My library just switched e-audiobook providers and it's ACE! So many more titles that I've heard of and want to read!

So I just finished Spook Country, I'm considering revisiting that after a while becaue I kinda left it going "Really? That's it? No major revelation?"


And I just started Ringworld, I'm about 4 chapters in and I'm hooked so far.

Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress. Hugo/Nebula winner, seminal sf story on genetic tinkering. I'm re-reading the trilogy, it's kinda amazing how pervasively this stuff's worked its way into my thinking.

a collection of vampire stories. last night read "Phantoms" by Ivan Turgenev (which was excellent), "Dracula's Guest" by Bram Stoker, and "The Haunted House" by E. Nesbit.

Is "Phantoms" by the Turgenev you wrote Fathers and Sons? I read that one (which I loved) but haven't read anything else by him; maybe I should check out his short stories?

I've just finished my third Ibsen in a row, Hedda Gabler. I think I really like his writing, & his plays just grip me.

yes, that's him. "Phantoms," at least, was very good, so his other short stories are worth a try! I don't think I've read any of his novels; have to look for Fathers and Sons, then.

I'm just checking what short story collections there are, & it seems there aren't many that I can easily get my hands on. There's one with "uncanny stories", though, so I guess that will go on my next Christmas list. Speaking of short stories, have you read some of Nabokov's? They are really good.

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino.

I'm reading House of Leaves at the moment. (No, I won't recolour the "House" in that previous sentence.) I'm enjoying it - clever and creepy - but at times I think it is a bit too gimmicky, and not all of the metafictional games pay off. Perhaps they will once I've finished the book, though.

quote:

Originally posted by Tongster:
Ilium by Dan Simmons. Great googlymoogly, he writes thick books.

And after three bookstores and a library, Jocelyn tracked down the sequel for me. So now I'm reading Olympos.

Since last post have read

The mermaid chair - Sue Monk Kidd
I liked the secret life of bees better. TMC is not bad, but not as rich as the bees for me. Her themes are pretty much the same. Nice book

Gifts - Ursula Leguin
I simply adore "The telling" and "The left hand of darkness" and I like pretty much everything she has written. Gifts didn't disappoint but didn't thrill me as well

Yiddish policemen's union - Michael Chabon
Did not get this book. Started interesting enough and then the paced lagged like an asthmatic marathon runner. I have not read anything else by Chabon and I don't think I will. It was to wordy and the novelty of yiddish wore of really quick.

The ladies of Grace Adieu - Susanna Clarke
Good enough, but nothing remarkable. I think Neil does the whole fantastic realism much better than she. Also apart from the first story no other story stayed with me after two, three weeks.

Now I am going to sink my teeth into Seed to Harvest by the brilliant Ms Butler

I am now on my fourth & (for the time being, at least) Ibsen, The Master Builder. I like it a lot so far; it's got the momentum & appeal of the other plays but is more complex.

quote:

Originally posted by Cassiopeia:
I'm just checking what short story collections there are, & it seems there aren't many that I can easily get my hands on. There's one with "uncanny stories", though, so I guess that will go on my next Christmas list. Speaking of short stories, have you read some of Nabokov's? They are really good.

I haven't! I keep meaning to dig up a copy of Lolita but haven't gotten around to it yet.

my favorite Russian writer, though, is probably Dostoevsky. "White Nights" is one of my favorite short stories. at least at this point; I need to read more Chekhov and some Pushkin. I like Gogol, but I hated Tolstoy! yick!

quote:

Originally posted by Tongster:

quote:

Originally posted by Tongster:
Ilium by Dan Simmons. Great googlymoogly, he writes thick books.

And after three bookstores and a library, Jocelyn tracked down the sequel for me. So now I'm reading Olympos.

I didn't think anything could surpass his Hyperion Series which I thought was perfect but Ilium/Olympos is just a tad better if that is at all possible.

Reading Silmarillion and is it ever a tough read like everyone said. I am happy I didn't read it first because I doubt if I would have gotten to LOTR.

Sandman Vol 1: Preludes and Nocturnes

Trinity Blood: Rage against the Moons VOL 1

I'm in the middle of reading D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love (which is so far really really good), but I finally got Fragile Things in the mail yesterday, so I read it. all of it. in one night. *polishes knuckles*

Sandman Vol 2: The Doll's House