[Hobbit]

Welcome to 2010!

Hopefully you have lots of new reading material you're reading or about to read this month.

Just in case you didn't know, this is where you tell us what you've been reading in Fantasy/Horror this month. Good or bad, we want to know what and why.

The book club is discussion Watership Down (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25277) this month.

For your information: the SFFWorld Review of Fantasy 2009 is up HERE (http://www.sffworld.com/mul/280p0.html); and the SF Review HERE. (http://www.sffworld.com/mul/281p0.html)

Feel free to join in, agree or disagree.

Mark

[Evil Agent]

Happy New Year, and New Decade!

My first book of the decade is Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin, which I've just started. So far, so good.

[Obtuse]

I will begin 2010 as I spent most of December; trudging through The Lies of Locke Lamora, 10 or so pages at a time, and wondering when it's supposed to get good. This book actually reminds me of one of Brust's Vlad Taltos novels, only with more (too many) words and less (somehow) character development.

[BrightStar]

I'm continuing my read of Empress by Karen Miller at the moment. I really loved part one, but part two has slowed down a bit for me. I'm still liking it, but not quite as much as I was earlier parts of the book. I think my problem is that there's a lack of direction - in part one, I wanted to know what would happen to Hekat once they reached their destination, but now there just don't seem as many interesting questions about what's going to happen next.

[kater]

Beginning with a re-read of my last year's joint favourite book The Judging Eye.

[Erfael]

The new year snuck up on me, so Hobbit didn't get the memo about this month's book club selection. With everyone so busy through December, there was no vote for this month's book, but I thought another classic would give lots of people the chance to discuss. So up this month is Watership Down by Richard Adams (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25277). Please stop in and give us your thoughts on this one.

[Loerwyn]

I'm gonna read Assassin's Apprentice, I think.

Been meaning to for a while.

[Bastard]

I will begin 2010 as I spent most of December; trudging through The Lies of Locke Lamora, 10 or so pages at a time, and wondering when it's supposed to get good. This book actually reminds me of one of Brust's Vlad Taltos novels, only with more (too many) words and less (somehow) character development.
I think the first beginning is interesting, then we start the first con and it gets boring (in my opinion) for quite a bit, but it isn't until almost half the book that the real plot and the real antagonist of the book makes an appearance and the book really takes off.

Although I started enjoying it before then, at around page 280 is when things start to go down in a meaningful way. The pace picks up substantially, so does the action.

Where are you at at the moment?

[Eliot Wild]

Having recently taken a break from grad school, I found myself with time to go back to my first literary love which is fantasy novels. Since about mid-fall, I have been devouring a lot of modern fantasy. I read straight through the Wheel of Time series but haven't purchased the latest one yet. I think I am going to wait before going back.

Since most of my reading before my break was of an academic nature, I was "out of the loop", so to speak, and unfamiliar with some of the newer titles and authors. But I have just finished Mistborn by Sanderson. I have been visting these forums and other fantasy literature sites to get opinions on some of the better, or at least more discussed, novels and series.

I really liked Sanderson, so I guess I'll finish up that series. And I love this forum; it is an aspiring writers' dream site for comments, discussion, insight and other feedback regarding the actual craft of writing fantasy literature. Watership Down is a great choice. It has been so long since I read it though; I know I have a copy somewhere, so I suppose I will read it again so I can perhaps join in the discussions.

By the way, don't worry, I'm not always so long-winded. I just had two morning macchiato's and I can't stop typing . . . .

[ladyinspring]

Ah well Elliot Wild, I am frequently long-winded. I love this forum too, and have spent a lot of time reading the archives. Now I'm ready to participate. I was reading The Dragonbone Chair, but I decided to put it aside for a bit just so I wouldn't feel resentful toward it. I think I was starting to get a little burned out and not ready for the pace of that. Thankfully, Abercrombie's First Law trilogy unexpectedly came into my possession yesterday. I have really wanted to read that.

So I just finished The Blade Itself and I am so happy, rather in a glow. Man that was so good. I'm starting to get that sad feeling, knowing there are only two more books. I really can't believe that was his first book. I loved the humor in it, the bloody magic, the glorious fighting, the awesome characters. It was like eating an especially good meal after weeks of heartburn-inducing fast food.