What are you reading?

[kibitzer]

"Memories of the Future, Volume 1" by Wil Wheaton -- bought this for my dad, and finally had time to borrow his copy. HILARIOUS, but only if you like Wheaton's style. Otherwise... well, it's not a tell-all, so there's not a ton of behind-the-scenes stuff. But then, I've never been a huge BTS fan.

It's not a tell-all and it's not meant to be :-)  But it IS funny if you don't mind Wil swearing and putting a few bad images in your head.

[stePH]

Listening to Dune- yes, don't laugh, this is my first time. I will buy it in paper, I just wanted to close my eyes on the plane.

Is it the Recorded Books edition, read by George Guidall? I'm quite fond of that one myself.

[DKT]

I'm halfway through the audiobook of On Stranger Tides and I am enjoying it more than I expected.  It's so fun.  It really does remind me of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies even if it was written before the first one came out.  I think Disney must have borrowed heavily from this book.  I saw the synopsis of the next Pirates movie that's supposedly based on this book and it sounds like the only things they have in common is the Fountain of Youth, Blackbeard, and a daughter.

On Stranger Tides is so much fun! Really, really enjoyed it.

[Ocicat]

I'm halfway through the audiobook of On Stranger Tides and I am enjoying it more than I expected.  It's so fun.  It really does remind me of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies even if it was written before the first one came out.  I think Disney must have borrowed heavily from this book.  I saw the synopsis of the next Pirates movie that's supposedly based on this book and it sounds like the only things they have in common is the Fountain of Youth, Blackbeard, and a daughter.

On Stranger Tides is so much fun! Really, really enjoyed it.

I told you guys!  It's the platonic ideal of fantasy pirate novels.

[Scattercat]

More anthologies.  Finished up "Wastelands" from Nightshade books and "Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens," edited by Jane Yolen.  Both pretty good collections.  The "Teens" book has my other favorite story from Kelly Link's "Magic for Beginners," from which came the apparently befuddling PodCastle episode, "Some Zombie Contingency Plans."  (That story is "The Faery Handbag," and it would make an even better PodCastle episode, in my opinion.  Editors!  Eh?  Eh?)

Now I'm on an old "Mammoth Book of Best New Horror Stories" and a "Best New Tales of Terror."  I really enjoyed "The Boss in the Walls," but reading it was like trying to plow through Faulkner, sometimes.

Soon, I'll be out of anthologies and will move back to nonfiction with Steven Pinker's "How the Mind Works."  Looking forward to that one.

[gateaux]

I've hardly made any time to read these past two months, but I've been on a Jane Austen tear. I picked up a bunch of cheap-o classics at Chapters not too long ago.

[eytanz]

I'm currently most of the way through David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas. It's a literary piece which exists in multiple genres, two of them being traditionally speculative - a dystopian future where menial labour is performed by an underclass of genetically engineered clones, and a post-apocalyptic world that exists in the wake of the dystopia's eventual collapse. The whole novel is very well written, and combines its different narratives in a rather ingenious way, but it is very much a literary novel rather than a speculative fiction novel - the pieces seem to exist more as commentary on the genre classics in which they were written rather than stories on their own right. It doesn't happen often these days that I read a book and wish I had read it for class back when I was an English major undergrad, but that is true in this case - this feels like I book I'd enjoy discussing more than I enjoy just reading it.

[FireTurtle]

Listening to Dune- yes, don't laugh, this is my first time. I will buy it in paper, I just wanted to close my eyes on the plane.

Is it the Recorded Books edition, read by George Guidall? I'm quite fond of that one myself.

Actually it was some anniversary edition reading at the iTunes store. Many different voice actors. It was a very unique audio adaptation. I'm not sure I liked it terribly much compared to having a single narrator.

[Gamercow]

Diamond Age, or The Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, again.  The first half of this book excels, the third quarter is done well, but the last quarter flounders a bit.  Its like Stephenson had all these excellent plot lines, and said "Oh crap, I have to tie these up."  I still love the book, and every time I read it, I find a little more. 

[CryptoMe]

I've hardly made any time to read these past two months, but I've been on a Jane Austen tear. I picked up a bunch of cheap-o classics at Chapters not too long ago.

A few years ago, I read The Annotated Pride and Prejudice.

Now, I love the original, but this was even better. All those little details about life in the period were truly fascinating and really gave you a better glimpse into the characters and their situations. An very interesting and fun read.

[Boggled Coriander]

I have to agree with Gamercow.  The Diamond Age is probably the most flawed of all of Stephenson's non-collaborative novels, largely for the reasons mentioned, but there's a lot that's utterly brilliant about it too.  It's kind of frustrating.

Currently reading Cherie Priest's Boneshaker.  I want to like it, but there's something about it that's keeping me from becoming really entranced.  Oh, I'll finish it surely enough eventually, but it's taking me longer than it should because when I put it down I'm not exactly looking forward to picking it up again.  And I'm not sure why.

[Sandikal]

Currently reading Cherie Priest's Boneshaker.  I want to like it, but there's something about it that's keeping me from becoming really entranced.  Oh, I'll finish it surely enough eventually, but it's taking me longer than it should because when I put it down I'm not exactly looking forward to picking it up again.  And I'm not sure why.

I really liked Boneshaker and have Dreadnought downloaded on my iPod for future listening.  (I read the paperback of Boneshaker.)  One of the GoodReads groups I belonged to had it as the book of the month recently and quite a few people had the reaction you did.  I think it's because the style is unusual.  I don't quite know how to describe it.  It seems pretty normal, but it's really written like an early Twentieth-century dimestore novel.  The narrative keeps a certain distance between the reader and the characters.  It's almost gothic in tone.

[jrderego]

Every Man in this Village is a Liar - Megan Stack.

[DKT]

Currently reading Cherie Priest's Boneshaker.  I want to like it, but there's something about it that's keeping me from becoming really entranced.  Oh, I'll finish it surely enough eventually, but it's taking me longer than it should because when I put it down I'm not exactly looking forward to picking it up again.  And I'm not sure why.

I really liked Boneshaker and have Dreadnought downloaded on my iPod for future listening.  (I read the paperback of Boneshaker.)  One of the GoodReads groups I belonged to had it as the book of the month recently and quite a few people had the reaction you did.  I think it's because the style is unusual.  I don't quite know how to describe it.  It seems pretty normal, but it's really written like an early Twentieth-century dimestore novel.  The narrative keeps a certain distance between the reader and the characters.  It's almost gothic in tone.

It's not the style - at least, it wasn't for me. I loved the actual Southern Gothic novels Priest wrote. But Boneshaker (and it's characters) never developed as much as  I wanted it to. And, man. I really wanted to like that one.

That said, I've heard people with similar reactions are really digging Dreadnought, so I'm hoping I'll dig that one more. Curious as to what you think of the audio version!

[kibitzer]

The Inverted World by Christopher Priest.

[Ocicat]

Okay, this is more "what I want to read"

Moby Dick.

I've seen countless adaptations of Moby Dick into movies, comics, Jaws, what have you - I like the images and themes, and what I've read of the more famous bits of prose.  But I've always been intimidated by it.  I like sailing history, but long chapters about whaling still seem like they'll put me to sleep.  I've been considering an audiobook version - at the very least I can let the duller bits drone on while I'm commuting. 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a particularly good reading?  Could be on CD, or from Librivox, whatever...

[Sandikal]

Currently reading Cherie Priest's Boneshaker.  I want to like it, but there's something about it that's keeping me from becoming really entranced.  Oh, I'll finish it surely enough eventually, but it's taking me longer than it should because when I put it down I'm not exactly looking forward to picking it up again.  And I'm not sure why.

I really liked Boneshaker and have Dreadnought downloaded on my iPod for future listening.  (I read the paperback of Boneshaker.)  One of the GoodReads groups I belonged to had it as the book of the month recently and quite a few people had the reaction you did.  I think it's because the style is unusual.  I don't quite know how to describe it.  It seems pretty normal, but it's really written like an early Twentieth-century dimestore novel.  The narrative keeps a certain distance between the reader and the characters.  It's almost gothic in tone.

It's not the style - at least, it wasn't for me. I loved the actual Southern Gothic novels Priest wrote. But Boneshaker (and it's characters) never developed as much as  I wanted it to. And, man. I really wanted to like that one.

That said, I've heard people with similar reactions are really digging Dreadnought, so I'm hoping I'll dig that one more. Curious as to what you think of the audio version!

I finished listening to On Stranger Tides and highly recommend this in audio.  It was wonderful!  I started listening to Dreadnought today and I'm really enjoying it.  It's narrated by Kate Reading who did part of The Way of Kings.  She's a very good narrator.  The book starts with a cameo appearance from my childhood heroine, Clara Barton.  How can I resist?

[gateaux]

I've hardly made any time to read these past two months, but I've been on a Jane Austen tear. I picked up a bunch of cheap-o classics at Chapters not too long ago.

A few years ago, I read The Annotated Pride and Prejudice.

Now, I love the original, but this was even better. All those little details about life in the period were truly fascinating and really gave you a better glimpse into the characters and their situations. An very interesting and fun read.

Oh that looks really interesting! I'll have to check it out! Thanks!

[Sandikal]

I'm ripping through the audio books right now. I finished Dreadnought by Cherie Priest today and am starting on Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.  I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for Anathem and have started All Clear by Connie Willis and Saturn's Children by Charles Stross.

[DKT]

I'm ripping through the audio books right now. I finished Dreadnought by Cherie Priest today and am starting on Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.  I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for Anathem and have started All Clear by Connie Willis and Saturn's Children by Charles Stross.

So Dreadnought was cool? Thinking about picking it up in audio, as there's a better chance of me listening to it before I'll have time to read it.

I am almost finished listening to Jim Butcher's Fool Moon, Dresden Files 2 after hearing enthusiasm for it around these parts. Thus far, I have pretty much the same opinion of Dresden/Butcher as I did after reading Storm Front. Dresden just seems...not very smart to me. He puts himself into situations thinking, "This will probably get me killed, but why not give it a shot?" Um, because it'll probably get you killed? And he does this a lot. Also, if people can punch each other (or shoot each other, or whatever) instead of talking, they will. So I dunno, among urban fantasy anti-heroes that I have read, I think I'd put him below John Constantine, Joe Pitt, Felix Castor, Marla Mason, and John Taylor. But, obviously, I'm in the minority, because he sells more than any of those others, so Butcher is clearly doing something people dig. Just not my thing.

That said, James Marsters reads the audiobooks, and he makes them a lot of fun. I'm actually considering checking out another one because he does his best to sell it, and actually makes them fun (despite the frustrating stuff), and they're light listening.

At one point, the villian in the story says to him, "You should've pulled the trigger, Dresden, instead of moralizing." And I thought, "NO SHIT!" 

[Scattercat]

Yeah, Dresden's a doofus.  Still, he's not supposed to be smart or right; they're pretty honest about the fact that he does dumbass things and only succeeds through blind luck half the time.  The books are light fun, though; I like wisecracking and patter.

You wouldn't hear a word of complaint from me if Karrin Murphy was the main character instead, though.  Not a peep.

[Sandikal]

I've read all the Dresden Files novels so far.  The series really didn't hook me until the third one.  I just downloaded Side Jobs with my latest Audible credits.  It will be my first time listening to the Dresden Files rather than reading.  My daughter and her husband love the series in audio, so I thought I'd give it a try.  I'm mostly doing the audio because I have too many paper and ebooks to read right now.

[stePH]

Is [Dune] the Recorded Books edition, read by George Guidall? I'm quite fond of that one myself.

Actually it was some anniversary edition reading at the iTunes store. Many different voice actors. It was a very unique audio adaptation. I'm not sure I liked it terribly much compared to having a single narrator.

Ah; don't know that one. I liked the "full cast" audio of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, with Pullman himself reading the narrative.
The Dune audio has Guidall reading the whole thing, with the exception of the princess Irulan's epigraphs beginning each chapter, which were read by some woman whose name eludes me.

* * *
Finally finished Deuteronomy, and now well into Joshua... wherein the Israelites invade Canaan, slaughter the inhabitants, raze the cities, and claim the land for themselves. YHVH said they could, so it's okay!

[DKT]

I've read all the Dresden Files novels so far.  The series really didn't hook me until the third one.  I just downloaded Side Jobs with my latest Audible credits.  It will be my first time listening to the Dresden Files rather than reading.  My daughter and her husband love the series in audio, so I thought I'd give it a try.  I'm mostly doing the audio because I have too many paper and ebooks to read right now.

Yeah, I have to say I felt like James Marsters readings added a lot to it, and almost made-up for the bits in the narrative that frustrated me.

Oh, also - I forgot to mention in the previous post - Butcher does spin a bunch a lot of plot threads and then does a great job of weaving them together in the second half (at least of this book) with lots of action and carnage and making it all go BOOM.

[kibitzer]

Butcher does spin a bunch a lot of plot threads and then does a great job of weaving them together in the second half (at least of this book) with lots of action and carnage and making it all go BOOM.

Oh yeah!! I reckon that's possibly one of his best writing skills.

Y'know, I haven't noticed a lot of the writing "mistakes" others have mentioned. This concerns me. Does it mean that, if I really really do try to be a writer I'll enjoy other people's work less?