What Are You Reading Now?

[Donuthole]

Spotify premium now comes with audiobooks, so I started listening to Wellness. I’m about 25 chapters in. So far so good. I think I like The Nix better, still, but we’ll see if I still feel that way when I’m finished.

[Clark Addison]

I recently finished Wellness. I think I may be one of the few that ends up liking it more than The Nix. I'm not sure if that is because I like this one a little more more than most, or because I liked The Nix a little less than most (though I liked it a lot). Like The Nix, it very accurately skewers much of the craziness in the world while still retaining an underlying optimism. I enjoyed the main characters in this one more than he Nix, but it didn't have as many great side characters.

Also recently read Colson Whitehead's Crook Manifesto, the follow up to Harlem Shuffle. I seem to remember mixed feelings about Whitehead here? I liked both of these quite a bit. Not the fastest moving but he does such a great job of creating a mood and world that his characters inhabit. Crook Manifesto is essentially three free-standing novellas, with each taking place a couple of years after the previous one, and three distinct situations. I always think it is kind of cheating when an author does this for some weird reason (just write a unified story!!), but it works pretty well here. Speaking of side characters, I love Pepper in both Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto.

[falafel]

I recently finished Wellness. I think I may be one of the few that ends up liking it more than The Nix. I'm not sure if that is because I like this one a little more more than most, or because I liked The Nix a little less than most (though I liked it a lot). Like The Nix, it very accurately skewers much of the craziness in the world while still retaining an underlying optimism. I enjoyed the main characters in this one more than he Nix, but it didn't have as many great side characters.

I gave up on Wellness after about a 1/5th of the book. Unlike the Nix, I felt like the author was just finding things to criticize. But I didn't get too far past the building (designing) of their forever apartment and [possibly] sleeping in different rooms. I didn't find either of the characters likeable once they got to middle age.

Also recently read Colson Whitehead's Crook Manifesto, the follow up to Harlem Shuffle. I seem to remember mixed feelings about Whitehead here? I liked both of these quite a bit. Not the fastest moving but he does such a great job of creating a mood and world that his characters inhabit. Crook Manifesto is essentially three free-standing novellas, with each taking place a couple of years after the previous one, and three distinct situations. I always think it is kind of cheating when an author does this for some weird reason (just write a unified story!!), but it works pretty well here. Speaking of side characters, I love Pepper in both Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto.

I've only read one Whitehead novel - The Underground Railroad. I thought it was overrated and a little goofy in its structure. Felt a little like he was trying for a slavery version of Gulliver's Travels.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I've only read one Whitehead novel - The Underground Railroad. I thought it was overrated and a little goofy in its structure. Felt a little like he was trying for a slavery version of Gulliver's Travels.

I hated that book.

[Clark Addison]

I gave up on Wellness after about a 1/5th of the book. Unlike the Nix, I felt like the author was just finding things to criticize. But I didn't get too far past the building (designing) of their forever apartment and [possibly] sleeping in different rooms. I didn't find either of the characters likeable once they got to middle age.

At many points in the book, I didn't find them likeable either, but I did find them interesting.

I've only read one Whitehead novel - The Underground Railroad. I thought it was overrated and a little goofy in its structure. Felt a little like he was trying for a slavery version of Gulliver's Travels.

I haven't read that one, so I can't speak to whether that would indicate how you would like these ones.

[BigPiney]

Underground Railroad was overrated and stupid. I started reading Harlem Shuffle but I just got bored. I did like The Nickel Boys, that was good.

[Northwestcoug]

'The Name of the Wind', by Patrick Rothfuss. I was warned by someone that I would love this and the second book of the planned trilogy, but get disappointed because he still hasn't finished the last book. I took a gamble and it paid off. The writing is just excellent. The characters and plot are really engaging and interesting. It has some Harry Potter-like aspects to it, in that this book focuses on the main character as a young outsider attending the university and finding his way in unfamiliar surroundings. Even though it's kind of light on 'action', It's just a pleasure to read. It's like I felt with 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell', where someone could critique the book that it's a lot of filler. But you don't mind because of the thought he took into writing it. I will read the next one, and hope that the planned final book does get published.

[bluegoose]

'The Name of the Wind', by Patrick Rothfuss. I was warned by someone that I would love this and the second book of the planned trilogy, but get disappointed because he still hasn't finished the last book. I took a gamble and it paid off. The writing is just excellent. The characters and plot are really engaging and interesting. It has some Harry Potter-like aspects to it, in that this book focuses on the main character as a young outsider attending the university and finding his way in unfamiliar surroundings. Even though it's kind of light on 'action', It's just a pleasure to read. It's like I felt with 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell', where someone could critique the book that it's a lot of filler. But you don't mind because of the thought he took into writing it. I will read the next one, and hope that the planned final book does get published.

I really enjoyed The name of the wind. Read it a few months ago for our guys book club with steelblue. It was a fun read that gave to some great conversation afterward. I also read Wise Mans fear and enjoyed it just as much as the first book. They are a big commitment though. Took me more than a couple of months.

I agree that the underground railroad was overrated. I loved Nickel Boys, and I really liked Harlem Shuffle, although not nearly as much as Nickel Boys.

[Northwestcoug]

I really enjoyed The name of the wind. Read it a few months ago for our guys book club with steelblue. It was a fun read that gave to some great conversation afterward. I also read Wise Mans fear and enjoyed it just as much as the first book. They are a big commitment though. Took me more than a couple of months.

I just picked up Wise Man's Fear at the bookstore today. 900 pages! That'll take up my Spring.

[Shaka]

I just finished Geddy Lee's My Effin' Life. Interesting book with a glimpse into the world and history of Rush. Geddy is an interesting guy. Two thumbs up.

[USUC]

I'm starting my first Brandon Sanderaon book tonight, Mistborn - The Final Empire.

I have way too much stress and sadness from managing my mother's health decline and family discord partly as a result of that decline to enjoy anything based in the real world that isnt humor. Not sure if this will be my thing but I'll give it a shot.

[BigPiney]

I'm starting my first Brandon Sanderaon book tonight, Mistborn - The Final Empire.

I have way too much stress and sadness from managing my mother's health decline and family discord partly as a result of that decline to enjoy anything based in the real world that isnt humor. Not sure if this will be my thing but I'll give it a shot.

I liked it and I am not a big fantasy dork like NWC.

[Pelado]

I liked it and I am not a big fantasy dork like NWC.

Just a little fantasy dork, then?

[Northwestcoug]

I'm starting my first Brandon Sanderaon book tonight, Mistborn - The Final Empire.

I have way too much stress and sadness from managing my mother's health decline and family discord partly as a result of that decline to enjoy anything based in the real world that isnt humor. Not sure if this will be my thing but I'll give it a shot.

I hope you like it. That was the book that started my second great fantasy awakening, not having read fantasy since college.

I liked it and I am not a big fantasy dork like NWC.

Fair.

[BigPiney]

Just a little fantasy dork, then?

I am a huge dork about books, but I spread it among all genres. Mystery and suspense would be my major dork zone.