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Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

LadyX

LadyX

macrumors 68020
Mar 4, 2012
2,374
252
fitshaced said:
I might read some more of them but what I disliked was how each of them has a very similar pattern. It seemed to me that the author was using his one and only tactic of trying to not make the story predictable. Good stories though but spacing them out rather than bingeing is probably the best way to read them.
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Yes of course, I wasn't planning on binge reading the books. I think when an author writes a long series, particularly longer than a trilogy, they tend to stick or follow a specific formula, a pattern they are familiar with and know would be successful. In the case of the "Lincoln Rhyme" books, there are 11 and all of them have been bestsellers.
 
Zendokan

Zendokan

macrumors 6502
Feb 17, 2011
324
172
Belgium
I've gotten The Hobbit - The Lord of the Rings boxset for Christmas :D
Never read them in English, although I tried the Dutch version years ago, but I put that down because I didn't liked the translation. It lacked refinement.
Will give this ago, will be slow reading to get all the innuendos because English is my third language, but I suspect a fun read.


1001004007654490
 
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macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,187
47,572
In a coffee shop.
Zendokan said:
I've gotten The Hobbit - The Lord of the Rings boxset for Christmas :D
Never read them in English, although I tried the Dutch version years ago, but I put that down because I didn't liked the translation. It lacked refinement.
Will give this ago, will be slow reading to get all the innuendos because English is my third language, but I suspect a fun read.


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I liked 'The Hobbit'.

It is a fun read, a cheerful adventure story where the tone is set by the engaging insouciance, understated courage (and quick wit) of the protagonist, Bilbo Baggins. In a sense, it is the Prologue to the whole Lord of the Rings saga, as it sets the scene.

Obviously, and while it is a much shorter book than the massive 'The Lord Of The Rings' trilogy, it is much lighter in tone, more cheerful, with a few comedic elements, and with far less world building or character development, or sense of an epic tale with cosmic consequences than you will find in the trilogy itself, which reverberates with a sense of doom and portentous story telling.

However, - and here I have to give voice to a difference between the two which I found striking - as a hero, as a protagonist, I much preferred Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, to his nephew, Frodo Baggins, who was the protagonist in TLOTR saga. To my mind, the character differences between the two (along with their differing adventures and life experiences) gave rise to a startling difference in tone in the two works.

I never really liked Frodo, although one, could, of course, 'feel his pain' as the books progressed, but I would happily sit down to dine with Bilbo, a repast I am sure would include convivial conversation washed down with a glass or two of good ale or wine…...

 
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LadyX

LadyX

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Mar 4, 2012
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HP7cover.jpg



As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid's motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is now broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves, and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin - Harry must stand and face his enemy.

Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In this seventh and final book, Harry discovers what fate truly has in store for him as he inexorably makes his way to that final meeting with Voldemort. In this thrilling climax to the phenomenally bestselling series, all is revealed.
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Jul 29, 2008
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LadyX said:
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Ah. Wonderful. Well, what can I say?

This is the best book of the entire series, to my mind. A tour-de-force, a book which delivers on the promise (and the build up of everything which preceded it) of the entire series, which offers sly and subtle grace notes to material we have been introduced to throughout the series, further world building, further fantastic backstories, and is a book which offers new information - about people, institutions, places, - along with delivering a terrific narrative, and manages to evoke a genuine sense of fear, along with a very good portrayal of what life is like under a totalitarian regime.

Moreover, it is also a book which allows the three protagonists to grow up and develop their respective characters even more. A fitting conclusion to an excellent series. Enjoy it - I'll be interested in reading your thoughts and observations when you have managed to tear yourself away from it.
 
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A

a.guillermo

macrumors regular
Jan 12, 2015
109
3
MacDawg said:
I like Bosch more myself, but I've read all of them too :)
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I got the complete Raymond Chandler box set for christmas (Library of America edition) and can't wait to read those. I'm rather new to the mystery genre; just kinda started reading less than a year ago.
 
MacDawg

MacDawg

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Mar 20, 2004
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"Between the Hedges"
a.guillermo said:
I got the complete Raymond Chandler box set for christmas (Library of America edition) and can't wait to read those. I'm rather new to the mystery genre; just kinda started reading less than a year ago.
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Chandler is awesome as well. Old school detective, so keep that in mind. But you will love them.
 
LadyX

LadyX

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Mar 4, 2012
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MacDawg said:
I've read all the Lincoln Rhyme books and loved them all actually
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It was a good book. However, the torture scenes were very graphic and I didn't find the protagonist (Rhyme) a likable character; very annoying at times.
 
MacDawg

MacDawg

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Mar 20, 2004
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"Between the Hedges"
LadyX said:
It was a good book. However, the torture scenes were very graphic and I didn't find the protagonist (Rhyme) a likable character; very annoying at times.
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Oh, he is definitely a curmudgeon, but that's part of the book's hook to me
He is flawed, damaged, and hard to deal with, unlike many other leading characters
 
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=w=

macrumors 6502a
Aug 11, 2012
661
3
Currently on the third book of the MaddAddam series.8 really enjoyed Oryx and Crake. The Year of the Flood was good, but not great. The Thor book, MaddAddam is shaping up to be somewhere in between the first two.
 
Melrose

Melrose

Suspended
Dec 12, 2007
7,806
399
Currently, for the third time:

HuntForRedOctober.JPG

I like how technical Clancy can be without losing focus of the characters and plot. You have to look at this as an entirely different story than the film - both are good.


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9780684845777_p0_v2_s260x420.jpg

Say what you want about Tony... it's still good material.
 
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macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,187
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In a coffee shop.
Don't panic said:
as i wait for my son to finish the next installment, however, i am re-reading (again) on of my all-time favs:
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still good even after almost 20 years
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juanm said:
I would have never pegged you for a Harry Potter reader...


Now I'm just about to start Guns, Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond which my sister just gave me for Christmas. It appears to mix history, geography sociology and anthropology (alas, no submarines, I'm afraid) in an attempt to explain why we are, as a species, where we are today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel
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My warm and grateful thanks to you both.

This book - "Guns, Germs, and Steel" - by Jared Diamond arrived yesterday in a package sent by Amazon (and yes, I'd prefer to be able to buy it in a bricks and mortar store) and I have been unable to put it down since I opened it last night.

Indeed, I have spent much of yesterday and most of today so far buried deeply - nay, completely immersed - in it and utterly absorbed by it.

Very well written, and extraordinarily interesting. A fascinating and thought provoking read. Again, my thanks to you both for suggesting it.
 
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LadyX

LadyX

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Mar 4, 2012
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Just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Extraordinary. Absolutely extraordinary. A brilliant conclusion to one of the most epic magical series I have ever read. So many incredibly memorable moments in the book. All the ends were tied together. A thrilling read. Loved every part. Wow. Don't know what more to say.
 
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macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,187
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In a coffee shop.
LadyX said:
Just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Extraordinary. Absolutely extraordinary. A brilliant conclusion to one of the most epic magical series I have ever read. So many incredibly memorable moments in the book. All the ends were tied together. A thrilling read. Loved every part. Wow. Don't know what more to say.
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That was more or less my reaction to the finale, too.

Quite often, I have noticed that the final work in an epic series turns out to be something of an anti-climax, even if it does wrap up the story and tie up some loose ends.

However, with 'Deathly Hallowes', I would argue that J K Rowling gave her readers the very best book in the series at the very end, and - to my mind - it is an absolute tour-de-force, a brilliant conclusion to an outstanding series.
 
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