What was the last 5-star book you read?

[L.J. Sellers]

Thanks, Tome Keeper and rhadin! I'm glad you enjoyed the story, and I appreciate the shout out. My other Detective Jackson novels have even better Amazon rankings...because they're less political. Still, writing this series has been the most gratifying work I've ever done.
L.J.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by bashfulbanshee

I remember thinking The Left Hand of Darkness was a bore and I couldn't get past the first 3 chapters. The next time I picked it up, I finished the book in two days and loved every moment of it. Another one of my five star books.

I find Le Guin to be atrocious. But for a book I did really enjoy (actually two books), The Left Hand of Destiny books one & two by J. G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang. J. G. Hertzler played Martok in the TV series Star Trek: TNG and Star Trek: DS9.

[JSWolf]

I would prefer a 10 star rating. That would be able to give a more appropriate rating.

[GraceKrispy]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I would prefer a 10 star rating. That would be able to give a more appropriate rating.

I do half-star increments for that reason. 4.5 = 9 in my head. But the book sites don't do them by half-stars, so that leaves me with a dilemma when I share my reviews out. So I alternate.

[Frida Fantastic]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I would prefer a 10 star rating. That would be able to give a more appropriate rating.

I kinda don't, actually. Book reviewing and rating isn't a precise science, I'm pretty happy with a five star system with a written review to elaborate on who would appreciate the book and how best to approach it.

[estelle58]

I'm reading Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta serie

[orlok]

Originally Posted by estelle58

I'm reading Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta serie

. I've read every one in the series, and most have been very good (one or two minor exceptions). Shame that I can't stomach any of her other stuff...

[newlaza]

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Requires some work to get into but once you're in you're in deep.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

hah, from a reader whose mother tongue resembles the original language used in the work, I have very confusing thoughts about Romance of 3 kingdoms.

First, I like the background of the story. It is set in a period which is familiar to us Vietnamese folks, with the familiar names. (to tell the truth, we are familiar with every detail of Chinese history! Scary huh. Of course that excludes me, I was never good at history at school.)

Second, I don't like it because it was twisted by tough hands. Therefore it isn't precise, the author's perspective affects it all. Of course it's a history novel, not a chronicle, and the fact that it praises those whom the author liked best makes the definition of "bad guys" and "good guys" really distinctive. For instance, Cao Cao is considered evil. He's bad, just because he opposed Shu Han. Zhuge Liang is treated differently because he's considered "good". Therefore he defeat Zhou Yu. Nonsense. Zhou Yu was dumb-lucked, that's all.

Third, some details are pretty over limit. Like when Liu Bei said goodbye to his "beloved" general Zhao Yun, he cried like a woman - consider his status as a warlord at the time, this is unacceptable in my opinion

Overall... I quite liked it the main reason for this isn't listed above: I love the battle of Red Cliffs it was awesome!

(Gee, I have to google all these names :| I hate Chinese names :|)

I read it in Vietnamese also. All the names were Vietnamese-ized so it's a bit if work to figure out the Anglicized names.

It's been a while, but I remember liking Water Margins more. A bit more sex and violence at a time when I was exposed to little TV or movies.

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by Barty

It's been a while, but I remember liking Water Margins more. A bit more sex and violence at a time when I was exposed to little TV or movies.

Oh, I've intended to read Water Margins for several years now but never brought myself to It's so long! Well, bad excuse but... I think I must give myself a deadline to force me to read it.

[SneakySnake]

'Fatal Liaison' by Vicki Tyley. Her best book yet. I had trouble putting it down.

[Echase]

Death on the Installment Plan by Louise Ferdinand Celine. Great book!

[danskmacabre]

I'm not going to make this exclusively for ebooks.
The least 5 star book I've read was Waylander 2 by David Gemmell.
But that was many years ago.

I don't think I HAVE read an ebook (meaning the first time I read that book) that I would class as 5 star.
But then I've only been using ereaders for maybe 2 years...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by danskmacabre

I'm not going to make this exclusively for ebooks.
The least 5 star book I've read was Waylander 2 by David Gemmell.
But that was many years ago.

Hate to disillusion you, but that is available as an eBook.

[caleb72]

Great thread to resurrect as I have a few more to add over 2012:

Martuk ... the Holy by Jonathan Winn. This is an indie which was exactly the right read for me at the time. May be an acquired taste though.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Magical writing.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Probably my favourite trad published book of 2012.
Wool (Omnibus) by Hugh Howey. My favourite indie published book of 2012. I gave it my annual Papyrus Independent Fiction Award for 2012.

Lots of great reading for 2012 with quite a few 4.5 stars in there as well.