Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Books of August

So, what's everyone reading or hoping to read this month? After reading a few long books, I plan to read some shorter ones and hopefully read a few more this month than I have been lately. I just finished Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie and will be reviewing that soon, and I just started on Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire last night. After that, I am hoping to read:
  • Dreamdark: Silksinger by Laini Taylor (or possibly Fire by Kristin Cashore or Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - to celebrate Young Adult Appreciation Month over at The Book Smugglers)
  • The Magicians by Lev Grossman
  • The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
  • The Drowning City by Amanda Downum
There are many more I'd like to squeeze in this month but 5 books is probably about my limit unless I win the lottery in the next couple of weeks.

13 comments:

suzie townsend said...

I've heard Laini Taylor's book is amazing!

I got to meet Lev Grossman at the book launch party for THE MAGICIANS last night, and he was so cool! I've been hearing a lot of great things about his book.

Memory said...

I've heard so many good things about THE MAGICIANS. I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of it.

I've been craving chunksters for the past couple of months, so I figure I'll probably stick with those in August, too. I've got a couple of general fiction titles I'd like to get over the next little bit, (namely THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt and THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY by Michael Chabon), a fantastical classic, (THE ILIAD by Homer), and a couple of fun fantasies, (CHILD OF THE PROPHECY by Juliet Marillier and JOUST by Mercedes Lackey).

Kristen said...

Suzie - I've read the first Dreamdark book by Laini Taylor and thought it was fantastic. From what I've heard, the second book is even better so I'm looking forward to reading it.

The launch party sounds like fun! I'm envious - I've always wanted to go to a signing but I'm too far out of the way and no one ever comes near where I live.

Memory - I've heard a lot of great things about The Magicians too and am really looking forward to it. That sounds like a good list for August. I still need to read Juliet Marillier's first Sevenwaters book.

Benjamin said...

I just finished The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham, final book in the Long Price Quartet. I'm currently reading Sourcery by Terry Pratchett.

Books I'm thinking of reading this month:
Retribution Falls, Chris Wooding
Helliconia Winter, Brian Aldiss
The Patriot Witch, C.C. Finlay
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Figures in Silk, Vanora Bennett

Of course, all of these are subject to change once I get around to them. :P

Kristen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kristen said...

Benjamin - All of mine are subject to change too, but that's at least what I plan to read right now!

What did you think of The Price of Spring? I've been hearing so many good things about that one and An Autumn War that I've been considering picking up the second book in the series sooner rather than later after all.

Original comment removed and edited: stupid typos...

RD Williams said...

I'm hoping to actually catch up on a couple of books I've been meaning to read. 'The Children of Hurin' for one, I bought it when it was released as it's own story, but it's been sitting on the table taunting me. lol After that I might get back into Sharon Shinn's series about the 13 houses.

Kristen said...

RD Williams - I've been meaning to read The Children of Hurin for a while too. How is the Sharon Shinn series? Although I've heard a lot about her Samaria series, I haven't heard much about that one other than that it exists.

Benjamin said...

Kristen, I loved all the books in the Long Price Quartet. Personally, I felt each book just gets better. So if you liked the first one, you'll definitely like the rest.

A word of caution: if you do decide to pick up the rest of the books, you may have trouble finding them. The bookstores have been ordering less of each as it's released with The Price of Spring being almost impossible to find, which I think is a real shame.

Kristen said...

Benjamin - Although I did like the first book in the series, I didn't love it, which is why I didn't intend to get the next book immediately with the huge to read pile. I do keep hearing that each book is better than the last and that the third and fourth books especially are excellent, though, so maybe I'll change my mind.

I have heard the books are hard to find, but I actually got the first one at my local Borders, which currently has the entire series except for the new one in stock. (It is odd that they don't have the new book, though.)

orannia said...

...I just started on Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire last night.

Oh, I can't wait to see what you think of this book. It's on my TBR list!

And Howls' Moving Castle is a classic :)

As for waht I'm reading. I've just finished The Mirador and I'm dying to read Corambis but I also don't want too..I don't want this to be the end :(

ediFanoB said...

THE DROWNING CITY by Amanda Downum is on your list. I must admit I got excited when I read about it for the first time. It will be available inGermany in September. I sent a pre-order.

I read several reviews of THE MAGICIANS. I would like to know what you think about it.

Books I want to read this month:
BloodHeir by Brian Ruckley
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Colours in the Steel by K.J. Parker

Kristen said...

Orannia - I haven't gotten very far into Rosemary and Rue yet since I realized I'd better start on a YA book if I'm going to read and review it for Saturday. So I started Silksinger by Laini Taylor which is very good so far. After that, I'll go back to reading Rosemary and Rue, though. I loved the movie Howl's Moving Castle so I am very much looking forward to the book.

I understand what you mean about not wanting to read Corambis right away. Ever since I discovered Sarah Monette's series, I haven't read anything else I've enjoyed nearly as much as those first 3 books.

ediFanoB - I'm looking forward to The Drowning City too. It sounds very interesting and I like discovering debut novels. When I saw Elizabeth Bear said she liked it, I was very intrigued since I love all of her books I've read.