Yeah, the original versions of the stories really did not seem to be too kid friendly.
What are you reading?
- Thread starter Jonk4
- Start date
Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:
Yeah, the original versions of the stories really did not seem to be too kid friendly.
GHBWNY
Well-Known Member
Last book I read was "Unbroken". Movie didn't do it justice. Powerful read... don't miss it.
Just finished "the wolf in winter" which was a solid entertaining read until the last 30 pages. I really wish the guy who loaned it to me told me the ending was abysmal. Ha.
Just cracked open "guns, germs, and steel." It's been recommended a few times, and I'm just now undertaking it.
Just cracked open "guns, germs, and steel." It's been recommended a few times, and I'm just now undertaking it.
BGBC
Well-Known Member
That is a good one. Haven't seen the movie yet as my wife wants to read the book too.
It didn't seem to get the critical acclaim they were expecting for a while, so I'm not expecting that much.
I read the first part of the book. Seemed good, but now that I've seen the movie won't finish.
Movie was medium. Seemed long to me.
I finished Proof: The Science of Booze a couple of weeks ago. Excellent read. Well written and fun.
Now I'm reading The Darkness That Comes Before at the very vocal insistence of my sons. Again, an excellent read and well written. Not sure I'd call it fun but it's engaging as hell. Highly recommended if you're wanting a break from poorly written Tolkein-esque fantasy.
Oh, yeah...I'm also listening to the audiobook version of The Cabinet of Curiosities - a fantastic edge-of-your-seat thriller. I've got a 40 minute drive to work so Audible is my friend.
Now I'm reading The Darkness That Comes Before at the very vocal insistence of my sons. Again, an excellent read and well written. Not sure I'd call it fun but it's engaging as hell. Highly recommended if you're wanting a break from poorly written Tolkein-esque fantasy.
Oh, yeah...I'm also listening to the audiobook version of The Cabinet of Curiosities - a fantastic edge-of-your-seat thriller. I've got a 40 minute drive to work so Audible is my friend.
Last edited by a moderator:
Am stuck at work and have been reading the first of the Doom books. Yes, the ones based on the original 1993 game. It reads just like the way the game played. I even find myself imagining the enemies in it in all their pixelated glory. The story is kinda rough but works as some light reading.
Now for some creepy timing. Trying to confirm the year the first game was released (my guess was 94), I found this article (posted 16 hours ago).
http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/26/mythbusters-video-game-speical-doom/
I may actually watch this one.
Now for some creepy timing. Trying to confirm the year the first game was released (my guess was 94), I found this article (posted 16 hours ago).
http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/26/mythbusters-video-game-speical-doom/
I may actually watch this one.
Currently on Fool, by Christopher Moore. It's hilarious! Kind of dirty, so be warned. I just liked his previous stories, but this one is the best so far. If you think you would like randy tales of of a court jester, you might want to check it out. (**Note that it's not Porn or anything, just a funny story based around a fictional Britain about King Lear's time (King Lear is in it and are his 3 daughters...)
hunter_le five
Sheriff Underscore
Sounds like I need to catch up. I got distracted about halfway through "Bloodsucking Fiends" a while back (was on a mystery novel kick for a while there), and kind of forgot about it. Picked it up again last night.
I just finished Bloodsucking Fiends and You Suck, the sequel. Good reads, no doubt. Both are humorous, but don't reach the wit applied to Fool.
I'm going to be sad when I run out of Moore's stories!
GHBWNY
Well-Known Member
My daughter saw movie after reading the book. Said the movie ended at about 3/4 of the way through the book. Too bad, the last part of the book is fantastic.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2004
- Messages
- 9,308
- Reaction score
- 2,114
Just started reading The Man in the High Castle.
paperairplane
Well-Known Member
I read fiction like a fiend, so I'm always looking for something...
Currently working my way through the Anita Blake Vampire Killer series - they're kind of like a cheesier / more chick Dean Koontz type of detective thriller. But there's like 20 of them...
If you like fantasy / Tolkein type work, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy is pretty good. He is currently on book 2 of the Stormlight Archive - which is awesome - but book 3 not due until 2016 and projected 10 book series.
If you are more of a Tom Clancy type, the James Rollins Sigma Force books are really good. Kind of like if Da Vinci Code was starring Navy Seals...
If you like SciFi read the Ender Quintet. It's so much more involved than the movie and the books after Enders Game are much more adult in theme.
Currently working my way through the Anita Blake Vampire Killer series - they're kind of like a cheesier / more chick Dean Koontz type of detective thriller. But there's like 20 of them...
If you like fantasy / Tolkein type work, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy is pretty good. He is currently on book 2 of the Stormlight Archive - which is awesome - but book 3 not due until 2016 and projected 10 book series.
If you are more of a Tom Clancy type, the James Rollins Sigma Force books are really good. Kind of like if Da Vinci Code was starring Navy Seals...
If you like SciFi read the Ender Quintet. It's so much more involved than the movie and the books after Enders Game are much more adult in theme.
Barley_Bob
Well-Known Member
I firmly advocate in favor of "Ender's Game" and against every other book by Orson Scott Card.
hunter_le five
Sheriff Underscore
BGBC
Well-Known Member
I read the whole quintet. By the last two books, the only things that made me finish it were stubbornness and the fact that I had already read the first three.
paperairplane
Well-Known Member
But doesn't it say something about how good Ender's Game is - that it forces you to keep going all the way through Shadow of the Hegemon....
Kind of how Dune will make you read Sandworms of Dune, even though you checked out long before Chapterhouse...
Or Eye of the World will make you keep reading wheel of time books for over 20 years and then Jordan dies and the finale is a turd sandwich...
paperairplane
Well-Known Member
Right - but it was at least 42,000% less aggravating than the end of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. #hack #bull**** #grrrr
Isnt the Anita Blake stuff the way less PG twilightesque vampire/werewolf porn series? I tried to read some of those and enjoyed the first book then it became pretty much an orgy.
I like Brandon Sanderson's writing style. Mistborn was very good, Not so sure about book 4, though I like the way the magic of that world has evolved in the "X years later" story
Once again I tried. I liked Enders Game, and the (is it part of the quintet) story of Bean. Had to laugh though and quit after xenocide or whatever it was with the 'piggies'. Had an e-reader of that book and threw it on speak it to me mode and just couldnt handle the way it said piggies. Sounded like the machine couldnt hold back the laugh.
Barley_Bob
Well-Known Member
Yes, you're right. Ender's Game is a great book, and it leaves you hungry for a sequel. But the sequels are so disappointing. The fun, easy flow of the original is absent, as are the interesting character dynamics and insights. Add a bunch of boring pseudoscience on top (that takes up a zillion pages), and you have a recipe for a flop.
It's interesting you jumped straight to Dune - I've been lumping both series together in this regard for years. Dune is a phenomenal book, and it totally falls apart after the original. I like Dune so much that I actually take it a little personally that the sequels are so bad. Herbert fills an entire galaxy with interesting characters and plot dynamics, he builds the main character for us piece by piece from boyhood to godhood, and he does both in a way that leaves us inspired to imagine. And then he unravels all of it with just a few pages of bad writing.... in the sequel.
Bottom line - all of these sequels only diminish the originals. Save your time and your sanity and skip them.
What about the... sequals by other authors. I am interested in reading Dune but dont want to waste my time trudging through a diminishing story. I will probably still read the first one though.
Barley_Bob
Well-Known Member
For Dune? I read 6 of the prequels written by Brian Herbert and Anderson. They do some interesting things. They greatly expand the Dune universe and add a lot of interesting background material to the setting and to the noble houses that feature prominently in Dune. They also do a good job of not taking a wrecking ball to Frank Herbert's material. I think they had a lot of good ideas, but the books themselves are very long, very dry, and very redundant. If I could take a red pen to them, I'd have a field day.
One of the most annoying things the author of a series can do (in my opinion) is reestablish a concept from a previous book in a sequel in order to allow a new reader to pick up any book in the middle of a series and not be lost. JK Rowlings does this a lot in the Harry Potter books, for example. You're 5 books in, and she's reminding you what it was like for Harry to live with the Dursleys in book 1. Anyway, it feels like Herbert and Anderson do this in just about every chapter of his prequels, often referring not to a previous book, but to an earlier chapter. I don't understand how these books made it through an editor.
So, I guess I'm mixed on them. Good ideas, but lackluster delivery. I have not read the other books they wrote together. Spoilers I've been given about the material in the sequels they wrote has only pissed me off and does not inspire me to read them. In the case of the sequels, it does seem they found a wrecking ball and used it. But I'm not willing to find out for myself, so take it with a grain of salt.
gotcha. May hold off for a bit on Dune. Will come back to the first book at least a touch later on down the line. Maybe use them for 'read it to me' driving white noise.
I enjoyed other books by Card. Tales of Alvin Maker was mostly really good. I enjoyed most of the Homecoming saga. Most series tend to tail off near the end.
Wheel of Time was a CHORE to read after the first, I don't know, 7 books. I stuck it out and thought the last book was pretty decent again. I think Sanderson did a great job of bringing back what I liked about the original author's style.
Wheel of Time was a CHORE to read after the first, I don't know, 7 books. I stuck it out and thought the last book was pretty decent again. I think Sanderson did a great job of bringing back what I liked about the original author's style.
I read the first Dune. It was good...not great. Is it worth reading on in that series?
Subsailor
Life is Tough, Stupid makes it Tougher
Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
and rereading the Barsoom Series by Edgar Rice Burroughs
and rereading the Barsoom Series by Edgar Rice Burroughs
hunter_le five
Sheriff Underscore
Ugh. WoT was one of those series that all my friends back in college told me I simply MUST read. I kinda enjoyed the first one, but found a lot of the characters to be pretty annoying (whiny). Forced myself through the second and third books.
Been stuck about halfway through the fourth one for the last couple years or so. :cross:
Eventually I may pick it back up again. I've always loved fantasy novels, but I just don't see what all the hype was about in WoT.
Need to read Dune. Just the first one, apparently.
I liked WoT. Yeah, it did get a little tedious at times, especially when RJ went into a 4 page diatrabe on what everybody is wearing.
It seems like any 'epic' fantasy will have its walking through quicksand slow parts where you just have to soldier on until you get to the lively parts. I kinda felt that way about the Game of Thrones books, especially the last couple. Interesting characters became dull annoying people that were a chore to read about (Daenerys), some of the boring whiny single dimensional characters just tick me off (Sansa) and the interesting ones never seem to get enough page time. Then again sometimes the characters you start out hating develop into characters you respect or understand.
I've read like 9 of the Anita Blake books and enjoy them as a quick, secret pleasure book. They're like the True Blood books but you have to remember most are older than all these vampire fad books.
Currently I'm reading A Feast For Crows. So far liking it less than the other books in the series. I know GRRM has to introduce new characters if he wants to milk this for 2-3 more books, but I just don't like most of them.
Currently I'm reading A Feast For Crows. So far liking it less than the other books in the series. I know GRRM has to introduce new characters if he wants to milk this for 2-3 more books, but I just don't like most of them.
I never got tired of GOT books. He generally jumped between scenes often enough that even if one or two characters were not that exciting, you soon came to someone else who really was.
And of course you never know when someone is going to bite it!
I don't usually re-read books but yesterday I picked up 'Aztec' by Gary Jennings at the thrift store. I read this many years ago and only remember that it was so thrilling that for a brief period of time I wanted to do nothing but finish this book.
paperairplane
Well-Known Member
It is very obvious GRRM does not have an ending. He has written himself into a corner he cannot get out of at this point. To do true justice to the series, it needs another 4-5 books. He doesn't have it. HBO has already said they are going off script for the show. Personally, I think after book 3 he should have fast forwarded and started book 4 5-10 years in the future.
Dune is one of may favorite books - I am nostalgic for the Kyle McLaughlin / Sting movie... and it's worth digging through a few of the books - maybe up to God Emperor of Dune.
For guilty pleasure reading, you can't beat The Sword of Truth by Goodkind. It's this hack mashup of Terry Brooks and Ayn Rand. But his pacing is good, and he more or less has a whole story. Sorta.
Dune is one of may favorite books - I am nostalgic for the Kyle McLaughlin / Sting movie... and it's worth digging through a few of the books - maybe up to God Emperor of Dune.
For guilty pleasure reading, you can't beat The Sword of Truth by Goodkind. It's this hack mashup of Terry Brooks and Ayn Rand. But his pacing is good, and he more or less has a whole story. Sorta.
paperairplane
Well-Known Member
Wheel of Time is a perfect example of a story that just got away from the author. Jordan keeps adding characters the entire time. There are so many subplots that nothing ever really gets resolved properly. Add to that, even characters he does kill off - will be back later in the series.
Without spoilering anything - the early part of the series, where Mat and Rand are traveling and just coming into their own power is great storytelling. There are some really developed characters and really compelling developments.
But the later books they all start with at least 700 pages of "... a wind blew from the east, it wasn't a winter wind, but it foretold of a winter's coming - yet even in winter, spring beckons followed by summer and the turning of the seasons - much like the turning of a well shaped ankle under a petticoat, which harkens to broad shoulders and a lace sleeve under a frock coat - which will hold off the bitter chill of a coming autumn..." Then you get 4 pages of Rand, 1 page of Egewene, no mention of Perrin and "Mat played dice, cursed and wore a hat" - then wait 3 years for the next book. Do that for 20 years and see how much you like Robert Jordan.
Without spoilering anything - the early part of the series, where Mat and Rand are traveling and just coming into their own power is great storytelling. There are some really developed characters and really compelling developments.
But the later books they all start with at least 700 pages of "... a wind blew from the east, it wasn't a winter wind, but it foretold of a winter's coming - yet even in winter, spring beckons followed by summer and the turning of the seasons - much like the turning of a well shaped ankle under a petticoat, which harkens to broad shoulders and a lace sleeve under a frock coat - which will hold off the bitter chill of a coming autumn..." Then you get 4 pages of Rand, 1 page of Egewene, no mention of Perrin and "Mat played dice, cursed and wore a hat" - then wait 3 years for the next book. Do that for 20 years and see how much you like Robert Jordan.
Haha. John Galt and followers in Landover. I can see it now.
Barley_Bob
Well-Known Member
Apparently, this is just the day I poop all over the "What are you reading?" thread.
I started Game of Thrones... The first book was fun and fast paced. The second book was not only terribly dull, but it was also incredibly slow. Pacing and readability matter, and GRRM has neither. I've heard the arguments in favor (character development, etc), but it just isn't worth trudging through. I will never pick these back up. The show does a great job of editing out the garbage.
I've also read The Sword of Truth series (although it's been a really long time). I liked the early books, as far as I can remember, but he never has a tidy ending to any of the books. Which is great for him, I suppose, because you're always picking up the next one searching for resolution. It just doesn't happen. The main character goes on numerous ridiculous tangents that accomplish nothing and only serve to muddle the story. Meanwhile, and ending not only pushes further into the future, but it also becomes less satisfying by the page. Remember the time the main character spent a whole book making a statue that he later smashed with a hammer? Dumb.
Okay, confession time - I've been holding onto these since my first post in the thread. A man only has so much restraint.
I started Game of Thrones... The first book was fun and fast paced. The second book was not only terribly dull, but it was also incredibly slow. Pacing and readability matter, and GRRM has neither. I've heard the arguments in favor (character development, etc), but it just isn't worth trudging through. I will never pick these back up. The show does a great job of editing out the garbage.
I've also read The Sword of Truth series (although it's been a really long time). I liked the early books, as far as I can remember, but he never has a tidy ending to any of the books. Which is great for him, I suppose, because you're always picking up the next one searching for resolution. It just doesn't happen. The main character goes on numerous ridiculous tangents that accomplish nothing and only serve to muddle the story. Meanwhile, and ending not only pushes further into the future, but it also becomes less satisfying by the page. Remember the time the main character spent a whole book making a statue that he later smashed with a hammer? Dumb.
Okay, confession time - I've been holding onto these since my first post in the thread. A man only has so much restraint.
This is my biggest criticism of the "Big Sigma" series referenced earlier in the thread by Joseph Lallo.
In books 2 and 3 he seems to have pieces where his authorial tone takes a serious "narrator" approach giving background from the first book, so that if someone hadn't started the series at its beginning, they would be brought up to speed.
Listen, as an author, you have two choices:
- Present each book as a single entity, where you learn everything you need to know about a character through the context of the story and don't need to worry about past events.
- Simply go all-in and assume that readers will read the whole series and be caught up to speed.
But the deliberate throwbacks explaining what happened in previous books just comes off as forced.
I don't read much fantasy, but big, popular fantasy series are a go-to for my audiobook listening because they're usually engaging and they take up a lot of time so I don't have to worry about sourcing new listening material every few weeks. GoT 1-5 got me from about March to December 2013. Book one was great. The second and third had their moments, though George Martin's limited range as a writer started to show through pretty badly. Books four and five were miserable: boring, repetitive, endless, light on content, with miserable plot development after miserable plot development (when there was any plot development occurring at all).
As for what I'm currently reading: I'm about 15 months into Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Chinese. I've improved my reading, vocabulary, and self-expression greatly from reading the books, which I chose because they've got an engaging, easy-to-follow, familiar story that keeps me going when it feels like a slog. They're my foreign language books - I've read the series once before, in German, and there's a good chance if I choose another language in the future I'll be getting a set in that language, even though I've never read them in English.
I'm also a bit past the halfway point in "Imperium" by Ryszard Kapuściński - a Polish journalist from the mid-to-late 20th century who does great literary journalism. This one's about the sprawling, bloated politicomass of the USSR, pre- and post-fall. It's a bit disappointing, the other stuff I've read from him is incredible (and I'm not a non-fic guy), and the social injustices of the USSR are a favorite read (especially Solzhenitsyn), but "Imperium" kind've drags.
Up next, for a sure thing, I'll probably finally crack my copy of "I Am Asher Lev". Chaim Potok is incredible. I need to get a copy of "Bleeding Edge" too, or maybe dig up my copy of "Gravity's Rainbow" again - 2015 needs a little Pynchon.
