October Offerings - What tantalising tome are you reading?

[mightymem]

I finished Cities in Flight today and I must say it was a complex book and the science parts I did not fully understand, although basing the idea of the works of the decline of western civiliastion was interesting. I especially like the books commentary regarding politics and religion. It was a great book. I wish I understood maths and physics more, but my historical knowledge helped me understand his points on the western world as being interesting.

 

[j d worthington]

Have read Silk, by Alessandro Baricco; and have to agree wholeheartedly with Nesa's review of it in the "Other Recommendations" thread. A very powerful and lovely piece of writing and yes, the ending is completely unexpected and very moving. A beautiful, beautiful book.

Next: Sunshine, by Robin McKinley

 

[nixie]

Caesar by Colleen McCullough

 

[aarti]

I am reading Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson. Has anyone read this fantasy novel? Here's the Amazon blurb:

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Sanderson's outstanding fantasy debut, refreshingly complete unto itself and free of the usual genre clichés, offers something for everyone: mystery, magic, romance, political wrangling, religious conflict, fights for equality, sharp writing and wonderful, robust characters. The godlike inhabitants of Elantris, once the capital of the land of Arelon, have degenerated into powerless, tortured souls, unable to die, after the city's magic inexplicably broke 10 years earlier. When the same curse strikes Prince Raoden of Arelon and he's imprisoned in Elantris, he refuses to surrender to his grim fate and instead strives to create a society out of the fallen and to unlock the secret that will restore the city's glory. Meanwhile, Princess Sarene of Kae (Arelon's new capital), who was betrothed to Raoden sight unseen, believes her intended has died. Officially declared his widow, she must use her political savvy and wit to protect Kae from malevolent forces without and within the city, chiefly Hrathen, a leader of the creepy Shu-Dereth faith, who aims to either convert Kae or destroy it within three months. The intrigue and excitement grow steadily in this smoothly written, perfectly balanced narrative; by the end readers won't want to put it down. As the blurb from Orson Scott Card suggests, Sanderson is a writer to watch.

**************

So far, I'm really enjoying it except that some of the humor seems slightly forced. But I'd recommend it, if you like epic, one-volume fantasy!

 

[Adasunshine]

I've just finished my second reading of Stardust and it's still outstanding, I can't praise that book enough.

Am now going to attempt The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever: Lord Foul's Bane

xx

 

[marv335]

i've also read fistfull of charms by kim harrison. not bad, but not the best in the series.
and i'm working on the traveller. (i forget the author) it's getting better as i get into it.

also try to get a copy of the blade itself. it's the best fantasy book i've read this year.

 

[Rosemary]

Have finished reading Runes Of The Earth by Stephen Donaldson. I did wonder if I should have read the last previous volume, just to refresh the memory. However, I managed it all right and thoroughly enjoyed the book.

One thing I did notice and which made me laugh was....there is a similar character to Krupp in the Malazan Series. Her name The Mahdoubt of Revelstone Keep, and she speaks in a similar way to our dear friend Kruppe

 

[Rosemary]

Have just started on The First Law: Book One
The Blade itself.

'Unpretictable, compelling, wickedly funny and packed with unforgettable characters. The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with real cutting edge...

 

[nixie]

Oh I've got that sat waiting let me know how it goes

 

[Rosemary]

Oh I've got that sat waiting let me know how it goes

Oh I will Nixie.. I only got it this morning and I don't think it will take me too long to read as it is one of those books I can't put down...

I haven't heard of this author before...have you?

 

[nixie]

I hadn't heard of Joe Abercrombie till Ada started raving about him a few months back, in fact sure she started a thread on it and the author himself dropped in.

 

[Rosemary]

I hadn't heard of Joe Abercrombie till Ada started raving about him a few months back, in fact sure she started a thread on it and the author himself dropped in.

Thank you for that Nixie...I must have missed it Will go and have a look for it now!

 

[GOLLUM]

Finally finished Brooks Armageddon's Children. Brook's fairly cliched and formulaic style continues but if you're on a winning ticket why change right?
Despite this I found the plot interesting enough to look forward to the next installment, especially with a trademark cliffhanger finish.

What I read next I have no idea. I've decided with the number of books on my read pile that I'll determine my reading order by pseudo-random selection (placing hands into large box of books). More fun that way actually..

 

[nixie]

I do that all the time unless I'm in the middle of a series

 

[Aleksei]

I always run out of books before I have enough unread ones to do that, and it sounds so fun.

 

[murphy]

Just finished Melanie Rawn's Spellbinder. A paranormal romantic novel, but better written than most. It's about a witch in modern day New York City. Now reading Spirit Gate by Kate Elliott. So far I'm loving it. Will probably start next on a book called Grey Walker by a new author, Kat Richardson. The blurb says it's about a woman who dies for 2 minutes and then comes back to life, but she can now see spirits.

 

[GOLLUM]

Based on my TBR online random number generator where numbers 1 -26 represent letters of the alphabet I've come up with Tales Of The Ontori trilogy by Lian Hearn. Seeing that I received this for my B'Day several months ago, it's probably appropriate to read next.

 

[j d worthington]

Finished Robin McKinley's Sunshine. While this is not the sort of novel I would have picked up on my own, after a strong recommendation, I gave it a go.... Not normally my cup of tea, but I definitely enjoyed this one, and I think her style is perfectly suited to the telling of such a tale, and certainly brings her protagonist to life very vividly. Nice sense of humor aids in keeping it from descending into the "in-your-face" horror of so much such fiction, and it is much more like a rather dark fantastic romance than horror as such. Thanks again for the recommendations on this one.

Next up is The Mountain of the Moon, by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Just finished the very different Wll of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde - very entertaining, but unlike anything I have read before, and just about started Scepters by L E Modesitt jr

 

[Spamwise Hamgee]

I've just started reading The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. I've just finished Black Powder War by Naomi Novik