The Not a Book Club Club discussion

I'm not really enjoying either book I'm reading, and I don't know what to do next. I want something fun. Or interesting, so long as it doesn't require much thinking.

I've been debating maybe a nonfiction break. Or something light and fun. But I have no idea what. I own a bunch of books I haven't read, but nothing is jumping at me.

Anyone have any suggestions?

What's your taste in nonfiction?

How about The Palace Job? I haven't read it yet, but I bought it last time it was on sale for the kindle and seems like a lot of fun, in a sort of off to be the wizard / gentleman bastards sort of way.

I also planned to read Nexus sometime this month.

Both of those are on your to-read list and I think you already own The Palace Job.

Mostly technology. Here's my nonfiction shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I own both of those books Sky. I just bought The Palace Job. Nexus is near the top of my queue. I'm not sure if it is a 'fun' book (though good from all I hear), but Palace Job sounds like it could be.

I'm out of my element with that list, Rob. Although The Watchman kinda intrigued me.

Nexus definitely isn't fun and light but it's really good.

I want to read The Palace Job just because Patrick Weekes wrote for the Mass Effect series and wrote my favorite character, Mordin Solus.

Yeah, Palace Job definitely sounds light and fun - Nexus, probably not :)

From your non-fiction shelf, Fatal System Error, Hacker Crackdown, Cyberpunk, and Ghost in the Wires were all good. Probably my favorite was Hacker Crackdown...That's some old school shit though :)

If you are in the mood for some good hacker/cyber crime non fiction, I highly recommend Spam Nation: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime — from Global Epidemic to Your Front Door

I haven't read it, but NPCslooks light and fun. You may own it - I know I bought it at one time as a kindle deal. I suspect I'll enjoy it because of the relation to WoW.

If youve read all those books, why dont you have ratings for them Sky?

Hmm. I guess I missed that deal Suzanne.

I just checked - looks like it is one of the loanable kindle titles - so if you ever want to read it, just let me know.

Thanks.

i read them years ago, before I used goodreads (and in some cases, before the internets existed). I haven't gone back and rated a lot of the old books I've read. Spam Nation I read on an airplane and forgot to rate when I got back from vacation :) But it is my favorite of the non-fiction cyber-crime genre.

I'm nearly finished The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. It reminds me very much of reading The Goblin Emperor last year. It's long and leisurely and almost everybody in it has good intentions towards each other. A literary hug.

A low pressure plot, with likable characters generally being nice to each other. It's a good palate cleanser.

Lindsay wrote: "I'm nearly finished The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. It reminds me very much of reading The Goblin Emperor last year. It's l..."

Goblin Emperor is one of the books I'm currently reading and not all that into. So that's not exactly the best comparison for me.

Hmm. Ben Aaronovitch for some light fun?

Ok. Fun and interesting, but not too thinky. What about something like Fragment by Warren Fahy? Read the Oatmeal's take on Mantis Shrimp first :)

The theory is that the evolutionarily-overengineered Mantis Shrimp is the sole escapee of an ecosystem that requires that level of badassedness to survive.

A tad Chrictonesque without the Luddite themes.

Alex wrote: "You're all caught up on Wes Chu's books?."

Well I've read both of his Tao books already, does he have others? If so are they as good?

Alex wrote: "Scalzi is fun."

I've done Zoe's Tale which was OK, and The Human Division which I really liked already this year. Very fun, but sadly now I'm caught up. I think I have maybe 1 or 2 others of his books I haven't read, but what I really want to read is The End of All Things..

Alex wrote: "So is Lynch."

I've read all 3 of his Gentleman Bastard books, I'm not sure if he has anything else.

Alex wrote: "Also, try re-reading? That always puts me in a good mood. Something comforting that I can just snuggle up with. A fav Dresden novel? Robert Jordan? Robin Hobb?"

Yeah, that's why I redid Ready Player One. I may do a LotR reread at some point this year as well.

Kat wrote: "Hmm. Ben Aaronovitch for some light fun?"

I haven't read any of him. I think I have some of his books on my TBR list. I feel like he's an Urban Fantasy writer though, and I haven't had much luck with Urban Fantasy apart from Dresden. Which of his do your recommend.

Lindsay wrote: "Ok. Fun and interesting, but not too thinky. What about something like Fragment by Warren Fahy? Read the Oatmeal's take on Mantis Shrimp first :)

The theory is that..."

I'm not sure that's what I'm in the mood for right now, but I'll keep that one in mind for another time. I used to really like Crichton when I was in high school, but haven't really read him since. I've probably read most of his best stuff already anyways.

Thanks all for the input. I do appreciate all the ideas. I'm still not sure what I'm in the mood for next. So any additional ideas are welcome.

So far nothing is just jumping at me though. Maybe I need to take a break from reading or something..

Midnight Riot was what the first one was called in the US. In the UK it was called Rivers of London.

I believe there's an omnibus of the first three called The PC Grant Novels.

I really liked Horns, Joe Hill has a great sense of humor.

Ashley wrote: "I really liked Horns, Joe Hill has a great sense of humor."

That's horror though, right? I really like Hill's Locke & Key stuff, but I haven't tried one of his novels yet.

Rob wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I really liked Horns, Joe Hill has a great sense of humor."

That's horror though, right? I really like Hill's Locke & Key stuff, but I haven't tried one of his novels..."

Yeah. I haven't read Locke & Key yet, I need to track that down from the library soon.

Yeah. I thought so. I'm not really a horror fan in general, unless it's more fantastical, and even then I have to be in the right mood. Horns could be good at another time. And you should defin get Locke & Key. Sooo good. I gave the final volume 5 stars.

I think right now I'm between trying that Spam NF book from the library, Midnight Riot in audio, or maybe finally starting that LotR reread in audio. But none of them are overwhelming me. Or maybe I'll finally do What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions and/or Retribution Falls; both of which I have sitting on my table at home already.

Lots and lots of options, just still not feeling anything.

I'm probably doing The Martian Chronicles in audio after I finish Range of Ghosts since I need to do a review of that for the site I got it from, so I have a bit of time to decide on audio.

And in text, I want/need to finish The Goblin Emperor before doing something else. It's not that it's bad, I'm just slow about reading it. It hasn't really sucked me in yet. But I need to pick up the pace since it's a library book that I'll have to return eventually.

I'm stuck waiting for a few books I want either because they haven't arrived in the mail yet, or haven't been released yet. Lots to look forward to this summer/fall, only 1 book in the spring that I can think of.

I have An Unwelcome Quest and a book about Alan Turing coming at some point. I'd be listening to one/both of those next if I could. The only downside of free audio books that come on CD instead of download. :)

If you are up for some grimdark the Heresy Within was a great trilogy. It is by Rob J. Hayes and I think his world and magic system definitely beat Abercombie and his charaters are also really good. I enjoyed it more than the main First Law series. He has 5 short stories up on his website http://www.robjhayes.co.uk/stories.php all take place before the main series so no spoilers.

Speaking of Abercombie why not try Half the World it was much better than the first.

Another YA series that is very light fast reading is the Ranger's apprentice series by John Flanagan. They center around two teen boys in training, one as a ranger basically a badass scout and the other as a knight.

God no Grimdark. In fact that's about the opposite of what I want. lol.

If I do fantasy, I want something more like Theft of Swords or maybe The Lies of Locke Lamora. (Which is why The Palace Job might be up there as well).

And I'm still waiting on my hold for Half the World to come in at the library. I'm not sure they even have gotten the book in circulation yet. Last I saw it was "on order". Despite the good reviews, I'm not convinced I'll like it that much more than the first one.

What's the first book in that Ranger series called? That might be worth checking out. I'm a big fan of the magic school trope.

try some discworld Rob, i always do when the same happens to me.

I hated Horns so my advice is to read it at some point and form your own opinion. Re-reading LotR is probably a good bet.

Rob wrote: "I have An Unwelcome Quest and a book about Alan Turing coming at some point. I'd be listening to one/both of those next if I could. The only downside of free audio books that come on CD instead of download. :) "

Have you used your trial of Amazon Unlimited yet? All the Magic 2.0 books are available. The audio might be free as well, I can't remember. If it wasn't, it was like $2.99. You can always start your free trial, snag the audio, and a google calendar reminder to cancel...It's what I did ;)

Rob wrote: "What's the first book in that Ranger series called? That might be worth checking out. I'm a big fan of the magic school trope. "

hehe me too...I've been meaning to check out the Ranger's Apprentice series as well, I've seen it mentioned in comments numerous times. The first one is The Ruins of Gorlan

Mark wrote: "try some discworld Rob, i always do when the same happens to me."

I've read The Color of Magic last year, and own the first 4 or 5. I didn't LOVE the first one. So I haven't gotten around to The Light Fantastic.

Though my buddy recommended I start with Guards! Guards! instead of The Color of Magic, but of course I don't own that one yet, and my OCD doesn't like me to skip so many books even if it's a different story line. lol.

Sky wrote: "Have you used your trial of Amazon Unlimited yet?"

I have enough audible credits that I could buy it and return it or something. As long as you don't return stuff too often I don't think they question any returns.

Maybe I should buy it, just to support the author. But considering how many OTHER people I got to read the series..

i am going to agree with your buddy Rob.

Maybe I'll see about borrowing it from the library. If I can get my OCD to let me skip publication order. lol.

lols. just keep repeating book 1 in the city watch serie

Rob wrote: "Sky wrote: "Have you used your trial of Amazon Unlimited yet?"

I have enough audible credits that I could buy it and return it or something. As long as you don't return stuff too often I don't thi..."

I think getting the book through amazon unlimited supports the author somewhere between buying it outright and getting your free review copy :)

I didn't see any Connie Willis on your list - check out To Say Nothing of the Dog

Or Saladin Ahmed Throne of the Crescent Moon

Rob wrote: "Kat wrote: "Hmm. Ben Aaronovitch for some light fun?"

I haven't read any of him. I think I have some of his books on my TBR list. I feel like he's an Urban Fantasy writer though, and I haven't had..."

Yes, it's a bit like Dresden. One difference I found after reading 4 books of each was that in the Dresden files the fey exist alongside, but outside human society. You don't see a member of the Red Court flipping burgers during the day. In the Peter Grant novels they're more... suitably integrated (kinda like in American Gods). Also, the wizard protagonist is still at the very beginning of his career, so he's sort of an overgrown Harry Potter getting to grips with new spells he learns and so on.

I quite enjoyed that.

I"d recommend starting at the beginning, as each book assumes you have at least some idea of what went on before.

Lindsay wrote: "Midnight Riot was what the first one was called in the US. In the UK it was called Rivers of London. "

That's right. I really don't know why they changed it, because the whole book is about London, and its rivers play important parts. However, I don't remember a riot, neither at midnight nor any other time of day...

Rob wrote: "Maybe I'll see about borrowing it from the library. If I can get my OCD to let me skip publication order. lol."

I am just starting Guards! Guards! so can't say if it is worth skipping the ones before but I wouldn't be able to go out of publication order either. I think the first 7 all had interesting characters and let you explore the world a lot.

No. I don't really just want something to read on my own pace and not feel like I'm behind a group read.

Aaronovitch is a ton of fun and exactly what I read when I'm feeling burned out. Plus, it's so much fun that the main character is pretty geeky himself and throws in lots of fun sci-fi, etc references. The best place to start is the beginning!

What about David Sedaris? The stories in Me Talk Pretty One Day still make me laugh...especially the Easter one lol

Some really great suggestions in here! Added a couple myself.

I usually go the Alex route when I'm in a funk and re-read an old favorite. Just did it recently with The Power of One. Have you done Za re-read of Riyria? I liked it better the second time around

Sometimes switching up the genre you're reading can help too. When I want light and fun, I'll usually go for detective/mystery books. Carl Hiaasen has a bunch of books that are light, fun and funny. They are pretty much all standalone but a few characters make repeat appearances. I started with Double Whammy which has one of my all-time favorite characters in it.

Robert Crais has an entertaining PI series, Elvis Cole. Think the first is The Monkey's Raincoat. Short, quick read with some decent action. Each book gets better and better, IMO

Apparently I'm Russian. "Yah, za re-read is ze way to go, comrade"

Ve VILL make you read, Rob!

meh.