This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1beserene
So.
I kind of disappeared last year.
Ok, not kind of. Did. That's fair.
Who knows what this year will bring? But I do know that I want to read. And I like you people. So, here we go again.
Goals for 2016:
1) Read books.
2) Be here.
Previous threads found here:
-- I did manage to keep a complete list last year, but that's it; find it here: BeSerene Reads (I hope) in 2015
-- BeSerene's 2014: Books, with Occasional Panda
-- BeSerene's Lucky 2013: Books Read, Part First, and Part Second
-- BeSerene in 2012: A Very Good Year (for Books), and Part 2
-- BeSerene's Reads of 2011: the Beginning, and the Next Chapter
-- To see my masterlist from 2010, in which I read considerably more books than I have in more recent years, visit my second 2010 thread: BeSerene's Reads 2010, Part Two.
Read in 2016: 15/75
Fantasy
#1: All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
#7: Among Others by Jo Walton
#12: Fellside by M.R. Carey
#13: Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace (novella)
#14: Lustlocked by Matt Wallace (novella)
Science Fiction
#4: Planetfall by Emma Newman
#15: Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (novella)
Mystery
Historical Fiction
Contemporary and/or Literary Fiction
Classics
Non-fiction
Graphic Novels and Comic Collections
#2: Saga, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan
#3: Jessica Jones: Alias Volume 1 by Brian Michael Bendis
#5: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
#6: Shoplifter by Michael Cho
#8: Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill
#9: Strong Female Protagonist Book One by Brennan Lee Mulligan
#10: The Little World of Liz Climo by Liz Climo
#11: Lobster is the Best Medicine by Liz Climo
Uncategorizable Stuff
2beserene
You might note already a new trend in my reading -- starting at the end of last year, novellas and graphic novels have become my go-to for reading that feels quick and accomplishable. I used them to restart my reading pace last year after a long dry spell -- reading a couple of novellas or graphic novels in between novels of more standard length -- and so far this year that behavior has been continuing.
So, if you hang about this thread, you are likely to see a lot more graphic novels and collected comics, as well as (eventually) just about every fantasy novella Tor.com has published so far -- because, yep, I bought 'em all.
And yep, I still have a purchasing problem. I'm still me.
Missed you guys.
Love,
Sarah
PS: Also still a book panda.
So, if you hang about this thread, you are likely to see a lot more graphic novels and collected comics, as well as (eventually) just about every fantasy novella Tor.com has published so far -- because, yep, I bought 'em all.
And yep, I still have a purchasing problem. I'm still me.
Missed you guys.
Love,
Sarah
PS: Also still a book panda.
3beserene
There were a couple of new novellas that I read at the end of last year that I would like to recommend to everyone and, since I didn't get to post about them last year, I'd like to here:
Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire isn't out until April 5th, but I had the good luck to snag an ARC last year and it just blew me away. This is one of the Tor novellas and, as such, is slim and quick to read. It also has a deft balance -- it feels rich in world and character, despite its size, but also leaves one longing for more (and the buzz has it that there will be sequels down the road). The story takes place at a school for children who've come back from their fantasy realms -- who, like Alice of old, returned from Wonderland and found it awfully difficult to get on in plain old reality. As the book says, travel like that changes a person. The plot unfolds a genuinely creepy mystery, but the real treasure here is the emotional pitch as the reader gets to know Nancy, her new classmates, the Headmistress who herself once had a Wonderland of her own, and all the unlikely citizens of this school story. If you have ever enjoyed a portal fantasy in your entire life... and then maybe wondered what happened after it ended... this is the book that will break your heart and then put it back together again, slightly crooked but still beating. Read it.
This Census-Taker is China Mieville's version of a novella -- which is to say that it could be a novel but, compared to his other expansive books, is shortish -- so we might as well call it one. This ambiguous story follows a boy whose parent has been killed, but rather than unfolding in a traditional mystery, the non-linear narrative moves back and forth between eras of the boy's life and reveals that it might never have been about murder in the first place. If you are a fan of clear-cut plots, extensive explanations, and well-defined character progression... definitely don't read this book. But, if you like things that are weird and twisty and make your brain work, you might just find this short book a pleasurable puzzle. Don't expect clarity (this is China Mieville, after all), just enjoy the exquisite turns that mix mystery with science fiction with something entirely Mieville's own.
Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire isn't out until April 5th, but I had the good luck to snag an ARC last year and it just blew me away. This is one of the Tor novellas and, as such, is slim and quick to read. It also has a deft balance -- it feels rich in world and character, despite its size, but also leaves one longing for more (and the buzz has it that there will be sequels down the road). The story takes place at a school for children who've come back from their fantasy realms -- who, like Alice of old, returned from Wonderland and found it awfully difficult to get on in plain old reality. As the book says, travel like that changes a person. The plot unfolds a genuinely creepy mystery, but the real treasure here is the emotional pitch as the reader gets to know Nancy, her new classmates, the Headmistress who herself once had a Wonderland of her own, and all the unlikely citizens of this school story. If you have ever enjoyed a portal fantasy in your entire life... and then maybe wondered what happened after it ended... this is the book that will break your heart and then put it back together again, slightly crooked but still beating. Read it.
This Census-Taker is China Mieville's version of a novella -- which is to say that it could be a novel but, compared to his other expansive books, is shortish -- so we might as well call it one. This ambiguous story follows a boy whose parent has been killed, but rather than unfolding in a traditional mystery, the non-linear narrative moves back and forth between eras of the boy's life and reveals that it might never have been about murder in the first place. If you are a fan of clear-cut plots, extensive explanations, and well-defined character progression... definitely don't read this book. But, if you like things that are weird and twisty and make your brain work, you might just find this short book a pleasurable puzzle. Don't expect clarity (this is China Mieville, after all), just enjoy the exquisite turns that mix mystery with science fiction with something entirely Mieville's own.
4ronincats
Hi, Sarah!! Found you!
I've been eyeing Every Heart a Doorway, so will go ahead and pre-order it based on your recommendation.
What did you think of All The Birds in the Sky? I was able to read the first chapter for free, but was not at all impressed. Does it get better?
Great to see you back here.
I've been eyeing Every Heart a Doorway, so will go ahead and pre-order it based on your recommendation.
What did you think of All The Birds in the Sky? I was able to read the first chapter for free, but was not at all impressed. Does it get better?
Great to see you back here.
5beserene
Catching up with some blurbs for this year's books...
Book #1
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
If you enjoyed the post-millenial sensibilities of Lev Grossman's The Magicians but, like me, found that it sucked all the joy out of the room, you might find Anders' new novel a true pleasure. It is a very post-modern romance, between a young woman immersed in nature magic and a young man enamored with the stuff of science fiction. The core of the novel is the conflict and resolution between those two characters and their representative spheres, which results in the story sometimes flowing more like allegory than anything else, but the overlay of contemporary concerns keeps the reader moving from conflict to conflict. The ultimate resolution here is satisfies on both the narrative and the philosophical levels. While some might not appreciate quite so much current commentary with their contemporary fantasy, I found the balance workable and quite enjoyed the characters and the almost-familiar worlds they inhabit. Perhaps not a perfect read, but definitely a good one.
Book #2
Saga, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan is the most recent collected volume in the ongoing Saga series of comics. I tore through Volumes 1-4 all in one day at the end of last year. The story is brutal, bloody, and fascinating, full of freshly imagined aliens and the struggle (and it is definitely still in the struggle phase) to end an interstellar war. If you aren't familiar with this new spin on star-crossed lovers, I highly recommend it. Unless you can't handle blood and sex in your comics, in which case give this a pass -- it's not for kids, that's for sure.
Book #3
Jessica Jones: Alias Volume 1 by Brian Michael Bendis
I watched the entire first season of the Jessica Jones television show on Netflix and was so impressed (honestly, it's one of the best I've ever seen) I decided to take a look at the source material. This collected volume of the comics is harsh and smart, like the show, and gives you just as much to think about. Worth reading and watching.
Book #4
Planetfall by Emma Newman
This science fiction novel unsettled me for days after I read it. It's not a feel-good book, but it is an exceptional example of what fascinating stories we can tell when we move away from the traditional tropes and limitations placed on female characters. The main character here is a woman with secrets and not a one of them is sexy. Instead, she struggles with the choices that she has made and the mental illness she is trying to conceal from her fellow colonists on a planet that no one truly understands. Those looking for a sunshiny ending should keep on walking -- the resolution here is as complex as the perspective from which the story is told -- but those who appreciate something truly different than the usual science fiction narrative will find this well worth the read.
Book #5
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel has already had a lot written about it. I should have read it years ago. In the world of graphic memoirs, it doesn't get much better than this. Frank, bitter, beautiful, and occasionally disturbing, this is the strange story of Bechdel's relationship with her father and the family home in which she grew up, told one plainly drawn panel at a time. Another comic that's not for kids, but might just be essential reading for everybody else.
Book #6
Shoplifter by Michael Cho is a much quieter book than the other graphic novels I've read lately. It follows a young woman who has lost touch with her own life. The simple confrontation that puts her back in connection with herself is elegantly rendered. Though not terribly memorable in the grand scheme of the graphic novel renaissance that seems to be happening lately, there is something subtly important about this one -- reminding us that real life is something to keep hold of. Worth the quick read, for those who like the simple profundities of the human condition.
Book #1
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
If you enjoyed the post-millenial sensibilities of Lev Grossman's The Magicians but, like me, found that it sucked all the joy out of the room, you might find Anders' new novel a true pleasure. It is a very post-modern romance, between a young woman immersed in nature magic and a young man enamored with the stuff of science fiction. The core of the novel is the conflict and resolution between those two characters and their representative spheres, which results in the story sometimes flowing more like allegory than anything else, but the overlay of contemporary concerns keeps the reader moving from conflict to conflict. The ultimate resolution here is satisfies on both the narrative and the philosophical levels. While some might not appreciate quite so much current commentary with their contemporary fantasy, I found the balance workable and quite enjoyed the characters and the almost-familiar worlds they inhabit. Perhaps not a perfect read, but definitely a good one.
Book #2
Saga, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan is the most recent collected volume in the ongoing Saga series of comics. I tore through Volumes 1-4 all in one day at the end of last year. The story is brutal, bloody, and fascinating, full of freshly imagined aliens and the struggle (and it is definitely still in the struggle phase) to end an interstellar war. If you aren't familiar with this new spin on star-crossed lovers, I highly recommend it. Unless you can't handle blood and sex in your comics, in which case give this a pass -- it's not for kids, that's for sure.
Book #3
Jessica Jones: Alias Volume 1 by Brian Michael Bendis
I watched the entire first season of the Jessica Jones television show on Netflix and was so impressed (honestly, it's one of the best I've ever seen) I decided to take a look at the source material. This collected volume of the comics is harsh and smart, like the show, and gives you just as much to think about. Worth reading and watching.
Book #4
Planetfall by Emma Newman
This science fiction novel unsettled me for days after I read it. It's not a feel-good book, but it is an exceptional example of what fascinating stories we can tell when we move away from the traditional tropes and limitations placed on female characters. The main character here is a woman with secrets and not a one of them is sexy. Instead, she struggles with the choices that she has made and the mental illness she is trying to conceal from her fellow colonists on a planet that no one truly understands. Those looking for a sunshiny ending should keep on walking -- the resolution here is as complex as the perspective from which the story is told -- but those who appreciate something truly different than the usual science fiction narrative will find this well worth the read.
Book #5
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel has already had a lot written about it. I should have read it years ago. In the world of graphic memoirs, it doesn't get much better than this. Frank, bitter, beautiful, and occasionally disturbing, this is the strange story of Bechdel's relationship with her father and the family home in which she grew up, told one plainly drawn panel at a time. Another comic that's not for kids, but might just be essential reading for everybody else.
Book #6
Shoplifter by Michael Cho is a much quieter book than the other graphic novels I've read lately. It follows a young woman who has lost touch with her own life. The simple confrontation that puts her back in connection with herself is elegantly rendered. Though not terribly memorable in the grand scheme of the graphic novel renaissance that seems to be happening lately, there is something subtly important about this one -- reminding us that real life is something to keep hold of. Worth the quick read, for those who like the simple profundities of the human condition.
6beserene
>4 ronincats: Hi Roni! Welcome! So glad to see you again!
Also, yes, definitely get Every Heart a Doorway -- I think it will be right up your alley.
The Charlie Jane Anders book, though, might not be. While it does get better as it goes along, it maintains that post-millenial disaffected tone, which almost put me off because it reminded me of a less mature Lev Grossman. So, if that's one of the things that you didn't like about the first chapter, you might not ever like the book. It's very allegorical throughout, as well, which gives it a sense of shallowness rather than depth. I liked it in the end, but I definitely balked a few times on my way through.
Huh. I guess I should add that to my blurb. :)
Also, yes, definitely get Every Heart a Doorway -- I think it will be right up your alley.
The Charlie Jane Anders book, though, might not be. While it does get better as it goes along, it maintains that post-millenial disaffected tone, which almost put me off because it reminded me of a less mature Lev Grossman. So, if that's one of the things that you didn't like about the first chapter, you might not ever like the book. It's very allegorical throughout, as well, which gives it a sense of shallowness rather than depth. I liked it in the end, but I definitely balked a few times on my way through.
Huh. I guess I should add that to my blurb. :)
7beserene
More catching up...
Book #7
Among Others by Jo Walton
Every time I read a book by Jo Walton, I am in awe all over again. Half way through this one, I knew I was going to have to reread it someday -- after I make a list of all the science fiction and fantasy books that it references and read them. This autobiographically influenced fantasy novel is as intimate an experience between reader and author as I have ever encountered. Reading it is like inhabiting Walton's life and your own at the same time, even when the narrative is talking about fairies and magic and other worlds. Nothing here is overblown or overwrought and yet each detail feels both real and magical at once. This is the story of a young woman who has lost her twin, and all the family she knew. It is also a story of that young woman rebuilding herself, in the face of opposition that is sometimes real and sometimes magical and sometimes both or maybe neither. It is still also a love letter to the great science fiction and fantasy classics of the twentieth century; the narrative is peppered with references to the works of Zelazny, Delany, Bradbury, LeGuin, and dozens of others as our heroine uses her enthusiasm for her favorite books to connect with those who seem so different from herself. And don't we all? This book will resonate deeply with anyone who has every been that lone book nerd searching for her people. Seriously, read it.
Book #8
Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill
Joe Hill is a horror writer and this, the first collected volume of a lengthy comic series, is right in his wheelhouse. Full of blood, violence, and otherworldly scares, the book also manages to be a thoughtful meditation on trauma and the way it changes different people in different ways. I'm excited to read the next volume... and verrrrry nervous about what's going to happen to three siblings and their mom, in a place called Lovecraft.
Book #9
Strong Female Protagonist Book One by Brennan Lee Mulligan
Apparently this is the first collected volume of an ongoing webcomic, but I am very glad I read it in trade instead of on the web. The story is interesting; it asks readers to consider whether they themselves would walk away from a world of superheroes, as the protagonist does early in the volume. The daily travails of being superpowered in a world still adjusting to the fact of your existence are amusing and sometimes poignant. The mediation on personal responsibility and just how much damage a super-strong person could do is thoughtful and forms the core of the book. The play on what makes us "strong" is absolutely spot on. Well worth reading for anyone who enjoys traditional comics but has been looking for something more.
Book #7
Among Others by Jo Walton
Every time I read a book by Jo Walton, I am in awe all over again. Half way through this one, I knew I was going to have to reread it someday -- after I make a list of all the science fiction and fantasy books that it references and read them. This autobiographically influenced fantasy novel is as intimate an experience between reader and author as I have ever encountered. Reading it is like inhabiting Walton's life and your own at the same time, even when the narrative is talking about fairies and magic and other worlds. Nothing here is overblown or overwrought and yet each detail feels both real and magical at once. This is the story of a young woman who has lost her twin, and all the family she knew. It is also a story of that young woman rebuilding herself, in the face of opposition that is sometimes real and sometimes magical and sometimes both or maybe neither. It is still also a love letter to the great science fiction and fantasy classics of the twentieth century; the narrative is peppered with references to the works of Zelazny, Delany, Bradbury, LeGuin, and dozens of others as our heroine uses her enthusiasm for her favorite books to connect with those who seem so different from herself. And don't we all? This book will resonate deeply with anyone who has every been that lone book nerd searching for her people. Seriously, read it.
Book #8
Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill
Joe Hill is a horror writer and this, the first collected volume of a lengthy comic series, is right in his wheelhouse. Full of blood, violence, and otherworldly scares, the book also manages to be a thoughtful meditation on trauma and the way it changes different people in different ways. I'm excited to read the next volume... and verrrrry nervous about what's going to happen to three siblings and their mom, in a place called Lovecraft.
Book #9
Strong Female Protagonist Book One by Brennan Lee Mulligan
Apparently this is the first collected volume of an ongoing webcomic, but I am very glad I read it in trade instead of on the web. The story is interesting; it asks readers to consider whether they themselves would walk away from a world of superheroes, as the protagonist does early in the volume. The daily travails of being superpowered in a world still adjusting to the fact of your existence are amusing and sometimes poignant. The mediation on personal responsibility and just how much damage a super-strong person could do is thoughtful and forms the core of the book. The play on what makes us "strong" is absolutely spot on. Well worth reading for anyone who enjoys traditional comics but has been looking for something more.
8beserene
The last two catch-up books (#10-11) are just a couple of cute comic collections by Liz Climo. Here is a sample:
If you want more of that kind of ridiculous adorableness, go buy her book!
If you want more of that kind of ridiculous adorableness, go buy her book!
9beserene
Whew! All caught up on blurbs! Here are the books I read this week:
Book #12
Fellside by M.R. Carey (out April 2016)
I'll be honest -- I'm pretty much going to be a Mike Carey fan for the rest of my life. I like his comics, but I LOVE his novels. I was creeped out and completely impressed by his previous work of post-zombie-apocalypse science fiction, The Girl with All the Gifts, and I think I love this new novel just as much, despite the fact that it is utterly different. Where his previous book was steeped in unsettling logic, this work dives into the realm of the supernatural, of ghosts and punishment and the parts of ourselves that may survive after death. Set in a women's prison, it follows the post-trial tribulations of an addict who believes herself responsible for the horrific death of her young neighbor. Her actual degree of responsibility becomes part of the larger plot arc of the novel, but the storyline that truly fascinates happens within the prison walls, as the protagonist navigates the complications that unfold in both the natural and supernatural planes of prison life. Carey's books always seem to look at humanity from some fresh angle, and here we are treated to a strange, surreal vision of afterlife and its consequences. Part thriller, part Law & Order, part ghost story -- and all intensity. As with everything that Carey writes, don't plan on sunshine and roses, but brace yourself for something that will crawl under your skin and stay there for a while.
Books #13-14
Envy of Angels and Lustlocked by Matt Wallace
These first two volumes in Wallace's new Sin Du Jour novella series are bloody hilarious. And I mean that literally, on both counts. In Wallace's urban fantasy, demons and goblins gotta eat -- and when they are planning an elaborate dinner, they call on the one catering company that has exactly what they need -- Sin Du Jour. Whether the menu calls for angel nuggets or diamond cake, the team of chefs and stewards in these books can get it, prep it, and serve it. Spinning together some of the best tropes of contemporary fantasy with classic kitchen drama might seem like a weird choice -- and it is deeply, deeply weird -- but what results is a glorious mess. Sometimes gory, sometimes hysterically funny (I'm talking full belly laughs here), both books take the reader on a trip into the unexpected. The craft isn't perfect -- there are untidy phrases and plot points in each -- but you won't notice. You'll be too busy reading about demon gangsters and giant sex-crazed lizards and one very important Goblin King... but I'll let you discover all that for yourself. If you are in the mood for cringing and snorting at the same time, pick these up.
Book #12
Fellside by M.R. Carey (out April 2016)
I'll be honest -- I'm pretty much going to be a Mike Carey fan for the rest of my life. I like his comics, but I LOVE his novels. I was creeped out and completely impressed by his previous work of post-zombie-apocalypse science fiction, The Girl with All the Gifts, and I think I love this new novel just as much, despite the fact that it is utterly different. Where his previous book was steeped in unsettling logic, this work dives into the realm of the supernatural, of ghosts and punishment and the parts of ourselves that may survive after death. Set in a women's prison, it follows the post-trial tribulations of an addict who believes herself responsible for the horrific death of her young neighbor. Her actual degree of responsibility becomes part of the larger plot arc of the novel, but the storyline that truly fascinates happens within the prison walls, as the protagonist navigates the complications that unfold in both the natural and supernatural planes of prison life. Carey's books always seem to look at humanity from some fresh angle, and here we are treated to a strange, surreal vision of afterlife and its consequences. Part thriller, part Law & Order, part ghost story -- and all intensity. As with everything that Carey writes, don't plan on sunshine and roses, but brace yourself for something that will crawl under your skin and stay there for a while.
Books #13-14
Envy of Angels and Lustlocked by Matt Wallace
These first two volumes in Wallace's new Sin Du Jour novella series are bloody hilarious. And I mean that literally, on both counts. In Wallace's urban fantasy, demons and goblins gotta eat -- and when they are planning an elaborate dinner, they call on the one catering company that has exactly what they need -- Sin Du Jour. Whether the menu calls for angel nuggets or diamond cake, the team of chefs and stewards in these books can get it, prep it, and serve it. Spinning together some of the best tropes of contemporary fantasy with classic kitchen drama might seem like a weird choice -- and it is deeply, deeply weird -- but what results is a glorious mess. Sometimes gory, sometimes hysterically funny (I'm talking full belly laughs here), both books take the reader on a trip into the unexpected. The craft isn't perfect -- there are untidy phrases and plot points in each -- but you won't notice. You'll be too busy reading about demon gangsters and giant sex-crazed lizards and one very important Goblin King... but I'll let you discover all that for yourself. If you are in the mood for cringing and snorting at the same time, pick these up.
10charl08
Hi, I've missed your thread up to now, hope it's OK to pop in
>7 beserene: This sounds great. I wondered if you posted your review to the GN thread? I will be looking out for the book. I really enjoyed Nimona and the next generation Ms Marvel books I've read, so hopefully this will be a winner too.
>7 beserene: This sounds great. I wondered if you posted your review to the GN thread? I will be looking out for the book. I really enjoyed Nimona and the next generation Ms Marvel books I've read, so hopefully this will be a winner too.
11_Zoe_
I've just found my way here from the convenient link in David's thread, and this has been one book bullet after another!
I was really happy to hear about a new novel from the author of The Girl with All the Gifts.
And Every Heart a Doorway and Planetfall both sound good; I suggested that my library acquire the ebooks, which would make me much more likely to read them right away.
And you've also gave me some extra encouragement to read Among Others, which for some reason has been sitting unread on my shelf for ages now.
Phew.
I was really happy to hear about a new novel from the author of The Girl with All the Gifts.
And Every Heart a Doorway and Planetfall both sound good; I suggested that my library acquire the ebooks, which would make me much more likely to read them right away.
And you've also gave me some extra encouragement to read Among Others, which for some reason has been sitting unread on my shelf for ages now.
Phew.
12beserene
>10 charl08: Actually, you haven't missed anything at all -- I just started this thread yesterday, so welcome! And it's always ok to pop in, anyway. :) I hadn't seen the GN thread yet myself, but I will definitely check it out -- thanks! And I've been thinking about picking up Ms. Marvel, given the new team with Wilson on it -- glad to have the rec!
>11 _Zoe_: Hi Zoe! Glad you found me! I hope you do read Among Others. It's really beautiful. It will mean more if you are familiar with classic science fiction and fantasy, but it's also just such a personal story -- I think you'd enjoy it. Of course, you'll have to tell me if I was right once you do get to it! :)
PS: Hooray for BBs!
>11 _Zoe_: Hi Zoe! Glad you found me! I hope you do read Among Others. It's really beautiful. It will mean more if you are familiar with classic science fiction and fantasy, but it's also just such a personal story -- I think you'd enjoy it. Of course, you'll have to tell me if I was right once you do get to it! :)
PS: Hooray for BBs!
14klobrien2
Hi! I'm glad to see you're back and reading! Thank you for the "heads up" on "Locke and Key"--I've got the first three volumes requested from my local library. I really like the Joe Hill that I've read, and this looks very promising!
Karen O.
Karen O.
15ronincats
Just so you know, Sarah, others have already put together the reading list generated by Among Others, so google for one of those rather than doing it yourself!
16tapestry100
Found you! ;-*
17norabelle414
Sarah! I'm so glad you're back!
18lycomayflower
>5 beserene: Glad to see you enjoyed All the Birds in the Sky. I picked that up the other day but haven't gotten to it yet. I might move it higher up the TBR.
Yay! for Saga. I just love, love, love that series.
Yay! for Saga. I just love, love, love that series.
19beserene
>13 leahbird: Yay, you found me! So good to see you here, Leah!
>14 klobrien2: Thanks, Karen. And I'm crossing my fingers that your library wait list moves quickly -- you're gonna love Locke & Key!
>15 ronincats: Thanks for the tip, Roni! I thought maybe lists of Walton's references existed, so googling is definitely the plan... at some point, I'll be spending a big chunk of time on classic scifi. Someday. In the meantime... there are so many good books out right now! And I need to read more Jo Walton as well. So many books!
>16 tapestry100: Smooches right back at ya, David dear.
>17 norabelle414: Nora! PANDA!!! So adorable! So glad to see you again, and of course Bao Bao... that is Bao Bao, yes?... as well. We both love snow!
>18 lycomayflower: Yay for another Saga fan! And I hope you do like the Charlie Jane Anders book. It took me a hot minute to bond with it, and I'm certain it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's worth a read, for sure. :)
Thanks for popping in, everyone! It's so nice to have a bit of good ol 75ers conversation after such a long time!
>14 klobrien2: Thanks, Karen. And I'm crossing my fingers that your library wait list moves quickly -- you're gonna love Locke & Key!
>15 ronincats: Thanks for the tip, Roni! I thought maybe lists of Walton's references existed, so googling is definitely the plan... at some point, I'll be spending a big chunk of time on classic scifi. Someday. In the meantime... there are so many good books out right now! And I need to read more Jo Walton as well. So many books!
>16 tapestry100: Smooches right back at ya, David dear.
>17 norabelle414: Nora! PANDA!!! So adorable! So glad to see you again, and of course Bao Bao... that is Bao Bao, yes?... as well. We both love snow!
>18 lycomayflower: Yay for another Saga fan! And I hope you do like the Charlie Jane Anders book. It took me a hot minute to bond with it, and I'm certain it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's worth a read, for sure. :)
Thanks for popping in, everyone! It's so nice to have a bit of good ol 75ers conversation after such a long time!
20norabelle414
>19 beserene: That's Tian Tian! Bao Bao and Bei Bei's dad
21jnwelch
Great to have you rejoining us!
I'm another fan of the Saga series, and I liked Among Others a lot, too. We plan to see the play adaptation of Fun Home next month.
I'm another fan of the Saga series, and I liked Among Others a lot, too. We plan to see the play adaptation of Fun Home next month.
22kgriffith
I love an occasional panda! :)
You and I definitely have similar reading tastes; star dropped! I just bought All the Birds in the Sky this weekend and am trying to fly through Traveler so I can start that one next. I also have a short list of comics recommended by a friend because I've really been feeling the lack of them in my childhood and want to do some catching up.
You and I definitely have similar reading tastes; star dropped! I just bought All the Birds in the Sky this weekend and am trying to fly through Traveler so I can start that one next. I also have a short list of comics recommended by a friend because I've really been feeling the lack of them in my childhood and want to do some catching up.
23beserene
>20 norabelle414: Aw, dang, I got my pandas mixed up! I hang my head in shame. But don't worry, in a minute I'll go look at some adorable panda pictures and I'll get over it. Hooray for Tian Tian! :)
>21 jnwelch: Thanks! Oh, and I didn't even realize there was a play adaptation of Fun Home -- I bet it's amazing! You'll have to pop back and tell me what you think once you've seen it!
>22 kgriffith: Hail, fellow fan, and well met! Oh man, it is such a great time to be a graphic novel or independent comics reader. DC is mucking things up left and right and Marvel is such a juggernaut it's hard to keep track, but the stuff in between is just rocking right now!
I'm debating my next comic read -- Bitch Planet or The Wicked + The Divine?
>21 jnwelch: Thanks! Oh, and I didn't even realize there was a play adaptation of Fun Home -- I bet it's amazing! You'll have to pop back and tell me what you think once you've seen it!
>22 kgriffith: Hail, fellow fan, and well met! Oh man, it is such a great time to be a graphic novel or independent comics reader. DC is mucking things up left and right and Marvel is such a juggernaut it's hard to keep track, but the stuff in between is just rocking right now!
I'm debating my next comic read -- Bitch Planet or The Wicked + The Divine?
24beserene
Also, here is a baby panda on a pony for you all. Because pandas.
See, told ya. Over it. ;)
See, told ya. Over it. ;)
25souloftherose
Welcome back Sarah (and the pandas)!
>1 beserene: 'Goals for 2016:
1) Read books.
2) Be here.'
Those are good goals :-)
I've also been enjoying some of the novellas issued by tor.com and am slowly working my way through them. So far I've enjoyed Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell and The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson.
You have hit me with so many book bullets it's ridiculous: Every Heart a Doorway, This Census-Taker, All the Birds in the Sky, Planetfall and the Matt Wallace novellas. Phew!
Luckily I had already read and loved Among Others although I am tempted by the idea of a reread.
>1 beserene: 'Goals for 2016:
1) Read books.
2) Be here.'
Those are good goals :-)
I've also been enjoying some of the novellas issued by tor.com and am slowly working my way through them. So far I've enjoyed Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell and The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson.
You have hit me with so many book bullets it's ridiculous: Every Heart a Doorway, This Census-Taker, All the Birds in the Sky, Planetfall and the Matt Wallace novellas. Phew!
Luckily I had already read and loved Among Others although I am tempted by the idea of a reread.
26souloftherose
Re Among Others, I know Roni mentioned there were lists of the bokos mentioned and that made me do some googling and then I thought I would list some of the links I found here to save you time.
Someone made a LT account for Mori listing all the books she read:
http://www.librarything.com/profile/moriphelps
Also a pinterest board:
https://uk.pinterest.com/tinyampersand/the-books-of-among-others/
Someone made a LT account for Mori listing all the books she read:
http://www.librarything.com/profile/moriphelps
Also a pinterest board:
https://uk.pinterest.com/tinyampersand/the-books-of-among-others/
29beserene
>25 souloftherose: Hello hello! Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad to see a other novella reader too. I actually just finished Binti not five minutes ago -- what an extraordinary story. I'm pondering it before I write a blurb, but I really enjoyed it.
>26 souloftherose: Aaaand thank you so much for those links! Having a Mori booklist will help me a lot in my goal of reading all the necessary classic SF. I've read a bit, but as always with these sorts of books that reference other books, I am left feeling the opposite of well-read. The other book that I've always wanted to book-list and then reread is Helene Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road. Not SF, of course, but a task for the bucket list none the less.
>27 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. And thank you too for framing and guiding this group so faithfully. You are a treasure.
>28 tymfos: Thank you so much! I'm quite glad to be back and even more so with all the lovely chats I've been having. :)
>26 souloftherose: Aaaand thank you so much for those links! Having a Mori booklist will help me a lot in my goal of reading all the necessary classic SF. I've read a bit, but as always with these sorts of books that reference other books, I am left feeling the opposite of well-read. The other book that I've always wanted to book-list and then reread is Helene Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road. Not SF, of course, but a task for the bucket list none the less.
>27 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. And thank you too for framing and guiding this group so faithfully. You are a treasure.
>28 tymfos: Thank you so much! I'm quite glad to be back and even more so with all the lovely chats I've been having. :)
30charl08
Ooh cute pandas.
Great to read Nnedi Okorafor love. She was on my list to read last year and I just didn't manage it. Must try better this year. She's in my library and everything.
Great to read Nnedi Okorafor love. She was on my list to read last year and I just didn't manage it. Must try better this year. She's in my library and everything.
31beserene
>30 charl08: She's very good. Akata Witch and now Binti are the two I would recommend if you want a fast-reading introduction to her work.
And, as always, Hooray for cute pandas! :)
And, as always, Hooray for cute pandas! :)
34leahbird
>32 norabelle414: BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
35PaulCranswick
>32 norabelle414: Nora - now I know how my kids felt.
Hi Sarah - agree with what Linda said @ >33 Whisper1:
Hi Sarah - agree with what Linda said @ >33 Whisper1:
36PaulCranswick
Have a wonderful Easter.
37kgriffith
Leaving a comment because I know sometimes that's the only thing that prompts me to update my thread, so consider yourself prompted! :)
39PaulCranswick
Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.
2017.
Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!
40ronincats
This is the Christmas tree at the end of the Pacific Beach Pier here in San Diego, a Christmas tradition.
To all my friends here at Library Thing, I want you to know how much I value you and how much I wish you a very happy holiday, whatever one you celebrate, and the very best of New Years!
To all my friends here at Library Thing, I want you to know how much I value you and how much I wish you a very happy holiday, whatever one you celebrate, and the very best of New Years!
