What are you Reading Now?

Just read Steinbeck's East of Eden for the first time (after avoiding it forever) ... it was Wonderful! He is such an Amazing Writer. The ending was perfect and included a small fitting surprise at the finale.

 

Going back to a classic. Ordered "Pawn of Prophecy" by David Eddings. I didn't really like it when it first read it but we'll see if I have matured and can get past my own issues with books. It will be interesting to revisit this classic.

Although I am aware that it probably hasn't aged very well in many aspects. Still a classic that everyone should have read.

 

Reading Dune for the first time. I know. I'm ashamed.

 

N.K. Jemisin's The Broken Earth trilogy.

 

I haven't read it either yet, so I know the feeling.

 

I'm about two-thirds of the way through Ben-Hur, which I hadn't read since I was a teen. Despite being extraordinarily long-winded, it's any easy read. But so much relies on unlikely coincidences!

 

Haven't read that in forever. I am currently reading The Unspoken Name. Which involves a very rare thing for fantasy. An orc heroine, of sorts. Well, Assassin and bruiser among other things and quite well learned. Been quite good so far.

 

I must say I am finding Ben-Hur, despite the preposterous coincidences that drive the plot, a textbook on story structure.

 

I am now reading Ian Watson's Space Marine. The first published story involving the everloving grim darkness of the far future of only war. It is, well, it is something for certain. From a Marine named Biff to very verbose language that suddenly slams into stunted pidgen and course word use. And you kind of get used to the marines being spoken of almost lovingly in their buff musculature and the main trio's brotherhood that borders on the homoerotic when in their heads. It's good in it's own way and definitely worth a read for an early look into the slightly more colorful grim darkness.

On the other hand, there's still Stunty's in it and a lot of fighting, as per the course of the universe.

 

While waiting for "Pawn of Prophecy" I'm reading "The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar" by Kim Rendfeld.

 

Well, that sounds fun.

Currently reading Stein on Writing and the guy's pretty pretentious. Keeps name dropping people I've never heard of. Also been skipping the non-fiction parts. Should I skip the non-fiction parts? Been asking myself why I bought this.

Also, don't yell at me, but, Return of the King for the first time. Slow going.

 

I just started Bad Mermaids by Sibéal Pounder. I loved her Witch Wars series so much and figured I give her other books a try.