Maelstrom
Footballguy
I read 6-8. I enjoyed them, but not quite as much as 1-5. Not bad by any means, just 1-5 set a pretty high standard to follow.
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Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter shuke
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facook
Footballguy
Recently read The Dinner based on a magazine review. Interesting but not great.
Now reading Two Graves, the latest Pendergast novel Preston and Child. I LOVED the first five or six of the series, but the last few were progressively more silly and poorly written. I thought I'd give the series one more chance, but it's just over. There's definitely a James Patterson type thing going on with these guys. :(
Now reading Two Graves, the latest Pendergast novel Preston and Child. I LOVED the first five or six of the series, but the last few were progressively more silly and poorly written. I thought I'd give the series one more chance, but it's just over. There's definitely a James Patterson type thing going on with these guys. :(
mad sweeney
Footballguy
I got about 20 pages into it today in my failed bid for an afternoon nap (reading usually puts me to sleep in these circumstances). I would say it doesn't resemble NOtW so much as it is an almost exact replica. I'm talking like McDowells vs McDonalds. Controversial anti-hero telling his story to a chronicler with some kind of war/fighting, somehow related to his past, is about to change his life and deal with his past, along with the reverence of his longtime somewhat famous sword. I don't know how much more similar it can be, which is bad for me as I hated NOtW. The way it started is making me nervous, but at least the past story, so far, isn't in 1st person.eta: ebooks are great. THough I couldn't find it on P2P anywhere, I got a legit 60 page sample to see if I want to splurge the $5. Might have been able to get it from the library, but this is way easier...
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Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Finished Stephen Hunter's The Third Bullet the other day. It's a Swagger novel about the Kennedy assassination. Pretty good angle on what could have happened. It's better than the last few Swaggers, but there are some massive plot holes.
I'm now just getting into Southern Gods by John Hornor Jacobs. I've never heard of this author before, but like the premise.
I'm now just getting into Southern Gods by John Hornor Jacobs. I've never heard of this author before, but like the premise.
steelerfan1
Footballguy
just started the series of walt longmire, a wyoming sheriff.
the cold dish
good sense of humor and enjoyed the first book. just got 2nd 1.
the cold dish
good sense of humor and enjoyed the first book. just got 2nd 1.
Brady Marino
Footballguy
Finished 6-8 today myself. Thoughts:I read 6-8. I enjoyed them, but not quite as much as 1-5. Not bad by any means, just 1-5 set a pretty high standard to follow.
Kind of knew what was coming with Senator Thurman, but was surprised Donald would kill Anna, who just seemed like she was the impressionable daughter tired of being led by her father's lies, and that her act of switching Donald and her father was some way of getting revenge. But, Anna's actions on Convention Day did lead to Helen dying and led to Donald's almost-300 years of misery. I did kind of speedread from the moment she was awoken to the end, so I may have missed something. It did seem that Donald did have some regrets about killing her, though.
Sounds like there could be more coming from this series based on what Juliette told Donald at the end. Will definitely check out.
Sounds like there could be more coming from this series based on what Juliette told Donald at the end. Will definitely check out.
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Maelstrom
Footballguy
Finished 6-8 today myself. Thoughts:I read 6-8. I enjoyed them, but not quite as much as 1-5. Not bad by any means, just 1-5 set a pretty high standard to follow.
Kind of knew what was coming with Senator Thurman, but was surprised Donald would kill Anna, who just seemed like she was the impressionable daughter tired of being led by her father's lies, and that her act of switching Donald and her father was some way of getting revenge. But, Anna's actions on Convention Day did lead to Helen dying and led to Donald's almost-300 years of misery. I did kind of speedread from the moment she was awoken to the end, so I may have missed something. It did seem that Donald did have some regrets about killing her, though.
Sounds like there could be more coming from this series based on what Juliette told Donald at the end. Will definitely check out.
I was not happy with him killing Anna, but he viewed her as the one that arranged the switcheroo (maybe correctly) that led to him/Helen being in different silos. I still thought killing her was over the top and not necessary. That being said, I don't know what they could have done if she was woke up, so maybe it was for the best.
Brady Marino
Footballguy
Finished 6-8 today myself. Thoughts:I read 6-8. I enjoyed them, but not quite as much as 1-5. Not bad by any means, just 1-5 set a pretty high standard to follow.
Kind of knew what was coming with Senator Thurman, but was surprised Donald would kill Anna, who just seemed like she was the impressionable daughter tired of being led by her father's lies, and that her act of switching Donald and her father was some way of getting revenge. But, Anna's actions on Convention Day did lead to Helen dying and led to Donald's almost-300 years of misery. I did kind of speedread from the moment she was awoken to the end, so I may have missed something. It did seem that Donald did have some regrets about killing her, though.
Sounds like there could be more coming from this series based on what Juliette told Donald at the end. Will definitely check out.
I was not happy with him killing Anna, but he viewed her as the one that arranged the switcheroo (maybe correctly) that led to him/Helen being in different silos. I still thought killing her was over the top and not necessary. That being said, I don't know what they could have done if she was woke up, so maybe it was for the best.
To me, it seemed like a college lover wanting to hold on to the one she's lusted after and keep him with her for the next few hundred years and doing anything to do it. Yeah, it was callous what she did, but killing her off just seems like lazy writing, especially since Donald showed regrets over it later, like Howey wrote himself into a corner. I honestly thought that Donald was going to forgive her, perhaps seeing Anna was against her father, the evil Senator, as well and wanted Donald to succeed with her. It was a surprise when Donald offed her, which maybe was just the author's intent, but like I said, it seemed awfully lazy.
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Fennis
Footballguy
If it helps the last fiction books I read were the above two and The Rules of Civilty, The Art of Racing in the Rain and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Brady Marino
Footballguy
Hunger Games was an easy, fun read. Second two books in the series don't live up to the 1st, though.
Check out the Wool series. They're a series of short stories that are easy and enjoyable to read.
rockaction
Footballguy
Also read this a little while back. I was moved by the first story more than any of the others. For some reason, his narration of Allison dancing down the stairs while thinking to herself struck me as a truly genius touch that I found moving. Also, I love that he threw in the kid with the "Prince Valiant" haircut in the last story. Didn't Don Gately of Infinite Jest fame also have a Prince Valiant 'do? Nice touch.
Just finished up The Art of Fielding. Liked it, but not essential.
eta* Also, I just searched this thread and found people who read The Royal Family by William Vollmann. I stopped reading about 1,000 pages in, and it turned out to be 1,000 pages too many. If "The Queen" peed in Henry's mouth again, I was also going to slap myself in the head with my Nook. I just don't really care how it ends at this point. Also read Whores For Gloria. I don't get the Vollmann love either. I remember reading some of his Rainbow Stories and finding them astute and entertaining, but that was a while ago.
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Fennis
Footballguy
Possum
Footballguy
currently re-reading book one of the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch (book one is titled "Rivers of London"). I really like this series - it reminds me of the Dresden Files set in London. It's urban fantasy starring a cop with the ability to do magic and has a lot of deadpan humor, but I actually prefer Aaronovitch's writing style to Butcher's.
also finished "It's So Easy (And Other Lies)", Duff McKagan's autobiography - pretty cool book. Duff's an interesting guy and you don't have to be a big G'n'R fan (I'm not) to appreciate his story.
I'm waiting patiently for the third book in the Dagger and Coin fantasy series by Daniel Abraham - "The Tyrant's Law", being released in May. If you like modern epic fantasy, check that series out - it's pretty damn good.
also finished "It's So Easy (And Other Lies)", Duff McKagan's autobiography - pretty cool book. Duff's an interesting guy and you don't have to be a big G'n'R fan (I'm not) to appreciate his story.
I'm waiting patiently for the third book in the Dagger and Coin fantasy series by Daniel Abraham - "The Tyrant's Law", being released in May. If you like modern epic fantasy, check that series out - it's pretty damn good.
Possum
Footballguy
hmmm.... I can see where you're coming from, but I really didn't get the same feel that it was as close to NOTW as you did. There are similarities with the setup, but I felt like Blood Song goes in a different direction with its story and characters (edit: and Ryan's writing style has a lot more of a classical feel for me than Rothfuss). But hey, different strokes.... you gave it a shot
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Possum
Footballguy
I can see that too - I think the Warded Man series is getting better for me as it goes along. The first book was alright - good backstory, but I thought the quality of the writing and dialogue was a little spotty. Then I really enjoyed what he did with the Jardir story in book two and felt that there was a big jump in quality there, and book three continued that pace.
Todd Andrews
Footballguy
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
A big "meh" from me. I was really looking forward to the story of our ka-tet, or the story-within-the-story of a younger Roland. But most of the book was the story-within-the-story-within-the-story. 5/10
Next up: Wool. I got the newly released paperback so I think it is 1 through 5. Pretty pumped based on reviews here.
JFT Ben
Footballguy
Finished Prince of Thorns and am about halfway through King of Thorns, the first two books in the Broken Empire series (last one to come out sometime around August 2013). Entertaining, first person, fantasy type novel with anti-hero protagonist. Easy read and pretty fun if you're into a teenage anti-hero with motivations of revenge and death.
E Street Brat
Footballguy
I really liked Killing Pablo.I've recently finished "Devil in the White City" which was okay. I would have liked more murder and less fair."American Sniper" would recommend. Much better then "Lone Survivor"Currently reading "The Shack" This is a pretty good story about a griief stricken father who spends a week end with God,Jesus,and the Holy Spirit in the country side. I'm at the 3/4 mark and It's getting a little long winded. I'm hoping it wraps up soon.
Brady Marino
Footballguy
I've probably got a queue of four or five books to read thanks to this thread.
Started Swan Song a few days ago. Not totally into it yet, perhaps because it reminds me of The Twelve a lot (young supernatural girl with messed-up mother in a post-apocalyptic world). But I like the writing style and can't wait to devote more time to it.
Started Swan Song a few days ago. Not totally into it yet, perhaps because it reminds me of The Twelve a lot (young supernatural girl with messed-up mother in a post-apocalyptic world). But I like the writing style and can't wait to devote more time to it.
-fish-
Footballguy
interesting premise. it's a pretty quick read. reminded me of a novel-length "outer limits" 3.5/5Any good?
I read Ready Player One after that. Really enjoyed it.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I finished "Southern Gods" the other day. Blurb was better than the book. The writing was good, but the plotting sucked and smacked of allegory(Memphis 1951): "Sam Phelps" (Sam Phillips) and "Helios Records" (Sun Records) among others. There was an amazingly huge info-dump about 3/4 of the way through (makes "The Council Of Elrond" seem like a one page outline). The characters were fairly well-drawn early but turned into tropes. Too many coincidences for my taste, too.
In any case, I think the guy is talented and hopefully he can improve. I'd give the book a "C".
On to "Six Gun Tarot", which is promising only 5% in.
In any case, I think the guy is talented and hopefully he can improve. I'd give the book a "C".
On to "Six Gun Tarot", which is promising only 5% in.
bentley
Footballguy
Damn. I really liked Devil in the White City, including the Fair stuff. Maybe not the Fair drama as much as I was amazed by all the stuff that came to be because of the Fair like alternating current, the guy named Pabst that made the blue ribbon winning beer, the guy Ferris that designed a giant wheel, etc.
Finished the last Wheel of Time book and thought it was a fitting finish. The series got off the rails for the middle third, but finished pretty strong.
Now reading El Narco. It's pretty damn disturbing. In the first chapter, they interview this guy who talks about mass beheadings, murdering police officers and the like. The author mentions that in America he would be one of the scariest serial killers alive but in Mexico he's just one of thousands that have done the same thing.
I think I'm going to read "Read Player One" next. And then maybe this Andrew Jackson biography called "American Lion" that I've been thinking about reading for the last six months.
Crazy Canuck
Footballguy
Reading Joseph O'Neil's Netherland. It's good. But it's like someone convinced 1970s Delillo he's English and transplanted him into post 9/11 NYC. The writing styles are identical.
I'm not complaining, but it's really weird reading sometimes.
I'm not complaining, but it's really weird reading sometimes.
joker
Footballguy
Currently switching back and forth between Jim Butcher's Cold Days, the most recent Dresden book, and Ken Follet's Winter of the World. They're about as different as you can get, but I'm enjoying both of them. Since my last post a litte while ago I've powered through all of the Dresden series on the recommendation of a friend. After that I've got a ton of options thanks to all the recommendations on here - I think I'll give either Blood Song, Name of the WInd, or Book of the New Sun a go.
This thread rulez
This thread rulez
Sand
Footballguy
$5 for a big with that many 5 star ratings? I'm game (i.e. bought it).
Right now I'm wading through Leviathan's Wake - scifi space opera type novel. Really, really good book. It is holding my attention better than anything since Endurance: Shackelton's Incredible Voyage (which was the best book I've read in years and years - cannot recommend it enough). Been a while since I've read a space type book, and this is a keeper.
Sand
Footballguy
Add The Way of Kings to your list. Right up there with Name of the Wind. Thoroughly enjoyed both.Currently switching back and forth between Jim Butcher's Cold Days, the most recent Dresden book, and Ken Follet's Winter of the World. They're about as different as you can get, but I'm enjoying both of them. Since my last post a litte while ago I've powered through all of the Dresden series on the recommendation of a friend. After that I've got a ton of options thanks to all the recommendations on here - I think I'll give either Blood Song, Name of the WInd, or Book of the New Sun a go.
This thread rulez
Hawk Fan
Footballguy
The Teleportation Accident by Ned Beauman. What a strange book. The book follows Egon Loeser, starting in 1930s Berlin, who only cares about getting laid and snorting coke. He is obsessed with Adele Hitler (no relation) and follows her to Paris and Los Angeles. Oh yeah, and he's a set designer obsessed with a 17th century set designer. It is a very funny book and seemingly right up my alley, especially the Berlin and Los Angeles sections. It's strange because while I would recommend it to the FFA, somehow the sum is less than the individual parts.
The Dinner by Herman Koch. Pretty good.
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. OK novel, pretty dark and depressing.
Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino. This was pretty good. A puzzle type mystery; I liked The Devotion of Suspect X (with some of the same characters) better.
The Dinner by Herman Koch. Pretty good.
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. OK novel, pretty dark and depressing.
Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino. This was pretty good. A puzzle type mystery; I liked The Devotion of Suspect X (with some of the same characters) better.
The Flying Elvis
Footballguy
IMO...Add The Way of Kings to your list. Right up there with Name of the Wind. Thoroughly enjoyed both.Currently switching back and forth between Jim Butcher's Cold Days, the most recent Dresden book, and Ken Follet's Winter of the World. They're about as different as you can get, but I'm enjoying both of them. Since my last post a litte while ago I've powered through all of the Dresden series on the recommendation of a friend. After that I've got a ton of options thanks to all the recommendations on here - I think I'll give either Blood Song, Name of the WInd, or Book of the New Sun a go.
This thread rulez
1. The Name of the Wind
2. The Way of Kings
3. Blood Song
I haven't read any Wolfe but have read a ton of the fantasy genre. I know there are a few here who hated NOTW but I really enjoyed it. Both the NOTW and Way of Kings are pretty long investments for reading with the WOKs being like around 1000 pages.
mad sweeney
Footballguy
IMO... 1. The Name of the Wind2. The Way of Kings3. Blood Song I haven't read any Wolfe but have read a ton of the fantasy genre. I know there are a few here who hated NOTW but I really enjoyed it. Both the NOTW and Way of Kings are pretty long investments for reading with the WOKs being like around 1000 pages.Add The Way of Kings to your list. Right up there with Name of the Wind. Thoroughly enjoyed both.Currently switching back and forth between Jim Butcher's Cold Days, the most recent Dresden book, and Ken Follet's Winter of the World. They're about as different as you can get, but I'm enjoying both of them. Since my last post a litte while ago I've powered through all of the Dresden series on the recommendation of a friend. After that I've got a ton of options thanks to all the recommendations on here - I think I'll give either Blood Song, Name of the WInd, or Book of the New Sun a go. This thread rulez
And WoK is the first of 11 I believe. I didn't really like the world it's set in but it's a very impressive and thought out reality. Overall I liked it but I'm not sure if I want to continue the series until after a few books come out. NotW blows like the wind off a sewage treatment plant. The sequel is worse. I got a little into Blood Song but put it down in favor of Ready Player One. I really fracking hate 1st person.IMO... 1. The Name of the Wind2. The Way of Kings3. Blood Song I haven't read any Wolfe but have read a ton of the fantasy genre. I know there are a few here who hated NOTW but I really enjoyed it. Both the NOTW and Way of Kings are pretty long investments for reading with the WOKs being like around 1000 pages.Add The Way of Kings to your list. Right up there with Name of the Wind. Thoroughly enjoyed both.Currently switching back and forth between Jim Butcher's Cold Days, the most recent Dresden book, and Ken Follet's Winter of the World. They're about as different as you can get, but I'm enjoying both of them. Since my last post a litte while ago I've powered through all of the Dresden series on the recommendation of a friend. After that I've got a ton of options thanks to all the recommendations on here - I think I'll give either Blood Song, Name of the WInd, or Book of the New Sun a go. This thread rulez
Sand
Footballguy
I loved it. Can't wait for #3. Funny that you hated the first enough to read the second...
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joker
Footballguy
Way of Kings has been added, thanks. On a side note, I fully recommend all of the Abercrombie books. The entire series was fantastic from start to finish. The only negative I'd have towards them is that I read them too fast, which unfortunately brought me to the end too quickly 
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pantagrapher
Footballguy
About halfway through Pastoralia by George Saunders. Entertaining stuff, but I expected a lot more. He came highly recommended, and I've been meaning to read him for a long time, but it's all a bunch of quirkiness and caricatures and digressions. Not terribly impressed.
mad sweeney
Footballguy
I was told it was good so I tried to give it a fair shake.
Possum
Footballguy
I liked NOTW and thought it was a great debut, but the sequel was pretty awful. Just seemed like Rothfuss doesn't have much of a realistic frame of reference for writing outside the university setting, and the Kvothe-Deanna subplot is boring, repetitive and makes little to no sense.
I really wanted to like Ready Player One, but I wasn't able to finish it - I didn't like the author's writing style very much and felt like the whole "future society obsessed with 80s pop culture" thing was kind of a dumb gimmick.
I really wanted to like Ready Player One, but I wasn't able to finish it - I didn't like the author's writing style very much and felt like the whole "future society obsessed with 80s pop culture" thing was kind of a dumb gimmick.
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mad sweeney
Footballguy
I'm only in chapter 3 and already almost sick of it. The plot hasn't really taken off yet so I'm not ready to pass judgment yet, but especially since it's 1st person, it needs to step it up quickly if I'm going to finish it.
Sand
Footballguy
Consumed those a while back. Loved those, too.Way of Kings has been added, thanks. On a side note, I fully recommend all of the Abercrombie books. The entire series was fantastic from start to finish. The only negative I'd have towards them is that I read them too fast, which unfortunately brought me to the end too quickly
facook
Footballguy
Finished 14 based on a mention in this thread. I'd give it a B-. It was entertaining enough, but not what I expected so I was slightly disappointed.
Now onto The Night Ranger, the latest John Wells novel by Alex Berenson. Anyone who enjoys modern-day espionage/thrillers should try this series.
Now onto The Night Ranger, the latest John Wells novel by Alex Berenson. Anyone who enjoys modern-day espionage/thrillers should try this series.
General Malaise
Footballguy
I don't read many books anymore, sadly, but I'm trying to get one down each month and recently finished "The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving", which I really liked quite a bit. Right up my alley. Have to love a book that mentions a Bulgarian Gas Mask early in the reading. 
wazoo11
Footballguy
bentley
Footballguy
Halfway through El Narco and it is depressing. Wish we could have a meaningful conversation about the drug war in this country but it isn't happening.
My expectations for Ready Player One have been lowered because of the last few posts in the thread. I don't read any sci-fi generally so I think I may not be as critical as others.
My expectations for Ready Player One have been lowered because of the last few posts in the thread. I don't read any sci-fi generally so I think I may not be as critical as others.
E Street Brat
Footballguy
We seem to have the same taste. I just added El Narco to my list, I have loved drug books ever since I read "Rush" some 20 years ago.
I'm currently into Mark Bowden's Doctor Dealer. I'm just fascinated by the life these huge dealers guys live. and the balls it takes to get there.
And I just started "Do the Work" I guess it's a spin-off of "The War of Art"
prosopis
Arizona Chupacabra
by Hugh Howey?
I see part one is free for the kindle so I downloaded it. I hope this is what you are referring to.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Yes.
Just realize that part 1 is very very short.
I haven't been able to keep my eyes open at night so I've barely ready much of this.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I'm in the middle of Sig-Gun Tarot. Blurb from Amazon:
Nevada, 1869: Beyond the pitiless 40-Mile Desert lies Golgotha, a cattle town that hides more than its share of unnatural secrets. The sheriff bears the mark of the noose around his neck; some say he is a dead man whose time has not yet come. His half-human deputy is kin to coyotes. The mayor guards a hoard of mythical treasures. A banker’s wife belongs to a secret order of assassins. And a shady saloon owner, whose fingers are in everyone’s business, may know more about the town’s true origins than he’s letting on.
A haven for the blessed and the damned, Golgotha has known many strange events, but nothing like the primordial darkness stirring in the abandoned silver mine overlooking the town. Bleeding midnight, an ancient evil is spilling into the world, and unless the sheriff and his posse can saddle up in time, Golgotha will have seen its last dawn…and so will all of Creation.
R.S. Belcher’s The Six-Gun Tarot is “an astonishing blend of first-rate steampunk fantasy and Western adventure.” (Library Journal, Starred Review).
http://www.amazon.com/The-Six-Gun-Tarot-ebook/dp/B00AEC8OVQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367063847&sr=1-1&keywords=six+gun+tarot
It's really good and the author has a great imagination. My only problem is what other reviewers mentioned: He's got 1st-novel disease. I like his ideas, but he's crammed too many of them in a relatively short book. Each of the 4 or 5 main protagonists could've carried a book this size.
That being said, it's a hell of a lot of fun. Like WOOL, you're kind of dropped into the middle of the story and don't really know what's going on. There are some great characters (esp. Maude & Mutt). I'd recommend it to anyone who's into weird tales.
Nevada, 1869: Beyond the pitiless 40-Mile Desert lies Golgotha, a cattle town that hides more than its share of unnatural secrets. The sheriff bears the mark of the noose around his neck; some say he is a dead man whose time has not yet come. His half-human deputy is kin to coyotes. The mayor guards a hoard of mythical treasures. A banker’s wife belongs to a secret order of assassins. And a shady saloon owner, whose fingers are in everyone’s business, may know more about the town’s true origins than he’s letting on.
A haven for the blessed and the damned, Golgotha has known many strange events, but nothing like the primordial darkness stirring in the abandoned silver mine overlooking the town. Bleeding midnight, an ancient evil is spilling into the world, and unless the sheriff and his posse can saddle up in time, Golgotha will have seen its last dawn…and so will all of Creation.
R.S. Belcher’s The Six-Gun Tarot is “an astonishing blend of first-rate steampunk fantasy and Western adventure.” (Library Journal, Starred Review).
http://www.amazon.com/The-Six-Gun-Tarot-ebook/dp/B00AEC8OVQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367063847&sr=1-1&keywords=six+gun+tarot
It's really good and the author has a great imagination. My only problem is what other reviewers mentioned: He's got 1st-novel disease. I like his ideas, but he's crammed too many of them in a relatively short book. Each of the 4 or 5 main protagonists could've carried a book this size.
That being said, it's a hell of a lot of fun. Like WOOL, you're kind of dropped into the middle of the story and don't really know what's going on. There are some great characters (esp. Maude & Mutt). I'd recommend it to anyone who's into weird tales.
