Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[barutanseijin]

The Master Switch, Tim Wu

As it turns out, information doesn't want to be free.

Somewhat oversold (at least to me). I keep wondering how print/publishing fits into Wu's framework, and i don't buy his economic models. Still, it's an interesting read.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Well, I won't be reading Bridge to Terabithia right away to her, she isn't quite ready I don't think, but I really enjoyed it. Now on to Fire Watch, but I probably won't have a chance to start till Monday.

Well, I ended up returning Fire Watch unread for a couple reasons. Since Fire Watch has either no wait or only 1-2 people at most, I will just pick it up later. First, Sand by Hugh Howey was released as an omnibus, so I had to get that and read it. Excellent book, not quite as good as the Silo trilogy, but very close.

Second, I finally received Killing Floor (Jack Reacher 1) by Lee Child from my library. To give an idea of the wait on that, I have been on the waiting list for more than 6 months and there are 19 copies. I will start reading that tomorrow.

I haven't read anything by Lee Child, so I have high expectations given the popularity. Of course, it could be like James Patterson or Dan Brown who I haven't cared much for; I have only read 1 book by each so far though, maybe my selection wasn't optimal.

[orangedotgreen]

I started reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and I love it.
I really like the characters and pace of the book and I can't wait to see what is the link between the prelude and what's happening in the main story.

I'm also reading The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos by Brian Greene. It's an interesting read and a good choice for me - I just finished Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe by Simon Singh and this book builds up on some of the things I learned there.

[MichelleLouring]

Originally Posted by 5stack

Yeah they're 1000 pages each. Book 2 was fantastic! I hope you enjoy it.

I'm about halfway through and book 2 is definitely much better than book 1! Of course, with so much groundwork needing to be laid down, the first book is bound to be slow.
Just thinking of writing such a story makes my head spin!

[samhy]

Well I finished The Secret History which was good, but not what I was expecting. There are some parts which are still unclear for me, so I'll read reviews and comments to try and figure those out. Maybe I'll re-read it next year.
Just Ride by Grant Petersen and The Hunger Games are also finished. The former was interesting, the latter a real page turner even though the style doesn't shine just after The Secret History.
I understand The Hunger Games is aimed at a young audience and the main character isn't supposed to have a great education, but the style was plain. In a nutshell, plain style, disillusioned character but compelling story that kept me awake too late for several nights

[AnemicOak]

Currently reading Red Baron: The Life and Death of an Ace by Peter Kilduff.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by orangedotgreen

I started reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and I love it.
I really like the characters and pace of the book and I can't wait to see what is the link between the prelude and what's happening in the main story.

I'm also reading The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos by Brian Greene. It's an interesting read and a good choice for me - I just finished Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe by Simon Singh and this book builds up on some of the things I learned there.

Interesting reading list. I'm not familiar with Brandon Sanderson but I really like Brian Green and Simon Singh. Interesting tidbit on Simon Singh from Wikipedia:

Spoiler:

Chiropractic lawsuit

Main article: BCA v. Singh
In 19 April 2008, The Guardian published Singh's column "Beware the Spinal Trap", an article that was critical of the practice of chiropractic and which resulted in Singh being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA). The article developed the theme of the book that Singh and Edzard Ernst had published, Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial, and made various statements about the lack of usefulness of chiropractic "for such problems as ear infections and infant colic":

When the case was first brought against him, The Guardian supported him and funded his legal advice, as well as offering to pay the BCA's legal costs in an out-of-court settlement if Singh chose to settle. A "furious backlash" to the lawsuit resulted in the filing of formal complaints of false advertising against more than 500 individual chiropractors within one 24-hour period, with one national chiropractic organisation ordering its members to take down their websites, and Nature Medicine noting that the case had gathered wide support for Singh, as well as prompting calls for the reform of English libel laws. On 1 April 2010, Simon Singh won his court appeal for the right to rely on the defence of fair comment. On 15 April 2010, the BCA officially withdrew its lawsuit, ending the case. To defend himself for the libel suit, Singh's out-of-pocket legal costs were tens of thousands of pounds, but the trial has acted as a catalyst and focus for libel reform campaigners resulting in all major parties in the 2010 UK general election making manifesto commitments to libel reform. On 25 April 2013 the Defamation Act 2013 received Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Assent and became law. The purpose of the reformed law of defamation is to 'ensure that a fair balance is struck between the right to freedom of expression and the protection of reputation'. Under the new law, plaintiffs must show that they suffer serious harm before the court will accept the case. Additional protection for website operators, defence of 'responsible publication on matters of public interest' and new statutory defences of truth and honest opinion are also part of the key areas of the new law.

[MickeyC]

[QUOTE=WT Sharpe;2740487]Interesting reading list. I'm not familiar with Brandon Sanderson but I really like Brian Green and Simon Singh. Interesting tidbit on Simon Singh from Wikipedia:

Me too! I rate Green and Singh right up there with Michio Kaku (who has a new book coming out next month, I think).

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Shadow of the Lion by Mecedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer.

That was an enjoyable romp. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I think that I have read this one before, but it must have been very shortly after I bought it.

Next: Tea with the Black Dragon by R. A. MacAvoy

I bought this one back in December 2003 for $6.98 at Fictionwise. I know I've read this before - but long before that, in a paper edition. I'm looking forward to a re-read. (Incidentally, I see the Kindle edition in the UK is now just £2.99. I really should have waited to buy it at a better price!)

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Interesting reading list. I'm not familiar with Brandon Sanderson but I really like Brian Green and Simon Singh. Interesting tidbit on Simon Singh from Wikipedia:

Really? I thought for sure I had seen you comment on either the Mistborn series or the Wheel of Time books that he completed. Huh.

If you are interested, I have my thoughts on Sanderson below.

Spoiler:

He has a reputation as a "world builder" and the "magic system" guy because his books tend to have unique magic systems and very detailed histories for the worlds, so if you like that you are in for a treat. If not, it can get old.

I really liked his Mistborn trilogy but I haven't read the follow-up yet. He did an excellent job with the WoT books he co-authored, I felt they were much better than the last couple (several) Robert Jordan books. The last book was good, but not as good as many people hoped which I tend to blame on Jordan instead of Sanderson since Brandon has stated that the notes he received for the last book were very detailed and the editor (Jordan's wife) required him to use almost all of them.

On The Way of Kings specifically, it is the first book in an approximately 10 book long series (figure 10,000+ pages for the whole thing), the second book is only coming out this year, so there has been a 4 year wait. If you don't like waiting for books (JRRM, Jordan) I would skip it until he gets caught up. Admittedly he did take some time off for the Wheel of Time books which slowed down his original schedule.

Personally, I think he has too many things going on at one time; Reckoners, Mistborn, and the Stormlight Archive (Way of Kings) are all on-going and active series for him. I am concerned about getting more into a series that is only 1/10th of the way finished after 4 years.

[Yapyap]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

I started Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas - YA high fantasy. Not really very keen on the protagonist, who is far too over-dramatic and irritating for a supposedly highly skilled assassin, but it's keeping me entertained well enough so far.

And finished - not the best book out there, but not the worst either, and I'll definitely want to read the second book at some point (especially seeing as I already have it).

And I also read Doctor Who: Into the Nowhere by Jenny Colgan - new short story in the Time Trips short story series, released today and starring the Eleventh Doctor and Clara. Really disappointed with this one; I think it was going for something very deep and metaphorical, but either I'm not smart enough for it or am lacking in the frame of reference (I think there was a Christian allegory somewhere in there, which isn't a field I'm strong in), so, yeah. Didn't care for it.

[Tarana]

Dr. Sleep isn't here yet, so I'm working on buddy reads - Colour of Magic (Pratchett) and Conspiracy in Death (Robb), the second of which is a relisten.

Finished Color of Magic. Very funny, looking forward to the rest of the series. I am about 3 hours into Conspiracy in Death. Dr. Sleep has arrived from the library and I will be starting that after dinner.

[jersysman]

Started reading book #4 of the Fatal series by Marie force, Fatal Flaw.

[VictoriaP]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

That was an enjoyable romp. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I think that I have read this one before, but it must have been very shortly after I bought it.

Next: Tea with the Black Dragon by R. A. MacAvoy

I bought this one back in December 2003 for $6.98 at Fictionwise. I know I've read this before - but long before that, in a paper edition. I'm looking forward to a re-read. (Incidentally, I see the Kindle edition in the UK is now just £2.99. I really should have waited to buy it at a better price!)

Tea is one of the very very few books I'll keep in hardcover even after I replace it in digital. I'm probably due for a re-read too, thanks for the reminder! Have to see what the price is on this side of the pond.

Currently reading: The Sudbury School Murders, Ashley Gardner (#4, Captain Lacey Regency mysteries)

[orangedotgreen]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Interesting reading list. I'm not familiar with Brandon Sanderson but I really like Brian Green and Simon Singh.

Originally Posted by cassidym

Me too! I rate Green and Singh right up there with Michio Kaku (who has a new book coming out next month, I think).

It wasn't until last year that I found out that science books like these exist. It feels strange now, but I thought that science books were only in textbook form and I didn't think to check to make sure. Our bookshops don't have any translated versions of science books and only a few fiction bestsellers in English. I found out about them from the sciene ebooks recommendation thread and now I have a pretty long TBR list

Originally Posted by Dazrin

He has a reputation as a "world builder" and the "magic system" guy because his books tend to have unique magic systems and very detailed histories for the worlds, so if you like that you are in for a treat. If not, it can get old.

I love the world building part of fantasy books and I think that's one of the reasons why I like this book so much. I also like the balance between action and the world building and how things are slowly revealed.

Originally Posted by Dazrin

On The Way of Kings specifically, it is the first book in an approximately 10 book long series (figure 10,000+ pages for the whole thing), the second book is only coming out this year, so there has been a 4 year wait. If you don't like waiting for books (JRRM, Jordan) I would skip it until he gets caught up. Admittedly he did take some time off for the Wheel of Time books which slowed down his original schedule.

I knew there was a new book in the same universe coming out this year, but I thought it was the second in a series of three books. A 10 books series seems incredibly long, but if I like the next books as much I like what I've read so far, I won't complain