What Are You Reading? 3

[RathDarkblade]

I'm currently reading The Compleat Discworld Atlas. Good fun.

I've been thinkin' of springing for that but have held back because it's not clear how closely Pterry was involved with it. Do you find that the DWC people did a good job of emulating Pterry's humor? Meaning is it funny in a Pterryesque way?

It's pretty funny in a Pterryesque way, but it's also funny in other ways. I'd say that the "spirit" of Pterry's writing has been captured pretty well (i.e. the puns and the wordplay), but the cartographers and the artists have done their job well too. For instance, the maps look great, and the illustrations really invoke the "feel" of various lands (e.g. Ephebe, Krull, and especially Uberwald).

It's well written too. If you want to spring for it, try Amazon - it's $22.12 here or as low as 8 GBP here. It's also 25 GBP on the Discworld Emporium, and if you look at it on Random House, you can have a look inside and try-before-you-buy.

It's good fun!

 

[Sister Jennifer]

Showing yer age there, Jen?!!

Damn straight.

I managed to get the books I asked for for Christmas, (see, I've been good). Aside from The Shepherd's Crown I've read two autobiographies, Amanda Keller's Natural Born Keller, she's a great Aussie comedian and tv person. Nick Frost's Truths, Half Truths & Little White Lies not at all what I was expecting. Two Constantine comics and I'm about to start Island Home by Tim Winton an amazing Aust author of some of the best books I've ever read.

I think that's it :think: . I'm happy to say I may have found my reading groove again.

Chin-chin and happy reading.

 

[steeljam]

Just started reading Bill Bryson's The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes from a Small Island.
Enjoying it from page one.

 

[raisindot]

I stopped reading Bryson when he stopped traveling and joined the naval-gazing memoirist and stay-inside-and-write crowd. Now that he's out of the house I'm looking forward to reading him again.

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

Just started Seanan McGuire's Discount Armageddon (InCrytid series) Ok so far, I get the impression it's a bit like M.I.B films in part ( in the locker scene where the little aliens are all shouting all hail J) only this time it's a crowd of talking mice.

 

[Catch-up]

I've recently read Gone Girl and the latest Stephanie Plum book, and really enjoyed them both! Also just finished The Devil in the Valley by Castle Freeman Jr. and that was really good as well. It's not a long book, reads more like a short story.

 

[raisindot]

I've recently read... the latest Stephanie Plum book, and really enjoyed them both!

Good to know. I have the latest Stephanie on the book pile. Won it fair and square from the library after winning a grabbing battle with an octogenarian. Those ol' ladies are pretty feisty when they want to be.

 

[Catch-up]

I've recently read... the latest Stephanie Plum book, and really enjoyed them both!

Good to know. I have the latest Stephanie on the book pile. Won it fair and square from the library after winning a grabbing battle with an octogenarian. Those ol' ladies are pretty feisty when they want to be.

Congratulations! Those old ladies are tough!

 

[RathDarkblade]

I will be tackling The Evolution Man next.

 

[Penfold]

Just started the 'Orcs' omnibus by Stan Nichols. Quite an enjoyable romp so far from a different fantasy perspective.

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

They are good reads Penner's, Grunts by Mary Gentle is in a similar vein, funny in parts black humour.

 

[Catch-up]

Just discovered the Lockwood and Co. series by Jonathan Stroud. The first one was really good. I also loved his Bartimaeus series!

 

[The Mad Collector]

Really enjoying Purge by Sofi Oksanen, the Finnish author, she has set the book amongst the various independence struggles in Estonia from 1945. There are two main female characters from different generations who between them experience the various issues between Estonia and Russia along with their own struggles with men who want to control their lives. I was given the book by my Estonian friend who was born in the last years of the Soviet occupation of Estonia and I aim to finish it before she gets back here next week so I can talk through some of the issues it raises. You don't have to know Estonian history to really enjoy the book (so glad about that) and it is so good to read a book with two very strong women, in very different ways, as pretty well the only characters so it's their interplay that keeps you desperate to read more.

 

[Sister Jennifer]

That sounds like a good read, Mad. I had a quick look on fishpond for it but no luck, shall broaden my search. I was talking to an Estonian the other week, just general chit chat, he was a very interesting and well travelled young man.

Onwards, I've just read Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. I love his books.

I'm currently reading A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. A very funny & strange book.

Next I'm hoping to read Mary and O'Neil by Justin Cronin.

Happy reading.

 

[RathDarkblade]

The Evolution Man was good fun! A tiny bit heavier than my usual read, but not by much, and a heck of a lot of fun. Give it a try.

 

[Tonyblack]

I'm at the penultimate book in my reread of The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell. So that's:
The Last Kingdom (2004)
The Pale Horseman (2005)
The Lords of the North (2006)
Sword Song (2007)
The Burning Land (2009)
Death of Kings (2011)
The Pagan Lord (2013)
I'm currently reading The Empty Throne and I finish off with Warriors of the Storm. I have really enjoyed rereading the books and seeing the protagonist, Uhtred grow and mature. I'm not sure what I'll read once I've finished the series - but it's not like I don't have any books waiting to be read.

 

[The Mad Collector]

The Evolution Man was good fun! A tiny bit heavier than my usual read, but not by much, and a heck of a lot of fun. Give it a try.

I first read it years ago and agree it's definitely worth a read but don't take my word for it...

I got Corgi to republish Roy Lewis' The Evolution Man a few years ago. To the best of my knowledge it's the only fiction he's done. Like I said in my intro, it's honest, genuine sf... and one of my all-time favourite funny books.

 

[Sister Jennifer]

The Evolution Man looks really good. I've ordered it from Fishpond

 

[RathDarkblade]

The Evolution Man looks really good. I've ordered it from Fishpond

Hope you enjoy it, SJ! It's a fun read.

 

[Sister Jennifer]

The Evolution Man looks really good. I've ordered it from Fishpond

Hope you enjoy it, SJ! It's a fun read.

Thank YOU for the heads up. I'll let you know how I get on.

Try A Confederacy of Dunces you would like it I think :shifty: