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[dragonlife]

I'm finally reading A Game of Thrones after owning it and A Clash of Swords for years. It's definitely a fun read. I'm barely on page 129, but already it's my kind of book.

I do have a question for hose that have read the books and watch the show: what books are which season? Are they chronological? I'm really curious to watch the show (first season, at the least) after finishing the first book, but don't want to get any of the later books ruined somehow in case they've taken some liberties in the storytelling. A breakdown for my ignorance would be appreciated.

Also, my copies of the first two books are from the collection that looks like this:

...but now there's different versions being sold, so now my collection's going to be off I also really don't like the paper used in the new prints. It's almost Bible-like; thin and delicate, whereas the one in the image above feels nice and sturdy without being too thick.

 

[Nymerio]

Finished Shift yesterday.

I really, really like the setting of these books. I'm really looking forward to how this ends now that

Spoiler

we've seen both silo #1 and the others and know that there's a world beyond the waste around the silos.

Not certain what I'll be reading next. Maybe I'll go back to the Wheel of Time, though I'm not certain if I can take a load of sniffing and crossing ones arms while looking disapproving yet.

 

[Liquid Helium]

I'm finally reading A Game of Thrones after owning it and A Clash of Swords for years. It's definitely a fun read. I'm barely on page 129, but already it's my kind of book.

I do have a question for hose that have read the books and watch the show: what books are which season? Are they chronological? I'm really curious to watch the show (first season, at the least) after finishing the first book, but don't want to get any of the later books ruined somehow in case they've taken some liberties in the storytelling. A breakdown for my ignorance would be appreciated.

The show has generally been at the pace of one book a season, but with some things moved around. The first season of the show is the mostly same events as AGOT, the second is mostly ACOK, the thrid season is the mostly the first half of ASOS. It's not exactly like that, for example some stuff from the end of AGOT is at the beginning of season two. However that won't hold up going forward as the show starts telling things in a different order from the books next season (I think. The reason why isn't really a spoiler but i'll not explain just to be safe).

 

[possiblyphil]

http://www.amazon.com/Hyena-A-Collection-Short-Stories/dp/1494305305

Been reading this for the past few days.. just the most bizarre stories from a real life scumbag (and secret nerd). Definitely recommend it to anyone that wants a light read that will make you laugh on every page.

 

[Salsa]

fun!

 

[The Culture Vulture]

Finished Blindness and How We Decide started Pagan Babies.

 

[nakedsushi]

(disclaimer: I got this free from NetGalley)


Small Talk: How to Develop Your Child's Language Skills from Birth to Age Four by Nicola Lathey

I really enjoyed this book. I like that it includes games to play with your child to boost their communication ability. As someone who studied linguistics as an undergraduate, this subject fascinates me.

 

[Haly]

Finished Shift yesterday.

I really, really like the setting of these books. I'm really looking forward to how this ends now that

Spoiler

we've seen both silo #1 and the others and know that there's a world beyond the waste around the silos.

Not certain what I'll be reading next. Maybe I'll go back to the Wheel of Time, though I'm not certain if I can take a load of sniffing and crossing ones arms while looking disapproving yet.

You could always read Dust, which concludes Wool and Shift. Unless you're talking about afterwards?

 

[evilpigking]

Speaking of The Black Company, I recently finished the first omnibus and enjoyed it quite a bit.

What's all this about the 2nd omnibus? D:

Basically if you buy the 2nd omni. You need to read The Silver Spike first even though it is the last 1/3 of the omni. It is a side story involving White Rose, Silent, etc that basically wraps up the books of the North. Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel continue the story of Croaker, Lady, and the rest of the Black Company proper.

So if you read them in the order of the Omni the placement of Silver Spike is jarring.

 

[Jintor]

Woah where did all these readers come from

 

[Tragicomedy]

Basically if you buy the 2nd omni. You need to read The Silver Spike first even though it is the last 1/3 of the omni. It is a side story involving White Rose, Silent, etc that basically wraps up the books of the North. Shadow Games and Dreams of Steel continue the story of Croaker, Lady, and the rest of the Black Company proper.

So if you read them in the order of the Omni the placement of Silver Spike is jarring.

Exactly. Finish the first trilogy, then immediately read The Silver Spike. It's considered a spin-off story, but it's rather good and fits in perfectly after the third book. It also adds some minor insight into the books that follow.

 

[Maklershed]

Exactly. Finish the first trilogy, then immediately read The Silver Spike. It's considered a spin-off story, but it's rather good and fits in perfectly after the third book. It also adds some minor insight into the books that follow.

I don't know if its because I read it so far out of order and it disrupted the flow of where I was at or what but I really disliked The Silver Spike. It definitely needs to be read as book 4.

 

[Narag]

Interesting.

 

[Tenrius]

I've been going through Catch-22 that is slowly becoming one of my favorite books ever. Slowly is the key word here, because I've been doing some other things, haven't been reading a whole lot during the last few weeks. But yeah, if everyone needs a book recommendation right now, I'd strongly suggest Catch-22.

 

[disappeared]

Just finished Post Office. Definitely going looking into John Fante's and Knut Hamsun's work now.

 

[Polishin8r]

just finished catcher in the ray funny as hell and deep..started reading stolen world

 

[evilpigking]

I don't know if its because I read it so far out of order and it disrupted the flow of where I was at or what but I really disliked The Silver Spike. It definitely needs to be read as book 4.

I'd like to say probably because I remember Silver Spike being my favorite when I read them but that was 14 years ago so...I really don't remember much of books 4+

 

[Tragicomedy]

I've been going through Catch-22 that is slowly becoming one of my favorite books ever. Slowly is the key word here, because I've been doing some other things, haven't been reading a whole lot during the last few weeks. But yeah, if everyone needs a book recommendation right now, I'd strongly suggest Catch-22.

That's probably because it's the best book ever written. #1 on my all-time list. I believe I've read it five times and it gets better each read.

 

[suzu]

Ahh, ok. Thanks guys. I'll keep that in mind when I start the next Black Company omnibus (soon!).

 

[Shengar]

My books order arrived today, more Russian classics is a good thing. I should finished Charwoman's Shadow soon, then jumped to Chekhov.

 

[The Artful Dodger]

I'm reading "It's Fine by Me" by Per Petterson.

 

[Nymerio]

You could always read Dust, which concludes Wool and Shift. Unless you're talking about afterwards?

I was thinking of waiting a bit on Dust, because I figured I may need to have something to look forward to once I go back to the Wheel of Time series

 

[Pookmunki]

Finished Blindness yesterday, will put my thoughts in the other thread tonight.I have now started 12 Years a Slave, incredibly powerful already.

I'll be on the hunt for something lighter to read next methinks!

 

[Futureman]

anyone have a recommendation for a book that goes over all the stories of the Old Testament and gives analysis and interpretations?

I'm not religious so I would prefer something that's more like a literary analysis than religious viewpoints.

 

[disappeared]

Ordered Hunger by Knut Hamsun. Should be arriving the mail shortly. In the meantime I intend to read Thereau's Walden.

 

[Nymerio]

Started Leviathan Wakes yesterday.

 

[Fusebox]

anyone have a recommendation for a book that goes over all the stories of the Old Testament and gives analysis and interpretations?

I'm not religious so I would prefer something that's more like a literary analysis than religious viewpoints.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061374253/?tag=neogaf0e-20

"Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous, and Inspiring Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible"

Although it was a tiny bit more apologetic than I would have liked.

 

[SmoothCB]

Finished Shift yesterday.

I really, really like the setting of these books. I'm really looking forward to how this ends now that

Spoiler

we've seen both silo #1 and the others and know that there's a world beyond the waste around the silos.

Not certain what I'll be reading next. Maybe I'll go back to the Wheel of Time, though I'm not certain if I can take a load of sniffing and crossing ones arms while looking disapproving yet.

Haha. I'm doing the same thing. Finsihed Wool, now on Winter's Heart WOT, then Shift, etc...

 

[Jintor]

Ploughed through the Mallorean againl, because I think Eddings puts some kind of minor narcotic in these things. I can tell the writing is, well, overall pretty bad to be honest - so much deus ex machina, so many things that basically feel like an overzealous GM railroading players into side-adventures then linking them back to their main plot through blunt force trauma.

Oh well. Hopefully I can move on to more enjoyable pulp stuff, like maybe some more Sherlock Holmes or maybe the X-Wing series. (Honour Harrington is quite good, actually). Or maybe I'll pick up this rather serious book about Chinese factory girls again.

 

[NekoFever]

I finished The Terror last night. The good bits are great but my god does that book need trimming down. There was no need for it to be 900+ pages. I feel like I can write a thesis on the symptoms of scurvy now that I've had them explained to me about 40 times. It took me three weeks to finish when I'll usually finish off a book of that length in ~10 days, which says something.

Now I'm going to read some straightforward but (hopefully) enjoyable trash in Halo: Mortal Dictata. I know I should stop doing this to myself but I've read all the other novels in the series and this finishes a trilogy so seems like a good place to draw a line under it.

 

[nolips]

Infinity Blade is a guilty pleasure. Jeff Vandermeers novel on the other hand is fantastic!

 

[Ranger Taffles]

That's probably because it's the best book ever written. #1 on my all-time list. I believe I've read it five times and it gets better each read.

Yeah I finished it very recently and it certainly holds up its acclaim. Also has easily the best set of characters.

 

[Jag]

+1.

Catch-22 is mindblowingly awesome.

I'm surprised this book was never on my radar given how I devour books on weekly basis. I'm intrigued enough to finally break down and get it for my ski trip this week.

 

[B.K.]

I'm finally reading A Game of Thrones after owning it and A Clash of Swords for years

I just started it a few days ago, too. I just went the cheap route and bought the Kindle version, since I didn't know if I'd like it or not. I'm really confused. They keep throwing out so many names of people and places that I can't keep up with who anyone is.

 

[Lafiel]

Finished reading Hate: A Romance by Tristan Garcia the other day. It reads like the type of book I'd write - lots of references to philosophy, portrays the culture of political activism and counter-culturism in general, but the writing let a lot to be desired for me and didn't really "say" much that was interesting or profound, it also seemed kind of dead emotionally - despite the depressing last 50-pages it left me feeling cold more than anything else. It was a quick and breezy read at the very least and was pretty enjoyable throughout, don't regret my time with it.

In terms of stuff I'm currently reading right now still slowly going through my re-read of Moby Dick with 220-pages read.. and a friend of mine got me a copy of Blindness by Jose Saramago for my birthday.. which I'll probably start reading since it's the book club book this month.

 

[EverythingShiny]

Finished this last night (was up until 1am reading the ~240 pages that were left):

What a wonderful book. I started reading the book in tears and finished reading the book in tears, but at least by the end

Spoiler

they were happy tears

. I'm not a big fan of racing but that didn't subtract from my ability to love this book. Plus, part of it takes place in my old neighborhood! Always nice reading books that take place in Seattle.

Trying to figure out what to read next. Have a couple of options and I'm also going to pick up the first book in the Walt Longmire series since I'm hooked on the TV show. I haven't heard much about Craig Johnson so I don't know how the books compare, but I hope they're good.

 

[fakefaker]

I think I'm getting old. I finished off John Dies at the End by David Wong and reading it was a love/hate thing. Some parts were good, some parts dragged and the humor wasn't humorous, and sometimes I just wanted to punch Dave in the face. I hope spiders is better.

But gonna take a break from that series and jump head first into deeps space with The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton. This one could take a bit!

 

[ShaneB]

Finished this last night (was up until 1am reading the ~240 pages that were left):

http://racingintherain.garthstein.com/images/art-of-racing-in-the-rain.jpg[IMG]

What a wonderful book. I started reading the book in tears and finished reading the book in tears, but at least by the end [SPOILER]they were happy tears[/SPOILER]. I'm not a big fan of racing but that didn't subtract from my ability to love this book. Plus, part of it takes place in my old neighborhood! Always nice reading books that take place in Seattle.[/QUOTE]

Glad you liked it! And yes about the ending [SPOILER]sad tears and happy tears for sure. [/SPOILER] Very neat that it took place in your old neighbourhood.

You should read Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend next =)

 

[Ace Harding]

Saw the movie a long time ago but never read the book. I'm about 70% through and it's pretty great. Super creepy and a real downer, but a good book.

 

[TTG]

So, I was bored with my current reading and didn't have anything lined up, decided to peruse a top 100 list(from The Times? don't remember) and it seemed that I've never read as much as a word written by a certain Mr. Faulkner. Pick up a sample of Absalom Absalom! It's well written, an interesting set up so I investigate further... oh my God, 50 pages later my heart is just wrenched, makes me wish for the good old sunny days of Blood Meridian.

You see that cover, you turn around and walk away dammit. Whatever you do, don't read it. I'm waiting for the plot to get to the Civil War already, so I can get at least an arm length's clear of the suffering that's unfolding right now. We're so intimate at this point that I spent some time dwelling on my own family history after putting it down yesterday. Shit's fucked up yo.

 

[iosefe]

been doing a sequence starting from I, Robot, and finishing with Foundation followed by end of eternity.

i have a lot ahead of me

 

[EverythingShiny]

Glad you liked it! And yes about the ending

Spoiler

sad tears and happy tears for sure.

Very neat that it took place in your old neighbourhood.

You should read Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend next =)

Bah, fine! Is this one going to make me cry, too?

Saw the movie a long time ago but never read the book. I'm about 70% through and it's pretty great. Super creepy and a real downer, but a good book.

One of my favorite Stephen King novels. You should read Doctor Sleep; it's an excellent sequel to the book.

 

[ShaneB]

Bah, fine! Is this one going to make me cry, too?

I certainly did, so perhaps you will too! But there is lots of laughs and smiles along the way too.

 

[Mumei]

Infinity Blade is a guilty pleasure. Jeff Vandermeers novel on the other hand is fantastic!

I hadn't heard of this until besada or Cyan mentioned it last night. I'm excited about it now, though!

 

[Nymerio]

I'm reading Leviathan Wakes and it started out kinda slow but I'm starting to get really into it now. I feel for Miller, poor guy:

Spoiler

Finding out that he's the joke of the department, and then he get's fired so brutally. I have a feeling though, that he's going to show them all what he's really made of.

 

[Satanic Saint]

Started reading this today.

 

[Fxp]

Short but very satisfying story.

 

[ShaneB]

I'm reading Leviathan Wakes and it started out kinda slow but I'm starting to get really into it now. I feel for Miller, poor guy:

Spoiler

Finding out that he's the joke of the department, and then he get's fired so brutally. I have a feeling though, that he's going to show them all what he's really made of.

Miller is such a great character!

After much thinking about what I wanted to read, I couldn't help but stick with Homer Hickam and the last book to deal with his Coalwood time. This so far is a bit different and much more a self help/motivational book, I've already learned a few things I should apply to my own life.

Now Reading..
Homer Hickam - We Are Not Afraid

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

About 850 pages into A Dance with Dragons, and it seems that things are finally starting to pick up again.

From page 700+ there have been quite a few surprising plot developments. The middle of the book seemed to stagnate in many ways, but now I'm getting flashbacks to the first three books and how relentless their plots were and how I would be in shock after seemingly every chapter.

 

[iddqd]

Good book on all the stuff that went into creating Marvel.
Dirt stuff, disgusting stuff, the publishing business.

Good reminder that we live in better times today.