this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2023
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I'm about 70% through the second Jurassic Park book and it's ok. People on /r/books seemed to think it was even better than the first, but it feels like a slog compared to the first. I'm looking forward to moving on to Stephen King's The Stand.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I have books scattered throughout the house, and so what I’m reading changes depending on where I am.

  • If I’m going to sit outside, I’ll grab the book I keep on the table next to the back door. Currently that’s Stephen King’s Bag of Bones

  • If I’m going to read in bed, then I pick up Tuesdays with Morris by Mitch Albom

  • If I’m going to read in the bath, I’ll grab my Kindle and work through Alma Katsu’s The Deep

  • If I’m in my office chair, I’ll work on The Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defence, by Suzette Haden Elgin

Kind of a funny way of going about things, but there it is, heh

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm currently reading Moby Dick for the first time and I'm loving it. I didn't expect it to be so funny! This is the first book I've read by Herman Melville and his writing style is just beautiful.

I'm excited for you to start Stephen King's The Stand, it's one of my favorite of his!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm 3/4ths of the way through The Name of the Wind.

Man has this book ever sucked me into it's world. I'd recommend checking it out if your into fantasy.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I loved this book so much when I was a teenager that I immediately re-read it after finishing it. The prose and pacing was sublime. Although I know some wouldn't agree. But the story just seems to meander in a delightful way. Another thing I enjoyed is the "stories with stories" aspect. I won't say more about that in order to spare you from spoilers, but I'd recommend a re-read asap if you're up for it. You'll find many connections you missed the first time.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I've got some bad news about book 3...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I think I’m more upset about doors of stone than GOT

[–] BreakNeckJim 3 points 1 year ago

Let's welcome a new member to the Kingkiller 3 waiting room... Haha

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I'm listening to Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. I've been in a reading slump for a few months now. I'm struggling to find something engaging. This one is interesting but I'm not that invested yet.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just finished Devolution by Max Brooks and it was REALLY good. I would definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for a thriller about Sasquatch!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I listened to this on audiobook and it was great. It had a huge cast.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I am currently starting my first Joe Abercrombie book, The Blade Itself. I have heard it compared to A Song of Fire and Ice, in terms of grim dark fantasy, but it did not grip me as quickly. I feel more that it is totally its own thing and that comparison hurts it a bit.

[–] BreakNeckJim 2 points 1 year ago

The first one is probably the weakest but the series as a whole is very solid. Very genre defying as well, it's not really what you expect at first

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I'm reading The Fifth Civilization by Peter Bingham Pankratz. It's very good, sort of a blend of Mass Effect and the first book of The Expanse.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

The Guns Above By Robyn Bennis.
If blimps were ever used in early 19th century warfare
Quite entertaining

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Too many books... Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson, Elle et son chat by Makoto Shinkai, El dador de recuerdos (The Giver) by Lois Lowry, L'Age des low-tech by Pierre Bilhouix and The Ecology of Wisdom by Arne Naess. I'm not reading chapters super regularly from all of these but I'm slowly chipping my way through them (especially The Giver since Spanish is my weakest language.)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I just started reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King. I normally mostly read sci-fi but I figured I'd take a break and read this one since I've heard good things.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Reading Overlord LN currently. It's amazing.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. It’s great so far. Reminds me of A Brief History of Time.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm currently reading Stephen King's The Shining for the second time. It was the first the book that I read for the sake of actually reading, not because school made me do it.

I can't really remember the first time reading it but for now it's an amazing read.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is one of my favorite books. I’ve read it probably 4 or 5 times, and every time I come back to it, depending on where I am in my life, I get something different from it—as a son, as a father, as a man struggling personally, it just speaks to me on so many different levels.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've also read The shining multiple times. Stephen King is one of the few authors where I enjoy rereading his stuff again and again. I've read a lot of really great books that I'm not going to pick up again and I wonder what it is that makes me want to reread the same book sometimes and not other times even if I really loved the book.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Currently reading The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow. This feels like a good one, so I'm taking it slow to maximise the enjoyment.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I love The Stand. It is one of my favorite books of all time.

I am currently reading three books. I am reading a physical copy of The Maid by Nita Prose and the MC is really exasperating. I am reading an e-copy of Sapiens by Yuval Noah Hurari and it is interesting and easy to read. And finally I am listening to The It Girl by Ruth Ware whom I usually love but so far the story is dragging.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Started The Watchmaker's Daughter by Dianne Haley, about a young Swiss woman in the Resistance during WWII. She lives near the border with France and helps someone who's rescuing Jewish children and passes messages. Probably not the right time for a subject with that much weight for me though, plus my fiction brain is distracted by a 40 episode Chinese historical drama.

[–] sweetcuppincakes 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm 20% or so through Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. It's cool, but not really my speed. Thinking of DNFing it and moving on to And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, which I also have checked out from the library.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I didn't love either of those tbh. Pachinko seemed too long/slow for me but not a terrible book overall.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm on book 4 (Taltos) of a re-read of the Vlad Taltos books by Steven Brust. Book 16 (Tsalmoth) came out not too long ago, and 17 is due out next year. I've loved these books since I found them in high school when book 5 (Phoenix) first came out. So far they're every bit as enjoyable as I remember them being the first time through. They're "fun" reads with interesting twists and and character banter, I recommend anyone wanting to tackle a new series to pick up the first book, Jhereg.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

In the Distance by Hernan Diaz. Swedish kid ends up in California during the gold rush and is trying to find his brother who is in New York City. He travels east through the country against the current of settlers heading west. Very fun take on the western genre.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm on my first re-read of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Last time I read it was about 15-20 years ago and it's every bit as delightful as I remembered.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm reading Death's End which is the third part in Liu Cixins Remembrance of Earth's Past series. I'm really loving the way Liu explains all the physics and science behind all the technology in the series. Can't wait for the Netflix adaptation.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

@minorsecond The Sharing Knife: Beguilement by Lois Bujold, and I love it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I’m currently chapter 4 in Crime and Punishment, Chapter 2 in The Count of Monte Cristo, and chapter 15 in Leviathan Wakes. I just started reading again since I feel like my depression is coming back. I wanna take my mind off right now with what’s happening to me mentally. Hopefully it gets better soon.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Just finished up mistborn era 2. Probably going to go for some shorter stand alone next. Maybe I am legend.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm finally reading The Martian by Andy Weir, picked it up on a whim when I brought the kids to the library on Saturday and I'm almost finished it now. I've actually had it on my Kindle for a while but never got around to starting it. I'm enjoying it, looking forward to reading his other books soon.

I read mostly on my Kindle, but I prefer (and miss) reading actual books. But most of my reading is done when its dark and not always able to turn on a light.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

That's a fun book! I enjoy his stuff. Have you read Project Hail Mary? I recommend that next if you are looking for more of his work.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky : I really love it!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Ooh this is one of my long-term to-reads. I'm intimidated by the size though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've been reading Anansi Boys for a while. I enjoy it while I'm reading it, but I have definitely struggled with the motivation to pick it up and start reading it again after I put it down.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I’m shamelessly entering my romantasy / book tok era… I’m working my way through the throne of glass series now.

For the record my taste is not always such trash. My phase before this one was all the Hugo / Nebula award winners.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Currently reading "Between Two Fires" and absolutely loving it. It's creepy, funny, and heartbreaking all at the same time. I can't remember the last time I got sucked into a book like this.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I just started The Three Body Problem. I'm hoping the plot is engaging once it takes off, because so far the writing and characters aren't doing a whole lot for me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

@Twaffle
@minorsecond
It's one of those where I absolutely loved the ideas, and was meh on the execution.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Manly P Hall, The Secret Teachings of all Ages Ted Kaczynski, Industrial Society and its Future

I tend to read 2-3 books in parallel and randomly continue reading based on mood. I love Hall's writing style and the amount of knowledge he put into the work and considering that he wasn't even 30 when it was first published, it's an incredible read for someone who recently had a spiritual awakening.

Rereading Ted's Manifesto after reading of his death yesterday. Its impressive how he foresaw what technology would do to our society and how disruptive the industrial-capitalist-technocratic trifecta would be for humans.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

My 'big read' this year is Finnegans Wake which I am reading weekly along with the reddit TrueLit sub. It would be a very different experience without the comments and interpretation from there, so that's something that I will be thinking about...

Otherwise, The Twisted Ones by T Kingfisher, which is engaging and well paced, a Doctor Who novel from the '90s and am listening to Ron Hutton's Queens of the Wild. This books are always authoritative and entertaining but I have only just started this one so can't say a lot so far.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Just finished reading Iron Gold by Pierce Brown, book four in the Red Rising series. Now I'm starting on the fifth book Dark Age. It's overall been entertaining and has some interesting sci-fi concepts.

However my personal gripe has been that throughout the series you can most of the time guess far off what's going to essentially happen. Some people may like that kind of thing but I personally like it better when I can't predict everything. Overall I'd still recommend the series of you like dystopian sci-fi.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I just finished chapter 1 of Cory Doctorow's Attack Surface. I want to read more, which is always a good sign!

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