That's good to hear, I had read a lot of reviews calling it a disappointing end.
What are you reading? (August 2015)
- Thread starter Maklershed
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That's good to hear, I had read a lot of reviews calling it a disappointing end.
nailbombxx
Member
I'll probably get around to reading Bram Stoker's Dracula, the ghost stories and horror fiction of M.R. James & Arthur Machen. Maybe some Algernon Blackwood. Ashamedly I have not read all of these legends before as I have just recently picked up reading as a major hobby. I'm pretty hyped.
It'll be interesting to hit Among Others after having gone through the Hugo list, considering it does for '70s SF what Ready Player One does for '80s geek culture. Luckily Walton is a much, much better writer than Cline.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
Just finished The Shockwave Runner by John Brunner.
Plot summary: in a dystopian America where everything is tracked and controlled digitally, an extraordinary hacker bounces from identity to identity.
The book has a few flaws. Almost no tension, for one. Many of the characters all read the same, and the main character's ability to hack/spout wisdom is basically a never ending win button. There's some parts of the novel that stop and talk philosophy, but they're not as clear or interesting as the author thinks.
Despite this, the book is surprisingly engaging and prescient. It was written in 1975, and the genre feels like Cyber before Gibson supplied the Punk in Neuromancer. The themes are compelling and well-covered, and it's hard for me to disagree with the book's thesis of decrying the surveillance state's goal of bashing through privacy to establish the statistics for happiness, safety and success. Many of the plot's surprises snuck up on me and I hadn't the foggiest notion what would happen next, which is always fun. I also liked the third act revelations, even if from a plot standpoint that they were somewhat anticlimactic,
that those in power weren't mustache twirling geniuses but actually a lot of incompetent people who refuse to listen to each other. I found that realistic (in my experiences) and amusing.
A good book, not on the top shelf of sci-fi but an enjoyable and thoughtful read. Yet another winner found via Kindle Unlimited. Now on to something else. Maybe Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
Maklershed
Member
Finished The Devil All the Time. Phenomenal book. I can't recommend it enough. If I wasn't hooked on the souther noir genre before, I am now. That really gave Sneaky People and Stoner a run for the money for my favorite book of the year. I wanted to move on to another southern noir or Bukowski next but my buddy keeps begging me to try The Name of the Wind so I'm obliging. Not really in the fantasy mood at this exact moment but I'm hoping its good enough to get me into the mood. (dat cover tho)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
I just read Dracula for the first time a few months ago myself. Still holds up. I was surprised how a)
and b) how
I wonder what people that read the book when it was current thought of that. If they knew it was 100% fiction or if they thought something like that could happen, considering it was written as a 'found memoir' type thing if I remember correctly.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
I just read Dracula for the first time a few months ago myself. Still holds up. I was surprised how a)
Dracula didn't actually conform to a lot of what we know today as the 'rules to vampires'. I thought those rules came from this book.
dark and kinda creepy that ending is with Dracula making his way to London.
Blame Mumei, Cyan, and besada, because I've gone and written a love-letter to Shards of Honor and Barrayar for the Barnes & Noble SF&F Blog.
These two books have totally turned around my opinion of the series after being lukewarm on The Warrior's Apprentice. Barrayar, in particular, is outstanding.
The Vor Game dips down again if you are reading that next.
I am half way through Currency (Book 7 in the Baroque Saga). I said I was going to take a break from the series, but I couldn't decide what to start next on Tuesday, so just continued on.
I am debating whether to plow through the last book after this or actually take a break. As much as I love this series, the way it is written and the hundreds of characters, places, etc can get draining if I read too much of it in quick succession. I spend half my time looking discussed events up on Wikipedia which doesn't help.
Anyone have some suggestions for Late August/September reading? Preferably less than 400 pages or so? I have plenty of longer novels in my backlog as it is.
You Know Nothing
Member
This would make a great scene in a sitcom.
That's cool. I don't think I could write a paper without sounding like I'm bullshitting. <_<
... Is this a hint that I should be reading more? >.>
Finished the novel. I liked Book 3 a good deal, but I found it to be the weakest of the three (granted I was also slightly fatigued as I read it). However they were all top notch. Spoilers for Book 3:I will say it was an interesting experience to read Augustus's account on what happened in his life, and to have a definitive conclusion to his arc. The epilogue was bittersweet, especially knowing the outcome of Nero's reign.
Augustus is a fantastic book. One of the finest historical fictions I have read, which is limited truth be told. I was flip flopping on whether I should give it a 4/5 or 5/5. I decided on the former as I thought the last book I gave a 5/5, A Little Life, gave me no doubts of its rating. I plan to pick up a hard copy of William's Magnus Opus when I return to America in a couple of years. Gotta give my future apartment some class after all.
I am also sold on future book clubs. You chaps appreciate fine literature.
Pfft. The third part is the best part. Glorious. 5/5, your faves could never
Blame Mumei, Cyan, and besada, because I've gone and written a love-letter to Shards of Honor and Barrayar for the Barnes & Noble SF&F Blog.
These two books have totally turned around my opinion of the series after being lukewarm on The Warrior's Apprentice. Barrayar, in particular, is outstanding.
yaaaaaasssssss
but yes, kwiston is right about The Vor Game. Don't worry, though~
AngmarsKing701
Member
Blame Mumei, Cyan, and besada, because I've gone and written a love-letter to Shards of Honor and Barrayar for the Barnes & Noble SF&F Blog.
These two books have totally turned around my opinion of the series after being lukewarm on The Warrior's Apprentice. Barrayar, in particular, is outstanding.
Excellent. This is my favorite sci-fi series. Now go read the rest of them!
TheKaeptain
Banned
Oh there was a lot of bullshit in those 5 pages.
TheKaeptain
Banned
Best translation of In Search of Lost Time?
I read Lydia Davis' translation and I had no issues with it and thought the language quite beautiful. I did read that it was supposedly the hot new translation and much better than the previous one. No idea if that is true or not. Plus, if you get the Penguin deluxe edition the edition will have those sexy knife-cut pages that Mumei loves so much.
I only read the first book and I think I remember the rest of the new Penguin editions having different translators. No idea how that worked out.
I had to pull up my bootstraps and stop giving everything 5/5!
I'm sure I'll want to give it a 5/5 as I read impressions. I completely forgot to read the introduction before deleting it on my Kindle too. I'm a monster.
I've read nothing on that Hugo list, winners or otherwise, that Harry Potter or A Song of Ice and Fire. For shame.
Added Starship Troopers and Stranger In A Strange Land (because Starship Troopers and Iron Maiden) as well as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (because it sounds interesting). I've never read a great deal of sci-fi, I've always been more into fantasy/fantasy horror.
Added Starship Troopers and Stranger In A Strange Land (because Starship Troopers and Iron Maiden) as well as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (because it sounds interesting). I've never read a great deal of sci-fi, I've always been more into fantasy/fantasy horror.
Finished The Devil All the Time. Phenomenal book. I can't recommend it enough. If I wasn't hooked on the souther noir genre before, I am now. That really gave Sneaky People and Stoner a run for the money for my favorite book of the year. I wanted to move on to another southern noir or Bukowski next but my buddy keeps begging me to try The Name of the Wind so I'm obliging. Not really in the fantasy mood at this exact moment but I'm hoping its good enough to get me into the mood. (dat cover tho)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Oh hey! It's GAF's second least favorite author.
I love KK Chronicles despite its many, many flaws.
Bleeding Edge - Thomas Pynchon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099590360/
Finally after many years got around to reading True Grit - Charles Portis. It was terrific even knowing the story so well from both film versions.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099590360/
Finally after many years got around to reading True Grit - Charles Portis. It was terrific even knowing the story so well from both film versions.
Atraveller
Banned
Read The Road, and it was ok, really didn't leave an impression.
I've read nothing on that Hugo list, winners or otherwise, that Harry Potter or A Song of Ice and Fire. For shame.
Added Starship Troopers and Stranger In A Strange Land (because Starship Troopers and Iron Maiden) as well as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (because it sounds interesting). I've never read a great deal of sci-fi, I've always been more into fantasy/fantasy horror.
Both of those are trash. If I were intentionally trying to make a worse first foray into sci fi it would be hard to beat Heinlein. Just go with something else.
sparky2112
Member
Each book of that edition is done by a different translator. I *think* the original, by Moncrieff , is public domain, I think?
RepairmanJack
Member
Still reading Black Dahlia.
I'm about 70% through and I'm still liking it quite a bit, my only real beef so far is the latest 'break' in the case. Kind of big spoilers:
I'm about 70% through and I'm still liking it quite a bit, my only real beef so far is the latest 'break' in the case. Kind of big spoilers:
The way the Vogel stuff came about just seemed kind of cheesey. I'm fine with Bleichert suddenly remembering it and piecing it all together, but why were the Vogel's talking about that at the specific time for no reason? It had been a few days at that point since the events at the hotel and Fritzie already knew all that. Why would Johnny be bringing it up as if Fritzie was hearing it for the first time and it was a point of pride for Johnny? It just seems like a cheesy moment that a lot of the recent development hinges on.
I also skipped the introduction. ¯\_(ツ
_/¯This is a good article. I think the main thing to keep in mind is that the old 1922 translation (as well as its updates) tended to intensify the language and make it more melodramatic and flowery, and to use an older form of English than the French (e.g. Proust's French is supposed to be closer to modern French, whereas the Montcrief (and successor) translation(s) uses a more antiquated English. Davis' text has more fidelity.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
are there differences between Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Voyage besides pagepress sensor and adaptive light? If so what?
According to this comparison on Amazon the differences seem pretty insignificant?
I want to order a paperwhite so bad, even though the dollar has sky rocketed compared to NOK during the last few months
According to this comparison on Amazon the differences seem pretty insignificant?
I want to order a paperwhite so bad, even though the dollar has sky rocketed compared to NOK during the last few months
I don't know, Starship Troopers is more benign than A Stranger in A Strange Land, but I would be suspicious of anyone who capital L loves it. The sci fi label is an umbrella for very different kinds of books, so it's hard to point in a certain direction. There are even books that should by most definitions be called sci fi that have "graduated" above genre fiction to reside on higher literary planes.
I think if you wanted to, you could list some types of stuff you're interested in reading more of and posters in this thread could rattle off some titles(with good taste!).
are there differences between Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Voyage besides pagepress sensor and adaptive light? If so what?
According to this comparison on Amazon the differences seem pretty insignificant?
I want to order a paperwhite so bad, even though the dollar has sky rocketed compared to NOK during the last few months
I think before this latest model update the Voyager had a resolution advantage over the Paperwhite. I own an old Paperwhite and I don't think there's an 80 dollar difference. At least that savings would soften the blow of the 40$ cover, which you'll likely want because it's great.
sparky2112
Member
sparky2112
Member
are there differences between Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Voyage besides pagepress sensor and adaptive light? If so what?
According to this comparison on Amazon the differences seem pretty insignificant?
I want to order a paperwhite so bad, even though the dollar has sky rocketed compared to NOK during the last few months
With the new Paperwhites having the same resolution, I think they kinda shot Voyage out back behind the barn.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
Well, looking at the comparison picture, I have a hard time comprehending why I should churn out an extra $80 for it. Press buttons and auto-light, and 20g lighter, hardly makes it worth almost double price?
In August I finished The Novice by Trudi Canavan, the 2nd book in The Black Magician Trilogy. I really enjoyed it although the book had some boring parts in the middle, still like the fisrt book there's alot of world building and not a whole lot going on. The characters and their motivations keep it interesting enough, though.
Also read "As Intermitências da Morte", or its title in english Death with Interruptions, by José Saramago. Basically tells the story of a country where people stopped dying and what that implied for everyone living there. The first part of the book reads like a report on the events, it drags a bit sometimes, but it's full of dark humour and criticism to society. The second part explores death herself, yes she's a "woman", as character.
Started reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. After watching 2 episodes of the show I decided that I wanted to give this a shot. I'm enjoying it 100 pages in.
Also read "As Intermitências da Morte", or its title in english Death with Interruptions, by José Saramago. Basically tells the story of a country where people stopped dying and what that implied for everyone living there. The first part of the book reads like a report on the events, it drags a bit sometimes, but it's full of dark humour and criticism to society. The second part explores death herself, yes she's a "woman", as character.
Started reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. After watching 2 episodes of the show I decided that I wanted to give this a shot. I'm enjoying it 100 pages in.
I've typically stuck to authors that I discovered while young - so Tolkien, Stephen King, James Herbert & Dean Koontz I read a lot of. I've read (and enjoyed) Harry Potter and recently the obvious George R.R. Martin stuff.
Outside of that, I read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (because Blade Runner) quite recently and really enjoyed that. I also ready a collection of his short stories, which I found hit or miss (which is to be expected). I don't know if you can see this (it's nowhere near complete) but this is my read shelf on Goodreads.
Honestly, I'm just going to be a bit burned out on fantasy after marathons of A Song of Ice and Fire and before that The Dark Tower. I'll gladly take suggestions that are of other genres, the worst that can happen is that I don't like them! I've read the Silmarillion so heavy isn't a problem - I find I can adapt to different styles without too much fuss.
I'm terrible at remembering a catalogue of unnecessary information however and have no interest in that kind of crap. Which as a side benefit makes the George R.R. Martin books nearly 10% shorter!
Probably my only hard stipulation is that they should be available natively on the Kindle.
Atraveller
Banned
It's a grey, repetitive book. Hunger --> Finds secret stash --> Man and boy talk about dying or not and taking stuff.
Sometimes they run from cannibals.
Not trying to sound overly reductionist, but it really just feels like that.
Yeah, with that price difference, Paperwhite being slightly thicker and heavier is not a problem at all.
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
For a bleak, postapocalyptic world, The Road is trite as fuck.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
It was not meant to be "oh we have a badass" post. I haven't read the book so far but only seen the movie. The movie already has a depressing atmosphere and from what i have read on gaf so far, the book also has this strong vibe. Not everybody feels that way and that is totally ok. It's like some people can't see horror movies or play horror games while i only laugh while watching them.
Still have the road on my "to read list" but the list (also thanks to this gaf thread) is long.
Atraveller
Banned
Oh the book does have atmosphere, but lacking in a lot of other things. I didn't see the movie, so I don't know if there were some modifications to the story, but in the book, there isn't a lot going on.
I don't hate this book, but I also don't think it's the second coming of post apocalyptic Christ.
Did anyone do this?
I heavily disagree. The point of the book wasn't to paint some awesome post-apocalyptic setting or tell some sweeping story.
Sometimes I look at my young daughter and see moments of pure joy and wonder on her face. Little kids are so beautifully naive that the smallest things can illicit these responses. It makes me sad that she will eventually grow up and realize that the world is also a place where a lot of horrible things happen, and some of that optimistic joy will fade. This also touches on related knowledge that, no matter how much I want to protect her and keep her safe, a lot of things are completely out of my control. All I can do is strive to raise her as best I can within my environment (which luckily is a pretty good one at present). Preserve some of that innocent joy for as long as possible.
I think that the Road takes the same sorts of thoughts and feelings towards one's child described above and imagines them in a pretty typical post-apocalyptic setting (which in itself is not really that important). How do you keep your child's wonder and hope alive in a world that has no hope?
Why did Europe Conquer the World? by Hoffman
Interesting little clip introducing the book. The argument does make some sense, and if people read my Opium War women's chamber-pot quote, clearly China had less of an incentive to push gunpowder technology than the Europeans
.
I think this and a more economic-centric focused book on the Great Divergence debate are probably what I am going to read in the near future.
As for The Road, I also didnt really care for it. I found it rather dull.
Interesting little clip introducing the book. The argument does make some sense, and if people read my Opium War women's chamber-pot quote, clearly China had less of an incentive to push gunpowder technology than the Europeans
Because they obviously knew the secrets behind the dark arts of women's chamber pots
I think this and a more economic-centric focused book on the Great Divergence debate are probably what I am going to read in the near future.
As for The Road, I also didnt really care for it. I found it rather dull.
So, if you're burned out on fantasy, maybe go with something relatively short and stand alone? Neuromancer(launched cyberpunk), The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy(comedy), Fahrenheit 451(classic), Roadside Picnic/Solaris(first encounter) or The Quantum Thief. The last had sequels, but it's contemporary and the first book works on its own.. and I'm partial to it.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
I decided to finally continue down the Vorkosigan trail and start up The Warrior's Apprentice, and I'm glad I did. I was vaguely worried I wouldn't like Miles, and yes, sure he's not his mother,
but I've laughed more in the first 6 chapters than I have at any book in recent memory. I must have Bujold's sense of humor.
ALL HAIL CORDELIA
Update on my own reading:
;__________________;
If you've read it, you get it. If not, don't worry.
I'm sorry for your terrible relationship with your father.
Oh, man. That's not even one of the especially funny books, either (though they all have their moments). She writes a straight-up rom-com / regency romance / science fiction mash-up novel later in the series, and it is hysterically funny.
;__________________;
If you've read it, you get it. If not, don't worry.
I'm sorry for your terrible relationship with your father.
Oh, man. That's not even one of the especially funny books, either (though they all have their moments). She writes a straight-up rom-com / regency romance / science fiction mash-up novel later in the series, and it is hysterically funny.
Nappuccino
Member
I really wish that the road was more about the son. He feels like such a thoughtless cypher throughout the book. Maybe it is just because I have a lot of younger cousins, but my interactions with them are nothing like the boy in the books.
Which novel is that?
You'll know when you get to it. No cheating!
In a review I read, they made a point of saying that the son's personality is a very idealized, and anachronistic. He would've been raised in that world, but his demeanor is plainly from a different era, like 20th century America or something of that nature.
I found that observation to be highly illustrative. What was I took to be a bleak, meandering, heartbreaking roadtrip resolved into a metaphor about the perseverance that must come with parenthood (particularly for fathers), and the overwhelming desire to protect a child against all odds, along with the hope that they will somehow carry their innocence forever.
Cheaters never prosper.
Besides, you would think aidan would have learned his lesson about reading this series out of roughly (ignoring Falling Free) chronological order by now!
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