The 2nd "What are you reading now" thread

[Richard Pryor]

I tried reading Colour of Magic and couldn't finish, what would you recommend?

I'm partial to Guards Guards and its sequel Men at Arms.

 

[Neese]

Just started against the odds by Craig Challen and Richard Harris.
Really enjoying it so far.

 

[Quinz]

The Sixth Extinction. Important but not fun.

Previously read The Picture of Dorian Grey. Enjoyed the start and finish but felt it lost it's way in the middle. Can't remember the last time I read a book where the main character is an a-hole so that was refreshing.


I tried reading Colour of Magic and couldn't finish, what would you recommend?

I love Pyramids and Thief of Time.

 

[Neese]

Just started against the odds by Craig Challen and Richard Harris.
Really enjoying it so far.

Finished this, was interesting and quite easy to read. Good account of the rescue.

 

[BEaston]

I've started Discworld from the beginning in published order. I'd read the odd one here and there as a teenager but thought starting from scratch would be good. I probably read two a year, in between heavier or more serious reads. Good to break things up with something less serious. I'm only up to Guards Guards though.

I might be in a minority but I like the early Rincewind ones, they do well to set some of the lore and background to Discworld. I like The Witches ones as well.

 

[Quokka]

The Andromeda Evolution.

MICHAEL CRICHTON takes up the entire top half of the front cover, inside and on the back of the first page is the usual Also by Michael Crichton listing a selection of his better known novels but Michael Crichton died in 2008 and this book was written by Daniel H Wilson, who gets a much smaller credit at the bottom of the front cover.

It's a sequel to The Andromeda Strain, a great scifi novel from 1969 (and a pretty good 1971 movie). With Evolution some of it works, some of it doesn't and overall I was disappointed that the writing wasn't better considering what it was following on from. Still its an ok read to pick up cheap and finish in a couple of days.

 

[chargers 09]

I subsequently reread Blood Meridian last month (was 19, now 30), and honestly I don't really rate it all that highly anymore. The start and end sections are gorgeous, but the whole Glanton section becomes rather tedious.

I read it this year and loved it- especially the Glanton bits!

 

[mcnulty]

Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry review – darkly comic voyage into the abyss

Ageing Irish gangsters trade banter in a Spanish ferry terminal, in this beautifully written two-hander about crime’s toll on the soul

www.theguardian.com

This, read it.

A belter. Thanks.

 

[Gigantic]

Permanent Record by Edward Snowden

 

[Roobs321]

Finished the decade off with Three Sea Stories: Typhoon; Falk; The Shadow Line by Joseph Conrad. If you like other Conrads or sea literature, this short story collection is a must-read. Had the best maritime glossary I've read yet in a book of this nature as well. A lot of semi-autographical material in there relating to Conrad's own experiences with his first command. If you generally like his writing then check it out.

Currently reading O'Brian's biography on Joseph Banks.

 

[Marlowe]

Finished the first two Kingkiller Chronicle books. At first I thought "what's the big deal, they're a couple of okay-ish books framing the fantasy adventure as a biography, which is neat, I guess." But after a couple of days they're worming their way more into my head. The why of it, the mystery. Why is this guy being interviewed, how much of his story is bullshit, where is it all going, etc. Don't know if it's great as fantasy but it's interesting as mystery, for sure.

Moving on to Stormlight Archives now.

 

[Drumroe]

Finished the first two Kingkiller Chronicle books. At first I thought "what's the big deal, they're a couple of okay-ish books framing the fantasy adventure as a biography, which is neat, I guess." But after a couple of days they're worming their way more into my head. The why of it, the mystery. Why is this guy being interviewed, how much of his story is bullshit, where is it all going, etc. Don't know if it's great as fantasy but it's interesting as mystery, for sure.

Moving on to Stormlight Archives now.

I'm on book 3 of Stormlight at the moment. Have really enjoyed it.

Read Fitz and the Fool series before this which would be close to my favourite.

 

[gaskin]

Moving on to Stormlight Archives now.

If you like Sanderson then you will love Stormlight. The Way of Kings is ****ing sensational.

 

[Quokka]

Red Seas Under Red Skies - Scott Lynch The second in the Gentleman Bastard series. I'm glad I didn't rush straight into it after reading The Lies of Locke Lamora but also glad I didn't skip it completely.

Spoiler: More opinion than major plot spoilers but still

Overall I thought the supporting characters were better but the heists were weaker when compared to book one and so maybe a tie overall but despite a pretty big cliff hanger it still felt like the two main characters finished the story about where they started, ready for their next adventure!, imo the story might have been stronger if it finished with a bit more growth and change in the characters.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Heard good things about The Kingkiller Chronicle but author taking his sweet time on the final book doesn't have me rushing to start. Almost 9 years.

 

[chargers 09]

Reading the “Red Flag- waking up to China’s Challenge” essay by Peter Harchter.

 

[Gigantic]

Heard good things about The Kingkiller Chronicle but author taking his sweet time on the final book doesn't have me rushing to start. Almost 9 years.

Definitely worth a read.

 

[BEaston]

Just finished The Quiet American by Graham Greene. First book of his I've read... I liked the writing style. Was a quick easy read.

Now reading Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut.

After getting bogged down a bit last year with the Mistborn trilogy I only read 6 books for 2019 (although finished on a good note with Hyperion). Keen to read a lot more in 2020.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Just finished The Quiet American by Graham Greene. First book of his I've read... I liked the writing style. Was a quick easy read.

Now reading Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut.

After getting bogged down a bit last year with the Mistborn trilogy I only read 6 books for 2019 (although finished on a good note with Hyperion). Keen to read a lot more in 2020.

Almost everything by Greene and Vonnegut is worth reading.

Hyperion was a good book, if a bit harrowing at times, but I never felt inspired to read the sequel.

 

[Roobs321]

The Joseph Banks: A Life biography was outstanding, a goldmine for anyone a little obsessive over the George III era of Europe, as well as the Endeavour voyage, among various other things. I could see myself returning to it a few more times over the years.

Currently on Treason's Harbour (Aubrey & Maturin #9). Feel the series has been on a steady gradual decline ever since peaking in Post Captain, with The Surgeon's Mate & The Ionian Sea a little underwhelming, so hopefully this one sees a series recovery. I'd still happily read a dozen more Ionian Seas, but that one wasn't something you could readily recommend to non-fans, as you could feel the rift by then between that and some of the greater earlier entries.

 

[Frank Bunn]

Freaky Dancin'. The autobiography of Bez, dancer and maracas player with the Happy Mondays. I'm only a few pages in and it's laugh out loud funny.

 

[mcnulty]

Highfire by Eoin Colfer. Think Tolkien meets Elmore Leonard...or maybe not. Forget the ridiculous premise and jump in, it’s an absolute pisser. Great characters and genuinely funny. Good summer read.

 

[Quokka]

Ticked off another couple of Lovecraft stories - The Rats in the Walls and The Shadow Over Innsmouth, very good and fantastic respectively though there was a bit of a crossover in themes that meant they're probably better not read one after the other. Can definitely understand how The Shadow Over Innsmouth became one of Lovecraft's most popular and influential in pop/horror culture.

Not delaying it anymore it's The Call of Cthulhu up next and then I might finish with The Dunwich Horror before taking another break from Lovecraft.

 

[Quokka]

Almost everything by Greene and Vonnegut is worth reading.

Hyperion was a good book, if a bit harrowing at times, but I never felt inspired to read the sequel.

Like Dune I think Hyperion is almost best (imo) as a standalone book although I remember enjoying the sequel but I never finished the third book, Endymion, I always planned to go back and finish it but its a long way down the to-be-read pile now.

 

[BEaston]

Like Dune I think Hyperion is almost best (imo) as a standalone book although I remember enjoying the sequel but I never finished the third book, Endymion, I always planned to go back and finish it but its a long way down the to-be-read pile now.

Yeah, don't think I'll read the sequel. Haven't read any sequels to Dune.

The ending to Dune was more satisfying than Hyperion.

Speaking of Dune though.... Denis Villeneuve, who is close to my favourite film maker right now, having a crack at a new Dune movie is bloody exciting!!