Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 1013

Nyssa · 01-12-2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

It's not that long. Just seems that way.

Not enjoying it are you?

This will be my first Jane Austen novel. Not exactly sure what to expect. I'm guessing its a good thing that I prefer the (British) English dictionary over the American one. I imagine it will come in handy.

caleb72 · 01-13-2013, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansplace

Soul Identity was an interesting story with interesting characters, and also included a neat mystery. I'll get the sequel, Soul Intent and add it to my TBR list.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreams

I read both of these when the author (member denbatch) popped on to MR in response to a post in 2009. I really liked the first one and the second was good, but I liked the first one best.

Thanks. I've had this in my library for ages. Of course being in my library may mean sitting until thousands of other books, but recommendations do help a title to be given another look.

maianhvk · 01-13-2013, 02:20 AM

You guys have been doing A LOT of reading

I'm (still) reading Mémoires d'Hadrien by Marguerite Yourcenar and it is superb. I believe it's one of the most beautiful writings I've ever read.

The Old Patagonian Express by Paul Theroux: he's got this arrogant attitude but I think it's part of the charm.

And I'll jump into a new fantasy series/book now. Any recommendation? It's been a while since... oh I forgot the last time I read good fantasy

pdurrant · 01-13-2013, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Man-Kzin Wars XIII created by Larry Niven.

This was OK. The stories should have been interesting - perhaps I'm tired - but I didn't find it compelling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maianhvk

And I'll jump into a new fantasy series/book now. Any recommendation? It's been a while since... oh I forgot the last time I read good fantasy

Magician by Raymond E. Feist is good, as a classic coming-of-age epic fantasy in a fantasy world. The start of a series of series.

The Spirit Ring by Lois McMaster Bujold is excellent if you'd rather have a stand-alone rather than the start of a series, and is a historical magical fantasy.

Enchantment by Orson Scott Card is good for a more present-day, real-world fantasy and is also a stand-alone.

So You Want To Be A Wizard by Diane Duane is the first of a great series of Young Adult fantasy novels, also set in the present-day, real-world.

gmw · 01-13-2013, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maianhvk

[...]And I'll jump into a new fantasy series/book now. Any recommendation? It's been a while since... oh I forgot the last time I read good fantasy

It's such a wide open field - but seeing that pdurrant offered at least one that I consider a classic ("Magician"), I thought I'd suggest two other "classic" recommendations if you haven't tried them before:

David Eddings' series The Belgariad (5 books, first is "Pawn of Prophecy") and the sequel The Malloreon (5 books). Light, easy reading, what these days would probably be published as young adult, but fun with good touches of humour. (Though I suggest you stop at those ten books and ignore "Belgarath the Sorcerer" and "Polgara the Sorceress". Nor is this a recommendation for Eddings in general, just that particular series.)

At the other end of the scale are The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson - first book of the trilogy is "Lord Foul's Bane". Immense, serious, and spectacular ... but it's one of those love-hate things. Some people really don't like them, but I still think the series, including what follows after, are some of the best fantasy I've ever read. (I've not read the ebook versions of these, but from what I heard, early releases had issues, I presume they've been tidied up since.)

kennyc · 01-13-2013, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

.....

At the other end of the scale are The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson - first book of the trilogy is "Lord Foul's Bane". Immense, serious, and spectacular ... but it's one of those love-hate things. Some people really don't like them, but I still think the series, including what follows after, are some of the best fantasy I've ever read. (I've not read the ebook versions of these, but from what I heard, early releases had issues, I presume they've been tidied up since.)

OH WOW! THERE ARE EBOOKS! WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE TELL ME!

Time to purchase and re-read. I loved this (at least the first trilogy) My favorite reluctant/anti-hero!

Oh Wow, the Library even has them....I'm on the waiting list. Woo-Hoo! What a nice birthday present!

maianhvk · 01-13-2013, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

David Eddings' series The Belgariad [...] and the sequel The Malloreon

At the other end of the scale are The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson - first book of the trilogy is "Lord Foul's Bane".

Both are already on the TBR list. But thanks. I'll start Feist's Magician and Eddings' Belgariad first thing

pdurrant · 01-13-2013, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Man-Kzin Wars XIII created by Larry Niven.

I forgot to say what I was reading next, which was Deviations: Covenant by Elissa Malchon,

The writing's OK, and the premise is interesting (two sentient species, one dependent on an essential vitamin found only (since the extinction of previously eaten species) in the other.

Unfortunately, I just can't believe in the covenant that the two species have come to, as described (in-story) in the first couple of chapters of the book.

So, on to: The Alchemyst by Michael Scott. A YA novel I bought way back in May 2009, but I'm pretty sure I haven't read yet.

orlok · 01-13-2013, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

...I'm reading The Pines by Blake Crouch, a story I'm told by folks in the "Best twist?" thread has a killer jaw-dropping surprise.

Hope I haven't oversold it, but there do seem to be a lot a people that have really enjoyed The Pines.

I'm currently reading The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi, a recommendation from @usuallee in the True Crime thread. Absorbing and well written account of a serial killer who was supposedly the basis for Harris's Hannibal Lecter.

HarryT · 01-13-2013, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyssa

This will be my first Jane Austen novel. Not exactly sure what to expect. I'm guessing its a good thing that I prefer the (British) English dictionary over the American one. I imagine it will come in handy.

It's not the best one to start with, IMHO. "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice" are both a lot more "accessible" for the modern reader.

Nyssa · 01-13-2013, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's not the best one to start with, IMHO. "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice" are both a lot more "accessible" for the modern reader.

Could explain why they're so popular.

Oh Well. I have Jane Austen: The Complete Collection so I can go back and read the others when I find the time.

HarryT · 01-13-2013, 09:53 AM

If you're not familiar with early 19th century British society, you may find it easier to get a version with footnotes, such as the "Penguin Classics" editions, or else you may struggle slightly. One very useful thing to know, for example, is that when someone is called "Miss X", where "X" is the surname, this always refers to the eldest daughter of the family. Younger daughters will always be referred to by their Christian names. If you don't know this, you may get confused about who's being referred to.

Nyssa · 01-13-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you're not familiar with early 19th century British society, you may find it easier to get a version with footnotes, such as the "Penguin Classics" editions, or else you may struggle slightly. One very useful thing to know, for example, is that when someone is called "Miss X", where "X" is the surname, this always refers to the eldest daughter of the family. Younger daughters will always be referred to by their Christian names. If you don't know this, you may get confused about who's being referred to.

Oh. Thank you!

I haven't read much, just the standard Dickens tales, really, and that was eons ago (except for A Christmas Carol which I read for the book club the year before last). I actually have a quite a bit on my TBR, which doesn't help much.

HarryT · 01-13-2013, 01:27 PM

Just finished "Skyfall" by Harry Harrison. "Prometheus" is the largest rocket ever built - a joint US/Soviet mission to place a solar power generator in orbit. But something goes wrong after launch, and the spacecraft is left in a decaying orbit, with only a day until it re-enters the atmosphere and falls to Earth with potentially catastrophic consequences. Can the crew restart the engines and save things?

A very good read - thoroughly enjoyable. A little spoilt by the fact that it's full of OCR errors. I've written to the publisher to complain.

maianhvk · 01-13-2013, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

So, on to: The Alchemyst by Michael Scott. A YA novel I bought way back in May 2009, but I'm pretty sure I haven't read yet.

Don't even bother, Durrant. It might be kind of interesting at first, but things get really, really boring later on. I had to quit after 3 books.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hey hey! I found the first Kindle 3 bug!	WilliamG	Amazon Kindle	22	02-14-2012 06:28 PM
Advice on Action	jaxx6166	Writers' Corner	5	06-25-2010 01:29 AM
Hey! From Reading - P.A. that is.	GlenBarrington	Introduce Yourself	3	01-01-2010 10:00 PM
Seriously thoughtful Affirmative Action	Jaime_Astorga	Lounge	39	07-07-2009 07:24 PM

01-13-2013, 02:20 AM	#15183
maianhvk whimsical Posts: 2,779 Karma: 88193939 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: in darkness Device: current: PPW 4. brick: K3 & Voyage.	You guys have been doing A LOT of reading I'm (still) reading Mémoires d'Hadrien by Marguerite Yourcenar and it is superb. I believe it's one of the most beautiful writings I've ever read. The Old Patagonian Express by Paul Theroux: he's got this arrogant attitude but I think it's part of the charm. And I'll jump into a new fantasy series/book now. Any recommendation? It's been a while since... oh I forgot the last time I read good fantasy

01-13-2013, 09:53 AM	#15192
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If you're not familiar with early 19th century British society, you may find it easier to get a version with footnotes, such as the "Penguin Classics" editions, or else you may struggle slightly. One very useful thing to know, for example, is that when someone is called "Miss X", where "X" is the surname, this always refers to the eldest daughter of the family. Younger daughters will always be referred to by their Christian names. If you don't know this, you may get confused about who's being referred to.

01-13-2013, 01:27 PM	#15194
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Just finished "Skyfall" by Harry Harrison. "Prometheus" is the largest rocket ever built - a joint US/Soviet mission to place a solar power generator in orbit. But something goes wrong after launch, and the spacecraft is left in a decaying orbit, with only a day until it re-enters the atmosphere and falls to Earth with potentially catastrophic consequences. Can the crew restart the engines and save things? A very good read - thoroughly enjoyable. A little spoilt by the fact that it's full of OCR errors. I've written to the publisher to complain.

Advert

Advert