Maklershed
Member
Leviathan Wakes - a fantastic scifi novel - is a $1.99 Kindle Daily Deal today. Don't sleep on this! :b
The Crown is also $1.99. Looks like it could be good.
The Crown is also $1.99. Looks like it could be good.
What are you reading? (April 2013)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Easystride
Member
Does Leviathan Wakes still come with The Dragon's Path?
I thought it was good. 4/5 stars. The movie is a bit better. The book is a bit more noir-y and pulp-y, though. It's also kinda short, so I suggest you give it a go.
Just finished reading:
The Wind up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
This was my first Murakami book. It took me a while to read it because my attention got a little over-divided between different books, but I'm glad I finished it. This is probably the weirdest book I've ever read. It starts so simple and by the end it feels like the story has fragmented into a thousand tiny, ultra-surreal pieces. The descent into madness and full-on fantasy was gradual enough that it felt totally natural. One moment I was reading this simple story about a guy looking for a cat, the next, I'm buried up to my hips in incredibly abstract and metaphorical stuff. I can see myself reading this again at some point in the near future, and I'm probably going to start another Murakami book right away.
A Hell of a Woman by Jim Thompson
I loved this too, though not quite as much as the Murakami book. Going in, I'd heard that Jim Thompson was known for delivering really aggressive prose, and I wasn't disappointed at all. Everything in this book is punchy as hell, with no wasted sentences, and it's full of hard hitting language. The overall story isn't anything especially innovative, but the way he tells it is pretty interesting, and I found certain scenes quite disturbing. Certainly, I would say this is more than a few notches above the average pulp novel, and I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
The Wind up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
This was my first Murakami book. It took me a while to read it because my attention got a little over-divided between different books, but I'm glad I finished it. This is probably the weirdest book I've ever read. It starts so simple and by the end it feels like the story has fragmented into a thousand tiny, ultra-surreal pieces. The descent into madness and full-on fantasy was gradual enough that it felt totally natural. One moment I was reading this simple story about a guy looking for a cat, the next, I'm buried up to my hips in incredibly abstract and metaphorical stuff. I can see myself reading this again at some point in the near future, and I'm probably going to start another Murakami book right away.
A Hell of a Woman by Jim Thompson
I loved this too, though not quite as much as the Murakami book. Going in, I'd heard that Jim Thompson was known for delivering really aggressive prose, and I wasn't disappointed at all. Everything in this book is punchy as hell, with no wasted sentences, and it's full of hard hitting language. The overall story isn't anything especially innovative, but the way he tells it is pretty interesting, and I found certain scenes quite disturbing. Certainly, I would say this is more than a few notches above the average pulp novel, and I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
Try Kafka on the Shore for something similar to TWUB, or Norwegian Wood if you liked the parts of the story that were more grounded on reality.
Mackenzie 92
Member
Yeah, pretty sure all of the kindle editions come with it. Starts right at the 50% percent mark, it's not 2 files.
I was kind of conflicted between Kafka on the Shore and Hard-boiled Wonderland at the End of the World, but I was slightly leaning towards Hard-boiled Wonderland. I get the feeling that it will be a little bit lighter and faster paced. Also, his newer novel, IQ84, sounds really interesting. It seems to be getting very mixed (love it or hate it) reviews on goodreads, but I get the feeling that most of the complainers don't like his books much anyway, or started with IQ84 and found it was too abstract for their liking. All the things they're complaining about were present in TWUBC, and didn't bother me in the slightest, so I get the feeling I would like it.
Mackenzie 92
Member
What do you guys think of Devil in the White City? Just beat Bioshock Infinite and feel like reading something related to the time period(America, 1912). Levine said that was a bit of an inspiration for the game.
Any other books related to that time are also welcome.
Just finished the game myself last night and it's not really related to the time period but The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin clearly inspired
the tear system and multiple realities and memories and things like that.
even some of the religious and anarchistic themes could have been derived from it as well and even Comstock and Elizabeth are similar to the relationship between the two main characters.
Hard-boiled wonderland is one of his best books. Kafka is entertaining but flawed. IQ84 needed about 75% of it cut out.
Sentimental favorite is still Sputnik Sweetheart or After Dark.
Maklershed
Member
And I can confirm The Dragon's Path is really good as well. As soon as I finished it I read through book 2 in the series, The Kings Blood.
Whoa sweet - The Tyrants Law comes out in May. Nice.
Leviathan wakes is good! can't wait for the final book to be released.
Mackenzie 92
Member
Finished Hart's Hope, now starting.
Foq.... 1000 Pages?
Worth it!
nakedsushi
Member
I just finished this little comic:
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
It was entertaining and produced a few chuckles. I recommend it to anyone who's interested in food.
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
It was entertaining and produced a few chuckles. I recommend it to anyone who's interested in food.
Maklershed
Member
They're more like a Song of Ice and Fire. More political than action oriented. Low magic too.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
Currently reading The Book Thief.
I like it a lot. Getting some whiffs of Vonnegut, but the overall package is very original.
I like it a lot. Getting some whiffs of Vonnegut, but the overall package is very original.
Mackenzie 92
Member
ah, cool. I'll check it out. reading Prince of Thorns right now and it's pretty good too.
Tragicomedy
Member
you read it? is it really good?
Maklershed
Member
Finished The Big Nowhere and taking a brief breather from the LA Quartet with Masters of Doom
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture by David Kushner
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture by David Kushner
Easystride
Member
Picked up the Mistborn Trilogy on the Kindle store, and I've been reading this:
I am liking it quite a bit. How is the Alloy of Law?
I am liking it quite a bit. How is the Alloy of Law?
I liked Alloy of Law. Probably more than the original series (I think there have been quite a few who agree). The characters seemed much more developed. Since there is no oppressing ruler, it is free to do what it likes (not trying to topple over the government). I actually wish there was more.
Right now:
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy.
The Adventures and Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
On the Road
I was pretty ignorant about literature before my depression, during it I realized how fucking ignorant I was being about it, so I guess something good came from it.
I plan to start 20.000 leagues under the sea when I finish Sherlock Holmes.
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy.
The Adventures and Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
On the Road
I was pretty ignorant about literature before my depression, during it I realized how fucking ignorant I was being about it, so I guess something good came from it.
I plan to start 20.000 leagues under the sea when I finish Sherlock Holmes.
Finished Hart's Hope, now starting.
Foq.... 1000 Pages?
Those 1000 pages are filled with fantasy goodness. Enjoy the story, it's one of my favorite books right now.
Currently working on:
Grenouille
Member
I tried reading it some years ago but found it very boring. It might be just me. I should go back and finish it someday.
Wiktor
Member
I was tempted to buy it, but then I remembered it will be 10-novels long and we're unlikely to see the end of the series before 2025. I think I will just wait till it's doneFinished Hart's Hope, now starting.
Foq.... 1000 Pages?
Easystride
Member
That is the book in the Wheel of Time series that I quit on. Perhaps I will get back itno it one day.
Corny cover art, but crucual content.
Is this worth a read? I already know some of the content of feminist movements and ideologies.
Maklershed
Member
The book I just finished has one of the most fucked up psychopathic killers ever ..
The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy
a) The book is not specifically about the killer but the killer's story is heavily featured.
b) This is book 2 of a 4 book series but I discovered you don't need to know anything from book 1. I dont think one single character or plot point continues from 1 to 2.
Seconding the recommendation. I read this years ago, right when it first came out, and I think I'm due for a reread. It is kind of like the Da Vinci Code, but better and more interesting in pretty much every way. It also features real vampires (in some spooky scenes), not the hot n' sexy Twilight glittery vampire nonsense of today.
The last book of his amazing Asian Saga; sad to be on the last one.
I love the Asian Saga from Clavell, it's a shame he didn't have time to write more books. On the other hand, they probably wouldn't be as good if he had made one book per year.
I have struggled to find something as in-depth, interesting and well-written ever since reading the last one in the 90s. Thanks to Whirlwind I know as much about the Iranian revolution as my friends from Iran do...
Right now I'm reading A Fire Upon The Deep and it's really good, thanks GAF for letting me know about it!
So you're liking them I assume?Finished this yesterday:
and went right on to the next:
Probably the strangest volume so far, it remains intriguing but man I hope the next volume finally brings some explanation to past events & characters. What I'm particularly curious about is why
Baldanders suddenly wanted to attack Severin, and why did Baldanders & Dr. Talos wanted to journey together with him from the beginning anyway
Dr_Boris_Goltz
Banned
Has anyone ever considered having a full fledged GAF book club?
I think that would be really fun.
I think that would be really fun.
OmegaTreeFish
Banned
Currently reading the blinding knife by Brent Weeks
Its the second book in a series called 'the Lightbringer'. The first is called 'The black prism'. Its a world where magic is done in a process called colour drafting where each colour has different properties. Its a pretty interesting idea.
This is Brent Weeks second book series. The first was 'The night angel trilogy'. I really enjoyed that. His writing was nothing special but the characters, world and story he created were fantastic. His writing has definitely improved in this series though.
I just finished LotR's before this as I never got round to reading it as a kid. As much as I love the films the book has many greater moments.
After the Blinding knife I intend to move onto "the daylight war" which is the third in the Demon cycle series (the first 2 were 'The painted man' and 'The desert spear'. Its a fantastic series so far.
Nothing has come close the song of ice and fire books for me yet of course but I have a LOOOONG time to wait for book 6 I think.
Its the second book in a series called 'the Lightbringer'. The first is called 'The black prism'. Its a world where magic is done in a process called colour drafting where each colour has different properties. Its a pretty interesting idea.
This is Brent Weeks second book series. The first was 'The night angel trilogy'. I really enjoyed that. His writing was nothing special but the characters, world and story he created were fantastic. His writing has definitely improved in this series though.
I just finished LotR's before this as I never got round to reading it as a kid. As much as I love the films the book has many greater moments.
After the Blinding knife I intend to move onto "the daylight war" which is the third in the Demon cycle series (the first 2 were 'The painted man' and 'The desert spear'. Its a fantastic series so far.
Nothing has come close the song of ice and fire books for me yet of course but I have a LOOOONG time to wait for book 6 I think.
I finished Kite Runner recently and wasn't too impressed. It wasn't a bad book but just not my cup of tea. Felt that it was kinda overrated
Before I had started reading Kite Runner though, people had brought up this particular book by the same author and told me to check it out too after I had finished. So I bought it right after since I needed a new book to read, and after 50 pages I felt like my opinion was going through the same path as it did with Kite Runner...
But now almost 250 pages in and... I'm HOOKED. I can't explain why, but I just fell in love with one of the protagonists and her story so far. I'm anxious to finish reading as soon as I can and I hope that the ending will be satisfying *_*
Yep. I like the the blend of noir detective novel with fantasy.