[fluffy bunny]

So what are you all reading at the moment? Any genre- it doesn't matter (it's good to mingle).

All that I ask is that you tell us what you're thinking about the book you're reading/just finished, and give reasons for why you like/dislike it.

The thread may have readers of different genres to your own, so if you like a book, convince people that it's worth reading- saying 'it's a good book' is not good enough. On the other hand, if you're going to damn a book, give reasoned arguements so you don't sound bigoted or like you're just hitting out at what's popular.

Someone who might have also read the book may disagree with you, so be ready to justify any statements you made, or to argue someone else's comments about your favourite books.

Above all, have fun- that's the reason we're all reading isn't it? :)

[AuntiePam]

Yes, actually.

Feesters in the Lake, a collection of the short fiction of Bob Leman.

Leman wrote for Fantasy and Science Fiction in the 60's and 70's. Every story is a winner, no clunkers, not a one.

It's a mixture of fantasy, SF and horror, some with Lovecraftian touches, a couple that are Bradbury-esque, but they're all completely original.

And what a treat it is to find just plain good writing. Clear prose, great pacing, intriguing stories.

Unfortunate title (sounds a bit like a Guy Smith story) and dust jacket art that grows on you (like fungus), but a great book, probably my favorite anthology, and I have a bookcase full of anthologies.

[AuntiePam]

Oops. It's not what I'm reading now, but I'm taking the opportunity to put it out there.

Currently reading The Two Towers.

[Hereford Eye]

Just completed The Da Vinci Code. Completely diverting, captivating, and interesting. Ending is a little weak but after the ambitious setup and dealing with so many mythical staples in such a clear and plausible plot line, I forgive Dave Brown his ending.
This is a page turner written in in discreet packets that you can imbibe quickly and feel as if you have accomplished some serious reading.
Everyone I have talked to who has read the book recommends it as do I.
Notice that I do not discuss the plot in any detail whatsoever. It just isn't fair to the potential reader.

However, I will warn you that the issues dealt with are very close to the core of Christianity. Fundamentalists beware; I suspect you will hate this book.

[Colonel Worf]

I just finished reading Stephen King's The Shining. I really enjoyed it. It was a lot better than the on-screen versions.

I'm currently reading three things:

Stephen King's IT - my primary reading right now. Great book so far

Bentley Little's The Walking - something a friend let me borrow. It's pretty decent. I'll probably take a night off and read it quickly and get it back to him

John Grisham's The Testament - something I read in class when I didn't have my novel. I borrowed it from the teacher not really expecting to get into it... but I did. I really want to finish it now.

So, there's my three books that I'm reading right now... :p Kind of a heavy load.

[Jacquin]

At the moment I am reading Crisis Four by Andy McNab.

It is an action thriller about an ex special forces soldier who now works on deniable operations. He is chasing down a rogue agent, the problem of course is that the rogue agent is the only woman he has ever really loved.

It isn't brilliantly written, McNab will certainly never win any prizes for literature, but it is written well enough to flow. The pace is fast and the language appropriate for the character.

The nice thing is that as an ex SAS sergeant who was the most decorated soldier on active service for a while it has the feel of authenticity.

All in all I like it, if you want a book that doesn't tax you to read, but grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go then give it a whirl. You could do a lot worse...

J

[YOUR_SUPERIOR]

In the past month I've read:

Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood

-Was expecting it to be much better

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption - Steven King

-Awesome book, after reading, watch the movie

The Body - Steven King

-A little boring, movie was better (Stand By Me)

The Gunslinger - Steven King

-I found it to be extremely boring, struggled through to get it finished

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

-One of the best sci-fi books I've ever read, definitely one of my top five

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

-First 80 pages extremely boring, after that I couldn't put it down, very interesting

The King of Torts - John Grisham

-One of Grisham's best I think, read it in two nights, would have been one if I hadn't been so tired

[Eldanuumea]

Just finished rereading seven of Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley novels, now have started Quietus by Vivian Schilling.

[Thekherham]

I love to read.
Let's see: I'm reading a library book about mysterious vanishings.

In the paperback department I'm currently into books about dragons. I just finished The Dragon DelaSangre by Alan F. Troop, and now I'm reading The Dragons of the Cuyahoga, by ??? Swann (Can't remember his first name right now).
I got too many books on the bookshelves I haven't read yet.

[speculative-one]

I'm reading "Wraeththu" by Storm Constantine. This volume includes the books: The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit, The Bewitchments of Love and Hate, and The Fulfilments of Fate and Desire. I was attracted to it because of its pseudo-post-apocayptic setting. (I say pseudo because there was no "major event" that caused the change in the world, but rather it changed over time.)

I find that the first part was interesting. The main character was a normal human, who was taken by a strange new race of man called "Wraeththu" and molded to fit their physiology and their culture. The race of man is dying; Wraeththu are the new race that will take over from man. This was an interesting concept, but it's described pretty vaguely in the first volume. I think that this fits with the writing though, because it's told from the perspective of the main character who starts off unknowledgeable about the Wraeththu society.

As the work goes on, however, the writing gets a little tired. It tends to be more of the same at each page turn, after a few exciting events here and there during the first 30 pages or so. Also, many of the characters are pompous, in that their race is "superior" to man, and this leads them to take the path of least resistance in their efforts. I think my disdain for pompous/arrogant people in general lends itself to my reading of the work.

I have just started the second volume in the book, and it is taking a slightly different direction, so it will be interesting to see if the author can kick the story up a notch or if it will continue to drag its knuckles for the time being...

-speculative