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What are you reading? (December 2010)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
leroy hacker
Member
Deadly Cyclone said:
You should read the book that was the starting point of this entire sub-genre, Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco.
Maklershed
Member
You might want to try Clive Cusslers books. They're light and simple but they're entertaining for what they are. I enjoyed Spartan Gold.Deadly Cyclone said:
I might as well start posting here. I'm trying to catch up on 15 years of not really reading much, so I'm going with some classics.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
This is really good, really enjoyable. Not sure about why it's considered so great yet, but it's definitely great.
Middlemarch
I started reading this months ago but stalled about...3, 4 weeks ago. I'm over half way through. Her style is really dense; I find myself forgetting the first sentence of a paragraph by the time its referenced again at the end of said paragraph and have to re-read a lot.
Also read some Sherlock Holmes (quite disappointed by the lack of cleverness) and Lovecraft (very samey).
One Hundred Years of Solitude
This is really good, really enjoyable. Not sure about why it's considered so great yet, but it's definitely great.
Middlemarch
I started reading this months ago but stalled about...3, 4 weeks ago. I'm over half way through. Her style is really dense; I find myself forgetting the first sentence of a paragraph by the time its referenced again at the end of said paragraph and have to re-read a lot.
Also read some Sherlock Holmes (quite disappointed by the lack of cleverness) and Lovecraft (very samey).
BruceLeeRoy
Banned
Maklershed said:
Yeah exactly. That way when everyone is looking for recommendations we have a yearly list.
We could do it by Genre, Overall, or just everyone personal pick with a little review.
What do you guys think?
I liked that book way more then i expected. Based on the first 30 or so pages i thought I'd have a really hard time enjoying it, because of the writing style and the names. However taking a quick glance at the family tree every now and then. Made it a easier and generally more engaging read. It does kinda get repetitive in the end, but the best parts of the novel make up for that.
Maklershed
Member
Yeah do it up. Sounds good. Now I just have to figure out what my favorite book of the year was. :lolBruceLeeRoy said:
Finished
yesterday. Read all the books in the last 2 months and this has become one of my favourite fantasy sagas.
The ending wasn't really that surprising but I liked it non the less.
Next up is:
yesterday. Read all the books in the last 2 months and this has become one of my favourite fantasy sagas.
While I loved all the books the last one really got me to recognize how much more I like Croaker as the annalist. If I had to rank them I'd say Croaker > Lady > Murgen > Sleepy.
Next up is:
Solideliquid
Member
afternoon delight
Member
Definitely. I like the idea of "Pick Three" and everyone do a write-up of each. Found great books in these threads.
BruceLeeRoy
Banned
Okay the format will be:
Overall favorite book of the year followed by a nice write-up obviously spoiler anything spoilerish in the review.
And your two runner ups.
Lets just start posting them here and then Ill total them up once we get closer to the end of the month when I have enough recommendations to do the OT.
Overall favorite book of the year followed by a nice write-up obviously spoiler anything spoilerish in the review.
And your two runner ups.
Lets just start posting them here and then Ill total them up once we get closer to the end of the month when I have enough recommendations to do the OT.
Nah, open the thread now. It'll just become confusing when some people start to post their books of the year in this thread, while others just post the books they're currently reading. Also, if you don't make a thread most people won't even be aware of the book of the year thing.BruceLeeRoy said:
BruceLeeRoy
Banned
wrowa said:
Okay good point Ill open the thread tomorrow.
afternoon delight
Member
The Grandmaster of threads has said it, and it shall be so. (Sorry, still a little drunk this morning.)
Boozeroony
Member
Very interesting. I love Harris' writing.
and just finished
Good read. Classic and timeless.
Almost finished this, just a few pages left so Ill be finished it tonight. Probably my favourite in the Sigma Force series so far.
For the guy who liked Dan Brown I'd recommend this guy James Rollins too. Kinda similar scenarios in that new science and technology must be used to solve ancient mysteries and threats. Really looking forward to the latest The Devil Colony out next summer. Was thinking of ordering some of his earlier stuff too.
I heard Steve Berry's books are also similar. Anyone read any of his stuff?
Ratrat said:I'm more than half-way through Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains just after reading Abercrombie's Best Served Cold and they are both pieces of shit. I'm starting to hate fantasy, well it may be a good thing that my next book is Yahtzee's Mogworld
The Steel Remains is not Morgans best work IMHO. Dont let it put you off his other work. Although its all sci fi.
evilpigking
Member
Picked this up after seeing the series promoted in these threads multiple times. Powered through it in a few days. The writing started off a bit questionable but the plot kept it engrossing and the pages flying. Ordered Young Miles so hopefully that will arrive soon.
Also read Gilded Latten Bones the 13th Garrett Files book by Glen Cook. Mixed bag on this one, there were some fairly significant changes in Garrett's social relationships but the overall pace and storyline felt less engaging than previous novels.
In the meantime back to A Clash of Kings
zero margin
Member
Maklershed
Member
Excellent. Please make sure to post a link in here when you do.BruceLeeRoy said:
Work:
Customs in Common by E.P. Thompson.
Anonymity: A Secret History of English Literature by John Mullan.
Pleasure:
Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook.
The English Prisoner by Tig Hague.
All are splendid. Hague's book, about spending seven years in a Russian prison after being comprehensively fitted-up for hashish smuggling, is just terrifying.
Customs in Common by E.P. Thompson.
Anonymity: A Secret History of English Literature by John Mullan.
Pleasure:
Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook.
The English Prisoner by Tig Hague.
All are splendid. Hague's book, about spending seven years in a Russian prison after being comprehensively fitted-up for hashish smuggling, is just terrifying.
TheKaeptain
Banned
Blackace said:
Just googled it. I'm there.
sparky2112
Member
Blackace said:
Well, if he catches Martinitis, he won't finish despite his youth. All signs point, however, to Sanderson being a freakin' MACHINE.
sparky2112
Member
ciD_Vain said:
I don't think Franco does anything halfway. I guess he studied under some fairly high-profile writers, so it's not some vanity project...
Jugendstil
Member
Absolutely amazing. Definitely my book of the year and something I can see becoming a personal all time favorite. Patti Smith is a brilliant writer.
Was pretty disappointed by this - maybe because I already have heard so much about the stories in the book from other sources. But there is something weird and disjointed about the way the book is written. It did make me start listening to Ulver again, so that's good I guess.
Just started this but it's really engrossing.
D
Deleted member 1235
Unconfirmed Member
I'm reading the Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
I.... like it, but it's not grabbing me by the balls like enders game did, the book I read previously.
I.... like it, but it's not grabbing me by the balls like enders game did, the book I read previously.
Plot Summary said:
A little LTTP, but I loved A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Dave Eggers can write.
Really enjoying it so far.
charsace said:
On the off chance you aren't already aware of it, I'd recommend Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, the saga of Harry Dresden, wizard detective and his adventures dealing with the full spectrum of paranormal weirdness in contemporary Chicago. If you're looking for a series, the Dresden Files are set to keep you entertained for a while to come, with a dozen books in the series proper and a short story collection already out, and another ten or so books planned before the series wraps up. The early novels in the series set up different factions (vampires, werewolves, and so forth) but once everyone's in place Butcher winds it all up and lets things run wild, with major long-term story arcs developing with each novel. Butcher has a knack for fast paced action, snarky dialogue, and some terrific characters, and while his early (read: first) novels are a tad rough around the edges, once things get rolling, woo boy. Also, the series is firmly on the supernatural noir side of the street, as opposed to the more erotic paranormal romance urban fantasies. Start with Storm Front.
I have another recommendation that may not be your thing, as you mentioned that you were looking to get away from the more erotic urban fantasies. Well, you're going to find Eileen Wilks' World of the Lupi series over in the romance section, with all the romantic yearning and hot lovin' that entails. That said, I've enjoyed the series quite a bit and have been impressed that the characters are so busy with the plot in some books of the series that they don't even have time for sex. The setup is that she's a Chinese-American psychic detective living in San Francisco and he's a werewolf prince living in a world where werewolves recently came out to the general public. Cue supernatural adventure and the aforementioned hot lovin'. I don't think the latter part of the series is particularly overwhelming, so I'm recommending it despite your caveat. The series starts with Tempting Danger.
FnordChan
Year end, so I'll be finishing a lot of the books I'm reading...
Children's lit:
Really not interested in this one. I'm definitely going to finish it though,
Edu lit:
What I used to know in school, eng lang
eats, shoots and leaves,
+Philosophy book (can't remember the name at the moment)
+sixty seconds (recommended)
+emotional intelligence (meh)
Fiction
+a short story collection book, standard compilation, can't remember the actual title.
+catch 22
+naked and the dead
+A week in december
+A james paterson book, can't remember the title, but I've noted it down here, so I will set time to finish that off.
edit+atlas shrugged. Finished that before, finishing again... I found it in my rucksack on a long journey, I might as finish it while I'm at it.
Children's lit:
Really not interested in this one. I'm definitely going to finish it though,
Edu lit:
What I used to know in school, eng lang
eats, shoots and leaves,
+Philosophy book (can't remember the name at the moment)
+sixty seconds (recommended)
+emotional intelligence (meh)
Fiction
+a short story collection book, standard compilation, can't remember the actual title.
+catch 22
+naked and the dead
+A week in december
+A james paterson book, can't remember the title, but I've noted it down here, so I will set time to finish that off.
edit+atlas shrugged. Finished that before, finishing again... I found it in my rucksack on a long journey, I might as finish it while I'm at it.
Fallout-NL
Member
Xater said:Well Martin got me after all. I finished the first book yesterday and started reading the next one immediately.
I finished this a couple of minutes ago, can't wait for the third book.
Adam Blade
WWKC
Ratrat said:I'm more than half-way through Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains just after reading Abercrombie's Best Served Cold and they are both pieces of shit. I'm starting to hate fantasy, well it may be a good thing that my next book is Yahtzee's Mogworld
Yep. Garbage from iffy authors.
Blackace said:
The first book is a tad bit unnecessarily long, in my opinion...
BanShunsaku
Member
Currently reading:
Blackace
if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
Adam Blade said:
Not really doing any power reading these days... Because trying my hand at writing myself.
But I think he is doing a good job of showing you his new world.. without using too many cliche ways of doing it..
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