Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

AustinIllini

macrumors G5
Oct 20, 2011
12,699
10,567
Austin, TX
Well, the third book in this series came in the mail as it was released not long ago, so I started the second book. About a third of the way through.
the-magician-king-cover.jpg
 

impulse462

macrumors 68020
Jun 3, 2009
2,097
2,878
I finished Pride and Prejudice earlier in the week. I liked the first half of the book more than the second half, but the whole thing was fun to read.
 

Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,181
47,566
In a coffee shop.
I finished Pride and Prejudice earlier in the week. I liked the first half of the book more than the second half, but the whole thing was fun to read.

A classic of nineteenth century literature.

No, when "A Novel" is stated on a book, it usually means that it's a stand-alone novel. Not part of a series.

Hm. Interesting - I hadn't seen it in that light, and assumed that a 'novel' applied to any book that could be classed as a work of fiction…..
 

LadyX

macrumors 68020
Mar 4, 2012
2,374
252
Hm. Interesting - I hadn't seen it in that light, and assumed that a 'novel' applied to any book that could be classed as a work of fiction…..

Now I'm doubtful about my information I once thought was true. I always thought that this was the case. I've never read anywhere that a book that has "A Novel" written on its cover implies that it's a stand-alone book. Maybe it's something I just made up because I've never seen a book that is part of a series with "A Novel" written on it before. I don't know when this trend started anyway. The fiction books I've bought 5 years ago didn't have that. I noticed it's a new thing now. Almost all fiction books (especially literary fiction) now are styled this way ( *Title of Book*: A Novel). After every title. I personally don't think it's necessary maybe because I don't really seem to understand the reason behind having "A Novel" written on the cover, under every title. Maybe to give the work a sense of importance? Don't know.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
I haven't read this in a while, but with the passing of Robin Williams and how he stated it was one of his favorites books. I've decided to pick up the foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov.

TheFoundationTrilogy565.png
 

SactoGuy18

macrumors 601
Sep 11, 2006
4,733
1,798
Sacramento, CA USA
I'm current reading on my Kindle app on my iPad Air My Conference Can Beat Your Conference: Why the SEC Still Rules College Football by Paul Finebaum and Gene Wojciechowski. Wow, Finebaum's description of SEC football fans makes them almost as passionate as European soccer fans--especially in the state of Alabama. :rolleyes:

I just finished re-reading also on my iPad Air Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas by David G. Schwartz. It's the story of Jay Sarno, maybe the one of the most important men who shaped the Las Vegas we know today along with Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Jimmy Hoffa, Howard Hughes and Steve Wynn. Much of the modern casino resort design we see in Vegas now came from Sarno's creation of Caesars Palace and Circus Circus in the 1960's.
 

AVBeatMan

macrumors 603
Nov 10, 2010
5,967
3,848
I'm current reading on my Kindle app on my iPad Air My Conference Can Beat Your Conference: Why the SEC Still Rules College Football by Paul Finebaum and Gene Wojciechowski. Wow, Finebaum's description of SEC football fans makes them almost as passionate as European soccer fans--especially in the state of Alabama. :rolleyes:

I just finished re-reading also on my iPad Air Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas by David G. Schwartz. It's the story of Jay Sarno, maybe the one of the most important men who shaped the Las Vegas we know today along with Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Jimmy Hoffa, Howard Hughes and Steve Wynn. Much of the modern casino resort design we see in Vegas now came from Sarno's creation of Caesars Palace and Circus Circus in the 1960's.


How do you find reading on the Air as opposed to Kindle? At the mo I have both but it would save space just to carry the one around. Keep meaning to make the leap and put Paperwhite away for a while. I guess it's just getting used to it?
 

LadyX

macrumors 68020
Mar 4, 2012
2,374
252
Currently reading The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.

It is a literary non-fiction novel that spans the years surrounding the building of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, also known as The "World's Columbian Exposition", which was designed to commemorate the landing of Columbus in America.

Bringing Chicago circa 1893 to vivid life, this spell-binding novel intertwines the true tale of two men; Daniel Burnham, the brilliant architect behind the legendary 1893 World's Fair. And H.H. Holmes, the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death.

Very fascinating and engrossing so far. And I love the fact that it's written and presented in a novelistic style.



71_XRbn80oj_L_1.jpg
 

Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,181
47,566
In a coffee shop.
Now I'm doubtful about my information I once thought was true. I always thought that this was the case. I've never read anywhere that a book that has "A Novel" written on its cover implies that it's a stand-alone book. Maybe it's something I just made up because I've never seen a book that is part of a series with "A Novel" written on it before. I don't know when this trend started anyway. The fiction books I've bought 5 years ago didn't have that. I noticed it's a new thing now. Almost all fiction books (especially literary fiction) now are styled this way ( *Title of Book*: A Novel). After every title. I personally don't think it's necessary maybe because I don't really seem to understand the reason behind having "A Novel" written on the cover, under every title. Maybe to give the work a sense of importance? Don't know.

Granted, language and words do change their meaning over time, as contexts and usage alter and words evolve to fit circumstances.

Nevertheless, I had always assumed that the noun a 'novel' described a book that was a work of fiction; however, this fresh usage may be intended to stress to new (i.e. young) readers exactly what this term denotes, as those of us of a more mature vintage may be expected to know this as a matter of course…..
 

AustinIllini

macrumors G5
Oct 20, 2011
12,699
10,567
Austin, TX
Just finished "The Magician King". Without giving too much away:

The plot is a significant departure from Harry Potter and no longer shares as many characteristics with the first book in the series.

There were scenes that disgusted me, made me sad, made me happy, annoyed me, and scared me. Obviously I recommend it if you read the first one.

Thankfully, this just came in the mail:
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2014-08-17 20.33.23.png
    Screenshot 2014-08-17 20.33.23.png
    204.9 KB · Views: 87

TomHardyy

macrumors newbie
Aug 4, 2014
19
0
I am reading currently "If i Stay" i must say it is another great book by Gayle Forman. It’s a book for kids precisely because it explores serious themes. Teenagers are grappling with choices about life and love as much as adults, so why shouldn’t their reading reflect that? I don’t set out to write YA.
 

TheBeastman13

macrumors regular
Mar 5, 2012
209
4
A very dry and mind-numbing read that it is, I am currently reading Charles Darwin's "On the Origins of Species by Means of Natural Selection."

Maybe I'm not intellectual enough, but this book is hard for me to focus on. I can only do twenty or so pages a day before my focus shifts elsewhere in life.

Trying to diversify my knowledge and gain a different viewpoint, something to compare to in the future.

Anyone else have the same difficulties?
 

wertykulik

macrumors newbie
Aug 20, 2014
1
0
Thinking Skills Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (2013)


2143110.jpg


English | 354 pages | pdf | 9 MB
complete coverage of the Cambridge AS and A Level Thinking Skills syllabus offering substantially updated, new and revised content. It also contains extensive extra material to cover related awards. Written by experienced and highly respected authors, this book includes features include clearly focused and differentiated units, stimulating student activities with commentaries to develop analytical skills, summaries of key concepts to review learning, end-of-chapter assignments to reinforce knowledge and skills, and a mapping grid to demonstrate the applicability of each unit to awards including Critical Thinking, BMAT and TSA.


http://filespace.com/mc3j4r196hua/_..._Thinking_and_Problem_Solving__2013_.pdf.html
 

Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,181
47,566
In a coffee shop.
A very dry and mind-numbing read that it is, I am currently reading Charles Darwin's "On the Origins of Species by Means of Natural Selection."

Maybe I'm not intellectual enough, but this book is hard for me to focus on. I can only do twenty or so pages a day before my focus shifts elsewhere in life.

Trying to diversify my knowledge and gain a different viewpoint, something to compare to in the future.

Anyone else have the same difficulties?

Another classic from the 19th century, and a work that - quite literally - had an utterly revolutionary impact on scientific thought world-wide.

Charles Darwin's hand was effectively forced when Alfred Wallace - independently, and subsequently - had arrived at a similar conclusion, and he either had to publish, (and 'own' reluctantly arrived at conclusions which he knew would be extraordinarily controversial), or cede that intellectual territory to someone who would publish, and be prepared to face the consequences of having done so.
 

vulcanvillalta

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2014
420
3
I haven't seen it, but the HBO show, "The Leftovers" seemed to look interesting, so I borrowed the book from my library, and I'm about a third of the way through. Very interesting book; I'm quite pleased with it so far. :)
 

Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,181
47,566
In a coffee shop.
This week in London, I bought two lovely, fat, hardback books (I love hardback books), with the alluring (to me, at any rate) title of "Parliament: The Biography (Vol 1: Ancestral Voices)" and "Parliament: The Biography (Vol 2: Reform)" both, obviously by the same author, Chris Bryant. I love reading - well-written books - about British constitutional history.
 

AVBeatMan

macrumors 603
Nov 10, 2010
5,967
3,848
God, I love the sound of those! Takes me back to my Degree days (Social Science and Politics). Struggle with heavy books now, not from physical infirmity but from being used to Kindle. One if the reasons I was swayed. I have a lovely collection of Folio Society books that look at me pleading from my bookshelf!
 

MacDawg

Moderator emeritus
Mar 20, 2004
19,823
4,504
"Between the Hedges"
Need a recommendation

Looking for a series of books appropriate for 12-13 year old boy
Gotta be engaging enough to keep the interest of a non-reader
Nothing too "heavy"

Whaddya suggest??
 

Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Jul 29, 2008
65,181
47,566
In a coffee shop.
God, I love the sound of those! Takes me back to my Degree days (Social Science and Politics). Struggle with heavy books now, not from physical infirmity but from being used to Kindle. One if the reasons I was swayed. I have a lovely collection of Folio Society books that look at me pleading from my bookshelf!

The covers are gorgeous (Kindle notwithstanding, I love the feel of a fat hardback in my hand, and love the act of physically turning a page), and the books lavishly illustrated and beautifully written.

I am looking forward to burying myself in them. Now, British history (unlike that of some other countries) has actually been well served by those who write about it; even as a student, never mind as a university teacher, I can recall reading some excellent, beautifully written, and exceptionally well argued texts (George Dangerfield, A. J. P. Taylor come to mind, among others).
 

LadyX

macrumors 68020
Mar 4, 2012
2,374
252
Need a recommendation


Looking for a series of books appropriate for 12-13 year old boy

Gotta be engaging enough to keep the interest of a non-reader

Nothing too "heavy"



Whaddya suggest??


Rick Riordan came to mind at once. Seriously, his books are must-reads. They're very absorbing and fantastic. Many kids got into reading thanks to him. So I recommend Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I'll post a link to the first book, called The Lightning Thief. Also the Heroes of Olympus series. The first book is called The Lost Hero, this series is still ongoing. The last book is due to be released in October. And I also recommend one more series, trilogy actually, The Kane Chronicles, starting with The Red Pyramid. I've posted Amazon links to the first book of each series for you to check out.


The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book 1)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786838655?ie=UTF8&at=&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links


The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, Book 1)

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Hero-Her...&qid=1408862489&sr=1-1&keywords=The+lost+hero


The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles, Book 1)

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Pyramid-K...id=1408862566&sr=1-1&keywords=The+red+pyramid


I'm 21 and I found these books to be excellent.
 

LadyX

macrumors 68020
Mar 4, 2012
2,374
252
Currently reading The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.

It is a literary non-fiction novel that spans the years surrounding the building of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, also known as The "World's Columbian Exposition", which was designed to commemorate the landing of Columbus in America.

Bringing Chicago circa 1893 to vivid life, this spell-binding novel intertwines the true tale of two men; Daniel Burnham, the brilliant architect behind the legendary 1893 World's Fair. And H.H. Holmes, the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death.


I just finished this a few hours ago. It was fascinating reading about the people who helped build the fair; I had no idea Walt Disney's father was one of them. Similarly fascinating was reading about the people who attended the fair: Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Helen Keller, Susan B. Anthony, Theodore Dreiser, Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Mark Twain (although he got bedridden sick and saw the fair from his hotel room window only), Archduke Francis Ferdinand, royalty from different countries, and many other famous figures. Also, the new inventions such as the ferris wheel. The introduction of edibles like Cracker Jacks, Juicy Fruit, Shredded Wheat, etc. was all very compelling to read. Now the other story tells the tale of deeply disturbed serial killer, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, who used the Fair (and his charms) to lure victims (mainly young women and children) to their death. This part of the story was very chilling and mysterious. All in all, this book is very readable. Very interesting. Very intriguing. Very beautifully written.


Next up is Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing.


51sozDki5jL_zpsf01e176f.jpg
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.