Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 423

phenomshel · 09-20-2010, 05:42 PM

I finished "Trouble in Mudbug" by Jana DeLeon last night. I was laughing so hard that a few times Chris had to come see what was going on. I'd tell him and start giggling again. If I'd been drinking anything, I'd have ended up snorting it all over the couch, so I'm glad I wasn't! The premise itself is fantastic (as in hard to believe): Her hated mother-in-law has died...only she doesn't stay dead, and Maryse is the only one who can see or hear her ghost! It gets funnier from there...
I *really* wanted to go on to the second book, "Mischief in Mudbug" last night, thinking that it couldn't possibly be as good as the first, but Chris had the network down (my Calibre library is stored on a network drive, so I couldn't access it on the Asus), and I didn't have it loaded on the Sony yet. So I started "The Grave Gourmet" by Alexander Campion.

GeoffC · 09-21-2010, 06:43 AM

I'm struggling with Frankenstein - Shelley's writing style is not an easy one for me.

kennyc · 09-21-2010, 07:26 AM

They say struggle builds character......

GeoffC · 09-21-2010, 07:31 AM

.....in this instance, I sense frustration. Suddenly the monster was created and given life - I had to scroll back to make sure I hadn't missed how it was done, and discovered nothing was really explained.

But it's not (only) that, it's the style of writing too. (how to explain it though!)

Cyclops · 09-21-2010, 07:36 AM

Well what an odd little book A Honeymoon in
Space was! A well to do Victorian travelling man
abducts a woman as his bride aboard his ship and
takes her on a tour of the solar system, meeting
hostile martians (what a surprise!), kindly Venusians
and angelic Ganymedians. Oh and two headed
monsters! A delightfully naïve trip onto space, cliché
ridden but good fun!
Next up The Four White Days(1903) a short
story/novella by Fred M. White,downloaded from Manybooks.net, being 'a tale of
London in the grip of an Arctic Winter, showing the
Danger Any Winter might Bring from Famine, Cold
and Fire'

kennyc · 09-21-2010, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

.....in this instance, I sense frustration. Suddenly the monster was created and given life - I had to scroll back to make sure I hadn't missed how it was done, and discovered nothing was really explained.

But it's not (only) that, it's the style of writing too. (how to explain it though!)

I know what you mean Geoff, some classics are written in a style of the time that is much more difficult going than others. Even modern book -- certain authors I just can't read despite trying numerous times -- James Joyce and Neil Stephenson for example.

FlorenceArt · 09-21-2010, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

.....in this instance, I sense frustration. Suddenly the monster was created and given life - I had to scroll back to make sure I hadn't missed how it was done, and discovered nothing was really explained.

But it's not (only) that, it's the style of writing too. (how to explain it though!)

That's too bad, sorry you're not enjoying it. I read it a while ago and though it didn't change my life, I think I enjoyed it. From what I remember, it was written in a "romantic" style that feels a bit grandiloquent today, but in small doses it has a kind of kitsch appeal

bjones6416 · 09-21-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I know what you mean Geoff, some classics are written in a style of the time that is much more difficult going than others. ... Neil Stephenson for example.

HERESY!

No, I admit it, Neal Stephenson's books are pretty hard to get through sometimes. I just love Cryptonomicon so much, though, and I want everybody else to love it too!

kennyc · 09-21-2010, 09:06 AM

I've tried multiple times to read crypt... and Antheninuum...see...even the names are tough

just doesn't work for me...

GeoffC · 09-21-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

That's too bad, sorry you're not enjoying it. I read it a while ago and though it didn't change my life, I think I enjoyed it. From what I remember, it was written in a "romantic" style that feels a bit grandiloquent today, but in small doses it has a kind of kitsch appeal

FlorenceArt · 09-21-2010, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Well, it's been a while and my memory is a bit hazy

bjones6416 · 09-21-2010, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I've tried multiple times to read crypt... and Antheninuum...see...even the names are tough

just doesn't work for me...

jgaiser · 09-21-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjones6416

HERESY!

No, I admit it, Neal Stephenson's books are pretty hard to get through sometimes. I just love Cryptonomicon so much, though, and I want everybody else to love it too!

I have to admit I struggled through Cryptonomicon the first time I read it. The three interweaving stories where sometimes hard to follow. Actually got more out of it the second read.

But.. I loved Zodiac and Snow Crash and I'm working my way through The Diamond Age.

pshrynk · 09-21-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayspooled

I'm reading Blackout by Connie Willis and it's brilliant. But I wish I hadn't started reading because I've now heard it's part of a 2 book set and it ends on a cliffhanger and the sequel doesn't come out until mid-October. :P But if you want to put it on your list, highly recommended, even more than "highly" if you particularly like time traveling historians or WWII stuff. I'm liking it better than her "To Say Nothing of the Dog" which I loved.

If you haven't read "Bellweather" by Connie, you simply must. It is a quick read that is simultaneously funny and moderately profound.

kennyc · 09-21-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

If you haven't read "Bellweather" by Connie, you simply must. It is a quick read that is simultaneously funny and moderately profound.

Yes, she has quite a way of doing that!

The first thing I ever read by her that made me sit up and take notice was "Letter from the Clearys" a short story published at the beginning of her career.

I was much later a member of the same local writers group she was part of.

I've not read all her stuff, but she's quite amazing and prolific and very down-to-earth for being one of the most award-winning writers out there.

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09-20-2010, 05:42 PM	#6331
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	I finished "Trouble in Mudbug" by Jana DeLeon last night. I was laughing so hard that a few times Chris had to come see what was going on. I'd tell him and start giggling again. If I'd been drinking anything, I'd have ended up snorting it all over the couch, so I'm glad I wasn't! The premise itself is fantastic (as in hard to believe): Her hated mother-in-law has died...only she doesn't stay dead, and Maryse is the only one who can see or hear her ghost! It gets funnier from there... I really wanted to go on to the second book, "Mischief in Mudbug" last night, thinking that it couldn't possibly be as good as the first, but Chris had the network down (my Calibre library is stored on a network drive, so I couldn't access it on the Asus), and I didn't have it loaded on the Sony yet. So I started "The Grave Gourmet" by Alexander Campion.

09-21-2010, 06:43 AM	#6332
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	I'm struggling with Frankenstein - Shelley's writing style is not an easy one for me.

09-21-2010, 07:26 AM	#6333
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	They say struggle builds character......

09-21-2010, 07:31 AM	#6334
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	.....in this instance, I sense frustration. Suddenly the monster was created and given life - I had to scroll back to make sure I hadn't missed how it was done, and discovered nothing was really explained. But it's not (only) that, it's the style of writing too. (how to explain it though!)

09-21-2010, 07:36 AM	#6335
Cyclops Only need one eye to read Posts: 796 Karma: 6277024 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Darlington, England Device: Kobo Touch N905C, Sony PRS-300, Nintendo DSi XL,	Well what an odd little book A Honeymoon in Space was! A well to do Victorian travelling man abducts a woman as his bride aboard his ship and takes her on a tour of the solar system, meeting hostile martians (what a surprise!), kindly Venusians and angelic Ganymedians. Oh and two headed monsters! A delightfully naïve trip onto space, cliché ridden but good fun! Next up The Four White Days(1903) a short story/novella by Fred M. White,downloaded from Manybooks.net, being 'a tale of London in the grip of an Arctic Winter, showing the Danger Any Winter might Bring from Famine, Cold and Fire'

09-21-2010, 09:06 AM	#6339
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	I've tried multiple times to read crypt... and Antheninuum...see...even the names are tough just doesn't work for me...