What are you currently reading?

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of Hailey Piper's "The Work and His Kings Saga". Always love these omnibus collections and this one was no different. Enjoyed the way the author was able to work their social commentary into each novella without beating you over the head with it and the ways in which it actually benefited the story. Always nice when an author can land that correctly. If I had one complaint with the novellas it would be that they aren't really that scary, more of a "scary ideas" book. That being said, the ideas are quite horrific in a Lovecraftian way, and each novella does have at least one scene guaranteed to creep you out. Overall, I'm glad that I gave this book/author a chance and will probably ready another of her works in the future should I run across one. Overall, a C+ to B- read for me.

Am now reading the Subterranean Press LE of Martha Wells' "System Collapse", a Murderbot book. I really enjoy the Murderbot series and have been looking forward to reading this one for a while.

[Ben Staad]

Awesome news. I've been in a rut as well. Hoping to find my very own rut buster.

Currently reading a good one...I don't often read debut novels from unknown authors as they seldom have the polish and depth I need these days -- but this one proves there's an exception to any rule. I posted on X: SAFECRACKER by Jesse DeRoy is one of the best debut crime novels I’ve read in years. With touches of Stark’s Parker series and Steve Hamilton’s coming-of-age THE LOCK ARTIST, DeRoy’s and his young antihero protagonist unlocked my recent reading rut with explosive talent.

[RonClinton]

Currently reading a good one...I don't often read debut novels from unknown authors as they seldom have the polish and depth I need these days -- but this one proves there's an exception to any rule. I posted on X: SAFECRACKER by Jesse DeRoy is one of the best debut crime novels I’ve read in years. With touches of Stark’s Parker series and Steve Hamilton’s coming-of-age THE LOCK ARTIST, DeRoy’s and his young antihero protagonist unlocked my recent reading rut with explosive talent.

[brlesh]

Finished A Christmas Carol. Timeless classic.

After that, finished the Bound in Blood anthology. Not a timeless classic.

Just started Bruises on a Butterfly by Chad Lutzke.

Just 10 - 12 pages in, and so far, so good.

This will be the second thing I’ve read by Lutzke.

The first was Of Foster Homes and Flies, which I enjoyed, so high hopes for Bruises.

B

[dannyboy121070]

I was happily surprised to see a story by Smith in there, and it did not disappoint! The ending was excellent.

[RonClinton]

Good to hear, Ron!

And it has a story from the distinctly unprolific Scott Smith, which, for me, was a very special treat, a cherry on the top of this otherwise still-great anthology.

[dannyboy121070]

One of those rare anthologies where nearly every story hits it out of the park.

Good to hear, Ron!

[RonClinton]

. Also, I'm two stories into the anthology HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SCREAM, and both stories have been winners.

One of those rare anthologies where nearly every story hits it out of the park.

[dannyboy121070]

I'm wrapping up Kim Newman's latest, A CHRISTMAS GHOST STORY, which started slow, but is really hitting my sweet spot now. Good stuff. Also, I'm two stories into the anthology HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SCREAM, and both stories have been winners.

[brlesh]

Doing something I haven’t done in probably 40 years.

Reading Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Of course, I’m also drinking Jameson, so I guess technically it’s not the same as the last reading!

B

[brlesh]

Finished Gone South by Robert McCammon, which was a great read.

This morning read Trapped by King & Chizmar.

It was an entertaining, though preposterous, story.

Tonight, started Ghostly Tales, a collection of 7 classic Victorian ghost stories.

Nothing like some old time ghost stories around Christmas.

So far I’ve read ‘Oh Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’ by MR James and ‘The Old Nurse’s Story’ by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Up next, ‘The Signalman’ by Charles Dickens.

B

[Sock Monkey]

I've been trying to work my way through Cronin's The Twelve and I was really hoping to finish the trilogy this year, but I'm in the last week of finals for school this semester and time has dwindled down to zero. Frankly, I shouldn't even spending time posting on the forum right now, but I need a little bit of a break. After the 18th, I'm on winter break so the plan is to get through The Twelve during that time. We'll see, though.

On a different note, has anybody read Danielewski's House of Leaves? It's been on my radar for the last 20+ years and my wife bought it for me for my birthday (in addition to the new J-Horror Rising boxset from Arrow) and I was just wondering if anybody had any thoughts about it in general (I know it's pretty divisive) and any approaches to reading that bad boy. It'll still be a while before I get to it, but it's sitting on the table next to me so I figured I'd open up the conversation while it was on my mind.

[sholloman81]

Finished up You Like It Darker by Stephen King.

Another solid collection from the master!

B

Glad to hear this as it's sadly still sitting in my tbr pile!

[RonClinton]

Philip Fracassi’s SARAFINA.

[brlesh]

Finished up You Like It Darker by Stephen King.

Another solid collection from the master!

Taking a break from Bound in Blood and started Gone Soth by McCammon last night.

50 pages in and really enjoying this story, as I figured I would.

McCammon never disappoints!

B