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What are you reading? (January 2012)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Yep.
Yes and it's painfully obvious. The concept for the world is actually really interesting, but the lead character keeps getting in the way by being all wrapped up in being a huge cock tease in this dumbass love triangle. She also handles murdering random strangers surprisingly well as long as she's never spoken to them much before. I've read the first two books now though so might as well finish. Think I'll try Battle Royale after.
bengraven
Member
Finished Mortal Engines and can't find the second book in ebook form, so I'm debating what to read now.
Considering:
- Dragonriders of Pern (have had on backlog for 20 years, no joke)
- Mr. Fox
- A Monster Calls
- another Larry McMurtry novel
- Miss Peregrine's Home...
- the one that most would suggest I read: the Border Trilogy
Considering:
- Dragonriders of Pern (have had on backlog for 20 years, no joke)
- Mr. Fox
- A Monster Calls
- another Larry McMurtry novel
- Miss Peregrine's Home...
- the one that most would suggest I read: the Border Trilogy
A novel has to hit 'engaging' and 'page-turner' just to be considered mediocre now? Those two buzz words alone would suggest that the novel's at least above average.
Allow me to clarify.
I found it very easy-to-read and the essential concept of the book is strong (which is the main thing that kept me reading).
On the other hand, Katniss' teenage angst, the author's propensity to spell every.single.thing. out, and the ridiculous
loophole in the Games that allows both Peeta and Katniss to live
I have virtually no desire to read the other books, although I don't necessarily regret reading the first.
sparky2112
Member
The incongruity of these two statements hurts my head.
backflip10019
Member
I enjoyed the first two, but I'm 2/3 through Mockingjay right now and I kind of just want to get over with it. The brashness of Katniss is starting to wear on me.
I agree with it, though it is kind of difficult to explain. There are some interesting concepts in the story/world that I wanted to see play out, and the writing is very simple, so it goes by very quick. However, the actual story and characters are really uninteresting, and, I thought, just got worse as the story went on.
Attackthebase
Member
I haven't read Mockingjay yet, but I adored the first book. The second book was good, but it didn't reach the heigh of the first. I still don't get all this love triangle bullshit people bring up involving the first novel. Yes, it's there, but it takes a seat in the trunk.
I found the pre-game extremely interesting in the first book unlike the second book where I had some interest but I wasn't stuck to my Kindle.
Battle Royale manga is fantastic, way better than the movie.
disappeared
Banned
Just wrapped up Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea.
A very good read. I'll be moving on to his earlier works and poems soon.
Also trying to track down some Ezra Pound poetry collections.
A very good read. I'll be moving on to his earlier works and poems soon.
Also trying to track down some Ezra Pound poetry collections.
Attackthebase
Member
nakedsushi
Member
I suggest A Monster Calls. It's a pretty quick read, but made me all emotional.
Clever Pun
Member
I stand by the first Hunger Games being a great read if you aren't looking for more than a straightforward action story with good execution on a somewhat tired scenario.
The second book has a few surprises that keep it entertaining, but the third really lost me.
(Ending of book 3 spoilers)
Still, I think the first is worth reading if you just need snack between other books.
The second book has a few surprises that keep it entertaining, but the third really lost me.
(Ending of book 3 spoilers)
Katniss becomes such a whiny brat, and her arbitrary decision to dislike Gale because of some vague connection to her sister's death, but be ok with Peeta despite his very clear connection to dozens of murders is absolutely ridiculous. At the ending of the first book Collins had a lot of opportunities for the story with all the political intrigue, but most of those weren't realized which was a major disappointment.
Still, I think the first is worth reading if you just need snack between other books.
sparky2112
Member
I'm about 2/3s through, and to say that I'm ready for it to end would be a big understatement. I've about had all of 'small town American charm as reported by Stephen King' that I can stand. HALF this novel could have been cut without any damage to the story.
I took a many year break from King and then read Bag of Bones on a lark and haven't touched him since. I should have learned my lesson with that bloated bit of sap...
malingenie
Member
Nope. It is an ok book, but the writing was as barebones as its plot. Halfway through it I realized it was a book for young adults, and I understood why I felt this way. Not much substance, the world building is shallow as hell and the prose is as simple as it gets. Not going to read the rest, with writing like this, the movies are probably going to be better.
BarrenMind
Member
Picked up three Dava Sobel books during a recent sale on the Kindle store. Starting with this one, about 50 pages in:
bengraven
Member
Music to my ADD ears. I loved True Grit because it was emotional and quick.
The book is a lot of fun and I agree with you. It was exactly what I wanted to read at the time.
However, this being a site full of Japanese gaming/movie fans, it's natural that since the theme is extremely similar to BR, there's going to be a backlash. Also, since it's been marketed as similar to Twilight because of the love triangle.
I think some of us who can look beyond all that feel the novel wasn't written very well, but then again it's hard to enter the mind of a teenage girl and not feel uncomfortable when you're a 20-30-something man.
BanShunsaku
Member
Finished over the weekend:
Moved straight on to:
A lot of people have told me I'm at the point where this series gets boring, but if anything I'm enjoying it more now than I did the first couple of books. Something just clicked about two thirds of the way through book 4 and I am just devouring book 5
Moved straight on to:
A lot of people have told me I'm at the point where this series gets boring, but if anything I'm enjoying it more now than I did the first couple of books. Something just clicked about two thirds of the way through book 4 and I am just devouring book 5
Can't go wrong with Mr. Fox or the Border Trilogy. At least, the first two books of the Border Trilogy.
Hmm... Yeah, I could see it getting tiresome, but I haven't reached that point yet.
I'll report back with more impressions when I'm further.
Maklershed
Member
Just started up ...
Beyond the Blue Event Horizon by Frederik Pohl
I'm already a bit disappointed thatit's not continuing Robinette's story. But I'm sure I'll probably like it just the same. It's already interesting that they've found a fully loaded Heechee food mining facility.
I was too impatient. This book/series is awesome! Ordering book 3 now.
Finished over the weekend:
Moved straight on to:
A lot of people have told me I'm at the point where this series gets boring, but if anything I'm enjoying it more now than I did the first couple of books. Something just clicked about two thirds of the way through book 4 and I am just devouring book 5
No, Lord of Chaos is awesome as well, and has some of the best scenes of the series. Then it kinda slows down, before bogging down completely around book 10 (hard to keep them apart at this point though, been ages since my last full reread).
Clever Pun
Member
Yeah I wanted to respond but I held off to keep from spoiling anything. Glad you didn't let the beginning deter you from finishing it!
Clever Pun
Member
Right, I imagine what people mean by "not good" is "not beautiful" or "not complicated". There's a time in place for all styles, and I think Collins chooses one that's appropriate for the tone and story she wants to tell. Of course that doesn't mean everyone has to like it, but I think it's good and appropriate.
That's the impression I get from those comments, too.
You may not like it, but there's nothing "bad" about Collins' writing. It's simple and perfectly-paced.
bengraven
Member
I promised myself I'd read the Border Trilogy and Blood Meridian last year. I will this year for sure.
I actually thought the 2nd book was much more clever, mainly because the author kinda HAD to explain everything and he did a very good job of it. It was intricate, complex, emotional and thoughtful. A very good climax to a strange and wonderful story.
When I first read these, I wasn't a big reader. And I enjoyed them. But looking back now, I realize how boring and slow the first book was, and how contrived and annoying the 2nd was. Afterwards, I read Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot and completely forgot about Larsson's series. For the better, in retrospect. Very mediocre overall and undeserving of all the hype.
I also thought Shadow of the Wind was pretty mediocre, too. Good, but nothing I would say that people NEED to read.
Anywho, just finished The Name of The Wind. I'm hooked. While the story and pacing and everything is great, its not why I love it. Its because the author really understands people. He goes out of his way to put real human nature into the story and it feels authentic. And to add to that, the whole 'magic' aspects are explained in a way that seem plausible, which just adds to the realness of everything. I really just love the author's style of writing. Its beautiful and metaphorical, yet so down to earth and human at the same time.
I'll be getting the next book in the series tomorrow, for sure.
Nappuccino
Member
Just reposting this from the 50 movies/books thread. I'm interested in hearing what some other people have to think about it.
Book 1: Breakfast of Champions by Vonnegut
The book was interesting though I sort of lost the focus of it midway through. I know Vonnegut states in the book that he isn't interested in making a statement but the book certainly feels like he's making one. I just couldn't figure out what it was.
One of the more noticeable things (partly due to the year it was published) was the flagrant use of the n-word in a way that seemed both intentional and colloquial. Kind of a "we call them N-words because they are N-words and that isn't necessarily a bad thing" yet the way it was done seemed to call such use into question without ever doing so. I don't know if I'm reading into what I shouldn't or if that was intended.
I did just absolutely plow through this book so I didn't give it the same attention I give the books I analyze for my classes... I won't be surprised if I missed something obvious.
Book 1: Breakfast of Champions by Vonnegut
The book was interesting though I sort of lost the focus of it midway through. I know Vonnegut states in the book that he isn't interested in making a statement but the book certainly feels like he's making one. I just couldn't figure out what it was.
One of the more noticeable things (partly due to the year it was published) was the flagrant use of the n-word in a way that seemed both intentional and colloquial. Kind of a "we call them N-words because they are N-words and that isn't necessarily a bad thing" yet the way it was done seemed to call such use into question without ever doing so. I don't know if I'm reading into what I shouldn't or if that was intended.
I did just absolutely plow through this book so I didn't give it the same attention I give the books I analyze for my classes... I won't be surprised if I missed something obvious.
shouldn't be hard..
How is it even possible?!
I laughed at the Mass Effect one.
Tim the Wiz
Banned
I thought the California elite were exiled from this realm.
The_Hitcher89
Member
150 pages into Game of Thrones, already on its way to being my favourite book Perfect characterisation thus far
Perfect characterisation thus farBarrenMind
Member
I generally have a smile on my face throughout any Vonnegut book I read. I find his black humor inspiring rather than depressing. To paraphrase a quote I recently saw at the beginning of his novel Galapagos, he's a first-rate diagnostician of the human condition, even if he has no suggestions or prescriptions to heal us. He simply seems to write about our failings, with maybe a little hope under several layers of shit-tossing that someone will read his observations and figure out what it will take to fix everything.
I actually re-read Breakfast of Champions pretty recently. I forgot how prominently his Kilgore Trout character is in this story. This is the character Vonnegut uses to express his bleakest perspectives on our present and future. The book was written in 1973 but I think the blatant N-word usage is less about the region or the time period, but moreso just part of the novel's goal to make us seem, and feel, like awful, awful creatures.
Fun fact, there's a reference to Midland City in Galapagos that reveals something surprising about one of the characters in this book:
Dwayne Hoover's gay son, whom Dwayne had abandoned due to his life choices, and later brutalized at the outset of his mental breakdown, isn't even his son. He was sired by a 16 year old con-artist while Dwayne was away on business. Dwayne has no idea.
Now reading:
It's about time I started with this series, I bought the books almost 19 years ago.
I wouldn't get too excited if I were you.
It's Vonnegut's worst book, but I don't know if you've read any of his other works.