What are you reading?
- Thread starter Emma
- Start date
Just finished The Last Odyssey by James Rollins. I like his characters and he definitely keeps the action moving and I found it enjoyable. But this one had a major portion of the book revolve around almost "magical" creatures supposedly built over 1,000 years ago that were just too much for me to fully buy into. I liked some of his other stuff better in that respect. While his other books also tend to have some fantasy/sci-fi twist to them, I could more easily accept the premise or implementation in most of the others.
I do REALLY enjoy that after the end of the book he goes into the real history of the items, people, places, and events that form the basis of his plots. In this case, things like Greek Fire, astrolabes, Leonardo da Vinci, history on the Greek Dark Ages, World War Zero, the Vatican, etc., etc.
I do REALLY enjoy that after the end of the book he goes into the real history of the items, people, places, and events that form the basis of his plots. In this case, things like Greek Fire, astrolabes, Leonardo da Vinci, history on the Greek Dark Ages, World War Zero, the Vatican, etc., etc.
DOUGLAS PRESTON... Duh. I saw an Audible book offering from James Prescott and mistakenly thought it was the same author as the Pendergast guy, who you turned me on to a few years ago. (My defense is that it was late at night and I didn't bother to check). I bought the book with my free credit for the month. I'll let you know how it turns out. 
Any Audible subscribers here who would like to be gifted "The Stand" by Stephen King (full length edition with all the restored content). I just got a notice from Audible that I can gift it to a fellow subscriber. First come, first served. If you're interested, drop me a PM with your email addy. It's pretty danged good -- the reader is incredible.
I saw that Apple TV+ has a series coming out based on Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. While I don't have a subscription to watch, I was inspired to go back and read those dusty books sitting on my shelf. While on vacation I finished the two prequels he wrote (Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation). On to the original trilogy next!
If you aren't an Asimov fan, his Robot books were tied into the Foundation series but I did not read those as well. Sticking with Foundation books right now.
If you aren't an Asimov fan, his Robot books were tied into the Foundation series but I did not read those as well. Sticking with Foundation books right now.
I saw that Apple TV+ has a series coming out based on Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. While I don't have a subscription to watch, I was inspired to go back and read those dusty books sitting on my shelf. While on vacation I finished the two prequels he wrote (Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation). On to the original trilogy next!
If you aren't an Asimov fan, his Robot books were tied into the Foundation series but I did not read those as well. Sticking with Foundation books right now.
If you aren't an Asimov fan, his Robot books were tied into the Foundation series but I did not read those as well. Sticking with Foundation books right now.
I'm currently on book five of the Wheel of Time series. Great books but if you not into fantasy or 1000 page books, their probably not for you. Robert Jordan was a very creative writer. I would call the Wheel of Time series a combination of Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones, with a few other bells and whistles thrown in.
My grandson asked me who my favorite author was, and that was difficult to answer. I finally came down to Nelson DeMille. I wish he wrote more often. Maybe he needs to rub elbows with Patterson, who I think writes about a book a day. He barely beat out James Rollins and Michael Connelly. I would have had Vince Flynn in there but unfortunately he's no longer with us.
By the way, for those that don't know, and someone may have mentioned it one of the earlier posts, The Wheel of Time series is being made into a series by Amazon and it's reported that it will be the most expensive TV series in the history of television. Can't wait!
My grandson asked me who my favorite author was, and that was difficult to answer. I finally came down to Nelson DeMille. I wish he wrote more often. Maybe he needs to rub elbows with Patterson, who I think writes about a book a day. He barely beat out James Rollins and Michael Connelly. I would have had Vince Flynn in there but unfortunately he's no longer with us.
By the way, for those that don't know, and someone may have mentioned it one of the earlier posts, The Wheel of Time series is being made into a series by Amazon and it's reported that it will be the most expensive TV series in the history of television. Can't wait!
I saw that Apple TV+ has a series coming out based on Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. While I don't have a subscription to watch, I was inspired to go back and read those dusty books sitting on my shelf. While on vacation I finished the two prequels he wrote (Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation). On to the original trilogy next!
If you aren't an Asimov fan, his Robot books were tied into the Foundation series but I did not read those as well. Sticking with Foundation books right now.
If you aren't an Asimov fan, his Robot books were tied into the Foundation series but I did not read those as well. Sticking with Foundation books right now.
I would definitely be interested, but they would have to get into my pecking order. I only have 9 more Wheel of Time books to go after this one, those will be followed by a Michael Connelly book and then the new Nelson DeMille book. My hope is that I live long enough to read them all. Always something to look forward to...
Just finished Anathem by Neal Stephenson on a recommendation, and I don't pass that recommendation along. The writing style is fine, but man, the first 20% of the book (and 10% of the rest of it) could be condensed into a few pages/removed and you sure wouldn't miss anything, and the ending is pretty anticlimactic in my opinion. Parts of it are engaging and interesting, but not enough.
My problem with Stephenson is that he can't write an ending for the life of him. He's a great writer, he weaves a bunch of really interesting threads, and then it's like he realizes he's about to go 400 pages over his contract length and he says...how do I fix all this in 30 pages? Umm...RANDOM BATTLE! Every time. Every single time. I love the first 90% of every Neal Stephenson book and then might as well just toss it and imagine the ending myself.
That said, I found the world building in Anathem to be quite fascinating, and that first 20% of the book was maybe my favorite part.
Even though you didn't like Anathem, I would say that Seveneves was also extremely interesting, but he doesn't spend 20% of the book setting everything up. The first sentence of the book is the entire setup.
That said, I found the world building in Anathem to be quite fascinating, and that first 20% of the book was maybe my favorite part.
Even though you didn't like Anathem, I would say that Seveneves was also extremely interesting, but he doesn't spend 20% of the book setting everything up. The first sentence of the book is the entire setup.
I get what you are saying. And I understand establishing the "universe" you are in. But holy heck, even after reading the little "primer" before the book started I thought he was just being intentionally obtuse in his writing. No context or background to half of the words or concepts he was using; sometimes he would be using a word or concept since the first chapter and then finally explain what it was over halfway through the book. Why? What is the purpose in doing so?
I read for entertainment. When I'm artificially struggling with the concepts or ideas because the writer intentionally sets up roadblocks to comprehending his made-up words or concepts, I'm not really being entertained.
I read for entertainment. When I'm artificially struggling with the concepts or ideas because the writer intentionally sets up roadblocks to comprehending his made-up words or concepts, I'm not really being entertained.
Wait, there's a new book? I'm on it.
Never mind. Audiobook only? WTF? That's asinine. Let me know if it ever comes out in print.
Never mind. Audiobook only? WTF? That's asinine. Let me know if it ever comes out in print.
Just finished reading Dune: The Duke of Caladan and while good, it seems almost as much of a "setup" book for a sequel than anything else. There were a couple of plot lines in the book I was hoping would pay off at the end but when I flipped to the next page in the book and it was the end I was a bit disappointed. But these authors have been cranking out numerous books in this universe, so I expect another follow-up book to continue the story.
I've read them all so far (and own most of them in hardcover!). The "newer" works are definitely of a different vein. More like "Dune-lite" with regards to some depth, complexity, and overall wholistic "approach" to the universe than the originals. Maybe you could consider them "action movie" versions of Dune, if that makes any sense. As such, I don't think you (in particular) would like them as much. I read them just for quick entertainment in a "universe" I enjoy than anything else.
Please ignore the messy bookshelf - I just purged a whole bunch of books and haven't cleaned it all up/organized yet.
Please ignore the messy bookshelf - I just purged a whole bunch of books and haven't cleaned it all up/organized yet.
Just finished The Three Body Problem, a sci-fi book translated from a Chinese author. It was different in that the writing style felt Chinese, in the fact that the Chinese culture and dialogue style was so dominant and made its way through to the reader. As such, I think the translator did a good job.
At first the book feels a bit like an amalgamation of other sci-fi books (hints of Ready Player One, among others), but it forges it's own path and while it doesn't fully explain itself until well over halfway through, I enjoyed it. Some of the technical aspects were hard for me to follow at times, but I placed a loan on the sequel already as the story is interesting and I definitely want to see where the author takes it.
@Capt. Factorial, I'd be interested to know if you have read this yet. Seems like it might be kinda up your alley.
At first the book feels a bit like an amalgamation of other sci-fi books (hints of Ready Player One, among others), but it forges it's own path and while it doesn't fully explain itself until well over halfway through, I enjoyed it. Some of the technical aspects were hard for me to follow at times, but I placed a loan on the sequel already as the story is interesting and I definitely want to see where the author takes it.
@Capt. Factorial, I'd be interested to know if you have read this yet. Seems like it might be kinda up your alley.
YES!
I liked it quite a bit. The entire trilogy is completely worth reading. (I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, but the journey was so good I can overlook that.)
So, the trilogy is usually referred to as "The Three Body Problem Trilogy", but I actually think of it as "The Dark Forest Trilogy". Not to throw out spoilers, but for me, the first book turns out to be just an intro, and the real sci-fi meat of the series starts hitting in the second book.
I liked it quite a bit. The entire trilogy is completely worth reading. (I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, but the journey was so good I can overlook that.)
So, the trilogy is usually referred to as "The Three Body Problem Trilogy", but I actually think of it as "The Dark Forest Trilogy". Not to throw out spoilers, but for me, the first book turns out to be just an intro, and the real sci-fi meat of the series starts hitting in the second book.