Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (4 Viewers)

[Maelstrom]

How fast do all of you read? Read Ender's Game again. Took me 8-9 hours. Cheap paperback. 325 pages.

Reading a Simmons article and he said he read the Felders' Eagles book, 352 pages, in a few hours. I must be a slow reader.

Just finished Ender's Game myself, according to the Kindle it took me about 4-5 hours. Ender's Shadow, which I'm reading now, is tracking right about the same. Now, I probably read those a bit faster since it's a re-read, but I can kill a paperback (400-500 pages) in an afternoon if I really want to and have an afternoon to burn.

 

[SeaDogStat]

Reading "Herb Brooks - The Inside Story Of A Hockey Mastermind" - by John Gilbert

Some good nuggets for coaches and dealing with players. Just finished up his Minnesota career and looking forward to the Olympics and post Olympic part of the story. John Gilbert covered all facets of Minnesota hockey from HS to college and pro from the mid-60's forward. It's an interesting read so far but each chapter is almost like a little story unto it's own so sometimes you end up glossing over the rehashing of the names from year to year... Maybe that will change once I get past Brooks' 8 years at Minnesota.

 

[shuke]

Next up: Joyland by King. I'm sucker for coming-of-age stories, especially against the backdrop of horror/thriller plot.

Pretty boring and highly predictable.

Next up: Hunger Games

 

[Sand]

Next up: Joyland by King. I'm sucker for coming-of-age stories, especially against the backdrop of horror/thriller plot.

Pretty boring and highly predictable.

Next up: Hunger Games

or not, it is a good book.

 

[HellToupee]

I'm shooting through Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe books. They're a lot of fun. I'm reading them out of order, not that it matters, but it's interesting to see how his writing style changed as he went along.

My favorite so far is The Long Goodbye.

Good stuff. After Chandler I highly recommend Red Harvest & The Maltese Falcon by Hammett

 

[shuke]

Next up: Joyland by King. I'm sucker for coming-of-age stories, especially against the backdrop of horror/thriller plot.

Pretty boring and highly predictable.

Next up: Hunger Games

or not, it is a good book.

I just felt creepy browsing the TEEN FICTION section.

 

[facook]

Currently reading Shift. I really like the story, and think the prequel is really well done. However, it really annoys me to see the typos and poor editing of self-published books. Double periods, paragraphs not indented, missing quote marks. I keep thinking: "Couldn't you have gotten your sister to read and edit this?" The story is very good. The poor editing distracts from it.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

 

[Maelstrom]

Next up: Joyland by King. I'm sucker for coming-of-age stories, especially against the backdrop of horror/thriller plot.

Pretty boring and highly predictable.

Next up: Hunger Games

or not, it is a good book.

If you are reading the entire trilogy - the first was pretty good, although I read it after the movie. The second was decent, and the third was pretty horrible, IMO.

Not really a spoiler (maybe only if how I felt about book 3 affects your enjoyment of it) but no plot spoilers, just better safe than sorry here:

Spoiler

I think that was where the audience been teen's, and in general, teen girls, probably affected the story. While they may have identified with the main character in book 3 still, at that point I was just done with ... well, read and find out.

 

[the hairy scotsman]

The Art of Racing in the Rain. Garth Stein.

Makes me want to get a dog.

 

[The_Man]

Finished "Red Sparrow" - really enjoyed it. Good characters and a really interesting look at modern spycraft between the US and Putin's Russia. Would make an excellent movie.

Now, for no real reason, I'm reading "Fellowship of the Ring" for the first time since 7th grade. They're just about to reach Old Weathertop. It's o.k., but I find myself thinking the movie was much better. It that sacrilege?

 

[igbomb]

Next up: Joyland by King. I'm sucker for coming-of-age stories, especially against the backdrop of horror/thriller plot.

Pretty boring and highly predictable.

Next up: Hunger Games

or not, it is a good book.

The first was good. The 2nd and 3rd, not as much.

 

[flysack]

Currently reading Moby ****. Tried it once when I was a kid but didn't make it very far. Already much farther into it this time, now that I'm ~ 45 years older. Still not an easy read, IMO, but interesting learning about all the different kinds of whales and whaling tools, etc.

Also just started Paul of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

Here's a mind-blowing tip that will warp your reading -

The thing with Melville is he practically invented symbolism as a valid stylistic choice for American letters, and Moby **** is full of it with varying effectiveness. The best, IMO, is the early chapter in the church. Another part though, that most people completely overlook, is that long-winded and outrageously overdetailed section describing all the different whales. Many people skip over it after suffering three or four pages, mostly because it reads like a boring encyclopedia entry in the middle of a novel.

Not so fast, my friend.

Melville was actually commenting on all the characters in the novel, using the whales as a way of informing the reader of their deep issues, etc. and perhaps saying something universal about humanity and how our life, oh I don't know, is like determined by how we confront (psychologically and physically) death.

Or something. Look, all I'm saying is this is what some critics have suggested. And when I reread that boring swathe of text with this in mind, it became much less boring.

 

[Brady Marino]

Next up: Joyland by King. I'm sucker for coming-of-age stories, especially against the backdrop of horror/thriller plot.

Pretty boring and highly predictable.

Next up: Hunger Games

or not, it is a good book.

The first was good. The 2nd and 3rd, not as much.

First was good, second had its moments, but by all means, don't touch the 3rd. It'll just make you angry.

 

[flysack]

Current reads -

1. Almost finished The Hamlet, by Faulkner (Awesome read - just a half notch below the Faulkner canon [s&F, Absalom, August, and Dying] in quality.)

2. Starting to reread Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro, for work. Interesting middle brow story about the moral implications of cloning.

3. Just ordered Art Brut: The Origins of Outsider Art, which is all about how people with no artistic training, existing outside the art establishment, created compelling art on their own, oftentimes out of obsession, madness, schizophrenia, etc.

 

[igbomb]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

It's Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. Awesome book. Corey is actually a two-man pseudonym, one of which is Daniel Abraham who just happens to be a fantastic fantasy writer as well. Leviathan Wakes is the first in a series that has seen three books published thus far, one in each of the last three years.

 

[Sand]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

Just bought both books you reference above. Thanks!

 

[Bourbon Cowboy]

Currently reading Moby ****. Tried it once when I was a kid but didn't make it very far. Already much farther into it this time, now that I'm ~ 45 years older. Still not an easy read, IMO, but interesting learning about all the different kinds of whales and whaling tools, etc.

Also just started Paul of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

Here's a mind-blowing tip that will warp your reading -

The thing with Melville is he practically invented symbolism as a valid stylistic choice for American letters, and Moby **** is full of it with varying effectiveness. The best, IMO, is the early chapter in the church. Another part though, that most people completely overlook, is that long-winded and outrageously overdetailed section describing all the different whales. Many people skip over it after suffering three or four pages, mostly because it reads like a boring encyclopedia entry in the middle of a novel.

Not so fast, my friend.

Melville was actually commenting on all the characters in the novel, using the whales as a way of informing the reader of their deep issues, etc. and perhaps saying something universal about humanity and how our life, oh I don't know, is like determined by how we confront (psychologically and physically) death.

Or something. Look, all I'm saying is this is what some critics have suggested. And when I reread that boring swathe of text with this in mind, it became much less boring.

Oh great, I just made it through all those parts. Now I have to go back and re-read them with this tip in mind. Thanks! A whole lot!

 

[Sand]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

Just bought both books you reference above. Thanks!

Bought Endurance? You're in for a ride!

 

[Fly]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

Leviathan Wakes has been on my to-read list for awhile. I've been trudging through Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series, though. I wish I had more free time.

 

[snitwitch]

Anyone broken into Dust yet?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Finished "Red Sparrow" - really enjoyed it. Good characters and a really interesting look at modern spycraft between the US and Putin's Russia. Would make an excellent movie.

Now, for no real reason, I'm reading "Fellowship of the Ring" for the first time since 7th grade. They're just about to reach Old Weathertop. It's o.k., but I find myself thinking the movie was much better. It that sacrilege?

Nah. It can be slow going. I haven't done a reread since the movies came out (although I did many before), so I think I may have some of your experience when/if I do.

 

[Joe Mammy]

Lee Child- I am on the #7 Reacher "Persuader" and will continue reading in order until I finish the soon to be released #18. Each one better than the last and he switches the books between 3rd and 1st person. Yes I saw the movie and while TC tainted the 6' 5", albatross wingspan, badfreakingass, scared of noone pulp Reacher these rank with some of the best thriller/mystery/suspence books I've ever put my mitts on!

TC undoubtedly read Child. Told someone he wanted to play Reacher, was laughed at and then said screw it- I'll produce the movie and cast whoever I like- me.

 

[Emerson Biggens]

Lee Child- I am on the #7 Reacher "Persuader" and will continue reading in order until I finish the soon to be released #18. Each one better than the last and he switches the books between 3rd and 1st person. Yes I saw the movie and while TC tainted the 6' 5", albatross wingspan, badfreakingass, scared of noone pulp Reacher these rank with some of the best thriller/mystery/suspence books I've ever put my mitts on!

TC undoubtedly read Child. Told someone he wanted to play Reacher, was laughed at and then said screw it- I'll produce the movie and cast whoever I like- me.

I just finished #2, Die Trying, and am about to start #3, Live Wire. Loved the 1st two!

 

[Sand]

Anyone broken into Dust yet?

No, but the reviews make it really, really tempting.

 

[Todd Andrews]

Just finishing The Blood of Heaven by Kent Wascom, and I really enjoyed it. It's receiving excellent critical reviews. It is a first novel by a New Orleans/LSU guy who is heavily influenced by the darker Cormac McCarthy. Set in the founding of our country down in Louisiana it is a story about the raw border country outside of New Orleans and the men who tried to create their own nation there in the beginning of the 19th century.

Highly recommend to all of you Blood Meridian fanboys (like me).

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

Just bought both books you reference above. Thanks!

Bought Endurance? You're in for a ride!

The description looks like some motivation I need right now.

 

[Sand]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

Just bought both books you reference above. Thanks!

Bought Endurance? You're in for a ride!

The description looks like some motivation I need right now.

The one thing I concluded from that book (no spoiler) - If I'm ever in a boat in troubled waters I want Ernest Shackleton as the skipper. He was one bad ### dude.

Please drop in your review when done. I'd like to hear someone else'e opinion of it.

 

[shuke]

Just finishing The Blood of Heaven by Kent Wascom, and I really enjoyed it. It's receiving excellent critical reviews. It is a first novel by a New Orleans/LSU guy who is heavily influenced by the darker Cormac McCarthy. Set in the founding of our country down in Louisiana it is a story about the raw border country outside of New Orleans and the men who tried to create their own nation there in the beginning of the 19th century.

Highly recommend to all of you Blood Meridian fanboys (like me).

 

[flysack]

Just finishing The Blood of Heaven by Kent Wascom, and I really enjoyed it. It's receiving excellent critical reviews. It is a first novel by a New Orleans/LSU guy who is heavily influenced by the darker Cormac McCarthy. Set in the founding of our country down in Louisiana it is a story about the raw border country outside of New Orleans and the men who tried to create their own nation there in the beginning of the 19th century.

Highly recommend to all of you Blood Meridian fanboys (like me).

I love this whole school of writing, the Southern/Western maximalists.

 

[sports_fan]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

Just bought both books you reference above. Thanks!

Bought Endurance? You're in for a ride!

The description looks like some motivation I need right now.

The one thing I concluded from that book (no spoiler) - If I'm ever in a boat in troubled waters I want Ernest Shackleton as the skipper. He was one bad ### dude.

Please drop in your review when done. I'd like to hear someone else'e opinion of it.

I read this a few months ago. It sends a powerful message. There's a documentary on it narrated by Liam Neeson that's also quite good.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Just finishing The Blood of Heaven by Kent Wascom, and I really enjoyed it. It's receiving excellent critical reviews. It is a first novel by a New Orleans/LSU guy who is heavily influenced by the darker Cormac McCarthy. Set in the founding of our country down in Louisiana it is a story about the raw border country outside of New Orleans and the men who tried to create their own nation there in the beginning of the 19th century.

Highly recommend to all of you Blood Meridian fanboys (like me).

I read a book with a similar theme 8 or 10 years ago, except it was set in either NH or Vermont. Can't for the life of me remember the title or author, but he was compared to McCarthy too. It was a good book, though the writing style was a little off-putting for me.

Which is what scares me a bit with The Blood Of Heaven, based on some of the reviews. Not using punctuation and page-long sentences tend to get too distracting for me. I only want to have to work some to digest a book, not re-read everything 12 times.

But maybe this stuff is overstated in the reviews?

 

[Brady Marino]

Anyone broken into Dust yet?

No, but the reviews make it really, really tempting.

I've kind of thumbed through the first two chapters and it looks really good. Can't wait until I can actually dive into it.

 

[igbomb]

Anyone broken into Dust yet?

No, but the reviews make it really, really tempting.

I've kind of thumbed through the first two chapters and it looks really good. Can't wait until I can actually dive into it.

I have it on my Kindle now. Debating whether to re-read from Wool 1 through to the end or to just read Dust and then come back in a year and re-read the whole thing.

 

[Todd Andrews]

Just finishing The Blood of Heaven by Kent Wascom, and I really enjoyed it. It's receiving excellent critical reviews. It is a first novel by a New Orleans/LSU guy who is heavily influenced by the darker Cormac McCarthy. Set in the founding of our country down in Louisiana it is a story about the raw border country outside of New Orleans and the men who tried to create their own nation there in the beginning of the 19th century.

Highly recommend to all of you Blood Meridian fanboys (like me).

I read a book with a similar theme 8 or 10 years ago, except it was set in either NH or Vermont. Can't for the life of me remember the title or author, but he was compared to McCarthy too. It was a good book, though the writing style was a little off-putting for me.

Which is what scares me a bit with The Blood Of Heaven, based on some of the reviews. Not using punctuation and page-long sentences tend to get too distracting for me. I only want to have to work some to digest a book, not re-read everything 12 times.

But maybe this stuff is overstated in the reviews?

No page long sentences, I promise. And he uses some punctuation....definitely enough for me. Pinky swear.

 

[Maelstrom]

Anyone broken into Dust yet?

No, but the reviews make it really, really tempting.

I've kind of thumbed through the first two chapters and it looks really good. Can't wait until I can actually dive into it.

I have it on my Kindle now. Debating whether to re-read from Wool 1 through to the end or to just read Dust and then come back in a year and re-read the whole thing.

I just dove into Dust, it hasn't been that long, despite the weirdness of the timelines between the original and the prequels, I was pretty quickly remembering who was who and so on. At some point I'm gonna want to read them all straight through, and then will have to decide if I start with Book 1, or Book 6-8 first, then back through 1-5 and then this one.

 

[Possum]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

Just bought both books you reference above. Thanks!

yeah, the James SA Corey books are all great - it's a trilogy with Leviathan Wakes, Caliban's Game, and Abaddon's Gate, so if you like LW check out the rest. Also, like Sand mentioned, he also has a great fantasy series going (Dagger and Coin) as Daniel Abraham that's definitely worth a look.

just finished The Throne Of The Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed. This book was on a bunch of award lists recently and I had high hopes for it, but it left me a little cold. The setting is really cool, as it takes place in a sort of magical old-time Middle Eastern world instead of your typical fantasy setting. But the story was pretty generic and had a kind of a young adult-type feel to it (not in a good way), and Ahmed's writing wasn't that great. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars - if he comes out with another installment in this series, I'd give it another chance, but I really expected more given all the praise the book's received.

currently reading The Infernals by John Connolly. I read the first in this series, The Gates, a while back, and although it's also more of a young adult type novel, it was really witty and fun, and this book follows in the same vein. I'm gonna have to check out his Charlie Parker stuff after finishing this one.

 

[facook]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

Just bought both books you reference above. Thanks!

yeah, the James SA Corey books are all great - it's a trilogy with Leviathan Wakes, Caliban's Game, and Abaddon's Gate, so if you like LW check out the rest. Also, like Sand mentioned, he also has a great fantasy series going (Dagger and Coin) as Daniel Abraham that's definitely worth a look.

just finished The Throne Of The Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed. This book was on a bunch of award lists recently and I had high hopes for it, but it left me a little cold. The setting is really cool, as it takes place in a sort of magical old-time Middle Eastern world instead of your typical fantasy setting. But the story was pretty generic and had a kind of a young adult-type feel to it (not in a good way), and Ahmed's writing wasn't that great. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars - if he comes out with another installment in this series, I'd give it another chance, but I really expected more given all the praise the book's received.

currently reading The Infernals by John Connolly. I read the first in this series, The Gates, a while back, and although it's also more of a young adult type novel, it was really witty and fun, and this book follows in the same vein. I'm gonna have to check out his Charlie Parker stuff after finishing this one.

Charlie Parker series is one of my favorites. I'll have to look into The Gates.

 

[The_Man]

Just read Jess Walter's first novel, "Over Tumbled Graves," a really, really good cop procedural as well as ironic take on the serial killer genre.

He is probably my favorite author right now, kind of a hipper Richard Russo or an American Nick Hornby. "The Zero" is great, a 9/11 noir. "Financial Lives of the Poets" is really good too, as was "Beautiful Ruins," which came out last year and is definitely the most Russo-like of his books. But I recommend everything he's written.

 

[igbomb]

The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy - Love the writing, but damn this was grim. 300+ pages of lives ending and lives destroyed.

To be completely honest, I spent a good chunk of pages 50-200 just getting through it. The story was flat for a good chunk and the characters were much the same. But the beginning was solid and the last third really flew. It became hard to put down. And reading Ellroy's ode to his mother at the end (who was also violently murdered much like the Dahlia of the title) felt very raw.

I think I'll definitely check out something else by Ellroy, but I'm going to need some time between his books I think.

 

[Swing 51]

Gone Girl - good solid story but the characters are just pathetic. Felt like I needed to take a shower after finishing that book.

On to some non-fiction: I Heard You Paint Houses -

The first words Jimmy Hoffa ever spoke to Frank "the Irishman" Sheeran were, "I heard you paint houses." To paint a house is to kill a man. The paint is the blood that splatters on the walls and floors. In the course of nearly five years of recorded interviews Frank Sheeran confessed to Charles Brandt that he handled more than twenty-five hits for the mob, and for his friend Hoffa.

 

[Reginald Cornsilks]

Been reading Wool.

About halfway through the first book, and debating giving it up. Dry and boring so far. Does this get better?

Spoiler

just to the part where Jules is out walking in the world. 250 pages in and something has got to happen right? So far I've been bored by the Marnes and Jules storyline

 

[snitwitch]

Been reading Wool.

About halfway through the first book, and debating giving it up. Dry and boring so far. Does this get better?

Spoiler

just to the part where Jules is out walking in the world. 250 pages in and something has got to happen right? So far I've been bored by the Marnes and Jules storyline

Yeah stick with it, then check out the sequel, Shift. I think the last installment Dust just came out as well.

 

[E Street Brat]

Anyone broken into Dust yet?

No, but the reviews make it really, really tempting.

I started it last week while on vacation and its good. I'd be done by now but the family kept wanting to do things other then watching me read,

 

[Brady Marino]

Been reading Wool.

About halfway through the first book, and debating giving it up. Dry and boring so far. Does this get better?

Spoiler

just to the part where Jules is out walking in the world. 250 pages in and something has got to happen right? So far I've been bored by the Marnes and Jules storyline

Spoiler

Yeah stick with it, then check out the sequel, Shift. I think the last installment Dust just came out as well.

Agreed. Found it slow around the point you are, but it gets better.

 

[msommer]

not sure if it's been mentioned in here, but I just finished Anthony Ryan's Blood Song, which is the first book in a planned new fantasy series. Awesome reading and I'm immediately jonesing for the next book - I think this is at least as good a debut (and for me, honestly, better) than Rothfuss' Name Of The Wind.

the tone and mood of it kind of reminded me a lot of Gene Wolfe's Book Of The New Sun stuff, plus some echoes of Alexandre Dumas and George R.R. Martin.

$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.

Leviathan wakes or leviathan's wake?

I'm looking for new sci fi to read.

This one. Great read.

Just bought both books you reference above. Thanks!

Bought Endurance? You're in for a ride!

The description looks like some motivation I need right now.

The one thing I concluded from that book (no spoiler) - If I'm ever in a boat in troubled waters I want Ernest Shackleton as the skipper. He was one bad ### dude.

Please drop in your review when done. I'd like to hear someone else'e opinion of it.

Endurance is one of my favorite books ever and can safely say that I wish all my managers had been Shackleton

 

[snitwitch]

Anyone broken into Dust yet?

No, but the reviews make it really, really tempting.

I started it last week while on vacation and its good. I'd be done by now but the family kept wanting to do things other then watching me read,

I think i'm teeing this one up for over labor day, to read by the pool

 

[T Bell]

I'm shooting through Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe books. They're a lot of fun. I'm reading them out of order, not that it matters, but it's interesting to see how his writing style changed as he went along.

My favorite so far is The Long Goodbye.

Good stuff. After Chandler I highly recommend Red Harvest & The Maltese Falcon by Hammett

I'm reading Maltese right now as it happens. Liking it, though I'm still trying to make up my mind whether I like it more than Chandler.

 

[Barry]

Old Man's War by john Scalzi. easy read science fiction. similar to Ender's Game but a little better. pretty good book.