It’s that time again where I ask:
Hey, whaddya reading?
What was the last book you read (and how was it)?
What are you reading right now? Er, beside this post, I mean.
Me, I just finished:
Delilah S. Dawson’s HIT — a YA about a girl who takes on the debt of her mother and has to pay it back in a rather unconventional way: kill or recruit other debtors in service to the bank that just secretly took over the US government. It’s fucking rad, this book. It’s like, the metaphor of a teenager taking on the burden of her parents is right on. And Patsy is in some ways a cousin to my own Atlanta Burns* (an heir to the problems her not-great mother brought to bear, uses a gun, Southern, drawn into a conspiracy larger than she cares to handle, small town, unexpected dog).
Christopher Golden’s TIN MEN — doesn’t come out till the end of June, but this is a bad-ass near-future war thriller worth checking out. Terrorists and presidential assassinations and cool bleeding-edge tech and oh yeah soldiers controlling robot drone bodies with their minds. I read it and I thought, “This reads like Terminator plus Saving Private Ryan,” and then I went back and saw that Scott Sigler said exactly that in his blurb. Thus proving that I am secretly Scott Sigler.
Speaking of Scott Sigler —
I am presently reading his own: ALIVE. Which is so far taut as a choking rope and mysterious as the strange rash I have on my left buttock in the shape of Cousin Balki of Perfect Strangers. The book stars teenage protagonists but I don’t think is YA? Whatever, it’s great. Not out till July. I also, rather foolishly, haven’t read enough Sigler in my life, so this goes toward correcting it.
I’m also reading Adam Christopher’s MADE TO KILL — which is, what exactly? Robot pulp noir? I dunno what to call it, but I know I’m loving it so far. (Adam is, of course, my co-writer on The Shield, which hey did you see Drew Johnson’s jumping on board the book and hey look at that art that I’ve posted at the bottom of the page because I’m totally shameless and isn’t it cool?)
Oh! Also, a couple quick administrative notes:
a) I’m gone from Wednesday this week to Monday of next week. Because of Phoenix ComicCon, which is awesome and you should go and I’ll see you there. But that means posting might be light.
b) I feel like some folks haven’t yet seen the winners of the STORY IN SEARCH TERMS contest — but hey, the winners are picked, and if you are a winner, contact me, will ya?
Anyway.
Your turn.
What did you just read?
And what are you reading now?
Time to share the book-love.
Or I guess the book-hate if you didn’t like it, but pssh, whatever.
* by the way, Atlanta Burns is on sale this week at Amazon — the Kindle is at $3.99, and the trade paperback has dropped to $7.50, should you be so inclined to check it out.
ashleycapes says:
Hogfather!!!!!!
Always amazing 🙂
May 25, 2015 — 7:28 AM
maratio says:
OOH I AN TALK OF THE BOOK LOVE THAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING TO ME HERE!!
I am reading ‘The man in the high castle’ because it’s Phillip K Dick and seriously I had yet to read it, correcting mistake. Then I am also reading ‘IT’ because Stephen King is love and I am reading ‘Brave New World’ and Nnedi Okorafor’s ‘Who fears death’ which I hope will grab me at some point because right now it has not…and I can’t figure out why 🙁
Keep being awesome Chuck have fun at ComicCon!
May 25, 2015 — 7:30 AM
Sarina Rhoads says:
Predator One by Jonathan Maberry on audiobook. The narrator for Maberry’s Ledger series is so good that I have to listen to the books. Not to mention, The Ledger series is at the top of my all time favorites.
May 25, 2015 — 7:34 AM
Elaine- says:
http://www.amazon.com/Incomplete-Nature-Mind-Emerged-Matter/dp/B00WAO18KK
May 25, 2015 — 7:39 AM
Andrew T says:
Just started Underworld by Don Delillo.
May 25, 2015 — 7:47 AM
M Hardwick says:
Excellent choice.
May 25, 2015 — 11:12 AM
addy says:
Just finished reading the heroes of Olympus series YES I KNOW I AM A MAN CHILD but it was brilliant and taught me a lot about Greek and roman mythology while supplying an epic adventure and demigod greatness.
Also I went through 3 slices, a coloction of shot stories by three different authors, the story by Delilah S. Dawson was pact with world building and a great protagonist, and I just wish it wasn’t a short story. The story by Chuck was also fantastic, filling my head with more of Miriam’s cussing “Mornings can go eat a dick” and such.
I am now reading the assassins apprentice by Robin Hobb. So far I am intrigued but I haven’t read a lot so I won’t have any solid thoughts on it just yet.
May 25, 2015 — 7:50 AM
Darke Conteur says:
I’m reading off my phone via a Kobo app as my damn ereader decided not to work anymore. I’m not impressed, but at least with my phone I *can* still read. I’m almost finished BYPASS GEMINI by Joseph Lallo. Really good! Wasn’t sure if I could get back into Sci-Fi because I’ve been reading paranormal for so many years, but this is a good gateway book back for me. Next book, a cyberpunk called UNDER THE AMORAL BRIDGE. Heard it was really good. After that, maybe a few more zombie books.
May 25, 2015 — 8:02 AM
Robert Mitchell says:
Just finished “Burning Chrome” by Gibson. One of the most imaginative books I’ve ever read. Dense prose, complex, insane (insert foodie metaphor about experimenting with layers of flavor, etc. etc.). Now reading “The Martian” by Andy Weir. Clean, angular prose, many much maths on display. Gibson plays with tech like a jazz pianist, while Weir plays chamber music. Both are pretty, but I have to say that so far I prefer the Gibson. But I’m only 2/3 of the way through Weir, so…
May 25, 2015 — 8:16 AM
Karen says:
Just finished Rachel Bach, FORTUNE’S PAWN. Bought this twelve months ago and couldn’t read it back then, no idea why. Picked it up today and enjoyed it enough that I’m going out to get book two, Honour’s Knight, tomorrow. Sometimes it really is a matter of timing.
May 25, 2015 — 8:25 AM
Doreen Ann Queen says:
Good choice – this is a great series for Sci-Fi, reminds me of some of Anne McCaffery’s Sci-Fi heroines.
May 25, 2015 — 3:40 PM
lisboeta1 says:
I just finished reading Child 44 (truth is stranger than fiction) and I am currently reading Landline, trying to finish Room and still plodding (because of lack of time not lack of interest) through Prudence and Prodigy. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith is a reality-based thriller that rivals any dystopic novel we can come up with (really). Landline by Rainbow Rowell came into my hands after reading her YA Eleanor & Park. She is a great writer. Prodigy is a YA speculative by Mary Lu (if as good as Legend, the first one in the series, it will be well worth the read) and Prudence by Gail Carriger, one I am very curious about since it’s a cross-genre novel that mixes it all with a great deal of humor. Room by Emma Donoghue is a disturbing novel written in the POV of a five year old child who was born in captivity (mom was kidnapped and kept for 7 years). I got myself into a couple of different book clubs so that I HAVE to read from different genres and not just the ones I am comfortable with:) It makes life more interesting and allows me to see things through different perspectives.
May 25, 2015 — 8:30 AM
Davide Mana says:
Just finished “Grim Mistresses” (great collection of twisted remakes of classic fairy tales, edited by Amanda Shore) and “Dragonfly” (stunning fantasy novel by Raphael Ordonez).
Currently reading “The Silvered Heart”, historical novel about the Wicked Lady of Hertfordshire tradition, a book by Katherine Clements. Quite good so far.
May 25, 2015 — 8:31 AM
joycronje says:
ooooh *wants to read*
May 25, 2015 — 9:42 AM
portlandorange (@portlandorange) says:
Thanks for recommending The Silvered Heart! It sounds fascinating, and reading it can do double duty as research for my own novel’s opening scene. (Psychopath tries to menace young woman in rural 1802 Sussex. Psychopath meets with zero success — the young woman perhaps comparing him unfavorably with Katherine Ferrers, Wicked Lady of 1600s Hertfordshire.)
May 26, 2015 — 6:33 PM
Mozette says:
Your book… ‘Kick-Ass Writer’… it’s a great book. I love it!
I’ve read some it out to my Mum, and she loves your no-nonsense way of writing and thinks you’re funny. 😀
Now that says something! 😀
May 25, 2015 — 8:38 AM
vuuyaweb says:
the book I just finished was Light by M. John Harrison. a great piece of literary Sci-Fi and now I am reading Red Seas under Red skies by Scott Lynch
May 25, 2015 — 8:51 AM
kessara says:
Recently finished 11/22/65 by Stephen King. Detailed, complex and no horror – beautifully done. Currently re-reading “Civilization and Its Enemies” by Lee Harris because it’s been too long and I needed to remember. Also reading “Guardians of Time” book 9 in the After Cilmeri series by Sara Woodbury. The After Cilmeri series is a time-travel historical – great characters, engaging storyline and decent historical accuracy.
May 25, 2015 — 9:05 AM
Matt Leach says:
The Scarlett Gospels by Clive Barker. PINHEAD IS BACK! And I feel like I’m thirteen again and watching Hellraiser from under the covers and with the TV turned down low so as my parents wouldn’t figure the horrors that their son was watching.
Also Nocturnal by Scott Sigler, which is, as are all of his books, bloody brilliant.
May 25, 2015 — 9:13 AM
paulmckennawriter says:
Ken Liu grace of Kings. READ IT NOW ALL OF YOU!
May 25, 2015 — 9:18 AM
Julie Griffith says:
The last book I read was Eleven On Top by Janet Evonovich. I love the quirky characters in this series, the witty banter, and sexual tension between Stephanie and the two men in her life. Evonovich is the best when it comes to a fun read.
Now I am reading Stephen King’s Joyland. I know it’s been out for a while, but I somehow haven’t found the time until now to check it out. The thing about it is, not much has happened yet and I’m halfway through. But it totally doesn’t matter, because the writing and character development are so great that it’s holding my interest. And of course since it’s Stephen King, I know something worth the wait is coming up in the second half.
May 25, 2015 — 9:19 AM
Julie Hutchings says:
QUEEN OF THE TEARLING. I’m into it.
May 25, 2015 — 9:21 AM
Delfina says:
A friend from Twitter recommended me the Vorkosigan Saga from Lois McMaster Bujold and I’ve been burning through it the last few weeks, I’ve just started reading Komarr. I can’t believe I overlooked these books all this time!
May 25, 2015 — 9:23 AM
Madeline says:
Got my hands on an ARC of Paul Cleave’s TRUST NO ONE – almost finished, and have a feeling I’ll be raving about this intense, heartbreaking mystery/thriller….
I have Sigler’s ALIVE on my TBR list.
May 25, 2015 — 9:24 AM
Samantha Warren says:
The last book I read was Predator One by Jonathan Maberry. Fan-flipping-awesome, of course. All the Joe Ledger books are.
Right now, I’m reading Inkheart. I’ve seen the movie several times and decided to try the book. It’s great. I’m totally in love.
May 25, 2015 — 9:24 AM
jnugent74 says:
Just finished “Ancillary Justice” by Ann Leckie and started “Firefight” by Brandon Sanderson. And a ton of flash fiction to boot.
May 25, 2015 — 9:25 AM
Chris says:
Last read “It’s a Long Story” by Willie Nelson, an American original. Part genius, part hustler, part activist, part outlaw – – loved it. Now reading “We Who Are About To” by the the most egregiously under-rated Joanna Russ. Challenging, brilliantly written sci-fi deserving a wider audience.
May 25, 2015 — 9:30 AM
Chris Dangerfield says:
I shall decline to share the title, since I was less than pleased. I’ll just leave this here…
“This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.”
― Dorothy Parker (The Algonquin Wits)
May 25, 2015 — 9:32 AM
wildbilbo says:
Just finished 500 more ways to become a better writer (which prompted a visit here). Quality as always.
Before that I read Whipping Star by Frank Herbert. It was… Fine. Good I guess, but no Dune.
Next up is deeper into some Unrembered Empire by Dan Abnett.
May 25, 2015 — 9:32 AM
Paul Baxter says:
Unexpected Dog is the name of my next band. Or the story I’m writing right now.
May 25, 2015 — 9:33 AM
maridevalerio says:
David Mitchell’s “The Bone Clocks”. Impressive, detailed, intricately woven.
May 25, 2015 — 9:35 AM
Quill Shiv says:
I’m working on that one right now, too. It’s nuanced, and -as with all of his books- the full scope of the story relies upon the reader’s ability to retain subtlety dropped details. I’m looking forward to reading the last hundred pages.
May 25, 2015 — 10:03 AM
SamKD says:
That one has been on my wish list a while–may move it up based on two favorable nods.
May 25, 2015 — 1:52 PM
portlandorange (@portlandorange) says:
Mitchell impressed me too. I read a lot of magical fantasy, and I admired how he portrayed the characters’ special powers. They weren’t just kickass: they were genuinely unsettling, like some passages were for me in Marcus Sakey’s Brilliance Saga.
May 26, 2015 — 6:47 PM
Moriah says:
I’m currently re-reading “Night Watch” by Terry Pratchett, again. I love re-reading his work. I have a new book/new to me author (Brendan Myers “Fellwater”) just waiting to be read on my kitchen table.
May 25, 2015 — 9:36 AM
Brandy says:
I’ve been doing some re-reading lately, based on recommendations to friends that reminded me how much I loved the book. Just finished N.K Jemisin’s The Killing Moon, which is stunning. It’s both subtle and able to punch you right in the feels. Also re-read Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle, which I read for the first time last year and HOW IS THAT BOOK EVEN POSSIBLE IT’S SO FUCKING GOOD.
May 25, 2015 — 9:37 AM
Beth Turnage says:
Cold Hearted by James. A. Hunter, the second Yancy Lazarus book. Fun stuff!
May 25, 2015 — 9:41 AM
joycronje says:
Reading “The Daylight War” by Peter V Brett, and just finished the book before it called “The Desert Spear”. As you can see, I’m obsessing over this series of books and thus have too little time to talk about them magnanimously
May 25, 2015 — 9:41 AM
De says:
The Name of the Rose reread. It’s not the William Weaver translation, which I’m finding both disturbing and enjoyable, because the text seems fresh again. A good translation. It has Eco’s afterword, too, which I’m finding useful from a writing perspective. Also reading How to Cheat at Everything, excellent reasearch mats. Just finished the Chew collection Major League Chew and Astro City vol. 1. Sadly Astro City left me cold…now wondering if there’s something wrong with me…
May 25, 2015 — 9:44 AM
portlandorange (@portlandorange) says:
WOW. Is this a new English translation of Name of the Rose, an older one, or in another language? Weaver’s is the only English translation I found on Google just now, but I’d love to revisit the book with a fresh eye!
My favorite medieval mysteries are Margaret Frazer’s Dame Frevisse series. Eco was a very hard act to follow, but I respected and enjoyed The Novice’s Tale even more.
May 26, 2015 — 7:13 PM
Katy says:
HIT is on my to-read shelf (actually bought it after hearing about it here on terribleminds).
Currently, I’m trudging through “The Testing” by Joelle Charbaneau (that has to be spelt wrong). The plot is the only thing that’s keeping me going because the main character and the writing style is simply horrendous. It feels like I’m reading someone’s cover letter, which especially sucks because it’s in first person.
I’m also in between the second and final books of the Mara Dyer trilogy by Michelle Hodkin. Really good, really creepy, and really fun series.
May 25, 2015 — 9:44 AM
SamKD says:
Too much for one comment; had to do a whole post: http://samkdsonlinepace.blogspot.com/
May 25, 2015 — 9:45 AM
dperdue6865 says:
I finished reading “Why Read Moby Dick?” by Nathaniel Philbrick and I am now in the middle of Clive Barker’s “The Scarlet Gospels.”
May 25, 2015 — 9:45 AM
Chad Williamson says:
LEATHER MAIDEN by Joe Lansdale and CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND by Chuck Barris.
May 25, 2015 — 9:51 AM
Tammy says:
I’m reading AFTERPARTY by Daryl Gregory and it’s AMAZING. I just adore that man, he never writes the same book twice.
I just finished UPROOTED by Naomi Novik and LOVED it. I’ve had a good reading streak lately, and I hope it continhes:-D
May 25, 2015 — 9:51 AM
Carolina James Who Wins The Games says:
I am a biblioholic, which means I’m never biblio-monogamous. Currently in the to-be-read stack(s) . . .
~ New, first reading: “In The Blood,” by Steve Robinson — genealogical mystery/historical thriller — followed by its sequel “To The Grave.” Also “The Good Earth” by Peal S. Buck, and “Cry, the Beloved Country” by Alan Paton.
~ Second reading: “The People of the Book,” by Geraldine Brooks, and “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern. Both blew me away, and I am almost hungry to go back and see if they hold up to multiple readings.
~ Lost count how many readings: I am starting the final book in Sharon Kay Penman’s glorious trilogy on Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. “When Christ and His Saints Slept,” “Time and Chance,” and “Devil’s Brood.” I might reread “Lionheart,” which is outstanding. Then I’ll reread her Welsh Princes trilogy, because it only makes sense chronologically: “Here Be Dragons,” “Falls the Shadow,” and “The Reckoning.” Then I’ll have to read “Sunne in Splendor” about Richard III, because reasons and OCD don’tjudgeme.
May 25, 2015 — 9:54 AM
caferevolution says:
The last two books I’ve read (and greatly enjoyed) are “Red seas under red skies” by Scott Lynch, and “Karen Memory” by Elizabeth Bear.
May 25, 2015 — 9:55 AM
Jay Fingers says:
My most recent read was “God Help the Child” by Toni Morrison. Fast, lyrical and uncharacteristically contemporary tale about a dark-skinned (“blue-black”) girl born to a very light-skinned mother. The daughter feels the weight of her mother’s rejection into adulthood. Of course there’s more to the story than that, but it’s mostly about how children are affected by their parents’ actions and attitudes and how they become the adults they become.
Now I’m currently reading “The Actress” by Amy Sohn. A young ingenue becomes enamored with the reigning box-office king, but rumors abound that he’s gay and only “dates” young pretty girls as a front. And yes, the book is supposedly based on Tom Cruise but whatevs.
May 25, 2015 — 9:55 AM
Gwenda says:
I just finished Nimona by Noelle Stevenson and OH-MY-LISTEN-SERIOUSLY it is just wonderful. A graphic novel about a villain (sort of) and his self-appointed shapeshifting sidekick Nimona that manages to delightfully deliver all the pleasures of a story of this type while cheerfully subverting them in surprising ways *and* being emotionally involving. I immediately reread it and ordered her book The Lumberjanes.
May 25, 2015 — 9:56 AM
Michelle Palmer says:
Current read: How to Build A Girl by Caitlin Moran. I am only 25% in but it is captivating. MC is a realistic, flawed 14 year old girl.
Just finished: Grace Cries Uncle by Julie Hyzy. I love her books. They are fun mysteries with great interpersonal scenes.
May 25, 2015 — 9:57 AM
Jeff Xilon says:
I’m reading Revision by Andrea Phillips on Kindle and The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu on Audible. Enjoying them both. Last reading-read was The Apocalypse Ocean by Tobias Buckell, which I’d been holding on to for far too long. Loved it, which didn’t surprise me because I’m a huge fan of Buckell’s Xenowealth series as a whole. Last listening-read was The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, translated by Ken Liu. I really enjoyed that one and will probably be ranking it number one on my Hugo ballot.
May 25, 2015 — 10:05 AM
Tsara Shelton says:
I just finished reading MY YEAR OF MEATS by Ruth Ozeki. It was delicious!!!!! I’d read A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING and thought, “No way she could do that to me again! Give me those feelings and stuff. No way!” Well, I took myself up on my dare (seems nobody plays ‘dare ya to read a good book that tangos with your soul’ anymore. Wait a sec! Nobody ever did! I’ve always been a bit of a loner weirdo. Huh. Okay, anyway…. ) well, it turns out she can do all that to me again! My soul was tangoed with! My feelings and stuff were tickled and stroked and smacked around and led lovingly to bed. MY YEAR OF MEATS filled me up and left me feeling spent!
I think I’ll roll over and smoke a sexy cigarette….
Anyway, I’ve moved on. I’m a bit of a book whore that way. Now I’m reading ABENG by Michelle Cliff. But I’m only on page five, so I don’t have a strong opinion yet. Other than to say with certainty that it’s a beautifully written invitation to live a vastly different kind of life than my own. Which is my true addiction.
Not so much the sexy smoking. I quit that when I was seventeen and found the uncontrollable hacking of smokers cough pretty much negated the sexy.
Okay, now that I’ve talked about ABENG I think I’ll flirt with it again.
I’m off to play in Jamaica and stuff my pockets with fruit!
May 25, 2015 — 10:15 AM
Tsara Shelton says:
Oh, also I just took advantage of the ATLANTA BURNS sale. Thank-you so much for mentioning it!
I’ve had that book in my Wishlist for too long.
May 25, 2015 — 4:24 PM
Matthew Kane (@matthewkane) says:
Yesterday I read Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman’s “The Golem of Hollywood” and I agree with Stephen King’s highly complimentary blurb on the cover.
May 25, 2015 — 10:16 AM
Anthony Izzo says:
Just finished “Mr. Mercedes” and now onto “Ink Mage” by Victor Gischler.
May 25, 2015 — 10:30 AM
xxinkblotsxx says:
The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall. It started with a guy waking up with amnesia then turned into a sci fi/improbable fiction type nightmare. It’s a hard read but a fantastic book!
May 25, 2015 — 10:31 AM
gloriousmonsters says:
I’m in the middle of Bone Gap, by Laura Ruby. So far it’s utterly amazing – beautiful writing, really well done character and description balanced, lots of dark fairy-tale and magical realism elements.
May 25, 2015 — 10:35 AM
Lauralynn Elliott says:
I just finished reading The Shadows by J.R. Ward, which was good. Those Black Dagger Brotherhood books are like crack. I don’t WANT to read them, but I can’t help myself.
I’m currently reading Memory Man by David Baldacci. This author never disappoints me.
Yeah, I know those two books are TOTALLY different, but my reading taste is very eclectic. I read in a LOT of genres.
May 25, 2015 — 10:37 AM
Lisa Barry says:
I am currently reading First Magyc by Nicole DragonBeck, an epic fantasy following a young girl who gets pulled into the world of Demona where the magic is dying and the Guardians of Magyc are scrambling to figure out why (great so far and the Guardians use magyc wielding musical instruments as weapons which is awesome!) and also when in the car I’m listening to Blood Fever by Karen Marie Moning. It’s my second time through this series which should say exactly how awesome it is.
The last book I read was End of Days by Susan Ee. It was the third and final book in the Penryn and the End of Days series set in a post-apocalyptic earth and following the story of Penryn who rescues one of the very Angels that have destroyed Earth in an effort to force him to help her find her sister. I loved the series and though I would have preferred it to be longer, it was a great read and I completely recommend it.
May 25, 2015 — 10:37 AM