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What are you reading? (July 2015)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Yeah, that was a bit bemusing
Dark, Hobb can do. The complexity of plotting and worldbuilding, I'm a little more doubtful of.Boo. I loved Goblin Emperor and Maia was fab, that his goodness was the defining point of his character and influenced everything he did. With Fitz it was, I don't know, his fallibility? But Maia exists in a world where being good actually works. Fitz doesn't.
Oh. You're earlier on than I thought!
Hey! I'd like to explain what I meant (I think you've misread me) but I don't want any more hints about what happens in The Goblin Emperor.
But I don't think that Fitz's problem
was simply that he tried to be good in a world where being good doesn't work. I felt like he was constantly paralyzed by indecision and passivity, and when he did make decisions he tended to make the wrong decisions, over and over. It was fitting that so much of the resolution . It's like he was Cat Stark rather than Tyrion Lannister, you know? Maia probably would fail when placed in Fitz's very difficult circumstances, at least from what I have seen thus far; but Fitz would probably have failed when placed in Maia's.
I hope that makes more sense.
I don't have much patience to read these days.
Trying to at least
Godspeed. Does it list the names of every single first move you can make? Blew my mind when I realized there were names for almost every first pawn or knight move in the game. "The Polish defender" or something like that, for example.
Like I mentioned, for me the best part of Hobb is how she writes characters and their relationships with one another. I barely think of the fantasy aspects of her books, as I'm more fascinated by the Fool, Kettricken, Starling, etc.
...and now I really want to read Liveship Traders. I've actually only read The Farseer Trilogy and Fool's Errand by Hobb. Hope to finish the other Fool/Tawny Man books one day too.
...and now I really want to read Liveship Traders.
I've actually only read The Farseer Trilogy and Fool's Errand by Hobb. Hope to finish the other Fool/Tawny Man books one day too.Dedication Through Light
Member
Was planning to spend time knocking out my light novel backlog but another author sent me a copy of their book to review. So Ill be reading Strategic Failure: How President Obama's Warfare, Defense Cuts, and Military Amateurism Have Imperiled America" (Mark Moyar).
Hey! I'd like to explain what I meant (I think you've misread me) but I don't want any more hints about what happens in The Goblin Emperor.
But I don't think that Fitz's problemwas simply that he tried to be good in a world where being good doesn't work. I felt like he was constantly paralyzed by indecision and passivity, and when he did make decisions he tended to make the wrong decisions, over and over. It was fitting that so much of the resolution . It's like he was Cat Stark rather than Tyrion Lannister, you know? Maia probably would fail when placed in Fitz's very difficult circumstances, at least from what I have seen thus far; but Fitz would probably have failed when placed in Maia's.
I hope that makes more sense.
Very possibly I misread you! I wasn't being entirely serious. I'll admit: I just wanted to protest 'it's not a good look'. I'm partisan
I'm really sorry I was spoilery. I did think about it, but decided as you didn't mind spoilers in general it would be ok. Of course it didn't occur to me you probably don't care for them right when you are actually reading the book in question!I didn't actually mean to say I thought Fitz was trying to be good in a world where it didn't work >.< (Or that you were, either). What I meant is, given that in a fictional world the functions of character and plot and world are closely linked, and so the characters of protagonists like Maia and Fitz are a reflection of the worlds they inhabit, (more so imo than multi-pov characters like Cat or Tyrion, though I think I take your point) Fitz's fallibility (or indecision, passivity, and general idiocy!) was understandable, even reasonable, considering his world had few good or simple choices. I don't mean to say they can't still be critiqued, and the comparison is an interesting one. And yeah, Fitz would probably be a mess anywhere
Incandenza
Banned
Erikson definitely has the latter-day GRRM problem of overusing a lot of phrases and words. He uses 'assail,' 'conceit,' 'conflagration,' 'skein,' and 'coruscating waves' way more than any good editor would allow if he had one.
It just my personal pet peeve. Regardless the character is still well done and the theme it explore on imperialism managed to keep my interest (perhaps the saypuris american mannerism is more appropriate in this context then?).
If anything, Susanna Clarke done too much editing!
You Know Nothing
Member
Words are wind and those words are about as useful as nipples on a breastplate. What a mummer's farce.
Buy a kindle paperwhite, turn off all loc, page, % crap at the bottom, then you will have no idea how long it will take to finish and how much you have read!
Surprisingly, I actually find that helpful. When I had an older kindle I couldnt help but check my progress by looking at the status bar at the bottom. I think it hurt my reading motivation
You can turn off that stuff on Paperwhite? You might've just sold me. I get depressed reading long books on Kindle because of that.
I actually tried to do this on my kobo when I first got it. It's a hinderance for sure, but also it can help when I know a book is near the finish and I'm in the mood to marathon right to the end.
It's more to do with my book ADD I guess, I'm already thinking about what I want to read next.
Someone really needs to invent that Matrix instant knowledge/skill machine
Just finished this and it was pretty good. Basically, the book introduces you into IR theories and evaluates how each IR theory would handle a Zombie Apocalypse. Some of it was quite funny (the chapter on neoconservative was hilarious), but other parts were pretty skim worthy since there was just a lot of common sense parts. Still, I got what I wanted out of the book, a better, if shallow, understanding of IR theory. As for the shallow part, well, it was a very short and quick read, so that is not all that surprising.
Maklershed
Member
Yes. I did this for A Little Life for exactly that reason.
Hnng. I need to upgrade.
old manatee
Banned
I turn it back on if I'm reading a short book so that I feel like I'm reading fast. I trick myself every time.
What do you want to read next?
RepairmanJack
Member
A little over half way through my re-read of A Dirty Job. It's definitely holding up for me, it's an absolute delight to read and it's extra appreciated how fast of a read it is.
Yes I assume so by reading a little of Chapter 1 in on Openings. That's how I learned the Furchetto (sp?)
Now reading..
Flight of Passage by Rinker Buck
Just finished the introduction. I am hooked and will very much enjoy this.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
I'm almost done with "The Echo". I see that the third book isn't due until March of next year and that's a bummer, but then March is when my birthday is so I guess happy birthday to me.
Told you it wouldn't take another six months!
Told you it wouldn't take another six months!
I finished reading The Goblin Emperor today, and I feel positively ensconced in happy feels right now. <3
Good! Read it quickly.
Now reading..
Flight of Passage by Rinker Buck
Just finished the introduction. I am hooked and will very much enjoy this.
Good! Read it quickly.
BossLackey
Gold Member
Just finished "Armada". Definitely a guilty pleasure. Not as good as Ready Player One.
Started "House of Leaves". Really interesting, but it's definitely a chore to read, especially as it starts to get weird (structurally).
Started "House of Leaves". Really interesting, but it's definitely a chore to read, especially as it starts to get weird (structurally).
Just finished this. Took me a little longer to get through this one but probably the best one I've read so far in the series. It just seems to be a pattern of these books to have so much setup and then the climax is about 20 pages with barely any downtime afterward and then you're onto the next book and already setting up again.
Anyways, I'm starting to inch closer and closer to the supposed meandering middle of the series. 3 down and 11 to go.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
Started "House of Leaves". Really interesting, but it's definitely a chore to read, especially as it starts to get weird (structurally).
Real book? I imagine it would be difficult to read on an electronic device that would change orientation on you when you turn it. Or only shows black and...well...gray.
Just finished this. Took me a little longer to get through this one but probably the best one I've read so far in the series. It just seems to be a pattern of these books to have so much setup and then the climax is about 20 pages with barely any downtime afterward and then you're onto the next book and already setting up again.
Anyways, I'm starting to inch closer and closer to the supposed meandering middle of the series. 3 down and 11 to go.
I was going to say something about the publication dates but looking at Wikipedia it looks like two were published in 1990, one in 91, one in 92, one in 94, one in 96 (the horror, waiting for that long!), one in 98, another in 2000, another in 2003, a prequel in 2004, and the final* one published in 2005. Holy crap.
TestMonkey
Member
I finished Authority by Jeff VanderMeer. Going to take a break from the trilogy. The pacing is just glacially slow and the sequence of "How did you know?" "I guessed." really put me off. I'll finish it off eventually but what I read so far provided no motivation.
Saw a copy of Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee at the library so I'll knock that out real quick. From the little that I've read, the writing style is least consistent with To Kill so I'm enjoying myself.
Saw a copy of Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee at the library so I'll knock that out real quick. From the little that I've read, the writing style is least consistent with To Kill so I'm enjoying myself.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
I don't get all the negativity about Authority. Seems to crop up a lot. It was my favorite of the series by far.
I wished for Star Wars Episode VII to come out so I bought the next best thing, according to Star Wars fans: The Thrawn trilogy by Timothy Zahn.
I wished for Star Wars Episode VII to come out so I bought the next best thing, according to Star Wars fans: The Thrawn trilogy by Timothy Zahn.
It's a mixed bag to be honest. The first book is pretty great, but I felt they dropped in quality after that. And Thrawn is TOO all-knowing and perceptive. But in terms of Star Wars books, they're far more readable than shit like The Courtship of Princess Leia or The Truce at Bakura.
Finished Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey. I felt it was pretty good. Not quite as action packed as the other books but it did add a bit of depth to some characters. I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes.
Now I'm trying to decide my next book. Having a hard time. Quick question, am I supposed to start Book of the New Sun at The Shadow of the Torturer? What is The Book of the Long Sun? I guess what I'm getting at is, where should I start?
Now I'm trying to decide my next book. Having a hard time. Quick question, am I supposed to start Book of the New Sun at The Shadow of the Torturer? What is The Book of the Long Sun? I guess what I'm getting at is, where should I start?
Yes, The Shadow of the Torturer is first. The current editions are Shadow & Claw (which includes The Shadow of the Torturer and The Claw of the Conciliator) and Sword & Citadel (which includes The Sword of the Lictor and The Citadel of the Autarch), or the four volumes of the tetralogy. There is also a fifth book, The Urth of the New Sun, which gives answers to many lingering questions that you will want to read after.
The Book of the Long Sun is an entirely different tetralogy, as is The Book of the Short Sun. All three form Gene Wolfe's Solar Cycle. I have only read The Book of the New Sun, so I can't tell you how loosely or tightly they intersect for a certainty, though as I understand it the connections are more ... bonuses than integral, if that makes sense.
Winding down on Seveneves, which been one heck of a trip and educational experience for me. Curious to see how this final act is going to end.
Please post some impressions of this and/or Quicksilver. I'm planning on starting this series sometime soon and would love to know what I'm in for.
Please post some impressions of this and/or Quicksilver. I'm planning on starting this series sometime soon and would love to know what I'm in for.
For Victorian literature geeks, the University of Manchester digitised a huge Elizabeth Gaskell collection for free online use http://luna.manchester.ac.uk/luna/servlet/Gaskell2~91~1
She corresponded with victorian greats so you can find their letters, her manuscripts, etc.
She corresponded with victorian greats so you can find their letters, her manuscripts, etc.
whatevermort
Member
It's nearly finished. A few thousand words away. And then the fourth and final will done soon after that...
I recently got into Stephen King and as well horror-themed literature (I usually just read mystery and sci-fi with few exceptions, The Count of Montecristo is my favorite book)
I read Bag of Bones and Salem's lot so far, which I bot enjoyed (the later more than the first), I picked up The Talisman, but it's really not doing it for me, it's quite boring and honestly feels like children literature at times.
Not sure if I'm going to finish it at this point. I wanted to read The Dark Tower, but my library doesn't have the first volume, what are some other good books of him? I do enjoy Silent Hill/Twin Peaks esque stories that take place in small, isolated villages and whatnot.
I read Bag of Bones and Salem's lot so far, which I bot enjoyed (the later more than the first), I picked up The Talisman, but it's really not doing it for me, it's quite boring and honestly feels like children literature at times.
Not sure if I'm going to finish it at this point. I wanted to read The Dark Tower, but my library doesn't have the first volume, what are some other good books of him? I do enjoy Silent Hill/Twin Peaks esque stories that take place in small, isolated villages and whatnot.
Would you believe that someone in this thread recently dropped it for [reasons]? It's tragic, truly.
D
Deleted member 1235
Unconfirmed Member
Just finished this. Took me a little longer to get through this one but probably the best one I've read so far in the series. It just seems to be a pattern of these books to have so much setup and then the climax is about 20 pages with barely any downtime afterward and then you're onto the next book and already setting up again.
Anyways, I'm starting to inch closer and closer to the supposed meandering middle of the series. 3 down and 11 to go.
for me it was 8-11... bit of a drag. then sanderson shows up and fixes everything. the last 2 books I pretty much couldn't put down.
Polishin8r
Member
The gunslinger was my first exposure to King and I have been on the train ever since. I am up to volume 3 and right now reading his other books that are connected with the universe. I simply can not put his books down. Going to read the Stand next. ( FYI you should be able to place a hold on books and they deliver them from other libraries).
Bah!