Atraveller
Banned
Added to read list.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
What are you reading? (March 2016)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
- Status
Ooh anniversary year. Totally missed this.
Hey we're book buddies: Catch 22 is one of my all time favourite books. I love the film too.
I've already convinced two people to start reading it.
Imp the Dimp
Member
I was prepared for Mistborn #2 to not be as good as Mistborn #1 but so far it's awesome. Love Sanderson.
It's been my intention in recent years to not give up on a book regardless of what I think (I've only failed on this once) so I should make it through. If you have any recommendations on companion material for a second read (or the annotated edition that you read) through I'll happily add it to my to-read shelf.
You know, I think at least 50% of the books mentioned in this thread make it to my to-read shelf.
Just finished reading Twenty Trillion Leagues Under the Sea
Was a pretty good read and something a little different. I finished it in a single sitting Sunday afternoon so its definitely a page turner that constantly kept throwing newer and weirder sights and events at the characters. Imagine a fusion of the weirdness and cosmic Horror of HP Lovecraft combined with the underwater adventures of Jules Verne.
The basic gist of the story without giving too much away is that its the late 1950's and a brand new, state of the art, experimental submarine is launching from France for its maiden voyage. Its crew consists of sailors and scientists and everything is going to plan. They head out to the open ocean and begin to dive and that's were issues begin to pop up. They can't stop their descent and keep going down further and further with the men aboard unable to do anything to avert their course.
They basically come to terms with their impending death as at the speed their going and the depths they're hitting the sub will smash into the seafloor before it ruptures from the titanic pressures around them. As they watch their descent on the read outs they count down the final distance to their demise... except nothing happens. They not only pass where the seafloor should have been but their descent continues without them able to do a thing about it. Then things start to get weird, really weird.
I don't want to get into too much more detail but lets just say things continue to escalate within the story and paranoia, fear, religious fervor and the like hit the crew hard and that's not even dealing with the odd phenomena they start to encounter and the even stranger sea creatures. It would make a wonderful movie if someone gave it a decent budget and the book itself has some great illustrations in it.
Was a pretty good read and something a little different. I finished it in a single sitting Sunday afternoon so its definitely a page turner that constantly kept throwing newer and weirder sights and events at the characters. Imagine a fusion of the weirdness and cosmic Horror of HP Lovecraft combined with the underwater adventures of Jules Verne.
The basic gist of the story without giving too much away is that its the late 1950's and a brand new, state of the art, experimental submarine is launching from France for its maiden voyage. Its crew consists of sailors and scientists and everything is going to plan. They head out to the open ocean and begin to dive and that's were issues begin to pop up. They can't stop their descent and keep going down further and further with the men aboard unable to do anything to avert their course.
They basically come to terms with their impending death as at the speed their going and the depths they're hitting the sub will smash into the seafloor before it ruptures from the titanic pressures around them. As they watch their descent on the read outs they count down the final distance to their demise... except nothing happens. They not only pass where the seafloor should have been but their descent continues without them able to do a thing about it. Then things start to get weird, really weird.
I don't want to get into too much more detail but lets just say things continue to escalate within the story and paranoia, fear, religious fervor and the like hit the crew hard and that's not even dealing with the odd phenomena they start to encounter and the even stranger sea creatures. It would make a wonderful movie if someone gave it a decent budget and the book itself has some great illustrations in it.
100 pages into
and I got to say it is a joy to read. While I really like fantasy in general, reading it has been hard at times. This isn't that. It's very easy and fast to read (even for me as a non-english-speaker), while not being too simple or too complex. Think of this as Game of Thrones, but purely from the view of a young brother of the nights watch. It's awesome so far.
and I got to say it is a joy to read. While I really like fantasy in general, reading it has been hard at times. This isn't that. It's very easy and fast to read (even for me as a non-english-speaker), while not being too simple or too complex. Think of this as Game of Thrones, but purely from the view of a young brother of the nights watch. It's awesome so far.
AngmarsKing701
Member
GasProblem
Member
Still reading:
It's ok. I'm not a huge fan. I don't really feel anything for Kvothe and I think the world and story are a bit boring. I'm enjoying it enough to finish it though.
Going to read The Farseer Trilogy after this. Going to be my first Robin Hobb books. Hope I like them.
It's ok. I'm not a huge fan. I don't really feel anything for Kvothe and I think the world and story are a bit boring. I'm enjoying it enough to finish it though.
Going to read The Farseer Trilogy after this. Going to be my first Robin Hobb books. Hope I like them.
Tragicomedy
Member
The best part of Sanderson is how prolific he is. If you get into one or two of his series, you can look forward to a new book every year. He the anti-GRRM.
sparky2112
Member
Just finished Infinite Jest:
I feel so empty now. I want to go back.
You've read The Pale King?
True, but where's my book 3 of Stormlight Archive?
Yes! I was talking about the books related to the Dark Tower and the order I should read them. Right now I'm following this recommendation (Now Reading: Eyes of the Dragon):
http://honkmahfah.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/dark-tower-suggested-reading-order-for.html
But I don't know if it's the right one because I'm seeing a lot of different recommendations :| Do you know any other recommendation order than the one I'm following now? Thanks!
Tragicomedy
Member
That's not until next year, I believe. You gotta pick up a second Sanderson series! I'm thinking of adding Mistborn as my third.
Farseer is superb! I hope you enjoy them. Books 1 and 2 are especially wonderful. The finale is pretty good too, but I'd compare it to the end of Harry Potter...satisfying enough, but with some dawdling to get there.
I've heard mixed things about the Rothruss books now. I'm curious, but I've heard too much about the main character just being an unlikable and arrogant snot, and I'm not too big on those types of leads.
Max Armstrong
Member
Nope it was my first David Foster Wallace, I heard thanks to The End of Tour. Is it worth reading even if it was unfinished?
sparky2112
Member
It's a complete bonus that it doesn't feel unfinished, because there's no real plot - what's there certainly doesn't give the impression that he was headed toward anything like IJ did - it's more of a meditation. I'm honestly not sure Wallace would have EVER finished it, honestly, because there really wasn't anything TO finish and that undoubtedly has a lot to do with why he futzed with it so much and for so long.
But for what it is, it's wonderful.
Just finished reading Twenty Trillion Leagues Under the Sea
Was a pretty good read and something a little different. I finished it in a single sitting Sunday afternoon so its definitely a page turner that constantly kept throwing newer and weirder sights and events at the characters. Imagine a fusion of the weirdness and cosmic Horror of HP Lovecraft combined with the underwater adventures of Jules Verne.
The basic gist of the story without giving too much away is that its the late 1950's and a brand new, state of the art, experimental submarine is launching from France for its maiden voyage. Its crew consists of sailors and scientists and everything is going to plan. They head out to the open ocean and begin to dive and that's were issues begin to pop up. They can't stop their descent and keep going down further and further with the men aboard unable to do anything to avert their course.
They basically come to terms with their impending death as at the speed their going and the depths they're hitting the sub will smash into the seafloor before it ruptures from the titanic pressures around them. As they watch their descent on the read outs they count down the final distance to their demise... except nothing happens. They not only pass where the seafloor should have been but their descent continues without them able to do a thing about it. Then things start to get weird, really weird.
I don't want to get into too much more detail but lets just say things continue to escalate within the story and paranoia, fear, religious fervor and the like hit the crew hard and that's not even dealing with the odd phenomena they start to encounter and the even stranger sea creatures. It would make a wonderful movie if someone gave it a decent budget and the book itself has some great illustrations in it.
Good lord, Adam Roberts is prolific! This sounds great, but then all his books do, and there are just so many of them I don't know where to start (I've only read Jack Glass, which is great). I'm wondering if I would need to read the Verne in order to get the most out of this. Anyway, the paperback is out in two days, and I'm very tempted; great write-up!
a very cute dog
Member
I'm working my way through Pynchon's V. now, with slight breaks to read a few of Lovecraft's short stories. V. is, while fairly disjointed, very funny and enjoyable to read, even if I feel like I'm missing something about it.
I'd not actually heard of him before this book and funnily enough it was one of those times I've been at a bookstore and stopped and took a look at a book simply because the cover caught my attention. Luckily the story inside was pretty damn crazy and takes the whole,"trapped on a submarine" idea and takes it to some really weird and interesting places.
Reading the Jules Verne book isn't essential for the story but it probably doesn't hurt either and gives you a bit more insight into what's going on. I'd say just dive right in though if you like weird fiction, its not a huge book and I was able to finish it in an afternoon but I was burning through it and I'm a fast reader.
I will be keeping an eye out for more of the authors work though as I really enjoyed Twenty Trillion Leagues Under the Sea.
I'm depressed I may go through my entire Peace Corps service without another Stormlight book. :-(
I really do need to read Mistborn though.
What's your second?
Just finished Infinite Jest:
I feel so empty now. I want to go back.
Dang that reminds me that I've meant to do a book club for this for years. Who would be in if I did an "Infinite Summer" style book club, reading it over the course of a couple months starting in June?
Also, who volunteers to remind me at the start of May about this?
Dang that reminds me that I've meant to do a book club for this for years. Who would be in if I did an "Infinite Summer" style book club, reading it over the course of a couple months starting in June?
Also, who volunteers to remind me at the start of May about this?
Since I've been begging you to do this for years, I'm sure as hell in. And I've just put remind Cyan of book club in my calendar ;D
Dang that reminds me that I've meant to do a book club for this for years. Who would be in if I did an "Infinite Summer" style book club, reading it over the course of a couple months starting in June?
Also, who volunteers to remind me at the start of May about this?
I would definitely be in, I've been meaning to ask about the bookclub for a while.
I definitely prefer that cover to the UK one! Good to know that reading the Verne isn't vital, thanks
though if I can easily get my hands on a copy I might. Yeah, Adam Roberts writes some interesting stuff. I keep meaning to read more, I mostly know about him from his totally excellent blogs.Well, when I reread Paradise Lost I used this edition:
It's pretty densely annotated, noting where the poem references The Bible and quoting the relevant line.
After I read it, I read this:
Which covers some of the other stuff I mentioned, plus connections, and analysis and whatnot. I also found it helpful in looking at the poem from a different perspective that isn't entirely natural to me. I especially liked the commentary on the choices that Adam and Eve made, and his attempt to rescue the poem from what I think of as rather straightforward misogyny.
That's all I've checked out so far. The next time I read it I'm planning on using this edition, though:
I've read the original Mistborn trilogy and Warbreaker. I don't think I'm going to read the YA stuff, at least anytime soon.
Atraveller
Banned
Finished Neil Gaiman's Trigger Warning, like the gaffers said, the stories are hit or miss. Though I'm happy to see more of Shadow from American Gods.
TwntyOneTwlv
Member
Bought. Thanks for the heads-up!
AngmarsKing701
Member
You rock! Thanks and enjoy!
Atraveller
Banned
Can someone tell me how different are Neil Gaiman's preferred text versions from the original versions?
I've been listening to LOTR soundtracks and reading interviews from high fantasy authors. Recommend me something high fantasy to read guys!
I love LOTR and related works, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, Robin Hobb's works, The Wheel of Time, Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere works, The Fionavar Tapestry, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Kingkiller Chronicle, Riyria Revelations, etc.
I love LOTR and related works, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, Robin Hobb's works, The Wheel of Time, Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere works, The Fionavar Tapestry, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Kingkiller Chronicle, Riyria Revelations, etc.
Read the Emperor's Soul, it's short and fantastic.
Ive read the first book too. The anime is incredibly faithful that there wasnt much new. Scenes played out mostly the same.
I second this.
I don't know about unlike able. He's arrogant at times for sure. I can't really point to why I found it interesting in any one area, but I found the first book to be enjoyable, overall. I'm onto the second after I finish this first Laundry Files book.
This sounds right up my alley. I'm fascinated by evangelical America, partly because I grew up in it. Thanks!
Havent reader this one yet, but you'd also might find this one interesting
http://www.amazon.com/dp/080784716X/?tag=neogaf0e-20
^^ Use of Weapons is amazing. So is The Player of Games, they're his best imo but they're all good.
I've read/ listened to several books in the past month or so that I haven't mentioned. The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene was excellent. It's very well explained, although once Calabi-Yau spaces are mentioned, it all goes a bit crazy. String theory is insane. The Copernicus Complex by Caleb Scharf was also very good, particularly the evolution of the universe, galaxies, solar systems, but I didn't much care for the way he framed the question (are we 'special'). Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality by Manjit Kumar was excellent, really fascinating history. The only thing against it is I found the jumps from history to complicated physics to be hard to make, and also I don't think the physics was explained as well as it could have been. But otherwise it was excellent and highly recommended. I also read The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson. This is the first thing of his I've read, and I enjoyed it a fair bit. The story was pretty gripping, the magic interesting. The characters weren't amazing and I thought the ending was terrible. I also read Nimona by Noelle Stevenson, which was wonderful. I loved the art, and the story was great but lost it a bit towards the end. Most recently I finished The Magicians by Lev Grossman. I love the idea and it started out well, but it got really boring in places and I grew to dislike all of the characters. Which is unfortunate, because it had an interesting and realistic take on growing up and using magic. I haven't decided if I'll continue the series.
I've read/ listened to several books in the past month or so that I haven't mentioned. The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene was excellent. It's very well explained, although once Calabi-Yau spaces are mentioned, it all goes a bit crazy. String theory is insane. The Copernicus Complex by Caleb Scharf was also very good, particularly the evolution of the universe, galaxies, solar systems, but I didn't much care for the way he framed the question (are we 'special'). Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality by Manjit Kumar was excellent, really fascinating history. The only thing against it is I found the jumps from history to complicated physics to be hard to make, and also I don't think the physics was explained as well as it could have been. But otherwise it was excellent and highly recommended. I also read The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson. This is the first thing of his I've read, and I enjoyed it a fair bit. The story was pretty gripping, the magic interesting. The characters weren't amazing and I thought the ending was terrible. I also read Nimona by Noelle Stevenson, which was wonderful. I loved the art, and the story was great but lost it a bit towards the end. Most recently I finished The Magicians by Lev Grossman. I love the idea and it started out well, but it got really boring in places and I grew to dislike all of the characters. Which is unfortunate, because it had an interesting and realistic take on growing up and using magic. I haven't decided if I'll continue the series.
Finally finished Trigger Warning, probably my least favourite of Gaiman's short story collections so far but still with some good reads in there. I might just be growing disenchanted with the same-ness of his style of writing though, hope he does something completely left field.
As usual he's a lot better the more mythical and story-like (so to speak) the story gets.
As usual he's a lot better the more mythical and story-like (so to speak) the story gets.
- Status