Right, which is why it's unrepetantly biased since it's trying to disrupt a previous narrative that's effectively set in stone. I'd need to read wider to be able to talk about how accurate it is, but it was an enjoyable read.
What are you reading? (January 2016)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Right, which is why it's unrepetantly biased since it's trying to disrupt a previous narrative that's effectively set in stone. I'd need to read wider to be able to talk about how accurate it is, but it was an enjoyable read.
Going for 52 again which I always seem to come up a bit short from. I'm usually good and on pace for 75% of the year but the 25% where I fall off I really do no reading.
Up to about 40% in Monte Cristo and still adoring it.
Taking some time to read the Hawkeye omnibus as I bought it a while back but intend to gift it to a friend this weekend.
Also, about 30% through Baru Coramunt and need to finish it up. Stopped reading it mainly because I lost my kindle at the time which is a shame.
Too many good books, which is a nice problem to have.
Up to about 40% in Monte Cristo and still adoring it.
Taking some time to read the Hawkeye omnibus as I bought it a while back but intend to gift it to a friend this weekend.
Also, about 30% through Baru Coramunt and need to finish it up. Stopped reading it mainly because I lost my kindle at the time which is a shame.
Too many good books, which is a nice problem to have.
Easystride
Member
Reading Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter right now. I quite like it. So far, it is kind of a mix of crime scene investigation and coming of age. About 25% in.
Trying to read more in the new year. Only gonna hold myself to 12, because, who knows.
Just finished this one. Relatively good thriller, though I haven't read any spy books before. Some subtle technical flubs (surprised I even noticed them), but the style's smooth and enjoyable. Thumbs up.
Working slowly through this one. I'm not much for fantasy, and the style is pretty... it could use some work. It's a little overwrought and blends character thoughts and narrative in a slightly obnoxious way. But it was free, and the concept isn't that bad, so I'll slog through it.
Might pick up Furiously Happy at some point, it sounds up my alley.
Just finished this one. Relatively good thriller, though I haven't read any spy books before. Some subtle technical flubs (surprised I even noticed them), but the style's smooth and enjoyable. Thumbs up.
Working slowly through this one. I'm not much for fantasy, and the style is pretty... it could use some work. It's a little overwrought and blends character thoughts and narrative in a slightly obnoxious way. But it was free, and the concept isn't that bad, so I'll slog through it.
Might pick up Furiously Happy at some point, it sounds up my alley.
I'm currently reading Peter Carey's Oscar and Lucinda, which so far has been very enjoyable, even if I haven't been able to devote much time to it of late, so it's been slow going.
I set aside Marlon James' A Brief History of Seven Killings over a month ago with a bit under 200 pages to go, and still haven't gotten back to it, because it's such a damn slog.
I set aside Marlon James' A Brief History of Seven Killings over a month ago with a bit under 200 pages to go, and still haven't gotten back to it, because it's such a damn slog.
I read that several years ago, and quite liked it. It's such a widely adapted story, but the novel is so huge that no adaptation I've seen comes close to telling all of it, and even on many major points there are very common departures.
I had mixed feeling with Seven Killings. I felt it became a slog 3/5th of the way through, but I have respect for it for its authenticity of Jamacian culture/history. My Jamacian friends told me the writer nails the patois and the how accurate the references were to the country's history.
I am setting my reading goal to 50 books again. I may exclude graphic novels though. I thought about bumping it up, but I have a computer that can play PC games again so my life will be a little more divided.
It's been a long while since I've posted in here. I've forgotten what all books I've read since, but for the past 9 weeks I've been working through all the Harry Potters.
Finally tonight I finished the last one. Man, I really enjoyed that series. I read the first 6 books when they originally came out and never went back to reread them or read the last book. I also hadn't seen the last movie and as a result the resolution of the series was a mystery.
Reading through the series in its entirety back-to-back was great. I had forgotten so many details it was almost like reading them for the first time. I've fallen back in love with the series hard enough that I bought a wand at Universal Studios a few weeks back and I'm seriously considering buying a stand for it.
Finishing the 7th book was a great way to bring in the New Year. Now it's time to get back on schedule and pick Ann Leckie's Ancillary Mercy back up.
Finally tonight I finished the last one. Man, I really enjoyed that series. I read the first 6 books when they originally came out and never went back to reread them or read the last book. I also hadn't seen the last movie and as a result the resolution of the series was a mystery.
Reading through the series in its entirety back-to-back was great. I had forgotten so many details it was almost like reading them for the first time. I've fallen back in love with the series hard enough that I bought a wand at Universal Studios a few weeks back and I'm seriously considering buying a stand for it.
Finishing the 7th book was a great way to bring in the New Year. Now it's time to get back on schedule and pick Ann Leckie's Ancillary Mercy back up.
Just finished
Really could've been trimmed down a couple hundred pages and not lost much...
Absolutely gutted by the last major death in this novel, just felt so pointless..... didn't help that it was my fav character as well... Kinda soured me on reading on, though I'll probably start Toll The Hounds tomorrow anyway... or finish off Return of the Crimson Guard first maybe....
Settled on 50 again, hopefully I do better than last year (15).
Really could've been trimmed down a couple hundred pages and not lost much...
Absolutely gutted by the last major death in this novel, just felt so pointless..... didn't help that it was my fav character as well... Kinda soured me on reading on, though I'll probably start Toll The Hounds tomorrow anyway... or finish off Return of the Crimson Guard first maybe....
Settled on 50 again, hopefully I do better than last year (15).
Yup, I went for 50 again. Managed 24 last year, but the first 6 months of the year were dominated by long books (Dark Tower and GoT series primarily) - I'm going to try and mix it up a bit more this year.
That's a problem I have with reading on the Kindle. I just buy a book that looks interesting and *then* realise it's 1000 pages. Need to pay attention to the length.
That's a problem I have with reading on the Kindle. I just buy a book that looks interesting and *then* realise it's 1000 pages. Need to pay attention to the length.
itsbenoclock
Member
Trying to get a book per week in this year. Starting with John Steinbeck's 'East of Eden' this week then I think I'll have a full read-through of Frankenstein to make up for my past page skipping...
MedicUnderFire
Neo Member
and
Fallout-NL
Member
About a third of the way into:
Loving it. King is such an excellent writer.
Loving it. King is such an excellent writer.
Still my favourite book of his I think, pretty sure it was also the first I read. Must read again... but it'll hurt my challenge!About a third of the way into:
Loving it. King is such an excellent writer.
Fallout-NL
Member
Yeah, it's a pretty long read. I don't mind that though. Great to be able to spend so much time with those characters.
Burger
Member
About half way through.
Think this series is a little young adult for me. If a book is going to feature murder and sex it shouldn't skim over it. Also the protagonist keeps getting himself into tricky situations and then it's hand waved away with "Aha but I actually prepared for this exact thing long long ago, as I am very very smart."
Not sure why this is so highly rated.
sparky2112
Member
Went from this:
to this:
and this (by some loser):
I like the Ferrante. Like all good writing, it feels like its own little world. Glad I'm not a late-teen Italian female in the 60s, though.
The Smythe started out as The Martian Minus Mars and then things got...interesting.
to this:
and this (by some loser):
I like the Ferrante. Like all good writing, it feels like its own little world. Glad I'm not a late-teen Italian female in the 60s, though.
The Smythe started out as The Martian Minus Mars and then things got...interesting.
sparky2112
Member
I totally do that too. My backlog in both forms runs into the 100s, so I keep a balance, and hardcopy while the wife is trying to sleep doesn't wash...
Loved it as well, finished what he's wrote so far including his novellas last year.
Trying to strike a balance this year between non-fiction and fiction. I read far to many fiction books last year. My strategy is to buy hard copies of non-fiction books as they are more universal for sharing with friends/co-workers and then fiction on my kindle. Read some non-fiction while the lights are on and when the girlfriend goes to bed switch to the kindle.
Haha that's exactly it.
Maklershed
Member
And it gets even better with The Echo. Damnit when is book 3 coming out?! >.<
eu pfhor ia
Neo Member
I've been reading
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
A History of Archaeological Thought Bruce Trigger
Quicksilver is really good, I'll probably be picking up the next books in that series soon
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
A History of Archaeological Thought Bruce Trigger
Quicksilver is really good, I'll probably be picking up the next books in that series soon
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
Just started reading The Electric Church by Jeff Somers. I'm enjoying it but it feels pretty average so far.
I gave up on Charles Stross's Accelerando about 40 pages in. I love his Laundry books and I can feel his style in Accelerando but it just isn't doing anything for me.
I gave up on Charles Stross's Accelerando about 40 pages in. I love his Laundry books and I can feel his style in Accelerando but it just isn't doing anything for me.
internetwolf
Banned
Hunger makes me a modern girl, about halfway through and I'm liking it.
Lionheart1827
Member
I recently read Black Hawk Down and then was so into the history of it I then read In the Company of Heroes which is Mike Durant's account of being shot down during that battle. It also goes through his previous missions as a helicopter pilot as well. Interesting stuff.
Currently I'm reading this:
I'm liking it so far. Doesn't require to commit to a long book since its a collection of short stories.
Currently I'm reading this:
I'm liking it so far. Doesn't require to commit to a long book since its a collection of short stories.
Discworld can be thought of as a set of series that all take place in the same world.
Here's the classic chart.
Personally I still recommend publication order minus the first two, but that's just because there's a few jokes you'll miss otherwise. Not anything major.
The Lone Courier
Member
Recently started reading Dawn Patrol such a cool book.
Incandenza
Banned
Just finished
Really could've been trimmed down a couple hundred pages and not lost much...
That's pretty much the story of the entire back half of Malazan.
couldn't find online any english version of queneau's petite cosmogonie portative. here is the beginning of the sixth canto , which for me is tremendous:
"Le signe sans effort le signe devint homme/lequel un peu plus tard désagrégea l'atome/Une branche élaguée amibe de machine/un silex éclaté infusoire d'outil"
my humble translation:"The monkey without effort the monkey became man/who a little bit later split the atom./A pruned branch, amoeba of machine/a burst flint, infusorium of tool"
"Le signe sans effort le signe devint homme/lequel un peu plus tard désagrégea l'atome/Une branche élaguée amibe de machine/un silex éclaté infusoire d'outil"
my humble translation:"The monkey without effort the monkey became man/who a little bit later split the atom./A pruned branch, amoeba of machine/a burst flint, infusorium of tool"
AngmarsKing701
Member
I've only ever read the first two Discworld books. I thought they were OK. Certainly don't understand all the fuss.
he didn't really move into social commentary until book 3 which is when it stops being a straight parody and becomes its own world as well more. Though to be honest, I always thought it was funny straight from book 1 on, so idk
The first two Discworld novels are nowhere near the rest. I'd give Small Gods a try, if I were you. That's far more indicative of the quality and tone of the rest of the series.
Septimus Prime
Member
The Alex Cross series is the only James Patterson series I like (as well as possibly the only series he still writes himself), but man, do I really like it.
YoungOcelot
Member
Catch-22 is definitely top 5 books of all time, nothing quite like it.
Just finished Red Notice by Bill Browder. It was certainly interesting and I enjoyed it a lot, I'm not sure how accurate his portrayal of Russia is, but It did scare me a little.
Currently finishing off The Brothers Karamazov. Only 70 pages to go!...started it back in July hahaha
Currently finishing off The Brothers Karamazov. Only 70 pages to go!...started it back in July hahaha
Someone mentioned this a ways back and now I'm finally getting around to read it.
It's a Russian fantasy novel about a douchebag who gets his comeuppance and has to learn to not be a douchebag. I assume he also saves the world at some point. Pretty good so far.
whatevermort
Member
Anybody read anyone of these and can say a thing or two about if some are worth buying?
LUNA is excellent. It's character-driven, well written SF, with more than a hint of mob-boss corporate crime goodness to it. Good book.
THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS is also excellent. Lighter (in execution, if not tone), and it's got some excellent character work. I'm not sure the ending is good, but regardless. (I reviewed it for The Guardian if you want to read a little more.)
That's an excellent question... which hopefully there will be answer to very soon. I will just say: it's one of the idiot things that's out of my control.
Whoa cool, I take it it's in French? I'm starting a French course this weekend so looking for books to read in the future. Is this series available in North America?
I read the Ewilan trilogy a long time ago. Never thought I'd see them posted here! They were quite enjoyable, even though I much prefer reading in English.
I should really read The Witcher novels. My backlog is huge =/
A Fish Aficionado
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me
Good science communication means never calling them “retard” – even if you’re Nassim Taleb
It's always sad when academics have people skills like a 12 year old on Counter-Strike, especially on a public forum like Twitter.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
You mentioned March a few months ago, which is fine by me as I'd just consider it a very generous birthday gift.
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