The Books of August - Summer reading at it's finest

[littlemissattitude]

Herewith, begins, only a day late, our various adventures in reading for the last full month of summer (or winter, if you're in the southern hemispehre).

So, what are you reading?

[dwndrgn]

Nothing. I just finished a pretty mediocre fantasy by Margaret Weis called The Dragon's Son which is a sequel to The Mistress of Dragons. I can't really pin down why the book wasn't good - maybe some of the characters just seemed a little too trite. The premise was a pretty good one but I just don't think she got the best story out of it that she could. Some of the more interesting and complex characters were just barely touched on.

Then I read a mildly fun contemporary mystery.

Then I picked up what I thought was going to be an interesting fictionalized life of a Welsh legend. Couldn't get past the first few pages - dull as ditchwater.

So now I'm perusing the library (virtually) to see what I can get next. I think I'll pick up Fire Logic by Marks and Lord Demon by Zelazny (inspired by this month's vote for the Book Club discussion). Hopefully I'll find a few others to go with them.

[Lacedaemonian]

I am currently reading Lone Wolf and Cub, which is a graphic novel about a Samurai and his baby son who travel around assassinating people. I think that there is a higher goal for Lone Wolf but I know of none yet. I am awaiting a few book releases by Raymond E Feist, JV Jones and George RR Martin, all of which are third books in trilogies or series.

[Hypes]

Have just begun reading Market Forces by Richard Morgan, and not much else, for a change. I intend to read that, then read as many Discworld novels I can before Amazon delivers my order.

[dwndrgn]

I found an old Brian Aldiss book at the second-hand place and have just begun, only a few pages. The title is The Malacia Tapestry. Anyone know anything about it? I mainly got it because I'd heard of the author (on some silly genre forum ) and thought I'd check it out to see if it was any good.

[knivesout]

Re: Aldiss, I have read scads of his short stories and enjoyed them immensely, but none of his novels yet. I have heard that The Malacia Tapestry is a very enjoyable read, though. Here's a good article on Aldiss' work in general which deals with this book in some detail: http://greatsfandf.com/AUTHORS/BrianWAldiss.shtml

[littlemissattitude]

Just finished reading "Shadows of Sin" by Rochelle Krich. Nifty little police procedural/mystery novel. Of course I liked it extra well because it was set in Southern California and had places I knew in it. But I would have liked it anyway. I'm going to have to find more of her work.

And I've just begun "Storm Front". Still trying to get to "The Skrayling Tree", by Moorcock. Grrrrr....I hate it when I really want to read a book and just can't quite get interested in it. Don't know if it's me or the book, or what. I just can't read more than a couple of pages in it at a time.

[The Master™]

Just nearing the end of GRASS by SHERI S TEPPER and THE DISPOSSESSED by URSULA LE GUIN...

Both highly enjoyable books... I was initially put off by comments made by someone saying that the writers were ardent feminists... To be honest I didn't find any blatant feminism in these books - unless I'm incapable of noticing it!!! Although I have to say that both of the books show men in the lead roles as lousy role models... Adulterers, raging beasts, uncompromising...

[knivesout]

More of that in Tepper than Le Guin, I'd imagine. She does have a recurring anti-patriarchal theme that can get a bit strident.


I'm now reading Justina Robson's Mappa Mundi, despite me intentions of avoiding sf/f for a while. Seem to be an excellent novel, so far, by this young British sf author.

[Esioul]

The master should read 'Gate to Women's Country' by Tepper. Interesting book.

I'm obsessively reading Anna Karenina by Tolstoy at the moment. It's taking me ages because it's long, but it's fantastic. The character's are so well drawn and interesting-you can even feel sorry for Karenin, mostly because his character is well done. And Levin is adorable. I haven't even finished it yet and it's now my faveorite book. Things that impress me inclue the description- no description that isn't necessary is used. Instead, description is used to present the frame of mind of the character, for example when Levin is feeling happy everything looks very nice to him.

[The Master™]

What is "Gate to Women's Country" about???

I really hate it when people recommend books... I just know my bank manager will be rubbing his/her hands in glee!!!

Are you people trying to make me a pauper???

[Esioul]

Heh, I only buy those Penguin classics now. £1.50 a book.

Um, Gate to Women's Country is a fairly feminist sci-fi, but interesting. At least to feminists, anyway, but it should be to everyone else as well. But do read Anna Karennina, it's wonderful. You can get in for £1.50 anyway.

[knivesout]

Actually considering the casual, unexamined sexism to be found in a lot of sf authors (Heinlein and Niven spring to mind), I find the occasional 'feminist' sf a good balancer. I keep mentioning this book, but Ted Sturgeon's Venus Plus X has to stand as one of the most pathbreaking takes on gender issues in sf.

[ezellohar]

I'm currently re-reading Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun. Need to hurry as finish, though, as my book club order just came in!

[Hypes]

I went on a bit a rampage in the book shop today, and picked up six books (and I just received word my six books from Amazon have been shipped).

Terry Pratchett's A Hat Full of Sky
New York: Design and Architecture
Patric O'Brien: 1. Post Captain, 2. HMS Surprise, 3. Mauritius Command
Not to mention a real gem: T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom