What are you READING right now?

[LaineyAZ]

"The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron.  A novel based on the true story of a teen's heroism during WWII.

It's rated as Young Adult so it's an easy read but holy hell, the life-and-death decisions that a teenager had to make for months and sometimes years is almost unfathomable. 
We celebrate the military efforts in history classes but I like reading about what ordinary people did when they went above and beyond. 

[Luke Warm]

I'm about half way through Sociopath by Patric Gagne. It's about a young girl who always knew she was different from everyone else and stumbled upon the term sociopath. She spends years trying to manage and understand her disorder. I'm enjoying it.

[GuitarStv]

I finished Lev Grossman's Magicians series.  I did like the second and third book better - I think Grossman's storytelling improved as the books continued.  Kept and learned to better lean into the adult Harry Potter meets Narnia sort of vibe, and was entertaining.

[Road42]

Just finished Christopher de Bellaigue’s “The Lion House” - absolutely incredible history book about the relationship between the Ottoman Empire, Venice, France, and the Holy Roman Empire in the first half of the 16th century (so, Suleiman II vs Charles V vs Francis vs the Doge). Describing it like that maybe sounds boring, but he writes in the present tense with a very dry kind of humor and in the tone of a novel, giving it a gripping Wolf Hall meets a DnD campaign flavor - it’s one my fave books of the recent past for sure. I even bought a copy, which I don’t often do. I’m going to check out his other books!

[Warlord1986]

Just finished Christopher de Bellaigue’s “The Lion House” - absolutely incredible history book about the relationship between the Ottoman Empire, Venice, France, and the Holy Roman Empire in the first half of the 16th century (so, Suleiman II vs Charles V vs Francis vs the Doge). Describing it like that maybe sounds boring, but he writes in the present tense with a very dry kind of humor and in the tone of a novel, giving it a gripping Wolf Hall meets a DnD campaign flavor - it’s one my fave books of the recent past for sure. I even bought a copy, which I don’t often do. I’m going to check out his other books!

That sounds really good!

[Luke Warm]

Just finished Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino. Such a lovely book. It's about a young girl who is an alien and is sent here to report on humans. It didn't sound great but the writing is so good.

[FireLane]

Embers of the Hands by Eleanor Barraclough.

It's a ground-level history of the Viking Age. It's not about kings and great warriors, but ordinary people and what their lives were like, as best as we can determine from archaeological evidence and written records.

[Warlord1986]

'The Idylls of the King' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. I'm loving it.

[Tyson]

I started watching the Foundation series on Apple+ and I really like it's theme of "the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, in space".  So I decided to read the books by Asimov.  Wow, the books have almost nothing in common with the series!  I mean they both have a guy named Hari Seldon predicting the end of the Empire but otherwise they might as well be completely different stories.

I do like the books, they skip around several hundred years at a time to track Hari's predictions and the various things that might get in the way of humanity becoming prosperous after 1000 years vs, the 30,000 years of chaos without Seldon.

[Vindicated]

I'm on a kick of lesser-known fantasy right now.

I just finished the final book of "The Cycle of Galland" by Edward W. Robertson, which follows "The Cycle of Arawn".  13 books in total between the two series.  They are fun, but meander at times.  The main characters have great interactions and really come to life.  There is another series which is a prequel to these called "The Cycle of the Scour" I will probably pick up eventually.

Now I'm jumping into "Savage" by Keith C. Blackmore.  It's book 2 of the He-Dog Chronicles.  These books take place in the same world as his "131 Days" series, which is brutal and visceral.  Lots of high-stakes violence with characters that you can't help but love for their flaws.  Blackmore also wrote the Mountain Man series, which is a great zombie apocalypse story.

After Savage, I plan to read "The Civil War Trilogy" by Jeff Shaara.  I heard Conan O'Brien say on his podcast that the 2nd book of this trilogy is his favorite book of all time.  I like Conan, so I'll probably like it as well.  Good Reads has it tagged as historical fiction, and historical, so I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it's got good ratings.

[Luke Warm]

I started watching the Foundation series on Apple+ and I really like it's theme of "the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, in space".  So I decided to read the books by Asimov.  Wow, the books have almost nothing in common with the series!  I mean they both have a guy named Hari Seldon predicting the end of the Empire but otherwise they might as well be completely different stories.

I do like the books, they skip around several hundred years at a time to track Hari's predictions and the various things that might get in the way of humanity becoming prosperous after 1000 years vs, the 30,000 years of chaos without Seldon.

I read the first book and started the second. Great stories but dry storytelling. I had hoped the tv series would make the story come alive but like you said they really don't have much to do with each other.

[GuitarStv]

I started watching the Foundation series on Apple+ and I really like it's theme of "the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, in space".  So I decided to read the books by Asimov.  Wow, the books have almost nothing in common with the series!  I mean they both have a guy named Hari Seldon predicting the end of the Empire but otherwise they might as well be completely different stories.

I do like the books, they skip around several hundred years at a time to track Hari's predictions and the various things that might get in the way of humanity becoming prosperous after 1000 years vs, the 30,000 years of chaos without Seldon.

I read the first book and started the second. Great stories but dry storytelling. I had hoped the tv series would make the story come alive but like you said they really don't have much to do with each other.

My dad got me the first three books in that series when I was in grade four, and I read them over and over as a kid (but I was a weird kid and read a lot of older pulp sci-fi).  I kinda get how it would have been hard/impossible to film the original story, but it was disappointing to me how far away they took things.  Once I accepted that the show is just kind of a sci-fi action thing with a few overlapping names related to the books then I could enjoy it (and I really liked the depiction of the Emperor that they started to do in the second season).

[TempusFugit]

I started watching the Foundation series on Apple+ and I really like it's theme of "the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, in space".  So I decided to read the books by Asimov.  Wow, the books have almost nothing in common with the series!  I mean they both have a guy named Hari Seldon predicting the end of the Empire but otherwise they might as well be completely different stories.

I do like the books, they skip around several hundred years at a time to track Hari's predictions and the various things that might get in the way of humanity becoming prosperous after 1000 years vs, the 30,000 years of chaos without Seldon.

I read the first book and started the second. Great stories but dry storytelling. I had hoped the tv series would make the story come alive but like you said they really don't have much to do with each other.

I also abandoned the trilogy after the first book.  It was evident quite quickly that the Apple series was not going to be anything like the novels.

The Three Body Problem, on the other hand, has been, I think, a reasonable adaptation to at least the first book.  They understandably made some character changes to appeal to a broader audience, but they’ve kept the basic plot and its elements fairly true to the book. 

[evme]

After Savage, I plan to read "The Civil War Trilogy" by Jeff Shaara.  I heard Conan O'Brien say on his podcast that the 2nd book of this trilogy is his favorite book of all time.  I like Conan, so I'll probably like it as well.  Good Reads has it tagged as historical fiction, and historical, so I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it's got good ratings.

The 2nd book in the trilogy is "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara (father of Jeff), which won the Pulitzer Prize. It was actually a stand alone novel, then later the son Jeff added a prequel and a sequel, thus making it into a trilogy. It is indeed a very good book, raw and unique.

[MoseyingAlong]

"The Sneetches and Other Stories" by Dr. Seuss
@Laura33 sometimes writes about us all being Sneetches. Decided to read what they were. What an excellent story for people concerned about consumerism and personal finance.

[Luke Warm]

I read the new Neko Case autobiography The Harder I Fight the More I Love You. It was good. She's had a rough life growing up. She's a good writer.

[Serendip]

I read the new Neko Case autobiography The Harder I Fight the More I Love You. It was good. She's had a rough life growing up. She's a good writer.

I just finished this as well.. hard childhood but she really managed to do well for herself. Such a creative soul.

[Serendip]

Just starting Imaginable: How to Create a Hopeful Future by Jane McGonigal.

Needed to read something smart but optimistic ...or at least hopeful-leaning.. :)

[BicycleB]

For curiosity, just read The Lords of Discipline, by Pat Conroy. The bluntness of the racism is bizarre to read but the vividness of the military school training/ hazing / relationships was very good.

Very old school though. I'm astounded that it's on shelf of my town library.

[Luke Warm]

I'm about half way through Conclave by Robert Harris. I guess it's a movie now? Good so far and educational.

[Laura33]

"The Sneetches and Other Stories" by Dr. Seuss
@Laura33 sometimes writes about us all being Sneetches. Decided to read what they were. What an excellent story for people concerned about consumerism and personal finance.

My work here is done.  ;-)

[Luke Warm]

I'm about half way through Conclave by Robert Harris. I guess it's a movie now? Good so far and educational.

Finished Conclave. I enjoyed it but it was a bit hokie. Fun read.

[Luke Warm]

"The Sneetches and Other Stories" by Dr. Seuss
@Laura33 sometimes writes about us all being Sneetches. Decided to read what they were. What an excellent story for people concerned about consumerism and personal finance.

My work here is done.  ;-)

I watched the show for the first time in decades. There's a lot to unpack in that story. Why didn't the Sneetches without stars get a life and quit worrying about the Star Bellied Sneetches? They could've had weenie roasts or did the Star Bellied Sneetches hoard all the firewood and weenies?  Did the Star Bellied Sneetches have more money as it cost them $10 to remove the stars or were they spending more money to keep their status?

[Serendip]

"The Sneetches and Other Stories" by Dr. Seuss
@Laura33 sometimes writes about us all being Sneetches. Decided to read what they were. What an excellent story for people concerned about consumerism and personal finance.

My work here is done.  ;-)

I watched the show for the first time in decades. There's a lot to unpack in that story. Why didn't the Sneetches without stars get a life and quit worrying about the Star Bellied Sneetches? They could've had weenie roasts or did the Star Bellied Sneetches hoard all the firewood and weenies?  Did the Star Bellied Sneetches have more money as it cost them $10 to remove the stars or were they spending more money to keep their status?

Now I wish my library had this book because I'm full of questions :)

[Serendip]

Reading Get the Picture: a mind-bending journey among the inspired artists and obsessive art fiends who taught me to see by Bianca Bosker.

An unnecessarily wordy sub-title but so far, an entertaining read about the self-importance of the contemporary art world (and maybe also the gift of looking at art..but still getting to that point in the book)

[Luke Warm]

"The Sneetches and Other Stories" by Dr. Seuss
@Laura33 sometimes writes about us all being Sneetches. Decided to read what they were. What an excellent story for people concerned about consumerism and personal finance.

My work here is done.  ;-)

I watched the show for the first time in decades. There's a lot to unpack in that story. Why didn't the Sneetches without stars get a life and quit worrying about the Star Bellied Sneetches? They could've had weenie roasts or did the Star Bellied Sneetches hoard all the firewood and weenies?  Did the Star Bellied Sneetches have more money as it cost them $10 to remove the stars or were they spending more money to keep their status?

Now I wish my library had this book because I'm full of questions :)

I watched it on Youtube and I think there's just audio tracks of the book there also.

[Sandi_k]

The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin. Not fully into it yet, but I've liked some of her other stuff...

[Road42]

Just finished Helen DeWitt’s perfect gem of a novella, “The English Understand Wool.” It’s hard to describe without giving away the very surprising plot twists and turns - basically, it’s about a girl raised in extremely precise, aesthetically perfect, but emotionally cold privilege. I loved it.

[Weisass]

I have slowly been making my way through Nicola Twilley's book on Refrigeration called "Frostbite," and it is excellent. Really good read about the history of refrigeration, what it has done (good and bad) and how perception has changed over time. Very interesting reading that has me thinking a great deal about consumption, energy use, nutrition, and how older practices might serve mustachian values moving forward.

[Road42]

The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin. Not fully into it yet, but I've liked some of her other stuff...

One of my favorite fantasy series!

[Luke Warm]

I just finished God of the Woods by Liz Moore. A pretty good who dun it novel set in the Adirondacks.

[midweststache]

Just finished Gideon the Ninth (lesbian necromancers in space) and Atlas Six (magical librarian secret society) as beach reads for my recent vacation. Both are the beginning books in trilogies (or, in the case of Gideon, a pending tetralogy).

Gideon was the better book, but Atlas was the more intense cliffhanger, so I'll probably dive into the Atlas Paradox before starting Harrow the Ninth.

I enjoyed both, but Gideon was way more substantive. Atlas Six was very character driven with time jumps that were too big and not enough substantive plot, while Gideon kept me rapt at every page turn.

It took another vacation, but I just read book two in the Gideon series, "Harrow the Ninth". There's a chapter that ends with a character asking "What the f&*k is going on?" and I think that's a great synopsis of the book. That said, it's the best book I've read in recent memory, and that includes its predecessor. It is a gorram master class in language.

I also finished Madeline Miller's "Circe" which is a fantastic character study. I came to it after Harrow and told DH "It's good, but it's kinda a let down after Harrow" but then I kept with it and was ugly crying in the last chapter (which is weird because, like, we know what happens?) so that's some A+ character building and payoff.

10/10 highly recommend for both.

[desertadapted]

@midweststache If you think "Harrow the Ninth" was confusing, "Nona the Ninth" is going to come as a shock.  Takes about two-thirds of the book to figure out what's going on.  And even then, only barely. But worth it!

If "what the F" is your jam, also consider "Piranesi," which was a recent joy for me.

@Sandi_k I envy you reading the Fifth Season for the first time!  That book punched me in the gut over and over. In a good way?  Jemisin at the peak of her powers, and many powers she has.

[midweststache]

@midweststache If you think "Harrow the Ninth" was confusing, "Nona the Ninth" is going to come as a shock.  Takes about two-thirds of the book to figure out what's going on.  And even then, only barely. But worth it!

If "what the F" is your jam, also consider "Piranesi," which was a recent joy for me.

@Sandi_k I envy you reading the Fifth Season for the first time!  That book punched me in the gut over and over. In a good way?  Jemisin at the peak of her powers, and many powers she has.

For "Harrow" in particular, I needed the time to do a deep, intense read and really grapple with the WTF elements of the book. Since I'm back from vacation and Back to Reality (pour one out for Wake, crazy person that she was) I'm not sure that I'm going to have the deep dive for "Nona" anytime in the near future, but it's on the list.

And I'll add "Piranesi" to that - I didn't love Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, but I'm always up for genre-fiction recs.

[Road42]

@midweststache If you think "Harrow the Ninth" was confusing, "Nona the Ninth" is going to come as a shock.  Takes about two-thirds of the book to figure out what's going on.  And even then, only barely. But worth it!

If "what the F" is your jam, also consider "Piranesi," which was a recent joy for me.

@Sandi_k I envy you reading the Fifth Season for the first time!  That book punched me in the gut over and over. In a good way?  Jemisin at the peak of her powers, and many powers she has.

For "Harrow" in particular, I needed the time to do a deep, intense read and really grapple with the WTF elements of the book. Since I'm back from vacation and Back to Reality (pour one out for Wake, crazy person that she was) I'm not sure that I'm going to have the deep dive for "Nona" anytime in the near future, but it's on the list.

And I'll add "Piranesi" to that - I didn't love Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, but I'm always up for genre-fiction recs.

Absolutely loving this discussion because all those books have been highlights for me! Plus now I am reminded to move on to “Nona the Ninth.” If you do end up reading “Piranesi” by Susana Clarke, I also strongly recommend her “Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell” (there’s an argument that they take place in the same world?!).

[LennStar]

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell certainly is a taste thing, but I liked it.

[desertadapted]

At the risk of starting a flame war, I will just note that my recommendation of Piranesi does not come as a fan of Jonathan Strange. I am a multi-DNF'er of that book. I am in the minority in finding it a bit stodgy. This is just to say that if your feelings on Jonathan Strange were mixed, please still consider Piranesi.  For my part, I commit to trying JS again, but I think I'll do it on audiobook to see if the change of medium gets me through.

Separately, recently finished Cloud Cuckoo Land, which made me weep a bit. It's a love letter to stories, and deeply moving.   I also dipped my toe back into Murakami with Dance Dance Dance - that dude is weird, but boy can he write!

[Sandi_k]

No flames here! I'm a big fan of alternate history tales, and even though I bought JS & MN, I could not finish it, either.

I think here is where I confess that Gideon was another DNF - I didn't find the writing very engaging.

[merula]

I enjoyed JS&MN, but I loved Piranesi. I think it's likely that the miniseries adaptation might make the complicated character structure of the novel more accessible, but I haven't seen it so I don't know for sure.

I'm in the middle of a re-read of the Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King in chronological rather than publication order.

[Road42]

To each their own for sure! I love JS&MN’s note-perfect pastiche of turn of the 19th century style but that’s certainly not for everyone. The miniseries adaptation is pretty great.

I also loved and cried at Cloud Cuckoo Land - wonderful novel.

Just started Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. It might not be for me but I’m going to give it another few chapters.

[desertadapted]

I look forward to hearing about whether ‘Anxious People’ is a recommend.

Just finished ‘Angle of Repose’ by Wallace Stegner on audiobook (I’d DNF’d the paperback).  The voice actor did a great job.

Current reading book is ‘Cloud Atlas,’ and audiobook is ‘Someone You can Build a Nest In’ (Wiswell).  Taking a break from  audiobook ‘Truman’ by McCollough.

More reading for me this year than usual.  I could be posting in the ‘Fortress of Solitude’ thread, but this is more on point.  Anything to cut down on the doom scrolling . . .

[Luke Warm]

I started reading Tender is the Flesh which sorta like Soylent Green maybe? It's so disturbing I might not be able to finish it.

[desertadapted]

Whoa. Read the blurb on ‘Tender is the Flesh.’  As a younger person I would occasionally push myself to read more brutal books. But no longer. Sounds grotesque.  In fairness, the book’s central theme is a part of ‘Cloud Atlas,’ which I’m currently reading.  But in ‘Cloud Atlas’ you only dip your toe into the horror, and get the point (same with Soylent Green).  Just the summary made me want to have a drink.  Good luck?

Separately, finished ‘Someone You can Build a Nest In.’  Short-listed for a Nebula award this year.  Charming, sweet and funny fantasy.  A sort of gentle ‘Grendel,’ or a gross Becky Chambers book. Not worthy of a Nebula, but worth a read if any of this summary resonates with what makes you tick.

[Serendip]

Imaginable: How to Create a Hopeful Future by Jane McGonigal

[Road42]

Continuing my read-through of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld - currently on The Hogfather, which is 20 out of 41. So far not my absolute favorite of them, but Pratchett’s humor and happy world-weariness are always a delight anyway.

[reeshau]

Continuing my read-through of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld - currently on The Hogfather, which is 20 out of 41. So far not my absolute favorite of them, but Pratchett’s humor and happy world-weariness are always a delight anyway.

I had a copy of the Discworld video game back in the day.  It was hilariously in tune with the books, and Eric Idle voiced Rincewind.  Now I always read Rincewind as Eric Idle.

My favorite line, as Rincewind approaches an outhouse: "I'm not going in there.  I don't care what the manual says."

[TempusFugit]

Just re-read The Catcher in the Rye by Salinger. 

More interesting and enjoyable to read some of these ‘classics’ when  1) I’m not being forced to do it and 2) I’m a little older and more able to appreciate the content. 

Anyone found that a book you had to read in school and hated is now a pleasure to read as an adult? 

Do not say Grapes of Wrath.  Don’t.  That book sucks no matter when you read it!  If you want to read Steinbeck, read Travels with Charlie.  There’s a dog in it.

[reeshau]

Just re-read The Catcher in the Rye by Salinger. 

More interesting and enjoyable to read some of these ‘classics’ when  1) I’m not being forced to do it and 2) I’m a little older and more able to appreciate the content. 

Anyone found that a book you had to read in school and hated is now a pleasure to read as an adult? 

Do not say Grapes of Wrath.  Don’t.  That book sucks no matter when you read it!  If you want to read Steinbeck, read Travels with Charlie.  There’s a dog in it.

Not quite the same, but I found helping our engineering students at lunch to do their physics homework quite enjoyable.  I also concluded that the enjoyment has been (mostly) blocked out by the concern for a grade.  And I never had a lot of grade anxiety.

[TempusFugit]

Just re-read The Catcher in the Rye by Salinger. 

More interesting and enjoyable to read some of these ‘classics’ when  1) I’m not being forced to do it and 2) I’m a little older and more able to appreciate the content. 

Anyone found that a book you had to read in school and hated is now a pleasure to read as an adult? 

Do not say Grapes of Wrath.  Don’t.  That book sucks no matter when you read it!  If you want to read Steinbeck, read Travels with Charlie.  There’s a dog in it.

Not quite the same, but I found helping our engineering students at lunch to do their physics homework quite enjoyable.  I also concluded that the enjoyment has been (mostly) blocked out by the concern for a grade.  And I never had a lot of grade anxiety.

A recurring theme on these forums is that once you aren't working because you financially 'have to' and the stresses of performance reviews and office politics are gone, you sometimes find that you actually don't mind your job anymore.    Reading something just because you're interested with no pressure to 'interpret it' or that kind of nonsense sometimes makes a book much more enjoyable.  It's also true - and I just read this quote today from Martin Amis - "one cannot read a book: one can only reread it.'    I interpret that to mean, at least in part, that we miss a lot of things in our first pass and only on a subsequent read will we pick up some of the nuance. 

[desertadapted]

Catcher in the Rye for me as a young person: “HC is punk rock!”  For me as an older person: “HC is probably going through manic episode and I hope he gets the help he needs.”  Younger me was more fun. .  .

Separately, currently wrapping up ‘Adams’ by McCollough (cuz I liked ‘Truman’ by the same author), and book two of the ‘Sun Eater’ heptalogy by Ruocchio (popcorn sci-fi derivative of Dune and the Name of the Wind). Recently finished up ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ which was sweet and gutting.  Am starting ‘The Tomb of Dragons’ by Addison, book three of the Cemeteries of Amalo series.