Hey there, I am curious what everyone is reading and how you are feeling with it. I started demon copperhead yesterday, made it about 70 pages in and decided to read the first book in the chthulu CaseBooks. It’s a kinda retelling of Sherlock Holmes but with a Lovecraft quist.
I am digging it so far, about 50% through and it’s a fun ride.
So what are you all reading?
Currently I am reading two books. The first is; This is your brain on music by Daniel Levitins and the second is; The subtle art of not giving a fuck by MArk Manson.
The first is really nice, but requires a lot of attention of me as termnology I am unfamiliar with is used. Yet it is able to convey tons of information on every page and the subject fascinates me.
The second is really good, very easily digest able and I like the nuance it provides on how to (amongst other things) prioritize your life.I’ll be finishing the last 3 Expanse books once I get my new library card after I moved over a year ago. I made the decision to read the forward and first chapter of my copy of LOTR *eta today. Damn, does it feel like it reads differently than when I read through any of them 8+ years ago. Had a touch-and-go with reading for enjoyment for a while from having to learn different organization/local SOPs for a couple years (during which I read the middle 1/3 of the Expanse). Great to get back into it, though! For Sci-Fi folks, LeVar Burton posted an article on LinkedIn this past week of top modern SciFi. He does say it’s also celebrating him being included on that list. https://theportalist-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/theportalist.com/adult-sci-fi-books?amp=1 Some mild webpage ad alert
Hell yeah! The expanse is such a long series, congratulations
Thanks! Fortunately, I find them to be a pretty easy read. The Sci-Fi explanations and concepts aren’t overly technical, and just enough to really get a good feel for the setting and tech IMO. The first 2/3 were great. I’m really interested in what’ll be going on in the time jump.
Would you recommend reading the expanse books even if someone’s seen the show??
100% even for people who would consider themselves more of a casual or infrequent reader. Anecdotally, I’ve found it harder to sell the show to some people after they watched the first two or three episodes compared to the books for any acquaintance I know who’s into Sci-Fi/reading. The descriptions of the social/society explanations are just as well written as the series’ tech, and the co-authors do a great job. At least one of them was one of GRRM’s editors, so the style structure is somewhat similar, but the writing is an easier read. It is written in character chapters, so as long as that isn’t a total turnoff I’d recommend them.
There are some slight differences that are typical between the show/book. I believe the first 2 seasons are mostly from book 1 and then it picks up from there. I believe it’s the second book, where there is a bit more of the geopolitical storyline compared to the others. Like with most reading, you get better insight to characters’ thought processes and motivations. Books 7-9 aren’t touched on at all in the show, and take place after the show’s end. That’s all I really know about the final 1/3 of the series.
Finally reading Dune for the first time. Enjoying it so far, about a third of the way through. I’ve been dying to watch the movie, but I’m the book-before-movie type.
I unfortunately don’t get to do a lot of leisure reading, which is why I love the whole idea behind Bookrastinating. The last book I read is Jillian Tamaki’s Boundless, which I thoroughly enjoyed for the way its stories linger. Before that, I read William Gibson’s Idoru, which I enjoyed. Currently, I’m hoping to have time to dive in to Jon Courtenay Grimwood’s End of the World Blues, hoping to see how this Anglophone author writes a novel set in sci-fi Japan compares with Gibson.
All very interesting reads here, by the way! (I’ll try to play around with tagging your handles…)
I read Cell when it first came out and quite enjoyed it. You’re certainly right about the pace, @mizu6079.
@JustJack23, that looks interesting, too, as most Verso titles are. I especially like these titles that invite a rethinking of the State of Things. That approach reminds me of Peter Frase’s Four Futures: Life After Capitalism. I haven’t read my copy of that yet though.
@TheaoneAndOnly27, thanks for mentioning the Cthulhu Casebooks. Sounds fascinating. Have you read Shadows Over Baker Street? That seems like something that’s up your alley. Good contributors, too, for the most part!
Just finished the novels… I found the ending very satisfying.
I’m missing a couple of short stories in that universe.
I read Demon Copperhead earlier this year and it took some time to get through it. Overall I enjoyed it but it does go on and on a bit. Currently reading How High We Go in the Dark. It’s kind of depressing so it’s taking some time to get through as well.
Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson.
Third book in the series, bloody massive, and loving it. Damn that man can write… and write faster than I can read. 😂
I’m reading Thinner by Stephen King. It’s my first King novel and I’m really enjoying it.
Linda Elder, Richard Paul - Critical Thinking…
I knew before I started it it’s gonna be one of the most important books I will ever read in my life. After the first 12% it hasn’t disappointed a bit.
City of Beasts by Isabel Allende. Didn’t realize it was for young adults until after I bought it, but it’s pretty good so far!
Finishing up Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. I’m on book 10, The Crippled God. It’s taken almost 2 years because I had a kid in the middle of it.
I can’t even begin to describe how dense and fantastic it is. I feel like it’s spoiled fantasy for me. I can’t imagine anyone else ever coming close. Going to take a break for a while and read something else before trying another series in that world.
I just started Reapers Gale. Can’t begin to describe how crazy the world building is.
Currently reading Heretics of Dune. It’s…very different from the first three but only as different as God Emperor of Dune was.
Oh man, I’m so jealous at you getting to read the Dune books for the first time. I’m about to start Children on my third reread, and every time I read the series I’m just as enthralled as the first time. Dune + Children is probably my second favorite novel ever written, though God Emperor is close behind them.
I’ve been chipping away at A Promised Land by Barack Obama, as well as listening to The 1619 Project on my commute (Audible). I’m really enjoying them but non-fiction always takes me so much longer to read than fiction. I can’t wait really get in the right headspace most days, so it’s more of a gradual chipping away
I’m also reading a technical book, Domain-Driven Design by Eric Evans for a work book club I help run, and we’re taking that one week by week, and it’s a really good book in terms of what you learn. Bit dry to read though
I’m reading the Passage trilogy!!! Just finished book 2
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi. Bloody amazing.
That was the last book I finished, and it was solid. The “getting the gang back together” part was fun, and the latter half just picked up from there. Without getting too spoilery I think the last character from her past showing up, and the more fantastical shift from there on, really added a lot to the enjoyment factor.
