(no subject)

[radlilim]

They have posted the Reading Bingo card for 2015. I really enjoyed using it in 2014 to drive my reading, but the reason I wanted to do it was to help pick what book on my TBR list I should read next. This year's card is very... Canadian.



Nothing wrong with that, but that dose not help me work down my TBR pile.

I've looked at a few reading challenges and some goodreads groups, but haven't found anything interesting. And there's been some talk among friends we could create our own card. But it's less random and challenging... and takes work.

So I might just skip the challenge this time. I have a decent list of things I want to read next anyway. And as long as I get about 2 books done a month, I'll feel I'm reading enough.

On my docket:
- Finish Maplecorft by C. Priest
- Read more Locke Lamora (thanks Heidi)
- Read the 4th JRR Martin book
- Continue rereading the Pern series
- Work on more of the Ender series by Card
- Reread the Drizzrt books, it's been since high school and now that we will start D&D 5th I'm craving that again, plus a) I'm sure they are quick reads and b) I never actually finished them all
- Read more of the books by Jim Butcher
- Maybe the 2nd Maze Runner book?

That should get me through 2015, plus a few add ins. And I'll keep reviewing them, here and on Goodreads, because the one thing I feel I can do for authors I love is review.

Comments

[entangled-now.livejournal.com]

Maplecroft is on my list too. It looked like fun, and I can wave a little historical accuracy for people killing Eldritch Abominations with axes.

[jkivela.livejournal.com]

It's good so far, just annoyed I have to read it in such small doses due to RL time and schedule :(

[entangled-now.livejournal.com]

lol, you commented before I could correct that to waive.

I have free time at the minute, so I'm hopefully going to burn through some this weekend.

[wenhaver.livejournal.com]

I've got Maplecroft on the list, too. I started it and got distracted by something shiny.

I might do this book challenge (it's longer and less Canadian): http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-Challenge-2015-36071458

[jkivela.livejournal.com]

I think I had seen that one, and it's got some good things on it (though a book set in your home town? might just have to expand that to "any hick town in the Midwest"). I might start checking things off of it as I go through my "I want to read list" and then see if I can knock out the rest later in the year.

Thanks for pointing it out though :)

[castmeaway.livejournal.com]

some additional book recs if you are interested!

~ The Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey. These are a lot of fun, extremely gritty, hilarious dark and sacrilegious. The author has a really unique style that is very "masculine", and sort of refreshing for that fact.

~ The Johannes Cabal series. (warning: have a dictionary handy). I think this might be one of my top 5 book series of all time. They are also some of the funniest, wittiest, most quotable books I've ever read. The style takes some getting used to, but these are truly unique books and if you have a thing for dark British humor of the Lovecraft variety, then this is the series for you! ex:

‘It’s a philosophical minefield!’
Cabal had a brief mental image of Aristotle walking halfway across an open field before unexpectedly disappearing in a fireball. Descartes and Nietzsche looked on appalled. He pulled himself together.

He wouldn’t have minded so much if he just had the faintest idea what was going on. No, that was untrue. He would have minded just as much even if in possession of a concise document entitled ‘What Is Going On.’

~ The Magician Series by Lev Grossman. This is one of those series that I wasn't sure if I liked it or not to start off. the first book is definitely... a little slow. But I'm glad I stuck with them. They get better and by the end of the last one I was left feeling surprisingly satisfied with how the series turned out. Imagine if Harry Potter went to college, cursed a lot, did recreational drugs, and then found himself dumped in Narnia and you might have an idea of what these books are.

Did you ever read the Inheritence Cycle by Christopher Paolini? Those are quite good as well!

Up until the most recent book, I would have recommended the Green Rider series by Kristen Britain. It's one of those series that I've read sort of throughout my life and it's always stuck with me. They are a lot of fun, quick easy fantasy reads.

I've also recently read two books that are somewhat similar, and yet very different. I HIGHLY recommend both The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and Mechanique by Genevieve Valentine.

Other thoughts. YES TO MORE LOCKE LAMORA. I love this series so much omg why isn't the next book out yet!

On the other hand...I would say not to bother with the additional Maze Runner books. The quality is just so bad. I'm sorry, but I couldn't stand how badly written they were and only got through them because of sheer stubbornness. In this case, I suggest sticking it out and waiting for the movie, and you'll ultimately have a better experience with the series.

[jkivela.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm always up for more recs! I have read Paolini's stuff, but the others are new.