What are you currently reading?

[TacomaDiver]

Finished up Mexican Gothic which I LOVED - can't wait to read more from Silvia Morena-Garcia.

Also finally got around to reading Replay from Ken Grimwood. I remember this being on my radar for years but never read it. Love it as well! Even though I'm not a time traveler (or am I?) I could relate because I would probably done the same things the main character did - make lots of money, have lots of sex, take lots of drugs, and then figure out what I really should be doing with this "opportunity".

Currently reading Hidden Pictures from Jason Rekulak. Got a good Kindle deal a while back and it was handy since I was currently using my Kindle. Enjoying it so far - about 20% done I think.

[TacomaDiver]

DNF’d The Bone Weaver’s Orchard at the half way point. Very disappointing, especially after all the glowing reviews I read about it.

That's disappointing - I too picked it up (and Out of Water based on some of the reviews). I haven't read it yet though - maybe I'll have a different experience.

[brlesh]

Screams from the Dark, a very large (nearly 500 pages) anthology of monster stories edited by Ellen Datlow.

Only 4 stories in at this point, so the jury is still out on this one, though I really did like the opening piece by Ian Rogers.

B

[sholloman81]

Just finished Jonathan Janz's "Blood Country", a sequel to "The Raven". Really enjoyed the heck out of this one like I do most of Janz's books. The characterization was top-notch. The worldbuilding in this series is also really fun. Lots of cool and in some cases very unexpected monsters for the group to run across and in some cases battle. Author also isn't afraid to kill his darlings in this one. Looking forward to the next book in this series!

Think I will be reading Leigh Bardugo's "Hell Bent" next. Really enjoyed her "Ninth House" book a few years ago and this one is a sequel to that.

[Sock Monkey]

Just finished Jeff Vandermeer's "Hummingbird Salamander". Hurts me to write this because I'm such a huge Vandermeer fan, but IMO this was one of the worst books that I have read in ages. The first half of the book is very bewildering and off-putting. The second half is slightly better, if only because you can finally grasp the edges of an actual story. Love Vandermeer's dedication to nature and conservation, but this one was a slog and felt like one long screed to nature and his philosophy of conservation. Sure wish I hadn't picked-up the signed LE. Hopefully his next book is a return to form because I do generally love his writing!

Think I will be starting Jonathan Janz's "Blood Country" next!

I was worried about this with HUMMINGBIRD. The bad reviews have killed my desire to read the book. Now to decide between letting the limited sit on the shelf and maybe come around to reading it at some point in the distant future or just dump it in the secondary market and move on.

To be honest, I kinda feel like the limited edition was overpriced for what was delivered. This should’ve been a $60-70 book in my opinion, not $125.

[brlesh]

About half way through The Bone Weaver’s Orchard by Sarah Read.

Not being invested in either the story line or the characters is making this short novel a slow read to this point.

B

DNF’d The Bone Weaver’s Orchard at the half way point. Very disappointing, especially after all the glowing reviews I read about it.

Started A Sliver of Darkness, the first short story collection from CJ Tudor.

I’m a big fan of Tudor’s work, and 125 pages in and enjoying it a lot.

B

[sholloman81]

Just finished Jeff Vandermeer's "Hummingbird Salamander". Hurts me to write this because I'm such a huge Vandermeer fan, but IMO this was one of the worst books that I have read in ages. The first half of the book is very bewildering and off-putting. The second half is slightly better, if only because you can finally grasp the edges of an actual story. Love Vandermeer's dedication to nature and conservation, but this one was a slog and felt like one long screed to nature and his philosophy of conservation. Sure wish I hadn't picked-up the signed LE. Hopefully his next book is a return to form because I do generally love his writing!

Think I will be starting Jonathan Janz's "Blood Country" next!

[sholloman81]

I tried to read one of Vandermeer’s collections awhile back (probably 15 years ago now - Secret Lives(??)) and couldn’t finish it, which kind of put me off of his writing.

I did like his story in Taverns of the Dead, so I may need to give him another try.

Have to admit, the premise for his Southern Reach trilogy does sound interesting.

B

Can definitely recommend the Southern Reach trilogy! It's probably some of his strongest writing. Secret Lives is definitely an outlier among his books and reads a lot like a writing experiment; so, I can understand if you found that one off-putting.

[brlesh]

Am about halfway through Jeff Vandermeer's "Hummingbird Salamander". Adore Vandermeer's previous books, but was very, very close to DNF'ing this one. The first 100 pages are completely bewildering (obviously intentional by the author, but still very confusing as a reader). The sentence structures are also a bit odd and take some getting used-to. Luckily for me, the story seems to have finally taken a turn and I can finally get a sense of what I'm reading and where this one may be going. Think I will finish the one after all.

I tried to read one of Vandermeer’s collections awhile back (probably 15 years ago now - Secret Lives(??)) and couldn’t finish it, which kind of put me off of his writing.

I did like his story in Taverns of the Dead, so I may need to give him another try.

Have to admit, the premise for his Southern Reach trilogy does sound interesting.

B

[brlesh]

About half way through The Bone Weaver’s Orchard by Sarah Read.

Not being invested in either the story line or the characters is making this short novel a slow read to this point.

B

[sholloman81]

I sprung for the rather expensive limited edition of this and have been doubting my decision ever since. Reviews have been middling and it seems like the consensus is that it just isn't that great of a book. It's on my shelf so I'm sure I'll get to one day, but I kinda wish I'd just picked up the trade paperback.

Yeah, having that same expensive limited edition is what I think kept me from DNF'ing it. Luckily, it has gotten a bit better.

[Sock Monkey]

Am about halfway through Jeff Vandermeer's "Hummingbird Salamander". Adore Vandermeer's previous books, but was very, very close to DNF'ing this one. The first 100 pages are completely bewildering (obviously intentional by the author, but still very confusing as a reader). The sentence structures are also a bit odd and take some getting used-to. Luckily for me, the story seems to have finally taken a turn and I can finally get a sense of what I'm reading and where this one may be going. Think I will finish the one after all.

I sprung for the rather expensive limited edition of this and have been doubting my decision ever since. Reviews have been middling and it seems like the consensus is that it just isn't that great of a book. It's on my shelf so I'm sure I'll get to one day, but I kinda wish I'd just picked up the trade paperback.

[sholloman81]

Am about halfway through Jeff Vandermeer's "Hummingbird Salamander". Adore Vandermeer's previous books, but was very, very close to DNF'ing this one. The first 100 pages are completely bewildering (obviously intentional by the author, but still very confusing as a reader). The sentence structures are also a bit odd and take some getting used-to. Luckily for me, the story seems to have finally taken a turn and I can finally get a sense of what I'm reading and where this one may be going. Think I will finish the one after all.

[brlesh]

Just finished Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates.

Started it last night and finished it this afternoon.

Hard to say I liked it, but it was a compelling read.

The only thing I’ve read from Oates in the past has been short stories, and I usually find her work to be some what dense, so Zombie was a complete surprise.

It kind of felt like she was channeling her inner Edward Lee.

Next, back to The Dead Hours of Night by Lisa Tuttle.

B

[TacomaDiver]

I read Mexican Gothic a few years ago and really liked it.

What starts out as a slow gothic noir takes a hard left turn into the supernatural about 2/3 of the way through the story and ends up going in a completely different direction than I expected.

B

I'm excited! I'm about 37 pages into it so far and I'm enjoying it.