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

[HomeInMyShoes]

Finished Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden. Some good, some bad. I think the book would have been more effective if it left out some of the South Korean information nearer the end. I think it lost a lot of weight with it.

Now I'm off to Finnie Walsh by Steven Galloway. You haven't let me down in two stories yet Steven. Here's hoping the first is also a winner.

[Mel Comley]

Linda Prather's The Gifts - great paranormal mystery.

http://www.amazon.com/Gifts-Jacody-M...=linda+prather

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by caleb72

Now I'm reading an indie work, Untimed by Andy Gavin. I don't know if any of you are or were gamers, but this is the guy that created the games Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Dakster. He's obviously decided to start writing novels and he has two published so far. This one is a young adult, clockpunk offering.

This was fun. I don't often read a YA novel that I consider tailor made for boys, but this one certainly fits. There's heaps of time travel backwards and forwards and the narrative is contemporary - pop culture references abound. There's actually some sex scenes thrown in, but it's not too heavy and I think the YA male is probably sophisticated enough to handle some hanky panky.

I actually had myself a little chuckle here and there due to the cheekiness of the writing. Like this for example:

I'm not sure what surprises me more - that she's a teen mother or that I just saw my first glimpse of tit.

OK - that's pretty crass. But the whole thing is written from the point of view of an adolescent boy who's probably quite oversexed, so it doesn't seem out of place.

I've got all sorts of books on my dance card at the moment and I'm trying to juggle three books at the same time:

Lolita. Yes, the time has come for one of our book clubs to finally read and discuss this 20th century masterpiece. I borrowed my paperback from the local library and it's time to get cracking.

Storm Damage by John A. A. Logan. This is an anthology from an indie author who really impressed me with his first novel, The Survival of Thomas Ford. Looking forward to see what he does with the short form.

Yesterday's Gone: Episode 1 by Sean Platt and David Wright. This is the first novel (more like novella) of an 18 episode/3 season post-apocalyptic serial. I actually own all 18 episodes by patiently watching for freebies. These guys a prolific and I'm interested to find out whether they're worth reading...and one of my Goodreads groups is discussing this book for Feb.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

I started reading Taylor Anderson's Destroyermen series.

I enjoy these quite a lot. I think I'm currently two behind, but I'll have to check to make sure. If I remember right, I foundered for just a bit in the first book, but that soon passed.

[cassidym]

Just finished The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver and it was excellent. Sort of a police procedural on crack! And I was stunned at the ending. Never saw that coming

Next up, The Panther by Nelson DeMille

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Another of my 20p purchases: Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom

Now this was a good story, told well, in an interesting (if horrible) time period. And I certainly now know a lot more than I did about the Spanish Civil War, but it was never imparted as a lecturing info-dump.

If you like historical drama, I suspect you'll like Winter in Madrid a lot.

Next up: Something that's more my usual sort of thing, the latest Honor Harrington, Shadow of Freedom by David Weber.

The first few chapters seem to be filling us in on events in various places in time overlapping with the end of the previous novel, but I think we'll be moving into new territory shortly.

The cast of characters and locations has expanded considerably as the series has progressed, making it impossible, I think, for a newcomer to have any chance of starting with one of these later novels. Even for those of us who've read all the previous books it's tricky. I'm going with the flow and letting the the my memory of the various situations get refreshed as we go along.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by cassidym

Just finished The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver and it was excellent. Sort of a police procedural on crack! And I was stunned at the ending. Never saw that coming

Next up, The Panther by Nelson DeMille

'The Bone Collector' was my introduction to Jeffery Deaver, and I had to read everything he wrote right afterwards. I saw the movie first, so in each book I would see Danzel Washington and Angelina Jolie as the main characters, but that didn't cause me any problem. I thoroughly enjoyed every book!

The Panther is next on my TBR list, as soon as I finish King's travels into the past to save JFK... To be honest, I'm not finding this to be a fantastic as I was led to believe. I'm 200 pages into the book and have no trouble at all putting it down. It's OK while I'm reading, just as most of King's work is, but there doesn't seem to be anything grabbing me...


Stitchawl

[Nyssa]

I'm currently reading the 3rd book - Sign of the Unicorn - in the The Great Book of Amber omnibus by Roger Zelazny. With about 20 pgs left to go, I should finish it tonight. All I have to say of the book, and series so far, is that Zelazny must have been on some hard core drugs, and was tripping big time while writing the travel portions of stories! I wonder if the Shadows were inspired by the haze around him. LOL In all seriousness, I am enjoying the story overall, even if I do get a little lost in the details every now and again. I find taking a break, by reading something else, in between books does help.

I think I'll be reading The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1) next; then Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) before returning to Amber.

Speaking of which I read The Hunger Games, for the first time, on Thursday & Friday of last week. I was quite surprised by how quickly and completely I was drawn into the story, especially considering that I wasn't so sure I would like it due to the nature of the story.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

...Speaking of which I read The Hunger Games, for the first time, on Thursday & Friday of last week. I was quite surprised by how quickly and completely I was drawn into the story, especially considering that I wasn't so sure I would like it due to the nature of the story.

to that! I put off reading The Hunger Games for quite a while because I didn't think that I'd like it, and then when I did read it I immediately followed it with Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I really enjoyed reading all 3 of them a lot!

[maianhvk]

Speaking of Hunger Games... have you finished the first book, Stitchawl?

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by alansplace

to that! I put off reading The Hunger Games for quite a while because I didn't think that I'd like it, and then when I did read it I immediately followed it with Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I really enjoyed reading all 3 of them a lot!

I was motivated to read them because one of my twins will begin reading it next week with his reading group in class. The other twin has decided to read it just because. I'm concerned that it might be too violent for 4th graders, but I really don't want to interrupt any class assignments, and they both want to read it. Plus, I can't say yes to one twin because its for school and then say no to the other, who may actually be reading similar books for her class as well.

Its a bit frustrating having young, highly intelligent kids, as reading level and maturity level easily become misaligned.

As for Catching Fire, hubby has read the entire trilogy and he suggested I take the break in between. He doesn't think I'll like this one. He's already said "no" to the twins reading books 2 or 3 at this time.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

Speaking of Hunger Games... have you finished the first book, Stitchawl?

Yes, I finished Book 1 a few days ago. I had no burning desire to just right into book 2, but it wasn't a bad read. It reminded me of the movie 'The Running Man,' but with younger characters.

Originally Posted by Nyssa

I was motivated to read them because one of my twins will begin reading it next week with his reading group in class. The other twin has decided to read it just because. I'm concerned that it might be too violent for 4th graders,

I think it would be a good read for older primary school kids. They are exposed to just as much violence in every computer game, and far more 'gore.' At least the Hunger Games makes for a bit of thought-provoking possibilities.


Stitchawl

[maianhvk]

About Hunger Games, my own thought is that book 2 isn't as good as book 1. Book 3 is somewhat better, but I didn't like how it ends. I'd expected something more dramatic...

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I think it would be a good read for older primary school kids. They are exposed to just as much violence in every computer game, and far more 'gore.' At least the Hunger Games makes for a bit of thought-provoking possibilities.


Stitchawl

Not every video game. We've managed to keep violence to minimum in that respect as with the tv shows they watch. Movies, however, are another matter. For us, its more about moderation, then sheltering. Sex and violence are apart of the real word, we just don't want our kids inundated with or by it.

As to The Hunger Games, its specifically the violence by kids against kids that makes me uncomfortable, because I think it will make them uncomfortable. We've talked about it and they've promised to let me know if they get to a point where its too upsetting for them.

Originally Posted by Nyssa

I'm currently reading the 3rd book - Sign of the Unicorn - in the The Great Book of Amber omnibus by Roger Zelazny. With about 20 pgs left to go, I should finish it tonight. All I have to say of the book, and series so far, is that Zelazny must have been on some hard core drugs, and was tripping big time while writing the travel portions of stories! I wonder if the Shadows were inspired by the haze around him. LOL In all seriousness, I am enjoying the story overall, even if I do get a little lost in the details every now and again. I find taking a break, by reading something else, in between books does help.

And I'm done! Very interesting turn of events revealed at the end of that one. I'm quite curious as to what will come of it all.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

About Hunger Games, my own thought is that book 2 isn't as good as book 1. Book 3 is somewhat better, but I didn't like how it ends. I'd expected something more dramatic...

I guess it was the lack of dramatic points that made me feel the book was less than what I had hoped for. Everything was just 'too expected.'

If anyone hasn't read it but plans to, don't read the spoiler.

Spoiler:

Once they announced the drawing, I knew whose name was going to be drawn. When it was foretold that the boy gave her food, I KNEW there would be a love aspect, KNEW they would team up eventually, I KNEW food and medicine would show up, and KNEW they would both survive.

Stitchawl