Maklershed
Member
Make it a bakers dozen.
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What are you reading? (April 2013)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
Mackenzie 92
Member
King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
Really loving this world and the characters. Can't say too much without giving away some of the surprises, but yeah, this is good stuff. Probably jumped up to my 2nd favorite fantasy series, right behind SOIAF. And now to wait for book 3.
Starting this up, sample hooked me.
You by Austin Grossman
nakedsushi
Member
How did you end up with so many? Do you like it that much?
I felt exactly the same way when I started reading it a few months ago. I put it down and moved to something else. I didn't like the conceit of the overall zombiepocalypse being told by several characters, mostly because the characters all had the same voice.
Mackenzie 92
Member
I remember liking it when it came our 4 or 5 years ago, but that was before the zombie craze. Doubt I could get through it now.
Last Visible Dog
Banned
Just bought 10 Iain M. Banks Culture novels. Been meaning to read them, and his terminal cancer finally prompted me into starting ...
Maklershed
Member
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fredrancour
Member
I've read the first dread empire omnibus and enjoyed it. I would imagine anyone who enjoyed the black company series will feel likewise.
Adam Blade
WWKC
It's a decent debut novel. The genre is interesting and the characters are certainly likeable, albeit some are a bit one-dimensional. The story does engage you and the emphasis on gun/gunpowder adds a bit of variety to the traditional fantasy setting.
Mcclellan's prose is readable and I will be reading the sequels.
Being purposely vague, as I hate having spoilers in my very infrequent reviews.
It's certainly an under-utilized genre.
bengraven
Member
The Once and Future King is in my top three fantasy novels of all time. Probably in my top 5 books of all time.
I was in a local thrift store in Gainesville, FL, when I saw that they had TWENTY at least copies of the book in their book section. All good quality (except a number written on the bottoms) and just lying there. Like you might find 30 copies of a dictionary or Bible at the local swap meet and be like "how the fuck did they get so many copies of that".
I was shocked. I also have a really old version of the book (my version is actually titled "CAMELOT" and has a painted picture of Richard Harris and the rest of the Camelot cast on it - it's from the year the musical came out), so I wanted at least one to replace it, but I found myself grabbing two stacks.
I just don't want them to be like "ugh, these aren't selling" and pulp them with the seven copies of "LEARNING JAVA 1.2" or "HOW TO USE ANGEFIRE" books they had.
Because it's seriously one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.
So who wants one? For free?
I'm actually writing a fantasy novel set in a fictional late 19th century.
I don't understand, like you, why fantasy novelists feel they need to write their alternative worlds before the gun was introduced.
So my book has cameras, sixshooters, barbed wire, telegraphs, castles, dragonish things, mages, and vampireish things. And it's not Earth in the far future or steampunk or alternate history. It's a fucking 100% fantasy novel, set in it's own world with no connections to Earth at all. Just set in an similar timeline that isn't middle ages Europe.
You don't do international shipping do you :<
Holy shit Grossman has a new book? I fucking loved Soon I Will Be Invincible.
Definitely one of those things I had to read in the moment. Reading it these days I recognise the artifice too clearly. But I did end up reading a lot of Studs Turkel because of it, and I really enjoyed WWZ when I first read it, so I don't count it as a loss really.
Holy shit Grossman has a new book? I fucking loved Soon I Will Be Invincible.
Definitely one of those things I had to read in the moment. Reading it these days I recognise the artifice too clearly. But I did end up reading a lot of Studs Turkel because of it, and I really enjoyed WWZ when I first read it, so I don't count it as a loss really.
nakedsushi
Member
Sold! I would like one. Let me see what's on my shelf that I can send you in exchange.
If you're willing to ship it all the way to Costa Rica I'd gladly accept your offer.
If you indeed ship internationally, I'm in.
Ok chaps, I am about to be free from school, for like ever. I tend to read a giant novel every year, last year was a Dance with Dragons. Now, I want to read something very meaty, and there is one epic that I am extremely interested in. I know gaffers has spoken about this epic before, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
There are numerous translations out there, so I want to know what is considered the definitive version? I plan to read this book throughout the summer.
If you still have copies left, I'll take one.
There are numerous translations out there, so I want to know what is considered the definitive version? I plan to read this book throughout the summer.
If you still have copies left, I'll take one.
I would gladly adopt one... but I live in Germany
That novel concept sounds really intriguing.
Cool, I'll put it on my to-read-list. So far I've liked everything I've read by Cook (Garrett P.I. and Black Company), chances are I'll like this as well.
Sounds nice, I'll maybe read this once I'm done with Glenn Cook's stuff.
Monocle
Member
Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi.
I think I bought this on a GAFer's recommendation but I can't be sure. Really engaging so far. You get a clear picture of why a life of crime was so seductive to guys whose alternative was to work a dead end job for a tiny fraction of the pay.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
Currently swapping between the aforementioned The Book Thief (getting better with every chapter), Little, Big (what a charming, lovely book - I like the complexity hiding behind the beautiful prose) and an on-off re-read of Fahrenheit 451 (I'm giving it away for World Book Night next week!).
I've got copies of Engine Summer (also by Crowley) and The Unbearable Lightness of Being in the mail, which I will devour ASAP.
I would accept this novel with a happy smile on my happy face.
I've got copies of Engine Summer (also by Crowley) and The Unbearable Lightness of Being in the mail, which I will devour ASAP.
I would accept this novel with a happy smile on my happy face.
bengraven
Member
Ok chaps, I am about to be free from school, for like ever. I tend to read a giant novel every year, last year was a Dance with Dragons. Now, I want to read something very meaty, and there is one epic that I am extremely interested in. I know gaffers has spoken about this epic before, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
There are numerous translations out there, so I want to know what is considered the definitive version? I plan to read this book throughout the summer.
If you still have copies left, I'll take one.
I would gladly adopt one... but I live in Germany
That novel concept sounds really intriguing.
International guys, let me look up what the cost would be.
Murkans, PM your addresses. If I "sell" out of them I may go back and buy up the rest of them.
I just can't not let the second best/most important fantasy novel of the 20th century get pulped by some old ladies at the thrift store, not when it's not as widely read anymore.
International guys, let me look up what the cost would be.
Murkans, PM your addresses. If I "sell" out of them I may go back and buy up the rest of them.
I just can't not let the second best/most important fantasy novel of the 20th century get pulped by some old ladies at the thrift store, not when it's not as widely read anymore.
If the shipment to germany is lower than 7 USD (which is around what I would have to pay for the book in the Kindle store) I'm willing to pay you the shipping costs. I think after you "sold" all the book you should start a NeoGAF book club
I picked it up in a similar deal a couple years back, and I really enjoyed it despite not being a big fan of fantasy novels. I was already a fan of the show though.
I have seen the first three episodes of the show(and like it), soo I have a passing interest.
I'm reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Fuck me, this is a tremendous book. Colonel Aureliano Buendia is one of the best characters I've ever experienced in literature. I loved Love in the Time of Cholera when I read it years ago, so I can't believe it's taken me this long to get it, but it's absolutely worth the time.
Last Visible Dog
Banned
Went to check him out and found he has a FREE The Crescent Moons Kingdom Sampler which seems a good place to start
.
Going through Lord Vorpatril's Alliance -
(back) cover in question:
- disappointed that it seems to take place before the events in Cryoburn; dealing with the ramifications of that book's end (which is really the only redeemable part out of that disappointment) from Ivan's perspective would have been perfect.
- also somewhat disappointed that romance--as funny and delightful as this book is--seems to be all Bujold writes anymore. Not expecting the second coming of Miles' final narrative arc, but it's all so flighty.
- but damn, this is so goddamn charming and funny and I love all the characters so goddamn much. I do a little cheer every time some other old favorite pops in--Miles, Illyan, etc, etc. Bujold has a deft touch for little character interactions and insights and this shows in all the neat, humorous conversations that fill the novel.
- Baen outdid themselves with the spectacularly awful cover. At least this is restrained to the back.
(back) cover in question:
Tragicomedy
Member
He's the king of diminishing returns. I've read everything he's done except one book, and each subsequent one gets worse. I wish he'd take some time crafting a story instead of crapping them out, but dude is probably rolling in the dough so whatever.
Mackenzie 92
Member
The Thirteenth Tale is on sale today for $1.99, haven't read it myself but heard good things about it.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Same here. I've tried to get back into it, but Jordan's prose and clumsy characterization keep throwing me out.
It's a shame because I didn't mind The Eye of The World.
bengraven
Member
5 copies down so far.
PM your address and we'll calculate it.
And yes, I'm totally thinking of doing a "bonus" book club pick for a later date, unless Cyan would just want to make next month's TOaFK.
Edit: according the the USPS's calculator, I couldn't get it down below $8 even while lying to it. :/
Totally agree with this, but I still enjoy almost all his work and Rant is fucking great.
If the shipment to germany is lower than 7 USD (which is around what I would have to pay for the book in the Kindle store) I'm willing to pay you the shipping costs. I think after you "sold" all the book you should start a NeoGAF book club
PM your address and we'll calculate it.
And yes, I'm totally thinking of doing a "bonus" book club pick for a later date, unless Cyan would just want to make next month's TOaFK.
Edit: according the the USPS's calculator, I couldn't get it down below $8 even while lying to it. :/
Totally agree with this, but I still enjoy almost all his work and Rant is fucking great.
About 50 pages into Grapes of Wrath so far. The first couple chapters kinda went over my head and had trouble following it, but it really started to pick up now and I'm enjoying it a lot. I also got reminded that I did start East of Eden like a year ago, but just never had the time to focus on it. I should get back to it after I finish with this.
Ah, well that sucks for me. But if you do the book club I'll buy a copy and join in.
How does it compare to Norwegian Wood? I loved that book and was considering picking up something else from him as my next read...
Sorry, this is my first Murakami novel, my next is Norwegian Wood actually lol
Best book ever written. sogood.gif
Easystride
Member
I've read and enjoyed both 1Q84 and Norwegian Wood. Over all, 1Q84 drags at a few points, but I thought it was entertaining. I certainly would not have read the 1000+ pages if I was not liking it.
For what it's worth, my girlfriend absolutely adores this book. I might have to actually give it a shot eventually.
Sounds interesting, but seems like YA fantasy (sometimes still good, sometimes bad). Anyone here read it?
I'm making my way through the Abhorsen trilogy at the moment and really enjoy the books. Though I thought that the pacing was a bit of in Sabriel the book is still good and books 2&3 are even better. I'm a sucker for YA fantasy though.
Speaking of $2.99 Kindle books, Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings is on sale.
I've been tempted to try this because of all the praise it gets, but I really disliked Mistborn. Hmm.
I've been tempted to try this because of all the praise it gets, but I really disliked Mistborn. Hmm.