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What'cha Reading?
- Thread starter Falselogic
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- prose and cons
Ursula K. LeGuin’s Earthsea novels, Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels, Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising series, Patricia Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles series, and Diana Wynne Jones’s trilogy starting with Howl’s Moving Castle.
Oh, and they’re not fantasy, but I should probably include Joan Bauer’s books, since she’s my mother-in-law. My favorites of hers are Hope Was Here, Backwater, Rules of the Road, and Peeled. The main character of Backwater is based on my wife as a child, and Peeled has a major character based on me in it, so I can’t really be objective about those ones.
Oh, and they’re not fantasy, but I should probably include Joan Bauer’s books, since she’s my mother-in-law. My favorites of hers are Hope Was Here, Backwater, Rules of the Road, and Peeled. The main character of Backwater is based on my wife as a child, and Peeled has a major character based on me in it, so I can’t really be objective about those ones.
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Violentvixen
(She/Her)
This. Very much this.
Phantom Tollbooth, Wizard of Oz/Ozma of Oz, Roald Dahl, EB White should all be safe bets, but maybe a little easy depending on their level.
Thing Explainer has been a fun one for that age group.
If they're a more advanced reader I'll note that's about when I started to read Shakespeare. I didn't understand a lot of it yet of course, but there was a beauty to the language I couldn't resist. Also HG Wells, Ray Bradbury, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain. 1984 by George Orwell if they already have a punk/anarchist streak starting.
Finally, Oregon does a program annually called Battle of the Books where they highlight books by general grade. Here's the 2024-2025 list if you want something recent to recommend.
When I was 12, and had a similar fantasy-loving streak, but it's hard to say... I heard of Terry Pratchett's books but I never got around to reading them. I read A Wrinkle In Time, but I've never liked it. If graphic novels are his thing, then try something like Mooncakes, although it might be too small for a gift.
Oh yeah, Discworld is a great recommendation. I started reading them at 12.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I went with Guards! Guards! because it was my favorite Discworld book as a teen, and I figure there's less chance he will have read it already, since the book is a bit older.
So as to contribute something else to the thread: I am currently reading Trust by Hernan Diaz. It has a very interesting concept: the story of the same person (an ultra-rich early 20th century stock trader) is told and retold in four different formats. I found the first section pretty engaging, the second a little rough and am now onto the third, which for me falls somewhere between the first two. Can't say I'm loving it, but it's a fairly unique read, at the very least.
So as to contribute something else to the thread: I am currently reading Trust by Hernan Diaz. It has a very interesting concept: the story of the same person (an ultra-rich early 20th century stock trader) is told and retold in four different formats. I found the first section pretty engaging, the second a little rough and am now onto the third, which for me falls somewhere between the first two. Can't say I'm loving it, but it's a fairly unique read, at the very least.
Katherine Rundell's Impossible Creatures got rave reviews (e.g. Book of the Year) in the UK. Just came out here, might be a good fit?
I really liked Katherine Arden's Small Spaces, which reminded me a lot of John Bellairs when I read it in manuscript. Has an eleven-year-old protagonist, great for spooky season, and has some follow-ups. In an earlier professional life, I think I convinced an Italian publisher to acquire it — I was super-enthusiastic about it.
EDIT: I see you got Guards! Guards!. That kid is very lucky!
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
Reading Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton for my classics book club. It was first published in 1948, the year apartheid started, and I have a 1978 edition which had an additional intro by the author since apartheid was still ongoing then. Sadly the author died before apartheid ended.
It's one I've been meaning to read for a while, not only because I lived in Kenya while my dad worked in South Africa but mainly (oddly) because of some bar trivia. We didn't get a question about the 1950s movie of the book with Sidney Poitier, and the host went onto say that the movie was filmed in South Africa and they had to pretend Sidney freaking Poitier was the director's servant to be able to work together in the country. That's when you know a film and book are important, when people are willing to do things like that.
I'm not quite halfway through, but chapter 9, a chapter of anonymous pleas for help in the Johannesburg shanty towns, was beautifully written and almost musical but also so, so sad.
It's one I've been meaning to read for a while, not only because I lived in Kenya while my dad worked in South Africa but mainly (oddly) because of some bar trivia. We didn't get a question about the 1950s movie of the book with Sidney Poitier, and the host went onto say that the movie was filmed in South Africa and they had to pretend Sidney freaking Poitier was the director's servant to be able to work together in the country. That's when you know a film and book are important, when people are willing to do things like that.
I'm not quite halfway through, but chapter 9, a chapter of anonymous pleas for help in the Johannesburg shanty towns, was beautifully written and almost musical but also so, so sad.
One of my favorite book facts is that Alexander was the first translator for Jean-Paul Sartre's Nausea. Funny to have a favorite book as a kid, then, in college, discover that the bleak French existentialist novel you're reading was translated by the guy who gave you Hen Wen the pig.
Currently reading:
Koko by Peter Straub: Slow-burn literary horror/thriller about Vietnam and its aftermath. One slight regret: As someone who has read other Straub novels, I know that a certain character
who is initially flagged as the probable killer is Straub's alter ego of sorts and will appear in several other books as narrator or protagonist
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner: Literary spy novel with much more about Neanderthal life than you would expect. Chilly and intellectual; I find it easy to read but not especially compelling. Sort of languid and moody.
Currently reading Lev Grossman's new King Arthur epic, The Bright Sword. I read the Magicians books a long time ago and didn't ultimately like them very much, but I decided to take a chance on this one anyway. I'm glad I did, it's been really entertaining so far. Every time I've had to put it down I find myself wishing I could just keep reading, which is pretty much exactly what you want from a book. I suspect I'll get through this one a lot quicker than its hefty page count might otherwise imply.
Afraid it's behind a paywall, but for The Boston Globe, I reviewed Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte, a collection or novel-in-stories.
It's really good literary fiction about romantic, sexual, and social rejection. It's also the work of an extremely online writer, one who is pitch-perfect on such subjects as early 2000s forum drama and late-nineties anime hits (One character describes themselves wearing a "Laincore hoodie"), plus video games. One character's obscene fantasy, which runs fifteen pages, includes references to Symphony of the Night and minor Final Fantasy characters.
Anyway, if you were too online twenty years ago and have fond or fraught memories of Usenet and IRC, you might especially enjoy this. Though do be warned that it is absolutely filthy, in a funny way, and that relatively few characters are conventionally sympathetic. Not to suggest that members of this forum are unusually lonely or depraved, but I think the cultural references/milieu might hit home for some of us.
It's really good literary fiction about romantic, sexual, and social rejection. It's also the work of an extremely online writer, one who is pitch-perfect on such subjects as early 2000s forum drama and late-nineties anime hits (One character describes themselves wearing a "Laincore hoodie"), plus video games. One character's obscene fantasy, which runs fifteen pages, includes references to Symphony of the Night and minor Final Fantasy characters.
Anyway, if you were too online twenty years ago and have fond or fraught memories of Usenet and IRC, you might especially enjoy this. Though do be warned that it is absolutely filthy, in a funny way, and that relatively few characters are conventionally sympathetic. Not to suggest that members of this forum are unusually lonely or depraved, but I think the cultural references/milieu might hit home for some of us.
I reread The Unpopular Vote by Jasper Sanchez. It's long, complicated, and has terrible political implications for such a political book. Imagine The Politician, but everything is taken extremely seriously.
I can discuss a bit more of the book's politics, if you want me to.
I can discuss a bit more of the book's politics, if you want me to.
Finished this the other night and enjoyed it all the way through. If you like stories and adventures, read this one.
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
Started up Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I loved her more recent bestseller Braiding Sweetgrass and wanted to check out one of her earlier books. It's a fairly (150 pages or so) short collection of essays but just lovely so far.
I haven't been reading regularly for months, but I finally picked A Memory Called Empire back up after leaving off about 70 pages in and have gotten sucked in. Reading is fun, you guys! Who knew!
I just finished and greatly enjoyed the Alyx Stories by Joanna Russ. These are a collection of feminist sword and sorcery tales from the late sixties about a middle aged lady thief in ancient mystical Mediterraneania told in an avant garde style and more focused on relationships than adventure. They get weirder and more meta as they go. Real good stuff.
Took The Incal off the shelf and have been making progress. I got turned on to it after its mention in the documentary Jodorowsky's Dune. It's a seminal sci-fi graphic novel by Jodorowsky and Moebius. It's... I don't know that I'd call it good but there's definitely something compelling about it. It starts from a basic premise and then what-ifs additions and twists and new plot lines a hundred times and suddenly the story you're reading bears no resemblance to the one you were reading 50 pages ago, but you still have more than half the book left and what the hell is going to happen next? The plot moves along so quickly you'll miss it if you blink because it will have already moved on to the next idea it's throwing at the wall. Despite this it does manage to stick to a few undercurrents and recurring plot threads to give it a semblance of unity, but it still feels very piecemeal. Exposition rules over the dialog, character development is at an absolute minimum if it can be said to exist at all, the wacky/comedic writing is dated as hell. The art is, and I know this is blasphemous to say of Moebius, just OK about half the time when it's not his trademark psychedelic sci-fi visions.
And yet...it's strangely compelling. Despite all my grievances, it's a real page turner and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. Maybe it's because the story is so breathlessly, un-self-consciously balls-to-the-wall whackadoodle over-the-top crazy, and I genuinely have no idea what's going to happen next in most cases.
And yet...it's strangely compelling. Despite all my grievances, it's a real page turner and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. Maybe it's because the story is so breathlessly, un-self-consciously balls-to-the-wall whackadoodle over-the-top crazy, and I genuinely have no idea what's going to happen next in most cases.
I read Volume 1 of The Sandman. It was pretty interesting, but the inclusion of Death at the end was a bit rushed. I hope Volume 2 expands on her character.
I also read Star Wars The High Republic: Convergence. Who would’ve thought that a Star Wars story that doesn’t involve the same few planets and focuses on the philosophy of the Jedi would be good? (Sarcastic)
I also read Star Wars The High Republic: Convergence. Who would’ve thought that a Star Wars story that doesn’t involve the same few planets and focuses on the philosophy of the Jedi would be good? (Sarcastic)
Have no fear, you'll see a lot more of Death.
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
Man this has been on my to-read list forever. I really should get around to it. Pretty sure I already own a digital version from a Humble Bundle, maybe the Ukraine one?
I finished it and overall it's... More of a curiosity than an actual good read. But it's entertaining in how whacko it is!
Started I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin. Only two segments in but so far so good!
Started I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin. Only two segments in but so far so good!
Yeah, the first volume of Sandman is really more of a horror anthology visiting bits of the DC paranormal universe, while laying little tidbits of groundwork for the deeper Sandman story and lore that kicks into higher gear in Vol 2 and beyond.
This was pretty good. I think the present-day setting without any sci-fi or fantastic trappings felt a little flat, and that also meant it was waaaay more on the nose than e.g. his Zoey Ashe books. It was directly and explicitly about the internet and human connection and social media and modern information-age culture, internet hate brigades and incels and influencers and conspiracy theories, etc. There was some pretty direct moralizing, characters giving opinions and having arguments for fairly long stretches. And it took pains to depict everything relatively even-handedly, albeit not sympathetically (you see an incel get to portray his arguments and make all his best points, and the book doesn't get too heavy-handed about saying "this is bad, actually," leaving it mostly implied and letting you come to that realization yourself.) It has sympathy (but not forgiveness) for even some of the worst people out there as victims of our modern twisted forms of human socialization. I think it threads the needle pretty well without ever going so far as to say "See, they're not that bad after all!" or anything like that. Anyway, not my favorite Pargin, but still a good read. Very compelling and witty writing, as always.
Started on A Desolation Called Peace, the sequel to A Memory Called Empire, which I liked a lot. So far I'm liking the sequel, 80ish pages in, although it jumps around to a bunch of different viewpoint characters instead of sticking with one main character, and I have yet to see how that affects the way the story plays out. It's less about suspense and mystery this time around, though, so it probably fits the different angles of the story.
I started reading a bunch of different books, I'm slowly getting through them. A detailed and academic nonfiction book about the history of civil rights, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship, and a western yaoi novel presumably commissioned by the North Carolina Department of Tourism.
…yeah, what? As a NC resident, I am mildly intrigued.
So, this is Every Word You Never Said by Jordon Greene. It's a solid 6/10.
The "yaoi" part refers to the obvious defintion of a male-male romance story, but it also references its original meaning. The plot is manufactured and the ending is especially boring, with a hasty third act breakup/reunion that falls flat. I think it should've been longer or better paced.
It's a romance between Jacob Walters, a musician in a conservative Christian household, and Skylar, a boy who wears skirts and is physically unable to speak.
Jacob Walter's the better protagonist in my opinion, even if he talks a bit dated. Skylar is mostly good but the breakup/reunion soured my opinion on him. Unlike some other books, the romance is front and center and the other themes are built around it. Compare this to books like The Unpopular Vote, which hastily adds the romance without much payoff, and it's much better here.
The NC part is really interesting, and a bit funny. They live in Kannapolis, which I checked in google maps. It's just a suburban sprawl next to Charlotte. There's lots of references to North Carolinia and Kannapolis stuff- Jacob wants to go to Asheville, Skylar's parents go on a vacation to Boone, they both go to a concert in Charlotte. It's all quite posted front and center.
In the end, it's corny and probably way outside the target demographic here. But I still thought it was interesting.
I read Jeff VanderMeer's Absolution, which comes out in a few days. My review should be forthcoming soon, but it's really good, and maybe the strangest of the Southern Reach books. Don't start the series with it though!
Also reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Pat Hobby Stories, about a hack Hollywood screenwriter. They're funny, if repetitive, and also tremendously sad in that these are Fitzgerald's last stories and they reflect a lot of self-loathing.
Next up: Powsels and Thrums by Alan Garner, a memoir in essays, hopefully arriving in my mailbox today. I ordered my copy from the Blackden Trust, the author's charity, and I guess it comes with a signed card. I wish Garner's books were more widely available in the U.S.; I firmly believe he's a genius. I put his previous book, Treacle Walker, on my best of 2023 list; it didn't receive nearly enough American attention, though I think it works better as a career capstone than as an individual work, if that makes sense.
Also reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Pat Hobby Stories, about a hack Hollywood screenwriter. They're funny, if repetitive, and also tremendously sad in that these are Fitzgerald's last stories and they reflect a lot of self-loathing.
Next up: Powsels and Thrums by Alan Garner, a memoir in essays, hopefully arriving in my mailbox today. I ordered my copy from the Blackden Trust, the author's charity, and I guess it comes with a signed card. I wish Garner's books were more widely available in the U.S.; I firmly believe he's a genius. I put his previous book, Treacle Walker, on my best of 2023 list; it didn't receive nearly enough American attention, though I think it works better as a career capstone than as an individual work, if that makes sense.
I'm first in line for this at my library and I am psyched. I wanted to reread the original trilogy before it came out, but I'm not sure if I'll have the time now. We'll see!
I'm currently in the middle of Richard Powers' new book Playground. Anyone who's read a Richard Powers book will not be surprised to learn that it's very good! He's still one of the best at writing utterly compelling novels about the interesections of humanity, nature, and technology.