What are we reading

[Pussycat Catnap]

We've got topics on music and video, but not on reading.

So... what are folks reading.

List your item, a brief bit on it, and put it into a category such as 'history', 'political science', 'technical manual', 'fiction; poetry', 'fiction: fantasy', etc...

Not that anyone ever follows thread suggested rules here - but lets keep 'news', 'blog', 'daily article', and other 'hyper current shorts' out of this thread, they should have their own thread - but they are likely to also lead their topic into being quickly locked... And yes, I  am one of those most well known for liking to post 'current events' and political topics. I'd like to see a thread for that kind of literature, as a second topic, just not sure if it would survive.

----

Here are my initial entries. I'm giving several of them in order to try and get some topic push going, and because my subject matters are probably not the norm for most.

It's been about  decade since I read fiction. I just have too many other things and non-fiction is of much more interest to me. That noted, I am hoping this thread will introduce me to some fiction worth looking at... I suspect 99% of you won't find my current titles in your area of interest, but I needed something to get things rolling...

 

 

A Brief History of Mexico, 4th ed.

-Lynn V. Foster

History

This book is a great look at the history of Mexico from ancient times to the modern era. The pre-Cortez period is just two chapters, but it's not really the focal point of the book - it does however work well to set the stage for why Cortez had so many allies, unlike Pizarro's invasion of my family's homeland among the Inca / Mountain Amazon. Given that almost half of the USA was once Mexico, I strongly feel all Americans should study Mexican history. A huge portion of our population traces roots through there, and American culture is really primarily a hybrid between England, West Africa, and 'New Spain'. It's to our discredit that we lack awareness of how these things shape us.

I've been greatly enjoying this book. It's very neutral in tone up through where I am thus far - which for history is how I like things.

 

97 Things Every Software Architect Should Know

- Edited by Richard Monson-Haefel

Technical Advice

I've been in software for several decades now. And for the past decade I've been what's known as a Technical Architect and sometimes been a Solution Architect. Basically planning and leading software projects from a higher level end. This is a book full of handy tips for people in or moving into that role. I'm not through with it, still on the fence about how good the advice is. Some of it is generic stuff and some will be specific and useful.

 

Stamped From The Beginning

-Ibram X. Kendi

Social Science / History

This very well known book is a critical analysis of 'how did we get into this mess' when it comes to the topic of racism. At it's core it goes through history and looks at the steps that were taken to manufacture modern racism, which it asserts is an artificial construct unlike more traditional ethnic conflict. Racism, as the book asserts, was something manufactured by an industry that had an appalling product to sell, and needed to convince people to keep buying that product; namely the slave trade. Faced with the problem of enslaved and free people living side by side, history has always shown that over time the populations eventually merge and equalize. That would destroy the slaver's industry. If poor farmers and indentured people in the colonies started to see the Africans as fellow human beings suffering under the yoke of landed gentry, which in fact early rebellions showed they did... the industry would collapse as their families began to merge. So they needed to create a method by which the two groups could be kept forever apart, and a whole new beast was created... something unlike history conflicts, that could self perpetuate itself into perpetuity.

This book examines how that was done, and what it has cost us. I have yet to finish it - but it does move forward in time to the modern era so I imagine it will eventually get to what it's costing us today... and examine why we continue to find ourselves unable to end it.

 

Addendum:

The last fiction I really read was:

'Wicked', Gregory Maguire

Fiction; fantasy

- I've not seen the musical based on this. I read this book, and I think the first two sequels - judging by the fact that part 4, Out of Oz, was on my bookshelf and the spine seemed 'uncracked'. If you've never read Wicked, you should. It retells the 'Oz' story from a different point of view. Wicked itself has the 'wicked witch' as the tragic protagonist and paints Dorothy as a bumbling destructive idiot easily manipulated by a conniving witch Glenda... If I recall right, Dorothy is really only in the book for a few short cameos and of course, the tragic moment where she kills Elphaba, the 'witch of the west'.

It's worth noting that the original author of the Oz stories, Frank Baum, was a genocidal monster. A chief advocate of the 'Wounded Knee' massacre in the months leading up to it, he was a newspaper editorial writer who wrote about the need to kill off every last Native American left at the end of the Indian Wars... he was, in effect, a monster...

So I had great joy in seeing someone distort his fictional work to flip the narrative and show those he painted as evil as being the true but doomed heroes of the tale. It somewhat mirrors his actual life as a figure so much on the 'wrong side of history'.

And Wicked is done well. You will never see the Oz characters the same way again after reading it.

I read this about 10-12 year ago... so not exactly a current read for me.

 

Edited September 24, 2020 by Pussycat Catnap

[Lindal Kidd]

The Evening and the Morning, a new book in the "Kingsbridge" series by Ken Follett.

In most cases, I recommend reading series in internal chronological order, but in this case I think you should read the first one written, "The Pillars of the Earth".  The Evening and the Morning is a prequel, set about 200 years before Pillars.

[Rowan Amore]

1 hour ago, Lindal Kidd said:

The Evening and the Morning, a new book in the "Kingsbridge" series by Ken Follett.

In most cases, I recommend reading series in internal chronological order, but in this case I think you should read the first one written, "The Pillars of the Earth".  The Evening and the Morning is a prequel, set about 200 years before Pillars.

I loved the first 2 in the series but haven't gotten around to the 3rd yet.  So maybe the new one should come next?

[Lindal Kidd]

They can pretty much go in any order, but I read the first three, which are both in series chron and publication date order, then this new prequel.

[Sorciaa]

[Pomeline Pancake]

No fiction atm.

[Lindal Kidd]

The new Harry Dresden books!

Peace Talks and Battle Ground.  It's actually one long book split into two volumes.

[SpiritSparrow Skydancer]

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/vic-james/gilded-cage/9781509821457

 

Britain's magically skilled aristocracy compels all commoners to serve them for ten years – and now it's the Hadleys' turn. Abi Hadley is assigned to England's most ruthless noble family. The secrets she uncovers could win her freedom – or break her heart. Her brother Luke is enslaved in a brutal factory town, where new friends' ideals might cost him everything.

Then while the elite vie for power, a young aristocrat plots to remake the world with his dark gifts. As Britain moves from anger to defiance, all three must take sides. And the consequences of their choices will change everything, forever.

Edited September 29, 2020 by Tarina Sewell

[Artair Glendullen]

At the moment? Not much. But I'm trying to locate physical copies of The Cloakmaster Cycle/any Spelljammer novel in general, so I can read 'em at work (no electronics on the production floor means no e-booking, unfortunately).

[Talligurl]

I recently read The Little Prince, because I met someone in SL who recommended it.

[Rat Luv]

[Dafadilia Wayfarer]

[MelodicRain]

Three-body Problem by Liu Cixin, cause apparently Netflix is making a show out of it (I have very, very, very low expectations of it, cause some parts of the book are too abstract to "act out" in a movie, and seeing as a western media is making it it'll probably just end up a complete mess like Mulan). I read about 1/3 of the first book but then stopped cause it's a very, very heavy read, but pushed myself to start again. It's definitely an awesome book, but due to the overwhelming amount of exposition it almost feels like reading a textbook. Basically a Dan Brown book except 10x more complex.

Edited September 30, 2020 by MelodicRain

[Rat Luv]

Mind blown. No spoilers but VERY weird and unsettling. 

I'm going to have to read more of her books...if anyone has any recommendations?

[Scylla Rhiadra]

4 minutes ago, Rat Luv said:

Mind blown. No spoilers but VERY weird and unsettling. 

I'm going to have to read more of her books...if anyone has any recommendations?

She's brilliant.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, for sure.

I also really liked one of her earlier novels, Memento Mori. Pretty savage.

[Rat Luv]

3 hours ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

She's brilliant.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, for sure.

I also really liked one of her earlier novels, Memento Mori. Pretty savage.

Ordered 

[Zzevir]

This topic. 

[Rat Luv]

On 11/24/2020 at 7:14 PM, Scylla Rhiadra said:

She's brilliant.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, for sure.

I also really liked one of her earlier novels, Memento Mori. Pretty savage.

Just necro'ing to say - thanks Scylla! ❤️  The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was amazing. I was totally hooked - she's such an amazing writer. It's like a mystery or thriller, but so much more. She jumps between timelines so well without it getting confusing. It's funny in places but quite sad at the end.

My favourite so far is The Ballad of Peckham Rye - which is the best book I've read this year and absolutely brilliant IMO. Luv it so much - I was cracking up laughing and really wish I could spend more time with the characters  Do you know that one?  I also have Momento Mori but am saving it for Xmas week 

[Scylla Rhiadra]

9 minutes ago, Rat Luv said:

Just necro'ing to say - thanks Scylla! ❤️  The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was amazing. I was totally hooked - she's such an amazing writer. It's like a mystery or thriller, but so much more. She jumps between timelines so well without it getting confusing. It's funny in places but quite sad at the end.

My favourite so far is The Ballad of Peckham Rye - which is the best book I've read this year and absolutely brilliant IMO. Luv it so much - I was cracking up laughing and really wish I could spend more time with the characters  Do you know that one?  I also have Momento Mori but am saving it for Xmas week 

Oh, I'm so glad!!! No, I don't know The Ballad of Peckham Rye -- at least, that I remember. I went through a Muriel Spark phase some years ago, but I must have missed that one! I'll have to get it -- and now I want to reread The Prime too!

Edited December 7, 2020 by Scylla Rhiadra

[Eggy UwU]

i would not know what to categorize this book as, but it's such a great novel! i suggest it if you like learning about life lessons in a fantasy setting but also realism in a way with the 'life lessons.'

“I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Edited December 7, 2020 by Ignis Dismantled
adding a quote

[Scylla Rhiadra]

1 hour ago, Ignis Dismantled said:

i would not know what to categorize this book as, but it's such a great novel! i suggest it if you like learning about life lessons in a fantasy setting but also realism in a way with the 'life lessons.'

“I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

I read this last year: it was very enjoyable! It's actually not by any means a new novel, but it seems to be very much in vogue again at the moment.

[Cassidy Starlight]

“The Martian: A Novel” by Andy Weir 

The movie was wonderful but the book is much better 🙂

[Maryanne Solo]

RL Digital research category.

I don't have the time to read paper books because I spend most of the workday creating documentation.
Lately my digital research, (or reading), has been devoted to a solar power system, (13.2Kwh in total), that
incorporates 3 "phase-ability" and will also facilitate a storage battery a bit later on. 
To futureproof the residences/property for business related activities.

The last paper book I read was: The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx, which I found to be most enjoyable.
Never seen the movie. 🙂
 

Edited December 8, 2020 by Maryanne Solo
Added category.

[archangel969]

As a novelist I do not read so many books because I am writing myself 😀

Mostly I am reading books to review, or to study for writing. But the books I AM reading for pleasure are mostly rare old books who are adventurous and have something odd or remarkable. Just as I love odd and remarkable people LOL.

Recently I read: Vathek by William Beckford, an old gothic novel. I LOVE gothic stories, and Another country from James Baldwin. I love his work! He was not only a leading literary voice of the civil rights movement, he fought for equal rights voor black people but also for gay people. And WE from Yevgeny Zamyatin. It's a dystopian novel, written in 1924, BEFORE 1984 from George Orwell (1948), but even more chilling. Zamyatin wrote this political critical book despite the fact that it was very dangerous to publish this kind of books during the Soviet regime.

[SlammedSam]

I am currently reading the "Lady Astronaut" series by Mary Robinette Kowal. They are called The Calculating Stars, The Fated Sky, and The Relentless Moon. A friend inworld recommended them to me, and I can't get enough. As the title implies, it is about a female astronaut in an alternate 1950s/60s. Jolly good read, it is!