Reading Three Days to Never by Tim Powers. The premise is pretty interesting, can’t wait to see where he takes it.


As mentioned last week, @JaymesRS@literature.cafe and @misericordiae@literature.cafe are working on something related to Bingo card for books.

Keep your eyes peeled, just one week (or so) to go.

Also, welcome @JaymesRS@literature.cafe as a newly minted mod of this community!


Now to topic at hand, what have you been reading or listening lately?

  • @Gerudo@lemm.ee
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    926 days ago

    Mort by Pratchett. I can’t believe it took me this long to actually get into Discworld.

    • @dresdenOPM
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      126 days ago

      BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

      That was in Death’s voice.

  • @DarkNightoftheSoul@mander.xyz
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    26 days ago

    Shogun, James Clavell.

    Inspired by the recent adaptation which fell short in a couple ways for me, I went back to the novel which I listened to a few years ago and found it… doesn’t quite hold up as well as I remember. At the very least, I wish there were an abridged version, or even better, a full-cast abridged dramatization. There’s just so much of it and much of it is repetitive or unnecessary, at least the second time around, in my opinion. There’s too much glorification of a hyper-violent fascist feudalism for my taste. Also, it isn’t quite as accurate as it would like to be- No carrier pigeons in Japan at that time, and the author gets some of the Japanese wrong for instance.

    That said, it really is quite a good book. The politics and drama, while somewhat exhausting, are also gripping and anxiety-inducing on behalf of the characters. The world feels real and lived-in, and invites and rewards investment and attention. The climax is especially rewarding.

    I give it 6/10: Well worth it if you have the time and like historical fiction and political drama. Could be a slog for those with short attention spans, like myself. Ralph Lister is a great narrator. I recommend an abridged version if possible.

    • @dresdenOPM
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      225 days ago

      Interesting.

      Just checked, the book is part of a series, but they are all in different places. Is the story in the books linked or just different books linked due to historical fiction genre?

      • @DarkNightoftheSoul@mander.xyz
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        225 days ago

        I haven’t read the others, so I can’t speak to them, but I think I read they share a fictional timeline. Probably mostly what you said though.

        • @dresdenOPM
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          225 days ago

          Ah okay. Thanks for the info.

  • @JaymesRS@literature.cafeM
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    526 days ago

    I finished up the current Murderbot books and am working on some short stories and novellas by Ursula K Le Guin (The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas) and T Kingfisher (Minor Mage, Illuminations)

    • @dresdenOPM
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      125 days ago

      Is the series still going on? Or has it finished?

      • @JaymesRS@literature.cafeM
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        25 days ago

        The author has indicated that there will be more on the way and it’s definitely not reached a point one could call concluded. But I don’t know anything beyond that.

        • @dresdenOPM
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          225 days ago

          Ahan. Thanks for the info!

  • InfiniteGlitch
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    426 days ago

    Still trying to finish:

    • Slewfoot (book)
    • Eleanor is completely fine (book)
    • Haite Kudasai (manga)

    But university/ thesis is wrecking my time and in the weekends feel a bit to tired to read.

    • @dresdenOPM
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      226 days ago

      University / thesis are important. Don’t worry about the other stuff, it will be here when you are finished with those.

  • zephyr
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    323 days ago

    Reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Already read Pride and Prejudice and loved it, feeling good about this one.

  • @dogslayeggs@lemmy.world
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    326 days ago

    Just about finished with Emperor of Ruin by Django Wexler. It’s fun, escapist fantasy. Decent characters and decent story, even if it is the over-troped “only this small band of ragtag individuals can save the entire world from a supremely powerful magician.” It’s the 4th and final book in the series, so there is no sitting around waiting for the next one.

  • Bebo
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    326 days ago

    Reading English, August by Upamanyu Chatterjee and listening to Jane Eyre.

  • @VanHalbgott@lemmus.org
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    225 days ago

    Still reading the Alphabet series by Sue Grafton.

    Currently on B is for Burglar and making progress; soon I’ll read the next one as well.

    • @dresdenOPM
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      225 days ago

      How are you liking the series?

      I have A, B, F and L. Thinking about starting reading A is for Alibi soon, and if I like it, start collecting the rest of the series.

  • @blubton@lemmy.world
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    225 days ago

    Reading “A tale of two cities” by Charles Dickens. I am not too far into it, but so far it’s been really enjoyable! The English accents are really hard to follow for someone whose native language isn’t English, but I’m getting used to it.

    • @Fredselfish@lemmy.world
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      325 days ago

      Listen to audiobook it’s a interesting story. Does OP want a complete list? Because just finished my 69th book for the year so far and 12 audiobooks. Goal is over 100 stories read by end of year which probably accomplish before the end of June.

      • @dresdenOPM
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        324 days ago

        Ah, just replied to your other post.

        The idea is generally to share what you are reading since the last time you posted in one of these thread (which are posted weekly), or just what you are reading lately.

        Also, 69 books and it’s just April, that’s really cool. With this speed, you can have around 200 books by the year end. Would love to see how your journey progresses.

        • @Fredselfish@lemmy.world
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          324 days ago

          Yeah decided to keep a detail list. I am reading between 150 to 250 pages a day. Keep in mind some on my list are short stories but my wife says they count. Having a library card and a Libby account been great for that.

          And on what reading now hard to clarify. The last book on my list I started and finished yesterday and was 80 pages into Gerald’s Game by Stephen King.

          Probably finish it today our tomorrow depending on how busy we get a work.

          That be neat to do 200 but for now just trying reach 100 mark. I keep three books on hand at a time so we will see. I post a big pic of all the physical books at the beginning of next year and screen shot of the ebook reading list.

      • @blubton@lemmy.world
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        224 days ago

        I should really start listening to audiobooks more often. I just looked and the book is freely available on Librivox, so I may switch back and forth between reading and listening from now on. Thanks for the tip!

  • slazer2au
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    226 days ago

    Currently listening to Star Wars Outbound Flight. The reader/speaker isn’t a good one.

    • @dresdenOPM
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      122 days ago

      I am not familiar with Star Wars novels. What is this about?

      • slazer2au
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        222 days ago

        A Jedi master is like, we should expand outside of the current galaxy and into other galaxies. Political and military kerfuffles ensue.

        It is now classified as Legends and no longer canon since the Disney purchase of Lucas. It took place between Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones films.

        • @dresdenOPM
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          120 days ago

          Yeah, heard about “Legends” stuff when Disney bought it. Ignoring the narrator / speaker, how’s the book?

  • Finished Southern Gods from last week on Sunday (it was ok), and spent last night picking out something new. Ended up with Stargazy Pie by Victoria Goddard, which seems pleasantly light and cozy so far; should be just about long enough to last a week.

    Also, grats Jaymes!