Reading Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. It, and couple of others, were recommended here recently, and is somewhat of a new genre for me, memoir / biography in graphic novel format, graphic memoir?
Got the omnibus edition, “The Complete Persepolis”, it’s a pretty interesting read. It’s about young girl in Iran during the Islamic Revolution of 1979, at least the first volume, after that it’s about her life after that.
What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening to lately?
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I finished up “The End of Eternity” and have moved back to a SW book. The next is a short story collection, “Tales of the Bounty Hunters”. Five stories about various bounty hunters a few years after Aldeeran was vanished.
Next will be “The Bicentenial Man” by Isaac Asimov, it’s been made into a major motion picture.
o7 Robyn Williams.
Finished “this inevitable ruin” by Matt Dinniman. Didn’t have a lot of time to read recently, but finished the last third of it on Monday. I liked it a lot, I was kind of bummed out on this series earlier this year after finishing “The Butcher’s Masquerade”, which felt to long and dragging.
Just started reading “Salvager: A Military Science Fiction Adventure” by Scott Moon. I’m three chapters in, and it’s okay so far, but a bit early to have a feel for it yet.
I finished Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wistwell and really enjoyed it. It was very cozy and won a Hugo go so I’ve got some options for where to put it for Bingo, now I’m moving to a House of Frank by Kay Synclaire I think (alternatively The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill, both have orange aspects of the cover).
I’m about a quarter of the way through To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus seems like such a decent person in comparison to some of the other characters. The way in which the book is told through the eyes of a kid is expertly done - you really get a sense of their childhood innocence as they come to understand the ways of the world. I’m looking forward to reading on.
We named our youngest Atticus after that character. Then the other book came out.
I just received Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means by William T. Vollmann in the mail this morning. It’s the abridged version of his seven volume series. I’ve been wanting to read Vollmann for a few months. With the world in the state that it’s in it seemed like a good choice to start with. I’m looking forward to reading it.
I’m currently reading ‘The wind in the willows’ which I should finish later today.
Next on my list is ‘The road’ by Jack London, an autobiography of the author’s life as a homeless person in the early part of the 20th century.
It’s Banned Books Week, so I downloaded a pdf of The Turner Diaries. I’m told this book is considered inspirational by those who think having a race war would be fun and glorious. It might also be of interest to non-racists with morbid curiosity about White Nationalist ideology. Otherwise, I do not recommend it for its literary value. I read this so you don’t have to.
Thanks for the sacrifice!
I finished up Martha Wells - Star Wars “Razors Edge” and have moved on to Isaac Asimovs “The End of Eternity” it’s my last scifi book of his that’s related to his broader Foundations universe.
Although the three stand alone scifi novels were eventually alluded to in the Foundation universe. It’s not really related though. Just a passing reference to a bygone time.
Just gave up on the latest Dan Brown novel. Really bad. Starting to wonder if it was written by a ghostwriter or AI. Life is too short and there are too many other good books to waste time finishing a bad one.
that sounds right, Dan Brown is a bit of a hack, or at least that’s what I’ve heard - he’s commercially successful, though!
EDIT: I’ve seen Umberto Eco recommended as a Dan Brown alternative, I reallt enjoyed Name of the Rose but I think Foucault’s Pendulum is usually recommended for Dan Brown fans who want something better.
I’ve been reading Circe by Madeline Miller. I had it on a to-read list for a long time and finally started it. I’ve really been enjoying it so far.
I listened to the audiobook of this a few months ago. I really enjoyed the story
I’m listening to A Night in the Lonesome October. And I just added a Star Trek book to my DNF list. Not a terribly bad story, just not the one I thought it was.
Which Star Trek book was that?
The one I started was Star Trek Movie Tie In by Alan Dean Foster. The one I wanted was the Motion Picture novel by Roddenberry.
Ah okay. Thanks for the info.
Just finished System Collapse by Martha Wells (book seven in the Murderbot series). I liked all the books in this series, and they are an easy recommend!
Currently reading How to be Perfect by Michael Schur and Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann.
How to be Perfect is a good intro to ethics written by the creator of The Good Place. If you’re interested in learning about ethics and don’t know where to start I’d recommend it.
I’m only a couple chapters into Three Bags Full, so I don’t have much to say yet. The premise is a flock of sheep solving the murder of their herder. It’s enjoyable so far.
I’ll second How to be Perfect. A really good introduction to ethical philosophy, and if you get the Audiobook there are a lot of fun cameos.
How to be Perfect is great.
Heh, nice name.
Three Bags Full sounds interesting, would love to hear your opinion after you have finished it.
Just finished Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward. Her books are always very twisty and I love them.
Now rereading The Damnation Game by Clive Barker. I remember it has some delightfully disturbing body horror, but cant remember anything about the story.
Also reading Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken, all about the current science on ultra-processed foods. Highly recommend.
Ultra-Processed People has been on my wishlist for a while, but completely forgot about that. Will check if they have a copy on my next visit to bookshop. Thanks for the recommendation!
I can recommend “Matrix” by Lauren Groff.
It’s the year 1158 and an 18 year old bastard daughter has been named abbess of a small convent. Elizabeth needed to get the girl out of the court, and the convent seems like a good place to hide her.
Just a well written glimpse into life in those days.
I just finished up Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. I know this was a deeply personal book for him, but it feels like one of his weaker ones. I started Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison, and it’s got the interesting premise of what to do with magical waste.
