What are you Reading Now?

After Neverwhere I read Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver. It's very rare for me to read a non-fantasy book, but I do have a soft spot for "gothic" thrillers. It was certainly gripping.

I also started reading The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang because I've seen it recommended so often and it was on sale. Predictably though, I began losing interest as soon as the actual war started around 40%. At 55% I'm stalled. I just don't find war very interesting. It doesn't help that I can't really relate to or sympathize with the MC.

Now I'm rereading Dune Messiah because I was just in the mood for it. The Dune books are ones that I tend to reread every few years.

 

Finished Dune Messiah. Oh man. I cried so much. I forgot how heart-wrenching that book is. Though from what I've seen it seems like I'm the only person who really, strongly sympathizes with Paul and his anxieties. Most people I've talked to about the books don't have much patience for him. Moved directly on to Children of Dune because how can I not. As much as I love Paul and I really love Paul, I might possibly love Leto II more.

 

Ok that one sounds so interesting I had to start it right away.

 

I've finished reading Children of Dune and it was almost a different experience entirely from the last time I read it. I feel like I understood certain aspect better this time. Having had deeper experiences with the first 3 Dune series books this time around, I think I will reread them all this time. Normally I don't both rereading Heretics or Chapterhouse. I'm really looking forward to having new revelations in God Emperor of Dune next.

But first... I want to immerse myself in research reading. I have a TON of books I want to read to help me with my world building. Though my world is decidedly fantasy, it's basically our world in an "alternate universe" where I'm taking a ton of stuff I find fascinating in our world and putting it in a blender and whipping it up into a delicious smoothie. So I take a lot of material from history, particularly ancient to late antiquity, and a ton from various mythologies. So I have a huge reading list of books about mythology and history and culture. I started reading Pliny's Natural History the other day and wow is it wild.