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Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter shuke
- Start date
cstu
Footballguy
Sort of disappointed by Hyperion - great individual stories but it never came together. I listened to the audiobook and would
when one of the pilgrims would finish a really intense story and the reaction of the other pilgrims was "That's it? Ok, see you tomorrow". Was mind-boggling that so much effort went into the individual stories but the overall story seemed slapped together.
lombardi
Footballguy
That's why I was looking forward to reading the sequel, whichever one says sucked. I thought it was an awesome set up and then we were going to see how it all comes together. We got Matrix'd on this one I think.cstu said:Sort of disappointed by Hyperion - great individual stories but it never came together. I listened to the audiobook and would
lombardi
Footballguy
Just went on a bit of a tear the last two weeks and finished a few books...
One Year After - Forstchen
I really like the first book. The writing itself wasn't much to speak of but it was competent. I enjoyed the characters and story, it took a more communal turn on the dystopian theme and it had a bit of "this could be how it happens" feel to a lot of it. Not necessarily the event itself (although that was the point of the book) but the actual interaction in the town and how it all went down. The second book was much of the same but a little more political/action than the other one, I preferred the first book. If you liked One Second After you'll probably like One Year After. I enjoyed it but didn't love it. Although, I now live where this book was written, at least close to it. It added another dimension to the book having spent time in Black Mountain and Asheville and Montreat. That was kind of cool but not applicable to most people.
Fourth of July Creek - Henderson
This was a very solid book. It was written well but what was most likeable about it was how unflinching it was. The protagonist (Pete Snow) is a conflicted dude and it really comes through. A pretty sad book, always taking you lower and lower. You find yourself just hoping something good happens. It was starting to remind me of A Fine Balance in that regard. A good portrait of a lot of really messed up people. His daughters story was especially engaging. I thought the main antagonist story line was a little out there but still enjoyable. Definitely worth a read especially if you like your hero flawed and at times very unlikable. Not only heroes but just about everyone you come across in this one.
Station Eleven - Mandel
Fantastic book, easily my favorite of the three and it's not even close. Beautiful writing, wildly original and creative take on the over-saturated dystopian literary landscape, and tight story telling. A real woven story with great characters. The only problem with this book is how short it was, I wanted more. I want to keep following the Symphony, I hope there is a sequel. I don't even want to say anything more about this book and give anything away. Just read it. One of my favorite books I've read this year.
One Year After - Forstchen
I really like the first book. The writing itself wasn't much to speak of but it was competent. I enjoyed the characters and story, it took a more communal turn on the dystopian theme and it had a bit of "this could be how it happens" feel to a lot of it. Not necessarily the event itself (although that was the point of the book) but the actual interaction in the town and how it all went down. The second book was much of the same but a little more political/action than the other one, I preferred the first book. If you liked One Second After you'll probably like One Year After. I enjoyed it but didn't love it. Although, I now live where this book was written, at least close to it. It added another dimension to the book having spent time in Black Mountain and Asheville and Montreat. That was kind of cool but not applicable to most people.
Fourth of July Creek - Henderson
This was a very solid book. It was written well but what was most likeable about it was how unflinching it was. The protagonist (Pete Snow) is a conflicted dude and it really comes through. A pretty sad book, always taking you lower and lower. You find yourself just hoping something good happens. It was starting to remind me of A Fine Balance in that regard. A good portrait of a lot of really messed up people. His daughters story was especially engaging. I thought the main antagonist story line was a little out there but still enjoyable. Definitely worth a read especially if you like your hero flawed and at times very unlikable. Not only heroes but just about everyone you come across in this one.
Station Eleven - Mandel
Fantastic book, easily my favorite of the three and it's not even close. Beautiful writing, wildly original and creative take on the over-saturated dystopian literary landscape, and tight story telling. A real woven story with great characters. The only problem with this book is how short it was, I wanted more. I want to keep following the Symphony, I hope there is a sequel. I don't even want to say anything more about this book and give anything away. Just read it. One of my favorite books I've read this year.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
The Martian: overall thought it was pretty good, but wasn't blown away like a lot of people seem to be.
Paper Towns: really disliked this book
Ready Player One: Only about 50pgs in, but I am hoping that something starts happening.
Paper Towns: really disliked this book
Ready Player One: Only about 50pgs in, but I am hoping that something starts happening.
lombardi
Footballguy
Have you read any of his other books, did you like them? My teenager loves them so I read a couple. Fault in our Stars and Looking for Alaska.
I can see the appeal and why kids my sons age enjoy the books but I didn't really like them that much. I just didn't buy it, nobody talks that way. I'm supposed to believe there is this sub species of teenager out there that has so completely mastered oration that every word from their mouths is eloquent and meaningful and perfectly crafted. It's a far cray from Um, You know, know what'm sayin', and like, like, like.....
It's like reading an episode of Dawson's Creek.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I posted how much I enjoyed this book a few pages ago. I'm torn on the idea of a sequel. Maybe she can pull it off (& already had a longer story in mind anyway), but I've seen too many go for "after the fact" sequels just because the first, original stand-alone was so good/successful. I don't blame the author for doing so, but they're rarely as good the 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) time around.
That said, this is an insanely talented writer and I'll be checking out anything she does going forward.
Due to life stuff, I've been stuck on Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel for an eternity. Need to get rolling on that one and, by the time I finish, Stephen King's new short story collection will be set to go.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Hadn't read any of his other books before. I saw the movie for Fault in our Stars and liked that. Figured I would try one of the books for a quick read, and they seem to be fairly well rated. A little bit was the way they talked, but I could get over that. I just thought it was really repetitive, didn't go anywhere at the end, and the main girl was really annoying.lombardi said:
lombardi
Footballguy
I really, really enjoyed the book mostly because I love beautiful writing but there was one thing I really wanted, I wanted a bit more of a conclusion at the end. I don't mind an open ended book or something where an ending is vague or leaves something to your imagination. But after all of the twisting and the turning at the end and all of these stories coming together, I really wanted there to be some kind of....Uruk-Hai said:
....conversation or acknowledgement by some of these characters regarding the past. It seems awfully coincidental if people are just going to pass in and out of people's lives but not interact about it considering how obsessed everyone is with the past. We know at the end Clark and Kirstin were sharing the Station Eleven book, we know Clark knew who Kirstin was from the newspaper article. We know Clark knew who the prophet was. I just wanted one more chapter in there at the end. Or, something before the prophet dies where there is some dialogue or conversation at the end connecting it all. Also Jeevan was a really interesting character who I thought was going to play into the book more at the end but he was just kind of a side story.
I guess this was all intentional and she was telling a purposefully sparse story and not spoon feeding us a predictable ending. I actually liked how it ended, both the climax and denouement, but I just wanted that little bit of satisfaction at the end because I felt like the storyteller owed it to me
Maybe that was the plan, they always say leave them wanting more.
There is just so much more possibility at the end. I love that, when a book obviously leads into so much more story even if it's never told. I just hope it is told one day, at least parts of it.
I guess this was all intentional and she was telling a purposefully sparse story and not spoon feeding us a predictable ending. I actually liked how it ended, both the climax and denouement, but I just wanted that little bit of satisfaction at the end because I felt like the storyteller owed it to me
Maybe that was the plan, they always say leave them wanting more.There is just so much more possibility at the end. I love that, when a book obviously leads into so much more story even if it's never told. I just hope it is told one day, at least parts of it.
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KarmaPolice
Footballguy
Any biographies that the masses highly recommend?
Swing 51
Footballguy
He had a short story collection that was released on Tuesday, sounds interesting.
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories
http://www.amazon.com/The-Bazaar-Bad-Dreams-Stories/dp/1501111671
lombardi
Footballguy
The final Dark Tower was great. That's about the only thing of his I would read for years. I eventually tried again with Under the Dome (well before the show on tv) but hated it. Oh, I also read Through the Keyhole because it was DT related.
I don't know if I have it in me to give another of his new books a shot.
I don't know if I have it in me to give another of his new books a shot.
Swing 51
Footballguy
I hear you lombardi re: King novels. As cstu stated I hear Mr. Mercedes is good and also heard good things about Revival and Finders Keepers.
I thought Dome was decent until the end. Didn't really like the final Dark Tower book though I guess it brought resolution to the story line.
I still like his short story collections.
I thought Dome was decent until the end. Didn't really like the final Dark Tower book though I guess it brought resolution to the story line.
I still like his short story collections.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I just started the new collection. Some of these stories have been published before and are rereads for me - like the first one in the book I'm reading now, Mile 81
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I think Mile 81 was sold as a Kindle short story for like $.99 (or maybe it was free) a year or two ago. I know I read it, though, and it wasn't in a magazine.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
I had a post a couple of pages back giving some biography recommendations to someone else. McCullough's The Wright Brothers is a newer release that is good.
If there is any particular topic/person of interest, I could try to think of something more specific. I read a lot of biographies.
The Flying Elvis
Footballguy
http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Shadow-Gregory-David-Roberts/dp/0802124453
For anyone who has read Shantaram, it looks like a sequel is out... My question is, has anyone read it? The reviews don't seem encouraging and I loved Shantaram.
For anyone who has read Shantaram, it looks like a sequel is out... My question is, has anyone read it? The reviews don't seem encouraging and I loved Shantaram.
Brony
Footballguy
Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey. More likely to be read by a mom's book club than a self respecting FBG, but whatever. It's an interesting take on raising kids to be autonomous instead of dependent narcissistic brats. Timely read given my kids are in grade school.
Sand
Footballguy
cstu
Footballguy
Told myself I was done with King after quitting Under the Dome 2/3rds through. That was after quitting Duma Key almost near the end. Didn't even read Wind Through the Keyhole.
Gave Mr. Mercedes a shot after reading good things and realized it's a shame that he stuck with fantasy/horror so long...as much as I've loved a lot of his books, he's too good of a writer to keep going back to the well with it over and over.
facook
Footballguy
I don't trust customer reviews. I trust Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal's. SO IN.
facook
Footballguy
Kev4029
Footballguy
Started this a couple days ago, 10 to 15% through. Great so far. I had never read any Stephen King until this year. Ive read The Shining, The Gunslinger, The Stand, and 11/22/63 now. All very good reads.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
I remember that rec. on the Wright Brothers book - for some reason the library system doesn't have that one though. About the only one I had in mind was a good book on Tesla (scientist, not band). Really don't have anything in particular that I was looking for. A lot of stuff interest me, and I usually just wander the library and pull stuff out at random. Just looking for some good reads, and biographies are something I don't usually get, so I haven't read that many. I would say that my main interests are: movies, science, true crime, history, and music. As I said, anything interesting will do.
KarmaPolice
Footballguy
I grew up with his early stuff so I love and recommend all those. For me, his stuff turns south in the late 80s. Salems Lot, Carrie, Pet Sematary, Dead Zone, It, Misery are all great reads. I have read a little of the new stuff, and think it is pretty good. I just think now he is having trouble with the endings to his books.
jfranco77
Footballguy
Did you end up liking this? I'm tempted. Never hurts to get some more opinions on how not to #### up your kids.
Brony
Footballguy
I did like this. It didn't hurt that the premise was consistent with opinions I already had and that we are wrestling with a lot of nagging in our house. The tone of the book is not preachy and the content is well researched.
The major premise of the book is that many parents today are overshadowing their kids to get perfect grades and creating the perfect college application. To do so, well-intentioned parents are constantly helping, interfering and hand holding kids to achieve this and not allowing kids the space to figure this stuff out for themselves. Not rocket science, but very useful ideas in this day and age.
El Floppo
Footballguy
did it give useful tips to help with this too? (aside from not doing what you wrote)
my wife and I are both in creative fields- and we both are horrified at the sheer volume of extracurricular stuff parents are putting their kids into- after school, weekends, and especially in the summer. we both feel like our creativity was able to flourish and develop as kids most when we were bored- when we had nothing to officially "do" and would be forced to use our brains and just make stuff up.
El Floppo
Footballguy
oh books, books book...
#1 son has gotten into Harry Potter lately, so I was perusing one of our local sidewalk sellers. found a book further down the line #5 instead of #3 and grabbed it. but he also had 100 Year of Solitude- which I've been thinking about lately. read it as a teenager and still consider it one of my favorite books... even if I can't remember it. the not remembering part made me decide to buy it. pretty psyched to reread this
#1 son has gotten into Harry Potter lately, so I was perusing one of our local sidewalk sellers. found a book further down the line #5 instead of #3 and grabbed it. but he also had 100 Year of Solitude- which I've been thinking about lately. read it as a teenager and still consider it one of my favorite books... even if I can't remember it. the not remembering part made me decide to buy it. pretty psyched to reread this
Brony
Footballguy
It did give tips that I thought were pretty good, but it wasn't necessarily a self-help book, so there was not a 12 week detailed plan for example. Personally, I preferred this, as the book focused on the concept of autonomous kids and why that is good as opposed to the roadmap. Anyway, the useful tips were in the format of examples of typical things you say to kids and which are controlling/nagging and which are just supportive. They also point out what activities kids should be able to do independently at different ages (load dishwasher, plan / make own lunch, etc). There is a fine line between letting your kids run rampant vs. giving a fair amount of leash and I can see that will be the challenge for us.
I subscribe to the idea that kids will be happier when they can figure stuff out for themselves for personal sake as opposed to the cookie reward. If you're on board with this, you'd enjoy this book.
Swing 51
Footballguy
^^ Ugh this took me a month and a half to finish. Very readable and Bryson is funny as always but the content just bored me to death.
On to Stephen King's new short story collection: Bazaar of Bad Dreams
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Finished it the other day. Heads-up: three (that I'm aware of) of the stories have been previously published as Kindle singles: UR (which I think was the first K single and which I hadn't read before), Mile 81 (I had read before), and Blockade Billy (which I had also read before).
I liked at. I think two of the new (to me) stories were kind of "meh" but the rest were very good.
facook
Footballguy
Blood of Angels, the last of The Straw Men trilogy by Michael Marshall (Smith). I really enjoyed the first two but kind of lost touch with the series and author. Was reminded of it by a BBC series based on another book by the same author. If you're into conspiracy, and pretty good action/intrigue, I'd recommend the series. Be warned though, the conspiracy stuff is pretty over the top.
Next is Slade House by David Mitchell.
Next is Slade House by David Mitchell.
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Lehigh98
Footballguy
There were some developments in the final Dark Tower book that diminished the entire series for me. I can't remember my thoughts on the book overall, but I felt how he handled some characters / conflicts at the end was anticlimactic / disappointing. (I liked the Coda though) I still bought the Wind Through the Keyhole but haven't been able to bring myself to go back and read it yet.
I liked 11/22/63 a lot.
I liked Mr. Mercedes but Finders Keepers wasn't nearly as good. "That $#!t don't mean $#!t" Hopefully the third book to close out the trilogy is good, it seems like its set up well from the end of FK.
I liked The Martian a lot but not sure how much the fact that I'm a Mechanical Engineer played into that,
I somehow got tricked into reading a chick book. "The Girl on the Train" was still pretty good though.
Just started on Jack Reacher books and almost halfway through the first one, like it a lot so far. Downside is they are $10 for Kindle versions, hopefully there's a price drop where I can pick up more at some point.
I liked 11/22/63 a lot.
I liked Mr. Mercedes but Finders Keepers wasn't nearly as good. "That $#!t don't mean $#!t" Hopefully the third book to close out the trilogy is good, it seems like its set up well from the end of FK.
I liked The Martian a lot but not sure how much the fact that I'm a Mechanical Engineer played into that,
I somehow got tricked into reading a chick book. "The Girl on the Train" was still pretty good though.
Just started on Jack Reacher books and almost halfway through the first one, like it a lot so far. Downside is they are $10 for Kindle versions, hopefully there's a price drop where I can pick up more at some point.
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Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I think your point about some characters' resolutions is a pretty common sentiment. On first read, one seemed really anticlimactic and lazy (I'm sure you know who I'm talking about). But later on, it didn't bother me near as much. Not everyone goes out in an epic blaze of glory, no matter how powerful they are (and I'm sure King's having been almost killed a couple of years earlier played into that).
Wind Through The Keyhole is entertaining, though "real time" Dark Tower events are only used as a framing device for a flashback to Roland's youth and THAT story is really only and excuse for for the telling of what's basically a Mid-World folk tale.
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Ilov80s
Footballguy
I do want to read it as it has received so much praise, but I am hesitant as the only GG Marquez book have read was "Memories of My Melancholy Whores" and I thought it was garbage. Have you read that? Is 100 Years just light years better?
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Sand
Footballguy
i'm going to keep jumping up and down recommending The Talisman until someone agrees with me that it's one of his better ones.
11/22/63 is on my list.
captain_amazing
Footballguy
Love 100 Years of Solitude. You may want to try The General in His Labyrinth, which is also by Marquez. Fan of both, although a bigger fan of the former.
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facook
Footballguy
Talisman is one of his better ones.Sand said:i'm going to keep jumping up and down recommending The Talisman until someone agrees with me that it's one of his better ones.
11/22/63 is on my list.
For real, I really liked it. And I thought Black House was a good follow up as well.Actually Talisman is what got me into Peter Straub, and while he has a few clunkers several of his books are just flat excellent in my opinion, particularly the Blue Rose trilogy.
El Floppo
Footballguy
didn't read the whore book. read Love time of cholera, which I liked, didn't love. 100 years was life changing, IIRC. at least- I remember it blowing my socks off, but I don't remember the book well enough to remember exactly why. maybe it was the first bit of magical realism I read. or maybe it's just great. dunno. I quickly followed that up with House of Spirits (?) by Isabelle Allende(?) and thought that one was also just ok.
jfranco77
Footballguy
The price does suck. Like you I'm hoping for a deal at some point. I read the first 4, skipped 5 because the reviews were awful, read 6 and 7 and have 8 queued up. They're a little hit and miss but generally enjoyable.
oso diablo
Footballguy
5 stars for The Orphan Master's Son
novel set almost entirely in North Korea. greatly imagined. i loved it, and can't stop thinking about it.
novel set almost entirely in North Korea. greatly imagined. i loved it, and can't stop thinking about it.
Just finished Obsidian Worlds - a fantastic sci-fi short story collection.
Dark, Offbeat, Funny, Raunchy. The stories grab you and really make you think.
I really enjoyed Bleed me Silicon and Falling for Q46F. Very funny. Very touching.
Highly recommended. Its on sale at Amazon right now for .99 cents.
Dark, Offbeat, Funny, Raunchy. The stories grab you and really make you think.
I really enjoyed Bleed me Silicon and Falling for Q46F. Very funny. Very touching.
Highly recommended. Its on sale at Amazon right now for .99 cents.
