What are you currently reading?

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Centipede LE of Kathe Koja's "The Cipher", a first time read and author for me. Had no idea what to expect with this book other than the basic premise and that it has a somewhat famous reputation. After completing the book, I'm happy to write that IMO, the reputation is well deserved. This book completely exceeded my expectations in every way. To start with, the prose was amazing. Usually, I can fly through books pretty quickly, but the prose here forces you to slow down and really invest in the author's words and meanings. I also adored the characterization in this one. These people felt so real and so messed-up. I swear that I've known people like this. I've seen reviews where people complain the book doesn't have characters you can root for, but I feel like that misses the point. It's kind of a goofy comparison, but the main characters relationship reminded me a lot of the relationship between the Narrator and Marla's characters in Palahniuk's Fight Club. I also loved the ending of the book. It completely worked for me. Who knew that a story this messed up would have an ending with so much heart. Overall, I'm so glad that I took a chance on this book, especially the gorgeous Centipede LE, and am finally glad to have read something by this author. I would give this one an A grade for sure!

I will be reading the SST LE of Richard Chizmar's "Chasing the Boogeyman" next. Haven't read this edition of the book yet, and wanted to give the story a reread before the sequel is released this week.

[brlesh]

Started October’s End, a three novella collection of Halloween horror stories by Kevin Lucia, Jason Parent, & Jeremy Bates.

Almost finished with the first story, ‘Daughters of the Mist’ by Kevin Lucia, and really liking it so far.

It has a great small town horror story feel to it, and Lucia’s love for the classic black & white horror movies shines through.

B

[brlesh]

If you enjoyed The Girl with All the Gifts, you should definitely check out the (pre)sequel The Boy on the Bridge as it's a pretty good read as well.

Finished up The Boy on the Bridge the other night and really enjoyed it, perhaps even more than The Girl With All the Gifts.

Really enjoyed the overall story arc between the two books, especially the way the end of TBOTB was tied into TGWATG.

B

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Lividian LE of Robert McCammon's "Gone South". It's been years since I first read Gone South and I enjoyed it just as much this time around. This book has such strong characters. I especially loved Pelvis Eisley. How McCammon was able to make him both absurd and real was amazing. Side note- I just finished watching the Walking Dead recently and couldn't help but fancast Josh McDermott as the Pelvis character in my head during the read. I'm a huge McCammon fan and have read all of his stuff. This book has always felt like an outlier to me. There's just something different feeling about it compared to his other work. After reading his introduction to this edition and hearing about what he was going through professionally at the time, to me, it's easy to see that the book's about despair and acceptance. So happy that Lividian finally gave this book the limited-edition treatment that it deserves. Now we just need them or someone else to do LE's for Mine & Mystery Walk! Overall, I would give this book a B rating.

I will be reading Kathe Koja's "The Cipher" next, a first time read and author for me. Hopefully, it will live up to its rep!

[Martin]

Thoroughly enjoyed Holly, my largest concern going in with King is usually will he manage to stick the ending. Happy to say this novel starts fast and ends with a solid finish. I would recommend anyone considering reading it to take the comments of sholloman81 above into consideration as many will not like this for the reasons he states above. I give it 4 stars!

Now almost 100 pages into Starter Villian by John Scalzi and it is exactly what I expect from Scalzi!

[brlesh]

If you enjoyed The Girl with All the Gifts, you should definitely check out the (pre)sequel The Boy on the Bridge as it's a pretty good read as well.

Started The Boy on the Bridge today!

B

[Martin]

Just finished reading Stephen King's "Holly". No spoilers! I really enjoyed this one, but I'm also one of those King fans who has never had an issue with the Holly character & books, especially after seeing Justine Lupe's portrayal in the Mr. Mercedes series which helped cement Holly as a top-notch character for me. In terms of the book itself, I found the story very interesting and filled with the usual fleshed out characters that King excels at writing. It was especially nice seeing the multiple elderly characters and the way King wrote them. As a lot of the reviews point out, this book does take place within the last couple of years and has lots of nods to Covid and currents events/politics. A lot of reviewers seem to have issue with that, but it didn't bother me at all. In fact, to me, it actually fit the Holly character and her quirks quite well. Overall, I would give this book a solid B to B- rating. it's always bittersweet finishing a King book as I look forward to them so much.

I will finally be getting around to reading my Lividian LE of Robert McCammon's "Gone South" next. Looking forward to this one as McCammon is one of my favorite authors!

I am on track to finish Holly tonight and greatly agree with your review. Tommorrow I hope to begin Starter Villian.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading Stephen King's "Holly". No spoilers! I really enjoyed this one, but I'm also one of those King fans who has never had an issue with the Holly character & books, especially after seeing Justine Lupe's portrayal in the Mr. Mercedes series which helped cement Holly as a top-notch character for me. In terms of the book itself, I found the story very interesting and filled with the usual fleshed out characters that King excels at writing. It was especially nice seeing the multiple elderly characters and the way King wrote them. As a lot of the reviews point out, this book does take place within the last couple of years and has lots of nods to Covid and currents events/politics. A lot of reviewers seem to have issue with that, but it didn't bother me at all. In fact, to me, it actually fit the Holly character and her quirks quite well. Overall, I would give this book a solid B to B- rating. it's always bittersweet finishing a King book as I look forward to them so much.

I will finally be getting around to reading my Lividian LE of Robert McCammon's "Gone South" next. Looking forward to this one as McCammon is one of my favorite authors!

[sholloman81]

Finished The Girl With All the Gifts last night.

Really liked this one.

Carey took the old zombie story line and did something completely different with it.

It had me guessing throughout where the story was going.

Started a three story chap this morning by Michael Marshall Smith, This Is Now.

All the stories are rereads for me, but two stories in and I am really enjoying it.

The stories are interesting, dark, and thought provoking, and well worth revisiting.

B

If you enjoyed The Girl with All the Gifts, you should definitely check out the (pre)sequel The Boy on the Bridge as it's a pretty good read as well.

[brlesh]

Finished The Girl With All the Gifts last night.

Really liked this one.

Carey took the old zombie story line and did something completely different with it.

It had me guessing throughout where the story was going.

Started a three story chap this morning by Michael Marshall Smith, This Is Now.

All the stories are rereads for me, but two stories in and I am really enjoying it.

The stories are interesting, dark, and thought provoking, and well worth revisiting.

B

[mhatchett]

Just finished reading the Midworld LE of Christopher Buehlman's "The Blacktongue Theif", a first time read for me. This was actually my first Buehlman read at all, and I will definitely be back for more. This book was so freaking good! Fantasy/Adventure is not my go-to, but every now and then, I'll be in the mood, and this one was everything I was hoping for and more. The characterization in this book was amazing. The main character Kinch will definitely be kicking around in my head for a while. He had such a unique voice. The worldbuilding was also unique and vast. Lots of cool people, cryptids, and faraway lands. Loved the magic system that was established, and the thief's guild and its rules was all kinds of cool and horrible. I was so bummed when I hit the final page as I did not want this story to end. Luckily, I believe this will be, at the least, a trilogy; so, with any luck, I'll get to spend more time in this world soon. I would give this an A grade for sure and am super happy that I took the chance on this book!

I will be reading Stephen King's "Holly" next. Even though I have a gigantic TRB stack, I just can't resist moving this to the top. Having new King to read always makes me so happy!

I really enjoyed Buehlman's The Suicide Motor Club. It was a very different Vampire story!

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Midworld LE of Christopher Buehlman's "The Blacktongue Theif", a first time read for me. This was actually my first Buehlman read at all, and I will definitely be back for more. This book was so freaking good! Fantasy/Adventure is not my go-to, but every now and then, I'll be in the mood, and this one was everything I was hoping for and more. The characterization in this book was amazing. The main character Kinch will definitely be kicking around in my head for a while. He had such a unique voice. The worldbuilding was also unique and vast. Lots of cool people, cryptids, and faraway lands. Loved the magic system that was established, and the thief's guild and its rules was all kinds of cool and horrible. I was so bummed when I hit the final page as I did not want this story to end. Luckily, I believe this will be, at the least, a trilogy; so, with any luck, I'll get to spend more time in this world soon. I would give this an A grade for sure and am super happy that I took the chance on this book!

I will be reading Stephen King's "Holly" next. Even though I have a gigantic TRB stack, I just can't resist moving this to the top. Having new King to read always makes me so happy!

[brlesh]

Finished up Horrors of War by Tim Curran.

If you’re looking for some gory, fast paced action, few do it better than Curran.

I noticed with Horrors of War, as with Bone Marrow Stew when I read it a couple of years ago, some of the stories do tend to get repetitive.

After Horrors of War, started The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey.

100 pages in and really enjoying TGWATG so far.

B

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the SST LE of Josh Malerman's "Unbury Carol". This was a reread for me, and I liked it much better this time around. Lots of fun and quirky characters and a really unique story. I've always enjoyed westerns, especially weird westerns and this one fits the bill for sure. This book truly deserves to be turned into a film. If I had one complaint, I do wish the supernatural element would have been given more of an explanation or been left out completely. While it was very creepy, the book could have stood fine on its own without it. Overall, to me, while not top Malerman, it was still a very unique and worthwhile read, and I would give it a solid C+ to B- rating.

Think I will be reading the Midworld LE of Christopher Buehlman's "The Blacktongue Theif" next, a first time read for me. I'm in the mood for something different, and I have heard great things about this book and author.

[brlesh]

Finished The Exorcism of Winchester House.

The over-the-top second half did not maintain my interest like the first half did.

Finishing up the last story I have to read in Horrors of War by Tim Curran.

1867: The Skull Eater Campaign is a reread, as it was originally published by CD in Four Rode Out about 10 years ago.

I remember liking it the first time I read it, though I remember little else about the story.

At over 80 pages, it is the longest story in the collection.

Half way through and really enjoying this bloody good story about the Indian war.

B