Once in a while, I like to poke my head in and ask:
So, whatcha reading?
Like, right now.
What is it?
Is it good?
Should we be reading it?
(My own update: I just finished reading Peter Clines’ The Fold, which is a twisty little sci-fi thriller about a group who creates a teleportation technology based on folding reality — and, duh, it doesn’t go so well. It was really good! Also just polished off Delilah Dawson’s Wake of Vultures, which is so good it’ll make you hate her because it’s too good. Weird Westy fantasy stuff, different from but in line with John Hornor’s totally amazing The Incorruptibles.)
Drop in the comments.
Tell us what you’re reading omg right now.
DO IT OR I RELEASE THE BEES
Tsara Shelton says:
I just finished Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, which I borrowed from my son. And now I’m reading The Tent by Margaret Atwood. A foolish thing really, since my first book is going to be published soon and Margaret Atwood only serves to remind me that I’m not her. tee hee!
Also, I’ve been reading Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama. I’m loving it!! But then, my sons are mixed race and some of them have absent fathers and all of them talk often about society and culture and discovering pride in all of who they are. I feel like maybe I’m getting tiny ideas of what they think about and struggle to understand and fight for. So no wonder this book is delicious to me!
March 2, 2015 — 10:14 AM
Rebecca Grubb says:
Kurt Vonnegut’s short story collection “Welcome to the Monkey House” is my favorite by him, strangely.
March 2, 2015 — 10:17 AM
Alice Loweecey says:
The Haunting of Toby Judd by Dennis Wheatley. Chew that scenery, Dennis! 😀
March 2, 2015 — 10:19 AM
aliettedb says:
Kari Sperrring’s Grass King’s Concubine, which so far is about a stubborn 11-year-old growing up in an unfriendly household, and who accidentally finds a path into an otherworld/underworld of lushness and magic. The writing is gorgeous, and the characters leap off the page.
March 2, 2015 — 10:19 AM
livingforweekends says:
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. Listening to it actually, while on the treadmill – man, this was a slog at first for me. I found it super hard to get into for the longest time but comments from others promising it would explode on me kept me going, and I got as determined to continue it as I became determined to conquer Couch to 5k. The book is so damn long (45 hours of listening time – that’s lots of treadmilling) that I nearly gave up on it, wondering when would things start to click? At about the halfway mark, little things started to fall into place. I found myself treadmilling more just to listen, and now I am sneak-listening whenever I can. I’m seeing the loose threads coming together, just enough to keep me going. This book, first in who knows how long of a monster of a series, finally got me. I think if not for the treadmill and the audiobook I might have given up on it long ago. I’ve got the next book lined up already to listen to.
March 2, 2015 — 10:20 AM
Dan Dan The Art Man says:
That’s exactly how that book was for me. Bored me to death and I didn’t really care about the characters. I listened to it also. Friends kept telling me it got good. I almost gave up on it too. I’m glad I didn’t – it grabbed me a little after halfway in and I’m enjoying the second one much more. A lot more exciting things are happening. I’m listening to book 2 also. Love Michaek Kramer and Kate Reading. Great narrators.
March 3, 2015 — 2:50 AM
Rebecca Grubb says:
Joyce’s “Ulysses”
Millay’s “First Fig and other Poems”
Chekhov’s “Five Great Short Stories”
Very, very, very slowly. So slowly. My three children body slam me when I hold still enough to read. S’rude.
March 2, 2015 — 10:20 AM
writerggandrew says:
This cracked me up, especially as the receipt of many a kid body slam 🙂 Read on, maybe while in motion.
March 2, 2015 — 1:23 PM
Dawn says:
Fashionably late in reading “Prince of Fools” by Mark Lawrence, while reading “Gemini Cell” by Myke Cole during breaks.
March 2, 2015 — 10:22 AM
Epic Duck Mike (@_EpicDuck) says:
Started “Sandman Slim” by Richard Kadrey on Friday evening. I’ve barely managed to put it down – well over half done, despite a crazy schedule of other activities this weekend.
“Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman and a few short story anthologies are sitting on the bedside table, waiting their turns.
March 2, 2015 — 10:23 AM
Ender0284 says:
Yes, yes, yes. The Sandman Slim series is absolutely amazing and I cannot recommend Gaiman enough. I’m currently reading through Trigger Warnings. He has a way of picking at the dark parts of your brain and making you comfortable with them.
March 2, 2015 — 11:10 AM
Shecky (@SheckyX) says:
Copyediting Kerry Schafer’s THE NOTHING, with the occasional stolen minute of non-work-reading Brian McClellan’s THE AUTUMN REPUBLIC.
March 2, 2015 — 10:24 AM
Cara Howe says:
Currently re-reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight, as I was apparently feeling extremely nostalgic this weekend. Just finished The Girl with all the Gifts – it was really, really good. Highly recommend. It’s familiar, but strange, and filled with action, but still sweet and touching. READ IT.
March 2, 2015 — 10:26 AM
Kyra Dune says:
I love Dragonlance. Who’s your favorite character? Mine’s Raistlin.
March 2, 2015 — 1:38 PM
authorlady22 says:
THE HEART DOES NOT GROW BACK by Fred Venturini. Dark, satiric, CRAZY funny in places. It reminds me of Palahniuk’s SURVIVOR. Hard-hitting in a lot of places, but doesn’t skimp on the fun, either.
March 2, 2015 — 10:27 AM
Mark Gardner says:
I’m reading the Long Earth series by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. I’m about 70% though the second book, but I’m limiting myself to two hours a day. I hope to get to 100 books read this year. There seems to be quite a lot of subplots that are easy to get lost in, but over all it’s a good read. I wasn’t a fan of Discworld, so I was apprehensive at first. Now, I look forward to reading each day.
March 2, 2015 — 10:27 AM
Christine Lashinski says:
Just finished Marissa Meyer’s Cinder -now looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 2, 2015 — 10:28 AM
David Earle says:
A bunch of self-publishing and writing books over the past week-and-a-half.
2,000 to 10,000: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron is a really short but really simple set of suggestions to improve your writing output. Fully intend to try it, it sounds awesome.
Let’s Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should by David Gaughran is a bit… preachy? On the subject, but he does give some good advice. The self-publishing testimonials at the end are highly inspirational.
Write Short Kindle Books: A Self-Publishing Manifesto for Non-Fiction Authors by Nathan Meunier is on writing tinier Kindle books. It’s not a bad business strategy, if you’d consider that sort of thing.
Be A Sex-Writing Strumpet by Stacia Kane is exactly what it says on the tin. I blushed a lot.
The Theory of Attraction by Delphin Dryden is like 50 Shades, except it’s between a programmer and an on-the-spectrum astrophysicist and it doesn’t confuse BDSM with rape. Also better written. More blushing.
Wow, no science fiction or fantasy! Good thing I’ve got The Princess Bride on tap.
March 2, 2015 — 10:31 AM
writerggandrew says:
I need to check out The Theory of Attraction..and maybe the Strumpet book. I’m down with blushing.
March 2, 2015 — 1:30 PM
Dawn Pier says:
I’m reading “My Mysterious Son: A Life-Changing Passage Between Schizophrenia and Shamanism” by Dick Russell (who also wrote The Man Who Knew Too Much). Dick is a personal friend, but I am not BSing when I say that I find this book touching and enlightening where schizophrenia is concerned. As someone who is actively working with two Huichol Indian shamans (https://dawnpier.wordpress.com/2013/02/06/mystic-in-mexico-part-i/), I am also very interested in his and his son’s experiences with the shamans they encounter. I imagine that parents dealing with children with mental illness would connect with this book a great deal.
I’m also reading “God, Seed” a book of poetry by Rebecca Foust with drawings by Lorna Stevens. It’s really lovely. “The Psychedelic Experience: A Manuel based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead” by Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner and Richard Alpert (aka Ram Dass) is on the top of my what to read next list.
March 2, 2015 — 10:33 AM
ktbenbrook says:
The Dresden Files, up to the fourth book now. Sometimes I want to shout, “Everyone, stop writing while I catch up.” But then since I’ve pretty much have the novel I’m writing nailed down plot wise; I am now part of the problem.
March 2, 2015 — 10:34 AM
katharineannebrown says:
Wait. Tell you what we’re reading or you’ll release the bees? Weren’t you so mad you were peeing bees just the other day? Are you threatening to pee on us? Ok, ok, in that case I’m reading The Writing Life by Annie Dillard. I’m loving it as it’s kind of a narrative about the writing process that really makes sense to me.
March 2, 2015 — 10:36 AM
Jo says:
I just finished The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, which was a sprawly, rollicking great read, like Firefly in novel form. Not a knockoff, mind you, but a space opera about an endearing, quirky crew of a space ship, full of heart and High Adventure.
I’m reading The Reapers Are The Angels now, which is very awesome and quite intense.
March 2, 2015 — 10:40 AM
Patti says:
The House of Mirth, Stephen King’s On Writing, Pride and Prejudice, A Visit from the Goon Squad. Love, love, love On Writing. Pride and Prejudice was worth finishing, but I wasn’t overly crazy about it and so far the House of Mirth is holding my attention…jury is still out on the Goon Squad.
March 2, 2015 — 10:41 AM
elizamoritz says:
Stephen King’s On Writing is one of the best I’ve ever read. He nails it. Would love to take a class with him. Blake Snyder’s Save The Cat is also good, as is Robert McKee’s Story.
March 2, 2015 — 11:48 AM
Patti says:
I’m going to check out Robert McKee’s Story. He’s been suggested to me several times. Not sure about Save The Cat, but am looking it up and maybe order it, also. Thanks!
March 3, 2015 — 10:07 AM
Kyra Dune says:
I loved Stephen King’s On writing too. I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice, but I know enough about it to suspect it isn’t something I would enjoy.
March 2, 2015 — 1:49 PM
Patti says:
I can’t say that I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, it was on a recommended reading list. I whittled the story down to get it out of the way and make room for what I really want to read.
March 3, 2015 — 10:10 AM
James says:
I just finished reading The Weird Company by Peter Rawlik. It’s an excellent “behind the scenes” look at the early 20th century as envisioned by HP Lovecraft.
If At the Mountains of Madness is a demystification of Lovecraft’s universe, Weird Company peels back the veil even further to show that shit STILL isn’t as it seems.
March 2, 2015 — 10:44 AM
Peg says:
I am reading the Wayward Pines series by Blake Crouch for a lesson in suspense. He has some awesome hooks in this.
March 2, 2015 — 10:45 AM
Steph Azevedo says:
I’m reading Yann Martel’s Beatrice and Virgil. Not the sort of thing I usually pick up but so far it’s been a real treat!
March 2, 2015 — 10:50 AM
springhousewoodshop says:
Reading the Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan and it is long but a very enjoyable escape from vomiting children and never ending snow.
March 2, 2015 — 10:52 AM
mannixk says:
Just finished Shirley: A Novel by Susan Scarf Merrell and loved it because a) it was so well-written, b) it’s a super cool idea for a novel and c) I have my own obsession with the life and work of Shirley Jackson.
Currently reading The Journey Prize Stories 26 (yearly anthology of Canadian literary short fiction nominated for prestigious Journey Prize) and Dark Duets: All-New Tales of Horror and Dark Fantasy edited by Christopher Golden. Premise is cool — pairing writers for the first time to collaborate on spooky tales. So far, some of the stories rock and some fail pretty badly, but I still want to keep reading.
March 2, 2015 — 10:57 AM
Andreah (@AndreahBea) says:
Reading for fun: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. I just started it, so no judgments yet.
Reading for grad school: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. English translation by Edith Grossman. I am currently processing Ms. Grossman’s papers at the archives. Her translation of Don Quixote has made me forget that I am reading this for school and not for fun. Quixote is a silly, but admirable character. His wild imagination and confidence makes me laugh. I’m always wondering what he will do next (and his reasons for it).
March 2, 2015 — 11:02 AM
Butch McGovern says:
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee for the xx time, in preparation for the next addition to my literary quote tattoo sleeve.
Gardens of the Moon, by Steven Erickson. Was told it was reminiscent of The Black Company, so far I’m enjoying it, though it doesn’t have the humor of BC.
Raising Steam, by Terry Pratchett. This one hasn’t sucked me in like the rest of his work, I hate to think it’s a sign of his declining health
March 2, 2015 — 11:03 AM
Cecilia says:
I am reading A Son at the Front by Edith Wharton. Started it in my college war literature class, but didn’t finish it. Now I’ve picked it up again and without all the stress of classes and finals, am actually enjoying it this time around.
March 2, 2015 — 11:09 AM
Jon R. says:
Blightborn.
March 2, 2015 — 11:13 AM
annedoughertydc says:
Slow Apocalypse by John Varley, which I had to put aside during the last Presidential election cycle because it was hitting way to close to reality.
March 2, 2015 — 11:16 AM
Kristi S. Simpson says:
The Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham. I’m only on page 96 but I’m fully invested in it.
March 2, 2015 — 11:21 AM
zer_netmouse says:
I just finished The Marvelous Miss Malone, by Christopher Paul Curtis. A terrific book about a young girl and her brother during the Great Depression, trying to help their mom after their dad suffers a tragic incident and disappears. Complex issues of class and race are gracefully and thoughtfully illustrated in this touching and ultimately uplifting story, narrated by the ever so humble (not!) Miss Malone.
After that I started a Steampunk Anthology but I haven’t been pulled into it as of yet. I watched The Butler the other day, which makes me want to get back to reading civil rights authors and history. I have a text on civil rights efforts during World War II that is calling…
March 2, 2015 — 11:21 AM
zer_netmouse says:
I mean The Mighty Miss Malone. Sorry about that.
March 2, 2015 — 11:22 AM
Doug Daniel says:
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, by Robert McKee (useful for any sort of story-teller, not just screenwriters).
Living Hell: The Dark Side of the Civil War, by Michael C. C. Adams (like, there was a light side? Good book, nevertheless).
March 2, 2015 — 11:30 AM
Kaley Carter (@Kaleygoesmad) says:
Rachel Bach’s Honour’s Knight. It’s light anf fun and doesn’t pretend to be anything else. It’s awesome.
March 2, 2015 — 11:38 AM
elizamoritz says:
Tana French’s Broken Harbor. Love her way with words. Unexpected descriptions. Her “voices” are distinct, characters well thought out.
March 2, 2015 — 11:42 AM
Mike Douton says:
Reading Gwenda Bond’s Blackwood. It’s fantastic. It’s got real history mixed with paranormal.
Next up is probably ML Brennan’s Iron Night which is the second of her Generation V series. It’s a fun book about a nerdy vampire and a kitsune (don’t let the beefcake cover fool you into thinking it’s a twilight ripoff). It also takes place in Rhode Island where I live so I get all the localreferences
March 2, 2015 — 11:48 AM
mariemadigan says:
A collection of Carl Hiaasen’s columns from the Miami Herald. As good as the novels.
March 2, 2015 — 11:53 AM
M Hart says:
Just finished re-reading Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs and before that Dodger by Terry Pratchett.
March 2, 2015 — 11:54 AM
stareja says:
Right now, I’m reading Half Life by SL Huang and Obsidian by Alex Baxter. This is after finishing both Zero Sum Game (Huang) and Bound (Baxter) in a weekend.
Since I bought all four of those books after reading the authors’ posts here, I’d say that you’d probably like them.
I like the Alex Caine books because the action is fast-paced and it mixes in a healthy dose of magic and fantasy.
I think I prefer Huang’s books. Specifically, the Cas and Rio characters. I adore Cas because of how dysfunctional she is.
March 2, 2015 — 12:01 PM
Mark Finn says:
I just started Jim Steinmeyer’s biography of Charles Fort. Steinmeyer is a magic historian and his books about the history of magic are fascinating and readable; he’s got a perfect style for writing history. I’ve been interested in his Charles Fort bio for some time, and so far, it’s just as good as his other books. I’m participating in a 50 books in one year challenge on Goodreads, so I’m trying to keep up the pace. Muscular prose and clear writing seem to be doing the trick.
March 2, 2015 — 12:03 PM
churnage says:
Just finished “Just Kids” by Patti Smith.about her friendship with the artist and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Currently reading “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston and “Game Time” by Roger Angell, a best-of collection of his baseball writings.
March 2, 2015 — 12:09 PM
aileenmiles says:
Just finished The Martian, which I believe you recommended, Chuck. Anyway, it was quite good, and now I’m casting around for something else to read. Maybe I’ll read some more Victor Pelevin while I wait for someone to buy me Wolf Hall off my wish list.
March 2, 2015 — 12:23 PM
Russ says:
I’m currently reading “Chasing the Dime” by Michael Connelly.
Read these in February:
Runner by Patrick Lee
The Enemy by Lee Child (one of my favorites by Mr. Child)
The Prophet by Michael Koryta
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (glad to have read it for the first time as an adult)
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
Persuader by Lee Child
March 2, 2015 — 12:24 PM
Kyra Dune says:
Ender’s Game is my favorite science fiction novel.
March 2, 2015 — 1:51 PM
Katherine says:
Just finished SL Huang’s “Zero Sum Game,” which I heard about from your blog, so thanks for that Chuck! I really enjoyed it. Right now, I’m reading “Atlanta Burns.” The ending of the first half was so satisfying, I’m letting it sink in before moving on to the second.
March 2, 2015 — 12:26 PM
em4minions says:
the graphic novel version of neil gaiman’s “the graveyard book”–technically a book for adolescents, but i like it too.
March 2, 2015 — 12:56 PM
leighshulmanLeigh says:
What an amazing reading list here.
Me? I had been reading Michael Chabon’s Adventures of Kavalier and Clay but was having trouble getting through it, so I put it down for now and started Walter Mosely’s Fear Itself. I’m only about 25 or so pages into it, but considering I’m sitting here supposedly working, but what I really want to do is curl up in bed — it’s raining like mad out — and read, I’d say I’m hooked.
March 2, 2015 — 1:07 PM
Maya Langston says:
I’m about to start A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. It got a lot of positive press late last year. When I’m done with that, I’ll read the Hyperion Cantos. After that, I have SL Huang’s first book on tap 🙂
March 2, 2015 — 1:14 PM
writerggandrew says:
I’m in the middle of Courtney Milan’s Proof by Seduction. It’s a historical romance between a fortune teller and overly rational scientist/marquess. Good stuff.
Also, these comments are going to Jenga my tottering TBR. THANKS A LOT.
March 2, 2015 — 1:28 PM
Mark Matthews says:
Reading an ARC copy of “Harrison Squared,” by Daryl Gregory, follow up and prequel to We Are All Completely Fine (one my top 5 favorites of 2014). Just 20% in, but so far I am underwhelmed if that’s a word, (no it’s not because I looked it up, that’s one of those skills I learned in my school). I’ll keep on reading tho.
March 2, 2015 — 1:30 PM
mannixk says:
Sloan!! Yay!
March 2, 2015 — 1:35 PM
Mark Matthews says:
You did it! I knew it would be you. You win the chocolate factory.
March 2, 2015 — 1:40 PM
mannixk says:
Real prize is I’ve had that song stuck in my head all afternoon.
March 2, 2015 — 5:25 PM
CatJuggling says:
Listening to the anthology Kaiju Rising, which includes Peter Clines, among others. It’s a lot of great takes on Giant Monster stories and the audiobook has some amazing narrators.
March 2, 2015 — 1:31 PM
Kyra Dune says:
I’m reading Bloodrealms by Aurora Whittet. It’s a paranormal fantasy about werewolves. It’s okay so far. I like the characters well enough and the story has me interested. The writing is a little choppy, in my opinion, but not bad.
March 2, 2015 — 1:34 PM