A very busy week, didn’t get to do any reading at all.
What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening lately?
A reminder about our Book Bingo. Take look, if you haven’t already.
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I am currently listening to Good Omens, Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman
Iam sure its great, but i have trouble to actively listen during the evening currently. but that’s a me problem.
Reading
Dracula, Bram Stoker not my first time reading it, so glossing over lines isnt a huge problem, but this book is just comfortably creepy.
Does Neil himself narrate? I’ve heard a few things by him, he’s great.
I’ve got “a full cast production” and Neil is not listed as one of the cast.
i think voice work is done by actors that were part of the amazon series based on the book, i atleast recognize david tennant :D
I love Good Omens. Never fully got through Dracula but reading the annotated version, for as far as I did get, was fun!
weird mix, but Kiki’s Delivery Service during the day and Infinite Jest before bed.
Didn’t know the anime was based on the book, and that there are sequels to this too. Going to check them out.
they’re aimed at teens/young-adults but it’s fun spotting the direct inspirations and differences. also, several Studio Ghibli films are based on books: Howl’s Moving Castle, Tales from Earthsea, The Secret World Of Arietty (kind of), and maybe a few others.
Been reading Dune, almost done then I’m reading Dune Messiah. Working to finish the whole series by the end of the year.
I have not seen any of the movies.
I read Dune a loooong time ago, but while I remember the gist of story, don’t remember the details, so staying away from the movies too. Going to do a re-read, and then watch the movies.
I’ve started Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law again. I got maybe halfway through it a few years ago but wasn’t feeling it. It might have been because the narrator didn’t click with me, so this time I’m reading rather than listening. I’m also about 80% through Sanderson’s The Way of Kings, I wasn’t not enjoying it up to this point but it’s really picking up now.
Other than those there’s the usual slew of series I’m wading through that never seem to end, Dresden Files, Alex Verus, Mercy Thompson, In Death, Incryptid. I’ve got ebooks of everything and I basically rotate chapter by chapter on my tablet, taking a break for an old book club podcast whenever I’m up to the right place in The Way of Kings (The Duke and Duchess Book Club - they did Kingkiller Chronicles, Gentleman Bastards, Stormlight Archives and Malazan Book of the fallen).
Well, Alex Verus has finished so there’s that.
I remember that The Way of Kings was a bit slow to start, but didn’t realise it was this slow. I have been planning a re-read in anticipation of the 5th book, so nice to adjust my expectations.
I gave up on the way of kings twice, 400+ pages in and nothing happens. I get that it’s a massive saga that requires a ton of world building etc., but all of his other books are much easier to lean into.
At this point I’m not sure I’ll try again.
Currently reading:
- Slewfoot (book, made 15% progress though!)
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine (book)
- Chainsaw Man (manga, volume 7)
Finished:
- Haite Kudasai, Takamine-san (manga)
- Chainsaw Man (manga, volume 1-6)
Finally managed to at least finished one manga. I felt that Slewfoot was starting to become a stagnation, like it felt as if the story wasn’t really moving forward. However, I’m now on a turning point and I’m curious how the story will proceed now. I spoiler-tagged where, I’m in the story since it is a huge spoiler for the entire story. So only read it if you have read the entire book, don’t even open it when you are reading it.
I’m at the page where they want to:
spoiler
arrest Abitha on suspicion on being a witch and she obviously refused to.
I just started Slewfoot! I won’t read the spoiler but am definitely feeling the sluggish part. It’s still holding my attention though.
Currently reading Proof of collusion : how Trump betrayed America
I’m finally getting around to this one, and so many who called this a Nothing-burger . . . are still doing that despite all evidence. After Trump called Putin smart for invading Ukraine, and to this day not having a single bad word in his mouth for a murderous authoritarian. The clown can muster insults for dead/captured service members, those with disabilities, anyone he deems weaker than him, anyone who crossed him without adequate leverage. This book helps answer the looming question, of what leverage Putin has on Trump to gag the normal flow of verbal diarrhea.
I finished Rigged by David Shimer just before this one. I really like the style of delivery here where there is seemingly no bias. A lot of quotes in the one I am currently reading, with evidence based context around it. Kind of letting you draw your own conclusions.
I’m only two chapters in thus far, but I’m really enjoying it. I had to reach past Witch Hunt: The Story of the Greatest Mass Delusion in American Political History by Gregg Jarrett to get this one at the library, can only imagine the “facts” in that one.
Listening to Brushfire - Expeditionary Force book 11 by Craig Alanson. Just finished Will Leave the Galaxy for Good by Yahtzee Croshaw.
Expeditionary Force series look pretty interesting. How are you liking it?
I’m enjoying the crap out of it… good humor, a few bits remind me of other series similar. The audio books especially are entertaining I really like the guy reading it. But yeah, 11 books in I’m looking to continue it
I’m wizzing through this series on audible currently, I’m on book 5 and loving it so far. It kinda reminds me of 90s Sci fi shows like stargate with its goofy humour and last minute solutions
Bishop reminds me of a more military minded Creighton from Farscape. Definitely enjoyable.
Oooh, Stargate is one of my all-time favourite show, so this just pushed the series to top of my to-buy list.
I just finished up listening to Blood of Elves, from The Witcher series. I started with the third game when it came out, but I really love the world and the characters, so the books thus far have been very entertaining. I’m not sure I’d really care for them if I wasn’t already immersed because of the game though.
My sister also just loaned me Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. It takes place in a world where people cannot eat the meat of other animals anymore, so they have legalized cannibalism. I’m only a few chapters in so far, but it’s pretty unnerving. I’m honestly not sure if I’ll be able to read it all the way through.
The Witcher is an interesting world. Would be interesting to see how they expand the stories in next games.
That premise about Tender is Flesh made me go from, ‘interesting’ to ‘uhh…’ pretty quickly. Do let us know if you do (or do not) finish the book, and how it goes.
Currently reading Dune by Frank Herbert. (I have not seen the movie yet–I want to read the book first.)
Currently listening to Dead Beat by Jim Butcher. I generally reserve audiobooks for things I have read. I don’t like to reread things but I like listening to them and picking up on the stuff I missed (or in the case of the Dresden Files, forgot.)
I am also reading Dresden File, finished Dead Beat a little while ago, going to start Proven Guilty soon.
How are you liking Dune so far?
I’m surprisingly into it! I’m not much of a major sci-fi person, though I’ve dabbled. It’s a bit harder for me to get into sci-fi in general, and I figured Dune would be a difficult read. But I find it very easy to visualize. Sometimes the random terminology trips me up but I’m still getting the gist enough to enjoy it. I haven’t gotten very far yet so that may change but I think I’m going to like the book.
Finished A Wizard of Earthsea for bingo. I wasn’t really in the right headspace for the narrative style, which made reading it more of a slog than I think it deserved, but I did enjoy the story. It’s not hard to see why Hayao Miyazaki wanted to adapt it: the themes, presentation, and all the little slice of life moments really feel tailor-made for a Ghibli film. (I haven’t seen Tales from* Earthsea.)
Definitely qualifies for: Now a Major Motion Picture, Older Than You Are (1968), Local to You hard mode (Oregon), (alt) A Change in Perspective
_
Started The Last Gifts of the Universe by Rory August last night. Only a few pages in, but it’s light and quippy so far, without being annoying.
Huh, how come I didn’t know there was a Ghibli movie on A Wizard of Earthsea! Time to check it out!
It ended up being Miyazaki’s son’s first movie, and is a mashup of the entire series and some other stuff. Famous for this tidbit (quoted from Wiki):
During a private screening prior to the film’s release, Gorō’s father, Hayao, was asked what he thought of the film. He said, “I was looking at my kid. He’s not an adult yet. That is all.”
Le Guin was also not a fan, so…
Just finished The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
I read the bits covered in the movie and what actually happened is more unbelievable than the movie!
I finished The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time book 8). Not a bad book, but definitely slow and uneventful compared to previous entries.
While I wait for the next book to become available, I’ve picked up Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence (Red Queen’s War book 1). This will be my fourth trilogy by him and I’ve loved them all so far.
Last night I just finished the second book in “The way of the shadows” trilogy.
So far I’ve been enjoying it! And I have quite the list of books to go through too
I was reading Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks, but gave up at the start of book 3. Have you read it? If yes, how do you compare it with The Night Angel series?
I have not read the Lightbringer series, so I can’t offer comparison. But I can say that so far I have enjoyed this series. Some of the interactions I want to resolve sooner than they have but that’s also personal preference.
Some stuff is foreseeable but the plot setups are definitely there in a good way. He hasn’t really made note of anything and then just not used it yet.
Seven Year Witch by Angela M. Sanders.
Due to my work I’ll often do an audiobook. Currently finishing another run of the Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix. It’s a unique take on the pseudo-modern fantasy genre, though potentially darker.
