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What are you reading these days?
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
What are you reading currently? Fiction or non-fiction or poetry, any genre, any language! Tell us what you're reading, and talk about it a bit.
Let's see, finished Moby Dick finally, took me about 2 months to digest it properly. Best book ever written in the English language and I'll die on that hill.
After that I've decided to read some shorter works.
First up was Patrick Modiano's 'Young Once' published in 1981, I had never actually heard of this author before but bought 2 of his books because they were published by 'nyrb' I'll buy and read just about any book published by nyrb, I haven't found a bad one yet. Plus he won the Nobel Prize in 2014. The book was decent, nothing special really. A couple looking back on their youth and their coming together.
Next up was Bret Easton Ellis' 'Less Than Zero' published 1985. I've previously read 'American Psycho' and 'Glamorama'. American Psycho is decent, Glamorama was meh, Less Than Zero is awful. Not recommended at all. It starts OK, rich kids from California partying and doing drugs with no responsibility, that's all fine and good but by the end there is a 12 year old strapped to a bed being raped. Give me a break. No depth, nothing interesting, just a lame book that descends into 'shock value' territory.
I just started into Simone de Beauvoir's 'The Woman Destroyed' published 1967. I'm less than 100 pages in and WOW this is my kind of thing. So unbelievably sad and miserable so far, I love it. Written by a woman from a woman's perspective, which is not something you usually see when it comes to a totally miserable book. I don't want to say too much since I just started it, but I have very high hopes this is going to be a gooder.
In Audiobook land I've been listening to David Eggers' 'What is the What' published 2006 (holy smokes this is new!) A novelized biography of one of the 'Lost Boys' from the Second Sudanese Civil War. I know very little to nothing about this conflict so I chose it so I could learn about it. I'm about halfway through and it is pretty good so far, more humorous than I was expecting.
Before that I finished listening to the Audiobook for Alexander Dumas' 'The Black Tulip' published 1850. Dumas' books are just fun to read and or listen to. This is not deep literature despite its age. Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favourite stories of all time and a very fun reading experience, that book I absolutely recommend everyone read. Black Tulip was a little different from his other books, especially the Musketeer books. This is more character focused about the battle to grow the first Black Tulip.
Curious to hear why you give Moby Dick the #1 spot? I finished it recently myself (via audiobook), and really enjoyed it, including the in-depth tangents into whales and whaling that I have not bothered to verify the accuracy of. I wouldn't put it at my #1, but I do agree it's a great story, and I'd like to hear about what you enjoyed if you're happy to share
I wrote a post about it here.
But on top of that I think what really makes it #1 is the prose and use of language, there are so many great lines, so many great paragraphs where you just sit in awe of the way Melville uses the English language. I can't think of any other work that sounds like Moby Dick.
There's also much meaning and symbolism dripping throughout the entire book, there is so much depth. The character of Ahab is masterfully written, becoming more and more self aware while at the same time becoming more insane. I just love how he becomes obsessed with Pip after the drowning incident. I love when he fires his pipe into the ocean and it steams and sinks like the ship. The arm coming out of the water just as the ship goes under nailing Ahab's flag to the mast and the Sky Hawk being sucked down with the ship
"which, like Satan, would not sink to hell till she had dragged a living part of heaven along with her"
It's just everything I love about reading. I did not feel this way the first time I read it, it took a second and now third time to really appreciate it. The lectures of Dreyfus really helped me understand the book on another level.
i went through BEE’s catalog back to back and it was a big mistake. not to say he’s a one trick pony, but he definitely has a few tropes that he leans heavily on.
I used to really like his podcast, but it turned into a Q&A… then ultimately into a lot of political stuff and away from film, which is where he really shines.
Anyway, i enjoyed his books for the most part, but i’ll never read an author’s complete work like that again.
quick edit: thanks for that Dreyfus link! I popped it into an m4b to listen through.
I finished Diaspora by Greg Egan recently and it was a lot to get through. I really really enjoyed it a lot though - it really stretches the imagination and exposes you to new and exciting ideas and concepts (to me) in math, theoretical physics, and astronomy. For a book written almost 30 years ago, it's surprisingly modern.
Since I'm still riding that intellectual high (that makes me feel incredibly dumb and realize that what I thought I knew is a drop in the bucket) I decided to go with his 2003 book, Schild's Ladder, which deals with quantum graph theory, so far. Egan's prose leaves much to be desired, but I don't feel like I actually desire it too much. I enjoy the science too much to really care much about the characters, they're all secondary characters in it anyway. Science is both the protagonist and the antagonist.
Diaspora was my introduction to Greg Egan back when I was starting my undergrad studies. I've since read many of his other works, but the ending of Diaspora makes it still one of the most memorable. I got a kind of agoraphobia feeling from the sense of sheer distance traveled, if that makes sense.
You might already know, but there is a section for most of his books on his website with more details about the science and math. I always go straight there after finishing one of his books lol
Yeah, the characters mostly exist to provide a point of view into the universe. I think he does make more fleshed-out characters in later works (and in less-exotic settings).
...diaspora cemented my adoration of greg egan's proper science fiction...
...i've picked up his orthogonal trilogy but haven't had a chance to start it yet; awaiting an opportunity to really dig in with focused immersion...
I finished the seventh dungeon crawler Carl book a few weeks ago and am waiting for the eighth to come out this spring. In the meantime, I'm about a quarter of the way through Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Next up in my queue is The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - it'll be my first Sanderson book.
I've also got The Will of the Many by James Islington on hold with my library, but there's about 20 people in line ahead of me so it'll be a while before I get that one.
With regards to The Way of Kings, you may wish to start with the Mistborn trilogy first or one of the other earlier books first because they are all in a shared universe. It won't make a huge difference in the The Way of Kings (first book of five in that series), but later things may not make much sense because you are sort of expected to recognize some things/people.
I loved Way of Kings! My first Sanderson as well (and Stormlight in its entirety is till my only Sanderson up to this point). I will say he throws a LOT of jargon at you in the first few chapters, but don't worry it calms down a lot after that. And if things seem mysterious, you'll have it revealed eventually!
I also really enjoyed Hail Mary, although a little less than The Martian (Hail has quite a few more Deus Ex "alien tech" cards, as opposed to Martians mostly-grounded depictions), but they are both very enjoyable. Hard to believe it's not the same protagonist in both books though ha
I finished up Hail Mary a couple of days ago - it was solid and had me hooked, but the ending I felt was a bit of a letdown compared to the rest of the book. I guess it just wasn't as exciting as I was expecting.
Yeah, I'm a couple of chapters into The Way of Kings and I'm super in over my head - very confusing, lots of world mechanics right off the top. Hopefully it gets clarified more in the coming chapters.
Im on the fourth book of the dungeon crawler Carl series.
Im reading There are Rivers in the Sky by Shafak.
Im reading the Book Of Hope with Jane Goodall. (It's written as a series of interviews).
Rendezvous with Rama was great. I love the slow-burning investigation of the ship and Arthur C. Clarke's mind boggling atempts to give a sense of realism to this fantastic mystery. This is probably the first time I think describing an inanimate object as a character kinda makes sense. Rama is alive with the intentions of its creators.
minor spoiler
There are many wonderful pedantic nerdiness in this book. The one I loved the most is that the ship has its own weather system with actual consequences in the plot!
Some of the book's impact is lost in 2026 because lots of media were directly influenced by it. There is also a huge plot point that was made completely dated by technological advances. So great book and I'm glad I read it. But if you're a sci-fi fan, some elements won't hit as hard as they did in 1973.
...it's been a few decades since i read it but the 'huge plot point' isn't triggering any recognition: care to elucidate?..
Click to view the hidden text
I'm guessing 3D modeling was not that common in 1973. Because all of those glass totems with schematics for things to produce could fit on a flash drive these days. That thought made the scene much less impactful to me.
Currently reading:
The Everlasting by Alix Harrow - her books always make me feel in a wistful longing way. This one is about a historian and a heroine and time travel in a way that I didn't expect even from the summary
I don't remember who recommended the Bee Dungeon series by Icalos but I've devoured it from KU and now RR and am almost caught up. So thank you and I'll tag you when I find you! @kinnabari I found you!
I, Medusa is a retelling of Medusa's story from her own perspective. I know my mythology so I know it's going to be a rough one.
On deck: A Drop of Corruption sequel to The Tainted Cup, We Will Rise Again, and Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire
I just finished reading Verity Vox too! It felt complete, but with room for a sequel.
It's the next one I'm starting so I'm excited!
I thought there might be a sequel. The library I use isn't the best:(
Not yet, but the author has said he has two sequels outlined!
I've been fully focused on the New Jedi Order series. I'm just starting the Force Heretic trilogy, so not too much more to go. First time reading through such a large series (19 books). It's interesting to compare the different authors and how they tell the stories. Some are great at space battles, others are great at the characterization, others delve into canon deeply, etc. It is satisfying seeing the broader arc. The beginning books are all really depressing since they have to set stakes and establish the brand new enemy as a serious threat, but the books I'm on now are on the upswing. Overall I'm enjoying it, some good characters throughout and only a few stinker books.
Just picked up Ninefox Gambit. It's by an author I really like, and I am interested in the story but it's a bit difficult to read. Everyone in the book belongs to one of the six royal houses. What this means is that there are only six last names. People are also referred to by their rank in the military, and as a mythical creature associated with their house. For example, Shuos Jedao is just as likely to be called general, as he is to be called the Immolation Fox.
I get confused with last names alone! That sounds like a nightmare for me. Any chance that the confusion is intentional?
Reading the 8th Discworld book, Guards! Guards! Guards!, I'm reading the series in published order and have been looking forward to this one as I know "The Watch" sub-series is a fan favorite. About a quarter through, and it's got all the usual Discworld humor and witticism that I love
Currently reading: The Scald-Crow by Grace Daly. Y'all. I needed this book. I feel so seen. "This self-deprecating horror novel shot through with gallows humor explores medical trauma through Irish folklore, asking 'Can a sick woman ever be trusted?'" I only started reading horror in the last year or so and I'm enjoying this greatly.
Also reading The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts. Conclusion to a trilogy about a haunted/cursed mansion and the gal who inherits it. I've joked before that her books are half cookbook. This continues to be true. It's nice to see characters take joy in ordinary tasks that I hate lol.
It's been a while since I posted so I won't post all my "recently finished" stuff, but the highlight was One Good Knight by Mercedes Lackey (5 stars).
Edit: accidentally hit post. Up next is Swordheart by T Kingfisher and I'm not sure what else.
I just finished The Scald-Crow. Five stars. Left a review on every platform I could and now I have a reading hangover. Dang.
I've been reading this strange pamphlet, To our friends by the comité invisible. Anarchist and libertarian writing is often nonsense but sometimes it is philosophical and so inapplicable to everyday life that it brings in an interesting perspective which allows you to see things in a new way.
This is in contrast to conservative writing which has a total lack of philosophy but is very applicable to everyday life and I'm proud to read these approved books! The Holy Bible is a solid coherent foundation for a form of government. It fails in boring ways where anarchist text fails in interesting ones.
Currently reading The Once And Future Queen by Paula Lafferty. It's cozy romantasy about Vera who finds out she is actually Queen Guinevere. It's fanfic and takes a lot creative liberties with Aurthurian legend but it's fun!
My next book will be Motherland by Julia Ioffe. It's a historical novel about feminism in Russia ranging from the Bolshevik Revolution to today. My mother's side of the family lived in the Soviet Union under Stalin's rule. I know I will be engaged but it likely be a heavy read
Currently reading the Dune series. I finished Dune and Dune: Messiah last year and now I'm about 100+ pages in Children of Dune. I have the remaining three that Frank also wrote so I'm hoping to at least read up to and including Chapterhouse.
Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (2009) by Michael J. Fox
There are some parts that did not age well, especially the chapter effusively praising Lance Armstrong (whose foundation Fox modeled his own after), and some mentions of his admiration for Bill Cosby, both of whom still hadn't been exposed at the time. And he gets deeper into the nitty gritty of some things like the political fight to allow stem cell research than I expected. But the stories about his personal struggles of dealing with Parkinson's are incredibly moving, and help me put my own problems into better perspective. Also, Fox says early in the book that he is not well educated and only got his GED in his 30s, but his writing is very refined and rich with allusions. It's also very self-deprecating and often funny in just the way you'd expect from him.
The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson, an expansive (768-page) literary novel set in primitive times in the islands of the south seas. The over-arching theme is humanity’s need to exploit the earth’s resources to support its own survival and procreation. (If you run out of resources on an island, the only thing to do is to conquer another island.) It’s primitive man in a Petri dish, with the attending existential struggle.
I've just finished Yanis Varoufakis' novel Another Now, in which he constructs a parallel world to elucidate what he imagines as a possible socioeconomic system more closely aligned with his democratic socialist values.
Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Similar to Shroud in that the setting is a future spacefaring humanity, but even more strongly dystopian (or maybe the same level of dystopian, but from a less-privileged PoV). Features some cool ideas about alien life, about which I'm not far enough into the book to be able to say much more. I have been somewhat disappointed with the writing in this book, though, in a way that I never noticed in his previous books. It's very heavy with chunks of exposition and background info making the same point repeatedly, often even using the same wording. Also, the first-person narration sometimes feels a bit forced in trying to be snarky at all times.
Just previous to this I read A World Out of Time by Larry Niven, and that has a very different style and tone to this, so maybe I'm just overreacting to the contrast. On balance, though, it's still interesting and I'll definitely finish it.
I finished The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story by Olga Tokarczuk. Luckily it was for my book club I participated in yesterday because that gave me a lot of perspective and made me appreciate it a lot more. Great underplayed commentary on our ongoing gender challenges with a smack in the face at the very end. Not my style of book but I'm glad I read it and discussed it with others.
Currently reading Nineteen Eighty-Four. I actually began reading this book sometime in 2024 but never made it beyond the first chapter or two. As one of my resolutions this year is to read more, I've picked this book up again and I am currently on Part 2. Given the recent news of TikTok in the US blocking certain topics, it feels very fitting to read this book now.
Started reading Heat 2 last week. Definitely recommend, if anyone is a fan of the original movie. Quick read, action packed, and the characters feel true to the original. Makes me want to re-watch the movie now that I have more of the backstory to the characters.
Also just finished reading Christopher Hitchens's Thomas Jefferson: Author of America. I don't read much history or non-fiction, but its a very short biography, and with the goings-on in the US I thought it'd be interesting to read about where the country started.
Read Recipe for an Unexpected Afterlife recently. It was a cozy novel about a general in the city of the dead, who gets retired and decides to start a restaurant. The author also has a more action-packed series set in the same universe.
I'm firmly in the latter half of The Crippled God, the final book in Malazan Book of the Fallen. I'm excited to see how the series wraps up! I keep debating what will the next big series I'll read next is. Either a space opera or potentially just continuing down the Malazan rabbit hole.
I also started reading The Fort by Bernard Cornwell which is set in the American Revolutionary War. I've enjoyed his books for a long time, and had the itch to read Sharpe but didn't feel like diving back in to another long series so this book is scratching that itch. This also led me to see he published the last book in his The Saxon Stories series a few years back, which I'll pick up soon to see how that ends.
I started reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight a little while ago. I had a head injury with a minor concussion and took a day off work and decided I'd read something simple, and I'd had the box set of these books on my shelf for years after picking them up at a thrift store. It's filled with tropes, and I'm really enjoying it.
I've got a bunch of other books I jump in to occasionally, my reading has slowed down on this (and in general) over the last couple of weeks with some life stuff going on and I decided to use a bond in Old School Runescape so I had spent some of the time I normally spend reading playing that.