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[hythloday]

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Still plugging away! The only reason I haven't finished Assassin's Apprentice is that I haven't as much time to read as I usually do. Otherwise, I'd be in the sequel by now. I'm about 40% through according to my Kindle. It feels like it's ramping up to something crazy, but I have no idea what. Right now I'm just enjoying the pace.

 

[xvanx]

Just finished reading this, it was fantastic

Now I'm reading this, so far so good...what a wordsmith.

 

[Piecake]

I don't really feel like Sanderson's made up swear words have ever worked. I always get the feeling swearing isn't something he does much of.

I can totally picture him saying gosh darn it or dang nabbit instead of actual swear words.

 

[Grenouille]

Guys, what's Philip K Dick's best book?

 

[Fusebox]

Yeah, that book is fantastic.

(Not really ending spoiler but I put it in a tag just in case. )

Spoiler

I would have killed for an epilogue. The ending seemed a little abrupt.

Lol, I was just quoting you to say that I'm not sure if I should click the spoiler tagged bit and then I got the text displayed in front of my when I quoted it anyway. Oh well, the setup is absolutely cracking so far.

Now I'm reading this, so far so good...what a wordsmith.

Sooo good. Strap yourself in in for one of my favourite trilogies of all time.

 

[Maklershed]

Finished Provinces of Night. I loved it. William Gay is such a brilliant author. I can't recommend his books enough. They're funny, dark, heartbreaking, etc. For anyone that has read and enjoyed Empire Falls, I think you'll like Gay's books, particularly Provinces of Night (set in late 50s Tennessee as opposed to New York).

Now on to something different with Rubicon.


Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland

 

[macfoshizzle]

Picked up The Martian from the hype. Started out pretty slow and boring but picked up pretty quickly.

 

[Rug Monkey]

Guys, what's Philip K Dick's best book?

A Scanner Darkly, or
(my fav)
Flow my tears, the Policeman Said

 

[fredrancour]

Really? I felt it drew me more into the world-building of sanderson. I mean, made up swear words exist in a plethora of other books...and while cringe-y at times, it's not too bad.

"Lord Ruler" as a fantasy version of "oh my god" felt ok when I listened to the Mistborn audiobooks, but I"m super-skeptical about these stormlight ones... I guess brandon is a relatively dedicated mormon as far as profanity goes.

 

[Dennis]

 

[Easystride]

Finished Provinces of Night. I loved it. William Gay is such a brilliant author. I can't recommend his books enough. They're funny, dark, heartbreaking, etc. For anyone that has read and enjoyed Empire Falls, I think you'll like Gay's books, particularly Provinces of Night (set in late 50s Tennessee as opposed to New York).

Now on to something different with Rubicon.

https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320470983l/91017.jpg
Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland

Ohh, I loved Empire Falls. I added Provinces of Night to my wish list. My wish list is getting so damn long, which is a good thing! I hardly ever play games anymore because all I do is read.

 

[Maklershed]

Bought this right after seeing it on The Daily Show. Please let me know what you think of it. I'll probably read it after I finish Rubicon.

Ohh, I loved Empire Falls. I added Provinces of Night to my wish list. My wish list is getting so damn long, which is a good thing! I hardly ever play games anymore because all I do is read.

*fist bump* I hope it doesn't disappoint.

ShaneB, where you at breh? I think you might like Provinces of Night too.

 

[ShaneB]

Bought.

I think I've read this once when I got it from the library, but I don't mind reading it again. Thanks for the heads-up.

Just makes me think about when I'm going to do that. First I need a good touring bike, second I need to be secure enough in a job to take that much time off.

Glad to point it out to you both! I'm still not that far in, but it's an enjoyable simple read so far. Kinda feels like something I'd like to have a physical copy of, and in colour, since I imagine the scenic photos would pop a lot more.

ShaneB, where you at breh? I think you might like Provinces of Night too.

Heh, meant to reply to your earlier post. Yes, Provinces of Night does sound like something I'd really love. Added it to the to-read list.

 

[Trey]

Just finished the Forever War. It was basically

Neat read.

 

[EnduringGnome]

Finished The Martian, great read!

Up next: Starship Troopers. Love the Paul Verhoeven film so I'm interested to see how this compares.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

Wow. So why is there a Republic Attack Ship on the cover?

 

[joeyjoejoeshabadoo]

It's been posted before by others but I'm here now: There was an epilogue written for the original online version so you could probably find it with some adept Googling. Which I am failing at at the moment.

Oh sweet! To google I go, thanks.

 

[Woorloog]

Wow. So why is there a Republic Attack Ship on the cover?

I was thinking the same thing.
It is not one really... but damn if it is close.

Starship Troopers cover should have power armored infantry, not air-/spacecraft...

 

[The Shadow]

Finished The Martian, great read!

Up next: Starship Troopers. Love the Paul Verhoeven film so I'm interested to see how this compares.

It doesn't, really. Aside from the title, the names of the characters, and some broad themes (people vs. bugs), they're very different.

Very good read though and it has aged really well. I really enjoyed it and I really enjoyed the movie, but for different reasons.

 

[Nymerio]

Finally finished A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Gave it two stars and that was pushing it, not going to bother with the other books.

Now to find something new.

Edit: I'm starting Ancillary Justice.

 

[Haly]

Finally finished A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Gave it two stars and that was pushing it, not going to bother with the other books.

 

[LProtag]

For as dense as it is, Foucault's Pendulum sure is gripping.

I can see why Eco said that Dan Brown is just one of his characters obsessed with conspiracy. While this whole conspiracy going on in this book is really interesting to read about, it's also presented in a really funny manner.

 

[Will F]

Now on to something different with Rubicon.


Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland

I don't read a lot of history, but that book was incredibly riveting.

I tried Holland's The Forge of Christendom afterwards based on how much I enjoyed Rubicon, but for whatever reason could not get into it.

 

[Mumei]

One of these days I'm going to manage to disappoint you that much.

 

[Will F]

Guys, what's Philip K Dick's best book?

My favorites are either Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said or The Man in the High Castle.

Also enjoyed A Scanner Darkly, Ubik, and all of the short story collections.

 

[hythloday]

Just got to

Spoiler

Fitz's second dead puppydog

in Assassin's Apprentice. I figured it would happen but I can't take many more of these.

Spoiler

It's like a literary Sarah Mclachlan SPCA commercial.

Still love the book but damn.

 

[Piecake]

Just got to

Spoiler

Fitz's second dead puppydog

in Assassin's Apprentice. I figured it would happen but I can't take many more of these.

Spoiler

It's like a literary Sarah Mclachlan SPCA commercial.

Still love the book but damn.

The author really loves pulling those emotional strings.

 

[hythloday]

The author really loves pulling those emotional strings.

Yeah, I can tell. Although I'm just especially sensitive to things happening to

Spoiler

cute fuzzy animals.

 

[bonesmccoy]

I read Andy Weir's The Martian this past weekend.

I found it enjoyable for the most part.

And speaking of Tom Holland, I'm reading his In the Shadow of the Sword. S'interesting.

 

[Mr.Swag]

Political opinions aside, is their a definitive reading list on the topic of socialism/income inequality?

I'm reading Persepolis right now and its interesting that the protag read such works at a young age.

Non-fiction and fiction are welcome

 

[Piecake]

I tried reading Holland's Persian Fire and I wasnt too impressed. It just felt like he used a lot of pretty words to say very little. It kinda put me off to reading his other books.

Political opinions aside, is their a definitive reading list on the topic of socialism/income inequality?

I'm reading Persepolis right now and its interesting that the protag read such works at a young age.

Non-fiction and fiction are welcome

Havent read it, but this seems like an obvious choice

http://www.amazon.com/dp/067443000X/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

@Swag

Piketty is a must

I would say that Barbara Ehrenreich's Carrot and Stick might also be worth it, as well as the original text Das Kapital (most people skip this believe they know what Marx is about. They do not). Derived from that there is Berlin's Two Views of Freedom (which goes to the conceptualization of freedom) as well as Unequal Childhoods (which goes to the reproduction of existing class), and perhaps 'punishing the poor' and related articles / titles.

Of course, the original works of Adam Smith as well as Atlas Shrugged are "worth" reading. The first more than the latter, but still.

That would be a start. In terms of 'how to deal with the actual life of poverty': Bukowski. Do not skip on this man, you'll regret it.

 

[Mr.Swag]

Thank you all, I actually already have Capital in the 21st Century, got about a third in, might as well finish.

 

[Mumei]

@Swag

Piketty is a must

I would say that Barbara Ehrenreich's Carrot and Stick might also be worth it, as well as the original text Das Kapital (most people skip this believe they know what Marx is about. They do not). Derived from that there is Berlin's Two Views of Freedom (which goes to the conceptualization of freedom) as well as Unequal Childhoods (which goes to the reproduction of existing class), and perhaps 'punishing the poor' and related articles / titles.

Of course, the original works of Adam Smith as well as Atlas Shrugged are "worth" reading. The first more than the latter, but still.

That would be a start. In terms of 'how to deal with the actual life of poverty': Bukowski. Do not skip on this man, you'll regret it.

I read Unequal Childhoods last year, and I'd definitely recommend that.

 

[Necrovex]

Mumei, I finished The People of Trees. A truly amazing book. I loved how the writer made a fictional anthropology book with a heavy theme of relative morality. Norton's a very interesting and dynamic character. It earned it's five stars.

Going to start focusing on Bone again. Been putting it off for too long, even though it's an amazing comic. My next fiction book will be a Goon Sqaud by Jennifer Egan. Time to insert a Pulitzer fiction prize winner into my veins!

 

[Mumei]

Mumei, I finished The People of Trees. A truly amazing book. I loved how the writer made a fictional anthropology book with a heavy theme of relative morality. Norton's a very interesting and dynamic character. It earned it's five stars.

<3

I love you. <3

 

[Nymerio]

I was expecting responses like that, but the humor simply did not work with me. I'm pretty sure I'd have been all over that book if I'd read it as a kid though.

 

[Necrovex]

<3

I love you. <3

Now get to reading Cry, The Beloved Country!

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

I've been extramely busy in February running a film festival but it's winding down now, so I'm picking up The Man in the High Castle again.

I'm very impressed with Dick's socioeconomic analysis. He's not surface level. He takes the Nazis and extrapolates them with some real thought and skill. Quality stuff.

Past that, I really need something fun and chewy to relax with so I'll probably pick up the next Vorkosigan book.

 

[Fxp]

I've been extramely busy in February running a film festival but it's winding down now, so I'm picking up The Man in the High Castle again.

I'm very impressed with Dick's socioeconomic analysis. He's not surface level. He takes the Nazis and extrapolates them with some real thought and skill. Quality stuff.

Past that, I really need something fun and chewy to relax with so I'll probably pick up the next Vorkosigan book.

Reading the same book myself at the moment, enjoying the world building and characters immensely.

 

[Haly]

One of these days I'm going to manage to disappoint you that much.

I pray that day never comes.

 

[Bazza]

Finished this last night,

Spoiler

The new characters were interesting, I was worried the book was just going to be following a new batch of characters, but when I came round to the first Khouri & Volyova chapters my fears were ended.

Wasn't to keen on Skade, the way she changed from the start of the book to the end felt forced, its almost like she was included just to have an evil humanoid character when I thought one of the best things about the last book is that none of the main characters were either good or evil all of them were a bit of each.

I'm glad the new characters in this book linked up with the old and in this rather than it being something that happened in the next, the inclusion of H for a few chapters was a nice inclusion as well I just wish he revealed a little more of his actual identity to Clavian just to see what Clavians reaction would be, but I guess H being who he is that would be extremely out of character but seeing as he was planning on killing himself maybe not.

With the book ending as it did things are set up nicely for the next, Gutted Volyova is probably dead for real this time as it's seems Sylveste may make a real return in Absolution Gap.

Before I get onto Absolution Gap I'm reading this

Only read his Sharpe stuff so this will be interesting.

 

[LProtag]

Political opinions aside, is their a definitive reading list on the topic of socialism/income inequality?

I'm reading Persepolis right now and its interesting that the protag read such works at a young age.

Non-fiction and fiction are welcome

In terms of income inequality and how it contributes to education, Jonathan Kozol will do you well. Savage Inequalities, Amazing Grace, and The Shame of The Nation are his most well known works. The Shame of the Nation is the newest, from 2005, and will have the most up to date statistics.

Education budgets are tied direct into property taxes and Kozol shows the disparity between the richest towns and the poorest towns. He uses a mixture of statistics and anecdotal evidence (observations on school districts, interviews with teachers and students).

The Wikipedia article has a breakdown of the contents of the book, so take a look here to see if it interests you.

It's heartbreakingly sad and extremely informative.

 

[Piecake]

In terms of income inequality and how it contributes to education, Jonathan Kozol will do you well. Savage Inequalities, Amazing Grace, and The Shame of The Nation are his most well known works. The Shame of the Nation is the newest, from 2005, and will have the most up to date statistics.

Education budgets are tied direct into property taxes and Kozol shows the disparity between the richest towns and the poorest towns. He uses a mixture of statistics and anecdotal evidence (observations on school districts, interviews with teachers and students).

The Wikipedia article has a breakdown of the contents of the book, so take a look here to see if it interests you.

It's heartbreakingly sad and extremely informative.

But how can schools build 60 million dollar football stadiums if everything is equal?!?!?

 

[X-Frame]

Has anyone heard of or read The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers?

The description on Fantasy-Faction sounds awesome:

"The Long Way is the story of the Wayfarer, a wormhole-tunnelling spaceship, and its crew as they journey to the centre of the galaxy on their biggest mission yet. If they&#8217;re successful they&#8217;ll make more money than they could possibly imagine. But their journey will take them through dangerous, war-torn space controlled by fragile alliances of warmongering species&#8230; The book is a little like hanging out on the bridge of the Millennium Falcon between runs; it&#8217;s fun, it&#8217;s funny, the characters are memorable and the adventure is awesome. And it heralds the debut of a really fantastic new talent. In short, it&#8217;s a book for anyone who loves Firefly, Mass Effect and Ancillary Justice."

 

[LProtag]

But how can schools build 60 million dollar football stadiums if everything is equal?!?!?

The over-emphasis on sports (i.e. students who think they're going to go pro) in high school is also a huge issue too...

 

[VanWinkle]

I just bought The Princess Bride, since it was on sale on Kindle today for $2.99. I've been meaning to read it for awhile now.

 

[Piecake]

The over-emphasis on sports (i.e. students who think they're going to go pro) in high school is also a huge issue too...

Agreed, good article on it

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/the-case-against-high-school-sports/309447/

Here is a counter-argument. Havent read it since I just saw it now from googling it.

http://www.theatlantic.com/educatio...school-sports-arent-killing-academics/280155/

 

[Plasticine]

Finished Coldbrook by Tim Lebbon a few days ago. Scientists discover the secrets of inter-dimensional travel. Of course, the alternate Earth they discover has been overrun by zombies for decades. Naturally, the zombies come through and the undead overrun the earth. It's pretty much an epic blockbuster zombie flick crammed into 600 odd pages. The pace is relentless and the action great. Lots of huge set pieces of zombie mayhem. The characters are all solid and likeable enough, even the cowardly bastard who let the zombie contagion out. Like most massive novels, this one could have been trimmed by a hundred or so pages. The inquisitor storyline never really added much of value, despite constant hints and promises to the contrary. It's a fun, and quick read if you're into zombie mayhem.

Up next:

 

[Tragicomedy]

Mumei, I finished The People of Trees. A truly amazing book. I loved how the writer made a fictional anthropology book with a heavy theme of relative morality. Norton's a very interesting and dynamic character. It earned it's five stars.

Okay, brother, you've convinced me to start this next.

I just finished Wolf in White Van and was sorely disappointed. It's pure depression with no redeemable qualities, and the story leads nowhere. I wanted to love it since I love John Darnielle and the Mountain Goats, but it's not happening. Two stars.