Absolutely how I felt. Went in expecting to be confused the entire time and quit halfway through. For me, the only trouble was remembering who was who.
Now get on that Deadhouse Gates.
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What are you reading? (August 2013)
- Thread starter Maklershed
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Absolutely how I felt. Went in expecting to be confused the entire time and quit halfway through. For me, the only trouble was remembering who was who.
Now get on that Deadhouse Gates.
Unhandled Exception
Member
Currently reading
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Wiktor
Member
Don't most people do this after movie/tv adaptation? Heck, I'm even picturing Tom Cruise when reading about Reacher. Which is weird, because in my mind I have his face plastered on this huge body
charlemagne
Member
Finished 600 Hours of Edward. What a great book, the main character was so endearing and the story well-paced and compelling. Thanks to those who recommended it in this thread! It didn't leave me thinking there should be a sequel, so I was surprised to see that there is one in the works; should be interesting to see how that turns out.
I requested a few books for the digital catalog of the local library, and to my surprise they actually purchased a bunch of them after a couple of weeks. For some reason I always feel somewhat guilty when the library purchases something I've requested, so I checked all of them out and started reading right away.
I've gone through Octavia E. Butler's Xenogenesis trilogy this week and thought it was great, but also very unsettling and even disturbing at times.... well, in actuality, I'd say that all the Octavia E. Butler I've read so far has been great but also disturbing, especially Bloodchild. I have Parable of the Sower & sequel lined up as well and will probably be reading them next week.
I also just got DUST - ordered a signed copy of the ugly (self-published) edition and Hugh Howey actually shipped the signed copies early! Really looking forward to reading it, but the library deadlines are pressuring me into finishing all my library check-outs first D:
I've gone through Octavia E. Butler's Xenogenesis trilogy this week and thought it was great, but also very unsettling and even disturbing at times.... well, in actuality, I'd say that all the Octavia E. Butler I've read so far has been great but also disturbing, especially Bloodchild. I have Parable of the Sower & sequel lined up as well and will probably be reading them next week.
I also just got DUST - ordered a signed copy of the ugly (self-published) edition and Hugh Howey actually shipped the signed copies early! Really looking forward to reading it, but the library deadlines are pressuring me into finishing all my library check-outs first D:
Glad you liked it tooThe sequel not in the works, it's out and readily available to read
Edward Adrift.Mackenzie 92
Member
Don't most people do this after movie/tv adaptation? Heck, I'm even picturing Tom Cruise when reading about Reacher. Which is weird, because in my mind I have his face plastered on this huge body
Yeah I figured. I can never read books after seeing the movie first though, so was just curious.
I did read Dance With Dragons after watching the first season of the show and was pleasantly surprised that I still pictured all the characters as I had before. Not sure if that will still be the case if Winds ever comes out.
Lionheart1827
Member
Just finished this, the 3rd book in the Expanse novels. Apparently the author is under contract to make 4 more! Cant wait, I love these books and the characters within, reminds me of a mix between Mass Effect and Star Wars.
This is my next one. Always heard good things about this and I've always wanted to read it:
This is my next one. Always heard good things about this and I've always wanted to read it:
NekoFever
Member
On the name-sharing thing, I've got a friend called Dan Brown. He's something of a literary snob and used to be pretty religious, so it drives him nuts that people always talk about The Da Vinci Code whenever they find out his name.
Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1) by Hugh Howey
Didn't think this was all that good. It was somewhat entertaining but really hit or miss. I suppose how I can see how it's appealing to others with the dystopia and class struggle stuff but neither clicked with me. I'll probably reinstall Fallout at least so there's that much.
ElectricBlue187
Member
Have you used a Paperwhite? They are quite fast, fast enough for me anyhow. I have a bigger problem with the awful touchscreen, I'd like to also have physical buttons as well as an option to turn pages because I'm always misfiring it
I'm using a Paperwhite yes.
I need it to go faster.
I need to be able to do like, a special (maybe multitouch?) swipe that rapidly flips through pages.
Mackenzie 92
Member
Finished
Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
Ending was so unexpectedly touching I ended up giving it 5 stars. Series is a great ride. Recommended.
Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
Ending was so unexpectedly touching I ended up giving it 5 stars. Series is a great ride. Recommended.
This series is good. Damn good. Really happy I decided to sit down and read it, I've heard it only gets better from here.
I am looking at starting this series actually. What kind of "Fantasy" is it? Am I going to see wizards throwing fireballs and people going on adventures or is more of a society/political Drama that takes place in a fantasy world that has magic?
more focused on characters and society/politics. The magic system is pretty interesting as well. Not simply your typical fireball pew pew thing
Do you have any recommendations for a good typical fireball pew pew fantasy series? I'd like to read one sometime.
I would recommend starting with the Legend of Drizzt book "Homeland" or the Icewind Dale series. Icewind dale series was written first but Homeland starts with Drizzt Being Born and how he got above land. Great D&D type books.
I am honestly having a hard time thinking of one, lol. Does Discworld count? haha, if so, that.
When i think of traditional pew pew fireball fantasy I think of lord of the rings and its knock offs, and I really can't think of any good ones at the moment besides that. I know The Magician series by Raymond Feist is probably the next bet (tried reading it, didnt really like it) or the Belgariad by Eddings (tried it, but didnt like it).
Of course, the reasons why i didnt like it was that I really couldnt get into the characters.
I think the Long Price Quartet definitely has a very interesting magic system, so I personally would go with that if you just want some cool magic. Brandon Sanderson also always comes up with a cool magic system. Way of Kings is quite good. Mistborn focuses more on the magic system though. I didnt like it as much, but it was still good. Characters, their interactions, and the plot (not a blatant hero's journey) are also a lot more interesting than the ones that i mentioned in the previous paragraph
The MTG "novels"?
Granted, they are very inconsistent in terms of quality, and there's a wide variety of worlds and plotlines to pick from.
It's pretty much all pew pew magic though.
More_Badass
Member
Just finished Erik Larson's The Devil In The White City. Amazing nonfiction, read like fiction. Holmes was one scary criminal genius psychopath, the depth of his planning and the way he manipulated everyone...
Starting Craig Dilouie's Tooth and Nail. It's like a zombie outbreak in Manhattan meets Black Hawk Down, an on the ground infantry view of the outbreak. Very thrilling so far. Recommended
Starting Craig Dilouie's Tooth and Nail. It's like a zombie outbreak in Manhattan meets Black Hawk Down, an on the ground infantry view of the outbreak. Very thrilling so far. Recommended
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
And Then There Were None
Murder on the Orient Express
Hercule Poirot's Christmas
Outside of the second one, all of them feature Poirot which I personally prefer over Agatha's other detectives and the stories without one of her recurring characters.
Thanks a lot. I've never read detective/mystery books before so this should be a good start.
I second And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express. Great books.
I've always liked Feist's Magician. Just the first book though, it gets a lot more pew-pew afterwards. Except for the "of the Empire" series he did with Jenny Wurts which was absolutely fascinating since it was based more on an Asian/Japan-inspired fantasy universe
Anyway, finished this:
Hiroshima Nagasaki by Paul Ham
An amazing, well-researched tale that takes the simplistic assertion 'the atomic bombs were necessary to win the war without sacrificing even more lives' and puts it to the test.
charlemagne
Member
The sequel not in the works, it's out and readily available to read
Oh man! I just assumed (no idea why). Have you read it?
Jedeye Sniv
Banned
Yeah me too, motherfucker got my name and writes shitty books with it. Bah.
Finished up Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill last week, really enjoyed it. Never really read much horror before but I liked being creeped out by a book. any more horror recommendations GAF? The scarier the better.
Started off Contact in the meantime too, about 1/4 into it. Seems pretty good so far, I like the hard science that Sagan uses, feels like I'm learning something. Hope it's good when the alien is revealed.
Neffarias_Bredd
Member
I always recommend the Dragonlance series when people ask for traditional D&D fantasy
Bit of a big post coming, so my apologies!
It's all good, as long as you're enjoying it!
I guess it just feels odd sometimes, it's probably why I'm not giving the books 5's. The world building/self imagining is limited since I've got a reference point in my head from the first movie. It's not so bad now that I'm onto the third book and I'm really invested in what happens and the characters,etc, but it's just that little tiny bit that makes my mind wander about picturing it as the eventual movie instead of just enjoying the story per se.
I sure have. I love both of them, and maybe everyone is sick of me talking about them I preferred the first book just slightly, but I gave both books 5/5 on goodreads with extremely positive recommendations.
Perhaps I'll have to check this series out than.
I think it's 3 more plus a bunch of smaller novellas? Either way, yeah, I've loved the series and glad it's continuing on though. A mix between ME and SW is definitely not how I would describe it though
It's all good, as long as you're enjoying it!I guess it just feels odd sometimes, it's probably why I'm not giving the books 5's. The world building/self imagining is limited since I've got a reference point in my head from the first movie. It's not so bad now that I'm onto the third book and I'm really invested in what happens and the characters,etc, but it's just that little tiny bit that makes my mind wander about picturing it as the eventual movie instead of just enjoying the story per se.
I sure have. I love both of them, and maybe everyone is sick of me talking about them
I preferred the first book just slightly, but I gave both books 5/5 on goodreads with extremely positive recommendations.Been seeing them recommended for years and I finally caved and read (listened to) Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies. Awesome books. Really well written, clever, funny and still, at times, kind of brutal. Great reads. Really looking forward to the next one.
First fantasy books I've liked in a really, really long time.
I also read The City and the City recently. Probably the best novel I've read in...a decade? Fantastically well crafted, just great pure writing.
First fantasy books I've liked in a really, really long time.
I also read The City and the City recently. Probably the best novel I've read in...a decade? Fantastically well crafted, just great pure writing.
Neffarias_Bredd
Member
According to amazon, the third book in the series called republic of thieves comes out in October. Super excited for that
Yeah, I looked into a bit after Red Sea. I guess there is also a collection of short stories that detail more of the Gentlemen Bastards escapades prior to Lies that will be coming out shortly after the third book.
Jag
Member
Pretty much any Forgotten Realms series, with the aforementioned Drizzt books being a good start, although I would recommend Icewind Dale since that is where it started.
If you want great old school Fireball Fantasy (a new sub-genre), then go pick up the Dragonlance series starting with Dragons of Autumn Twilight. No one pew pews better than Raistlin Majere!
I actually haven't read these books since they came out in the mid-80s and I was an impressionable kid, but I still have a soft spot for them.
I just finished it last week. Great supplemental book if you enjoy the series, but it comes up short as a standalone book. Did you read Angel's Game?
Enjoying Moonwalking with Einstein a lot. The narrator is excellent and I've learned a few things even though it's not a self help book.
The Curse of Chalion is starting to slow down a bit for me. The main character is a little too knowledgeable about everything. The guy was just a soldier that liked to read.... how does he have such a deep understanding of politics and the underlying wheelings and dealings?
Sweeeeeet. Pratchett didn't really hit his stride until Guards! Guards! so it's uphill from here.
Finally read the last book in the Revelation Space series.
It started off slow but got pretty good a little ways in. The problem was that so much was unresolved near the very end still that I was really wondering how they were going to end it within such a short period of time. Made me worried. And sure enough, the ending was very unsatisfying. Very little closure, certain important things were given just a few sentences of page time, and there was a good amount left unexplained.
Kinda disappointed overall, even though I enjoyed it still. I think the author's at his best when discussing the science-y stuff. He does a really good of throwing up interesting ideas and incorporating them into the story well. He's not quite as good at character development, though.
I'm torn on reading some of the side story books of his in the Revelation Space universe. Maybe some other time. For now, I'll be starting on The Way of Kings. I'm not feeling terribly adventurous and a lot of people seem to really like this, so I figured I'll give it a go.
It started off slow but got pretty good a little ways in. The problem was that so much was unresolved near the very end still that I was really wondering how they were going to end it within such a short period of time. Made me worried. And sure enough, the ending was very unsatisfying. Very little closure, certain important things were given just a few sentences of page time, and there was a good amount left unexplained.
Kinda disappointed overall, even though I enjoyed it still. I think the author's at his best when discussing the science-y stuff. He does a really good of throwing up interesting ideas and incorporating them into the story well. He's not quite as good at character development, though.
I'm torn on reading some of the side story books of his in the Revelation Space universe. Maybe some other time. For now, I'll be starting on The Way of Kings. I'm not feeling terribly adventurous and a lot of people seem to really like this, so I figured I'll give it a go.
IIRC both suffer from this adherence to the ruleset and you can pretty much envision where the dice rolls would be. Another issue is The first Icewind Dale and the first Dragonlance trilogy suffer from one character in each being handled much more carefully compared to the rest who seem like they're just along for the ride. Drizzt and Raistlin respectively.
I've a soft spot for then myself but figure people ought to know what they're getting into.
The ABC Murders. It was my first, and I still remember it, thirty years on.
DarkChronic
Member
Currently working through book one of Thomas Covenant.
Eh. I'm about 200 pages in and finding it really boring. I just picked up Way of Kings yesterday and really want to start that, but I gotta finish this first. I hope it gets better...
The premise was so brilliant that I wish I found the plot more compelling. But it's still a wonderful book. And one I love to recommend to people just to see their eyes light up when I tell them what it's about. It really is an ingenious idea.
AngmarsKing701
Member
First time I tried to read it, maybe 20 years ago or so, I put it down after about 100 pages. I picked it up last year and ploughed through the trilogy, but for me it falls into the "eh" category. It's solid, but I feel like maybe it didn't stand the test of time very well. Also, at least in book one Donaldson uses the word "seems" way too often. It's one of those words that in our writer's group we call "weak." The fact that we had just been talking about in our group when I read this book made it stand out even more and drove me bonkers.
Currently working through book one of Thomas Covenant.
Eh. I'm about 200 pages in and finding it really boring. I just picked up Way of Kings yesterday and really want to start that, but I gotta finish this first. I hope it gets better...
And now it will drive you bonkers. Sorry.
RealisticPillow
Banned
Well, what can I say.. It's pretty amazing, one of the best books I've ever read..
Well, what can I say.. It's pretty amazing, one of the best books I've ever read..
Good on you. Dostoyevsky is such a brilliant writer. Wish more people would read him.
Mr. D is the greatest of all time. I still haven't read everything of his, though.
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