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[CharminUltra]

The Corner by David Simon

Done and done. I liked it a little less than Homicide but I think it's probably overall a better book, though a bit anvilicious regarding its editorial segments.

Okay, you just blew my mind. Had no idea The Wire books were a thing. I'm currently rewatching the series and this looks like the perfect read in between episodes. Holy shit.

EDIT:

Doh, it's from the creators of The Wire. My bad. Still looks great, though.

 

[CraigerGamer]

Just started last night...

 

[Maklershed]

Okay, you just blew my mind. Had no idea The Wire books were a thing. I'm currently rewatching the series and this looks like the perfect read in between episodes. Holy shit.

EDIT:

Doh, it's from the creators of The Wire. My bad. Still looks great, though.

I have good news for you. The Wire book is a thing :b ...


Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon

 

[Jintor]

 

[8BitsAtATime]

It was a easy read but I still loved it. I'm not going to lie i cried when Hazel over heard her mom at the hospital.

 

[Horseticuffs]

Oh, man. I'm a bit into Nos4a2 by Joe Hill and I'm just being reminded how much I've loved everything of his I've come across. From Heart-Shaped Box to what I've read of Locke & Key, he's truly a young master.

As a dude who is HARDCORE into

Spoiler

holidays I can already tell I'm going to LOVE Christmasland.

He's such a true talent that when I'm deep into his work often times I'll forget it isn't vintage King I'm enjoying. I mean, obviously there would be that influence but I don't mean to devalue Hill's skill. Even without his lineage he's really hot shit.

 

[Mackenzie 92]

100 year old man wasn't doing it for me, (can't stand it when authors repeat descriptions over and over as a story-telling tool, for example, "the youth with greasy hair, scraggly beard and a yellow shirt was standing by the bus" and then 2 sentences later, " the youth with the greay hair, scraggly beard and yellow shirt was wondering something" kinda irritated me, so I put it down and started this up


11/22/63 by Stephen King

Blazed through the first 10% in a couple hours and loving it. It feels special, not sure why I waited so long to get around to it.

 

[Jimothy]

100 year old man wasn't doing it for me, (can't stand it when authors repeat descriptions over and over as a story-telling tool, for example, "the youth with greasy hair, scraggly beard and a yellow shirt was standing by the bus" and then 2 sentences later, " the youth with the greay hair, scraggly beard and yellow shirt was wondering something" kinda irritated me, so I put it down and started this up


11/22/63 by Stephen King

Blazed through the first 10% in a couple hours and loving it. It feels special, not sure why I waited so long to get around to it.

This is gonna sound un-bookworm as fuck, but this is the best fiction book I've ever read. In terms of placing me completely in a book's world and making me care about the characters, King is basically at the pinnacle of the craft in this book.

 

[lightus]

You could print them But other than that, you'll have to wait, I think they've said they want to release the novellas in book form at a future date, when they have more novellas put together.

Otherwise, pretty much any smartphone or tablet has e-readers, actually read half of The Churn on my Lumia 1020, had ok contrast and all, not comparable to reading it to the kindle, but it works.

Ah, I was just double checking to make sure I didn't miss a printed compilation they made or something.

I'll just suck it up and get the e-versions then.

Finished up Cibola Burn earlier on my lunch break. Will give it a 4/5 when I write a little blurb review when I update Goodreads later. Not that I liked it any less than the others which I all gave 5/5, I think just maybe I’m getting more picky about the 5s, and it did seem a little different than I was expecting. Still though, what a great time getting back to these characters I love.

Spoiler

It never really felt like a rollercoaster ride like the first 3 did at various points. Definitely some crazy moments, it just never hit the highest of highs. Was worried as all hell about Amos at the end though!! Given the fact of the gates and so many possibilities, it felt so odd to have it still feel so small scale, which is what I like about the series actually, but in this context now, it just felt limiting. The prologue sets up things nicely for the next book.

Now to see what is next to read.

Read your review on GR and I pretty much echo your sentiments. It was a good book but some parts felt "small time" compared with the scale of the other books. The action was great but there was very little development across the board. I wouldn't mind seeing a few scenes with just the crew hanging out without immediate life threatening danger. I feel the series would benefit with more character and cultural development.

I rated it 4/5. Despite the flaws, I was so into it I read basically 50% of the book in two sittings.

Spoiler

Also, in regards to Amos: I know right! They always have him go off into some ultra dangerous situations. I feel like he's going to die every book. Now that they are pushing it to a nine book series I feel they may actually kill off one of the crew just to keep it interesting. (I am against this actually, this is one of the few series out there where I don't care if it messes up the the tension of the book. I want them all to survive and be happy.)

 

[Horseticuffs]

100 year old man wasn't doing it for me, (can't stand it when authors repeat descriptions over and over as a story-telling tool, for example, "the youth with greasy hair, scraggly beard and a yellow shirt was standing by the bus" and then 2 sentences later, " the youth with the greay hair, scraggly beard and yellow shirt was wondering something" kinda irritated me, so I put it down and started this up


11/22/63 by Stephen King

Blazed through the first 10% in a couple hours and loving it. It feels special, not sure why I waited so long to get around to it.

I've heard this is magical for fans of King's work, that's why it's next on my list!

 

[Wiktor]

I've heard this is magical for fans of King's work, that's why it's next on my list!

I think it will be mine too. I skipped it when it was out because I find the topic of JFK's assassination to be pretty boring, but everybody is praising it so much that I will give it a true.

 

[ShaneB]

Read your review on GR and I pretty much echo your sentiments. It was a good book but some parts felt "small time" compared with the scale of the other books. The action was great but there was very little development across the board. I wouldn't mind seeing a few scenes with just the crew hanging out without immediate life threatening danger. I feel the series would benefit with more character and cultural development.

I rated it 4/5. Despite the flaws, I was so into it I read basically 50% of the book in two sittings.

Spoiler

Also, in regards to Amos: I know right! They always have him go off into some ultra dangerous situations. I feel like he's going to die every book. Now that they are pushing it to a nine book series I feel they may actually kill off one of the crew just to keep it interesting. (I am against this actually, this is one of the few series out there where I don't care if it messes up the the tension of the book. I want them all to survive and be happy.)

Agreed on the point of wishing there were more character moments of just the crew being the crew and hanging out. And yeah, as I mentioned, CB being small scale felt like a good and bad point. Will be fun to see what others think as the finish. As for the spoiler text

Spoiler

I'm of both mindset, there's gotta be some tension again with wondering who lives and dies, and I guess that tension is there slightly because I care so much already, but gotta be a point where characters aren't invincible. That said, yeah I kinda want them all happy and together too.

Was sitting outside on my lunch break, basking in the sun and enjoying the weather, and was deciding on something to read to reflect that and the kind of mood I was in. I decided to check out this. Picked it up when it was the kindle daily not long ago. Should be a short summer style read over the long weekend.

Now Reading...
It Happened in Wisconsin by Ken Moraff

 

[Haly]

Occasionally, GAF streams cross, but never did I expect this thread to cross over with EUIV.

This just came out. I haven't read it yet but I bought it immediately because Harry Turtledove, the Master of Alternate History himself, has an entry.

 

[nakedsushi]

So my friend's book which will be out in a few weeks is on sale for pre-order:
http://italicsmine.tumblr.com/post/89990556132


California by Edan Lepucki

You may have seen my review earlier, but it's really good even if you're not into post-apocalyptic fiction. You may have even seen this mentioned in Colbert. That cover!

 

[EverythingShiny]

I've read several more Michael Connelly books. Seeing as I just got a puppy last week, I've picked up:

I've heard nothing but good things about the book and I'm enjoying it so far. I have a lot to learn regarding training both my puppy and myself!

 

[AngmarsKing701]

So my friend's book which will be out in a few weeks is on sale for pre-order:
http://italicsmine.tumblr.com/post/89990556132


California by Edan Lepucki

You may have seen my review earlier, but it's really good even if you're not into post-apocalyptic fiction. You may have even seen this mentioned in Colbert. That cover!

Looks interesting. Can't add it to my Kindle wish list yet though.

 

[Nelo Ice]

So my friend's book which will be out in a few weeks is on sale for pre-order:
http://italicsmine.tumblr.com/post/89990556132


California by Edan Lepucki

You may have seen my review earlier, but it's really good even if you're not into post-apocalyptic fiction. You may have even seen this mentioned in Colbert. That cover!

Your review got my interested. May pick it up down the line but I noticed it was on my library's site on overdrive and I ended up being the first 1 to put it on hold. Looks like I'll get to borrow a copy as soon as it's available.

 

[disappeared]

About 1/4 through the way of Inside the Whale by Orwell. It's really interesting to read his take on the "Raging Twenties" and the writers who came out of that decade.

He's also turned me onto my next book, Tropic of Cancer, by Henry Miller.

 

[Angst]

Finished Mr Mercedes, which I enjoyed and now I'm going to start with

 

[Maklershed]

Finished Cibola Burn and on to Revolution by Murder


Revolution By Murder: Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman, and the Plot to Kill Henry Clay Frick by James McGrath Morris

 

[noomi]

I am ashamed to say that I have just recently gotten into reading books, I never found any enjoyment in them until I got older (29 now).

I've already read through:

- 11/22/63
- Heaven Is For Real
- Choke

I am looking for any books about time travel or prison/prison breaks...

Could anyone recommend something for me?

 

[Haly]

I am looking for any books about time travel or prison/prison breaks...

Here ye go.

 

[Bazza]

Finished Manifold: Space by Baxter the other day, It was a good read yet ultimately quite depressing at the end, I should really learn to accept that with Baxter's books by now.

Anyway on to Manifold: Origin, no doubt I will enjoy the story only to feel a little miserable after finishing.

 

[Mackenzie 92]

I am ashamed to say that I have just recently gotten into reading books, I never found any enjoyment in them until I got older (29 now).

I've already read through:

- 11/22/63
- Heaven Is For Real
- Choke

I am looking for any books about time travel or prison/prison breaks...

Could anyone recommend something for me?

This is pretty fun, and free on Amazon if you're using a kindle or other e-reader.

A small West Virgina town circa 2000 is transported back in time to 1632 Germany during a bloody war.


1632 by Eric Flint

 

[Mumei]

I've read several more Michael Connelly books. Seeing as I just got a puppy last week, I've picked up:

I've heard nothing but good things about the book and I'm enjoying it so far. I have a lot to learn regarding training both my puppy and myself!

I am something of an evangelist for this book, so I approve.

 

[Empty]

as it's wimbledon at the moment, i decided to read a tennis book. levels of the game by john mcphee. it's a slim, easy to read volume, describing a semi final match between arthur ashe and clarke graebner from 1968. woven into the match descriptions are comments from the players on their feelings during crucial points and mini-biographies of both players. it's a little similar to the documentary 'hoop dreams' in that it's about sport, but also uses sport as a way in to examine a lot of other wider social issues. arthur ashe is the first notable black tennis player in america and the book gets a lot of its weight from comparing his background with the white, upper middle class graebner and what their encounter means as a symbol and non-symbol of civil rights era america. it tackles a load of interesting thematic material in doing so but always manages to ground it in the human story of the two players: how they feel, think, act, play.

i thought it was a remarkable little book, effortlessly well written, fascinating despite the match being 45 years old historical footnote, oddly gripping as you follow the match to its finale and very insightful into what makes tennis players tick as people. i'm definetely going to check out some other books by the author.

 

[FUBAR McDangles]

Started reading the Shining today.

Starts a bit slow. I'm only about 30 pages in but it's just not as enticing as other King books I've read (The Stand, Salem's Lot, 11/22/63 and so on).

I've never seen the movie so I have no idea what to expect.

 

[Nappuccino]

Started reading the Shining today.

Starts a bit slow. I'm only about 30 pages in but it's just not as enticing as other King books I've read (The Stand, Salem's Lot, 11/22/63 and so on).

I've never seen the movie so I have no idea what to expect.

The movie isn't much like the book, but there are some key plot points that it shares.

 

[fakefaker]

Finished up The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde this afternoon. It was enjoyable but not as good as I thought it would be.

Onto something that's around 900 pages longer with The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton.

 

[jred2k]

A little late for the GAF reading club, but "Making of the Atomic Bomb" is $1.99 today as part of the Kindle Daily Deals.

 

[The Culture Vulture]

A little late for the GAF reading club, but "Making of the Atomic Bomb" is $1.99 today as part of the Kindle Daily Deals.

Good Kindle deals today. Seems like it's been forever.

 

[Haly]

I bought The Golem and the Jinni on a whim.

Anyone read this? Can someone confirm this isn't YA Urban fantasy dreck? Because the blurb makes it sounds like it is.

 

[The Culture Vulture]

I bought The Golem and the Jinni on a whim.

Anyone read this? Can someone confirm this isn't YA Urban fantasy dreck? Because the blurb makes it sounds like it is.

I've seen a lot of mention of it in this thread. I thought most reviews were positive but the summary did nothing for me so I passed.

 

[Haly]

I've seen a lot of mention of it in this thread. I thought most reviews were positive but the summary did nothing for me so I passed.

Oh, thanks, I didn't know it was discussed here.

Impressions look mostly favorable, that's good.

 

[Epcott]

Started Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, but it starts so slow. Unlike Windup Bird Chronicles, I couldn't get into it (I made it to Golden Beast) and gave up.

Began reading Elantris by Brandon Sanderson instead. Already hooked! I was afraid that after a recent binge of the Mistborn and Stormlight books, I would be burned out on Sanderson... I was wrong. Its pretty interesting so far.

 

[Horseticuffs]

Over halfway done with N0s4a2 now and so in love with it. Glorious callbacks to

Spoiler

a ton of King stories, too

. Kate Mulgrew does a terrific job narrating the audiobook if anyone wants to go that route.

 

[MoGamesXNA]

I finished Under the Skin by Michel Faber yesterday. I'm still trying to fully collect my thoughts and write the review it deserves. I think the best way to summarize how I felt about the book is to say it was completely captivating. Every tiny reveal that is given just created more intrigue. It's rare a book can make me feel uncomfortable, but certain scenes are described so vividly it was impossible not to. I can't recommend it enough.

.

It's my fave book that I've read so far this year. It actually woke me up to the fact that I'd been in a reading rut prior. I genuinely couldn't put Under the Skin down over the two/three days that I read it. The prose isn't of the highest standard IMO but I found it completely compelling.

I enjoyed the film too.

Onto something that's around 900 pages longer with The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton.

Ah the Night's Dawn trilogy. Love Peter Hamilton. Good stuff!

 

[Jintor]

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Kind of difficult to talk about. I guess the most I can really say is that it's a product of its context, in that it's super imperialist, serialised, and relatively simple plotwise. But hey, the prose is okay, so whatevs

 

[Tugatrix]

Finished black count and now reading this one:

First impressions are meh

 

[rudieboy77]

I got done listening to

Part of the way through the book I noticed some similarities to another book. This story seems to be a take off of The Stand. I've listened to a bunch of LaHaye's books and this one is the weakest.

 

[FUBAR McDangles]

The movie isn't much like the book, but there are some key plot points that it shares.

All I hear from my gf and her mother is how great the movie is and that I have to watch it and I've been pushing both that and the book off for a few months now.

I've read about 6-8 military thriller/police drama books (with some Star Wars too) in a row now so I figured a change of pace is necessary.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

I bought The Golem and the Jinni on a whim.

Anyone read this? Can someone confirm this isn't YA Urban fantasy dreck? Because the blurb makes it sounds like it is.

It is not YA. It's the best book I've read this year.

 

[Mumei]

Started Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, but it starts so slow. Unlike Windup Bird Chronicles, I couldn't get into it (I made it to Golden Beast) and gave up.

Began reading Elantris by Brandon Sanderson instead. Already hooked! I was afraid that after a recent binge of the Mistborn and Stormlight books, I would be burned out on Sanderson... I was wrong. Its pretty interesting so far.

Hardboiled Wonderland is one of my favorite Murakami books!

 

[ShaneB]

Finished up It Happened In Wisconsin. That was absolutely terrific and I gave it a 4.5/5. The shorter length made for a quick read and I found myself just burning through the pages. Now browsing to see what to start next.

 

[Nelo Ice]

It is not YA. It's the best book I've read this year.

Well guess I'm gonna have to pick this up. Already got atomic bomb. Anything else worth picking up from the daily deal?.

 

[Verdre]

Finished JK Rowling's The Silkworm

Liked it about as much as the first, though this one veered a bit too far into pulpy for my taste.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

Well guess I'm gonna have to pick this up. Already got atomic bomb. Anything else worth picking up from the daily deal?.

My book is always worth picking up and at $4 it's always a deal!

 

[Easystride]

Reading Empire Falls by Richard Russo. I love it so far. This is the second book I've read of this author (Nobody's Fool being the first), and I can't wait to explore his other books. I am a total sucker for small town, slice-of-life books. Luckily, my library has a number of his books available in the Kindle format, and very few of them have holds.

 

[Maklershed]

My book is always worth picking up and at $4 it's always a deal!

Even though you were talking to someone else, thanks for the reminder that I bought that.

Finished Murder by Revolution and on to your book! Ahvarra: The Heart of the World


Ahvarra: The Heart of the World by Brian J. Lang

 

[ShaneB]

Reading Empire Falls by Richard Russo. I love it so far. This is the second book I've read of this author (Nobody's Fool being the first), and I can't wait to explore his other books. I am a total sucker for small town, slice-of-life books. Luckily, my library has a number of his books available in the Kindle format, and very few of them have holds.

I've said many times that I am the same way. Mak has recommended that book to me a few times, so I'll be interested in your thoughts as well. I'm still debating what to read, was flipping through my library throughout the day. Think I'm in the mood for something longer, but a fun summer adventure type of read too.