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

[boxcorner]

Originally Posted by geekpal

Right now, I'm reading - Samsung Galaxy Tab - iPad Killer? Full Report Ebook - that I've just downloaded from itrush.

Samsung certainly seems to be spending a lot of money advertising it. The Galaxy Tab is currently advertised on the BBC website. The January issue of National Geographic contains three full-page advertisements showing off different features of the 7" tablet, whereas this magazine only contains a single page advertisement for the iPad.

[boxcorner]

Now reading another DRM-free e-book, Shakespeare's Will, by Meredith Whitford (there's a video trailer at the foot of the linked page).

"The only spelling of his name that Shakespeare never used was Shakespeare ... his name was spelt in official records (Shagsper, Shaxberd) ... His last will and testament, dated 1616, was headed Shackspeare and signed Shakespere."

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by Care

I am reading it too! What did you think of Nyphron Rising?

I'm really enjoying the series in general, and I love how Nyphron Rising delved deeper into Arista's character. I loved the ending!

[Rumpelteazer]

Finished the first in the Women's Murder Club series, 1st to Die, by James Patterson. As I mentioned earlier the extremely short chapters are a bit annoying, as is the frequent switching of POV. Luckily the latter happens less often later in the book and I tried to ignore the, often unnecessary, chapter breaks. I did like the story so I might get the second in the series, but only when I'm in the mood.

Going to start Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay later on today.

[ATDrake]

Reprioritized my reading list slightly, after discovering that some of my library books were due sooner than others.

Finished Joyce and Jim Lavene's Wicked Weaves, the first in their Renaissance Faire Mysteries, set in a pseudo-historical tourist village.

I like the SCA and other similar re-enactment groups. It's not really a hobby I'd engage in personally, but I love to watch. Unfortunately, it's not something I get to watch in my part of Canada, despite our officially belonging to the Kingdoms of An Tir, Ealdormere, and the East, though I understand there's some sort of model Viking village for the tourists over at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland.

So the next best thing is reading about it, which is why I picked up Wicked Weaves, which involves a research historian spending time learning a trade from a Gullah (this is some sort of east coast US African-American traditional group, I gather) basket-weaver, who happens to get caught up in a mysterious on-site murder.

I'd previously read two other books by the Lavenes, and formed an impression of middling-mediocre plotting and characterization elevated just slightly by charming background details, and this book does nothing to change that.

Frankly, the plot was meandering and the sleuth was very amateur indeed (never a good sign when I can figure out the hidden whodunnit before the characters do), almost randomly accusing people all over the place until the end. And half the book was taken up with Slap Slap Kiss Kiss relationship drama between two of the leads, which got old pretty quick.

But I really liked the depiction of life as a player in a medieval-ish tourist village, plus the details on the process of basket-weaving, and the bonus supplements of the fake newsletter in the back explaining medieval practices and the recipe were a nice touch.

So while it's not all that great, I liked it enough that I'm willing to pick up the next couple of books in the series from the library; possibly even buy if some discount takes the e-book versions down to around $2.25 or less.

Mild recommend for people who like historical recreation themed cozies (I think this fits under that category) and have a high threshold for couples sniping as a spectator sport. But frankly, Mary Monica Pulver's Knight Fall, a murder mystery set at an actual SCA event and featuring a far less annoying romantic relationship is much better and you should spend your money on that, instead.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Reprioritized my reading list slightly, after discovering that some of my library books were due sooner than others.

Finished Joyce and Jim Lavene's Wicked Weaves, the first in their Renaissance Faire Mysteries, set in a pseudo-historical tourist village.

I like the SCA and other similar re-enactment groups. It's not really a hobby I'd engage in personally, but I love to watch. Unfortunately, it's not something I get to watch in my part of Canada, despite our officially belonging to the Kingdoms of An Tir, Ealdormere, and the East, though I understand there's some sort of model Viking village for the tourists over at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland.

So the next best thing is reading about it, which is why I picked up Wicked Weaves, which involves a research historian spending time learning a trade from a Gullah (this is some sort of east coast US African-American traditional group, I gather) basket-weaver, who happens to get caught up in a mysterious on-site murder.

I'd previously read two other books by the Lavenes, and formed an impression of middling-mediocre plotting and characterization elevated just slightly by charming background details, and this book does nothing to change that.

Frankly, the plot was meandering and the sleuth was very amateur indeed (never a good sign when I can figure out the hidden whodunnit before the characters do), almost randomly accusing people all over the place until the end. And half the book was taken up with Slap Slap Kiss Kiss relationship drama between two of the leads, which got old pretty quick.

But I really liked the depiction of life as a player in a medieval-ish tourist village, plus the details on the process of basket-weaving, and the bonus supplements of the fake newsletter in the back explaining medieval practices and the recipe were a nice touch.

So while it's not all that great, I liked it enough that I'm willing to pick up the next couple of books in the series from the library; possibly even buy if some discount takes the e-book versions down to around $2.25 or less.

Mild recommend for people who like historical recreation themed cozies (I think this fits under that category) and have a high threshold for couples sniping as a spectator sport. But frankly, Mary Monica Pulver's Knight Fall, a murder mystery set at an actual SCA event and featuring a far less annoying romantic relationship is much better and you should spend your money on that, instead.

Actually, I liked both. However, you might be glad to know that Monica Ferris (aka Mary Monica Pulver) has this posted on her Facebook page today,

"I've been asked to submit manuscripts of the Peter Brichter series books that are out of print, and have spent the last few days working on The Unforgiving Minutes and Ashes to Ashes. Next up: Original Sin and Show Stopper. It's been interesting exploring my early writings."

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Actually, I liked both. However, you might be glad to know that Monica Ferris (aka Mary Monica Pulver) has this posted on her Facebook page today,

Thanks for the info! Hopefully Ferris/Pulver's mysteries show up in low-cost e-editions soon for those who haven't read them. I might even rebuy the ones I liked best if the price is right.

Since you seem to have read the Lavene Renaissance Faire Mysteries books, if I'm reading your post correctly, would you say that they improve as they go on? Or at least the couple in question tones it down a bit after the first book, if you've read that far? Because that was the most annoying thing in a story I otherwise rather liked, despite its flaws.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Thanks for the info! Hopefully Ferris/Pulver's mysteries show up in low-cost e-editions soon for those who haven't read them. I might even rebuy the ones I liked best if the price is right.

Since you seem to have read the Lavene Renaissance Faire Mysteries books, if I'm reading your post correctly, would you say that they improve as they go on? Or at least the couple in question tones it down a bit after the first book, if you've read that far? Because that was the most annoying thing in a story I otherwise rather liked, despite its flaws.

I read Wicked Weaves. I haven't gotten to the rest of them yet. I will admit the main character seemed rather directionless, but I liked the overall book enough to continue the series.

[stop__dreaming]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

and I'm reading Ian Fleming's Casino Royale

What do you think so far?

[Iridal]

Finished The Crown Conspiracy by Michael Sullivan last night. I don't really know what to think of this book. It took me about half the book to get into the story. I think there was too little magic and definitely not enough fights and battles for my taste. I'm still contemplating whether I will buy the next book in the series.

But first: the HP saga continues with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by Iridal

Finished The Crown Conspiracy by Michael Sullivan last night. I don't really know what to think of this book. It took me about half the book to get into the story. I think there was too little magic and definitely not enough fights and battles for my taste. I'm still contemplating whether I will buy the next book in the series.

But first: the HP saga continues with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

It took me about half the book to get into the story, too, but now I'm enjoying the series very much (I'm almost through the fourth book). I think that the rest of the series might be more to your liking (I don't want to say anything about the plot in case you decide to read it), perhaps you could try seeing if your local library has a copy of the second book if you are hesitant to buy it. The second book is much more interesting than the first, in my opinion.

The Order of the Phoenix - my favourite Harry Potter book! I do hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy reading! I really should give that series another re-read... I feel like I should wait a bit, though, because the books are still too fresh in my mind.

[Iridal]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

... perhaps you could try seeing if your local library has a copy of the second book if you are hesitant to buy it. The second book is much more interesting than the first, in my opinion.

That's actually a really good idea, thanks

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

The Order of the Phoenix - my favourite Harry Potter book! I do hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy reading! I really should give that series another re-read... I feel like I should wait a bit, though, because the books are still too fresh in my mind.

Harry Potter ... I think this is the third time I'm rereading the entire series. I'm sort of part of the HP generation, I was 11 when the first book came out and kind of 'grew up' with the books. The Order of the Phoenix is my favourite too, I'm really looking forward to reading it again !

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by stop__dreaming

What do you think so far?

this is what I think:

5/ Casino Royale
author: Ian Fleming
comment: a good book to start if you haven't read any of the Bond novels, especially when you have already watched the movie with Daniel Craig in it you'll find Fleming's 007 quite different from the block buster's hero: the black-haired Bond is subtler in some ways. Not that I appreciate neither the movie nor Craig's acting, it's just interesting to compare them and to see what Bond's actually thinking, which is difficult to do from watching the movie alone. rate it 4.5/5.
(I would give it a 5-star if the novel had less French in it, or if my reader supported French-English dictionary!)

Now that I finished the 1st novel in 007 series, I've moved on to the 2nd: Live and Let Die.

[LivelyWriter]

I am about to finish Rock and Roll Can Save Your Life by Steve Almond for the Rock Book Club. Very engaging, similar to High Fidelity without the romantic entanglements. It's up on Kindle but the ten-dollar tag was a bit disconcerting.

[screwballl]

Right now I am reading I. Asimov, Isaac Asimov's biography (but I believe there were some parts added posthumously, still have to get to that part to find out for sure) . About 30% through and a very good read.