrote: "Yes, there's a difference with language where the vocabulary is too difficult for one's level, and where the speech style isn't comfortable. I obviously prefer ebooks for those times when the vocabulary might baffle me, because the Kindle dictionary is so handy. I've tried to press words in physical books sometimes, it doesn't help :D ."

Pictured: Anna trying to read a magazine.

https://youtu.be/aXV-yaFmQNk

Haha Trike, exactly like that! The worst thing is that it always happens in public. I'll be sitting on the tram all cool reading some awesome classic scifi, and suddenly I'm frustratedly poking at the book and frowning. I hope other people don't notice, but I'm afraid they do.

Noah wrote: "Hello, very happy to join this book group. Currently, I am about to begin '1984' by George Orwell. I don't know what happens but know it is a very influential book. Looking forward to seeing what m..."

Excellent, I will intend to. So far (am still on the first chapter) the complete control and censorship of the state is horrifying.

Trike wrote: "Re: spiders and snakes - I have the same problem with human beings.

“Shriek! Why are you in my house?! I don’t care that you’re my mother!”"

Gotta stop giving them keys. That way when they knock you can decide if you want to open the door.

Travis wrote: Monica wrote: "Not to pile on Allison, but Children of Time is definitely my favorite Scifi/fantasy read this year and one of my favorite books this year overall (not that this is a poll of tremendous depth)."

That's an irresistible endorsement! Adding it to the tbr."

Ha! Thanks Travis! I hope you enjoy it! I listened to the audio book and it was great! ;-)

Allison wrote: " I don't think I'd do well with audiobooks in my non-native tongue so kudos to you who can! "
Right?! And here I can't even do children's books in my non-native language.

In my native language, though, I've recently finished:
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher - this was just okay for me
Fire Watch by Connie Willis - I liked this one, but I prefer novels to short stories for the character development. That being said, there were some powerful and thought-provoking stories that will stick with me for a while.

I also read The Last Policeman by Ben Winters and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (because apparently it is my fate to receive books on hold RIGHT after the group reads them). I enjoyed them both and will likely continue with both series.

The Pale Horseman - Bernard Cornwell

Oh no. I goofed again. I know I wouldn't be a good ninja because I always forget to check my peripherals. On top of having two books out from the library right now that are due this month, I just got a notice that The Raven Boys is on my Kindle app from the library. So...I guess I will just ignore my family when they visit and read? Maybe accidentally hit 90 books read this year?

Made it through The Book of Phoenix, finally!
And The Bear and the Nightingale was so enchanting on audio, I pressed right through.
Only one more TBR on RATB4 to finish in 2017!

Still trying to finish two books for my local library monthly challenge: Purple Hibiscus and Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon…
…and a comic book: Batman: Prodigal…
…and a stubborn TBR Cleanup Challenge classic: Orlando

and finally, my long-term attack on the classics of science fiction: Trillion Year Spree: The History of Science Fiction.

Mike wrote: "Made it through The Book of Phoenix, finally!
And The Bear and the Nightingale was so enchanting on audio, I pressed right through.
Only one more TBR on RATB4 to fin..."

I don't remember if you're in one of the regions that got snow last weekend, but I think now would be the perfect time for the Bear and the Nightingale. So cozy!

Allison wrote: "Mike wrote: "…And The Bear and the Nightingale was so enchanting on audio, I pressed right through."
I don't remember if you're in one of the regions that got snow last weekend, but I think now would be the perfect time for the Bear and the Nightingale. So cozy!"

Yep! Snowed for two days, but only the barest hint stuck to the roads. Unfortunately for the "cozy", my listening was spent commuting across the Patuxent River to a cold church basement to study CPR and Wilderness/Remote First Aid. Pretty much "anti-cozy", sigh.

Mike wrote: "Allison wrote: "Mike wrote: "…And The Bear and the Nightingale was so enchanting on audio, I pressed right through."
I don't remember if you're in one of the regions that got snow l..."

You've used just about every word you can to make me sad. Snow, commuting, basement, wilderness... I am going to make a blanket fort on your behalf.

I am glad you survived and had a pretty thing to listen to at least!

I am happy to report that Age of Myth has hooked me and now I don't want to put it down. Well, I don't want to put my phone or Kindle down. I'm listening to it on Audible & I plowed through more than half of it the past two days while I was hanging low at home. It's been snowing in the Detroit area so lounging by the window watching it fall has been exactly where I want to be!

Currently half way through Elvira Wonders. A delightful book with a couple of gruesome murders of fairies...
Filled with werewolves, vampires, ancient Egyptians, giants, prehistoric birds, all gussied up as your stock standard small town residents. You wouldn't think the premise would work but it does! Weirdly I'm loving it. All these different creatures live in (mostly) harmony in their small American town, and are struggling to keep the town afloat.

Allison wrote: "You've used just about every word you can to make me sad. Snow, commuting, basement, wilderness... I am going to make a blanket fort on your behalf."

Snow and wilderness make you sad? I have been delighting in watching the snow fall on the woods around my house. There is no place on Earth prettier than New Hampshire after a snowfall.

No place is prettier than New Hampshire the morning after a snowfall. #CurrierAndIves pic.twitter.com/HKKvYC8kPJ

— Trike (@Trike) December 10, 2017

I realize that many disagree with me. I grew up in CT, I remember liking the snow as a kid. Alas, things change.

I am enjoying watching the snow fall at my house in Colorado....oh wait, we haven't had snow since October, I think I need to move farther North.

I'm going to make a blanket fort for all y'all.

I grew up in Buffalo. I've hit my quota for snow already. I still like it, but not when I have to shovel or it messes up my commute. So I'd rather not deal with it at all anymore.

I'm with Rob. I grew up near Lake Tahoe. I think the average snowfall there is about 200 inches per year, although with last year's insanity they got 500, I believe. Luckily I didn't live there for that. I hate snow.

I’m currently reading Ready Player One. In many cases it’s like reliving my childhood (from the standpoint of all the references. I live near Detroit, but it’s not quite the post apocalyptic wasteland that the book is set in.....yet.)

Brian wrote: "I’m currently reading Ready Player One. In many cases it’s like reliving my childhood (from the standpoint of all the references. I live near Detroit, but it’s not quite the post apocalyptic wastel..."

Please do keep us posted on when the shipping containers start stacking. I'll start stockpiling gold around then ;-)

By then, it will be far too late...

I plan to reread RPO sometime next year before the movie comes out.

100 pages left in Words of Radiance, 200 pages left in Abaddon's Gate and trying to muscle through The Knife of Never Letting Go which my son and I both seriously dislike.

Hank wrote: "100 pages left in Words of Radiance, 200 pages left in Abaddon's Gate and trying to muscle through The Knife of Never Letting Go which my son and I bo..."

Cannot wait to hear about WoR! I keep meaning to continue The Expanse, but life seems to have other plans. Maybe in 2019, at which point there will likely be, what 85? 1062? more books? lol

I grew up in the Midwest and now live someplace that never gets snow. Sometimes I miss it. Most of the time I don't. Unfortunately, my holiday trips back home have almost never included a nice snowfall. Sadness.

Speaking of holiday trips, I've got one comin' up! These are my trip books. One needs to plan ahead for these things! There's no way I'll finish them all, but I should make good progress on one or two....

Illusion (buddy read, close to done)
Cold Steel
Cast in Shadow (buddy read)
Provenance
Wyrd Sisters

I'm nearly done with Tru & Nelle: A Christmas Tale, which my library had. I'd heard of Tru & Nelle, but hadn't gotten around to it. It's by G. Neri, and it's about Scout and Dill, from To Kill a Mockingbird (here they are called Tru and Nelle, their real names) but older, and more historically correct.

Next up is Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.

I live in Upstate New York, where we have plenty of snow, usually. (The school districts nearby put 5 days of snow days into the calendar. If they have to take more, they can.) I stop reading books set in the cold in October and don't start again until April, because the cold seems so much colder, if it's blizzarding in your book and outside.

I grew up with tons of snow (I'm guessing not too far from Sarah Anne), went to college in the Berkshires (so much snow), then grad school in Wisconsin (snow falling on frozen lakes!). Now, living in Philly, I'm continually disappointed by very-very-very-insufficient snow -- a feeling that I might lessen this year with a reread of The Left Hand of Darkness.

You've got good line ups, Beth and Julia!

Is anyone else mad at Goodreads for putting the "year in review" up already? Don't tell me what the last book I read in 2017 is yet, dammit! I've got 18 days, 5 books, and a pack of batteries for my book light.

Let's do this.

Allison wrote: "Is anyone else mad at Goodreads for putting the "year in review" up already?"

But this way there's still time to fix things if you don't like what you're seeing!

Re-read Charmed Life by the late great Diana Wynne Jones after many years and didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped, as the whole thing depends on a failure to communicate which, on the part of the adults at least, seems inexcusable. Review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1366155155.

Allison wrote: "You've got good line ups, Beth and Julia!

Is anyone else mad at Goodreads for putting the "year in review" up already? Don't tell me what the last book I read in 2017 is yet, dammit! I've got 18 d..."

The year in review page is always available and will continue to update as you add read books. If you change the date in the URL, you can see what any past year looks like and this will also work if you change to 2018 (once we get there) and you start adding books read then.

No, no. I get it. I just don't like that it's rushing me. Chill out, Goodreads, it ain't over til it's over!

Travis wrote: "I grew up with tons of snow (I'm guessing not too far from Sarah Anne), went to college in the Berkshires (so much snow), then grad school in Wisconsin (snow falling on frozen lakes!). Now, living ..."

Where were you? I was in Truckee.

Travis wrote: "I grew up with tons of snow (I'm guessing not too far from Sarah Anne), went to college in the Berkshires (so much snow), then grad school in Wisconsin (snow falling on frozen lakes!). Now, living ..."

Philly gets precisely 2.5 snows, 5 days of frigid (max) and 1 bizarre week in late January that is always in the upper 60s, during which we hold an outdoor concert.

It's not the best of any winter world, but a solid compromise for a northerner who can't slow down enough for the south (why is everyone smiling! I don't know you!) and who abandoned the north to the White Walkers.

Jenny wrote: "I am happy to report that Age of Myth has hooked me and now I don't want to put it down. Well, I don't want to put my phone or Kindle down. I'm listening to it on Audible & I plowed..."

Jenny, I'm glad this picked up for you! I've heard great things about the book--was curious to see what the other side of the coin was, but pleased I won't be able to ask you to confirm :)

Allison wrote: "a northerner who can't slow down enough for the south (why is everyone smiling! I don't know you!)..."

This is funny. I moved from the Midwest to California, and had near the opposite reaction. "Why all the rush? Why does everyone act like they're aristos and everyone else is a peasant?"

Beth wrote: "Allison wrote: "a northerner who can't slow down enough for the south (why is everyone smiling! I don't know you!)..."

This is funny. I moved from the Midwest to California, and had near the oppos..."

haha! I have family throughout CA, too. Still too slow. You have to get up, be pumped full of adrenaline from the awful commute in the snow (or equally bad, the mosquito-laden humidity) and ride that til bed time. That's living right there ;-)

Speaking of, I've chosen a very relaxed set of books for January. I think my subconscious is ready for a break. Both our group reads should be a lot of fun, then Uprooted and hopefully one or two more. I'm eyeing two really hard, but I think that might be a bit too aggressive for one month.

Sarah Anne wrote: "Where were you? I was in Truckee."

Indian Falls, just under two hours northwest of you. So good to run into others from the CA mountains!

I love this conversation! I migrated from Colo to Cali a couple decades back and really miss the snow. Or at least that is what I tell myself until I remember that it took a good two years to thaw out. I still remember my clock radio alarm saying "Good morning! It's 17 degrees below zero!"

In a pigs eye! Allison is right. The White Walkers can have it.

Allison wrote: "I'm eyeing two really hard, but I think that might be a bit too aggressive for one month. "

Is one of the hard books, by any chance, The Will to Battle?

Travis wrote: "Allison wrote: "I'm eyeing two really hard, but I think that might be a bit too aggressive for one month. "

Is one of the hard books, by any chance, The Will to Battle?"

No, haha! I hadn't even gotten there. I was thinking our two other potential buddy reads, The Golem and the Jinni and Warbreaker XD

I actually don't know that I want to read Will to Battle until the fourth one is out and I know if it's at the same level of Seven Surrenders. I have a feeling the world I love is about (view spoiler)[to break (hide spoiler)] and I'm not sure I'm ready to read that.

And of course my super secret new thing I'm sharing on Friday...

Oh The Golem and the Jinni AND Warbreaker are both aw some!!!

Beth wrote: "This is funny. I moved from the Midwest to California, and had near the opposite reaction. "Why all the rush? Why does everyone act like they're aristos and everyone else is a peasant?" "

My friends who visit Ohio from California always wonder if there’s been an accident because everyone drives so slowly. :p

Tom wrote: "I love this conversation! I migrated from Colo to Cali a couple decades back and really miss the snow. Or at least that is what I tell myself until I remember that it took a good two years to thaw ..."

Don’t blame your poor living choices on snow. Snow is great. Snow is pretty. Snow is your friend. Snow covers up all the dog doodoo in the yard until spring.

Snow is beautiful when it's first fallen. Then it gets gray and dingy and looks worse than the dog poo.

Sarah Anne wrote: "Snow is beautiful when it's first fallen. Then it gets gray and dingy and looks worse than the dog poo."

Touché! Even in the beautiful mountains of beautiful California this is true.

This is why pre-resurrection Narnia is more beautiful than Lewis ever intended. The snow just keeps covering the poo.

Yep :)