Here we are at the beginning of Autumn, with plenty of new books to read.
Bill: First essays came in so not as much reading this week. I did complete V.E. Schwab’s Vengeance and finished listening to Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Media-wise, my son and I both enjoyed the film The Endless, even if it overplays its metaphors a bit toward the end. And we’ve really been enjoying The Travelers, even if we have to overlook some things now and then.
Jana: This week was, sadly, light on reading for me. I read Peter V. Brett‘s newest DEMON CYCLE novella, Barren, and my hope is that by the time this update is posted, I’ll have finished my review. Next week I’d like to start reading Julie Kagawa‘s upcoming Shadow of the Fox, which I already snuck a peek at, and it seems super-atmospheric and thrilling. Plus, I just received an ARC of Vic James‘s Bright Ruin, which completes her DARK GIFTS trilogy, so you know I’m rearranging my schedule in order to make time for that ASAP.
Marion: I finished The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. I wanted to read it because it is on PBS’s Masterpiece right now. The story is moody and atmospheric, with layers, nuance, secrets, word plays and secret identities, chiaroscuro details, so much food –deliciously described!—and perhaps a touch of magic. Just about everything I love. A word of warning for you who might want to watch or read it; pets do not fare well in this book!
Nathan: This week I am reading…well, a lot of papers for work. And for leisure, neither science fiction nor science fact, but science history–Alfred North Whitehead’s Science and the Modern World.
Tadiana:Lately I’ve been reading some new books and some older ones. The notable new ones include The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastleby Stuart Turton, which is a delightful mix of an intricately plotted murder mystery mixed with a SF/fantasy element; Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson; Voyager of the Crown by Melissa McShane, the fourth book in her CROWN OF TREMONTAINE fantasy/romance series; Arabella the Traitor of Mars by David D. Levine, the wrapup to his ADVENTURES OF ARABELLA ASHBY retro SF series; and Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve reported in here. :) The older books – “older” being relative; some of these are just from last year – include Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (I’m anxiously awaiting Grey Sister at the library); Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King; The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo; and Circe by Madeline Miller. Some reviews written; several more pending!
Taya: I’m reading The Wizard’s Daughter by Jeff Minerd. It’s a bit of a steampunk-y jaunt destined to lead to a fictionalized Japan or some such region where there will be confrontations with all manner of mystical beings, possibly even Brieze’s father. So far the voice is good and fairly engaging. I’m running into trouble remembering which day it is. Sorry for my less that compliant reporting. Trying to do better.
Terry: I made up a rule for myself: I cannot start a new book until I’ve finished several of the 10 or 11 in which I have bookmarks. So far I’ve managed to finish one: Everything Trump Touches Dies by RIck Wilson, which was clearly rushed to print far too quickly, full of grammatical and proofreading errors, and even at least one of fact that I spotted. Get it from the library if you want to read it! I’ve also made progress in The Gone Away Place by Christopher Barzak and Nightmare Carnival, edited by Ellen Datlow, and will probably have both finished by the time the weekend is done. The Ruins of Ambrai by Melanie Rawn is another I’ve made small progress on daily, and I’m enjoying it more the more I read. I think I may declare a few more books essentially “not yet started” and delete them from this list, as I’ve not really looked at To Green Angel Tower by Tad Williams or The Book of Swords, edited by Gardner Dozois; I’ll come back to both of them in time, but they’re not grabbing me now. And then I’ll have only four books going and be free to start any of the millions around here that are clamoring for my attention.
Tim: This week, I’ve begun reading The White Rose by Glen Cook (which is simultaneously fun and bleak, in that particular BLACK COMPANY way). I also started Batman: Nightstalker by Marie Lu. It’s a well-written YA novel so far, but I’m not sure (at least judging by present evidence) that the book entirely gets Batman. Bruce Wayne in Nightstalker certainly has some Batman qualities (broody, rich, enjoys fast cars), but he also feels surprisingly well-adjusted for a guy who’s scheduled to pull on a rubber animal costume and jump off the roof in two years. Still reading, though, so we’ll see.
Nathan, my condolences on the work reading! The science history book sounds good though.
Tadiana, I really liked Voyager of the Crown! I had some questions by the middle of the book–which happily were answered by the end.
I’m glad you enjoyed it too, Melita. I thought it was one of the better entries in this series.