Currently Reading / Just Read (Books/stories/whatever)

[LilBee91]

That Nazi Library is just crazy. What type of random rules are those?

I finished Chaos Walking. Two thumbs way way up. And I have since started A Thousand Splendid Suns. I think I need to read a happy book next or I'm going to get a little depressed.

[fawkes]

I agree with you whole-heartedly about romance being the focus of recent novels (often to their detriment) and that most of those romances are poorly executed at that.

I've just noticed a trend lately where if there is a female in a lead role, (and a strong female at that) she is usually emotionally stunted in some way. It's like strong female characters have to be damaged in some way before they'll be acceptable. I saw this with Katniss, and now again with Katsa. Also, lots of K names... I just don't understand why there can't be a simple adventure story with a strong female lead without turning it into some dopey romance.

[locke]

I agree with you whole-heartedly about romance being the focus of recent novels (often to their detriment) and that most of those romances are poorly executed at that.

I've just noticed a trend lately where if there is a female in a lead role, (and a strong female at that) she is usually emotionally stunted in some way. It's like strong female characters have to be damaged in some way before they'll be acceptable. I saw this with Katniss, and now again with Katsa. Also, lots of K names... I just don't understand why there can't be a simple adventure story with a strong female lead without turning it into some dopey romance.

Go see Brave.

[fawkes]

I did. It restored some of my faith in humanity.

[Platypi007]

I recently read "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss and enjoyed it greatly. I also read "Your Inner Fish" by Neil Schubin, one of the team that discovered Tiktaalik (one of those non-existent transitional fossils) which delves into various of our distant relatives and the development of eyes, ears, brains, and necks/arms among other things.

I started reading "A Game of Thrones" finally, but I had to return it before I was even 200 pages in. Damn other people reading books I want.

I'm currently reading "I Claudius" (on loan from a friend, so it's kind of been on the back burner as I read library books), "The Idea Factory" by Jon Gartner, about the history of Bell Labs and some of the minds behind the invention of the transistor, "Science and Religion", edited by Paul Kurtz, a collection of essays and lectures on the topic (our science and religion discussion group chose this aptly named book for our June and July meetings). I've got "A Universe from Nothing" by Lawrence Krauss, "The Forest Unseen" by David Haskell, and "Practical Demonkeeping" by Christopher Moore on deck.

[Mich]

Oh yeah, I guess I could mention that I've been absolutely blowing through the Song of Ice and Fire books. Love them as much as everyone said I would. Also watched the first season of the show (once I was an appropriate amount of the way through the books) and, yes, everyone was right when they said that it was awesome.

I'm on... the third one. Something-something Swords? And it's only getting more interesting.

[locke]

A Storm of Swords, my second favorite in the series. All you johnny come latelies get to enjoy five books while I had to wait eleven years to find out what happened to Bran and Jon. :/

Hunger Games was really excellent. The scale makes no sense at all. Districts stretch from appalachia to the rockies but are small enough that everyone can gather in a single city per district for a reaping? What the hell? I didn't even mind that it was a rip off of Battle Royale. I kind of half think that the movie is better, but I hold both to be about equally good. The movie did a nice job of expanding us out of Katniss' head and limited POV and cut some stuff that didn't really matter.

[Gravity Defier]

Should I read and/or watch Battle Royale? I almost borrowed the DVD from work but wasn't sure I was in the mood and passed on it.

[Mich]

A Storm of Swords, my second favorite in the series. All you johnny come latelies get to enjoy five books while I had to wait eleven years to find out what happened to Bran and Jon. :/

This is why I do the whole waiting thing. Although I doubt the next book will even be on a release schedule by the time I'm caught up; ah, well. But seriously: this is why I'm waiting until Legend of Korra is at least at a stopping point before watching any of it.

[CezeN]

Should I read and/or watch Battle Royale? I almost borrowed the DVD from work but wasn't sure I was in the mood and passed on it.

I haven't read it... well, not much of it. But I've seen it.
It's definitely worth the watch.
EDIT: Might be hard to follow though since you don't get the full backstory like you get in the manga.

[Gravity Defier]

If I haven't mentioned, I tend to be a bit competitive and am in two summer reading programs this year (at work and at the Nazi library) and have my own Goodreads goal (I'd be doing well if I counted graphic novels as books...which they are a type of but take less effort to get through, so I don't consider it equal to a chapter book).

At work, I'm not guaranteed to win anything if I read the most -random prizes awarded there- but I do get the satisfaction of out-reading one particular coworker that I like a lot but want to beat nonetheless. At the Nazi library, I get coupons for every book I finish and can win a gift basket; last I saw, I was one coupon ahead of some other person.

So...up next in my attempt to have a readathon:

The Woman in the Mirror: How to Stop Confusing What You Look Like with Who You Are by Bulik -NF
Magical Mischief by Dale -JFic
The Only Ones by Starmer -JFic

[fawkes]

I should just defer all of my book choices to what you guys read. I'm devouring the Graceling series, and Hunger Games before that. It's been a long time since I've found books I want to read all the time instead of just when I have a break at work or waiting for something.

[Gravity Defier]

Please someone, anyone read The Only Ones by Aaron Starmer so I can verify whether or not that reads as a YA novel and not a juvenile one. It was pretty fantastic; kept me wondering the whole time what the heck was going on and I did not see the reveal coming at all.

I'm just now starting Earth Unaware. I'm kind of nervous, yet excited.

[Gravity Defier]

Hmm, I wonder if either OSC or Aaron Johnston realize what zogging is slang for...

Because I don't think it means what they think it means.

[Luet]

I'm alternating reading some nf doula books with Matched (yes, I know, I'm behind the times). I like it so far, at least better than you guys seemed to, heh.

[Syphon the Sun]

Because I don't think it means what they think it means.

[powerfulcheese04]

I just read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn in less than 24 hours. Such a page turner!

[fawkes]

How many Divergent books are out right now? Am I going to have to wait a long time for the last one?

[Gravity Defier]

Two are out right now -Divergent and Insurgent- and there was less than 2 years but a little over 1 year between those two, I believe. Insurgent just came out this year, so 2013 is probably the year for #3.

[Wind Swept]

I'm going through John Green's library of works. I listened to Paper Towns on my way to and from the Minneapolis meetup, and I downloaded the Kindle version of Looking for Alaska today.

Paper Towns was damn good.

Looking for Alaska is kicking my ass. Thankfully, my iPad battery ran out just after I found out what the first half of the book was counting down to. I think I need to take a short breather before I continue...

[Gravity Defier]

I just feel like complaining because today hates me but my Kindle is being mean to me. I'm turning to the arms of a book, which requires no password and won't let the battery die on me when I try to reset the thing. Why it is low on battery beats me; I haven't used it often enough that the battery should be completely drained from the last time I used it.

[Syphon the Sun]

Why it is low on battery beats me; I haven't used it often enough that the battery should be completely drained from the last time I used it.

Is your wifi on or off?

[neo-dragon]

Hmm, I wonder if either OSC or Aaron Johnston realize what zogging is slang for...

Because I don't think it means what they think it means.

I was blissfully ignorant as well. This just like when someone told me that "Quim" has a dirty meaning as well. And of course, there's "bugger".

Hm... OSC seems to do this a lot.

[Young Val]

SERAPHINA by Rachel Hartman. Deserves every starred review it got and then some. Fantastic, fantastic book that made me laugh aloud and cry, both.

Basically, if Tamora Pierce blurbs it, it's going to be my new favorite thing.

[Boothby]

Hmm, I wonder if either OSC or Aaron Johnston realize what zogging is slang for...

Because I don't think it means what they think it means.

I was blissfully ignorant as well. This just like when someone told me that "Quim" has a dirty meaning as well. And of course, there's "bugger".

Hm... OSC seems to do this a lot.

And, of course, "Tea-Bagging"

[Gravity Defier]

Why it is low on battery beats me; I haven't used it often enough that the battery should be completely drained from the last time I used it.

Is your wifi on or off?

It is on but then, my Kindle is typically off (and not on stand-by).

[fawkes]

I've noticed my kindle's battery draining pretty quickly lately, too. How long have you had it?

[Gravity Defier]

1.5 months, more or less. Part of my desire to blame all things bad/annoying on the humidity is leading me to think it's the heat.

[fawkes]

Hmm, could be. Mine's been getting pretty hot since I carry it while I walk to work. But mine is also almost two years old, and electronics tend to lose battery life over time. Is yours new or refurbished?

[Gravity Defier]

New. :)

[fawkes]

My diagnosis: You read too much. ^_^

[Gravity Defier]

Is that even possible?!

Though, I have to admit liking the sound of Dr. fawkes.

[fawkes]

Maybe I should change my user name to Acula

[Gravity Defier]

haha, that took me a second but I got it. As awesome as that would be, I like you just how you are. *nod*

[Gravity Defier]

Currently reading Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture by Salkowitz. I'm not too far into it and it seemed a little dry at first but it's getting more accessible (for me). I've already learned some things I didn't know before, so I'm calling this book a win already.