Didn’t get time to read anything this week either.
What about all of you? What have you all been reading or listening to lately?
Book Bingo midpoint is also up, check it out!
Still working my way through Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger, but also now reading through Jessica Fern’s Polysecure.
I just finished Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica (disturbing and brilliant - nothing has made me feel that way since reading Fahrenheit 451 a decade ago), and now I’m onto Sarafina by Philip Fracassi. Going to need something lighter after this one, I think.
Finished Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. I’ve complained enough the past couple weeks about the pacing, so I’ll just say my opinion didn’t change, and the payoff wasn’t worth the build up (imo). The epilogue did kinda make me want to see what would happen next, but I have no immediate intentions of coming back to this series (if ever).
Read/finished The Extraordinary Adventures Of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar by Maurice Leblanc, the first collection of Lupin stories. I found this absolutely delightful, and a nice palate cleanser after Harrow. I’m gonna throw the whole series on my TBR, and read them when I want something cozy. They’re free on Project Gutenberg/Standard E-books!
Currently reading The Elementals by Michael McDowell. I started this some time ago, but wasn’t sucked in, so I put it down in favor of something else. Surprisingly easy to get back into, even though my memory of the first third is a bit hazy. Of course it’s slow-paced, the bane of my existence, but the characters are interesting, and I have hopes it’ll ramp up.
“The wandering inn” volume 4. The series gets more structured during this volume, making for a better reading experience. I already liked it, but it was sometimes difficult to follow during volumes 2 and 3.
Checking out Other Worlds Than These, the new Stephen King book & final book in the Talisman series. As far as modern King goes it’s one of the better ones. Quite nice being to read about Mid-World again.
Oooo I love Talisman, it is one of my favourites! I didn’t know there was another book out!
I made no progress on anything really this week due to work.
Still listening to Iron Gold and readingcAmber and Iron.
This week isnt shaping up much better but hopefully i can find time/force myself to read more.
I’m about 400 pages into War and Peace, and I’m blown away. The story is rich in themes, well-developed characters, history and ideas. At the same time, it is a gripping read and nowhere near as tough as I feared. My only regret so far is that I wish I had bought a translation that kept the French intact; I am switching between translations – I read the free Maude translation digitally, and my physical edition was translated by Anthony Briggs. While both are enjoyable, neither indicates which character is speaking in which language. But it’s important to know, because Tolstoy puts a lot of meaning into how characters express themselves.
Anyway, is anyone else reading it at the moment, or has anyone read it in the past? How do/did you like it?
Finished A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again recently except for the David Lynch essay, want to watch the movie first. First foray into DFW, I like his writing style so far. Started Meditations on First Philosophy, getting through it very slowly. Listened to the first two Murderbot books, liked them more the further in I got. Second I thought was better than the first. About to start listening to Jade Legacy. Not the biggest fan of this series, but since I’m listening and not reading (helps with a long commute) I figured I’ll just wrap up the series.
I enjoyed A Supposedly Fun Thing when I read it a long time ago, even though essays aren’t normally my thing. I didn’t know who David Lynch was at the time; I might have to go back and read that one (and watch the movie)!
I’m not normally an essay reader myself, but since reading this I’m trying to find magazines/other publications that release this type of writing. He had me captivated about the different types of tennis techniques that various players use, when I’ve never given tennis more thought then “get it over the net.”
Still making my way through the Discworld, on the witches now. Just finished Witches Abroad and just started Lords and Ladies.
I need to finish The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. I’m just over halfway but it’s not really providing me with any new ideas.
I think it’s a good book for teenagers or someone who hasn’t really thought about the themes in this book.
I finished Blood Rites, book 6 of Dresden and felt pretty Meh about it. I didnt really find the story in that book that interesting. It doesnt bore me to the point of stopping, so still finished it up, but I didn’t love it.
Currently towards the end of Deathlands 158 which came out earlier this year at some point. It is a nice return to some characters I know very well. Story itself is a bit similar to lots that have come before but it also has elements of linking the stories of Deathlands and Outlanders more cohesively which is nice.
After this I have a couple of new things to try out so looking forward to getting into those as well. The Laundry Files and Red Rising.
Didn’t get as much reading in as I thought I would, so I’m still on The Passion by Jeanette Winterson. So far I’m not entirely sure what to make of it, but it doesn’t really feel like my cup of tea.
