What are you in the middle of reading right now?

submitted by PurpleAmathea from self.books

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[–]Girlwiththeraventat 6 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

I am most of the way through Wizard and Glass which is the fourth book in The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. The story is basically going back in time from the previous books and the reader learns more about the main characters past. It's pretty good. I cant wait to see how it ends because Stephen King's book's ending are very hit or miss.

[–]HideYourDogItsTheATF 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

That book was quite a fucking ride. I'd discuss it more but don't want to ruin anything. Enjoy it!

[–]Narratron 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I love the Dark Tower. The ending is... What it is. It's very Stephen King. You'll either like it or hate it. Personally, I think it's perfect.

[–]Seagull 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I remember feeling frustrated with Wizard and Glass the first time I read it. I just wanted to get on with the main story. But now, it's probably my favourite of the series as a whole. Great as a standalone book in the Midworld Universe.

[–]Tetrahedron 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

I just finished reading The Martian, which was a fun one. I'm just about to start The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I'm excited for this one.

Edit: I am also reading Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson. Ive only just started and it has already given me material to think about for months. Very cool!

[–]PurpleAmathea[S] 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Man, the Martian was fun. Also, it had a really good film adaptation which is even more surprising given how easy to ruin the subject matter is... I think there was an xkcd about that.

What is prometheus rising about?

[–]Tetrahedron 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I enjoyed the movie a lot as well.

Prometheus Rising takes a look at a whole pile of things in an attempt to find out more about how the mind works. He looks at ideas from Timothy Leary's eight neurological circuits, to Yoga disciplines, to relativity and quantum mechanics.

I'm still very early in the book and I have had a whole lot to think about!

[–]HideYourDogItsTheATF 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Have you read any other books by McCarthy? I'm working my way through Blood Meridian but the writing style can confuse me at times (during dialog) and I'm wondering if his other books are the same or if it was specifically chosen for this book. Enjoying it regardless and look forward to his other works.

[–]Tetrahedron 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I have not, this is my first of his. I can relate to a kind of confusing structure with dialogue in The Road, but I think the style fits. Im enjoying it so far

[–]Shockwave 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

The Dresden Files - Proven Guilty. My English teacher got me into the series about ten years ago and I'm starting to catch up and it's quite a thrilling series. Each one has me clinging on the edge of my seat about this wizard who's trying to make rent and having to deal with the magical world's political BS in the process. Werewolves, vampires (three different types!), faeries (summer and winter kingdoms), necromancy, and so much more.

I enjoyed Sue the resurrected T-rex controlled by Bob in the previous book. :) I don't know if it's my lack of experience reading magic stuff, but I feel like the way the Dresden Files goes about the magical world is unique.

[–]FlamingFeminist 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Circe by Madeline Miller - Miller did not like how Circe was an interesting character in The Odyssey but we knew little of her story, so she wrote her own story for Circe.

[–]wrongthink 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

That one was fun for me because I had a vague recollection of Greek mythology from my childhood and slowly remembered things right before the story got to them.

The author also did a retelling of events in the Iliad in another book but I havn't gotten that one yet.

[–]Earl_Harbinger 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I just finished 1632 by Eric Flint. A ~2000s era west Virginian town gets transported back in time to 1632 and relocated to Germany. It had a Stargate SG1-style optimism to it that took the story in a very different direction than I was expecting. I recommend it.

[–]FlippyKing 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Blood Heir, a book that almost got cancelled by loud whiny YA authors worried about competition but pretending to be SJW warriors (pretty good actually);

and

a more lengthy version of "the Mo Tzu", or collection of Mohist writings from the Warring States period in China. I read an older edition of these ideas 30 years ago. I'm being reminded why I loved it so much then.

[–]TheBeefBenson 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

ASOIAF again... for the 16th time. Hey, is there a ASOIAF sub here?

[–]PurpleAmathea[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I'm lazy, when I wanna know if a sub exists I just do s/asoiaf and check if clicking leads anywhere.

But if it doesn't exist, feel free to post asoiaf content here in s/books, it's not like we have so much content we can't fit fandom-specific stuff as well.

[–]TheBeefBenson 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I'm even lazier. I wait for someone else to do it for me. Lol

[–]theFriendlyDoomer 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I mostly read non-fiction. I am just cracking open Budapest 1900 by John Lukacs. I don't know much about Hungary, so it'll be something to learn. Lukacs has a charming, courtly style of writing.

[–]Shockwave 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

What's your favourite type of nonfiction to read (e.g. history, autobiographies, etc.)?

[–]theFriendlyDoomer 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

At this point in my life, I'm really digging biographies. It's not something I let myself indulge in the past for whatever misguided, ambitious reasons. If you select modern ones, you have better trivia for conversation. If you select somewhat older ones, they really flesh in history.

[–]Narratron 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Lucifer's Hammer, an old favorite. Not sure what comes next, but probably back to the Dresden Files. (I've been trying to finish out the series, but holy cow does Harry get into a lot of trouble.)

[–]Camberian 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The Stand (Stephen King), Always Coming Home (Maureen Driscoll), Stolen (Raven Dark, Petra Knox) and Santa Abella and Other Stories (Ken Wetherington)

[–]Countach_3D 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The Only Rule Is It Has to Work

Next up: Fantasyland

[–]FedUpTrucker 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Not reading per se but audiobook. I drive 10-11 hours a day and they keep me sane. Right now I'm doing Thomas Harris. Just finished the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. ALL the disc world books by Sir Terry Pratchett.

[–]PurpleAmathea[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

Was this your first time reading the discworld books? They're really great.

(imo audiobooks totally count as reading.)

[–]FedUpTrucker 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Oh God no. Started probably 20 years ago. I have all of them that's available on audible and listen to them again every so often. Pratchett is by far my favourite author.

[–]SierraKiloBravo 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Is there a “best order” to read the series, or just go for publishing order? I’ve seen few reading guides but they vary on advice.

[–]FedUpTrucker 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I read them in published order first. When I Re-read them I read by category. Witches... Sam Vimes... Etc. They are fun and insightful no matter the order tho.

[–]SierraKiloBravo 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply! I find reading in publishing order is often more organic as this is how they came out of the author's brain. Cheers!

[–]Edvin 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I'm just starting trainspotting and am fully ready to spend more time looking up slang than reading the book

[–]NutmegPluto 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Out of the silent planet by C S Lewis, it's pretty lit and I recommend to any sci fi fans especially if you're Christian

[–]astronautrob 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The forgotten soldier, devastating so far & loving it

[–]latuspod 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Just started On Liberty by John Stuart Mill. I've been meaning to read it for awhile chose it because I needed something a little more rational and less infuriating after finishing White Fragility.

[–]Raavan 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Steve Cavanaugh's 13: the serial killer isn't on trial

It's a cool thriller/suspense book.

I lied, I'm actually done reading it but it's good enough that I can't stop shilling it.

[–]Fictionsaur 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Currently I am reading the collection of Lovecraft stories. Recently finished The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. It was hella confusing at the start, but I sorta picked it up at the end.

I had read Call of Cthulhu but I didn't understand a thing, but I heard from my friend he understood it better when he listened to the audiobook, so that's what I plan to do.

[–]Eternal_solitude 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I'm working through the rise and fall of the dinosaurs. I heard it's supposed to be good. Im really enjoying it but wondering if I can finish before I have to return it.

I'm trying to decide what book to check out next...

[–]PurpleAmathea[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Sounds interesting, what is it about?

What kinds of books do you like, if you want recs...