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Fantastic reads: Here they are!
I’ve been doing a pretty good job at having read the Hugo nominees before the list even comes out; the things I like and the things the voters like often overlap. I don’t read a lot of short stories but I do read novellas and novels. For example, I think I’ve talked on here before about how I like Mur Lafferty’s book Six Wakes. I enjoyed Trail of Lightning and am waiting for the sequel. We both love N. K. Jemisin. I own and have enjoyed Liz Bourke’s Sleeping with Monsters. Monstress is gorgeous (and violent); Bitch Planet is just what I need. Both of us on this blog are in love with the writings of Seanan McGuire and I also love to read Sarah Gailey. Etcetera.
I’ve been re-reading the Craft Sequence by Max Gladstone. You should read them in the order of the titles, not the order they were published in. I re-read the first five in quick succession and am now waiting for the newest one, which the author says is the start of a new arc.
#2 got me Fault Lines by Kelly Jennings. I’m looking forward to reading that.
I loved Witchmark by C. L. Polk and I’m excited to get that sequel next year, too.
Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski is a book about sex for women but more interestingly, it’s also a book about stress and how emotions work. People should read this one!
The Stone in the Skull is the start of a new series by Elizabeth Bear. Thumbs up! Yes.
The Price Guide to the Occult is an interesting story about family and magic and secrets. By Leslye J. Walton.
If you’re like me, you might want to also read Networking for People Who Hate Networking by Devora Zack. It wasn’t revelatory but it’s worth a library read.
I’m currently enjoying Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just tell you to check it out.
p.s. I just finished it and immediately put the sequel on hold!
Grumpeteers, got any suggestions for what to read next?
Grumpy Rumblings (of the formerly untenured) 
September 12, 2018 at 6:23 am
Thanks for the mention! And to #2 for buying my book!
September 12, 2018 at 10:06 am
I was going to wait until Christmas, but it’s only $4.99 on Kindle, so I was like, what the heck. (She’s going to read it first and if she thinks I’ll like it, I will get my own copy.)
September 12, 2018 at 10:40 am
Coincidence! I just published basically a huge book list because I have been doing very little else for fun except reading.
September 12, 2018 at 10:44 am
Reading is the best!
September 12, 2018 at 2:16 pm
I just looked at your list and added things to my TBR list…
September 13, 2018 at 9:30 am
YAY!
September 12, 2018 at 12:15 pm
Traci Chee: “The Reader” and “The Speaker.” YA with some neat ideas. The third book will be out soon.
September 12, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Oooh! I have read The Reader and have started The Speaker as well. Didn’t know about the third-book timeline, thanks!
September 12, 2018 at 2:17 pm
Great timing! I was adding books to my reading list just this morning before I saw this post. Now I can add several more. Yay!
I enjoyed Come as You Are, too. Agree that it has some good insights beyond orgasms. Now that my anxiety is at high levels, I think I’ll read it again.
Books I’ve been reading lately and recommend:
— Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
— Dietland by Sarai Walker [I watched the TV adaptation, too]
— Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky [if insects freak you out you may want to steer clear of it, but it was a really good story, so if you’re not squeamish do pick it up!]
— A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn [Book 3 of the Veronica Speedwell series, and so far I’m still liking the characters]
— The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi [This was my first Scalzi book, believe it or not! I know Old Man’s War is supposed to be good and is available to me in ebook format, but the summary just doesn’t sound appealing; maybe because the main character is a guy? I don’t know. I want to read Red Shirts and none of my library systems have it in ebook format. Waa!]
I’m currently reading An Unkindess of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon. The characters are diverse: some are queer, some are non-binary, and the main character seems to be on the spectrum. I only started it yesterday and am enjoying it so far.
My hold on another book was fulfilled so I have to make time to read it, too, before my borrow expires. This one is non-fiction, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin J. DiAngelo.
I’m reading ebooks almost exclusively these days since I can adjust the type size larger and they are so easily portable. It’s a real bummer when a book I want to read is not available in ebook format through my library systems. Revanche had a great idea and donated funds to her local library to purchase ebooks she wants to read. My local library wasn’t as enthusiastic about that suggestion. They asked me to send an email so they could add it to a meeting agenda and I haven’t heard anything back. I’m going to try it again and send them a list of the books I would donate the purchase price for to see if that nudges them a bit more. The librarian I spoke to seemed wary, as if I would demand that they purchase obscure books no one would want to read instead of award nominees/winners. I mean, neither local library or SF library has Pachinko in ebook format, and it was a National Book Award Finalist! :-/
September 12, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Eeeee books.
I read Dietland but don’t feel the need to watch the TV. I also love the Veronica Speedwell books and I believe #4 will be out next year? I’ve heard great things about An Unkindness of Ghosts but haven’t gotten to it yet.
We have another post coming up (at, uh… some point) about things that populate our kindles.
Yay!
September 13, 2018 at 9:31 am
And Pachinko always has a hold line 50 deep at our library.
March 29, 2019 at 2:19 am
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