Reading The Novice by Trudi Canavan. The second book in The Black Magician trilogy.
What about all of you? What have you all been reading or listening to lately?
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Struggling to understand Ben Aaronvitch’s Rivers of London. Recently read and like John Williams’ Stoner.
In what way are you struggling to understand it? I’ve had the book on my tbr for a hot minute.
The plot wanders around in a disorienting way. Characters who we were very focused on at one moment are all of a sudden dropped from the narrative in a hard-to-believe way. A lot of people apparently like it, but I’m stopping after the first book.
Ahh that’s completely valid, I didn’t realize, I wonder if it continues that style for all books? Yeah, I noticed how many people liked it which is what piqued my interest, despite not having gotten super into urban fantasy.
Last book in Ursula leguins Hamish cycle, the telling. left hand and dispossessed were the high lights. I don’t think theres much point in reading these books as a unit.
I was just getting started on Ancillary Justice when my kindle decided to peace out. :'(
I’m slowly reading Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar for a book club. I’m definitely nervous about where it’s going to go. I also have Stephen Fry’s Mythos on hoopla and I just started listening to Patrick Stewart’s autobiography from libro.fm.
I’m almost halfway through In the Distance by Hernan Diaz. It’s the first book of his I’ve read, and it’s really good. I’ll read his more recent book, Trust, next. My wife highly recommended that one.
I liked Trust—I’ll have to check out Distance.
Just finished This I Know, by Eldonna Edwards.
If I hadn’t read Clover Blue first, I probably would not have picked up this, her first book, based on the description. But, I trusted the author, so I tried it. I’m glad I did. It’s a good mix of supernatural woo-woo, and coming of age. Recommended.
Currently reading There Is No Antimemetics Division, by British author qntm.
This is more of my usual sci-fi fare, and I’m enjoying it. I feel like I’ve come across this trope before, but not explored in such detail. Recommended.
I tried reading The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, by Claire North, a pseudonym of British author Catherine Webb.
I didn’t care for the prose, only made it a couple of pages, and knew it wasn’t for me. There might be a movie, eventually. I’d probably watch the movie, I like the premise.
I just ordered the book yesterday, after seeing it recommended in last week’s thread 😀
Just started up Children of Time which has been on my to read/listen list for a long time. I am ENGROSSED so far!
One of my favorites. Couldn’t put it down.
This is one that’s been on my to-read list for many years now…
Youre in for a treat, enjoy!
I just started House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.
Not too far in yet but so far I like it. Definetly on the more unique side concerning the writing style/composition.
Looking forward to make some progress when I’ve got some time to spare again.
OMG yes. Great book! When you’re done, I suggest watching Backrooms if you haven’t already. They’re not the same, but are similar.
Almost done with Empire of the Damned
Lord Foul’s Bane - Stephen Donaldson
Heard of the Covenant series for a long time, never got around to it before now. Seems OK, doubt I’ll read all 10 but we’ll see.
I finally finished Dungeon Crawler Carl: A Parade of Horribles last week.
This month I’m starting Dune and then Dune Mesiah in anticipation for the third movie later this year.
Oh hey, twinsies! I was also late to the Dune party and just started Messiah this week (loved the first book). Haven’t seen the movies, though.
The last two Dune movies (Parts 1 & 2) were really excellent. If you do get around to watching them, I would recommend having good speakers.
I just started Dumb Luck by Vu Trong Phung. I was browsing through Book Street in Vietnam and found this, one of the few that was translated into English. I’m excited, I’ve never read a Vietnamese book before. It was written in 1936, which was during the late French colonial period.
Just picked up Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. Planning to start reading it tonight.
I just finished the second Red Dwarf book earlier tonight, I liked it. It’s interesting how they’ve mashed together and expanded on so many of the episodes to make them flow together back to back. I feel so much sorrier for book-Lister than show-Lister, and he was already in a living hell.
Also about halfway through Watcher of the Void by Michael G Manning but there’s not much to say about it. If you can get past Will (and Mordecai before him) being fairly unlikeable and impossibly powerful so that it feels like you’re playing a game with a child who can make the rules as they go, it’s more of the same. This is book twenty-something so if you’re reading it you probably know what to expect.
It’s just that and the next three Red Dwarfs lined up for now, then back to First Law probably.
Would you recommend watching the Red Dwarf show prior to reading the books?
I think so, yeah. I don’t think I’d have liked this if I didn’t already love the series, which I’ve seen dozens of times throughout my life (it’s my “that show”). Seasons 1 & 2 aren’t my favourite and they’re very different to 3+, but 3-6 and somehow 10 are fantastic.
Maybe try it, and if you aren’t into the first ep it’ll at least give you some context so you can skip to 3 to see if that’s any better. You’ll miss a bit, but for the first handful of seasons the major plot developments are more of a change of status quo between seasons and less about individual episodes, so you should be fine.
Thanks for the guidance, will definitely give it a go!
