Just read the HP series for the first time last year. Thought it was good, but was glad to be done with it and probably wouldn't read again.

Granted - I've only watched the movies once (wife convinced me to watch them over a long weekend a few years ago) - so there's no nostalgia factor like there might be if I'd read them as a kid

Kindle Unlimited is about the best subscription I've ever purchased. I read 3 to 4 books per week. Almost all are from the Kindle unlimited library.

Wolfpac 08 said:

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Just read the HP series for the first time last year. Thought it was good, but was glad to be done with it and probably wouldn't read again.

Granted - I've only watched the movies once (wife convinced me to watch them over a long weekend a few years ago) - so there's nostalgia factor like there might be if I'd read them as a kid

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They're fun to read with your kids. We use movies as treats for finishing books (once they've seen one with us, a movie is permanently in our movie night rotation for them to pick). We read the first three and waited a few years to do Goblet of Fire for maturity to set in (didn't want to explain camera shots of nothing but girls' butts to my six year old).

But yeah, gets a little boring if all it takes is a special stick and mastery of Latin to rule the world where a headmaster regularly lets pupils risk death.

Language warning.

https://instagr.am/p/C9RfaSju3Ga

EMY92 said:

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Kindle Unlimited is about the best subscription I've ever purchased. I read 3 to 4 books per week. Almost all are from the Kindle unlimited library.

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How much better is the selection versus using libby?

No idea, I've never used Libby.

I do get Kindle Unlimited when it's on sale. I do not pay full price. If you find it at a good price, you can by a 1 or 2 year membership and it will add to the end of your current.

Another Doug said:

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EMY92 said:

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Kindle Unlimited is about the best subscription I've ever purchased. I read 3 to 4 books per week. Almost all are from the Kindle unlimited library.

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How much better is the selection versus using libby?

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I use Libby / public libraries almost exclusively and I read ~150 books per year and never run out of books to read. Does Libby have everything I want to read? Nah. But I keep an Amazon list with those books bc I can tell from the list which ones are on KU. Once I get a significant amount, I'll prob buy a KU subscription until I knock em out and then go back to Libby.

Another Doug said:

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EMY92 said:

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Kindle Unlimited is about the best subscription I've ever purchased. I read 3 to 4 books per week. Almost all are from the Kindle unlimited library.

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How much better is the selection versus using libby?

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It's not the end all, be all, but if you don't already know, you can expand your selection in Libby by getting "library cards" online from other libraries. I have B/CS, Harris County and Houston Public. There are still gaps sometimes for what I want to read but it helps.

Libby has a better selection than Unlimited, but you have to wait months for popular books. The trick is to put in a lot of books on hold and extend the ones that pop up before you are ready for them.

Just finished Fourth Wing.

Hmmm... was my first go at the fantasy genre. Was weird how magic / wizardry was interspersed with "modern" slang / cuss words. And all the young adult / sexual tension... just wanted the author to get on w/ the dragon and griffin and wyvern fighting.

I'll eventually read the second book and I'm sure the third when it comes about

Next up are Profit Song and No Country for Old Men.

Would it make sense to have a dedicated Kindle Unlimited thread? I have a sub but I admittedly don't use it enough because I simply don't recognize the authors. I want to give it a better shot though.

Just finished "Challenger" by Adam Higginbotham. Great history of the Space Shuttle Program and the institutional issues in NASA that made the disaster a virtual guarantee.

Trajan88 said:

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Just finished Fourth Wing.

Hmmm... was my first go at the fantasy genre. Was weird how magic / wizardry was interspersed with "modern" slang / cuss words. And all the young adult / sexual tension... just wanted the author to get on w/ the dragon and griffin and wyvern fighting.

I'll eventually read the second book and I'm sure the third when it comes about

Next up are Profit Song and No Country for Old Men.

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I read that after seeing it at the top of a Fantasy Book list, not really knowing what it was. My family made fun of me when they found out, especially because of that one chapter you know I'm talking about. Really not a bad book for what it is, but I wouldn't give it high marks for originality…oh, it's a school with houses of students that are strangely selected and compete with each other…

rynning said:

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Trajan88 said:

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Just finished Fourth Wing.

Hmmm... was my first go at the fantasy genre. Was weird how magic / wizardry was interspersed with "modern" slang / cuss words. And all the young adult / sexual tension... just wanted the author to get on w/ the dragon and griffin and wyvern fighting.

I'll eventually read the second book and I'm sure the third when it comes about

Next up are Profit Song and No Country for Old Men.

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I read that after seeing it at the top of a Fantasy Book list, not really knowing what it was. My family made fun of me when they found out, especially because of that one chapter you know I'm talking about. Really not a bad book for what it is, but I wouldn't give it high marks for originality…oh, it's a school with houses of students that are strangely selected and compete with each other…

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I assume this is YA fare? Outside of Harry Potter, I find it difficult to get Into YA stuff.

Fourth Wing is not YA, it's fantasy with some romance splashed in.

713nervy said:

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Fourth Wing is not YA, it's fantasy with some romance splashed in.

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Ah. Romantasy then. The other big genre now.

YouBet said:

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713nervy said:

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Fourth Wing is not YA, it's fantasy with some romance splashed in.

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Ah. Romantasy then. The other big genre now.

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Romance, fantasy and romantasy is what I understood to be a significant portion of KU books. Is that your impression?

I was going to make a bunch of recs until I saw your previously posted reading list.

713nervy said:

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YouBet said:

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713nervy said:

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Fourth Wing is not YA, it's fantasy with some romance splashed in.

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Ah. Romantasy then. The other big genre now.

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Romance, fantasy and romantasy is what I understood to be a significant portion of KU books. Is that your impression?

I was going to make a bunch of recs until I saw your previously posted reading list.

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Well, I don't think I have an impression yet, frankly. I haven't spent enough time scanning it to really have an opinion of it. I've only pulled one book from it and I haven't finished it because while it's good, it's an apocalyptic type novel that could absolutely happen. Scared and depressed me so I stopped reading it. ha.

YouBet said:

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713nervy said:

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Fourth Wing is not YA, it's fantasy with some romance splashed in.

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Ah. Romantasy then. The other big genre now.

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There is romance but the chapter inferred earlier is straight up porn. Definitely not YA. Good book series so far but that one chapter is consistent in both books so far and seems completely unnecessary and out of place (imo).
It involves college age individuals so it isn't sick in that aspect.They could do without that one chapter and it would be a really entertaining read (for me).

Okay, completed both Target Rich Environment (short stories, volume 1) by Larry Correia and Stephen King's Fairy Tale on Wednesday.

King's work was good and entertaining. I'd give it a A-/B+. If you like King, you'll appreciate this effort. A dog is one of the main characters, and I'm a sucker for dogs.

TRE was good and entertaining as well. The last part of the book was a novella called Tom Stranger: Inter-Dimensional Insurance Agent. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud at Correia's warped and hilarious sense of humor. The work is sheer insane hilarity from start to finish. The other short stories ranged from good to great, at least to me. No stinkers, but some real gems. I love Larry Correia, and if you haven't tried him, pick up Monster Hunters International, or the Dead Six Trilogy. Fast reads, but definitely fun. Jim Butcher (of Dresden fame) love Correia, and Correia love Butcher, and I can see why. Both are extremely fun and entertaining authors.

I loved it so much I started his fantasy series Son of the Black Sword.

In progress (still): COMC (Dumas), Ready Player Two (Cline), Son of the Black Sword (Correia), and Hostage to the Devil (Martin).

Dr. Mephisto said:

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Okay, completed both Target Rich Environment (short stories, volume 1) by Larry Correia and Stephen King's Fairy Tale on Wednesday.

King's work was good and entertaining. I'd give it a A-/B+. If you like King, you'll appreciate this effort. A dog is one of the main characters, and I'm a sucker for dogs.

TRE was good and entertaining as well. The last part of the book was a novella called Tom Stranger: Inter-Dimensional Insurance Agent. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud at Correia's warped and hilarious sense of humor. The work is sheer insane hilarity from start to finish. The other short stories ranged from good to great, at least to me. No stinkers, but some real gems. I love Larry Correia, and if you haven't tried him, pick up Monster Hunters International, or the Dead Six Trilogy. Fast reads, but definitely fun. Jim Butcher (of Dresden fame) love Correia, and Correia love Butcher, and I can see why. Both are extremely fun and entertaining authors.

I loved it so much I started his fantasy series Son of the Black Sword.

In progress (still): COMC (Dumas), Ready Player Two (Cline), Son of the Black Sword (Correia), and Hostage to the Devil (Martin).

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Tom Stranger: A Murder of Manatees is pretty dang funny as well. I enjoy Correia's humor immensely. Saga of the Forgotten Warrior (Son of the Black Sword ) is more traditional fantasy (serious, no jokes) but very entertaining. Wish he would go ahead finish the fourth one. Grimnoir Chronicles is also a fun read. I haven't been able to wrangle TRE but looks like I'll need to try harder. Also, I guess I need to look into Dead Six Trilogy. Glad to see someone else here appreciates MHI.

Have you read the Monster Hunter Memoirs? I found those exceptionally good (although I haven't gotten to the 4th one yet but it is a different storyline anyway).

If you want to try something a little different and unique in the Fantasy genre: try Brian McClellan that I mentioned on the previous page.

YouBet said:

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Supernova in the East V - Dan Carlin
One left in this series. Several Pacific theater books I'm going to want to read out of this.


Completed YTD:

Fugitive Telemetry (The Murderbot Diaries #6)
Supernova in the East IV
Blood Rites (The Dresden Files #6)
Dead Beat (The Dresden Files #7)
Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files #8)
White Night (The Dresden Files #9)
Small Favor (The Dresden Files #10)
Turn Coat (The Dresden Files #11)
Changes (The Dresden Files #12)
Side Jobs (Stories from the Dresden Files #12.5)
Ghost Story (The Dresden Files #13)
Cold Days (The Dresden Files #14)
Skin Game (The Dresden Files #15)
Brief Cases (Stories from the Dresden Files #15.5)
Peace Talks (The Dresden Files #16)
Battleground (The Dresden Files #17)

Currently Reading:
Supernova in the East VI - Dan Carlin
Lives of the Stoics (The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius) - Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

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Dresden related, there are several novellas or short stories I can't find. Do you (or anyone else) have any idea where to locate these?
9.5 Mike (microfiction)
12.2 Journal (microfiction)
13.2 Goodbye (microfiction)
15.4 Job Placement (microfiction)
15.5 Everything the Light Touches (microfiction)
15.6 Monsters
17.3 The Good People (microfiction)
17.4 The Law
17.5 Fugitive

Thanks to Lathspell I found several here (Jim Butcher calls them microfictions): https://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/side-jobs

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Prologue of new Stormlight book…

https://reactormag.com/read-wind-and-truth-by-brandon-sanderson-preface-and-prologue/

13B said:

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Dr. Mephisto said:

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Okay, completed both Target Rich Environment (short stories, volume 1) by Larry Correia and Stephen King's Fairy Tale on Wednesday.

King's work was good and entertaining. I'd give it a A-/B+. If you like King, you'll appreciate this effort. A dog is one of the main characters, and I'm a sucker for dogs.

TRE was good and entertaining as well. The last part of the book was a novella called Tom Stranger: Inter-Dimensional Insurance Agent. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud at Correia's warped and hilarious sense of humor. The work is sheer insane hilarity from start to finish. The other short stories ranged from good to great, at least to me. No stinkers, but some real gems. I love Larry Correia, and if you haven't tried him, pick up Monster Hunters International, or the Dead Six Trilogy. Fast reads, but definitely fun. Jim Butcher (of Dresden fame) love Correia, and Correia love Butcher, and I can see why. Both are extremely fun and entertaining authors.

I loved it so much I started his fantasy series Son of the Black Sword.

In progress (still): COMC (Dumas), Ready Player Two (Cline), Son of the Black Sword (Correia), and Hostage to the Devil (Martin).

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Tom Stranger: A Murder of Manatees is pretty dang funny as well. I enjoy Correia's humor immensely. Saga of the Forgotten Warrior (Son of the Black Sword ) is more traditional fantasy (serious, no jokes) but very entertaining. Wish he would go ahead finish the fourth one. Grimnoir Chronicles is also a fun read. I haven't been able to wrangle TRE but looks like I'll need to try harder. Also, I guess I need to look into Dead Six Trilogy. Glad to see someone else here appreciates MHI.

Have you read the Monster Hunter Memoirs? I found those exceptionally good (although I haven't gotten to the 4th one yet but it is a different storyline anyway).

If you want to try something a little different and unique in the Fantasy genre: try Brian McClellan that I mentioned on the previous page.

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Yes! Always good to find someone who appreciates Correia's action, humor, and intrigue!

Thanks for the recommendation. Now I pretty much HAVE to read it, after the fun ride that TS: IDIA was!

This is next on my list. Currently reading All the Colors of the Dark.

Two questions.
What didn't you like about The Martian? I loved the book, and watch the movie whenever I can catch it on TV.
What are some of the epic series you've read that span up to 50 books? That is one heck of a series to latch onto and finish.
TIA

I didn't like the main character. Was written to be very juvenile IMO and edgy immature characters is something I've just about reached my fill on, personally. It's pretty rampant in the indie sci-fi/fantasy world which I've read probably too much of at this point.

And the Warhammer Horus Heresy series is at around 60-ish books I think? I don't have the last three or four yet so not sure. Most fall into the 10-15 range though. The Midkemia universe is probably my favorite series of all and that clocks in at 31. Though that one is split into multiple quasi stand alone tri/quadrilogies that come together to form a main story arc across all 31.

Eliminatus said:

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…edgy immature characters is something I've just about reached my fill on, personally. It's pretty rampant in the indie sci-fi/fantasy world which I've read probably too much of at this point.

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Then stay away from Artemis! I liked The Martian and Project Hail Mary but not his middle book for the same reason.

Thanks for the responses. I guess I appreciate The Martian because, if you ask my wife, she'll tell you I still have a juvenile sense of humor at 70. I did lose the edgy part a long, long time ago, though.
I've never looked into Warhammer and never heard of the Midkemia universe. I see I have some research to do.

Godzilla. Short novel written in the early 50s that was the source of the first Godzilla movie. Translated from Japanese to English in a recent publication, along with a sequel, Godzilla Raids Again, that I started last night. First non-technical book I have finished in some time.