Finished Dead Beat by Jim Butcher. Loved the book. Series keep getting better and better.
After much deliberation on what to read next, went with Valour's Choice by Tanya Huff. Book 1 of "military sci-fi" series Confederation. Tanya Huff was recommended a long time ago on reddit, but I wasn't sure if I was in "military sci-fi" mood, but I am really enjoying the book.
The book is years after you join the Confederation, and it doesn't hand-hold you by explaining each "alien" term or how each species look like right away, giving you the feel that these words / things are so common that there is no need to explain them, but as the novel progress you start learning what's what and which species look like what.
What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening?
My problem with Simarillion is all the familiar looking names. Thinking about reading it while making a chart of all the name and their relationships along the way.