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What are you currently reading?
I'm reading:
Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey
The Boy's Tale by Margaret Frazer
I also have a tall stack of "to be read" books.
I'm reading:
Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey
The Boy's Tale by Margaret Frazer
I also have a tall stack of "to be read" books.
I am re-reading Wheel of Time for the nth time, currently reading The Dragon Reborn. The books have a lot of annoying flaws, but I still really enjoy the universe.
If I may ask, what are your opinions on the Brandon Sanderson books? Personally, I think they were just as good as the Robert Jordan books, even if the characters were portrayed slightly differently, but I have heard that some people dislike them.
I think Brandon Sanderson is a way better writer than Robert Jordan. The Gathering Storm and Towers of Midnight are my favourite books in the series by far. Jordan is terrible at character building, and for every re-read my annoyance at all the gendered tropes in the books increases. The difference in the portrayal of certain characters was mostly an improvement in my opinion. You should check out Brandon's new series, The Stormlight Archive, if you haven't already. It is absolutely fantastic!
How long does it take you to finish that series? I'm curious.
It is different every re-read. In the past I have spent maybe three days on average per book, so about six weeks for the whole series, while this time around I am four weeks in and only on the third book.
I read the Wheel of Time a couple of years ago and am looking forward to the Series that is said to come out in the next year or so.
I'm hoping some of these flaws will be worked out.
I really hope they don't botch it, there is enough campy garbage fantasy on tv already. Last I heard Amazon is involved, so I am slightly hopeful.
Agreed, I'm really hoping they treat it as a proper project. My hope is that they are wanting it to be the next Game of Thrones.
Just finished: Love and Math by Edward Frenkel
Picking up from Amazon box today: Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Have to read the book before the series comes out so I can act all smug :)
You are in for a treat. I read the three body problem and it's unique style of writing is fascinating.
To me it seems like an alien way of writing. I think it reflects chinese culture.
Same - one of the things I enjoyed the most is the reminder of how culturally contextual storytelling is. I continually felt that this is a story meant for another audience but I still found is enjoyable and engaging.
I think I rushed through it but I enjoyed it although I didn't feel any deep connection. Or so I thought, but something obviously lay submerged deep in my sub-conscious.. Many years later I had an almost identical experience to the one described in the final 3 paragraphs, I don't often think about it but now whenever anyone mentions the book I recall it very vividly, so thanks for the fond memory!
I really enjoyed Dracula, it was by no means an easy read, but it was an interesting read, as you say, everything coming from letters and diaries.
Then you might also like to know that there is a term for this.
You might also be interested in this previous post in the ~talk group a few days ago: "Any readers in the house? What are you reading?"
I'm currently reading 'A Crown Imperiled' by Raymond E. Feist. I have been reading his books for nearly 15 years now and was waiting for his last series to come out!
I'm reading
I have queued up
DUNE. Have you read it before? I would be interested in hearing fresh impressions - I read it long ago and have reread many times since then.
First time reading. I'm about 3/5 the way through. I'm enjoying the mix of scifi and epic fantasy. Last series I read was The Dark Tower, and I felt like it jumped the shark a few times toward the end, so I'm appreciating the lack of meta, 4th-wall-breaking, deus ex machina stuff.
Just finished Dune about a month ago. I thought that the creation and development of the Fremen culture was well-done, but I felt that at times the plot pacing was off. That being said I've recommended it to most of my friends.
The Elephant in the Brain.
Non-fiction. It's about how your brain has motives you're not conscious of, you do things with motives that are hidden to you and instead confabulate a reason why you did them. All without being conscious of any of it.
The fact that most people don't know what Confabulation is a great example how of unaware of the process we are.
I'm reading Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman. It's a fascinating read and uncomfortably relevant right now although it's written in 1984. He gives a great round down of how communication and public speaking has evolved and how TV at that time has changed that. It's not a hard read but a bit heavy so your probably not going to finish it over the weekend because you need to stop and think from time to time IMO.
I just finished Steven Brust's Book of Dzur (comprising Dzur and Jhegaala). Both are a lot of fun — I especially liked the epigraphs in Dzur detailing the magnificent culinary experience at Valabar & Sons. I hope someone, somewhere, writes about my cooking with such devotion someday. ;)
Now I'm starting book 2 in Alex Marshall's Crimson Empire series, A Blade of Black Steel. I've been told that this is less action-packed with more languid pacing than the first, but that it's still a solid entry.
I'm currently reading The House of Government by Yuri Slezkin. It's a good book, a dense read though, is taking considerable time to finish. I've got a stack of books that I want to read after this one, we have a lot of good used book sales around here.
Work-related:
For pleasure I’m currently (re-)reading some classics, and at the moment I’m in the more adventure phase, so:
I'm reading "The Just City", and so far it's really boring.
Just wondering, did you read the first Kushiel's trilogy? How are you finding the second one?
I think the first trilogy is better because I enjoyed Phedre's story more.
I was definitely more invested in the characters in the first trilogy too. Though I actually really liked Imriel when he was introduced, he really wasn't a well written enough character for his own trilogy. Though he had potential. I also though, Carey didn't take enough risks with him.
Reading In The Spirit Of Crazy Horse by Peter Matthiessen.
I started Stephen King's 11/22/63 recently, and so far am enthralled by it. I'm not very far yet, so I can't wait to see how the plots being set up start to unfold.
That book is so good! There's also a Hulu mini-series is which quite good as well (but of course the book is better).
Two books for me, Inpatient Group Psychotherapy by Irvin Yalom. I bought this and his Theory & Practice of Group Psychotherapy on someone's recommendation. The one I'm reading now is autographed, which I find odd.
The other is Building Community Capacity by a few different people. Basically a book on community development/organizing. I've just started that one.
I'm also listening to The World As It Is by Ben Rhodes, the former Obama Aide. Very good so far.