Board 8 > What have you been reading recently? / Book recommendations thread

(+) Yeah! (+)

I've been looking for some new books to read and audiobooks to listen to while I exercise.

I'll get things started with a couple different recommendations of books I've read over the last year and hopefully some of you will join me!

Blackout / All Clear - a two novel historical fiction / sci fi series. In the future, historians study the past by traveling back in time to observe and study, but never change historical events. When the time travel machine starts to go awry, 3 historians trapped across WWII England must figure out whether they can get back to present-day without irrevocably changing history. The story is told across a number of different character's POVs, and it switches between them and between time periods from chapter to chapter as the stories weave together. The historical elements are well-researched and makes the setting come to life, while the narrative and characters had me blowing through hundreds of pages in a single sitting to find out what was coming next for each of them. I'd recommend it to almost anybody who enjoys history or time travel or a gripping narrative; it's hard to imagine there wouldn't be something to appeal to most anyone.

Alone With You in the Ether - this is a VERY modern romance story between a spacey, cerebral man and a manic, bipolar woman in their mid to late twenties. this is absolutely a niche book but if you fit into that niche like I do it is truly something beautiful and special about finding meaning in living with mental illnesses, coping with yourself and your relationships with others. I truly felt this book reflected many of my own experiences and resonated all the way to my very soul. I think Regan in particular is likely to be a very polarizing romance deuteragonist that I imagine many people wouldn't feel sympathetic toward. I would highly recommend reading a preview of the book on amazon before committing to it because I think it's the sort of thing that's just a love it or hate it and nothing in-between, but if it hits for you it will HIT.

And now currently I am starting to read 2666 by Roberto Bolao, but I'm not far enough in to have formed a real opinion on it as of yet. Looking forward to see what you all have to share

I listen to audiobooks often at my job and recently I've been listening to the Mistborn series. I've been enjoying them quite a bit.

Added yours to my list to look into.

I remember I enjoyed the Mistborn series a lot when I read them back in high school, although at that time there were only three of them. I think I read somewhere there's been another trilogy since then and a third trilogy planned?

I don't remember too much about the series other than the ferromancy based magic system - is the second trilogy good enough to merit a full re-read of everything?

I'm currently about half way thru book 2 in Mark Lawrence Broken Empire series

changmas posted...

I remember I enjoyed the Mistborn series a lot when I read them back in high school, although at that time there were only three of them. I think I read somewhere there's been another trilogy since then and a third trilogy planned?

I don't remember too much about the series other than the ferromancy based magic system - is the second trilogy good enough to merit a full re-read of everything?

yes

the second arc is 4 books

also read the rest of sanderson's bibliography

the dandelion dynasty is a four-book sci-fi/fantasy that probably is my favorite read of the last five years

changmas posted...

I don't remember too much about the series other than the ferromancy based magic system - is the second trilogy good enough to merit a full re-read of everything?

I'd say it's definitely worth looking into. The second era is 4 books this time and it's different but still good. I haven't started the fourth book yet but you might be okay starting with the second era without refreshing yourself on the first era.

SeabassDebeste posted...

the dandelion dynasty is a four-book sci-fi/fantasy that probably is my favorite read of the last five years

ooo nice to hear this is on my shortlist

The Expanse - Never seen the series, but I read the first book. Loved it, looking forward to the rest.

Illumunae Files - YA System Shock/Dead Space, presented as a dossier of in-universe documents from a damaged ship trying to flee an attack on a mining colony.

Legends and Lattes - Cozy little fantasy novel about a half-orc barbarian who retires from adventuring to set up a shop selling a remarkable new product she discovered in a distant land- coffee.

I recently started reading fiction novels again for the first time in a long time. Favourites so far have been 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and Project Hail Mary

would love any recommendations that are exciting/intriguing

House of Leaves - It's bigger on the inside. Four(?) Unreliable narrators. An entire story told in footnotes. Fantastic experimental fiction.

Need to tag this one early this time around.

Currently reading/listening to Ready Player Two. Yes, Ernest, we get all the references. Wil Wheaton is the perfect amount of dorky exuberance for each book so far (Ready Player One and, to a lesser extent, Armada) but honestly? I liked Armada more so far.

Granted, I'm only a few parts in, but ... yeah, Wade is just as cringey as before, which works for the context of the book, I guess?

Legends and lattesits wicked cute

Recently finished Survive the Night by Riley Sagar and The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix. Can't really recommend either.

Isquen posted...

Currently reading/listening to Ready Player Two. Yes, Ernest, we get all the references. Wil Wheaton is the perfect amount of dorky exuberance for each book so far (Ready Player One and, to a lesser extent, Armada) but honestly? I liked Armada more so far.

Granted, I'm only a few parts in, but ... yeah, Wade is just as cringey as before, which works for the context of the book, I guess?

I listened to Ready Player Two last year and, uh... it was rough.

Wade has to be one of the worst protagonists in recent memory.

Currently reading Ink by Jonathan Maberry and enjoying it so far. Very cool small-town horror novel about people who get their tattoos/memories stolen from them. Kinda reminds me of Needful Things by Stephen King.

Finished The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler last week. Plot was a little convoluted but the voice was top-notch. Definitely want to check out the sequels.

FFDragon posted...

House of Leaves - It's bigger on the inside. Four(?) Unreliable narrators. An entire story told in footnotes. Fantastic experimental fiction.

Loved it when a read it back in 2012. There's no other book like it.

https://www.amazon.com/Outcast-Another-World-Adventure-Insanity-ebook/dp/B09FZ16ZNT

Yes, the 2nd era of Mistborn is arguably better than the first trilogy. I would at least read a synopsis on the first era before hopping into the second era though.

And also heavily recommend the rest of Sandersons stuff too, especially The Stormlight Archive.

Another fantasy novel series I'd recommend is Realm of the Elderlings, by Robin Hobb, starting with The Assassin's Apprentice.

I've been currently reading The Name of the Wind (first part of the Kingkiller Chronicles) by Patrick Rothfuss, and its really good as well. Sadly its unfinished and the final book in the trilogy has been A Song of Ice and Fire'd (been 'being written' for like 10 years) and I didn't know that going in, but its good enough where I'll finish the two that are out anyway and just kind of hope it does come out eventually and that there isn't a big cliffhanger at the end of the second lol.

Johnbobb posted...

Wade has to be one of the worst protagonists in recent memory.

I don't disagree. The story's still interesting once I filter out a lot of the fanboy-wank, though.

I will echo the Mistborn rec, along with Stormlight Archive. It's now my favorite series of all time (the entire cosmere is incredible).

For something on the shorter side, I recently read through Mage Errant. Took only a couple weeks to finish the current six books with one more on the way.

Story involves young mages in a very imaginitive world where magic is incorporated in all of their technology. It uses pretty much any fantasy trope you can think of but with interesting and unique spins on all of it. The characters are all wonderfully written as well, and the protagonist starts out as an anti-social hermit which is something I related to lol.

I've been reading Stephen King's Fairy Tale.

I'm close to the end. It's... eh. The problem is that the first and second halves of the book are essentially two different stories with little cohesion. I actually really liked the characterization in the first half, it's just that the whole time I was thinking "Where is this going...?" and then it turned out the answer was less interesting than I had hoped.

I just finished A Memory Called Empire yesterday and am looking forward to reading the sequel when my local library has it back in.

It's a sci-fi story set up with a murder mystery, but expands from there. It follows the ambassador of a small independent mining station to a large universe-wide empire, whose predecessor was murdered.

I'll echo the sentiment for the Stormlight Archive, but I haven't read the latest one yet or anything else by Sanderson. The first book was a bit exhausting at first, especially since many characters start out very unlikable. When it picks up, it fucking picks up.

Big_Bob posted...

the whole time I was thinking "Where is this going...?" and then it turned out the answer was less interesting than I had hoped.

Tbf this is basically 90% of King's work, no? I am a big fan of his but let's not pretend that he wraps things up in a satisfactory way...

Peace___Frog posted...

Tbf this is basically 90% of King's work, no? I am a big fan of his but let's not pretend that he wraps things up in a satisfactory way...

I know he has a reputation for bad endings, but I basically lost interest in the book at the halfway point. A whole lot of characters are introduced in a very short period, and it becomes very difficult to become attached to any of them. I also found myself asking why the main character was even bothering for a lot of his actions. It basically boils down to "The plot demands it", but he has too much to lose and not enough to gain to justify his decisions.

I always recommend Discworld - and have recently gotten all new Audiobooks!

Nonfiction read to watch the series also: "This is Going to Hurt." Younger doctor that worked NHS in the mid-late 00s journal snippets with some really dark humor. Definitely recommend the book over the show, although the show isn't a bad viewing either.

Finished the entire cosmere recently. Cannot recommend more.

Got a few books as Christmas presents, and really enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees the most of all of them. Also just read The Chill by Scott Carson and that was a very good thriller, felt very Stephen King, a good ride.

I'm considering finally tackling Rhythm of War in The Stormlight Archive (last read Oathbringer maybe in fall 2021 before starting up the Mistborn trilogy), but Trails to Azure come out on Steam in two weeks and I want to play Zero NG+ before then, play Azure, then finish further replays of Cold Steel I & II, then finally get to Cold Steel III. I mean, that's appropriate here as those games are practically books, right?

My friend recommended The Broken Earth and A Memory Called Empire, but I was intimidated by the early denseness (and read other recs Left Hand of Darkness and Parable of the Sower instead). What are some further persuasions on these?

Also, The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali was really, really good. It's about a young woman's romance just before the Iranian Revolution and class politics, generational and familial tolerances, and past-influencing-the-present-influencing-the-future. Really solid, much recommend.

Mega_Mana posted...

What are some further persuasions on these?

broken earth is a very different fantasy world than the european swords and sorcery. it's not my favorite but book 1 at least is very very readable, and it's worth it for the world alone. from there your call whether to continue!

Big_Bob posted...

I've been reading Stephen King's Fairy Tale.

I'm close to the end. It's... eh. The problem is that the first and second halves of the book are essentially two different stories with little cohesion. I actually really liked the characterization in the first half, it's just that the whole time I was thinking "Where is this going...?" and then it turned out the answer was less interesting than I had hoped.

Bummer. I was hoping King found his groove again, but it seems he's still in the funk he entered into after Mr. Mercedes.

Big_Bob posted...

I know he has a reputation for bad endings, but I basically lost interest in the book at the halfway point. A whole lot of characters are introduced in a very short period, and it becomes very difficult to become attached to any of them. I also found myself asking why the main character was even bothering for a lot of his actions. It basically boils down to "The plot demands it", but he has too much to lose and not enough to gain to justify his decisions.

This echoes some of my complaints with Sleeping Beauties. Especially the "falls apart after the middle" part.

Mega_Mana posted...

My friend recommended The Broken Earth and A Memory Called Empire, but I was intimidated by the early denseness (and read other recs Left Hand of Darkness and Parable of the Sower instead). What are some further persuasions on these?

Parable of the Sower might be the best book that I read in 2022 so I can't fault you there.

I thought that A Memory Called Empire was never very dense, but I can see why others might. I can't really pinpoint where it lightens up at all, just that the climax definitely feels fast paced and urgent.

bump

back on that riftwar grind

up

legends of riftwar was spicier than i expected (i guess riftwar legacy threw me off). pretty good

i should read Providence, the sequel to Ancillary Justice next. The first was very cool and unique, like Raven Tower. Really appreciate how Leckie seems to have a gift for finding underexplored styles and utilizing them very well