Definitely this! I'm on a Ursula K. Le Guin reading binge myself.
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What are you reading? (January 2014)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
TheCrazyGuru
Banned
Thanks, I'l have to add it to my list.
Also, still working through The Hobbit as I mentioned before and trying to finish up
Pretty good overall, getting a quick fix of some different short stories (a few a day) from King.
Is there a program or website to organize lists of things you read/watch besides goodreads? I'm looking for something that encompasses multiple forms of media rather than just books or film. Figured you guys might know of something. I've been using a Word document, but it's getting cumbersome
Took forever to get around to starting Snow Crash, which I finally got to tonight. Didn't really know what I was getting into aside from it being science fiction. So this is 'cyberpunk' I take it? I have no experience with the genre.
Yes, it is cyberpunk. Many have cited it have balanced side between "pulpy" and "literary". My friend like it so much, though he said that the book sometimes overdetailed in its narration.
TestMonkey
Member
Just finished
It was a fun read but was my least favorite book I've read by the author so far. Deus ex machina all over the place. I've read that some people don't view it as science fiction but all of the video game theory was way out there.
Am moving onto
It was a fun read but was my least favorite book I've read by the author so far. Deus ex machina all over the place. I've read that some people don't view it as science fiction but all of the video game theory was way out there.
Am moving onto
Finished:
What a wonderful book. I guess if I hadn't been so tired I would have read all through the night and had already finished it by this morning. It has been long since I breezed through a book this way and I'm a rather fast reader already. Thanks ShaneB for recommending it so passionately
Not sure yet what I'll read next.
What a wonderful book. I guess if I hadn't been so tired I would have read all through the night and had already finished it by this morning. It has been long since I breezed through a book this way and I'm a rather fast reader already. Thanks ShaneB for recommending it so passionately
Not sure yet what I'll read next.
Finished:
What a wonderful book. I guess if I hadn't been so tired I would have read all through the night and had already finished it by this morning. It has been long since I breezed through a book this way and I'm a rather fast reader already. Thanks ShaneB for recommending it so passionately
Not sure yet what I'll read next.
wut is this book about
That's an interesting cover. Is that the edition you're reading?
Professor Chaos
Member
I've attempted to read this two or three times I think and I always seem to taper out at some point. Don't you need to be familiar with tons of historical works to get all the allusions it makes? Would be interested in hearing your thoughts when finished.
Switch Back 9
a lot of my threads involve me fucking up somehow. Perhaps I'm a moron?
I'm about 75% done this:
Holy shit what a colossal let down. I LOVED the first two in the series, and couldn't wait for this one. I'm seriously hoping the last quarter picks up some steam because it is boring me to tears.
I'm actually skipping/skimming the
so unnecessary and absolutely kills the flow of the main story and feels completely superfluous.
The
is fucking lame too, zero drama and excitement compared to the previous shenanigans.
is a bitch and I liked her a lot more when
There is nothing about this book that I like. It's boring, the big reveal of
took the series from being a fun, swashbuckling and original adventure to the tropey, cliched and tired running theme of a million other fantasy books where
I feel really let down after waiting SO long for this.
Holy shit what a colossal let down. I LOVED the first two in the series, and couldn't wait for this one. I'm seriously hoping the last quarter picks up some steam because it is boring me to tears.
I'm actually skipping/skimming the
flashback scenes of them as children
The
election heist
Sabetha
she was just a mystery character mentioned here and there.The romance feels forced and suffers hugely from a telling and not showing syndrome
There is nothing about this book that I like. It's boring, the big reveal of
Locke being a reincarnated bondsmage
the main character is super special and one of a kind, ordained by the gods messiah type. It was way more fun when he was just a super clever street kid thief.
I feel really let down after waiting SO long for this.
Finished:
What a wonderful book. I guess if I hadn't been so tired I would have read all through the night and had already finished it by this morning. It has been long since I breezed through a book this way and I'm a rather fast reader already. Thanks ShaneB for recommending it so passionately
Not sure yet what I'll read next.
=) You're very welcome, and I'm very happy you liked it too! Like Mumei champions 'The Last Unicorn', I feel like I'll always be paying attention to when other people read ths book.
"Budo is Max's imaginary friend. But though only Max can see him, he is real. He and the other imaginary friends watch over their children until the day comes that the child stops imagining them. And then they're gone. Budo has lasted a lot longer than most imaginary friends - four years - because Max needs him more. His parents argue about sending him to a special school. But Max is perfectly happy if everything is just kept the way it is, and nothing out of the ordinary happens. Unfortunately, something out of the ordinary is going to happen - and then he'll need Budo more than ever..."
You should read it
I finished Ordinary Grace and did give it 5/5, so that was a great start to the year. I'm a sucker for these coming of age stories set in earlier decades, and it hit on a lot of the write notes. Perfect chapter heading cliffhangers and it was hard to put down at times.
Still decided what to read next as well.
That's actually a good idea for what to read next. Love the movie and it has been a while since I saw it.
DieUnbekannte
Member
you should definitely read The Last Unicorn. I'm half way through right now and I'm really enjoying it. A wonderful book!
Yeah, I would love to but it is not available on Kindle
Maybe another time then. Instead I started:
Starts promising.
Tragicomedy
Member
To read the Vorkosigan series this year or not...hmmm. I'm leaning towards yes. I picked up the entire series (including the novellas) with an Amazon gift card.
I have 20 pages left to finish HMS Ulysses. I should have finished it up last night but I was too dang tired after shoveling snow and chasing my son around the house all day. It's been a very fun read, particularly the last 200 pages or so.
I'm also reading Ian Fleming's second novel, Live and Let Die. It's BLATANTLY RACIST which is making it very difficult to read. I don't care that it was written in 1954...totally messed up. There were more than a few hints of his sexism in Casino Royale, so I'm not surprised Fleming was a close-minded loser. It's hurting my ability to like the book a great deal, and I'm not sure if I want to continue reading Fleming after I finish this one up.
I think that's the original cover. It's not the one im reading though.
My college does this 3-week intensive mini-semester in January where you only take one class, but you take it for 3 hours every day. The class I signed up for is on Paradise Lost. I've read parts of it before for British Lit and didn't have many problems, but we'll see. I'm looking forward to the class. It starts tomorrow.
Yes!
anarckitty
Member
Currently reading the Locke & Key series. I'll be reading volume 4 hopefully sometime next week.
I'm really enjoying the story and the artwork as well.
Another series I'm reading right now is Fables, and I'm currently on volume 5. So far the series has been kind of hit or miss for me. I'm still enjoying it, but I wish they could be more consistent with the artwork.
I'm really enjoying the story and the artwork as well.
Another series I'm reading right now is Fables, and I'm currently on volume 5. So far the series has been kind of hit or miss for me. I'm still enjoying it, but I wish they could be more consistent with the artwork.
Incandenza
Banned
I finished up Only Revolutions by Mark Z. Danielewski yesterday. I ended up enjoying the middle third and the ending a fair bit, but the rest of it could get pretty monotonous. Every page is filled with imagery but very little of it comes together in a way that allows you to actually visualize the story, so you're largely dealing in abstractions. The Fifty Year Sword had a much nicer ratio of linguistic experimentation to actual story.
But anyway now I'm reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman which is really nice so far.
But anyway now I'm reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman which is really nice so far.
Would make a good major for the 50/50 challenge.
Hope it's good. So far it seems okay, but I just finished Chapterhouse Dune and everything seems to pale in comparison to God Herbert...
Post God Emperor of Dune pales in comparison to pre-GEoD. It is like Heretics and Chapterhouse were originally going to be something else and Herbert just converted them to Dune sequels, they're so different in tone and style...
And God Emperor is kind of odd too, but then it wasn't planned like the first three books were (Herbert wrote parts of Messiah and Children before even finishing Dune).
Anyway, Gardens of the Moon. I found it all right but not something that made me want to read more. It felt too much like a stand-alone book, despite the foreword claiming it would suck one in to the series if they were able to finish it.
"It is okay" was all it felt like, overall.
I will say that God Emperor is probably my favorite novel, but I still enjoyed Heretics and Chapterhouse for the inside view of the Bene Gesserit.
Sure, they're not bad, but they feel very different.
Of course, it's been over 5000 years since the Dune Bene Gesserit so they could've changed but considering that many things have stayed the same, they've changed rather a lot. In feel. Though perhaps the internal view makes them appear and feel different, Dune after all presents an outsider view to them.
BTW, Heretics and Chapterhouse have things that are distinctly inspired or copied from Lynch's Dune film. Guess Herbert liked the film. (I do too, though it is really odd too...)
Really? I never knew this. Like what? Because those silly voice guns were definitely not in the novels lol.
NekoFever
Member
I've burned through Them: Adventures with Extremists by Jon Ronson in a couple of days and really recommend it.
He basically hangs around with a wide variety of people who've been described as extremists, like fundamentalist Muslims, various sects of the KKK, Aryan Nation, David Icke, Alex Jones, etc who all have very different philosophies but are united in the belief that there's a conspiracy to impose a new world order.
It's funny because some of them are quite sympathetic, until you see the mask slip or you're shown evidence that they're using code words to covertly spout racist conspiracy theories.
It's quite old now, mostly taking place in the 90s with 9/11 happening right as the author was writing the introduction, having finished the rest of the book. Still fun, though.
He basically hangs around with a wide variety of people who've been described as extremists, like fundamentalist Muslims, various sects of the KKK, Aryan Nation, David Icke, Alex Jones, etc who all have very different philosophies but are united in the belief that there's a conspiracy to impose a new world order.
It's funny because some of them are quite sympathetic, until you see the mask slip or you're shown evidence that they're using code words to covertly spout racist conspiracy theories.
It's quite old now, mostly taking place in the 90s with 9/11 happening right as the author was writing the introduction, having finished the rest of the book. Still fun, though.
The Names by Don DeLillo
Any DeLillo fans here? This is probably the strangest DD book I've read so far. Linguistics-based cult is murdering Americans in Greece. As with most of his books, the description is more eventful than the actual book. Lots of bizarre dialogue, elliptical musings. Not done with it yet but it's pretty great if you're a fan of his work. If not, this isn't the place to start.
Navigator description is changed to resemble the one from the film though the description was vague. Messiah describes Edric as a sort of fishman (and the TV miniseries uses this as basis for their vision of a Navigator).
Barony in Heretics is described in a way that is incredibly similar to Giedi Prime in Lynch's Dune.
One of the books features a training mek that is practically identical to the training mek from the film ("golden pillar"). Messiah had described a training mek but it was quite different, having a bunch of prisms and mirrors.
I also wonder if the lasguns being more common weapon in Heretics/Chapterhouse has something to do with Lynch's film.
I think there might have been other things but not sure (read them just a week ago or so).
AngmarsKing701
Member
I used a spreadsheet for a while, with different tabs for video games, movies and books, but keeping track of it got old so I dropped it.
Completed this month's Book Club's book; I posted my mini thoughts on it over in the 50/50 challenge thread.
My friend's X-mas present finally came out the other day, and I just got it in today. I am going to quickly read through it before I give it to him:
This is the revised and completed version of this acclaimed play. No part one and part two BS here!
My friend's X-mas present finally came out the other day, and I just got it in today. I am going to quickly read through it before I give it to him:
This is the revised and completed version of this acclaimed play. No part one and part two BS here!
Plasticine
Member
Finished Silk by Caitlin R. Kiernan. Such a beautifully written book. Kiernan''s use of language and imagery is all so wonderful. Her characters, all 90s alternative types, are convincingly sketched out and really interesting. The horror elements almost feel beside the point, but that doesn't matter much. Its mood and atmosphere more than makes up for any narrative shortcomings. It's always great to reread a book and discover its even better than you remembered it.
Up next, Kiernan's second novel, Threshold.
I've never read this one before and I'm excited to get into it.
Up next, Kiernan's second novel, Threshold.
I've never read this one before and I'm excited to get into it.
OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather
Member
Read chapter 30 of Leviathan Wakes today and I've enjoyed it so far, but
? Really? After the atrocious
, I don't ever want to read/see
in anything for a very, very long time.
zombies
The Walking Dead
zombies
Tragicomedy
Member
OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather
Member
I was hoping it was just that.
Well, I finally caught up with Hardcore History. So sad! What am I going to listen to at work? Well, I found me some Rome, Byzantine and England podcasts that seem very good, and I took advantage of audible's 2 free books if you sign up (cancel any time).
I got The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and Peter the Great: His Life and World
Why? Because they were fucking huge. Plus, two important books that I should get around to consuming. Mostly though, itll probably take me a good 2 months to finish those two books at work
I got The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and Peter the Great: His Life and World
Why? Because they were fucking huge. Plus, two important books that I should get around to consuming. Mostly though, itll probably take me a good 2 months to finish those two books at work
lastflowers
Banned
The Names by Don DeLillo
Any DeLillo fans here? This is probably the strangest DD book I've read so far. Linguistics-based cult is murdering Americans in Greece. As with most of his books, the description is more eventful than the actual book. Lots of bizarre dialogue, elliptical musings. Not done with it yet but it's pretty great if you're a fan of his work. If not, this isn't the place to start.
White Noise is probably in my top 10 favorite novels.
I'll have to check this one out.
Working my way slowly through:
Started The Man in the High Castle
from this:
and will continue on the other three once I finish it.
Never thought about that. Seems a bit pointless though if so, like any other would do.
May ask which are the books you couldn't finish? I couldn't get past the first few chapters of Consider Phlebas. Boring as hell. Use of Weapons was very uneven but his last two kept a fast pace and interesting plot till the end.
The whole thing is definitely set up to get him to play the game. Later novels provide enough examples of the lengths contact and SC are willing to go through to game events as to remove all doubt. The more interesting question in my mind is weather or not they meant their threat to the emperor. It's mentioned that Azad is meant to be so complex as to be an accurate reflection of reality, good at the game good at life. If SC bought into this then they may have gone in guns blazing had their player lost because it meant the empire would one day be a creditable threat. Where as if Morat won then they didn't have to do anything, the Culture way of life would have been proven superior.
My wife is reading this right now and enjoying it quite a bit. She's convinced me to give it a go once she's done. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
obin_gam
Member
Started reading The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker a couple of days ago.
And it's really really good!
Too bad it only is one short novel and the sequel "The Scarlet Gospels" doesnt have a release date.
And it's really really good!
Too bad it only is one short novel and the sequel "The Scarlet Gospels" doesnt have a release date.
A side about Ordinary Grace, it did share quite a bit in common with A Prayer for Owen Meany, so if you liked that, I'll recommed Ordinary Grace as well.
Decided to check this out to continue my trend of coming of age stories, but apparently this has an added horror element. sounds like it could be something special, off to a good start so far.
Now Reading - Boy's Life
Decided to check this out to continue my trend of coming of age stories, but apparently this has an added horror element. sounds like it could be something special, off to a good start so far.
Now Reading - Boy's Life
Read this month so far:
The Vor Game - Lois McMaster Bujold
Was great! I actually read the majority of it in one sitting, found it really hard to put down.
I've been reading the series following the internal chronological order, and I'd say this and Barrayar are my favorite so far. Hoping to get through the rest of the books in the next few months
The Princess Bride - William Goldman
This was a very quick read, and a lot of fun. Loved the movie already but the novel was even more amusing. I was really confused by all the Stephen King bits though!
Fledgling - Octavia E. Butler
The last Octavia E. Butler I had left to read, so I'm a bit sad now This is the Butler version of a vampire novel - found her portrayal of vampires and their society very interesting, but on the other side this is also probably the winner for Most Disturbing Butler Novel, beating even the Xenogenesis trilogy in creepiness...
The Vor Game - Lois McMaster Bujold
Was great! I actually read the majority of it in one sitting, found it really hard to put down.
I've been reading the series following the internal chronological order, and I'd say this and Barrayar are my favorite so far. Hoping to get through the rest of the books in the next few months
The Princess Bride - William Goldman
This was a very quick read, and a lot of fun. Loved the movie already but the novel was even more amusing. I was really confused by all the Stephen King bits though!
Fledgling - Octavia E. Butler
The last Octavia E. Butler I had left to read, so I'm a bit sad now
This is the Butler version of a vampire novel - found her portrayal of vampires and their society very interesting, but on the other side this is also probably the winner for Most Disturbing Butler Novel, beating even the Xenogenesis trilogy in creepiness...After seeing it at the top of a few best of the year lists I started reading "The Ocean At The End Of The Lane". I'm really enjoying it. I went in blind and after a few pages I was expecting one kind of story and was surprised when the fantasy elements started creeping into the world. This is the first Neil Gaiman book I've read and I have to say over all I like the way he writes.
I'm about 120 pages in and this is one of the most compeling fantasy book I've ever read.
Oh man, you are in for a treat with that series. I'm not a big fan of the fantasy genre but The First Law is one of the few which really stands out. Once I started up the first book I could not stop reading until I had finished the whole series. Enjoy!
I have that collection too! The value is crazily high, can't believe they priced it only for $110.
As a British writer, I put high expectation for Joe Ambercrombie. Turns out his writing is mediocre. I know The First Law is not medieval fantasy, but rather renaissance or even enlightement era fantasy, but he used too many modern day word that really break immersion of the world. While the third book got more consistent in its writing, the first and second book is atrocious. If it not for the characters and its depiction of magic, I'll probably dropped it after the second book (which I read for a reading challenge).