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Kraken
Kraken | China Miéville
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from China Miéville’s Embassytown.With this outrageous new novel, China Miéville has written one of the strangest, funniest, and flat-out scariest books you will read this—or any other—year. The London that comes to life in Kraken is a weird metropolis awash in secret currents of myth and magic, where criminals, police, cultists, and wizards are locked in a war to bring about—or prevent—the End of All Things.In the Darwin Centre at London’s Natural History Museum, Billy Harrow, a cephalopod specialist, is conducting a tour whose climax is meant to be the Centre’s prize specimen of a rare Architeuthis dux—better known as the Giant Squid. But Billy’s tour takes an unexpected turn when the squid suddenly and impossibly vanishes into thin air.As Billy soon discovers, this is the precipitating act in a struggle to the death between mysterious but powerful forces in a London whose existence he has been blissfully ignorant of until now, a city whose denizens—human and otherwise—are adept in magic and murder.There is the Congregation of God Kraken, a sect of squid worshippers whose roots go back to the dawn of humanity—and beyond. There is the criminal mastermind known as the Tattoo, a merciless maniac inked onto the flesh of a hapless victim. There is the FSRC—the Fundamentalist and Sect-Related Crime Unit—a branch of London’s finest that fights sorcery with sorcery. There is Wati, a spirit from ancient Egypt who leads a ragtag union of magical familiars. There are the Londonmancers, who read the future in the city’s entrails. There is Grisamentum, London’s greatest wizard, whose shadow lingers long after his death. And then there is Goss and Subby, an ageless old man and a cretinous boy who, together, constitute a terrifying—yet darkly charismatic—demonic duo.All of them—and others—are in pursuit of Billy, who inadvertently holds the key to the missing squid, an embryonic god whose powers, properly harnessed, can destroy all that is, was, and ever shall be.
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review
bookwrm526
Kraken | China Miéville
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Mehso-so

WHAT the f&$? did I just listen to? That was an incredibly weird and confusing book. It was intriguing and I definitely wanted to know what happened, but I can‘t exactly say that I liked it.

31 likes1 stack add
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TheSpineView
Kraken | China Miéville;
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#Movie2BookRecs @Klou
Prompt: Cloverfield

Klou Great job!! 3y
TheSpineView @Klou 😊 3y
47 likes2 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Kraken | China Miéville
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#ManicMonday #LetterK @JoScho

- Kraken by China Miéville (Hey! You should go read Kraken!)

- Ken Kesey

- Kazi no tani no Naushika (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)

- Kele Okereke, lead singer of Bloc Party, but his solo album Fatherland is amazing too

- Key Entity Extraction IV: Evagria the Faithful by Coheed & Cambria ?

JoScho Thanks for playing ☺ï¸ðŸ–¤ 4y
Suet624 Aww, Kesey! Love his stuff. 4y
31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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sherryvdh
Kraken | China Miéville
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I tried to start this week off right! I did some #audiobaking: chocolate chip muffins and blueberry muffins. They were a hit with the boys and my husband. #KeepLitsyPositive

wanderinglynn Looks yummy! 😋 5y
44 likes1 comment
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CorgiBooks
Kraken | China Miéville
Pickpick

All time favourite book, absolutely adore the writing

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Laughterhp
Kraken | China Miéville
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1. Tagged book and Dracula by Bram Stoker. I‘m switching between the two when I‘m too tired to focus on Dracula.
2. Either The Familiars, Black Witch or Stardust
3. I actually just 5 🌟 my last read, A Cathedral of Myth & Bone by Kat Howard.

#weekendreads

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catsuit_mango
Kraken | China Miéville;
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So when you are travelling carry-on only it is not very smart to buy books... Especially big ones like kraken... If I'm complaining about my back today that is the reason why ;)

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Abby2
Kraken | China Miéville
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Pickpick

Crazy fun story with so many interesting twists.

9 likes1 stack add
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SconsinBookyBadger
Kraken | China Miéville
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📖 tagged book on my TBR

🎬 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man‘s Chest

🎼 Nemo ~ Nightwish 🦑 First song for Monday that Spotify shuffle mode began to play.

#manicmonday @JoScho

JoScho 💛🦑💛 6y
22 likes1 comment
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speljamr
Kraken | China Miéville
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The latest Thriftbooks book haul.

nudibranch Yessss! Kraken and Burnham's, my kind of reading!! 6y
Shamzi Empire of the Mughals is good!!! More a thriller than a history book, I enjoyed the fast pace of the books!! 6y
suzisteffen Not my fave Miéville, but still great. 6y
125 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Squidapus
Kraken | China Miéville
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Pickpick

What a trip! I dunno why Squidapus never read Mieville earlier because urban fantasy like this is his weakness! A book of delightfully witty prose about a preservation specialist and the giant squid that is stolen from him! While occasionally confusing thanks to the ideas this book has about magic it's heavily outweighed by how creative and unique those systems are. Squidapus really enjoys when an author dives deep to make they're fantasy shine!

Tonton This is so goodï¼ 6y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk Every Miéville novel goes this hardcore weird but in a totally different direction than all the others. My favorite is probably The Scar, but this one is up there. 6y
Squidapus @TobeyTheScavengerMonk Definitely need to read more 6y
11 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Squidapus
Kraken | China Miéville
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It's been a while since I was on here, unfortunately, but what better time to come back then on the day I finished Kraken by China Mieville I also got my tattoo of Squidapus done! It came out so good! He joins his good friends on my arm and is now forever a part of me!

#tattoo

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Squidapus
Kraken | China Miéville
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Oh ho ho, looks like it's time for Squidapus to start reading Kraken! How a propo. Amazingly, as someone writing an urban fantasy novel, Squidapus had never read a Mieville book. Mainly cause a friend said he could be problematic. That friend turned out to be a jerk so maybe he's actually really good! Let's find out!

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Moray_Reads
Kraken | China Miéville
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1. Kraken by China Miéville
2. Hannah Kent
3. Knightmare (a childhood favourite!)
4. Kreplach
#manicmonday #letterk @JoScho

JoScho What is Kreplach? 6y
SilversReviews Oooo...I enjoy Hannah Kent‘s books. 6y
Moray_Reads @JoScho a type of dumpling, similar to gyoza or pierogi 6y
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AlaMich 👠on the kreplach! 6y
JoScho Oh that sounds awesome! I love pierogies! 6y
Moray_Reads @JoScho me too! I love all types of dumpling 😋 6y
31 likes6 comments
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Squidapus
Kraken | China Miéville
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Well, look what I bought Squidapus while out and about today! He's never read any China Mieville (surprisingly) so I figured Kraken was a good place to start! I also found a cute book about sharks and a graphic novel dealing with trans issues. Maybe he'll forgive me for White Trash Zombie!
...hrm, still mad.

night_shift I love your squid!! 😠6y
Squidapus @UnidragonFrag Thanks! He doesn't say much but he's very well read. And holds a grudge when I buy him bad books... 6y
6 likes2 comments
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TelevisionNeighbor
Kraken | China Miéville
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Picked these up at one of those little lending libraries. I haven‘t read either author. I started Kraken once but had to return before I finished.

vivastory I'm almost finished with Kraken. It's bonkers. 6y
13 likes1 comment
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Kraken | China Miéville
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Getting a bit cheeky with the #China prompt #AugustItsATrip #Mievillains

BookishTrish Nicely played 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Wow!!! 😃😉â¤ï¸ðŸ’—🙌🻠6y
AlaMich You have quite the collection! What are your favorites of his? 6y
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk @AlaMich Top 3 would be The Scar, Perdido Street Station, Kraken, and The City & the City... wait, that‘s 4... oh and Railsea. Okay, so that‘s my Top 5, starting with Most Beloved. 6y
AlaMich @TobeyTheScavengerMonk 😊I haven‘t read all of his works, but my favorite thus far is The City. 6y
saresmoore 😠6y
vkois88 You had me sold with a book about a Kraken 😂😂 And its worshippers lol 6y
71 likes7 comments
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j9brown
Kraken | China Miéville
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A quick rainbow pile before getting ready for work!

#riotgrams #rainbowbookstack

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Creadnorthey
Kraken | China Miéville
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Pickpick

A great read! Rich and unbelievably quirky with plenty of steam in the punk to bring on the end of... something. Mieville populates his story with fascinating grotesque characters walking in step with the every day, to show his great love for London and examine the age old question: If an apocalypse finishes the world and no one is around to remember it, does the apocalypse really happen?" End conclusion: bring it (whatever it is) on!

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Creadnorthey
Kraken | China Miéville
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Yup still reading this- sucked down into the depths of Mieville‘s writing.

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Creadnorthey
Kraken | China Miéville

I‘m doing a leisurely read of this one it is such a pleasure- parts Lovecraft, parts nifty thriller, parts Marx brothers- can‘t really go wrong- where‘s the movie?

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AshHisson
Kraken | China Miéville
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Mehso-so

I really enjoyed aspects of this book, but found the writing style a bit disjointed and difficult to follow. I constantly found myself rereading pages because I had trouble remembering details. And the main character wasn‘t overly compelling; there were a lot of minor characters I would have liked to see a lot more of. I‘m torn on this but I don‘t think I‘d recommend this to friends. 2.5/5 #marchreads #specfic

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Moray_Reads
Kraken | China Miéville
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Pickpick

What a blinder! Kraken is full of complex ideas, all bound up in a thrilling plot and boundless imagination. It's a challenging, hilarious and astonishing ride, I never need to look up so many words and concepts as when I'm reading his work. This was my second reading and my deeper understanding of physics and eschatology from the intervening years just made me marvel the more at Mr Miéville's deeply Weird, fiercely, fiendishly intelligent brain.

saresmoore What a great review! I almost started this last night after finishing the first Dirk Gently, but I decided I was in the mood for a long, dark teatime, instead. 7y
Moray_Reads @saresmoore well, this is long and dark, not so much tea though ? I enjoyed this one even more the second time. It's like he read Neverwhere and thought "No offence, Neil, but I can make this much weirder." 7y
saresmoore Hahaha! What a great comparison! I MUST read it, now. 7y
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Moray_Reads
Kraken | China Miéville
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Swe_Eva Such a great book! Miéville is a special type of egg, indeed. ? 7y
Moray_Reads @LT_eva what a strange, brilliant man he is. I read this years ago and is forgotten how complex and bonkers it is 🦑🦑 7y
40 likes2 comments
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Bookboss
Kraken | China Miéville
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Pickpick

I love China Mieville‘s work. This book is a fast-paced urban fantasy that keeps the weirdness coming until nothing seems weird anymore. It could have done with a bit of editing, but still very enjoyable. The ride through the magical underbelly of London is exhilarating.

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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Kraken | China Miéville
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“Collingswood frowned at the clouds, like she did not like what they wrote.â€

The first quote that came to mind for #mood #QuotsyFeb18

If you wouldn‘t mind Neverwhere being a little darker and a little edgier, read this book!

AlaMich Holy cow, what language is that?? Or *cough* IS that a real language? 🤔 (edited) 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @Alamich Google says Hungarian! I was just looking for a cool Kraken picture. 7y
AlaMich @TobeyTheScavengerMonk phew, for a second there I thought you were just messing with me 😉 7y
63 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
Kraken | China Miéville
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Damn you #kindledailydeals !
I‘ve gone a little crazy lately (one is a #kindlefirst so it was free)
#sorrynotsorry

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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Kraken | China Miéville
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“Into sleep's benthos and deeper. A slander that the deepest parts are lightless. There are moments of phosphor with animal movement. Somatic glimmers, and in the trench of sleep those lights were tiny dreams.â€

#sleep #QuotsyJan18

If you like Neverwhere read Kraken!

#Recommendsday

Moray_Reads I LOVED Kraken. It was my first Miéville 7y
AiBBot I loved it too. The Scar is my favourite though. It shook my world. (edited) 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @AiBBot The Scar is my favorite Miéville too! 7y
AiBBot We have excellent taste. 7y
heikemarie Any Miéville!! :) 7y
67 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Ashley_Nicoletto
Kraken | China Miéville;
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Current month end Sunday listen.

#accountantproblems #justkeepswimming

Pruzy Aaaand? How did you like it? (edited) 7y
Ashley_Nicoletto @Pruzy I'm still processing sort of. It's so weird. 😂 But I enjoyed it. 7y
Pruzy @Ashley_Nicoletto Reminded me a lot of Neverwhere to be honest! 7y
52 likes3 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Kraken | China Miéville
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At the request of @Leniverse and @Pruzy here are my #Top10AuthorRecommendations ummm... I'm usually a stickler for arbitrary rules but... I slipped?

I did try to stick with authors I actually have and do recommend often. I love Gene Wolfe but he's not for everyone, and I kind of feel like I don't need to recommend Tolkien because you already either know his deal and love him or know he's not your bag.

StaceyKondla It is so cool to see an Alberta author (Minister Faust) on a favourites list stacked with big names 😊 7y
TricksyTails I love, love, love this list ♥ï¸ðŸ‘🻠Also, love how you rigged it to squeeze in even more awesome authors! 😂 7y
Leniverse I almost didn't add Tolkien for the same reason, but then I thought of all the times I've said, "Sure, the movies, whatever, but have you read the books!?" ? 7y
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Leniverse Also, there are four names on your list I haven't even heard of! 😱 Making notes. 7y
DivaDiane What an awesome list! 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @StaceyKondla I read Coyote Kings in college and have followed his work ever since! He deserves to be a big name too so I recommend him every chance I get. 7y
Leniverse Faust, Linskold, Morrison, and Anders. I'll have to look them up on Goodreads later. 😃 7y
RohitSawant Love this list! 7y
69 likes9 comments
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Kamisha
Kraken | China Miéville
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Panpan

Just finished this one on audio. And unfortunately I just could not get into it. It was a confusing one to listen to and didn't make me want to focus. The narrator was actually quite good but there was so much going on I found it hard to pay attention. Probably better read than listened to. #audiobookstogo #backtoreading

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becausetrains
Kraken | China Miéville;
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Pickpick

Neil Gaiman: "I'm gonna write a book about an outsider who gets swept up into factional conflict in magical London!"

China Miéville: "Hold my beer."

The story is good on its own merits, but moreso the 500-some pages hold some of the best world-building and characterization I've ever read. Miéville has a gift, and you should read slowly and savor it.

Grrlbrarian This was gonzo. I loved it - and Architeuthis! ðŸ˜ðŸ¦‘ 7y
CharissaWeaksAuthor Well, now I have to add this book. 7y
8leagueboot That Gaiman joke made me smile 😆 7y
46 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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becausetrains
Kraken | China Miéville;
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"But it was always a sleight of politics to stress only that aspect of the far right. There was another, somewhat repressed but no less faithful and faithfully fascist tradition: the decadent baroque."

China keeping it real through fiction. ?

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becausetrains
Kraken | China Miéville;
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Quotes out of context ftw 😂 #LitsyAfterDark

(PS: go read this book, especially fans of Neverwhere)

Robothugs 😂😂😂 7y
Zelma "Ever flog your skills?" Um, no thank you? ? 7y
LeahBergen Does that have the same meaning as our Canadian saying, "Pulling your goalie"? ? 7y
becausetrains @LeahBergen 😂 it's a real five-man rush 7y
LeahBergen 😂😂 7y
25 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Avanders
Kraken | China Miéville
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Day 2 of #sizzlinsummerbooks. #ocean ... at least I think these all relate .. most of my books are TBR so I don't always know precisely what they're about. ðŸ˜#owlcrate #MrB @owlcrate @Tiffy_Reads

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Literary_Siren
Kraken | China Miéville
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~*~ Daily Deal~*~ I have both these books sitting in my never ending TBR pile. Both are $1.99 right now. #GoodReadsDailyDeals

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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Kraken | China Miéville
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My favorite literary #bodyofwater shows up in Kraken. You see, there is an old Victorian house in the northwest of London filled from floor to ceiling with saltwater. It is the Embassy of the Sea.

You can't talk to the ocean in London. That would be crazy! No, you go to the Embassy, write down your request then put it in a little glass bottle and push it through the mail slot. Your answer will return the same way. The paper will be damp.

RealLifeReading Ok now I want to read this! 7y
rockpools I've been intrigued by Miéville, but this might have pushed me to actually read him! 7y
Moray_Reads Such an imagination â¤â¤ 7y
readinginthedark â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸I need to read this! 7y
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Kraken | China Miéville
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A random selection of books featuring #bodiesofwater, most of which are fictional, for #MayBookFlowers. Going to say the Kraken and the Mary Celeste count as #mythslegendsofthesea for #pirateslife #whatawaytolive

It's been a few weeks since I made a big deal about Kraken and how you should read it. I'm slipping.

CrowCAH Great choices! 7y
Moray_Reads Kraken was my first China Miéville, haven't looked back since 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @Moray_Reads I'm so glad I totally judged Perdido Street Station by its cover years ago. I picked it up when it and King Rat were his only published works. 7y
Moray_Reads @TobeyTheScavengerMonk I read Kraken shortly after I first read Neverwhere which is why I think that had never really been one of my favourites​ by Gaiman, it was just overwhelmed by Miéville 7y
65 likes4 comments
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DGRachel
Kraken | China Miéville
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I don't have a nightstand, but I use this corner of a desk in my room to charge my iPhone and iPad overnight and to stack whatever books I'm currently reading. Kraken is...weird. It's taking me awhile to get through, so I bought the paperback to eliminate the stress of library due dates. #onthenightstand #aprilbookshowers

TobeyTheScavengerMonk Weird is accurate. 8y
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Kraken | China Miéville
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"Into sleep's benthos and deeper. A slander that the deepest parts are lightless. There are moments of phosphor with animal movement. Somatic glimmers, and in the trench of sleep those lights were tiny dreams.â€

G'night folks. #aQuoteaDay

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DGRachel
Kraken | China Miéville
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I think it's time to retire the Bookout app. I've had migraines of varying intensities for days and I'm not feeling any of the books I've started (totally me, not the books). Because I'm in a funk, I'm reading slower and it's showing in my stats, which is stressing me out. I can feel myself not wanting to read the book because I'm reading too slow. What's up with that? #nopressure Definitely time to dump the app & the made up stress! #selfcare

Demanda My reading pace varies wildly depending on how I feel, my mood, and wine intake 😉. Get rid of that app, and read at whatever pace works for you in the moment. I hope you feel better! 8y
Notafraidofwords @Demanda totally agree! 8y
LeahBergen I read every single book at a different pace. Ditch it! We read because we love it. 8y
Amandajoy I tried this app & found it too stressful to remember to star the app! 8y
dsfisher Crickey girl, dump the app 8y
56 likes5 comments
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DGRachel
Kraken | China Miéville
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I have a ton of work I need to do around the house (mow the lawn, vacuum, laundry), but I am not feeling well, so I'm going to indulge in a warm beverage and start this book.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I hope you feel better!! 8y
Zelma Sounds like a much better plan! Get well! 8y
DGRachel @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Zelma Thank you! I got about a third of the (small) lawn mowed before I started to feel faint. Going to listen to my body now and just read or sleep. 😴🤕 8y
Zelma Good decision. No need to push it and make yourself sicker! 8y
Nat_Reads Love how your mug matches your book 👌 8y
66 likes5 comments
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prowlix
Kraken | China Miéville;
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Help! I have a question for my fellow audiophile Littens! I am trying to decide my best use for my current credit! I haven't read any China Miéville or listened to any John Lee yet and can't tell if this is a good place to start? The sample sounds great but this might be easier to read rather than listen too?

Lindy Mieville throws you in at the deep end at the start of his novels. I enjoyed this, and Embassytown, in audio, but I would recommend City and the City as your first Mieville. 8y
prowlix @Lindy thanks for the tip! 8y
Lindy @prowlix I forgot to mention that John Lee is fabulous. He also did City and the City. 👠8y
25 likes3 comments
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DGRachel
Kraken | China Miéville
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...and my library hold came in today. #blameitonLitsy #blametobeythescavengermonk

BookishBlonde12 Such a great read! 😠8y
mjdowens SOLD! 8y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk Prepare for some unleaded crazy! Enjoy! 8y
LauraBeth This sounds banana pants crazy! 8y
CherylDeFranceschi ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸŽ‰ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸŽ‰ 8y
69 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Kraken | China Miéville
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A day late for #autobuyauthors I think I really only have 3. Neil Gaiman, China Miéville (pictured), and Adrian Tchaikovsky. So basically 3 British guys.

4 of these are TBR. The rest are all spectacular in their own unique ways.

I'm basically going to keep posting about Kraken until everyone checks it out. @CherylDeFranceschi knows what's up. #marchintoreading

TobeyTheScavengerMonk @saresmoore If you like The City & the City there's more where that came from! 8y
2BR02B Embassytown is next on my TBR. Mieville is one of my few auto-buys as well. 8y
saresmoore I haven't read Adrian Tchaikovsky yet either. Do you have a suggestion of where to start—or rather which will a good the best representation of his skill? 8y
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saresmoore Also, @CherylDeFranceschi always knows what's up. 8y
Sue The City and the City is my fave Mieville. I also loved Embassytown. I struggled though the Kraken and bailed on Perdido St - way too many bodily fluids in that one for me! 8y
CherylDeFranceschi @saresmoore 😂😙 8y
CherylDeFranceschi Listen to Tibet- this book is tentacular!!!! 8y
AlaMich Another vote for The City And The City. Kraken definitely on the TBR list. 8y
AlaMich @Sue I finished Perdido but did not love it. 8y
IamIamIam I have one autobuy and that's Carl Hiaasen. Almost everything that man does is gold...almost...lol 8y
mandapants Done. Added to list. You got one more on board. 8y
Moray_Reads I've had a couple of misses with China Miéville but I'll read anything he puts out because he's a genius. I love Kraken, the City and the City, Railsea and The last Days of New Paris but I haven't read all of his backlist. Have you seen his forthcoming nonfiction? 8y
Sue @AlaMich It really reminded me of the grunge writing that started getting big in the 90s, which was not my thing. 8y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @sue @AlaMich Perdido Street Station was indeed gruesome with a capital GRUE but it was my first book by him and rocked my grunge '90s high school world. I will say that The Scar takes place in the same world and is a much better novel. 8y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @Moray_Reads I am excited about his October. I read very little nonfiction and it is a subject I know little about, but you are right about him being a genius. I have no doubt it will be a great read. 8y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @GrilledCheeseSamurai I‘ve still got to read Rail Sea, Un Lun Dun, Three Moments and New Paris. And October which came out after I took this. 7y
GrilledCheeseSamurai @TobeyTheScavengerMonk Un Lun Dun is unlike any of his other work, IMO. It's more young adult / fairy tailish. Very much an Alice in Wonderland vibe going on. Good stuff though. 👠7y
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