speaking of reading...

[adelaidesean]

Because I'm anal that way, I'm still keeping track of the books I read. Only two speculative novels in recent months, and they're both old favourites (I performed an excerpt of the Wilson recently, and was compelled to keep going). Most of the genre titles I'm picking up these days are for blurbs and they aren't out yet. At least there are some more ladies on the list, though...

• Angela Carter: The Bloody Chamber
• Lee Child: Gone Tomorrow
• Michael Chorost: Rebuilt
• Mrs Gaskell: The Grey Woman
• Andy Griffiths: Pencil of Doom!
• Robert A Heinlein: Have Spacesuit--Will Travel
• Jeff Lindsay: Dexter by Design
• Alan Moore et al: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Volumes 1 and 2), Watchmen
• Patrick O'Brian: Desolation Island, The Fortune of War, The Surgeon's Mate, The Ionian Mission, Treason's Harbour, The Far Side of the World, The Reverse of the Medal
• Dorothy Porter: What a Piece of Work, El Dorado
• Robert Anton Wilson: The Universe Next Door

What are you reading at the moment?  Is there anything I should add to the pile?

Comments

[angriest.livejournal.com]

That scene in League Vol 2 where all the blood starts appearing on Hyde's shirt is possibly the most horrific scene of its year.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That was amazing.

Both volumes were amazing, actually. Beats me why it's taken so long to get around to reading them.

I am feeling the urge to get back into graphic novels in a big way...

Currently reading

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Final Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Acute Care Services in NSW Public Hospitals: overview (http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/Special_Projects/ll_splprojects.nsf/pages/acsi_finalreport)

Not the most comforting of texts.

Re: Currently reading

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Riveting for all the wrong reasons.

Re: Currently reading

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

It is not a reassuring read. It's putting me off the Health System rapidly, and I work in it...

Glad to see you're getting therough the O'Briens. I must unearth mine.
The Angela Carter is a good read. Have you read The Magic toyshop?

Re: Currently reading

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

I went through a bit of an Angela Carter phase in my teens, but didn't get to that one. Will put it on the list!

(Counting myself lucky to have recently passed through the health system unscathed--touchwood, of course. )

Re: Currently reading

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear you've been crook. Hope you're feeling better.

Please read the The MAgic Toyshop, but don't try the report. I'm only reading it for work.

Re: Currently reading

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely pass on the report. :-)

Feeling pretty much AOK, thanks. Nothing major, just uncomfortable.

[chrisbarnes.livejournal.com]

I'm completely in love with Frances Hardinge's 'Fly By Night' at the moment. I'm eking it out so it won't end. Excellent YA story, beautifully written.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting. Thanks for the tip!

[derekcfpegritz.livejournal.com]

Yo, where's the Cormac McCarthy, punk? I better see Blood Meridian and The Road on that list soon....If you can't get 'em on the other side of the world, just let me know and I'll send you some copies.

Seriously, you gotta read that stuff. It will revolutionize your mind.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

I'll never read _The Road_ (I know I'd weep unceasingly through it) but McCarthy is definitely on the list. One day, I promise!

[derekcfpegritz.livejournal.com]

The Road really isn't that depressing--it's more just...alienating. Blood Meridian will make you want to go scalphunting, though.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

I'm a total sap for boys-in-trouble stories, so I know The Road will just gut me. Amanda's a big fan of McCarthy so she's applying pressure too.

[tikiwanderer.livejournal.com]

Mostly I've been re-reading old trashy genre favourites. But among the new ones in the recent pile are _The Sky Village_ by Monk and Nigel Ashland (YA) and the Anthony Horowitz series Power of Five (also YA), which is sort of a new rewrite of an old favourite series that he started when I was in primary school and never finished. Thankfully he appears to be going to write the whole thing this time :-)

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed! Thanks, Tiki.

_The Sky Village_ is a great title.

[mireille21.livejournal.com]

Apropos of nothing, love the new icon :) (Or does that just mean that now I've been living in Adelaide too long?)

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

You are now firmly inculcated into the culture of chocolate. Welcome!

[psycho-warbaby.livejournal.com]

Aww seeing that avatar.. I miss Adelaide :(

Anyway.. recommendation: Stephen Colbert's "I am America and So Can You"

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Sorry to rub salt into the wound. :-(

I love Colbert. Must read that book. It's now on the list, thanks!

[bryantpaul.livejournal.com]

Octavian Nothing Volumes One and Two by M.T. Anderson! Any attempt to accurately describe how good these books are would end up being a string of superlatives with exclamation marks!

I'm fairly certain that the first volume might be the best book I've read in a decade.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'm embarrassed to say I'd never heard of these books until you mentioned them. Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely track them down.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Dennis Wheatley--what a blast from the past! I must dig something out by him too. Used to love his books, way back when.

I'd love to read some shorts but have my head in novel-land, as usual. One day I'll take a month off and catch up on all the excellent Australian anthologies published in the last ten years or so...

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

That's amazing, Jason. I never knew you were such a fan!

Helps explain the turtle picture on your LJ, I suppose... :-)

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Too many books, too little time. I feel the same way about Robert Anton Wilson. I'll never get through everything he wrote, and that's probably for the best. :-)

[keithstevenson.livejournal.com]

The Forest of Hands and Teeth impressed me as a 'post-Twilight market domination' novel that is a cut above, not afraid to take a sudden plot turn and certainly one I'd recommend for teenage readers.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Awesome title, and a great review from Scott Westerfeld on Amazon too. Thanks for the tip, Keith!