Super September - What literary offering are you currently reading?

[Scriven]

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, as part of my OU short course.

 

[iansales]

They teach you Asimov at university?

 

[Teir]

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

 

[Nesacat]

Finished reading Reef and am now reading Saddlebag by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani.

 

[dwndrgn]

I'm about a quarter of the way into Melusine by Sarah Monette. Can't decide whether I like it or not. It isn't because it isn't a good story or well written but because so far there has been nothing but despair and hopelessness. Hopefully that isn't all there is to it.

Semi-spoilers hidden below:
Teresa - I've noted that you recently read this one. From your posts it sounds as if you liked it, and I'm curious if the use of violent sex put you off. The reason I ask is considering your reasons for not reading Outlander, I would think that this book, which is much more graphic and violent with regards to sex would be something you'd avoid.

Yes, dragons are just as stubborn as mules!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

It did put me off, dwndrgn, and I almost put the book aside early because of it. But it was concentrated near the beginning.

Also:

This book wasn't a romance, and the rape wasn't depicted as sexy. With a romance, you need to want the relationship to work. If the interaction between the lovers puts you off, even a little, then what's the point? People keep recommending Highlander to me as a wonderfully romantic book. Obviously, they like the hero, and that's a big part of the appeal for them. From what I've heard, I think that appeal would be lacking for me. Here, that wasn't the same kind of problem. The rape did make me wince (repeatedly) but it didn't make me dislike a character I was supposed to be lusting after.


I had other reservations besides that one about Melusine, too -- and for readers who share those same reservations in a big way, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it -- but over all I was impressed with it. Actually, I liked the book more in retrospect than I did while I was reading it, and I found that I really wanted to know more about the characters.

For more on what I did and didn't like about Melusine, here is what I said about it at Rune's Myth and Magic website:
http://www.chatarea.com/MythandMagic.m3672932

 

[SERAFINApekkala]

Am reading the new Jilly Cooper novel..Sorry all fantasy fans, a bit of a guilty pleasure..

I can't resist a bit of high brow intrigue and pseudo victorian wit!

xx

 

[dwndrgn]

I see the distinction you are making now - terrible acts by a character we are supposed to be sympathetic with will mar that connection but those acts done by someone we are supposed to hate will only solidify it. I haven't put the book down yet, and now that I've come to a part that is really intriguing me, I probably won't unless it gets much worse before it gets better. I'll have to read your review later as those types of websites are barred here at work (and this one isn't? shhh, don't tell anyone).

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I see the distinction you are making now - terrible acts by a character we are supposed to be sympathetic with will mar that connection

Or, in a romance novel, even vaguely creepy acts. They don't have to be outright terrible.

 

[Carolyn Hill]

The doorbell just rang, and when I opened the door, there was a box from Amazon containing two new books! So, first I'll read Tanya Huff's Smoke and Ashes, and then I'll read Catherine Asaro's The Final Key.

I am HAPPY!!

 

[Kettricken]

I've been considering buying Alphabet of Thorn so I'd like to know what you think about it please Kettricken.

I've finished it yesterday; an enchanting tale I enjoyed tremendously. It's about a girl who deciphers alphabets/old manuscripts and one of the manuscripts she's translating appears more important than first thought. I liked her style of writing, lyrical, but somehow not a word too much. Unfortunately, I haven't read other books of Patricia McKillip, so I can't say how it compares to her other work.

Currently I'm reading 'the Summer Tree' by Guy Gavriel Kay (part 1 of Fionavar Tapestry). I'm curious about the book, since I've read most of Kay's later work, but heard this series is quite different.

 

[GOLLUM]

Currently I'm reading 'the Summer Tree' by Guy Gavriel Kay (part 1 of Fionavar Tapestry). I'm curious about the book, since I've read most of Kay's later work, but heard this series is quite different.

I read that more than 20 years ago and still remember it with great fondness. Along with Tigana my favourite work by Kay, although I'm aware others may not agree on this specific point.

For Mckillip make sure to check out the Riddlemaster Of Hed trilogy, a highly underrated or lesser known gem of the Genre along with Forgotten Beasts Of Eld.

 

[Nesacat]

Thanks Kettricken ... I'll try and pick Alphabet up this weekend. I saw it in the store last wekk so it should still be there.

I like Patricia McKillip's work. The first book of hers I read was The Forgotten Beasts of Eld and most recently Winter Rose and Changeling Sea. I've been trying to find The Riddlemaster books here but no luck thus far.

 

[Trey Greyjoy]

Just finished A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham last night. I give it an A+ but its not going to be for everyone. Its very much about character development, in fact, the book borders on being classified as "literature" rather than fantasy although there are certainly strong fantasy elements.
People who want a lot of action will be bored, people who are interested in character development and solid writing skills will devour this one.

Now Im going to read a few selections from Harlan Ellison's Ellisonwonderland before tackling anything big.

 

[SERAFINApekkala]

Has anyone been reading the glass books of the dreameaters by H. Dahlquist?

a friend has pointed me in the direction of an online subscription and there's a competition on the book club forum online for a free subscription i think.

 

[Trey Greyjoy]

Has anyone been reading the glass books of the dreameaters by H. Dahlquist?

a friend has pointed me in the direction of an online subscription and there's a competition on the book club forum online for a free subscription i think.

I think they are discussing that book here.

 

[Kettricken]

For Mckillip make sure to check out the Riddlemaster Of Hed trilogy, a highly underrated or lesser known gem of the Genre along with Forgotten Beasts Of Eld.

I like Patricia McKillip's work. The first book of hers I read was The Forgotten Beasts of Eld and most recently Winter Rose and Changeling Sea. I've been trying to find The Riddlemaster books here but no luck thus far.

I've been looking for the Riddlemaster Trilogy, it was for sale at the American Book Center in Amsterdam last year... last week I went looking for it, alas, sold out. I did buy 'the forgotten beasts of Eld' and 'Ombria in Shadow' for a really good price. Looking forward to read them!

 

[j d worthington]

Now Im going to read a few selections from Harlan Ellison's Ellisonwonderland before tackling anything big.

Just a word on this one, Trey... it's among Ellison's weakest collections, largely because it is made up of stories from his earliest period, when he was still feeling his way and finding his own voice. So the stories here are rather wonky, and the collection, while having some notable stories, is very uneven. However, I do strongly recommend "The Sounds of Fear" and "In Lonely Lands" -- two very different stories, but each, in their way, very powerful. There are some others that I found grew on me: "The Sky is Burning", "The Very Last Day of a Good Woman", "Nothing for My Noon Meal" and especially "The Wind from Beyond the Mountains" as well, though only the last made much of an impression when I first read it.

So... not knowing how much Ellison you've read ... be aware that this is by no means representative of Ellison's best; both it and the two volumes that followed (Paingod and Other Delusions and I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream) are transitional volumes, each following one becoming stronger, but transitional volumes nonetheless.

 

[iansales]

Finished Le Guin's City of Illusion (good, but I think I prefer Planet of Exile more), and started on Lewis Shiner's short story collection, Love in Vain.

 

[Trey Greyjoy]

So... not knowing how much Ellison you've read ... be aware that this is by no means representative of Ellison's best; quote]

Thanks for the heads up J.D.

Ive read Strange Wine but thats it. Ill keep what you said in mind while Im reading it!