So, I'd been out of the reading game for a while. Never really seemed to have time for a book lately. But starting back at the beginning of this year, I made a commitment to get back into it, so I've done just that and worked my way through a few titles. I have to say that Audible has made this possible. I wasn't sure I'd really like audiobooks, but it turns out that they're fantastic for my commute to and from work, or while I'm doing mundane tasks like washing dishes or folding laundry. So, in no particular order, her are some books I've gotten through recently:
Lock In by John Scalzi: a good mix of detective/mystery and sci-fi. I listened to this one on Audible. It was read by Wil Wheaton, which made the whole thing that much more fun.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: This one had been on my list to read for quite a while. Again, I listened to the Audible version... read by Wil Wheaton. Let me just say that he is the perfect person to read this novel.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy: I saw the film ages ago and it has stuck with me as one of the darkest, most heartbreaking films I've ever seen. So when I decided I was going to start reading again, I happened to be craving something like that. I just wanted to be devastated by a story. That's exactly what you get with this novel. I bought a physical copy and read it over a vacation to Colorado in January. It's a very quick read and the prose is kinda odd, but it really is fantastic.
What If? by Randall Munroe: Another Audible book read by (you guessed it!) Will Wheaton. This author is famous for the xkcd web comics. This isn't a story. It's a collection of absurd questions submitted to the author and his ridiculously detailed (and hilariously written) answers. So, if you ever find yourself wondering what a mole of moles might look like, or what would happen if a baseball player hit a ball that was traveling at the speed of light... this is your book!
Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi: I enjoyed Lock In so much, I decided to explore more titles by this author. It was a good choice. Zoe's Tale reads more like a young adult novel, but it was a fun read... or listen. I got this one on Audible as well. Wil Wheaton does -not- read this one though. Fun sci-fi, intriguing plot. Suffice it to say that I will continue to look into his work.
Every Day by David Livithan: So, last year, my ladylove
Moonfire asked me to be a bride's maid when she got married to
Cain. She then later asked me if I would be comfortable doing a reading during the ceremony. After agreeing, I scoured the internet for something that was appropriate, not just to weddings, but to my friendship with
Moonfire as well. I came across a quote from this novel and decided it was perfect. After sharing it with her, I decided to go ahead and read the book so that I could get a better understanding of the context. Overall, it was a decent enough story idea. It was very obviously intended for a teenage audience, however. Since I'm nearly twice as old as that target demographic, the parts that a teenage me might have thought profound came off as simply trying too hard. But, this book does hold a special place in my heart since I now connect it to a beautiful wedding and a wonderful opportunity to actually meet some people that I consider to be very dear friends.
Currently, I'm reading/listening to two books.
Physically, I am reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I have to say, this book is fantastic. I know some SWUvians have read it, and it was another book on my to-do list. I've almost finished it and I'm eager for the sequel A Wise Man's Fear. I will say that it is a bit slow to start, but once you get into it, it's a breeze.
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon: I've listened to all of these on Audible. Yes, it's the series they've made into a show on Starz. And, yes... at times it's not much better than Fifty Shades of Grey. But, if you can get past the romance smut that is littered throughout the series, there's also some interesting historical fiction to be found. I'm currently on the 5th book in the series. I will say that it is quite an investment, and it's definitely not for everyone, but it makes for a good indulgence for me soooo *shrugs*
