Once again, hello book-loving GOGgers and welcome to a new year filled with other lives and worlds to experience, as well as depictions, analyses and commentaries about the one we happen to find ourselves in.

This is the place to list all the books you read in 2024, with as many and as few comments as you want about each. Asking for or offering book recommendations, exchanging impressions about books and having other discussions about books is also welcome.
If you want your list post to be linked to here, make sure to put "include me" in it at least until I'll add it here. After it's added, you may remove those words if you wish.
You may, of course, organize your "central" post as you wish, but if I may make a recommendation, it would be nice if on top of the full list of the books you read this year, for each title there would also be links to your reviews or commentaries posted either in this thread or elsewhere, ratings using whichever system you prefer, and if possible also dates.
In addition, if you want me to also include here a link to your profile on a book-related site, like Goodreads, LibraryThing or The StoryGraph, or even a personal site, or section of a site, dedicated to books, make sure to put "include link" in your list post at least until I'll add it here. Again, after it's added, you may remove those words if you wish. If you want multiple such links to be included, make sure to put "include" before each. If you add any such links without the word "include" first, I'll assume you don't want them added to the OP.
If I missed anything or you have any other questions or suggestions, feel free to PM me. And you may also want to do that if you edit your list post in order to add links to other profiles after I already added a link to the post here, so I won't miss the change.

Readers:

andysheets1975
Cavalary (Goodreads, The StoryGraph)
chevkoch
ciemnogrodzianin
InkPanther
Lifthrasil
matterbandit
Microfish_1
seba_86 (Goodreads)
Timboli

Previous years:
2023 (11 readers, 96 posts)
2022 (9 readers, 121 posts)
2021 (13 readers, 214 posts)
2020 (15 readers, 335 posts)
2019 (14 readers, 177 posts)
2018 (16 readers, 226 posts)
2017 (no centralized list, 107 posts)
2016 (no centralized list, 309 posts)
2015 (no centralized list, 155 posts)
2014 (no centralized list, 208 posts)

And since I mentioned those previous threads, I also want to once again thank the previous managers: ciemnogrodzianin (2018-2021, also bringing the format of the centralized lists from the games threads to the books ones), catpower1980 (2017), madth3 (2015, 2016) and IShoot4lolz (2014).

Good on you again mate, thanks .... "include me" again please.

What I Read In 2022 - (this also contains links for what I read in 2019, 2020, 2021)
What I Read In 2023

A list of short stories I have been reading, some interspersed through the following, and previous years.

2023
92 - VAL McDERMID [44] - 1989 - PCF - 28-DEC-23 --> 04-JAN-24 (Kobo)

2024
01 - DAVID BALDACCI [43] - DELIVER US FROM EVIL - PCF - 06-JAN-24 --> 07-JAN-24 (Kobo)
02 - J. ROBERT KENNEDY [58] - SINS OF THE CHILD - PCF - 08-JAN-24 --> 09-JAN-24 (Paperwhite)
03 - KATHY REICHS [16] - BONES ARE FOREVER - PCF - 09-JAN-24 --> 11-JAN-24 (Kobo)
04 - LEE CHILD [4] - NO MIDDLE NAME - PCF - 18-APR-22 --> reading (Kobo) Short Stories
.. (3) Second Son - 11-JAN-24 --> 12-JAN-24
05 - M.J. ROSE [1] - IN SESSION - PCF - 12-JAN-24 --> 12-JAN-24 (Kobo) Short Stories
.. (1) Extenuating Circumstances (Cotton Malone) - 12-JAN-24 --> 12-JAN-24 (M.J. ROSE & Steve Berry)
.. (2) Decisions, Decisions (John Rain) - 12-JAN-24 --> 12-JAN-24 (M.J. ROSE & Barry Eisler)
.. (3) Knowing You’re Alive (Jack Reacher) - 12-JAN-24 --> 12-JAN-24 (M.J. ROSE & Lee Child)
06 - LEE CHILD [18] - A WANTED MAN - PCF - 13-JAN-24 --> 17-JAN-24 (Kobo)
07 - ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH [36] - THE COLOURS OF ALL THE CATTLE - PCF - 18-JAN-24 --> 21-JAN-24 (Paperwhite)
08 - JAMES PATTERSON [9] - THE 5TH HORSEMAN - PCF - 22-JAN-24 --> 24-JAN-24 (Kobo)
09 - MICHAEL CONNELLY [7] - BLOOD WORK - PCF - 25-JAN-24 --> 27-JAN-24 (Kobo)
10 - PATRICIA CORNWELL [4] - CRUEL AND UNUSUAL - PCF - 27-JAN-24 --> 30-JAN-24 (Kobo)
11 - ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY [10] - THE SCARAB PATH - PCF - 30-JAN-24 --> 04-FEB-24 (Kobo)
12 - ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH [37] - UNUSUAL USES FOR OLIVE OIL - TRA - 04-FEB-24 --> 07-FEB-24
... Brad Thor Collectors' Edition #1 (Omnibus) - (3) - BRAD THOR - 27-OCT-23 --> 09-FEB-24
13 - BRAD THOR [5] - STATE OF THE UNION - PCF - 07-FEB-24 --> 09-FEB-24 (Kobo)
14 - ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY [11] - THE SEA WATCH - PCF - 09-FEB-24 --> 16-FEB-24 (Kobo)
15 - J. ROBERT KENNEDY [59] - RED EAGLE - PCF - 17-FEB-24 --> 01-MAR-24 (Paperwhite)
16 - ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY [12] - HEIRS OF THE BLADE - PCF - 03-MAR-24 --> 24-MAR-24 (Kobo)
17 - MICHAEL CONNELLY [8] - ANGELS FLIGHT - PCF - 26-MAR-24 --> 30-MAR-24 (Kobo)
18 - KATHY REICHS [17] - Bones In Her Pocket - PCF - 31-MAR-24 --> 31-MAR-24 (Paperwhite) Novella
... Roy Grace: Books 1–10 (Omnibus) - (1) - PETER JAMES - 05-APR-24 -->
19 - PETER JAMES [2] - DEAD SIMPLE - PCF - 05-APR-24 --> 14-APR-24 (Kobo)
20 - ANDREW GRANT [5] - EVEN - PCF - 14-APR-24 --> 19-APR-24 (Paperwhite)
21 - DAVID LUDDINGTON [11] - THE KING OF SCANLON'S ROCK - PCF - 21-APR-24 --> 30-APR-24 (Paperwhite)
... Roy Grace: Books 1–10 (Omnibus) - (2) - PETER JAMES - 05-APR-24 -->
22 - PETER JAMES [3] - LOOKING GOOD DEAD - PCF - 30-APR-24 --> 05-MAY-24 (Kobo)
23 - ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY [13] - THE AIR WAR - PCF - 06-MAY-24 --> 23-MAY-24 (Kobo)
24 - DAVID BALDACCI [44] - ONE SUMMER - PCF - 24-MAY-24 --> 31-MAY-24 (Kobo)
25 - J. ROBERT KENNEDY [60] - THE CUBAN INCIDENT - PCF - 04-JUN-24 --> 10-JUN-24 (Paperwhite)
26 - PATRICIA CORNWELL [5] - THE BODY FARM - PCF - 13-JUN-24 --> 16-JUN-24 (Kobo)
27 - LEE CHILD [19] - NEVER GO BACK - PCF - 17-JUN-24 --> 20-JUN-24 (Kobo)
28 - ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH [38] - THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BIG BAD WOLF - PCF - 21-JUN-24 --> 23-JUN-24 (Kobo)
29 - MICHAEL CONNELLY [9] - VOID MOON - PCF - 24-JUN-24 --> 27-JUN-24 (Kobo)
30 - KATHY REICHS [18] - BONES OF THE LOST - PCF - 27-JUN-24 --> 30-JUN-24 (Kobo)
31 - ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY [14] - WAR MASTER'S GATE - PCF - 01-JUL-24 --> 08-JUL-24 (Kobo)
.. (1) Heart Of The Green - 08-JUL-24 --> 08-JUL-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
32 - LEE CHILD [20] - Jack Reacher - A Mysterious Profile - PCF - 08-JUL-24 --> 08-JUL-24 (Kobo)
... Roy Grace: Books 1–10 (Omnibus) - (3) - PETER JAMES - 05-APR-24 -->
33 - PETER JAMES [4] - NOT DEAD ENOUGH - PCF - 09-JUL-24 --> 14-JUL-24 (Kobo)
34 - ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH [39] - TO THE LAND OF LONG LOST FRIENDS - PCF - 15-JUL-24 --> 16-JUL-24 (Paperwhite)
35 - MICHAEL CONNELLY [10] - Hieronymus Bosch - A Mysterious Profile - PCF - 16-JUL-24 --> 17-JUL-24 (Kobo)
36 - JAMES PATTERSON [10] - THE 6TH TARGET - PCF - 17-JUL-24 --> 19-JUL-24 (Kobo)
37 - ANDREW GRANT [6] - DIE TWICE - PCF - 19-JUL-24 --> 22-JUL-24 (Paperwhite)
38 - DAVE LING [1] - URIAH HEEP - UNCENSORED ON THE RECORD - PCF - 20-JUL-24 --> 21-JUL-24 (Samsung)
39 - ROBERT THOROGOOD [2] - A MEDITATION ON MURDER - PCF - 23-JUL-24 --> 26-JUL-24 (Kobo)
... Brad Thor Collectors' Edition #2 (Omnibus) - (1) - BRAD THOR - 27-JUL-24 -->
40 - BRAD THOR [6] - BLOWBACK - PCF - 27-JUL-24 --> 01-AUG-24 (Kobo)
41 - ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY [15] - SEAL OF THE WORM - PCF - 04-AUG-24 --> 10-AUG-24 (Kobo)
42 - DAVID BALDACCI [45] - THE SIXTH MAN - PCF - 10-AUG-24 --> 13-AUG-24 (Kobo)
43 - T.J. KLUNE [4] - INTO THIS RIVER I DROWN - PCF - 13-AUG-24 --> 21-AUG-24 (Kobo)
44 - SUSAN KIERNAN-LEWIS [8] - MURDER FLAMBE - PCF - 22-AUG-24 --> 28-AUG-24 (Kobo)
45 - J. TODD SCOTT [1] - THE FAR EMPTY - PCF - 30-AUG-24 --> 09-SEP-24 (Paperwhite) Includes an excerpt from the sequel This Side Of Night.
.. (1) This Side Of Night (excerpt) - 09-SEP-24 --> 09-SEP-24 (J. Todd Scott)
46 - ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY [16] - SPOILS OF WAR - PCF - 09-SEP-24 --> 15-SEP-24 (Kobo) Short Story Collection
.. (1) To Own The Sky - 09-SEP-24 --> 09-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (2) Ironclads (Re-Read) - 10-SEP-24 --> 10-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (3) Spoils Of War (Re-Read) - 10-SEP-24 --> 10-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (4) Camouflage - 11-SEP-24 --> 11-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (5) The Shadows Of Their Lamps - 11-SEP-24 --> 11-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (6) The Dreams Of Avaris (Re-Read) - 11-SEP-24 --> 11-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (7) The Prince - 12-SEP-24 --> 14-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (8) Shadow Hunters - 14-SEP-24 --> 14-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (9) Sword And Circle - 14-SEP-24 --> 14-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (10) Idle Hands - 14-SEP-24 --> 14-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (11) An Old Man In A Harsh Season - 14-SEP-24 --> 15-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (12) Brass Mantis - 15-SEP-24 --> 15-SEP-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
47 - KATHY REICHS [19] - Swamp Bones - PCF - 15-SEP-24 --> 20-SEP-24 (Paperwhite) Short Story
48 - DAVID BALDACCI [46] - No Time Left - PCF - 20-SEP-24 --> 20-SEP-24 (Kobo) Novella
49 - LIAN HEARN [10] - His Kikuta Hands - PCF - 21-SEP-24 --> 21-SEP-24 (Kobo) Short Story
50 - CRAIG A. FALCONER [10] - CHASING TOMORROWS (15-Book Sci-Fi Box Set) - PCF - 21-SEP-24 --> reading (Paperwhite) Sci-Fi Sizzlers
.. (1) Wanderlust - 21-SEP-24 --> 21-SEP-24 (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (2) Bound For Glory - 29-SEP-24 --> 03-OCT-24 (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (3) Sunset Stays - 12-OCT-24 --> 12-OCT-24 (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (4) Arise With Us - 26-OCT-24 --> 26-OCT-24 (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (5) Whence They Came - 20-NOV-24 --> 20-NOV-24 (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (6) Replica - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (7) Megaton Murphy - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (8) A Scent Of Man - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (9) Yester Year - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (10) Too Good To Be True - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (11) Happy, Inc. - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (12) Pamela 2.0 - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (13) Funscreen - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (14) Pumpkin Splice - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
.. (15) When Santa Slays - --> (Craig A. Falconer)
51 - MICHAEL CONNELLY [11] - A DARKNESS MORE THAN NIGHT - PCF - 22-SEP-24 --> 26-SEP-24 (Kobo)
52 - J. ROBERT KENNEDY [61] - ARMAGEDDON - PCF - 03-OCT-24 --> 05-OCT-24 (Paperwhite)
53 - ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY [17] - A TIME FOR GRIEF - PCF - 05-OCT-24 --> 09-OCT-24 (Paperwhite) Short Story Collection
.. (1) Loyalties - 05-OCT-24 --> 05-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (2) Bones - 05-OCT-24 --> 05-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (3) Queen Of The Night - 05-OCT-24 --> 05-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (4) Fallen Heroes (Re-Read) - 06-OCT-24 --> 06-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (5) The Price Of Salt - 06-OCT-24 --> 06-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (6) The Naturalist - 07-OCT-24 --> 07-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (7) The Last Ironclad - 07-OCT-24 --> 07-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (8) Alicaea's Children - 08-OCT-24 --> 08-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (9) A Time For Grief - 08-OCT-24 --> 08-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (10) The Peacemongers - 08-OCT-24 --> 09-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
54 - MICHAEL CONNELLY [12] - CITY OF BONES - PCF - 09-OCT-24 --> 10-OCT-24 (Kobo)
55 - ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH [40] - YOUR INNER HEDGEHOG - PCF - 12-OCT-24 --> 13-OCT-24 (Kobo)
56 - ANDREW GRANT [7] - MORE HARM THAN GOOD - PCF - 14-OCT-24 --> 21-OCT-24 (Paperwhite)
57 - PETER BROWN [3] - THE WILD ROBOT PROTECTS - PCF - 21-OCT-24 --> 22-OCT-24 (Samsung)
58 - VAL McDERMID [45] - PAST LYING - PCF - 22-OCT-24 --> 24-OCT-24 (Kobo)
59 - FIONA McINTOSH [5] - FOUL PLAY - PCF - 26-OCT-24 --> 28-OCT-24 (Kobo)
60 - ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY [18] - FOR LOVE OF DISTANT SHORES - PCF - 29-OCT-24 --> 10-NOV-24 (Paperwhite) Novella Collection
.. (1) Cities Of Silver - 29-OCT-24 --> 29-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (2) Written In Sand - 30-OCT-24 --> 30-OCT-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (3) Masters Of The Spire - 01-NOV-24 --> 07-NOV-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
.. (4) For Love of Distant Shores - 07-NOV-24 --> 10-NOV-24 (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
61 - C.J. BOX [38] - JOE PICKETT - A Mysterious Profile - PCF - 10-NOV-24 --> 10-NOV-24 (Kobo) Short Story
62 - PATRICIA CORNWELL [6] - FROM POTTER’S FIELD - PCF - 10-NOV-24 --> 13-NOV-24 (Kobo)
63 - JOHN FARNHAM & Poppy Stockell [1] & [1] - THE VOICE INSIDE - PCF - 12-NOV-24 --> 12-NOV-24 (Samsung) (biography)
... Roy Grace: Books 1–10 (Omnibus) - (4) - PETER JAMES - 05-APR-24 -->
64 - PETER JAMES [5] - DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS - PCF - 13-NOV-24 --> 19-NOV-24 (Kobo)
65 - C.J. BOX [39] - THREE-INCH TEETH - PCF - 20-NOV-24 --> reading (Paperwhite)

I hope to read multiple books this year, been wanting to get that done.

Shogun, James Clavell
★★★★★ , 03.03.2024 [reread]

Nor Crystal Tears, Alan Dean Foster
★★★☆☆ , 08.03.2024

Rezerwat dla naukowców, Kir Bułyczow
★★★☆☆ , 25.03.2024

Pozytonowy detektyw, Isaac Asimov
★★★☆☆ , 07.05.2024

Przełęcz. Osada, Kir Bułyczow
★★★★☆ , 09.05.2024

Nagie słońce, Isaac Asimov
★★★☆☆ , 13.05.2024

Roboty z planety świtu, Isaac Asimov
★★☆☆☆ , 07.06.2024

Wojskowość morska okresu pary i żelaza, 1860-1905, Piotr Olender
★★★★☆ , 14.08.2024

The Gathering Storm: The Naval War in Northern Europe, September 1939-April 1940, Geirr H. Haarr
★★★★☆ , 23.09.2024



---
My scale:
★☆☆☆☆ nope
★★☆☆☆ meh
★★★☆☆ okay
★★★★☆ good
★★★★★ great

The Best of John W. Campbell, edited by Lester Del Rey
The Ginger Star, by Leigh Brackett
The Providence Rider, by Robert McCammon
The Road to Infinity, by Gael DeRoane
Nothing Lasts Forever, by Roderick Thorp
True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee, by Abraham Riesman
Cinema Speculation, by Quentin Tarantino
Blue World, by Robert McCammon
The Removers, by Donald Hamilton

Include me, please.
And thank you for the thread!

Include me please and thank you!

January 2024:
* Child of the Night Guild by Andy Peloquin 8/10
* Melissa Yi - The Italian School for Assassins 6/10
* Marie Brennan - Dancing the Warrior (part 1 of the Doppelganger Omnibus) Post 12
* Marie Brennan - Warrior (part two of the Doppelganger Omnibus)
* Marie Brennan Witch (Part 3 of the Doppelganger Omnibus)

Child of the Night Guild by Andy Peloquin. I loved this book! Or, at least until it took a dark turn in the last 2 or 4 chapters. Thant was very disappointing. It went from a 10/10 to an 8/10 or 7/10.
I do love the MC's resiliency and stick-to-it-tiveness. More details about the aerial training would have been nice tho.

February
Thomas K. Carpenter's <i>The Reluctant Assassin</i> 5/10

Thanks much, Cavalary; include me please.

== Finished Books ==

1. The Black Obelisk by Erich Maria Remarque [read Dec '23 - Jan '24]

A story set in a small German town during the short time period of fragile rest between WWI and the next gobal one soon to follow. I mostly enjoyed this book as I generally like stories that depict simpler days and a slower pace of life. Melancholy, also funny. The challenges of navigating existence when your approach to life lies more on the pensive side of things.

I believe it is the third book by Remarque that I've now read. When I was much younger, I read All Quiet on the Western Front and Spark of Life.

2. Men to Boys: The Making of Modern Immaturity by Gary Cross [read Jan '24 - Feb '24]
3. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [read Feb '24]
4. The World Without Us by Alan Weisman [read Feb '24 - Mar '24]
5. The Invincible by Stanisław Lem [read Mar '24]
6. Doom Guy: Life in First Person by John Romero [read Mar '24 - Apr '24]
7. Die Nibelungen by Michael Köhlmeier [read May '24]
8. The Child in You: The Breakthrough Method for Bringing Out Your Authentic Self by Stefanie Stahl [read Apr '24 - May '24]
9. Yes, No, Maybe: How to recognize and overcome fear of commitment by Stefanie Stahl [read Jun '24 - Jul '24]
10. S. Petersen's Field Guide to Lovecraftian Horrors by Sandy Petersen, Lynn Willis, and Mike Mason [read Jul '24]
11. Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes by Daniel Everett [read Jul '24]
12. The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England: Its Archeology and Literature by H. R. Ellis Davidson [read Aug '24]
13. Hochsensibel ist mehr als zartbesaitet by Sylvia Harke [read Sep '24]
14. Sid Meier's Memoir! A Life in Computer Games by Sid Meier [read Oct '24]
15. Hong Kong Architecture: The Aesthetics of Density by Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani [read Oct '24]
16. The Way Back by Erich Maria Remarque [read Oct '24]
17. Gateway by Frederik Pohl [read Nov '24]

== Abandoned Books ==

Talk Talk by T. C. Boyle [May '24]
The Harder They Come by T. C. Boyle [May '24]

* Click on ratings for the review

***** Jan 2024 *****
° (Spa) I. Asimov - The Caves of Steel / The Naked Sun (Robots, #1-2) _ _ _ _ _ ★★★★☆
° (Spa) M. Moorcock - The Vanishing Tower (Elric Saga) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★★☆☆☆
° (Spa) M. Moorcock - The Bane of the Black Sword (Elric Saga) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★☆☆☆☆
° (Spa) J. Wyndham - The Day of the Triffids __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★★★☆☆

***** Feb 2024 *****
° (Spa) J. L. Borges. - El libro de arena _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★★★☆☆
° (Eng) G. Wolfe - Epiphany of the Long Sun (Book of the Long Sun, #3-4) _ _ _ ★☆☆☆☆

***** Mar 2024 *****
° (Spa) M. Moorcock - Stormbringer (Elric Saga) __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★★☆☆☆
° (Spa) J. Vance - Rhialto the Marvellous (The Dying Earth #4) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★★★☆☆

***** Apr 2024 *****
° (Spa) T. Pratchett - Men at Arms (Discworld - City Watch #2) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★★★☆☆
° (Spa) A. Reynolds - Absolution Gap (Revelation Space Series) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★☆☆☆☆

***** May 2024 *****
° (Eng) R.A. Salvatore - Vector Prime (NJO #1) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★★★☆☆

***** Jun 2024 *****
° (Spa) Robert E. Howard - El fénix en la espada (Las Crónicas Nemedias #3) _ _ ★★★★☆

***** Jul 2024 *****
° (Spa) Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra - Don Quijote de la Mancha _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★★★☆☆

***** Aug 2024 *****
° (Spa) Adrian Tchaikovsky - Eyes of the Void (Final Architecture #2) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ★☆☆☆☆

The Best of John W. Campbell. Stories from the 1930s chosen by Lester Del Rey, some written under Campbell's alias of Don Stuart.

I have mixed feelings about the book as a whole. Campbell was actually a better prose stylist than many sci-fi writers of the time, many of whom were glorified amateurs or young writers who'd get better with experience. When Campbell's on, he knew how to create a sense of atmosphere or sometimes had a clever way of describing things, although he still sometimes threw out clunkers like referring to someone's brain as a "thinking organ" or something.

Campbell was one of the first really big idea guys. Several of the stories in the book deal with issues that unfold over several thousand years, often something to do with humans being conquered by aliens, ruled by them over much time, then throwing them off thanks to unforeseen evolutions such as developing psychic powers the aliens lack. The earlier stories have a melancholic mood as Campbell seemed to think human civilization would reach a peak and then inevitably decline as they would have nothing left to strive for and then simply forget how they rose up in the first place, and then maybe die out meekly. Once he came up with the idea of people gaining telepathy and stuff, he seemed to get a bit more optimistic and built his stories around the humans' triumph. The aliens aren't demonized even when they're technically oppressing the people - they usually are benign but also a bit smug and manipulative in their superiority.

The downside of dealing with such large scales of time and space is that individual characters don't register strongly if at all. Even when Campbell zeroes in on particular people, it's clear that they're just small yet pivotal links in extremely long chains. And when they do talk, they sound like eggheads puzzling out something, going back and forth at length about fictitious technical challenges instead of doing things. You don't stick with someone as they work in the lab, attempting things and then re-attempting until they break through. You just hear them tell someone how the invisibility cloak or whatever works after the fact. Which was the point: Campbell's vision for sci-fi that he pushed as an editor was that it was supposed to be technical and involve long-winded explanations of The Science over "show don't tell" action. It's not my preference as a reader and it did wear me down a bit over the course of the book.

The notable exception is Who Goes There? which is probably his most famous story since it's the basis for The Thing movie. It's still very much concerned with How The Alien Works, but it also takes place in a contained setting with a few main characters (out of like 32 people in the compound). Still a bit dry in style and more about atmosphere than a rich plot, but very effective in how it creates a sense of paranoia. In some ways, the version of the monster here is more insidious than the one in the movie, although I do have an overall preference for the film since it does have a more involved plot.

Please include me

Currently reading:
.

George's secret key to the universe - By Stephen and Lucy Hawking

.

Finished:
.
Fall of Giants - by Ken Follet

Well, the author is a giant himself, in the area of historical novels. Pillars of the Earth was rightfully a sensation. And the topic of Fall of Giants, the political landscape that led to the first world-war and the war itself, is very interesting. However, Follet manages to be boring in his attempt to be epic again. Or he outsources two thirds of the novel to some ghost writers. In any case the novel is a solid 'Meh'. Parts of it are interesting. Especially the parts dealing with actual history. However, half ot the book is very longwinded and gets lost in personal stories. Those were the strengths of Pillars of the Earth, but here it doesn't work. At least not for all protaginists, of which there are many. Some of them are just neither likable nor interesting in any way. And then there are parts of the novel that are just dull. The author attempts to add some erotic elements, but only manages pornographic and boring at the same time. These chapters read like they were written by a 13-year old, pubescent boy who never had sex but knows about it from the internet. It's embarassingly un-erotic and un-interesting.

The novel is saved by the third, that is actually gripping, political history. If it were condensed to this third, deleting everything that deals with the Russian Mafia or the sexual adventures of various nobles, it would be a great novel. So this is one of the cases where the abridged Reader's Digest version will be way superior to the original.

But without being abridged, this novel is tedious to read and I give it:
4/10

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Garou - By Leonie Swann

This novel reads like 'more of the same', from Leonie Swann, which isn't a bad thing at all after Glenkill and Gray. Unfortunately it doesn't stay 'more of the same'. The author tries to make it more by adding more and more protagonists and the story gets somewhat lost along the way. It's not a bad book, but it becomes long-winded and the reveal is a bit foreseeable. So it is definitely the weakest book that Leonie Swann has published so far.

5/10, for fans of the author

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Five Decembers - by James Kestrel

Holy smokes! What a ride!

A crime novel with a film noir flair set in the late 1930-es and early 1940-es in Hawaii (and later in Japan)
Starts out great. The cover looks like a paperback dime-novel, but it turns out to be very well written and with characters fitting the film noir genre. If you like Gum Shoe movies, you'll be right at home with this novel.

And then, after the great start, it becomes better! There are unexpected twists, the war making everything darker. Treason, unexpected allies, romance and tragedy. And after the war the return home and everything is different.

I won't spoil the ending. So if you want to find out if the protagonist can fit back into society and his old job after the war and if he will ever find closure ... well, you'll have to read this book!

10/10, highly recommended

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The Midnight Library

Starts a bit slow with an unlikable main character. And unfortunately doesn't improve much. There is some character development and it has a nice ending, but it is very foreseeable and doesn't contain any surprises. It is well enough written, technically, but I just didn't care enough about the protagonist to be interested in her slow progress towards the obvious.

4/10
Not bad, if you have nothing else to read. But not a 'must read' by a long shot.

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Gray by Leonie Swann
Awesome book. It's about a neurotic Cambridge assistant professor who investigates the apparent suicide of one of his students with the help of a Gray Parrot, that was left behind by that student.
It is as witty and funny as Three Bags Full and the characters are well written. And it is very British. Only the twist at the end feels a bit forced, but all in all its a recommended read.

8/10, I think.

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Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
So far it's an entertaining story about the friendship between two nerds. It has a bit of a slow start, but then becomes quite engaging.
And it stays engaging. But becomes in parts quite harsh. Very realistic, because everyone carries their own burdens which can become challenges for friendship. But you can't help but feel for the characters. And sometimes yell at them "Just TALK to each other?"
It also contains a very sad chapter. But that is life.
All in all the book is engaging, funny, sad and sweet. And very well written. With lots of 80-es/90-es computer games references.

For a nerd like me (and probably everyone in this forum) this book is a 9/10
My biggest gripe with the book is, that it ends too soon.. The ending is very open and I want to know how the story continues.

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Making it so by Patrick Stewart
Well, it's the auto biography of Captain Jean Luc Picard... or his actor. As Star Trek and Patrick Stewart fan a must read. And who knew that Patrick Stewart isn't only a great actor but also a skilled writer. He paints a vivid picture of his life and growing up under hard conditions. It's a great read if you're interested in history. A good 'slice of life ' story. So, if you've never heard of Captain Picard, this book is maybe a 7/10. Solid, but not ground breaking, because it is, of course, a very personal view of the last decades. However, if you are a fan, this book is a 10/10 and gives you the chance to get to know the best actor in the Star Trek cast on a quite personal level.

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Der Pilz am Ende der Welt by Anna Löwenhaupt Tsing

A book about the Matsutake, a fungus, which grows on landfills and other dead or poisoned land. And is quite a tasty delicacy which often also serves as the first step of nature of reclaiming polluted areas. Scientifically a very interesting fungus. But unfortunately the book turned out to be not scientific at all. Instead the author tries to be 'holistic' in her report about the Matsutake. She tries to include social sciences in her book, but all that she really writes is an esoteric 'be like the Matsutake' drivel. Garnished with an unhealthy dose of 'I am morally superior to anyone else and so much smarter than all those scientists who actually believe in science.'
So, the kernel of scientific content is interesting. But it is spoiled by the writing and the attitude of the author. It's much more interesting to read the Wikipedia article about the Matsutake.

2/10, not recommended

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

An awesome crime novel set in the Grishaverse. It's about an impossible heist/rescue operation. Performed by a dangerous gang boy and his crew of misfits. The characters are well written, albeit some of them a bit too exceptional in their skills. But then again, to do an impossible task you need exceptional people, the only not entirely believable thing is, that these exceptional individuals are small time gangsters. With those skills they should be way more successful.
However, they are likeable, (although one of them is, at times, infuriating. But he is meant to be.) each unique in their own way and the story, while requiring a bit suspension of disbelief, is gripping. With a somewhat frustrating end, but then again you need a hook for the next novel. It's part of a series after all.

8/10

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Das Große Buch vom Räuber Grapsch by Gudrun Pausewang
A children's book about a fearsome, giant robber who falls in love with a tiny, feisty woman. Which seriously endangers his lifestyle. It's a collection of short stories and (mis)adventures, very entertaining, but not with a of depth or character development. Grapsch is super strong but not very smart, his woman is the opposite. So they quarrel a lot but, in the end, are a perfect match.

Entertaining read for in between
7/10

[i][/i]

Currently reading Marie Brennan's Doppelganger Omnibus I'm enjoying it overall. Parts are very funny. I'm in part 3 Witch

Part 3 continues the adventures of the Hunter Mirage, but also sees things from the Head's perspective.

In the prologue short story, Mirage is a temple dancer who joins the Hunters and is raised among them.
In book 1, Warrior, Mirage (one of the best Hunters of all time) accepts a commission and meets a long-lost family member--which throws all sorts of wrenches into the works.

Edit: finished part 3; 8/10. I really enjoyed it, but the plot could have been idk It just seemed a bit rushed at the end.

Hello everyone! I just want to start by saying that I'm not an avid reader, at all. It does not come naturally to me to pick up a book and start reading. It requires effort on my part. I'm looking at the backlog on my bookshelf and there's enough fuel there for a generous campfire. xD

It was not always this way, mind you. I used to bury my face in books just to escape when I was a young teenager. I don't know what happened along the way. Got my personal theories about that. I successfully failed at keeping my resolution for 2023. LOL! But, here I am determined to try again! :P Seeing some familiar faces in this thread has motivated me.

So, please include me too!

> Currently reading my first book of the year: Compleat Cat by Cleveland Amory

> Status: my bookmark lay at page 305 of 812.

I think I stumbled upon this thick volume at a thrift shop. To be honest, that white cat face on the front cover made me toss it into my shopping cart. It seems to be a three-books-in-one volume. Thought I'd begin my reading journey with something "light". Hoping to enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy staring at the cover.

My impressions: [pending]

What's the next book I plan to tackle? [pending]

I read a lot more books when I was younger too, having been socialized by books (then TV, and - as soon as they emerged - by video games). For me, screen-centric media consumption might be the biggest reason why I came to be reading less and less offline over the years. I'm rediscovering the joy of it at the moment, and plan to get back to reading more analog material.

Got me a subscription to one of the few video game magazines still around, and been enjoying the tactile experience of handling and reading that. Reminds me of a slower pace of life, back in the 1980s and '90s, the heyday of game mags. With the amount of confusing chatter that's all around us these days, it feels good to direct my attention away from screens. Reading analog, i also feel more present, somewhat more in control of the moment. Seems healthy to me.

Then, I've become more aware of the beauty of books in general. There is a community book case in a mall here, where people can bring books they want to let go and take some that interest them for free. I go there now about once a week, and even if I do not find anything I want to take with me (or have no book of mine to leave behind), I take pleasure in just tidying the case up, organizing the books and getting rid of detritus.

Zero History by William Gibson

It took me forever to read through this book, as over the years I got severely tired of Gibson's prose.

The book follows a similar plot structure to its prequels, in that Hubertus Bigend hires a couple of characters to find someone who is producing a secret special something (this time around, clothes).

The protagonists are two characters from the last book, Hollis and Milgrim, and the chapters alternate the point of view between the two. Both a very well written, very distinctive from each other as well, though I find Milgrim an extremely boring character to follow, due to his unique way of seeing the world.

I will say that I rather liked the last third of the book, because, this time around, the main characters DO influence the plot and are not just carried around by the other characters. Also, the revelation about who is the misterious creator of the secret clothes brand is a great twist and a rather interesting callback to the first book in the series (Pattern Recognition)