New generic book thread

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11843

I have just started reading the Malazan books, seem good so far, but only a little in to the first one. Hopefully they should keep me occupied for a while.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

I love them. They're the most massive scale epic I've ever read, and really impressive work from the author. Hard work in places keeping track of all the massive character list.

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10074

Patrick Ness. Heh.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:52

BikNorton wrote:

Patrick Ness. Heh.

?

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10074

P Ness.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38460

The less popular member of the Family Ness.

Heh, member.

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22266

Trooper wrote:

Cras wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Ex Communication (the third Ex Heroes book) is out today.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Communicatio ... 0091953642

The forth, Ex Purgatory, has been confirmed too.

Out on Thursday.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Purgatory-Ex ... +purgatory

Halfway through chapter 3 so far.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

WTF?

Yeah, so..... yeah... ummm...

It wasn't bad as such, but it was easily the worst of the four so far.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

I really liked it, have to say!

Grim... · **Posted:** Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:18

Me too, to be honest. I was just pleased that Legion wasn't the fucking baddy again.

Did anyone spot the "clues" he talked about in the Afterword?

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22266

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I think my view is tailored by quite how long it took to get going, the first half of the book could have been condensed down so much more, and the final "battle" was over in a chapter. Needed much better pacing I think.
I enjoyed the second half when it started to get going, and then it was over.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Not even a little bit.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:37

Oh Reacher. How do you keep getting yourself into these situations?

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:38

Also: Kvothe - how are we pronouncing his name?

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38460

"Fanshaw"

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11843

Grim... wrote:

Also: Kvothe - how are we pronouncing his name?

It tells you at some point, "Quothe".

Curiosity · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:34

"Raymond Luxury Yacht"

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:45

Bobbyaro wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Also: Kvothe - how are we pronouncing his name?

It tells you at some point, "Quothe".

Pronounced like "quaff" as in "to drink"?

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22266

Grim... wrote:

Bobbyaro wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Also: Kvothe - how are we pronouncing his name?

It tells you at some point, "Quothe".

Pronounced like "quaff" as in "to drink"?

If you have a lisp, yes.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 11:05

I dislike names like that, which seem to be hard to say for no real reason (although, of course, there could be a reason, what with the importance of names in that book). My brain stuttered over it every time I saw it, which dragged me out of the book a little.

I like simple names.

Like "Jack Reacher".

Curiosity · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 11:17

Trooper wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Bobbyaro wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Also: Kvothe - how are we pronouncing his name?

It tells you at some point, "Quothe".

Pronounced like "quaff" as in "to drink"?

If you have a lisp, yes.

I would have thought more to rhyme with 'both'.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 11:22

Curiosity wrote:

Trooper wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Bobbyaro wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Also: Kvothe - how are we pronouncing his name?

It tells you at some point, "Quothe".

Pronounced like "quaff" as in "to drink"?

If you have a lisp, yes.

I would have thought more to rhyme with 'both'.

As in "the raven nevermore"?

Curiosity · **Posted:** Mon Feb 03, 2014 11:23

Grim... wrote:

Curiosity wrote:

Trooper wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Bobbyaro wrote:

Grim... wrote:

Also: Kvothe - how are we pronouncing his name?

It tells you at some point, "Quothe".

Pronounced like "quaff" as in "to drink"?

If you have a lisp, yes.

I would have thought more to rhyme with 'both'.

As in "the raven nevermore"?

Yes.

Slightly Green · **Joined:** 26th Aug, 2010 **Posts:** 2069

Grim... wrote:

Also: Kvothe - how are we pronouncing his name?

With book 3 still in the wind Patrick Rothfuss is wondering why some people have been reviewing it even though it isn't finished never mind out

Quote:

While it's nice to see folks out there giving this book five stars, and in some cases even reviewing it, I'll admit that I'm kinda puzzled.

After thinking it over for a while, I've realized there's only one explanation for this:

Time travelers love my books.

This is strangely reassuring, as it lets me know that, eventually, I do finish my revisions, and the book turns out good enough so that I still have a following out there in the big ball of wibbly-wobbly.... timey-wimey.... stuff that I like to think of as the future.

I would also like to say, future readers, that I appreciate your taking time to read and review my books. It's really flattering knowing that even with time-travel technology at your disposal, you'd rather read my stuff and mention it here on goodreads, rather than, say, hunt dinosaurs, get drunk with da Vinci, or pants Hitler.

Secondly, I'd like to say if you're The Doctor, and you're reading this, I would make an excellent traveling companion. I know you normally tend to hang out with pretty young women and robot dogs. And honestly? I respect that.

Still, I bring certain things to the table. Humor, witty banter, and a beard that will allow me to blend in seamlessly with any pre-industrial Germanic culture. I'm also an excellent kisser and play a mean game of Settlers of Catan.

Just throwing it out there.

Lastly, if any of you happen to have a digital copy of the book you'd like to e-mail me, I'd really appreciate it. I'd love to see the five-star version of the book, because right now, the one I'm toiling away at is about a three an a half-in my opinion. It would save me a lot of work if I could just skip to the end and publish it.

Sincerely yours,

pat

Curiosity · **Posted:** Thu Feb 06, 2014 13:03

Just read 'The Explorer' by James Smythe.

It's an interesting riff on a well-trodden theme, though saying what the theme is kinda spoils it a little.

The plot is, initially, that there is a new space mission to send astronauts deeper into space than ever before. The mission comprises a couple of pilots, a couple of scientists, a doctor and a journalist. It starts off with just the journalist alive, the others having all died, and then goes on to explain how things happened.

It's well written and interesting, though it gets a little wearing towards the end.

Either way, it's good enough that I just bought the sequel.

(Though it doesn't need one; it works as a stand alone book)

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu Feb 06, 2014 19:46

The first book of The Wheel of Time. So far it has not been great at all.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6510

I hear that by the time you get to book 10 they really start to get going.

Slightly Green · **Joined:** 26th Aug, 2010 **Posts:** 2069

MaliA wrote:

The first book of The Wheel of Time. So far it has not been great at all.

Don't do it, although I am glad I have read them all if I was starting the series again knowing what I know now I just wouldn't. Same goes for the Sword of Truth series.

WoT really flounders from book 4 through book 10(ish) then gets better as Sanderson takes over the reigns. Jordan had a epic idea but gets lost along the way unfortunately.

I am currently on Memories of Ice (Book 3 in the Malazan Series by S. Erikson) and so far am very impressed, it is such a insanely HUGE epic that I am struggling to keep the many characters straight in my head but wow. Only 11 more books to go after this one :metul:

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

The Malazan Book of the Fallen is definitely the best series I've ever read, but it's so insanely epic you absolutely have to read it twice or more, I found.

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22266

Slightly Green wrote:

MaliA wrote:

WoT really flounders from book 4 through book 10(ish) then gets better as Sanderson takes over the reigns. Jordan had a epic idea but gets lost along the way unfortunately.

If you don't like it by the end of the 1st book, then it doesn't get any better until the 10th...

Personally I really enjoyed them all, even the shit period, but I can totally understand why people wouldn't.

romanista · **Posted:** Sat Feb 08, 2014 14:33

reading sleepwalkers.. brilliant book on the start of WWI

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

Just bought that Name of the Wind book... largely because its fantasy NOT set in bloody London.

Though London Falling (Paul Cornell - yes the Doctor Who one) was really good.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 16:41

I've just finished 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott. It was a delight to read, and I'm afraid to say my upper lip trembled and eyes moistened at certain bits. Though written for children it is very intelligent, and written with great grace. Some wonderful classical and biblical allusion stuff going on too, mainly revolving around Pilgrim's Progress.

It also has bonus US Civil War stuff, albeit home front.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 16:44

Trooper wrote:

Slightly Green wrote:

MaliA wrote:

WoT really flounders from book 4 through book 10(ish) then gets better as Sanderson takes over the reigns. Jordan had a epic idea but gets lost along the way unfortunately.

If you don't like it by the end of the 1st book, then it doesn't get any better until the 10th...

Personally I really enjoyed them all, even the shit period, but I can totally understand why people wouldn't.

I cannot stand lengthy book sequences that demand six books to actually do anything. Quantity is not quality. Anything that can't be done in a chunky trilogy, or seven slim children's books, can fuck off.

Master & Commander series excepted. Because awesome and more of a collection of stand-alone adventures united by characters, each with a satisfying narrative outcome.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6510

NervousPete wrote:

Master & Commander series excepted. Because awesome and more of a collection of stand-alone adventures united by characters, each with a satisfying narrative outcome.

I recently went on a bit of an M&C spree. I'm currently on the penultimate book, having read them all with at most one other non-M&C book in between, and sometimes straight after each other. The fact that I did that and still like the style and the characters is quite something. Sometimes Jack's wild swings in his home life can feel a bit tacked on ( He's rich! He's poor! He's entangled in intractable law suits! No he's not! ) and I've got the impression that some of the characters age wrongly, but I've really enjoyed reading them all again.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 20:07

Squirt wrote:

NervousPete wrote:

Master & Commander series excepted. Because awesome and more of a collection of stand-alone adventures united by characters, each with a satisfying narrative outcome.

I recently went on a bit of an M&C spree. I'm currently on the penultimate book, having read them all with at most one other non-M&C book in between, and sometimes straight after each other. The fact that I did that and still like the style and the characters is quite something. Sometimes Jack's wild swings in his home life can feel a bit tacked on ( He's rich! He's poor! He's entangled in intractable law suits! No he's not! ) and I've got the impression that some of the characters age wrongly, but I've really enjoyed reading them all again.

Yeah, I stopped at The Nutmeg of Consolation. I didn't want to see the characters grow older, or for O'Brien to screw up the Sophie - Jack relationship. Aside from one too many Maturin feverish-dying / Jolly-Jack an idiot ashore bits it was pretty much perfect up to that point and I was happy to leave it there. The entire Wray plotline leading to Reverse of the Medal and Letter of Marque is wonderful stuff. And the first three books are just beautiful.

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

Pundabaya wrote:

Just bought that Name of the Wind book... largely because its fantasy NOT set in bloody London.

Though London Falling (Paul Cornell - yes the Doctor Who one) was really good.

I'm reading book 2 now. Kvothe need(s/ed) a proper slap.

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

That Sanderson chap is a bit good... Mistborn Trilogy 1 done, The Alloy of Law done, on to Warbreaker. All of them are awesome, but I think the Alloy of Law is the best, its a bit less serious. And steam/cowpunk.

krazywookie · **Posted:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:20

Pundabaya wrote:

That Sanderson chap is a bit good... Mistborn Trilogy 1 done, The Alloy of Law done, on to Warbreaker. All of them are awesome, but I think the Alloy of Law is the best, its a bit less serious. And steam/cowpunk.

I have alloy of law queued and am currently wading through the way of kings which I am enjoying more than the mist born stuff, even though that was really good. Might need an intermission in the barage of Sanderson goodness.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Reading Way of Kings here too. Good shit.

MrChris · **Joined:** 1st Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 30498

Trooper wrote:

Slightly Green wrote:

MaliA wrote:

WoT really flounders from book 4 through book 10(ish) then gets better as Sanderson takes over the reigns. Jordan had a epic idea but gets lost along the way unfortunately.

If you don't like it by the end of the 1st book, then it doesn't get any better until the 10th...

Personally I really enjoyed them all, even the shit period, but I can totally understand why people wouldn't.

I think it started well, dipped in the middle, and then improved by leaps and bounds when Sanderson took over. Mainly due to having less wanking on about the embroidery on people's dresses.

Crobert Chubz · **Joined:** 10th Mar, 2014 **Posts:** 8

Currently reading this beuatiful book :'(

Kern · **Posted:** Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:33

Finished Daniel Orkent's 'Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition'. A fascinating account of how a small minority were able to introduce the scheme, and detailing how factors such as race, women's suffrage, anti-Catholicism, and immigration played such a big part of its advocacy.

Orkent's style is very chatty, and he takes obvious glee every time he details how one or other major dry was exposed to be drunk or smuggling booze, etc.

Slightly Green · **Joined:** 26th Aug, 2010 **Posts:** 2069

Just started Words of Radiance: The Stormlight Archive Book Two by Sanderson, don't think I will be sleeping much in next day or two

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Write book three now pls.

Slightly Green · **Joined:** 26th Aug, 2010 **Posts:** 2069

Cras wrote:

Write book three now pls.

Agree

MaliA · **Posted:** Sun Mar 23, 2014 22:10

Finished Book One of "The Wheel of Time". It wasn't very good. It was a like a rubbish LotR ripoff.

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22266

Slightly Green wrote:

Just started Words of Radiance: The Stormlight Archive Book Two by Sanderson, don't think I will be sleeping much in next day or two

Oooh, thanks for the heads up.

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2014 16:55

Read 'Watership Down' for the first time since I was 12 or thereabouts. Still felt sad at the end.

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

Chris Hadfield 'An astronaut's guide to life on earth.' Quite interesting. He very nearly didn't make it into space at all. I definitely like his philosophy.

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

I'm doing a Cosmere archive binge. I'm up to 'Way of Kings'. It's all starting to come together... dun-dun-duun!

Be Excellent To Each Other

New generic book thread
What are you reading?

Who is online

Be Excellent To Each Other

New generic book thread What are you reading?

Who is online

New generic book thread
What are you reading?