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[Max Armstrong]

I just finished reading The Bonfire of the Vanities:

This was so good until about 6 chapters left... fuck I'm pissed at that shit ending fuuuuuuuck. God damn I was so into it, never read a book so fast in my life and then it just fucking face planted, I can't believe it. How could he fuck that up!? HOW!?

 

[Dylan Sexbang]

I was reading A Clockwork Orange, but the writing and different language began to take a toll on me after a few chapters. And I stopped after

Spoiler

Alex raped the two 10 year old girls

. So I decided to pick up the Martian off the Kindle store and it's starting off as a much easier read, delving into SciFi when I am rather fond of the Halo books has been much more comfortable.

 

[whatevermort]

Finished The Bottoms which was great. I need more country noir. Any recs?

Now on to Consider Phlebas.


Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks

This is one of The Best Books.

 

[KillerBEA]

Insurgent Democracy: The Non-Partisan League in North American Politics

Only read the prologue so far, but it seems really interesting.

The Last Wish

Haven't properly started reading it yet, but I read a few pages to get started on it.

 

[Funyarinpa]

House of Leaves is pretty great. It's getting suspenseful!

 

[Cade]

House of Leaves is pretty great. It's getting suspenseful!

Just popped in to say I just finished this, refreshed the page to see if anyone had posted as I read the page and your post appeared. Spooky.

But yes, a good book. I'll say a very good book in fact, and though the supplemental stuff was hit or miss for me the letters might be my favorite part.

Though no real ending in any section left it sort of anticlimactic.

Spoiler

The parts with Holloway where there's only a few words per page though, goddamn. So much dread and anticipation as you flip through pages faster and faster.

I'm into books doing things I didn't know books could do.

Now I don't know what to read though. Something short probably..

 

[Chuckie]

I'm reading the Dune novels because I have never read them before. Which is a bit of a sin as a sci-fi lover.

Currently reading this one:

 

[sparky2112]

I just finished reading The Bonfire of the Vanities:

This was so good until about 6 chapters left... fuck I'm pissed at that shit ending fuuuuuuuck. God damn I was so into it, never read a book so fast in my life and then it just fucking face planted, I can't believe it. How could he fuck that up!? HOW!?

I pimped this recently (possibly to you?), and I honestly don't remember the ending. Sorry!

 

[HarryHengst]

I hate Steven Erikson for ruining other fantasy for me.

 

[Max Armstrong]

I pimped this recently (possibly to you?), and I honestly don't remember the ending. Sorry!

Haha don't worry, it was seriously one of the best book I've read until the last few chapters. Just left a sour taste at the end, I read on a ereader so I never know how many pages are left and I was so into it and then it just ended like that! Gah!

 

[Tragicomedy]

The Last Wish

Haven't properly started reading it yet, but I read a few pages to get started on it.

Started this yesterday. Hard to judge a translated book on its writing quality, but I'm enjoying the story so far. I'll admit I haven't played any of the games, but there is a lot of story to mine here.

 

[sparky2112]

I hate Steven Erikson for ruining other fantasy for me.

Das a bold statement if you're only on Book 3. Unless you're revisiting...

 

[Ambitious]

A few days ago, I finally read Orwell's Animal Farm. It's basically the prototype of 1984, is it not?

Spoiler

I knew the basic gist of the story: Farm animals revolt against their owners and take over the farm, trying to live on their own. But I wasn't aware of all the similarities to 1984, which came as a surprise to me. The constant rewriting of history. The worship and glorification of Napoleon as their flawless leader (Big Brother). The defamation of Snowball as the malicious, omnipresent bogeyman who's responsible for literally every bad deed, ever (Goldstein). The ever-changing relations with the other two farms (Eurasia and Eastasia). The constant reassurance that their quality of life is better than ever, even though the opposite is true. The pigs keeping food and luxuries to themselves (Inner Party).

Of course, these concepts are applied by many other fictional (and real) oppressive/totalitarian governments, but still, I found the amount of parallels rather interesting.

 

[KillerBEA]

I'm reading the Dune novels because I have never read them before. Which is a bit of a sin as a sci-fi lover.

Currently reading this one:

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net...ver_Art.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20070618012323

I need to read the Dune novels as well.

Started this yesterday. Hard to judge a translated book on its writing quality, but I'm enjoying the story so far. I'll admit I haven't played any of the games, but there is a lot of story to mine here.

I played about half of 2 before getting fed up with the combat. The story and the lore of the world seems really cool and interesting though. So I am hoping I enjoy the books more than the game.

 

[Tragicomedy]

I played about half of 2 before getting fed up with the combat. The story and the lore of the world seems really cool and interesting though. So I am hoping I enjoy the books more than the game.

Bingo. After hearing all the praise for the storyline, I decided I'd cut straight to the source.

 

[BorkBork]

A few days ago, I finally read Orwell's Animal Farm. It's basically the prototype of 1984, is it not?

Spoiler

I knew the basic gist of the story: Farm animals revolt against their owners and take over the farm, trying to live on their own. But I wasn't aware of all the similarities to 1984, which came as a surprise to me. The constant rewriting of history. The worship and glorification of Napoleon as their flawless leader (Big Brother). The defamation of Snowball as the malicious, omnipresent bogeyman who's responsible for literally every bad deed, ever (Goldstein). The ever-changing relations with the other two farms (Eurasia and Eastasia). The constant reassurance that their quality of life is better than ever, even though the opposite is true. The pigs keeping food and luxuries to themselves (Inner Party).

Of course, these concepts are applied by many other fictional (and real) oppressive/totalitarian governments, but still, I found the amount of parallels rather interesting.

It's a history of Russia.

 

[Ovid]

Finished this today.

Such an easy and fun read. I think I might continue reading the series and start watching the films.


Just started this:

 

[Conkersbadfurday]

Still going through Sandman (on volume seven), and I grabbed a random review copy of a Baen fantasy novel. I think it's called Phoenix Ascending. It's not what I'd call good, but of all the review copies I have in my inbox for March, it was the most accessible.

 

[Atraveller]

Well, crap, then I'm out. Stairs was good, but not great. Doesn't sound (so far) like Blades is blowing people's hair back...

Finished reading Alloy of Law and City of Blades. Mulaghesh was stuck in a fort in the super rural Voortyashtan in the first half, which is a less interesting place than Bulikov. Book picks up pace later, but the villains super weak in character.

I'm reading the Dune novels because I have never read them before. Which is a bit of a sin as a sci-fi lover.

Currently reading this one:

I'm also reading this one now.

 

[Narag]

Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard

I'd never any Elmore Leonard and figured I'd give this one a shot given it's what Tarantino's Jackie Brown was based on. Really good and I was amazed at how easily Leonard handled the characters. I need to give the movie another watch now just to see how much of it was Leonard shining through.

 

[big ander]

3rd of planned 25 on the year down: Black Wings Has My Angel by Elliott Chaze

Undeniably a compelling and exhilarating pulp crime novel, and in the hours since finishing it it's seeming more and more special. At once classically hardboiled and slightly askew, particularly with its femme fatale. She's no reductive symbol of temptation or sexual desire— she does signify those things to the protagonist, but she's also a real human being and her varying love/lack of love for the hero is sincere, not part of some long con. Having a more credible romance than I've seen in what I've read of say Spillane or Hammett opens up opportunities for lyrical beauty, for wonderful passages describing life high in the Rockies or drunkenly drifting through New Orleans or anxiously riding highways through the rural south. It gets as ugly as it does pristine, collapsing into horrible vivid violence and bleak fatalistic tragicomedy that mark the book as a tonal precedent to McCarthy and the Coen Brothers. The ending is dizzying, stunningly dark, a perfectly hopeless and coincidental unraveling requisite for any good noir fiction.

I wonder if the movie will ever happen, was apparently at one point planned to go forward starring Anna Paquin and Tom Hiddleston (who'd be perfect for the role, strong and attractive but with an off quality, plus it'd require him to get really beat up and we know he can get roughed up with the best of em) but that was 2012.

 

[The Wall]

Free UNIX guides. Here we go...

 

[Loxley]

I'm listening to the audiobook of The Disaster Artist and man, I'm so glad I opted for the audiobook instead of reading it myself. Greg Sestero's impression of Tommy Wiseau makes it 10x better.

 

[whatevermort]

3rd of planned 25 on the year down: Black Wings Has My Angel by Elliott Chaze

Undeniably a compelling and exhilarating pulp crime novel, and in the hours since finishing it it's seeming more and more special. At once classically hardboiled and slightly askew, particularly with its femme fatale. She's no reductive symbol of temptation or sexual desire— she does signify those things to the protagonist, but she's also a real human being and her varying love/lack of love for the hero is sincere, not part of some long con. Having a more credible romance than I've seen in what I've read of say Spillane or Hammett opens up opportunities for lyrical beauty, for wonderful passages describing life high in the Rockies or drunkenly drifting through New Orleans or anxiously riding highways through the rural south. It gets as ugly as it does pristine, collapsing into horrible vivid violence and bleak fatalistic tragicomedy that mark the book as a tonal precedent to McCarthy and the Coen Brothers. The ending is dizzying, stunningly dark, a perfectly hopeless and coincidental unraveling requisite for any good noir fiction.

I wonder if the movie will ever happen, was apparently at one point planned to go forward starring Anna Paquin and Tom Hiddleston (who'd be perfect for the role, strong and attractive but with an off quality, plus it'd require him to get really beat up and we know he can get roughed up with the best of em) but that was 2012.

I literally bought this today. Really excited to read it - heard wonderful things, that it's a great lost classic etc.

Otherwise: I have just started THE GIRLS, a novel coming out this summer that is a) about the Manson family and b) got the author 2 million America bucks. So no pressure there, then. So far: the author has definitely done a Creative Writing MFA.

 

[Celcius]

Re-reading The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C Maxwell:

Great book.

 

[woodland]

I hate Steven Erikson for ruining other fantasy for me.

Fall of Light (A prequel trilogy by Erikson for the Malazan 'verse) comes out on the 25th! I'm so excited.

Also @Harry, wait til you get to Midnight Tides. Some of the best characters in the series make their debuts there.

 

[W1SSY]

Finally finished Golden Son by Pierce Brown. I really enjoyed it but I think I liked Red Rising more. For some reason I really enjoy the premise of the first which was so much like the Hunger Games. I am really excited for the third book and might just wait for it before starting something else.

If I do start something else it will probably be Leviathan Wakes. I have been wanting to watch The Expanse but part of me would prefer to read the books first. I fear that if I watch the show I will be less likely to go back and read the books.

 

[Nuke Soda]

Down to the last 150 pages of City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett and the only complaint I have with it isn't even its fault. My biggest complaint is that it will probably be a few years before part 3 hits stores.

 

[Tugatrix]

Half way through and loving it

 

[Jintor]

I read a really generic fantasy book that nonetheless was acceptably entertaining enough to fill in like two minutes here two minutes there. Not sure what to move on to next, but I've got a bit of a backlog, so no rush.

Goodreads still doesn't offer ways to mark a review non-sharable orz

 

[legend166]

Here's why it definitely won't happen.

http://deadline.com/2015/12/neil-cross-hard-sun-drama-bbc-one-luther-1201650784/

Man, I'd be pretty angry reading that if I was Ben Winters.

 

[whatevermort]

Man, I'd be pretty angry reading that if I was Ben Winters.

I can't imagine that he was thrilled.

 

[Voyevoda]

Dropped everything I was doing (games and books) to re-read my favourite book one year after my first time. A sort of anniversary re-read.

La Horde du Contrevent, Alain Damasio.

Just as good as the first time (just, less surprising, obviously).

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

I am halfway through Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

I'm enjoying it a lot. It's very long and covers a lot of ground that isn't necessary to the primary plot, but I feel like it's necessary to the tone and scope of the world that Clarke has built. It's very funny too. Both this book and JK Rowling steal their humor and lightness from classic literature of the period, but it fits better here and it's much more consistent.

I've been reading at least a few chapters a day and that should see me to the end of it by the end of February. Then I'll watch the BBC miniseries.

 

[fakefaker]

Dropped everything I was doing (games and books) to re-read my favourite book one year after my first time. A sort of anniversary re-read.

La Horde du Contrevent, Alain Damasio.



Just as good as the first time (just, less surprising, obviously).

This book sound amazing! Glad I'm learning french right now so I'll be able to read it one day untranslated. Salut!

 

[kswiston]

I am 80% of the way through The Hero of Ages, which means that I should finish up the Mistborn trilogy in the next couple of days. The series has the same strengths and weaknesses as Sanderson's other work. If you loved the Stormlight Archive books, I would imagine that Mistborn will be up your alley. If not, this isn't going to covert you. I do enjoy his analyses on magic systems, and the twists/reveals definitely keep you reading.


I am not sure what I will read next. I always see book GAF reading Murakami. I haven't read anything by the author. Anyone want to give a sentence or two explaining why he is a favourite here? Which of his books makes for the best introduction to his bibliography?

 

[HStallion]

Just finished reading the first book of The Southern Reach trilogy, Annihilation by Jeff Vandermere. UIt was not a very good book and unless someone tells me the other two are a huge improvements over the first novel I doubt I will bother reading them.

The first book just felt so barren of interesting ideas, characters or events. A silly named Area X that is full of scary mysteries and a group of unlikable explorers who tend to act crazy or erratic just to give us another mysterious plot point or dramatic event. That and the protagonist keeps telling me how different and antisocial she is much to her detriment.

I wasn't going in looking for or expecting answers but damn if this book couldn't have been a short story for the lack of any meat to it. Felt hollow and half assed and like the author just kept repeating the same couple of points over and over.

 

[Voyevoda]

This book sound amazing! Glad I'm learning french right now so I'll be able to read it one day untranslated. Salut!

It really is. It's something else. The universe comes out of nowhere, and is extremely coherent. It heavily relies on imagination. And Damasio's style is just unique. He uses the French language as he sees fit. Juggles with it, reshapes it, mixes it, and, of course, creates. There's French and there's Damasian.

It might be a hard read for a non-Native. But yeah, if you can, give it a go.

(EDIT: Just wanted to add that, for those who didn't know, Alain Damasio is one of DONTNOD Entertainment's co-founders, he wrote the whole background for Remember Me - not the main plot, that was Stéphane Beauverger, another sci-fi writer - and was a Script Consultant for Life is Strange)

 

[NeoGiff]

I've started Assassin's Quest, the final book in the Farseer trilogy. I think part of the strength of the two first books was the constant activity around Buckkeep castle and town, so I hope

Spoiler

the fact that Fitz is now alone in the wild doesn't hinder Hobb's writing style

.

 

[Captain.Falafel]

I'm currently reading through Kafka On The Shore and enjoying it for the most part.

I have to say that I am surprised by how often Murakami's name pops up in these monthly threads with high praise. Do not get me wrong, he is clearly a good writer, but I feel as though I haven't hit upon what sets him apart yet.

There are times where I wonder whether it is the english translation is lacking. Every now and again there is a bit of prose that reads...corny, for lack of a better word.

 

[EverythingShiny]

I just finished Nemesis Games. I absolutely hated Naomi's storyline. With a fiery passion. I love the setting but sometimes their writing really grates on me and, aside from Avasarala, there are few female characters I think are well done.

I really do think part of the reason why I enjoyed The Expanse books so much is because of the TV show. I feel the show is an improvement over the source material, which I find is rarely the case.

Currently reading Countdown City as it's been on my list for quite a while.

Just finished reading the first book of The Southern Reach trilogy, Annihilation by Jeff Vandermere. UIt was not a very good book and unless someone tells me the other two are a huge improvements over the first novel I doubt I will bother reading them.

Wow, I felt the opposite. So did everyone else I've recommended the book to. Different strokes, I guess. If you hated the first one and thought it was boring/uninteresting, don't waste your time, then.

 

[Kieli]

I'm currently working my way through the Way of Kings.

I can sense a tremendous effort being spent in the way of character (and perhaps world) building. But the problem with multiple perspectives is precisely that there's multiple perspectives. I have my favourite and not-so-favourite characters. I just want to skip/speed-read my way through the latter to get to the former...

 

[HStallion]

Wow, I felt the opposite. So did everyone else I've recommended the book to. Different strokes, I guess. If you hated the first one and thought it was boring/uninteresting, don't waste your time, then.

It wasn't a terrible read by any means but it felt very thin. A lot of big ideas were touched upon but nothing was fleshed out in a meaningful ways. A lot of it felt like characters wandered around and bickered with one another or a boilerplate problematic marriage drama.

Kind of reminded me of the TV show Lost. A ton of questions that didn't even lead to anything of substance. I'm open to hear other interpretations or what not but I'm baffled that people compared it to A Roadside Picnic.

 

[Easystride]

Someone a month or two posted about "My Brilliant Friend," and I just started it. I like it a lot so far. Whoever you were, thanks.

 

[brawly]

I'm currently working my way through the Way of Kings.

I can sense a tremendous effort being spent in the way of character (and perhaps world) building. But the problem with multiple perspectives is precisely that there's multiple perspectives. I have my favourite and not-so-favourite characters. I just want to skip/speed-read my way through the latter to get to the former...

Game of Thrones basically. Good to know.

 

[kswiston]

Game of Thrones basically. Good to know.

Not really Game of Thrones beyond being fantasy with multiple character viewpoints.

 

[Woorloog]

Game of Thrones basically. Good to know.

Just remember the book's nothing like ASOIAF aside from having multiple viewpoints. High/epic fantasy rather than dark/low fantasy.
And i think it has, will have less POV character than ASOIAF, discounting one-time POVs Sanderson likes to use occasionally.

 

[Atraveller]

Game of Thrones basically. Good to know.

Game of Thrones POVs usually cover different regions of Westeros and different events, while in The Way of Kings, they're all in the same military camp, except the assassin in white.

 

[brawly]

Not really Game of Thrones beyond being fantasy with multiple character viewpoints.

Just remember the book's nothing like ASOIAF aside from having multiple viewpoints. High/epic fantasy rather than dark/low fantasy.
And i think it has, will have less POV character than ASOIAF, discounting one-time POVs Sanderson likes to use occasionally.

Game of Thrones POVs usually cover different regions of Westeros and different events, while in The Way of Kings, they're all in the same military camp, except the assassin in white.

Good to know, thanks fellas.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Finished:

Currently Reading (one of my all time faves)