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This is why I quit reading series that aren't finished yet. You never know what'll happen to somebody.
Books / Lit What you reading thread?
- Thread starter Quagmire
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Or, indeed, when they'll just stop writing them. Like Martin or Rothfuss.
That said, I have finished Rhythm of War now. Did again feel a bit of drag with this. I really enjoy this world and characters, as you'd hope being 4,000+ pages into a story, but I don't think these last two books needed to be quite as long as they were. Still, as usual with Sanderson's books it finished strong and makes me want to read the next one. Going to move onto other things for a bit though.
So I've started reading both Day of the Jackal (there's a new tv series over here that adapts it, so good as an excuse as any to read the original) and Meditations for Mortals, which is the best type of book, namely one that I just picked up at the book shop a week or so ago because I thought it looked interesting. And turns out, it is. It's short, though, so I'll finish it and then report back.
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I agree in principle, but when your favorite author starts his magnum opus, I'd rather read along as they come out since he tours, does Q&As, online live events, fan stuff... I'd rather not miss out on that kind of stuff. He's proven to be prolific in his work ethic, too.
Certain types just get their big payout and live off that like Rothfuss and GRRM, Sanderson has never been that person. With the other two, I question their ambition, Sanderson I just worry about his age and health won't keep up with his vision.
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Yeah, Rhythm of War was the weakest of the 5, by a mile. It was too long and acted mostly as a bridge between 3 and 5 where important things happen or are learned.
Wind and Truth is a more interesting read, but not any easier. It really dumps lore and action does happen, it's just long. It's the longest one, and it could have been condensed in the middle.
Quagmire mentioned the new editor that came in during RoW and the tone is different in the last two books. The characters' language and choice of dialogue feels more like an Avengers type story. The world is still the same, characters are still true to themselves, but more jokey, quippy dialogue comes into these two. Wind and Truth definitely feels like it parallels some of the Avengers movies with characters from different worlds showing up, moments with epic things happening that people would cheer for in theaters... I pumped my fist at a few parts near the end. All indications are the cosmere is heading towards that super heroes vibe, and less of the high fantasy it started as.
I'd rank the books the following:
1. Words of Radiance - S tier - Shallan's backstory is the best written of the main characters (WaT adds to it significantly, too, making WoR feel stronger)
2. Oathbringer - A tier - Dalinar's past was incredibly written and rounded him out so much
3. The Way of Kings - A tier - Bridge Four
4. Wind and Truth - A/B tier - I give the nod to WoK being it set up the series and the Bridge 4 parts of it are my favorite story thread of the series.
5. Rhythm of War - C tier - It felt like going through the motions and I really did not enjoy the Venli sections.
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It definitely wouldn't work if everybody did it, so I appreciate you all taking the risk so I don't have to.
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I finished Day of the Jackal, and this one surprised me. For the first third or so of the book I wasn't really enjoying it. It did have its moments, but it did feel very dated to me (as you might expect, for a book that is over 50 years old). So at about that point I started to skim read it. And then surprisingly, at about the two third mark, it started to get much better, and was genuinely tense towards the end. So in the end it's about a 3/5 for me. Not an essential read by any stretch, but if you like this genre and/or are interested in reading the classics, it's certainly more than readable.
Haven't chosen another Kindle book to move on to yet. Focusing on Meditations for Mortals and graphic novels at the moment.
Haven't chosen another Kindle book to move on to yet. Focusing on Meditations for Mortals and graphic novels at the moment.
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FINALLY was able to finish. Have had way too much going on lately. I can see why Stormlight arc 1 ended with this book. I was able to successfully predict one thing about how things would turn out at least, but overall those last 500 or so pages were ridiculously captivating the whole way through.
Need to figure out what I'll read next.
Need to figure out what I'll read next.
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I decided to read Starter Villain, and because it's quite short I've also finished it. It was fun. Very light compared to other books I've read recently, and other John Scalzi books, but that was the point. I definitely have to decide when I'm going to bite the bullet and read Wind and Truth. Maybe not yet though.
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I'm halfway through Warbreaker and am reaching a "don't want to put it down" phase as different character stories are starting to intertwine. I'm getting into the mystery, and the characters are fun.
I'm 58% through the audiobook for The Eye of the World. I enjoy audiobooks, but admittedly it can be a little easier to drift in and out of attention at times. When reading you can always quickly reread a sentence or passage, but listening while driving makes going back less practical. That said I am following the story fairly well and enjoying it so far. Some parts are a little slow, but I expected that with it setting up the world and characters.
I'm 58% through the audiobook for The Eye of the World. I enjoy audiobooks, but admittedly it can be a little easier to drift in and out of attention at times. When reading you can always quickly reread a sentence or passage, but listening while driving makes going back less practical. That said I am following the story fairly well and enjoying it so far. Some parts are a little slow, but I expected that with it setting up the world and characters.
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Here is my goodreads review 4/5 (which I dont give out too often, my average is usually low 3s"
"Pretty good thriller. I like the backdrop being a real life assassination attempt of Charles De Gaulle, but making him be the target of the Jackal took some wind out of the sails as we know how De Gaulle's story ends, so there was never any doubt if Jackal would succeed. A fictional person would have give the author more room to work with. But still pretty good."
Noteworthy stuff to start the year
Wurthering Heights - Bleak and petty characters and I love that kind of stuff, but it was hard to keep track of some characters. I think I would enjoy this more in well done TV series which Im sure there is, but I havent read
The Navigator's Children , the final book in Last King of Osten Ard, sequel to Memory, Sorrow and Throne and god damn what an ending! I have some issues, but overall 5/5 and I dare anyone who is a fan of epic fantasy to try and read these two series if they haven't already.
Son of Shadows, the follow up to Daughter of the Forest was a huge let down. Repeats a lot of the same story beats, but in the first book the romance was in the background, but now it isnt and there isnt intrigue or mystery or interesting characters.
The Strangled Queen and just started Poisoned Crown of the Accursed King series. Great historical fiction, fast read with a lot of politics. This series was a huge inspiration for GRRM. Im not normally a historical fiction fan, but have really enjoyed this series
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Currently reading Dungeon Crawler Carl. It was recommended to me by a friend and I'm enjoying the absurdity of it all.
Basically: earth gets mostly destroyed and the survivors are forced into an alien gameshow that functions like DnD and Carl is the main guy who is traveling through that dungeon floors with his cat named princess donut. She has been made hyper intelligent and can shoot magic missiles.
Basically: earth gets mostly destroyed and the survivors are forced into an alien gameshow that functions like DnD and Carl is the main guy who is traveling through that dungeon floors with his cat named princess donut. She has been made hyper intelligent and can shoot magic missiles.
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Finished Strong Female Character, which is essentially an autobiography by Fern Brady, who is a Scottish comedian with autism. The book very much lays bare her experiences around autism and is absolutely brutally honest, not just in terms of how it gives full details of the things she's done (including stripping in university, drug dependency etc), but in giving information as to how she views things and the difficulties that she has compared to those who don't have autism. I deal with a lot of cases involving children with special educational needs so I do like to think that I am better informed on these sorts of things that the average person, but even so, this book was still eye opening for me. It is a very brave book to write, especially for a comedian who is still in the prime of her career and has a lot to lose. But it's been very well received critically, as it should be.
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Blood and ashes! I finished The Eye of the World audiobook. It was a fun listen. The narrator did a great job of upping the intensity of his delivery at the appropriate times without going over the top. There was a female narrator for a few chapters, mainly when it focused on the female characters. At one point a voice that belonged to neither randomly dropped in and said to flip the tape to the other side; that was rather surreal and unexpected. 
I guess they forgot to remove that, and it was the only time it happened. I can't imagine how many cassette tapes this book would fill up.
It was kind of funny
Will I jump immediately into The Great Hunt or take a break and listen to something else first? Who can say? The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.
I guess they forgot to remove that, and it was the only time it happened. I can't imagine how many cassette tapes this book would fill up.It was kind of funny
thinking of the ending events from Mat's and Perrin's perspectives. They had no idea what Rand did to win their confrontation with the Dark One. When Moiraine says, "We struck a mighty blow to the Dark One," and Mat is like, "What? What did we do?" I felt that.
Will I jump immediately into The Great Hunt or take a break and listen to something else first? Who can say? The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.
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I'm now halfway through book 3 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series (out of a current 7). It's still entertaining and they're fairly easy reads. I finished the second book in 2 days, and will probably be done with the third one by Monday at the latest (maybe even tomorrow).
If you want something light that's also just pretty silly, not a bad choice. Each book is in the 300-500 page range it seems.
If you want something light that's also just pretty silly, not a bad choice. Each book is in the 300-500 page range it seems.
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This was very different, but I just finished listening to the audiobook of Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski. She's a sex therapist, and the book is part sex therapy, part just general information. Whilst it's aimed at women on the face of it, there's arguably just as much for men to learn from it. My wife suggested that we listen to this and her second book because, as much as our sex life is perfectly good, we think there's room for improvement. And I have to say, I learned a lot more from this book than I expected. I like to think of myself as relatively well informed when it comes to sex and women, but there is a surprisingly large amount that I was wrong about or didn't understand. It's not something that you're going to read as an alternative to a fantasy epic, but I'd still recommend it to everyone, particularly those in long term relationships. Men and women both.
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A few days ago I finished 59 Seconds by Richard Wiseman. It was pretty well-researched as far as self-help books go, although I didn't find anything revolutionary in the content.
Immediately afterwards I started Crazy Is My Superpower by AJ Mendez. This is AJ Lee's (from WWE) autobiography. I've been crushing this - I'm totally hooked. I'm about 6 hours in, and it has only covered her life up to college so far, but it's a pretty depressing, but interesting read. It definitely makes you appreciate the positive circumstances in your life.
Immediately afterwards I started Crazy Is My Superpower by AJ Mendez. This is AJ Lee's (from WWE) autobiography. I've been crushing this - I'm totally hooked. I'm about 6 hours in, and it has only covered her life up to college so far, but it's a pretty depressing, but interesting read. It definitely makes you appreciate the positive circumstances in your life.
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I'm not reading it (yet), but I did finally acquire a hardcover copy of the Lord of the Rings. Complete with illustrations, and a book marker.
This one: https://a.co/d/ceSkBM5
It's something I've wanted for a while but never really actually bothered to look much outside of occasionally looking for an old copy in a used book store.
I read the first few pages. Tolkien goes super into depth.
I skipped ahead a bit to where Bilbo uses the ring to trick the hobbits into thinking he vanished into thin air. The line in the movie is the same as it is in the book. "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." It's my favorite line from the movie(s) and I'm glad it was taken 1 for 1 from the book.
This one: https://a.co/d/ceSkBM5
It's something I've wanted for a while but never really actually bothered to look much outside of occasionally looking for an old copy in a used book store.
I read the first few pages. Tolkien goes super into depth.
I skipped ahead a bit to where Bilbo uses the ring to trick the hobbits into thinking he vanished into thin air. The line in the movie is the same as it is in the book. "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." It's my favorite line from the movie(s) and I'm glad it was taken 1 for 1 from the book.