What are you reading - Page 47

KZO · #**691** 06-30-2012, 09:00 AM

Currently making my way through the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.

Enjoying it as a whole, although I do have some gripes about the series, being the portrayal of the female sex, and also the needless complexity and overly specific descriptions.

Zagros · #**692** 06-30-2012, 09:06 AM

Just started Wicked... its interesting. "Evil" is such a subjective word.

Nocturnal · #**693** 06-30-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KZO

Currently making my way through the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.

Enjoying it as a whole, although I do have some gripes about the series, being the portrayal of the female sex, and also the needless complexity and overly specific descriptions.

It only gets worse as the series goes on, and it never ends. I would have liked it a lot more if there had been some sort of conclusion to the series, but the closest you really get is what's at the end of the first book.

Digorig · #**694** 07-01-2012, 12:18 PM

Stephen King: The wind Through the Keyhole (Dark Tower Series)

DiG

Zagros · #**695** 07-01-2012, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocturnal

It only gets worse as the series goes on, and it never ends. I would have liked it a lot more if there had been some sort of conclusion to the series, but the closest you really get is what's at the end of the first book.

Does it look like there might be a conclusion coming now that Brandon Sanderson is writing it? I soooo like his Mistborn Series. That one should be subtitled "with cool new magic that MAKES SENSE!!!"

Nocturnal · #**696** 07-02-2012, 02:28 AM

Didn't know someone else had taken up the reins of the series... thanks! I might look into that then. I want closure!

Zagros · #**697** 07-02-2012, 07:51 AM

I looked it up and Sanderson was asked to write the last book... which has turned into 3. Supposedly the last of those 3 is due out next Jan.

Jondera · #**698** 07-03-2012, 08:24 AM

Picked up a rather interesting book at the library the other day.

Freedom and Necessity, by Steven Brust and Emma Bull. A historical fantasy novel taking place in mid-19th century England (1849, to be exact), told through collections of letters, journal entries, newspaper clippings, and other things written by (or seen by) the characters. Some of the letters include some rather intriguing philosophical debates, a quote from which has made its way into my sig.

RayzRyd · #**699** 07-03-2012, 11:11 AM

Has anyone else read "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson? I enjoyed like 50% of it then it got WAY too preachy.

Nocturnal · #**700** 07-04-2012, 05:27 PM

I read it on a recommendation and thought there was a collection of some neat concepts the author tried to play with but the whole thing struck me as "amateurish" writing - like it was targeted for a teenager's comic book that somehow didn't translate well into a novel, and slipped past poor editing. It stars "Hero Protagonist the Half-Asian/Half-Black Mafia Pizza Deliverator?" I was a little surprised to see the author was 30 at the time of writing it. Also there is mutant-on-15-year-old-girl porn.

I read it all and didn't regret it, but it felt like a better writer could have done much more with the ideas in the book. Or that it might have worked better if it weren't a novel. It's not something I'd be comfortable recommending. The ideas didn't form a cohesive whole and the story didn't hang together very well.

"I enjoyed like 50% of it then it got WAY too preachy" is how I'd describe any Ayn Rand novel, but at least she is a much better author: she has a good sense for plotting that is only occasionally completely foiled by her preachy monologues.

For a more adult treatment of memetics (one of the concepts Neal Stephenson apparently read a little about) try The Meme Machine by Susan Blackmore - though that one is basically a textbook.

I've been giving a lot of negative or dismissive reviews so here are examples of things I like to read.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. Dark comedy written as "train-of-thought." My favorite book, I've reread it several times. I like its treatment of sanity (American Psycho deals with that concept in more detail but I'm still finding its style boring in parts) but I really love it because no matter how bad your life is, these characters have it worse.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. Turns out the great American novel was written by a Russian. Masterfully written, easily one of my favorite books, and so deeply disturbing I couldn't imagine ever reading it a second time.

The Plague by Albert Camus. Kind of hard reading at some points but it's very well written and thought-provoking disaster fiction.

The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. Nonfiction guide to successful dictatorship. I think he was a form of genius. Not many people choose to write about these topics with the skill and knowledge that he had.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Modest, sensible Stoic philosophy that I found to be good advice for how to live and think.

Frix · #**701** 07-04-2012, 06:27 PM

The Name of the Wind. also The Wise Man's Fear. both by Patrick Rothfuss. they have quickly become some of my favorite books. trying to remember the name of a trilogy that i read awhile back....but for the life of me i cannot remember anything of the titles names except that one(or all?) have shadow in the name.....and that they deal with assassin's called wetboys? anywho..... i'll always recommend those two books by Patrick Rothfus

Nocturnal · #**702** 07-04-2012, 06:40 PM

A quick search reveals... it's "The Night Angel Trilogy"

RedRab · #**703** 07-04-2012, 06:45 PM

I am currently reading:

The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour and Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Frix · #**704** 07-04-2012, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocturnal

A quick search reveals... it's "The Night Angel Trilogy"

many thanks! sadly i never thought to look online to get the answer....instead i tried to delve deep into the depths of my mind.....when i should have known better.....:P thanks again though as this had been plaguing me for awhile.

Quarterpound · #**705** 07-05-2012, 12:25 AM

I'm (finally) reading ASoFaI and have just started Book 3. I loved the HBO show and love the books equally. I usually don't do movie/show before the book (this may, in fact, be the first time), but I must say, I didn't find it affecting me too much. Sure, Eddard Stark looked like Sean Bean in my mind... in fact just about every character looked like their character in the show except Tyrion, but it did not prevent me from enjoying it. And now that I'm in Book 3 and I'm encountering stuff I haven't seen on the show, it's no less or more enjoyable.

I also read the first book in the Belgariad series not too long ago and started book 2.