Support NeoGAF

[Tragicomedy]

Hah, I literally spit out my coffee when I read that comment. Yeah, after reading some of his antics, I can't respect that guy anymore.

I've lost a lot of respect for the man, but his books on writing are still pretty good. I found Character & Viewpoint incredibly useful when I first read it a few years back. It really helped crystallize how POV worked; I got a lot out of it.

The dude wrote Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus, a progressive book if I ever read one. What happened?!?

At least Sanderson keeps his close-minded views largely to himself. Damn those good Mormon science fiction writers and their anti-homosexual agendas! I really can't read Card anymore.

 

[Jintor]

Still punching through the Belgariad.

Eddings is an infinitely smug writer, jesus christ.

 

[EverythingShiny]

I finished Casino Royale by Ian Fleming yesterday. Good lord. I've seen most of the Bond films and I know they're pretty damn misogynistic, but I was not prepared for Bond's thoughts on women in the novel. I'm still thinking about it and trying not to rage. The last part of the book is so strange. I haven't seen the 2006 movie since it first came out, so I can't remember what is featured in the movie, but man.

Just started Blindness by Jose Saramago for the GAF book club this month. Really enjoying it so far.

 

[Tragicomedy]

I finished Casino Royale by Ian Fleming yesterday. Good lord. I've seen most of the Bond films and I know they're pretty damn misogynistic, but I was not prepared for Bond's thoughts on women in the novel. I'm still thinking about it and trying not to rage. The last part of the book is so strange. I haven't seen the 2006 movie since it first came out, so I can't remember what is featured in the movie, but man.

Don't read the next book in the series. It's ten times as bad, as well as madly racist. It's terrible.

 

[Narag]

Don't read the next book in the series. It's ten times as bad, as well as madly racist. It's terrible.

Seriously. Read it twice and ended up more uncomfortable the second time around. Only thing of note to the series really is Felix Leiter's fate and that can be inferred well enough from the other books.

 

[Maklershed]

Finished Swan Song today. Really good. Highly recommend it. Now on to Dreams from Bunker Hill.


Dreams from Bunker Hill by John Fante

 

[EverythingShiny]

Seriously. Read it twice and ended up more uncomfortable the second time around. Only thing of note to the series really is Felix Leiter's fate and that can be inferred well enough from the other books.

Thanks, both of you, for the head's up. I assume the second book is Live and Let Die. Is the rest of the series this bad (i.e. rage-inducing) in regard to women and race? If it is, I won't bother.

 

[ShaneB]

EverythingShiny, I thought you were going to read "The Art of Racing in the Rain" next =(

 

[Weetrick]

Blindess by Jose Saramago for the GAF book club...

and about to start Locke & Key by Joe Hill...

 

[Tragicomedy]

Thanks, both of you, for the head's up. I assume the second book is Live and Let Die. Is the rest of the series this bad (i.e. rage-inducing) in regard to women and race? If it is, I won't bother.

Live and Let Die, yes. And I can't answer since I refused to finish reading that misogynistic, racist piece of crap Fleming's work.

 

[Tremas]

I'm about 150 pages into Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon. It's largely impenetrable so far, and I can't with any real certainty say I completely understand what's going on. I'm going to stick with it, but I'm definitely on the fence at the moment.

 

[Narag]

Thanks, both of you, for the head's up. I assume the second book is Live and Let Die. Is the rest of the series this bad (i.e. rage-inducing) in regard to women and race? If it is, I won't bother.

IIRC Moonraker and Diamonds Are Forever aren't as bad as far as misogyny goes, more about Bond coming into his own. From Russia With Love might be more infuriating due how Bond acts in general even though I think it's probably the best of these books early on, especially with that ending. Dr. No & Goldfinger approach the more familiar movie Bond characterization, far less fallibility on Bond's behalf that you read in Casino Royale. Haven't gotten past For Your Eyes Only yet so couldn't tell you any further.

As far as the race thing goes, all the earlier books basically have an ethnic group as the general opposition past the first one. Germans/Russians/Chinese/etc.. Dr No's almost comical in this regard as if you're of Chinese descent, you're 99% chance working for him.

This is in contrast to the really uncomfortable Live and Let Die where if you're black, you're 99% working for Mr. Big, creating this white (Bond & Leiter) vs black (Mr. Big and all the bad guys) dichotomy that goes out of its way to highfive how awesome the white guy is and how ignorant the black man might be. It's a shame too because there's some good exciting Bond stuff (island infiltration, ending sequence on the reef) that's just buried in a bunch of racial garbage that's best left untouched.

 

[evilpigking]

Finished Heart Shaped Box and Promise of Blood

HSB: Really like how it opened and some pretty scary themes/scenes but it kind of lost frightfulness after the setting changed.

PoB: I'd call it average. You don't really care about most if not all of the characters and many of the scenes taken individually seem amateur or fanfictionish but somehow mellow out a little when taken as a whole. I'd say someone newer to fantasy would probably like it more than someone well versed.

Moving on to either Prince of Thorns, Tyrant's Law, or Night Angel Trilogy. I'll decide when I reach for a book I suppose.

 

[Narag]

PoB: I'd call it average. You don't really care about most if not all of the characters and many of the scenes taken individually seem amateur or fanfictionish but somehow mellow out a little when taken as a whole. I'd say someone newer to fantasy would probably like it more than someone well versed.

That's a good way to describe Promise of Blood. Wish it was more focused on Taniel & Bo being bros though as I didn't really care for the detective's chapters nor most of the Tamas stuff.

 

[fakefaker]

Finally finished, in much frustration, Nexus: Ascension by Robert Boyczuk today. I haven't read main characters that were more vapid, lacking resolve, and whiny in such a long time. For about 95% of the story they just gave in to everyone else's wishes, and then finally at the bitter end grew a backbone. The story could have been quite good if the main characters hadn't ruined it.

For the next book, was going to read something about spiders. But thought I'd go with John Dies at the End by David Wong instead.

 

[Dyne]

I'm halfway through First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough. It's fantastic though my eyes start blurring when I read the war sections. I really enjoyed Thorn Birds by her. Long book though, wow. I bought the second book too but that's going to take a couple months.

 

[Tragicomedy]

This is in contrast to the really uncomfortable Live and Let Die where if you're black, you're 99% working for Mr. Big, creating this white (Bond & Leiter) vs black (Mr. Big and all the bad guys) dichotomy that goes out of its way to highfive how awesome the white guy is and how ignorant the black man might be. It's a shame too because there's some good exciting Bond stuff (island infiltration, ending sequence on the reef) that's just buried in a bunch of racial garbage that's best left untouched.

Don't forget all the villains are suckers for that dark voodoo magic, talk jive, and have large gorilla arms. I'm being serious.

 

[Narag]

Don't forget all the villains are suckers for that dark voodoo magic, talk jive, and have large gorilla arms. I'm being serious.

Or chapter 5's title. Wasn't really something I wanted to get into in any great detail!

 

[Tragicomedy]

Or chapter 5's title. Wasn't really something I wanted to get into in any great detail!

Oh man, you just reminded me.

 

[Osorio]

Wanted to read some short stories again.

Think I'm going for this next.

 

[Jintor]

Finished the Belgariad. I find it more far more flawed than I did when I first read it - I was 14, okay - but there's still... something there, some irritatingly addictive property to it that makes me at least be entertained by it even as I'm annoyed by it.

You could sum up Edding's writing style with the phrase "Did you notice that? I thought I noticed you noticing that" :T

 

[Mumei]

I finished reading The House of Hades, by Rick Riordan, and American Heretics: Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and the History of Religious Intolerance, by Peter Gottschalk. American Heretics was ... good, but not especially revelatory (ha ha) for me, Branch Davidians aside. With only a chapter dedicated to each religion's history of religious oppression in the United States, and at only 210 pages, there was little room for analysis and it mostly amounted to and "This happened, then this happened" sort of history book.

The House of Hades is similar to previous books in the series - teenage characters whose inner thoughts somehow seem suspiciously similar to their pre-teen portrayals, prose that seems bound and determined to make me claw my eyes out from is sheer cheesiness (seriously, it makes Harry Potter look like high art), and plot conflicts that you just know are going to be mitigated by some form of deus ex machina.

... But I still enjoyed it. I think it's mostly that I like the concept, and the series has done a great job with its toned-down-for-kids-but-still-mostly-accurate portrayal of various Greek and Roman mythological stories and cosmogony. I just wish that the writing didn't make me groan quite so much! The series also actually got me interested in Greek mythology again, and I read Metamorphoses because of it. I'd also like to read at least some of the Bibliotheca, which is apparently used for the stories and characters.

I also read the Prologue and Introduction of Global Crisis: War, Climate Change & Catastrophe in the Seventeenth Century by Geoffrey Parker. To sum up my early impressions: I'm just going to assume that the word "magisterial" was thought up to describe history tomes like this.

 

[evilpigking]

Finished Prince of Thorns really quick easy read. Pace moves along though the main character is kind of a cliche trying to be badass type. Going in mostly blind I didn't know the reveal about the world setting. I'll pick up the second book at some point to continue the story.

 

[Mackenzie 92]

Finished Prince of Thorns really quick easy read. Pace moves along though the main character is kind of a cliche trying to be badass type. Going in mostly blind I didn't know the reveal about the world setting. I'll pick up the second book at some point to continue the story.

He becomes more fleshed out by the third book and you learn a lot more about him. Some very, very dark shit.

 

[H.Protagonist]

Thanks for the suggestion! Funny you should mention the Saxon Stories. I was just at the library and picked up a book that I thought I would like. When I got home and saw your reply, I googled the Saxon Stories and lo and behold the book I had picked up was the most recent entry in the series!

Sure! You'll have to tell me how it is. I'll need more reads pretty quick soon.

Still punching through the Belgariad.

Eddings is an infinitely smug writer, jesus christ.

Yeah. Like you I read him when I young and really liked it, but upon a revisit... -_- Oh, well.

Finished Prince of Thorns really quick easy read. Pace moves along though the main character is kind of a cliche trying to be badass type. Going in mostly blind I didn't know the reveal about the world setting. I'll pick up the second book at some point to continue the story.

Is this book worth pursuing? It was recommended to me before so I got the Kindle sample, but the character just seems to not give a shit about killing in the bits I read. I don't mind a bit of badassery, but give-no-craps killings don't really endear me to a character. Is there more to this guy? And, most importantly, is there is a sudden entrance by a girl that he falls in love with at first sight that magically changes his bad ways? If so... pass. -_-

 

[Herne]

Just finished reading this. Sensational book. I'd always assumed the odd interaction in the flower shop to be a result of some really bad editing, but no... Tommy Wiseau really is that weird, and this book is a hilarious and sometimes touching look into the life of the most complete oddball. Highly recommend it to anyone who's been on the fence (or haven't even heard of it).

 

[Mackenzie 92]

Is this book worth pursuing? It was recommended to me before so I got the Kindle sample, but the character just seems to not give a shit about killing in the bits I read. I don't mind a bit of badassery, but give-no-craps killings don't really endear me to a character. Is there more to this guy? And, most importantly, is there is a sudden entrance by a girl that he falls in love with at first sight that magically changes his bad ways? If so... pass. -_-

A lot more to him. But it takes a while to get there. By the third book he's a complete character.

And no.

 

[H.Protagonist]

A lot more to him. But it takes a while to get there. By the third book he's a complete character.

And no.

All right... Looking good so far, then. How about blood? Dare I hope he gets bloodied up quite a bit?

This was one of my earlier book recommendation requirements, so it seems likely, but if you can confirm it for me, I'd be much obliged.

 

[evilpigking]

All right... Looking good so far, then. How about blood? Dare I hope he gets bloodied up quite a bit?

This was one of my earlier book recommendation requirements, so it seems likely, but if you can confirm it for me, I'd be much obliged.

He gets injured now and then but nothing really permanent at least in book 1. So not like losing a hand/eye etc.

 

[H.Protagonist]

He gets injured now and then but nothing really permanent at least in book 1. So not like losing a hand/eye etc.

Oh, I'm not looking for permanent damage or anything. Just a few broken bones, gashes, cosmetic cuts, etc. are fine for me. Plot armor against injury or hurt bothers me in fantasy books, so I'm particular on that point. I just can't take bouncing back from fight after fight without any sort impact seriously.

 

[Fusebox]

I just finished the First Law trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed every page. In fact I even preferred it to LotR and ASOIAF! More grit, less wank. Recommend me more good fantasy like this GAF.

 

[Maklershed]

Just finished Dreams from Bunker Hill. What a fantastic little hidden gem. Its set in 1930s Los Angeles and follows struggling writer / screenwriter Arturo Bandini. Bandini is an interesting character who you're not sure whether you should love or hate. He's the Flashman of Hollywood. One moment he's opening his heart in a display of unbridled love or wailing in loneliness and despair and the reader feels they've found their champion. The next, he's forcing himself upon a married woman, sucker punching a busboy, and alienating everyone he meets. One moment you want to cheer for Bandini and you empathize with him. The next, you realize he's nothing but a lecherous ne'er-do-well (yet still feel somewhat compelled to love him). The book constantly entertains as we watch Bandini, despite what he thinks of his talents and abilities, manage to fall upward through Hollywood. I'll leave it up to you fellow GAFers to see what happens next and hope you do. If you do, please post here and let me know what you think.

NOTE: Dreams of Bunker Hill is book 4 of a series but you can absolutely pick it up cold.

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JTHMPU/?tag=neogaf0e-20


Now that I'm finished with Dreams from Bunker Hill I'm starting Isaac's Storm.


Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson

I just finished the First Law trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed every page. In fact I even preferred it to LotR and ASOIAF! More grit, less wank. Recommend me more good fantasy like this GAF.

The Black Company chronicles!


The Black Company by Glen Cook

 

[Fusebox]

Done, Black Company it is! Too easy.

 

[Tragicomedy]

Done, Black Company it is! Too easy.

Pretty much the best choice you've ever made in life.

 

[Fusebox]

Just bought this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009WUG56M/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Omnibus containing books 1-3, thx for the hot tip.

 

[Maklershed]

Done, Black Company it is! Too easy.

Just bought this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009WUG56M/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Omnibus containing books 1-3, thx for the hot tip.

*high five*

If you're anything like Tragic and me you'll burn right through the entire series in no time.

BTW - I think the series really hits its stride at book 4.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

I just finished the First Law trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed every page. In fact I even preferred it to LotR and ASOIAF! More grit, less wank. Recommend me more good fantasy like this GAF.

Read the other Abercrombie books

Edit - Black Company is another great choice

 

[Jintor]

Besides Hero With A Thousand Faces, any good Heroes Journey stuff I should look at?

Although maybe I should start looking at other story structures lol

 

[Shengar]

I just finished the First Law trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed every page. In fact I even preferred it to LotR and ASOIAF! More grit, less wank. Recommend me more good fantasy like this GAF.

I think it is more fantasy than ASOIAF did. The fantastical element there is present, and become central point of the story not just background drop so we can called it as fantasy. No wonder people might find it more appealing than ASOIAF for a gritty fantasy. Though the writing side might lacking, it still enjoyable read for me especially the third book.

 

[Tragicomedy]

*high five*

If you're anything like Tragic and me you'll burn right through the entire series in no time.

BTW - I think the series really hits its stride at book 4.

Aye!

Just beware that the second trilogy is packaged foolishly and out of order. Look it up on Goodreads. You actually read the "last" book first.

 

[evilpigking]

Aye!

Just beware that the second trilogy is packaged foolishly and out of order. Look it up on Goodreads. You actually read the "last" book first.

The reviews on GR are actually really annoying because they are like "Why did Cook write it like this!" but he didn't. The omnibuses were determined by Tor and if I recall pretty much against Cook's wishes anyway. But yeah, Silver Spike is kind of like Book 3.5 it's basically a stand alone expansion novel that takes place around the same time as 4.

I'm actually a huge fan of Silver Spike but if you went in with no research and thought it part of the series you might approach it with the wrong mindset and be left with the wrong taste. It should have been done like Memory in the Vorkosigan omnis and left out because it doesn't really fit into the narrative arcs the omni's are trying to achieve.

 

[bucknuticus]

Hi All, first time poster in these thread. I just got S. the JJ Abrams book delivered to me after being on backorder for 2 months.

Anyone have any tips/recommendations on how to approach this book? Want to get the best experience out of it i can.

 

[TheCrazyGuru]

I haven't updated this thread or Jan reading thread, but I finished Skeleton Crew by Stephen King. Pretty good short stories overall, except for the last 2 which I had to force myself to push through (The Reach and The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet).

Finished:

I thought it was very good overall and am now ready to watch the movie next weekend.

Changed up the pace and went for a non-fiction book:

Interesting enough for the most part, but I consider Keven Mitnick more of a "cracker" as he just uses social engineering to crack security systems & didn't really write any computer programs (so far).

 

[suzu]

Speaking of The Black Company, I recently finished the first omnibus and enjoyed it quite a bit.

What's all this about the 2nd omnibus? D:

 

[EverythingShiny]

EverythingShiny, I thought you were going to read "The Art of Racing in the Rain" next =(

It's next, I swear! I started to read the first chapter a few weeks ago and I already was in tears so I put it down until I could prepare myself. I think I'm prepared for it now, though. I am a wuss when it comes to animals

Spoiler

being sick or dying

.

Live and Let Die, yes. And I can't answer since I refused to finish reading that misogynistic, racist piece of crap Fleming's work.

Duly noted. At least I borrowed Casino Royale instead of buying it.

 

[Mackenzie 92]

Oh, I'm not looking for permanent damage or anything. Just a few broken bones, gashes, cosmetic cuts, etc. are fine for me. Plot armor against injury or hurt bothers me in fantasy books, so I'm particular on that point. I just can't take bouncing back from fight after fight without any sort impact seriously.

Yeah he takes his lumps and goes through some shit. Don't want to get too spoilerish, but I even felt sorry for him a couple times.

 

[ShaneB]

It's next, I swear! I started to read the first chapter a few weeks ago and I already was in tears so I put it down until I could prepare myself. I think I'm prepared for it now, though. I am a wuss when it comes to animals

Spoiler

being sick or dying

.

Fair enough It covers all emotions, so you'll laugh and smile too!

I'm still deciding what to read next. =( I have a hard time moving on from Coalwood, really loved those books and the small town people. I might pick up his book "We are not Afraid", which looks to be more of a self-help/inspirational type thing in overcoming fears and whatnot.

Also, the Kindle daily, Middle Men sounds perfectly suited for me as well. So maybe that is what I should dive into next. Who knows.

 

[iso135]

Audiobooking Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. So far I don't really care for it, but that could change as it is a LONG book.

 

[EverythingShiny]

I'm still deciding what to read next. =( I have a hard time moving on from Coalwood, really loved those books and the small town people. I might pick up his book "We are not Afraid", which looks to be more of a self-help/inspirational type thing in overcoming fears and whatnot.

I just looked up the Coalwood series and Rocket Boys sounds amazing! I'll have to add that to my list.

Just finished:

Now onto:

 

[ShaneB]

I just looked up the Coalwood series and Rocket Boys sounds amazing! I'll have to add that to my list.

Rocket Boys really is terrific, and easy to recommend. I had a lot in common with what was going on, so it was fairly easy to get a 5/5 from me, and the other books were very good as well. Homer Hickam is a very intersting man, that reminds me I need to get around sending him a message on Goodreads and hope he replies. If you get around to reading that, I hope you like it too. Hope you like Racing in the Rain!