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[Nezumi]

Literal trash. Less than trash. If it wasn't the Kindle version I would have thrown it away, burned it or let my rabbit shred it. Possibly the worst thing I've ever or will ever read.

If I ever met a genie in a magic lamp who gave me three wishes, one of said wishes would be to undo having read Perdido Street Station.

What? How does one become terrified of a book? The only thing I was terrified of was Mieville's thesaurus.

Ok, I won't argue with you wether or not Perdido Street Station is a good or bad book. I liked it but tastes are different. And I have to admitt that Mievilles writing is not a nice and easy read. What I don't get is why you read through it if you disliked it that much? I had a discussion with a friend about this. She was reading Moby Dick and hated it with all her passion (if rightfully so I couldn't say, not having read it myself). I kept asking her why on earth she would keep reading, if she thought it to be so bad, and she would always answere that she could not not finish a book, once started.
I always thought this kind of behavior rather stupid. Why should I waste my free time with something that does not give me any pleasure whatsoever. I mean I think even now there is no chance that I will ever read all the books that I'm going to like, hell if bother with stuff I hate. Then again I don't think that I came across a book that I wanted erased from my memory. Even the one's I did not like taught me something or another.

Edit: When I talk about pleasure from reading I don't mean that a book has to be neccesarly entertaining. Just that I can take something from it.

 

[Mumei]

I thought it was fantastic! I have to say it took me a bit to get into it, but the payoff was absolutely worth it. Very satisfying when you start putting pieces together I really like how a lot is hidden in plain sight - you're just missing the key to interpret it. Would love to do a re-read someday.

I picked up Urth of the New Sun as well, but haven't started on it yet. I have this bad habit of adding too much to my library queue...

You need to read Urth of the New Sun. It does not have the same baroque, labyrinthine quality that original tetralogy has, but it more than makes up for it in answered questions. As Monocle said, it is [one of] the best payoffs I've ever experienced for a fictional series.

 

[Piecake]

I finished "In The Woods" by Tana French. The writing style was really good, but the plot payoff was kind of weak.

As a break from my normal reading genres, I'm now working on this:

congrats!

 

[Dresden]

Hopefully some of you guys move onto Long Sun and Short Sun soon. I need to give those a reread as well--it's been nearly a decade since I last read Long Sun.

 

[Monroeski]

The only thing I was terrified of was Mieville's thesaurus.

I actually liked the book but this got a LOL out of me.

Of course, I then went on to read his other books and I think they have retroactively made me dislike Perdido Street Station.

 

[Taborcarn]

congrats!

Thanks I need to read this faster because I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing now.

 

[Mifune]

I actually liked the book but this got a LOL out of me.

It's a lazy joke parroted by people who can't begin to describe what they don't like about his work.

 

[Dresden]

Of course, I then went on to read his other books and I think they have retroactively made me dislike Perdido Street Station.

I think I'd feel the same way if I finished reading Kraken.

Embassytown is rad, though.

 

[LiQuid!]

It's a lazy joke parroted by people who can't begin to describe what they don't like about his work.

Oh fuck off with this shit bro. You want an itemized list?

1. Paper thin characters
2. Endless, repetitive descriptions of locations in a city that was boring 2 chapters in, much less by the third or fourth dozenth chapter after you're trying to "put the pieces together"
3. Overwrought prose filled with some of THE most egregious overuse of adjectives I've ever seen in the English language
4. His system of magic basically devolved into Doctor Who "Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey" speak. If you're into this bullshit, fine but I think it's fucking dumb
5. The main character creates a LITERAL deus ex machina device that they use to bullshit their way out of the main predicament.
6. Said deus ex machina machine is accompanied by a deus ex machina creature that manages to both find the protagonists in their most dire moments and save them LIKE HALF A DOZEN TIMES and is able to transport them wherever the next lazy story beat needs them.
7. Shit is brought up and never talked about again. Rudgutter's meeting with the hell demon thing? Hey this book needs some HELL! Let's just throw some of that in randomly
8. Oh holy shit, how did I forget about Jack Half-a-Prayer YET ANOTHER deus ex machina that shows up in the final 3 chapters to save the heroes from yet another an unwinnable predicament. Seriously, no resolution in this book was earned at all. It was all just bullshit.
9. Let's not forget about the ridiculous griefporn ending.

Spoiler

Lin becoming a vegetable was silly enough

but Isaac learning about Yag's crime and

Spoiler

abandoning him after an entire book of bro'ing out

without even so much as a conversation.

This is just off the top of my head after having just read the final 10 chapters or so after having not touched the book in almost a full year. Sorry you felt my lazy joke invalidated my ability to render a criticism.

Just to show that I'm not being a rotten, shitty little hater, some things I liked about the book:

The scene early on where Isaac and Lin were fucking and he was going into detail about her head scarab and shit. I thought that was pretty funny and made me excited to read the book.
The construct council. I thought it was a cool idea portrayed pretty well, though I think its use in solving the problem was poor.
Cactus people.
Handlingers.
The names MontJohn Rescue and Rudgutter

See, it's not all bad.

 

[Kyleripman]

Took me forever to get started for whatever reason.

Enjoy! One of my favorite classics.

 

[suzu]

I read Ship of Fools, by Richard Paul Russo since I saw it posted in these threads a few times.

I liked it enough, but I disliked

Spoiler

the fact that they don't solve the ~mystery~. Also the way Veronica died was just WHAT. Absurd.

Oh well.

 

[justjohn]

Currently reading the count of monte cristo. Edmond finally got the treasure and I cant wait to read about how gets his revenge. Very gripping so far.
D

 

[Mifune]

Oh fuck off with this shit bro. You want an itemized list?

This is just off the top of my head after having just read the final 10 chapters or so after having not touched the book in almost a full year. Sorry you felt my lazy joke invalidated my ability to render a criticism.

Yeah, maybe I did want an itemized list. So thank you.

And come on with the indignation. The joke you made is the same one made by EVERYONE about this dude. And usually it's coming from someone who doesn't have anything else to say on the topic. So I apologize for lumping you in with everyone else.

Oh, and those things aren't deus ex machinas by definition. One is a device built by the character to combat the enemy. The other is a character (the Weaver) who is fucking integral to the story and is set up early on. How in the world does that apply? I'll give you Half-a-Prayer, though.

 

[Maklershed]

Finished Second Foundation and started Wilderness: A Novel


Wilderness: A Novel by Lance Weller

 

[LiQuid!]

Oh, and those things aren't deus ex machinas by definition. One is a device built by the character to combat the enemy. The other is a character (the Weaver) who is fucking integral to the story and is set up early on. How in the world does that apply? I'll give you Half-a-Prayer, though.

Spoiler

A. Isaac's machine was built to give Yag flight, not to combat the enemy. The reason it's a deus ex machina is that it's revealed late in the book that it can, in fact, do literally anything. A direct quote from the chapter where they are setting up the trap was Isaac saying that the engine was literally capable of anything.

2. Weaver was set up early, but the way it showed up at the most miraculous of moments, every moment where it could have conceivably saved the protagonists, may not qualify it as a deus ex machina by definition, but it's awful storytelling. I'm not sure it ever gives a reason why it allied itself with the protagonists but it could have been lost in some of its incoherent rambling that my eyes glazed over while trying to read.

d. Fuck Half-a-Prayer. Lazy storytelling, like everything in that book.

And I'm not indignant, and in case it's not clear, I don't have any problem with anybody liking the terrible book, or anything terrible (which is something I have to cope with on a daily basis). I don't like being dismissed though. Especially after forming an opinion on a book after taking the time to read it. Reading a book is not as small an endeavor to me as watching a movie or an episode of a TV show. Even if the best critique someone can muster against something is a lazy joke, I don't think that invalidates their criticism when they took the time to consume it.

ed: decided to spoiler just in case.

 

[Prez]

I'm in the mood to read some classics. Is there a massive book list somewhere I can consult?

 

[Maklershed]

I'm in the mood to read some classics. Is there a massive book list somewhere I can consult?

These links from the OP might come in handy ...

Explore
100 Books Every High School Student Should Read
100 Best Novels

I don't believe anyone has ever made a general literature / classics recommendation thread. Might be of value. Hint hint :b

 

[Bowflex]

I can't recommend Mercury Station enough, especially here on GAF. Its psychological hard-sci that dabbles in historical fantasy and is one of the most intelligent works of modern science fiction I've ever read. It's also an unrequited love time travel story, and quite humorous. The prose is in a league of its own too at times.
If you like the genre, check it out:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1584350717/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[Salsa]

Exactly the same thing happened to me. Started it years ago and didn't like it at all. Tried reading it a few months ago because I liked American Psycho so much, got halfway through and couldn't stomach it anymore. I believe in giving book second chances but I didn't like this book at all.

its a very slow start. Like a younger people version of Psycho but without the killing. Nothing happens.

 

[Prez]

These links from the OP might come in handy ...

Explore
100 Books Every High School Student Should Read
100 Best Novels

I don't believe anyone has ever made a general literature / classics recommendation thread. Might be of value. Hint hint :b

Thanks! I completely forgot there were links to recommendations in the OP.

 

[Trojita]

Now that I got home I could add a picture of the book to my post.

Man I really don't like the art on the Mistborn Hardcovers. The books also seem really expensive. The books aren't overly long and the paper quality doesn't seem the best.

 

[Maklershed]

That reader list, lols. Gee, I wonder if Libertarians and Scientologists vote-bombed that thing?

Hmm I see what you mean. Seems kinda like a Tea Partier's library list.

 

[Prez]

Maybe I should read one of the classics I already have but haven't read yet. I have To Kill A Mockingbird, The Trial and Slaughterhouse-Five but those books seem a little depressing and I'm not in the mood for that.

 

[Maklershed]

Maybe I should read one of the classics I already have but haven't read yet. I have To Kill A Mockingbird, The Trial and Slaughterhouse-Five but those books seem a little depressing and I'm not in the mood for that.

Tell us what you have.

To Kill a Mockingbird is great and not all that depressing.

 

[Dragoon X Omega]

I'm ready 50 Shades of Grey. So far I like the book. :/

 

[Kiever Sher]

Beautiful book, not sure why I've waited so long to read it, it always comes up when people talk about great short story collections. Was trying to drag it out since it's just over 130 pages long, still finished it in a couple of hours.

I actually have two copies of this since the last one I bought from Amazon, when I wasn't paying attention, was a dual language deal with German all over the place. May inspire me to pick the language.

 

[Prez]

Tell us what you have.

To Kill a Mockingbird is great and not all that depressing.

I'm interested in the subject so I think I'll read that one then.

That's all the classics I have right now. I used to have more based on recommendations, but in the end they didn't appeal to me. All I know is I'm not a fan of science fiction, fantasy and books with a great amount of details (ie most Russian literature).

You could always join us in the book club! We're reading what the reader vote list considers the #1 novel of forever.

I wish I could finish a book that long, but I'm afraid I just can't.

 

[Piecake]

I'm interested in the subject so I think I'll read that one then.

That's all the classics I have right now. I used to have more based on recommendations, but in the end they didn't appeal to me. All I know is I'm not a fan of science fiction, fantasy and books with a great amount of details (ie most Russian literature).




I wish I could finish a book that long, but I'm afraid I just can't.

I recommend The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann. It gave me a Dostoevsky vibe

 

[Grady Durden]

My reading stalled out a bit towards the end of January, so I figure going back to Abercrombie will get me going again. He has yet to let me down.

I'm reading this as well. Just started it.

 

[Heel]

What did everyone think of City of Thieves? I've been thinking about reading it for a while, and recently saw in an interview that the dev team for The Last of Us drew some inspiration from it.

 

[Bowflex]

Beautiful book, not sure why I've waited so long to read it, it always comes up when people talk about great short story collections. Was trying to drag it out since it's just over 130 pages long, still finished it in a couple of hours.

I actually have two copies of this since the last one I bought from Amazon, when I wasn't paying attention, was a dual language deal with German all over the place. May inspire me to pick the language.

Love this collection.

 

[Mackenzie 92]

Heh, this sounds like a fantastic read as well. Making my choices that much harder for what I want to read after finishing Masters of Doom. The books 'Nexus' and 'Divergent' mentioned on this page seem really cool as well.

Both on my list as well. Might start Divergent, but I'm not sure if I'm in the mood for it right now.

Finished Second Foundation and started Wilderness: A Novel


Wilderness: A Novel by Lance Weller

Picked that up during a daily deal recently. Sounded pretty good.

 

[Beaniedude]

Currently I'm reading the complete Sherlock Holmes.
It certainly is doing away with all those misconceptions I had about his character before and it is nice to see where Sherlock (the tv show) got its inspiration / story from.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

I've started on Deadhouse Gates. It's kind of a strange sequel after reading Gardens of the Moon, but I'm really enjoying the book so far, despite not really following most of the plots from the first book.

I've also started on Vicious Circle, the second Felix Castor book. So far, it has everything that I enjoyed from the first book again. Carey does a great job at really inhabiting his character and has a great voice.

I'm also continuing to make my way through The Brothers Karamazov and Cryptonomicon, although I feel like I've been reading those books for forever now.

 

[Lumiere]

You need to read Urth of the New Sun. It does not have the same baroque, labyrinthine quality that original tetralogy has, but it more than makes up for it in answered questions. As Monocle said, it is [one of] the bet payoffs I've ever experienced for a fictional series.

Anyway, Lumiere, I did the same and took a month or two off from Wolfe before finally reading Urth. I think you should just go ahead and read it.

I will! Actually, I think I'll start it as soon as I'm done with my current book. Your comments, and just talking about it is making me want to read it right away

My main distraction from Wolfe in these past couple months has been Ursula K. Le Guin (<3), but I'm done with what I reallllly wanted to read by her, so it's a good time to pick Urth up.

 

[shogunduk]

I'm about 300 pages from finishing A Game Of Thrones (yes, the first book). I don't know if I want to continue reading the series. The writing just doesn't do it for me. I love the show though.
Next I'm going to reread The Great Gatsby just because it's been sitting on my desk for some reason.

 

[Salsa]

ok Less Than Zero gets pretty fucking nuts near the end

 

[East Lake]

I'm in the mood to read some classics. Is there a massive book list somewhere I can consult?

http://sonic.net/~rteeter/grtbloom.html

 

[LiQuid!]

I'm about 300 pages from finishing A Game Of Thrones (yes, the first book). I don't know if I want to continue reading the series. The writing just doesn't do it for me. I love the show though.
Next I'm going to reread The Great Gatsby just because it's been sitting on my desk for some reason.

Don't blame you bro. I'm armpit deep in the third one right now and it's amazing how much prose GRRM is able to crap out for a chapter that can be summarized in two sentences. The series has been doing a great job of paring down the bloat and just getting to the meat of the plot. The books are the literary equivalent of Martin sniffing his own farts.

 

[Lafiel]

Started reading The Picture of Dorian Grey for the first time. It's pretty damn great so far, aethestically and thematically.. appears to strongly resonate with my interests, and the homoerotic undertones are quite interesting, even though I'm apparently reading the "censored' version, they still feel very obvious.:lol

 

[Narag]

I'm about 300 pages from finishing A Game Of Thrones (yes, the first book). I don't know if I want to continue reading the series. The writing just doesn't do it for me. I love the show though.
Next I'm going to reread The Great Gatsby just because it's been sitting on my desk for some reason.

I don't think I actually started enjoying ASOIAF until about halfway through the second book.

 

[ShaneB]

Both on my list as well. Might start Divergent, but I'm not sure if I'm in the mood for it right now.

I think I'll read Outpost next, seems like a perfect book to read in the dead of winter. :edit: that or Snow Crash since it's getting referenced so much in Masters of Doom.

And Wilderness sounds like something my Dad would like, so maybe I'll keep in that in mind when I'm getting him some new books.

 

[Maklershed]

I don't think I actually started enjoying ASOIAF until about halfway through the second book.

It took me a little bit to warm to it too as I hadn't read any fantasy before that and it was a throwing a ton of names and locations and families at me. It was very hard to figure out what was happening imo. But by about halfway or 3/4th through the first book everything started clicking and I was totally hooked.

 

[baunsgaard]

Easiest way i guess:

BTW i tried honestly tried to read Outpost - i guess its ok if you really like bad prose

 

[Salsa]

Easiest way i guess:

BTW i tried honestly tried to read Outpost - i guess its ok if you really like bad prose

how do you get this screen?

 

[baunsgaard]

how do you get this screen?

menu + keyboard

 

[Salsa]

menu + keyboard ...

Nice! thanks

 

[140.85]

Love this kinda stuff.

 

[Fleet_of_Foot]

I've started on Deadhouse Gates. It's kind of a strange sequel after reading Gardens of the Moon, but I'm really enjoying the book so far, despite not really following most of the plots from the first book.

I've also started on Vicious Circle, the second Felix Castor book. So far, it has everything that I enjoyed from the first book again. Carey does a great job at really inhabiting his character and has a great voice.

I'm also continuing to make my way through The Brothers Karamazov and Cryptonomicon, although I feel like I've been reading those books for forever now.

Deadhouse Gates is a much easier read than Gardens of the Moon. That first book had some cool parts but overall it was very disjointed and hard to follow.

And yeah, the second book has very little to do with the first.

 

[Mackenzie 92]

BTW i tried honestly tried to read Outpost - i guess its ok if you really like bad prose

What? The prose was more than serviceable for what it is, being an action packed story analogous of The Thing.

Anyway, was in the mood for more horror and started this last night

Dead Sea by Tim Curran