Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (1 Viewer)

[flysack]

Question for Reading Parents

I have a seven year old son who's interested in Pokeman, superheros, mythology, and dinosaurs. In general: sci-fi and fantasy.

I need a recommendation for a book or series that we can read together each night, preferably something he can (at least partially) read himself. When I was his age I began reading the Hardy Boys, and while I loved them, I don't know if boy adventures would interest him. He's not into mysteries. He needs magic.

He's already run through those Percy Jackson books with his mother. Any suggestions?

 

[oso diablo]

about to wrap up Matthew Berry's Fantasy Life.

enjoyable read with tons of short anecdotes about some of the craziness involved with playing fantasy sports. though i thought the best section was the Lester-isms.

 

[Apes with Guns]

Question for Reading Parents

I have a seven year old son who's interested in Pokeman, superheros, mythology, and dinosaurs. In general: sci-fi and fantasy.

I need a recommendation for a book or series that we can read together each night, preferably something he can (at least partially) read himself. When I was his age I began reading the Hardy Boys, and while I loved them, I don't know if boy adventures would interest him. He's not into mysteries. He needs magic.

He's already run through those Percy Jackson books with his mother. Any suggestions?

The Quantum Prophecy by Michael Carroll is a great superheroic series. It's aged for 6th grade through 9th grade, but I don't remember anything terrible in it that might scare a 7 year old.

If you haven't read Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I would also suggest that. The books are really funny for you, and have lots of illustrations.

 

[Barry]

Question for Reading Parents

I have a seven year old son who's interested in Pokeman, superheros, mythology, and dinosaurs. In general: sci-fi and fantasy.

I need a recommendation for a book or series that we can read together each night, preferably something he can (at least partially) read himself. When I was his age I began reading the Hardy Boys, and while I loved them, I don't know if boy adventures would interest him. He's not into mysteries. He needs magic.

He's already run through those Percy Jackson books with his mother. Any suggestions?

The Quantum Prophecy by Michael Carroll is a great superheroic series. It's aged for 6th grade through 9th grade, but I don't remember anything terrible in it that might scare a 7 year old.

If you haven't read Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I would also suggest that. The books are really funny for you, and have lots of illustrations.

Bartemaus trilogy 9 year old nephew like it. It's considered young adult.

 

[shader]

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.

 

[sports_fan]

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

I like how between working on the Manhattan Project, winning the Nobel Prize and his research discoveries, he's giving you stories of late nights drinking and chasing girls. For example, here's a bit of advice he got from a guy in an Albuquerque nightclub:

"OK," he says. "The whole principle is this: The guy wants to be a gentleman. He doesn't want to be thought of as impolite crude, or especially a cheapskate. As long as the girl knows the guy's motives so well, it's easy to steer him in the direction she wants him to go.

"Therefore," he continued, "under no circumstances be a gentleman! You must disrespect the girls. Furthermore, the very first rule is, don't buy a girl anything--not even a package of cigarettes--until you've asked her if she'll sleep with you, and you're convinced that she will, and that she's not lying."

I was also impressed with how open he was to learning new things. He would just dive into anything he found interesting. Fixing radios, safe-cracking, playing the drums, learning Portuguese and Japanese, drawing, etc. He led a remarkable life.

 

[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?"

 

[Apes with Guns]

Question for Reading Parents

I have a seven year old son who's interested in Pokeman, superheros, mythology, and dinosaurs. In general: sci-fi and fantasy.

I need a recommendation for a book or series that we can read together each night, preferably something he can (at least partially) read himself. When I was his age I began reading the Hardy Boys, and while I loved them, I don't know if boy adventures would interest him. He's not into mysteries. He needs magic.

He's already run through those Percy Jackson books with his mother. Any suggestions?

The Quantum Prophecy by Michael Carroll is a great superheroic series. It's aged for 6th grade through 9th grade, but I don't remember anything terrible in it that might scare a 7 year old.

If you haven't read Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I would also suggest that. The books are really funny for you, and have lots of illustrations.

Bartemaus trilogy 9 year old nephew like it. It's considered young adult.

Oh, that reminds me! Rangers: Apprentice is a great sword and sorcery series for kids. My son and I read a few, and he read the rest on his own. http://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Apprentice-1-Ruins-Gorlan-ebook/dp/B001QNVPKY/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387490343&sr=1-2&keywords=rangers+apprentice

 

[flysack]

Thanks everyone.

 

[shuke]

Question for Reading Parents

I have a seven year old son who's interested in Pokeman, superheros, mythology, and dinosaurs. In general: sci-fi and fantasy.

I need a recommendation for a book or series that we can read together each night, preferably something he can (at least partially) read himself. When I was his age I began reading the Hardy Boys, and while I loved them, I don't know if boy adventures would interest him. He's not into mysteries. He needs magic.

He's already run through those Percy Jackson books with his mother. Any suggestions?

My favorite books to read with my son so far have been the Origami Yoda books.

 

[T Bell]

Just finished "New Deal or Raw Deal How FDR's Economic Legacy has Damaged America"

I found it amazing how little has changed in politics in the last 80 years.

The ancient Athenians' debates typically involved gobs of slander and personal attacks directed at their enemies.

The rules may change, but human nature endures.

 

[T Bell]

Question for Reading Parents

I have a seven year old son who's interested in Pokeman, superheros, mythology, and dinosaurs. In general: sci-fi and fantasy.

I need a recommendation for a book or series that we can read together each night, preferably something he can (at least partially) read himself. When I was his age I began reading the Hardy Boys, and while I loved them, I don't know if boy adventures would interest him. He's not into mysteries. He needs magic.

He's already run through those Percy Jackson books with his mother. Any suggestions?

The Quantum Prophecy by Michael Carroll is a great superheroic series. It's aged for 6th grade through 9th grade, but I don't remember anything terrible in it that might scare a 7 year old.

If you haven't read Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I would also suggest that. The books are really funny for you, and have lots of illustrations.

Bartemaus trilogy 9 year old nephew like it. It's considered young adult.

I wasn't too much older when I got into Terry Brooks' Shannara novels, but he'll probably need another 2-3 years to get his reading level up to where he can read them on his own.

 

[flysack]

I read him a few Amazon sums of these and he was most interested in The Quantum Prophecy. Thanks again, all.

 

[Maelstrom]

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?"

It took me forever to get through Cryptonomicon, I think I restarted the book 4 or 5 different times after I let it sit too long to pick up where I had left off. While I admire the concepts, I have a hard time reading Stephenson's books.

 

[shader]

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?"

It took me forever to get through Cryptonomicon, I think I restarted the book 4 or 5 different times after I let it sit too long to pick up where I had left off. While I admire the concepts, I have a hard time reading Stephenson's books.

That's where I was with it as well. Re-started it and was determined to slug through it for some reason.

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.

 

[Sand]

Question for Reading Parents

I have a seven year old son who's interested in Pokeman, superheros, mythology, and dinosaurs. In general: sci-fi and fantasy.

I need a recommendation for a book or series that we can read together each night, preferably something he can (at least partially) read himself. When I was his age I began reading the Hardy Boys, and while I loved them, I don't know if boy adventures would interest him. He's not into mysteries. He needs magic.

He's already run through those Percy Jackson books with his mother. Any suggestions?

Maze Runner books. My kid loved them.

 

[Sand]

Just finished "New Deal or Raw Deal How FDR's Economic Legacy has Damaged America"

I found it amazing how little has changed in politics in the last 80 years.

The ancient Athenians' debates typically involved gobs of slander and personal attacks directed at their enemies.

The rules may change, but human nature endures.

I read this book on Caesar a bit back and the politics were strikingly similar. Great book, too.

 

[Sand]

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?"

And, funny enough, I thought Diamond Age was his best book. Really the only one you didn't mention. If you haven't read it, do.

 

[sports_fan]

Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton

While reading the book I kept thinking, "This is pretty good but the movie is better". Then I watched the movie again and thought, "This isn't quite as good as I remembered, I think the book is better".

 

[shader]

Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton

While reading the book I kept thinking, "This is pretty good but the movie is better". Then I watched the movie again and thought, "This isn't quite as good as I remembered, I think the book is better".

Read the book as a teenager. Always liked it better than the movie.

 

[flysack]

Thanks everyone.

You said he read the Percy Jackson series. Did he read the other series by Rick Riodan (sp?) - it is another series and some characters PJ characters appear in this aerie as well. My son u reading that right now. Sorry do not know what it is called.

He actually went through the audio versions with his mom - listening in the car and in the kitchen.

I'll take a look at those alternate Riodan (sp?) books though. Thanks.

 

[flysack]

Got Pynchon's Bleeding Edge for xmas. After the first few chapters it's feeling like old skool V./GR Pynchon, which is a good thing. It ain't Pynchon Lite, that's for sure.

 

[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.

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

Finished reading this and, man were those guys impressive. They were on the stranded or on the ice for 17 months, and these Australians need airlifted out after like a week in a climate controlled fortress.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/30/world/antarctic-ship-stuck/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I just watched Under the Dome, and it was pretty bad with cheesy acting and side-stories. Is the book a lot better, or more of the same. I do kind of want to know what's up with the Dome, but do not really want to watch that show ever again. Read the book, or Wiki?

 

[shuke]

I just watched Under the Dome, and it was pretty bad with cheesy acting and side-stories. Is the book a lot better, or more of the same. I do kind of want to know what's up with the Dome, but do not really want to watch that show ever again. Read the book, or Wiki?

I wouln't necessarily recommend the book. Writing isn't that great, except for a few of the characters. If you just want to know where the dome came from, just google it.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I just watched Under the Dome, and it was pretty bad with cheesy acting and side-stories. Is the book a lot better, or more of the same. I do kind of want to know what's up with the Dome, but do not really want to watch that show ever again. Read the book, or Wiki?

I wouln't necessarily recommend the book. Writing isn't that great, except for a few of the characters. If you just want to know where the dome came from, just google it.

Apparently the TV show has completely rewritten the source of the dome.

 

[Chaos Commish]

I put down a gift, history of the Templars, last night to push through the end of Shift. I didn't care for the pace and editing, skimmed and skipped some which I almost never do. I thought Wool was near brilliant in it's brevity where Shift was the opposite, dull in an effort to write words. Of course, I immediately put Dust on the Kindle because I've come this far and reviews are solid, but I'm already getting more of a Shift than Wool vibe.

 

[Possum]

Been reading The Blinding Knife, the sequel to The Black Prism by Brent Weeks. Really enjoying it, finding it a bit hard to put down.

Edit to add: if you like fantasy stuff and you haven't read The Night Angel Trilogy (Brent Weeks first books), I highly recommend them.

I really liked the Night Angel books but couldn't get into the Lightbringer stuff as much - I remember thinking the color magic system was kind of dumb. Maybe I need to give it another chance though.

(I think the color thing also kept reminding me of Jasper Fforde's Shades Of Grey which I felt developed a better story around visibility and the spectrum. I don't usually like JF's books but I really dug that one.)

 

[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).

 

[Brady Marino]

I put down a gift, history of the Templars, last night to push through the end of Shift. I didn't care for the pace and editing, skimmed and skipped some which I almost never do. I thought Wool was near brilliant in it's brevity where Shift was the opposite, dull in an effort to write words. Of course, I immediately put Dust on the Kindle because I've come this far and reviews are solid, but I'm already getting more of a Shift than Wool vibe.

I kind of felt the same way about Shift, in that I skipped through a lot because of the monotony. Plus, (Dust spoiler ahead)

Spoiler

killing Anna was just flat out dumb and heartless, but I guess the point was to be shocking. I guess he learned the error of his ways in Dust, but it was hard to be sympathetic for him even when he was getting the #### kicked out of him

.

 

[Possum]

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.

 

[whoknew]

Just finished The Risk Pool by Richard Russo. Its the first Russo book I've read, though I loved the Empire Falls mini-series and Nobody's Fool movie. I can't wait to read more Russo. It was terrific. I can't recommend it enough.

Interesting. I liked Empire Falls but didn't love it. But I thought Straight Man was pretty great. I need to get Risk Pool.

Just finished Straight Man. I thought it was great also. I think I liked Risk Pool a little better - but its close.

 

[The_Man]

I read him a few Amazon sums of these and he was most interested in The Quantum Prophecy. Thanks again, all.

Maybe check out the Five Ancestors series as well. It's a series about five young Chinese warrior monks who are the only survivors of the destruction and raid of their home.

 

[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).

Did you read his previous series, the Long Price Quartet? I downloaded samples of the first book in each but didn't really like the Long Price start. A lot of people on goodreads though give that series a a little more praise.

 

[facook]

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).

 

[facook]

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).

 

[FUBAR]

David and goliath, Gladwell's most recent book. His first three were great. Never read what the dog saw. this did not measure up to the first three. It starts off alright, his first story (the title) is interesting and his thesis is obviously solid, but the book didn't captivate me like his earlier books did.

Still, a quick read and somewhat worthwhile

 

[FUBAR]

Finally finished A Clash of Kings and needed something different and a more of a quick read. Started Doctor Sleep this morning.

I picked up the audio book from the library. Returned before listening but will pick up again-unless your review advises otherwise

 

[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).

Did you read his previous series, the Long Price Quartet? I downloaded samples of the first book in each but didn't really like the Long Price start. A lot of people on goodreads though give that series a a little more praise.

yep, I read the first one in that series but I agree, it didn't really grab me either. I saw a really good review that called it a "cerebral" fantasy series, but I just found it really slow. I felt like the D&C books are pretty intelligent too, but faster-paced and a lot more interesting, especially the setting and racial aspects. There are twelve or thirteen different races of humans, but nearly all of them were genetically modified in some way (one race has tusks and great size/strength, one has chitinous skin and night vision, one has special skin/body traits allowing them to live and thrive in extreme cold, etc.) by their creators/forefathers, a race of super advanced dragons who became extinct hundreds of years before the series takes place. (That sounds kind of iffy when I type it out, but it's a really cool concept the way that Abraham writes it.)

 

[prosopis]

I just finished death on the wolf. A good story about a family in the south in the 60's. It was a free kindle download a while back.

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

 

[Uruk-Hai]

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.

 

[prosopis]

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.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

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.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

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.

By the way, I loved the book. But then, I'm all in on whatever Hill puts out.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

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 read all 5 ice and fire books in a row and have few complaints. I think the issue was the time between novels with little time elapsing in the material, plus book 4 missing some favorite pov characters.

That Australian science expedition stuck in the Antarctic with modern amenities and climate control are a bunch of ####### compared to Ernest Shakleton.

 

[bentley]

David and goliath, Gladwell's most recent book. His first three were great. Never read what the dog saw. this did not measure up to the first three. It starts off alright, his first story (the title) is interesting and his thesis is obviously solid, but the book didn't captivate me like his earlier books did.

Still, a quick read and somewhat worthwhile

I really liked What the Dog Saw. I think Gladwell is decent enough, but he tends to beat the same things into the ground over and over again. I presume that's because he has 50-60 page of content to stretch into a 200 page book. What The Dog Saw is a collection of short stories and most of them are pretty interesting.

I'm reading Decisive by the Heath brothers. I'm really enjoying it. It's sort of a counterpoint to the whole Blink phenomenon. Or, at least a recommendation that you consider decisions a little more fully before jumping to action.

 

[flysack]

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.

 

[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.

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.

Just finished it and also thought it was great. I like his writing style. Third acts are always tough and that is exactly where he is.

Just moved on to Promise of Blood, which is starting out quite good. Has gotten great reviews and so far is holding my interest.

 

[FUBAR]

David and goliath, Gladwell's most recent book. His first three were great. Never read what the dog saw. this did not measure up to the first three. It starts off alright, his first story (the title) is interesting and his thesis is obviously solid, but the book didn't captivate me like his earlier books did.

Still, a quick read and somewhat worthwhile

I really liked What the Dog Saw. I think Gladwell is decent enough, but he tends to beat the same things into the ground over and over again. I presume that's because he has 50-60 page of content to stretch into a 200 page book. What The Dog Saw is a collection of short stories and most of them are pretty interesting.

I'm reading Decisive by the Heath brothers. I'm really enjoying it. It's sort of a counterpoint to the whole Blink phenomenon. Or, at least a recommendation that you consider decisions a little more fully before jumping to action.

Thanks for commenting - I was going to avoid this book, but I may give it a try now.

After finishing D&G, I'm on to The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing, Dr. Phil Maffetone. Certainly caters to a specific demographic, but if you're into it, he's the man.

 

[Sand]

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