February 2018 reading thread

[Brian G Turner]

Am currently reading:

How Not to Die by Michael Greger - a great book about major illnesses and which foods have been proven to help combat them, while also ranting about American doctors' focus on prescribing drugs rather than healthy diets.

The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan - nearly finished the sequel to Promise of Blood, though it's not so strong and Taniel especially seems to drift through it. Appears to be getting better nearer the end.

The Story of Egypt by Joann Fletcher - an attempt to tell a comprehensive history of Ancient Egypt, but frustrating for the lack of images or illustrations about the very things she spends a lot of time discussing.

W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton - interesting in parts, but feels heavily padded with irrelevant descriptions and dialogue.

 

[Bick]

Currently reading Trading in Danger, by Elizabeth Moon. Too early to comment much yet, but seems fine so far.

 

[Paul_C]

I've just finished Autonomous - Annalee Newitz, which I found very enjoyable. Some interesting topics that reflect current times.

It also made me re-think my reaction to Binti: 3. I do feel on reflection that it read more like (maybe?) a YA story, it was certainly lighter on detail, though I still enjoyed it and will probably read again.

Next up is currently a choice between Something Coming Through - Paul McAuley, The Atrocity Archives - Charles Stross and The Clockwork Rocket - Greg Egan.

 

[Paul_C]

I was wrong !

When I wrote the above I was blissfully unaware that saving a new book to my Amazon Wishlist would lead me to discovering that there's a new M John Harrison book out, a short story collection called You Should Come With Me Now: Stories of Ghosts.

I shall be reading that instead.

 

[kythe]

I read the first books of "The Maze Runner" series by James Dashner, prior to the release of the 3rd movie. My teen daughter has been a fan for years, so I finally got into the series with her.

The books and the movies have different strengths and weaknesses. Put together, they tell a well rounded story. I still find the believability of the basic premise to be a stretch, but the characters, action, and pacing are well done.

 

[Danny McG]

W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton - interesting in parts, but feels heavily padded with irrelevant descriptions and dialogue

I gave up on these at either J or K for the same reason - had them all up to N and gave to charity shop without reading them all

 

[AE35Unit]

Starting the month with Maskerade by Terry Pratchett

 

[Vince W]

Since I am in the midst of writing a children's book I've been reading a lot of children's literature. Starting Truckers by Terry Pratchett.

 

[The Judge]

I've not read the book, but I loved the stop-motion film, which I think we've still got somewhere. A very good production, and well worth finding if you can. Their pronunciation of "Fayre" (as in "Christmas Fayre") as "Fay-ree" has become standard in our house ever since.

 

[Vince W]

I've not read the book, but I loved the stop-motion film, which I think we've still got somewhere. A very good production, and well worth finding if you can. Their pronunciation of "Fayre" (as in "Christmas Fayre") as "Fay-ree" has become standard in our house ever since.

Found it on amazon for £16. Cheers.

 

[nixie]

Angel's Deceit, A J Grimmelhaus

 

[Danny McG]

Re-reading Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
If you haven't yet read it then I strongly recommend you do

 

[Perpetual Man]

Catching up on the books I have read and not posted about, or reviewed!

I completed Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Review Here

This was followed by Tintagel Castle by Colleen E Batey. To be fair this was only one of the many guide books I have picked up over the years and never got around to reading! Review Here

This was followed by Ghostwritten by David Mitchell

 

[WarriorMouse]

Oath Of Vengeance, Terry Mixon , Glynn Stewart
Starship Mage series, Glynn Stewart
A Call To Vengeance, David Weber, Timothy Zahn, Thomas Pope.

 

[AE35Unit]

So I'm reading Maskerade and Pratchett mentions events that I am unaware of happening. Turns out it follows on from Lords and Ladies! We do have a copy of that so maybe I should stop reading Maskerade and jump onto L a L instead!

 

[The Judge]

Have you read Witches Abroad? Because Lords and Ladies follows immediately on from that, and there's actually an author's note at the beginning of L&L (in my copy at least) bringing the reader up to date, though it's rather short. If you've not read WA, then you'd best start with Wyrd Sisters so you get the complete story of the three of them. Granny also appears in Equal Rites, and part of the action in that takes place in Ankh Morpork, some of which has minor relevance to a setting in Maskerade, but the story itself isn't as tied into the three witches' plots so that could be left out for now, unless you're a completist.

 

[AE35Unit]

Have you read Witches Abroad? Because Lords and Ladies follows immediately on from that, and there's actually an author's note at the beginning of L&L (in my copy at least) bringing the reader up to date, though it's rather short. If you've not read WA, then you'd best start with Wyrd Sisters so you get the complete story of the three of them. Granny also appears in Equal Rites, and part of the action in that takes place in Ankh Morpork, some of which has minor relevance to a setting in Maskerade, but the story itself isn't as tied into the three witches' plots so that could be left out for now, unless you're a completist.

Yes I believe WA was the first TP book I read years ago.
This is the reading order according to LibraryThing

 

[The Judge]

Yep, that's right.

If you can recall the plot of WA, and you've got L&L, you might as well read that next just so you've got the story straight, though for my money Maskerade is the better book, and can be read without knowing exactly what happens in L&L (the main issue is that Magrat is now married to the King and therefore the coven needs a third witch).

 

[AE35Unit]

Yep, that's right.

If you can recall the plot of WA, and you've got L&L, you might as well read that next just so you've got the story straight, though for my money Maskerade is the better book, and can be read without knowing exactly what happens in L&L (the main issue is that Magrat is now married to the King and therefore the coven needs a third witch).

But the thing is I have L&L on my shelf and I would want to read that after maskerade. But it bothers me that I've missed something by not reading L&L

 

[The Judge]

You won't have missed much to worry about if you read them in the wrong order. I re-read Maskerade just before Christmas, just after Witches Abroad and Wyrd Sisters, but I didn't bother with Lord and Ladies, which I've not read in several years now, and I didn't feel I'd lost anything by missing it out. In any event, whichever way you go, good reading!