Gotta say, regardless of what I think of the books, Feersum Endjinn is a frakkin awesome name.

Death Du Jour - Kathy Reichs

I'm a big Ian Banks fan, really liked Consider Phlebas , because of it's fast pace and huge scope. Didn't care for the Wasp Factory much. Non sci fi Espedair street was great and Complicity I have re read several times.

Feersum Endjin was tough with all the Pidgin English, but he story is great, Excession was a bit too out there.

Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace - Nigel Robinson
(yes, I am well into the Troughtons!)

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers. Extremely well done characters, in a somewhat surreal, but very plausible American south between world wars.

To follow the actual thread title, the book I'm currently reading is The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi . I read on some thread somewhere about what's hot in new sci fi so gave it a shot, I had to wait 7th in line for the reservation at the library.

Very good, I'm liking it a lot, the Wikipedia article there calls it BioPunk, :neutral:

It's set on a future Earth very beleivable extension of current technological advances, no laser guns, anti gravity or aliens.

Doctor Who and The Cybermen - Gerry Davis

(broadcast title: The Moonbase)

Technically not 'reading', but I've been listening to the Clarkesworld short story podcasts. This one stood out, but I can't tell you why without it being a spoiler.

http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/audio_05_11a/

BTW, Kate Baker, who narrates all of the Clarkesworld stories, or at least the ones I've heard up until now, has a very sexy voice.;)

Every Last One--Anna Quindlen

Crooked Little Heart--Anne Lamott

I'm starting to reread Game of Thrones. I'm not sure yet if I'll hold off reading the new book until I've finished rereading the others.

@ HM: I got the audiobook, but I'm not clicking with the reader. Might have to get ahold of a paper copy.

I'm currently reading the extended version of The Stand by Stephen King. I'm really enjoying it.

My original copy of The Stand fell apart, so I had to buy the extended version.
Even now I still remember which parts were extended (jore or less).
I need to buy a new copy now - hope there isn't any more added to it...

Just remembered - the first time I read it I didn't know what Pop Tarts were (someone eats a cold Pop Tart at some point - possibly Larry).
That seems like a LONG time ago now.

Yes I think it was Larry when he was still in NY.

The copy I'm reading is Dazza's and the back cover is gone and so is the front. The pages are very yellowed and I'm not sure if it's got the final few pages still, but here's hoping. I haven't wanted to look at the back of it because I hate spoiling the ending.

I think I might get a new copy though. This one is very uncomfortable to read because of the state it's in.

It would be one of my desert island books - from sheer length and episodic readability. It's like a made-for-TV-series with gore and sex and continent-wide scope. Not worldwide, but hey. That would have made it even longer!

I'm not saying it's a great book. But it's a bloody good read.
BTW - the Pop Tart comes later. But I can't give you any more details if it's your first time round.
It's not a seminal plot point - it's a tiny detail. I only remember it because it made no sense to me at the time - but anything else I write would be a spoiler.

If you're in New York with Larry you will remember his mother sneezing and saying shit. That stuck with me a while too. I sneeze at any given stimulus - including other people sneezing. Imagine me with a throat infection. OWWWWW! Certainly sneezing feels like I have Captain Trips. Just can't say shit now I work in a school.