Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
Listen to your girlfriend, Stardust is great. And although I liked the movie, I think the novel is better.
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What are you reading? (February 2012)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Listen to your girlfriend, Stardust is great. And although I liked the movie, I think the novel is better.
If you're 12.
Clever Pun
Member
I absolutely love that book. It surprises me how often it seems to get overshadowed by Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men.
Maklershed
Member
That was on TCM last night. It made me wonder why James Dean is a legend or even remembered at all.
ThaneKrios
Banned
Finally finished Flashman!
Man, what a really awesome book. It didn't hook me from the get-go but after a while I really fell in love with Fraser's writing style. I'm really jealous of how great his narrative style is - he knows exactly how to move the plot along at exactly the right pace. He knows what to skip, what to summarize, and even what dialogue to paraphrase. It's great! There is absolutely zero fluff in this book, and I love it for that. Wish I could write so well.
Thankfully, I got Royal Flash for Christmas too. Just about to sit down and give it a whirl:
edit: Wait, there was a Flashman movie in the 70s? With Malcolm McDowell? And to think I spent this whole book thinking a Flashman movie with Fassbender or Tom Hardy would be amazing.
edit edit: HOLY SHIT SWEET JESUS MARY MOTHERFUCKING CHRIST
OHH DEAR GOD
Man, what a really awesome book. It didn't hook me from the get-go but after a while I really fell in love with Fraser's writing style. I'm really jealous of how great his narrative style is - he knows exactly how to move the plot along at exactly the right pace. He knows what to skip, what to summarize, and even what dialogue to paraphrase. It's great! There is absolutely zero fluff in this book, and I love it for that. Wish I could write so well.
Thankfully, I got Royal Flash for Christmas too. Just about to sit down and give it a whirl:
edit: Wait, there was a Flashman movie in the 70s? With Malcolm McDowell? And to think I spent this whole book thinking a Flashman movie with Fassbender or Tom Hardy would be amazing.
edit edit: HOLY SHIT SWEET JESUS MARY MOTHERFUCKING CHRIST
OHH DEAR GOD
Redo Royal Flash.
Not so much blatant racism or rape/sort-of-rape. Genuinely glorious villains. Story is as tight as a fucking drum. Hardly anybody has seen or remembers the first version.
You're right about Fraser being a genius, Qwomo.
Coppertracks
Member
After finishing Rise of the Iron Moon, I'm on to the 4th Jackelian book; Secrets of the Fire Sea.
I enjoy the series but I sometimes wish the death count wasn't so high in every book.
I enjoy the series but I sometimes wish the death count wasn't so high in every book.
sparky2112
Member
After finishing Rise of the Iron Moon, I'm on to the 4th Jackelian book; Secrets of the Fire Sea.
I enjoy the series but I sometimes wish the death count wasn't so high in every book.
Are these YA? I see them at the library and bookstore quite often, but I never hear of anyone actually reading them. Looks mildly interesting is why I'm asking...
Coppertracks
Member
Young adult? I guess. There's a lot of death and a far bit of gore at points so YMMV. They're entertaining even if the plots do hurdle along at a 1,000 MPH. Recommend you start with Court of the Air as it helps to set up the world it takes place in.
Thats quite a spoiler for somebody just starting to read it or even more for people who haven't yet. Be careful.....
I'm almost finished with the sequel right now. Kvothe sure does think a lot of himself and it doesn't feel as if any plot is actually taking place, but the writing is fantastic and the adventures are enjoyable to follow.
Finished The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern on the weekend. Was really, really surprised by how great it was. From my review:
Full review here.
Now back to my Wheel of Time re-read. Working on book five, The Fires of Heaven.
WeAreStarStuff
Member
I tend to read two books at a time. One fiction book and one nonfiction book.
Currently reading:
I've had the Elegant Universe for a while now, but am just now getting into it as I have a serious backlog of books to get through. I've read my share of physics books, but am not well versed in String Theory and Brain Greene has above average prose for a scientist.
This is my second time reading ADWD; missed quite a lot on my first read.
Also reading this when I have free time at home; a quick read; I just need more free time.
Currently reading:
I've had the Elegant Universe for a while now, but am just now getting into it as I have a serious backlog of books to get through. I've read my share of physics books, but am not well versed in String Theory and Brain Greene has above average prose for a scientist.
This is my second time reading ADWD; missed quite a lot on my first read.
Also reading this when I have free time at home; a quick read; I just need more free time.
Oddly, the day after I finished The Night Circus, I watched the film adaptation of Water for Elephants, which was also a NaNoWriMo project.
Yeah although for some reason he published The Icewind Dale Trilogy first. It's better to read The Dark Elf Trilogy first. Like...highly better.
They're good books but there are so many of them. After a while they get old. And they're not exactly the pinnacle of fantasy writing or anything. Easy reading though.
I feel like Drizzt has taken a sideline in The Orc King. There are barely any chapters about him in it.
Maklershed
Member
Any recommendations for Casablanca-esque books?
nakedsushi
Member
I started reading this because the trailer confused me:
The story was okay. It seemed like a very male book.
The story was okay. It seemed like a very male book.
It made my NaNoWriMo stuff look worse than it already was. XD
sparky2112
Member
I don't think pulp was written for dames back then. Now, Robert E. Howard - THERE was a feminist...
I dunno about Snowman, but I just ordered it. Thanks for the recommendation!
Finished a couple things:
- The Ethics of Capital Punishment (a collection of essays on the subject)
- The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True, Richard Dawkins
- The Color of Magic, Terry Pratchett
- James Bowie and his famous knife, Shannon Garst
The last was one of the complete books in the anthology I'm currently reading, and really isn't something I would have read otherwise.
I ordered the Lydia Davis translation of Madame Bovary (Flaubert), The Hollow Hills (Mary Stewart), and It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living (Dan Savage, Terry Miller)
- The Ethics of Capital Punishment (a collection of essays on the subject)
- The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True, Richard Dawkins
- The Color of Magic, Terry Pratchett
- James Bowie and his famous knife, Shannon Garst
The last was one of the complete books in the anthology I'm currently reading, and really isn't something I would have read otherwise.
I ordered the Lydia Davis translation of Madame Bovary (Flaubert), The Hollow Hills (Mary Stewart), and It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living (Dan Savage, Terry Miller)
British Monsoon
Member
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (1953)
Childhood's End is in some ways rather remarkable, and in others slightly dull and depressing. Though we follow, what I found to be, an ingenious and highly inventive plot through the experiences of a number of human protagonists, I never really felt any connection to these characters, their place on page seeming entirely for the purposes of providing a window into the different ages the plot paces through. Despite this, and despite some plodding prose in parts, I was intrigued by the premise Clarke sets us, of an all-powerful alien race descending to Earth and subverting control from humanity, and enthralled by the direction in which he takes the story towards it's ambitious, albeit somewhat depressing, ending.
*edit, finally finished The Great Game too, which I found highly informative and intriguing, but a tough read nonetheless.
Childhood's End is in some ways rather remarkable, and in others slightly dull and depressing. Though we follow, what I found to be, an ingenious and highly inventive plot through the experiences of a number of human protagonists, I never really felt any connection to these characters, their place on page seeming entirely for the purposes of providing a window into the different ages the plot paces through. Despite this, and despite some plodding prose in parts, I was intrigued by the premise Clarke sets us, of an all-powerful alien race descending to Earth and subverting control from humanity, and enthralled by the direction in which he takes the story towards it's ambitious, albeit somewhat depressing, ending.
*edit, finally finished The Great Game too, which I found highly informative and intriguing, but a tough read nonetheless.
bloodydrake
Cool Smoke Luke
Finished off Pendegast #6 Dance of Death..its a fun series really enjoy the modern Sherlock Holmes Procedural Thriller of Preston and Childs books..nothing serious just like a fun action/mystery story.
Mid way thru the Dresden Files book 6 Blood Rites..great ubran fantasy series I think its really hit its stride now.
Its kinda if harry potter grew up in the True Blood universe , and in his late 20's started working as a private detective helping wayward souls.
Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
LitGAF may be interested in the New York Review's 50% off sale.
Maklershed
Member
New thread is up: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464979
I would reccomend the opposite. I believe the books are meant to be read in the publishing order. Start with The Crystal Shard if you're interested.
Salavatore's better work however is the Demon Wars series. It's better written and it's only 7 books long. Unfortunately the first book is the worst one.