Hey Beehaw, whatcha reading right now?
- Scevola ( @scevola44@beehaw.org ) 12•11 months ago
I’m halfway into “Guards! Guards!” by Pratchett. My first story of his, and I’m having so much fun!
- alex [they/them] ( @alex@beehaw.org ) English7•11 months ago
ahhhh welcome to the discworld!!
- followthewhiterabbit ( @followthewhiterabbit@beehaw.org ) 6•11 months ago
You’ll love these books!
Jealous you get to read them all for the first time.
- DJDarren ( @DJDarren@beehaw.org ) 5•11 months ago
Once you’ve read that, get a copy of Nightwatch. Much the same cast of characters, but it’s widely considered to be Terry’s magnum opus. That book is a damn work of art.
#GNUTerryPratchett
- Scevola ( @scevola44@beehaw.org ) 6•11 months ago
Yeah, I already have planned to read the whole night watch saga. Then I’ll see what other side of the Discworld to move on to
- fishy 2.0 (he/him) ( @fishy_2_0@beehaw.org ) 11•11 months ago
Currently reading Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy really fun reads though it got weird in some places
- schreiblehrling ( @schreiblehrling@beehaw.org ) 3•11 months ago
It has to! lol A completely weird book, but that is what makes it so fun. Enjoy!
- fishy 2.0 (he/him) ( @fishy_2_0@beehaw.org ) 3•11 months ago
yup the way duglas adams writes makes for some hilarious moments definitely enjoying my time with them
- b000rg ( @b000rg@midwest.social ) 2•11 months ago
This is my favorite book series. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe stands out as my favorite overall.
- scoobford ( @scoobford@lemmy.ml ) 11•11 months ago
The Murderbot Diaries.
I’ve been enjoying it, it has a surprising amount of heart for a series about an emotionally damaged not-robot.
- IndeterminateName ( @IndeterminateName@beehaw.org ) 4•11 months ago
I was put off by the pricing on these. Full price for novella length. I really enjoyed the first one, I’ll grab the rest if they go on sale
- hybrid havoc ( @hybridhavoc@beehaw.org ) 4•11 months ago
- IndeterminateName ( @IndeterminateName@beehaw.org ) 3•11 months ago
Oh hell yes! Thank you!
- scoobford ( @scoobford@lemmy.ml ) 4•11 months ago
If your local library doesn’t have them, they are on humble bundle right now.
- EntropicalVacation ( @EntropicalVacation@midwest.social ) 2•11 months ago
I’ve reread the series more than once, and I hardly ever reread books—I just can’t get enough of Murderbot! I’m anxiously awaiting the new release, System Collapse, due out later this year.
- IndeterminateName ( @IndeterminateName@beehaw.org ) 10•11 months ago
Currently working my way through the Three Body Problem series. They are very good but I’m not sure how much I’m enjoying them, they are pretty bleak in places.
- jeff ( @Yazee@beehaw.org ) 4•11 months ago
Fantastic novels. Skip the redemption of time though. It’s terrible
- drowned Phoenician ( @drownedPhoenician@feddit.de ) 3•11 months ago
I’ve only read the first one and found my enjoyment varying a lot. Sometimes there were great ideas and sometimes the pacing is too slow for me. Might pick up the second book sometime
- GooseDwarf ( @GooseDwarf@beehaw.org ) 3•11 months ago
I listened to the first two on audio book. I’m in the same boat as you, where I thought they were good, and pretty thought provoking, but very bleak, and almost propagandistic, I can’t really explain it though
- wit ( @wit@beehaw.org ) 3•11 months ago
I didn’t enjoy the first one that much, but devoured the next two. I still think about the second book often.
- flea ( @flea@hive.atlanten.se ) 1•11 months ago
Loved that series. But very bleak view of the universe. I loved it in the end.
- !ozoned@lemmy.world ( @ozoned@beehaw.org ) 10•11 months ago
Currently reading “Brave New World”, Aldous Huxley. Next up Isaac Asimov’s Foundation.
- flea ( @flea@hive.atlanten.se ) 2•11 months ago
Foundation books are great! Go for it!
- GooseDwarf ( @GooseDwarf@beehaw.org ) 9•11 months ago
I’m currently reading through Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. I’m a fan of SciFi, and cyberpunk especially. This book was on my reading list, and I decided to pick it up while in the bookstore the other day.
So far I’m really enjoying it. It feels a bit more pulpy than some of the other cyberpunk classics such as Neuromancer and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, but that’s not a bad thing. It certainly doesn’t take away from the entertainment in my opinion. Not every book needs to have a grand philosophy behind it.
- drowned Phoenician ( @drownedPhoenician@feddit.de ) 4•11 months ago
I guess I should finally read Snow Crash, but other books keep getting in the way. I just finished Neuromancer which surprised me with how well written it was. No idea why, but I expected the classics to be more … exhausting.
- GooseDwarf ( @GooseDwarf@beehaw.org ) 2•11 months ago
I get what you mean. Many classics are that way, especially as we get further from when they were written. I’ve been trying to work through Moby Dick on audio book during my commute, but it feels like a slog. Same with some parts of The Count of Monte Cristo but that has a good amount of suspense that really carries the reader through some of the more stuffy aristocratic sections.
- ArgentCorvid [Iowa] ( @argentcorvid@midwest.social ) 8•11 months ago
Just started Howl’s Moving Castle. Liking it so far!
Not exactly like the movie, but it’s pretty close.
- Infinitybiscuit ( @Infinitybiscuit@beehaw.org ) 4•11 months ago
I legitimately did not know there is a book. It’s my favorite movie so I might pick this up.
A lot of Miyazaki’s films are based on books! Kiki’s Delivery Services is a book as well, and Secret Life of Arietty is based on The Borrowers.
- ArgentCorvid [Iowa] ( @argentcorvid@midwest.social ) 2•11 months ago
Yes the book was first, and adapted for the movie. It’s a trilogy. They did a good job on the adaptation, though there are some differences, as there always are. I’m reading it through my Library on Libby.
- Velonie ( @Velonie@beehaw.org ) 8•11 months ago
The Count of Monte Cristo! Liking it so far and I’ve heard good things
- EntropicalVacation ( @EntropicalVacation@midwest.social ) 2•11 months ago
I just got a copy of the Count of Monte Cristo. I’ve enjoyed every Dumas novel I’ve read, but I’m surprised at how many I’ve missed.
- 2bR02b ( @2bR02b@lemmy.one ) 1•10 months ago
That story is such a beautiful tragedy! There are layers to it. You’ll enjoy each layer as you read the book multiple times.
- tcit ( @tcit@beehaw.org ) 8•11 months ago
Just started Lavinia from Ursula K. Le Guin.
- Jacob ( @Jacob@beehaw.org ) 2•11 months ago
How is bookwyrm?
- tcit ( @tcit@beehaw.org ) 2•11 months ago
I use it to keep track of my readings, not much for its social features. But it’s pretty much GoodReads federated otherwise (well, I didn’t make much use of GoodReads anyway).
Hopefully one day there’s going to be something agregating Trakt.tv, Bookwrym and something similar for video games.
- noodlejetski ( @noodlejetski@beehaw.org ) English8•11 months ago
working my way through Discworld again. currently at Unseen Academicals.
I will read Shepherd’s Crown this time.
- Squiddles ( @Squiddles@beehaw.org ) English4•11 months ago
Discworld is always a brilliant choice. Good luck getting through Shepherd’s Crown. I can’t do it. If I never read it, it never has to end. “People will always remember the songs he never had the chance to sing. And they will be the greatest songs of all.”
- Tatar_Nobility ( @Tatar_Nobility@lemmy.ml ) 7•11 months ago
Not beehaw 🤭 but I am reading Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex. While it wasn’t explicitly a feminist work, you can uncover by reading it the roots of feminist thought and literature.
- d3fc0n1 ( @d3fc0n1@beehaw.org ) 7•11 months ago
I’m reading The Stranger, by Albert Camus. It’s a short read and I’m already focusing on some of The Atlantic’s recommendations in the Summer Reading Guide.
- cold_cathode ( @cold_cathode@beehaw.org ) 1•11 months ago
I just started The Stranger too! I’ve been meaning to read it for a few years now. I wanted to find a paper copy in French, but I haven’t found one used yet so I’ve been reading it in English on paper and French online.
- Butterbee (She/Her) ( @Butterbee@beehaw.org ) 7•11 months ago
I am in the middle of reading Men at Arms, one of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchet. Very much recommend!
- StringTheory ( @StringTheory@beehaw.org ) 3•11 months ago
I’m in the middle of Wyrd Sisters (again)! GNU Terry Pratchett.
- Butterbee (She/Her) ( @Butterbee@beehaw.org ) 3•11 months ago
GNU Terry Pratchett
- metaltoilet ( @metaltoilet@beehaw.org ) 6•11 months ago
Just started both Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett and Speaking Bones by Ken Liu which is the 4th book in the Dandelion Dynasty. Highly recommend that series.
- d3fc0n1 ( @d3fc0n1@beehaw.org ) 4•11 months ago
Oh, I wanted to start the Terry Pratchett universe, but just looking at the “reading guide” discourages me. How are you finding it? Will check the Dandelion Dynasty though.
- metaltoilet ( @metaltoilet@beehaw.org ) 4•11 months ago
Diskworld is super funny but it’s how surprisingly astute it is that brings me back. I’m not very far in but it was recommended to me to start with the Guards series with Guards! Guards!.
- Squiddles ( @Squiddles@beehaw.org ) 2•11 months ago
Guards! Guards! is commonly recommended as a starting point. It’s a good book (they all are), but personally I recommend Men at Arms or Feet of Clay. They’re still early in the watch series, but the writing style is more fluid and compelling. I feel like Guards! Guards! was a turning point if you read the earlier books, but IMO he hit full-stride right around Men at Arms. And once Vimes embraces his rage at injustice it maxes the gauge and bits of steam start shooting out.
- StringTheory ( @StringTheory@beehaw.org ) 2•11 months ago
“Small Gods” is a stand-alone book that doesn’t need any of the others to make sense. It’s also one of my favorites. If you want to read a Discworld without any strings, I suggest “Small Gods.”
- sotolf ( @sotolf@beehaw.org ) 6•11 months ago
I’m currently reading through the “Starship’s mage” series by Glynn Stewart, he writes more or less exactly the kind of books that I like, kind of pulpy entertaining competency porn where most of the people are nice to each other. And it does feel kind of refreshing since so many books the last years feel so bleak to me.
- TheRtRevKaiser ( @TheRtRevKaiser@beehaw.org ) 4•11 months ago
I feel you on so many books right now being super bleak. I don’t love the grimdark trend.
I’ve been thinking about reading the Starship’s Mage books for a while, are they worth picking up?
- sotolf ( @sotolf@beehaw.org ) 3•11 months ago
I think so at least, they are well written, the characters are good, and there is a warmth in them between people that is really good. I also really enjoyed the duchy of terra series that I’ve read of him, after having read 18 books by him I have to say I really enjoy his writing, it’s not so complex, but entertaining and well paced, I’d say at least give one or two a try :)