Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (5 Viewers)

[mad sweeney]

Steelheart is 1.99 today. Good Sanderson book, from the reviews.

I snagged it awhile ago, before I re-read WoK last month. It started with the dreaded "I". I really don't like first person perspective so I didn't get into it. I left it on the iPad though so I can come back to it.

 

[Maelstrom]

Recently finished The Providence Rider, Robert McCammon's fourth Matthew Corbett novel. Good, not great, but I really like the series overall. Colonial America P.I. stories.

Now reading A Dance with Dragons. I seem to remember a lot of underwhelming reviews in here and elsewhere but 250 pages in I think it's a great addition to the first three of the series (the fourth was a tough slog for me).

I liked The Providence Rider, too, but thought it a little less-good than the previous three - a little too James Bond-ish. Still, a fun series as you say and I'll be getting the next one whenever it comes out.I thought A Dance With Dragons was great. I think a lot of the negativity comes from the fact that the series isn't finished and the wait between books is so friggin long. 20 years from now when, hopefully, all is done a lot of the complaints will disappear. Same for the 4th book, IMO. Martin's writing is stellar nowadays, whether folks like what he's writing about or not.

I definitely think a lot of the negative reviews come from there being years between novels. Even if it isn't a negative review from frustration, unless you re-read the previous book, it can be hard to remember what was going on the last time you read something from char X's perspective (it could have been almost 10 years previous, cause some of the chars in book 5 where not in book 4). A Feast For Crows got a bit painful in the middle/end (and I didn't even notice that much when I re-read it to prepare for ADWD), but I didn't have that complaint with A Dance for Dragons. If anything, it got better as it went on.

I compare it a lot to the books 6/7-10 in the Wheel of Time series (although 10 was pretty circular, even on a re-read). Slower than the earlier books + the time in-between caused a lot of negative reviews toward them, but when you read the series without having to wait for the next book, they flow pretty well.

 

[Maelstrom]

Steelheart is 1.99 today. Good Sanderson book, from the reviews.

I snagged it awhile ago, before I re-read WoK last month. It started with the dreaded "I". I really don't like first person perspective so I didn't get into it. I left it on the iPad though so I can come back to it.

I really liked Steelheart, but I like Sanderson's writing a lot also. I thought it was going to be a bit predictable, but I liked the way it ended. And it was a pretty fast read.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Tune In - Mark Lewisohn. Detailed account of the Beatles from birth to their first couple of singles. Loved it.

 

[Swing 51]

Almost done with Life by Keith Richards. Crazy Keef stories. It reads quick.

 

[Apes with Guns]

I finally got through Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. Man what a book. There are some fun parts, and it's kind of a cult classic for nerds, but in the end I wasn't a huge fan.

Stephenson's Baroque trilogy was fun as well. The dude is too smart for his own good. If he just focused on writing thrillers, I think he'd be much more mainstream.

I started reading some highly rated time travel thriller that was free on Amazon immediately after reading Stephenson and it's like reading kid's fiction.

the complexities of his stories blow me away. Also, it intimidates me into never writing anything. when I think of all of the work that went into Anathem, or Snow Crash, all I can think is "how does he do that?"

I guess that's why he doesn't write a lot of books. Takes him a long time. I can only take him in doses due to the complexity.

But the story of Jack Shaftoe throughout the Baroque cycle is one of my favorites of all-time. Such a great character.

yes, Jack is awesome. To get past the complexitites, I only listen to Stephenson on audiobooks now. I seem to absorb it better this way.

And I've read Diamond Age as well. Yet more complexity. My favorite was probably Reamde.

FYI, here is another list of Kindle books $3.99 and under. There are also a ton of graphic novels for $3.99 or less, but be careful. I spent a lot of money last week because of this.

http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2014/01/237-science-fiction-fantasy-and-horror-kindle-ebooks-for-3-99-or-less/

 

[Ash]

I just finished The Dog Stars by Peter Heller the other day, and it was one of the best things I've read in a long time. It's a post-apocalyptic story about a guy in Colorado who's one of the last Americans alive after an epic disease kills most everyone else, including his wife and friends. The guy, Hig, lives on an abandoned airfield with his faithful dog and his only acquaintance (who's an ex-military survivalist gun nut - the dialogue between the two of them is pretty funny at times), and each day he flies his little plane around looking at the empty country surrounding them. Then in the second half of the book things change and Hig goes on sort of a quest for redemption.

the book was alternately humorous, heartbreaking and beautiful to me. Its got plenty of action and human atrocity, but it's also got plenty of nature-watching and contemplative thinking - that might seem like a weird juxtaposition, but it totally worked for me. It's written in sort of a jerky stream of consciousness style (by our narrator, Hig) that may take a little time to get used to for some people - I really liked it though and felt it conveyed the character's voice in a great way. Definitely two thumbs up here from me, I'm recommending it to everybody I know.

Got this on my wish list, will definitely go ahead with this soon then, thanks for the review.

 

[Chaos Commish]

I picked up NOS4A2 for $1.99 kindle download a few days ago.

Wow. That's a great price for an 800 page book that was a recent best-seller.

There were quite a few available. it was an Amazon deal I got through an e mail. I was really surprised to see that book there.

Arg! Shoulda posted that - i would have jumped on it.

Just grabbed it @$1.99.

 

[-fish-]

i really liked Spin.

anyone read any of Robert Charles Wilson's other works?

Reading Axis right now. It's pretty good so far.

I loved Spin but didn't want to continue. the ending seemed like an appropriate place to stop. will wait for your review.

+1.

I actually liked Axis a little better than Spin. I'll probably read Vortex next, just due to the momentum.

Both of these felt like they might have been better as short stories or novellas. Interesting premise, but a fair amount of filler.

 

[facook]

About 1/4 the way thru the latest Pendergast book White Fire.

How was this? The last couple of Pendergast novels were pretty disappointing in my opinion? White Fire any better?

 

[Barry]

Da Vinci Code. got it for Christmas. some interesting historical tidbits but I won't be reading anymore of the series. it did make me more interested in Da vinci. I didn't see the movie but still pictured Hanks as the main guy. hate when that happens.

 

[Sand]

I picked up NOS4A2 for $1.99 kindle download a few days ago.

Wow. That's a great price for an 800 page book that was a recent best-seller.

There were quite a few available. it was an Amazon deal I got through an e mail. I was really surprised to see that book there.

Arg! Shoulda posted that - i would have jumped on it.

Just grabbed it @$1.99.

Just snagged it. Next on my (ridiculously long) list. Just about done with Promise of Blood. The reviews were right - damn good.

 

[KarmaPolice]

somebody got me Fevre Dream since I like vampires and the game of thrones books. about 100 pages in and nothing is happening. hope it gets better...

 

[shuke]

Who in here recommended a Canticle for Leibowitz? Holy crap is this boring.

 

[Chaos Commish]

I picked up NOS4A2 for $1.99 kindle download a few days ago.

Wow. That's a great price for an 800 page book that was a recent best-seller.

There were quite a few available. it was an Amazon deal I got through an e mail. I was really surprised to see that book there.

Arg! Shoulda posted that - i would have jumped on it.

Just grabbed it @$1.99.

Just snagged it. Next on my (ridiculously long) list. Just about done with Promise of Blood. The reviews were right - damn good.

20% in and not sure what to make of it. The writing is great. The premise is goofy. I'm sure Hill is going to crush it, I just have to stop rolling my eyes.

 

[timschochet]

I just reread The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. I think this is his best novel. It's about the Citadel (a South Carolina military college) in the 1960s during the Civil Rights/Vietnam era. It's masterful, suspenseful, with great characters. Just a stupendous piece of fiction.

 

[flysack]

Who in here recommended a Canticle for Leibowitz? Holy crap is this boring.

May have been me. I read it for a class back in undergrad and really liked it. But it's classic 1950s sci-fi with a bit of an intellectual bump (not much though), so might not be your thing.

I'll also admit the whole cyclical theory of history structure was more appealing to a 20 year old sophomore than it would be now.

 

[shuke]

Who in here recommended a Canticle for Leibowitz? Holy crap is this boring.

May have been me. I read it for a class back in undergrad and really liked it. But it's classic 1950s sci-fi with a bit of an intellectual bump (not much though), so might not be your thing.

I'll also admit the whole cyclical theory of history structure was more appealing to a 20 year old sophomore than it would be now.

This seems to be different from any classic sci-fi I've ever read.

 

[flysack]

Who in here recommended a Canticle for Leibowitz? Holy crap is this boring.

May have been me. I read it for a class back in undergrad and really liked it. But it's classic 1950s sci-fi with a bit of an intellectual bump (not much though), so might not be your thing.

I'll also admit the whole cyclical theory of history structure was more appealing to a 20 year old sophomore than it would be now.

This seems to be different from any classic sci-fi I've ever read.

I just meant that it's from that era/genre. Sorry again.

 

[Swing 51]

The Summer of Beer and Whiskey: How Brewers, Barkeeps, Rowdies, Immigrants, and a Wild Pennant Fight Made Baseball America's Game by Edward Achorn.

Chris von der Ahe knew next to nothing about baseball when he risked his life’s savings to found the franchise that would become the St. Louis Cardinals. Yet the German-born beer garden proprietor would become one of the most important—and funniest—figures in the game’s history.

 

[E Street Brat]

Are any of the Ender Books after "Enders Game" worth the time?

 

[igbomb]

Are any of the Ender Books after "Enders Game" worth the time?

Ender's Game and its sequel, Speaker for the Dead, won back to back Hugo awards. I think they are by far the top two Ender books with a pretty big drop after that.

 

[Ash]

Finished the First Law Trilogy over the Christmas / New Year break. Enjoyed that a lot.

Spoiler

Mostly liked the down endings. Rough finish for Luthar though. The only character in the series who showed any positive development ends up as a puppet king married to a lesbian harpy while knowing the guy who's pulling his strings is married to the woman he loves. Brutal.

Will probably pick up one of the standalone books set in this world at some point.

Also finished "The Golem and the Jinni" and really enjoyed that. Set in late 19th century New York and told from the PoV of two creatures that are almost but not quite human in different ways, how they end up loose in the city and interact with each other and the humans around them. Very character driven but with an unexpectedly tense climax. Much better than I'm probably making it sound, and definitely uniquely done.

Reading Ron McLarty's "The Dropper" right now. Enjoyed his first two books but skipped "Art in America" after a bunch of awful reviews. Good so far but only halfway through.

 

[Sand]

Are any of the Ender Books after "Enders Game" worth the time?

Ender's Game and its sequel, Speaker for the Dead, won back to back Hugo awards. I think they are by far the top two Ender books with a pretty big drop after that.

I enjoyed the last two, but none of them were anywhere near the first one. Ender's Game is a transcendent piece of literature.

Finished the First Law Trilogy over the Christmas / New Year break. Enjoyed that a lot.

They aren't literature, but goodness those books were awesome. One of my favorite characters of all time, for sure.


I've finished Promise of Blood and thoroughly enjoyed it. Good to see something the opposite of formulaic out there. On to NOS4A2, which is very odd so far. Not sure I like it, but it has my attention.

 

[KarmaPolice]

will never get people's boner for ender's game. thought it was too YA and was predictable. maybe that is a product of reading it recently and having see too many movies with twist endings.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I'm about to start Lincoln's melancholy . Have any of you read it?

 

[Sand]

will never get people's boner for ender's game. thought it was too YA and was predictable. maybe that is a product of reading it recently and having see too many movies with twist endings.

Read it when I was 13. No doubt it is YA - I certainly wouldn't want to read it again. I remember my feelings about the book then, no need to revisit them. It has some very powerful themes for a teen/late preteen.

I think it would be a bit lost on a jaded adult.

 

[Maelstrom]

will never get people's boner for ender's game. thought it was too YA and was predictable. maybe that is a product of reading it recently and having see too many movies with twist endings.

Read it when I was 13. No doubt it is YA - I certainly wouldn't want to read it again. I remember my feelings about the book then, no need to revisit them. It has some very powerful themes for a teen/late preteen.

I think it would be a bit lost on a jaded adult.

I tend to disagree, I have read it multiple times (first was as a teen, last was last summer before the film) and I enjoy it each time. I thought it raises some interesting themes about acceptable responses to being invaded as well as very topical themes about government control and propaganda. Not to mention the overriding theme of xenocide.

As for the 3 books that follow it, they do progressively decline, but are worth a read (and aren't really that long). The Bean series are worse, I liked the first one (Ender's Shadow) but the rest I'd only read if you love the series and can't get enough of that universe/those characters.

 

[Apes with Guns]

I finished Black Melt on Sunday.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Melt-Sci-Smut-Horror-Fi-Indy-McDaniel-ebook/dp/B00BT0JVXC/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389200575&sr=8-1&keywords=black+melt

Why did I read this book? Well, as you can see from teh URL, the subtitle is "A Sci-Smut-Horror-Fi Tale", and for 99 cents, that was too tempting to pass up.

There was smut. It was smutty.

There was some horror, I guess. It wasn't very horrible.

What he left out was gory. The last few pages of the book was sort of a celebration of smut and gore, and it was possibly some of the most disgusting stuff I've ever read. It was like a 6th grade sociopath trying to illustrate his most vivid murder-sex fantasy. It was disturbing.

And it wasn't bad. I would even go so far as to say as long as you know what you are getting, you might give it a shot. I found it hard to put down, actually.

 

[Apes with Guns]

Also read some graphic novels.

Saga - volume one. This is a very interesting take on dangerous love. Two beings from races who despise each other fall in love and have to escape. Sounds trite, but it's well done.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/990440?shelf=read

Identity Crisis - classic DC story, very disturbing. Good stuff.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18920368-identity-crisis

Kingdom Come - I am love with the art in this series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13483791-kingdom-come

 

[E Street Brat]

I just finished The Dog Stars by Peter Heller the other day, and it was one of the best things I've read in a long time. It's a post-apocalyptic story about a guy in Colorado who's one of the last Americans alive after an epic disease kills most everyone else, including his wife and friends. The guy, Hig, lives on an abandoned airfield with his faithful dog and his only acquaintance (who's an ex-military survivalist gun nut - the dialogue between the two of them is pretty funny at times), and each day he flies his little plane around looking at the empty country surrounding them. Then in the second half of the book things change and Hig goes on sort of a quest for redemption.

the book was alternately humorous, heartbreaking and beautiful to me. Its got plenty of action and human atrocity, but it's also got plenty of nature-watching and contemplative thinking - that might seem like a weird juxtaposition, but it totally worked for me. It's written in sort of a jerky stream of consciousness style (by our narrator, Hig) that may take a little time to get used to for some people - I really liked it though and felt it conveyed the character's voice in a great way. Definitely two thumbs up here from me, I'm recommending it to everybody I know.

I'm like 20 pages in, and the 3 and 4 word sentence structure is giving me a headache.

If things don't pick up soon, I'm tossing this one back.

 

[Possum]

Yeah, if you can't get past that aspect it might not work out for you - the story gets better as it goes on, but the style's not really going to change much. It didn't bother me - I thought it actually ends up fitting the character's psyche as far as how he's been kind of damaged and broken by the changes in the world and things he's lost. For me it also made Hig easier to relate to and like because of his narrative voice, like the way he'd talk or say things in certain ways gave a great window into his mind and made me understand the guy better, where he was coming from (not sure if that makes sense).

but that's just me, and I can understand where it might not have the same effect for other folks. A lot of the bad reviews I've seen on Goodreads mention the style as the biggest negative, so it seems like a pretty common issue people have with the book.

 

[mad sweeney]

Right now I'm reading Leviathan Wakes by James SLA Corey. Never a dull moment in this book. It's hard to put down.

I'm reading Abaddon's Gate. It is as good as the first. All three are really good. Corey has entered that rarefied air of "I'll buy whatever they write" (Corey is actually two people).

one of my favorite series, those guys are awesome. Daniel Abraham (one half of Corey) also has a killer fantasy series going on right now called Dagger and Coin (pretty sure I mentioned it at least once already in here).

I'm about halfway through the first book. It's almost like GRRM-Lite, but without the sex. It was mildly interesting but doesn't seem to be going anywhere yet. I hope it gets better, but so far it's pretty meh.

 

[Possum]

Right now I'm reading Leviathan Wakes by James SLA Corey. Never a dull moment in this book. It's hard to put down.

I'm reading Abaddon's Gate. It is as good as the first. All three are really good. Corey has entered that rarefied air of "I'll buy whatever they write" (Corey is actually two people).

one of my favorite series, those guys are awesome. Daniel Abraham (one half of Corey) also has a killer fantasy series going on right now called Dagger and Coin (pretty sure I mentioned it at least once already in here).

I'm about halfway through the first book. It's almost like GRRM-Lite, but without the sex. It was mildly interesting but doesn't seem to be going anywhere yet. I hope it gets better, but so far it's pretty meh.

yeah, it does resemble a milder GRRM at first and takes a while to get going - I think the majority of the first half of book 1 is setup for the plot/characters, though. Things change and pick up more in the second half and subsequent novels once he gets the character arcs going - let me know what you think when (if) you finish it.

 

[joker]

I have two books going on simultaneously - I'm listening to The Grim Company and reading Leviathan Wakes. Grim is on my phone and I listen to it while walking the dogs/at work/etc,, while I have Leviathan on my Kindle and read it on my lunch break or before bed. Both are good but Leviathan definitely has more of my attention so far.

 

[Apes with Guns]

It seems I have gotten over my Sandman Slim hangover. Listening to Devil Said Bang, and finding I missed him.

 

[flysack]

A MUST READ for any Cormac McCarthy fans.

Hilarious.

 

[Abraham]

Sensational.

 

[ffldrew]

I am reading The Beatles: All These Years Vol1 - Tune In by Mark Lewishon

Pretty good read on the early Beatle years up to 1962 - covers a lot of interesting things like family, influences, schooling and the like that went on in the late 50s in Liverpool. About half way done so far and an good narrative. He must have found a bunch of old friends and mates from back in the day to talk to.

He is supposed to add 2 more Volumes

 

[rustycolts]

Reading Killing Lincoln now.I'm up to where Lee surrenders to Grant really pretty good so far.

 

[shuke]

Reading Killing Lincoln now.I'm up to where Lee surrenders to Grant really pretty good so far.

How about a spoiler warning, dude?

 

[krista4]

Reading Killing Lincoln now.I'm up to where Lee surrenders to Grant really pretty good so far.

How about a spoiler warning, dude?

 

[The_Man]

Just read "The Son," by Philipp Meyer. I liked it - a deconstruction of the Texas origins myth, it jumps between three generations of the same family. The stuff with the family's patriarch, who is abducted by Comanches as a boy is fantastic. The rest of it is o.k. It's kind of like "Blood Meridian" crossed with John Dos Passos, with a shot of the TV show "Dallas."

I also read Game Change and Double Down, about the 2008 and 2012 elections, respectively. I know I'm late to the party, but I really, really liked those books, especially the first one. It's great gossipy dish - I can't believe all the stuff they got people to spill. Chris Christie plays a big part in Double Down, so it was great to have just read that before this bridge stuff went down.

 

[Chaos Commish]

Finished NOS4A2. Read it if you like the genre and the giveaway price for a bestseller. A couple three memorable characters. Pretty decent spin on familiar horror concepts. Visuals that would do well on film. But nothing special. Just an entertaining creepy escape.

Zinn's People's History of the US is on kindle today for $2.49.

I can't shake the desire to write. I have little to do. I offered this thread synopses and no one bit. So I've narrowed it down to three without you. I'd love feedback but I guess doing a look at me I can has writing is bad. So if a few FBG avid readers PMd me for a look at these storylines, I'd be okay with that. I want simple opinion and direction. If not I have to find a wannabe author forum. Link?

 

[Swing 51]

Just read "The Son," by Philipp Meyer. I liked it - a deconstruction of the Texas origins myth, it jumps between three generations of the same family. The stuff with the family's patriarch, who is abducted by Comanches as a boy is fantastic. The rest of it is o.k. It's kind of like "Blood Meridian" crossed with John Dos Passos, with a shot of the TV show "Dallas."

I picked this up over the holidays, sounds good.

 

[rustycolts]

Reading Killing Lincoln now.I'm up to where Lee surrenders to Grant really pretty good so far.

How about a spoiler warning, dude?

The North wins.

 

[Possum]

recent reads:

The Heretic Land by Tim Lebbon: this was a fantasy novel that goes in a different direction than most of the genre by exploring the nature of religious beliefs. It's set hundreds of years after a holy war between the nations of Alderia and Skythe, which Alderia won by killing the Skythian god Aeon. Now Alderia's theocratic culture rules the world, the Skythians have been almost completely destroyed, and their ruined country has become a poisoned wasteland used as an Australia-style penitentiary island for Alderians convicted of heresy. However, one convict on his way to the island after the death of his son is about to find out that both his boy and the god Aeon may not be quite dead after all. I liked the book for the most part - it was really well-written and makes some interesting points about faith. Overall, though, it left me feeling like something was lacking - the story didn't quite engage me the way I'd hoped, and the ending also felt a little rushed and unsatisfactory.

Back To Blood by Tom Wolfe: I'm a big Wolfe fan, and this one had some typically brilliant moments. It's about racial culture clashes in modern day Miami and features a crapload of characters, with pretty much every aspect of the city represented in some form. But it feels like Tom did this kind of thing already and in better style with A Man In Full - this one just left me a little flat, and although there are some great parts, there are also some parts that seem like he's getting a little old for this stuff. Plus, the ending just sort of happens without any real resolution to the story, like he got tired of writing the book 3/4 of the way through and decided to call it quits.

Shadow Ops: Control Point and Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier by Myke Cole: Shadow Ops is a new military fantasy series set a couple of years in the future where magic has suddenly become real. A small percentage of the world's population begins to manifest magical abilities like control of fire, water, air, teleportation, etc. Different countries handle this in different ways - in the US, anyone manifesting magical powers must turn themselves in and join the military's special new magical division or be hunted down and killed. The story follows a former army lieutenant who suddenly finds himself with the ability to open portals between worlds. I really liked this series - it's not exactly highbrow lit but it's a hell of a lot of fast-paced fun. The author is ex-military, so he's got the jargon and technical aspects down cold, and the action is non-stop. The writing also picks up as he goes along - the first book was good and the second was better (and the third book in the series will come out later this month).

 

[Apes with Guns]

recent reads:

Shadow Ops: Control Point and Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier by Myke Cole: Shadow Ops is a new military fantasy series set a couple of years in the future where magic has suddenly become real. A small percentage of the world's population begins to manifest magical abilities like control of fire, water, air, teleportation, etc. Different countries handle this in different ways - in the US, anyone manifesting magical powers must turn themselves in and join the military's special new magical division or be hunted down and killed. The story follows a former army lieutenant who suddenly finds himself with the ability to open portals between worlds. I really liked this series - it's not exactly highbrow lit but it's a hell of a lot of fast-paced fun. The author is ex-military, so he's got the jargon and technical aspects down cold, and the action is non-stop. The writing also picks up as he goes along - the first book was good and the second was better (and the third book in the series will come out later this month).

have Control Point but haven't started it yet. Have you by chance read SEAL Team 666?

 

[Possum]

recent reads:

Shadow Ops: Control Point and Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier by Myke Cole: Shadow Ops is a new military fantasy series set a couple of years in the future where magic has suddenly become real. A small percentage of the world's population begins to manifest magical abilities like control of fire, water, air, teleportation, etc. Different countries handle this in different ways - in the US, anyone manifesting magical powers must turn themselves in and join the military's special new magical division or be hunted down and killed. The story follows a former army lieutenant who suddenly finds himself with the ability to open portals between worlds. I really liked this series - it's not exactly highbrow lit but it's a hell of a lot of fast-paced fun. The author is ex-military, so he's got the jargon and technical aspects down cold, and the action is non-stop. The writing also picks up as he goes along - the first book was good and the second was better (and the third book in the series will come out later this month).

have Control Point but haven't started it yet. Have you by chance read SEAL Team 666?

nope, I hadn't heard of it - similar stuff?

hey that reminds me, I finished the first four Posleen war books by John Ringo and meant to tell you thanks for the recommendation. I had a good time with it - like you said, it was good old-fashioned escapist alien-blasting action. I tried to go on and read Cally's War, but I couldn't get into that one though.

 

[Chaos Commish]

I have two going right now. Joe Lansdale The Bottoms. Love this book 1/3rd+ into it. Karl Marlantes Matterhorn. Thought I'd exhausted Vietnam fiction but this is awesome. Both authors are so good I think I'll just stick to reading.