Started The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson, 3rd book in the 2nd era of Mistborn.
It’s fun to read the antics of Wayne. Probably the most fun character in the book.
What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening to lately?
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A perfect pick for this time of year: Him by Geoff Ryman. The story that asks: what if Jesus, but trans? Im 80% through.
Young Maryam is informed by the angel that she will be made pregnant with the avatar of God. She’s thrilled when she gives birth to a girl, because women need more spiritual attention #girlgod.
She’s dismayed when the kid is old enough to insist he is a boy and demands to be called Yehush. Maryam (and some of her other kids) is quite transphobic. But almost everyone else in the book is readily accepting of Trans Jesus. The story follows all the same well-known Bible beats but form Maryam’s perspective. Once Yehush begins the preaching phase of his life, Maryam accepts and follows him.
This book is for;
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Anyone interested in a Bible story seeped in female perspective, Ala The Red Tent.
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Anyone interested in a humanized telling of Jesus, Ala Jesus Christ, Superstar.
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Anyone interested in a trans-focused historical fiction.
Well that’s a fascinating premise! I’m throughly intrigued. Good rec!
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Just finished Martyr! and now I’m reading Neuromancer.
Martyr! was good, though I didn’t really enjoy the last couple chapters. It felt rushed to meet a deadline.
I’m only about 20% through Neuromancer. It’s good so far. Sci-fi is my go to.
That book is overrated imo. Some of the prose is clearly geared towards a young modern audience in a way I found grating.
I also found the ending both unsatisfying and unsurprising and felt that the protagonist got off to his flaws as opposed to confronting them.
I’m constantly recommending Neuromancer. Great read.
1984 now, and then probably Fahrenheit 451 as another short one before I go back to Malazan with book 5. I am absolutely loving Malazan.
Just started the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathon series, A Drop of Corruption, by Robert Jackson Bennett. It’s good so far, and I really enjoyed the first book in the series.
Just finished Road to Ruin by Hana Lee. That was a fun read and I’ll be giving that book to a friend that I know will enjoy it.
Currently reading Star Trek Voyager Ghost of a Chance by Mark A Garland and Charles McGaw. I’ve been picking up some ST books at the thrift store when I see them so I can read them between heavier books. I was always more of a TNG and DS9 gal, but I am enjoying this book.
Reading the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. I’m a few chapters into the second book and still enjoying it.
I just got The Impossible Fortune ebook from the library. It’s the fifth book in The Thursday Murder Club series, and I’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series, so I’m looking forward to it.
Just started Home before dark by Rikey Sager and I can’t put it down (about 30% in)
I just finished Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil, Oliver Darkshire, which was pretty enjoyable. Overall it leaned very into the satire side of fantasy. Felt nicely inspired by Pratchett. Lots of footnotes. My only criticism is that the plot felt wobbly, without real direction. Even though, I’d recommend it!
Started What Feasts at Night, T. Kingfisher which I’m enjoying so far.
Marcus Aurelius “Meditations”, quite profound and relevant today, even though it is nearly two millennia old!
Planning on reading this myself some time… since you say it’s relevant today, how would you say it compares to all the broicism that’s the main version of stoicism nowadays?
One of the key points is that stoicism actually really emphasizes the importance of community and being a good person who contributes to community. This is not at all what these “broicist alphas” value. According to my understanding of them, they incorrectly interpret stoicism being about repressing their feelings, being alone, putting themselves as number one, getting successful - showing everyone you are “alpha”. Stoicism is not at all about repressing feelings, rather it is about not letting your feelings control your actions. The book is relevant, for example since it covers struggling with uncertainty and anxiety and how to deal with it with the technique called dichotomy of control (you have power over your mind and not outside events, if you realize that, you will find strength). Also, Aurelius writes that understanding that we all will die and whether the life is a long or short one does not matter as it ends the same way (both lose the “now”) - what matters is that we do good things every day without expecting any reward for it. We should do it because that is what should be the humans’ nature and we should live according to nature.
Currently reading Penric’s Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold. I’m glad I’m reading it after The Curse of Chalion, since that provides a lot of context the novella format doesn’t have space for.
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Finished The Ways of Khrem by D. Nathan Hilliard (secondary world urban fantasy mystery adventure novella collection) | bingo: short HM, x of y, steppin’ up HM
A master thief turned honest bookseller is strongarmed into helping a Captain of the Watch solve cases.
At first I was kind of whelmed by this, as the world and characters felt very generic (maybe a nod to classic stuff I haven’t read?); nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed it by the end. I would have put a sequel on my TBR, except there isn’t one. D:
Cage of Souls - Adrian Tchaikovsky
GoodreadsSet in the (presumably) distant future earth where the sun is dying and humanity has pretty much given up about it, it is a story about one man’s time in an isolated prison / penal colony, and how he got there. At least so far that’s what it has been about.
I really like this author’s sci-fi books, but disliked his fantasy books, and this one kinda blurs the edges between the two. So far I’ve liked it.
Reading two books: one is the Two Journeys series by Clemens P. Suter, the other Empire of the Summer Moon by SC Gwynne. The first is adventure / sci-fi , the second a history book about the Comanches.
I’m currently enjoying The Art of Diploma-Bee: A Dungeon-Core LitRPG, The Bee Dungeon, Book 3 by Icalos on audible. I really enjoy his humour, and Savy Des-Etages is one of my favourite narrators of all time. If you’ve never read any litrpg, this could be a good series to introduce you to it.
I was turned off Sanderson in a big way back when he ran his first “secret project” kickstarter. I was all in on improving the lives of authors and voice actors by teaching Audible that there were viable alternatives to their audiobook monopoly. Then Brandon took $43 million, pocketed it (0 charitable donations from the sum raised on KS), and then sold those books “that will never be available on amazon” on Kindle and Audible within 6 months.
No changes for authors. No improvement for voice actors. Just 43 million dollars for the fattest, most selfish, most repugnant grifter since Patrick Rothfuss. He’ll write about LGBTQIA representation while simultaneously funding Mormon conversion therapy facilities. Fictional characters can be accepted in their fictional world but real breathing people need to be shamed into acting right.
Fuck Brandon sanderson and all of his works, petty and flawed as they are.
