Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[millerj123]

What do you prefer to see women doing in fantasy writing?

However, honesty compels me to admit that I, too, never managed to complete Robert Jordan's work, this was endurance reading, not reading for pleasure. Indeed, I'd go so far as to say that Robert Jordan was most fortunate that Brandon Sanderson (a far better writer) was persuaded to step up and bring the series home.

Sorry, that was entirely a complaint about Jordan's style. I should have mentioned Matt's rolling dice and What's his name's confusion. At one point I found websites where people counted how many times each action happens in each book.

As for what I prefer to see women doing, pretty much the same thing as men. Going out, kicking ass. Maybe have some personal growth. Hopefully with a compelling plot.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I am currently reading Shogun on by Kindle.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sorry, that was entirely a complaint about Jordan's style. I should have mentioned Matt's rolling dice and What's his name's confusion. At one point I found websites where people counted how many times each action happens in each book.

As for what I prefer to see women doing, pretty much the same thing as men. Going out, kicking ass. Maybe have some personal growth. Hopefully with a compelling plot.

Excellent answer and one with which I fully concur.

It used to drive me nuts to see men write the most vapid, idiotic, passive female characters. Thankfully, the rendition of women in fantasy has improved considerably in recent times, and there are some very good female and male writers in the field.

Re Jordan, yes, agreed, to be frank, his work got awfully tedious.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I am currently reading Shogun on by Kindle.

How do you find it? Would you recommend it?

I remember the TV series a good while ago, but have never read the book.

 

[John Jacob]

I am currently reading Shogun on by Kindle.

How do you find it? Would you recommend it?

Is this the Shogun by James Clavell? If yes, I read it years ago. Really good, but looong! But a realistic portrayal of life in the Tokugawa Shogunate. And it's based on the life of a real character, the British sailor William Adams.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Is this the Shogun by James Clavell? If yes, I read it years ago. Really good, but looong! But a realistic portrayal of life in the Tokugawa Shogunate. And it's based on the life of a real character, the British sailor William Adams.

I remember seeing the book years ago, and yes, (I'm laughing at your description), it did look something like the clichéd door-stopper of a book.

Okay. I'll keep an eye out for it.

 

[ucfgrad93]

How do you find it? Would you recommend it?

I remember the TV series a good while ago, but have never read the book.

Yes, it is an excellent book.

Is this the Shogun by James Clavell? If yes, I read it years ago. Really good, but looong! But a realistic portrayal of life in the Tokugawa Shogunate. And it's based on the life of a real character, the British sailor William Adams.

Yes, it is by James Clavell. I didn't know that it was based on a real person. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[JamesMike]

I am currently reading Shogun on by Kindle.

Excellent read, Clavell did a good job of telling the story, I enjoyed reading it.

 

[NastyComputers]

Introduction to radiologic imaging sciences and patient care....(yay for school)

 

[Zwhaler]

"Mythologies" by Roland Barthes

 

[Scepticalscribe]

For the past two night, over a glass or two of wine, I have been reading "Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives Of William Tecumseh Sherman" by Robert L. O'Connell. Very interesting, and published as recently as 2014.

 

[GaryNoine]

The King. (actually not a bad book)

 

[NastyComputers]

The King. (actually not a bad book)

I've been a fan for a while but haven't read his book yet. Love the movie though!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Has anyone ordered, or read, or even seen, Terry Prachett's latest, last, and posthumous work, 'The Shepherd's Crown'?

I have been reading reviews, and expect to order it later this coming week.

 

[Macky-Mac]

just finished Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace........now there's a real door stopper!.

i remember reading and enjoying Shogun many years ago. It got me started reading about Japanese history

 

[Fthree]

The American Tradition in Literature 12th Edition..... good times

 

[LadyX]

William Kamkwamba was born in Malawi, a country where magic ruled and modern science was mystery. It was also a land withered by drought and hunger. But William had read about windmills, and he dreamed of building one that would bring to his small village a set of luxuries that only 2 percent of Malawians could enjoy: electricity and running water. His neighbors called him misala—crazy—but William refused to let go of his dreams. With a small pile of once-forgotten science textbooks; some scrap metal, tractor parts, and bicycle halves; and an armory of curiosity and determination, he embarked on a daring plan to forge an unlikely contraption and small miracle that would change the lives around him.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a remarkable true story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity. It will inspire anyone who doubts the power of one individual's ability to change his community and better the lives of those around him.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Now, that sounds like an interesting, challenging, highly original, thought-provoking yet instructive and rather up-lifting book. Do please let us know how you find it; it sounds fascinating.

 

[a.guillermo]

Alright, I'm officially psyched for The Girl In The Spider's Web... I had no idea they were writing another in the series!!

Hopefully it's as good as the rest, but I'm now pre-ordered.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Alright, I'm officially psyched for The Girl In The Spider's Web... I had no idea they were writing another in the series!!

Hopefully it's as good as the rest, but I'm now pre-ordered.

Hm. Must admit that I'll be curious to see what you (and others) have to say about it, and I'm a little intrigued that this has been published, not least because of the massive fight over the estate between Steig Larsson's partner and his (estranged) family.

Reviews seem to suggest that the writer - David Lagercrantz - has done a pretty good job with both the characters, and with managing to replicate Steig Larsson's voice and tone. If successful, I'd imagine that further sequels may yet follow suggesting that the franchise is bigger than its creator.

 

[Don't panic]

last few books:

after a few false starts in the past, i finally read entirely
The wind-up bird chronicle, by haruki murakami

i am glad i picked it up again with the time to read all of it. i often read a few books at the time, and some are fine sharing the time, while others require undivided attention, like this one. when i stop reading them for too long i usually restart from the beginning, so i had read the first chapter of this 3-4 times it was worth it.

A slip of the keyboard, collected non-fiction by Terry Pratchett

intriguing read, although a bit redundant. A lot of insights on the man, and some truly funny bits. the last part, where he talks about his disease, eutanasia and other 'serious' topics is quite interesting


Anathem, by Neal Stephenson

nice, a big too drawn out in parts and not as good as Cryptonomicon, but i enjoyed it and was a good refresher of philosophy class from school

The Martian, by Andy Weir

really really good. hard science fiction with great humor. some truly memorable one-liners.
I am actually looking forward to the movie


Red Shirts, by John Scalzi

enjoyable and humorous, especially for trekkies, but not as good as i was expecting


Amsterdam, a history of the world's most liberal city, by Russell Shorto,

surprisingly good and readable "biography" of the city of Amsterdam and how it is intertwined with the birth and raise of liberalism

Galileo's Daughter, by Dava Sobel

brilliant biography of one of the greatest geniuses of human history. also great as an insight on the times.
highly recommended.
dava sobel's Longitude and The Planets, which i had read time ago, were also good.

made me buy:
the main book by the man himself:
Dialogue concerning the Two Chief World Systems, by Galileo Galilei

which i have just started

 

[MacDawg]

Currently reading Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Collection

Can't help visualizing Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as the characters

 

[Scepticalscribe]

last few books:

after a few false starts in the past, i finally read entirely
The wind-up bird chronicle, by haruki murakami

i am glad i picked it up again with the time to read all of it. i often read a few books at the time, and some are fine sharing the time, while others require undivided attention, like this one. when i stop reading them for too long i usually restart from the beginning, so i had read the first chapter of this 3-4 times it was worth it.

A slip of the keyboard, collected non-fiction by Terry Pratchett

intriguing read, although a bit redundant. A lot of insights on the man, and some truly funny bits. the last part, where he talks about his disease, eutanasia and other 'serious' topics is quite interesting


Anathem, by Neal Stephenson

nice, a big too drawn out in parts and not as good as Cryptonomicon, but i enjoyed it and was a good refresher of philosophy class from school

The Martian, by Andy Weir

really really good. hard science fiction with great humor. some truly memorable one-liners.
I am actually looking forward to the movie


Red Shirts, by John Scalzi

enjoyable and humorous, especially for trekkies, but not as good as i was expecting


Amsterdam, a history of the world's most liberal city, by Russell Shorto,

surprisingly good and readable "biography" of the city of Amsterdam and how it is intertwined with the birth and raise of liberalism

Galileo's Daughter, by Dava Sobel

brilliant biography of one of the greatest geniuses of human history. also great as an insight on the times.
highly recommended.
dava sobel's Longitude and The Planets, which i had read time ago, were also good.

made me buy:
the main book by the man himself:
Dialogue concerning the Two Chief World Systems, by Galileo Galilei

which i have just started

Fantastic selection that you have listed there, @Don't panic.

I have long loved Dava Sobel's work, ('Longitude' was a brilliant and original piece of research), and am a big fan of the writing of the late, great Terry Prachett. The Amsterdam book sounds fascinating, and I really like both Neal Stephenson and John Scalzi. And, as for Galileo himself…..what can one say? Wonderful.

The only book among those you have listed that I know absolutely nothing about is the work penned by Andy Weir, whereas I have heard of Haruki Murakami but have not actually read any of his works.

 

[jeremy h]

Currently reading Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Collection

Can't help visualizing Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as the characters

Nice observation. I personally always imagine Jeremy Brett whenever I read the books. Mr Cumberbatch, great though he is, seems a bit young for the role. (Or perhaps I'm getting older?)

Recently read the House of Silk. Very clever, but I wasn't quite sure if it had that magic Doyle ingredient.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Nice observation. I personally always imagine Jeremy Brett whenever I read the books. Mr Cumberbatch, great though he is, seems a bit young for the role. (Or perhaps I'm getting older?)

Recently read the House of Silk. Very clever, but I wasn't quite sure if it had that magic Doyle ingredient.

My thoughts, exactly. Good though he is, I find it hard to accept Mr Cumberbatch in that role, as I see Mr Holmes as older (or prematurely aged or matured through lived experience as might have been the case in the 19th century).