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Pant Leg Eater from the Bad World
12-24-2014, 07:57 PM
Books are great! And reading helps broaden the mind, or something silly like that.

What are you reading right now? How are you liking it? Would you recommend it to others?

I am currently reading two books.
American Sniper - by Chris Kyle
It is the autobiography of the deadliest sniper in U.S. history. It kind of hits me just right, myself being in the military and having been to some of the places mentioned in the book.

also

Interview with the Vampire - by Anne Rice
This is my current 'bathroom book'. It is pretty good so far. I am about halfway through it. Vampires aren't my normal thing, even though I do read a lot of supernatural urban fantasy. I like it though.

I'm also in the middle of a few series' but not currently engrossed in a book. I'm reading Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea novels, Jim Butcher's the Dresden File, Simon R. Green's Secret Histories, and Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles. Oh, and Glen Cook's the Black Company books.


What are you currently into?

krissy
12-24-2014, 08:22 PM
The things I've been silent about
By azar nafisi

Great yes I would
She's one of my fave authors to so biased

Shorty
12-24-2014, 08:43 PM
Magical Thinking: True Stories by Augusten Burroughs

https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408358276l/79790.jpg


"A contagiously funny, heartwarming, shocking, twisted, and absolutely magical collection. True stories that give voice to the thoughts we all have but dare not mention. It begins with a Tang Instant Breakfast Drink television commercial when Augusten was seven. Then there is the contest of wills with the deranged cleaning lady. The execution of a rodent carried out with military precision and utter horror. Telemarketing revenge. Dating an undertaker and much more. A collection of true stories that are universal in their appeal yet unabashedly intimate and very funny."

This is my fourth Augusten Burroughs memoir, and it's pretty alright. Before this one I picked up Dry, which had me in tears multiple times, both from sadness and painful feels, and also from laughing. He's an obvious egomaniac, and I often feel in a way as if his books are a personal account of gossip from him to the reader, which is hilarious but can become tiring at times. Either way, I love Augusten more with each memoir of his I read, and his realistic fiction Sellevision is one of my favorite books ever.

My sister has told me that I need to get through the rest of his memoirs and land on This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decrepitude & More. For Young and Old Alike. because he says it has become his personal revelation as a writer that this is the book he was born to write, and it's supposed to be incredibly ground-breaking and insightful. I can't wait to get there, so I'm trying to swallow through these last few memoirs of his to reach it!

The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman

https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1269295414l/7897478.jpg


"From the outrageously filthy and oddly innocent comedienne Sarah Silverman comes a memoir—her first book—that is at once shockingly personal, surprisingly poignant, and still pee-in-your-pants funny."

I've only just started reading it and haven't really gotten a feel for the book. I really like Sarah Silverman's standup because I think she is just smurfing hilarious. She's so dry and so deadpan and matter-of-fact and I love it. I wasn't really a big fan of her show, though, because I guess in a way I felt it was sortof exploitative of her humor in order to garnish more laughs and it just didn't work for me. I hope her book works out, though.

I'm also reading American Gods but I've lost interest for now. I'll pick it up after I'm done with these two.

Pike
12-24-2014, 10:27 PM
Neuromancer by William Gibson and it's freaking magical http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a109/Pikestaff/smiley/magical001_zpscb2ec6fc.png I am convinced that no one, anywhere, ever, can write like Gibson.

I Took the Red Pill
12-25-2014, 01:48 AM
J R by William Gaddis. Not very far in at all so I can't fully judge it, but I dig it so far.

Now, to embark and an unrelated and barely intelligible rant: I thought I was doomed to forever wander this planet without being able to stomach scifi novels. I thought I had found refuge in Vernor Vinge, but he failed me. I mean, his novels would start out with an amazing premise, with incredible worldbuilding, and then halfway through the novel I was just like "wtf are we doing spending so much time here, where did this go wrong?" Sentient warrior trees who move by wagon, a race of telepathic rat-dogs who are the central focus of like half of the novel? It was just too much for me. I couldn't even finish A Fire Upon the Deep and it made me sad because it had so much promise from the start.

Then, like a month ago, enter Dan Simmons and Hyperion. God, the book is everything I wanted it to be and more. Engaging, well-written scifi fare with a tight focus and one of the best villains I've ever encountered in a novel (The Shrike). After that I immediately bought Fall of Hyperion, which I finished earlier this week. Fall of Hyperion is also excellent, but very, very different from its predecessor. The ending gets a bit messy because there's just so much to tie up, but overall a great sequel to Hyperion. Thank you, Mr. Simmons.

/endrant


Neuromancer by William Gibson and it's freaking magical http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a109/Pikestaff/smiley/magical001_zpscb2ec6fc.png I am convinced that no one, anywhere, ever, can write like Gibson.Neuromancer is incredible, yes. One of those novels you can gobble up in one or two sittings, immediately ravenous for more.

Karifean
12-25-2014, 02:00 AM
Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles

I read those a while ago, they're pretty good. Still waiting on that third part...

I'm currently reading Fate/Stay Night. Books are fine but nothing beats a good visual novel. (Totally not subjective)

Shorty
12-25-2014, 02:06 AM
I just put Hyperion on my Kindle the other day ! Aaaaah, can't wait to read it

Pant Leg Eater from the Bad World
12-25-2014, 04:02 AM
A lot of people didn't like the Kingkiller Chronicles because of the way it was written. But I really enjoyed it. One of the best books I've read in years. It was so good I had to take a break before reading the second one.

Also, I have been looking for a copy of Hyperion everywhere. I remember seeing it on my mother's shelf growing up and started to read it once, but never got past the first chapter. I misplaced it or something. Anywho, I really want to read it. Like super bad.

Shorty
12-30-2014, 12:50 AM
I have a digital copy that can be turned into a PDF if you don't mind reading digitally. Elsewise, I would suggest Amazon.

I finished Magical Thinking and instead of saying to myself, "I think I will finish American Gods and The Bedwetter before I add anything else to my list," I started listening to the Yes, Please audiobook by Amy Poehler and finally started reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy.

Pant Leg Eater from the Bad World
12-30-2014, 01:36 AM
You know, I probably have a digital copy of it in my digital library (which is gigantic). But I really want a physical copy. Anyways, I really enjoy the long hunt. It makes the find in some used bookstore so much sweeter.

Everyone should read the Hitchhiker.

I finished American Sniper while I was on duty on Christmas. I'd only read 40 pages or so at that point. I finished the last 400 pages before noon. It was really really touching. Not in the like, oh so sweet kind of way. It was hard, and raw. I felt the pain of loss and war. I had to stop reading and collect myself well over a dozen times so that I didn't burst into tears in front of a bunch of my junior Marines.

I am still meandering through Interview with the Vampire. I need to knock that one out before the new year. I plan on reading the Silmarilllion, Hobbit, and LoTR all in January.

Pumpkin
12-30-2014, 02:11 AM
'Salem's Lot

Bubba
12-30-2014, 12:11 PM
Pregnancy For Men :shrug:

sharkythesharkdogg
12-30-2014, 01:03 PM
Currently reading an amalgamation of wiring diagrams I've scrounged up around the shop and from around the internet in an attempt to figure out why this fucking Mercedes has turn signals and brake lights that won't operate.

Every wiring diagram I've found for a W111 chassis Mercedes mentions several dash operations all focused around the combination switch, but every W111 I've worked on has individual switches on the dash for pretty much everything. The cars are getting to be over 50 years old, and most of the diagrams I can find are either with unlabeled wire colors or with the diagrams in German. Plus they aren't for this exact car, just models related to it. :argh:

It's a good read. I recommend picking up a copy.

CZ11_Jakku
12-30-2014, 04:50 PM
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond. I would highly recommend this book.

Yellow_Magic
12-30-2014, 05:39 PM
Neuromancer by William Gibson and it's freaking magical http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a109/Pikestaff/smiley/magical001_zpscb2ec6fc.png I am convinced that no one, anywhere, ever, can write like Gibson.

Nice! Coincidentially, I'm currently reading Count Zero.

noxious.sunshine
12-31-2014, 06:03 AM
The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole.

I just finished the first 2 books and have the 3rd preordered on Google Play (It'll be released on the 6th).

I really like them!

http://www.thearcanachronicles.com

I'm absolutely dying to know who the girl that models as Evie is on the book covers... I've found the guy who is Jack, but there is absolutely NOTHING on the girl. She's absolutely gorgeous, though. The author even claims to not know who she is in spite of shooting the mini trailer of the books and the behind the scenes photo shoot for the 2nd one.

Anywho.

My sister loaned me "The Goldfinch". I have no idea what it's about, but her best friend pokes fun and says it's one of my sister's "smart people books". Lol

krissy
12-31-2014, 08:06 AM
Nafisi rocks my friggin world
Finished that one

Now onto Camus' the outsider

sharkythesharkdogg
12-31-2014, 01:23 PM
I just put Hyperion on my Kindle the other day ! Aaaaah, can't wait to read it

I really enjoyed that book. I thought how the book is divided into sections for each character to tell how they wound up on the pilgrimage was just really satisfying. The Shrike, weird time travel tricks, and human emotions were all quite powerful to me.

I have The Fall of Hyperion sitting on a shelf, and I keep forgetting to read it. I'm bad.

I did read From a Buick 8 recently because I got it free along with several other books. I wanted to see how similar it was to Christine. Other than a young man becoming obsessed with the car, it's different atmosphere. This book also divides itself into sections told by the different characters, much like Hyperion. It's not nearly as strong, but it's a decent little book.

Pant Leg Eater from the Bad World
01-01-2015, 12:38 AM
Well. I finished Interview with the Vampire today. It was alright. I really liked the first half. But it really just got boring and dragged out after a while. Meh.

I also added a few of you nerds on GoodReads. I'm going to try and be more active on that place.

Only a few more hours until I can start reading Tolkein!

Slothy
01-01-2015, 02:00 AM
Read the Science of Interstellar recently. Very good book highly recommend it science nerds. Also got another of Kip Thornes books, Black Holes & Time Warps. Also enjoyable so far.

Also just got some books on casting bronze, sand molds, and one on building a lathe. Eventually want to cast some drums in bronze.

Pike
01-01-2015, 02:05 AM
Add me on GoodReads mates https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5307610.S_M_Johnson (assuming you haven't already, I think a lot of you have)

Slothy
01-01-2015, 02:26 AM
I must confess that despite you nerds talking about it for years I have no clue what goodreads is.

Pike
01-01-2015, 10:19 AM
What is it with this forum and calling people nerds? It's like a bunch of tuna sitting around calling each other fish.

GoodReads is a site that lets you catalog and rate the books you've read. I mainly like it because I like tracking the media I've consumed, which is also why I use Last.fm, Steam, etc.

Slothy
01-01-2015, 02:55 PM
What did one fish say to the other fish?

Nothing, they're fish.

Madame Adequate
01-01-2015, 03:35 PM
Just finished early iterations of a couple of Pike's own novels, which are wonderful, and have now begun A Canticle for Leibowitz, which I have wanted to read for years and finally got for Christmas :squee:

Shorty
01-01-2015, 04:49 PM
What is it with this forum and calling people nerds? It's like a bunch of tuna sitting around calling each other fish.

GoodReads is a site that lets you catalog and rate the books you've read. I mainly like it because I like tracking the media I've consumed, which is also why I use Last.fm, Steam, etc.

It is a friendly and joking social exchange in which we show our love for one another. :colbert:

Jinx
01-01-2015, 05:17 PM
I'm reading Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman. I saw Shorty reading it and knew I had to as well. :3

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8820352-sam

me goodreads

Shorty
01-01-2015, 05:20 PM
I think I'm abandoning that one D: Not loving it so far.

Jinx
01-01-2015, 05:23 PM
It's very Sarah Silverman. Some of the stuff she writes is just OH MY GOD hilarious (like the part where her grandmother's dying words were to tell her sister Laura that she was the prettier sister) but a lot of the stuff is just really uncomfortable and sad. It's not totally a comedy book.

Also, she throws around the c-word a lot, and I know you hate that.

Shorty
01-01-2015, 05:27 PM
I don't mind the sad stuff, I am just not particularly fond of her voice and writing style, I guess. I don't think I've laughed once, and I do believe she intended for it to be a comedic memoir because she's a comedian. It's just not my style.

Jinx
01-01-2015, 05:33 PM
Yeah, fair enough! Not all memoirs are for everyone. :)

I just meant not ALL of it is meant to be funny. She's pretty candid and straightforward about her bedwetting, but her depression and over-medication especially.

Pant Leg Eater from the Bad World
01-13-2015, 09:45 PM
Well, I read The Hobbit once again. Still trampling through The Silmarillion. Starting The Fellowship of the Ring.
I really want to finish these LotR books because I want to finish the Earthsea novels and also read Wicked.

*Devore*
01-14-2015, 12:37 AM
I'm reading two things, the first Harry Potter and the Method of Rationality. It's a fan fiction were Harry is extremely smart/borderline evil, kind of like Yagami Light, and is trying to merge science and magic and possibly take over the world.

The second is called Worm and is set in a world with super heroes in it. It's kind of like a Marvel or DC universe except far darker and more realistic as people sometimes die in very gruesome ways. Which is to be expected when psychopaths are running around with super powers. Also, all the powers are surprisingly unique.

Shlup
01-14-2015, 02:26 AM
BJ got a tablet for his birthday, and he's been letting me use it. I got a manga app and have been reading manga like bananas. I have a few ongoing series on my list but I just finished Private Prince, which was not bad. Just started Welcome to the NHK last night but it might be a little too shounen for my tastes; gonna give it a few more chapters.

Marky Tee
01-18-2015, 12:18 AM
About 28%( thank you kindle) in to The End of all Songs by Michael Moorcock, been quite funny and interesting

Gonna give time travel a rest for a while, it's all i've been reading for ages, and give the fantasy genre another crack of the whip, not read any fantasy really since LOFT, and if i'm honest that bored me.

Gonna get stuck in to the Mazalan Book of the Fallen series.

Shorty
01-29-2015, 06:15 AM
Discovering that all of the knowledge I hoarded about ancient Egypt as a kid has not gone totally unused as there are quite a few references to gods and terminology in American Gods and I am stupidly satisfied that I am catching them all.

It's finally starting to pick up and I am pretty stoked to see where it goes.

chionos
01-29-2015, 07:07 AM
Discovering that all of the knowledge I hoarded about ancient Egypt as a kid has not gone totally unused as there are quite a few references to gods and terminology in American Gods and I am stupidly satisfied that I am catching them all.

It's finally starting to pick up and I am pretty stoked to see where it goes.

:omgomg: (I feel kind of dirty using this. Like, should I have shion's permission to use it, first? It's just the only fitting emote)

American Gods is so exquisitely perfectly yummy. It might even be time for me to read it again.

Please, if you have comments on the book after you're done, make them all positive or I'll be forced to hate you forever.




I mean, not really, but I'll be super super sad and maybe even cry a little.

Pumpkin
01-30-2015, 02:57 AM
Slowly reading Sophie's Choice.

Also, enjoy the :omgomg:, that's what it's there for :lol:

Shorty
01-30-2015, 03:34 AM
Discovering that all of the knowledge I hoarded about ancient Egypt as a kid has not gone totally unused as there are quite a few references to gods and terminology in American Gods and I am stupidly satisfied that I am catching them all.

It's finally starting to pick up and I am pretty stoked to see where it goes.

:omgomg: (I feel kind of dirty using this. Like, should I have shion's permission to use it, first? It's just the only fitting emote)

American Gods is so exquisitely perfectly yummy. It might even be time for me to read it again.

Please, if you have comments on the book after you're done, make them all positive or I'll be forced to hate you forever.




I mean, not really, but I'll be super super sad and maybe even cry a little.

Well, it's been rough to get into. My fabulous Neil Gaiman and a succubus with an enveloping vagina do not really mix. :stare: That was a disturbingly off-putting scene!

Shadow has been an incredibly boring character up until just recently, I've felt like he's just so goddamn bland. The chapter with Salim and the ifrit are where things changed for me, and I started to find the story interesting and curious rather than a chore. And since visiting The Egypt Crew Mortuary, things have been awesome. I'm on board now. Still trying to figure out what god Shadow is, though, as he obviously is one.

Also, somehow Wednesday has defaulted in my mind to a mixture of Jackie Earle Haley and Tom Waits. And maybe Mickey Rourke.

chionos
01-30-2015, 04:01 AM
Discovering that all of the knowledge I hoarded about ancient Egypt as a kid has not gone totally unused as there are quite a few references to gods and terminology in American Gods and I am stupidly satisfied that I am catching them all.

It's finally starting to pick up and I am pretty stoked to see where it goes.

:omgomg: (I feel kind of dirty using this. Like, should I have shion's permission to use it, first? It's just the only fitting emote)

American Gods is so exquisitely perfectly yummy. It might even be time for me to read it again.

Please, if you have comments on the book after you're done, make them all positive or I'll be forced to hate you forever.




I mean, not really, but I'll be super super sad and maybe even cry a little.

Well, it's been rough to get into. My fabulous Neil Gaiman and a succubus with an enveloping vagina do not really mix. :stare: That was a disturbingly off-putting scene!

I'm not going to defend it here, but it works. Try not to dwell on it, though.



Shadow has been an incredibly boring character up until just recently, I've felt like he's just so goddamn bland. The chapter with Salim and the ifrit are where things changed for me, and I started to find the story interesting and curious rather than a chore. And since visiting The Egypt Crew Mortuary, things have been awesome. I'm on board now. Still trying to figure out what god Shadow is, though, as he obviously is one.

That's the best part, figuring it out, seeing how it unfolds.



Also, somehow Wednesday has defaulted in my mind to a mixture of Jackie Earle Haley and Tom Waits. And maybe Mickey Rourke.

I had this in my head from the beginning.
http://pleasurephoto.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/jeff-bridges-by-marco-grob.jpg

A little cliched perhaps, but I couldn't shake it once it was there.

Shorty
01-30-2015, 04:04 AM
I can see that. Old curmudgeony men with gruff voices are the representation of Wednesday.

chionos
01-30-2015, 04:12 AM
No, I like Mickey Earle Waits better. I just didn't think of it at the time.

Also, to stay on topic, I'm reading Making Your Own Days: The Pleasures of Reading and Writing Poetry by Kenneth Koch.

I Took the Red Pill
01-30-2015, 06:11 AM
Our Mutual Friend by Dickens. He was my favorite author in high school, and I decided to revisit him and see if he still holds up. It was a bit of an awkward transition as I've been contently treading in the waters of the modernists and post-modernists for a couple of years now, which is obviously way different than Victorian literature. But being Dickens' last completed novel, I find that it actually anticipates modernism in a lot of ways. The characters are a good deal more cerebral and dynamic than what I remember from Dickens' earlier works.

I'm enjoying it, about 300 pages in out of more than 800. The humor is absolutely spot-on; I find myself actually laughing out loud every few pages. Although the characters are less flat than I remember from previous encounters with Chuck, in true Dickens fashion the bad-guys are pretty smurfing bad, and the good guys are salt-of-the-earth paragons of humanity. The story is interesting and the descriptions of London, from the grimy soot-covered shacks to the most lavish of ballrooms, are very good. It's a nostalgic read and I'm having fun with it, basically.

chionos
01-30-2015, 08:50 AM
Our Mutual Friend by Dickens. He was my favorite author in high school, and I decided to revisit him and see if he still holds up. It was a bit of an awkward transition as I've been contently treading in the waters of the modernists and post-modernists for a couple of years now, which is obviously way different than Victorian literature. But being Dickens' last completed novel, I find that it actually anticipates modernism in a lot of ways. The characters are a good deal more cerebral and dynamic than what I remember from Dickens' earlier works.

I'm enjoying it, about 300 pages in out of more than 800. The humor is absolutely spot-on; I find myself actually laughing out loud every few pages. Although the characters are less flat than I remember from previous encounters with Chuck, in true Dickens fashion the bad-guys are pretty smurfing bad, and the good guys are salt-of-the-earth paragons of humanity. The story is interesting and the descriptions of London, from the grimy soot-covered shacks to the most lavish of ballrooms, are very good. It's a nostalgic read and I'm having fun with it, basically.

There's a pretty fantastic OMF mini-searies. This is one of my favorite Dickens novels.

sharkythesharkdogg
01-30-2015, 12:56 PM
I got Pumpkin her favorite Stephen King book for Christmas. It's Salem's Lot, and I've never read it, so now I'm getting around to it.

So far, it's pretty solid. Vampires are jerks.

Pumpkin
01-30-2015, 03:39 PM
He won't shut up about Vampires now. He accused me of being one about 6 times yesterday

sharkythesharkdogg
01-30-2015, 03:50 PM
I'm making some garlic bread with the spaghetti tonight.


Just because. :shifty:

Leigh
02-02-2015, 10:17 PM
I'm in the midst of reading 'Think' by Simon Blackburn.

Has anyone ever read this before? It is suggested, via it's subtitle, as "A compelling introduction to philosophy". I am a bit of a beginner in the ideas of the subject of Philosophy. It is my attempt to become a more knowledgable person, or potentially, a way to further illuminate my stupidity.

I'm having an extremely tough time actually understanding anything that is being said it in. I am having to re-read every single sentence, trying to grasp any extract of meaning. I still sort of have no idea what this book is really trying to tell me 35 pages in...

escobert
02-02-2015, 10:22 PM
I started and never finished GoT on my kindle. I started 1984 but cba to finish. And I still have yet to finish Death By Black Hole. I need to read more often :(

chionos
02-02-2015, 10:49 PM
I'm in the midst of reading 'Think' by Simon Blackburn.

Has anyone ever read this before? It is suggested, via it's subtitle, as "A compelling introduction to philosophy". I am a bit of a beginner in the ideas of the subject of Philosophy. It is my attempt to become a more knowledgable person, or potentially, a way to further illuminate my stupidity.

I'm having an extremely tough time actually understanding anything that is being said it in. I am having to re-read every single sentence, trying to grasp any extract of meaning. I still sort of have no idea what this book is really trying to tell me 35 pages in...

Might be Blackburn's style. He's known for a quirky writing style that's less accessible than his ideas are. Might be handy to stop every once in a while and do a little research on things you've never heard of, b/c while it's an "introduction" to philosophy, it still kind of assumes some things it probably shouldn't. The terminology's not always de-jargoned, and the philosophers he mentions have backgrounds and contexts and whatnot that you should know before studying what they said and such.

Keep at it, though. The struggle is your brain being stretched and reorganized. If you want to grow, expect growing pains.

Velvet Jernigan
02-04-2015, 07:03 AM
I enjoy reading the works of Philip Yancy which includes, "Disappointment with God" and "Where is God when it hurts?" Truly remarkable and will make you realize a lot of things about faith. It does not promote a certain religion though which I greatly appreciate.

Electroshock Therapy
02-06-2015, 06:07 PM
"The String of Pearls" by... I'm still not sure. I believe it's the first story to introduce the character of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It was an old serial for a paper back in the mid-1800s, and I think it had a couple writers overseen by an editor. Or something like that. I could be completely wrong and it was written by the editor.

Anyway, as I said it's the first Sweeney Todd story. It's a tough read, and I've only read it once. I didn't care for it the first time because the story really isn't about Sweeney Todd so much as the romance between Johanna and Mark. The musical that most people are familiar with has almost nothing to do with the original story. So ignore the story of revenge and the sympathetic Todd. In the original, Todd is just a villian. He's standard fair, but still a fun and dangerous character to read. And he did become popular in England for a reason! The chapters that focus on him are my favourites. Ms. Lovett doesn't appear very often, and the cannibalism is only alluded to every now and then. The story really isn't about the meat pies at all. There is also an interesting detour with Tobias and his unfortunate turn of events around the middle. I'm looking forward to revisiting those pages. But it's the whole titular string of pearls and romance plot that actually does nothing for me. It drags somewhat and I don't particularly care for how those characters are written. Oh well, it might grow on me this second time around. I'm only on chapter two, after all.

Forsaken Lover
02-06-2015, 06:16 PM
"It" by Stephen King.

I'm on Beverly's second chapter where she is heading back to Derry.

It's pretty good.

I've read "The Shining" and the first half or so of "The Stand." The former was great and the latter was pretty good too but it was so long and i kinda got distracted along the way.

The Stand and It are generally agreed to be his best books it seems.

Marky Tee
02-21-2015, 12:23 AM
Just finished Gardens of the Moon by Stephen Erikson, first in The Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Absolutely beautiful, rich, complex and just brilliant. And I had read many warnings that it would be a hard slog, but to stick with it because the rest of the series gets good. Well if things only get better then I am prepared for my socks to be blown in the general direction of off. Any of you lot read these books? No spoilers or fire and death.

Slothy
02-21-2015, 01:55 AM
Just finished up Fall of Hyperion which I read immediately after Hyperion. I have Endymion now and plan to start it once I catch up on the last few weeks of comics I haven't read yet.

Winter Nights
02-21-2015, 05:11 AM
Currently reading Neil Gaiman's "Trigger Warning", in what little free time I have. Luckily, it's a book of short stories, so I can read it bit by bit, without worrying that I'm forgetting something.

Electroshock Therapy
02-21-2015, 05:18 AM
Still on String of Pearls. Almost halfway through. There are moments where you can really tell it's a product of its times (1850s). Some of the comments, even the compliments, are somewhat sexist. Other than that, it's a pretty solid mystery for an oldie. I'm enjoying the story more this time around. I'm sure it helps that I know what to expect. When I first read the book, I was thinking it would be more like a horror story because it's Sweeney Todd, a classic villain. It is part horror, but it's mostly acting as a mystery novel with the characters trying to solve the mystery of two missing sailors. I think the heavy mystery parts really threw me off the first time reading.

radicaledward124
02-21-2015, 05:29 AM
I'm reading Earth Afire buy Orson Scott Card. Great book!

chionos
02-21-2015, 06:36 AM
Currently reading Neil Gaiman's "Trigger Warning", in what little free time I have. Luckily, it's a book of short stories, so I can read it bit by bit, without worrying that I'm forgetting something.

Have you read Gaiman's Fragile Things, another book of short stories? I haven't enjoyed his short works as much as I'd like, but maybe I'm just spoiled by his longer works. I've got an enormous backlog to read, but I'd like to give mini-Gaiman another shot.

Pant Leg Eater from the Bad World
02-21-2015, 06:37 AM
Ugh. I can't find Hyperion anywhere except for big name bookstores.

Blagh,

zCurrently reading Wicked.

Night Fury
02-21-2015, 07:01 AM
Just finished Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone last night, going to crack on with Chamber of Secrets tonight - one of my favs!

Winter Nights
02-21-2015, 08:23 AM
Currently reading Neil Gaiman's "Trigger Warning", in what little free time I have. Luckily, it's a book of short stories, so I can read it bit by bit, without worrying that I'm forgetting something.

Have you read Gaiman's Fragile Things, another book of short stories? I haven't enjoyed his short works as much as I'd like, but maybe I'm just spoiled by his longer works. I've got an enormous backlog to read, but I'd like to give mini-Gaiman another shot.

I have and quite enjoyed it. I get what you mean, though. While I'm a big fan of short stories, in general, his leave you wanting more. Especially considering how marvelous his longer works are.

chionos
02-21-2015, 08:37 AM
Currently reading Neil Gaiman's "Trigger Warning", in what little free time I have. Luckily, it's a book of short stories, so I can read it bit by bit, without worrying that I'm forgetting something.

Have you read Gaiman's Fragile Things, another book of short stories? I haven't enjoyed his short works as much as I'd like, but maybe I'm just spoiled by his longer works. I've got an enormous backlog to read, but I'd like to give mini-Gaiman another shot.

I have and quite enjoyed it. I get what you mean, though. While I'm a big fan of short stories, in general, his leave you wanting more. Especially considering how marvelous his longer works are.

Cool, so how would you compare the two? Is it just more of the same, or has he gotten better? Gosh, that sounds terrible. I can't believe I'm asking if Neil fucking Gaiman has gotten better at something.

Marky Tee
02-21-2015, 09:23 AM
Just finished up Fall of Hyperion which I read immediately after Hyperion. I have Endymion now and plan to start it once I catch up on the last few weeks of comics I haven't read yet.

You sir, are in for a treat :). Enjoy yerself.

Also, Pant Monster guy, what's wrong with buying from big named book stores? Except for the price?
I managed to get the Endymion omnibus for a whopping 1 pence off amazon, plus £2.80 postage and packing. And considering the thing is like a slab of concrete, that was incredibly cheap.

Winter Nights
02-21-2015, 12:28 PM
Cool, so how would you compare the two? Is it just more of the same, or has he gotten better? Gosh, that sounds terrible. I can't believe I'm asking if Neil smurfing Gaiman has gotten better at something.

It actually occurs to me that "leaves you wanting more" sounds worse than I meant it. His short stories are always amazing, I just end up wishing they'd keep going.

Haven't got very far yet, in the new book though. Only a few stories in. Though, from what I can tell, he's just as good as ever. If you love his previous short story books, you'll probably have the same reaction to this one. But, if you're not a fan of his short stories, it's doubtful you'll have your mind changed by this set.

It's Gaiman giving his all, but in smaller doses, like his previous short story books. Whether you're into it, is all a matter of personal preference.

Pant Leg Eater from the Bad World
02-21-2015, 02:11 PM
Also, Pant Monster guy, what's wrong with buying from big named book stores? Except for the price?
I managed to get the Endymion omnibus for a whopping 1 pence off amazon, plus £2.80 postage and packing. And considering the thing is like a slab of concrete, that was incredibly cheap.
There is nothing wrong with buying from big named book stores. There are quite a few books/authors that I only buy from Barnes and Noble. But for some books I feel the need for them to smell just right and to have already been properly well loved.
For instance, there are four or five series/sagas/whatever that I only buy form B&N because I need the as soon as they are out in paperback because I follow those particular series very closely. (Cal Leandros/Mercy Thompson/Nightside/Kyle Swanson novels being examples) But other books that I have been out for a while and I am just getting into, I prefer and enjoy the hunt for. (Hyperion/GoT/Secret Histories/Dresden Files/Odd Thomas/Sandman Slim/ other books that I have owned and want again) I love the hunt for books in an old book shop. Book shops smell just right.

I am currently reading Wicked. Just started it.

Bubba
02-22-2015, 10:23 AM
Just finished Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone last night, going to crack on with Chamber of Secrets tonight - one of my favs!

Flying Ford Anglia Mystifies Muggles

noxious.sunshine
02-24-2015, 02:34 AM
I'm reading The Goldfinch.

It's slow going cuz I just have a weird aversion to physical books now, but I'm halfway through and really enjoying it.

Pumpkin
02-24-2015, 04:10 PM
Still reading Sophie's Choice. It's been slow going but it's starting to pick up now