Currently my main focus is on reading as many as possible of the proposed Prometheus Award nominees. I just finished Iain Banks's The Hydrogen Sonata, and I'm midway through Tobias Buckell's Arctic Rising. At this point I'm enjoying Buckell much more than I did Banks; this is the second Banks I've finished, and both books have left me at the end asking, "What did I read this for again?"
I'm also reading various works of nonfiction. Are they on topic?
Well, let's see. I recently made a trip to SDSU and brought home several books on economics-and Michael Ward's Planet Narnia, which I found very interesting; I'm not sure if I accept his analysis of the Narnia books-it's a long time since I read them!-but his discussion of the descent of the powers in That Hideous Strength is informative and helpful, which adds credibility to the rest.
The economics books are more mixed. Right now I'm halfway through Philip Mirowski's Against Mechanism, a critique of the use of physical science metaphors in neoclassical economics-which I tend to agree with, but I should have preferred to see a sustained discussion of Austrian economics as an alternative, rather than the institutionalism that Mirowski favors.
I've been on an Austen -> Heyer kick for the last month or two, inhaling Venetia (Heyer) and Danse de la Folie (Smith) this past week.
I am currently reading Heyer's Penhallow, which is making me depressed about my newbie riding skills and my abysmal lack of horse knowledge...
So next I think I'll read some lighter Heyer stuff and delve into horse research. Not only should it improve my riding to have some solid information in my head, it'll be useful for some horse-culture fantasy I need to write.
Have you checked into Judith Tarr's Writing for Horses? If you go over to Book View Cafe, you find it under her name--it's chock full of good horse stuff for writers. (I'd post a link but I don't know how to bring up two windows on the Mac yet.)
Recently finished Good Man Friday, the latest Benjamin January novel by Barbara Hambly. As usual, full of wonderful characters and fascinating history. And I really enjoyed the literary guest appearance in this one.
Now reading The Deed of Paksenarrion omnibus by Elizabeth Moon, another book with wonderful characters, because sometimes it's a comfort to escape to a world of competence, training and logistics.
Next up Walking home: travels with a troubadour along the Pennine Way by Simon Armitage.
I'm currently reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time, such fun! My bathroom book (classification not location- a book that can be read in bits and snatches as time allows) is an American Popular Culture Through History book on the Civil War and Reconstruction. It's got great references, which means I'm building a ToDo reading list. When I've got time to think I'm reading The Uncivil War: Irregular Warfare in the Upper South, 1861-1865 by Robert R Mackey.
Most recently I finished reading Sherwood's Revenant Eve and Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones. I had to do a road trip with my 11yo so we listened to House of Many Ways also by Diana Wynne Jones. For non-fiction, most recent reading was on how to care for a bearded dragon and before that was skimming various other Civil War histories as well as how-to books for Bobbin Lace.
Next up is another kids audio book (not sure yet, but he's requested more fantasy), a non-fiction book (not yet found) about 19th century mill towns, and either (or both) Sword and Chant by
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I'm also reading various works of nonfiction. Are they on topic?
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The economics books are more mixed. Right now I'm halfway through Philip Mirowski's Against Mechanism, a critique of the use of physical science metaphors in neoclassical economics-which I tend to agree with, but I should have preferred to see a sustained discussion of Austrian economics as an alternative, rather than the institutionalism that Mirowski favors.
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I've been on an Austen -> Heyer kick for the last month or two, inhaling Venetia (Heyer) and Danse de la Folie (Smith) this past week.
I am currently reading Heyer's Penhallow, which is making me depressed about my newbie riding skills and my abysmal lack of horse knowledge...
So next I think I'll read some lighter Heyer stuff and delve into horse research. Not only should it improve my riding to have some solid information in my head, it'll be useful for some horse-culture fantasy I need to write.
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Now reading The Deed of Paksenarrion omnibus by Elizabeth Moon, another book with wonderful characters, because sometimes it's a comfort to escape to a world of competence, training and logistics.
Next up Walking home: travels with a troubadour along the Pennine Way by Simon Armitage.
Reply
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Most recently I finished reading Sherwood's Revenant Eve and Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones. I had to do a road trip with my 11yo so we listened to House of Many Ways also by Diana Wynne Jones. For non-fiction, most recent reading was on how to care for a bearded dragon and before that was skimming various other Civil War histories as well as how-to books for Bobbin Lace.
Next up is another kids audio book (not sure yet, but he's requested more fantasy), a non-fiction book (not yet found) about 19th century mill towns, and either (or both) Sword and Chant by ( ... )
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