I finished Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman last week. It’s the first book of Dungeon Crawler Carl series.
I mentioned the week before that the litRPG doesn’t have high stakes, since you know nothing is going to happen to your character and it’s just going to get stronger and stronger, but I failed to realise that this happens when you don’t care about any side characters. Which is not to say that something happens (or doesn’t happen) to side characters, but that the side characters are well written that you care about them.
Started The Novice by Trudi Canavan. The second book in The Black Magician trilogy.
The first book was completely focused on one place and one task, this book expands the world, and different characters are doing completely different things so it’s interesting to see how things will develop. I am still in the start though, and while the book feels as quick to read as the first one, it has quite a bit of bullying in it (at least in the start, where I am), and I am not a fan of reading that, so the progress is going pretty slow. Going to stick with it though, cause it feels like the kind of book where our protagonist is going to become super powerful, with somewhat “good” ending.
What about all of you? What have you all been reading or listening to lately?
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I just finished Clover Blue by Eldonna Edwards.
A boy grows up in a hippie commune and along the way learns the truth about… everything.
I’m the same age as the protagonist, and I grew up in Northern California. I’m familiar with the towns, and the trees and the sky mentioned, and the time. This story could be about me in an alternate timeline.
I’d love to see it as a movie, it’s a rich and beautiful world--maybe my own memories filled in the blanks--but as we all know they’d probably ruin it. So, I’ll happily keep the movie in my head.
Just started the first book of Greg Bear’s short stories. Have loved Greg’s books since I read Eon as a teenager.
Humble Bundle currently have a stack of Greg’s books on sale
https://www.humblebundle.com/books/greg-bear-birthday-bundle-open-road-media-books
Thanks for reminding me to complete my purchase for this bundle!
Currently reading The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman. No book has ever elicited so many "omg"s and "that’s so cool"s from me.
Also on my fourth read-through of The Two Towers since 1993. Tolkien’s world just never gets old.
Book 4 of Dungeon Crawler Carl and loving it. Really not looking forward to being in your shoes.
I’m about to finish Becoming by Michelle Obama.
I started When the Moon Hits Your Eye as a little breather between the Singing Hills Cycle.
The Institute by Stephen King, been a while since i read a King novel
I really enjoyed that book. It wasn’t as horror-y as his other stuff and had good character interactions.
Last Argument of Kings, last in the First Law trilogy. The first two are great, good character building and nice plot. Can’t wait to see how it ends.
Currently listening through basically everything by “Robin Hobb”. Started with the Farseer Trilogy, currently closing the Liveship Traders. It’s playing in a light fantasy realm.
The Farseer Trilogy was rather depressing, but had something dark and alluring about it. Liveship Traders is okay. Helps to pass the time, but doesn’t really capture me.
I loved the Farseer trilogy, but yeah, it was depressing. I actually liked that, though. It is hard to find stories that don’t have happy endings.
Caliban’s War by James S. A. Corey and Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger
How is Be Useful?
So far so good. I am enjoying it. I am about 1/3 through it.
Re reading some discworld novels.
Dragon Champion by E. E. Knight. A friend lent it to me after I mentioned re-reading Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels. It’s fun.
Just finished Fool’s Quest by Robin Hobb. I’m eagerly anticipating the next one once I get it from the library!
I retired this year, and I have apparently read 12 books so far.
Most recent two…
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
Really like this. Very different from my usual fare.
Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds
Meh. Interesting story, but not my favorite style by a margin.
Happy retirement!
Pushing Ice was great, I have more Alastair Reynolds on my reading list.
Loved Pushing Ice. I’ve read all the Revelation Space/Prefect books and they were really good but not as good as Pushing Ice.
Ooh I remember liking The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, though I can’t remember what it was about now 😅
If you liked it, read Replay by Ken Grimeood. A one of a kind book IMO.
I liked Replay by Ken Grimwood. So I guess I should try The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, right? 😀
Ditto I guess 😋
Now on my to-read list, thanks!
spoiler
People who keep living the same life over and over and remember everything. The Chronus Club.
Ah yes, that’s familiar. I see it was published in 2014, which is probably around when I read it, so I feel justified in not remembering 😆
I’ve just finished reading through Batman Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (written by Grant Morrison with artwork from Dave McKean), which a friend lent me after we’d been discussing the Arkham games. It was pretty cool, full of symbolism and gorgeously creepy artwork. The actual narrative I found confusing though. Thankfully there’s a copy of the original script at the end with annotations that explains everything!
For my book club I’m most of the way through Nevada by Imogen Binnie. It’s been fun so far, with an endearing/easy-going writing style that reminds me of a blog post. Some really great insights into coming to terms with being trans.
And I’m also halfway through An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro. This is another one that a friend lent me a while back and I hadn’t got around to reading. But I’m going to a festival this week, and I didn’t want to bring my Kobo in case it gets damaged or stolen, so I opted for a physical book. I’m doing an admin shift during the festival which tends to involve sitting around not doing much for an hour or so at a time. May as well do some reading! Anyway this book has felt quite cosy and charming; I like Ishiguro’s prose.
Finished Golden Son by Pierce Brown. Book 2 in the Red Rising series. Really enjoyed this one. Picks up the action and intrigue super quick. Overall like a 9/10 for me
Also about halfway through Amber and Ashes by Margaret Weis. Its a D&D book in Krynn which Weis wrote a number of books for. Its ok. Kind of what i expect from these types of books.
Seeing your comments on these threads about Red Rising, is making me reconsider trying to start it again after dnf
Really enjoyed the Red Rising series until book 4. Had to take a break after that book it just wasn’t as interesting as the others since they start following other characters from their point of view. I had become used to hearing the story from Darrow’s POV.
Going through the hanish cycle still, on the left hand of darkness (two more left). this and the dispossessed really do stand out so far.
