What are you Reading Now?

[Mythopoet]

Oh, yeah--the Lyonesse books are great, though I still like The Dying Earth books a little more. Thank goodness for Jack Vance!

The Dying Earth is certainly more remarkable, particularly for its uniqueness and the sheer brilliance of its worldbuilding. Though I find Lyonesse more enjoyable to read on a story level. I cannot quite manage to care about anyone in The Dying Earth. It is a marvel, but the fatalism infecting the stories makes me feel more like a detached observer than someone immersed in the story. It is interesting in that both The Dying Earth and Lyonesse take place in a setting that will soon perish (we are informed as much at the beginning of the first Lyonesse book and off course The Dying Earth is dying) but Lyonesse does not wallow in the same fatalism. As the story focuses more and more on the efforts of Aillas, who is a wonderful character, it compels a hopeful view for the future. I know at some point all the good that Aillas has done so far must collapse, but my heart doesn't want to believe it. I am invested in him and his plans for the future despite myself.

 

[Mythopoet]

Well, I finished The Green Pearl a while ago and moved on to Madouc, but I'm sick of rebellious young princesses who just want to do nothing but what they want to do. When will this trope die? So Madouc isn't appealing to me.

I read and finished "Crooked House" by Agatha Christie, which was quite good.

And I've started rereading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell which I really love.

 

[Russ]

Just finished my friend's latest book the 14th Colony. I really think it is his best novel yet and gives me hope that my future novels will be better than my current one!

If you are a fan of historical thrillers I highly recommend it on a number of levels. If you are a fan of Cotton Malone I assume you already own it.

 

[Brian Scott Allen]

Just borrowed from the local library A Wizard of Earth Sea and two Clancy novels. Excited to read some stuff that isn't school related.

 

[Chessie]

A Spoonful Of Poison by M.C. Beaton.

 

[Brian Scott Allen]

A Spoonful Of Poison...

Does it make the medicine come up?

 

[Chessie]

LOL. This book is not what I was expecting. Usually it's one murder and then somewhere down the line another. I'm still in chapter 1 and numerous people have already died. Bomb.

 

[Geo]

Just borrowed from the local library A Wizard of Earth Sea and two Clancy novels. Excited to read some stuff that isn't school related.

I think that all who want to read good prose, actually great prose, should read Ursula LeGuin. The five book of Earth Sea not only show her skill as a writer but also her abilities in defining cultures. I hope you like it.

 

[Russ]

Just borrowed from the local library A Wizard of Earth Sea and two Clancy novels. Excited to read some stuff that isn't school related.

Out of curiousity which Clancy novels?

 

[Brian Scott Allen]

Out of curiousity which Clancy novels?

Without remorse and patriot games.

 

[Russ]

Without remorse and patriot games.

Classics, excellent choices both.

 

[kennyc]

Just ran across this wonderful story again and re-read it a few times.

I love this story it's only about 500 words and just almost perfect!

I Used to Live Here Once by Jean Rhys

 

[Brian Scott Allen]

Just finished the Le Guin book. I liked it.

 

[Geo]

Just finished the Le Guin book. I liked it.

There are 4 more in that cycle: The Tombs of Atuan (which I find much more intriguing than the first), The Farthest Shore, Tehanu (which kind of surprises me each time I read it) and The other wind, plus two more books than belong to the Earth Sea but don't follow the plot set by Ged.

If you can get your hands on them read them, and enjoy the superb prose, great plot, and great characters. I would also suggest you to pay attention at how LeGuin keeps the cycle strong by giving you a new main character in each book, but without creating a dislocation in the plot line.

Anyhow, as you can see I'm a LeGuin enthusiasm, so I will always recommend her books, both fantasy and Sci fi.

 

[Ben]

Just finished Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids and loved it - its almost like fantasy noir (I kept thinking of the Big Sleep), and had just the right amount of humor.

Next up is Axe and the Throne, only about 20 pages in but really impressed so far.

 

[Steerpike]

A book of short stories called "Labyrinth," by Jorge Luis Borges. The cat wrote some odd fiction, but it's quite good. A certain Lovecraftian vibe runs through some of it.

 

[kennyc]

New issue of Microfiction Monday Magazine today. Some nice stories.

Also the May issue of Flash Fiction Online has a couple wonderful stories - Nothing so Rare, Nor Precious and Sparrows.

 

[Ben]

Borges is great -- is Funes the Memorious in that one?

 

[Steerpike]

Borges is great -- is Funes the Memorious in that one?

Indeed it does. I haven't got to that one yet.

 

[Chessie]

Appointment With Death, Agatha Christie 1938. I read 7 chapters just last night. Granted, they're not very long chapters but sigh...I absolutely love her style. Everytime I open up one of her books it's like I've come home.

I've got a handful of fantasy novels waiting for me after this. What's nice is that now, the Alaskan sun is out until around 10pm, which means it's super bright all day and I'm more inspired to read on my free time than play video games. Alas, my Fallout 4 youtube channel is withering away because I just don't care right now. All I want to do is read.