what are YOU reading?

[wesoda25]

Made it my goal to read more this summer. I've started by checking out old, wacky sci-fi and fantasy. I'll post my updates on whats good or not, I just had the displeasure of getting halfway through an AWFUL sci fi called "Blood Music." I chose it bc it had a cool cover but... woof. Decided to toss that and start "A Face in the Frost" which is shaping up to be a MUCH more fun and interesting little wizard story.

Also just recently finished my first re-read of game of thrones. I fell down some crazy but surface level theory rabbit holes on youtube from the likes of Preston Jacobs. Adds a new light to almost all character motivations and actions, which is fun. The Danny arc in particular has been worthwhile rereading, simply in trying to decipher the schemes of all the people involved with her. The Night Watch story with Jon is still awesome as well. I feel as if given the nature of Jon it's presented very simply, but there is SO much going on behind the scenes (more than just bloodraven :p ). His decision with the pink letter still infuriates me, but I doubt whether I can even take his speech at face value. ugh

My favorite part in re-reading is getting to enjoy the riverlands chapters again. I simply love Arya and Brienne's odd and awful adventures through the wet, war-torn region with their odd little band of survivors. The ever looming threat of rain, flooding, and senseless violence adds a real thrill and vividness to the chapters for me. Combined with that are some incredibly compelling monologues and character arcs. I now have a very tender spot in my heart for Septon Meribald's oranges and Arya's visit to Acorn Hall. Those little acts of compassion and kindness in the midst of the depravity of war are very heartwarming, GRRM is really a fantastic writer. Fingers crossed that we see WoW in the next decade!

ALSO reading Little Women, a chapter each night before bed. I'm not sure if or when the girls' little world will be spoiled, but currently it's a very comforting read that I've really come around to. At first I was quite bored and wrote it off as being dated, but its sweet and perhaps deceptively simple world has really grown on me.

[kinnebian]

im reading the ciaphas cain trilogy right now, and its really good if youre into warhammer whatsoever
also finished house of leaves a week back, and it is a really good read if youre into mind bending shittery

[WineAllWine]

This isn't related at all to what you're reading, but one of my favourite books is "Dreyer's English: An utterly correct guide to clarity and style". It's written by a copyeditor and you can tell — every word, every punctuation mark is in its perfect place. It's just so east to read. It even has specific sections that mention "oh, this rule doesn't apply in Britain" or "If you're in America, instead you have to do x"

[kinnebian]

This isn't related at all to what you're reading, but one of my favourite books is "Dreyer's English: An utterly correct guide to clarity and style". It's written by a copyeditor and you can tell — every word, every punctuation mark is in its perfect place. It's just so east to read. It even has specific sections that mention "oh, this rule doesn't apply in Britain" or "If you're in America, instead you have to do x"

this sounds awful and wonderful, i want to read it

[Nabski]

I'm about to start Empire of a Vampire on a friends recommendation. This months book club book is Thistlefoot. Last month was Song of Achilles, before that was Moonraker. I've also been slamming through litrpg and cultivation novels. Like four in the last two weeks.

I still can't convince anyone to read Practical Guide to Evil.

[WineAllWine]

This isn't related at all to what you're reading, but one of my favourite books is "Dreyer's English: An utterly correct guide to clarity and style". It's written by a copyeditor and you can tell — every word, every punctuation mark is in its perfect place. It's just so east to read. It even has specific sections that mention "oh, this rule doesn't apply in Britain" or "If you're in America, instead you have to do x"

this sounds awful and wonderful, i want to read it

Allow me to find you some ""fun"" quotes from it:

regarding commas:

Sometimes a comma makes no sense at all.
> Suddenly, he ran from the room
Makes it all rather less sudden doesn't it?

regarding semicolons:

Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college

[blackdav123]

I read Roadside Picnic recently, would definitely recommend if you like scifi. I also recommend anything by Kurt Vonnegut.

[WineAllWine]

but my favourite favourite books are Allie Brosh's books. They can always make me laugh


(I don't get anything if you click on that link)

[TheRex9001]

I started reading the first horus heresy book, its pretty good but I liked Nightlords omnibus more (so far)

[Farquaar]

Common Good Constitutionalism by Adrian Vermeule
or at least I was until I got swamped with work

[wesoda25]

I finished "The Face in the Frost." Short, sweet, and simple, which my attention span appreciates. It's a meandering, whimsical little story about two wizards who set out to uncover the mystery of an ominous "force" slowly infesting their world. Night fires that cast unmoving shadows, fogs that can't remember whether they're supposed to be solid or gaseous, and faces forming in the frost on windows. Whatever it is, it seems to be affecting reality itself, and the noblemen and smallfolk alike are on edge... check it out!

Up next, a sci-fi called "The Moon Pool"

As for Little Women, I haven't had the time or energy for it lately, but it will be read.

[TheRex9001]

I finished ’The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’, really good book. Highly recommend Reading this one. Its pretty funny at times but in general it speaks on very heavy topics. If you care about awards it won the booker price 2022.

Its about a photographer who dies in the Sri Lankan civil war and now has 7 moons to make sure his lover finds a box of photos which will alter the course of the conflict.

[Bepis]

Currently re-reading Neuromancer. It's wonderful, I'm glad to hear someone's trying to get it made into a TV series

[wesoda25]

Back on the reading train for the first time since... middle school? Feels awesome.

I finally managed to read LOTR in its entirety. It was a bit painful at times, but ultimately worthwhile. Tolkien can be a bit too ponderous for my taste but he really is an excellent writer, I feel there's a lot to learn from him. Also, just plotwise: Denethor is my new fav character, he was a MUCH needed foil to Gandalf and the rest of the "wise" in the story which I greatly appreciated. Additionally I appreciate Frodo more. In the books you get a solid understanding of how his character traits (wisdom, humbleness, pragmatism) made him best suited to be ring bearer. In the movies, it feels as if his only character trait is that he IS the ring bearer. Finally, I also came to appreciate just how great of a character Golum was. LOTR gets flack for its binary good vs evil shtick, but obvious counter of "it's a fairy tale" aside, it's amazing just how much complexity and meaning Tolkien could create even within that simple dynamic. Even the black and white characters (ex: Gandalf/witch king) possess more qualities than just good/evil, but then you look at someone like Golum who presents such a pitiable and upsetting picture of a "normal" person who has been spoiled by mere circumstance... . I don't quite know how to articulate my point, but I thought Golum was an extraordinary character and that ultimately the heart and meaning of the story (for me) can be found in his actions/outlook and how other characters choose to interact with him.

In other news, reread Eragon (fun), Moon Pool and A Wind in the Door (decent), and "City" by Clifford D. Simak (fantastic, highly recommend, might elaborate on later). Currently reading Tuf Voyaging by GRRM rn, good as far as sci-fi goes but average for books in general. So far Tuf is really the only genuine character, it feels. Also looking to reread Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami soon, I want to see if I can make more sense of it now that I'm older than I was for my first couple reads. see cool pic below

[wesoda25]

I finished ’The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’, really good book. Highly recommend Reading this one. Its pretty funny at times but in general it speaks on very heavy topics. If you care about awards it won the booker price 2022.

Its about a photographer who dies in the Sri Lankan civil war and now has 7 moons to make sure his lover finds a box of photos which will alter the course of the conflict.

Neat, might peep.

Currently re-reading Neuromancer. It's wonderful, I'm glad to hear someone's trying to get it made into a TV series

Tell us more

[Bepis]

Tell us more

About Neuromancer? It's William Gibson's first novel that basically codified Cyberpunk as a genre. He had previously released a series of short stories, 'Burning Chrome' that resulted in a few screen adaptations, most notably Johnny Mnemonic. It's responsible for terms like cyberspace, ICE, and 'jacking in'. It inspired works like The Matrix (it coined the term as well) and Blade Runner, and is followed by Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive. AppleTV is apparently making it into a show, which is good. No one could slam the novel into two hours, I'm glad they're not trying to.

Neuromancer follows the story of Henry Dorsett Case, a hacker/netrunner as he takes a job as part of a heist crew. It's got space Jamaicans, a dead guy in a server, pompous french detectives, a vat grown ninja, a sociopath, and Brazil (this will all make sense in context if you read it). Most of the book is from Case's perspective with a notable exception or two. There aren't many twists, but I'm trying to avoid outright spoilers as much as possible. I can't recommend reading the novel hard enough, it's extremely good.

I started reading the first horus heresy book, its pretty good but I liked Nightlords omnibus more (so far)

Check out Pawns of Chaos by Brian Craig. Most of it is from the POV of Tzeentch worshipers, and it's one of my favorite 40k novels. If you can't find it, I can put on my pirate hat and send you a link.

edit: did not realize how old the comment was that I replied to, apologies

[Imitates-The-Lizards]

As a huge fan of xianxia, I'm reading "Against the Gods" right now. Although it still isn't good enough to compare to Reverend Insanity, and the quality difference between the two is still as wide as the gap between heaven and earth, for the novels in the lower realm I would say so far that it sits squarely at the top, fighting fiercely against "Heavenly Jewel Change" for the #2 spot. Some of the plot points at several hundred chapters in have even left me emotional, and the main character's fierce, venomous tongue are truly admirable. I'm enjoying it a lot.