While She Knits--What Are You Reading?

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I had the pleasure yesterday of meeting up with semperlego and bookishbabe and we talked and talked and talked for hours about books. Gosh, I've missed that! After much discussion about Queen's Thief, we went on to talk about other favorites and what we've been reading lately. So, I thought it was time to give and get some recommendations from all you smarty pants readers.

What have you been reading lately that you loved or hated?

I've read two books lately that I liked very much. Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier was very Queen's Thief-like. Great character development and a compelling story. I guessed all the twists, except for one, but enjoyed it anyway.

I told the others yesterday that I seldom read historical fiction, but I read one book last month that was the exception to my rule. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn tells the story of three women codebreakers during WW II who help the British break the ever-changing Axis codes. The story travels back and forth between the war and several years later and I especially liked the three different women characters, who are based on real people.

It was great meeting Semper and Bookish!

Comments

[canonisrelative.livejournal.com]

I've been struggling to read anything new for a long time and have mostly been re-reading (or listening to, I love audiobooks) old favorites, but I'm thinking I might give these two you mentioned a try -- I've picked up The Rose Code a few times in book stores but never actually took it home, so maybe now is the time.

As for my re-reading of recent books I highly recommend Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko and Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor.

Even more exciting, to me, I actually just went on a big kick of reading the kids/YA chapter books that I loved as a kid, around the same time or a little before I first read TT in the 90s, and it occurs to me I would love to hear other QT lovers childhood faves.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Sabriel by Garth Nix (amazing as an audiobook too, wow)
The Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce
Wise Child and Juniper by Monica Furlong
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C Wrede

Next I'm thinking of revisiting I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith and the Empire triology by Janny Wurts and Raymond Feist.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I'm (slowly) making my way through The Brothers Karamazov, while simultaneously zipping through other reads. Finally got around to reading The Goblin Emperor and loved it. I also read Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education and The Last Graduate, which were pretty clever but not entirely my cup of tea (I liked the main character, but I'm not sure I would've made it through her exposition-heavy narrative if not for the encouragement of fellow readers).

I've completed 3 rereads so far this year: The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, and Persuasion by Jane Austen, with The Silmarillion by Tolkien up next.

Has anyone read Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix? I must have placed a hold on it at some point because I just received the ebook, but I'm wondering if it's been too long since I read the Sabriel books for me to fully appreciate it? (I did reread Sabriel last year but not the others.) Does it stand well enough on its own?

I'll have to look into The Rose Code by Kate Quinn! Sounds intriguing.

:)

[eachase.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so, so, so jealous... I mean happy for you all. Really!

I got to meet bookishbabe at the 2019 North Texas Teen Book Festival and would love to hang out with her again -- and meet the rest of you!

I'm currently reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.
I still think I like Artemis best, but then... it's a heist story. On the moon. And I'm a sucker for a good heist story.

On my nightstand awaiting me is The Hellfire Conspiracy by Will Thomas.
It's the 4th in the Barker & Llewelyn (detective/adventure) series.

I've recently read and enjoyed:

Hood by Jenny Elder Moke (a continuation of Robin Hood).
I'm not sure it's as good as A.C. Gaughen's Scarlet trilogy (but it doesn't have the room of 3 books to expand. It's also not as dark.)

The Last Knight by Hilari Bell (1st in the Knight & Rogue series)
The voices of the two characters aren't as distinct as they could be, but I do love the straight arrow & con man as partners dynamic. I've got the sequel on my nightstand now.

The Ghost Belonged to Me by Richard Peck
I read this one because when I told MWT how much I love Grandma Dowdel, she said she liked Blossom Culp more. I

Gilded by Marissa Meyer
Meyer takes on Rumplestiltskin (among others). First of new series and kind of cliffhangery, so you might want to wait. But I had trouble putting it down while reading it.

[eachase.livejournal.com]

Ifueko is really good! Have you read the sequel to Raybearer - Redemptor?

[canonisrelative.livejournal.com]

Not yet! I wanted to reread Raybearer first, but now I’m dragging my feet about starting it because I’m already anticipating being sad when it’s over... Raybearer was the first new book in years to fully sweep me away like...well...a MWT book.

[eachase.livejournal.com]

I can definitely relate to that. I tend to wait on reading Megan's books for at least a few weeks after they release!

[semperlego.livejournal.com]

It was a great afternoon!! I hope there will be further opportunities to get to know more of this wonderful group of people! I can't get enough of talking about books!

Here are my favorite Recent Reads:
-"Fire and Hemlock" by Diana Wynne Jones--just amazing, my fav DWJ book so far, after "Dogsbody" and "HMC."

-"Once Upon A Wardrobe" by Patti Callahan (she also wrote "Becoming Mrs. Lewis.") This book was a wonderful window into CS Lewis's life and a beautiful story on it's own. Also, a great defense of the "No Telling" policy we are all familiar with.

-The Reckless series by Cornelia Funke: Gen might enjoy swapping stories over a beer with the hero of these books-- "Treasure Hunter" Jacob Reckless "acquires" important magical items for his clients, all while managing difficult family relationships and a complicated love life. His adventures are set in a world, which he discovered via a magic mirror, full of interesting characters that are mortal, immortal and everything in between. I loved these books!! ...Except the last one (#4/5) ends quite abruptly. It was just published last November and there is no word on when the next one is coming out. I am new to the QT books and was fortunate to be able to read all 6 of them in one long amazing sequence this past summer, but Sounis, I am now feeling the pain of having to ...WAIT. :(

Other reads:
I echo the positive comments about "Raybearer," and I have really enjoyed all Naomi Novik's books.
Freenarnian: I have read "Terciel and Eleanor." It was pretty good, and works fine if you have just read "Sabriel."

Current Projects:
-We have started "Thick as Thieves" in our family read-aloud, and my daughter is turning into a solid QT fan.

-I am working through the "Three Musketeers", I started it last fall, then got distracted. I was motivated to start in on it again after reading "Fire and Hemlock."

-Still enjoying the audio versions of the "Sorcery and Cecelia" series by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. Wrede's "The Enchanted Forest Chronicles" are also popular in our house (Because--dragons!)

-I was convicted by Lady Jane's recent trek across a frozen lake in sub-freezing temperatures, but needed some more motivation to actually leave my cozy living room--so I am also re-reading "Natural Born Heros" by Chris McDougall. It's non-fiction, but a crazy combination of a great spy story (how the British SS spirited a German officer off the island of Crete in WWII,) and also sort of a history of Parcour, as well as an inspiring look at nutrition and fitness, among other things. I've read it a couple of times and it always makes me want dig out my running shoes and get moving.

My Kid/YA favorites:
Earthsea series by Ursula Le Guin
Wings of Fire and Menagerie series by Tui Sutherland
Elementals series by Amie Kaufman
The Books of Beginning series by John Stephens
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Hawksmaid by Kathryn Lasky

Next Up:
Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I am a Cat by Soseki Natsume
CS Lewis's Space Trilogy (with my son for school)

I'm excited to dive in to some of the new suggestions from this post too!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I think we talked about Spinning Silver at the meetup. I remember liking it very much, and Raybearer, too.

Most of the YA books you mention I read as an adult librarian, but ALL those you mention are fantastic.

I'm not familiar at all with the Empire trilogy but will take a look!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I've never even heard of that Nix book. But I loved The Sabriel series. Is it part of that?

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I think Hilari Bell is so underrated, as an author. I've read several of her books and liked all of them. I've never read The Ghost Belonged to Me but will definitely read that one.

[semperlego.livejournal.com]

It's the prequel to Sabriel

[(Anonymous)]

I read The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison “in the world of the Goblin Emperor”about Celehar’s adventures in Amalo. It’s the first book in a trilogy Cemeteries of Amalo and book 2 is due in June = The Grief of Stone.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

What did you think of it? I liked it, though not nearly as much as The Goblin Emperor.

[(Anonymous)]

I liked it though I would have liked a bit more info about the emperor. What about the his wedding?I loved the world created. I want to go to a tea house and have some tea and steamed buns and try the street food goblins like for breakfast.I love the minor characters, too. The little old lady who sits and sews outside the boarding house is someone I would like to stop and talk with on my way to the tram stop. I was very happy to see that there was a second book coming. I wanted more stories.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

It's new, and it's about Sabriel's parents! I did start reading it, and I'm already captivated.

[eachase.livejournal.com]

I started the 2nd book last night and 3 and 4 arrived via ILL today, so I'll be doing a Hilari Bell marathon.

[eachase.livejournal.com]

I also love McKinley and Wrede!

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

I Capture the Castle is a comfort read for me too! :)