What are you reading? (November 2015)

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So, thanks to my work on the Rereading Shannara series for Tor.com, I was sent a press kit for MTV's upcoming television adaptation of The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks, and it's absolutely epic. I wanted to share some photos:



For scale, you can see a pint glass in the third photo. It's pretty much touching the box that the book is sitting on. It's huge.

I know there aren't a lot of Brooks fans around here, but I thought this was a lot of fun. Certainly the most intricate item I've received as a reviewer. It came with the first four episodes of the show, and, though I only had time to watch the opening of the premiere, I was very impressed by the production values, acting, etc.

That's obscene. They're really going all out for Shannara.
 
So, thanks to my work on the Rereading Shannara series for Tor.com, I was sent a press kit for MTV's upcoming television adaptation of The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks, and it's absolutely epic. I wanted to share some photos:

For scale, you can see a pint glass in the third photo. It's pretty much touching the box that the book is sitting on. It's huge.

I know there aren't a lot of Brooks fans around here, but I thought this was a lot of fun. Certainly the most intricate item I've received as a reviewer. It came with the first four episodes of the show, and, though I only had time to watch the opening of the premiere, I was very impressed by the production values, acting, etc.
Thanks for sharing! I'm so hyped for this. Been years since I read Shannara but the trailer for the series got me excited.
 
Reading Magicians of the Gods at the moment. Fascinating stuff.

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Heathen!

;)

I can't do it. I've tried to read them repeatedly and had to give up. I made it through The Assassins Apprentice but could get no farther. I honestly thing its my history of depression, Frtiz hits way to close to home for me to be able to enjoy the books. I had the same problem with Grossman. I wanted to reach through the book and strangle Quentin for reminding me of all my own flaws.
 
Started reading this on Sunday after it was recommended to me by a colleague

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I'm currently about 60% in and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. At times I do think the crossing of paths by main characters us a bit too convenient, but I'm willing to suspend my disbelieve.
 
I can't do it. I've tried to read them repeatedly and had to give up. I made it through The Assassins Apprentice but could get no farther. I honestly thing its my history of depression, Frtiz hits way to close to home for me to be able to enjoy the books. I had the same problem with Grossman. I wanted to reach through the book and strangle Quentin for reminding me of all my own flaws.
I also felt that fritz always made a bad decision which led to some frustrating parts. Most of all I just felt that nothing really happened. The plot lines fell flat for me and I just got bored. Rudd book one and got part way throug the end and gave up.
 
Drawing close to the light on David Copperfield. Never had any desire to read it before, but it's good and is making me want to move right into Oliver Twist. Doesn't have the feels to it of Bleak House or Tale of Two Cities. Might just wrap up the entire ouevre in the next year.

Also wrapping up Bleach 2 and am on One Piece 6. Liking Bleach more but both are fine. Unless One Piece really grabs me in the next two volumes I'll probably drop it and get started on Berserk, which has no furigana so will be much more annoying to look up words, but should be way more up my alley.
 
Attempted to get back into reading Game of Thrones #1 after quitting 230 pages in because it was too similar to the fantastic TV show (liked the book too) but couldn't get myself to read a story I already know and now I chose a similarly themed book (or so I hope) in Way of Kings by Sanderson:

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2 chapters in and it's about as entertaining as r/books led me to believe. I heard some good things about Sanderson so I'm excited to read on. Too bad the Kindle edition doesn't state which page I'm on though. Fucking hate that.

I hope to build enough distance to GoT by the time I finish Way of Kings so that I can start reading GoT again. Haven't watched the TV show past season 3 anyway so I should catch up somewhat quickly.
 
Finished Well of Ascension.

I thought the first half was a little meandering but the second half really picked up and was great overall. So much of the first half just seems so pointless.
Zane and Staff most of all. They make such a big deal about the relations to Eland and he has what, one interaction with both of them?

Overall I'd say I liked it less than the first Mistborn novel, but the second half was really good so that picked it up a lot in my book.

Next up: Hero of Ages
 
Finished Well of Ascension.

I thought the first half was a little meandering but the second half really picked up and was great overall. So much of the first half just seems so pointless.
Zane and Staff most of all. They make such a big deal about the relations to Eland and he has what, one interaction with both of them?

Overall I'd say I liked it less than the first Mistborn novel, but the second half was really good so that picked it up a lot in my book.

Next up: Hero of Ages
I personally find the first one the best, feels more like a complete package. I love the "heist/spy Ops among aristocracy" atmosphere, and a lot less whining/pointless inner struggles.
 
Currently reading:

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The book between The Finder Library, Volume 2 and Montaigne's Essays is The Complete Stories by Clarice Lispector. It's great!

It's my second time reading it and I'm still enjoying it. It certainly is an interesting take on the life of Jesus the man and not Jesus the savior. I think, barring rumored inaccuracies, that it is a great introductory piece for those wanting to understand a small piece of the history of the Christian theology.

In a lot of ways, it reads like historical fiction. It reminds me a lot of Norman Mailer's, The Gospel According to the Son, which was Mailer's egotistical way of writing about the human Jesus in the first-person. Both characterize Jesus as a normal but highly influential Jewish man who was a great orator. He just happened to be punished because of Roman zeal and being a representative of the continual rockiness of Roman rule during that time.

Ahh, I didn't realize you'd read it before. Yeah, I definitely agree with the comparison to historical fiction. I didn't really take to the format; I was expecting something more buttoned-up, if you know what I mean.
 

Haven't seen the movie, but have always heard good things about it. Finally got a library card in my new city, so gave it a shot.

I find the humor hilarious. It just seems like a non-traditional, change of pace to the books I typically read. Good stuff so far.

Oh, and happy Turkey Day!
 
Finally got Stephen King's Finders Keepers since having it on hold with the library since July. I don't care what anyone says about the man, he just knows how to write an entertaining book. Loving it!

Up next is John Irving's new book, Avenue of Mysteries.
 
Finished the The Three Musketeers.

Somewhere along the story Milady became the main villain and focus as opposed to the Cardinal. Rochefort also was barely there. The story just doesn't come well together like Monte Cristo does.

Are the sequels worth reading? The ending seemed pretty final to me.
 
I can't do it. I've tried to read them repeatedly and had to give up. I made it through The Assassins Apprentice but could get no farther. I honestly thing its my history of depression, Frtiz hits way to close to home for me to be able to enjoy the books. I had the same problem with Grossman. I wanted to reach through the book and strangle Quentin for reminding me of all my own flaws.

This is actually a really interesting and fair criticism of Hobb's Fitz books (I don't think it affects her other writing quite so much), and is one of the reasons that it's taken me so long to return to the series. Reading can take a huge emotional toll on me, and you have to be in the right place to journey alongside Fitz.
 
Hm, I've actually been thinking of reading the Farseer books I haven't read yet but I seem to keep finding new excuses to put it off. Maybe next year :/
 
Hm, I've actually been thinking of reading the Farseer books I haven't read yet but I seem to keep finding new excuses to put it off. Maybe next year :/

I did this! Every year I said to myself, "This is the year I'll read the Tawny Man trilogy." I basically did this for a decade. Now, as the end of 2015 approaches, I forced myself to stay true to my promise, and I haven't regretted a moment of it. Hobb's brilliant.
 
I personally find the first one the best, feels more like a complete package. I love the "heist/spy Ops among aristocracy" atmosphere, and a lot less whining/pointless inner struggles.

Though i'm a Sanderson fan, i've never forgiven him for not keeping that heist part up through the book. Rebellion? Eh, passable but would've preferred to read about Misting team making a heist.
Perhaps someday...
 
Finished The Last Policeman, although reading about how people live their lives in their months is fascinating, the actual police work and murder mystery is very underwhelming. Now on to the second book, cuz I bought it cheap.
 
I did this! Every year I said to myself, "This is the year I'll read the Tawny Man trilogy." I basically did this for a decade. Now, as the end of 2015 approaches, I forced myself to stay true to my promise, and I haven't regretted a moment of it. Hobb's brilliant.

Yeah, the funny thing is, the Farseer books are some of my favourite books so I'm not really sure why I keep putting it off.
 
Guess I'm a slower reader than Atraveller, but wrapped up The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters and enjoyed it thoroughly as it gave me nightmares about asteroids and the decline of our society. I haven't bought the 2nd book so going to read Get Katja by Simon Logan.

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I've forgotten to update what I've been reading for a while, too busy.

Anyway I just read The Name of the Wind in about a week, and I'm starting The Wise Man's Fear today. Been meaning to read these.

Though I kinda wish I waited until the 3rd book wasn't too far out.
 
Loving 'Ghost Boy' so much. Absolutely heart wrenching, love this part..

I can’t stop thinking about how my life will change once we finally decide which software to buy. The thought that I might soon hear my “voice” say, “I’m hungry” as many times as I want it to astounds me. Realizing that I might be able to ask, “What’s on the TV?” amazes me. These simple words are my own personal Mount Everests, to think I might soon conquer them is almost unimaginable.

Plenty of my favourite books involve underdog stories, characters overcoming major life obstacles, memoirs of resiliency, etc etc, and this is that in spades.
 
Finished "Midtens Rike" by Torbjørn Færøvik. A supremely readable account of China's history. Too bad his books are only available in Norwegian, they are really good.

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Now, a 20th century classic that has waited in my bookshelf since I bought it in 2009. The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse. I have high expectations!
 
Read the comic collection Swamp Thing by Scott Snyder (The Deluxe Edition) and it was really, really good. It makes most of DC's other gritty titles look cute. This book is pretty messed up and it is supposed to be, it is a horror story after all. The story is basically Alec Holland (Swamp Thing in human form) trying to forgot the swamp dude ever existed, but naturally that becomes harder as a new enemy known as The Rot (All things death) enters the mix oh and a girl named Abby Arcane who may have been in love with Swamp Thing shows up too.

The story sounds silly and it sort of is, but I had a lot of fun reading through it and as somebody who knows very little about Swamp Thing this was a pretty newbie friendly story. What I really enjoyed though was how it tried to be smart and I think it did pretty good at that, but of course this is all down to the reader. It is no Watchmen in the smarts department, but it isn't a dummy either and I appreciate that.
 
Fucking Kindle lost all my annotations for what I read so far in the Bible (Genesis). Ugh I don't want to read it over again.

Try deleting the book from your Kindle and redownloading it. That helped me once when all of my notes (250+) disappeared from a book.

(This is assuming your regularly sync your Kindle. Notes and annotations are backed up online.)
 
Got 479 (579 pages long) pages into A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness before I finally gave up. Book wasn't good and it felt more like a chore to read by the end. It began with promise, but then it went downhill really the fast. Probably one of the most toxic relationships I have read in a book and I don't think most of it was intended, lead character Diana is an idiot for being with Edward and he is a stalker/sociopath, basically gives off Twilight vibes. Why did I waste my time getting so far into this turd?
 
I finished The Diamond Age by Neil Stephenson yesterday. It was a solid 5 star book for me for the first 80% or so, but the ending dropped it down to a 4 star book. As seems to be typical for him, Stephenson spends the entire book building his world, and then realizes that he needs to fit a plot/ending in there somewhere. Things kind of sort of wrap up in the last 50 pages, but it's quick and sort of open ended.

I decided to switch over to non-fiction, and am now working through The Sixth Extinction.
 
Got 479 (579 pages long) pages into A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness before I finally gave up. Book wasn't good and it felt more like a chore to read by the end. It began with promise, but then it went downhill really the fast. Probably one of the most toxic relationships I have read in a book and I don't think most of it was intended, lead character Diana is an idiot for being with Edward and he is a stalker/sociopath, basically gives off Twilight vibes. Why did I waste my time getting so far into this turd?

Heh, I had a similar reaction except that I gave up much sooner. The premise was awesome and it started out really well, and then it went off a cliff almost immediately. I think I got to a scene where there were like vampires doing yoga and just went "yeah I'm done."
 
Heh, I had a similar reaction except that I gave up much sooner. The premise was awesome and it started out really well, and then it went off a cliff almost immediately. I think I got to a scene where there were like vampires doing yoga and just went "yeah I'm done."

You are far smarter than I. The sad part is there is a genuinely good book hiding under the bad stuff, but there is just so much of the bad.
 
I have been pretty lucky with most of my book picks these past two years. I know my Goodreads account makes it seem like I just give everything a 4, but I have enjoyed almost everything that I have read since picking the hobby back up.

It helps that certain genres were pretty much wide open.
 
I have been pretty lucky with most of my book picks these past two years. I know my Goodreads account makes it seem like I just give everything a 4, but I have enjoyed almost everything that I have read since picking the hobby back up.

It helps that certain genres were pretty much wide open.
My Goodreads account is pretty much 4's too.
 
Mine's mostly four stars. I'm very stingy with giving five stars. A book has to really have a profound emotional impact to get a five from me and/or have astronomical entertainment value. And I have some threes and twos sprinkled in.
 
I'm considering reading a more... dense (for lack of a better word) fantasy series after I finish up with The Kingkiller Chronicles.

I'm debating between The Book of the New Sun and Malazan Book of the Fallen.

Thoughts on which I should go with?
 
I'm considering reading a more... dense (for lack of a better word) fantasy series after I finish up with The Kingkiller Chronicles.

I'm debating between The Book of the New Sun and Malazan Book of the Fallen.

Thoughts on which I should go with?

I am not a huge fan of either, but I would characterize Malazan as pointlessly dense, and I know that there are plenty of huge fans of New Sun.
 
Can we do a goodreads profile sharing?

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/43174810-ethan

I always wanted to get into Lovecraft, but I have no idea where to begin with. :<

The Colour Out of Space is a great place to start, it's a fantastic short story that shows you why people like Lovecraft. All of his stuff is available for free online or in very cheap volumes encompassing his entire fiction, his work couldn't be any more accessible.
 
I'm considering reading a more... dense (for lack of a better word) fantasy series after I finish up with The Kingkiller Chronicles.

I'm debating between The Book of the New Sun and Malazan Book of the Fallen.

Thoughts on which I should go with?

The entirety of Book of the New Sun is probably shorter than one volume of Malazan, so start there.
 
I finished The Diamond Age by Neil Stephenson yesterday. It was a solid 5 star book for me for the first 80% or so, but the ending dropped it down to a 4 star book. As seems to be typical for him, Stephenson spends the entire book building his world, and then realizes that he needs to fit a plot/ending in there somewhere. Things kind of sort of wrap up in the last 50 pages, but it's quick and sort of open ended.

I decided to switch over to non-fiction, and am now working through The Sixth Extinction.

Still a great ride, though, right? :D I thought that quick tie up worked really well for The Big U, at least. Of course, Stephenson also hates that book...


Can we do a goodreads profile sharing?

Sure~

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7741497.Jessica_Chavez
 
I have added everyone who has posted a Goodreads profile prior to this post (assuming you weren't on my list already). If anyone else is interested in adding me and seeing my new 4-star ratings every 1-2 weeks, you can do so here:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/32224879-kyle-swiston

Still a great ride, though, right? :D I thought that quick tie up worked really well for The Big U, at least. Of course, Stephenson also hates that book...

I would definitely still recommend it. Part of the disappointment came from me feeling like I should have been given another 200-300 pages to see things through (even though the book was already 500 pages).

EDIT: Mumei: When I look at the Venn Diagram that Goodreads generates when comparing my library to yours, I feel like I am looking at one of those Astronomy diagrams showing the size of the earth in comparison to Jupiter.
 
Mumei: When I look at the Venn Diagram that Goodreads generates when comparing my library to yours, I feel like I am looking at one of those Astronomy diagrams showing the size of the earth in comparison to Jupiter.

Just add several thousand books to your to-read list and read a lot of manga. :)
 
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