Having finished the fourth book of the "Lightbringer" series, I must admit I did not have a very good reaction to the ending. Something along the the lines of "Holy fuck, are you kidding me?!? Mr. Weeks, you had better be working on book 5 right fucking now!"

I've chilled a bit since then. It's a great series, but one to steer clear of for the moment if you consider cliffhangers a bad thing.

Since then, I've gotten through the latest Mitch Rapp by Kyle Mills. Vinve Flynn's replacement (RIP Vince! ) has done a very good job of making the series his own while keeping the tone spot on.

I'm currently reading the ninth "Foreigner" book by C.J. Cherryh (ebook) and "Mr. Mercedes" by Stephen King (audio). The "Foriegner" series is an old friend I've lost touch with (fallen four book behind with a new one coming next spring). It's a fantastic series where humans are the ones making first contact.

I finally got to read "To Kill a Mockingbird" recently, after hearing about it for years in just about every American film or TV with a school theme. And I really liked it. Then I discovered it actually has a sequel, so I've put that on my to-read list.

For now, I'm working my way through Voltaire's "Candide." I'd been a bit worried about reading 18th century literature in my second language, but it's actually not that bad. And the story is fun, too.

As You Wish, Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride.
Awesome! I'm not done with it yet but I'm cruising through it and enjoying every little fact, interview and story. Cary Elwes writes like he speaks, so it's a bit awkward in places, but completely charming for all of that. So far I'd give it an 8/10, only docking it for the occasional clumsy bit of narration. Also would have liked a few color photos, instead of all black and white.
Overall, a must read for true fans of this brilliant bit of cinema (and hey, there quite a bit about the original book in here too!).

I have 13 new books between my birthday last month, and Christmas this month (we just opened our gifts, we always do early so we have our full vacation time to enjoy them!) and aside from the Feast of Ice and Fire which I've already read cover to cover and cooked 8 or so recipes from, and an out of print novella called the Willfull Princess and the Piebald prince which I finished last night, I've still got 3 Robin Hobb books; the final Live Ship Traders and the first 2 Wain Wilds books, the second book in the King killer Chronicals by Patrick Roth fuss (the first was just amazing, I could hardly put it down!), Neverwhere by Niel Gaiman, a new entire trilogy called Red Rising by Pierce Brown (apparently my husband accidentally bought book 3 instead of book 1, so ended up purchasing all 3), and the first book in the Chronically of the Unhewn Throne, called the Emperors Blades, by Brian Stavely. Oh, and Amy Schumers book, which I've already put down after reading the first dozen pages or so. I'll try and come back to it when I'm in that sort of mood.

So, I have my work cut out for me! This should keep me busy for quite a while.

It's become something of a tradition the last 4 or 5 years for my husband to buy me a couple of books, often the first in a series, to see if I like the series and author. There have been quite a few misses, but the hits are worth it, and got me into A song of Ice and Fire, pretty much anything written by Robbin Hobb though it started with the Assassin books, the Patrick Rothfuss book In the Name of the Wind, and Niel Gaimans Graveyard book.

Well, I'll pop into this thread as I finish each. Princess Bride first, but next I'm not sure. I'll probably finish the Live ship traders, then either Neverwhere or the Patrick Rothfuss book, which is just a giant tome of a book, just like the first one. I can hardly wait to dig in!

So, rating.
A Feast of Ice and Fire. 10/10. Fan of the series or just like cooking, this book rocks. Forward by Martin is funny, excerpts from the books are included with every recipe. Original text from medieval cookbooks included in most recipes, as well as more modern adaptations of each recipe. Spice mixes, pastries and sauces are included and explained. Beautiful glossy photos of all dishes. Just 100% awesome.

The Willfull Princess and the Piebald Prince, by Robin Hobb. Out of print. 8/10
Cleverly narrated, but lacking the full emotional punch some of her other work has. It's a pretty bleak tale, or set of connected tales, as it were. The first was charming, dark and tragic, the second was a bit predictable in its "twist" but that may be because I know the future of this royal family from other novels, which gave me some clues. It does have a few glossy pictures in the middle of some excellent artwork.
Certainly worth a read for all fans of Fitz and The Fool.

(December 11, 2016 at 1:03 am)Thal Wrote: I finally got to read "To Kill a Mockingbird" recently, after hearing about it for years in just about every American film or TV with a school theme. And I really liked it. Then I discovered it actually has a sequel, so I've put that on my to-read list.

It's really only the draft of the sequel. Many think Harper Lee was taken advantage of in her old age to get her to release it. It's not good

The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot

(December 11, 2016 at 11:11 am)Aegon Wrote:

(December 11, 2016 at 1:03 am)Thal Wrote: I finally got to read "To Kill a Mockingbird" recently, after hearing about it for years in just about every American film or TV with a school theme. And I really liked it. Then I discovered it actually has a sequel, so I've put that on my to-read list.

It's really only the draft of the sequel. Many think Harper Lee was taken advantage of in her old age to get her to release it. It's not good

Aaaw, I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe I won't make it a priority then. I do have a lot of books on that list, after all ...

(December 11, 2016 at 1:28 am)Aroura Wrote: Well, I'll pop into this thread as I finish each. Princess Bride first,  but next I'm not sure. I'll probably finish the Live ship traders, then either Neverwhere or the Patrick Rothfuss book, which is just a giant tome of a book, just like the first one. I can hardly wait to dig in!

Beware "The Name of the Wind." It's but the first part of a longer tale. A tale that isn't finished yet and Patrick Rothfuss seems to write on the same time scale as George R.R. Martin. :
That being said, it is (so far) one of the greatest works of fantasy fiction ever and I can't wait to hear the rest of the Kingkiller's tale. If the following books are half as good as the first two, they'll still be better than 2/3 of other fantasy.

"Neverwhere" is an absolutely magical tale, as is most of what Gaiman writes. He does have a very dark and creepy sense of humor though.

Do you ever read urban fantasy? If so, I can recommend some very good ones.

(hr)

Finished the Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King. A detective story with a bit of the supernatural, but without so much purple prose staining everything near it violet.

Almost done listening to the "Reboot" duology by Amy Tintera. A fairly basic YA post-apocalyptic hero's tale, but entertaining nonetheless. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to get them, but if they drop in your lap...

Next I think I may re-read "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir. The sequel came out recently but I really don't remember much about the first one except that it was good.

(December 17, 2016 at 11:30 pm)The Gentleman Bastard Wrote:

(December 11, 2016 at 1:28 am)Aroura Wrote: Well, I'll pop into this thread as I finish each. Princess Bride first,  but next I'm not sure. I'll probably finish the Live ship traders, then either Neverwhere or the Patrick Rothfuss book, which is just a giant tome of a book, just like the first one. I can hardly wait to dig in!

Beware "The Name of the Wind." It's but the first part of a longer tale. A tale that isn't finished yet and Patrick Rothfuss seems to write on the same time scale as George R.R. Martin. :
That being said, it is (so far) one of the greatest works of fantasy fiction ever and I can't wait to hear the rest of the Kingkiller's tale. If the following books are half as good as the first two, they'll still be better than 2/3 of other fantasy.

Oh, I'm already sadly aware of that fact.  And I agree, the first book is one of the best fantasy books I've ever read!  For a giant monster of a book, it was hard to put down.  I devoured it.
I'm very eager to start the second one, called the Wise Mans Fear.  It is fully as gigantic as the first.  I do hope the 3rd comes out in a reasonable amount of time.  On the bright side, there really will only be 3, so even if it takes him 8 years (the distance between first and second was 4 years), I can live with that (that would be 2019?), if it wraps up the story and does NOT pull a Martin and turn it into 4 more books!  lol.
Thank you kindly for the recommendations!  They will be added to my "check these out when I've finished the 11 on my plate" list, which does exist and already contains 2 books and a novella.

I just finished reading "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" and it was hilarious.

Finished up "The Everything Box," the latest from Richard Kadrey the other day. Laugh out loud funny in places and irreverently blasphemous throughout. A pretty good read.