Pocket Plane Group

Miscellany, Inc. => Ensign First Class Blather => Topic started by: Joe on November 04, 2006, 10:56:10 PM

Title: What are you reading?
Post by: Joe on November 04, 2006, 10:56:10 PM
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Echon on November 04, 2006, 11:17:18 PM
Helliconia, by Brian W. Aldiss, as soon as I receive the second book in the trilogy.

-Echon
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on November 05, 2006, 07:27:02 PM
"Labyrinth"  by Kate Mosse
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Menelanna on November 05, 2006, 07:45:45 PM
The Mad Ship by Robin Hobb
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: berelinde on November 05, 2006, 08:23:11 PM
The Forgotten Realms D&D supplement, for source material. How sad.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Joe on November 05, 2006, 10:07:30 PM
Nah, that isn't sad. I own several D&D books that I read for fun and inspiration. I have never played D&D and I never intend to, but the books are interesting, nevertheless.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Anacron on November 06, 2006, 09:00:01 AM
I just finished Paradise Lost.  It's great. :)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Aragorn II on November 06, 2006, 10:46:19 AM
Dune, by Frank Herbert.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: CORVIS TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN GOD on November 07, 2006, 02:20:36 AM
The Demolished Man, by Alfred Bester. Very interesting take on telepathy.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Minarvia on November 07, 2006, 10:45:58 AM
"The End of Faith" by Sam Harris.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Rabain on November 07, 2006, 11:01:44 AM
Lord of the Rings Trilogy for like the 20th time.  I am currently on the stairs to Cirith Ungol for anyone interested.

@Echon:  Is Helliconia any good, I always wanted to read that but never actually bought it.

@melora:  I could never get past page 20 of Labyrinth, it just never grabbed me.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Echon on November 07, 2006, 12:42:27 PM
Yes, I think so. I finally bought it and now I am going to read it for the 4th or 5th time. Dune is the best science fiction book I have read and Helliconia is a close second, but it is an unusual science fiction novel.

-Echon
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: St. Josephine on November 07, 2006, 02:28:59 PM
"The End of Faith" by Sam Harris.


That's a great book.  I just finished it and am currently slogging through Bob Woodward's "State of Denial."  I am finding it very odd that he keeps mentioning height (as in "the 6'3 4 Star General thought otherwise" blah blah blah).
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Joe on November 07, 2006, 05:13:22 PM
I just finished Paradise Lost.  It's great. :)

I bought that this summer, along with Inferno by Dante Alighieri. I'm not sure if I want to read those on my own or wait until I can take a class that includes them.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Elfen Lied on November 07, 2006, 05:52:14 PM
the divine comedy is pretty good, i liked it, (same with paradise lost), having devil may cry being heavily influenced by the divine comedy was pretty cool.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Minarvia on November 07, 2006, 08:20:32 PM
"The End of Faith" by Sam Harris.


That's a great book.  I just finished it and am currently slogging through Bob Woodward's "State of Denial."  I am finding it very odd that he keeps mentioning height (as in "the 6'3 4 Star General thought otherwise" blah blah blah).

Ah, then I think I'll go and get a copy of "State of Denial," as well!  It's always nice to have personal reccomendations such as in this thread.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Lu on November 12, 2006, 06:38:18 PM
  @ Corvis the Terrible
 
Quote
The Demolished Man, by Alfred Bester. Very interesting take on telepathy

  You may like Tiger, Tiger by the same author then, too. This time it's an interesting take on Dimension Door. Or rather on Dryad Teleport, since the casting time is pretty short, IIRC
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: CamDawg on November 12, 2006, 08:03:22 PM
Just finished The Republican War on Science by Chris Mooney. Too bad the author wasn't acquainted with logic or rational, consistent arguments instead of jumping up and down and shouting 'Bush Bad!'
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Miloch on November 12, 2006, 10:11:19 PM
About halfway through Thud! by Terry Pratchett and trying to get through the Timaeus and Critias by Plato.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: CORVIS TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN GOD on November 12, 2006, 11:37:44 PM
  @ Corvis the Terrible
 
Quote
The Demolished Man, by Alfred Bester. Very interesting take on telepathy

  You may like Tiger, Tiger by the same author then, too. This time it's an interesting take on Dimension Door. Or rather on Dryad Teleport, since the casting time is pretty short, IIRC


It was released as 'The Stars My Destination' here in America and yeah, I've read it-- it's good stuff, I'm leaning towards saying the better of the two novels. Bester had a talent for building interesting worlds around one weird concept (telepathy, teleportation).
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: CORVIS TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN GOD on November 15, 2006, 02:42:45 AM
I hate stacking replies, but oh well.

Finished The Demolished Man. I still like Stars better, and this one seems a little more dated in some places-- Bester's pulp roots are showing. I could have done with more focus on Reich and less on Powell, and I'm not very happy with the last chapter. Still glad I read it, and I'm sad that no one seems to be following its example re: the presentation of telepathy.

Moving on to Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny. Not very far in, but holy shit is it good so far. Hindu gods, talking apes, Budhha, etc.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Riviera on November 15, 2006, 05:42:52 PM
Just finished The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett, and am eagerly looking forward to the rest of the DiscWorld series.

That one reminds me a lot of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and I dearly loved that series.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on November 15, 2006, 10:25:59 PM
I hate stacking replies, but oh well.

Finished The Demolished Man. I still like Stars better, and this one seems a little more dated in some places-- Bester's pulp roots are showing. I could have done with more focus on Reich and less on Powell, and I'm not very happy with the last chapter. Still glad I read it, and I'm sad that no one seems to be following its example re: the presentation of telepathy.

Moving on to Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny. Not very far in, but holy shit is it good so far. Hindu gods, talking apes, Budhha, etc.

i absolutely LOVE Roger Zelazny !!!!  have you read the Amber series?  they are awesome.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: CORVIS TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN GOD on November 16, 2006, 05:56:45 PM
i absolutely LOVE Roger Zelazny !!!!  have you read the Amber series?  they are awesome.

I read the first five and loved them (the first two more than the others, but), then part of the last five. Can't remember how far I got before I got burned out and quit, but they were of generally lower quality and I don't feel any need to go back and visit them.

I've also read Jack of Shadows, which was great, and Changeling, which was good for what it was and had moments of brilliance you wouldn't usually find in such a Standard Fantasy Adventure. After I'm done with what I'm reading now I'll probably grab a short story collection.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Pigeon on November 17, 2006, 11:45:05 AM
Zelazny's short stories are every bit as good as his longer work (which I find to be a mixed bag, but when he is good he is freaking awesome).

The second half of the Amber series would, on its own, be great, but after the first half its rather disappointing. I too got burned out when I tried to read it the first time. But even though it's got a lot of inconsistencies with the first half, there's still cool stuff, like Ghostwheel and Mandor (and his balls).
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Everlong on November 19, 2006, 05:17:02 AM
Just finished reading Tully by Paullina Simons, she's an amazing author, now just started reading The Best of Friends by Cathy Kelly.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Riviera on November 20, 2006, 02:16:41 PM
Once I get ahold of it again..

Doll House by Tabitha King.

She's not quite as good a writer as her husband, but good in her own right.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Miloch on November 20, 2006, 03:02:16 PM
Just finished The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett, and am eagerly looking forward to the rest of the DiscWorld series.
You're in for some major laughs but just watch out - the man can write faster than you can read.  Well, faster than I can read anyway.

Zelazny's short stories are every bit as good as his longer work (which I find to be a mixed bag, but when he is good he is freaking awesome).

The second half of the Amber series would, on its own, be great, but after the first half its rather disappointing. I too got burned out when I tried to read it the first time. But even though it's got a lot of inconsistencies with the first half, there's still cool stuff, like Ghostwheel and Mandor (and his balls).
I think Nine Princes in Amber is still one of the best books ever.  I'm not even going to say one of the best "fantasy" books, because it's got at least as much sci-fi, mystery, action and romance.  I'd hoped he'd've come back to explain what happened to Corwin while Merlin was running around but the best he did were some hard to find, out of print short stories some printer should really make a compilation out of.  There's a newer prequel series about Oberon by another author Betancourt that gets maligned a lot but it's actually not bad, if you take it for what it is.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Anacron on November 20, 2006, 04:37:49 PM
Has anyone read Maia or Shardik, both by Richard Adams?  They're two of my favourite novels ever, and no-one else seems to have heard of them. :( 
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Dark Raven on November 20, 2006, 06:32:33 PM
Neverwinter Nights 2 strategy guide.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on November 20, 2006, 08:44:51 PM
Has anyone read Maia or Shardik, both by Richard Adams?  They're two of my favourite novels ever, and no-one else seems to have heard of them. :( 

read them both, years ago.... thought they both were better than Watership Down
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Lord 342 on November 23, 2006, 03:32:57 AM
Neverwinter Nights 2 strategy guide.

Ah!  Paper copy I assume... is it any good?

A Brave New World -Aldus Huxley, for like the 111th time (for a class again; but I like the book)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Dark Raven on November 23, 2006, 05:13:33 PM
Its good enough. It lacks information on some mini quests and recipes for making items, otherwise its good.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: AkashaCatBat on November 24, 2006, 07:48:10 PM
Currently working on The Tales of The Otori series by Lian Hearn. They're an easy read, but entertaining enough. The books are part fantasy, part historical fiction, and set in a sort of pseudo Japan.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Riviera on November 24, 2006, 10:27:16 PM
Working on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix right now.. I know I'm behind..  :)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: MyFinalHeaven on November 25, 2006, 08:00:28 PM
Thus Spoke Zarathustra - Nietzsche

God is dead, play dice for death and all that stuff.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Menelanna on November 25, 2006, 10:51:23 PM
Working on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix right now.. I know I'm behind..  :)

gah! worst of the Harry Potter books! but it does have on of the best scenes with those loveable twins!  ;D

I am currently reading Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb. Can't wait to see what happens to everyone!
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Fatal Error on November 26, 2006, 10:56:10 AM
Has anyone read Maia or Shardik, both by Richard Adams?  They're two of my favourite novels ever, and no-one else seems to have heard of them. :( 
I haven't heard of them either - but currently I'm reading The Plague Dogs. I could look it up, but if anyne here knows... do these two feature animal characters?

Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on November 26, 2006, 11:19:15 AM
Working on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix right now.. I know I'm behind..  :)

gah! worst of the Harry Potter books! but it does have on of the best scenes with those loveable twins!  ;D

I am currently reading Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb. Can't wait to see what happens to everyone!


i agree... i still think "Goblet of Fire was the best of the series.

Robin Hobb is terrific !
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on November 26, 2006, 11:19:59 AM
Has anyone read Maia or Shardik, both by Richard Adams?  They're two of my favourite novels ever, and no-one else seems to have heard of them. :( 
I haven't heard of them either - but currently I'm reading The Plague Dogs. I could look it up, but if anyne here knows... do these two feature animal characters?



Shardik is about a bear.... its been so long since i read it, thats really all i remember !
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Anacron on November 26, 2006, 03:48:08 PM
I haven't heard of them either - but currently I'm reading The Plague Dogs. I could look it up, but if anyne here knows... do these two feature animal characters?
Plague Dogs is also fantastic.  Neither Shardik nor Maia feature animal characters in the same way as Plague Dogs, though Shardik is about a bear... who although never speaks is a large part of the plot.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Riviera on November 27, 2006, 02:02:58 PM
Working on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix right now.. I know I'm behind..  :)

gah! worst of the Harry Potter books! but it does have on of the best scenes with those loveable twins!  ;D

I am currently reading Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb. Can't wait to see what happens to everyone!

He has gotten a lot brattier than I remember him.. Harry, that is.  I guess it's understandable.. he is growing up.. but he's less likable than he was.  :-\

I haven't even gotten halfway through the book though.

And yes, the twins are great!  ;D
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: HERD on November 28, 2006, 04:46:26 AM
Has anybody heard anything about Lorrie Moore? She was recommenced to me as a modern American writer
(assuming one of the best). I am reading her book right now and wonder if it will get any better.
If you, guys know anybody in modern literature that reminds you of  Faulkner, let me know, please.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: clock sendak on November 28, 2006, 12:41:01 PM
Reading Dante was one of the most excruciating experiences of my life, almost as bad as studying arabic.  It was a horrible discovery for me, as Pound and Eliot are right at the top of my list.

If i had any freaking time, I would read the new Cormac McCarthy book, and also one about a kid inducted into a death squad in either Nigeria or Uganda, wait, Nigerian author... no, it's gone.

Faulkner-fan might check out Cormac - although he's more like a demented, old testament type of super-violence, cross between hemingway and burgess, but ultimately very good:

Border Trilogy (read out of order starting with The Crossing, All the Pretty Horses, and then Cities of the Plain - which features the best knife fight I've ever read)

No Country for Old Men (soon to be a coen bros movie with Javier Bardem as the best bad guy ever)

and if you like it really violent, Blood Meridian, but I would seriously not recommend it to anyone with a weak stomach for violence.

anybody ever read michael moorcock (what a name)?
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: St. Josephine on November 30, 2006, 09:44:50 PM
Has anybody heard anything about Lorrie Moore? She was recommenced to me as a modern American writer
(assuming one of the best). I am reading her book right now and wonder if it will get any better.
If you, guys know anybody in modern literature that reminds you of  Faulkner, let me know, please.

Which one are you reading?  I liked Anagrams but not Who Should Run the Frog Hospital?Like Life was a fairly decent collection of short stories.  I think that's all I've read of hers.

Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Ashara on December 02, 2006, 11:29:06 AM
For the past 2 months I am struggling with Erikosn's Memories of Ice. It's not that the book is bad, but it's a damnable dppr-stopper, and he does not have that ability to keep you completely sucked into his book. You know it's kindda good, but you can put it down and go do other stuff. Well, at least that's how it works for me. So I am somewhere around page 270....
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Miloch on December 03, 2006, 11:51:01 AM
anybody ever read michael moorcock (what a name)?
Yeah... the Elric series is a must-read.  Also the Corum and Count Brass books are pretty good.  Dark stuff for the most part.  He's another prolific writer - hard to keep up with.  What about Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser stuff?  Wish he had stuck around to write more of those.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Beetle on December 05, 2006, 01:25:34 PM
What about Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser stuff?  Wish he had stuck around to write more of those.

Those are great stories. Plus, it's always fun to play the "What Mind-Altering Substances Was Fritz Taking When He Wrote This?" game.

I'm currently reading the non-fiction Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princess, Whore by Bettany Hughes. It's an well-written review both of actual bronze age culture and how different societies have chosen to view the character of Helen. Interesting stuff.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: AkashaCatBat on December 05, 2006, 04:50:35 PM
I am also reading The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness by Joel ben Izzy. It's a true story about a man who tells stories for a living and what happens to him when he loses his voice. Every chapter starts with an old folktale. The folktales come from many different cultures and countries, including China, Poland, the Czech Republic and more...many of which I had never heard before.  I'm only about halfway through, but I've really enjoyed what I have read.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Grim Squeaker on December 06, 2006, 10:22:37 AM
I've got back into reading Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus series and recently ordered the remaining five from Amazon.  Finished reading Set in Darkness yesterday, just in time for me read Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris, which arrived today.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Riviera on December 06, 2006, 01:24:04 PM
I am also reading The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness by Joel ben Izzy. It's a true story about a man who tells stories for a living and what happens to him when he loses his voice. Every chapter starts with an old folktale. The folktales come from many different cultures and countries, including China, Poland, the Czech Republic and more...many of which I had never heard before.  I'm only about halfway through, but I've really enjoyed what I have read.

I'll have to look for that, it sounds interesting!

Right now, I'm actually reading Baby ER by Edward Humes. It's for my final ethics essay.  It is very interesting, and also very sad.

I hate to think of babies in pain.  :'(

I'm a sap like that.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: HERD on December 12, 2006, 06:00:47 AM
@St. Josephine 
Thank you for your reply,
which reminded me that I was supposed to read THE Short Stories, not the novels.
I think that all female writers should die, falling from tall buildings preferably.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Jazhara7 on December 12, 2006, 08:56:21 AM
Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce. One of the best books ever, since Crows get the good PR that they deserve (of course, they're still Tricksters. Hence the title.). Ever since I started reading the first book, "Trickster's Choice", I have been using the Trickster god Kyprioth, the god to whom Crows are holy as my standard deity in Neverwinter Nights, if the choice of deity did not influence anythinhg in a module. 

But in fact, I am unable to continue reading that book right now, since I forgot it at my sister's place in Berlin, who added it to her quite considerable stack of books to read. Ah, I simply love my siblings.

Did you say Chicks?! a collection of short stories by various authors, edited by Esther Friesner. I simply love Satire.

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (Second Edition) by David Crystal. Hey, it's a good read!

The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Not as good a read, but you learn a lot of new words. Yes, I know I'm weird, thank you for the compliment. :)

The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce. While 'Trickster's Queen' was set in the world of Tortall and the surrounding countries, this book is set in the world of Emelan and the surrounding countries. While all the past books in the "Circle of Magic" setting (which is Emelan) were series of 4, finally Tammy can write one big book without being told by her publisher that children won't read a book that has more than 250 pages. This is a phenomenon that is in part thanks to the Harry Potter books. "The Will of the Empress" has only 550 pages, though, so basically it is as much as two of the old books.

And soon I will be reading the entire Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny. I already loved "Nine Princes in Amber".


-  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: St. Josephine on December 12, 2006, 09:53:50 AM
Has anyone here finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell?  I read about halfway (~400 pages) and gave up because it didn't seem to be going anywhere.  That's not to say that it wasn't clever but... the whole thing became a bit exhausting.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Jazhara7 on December 12, 2006, 10:35:17 AM
Has anyone here finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell?  I read about halfway (~400 pages) and gave up because it didn't seem to be going anywhere.  That's not to say that it wasn't clever but... the whole thing became a bit exhausting.


Oh, I forgot that one! I'm also reading that one, but my mother currently has it. She stole it from under my nose.

I'll tell you if I will ever finish it.


-  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Riviera on December 12, 2006, 01:29:57 PM
Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce. One of the best books ever, since Crows get the good PR that they deserve (of course, they're still Tricksters. Hence the title.). Ever since I started reading the first book, "Trickster's Choice", I have been using the Trickster god Kyprioth, the god to whom Crows are holy as my standard deity in Neverwinter Nights, if the choice of deity did not influence anythinhg in a module. 

I'm still working on Trickster's Choice right now.. it's a very good book. <3
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on December 12, 2006, 07:26:44 PM
Has anyone here finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell?  I read about halfway (~400 pages) and gave up because it didn't seem to be going anywhere.  That's not to say that it wasn't clever but... the whole thing became a bit exhausting.

i finished it... it does bog down a bit in the middle, but it was worth finishing, definitely.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Moreina on December 13, 2006, 10:53:53 PM
Glamorama, Brett Easton Ellis.

Victor is so lovable. Totally my kind of man.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Jazhara7 on December 14, 2006, 06:59:24 AM
Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce. One of the best books ever, since Crows get the good PR that they deserve (of course, they're still Tricksters. Hence the title.). Ever since I started reading the first book, "Trickster's Choice", I have been using the Trickster god Kyprioth, the god to whom Crows are holy as my standard deity in Neverwinter Nights, if the choice of deity did not influence anythinhg in a module. 

I'm still working on Trickster's Choice right now.. it's a very good book. <3

I agree, it's a great book.

Yesterday I saw the Eragon movie (watch it, it's awesome. And read the book!), I finally felt up to reading "Eldest" (The second book in the Inheritance Trilogy, of which"Eragon" is the first). Last time I tried reading it, I failed miserably, because I had been reading a lot of Tamora Pierce, and her style is quite different from Christopher Paolini's. Tamora Pierce has more experience in writing, and so her stlye is easier to read (which does not mean her style is light or trivial). While not really difficult to read, Paolini's style feels more weighted, and the switch from one style to another was too much for me to stomach. I couldn't keep reading back then. But now I had a little break, "Eldest" is a lot of fun to read.


-  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Moreina on December 14, 2006, 01:05:37 PM
Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce. One of the best books ever, since Crows get the good PR that they deserve (of course, they're still Tricksters. Hence the title.). Ever since I started reading the first book, "Trickster's Choice", I have been using the Trickster god Kyprioth, the god to whom Crows are holy as my standard deity in Neverwinter Nights, if the choice of deity did not influence anythinhg in a module. 

I'm still working on Trickster's Choice right now.. it's a very good book. <3

I agree, it's a great book.

Yesterday I saw the Eragon movie (watch it, it's awesome. And read the book!), I finally felt up to reading "Eldest" (The second book in the Inheritance Trilogy, of which"Eragon" is the first). Last time I tried reading it, I failed miserably, because I had been reading a lot of Tamora Pierce, and her style is quite different from Christopher Paolini's. Tamora Pierce has more experience in writing, and so her stlye is easier to read (which does not mean her style is light or trivial). While not really difficult to read, Paolini's style feels more weighted, and the switch from one style to another was too much for me to stomach. I couldn't keep reading back then. But now I had a little break, "Eldest" is a lot of fun to read.


-  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

I was reading Tamora Pierce in the third grade. Two things: A.) My name is Alanna, so that was really the only reason to read it. B.) I have no idea how old you are, but I wouldn't get too comfortable saying you can't read anything but her 'style.' That's kind of like kicking yourself in the face.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Jazhara7 on December 14, 2006, 01:43:00 PM
Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce. One of the best books ever, since Crows get the good PR that they deserve (of course, they're still Tricksters. Hence the title.). Ever since I started reading the first book, "Trickster's Choice", I have been using the Trickster god Kyprioth, the god to whom Crows are holy as my standard deity in Neverwinter Nights, if the choice of deity did not influence anythinhg in a module. 

I'm still working on Trickster's Choice right now.. it's a very good book. <3

I agree, it's a great book.

Yesterday I saw the Eragon movie (watch it, it's awesome. And read the book!), I finally felt up to reading "Eldest" (The second book in the Inheritance Trilogy, of which"Eragon" is the first). Last time I tried reading it, I failed miserably, because I had been reading a lot of Tamora Pierce, and her style is quite different from Christopher Paolini's. Tamora Pierce has more experience in writing, and so her stlye is easier to read (which does not mean her style is light or trivial). While not really difficult to read, Paolini's style feels more weighted, and the switch from one style to another was too much for me to stomach. I couldn't keep reading back then. But now I had a little break, "Eldest" is a lot of fun to read.


-  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

I was reading Tamora Pierce in the third grade. Two things: A.) My name is Alanna, so that was really the only reason to read it. B.) I have no idea how old you are, but I wouldn't get too comfortable saying you can't read anything but her 'style.' That's kind of like kicking yourself in the face.

No, I'm not saying I can't read anything but her style. I just said I was unable to read Paolini's style immediately after reading several of Tammy's books. The change was too crass. It's like eating nougat and then drinking orange juice! The result is not pleasant. My brain was still adjusted to Pierce's style, and I can't adjust to a new style from one second to another. Have you never experienced reading several books by one author at one time, and then found that when trying to read another author immediately after, that you just couldn't focus on the task, because the style of the new author was too different?

I read a great variety of authors. From Isaac Asimov over C.S. Lewis (I am not talking Narnia here, although I love those books. I am talking of the Space Trilogy), Christopher Paolini, J.K. Rowling, Anne McCaffrey, Michael Ende, Terry Pratchett, Tamora Pierce, Garth Nix, Douglas Adams, Ephraim Kishon (he's an Israeli Satirist. I read his books from when I was about 8 years old.), Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (We read Faust 1 and 2 in German class [note that I am German], and I always got to read Mepistopheles. I absolutely loved his character! So wicked and so deceiting.), Friedrich Schiller, Eoin Colfer, Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl (not the children's books. When I was a child, I would read his satires. They bring a wicked smile to my face. Back then I didn't even know he wrote childrens' books too.), Shakespeare (usually the Cambridge Editions with the original old language. My favourite of his plays must be "Twelfth Night"), George Orwell, Dalene Mathee and Charles Dickens (I surely forgot some authors, but those are the ones that came to mind.).

I can read nearly every style of any author, I guess. The only author I can't stand is Ernest Hemingway. He drones on endlessly about , and I want to shout out "Get to the point already!".

I enjoy all those authors, and I am able to read all of them and many more.

Oh, and yes, there's a lot of so called childrens' authors there. I still enjoy reading so called childrens' books, because I never stopped dreaming. I'll never stop thinking like a child once in a while, because it's too wonderful a way of thinking. Also, books like "The Neverending Story" or "Momo" (especially Momo) by Michael Ende are for adults and children. They criticise the world around us, and make you stop and think.

And there's a reason why I give my age as 19 going on 5 going on 99.

-  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: CORVIS TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN GOD on December 14, 2006, 09:09:56 PM
-  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Stop that.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Moreina on December 14, 2006, 09:38:25 PM
Quote from: Jazhara7
Have you never experienced reading several books by one author at one time, and then found that when trying to read another author immediately after, that you just couldn't focus on the task, because the style of the new author was too different.


Actually...No. Words are words. It doesn't matter what words they are or what order they are in. They're still words.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: AkashaCatBat on December 15, 2006, 01:27:18 AM
Quote from: Jazhara7
Have you never experienced reading several books by one author at one time, and then found that when trying to read another author immediately after, that you just couldn't focus on the task, because the style of the new author was too different.


Actually...No. Words are words. It doesn't matter what words they are or what order they are in. They're still words.

By that logic I'm assuming that there is no difference between a Pollock and a Botticelli. After all, they were both made with paint. And paint is paint, no matter how you use it.  ;)

I also recently started to re-read "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. Fascinating book, fairly difficult to read. It takes place in an old monastery, where several of the monks are being murdered. What makes the book so fun (and difficult) to read is that all of a sudden there will be a couple of sentences or paragraphs completely in Latin. I can usually make out the gist of what is being said, but I like to know the exact meaning anyway, so I wind up pausing every few pages to look up words in a Latin dictionary. There is one character in the book that speaks in a mixture of English, Spanish, French, Italian and Latin. Surprisingly, he is easy enough to understand.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Jazhara7 on December 15, 2006, 07:10:54 AM
-  :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Stop that.

But it's my trademeark...It stands for me and all the previous Jazharas that came before me. They gave their lives so that now I can be here (or in two cases, because they pressed the red button down in the swimming pool, despite all warnings. It's not my fault that that makes the reactor explode. I think one of them might also have nipped some of the radioactive pool water before.).


By that logic I'm assuming that there is no difference between a Pollock and a Botticelli. After all, they were both made with paint. And paint is paint, no matter how you use it.  ;)

[snip]


I couldn't have said it better myself (I tend to get quite verbose, as you have surely noticed.).


-  :( :( :( :( :( :( :(
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: St. Josephine on December 15, 2006, 11:55:21 AM
Has anyone here finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell?  I read about halfway (~400 pages) and gave up because it didn't seem to be going anywhere.  That's not to say that it wasn't clever but... the whole thing became a bit exhausting.

i finished it... it does bog down a bit in the middle, but it was worth finishing, definitely.

Ah, good.  I really was enjoying it for awhile; I'll go back and keep that in mind!
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: clock sendak on December 16, 2006, 12:09:56 PM
Quote from: Jazhara7
Have you never experienced reading several books by one author at one time, and then found that when trying to read another author immediately after, that you just couldn't focus on the task, because the style of the new author was too different.


Actually...No. Words are words. It doesn't matter what words they are or what order they are in. They're still words.

By that logic I'm assuming that there is no difference between a Pollock and a Botticelli. After all, they were both made with paint. And paint is paint, no matter how you use it.  ;)

I also recently started to re-read "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. Fascinating book, fairly difficult to read. It takes place in an old monastery, where several of the monks are being murdered. What makes the book so fun (and difficult) to read is that all of a sudden there will be a couple of sentences or paragraphs completely in Latin. I can usually make out the gist of what is being said, but I like to know the exact meaning anyway, so I wind up pausing every few pages to look up words in a Latin dictionary. There is one character in the book that speaks in a mixture of English, Spanish, French, Italian and Latin. Surprisingly, he is easy enough to understand.


don't forget the provencal, salvatore.

what a book, you must read foucalt's pendulum and some calvino, part. if on a winter's night a traveler.


salvatore was expertly played by ron perlman in the film.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Rurokenrox91 on February 25, 2007, 01:20:29 AM
Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham (for book report)

Second book of "The Bartimeus Trilogy" by Jonathon Stroud
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: HERD on February 25, 2007, 07:00:49 AM
THE SUMMING UP   -  I believe was his hight,
Where he made an observation that " Money is like a sixth sense - and you can't make use of the other five without it"
 Sounds so much more romantic in russian translation

Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: LizDiggory on February 25, 2007, 04:03:35 PM
The Complete Scoundrel (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/957277200)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Dark Raven on March 09, 2007, 08:26:28 PM
The posts in this thread.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Evaine Dian on March 24, 2007, 04:13:53 PM
Just finished The Handmaid's Tale  and Oryx and Crake, both by Margaret Atwood, both good, but in a different way. The Handmaid and her way of telling her tale are more interesting and moving, I think. The background of Oryx and Crake is up-to-date and more alarming.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Joe on March 24, 2007, 04:39:10 PM
Bram Stoker's Dracula. Next on the list is Oscar Wilde's The Portrait of Dorian Grey.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Alarielle on March 24, 2007, 05:31:14 PM
Picture, not portrait :)  (Excellent read, btw)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Joe on March 24, 2007, 09:14:49 PM
Whoops.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Seil on April 13, 2007, 08:34:16 PM
Currently I am reading (or half reading, sicne I've already read it and keep getting distracted) Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock, and then I'll read Stormbringer I think.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on April 13, 2007, 11:22:56 PM
i just started "Dreams from my father"  by Barak Obama.  i dont know about his politics, but i am very impressed with his writing style.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Riviera on April 14, 2007, 06:20:32 PM
I'm just starting on Flowers For Algernon. Yeah, oddly enough I've never read it before.

From what little I've seen and what I've heard about it, though, it will be a great read.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Elfen Lied on April 14, 2007, 10:40:25 PM
Graphic Novel: Dawn: Lucifer's Halo
Comic: Marvel Civil War Issues 1 and 2
Manga: Hellsing vol. 9
Novel: LOTR
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Evaine Dian on April 15, 2007, 12:34:59 PM
Reading: Pride and Prejudice.

To be read next: Great Expectations  or Wuthering Heights.

Involuntarily.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Bodac on May 03, 2007, 04:54:46 PM
Holiday brochures.  ;D
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: RavenBlack on May 04, 2007, 08:49:14 PM
Slowly making my way through the large amount of paperbacks that left Barnes and Noble with me a while back :) (B&N's used section rocks, I scour the paperbacks whenever I'm there...$.99 each!  ;D)

Currently reading: Tangled Webs, Elaine Cunningham
Just finished: Speaker For the Dead, Orson Scott Card
Will be reading: either Windwalker or The Green Mile.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Clarion on August 16, 2007, 09:44:45 PM
Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages, book 4, Requiem for the Sun.  When I find the fifth book, Elegy for a Lost Star, I'll reread that too.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Cygnea on August 16, 2007, 11:18:08 PM
Making myself finish Deathly Hallows, but it's slow going.

@Clarion: You're much stronger than me; I got through the Symphony of Ages trilogy and promptly gave away two of the books. I just couldn't stand the main character.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Jon on August 17, 2007, 03:39:37 PM
I read The Deathly Hollows in less than 24 hours and I got it the day it came out.

...
I don't usually read books that fast.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Rabain on August 17, 2007, 04:23:17 PM
Currently reading Steven Erikson's series "Malazan Book of the Fallen", I'm on book 3 "Memories of Ice" and I have to say its a refreshing change to standard fantasy series.  The characters have odd names (Twist, Fiddler, Quick Ben, WhiskeyJack etc) but the development of story and character is so intertwined it's pretty damn impressive.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Jon on August 17, 2007, 05:24:26 PM
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostovesky and Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Clarion on August 17, 2007, 05:31:22 PM
@Cygnea: Which main character?  There's three.  Personally not fond of Rhapsody, but I think Achmed and Grunthor deserve rereading.  Especially Achmed.

When I'm done rereading the Symphony of Ages books, I'll probably reread my R.A. Salvatore books again.  I'm firmly convinced that Salvatore had no editor when writing the Hunter's Blades Trilogy, because the mistakes are abound, but the writing is still fairly entertaining.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Cygnea on August 17, 2007, 10:40:37 PM
Sorry, Clarion, I should have been more specific. I was talking about Rhapsody.

I put up Deathly Hallows and am instead reading Empress Orchid by Anchee Min.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on August 17, 2007, 11:21:07 PM
I will probably finish Deathly Hallows tonite... i wanted to finish it last nite, but it was 4 am and i had to work today !!
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Marauder on August 28, 2007, 12:32:59 PM
Finished Deathly Hallows the day it came out, have been reading Summer Camp* since then.

*nickscipio.com
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Kulyok on October 05, 2007, 04:53:07 AM
Pratchett's latest, Making Money, is very good.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: CORVIS TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN GOD on October 08, 2007, 02:30:02 PM
Pratchett's latest, Making Money, is very good.

sigh
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: KIrving on October 21, 2007, 05:27:23 PM
The Zombie Survival Guide - Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks.  (I found it at the local library in the Non-Fiction section. :) )

I have discovered that my home is woefully inadequate for defense from the undead!
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on October 21, 2007, 09:38:49 PM
"the Stand".... the first 300 pages were pretty boring, but its getting better now.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Eleima on October 22, 2007, 03:15:04 AM
Not exactly something that just came out, but...  Jeremy Diamond's "Guns, Steel, and Germs" gives interesting insight on world history.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Rabain on October 22, 2007, 04:36:13 AM
Just finished "House of Chains", Book 4 in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson.

Pretty good.

Now I'm finally moving on to A Feast for Crows by Martin, hopefully it will be good.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Echon on October 22, 2007, 04:55:01 AM
Children of Dune - Herbert

-Echon
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Marauder on October 22, 2007, 05:00:39 PM
The Harry Potter series again, since JK Rowling announced that Dumbledore was gay. I'm going to see just how many obvious hints she managed to squeeze in :P
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Fatal Error on October 31, 2007, 02:46:52 PM
Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein. This one is about govt's pushing hard after collective shocks; nothing better than a regressed population in order for a regime to successfully proclaim they've always been at war with Eurasia is the basic argument of the book. I'm not far into it but so far, anyway, it's been interesting.

I just finished A Dark PLace in the Jungle by Linda Spalding. The book is about a researcher/activist of orangutans named Birute Galdikas who originally was encouraged by Louis Leakey, as were Joane Goodall and Dian Fossey, to study great apes in the wild. Actually, the book is mostly about the author's search for, and eventual disillusionment with, Galdikas than about anything else.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Khaira on November 02, 2007, 10:41:02 PM
Im all about the fantasy right now Reading Dhampir since my friend got me the first book to see if Id like it. So far so good then got myself a copy of The Princess Bride since ive loved that movie ever since I first saw it years ago. After that I may try to finish my sword of truth series.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Kulyok on December 11, 2007, 02:02:44 AM
Re-reading "The Sea and the Little Fishes."
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: CORVIS TERRIBLE MOUNTAIN GOD on December 11, 2007, 03:24:06 PM
Les Miserables.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Khaira on December 23, 2007, 12:55:09 PM
Now re reading the Stand got myself the uncut version of the book so I want to see what I missed out on in the original version. Though I hear its not much. Also between that reading The Messiah Complex comic series finally got a comic series I actually dance around waiting for it to arrive in the mail for again ^_^
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Kulyok on December 23, 2007, 03:04:33 PM
Pelevin's "The Sacred Book of Werewolf".
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Kulyok on April 08, 2008, 05:14:09 AM
Heeded "Dune" recommendations, went and read Herbert's "A-W-F-Unlimited".

Just finished Nora Gal's "A Word: living and dead" - she is incredible.

Re-reading Lukyanenko(again!), and taking peeks at "Le Rouge et le Noir" in between.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Lord Ernie on April 08, 2008, 06:41:07 AM
Just finished 'The Last Wish', by Andrzej Sapkowski.

In an attempt to getting read up on the classics, I've finally started reading 'Songs of Ice and Fire', by George RR Martin.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Echon on April 08, 2008, 07:27:40 AM
Silmarillion.

-Echon
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Kulyok on May 06, 2008, 10:53:47 AM
Chesterton's "Magic". Incredible.

(Chesterton says it is perfectly natural that a man should talk to himself. If he doesn't talk to himself, it is because he is not worth talking to.)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Daulmakan on May 06, 2008, 12:19:36 PM
Chesterton rules. Have you read The Man Who Was Thursday?
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Evaine Dian on May 06, 2008, 02:27:29 PM
Wise Children by Angela Carter, for a seminar. Quite funny. :)
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Kulyok on May 06, 2008, 02:52:01 PM
Chesterton rules. Have you read The Man Who Was Thursday?

Downloaded it in Russian and English; will check both some time this week.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Ajnos on May 06, 2008, 03:53:37 PM
Chesterton rules. Have you read The Man Who Was Thursday?

Downloaded it in Russian and English; will check both some time this week.

Hey, I'm reading that now.  Well, just about to actually.  It got bumped the other day when I had to read Lukyanenko's Watch trilogy thing.  (I meant to just read Night Watch, but knowing there were two more drove me to distraction so I had to read them all.)

Edit:  Damnit!  There are four!  I feel... distracted.  Must find...
Edit2:  Not available yet.  This sucks.  What if I die and never know what happened next?  Then I'd be dead and annoyed.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Kulyok on May 07, 2008, 01:07:55 AM
There are four "Watches" in total, yes. I can tell what happens, but I don't want to disappoint you. :) The last two books are good, but parts 1 and 2 are the best, in my opinion.

(But you haven't read his "Stars", yet! And "Labyrinth of Reflections"! And "Dreamline", and "Cold shores", and, and... *envious*).
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: melora on May 07, 2008, 11:21:13 PM
Chesterton rules. Have you read The Man Who Was Thursday?

I actually read it when i was in high school...... and i dont even want to talk about how long ago that was......so i should probably read it again.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Lord Ernie on May 16, 2008, 06:32:28 AM
Just finished the final (released) book of Song of Ice and Fire. Colour me duly impressed - and definitely hooked into buying the next one when it becomes available.

In a further attempt to cover my classics, I've started reading the first book of Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files".
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Kulyok on May 16, 2008, 06:46:11 AM
Quote
Just finished the final (released) book of Song of Ice and Fire. Colour me duly impressed - and definitely hooked into buying the next one when it becomes available.

I am reading part two of the second book right now. Very impressed, too.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Kulyok on June 16, 2008, 08:09:43 AM
Dame Daphne du Maurier. Everything. Lots.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Echon on July 23, 2008, 12:22:38 PM
The Complete Calvin & Hobbes.
Title: Re: What are you reading?
Post by: Lord Ernie on July 24, 2008, 09:23:57 AM
Finished "The Dresden Files" quite some time ago, adding another 'series to check for updates on' to my list. Highly recommended to anyone who likes fantasy stories and detective stories.

On that note, I'm reading "Thud!" right now, by Terry Pratchett.