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

[poohbear_nc]

I'm not sure what I'll read next. Perhaps another Agatha Christie.

Yes — Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie, her eleventh book.

This is a fun book. The parodies of classic detective novels had me scrambling to find copies of all the older detective stories mentioned in it (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partner..._collection%29 if you get hooked like I did).

Also, the film version of it (starring Francesca Annis) is marvelous.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Arthur Slade

Finished The Hunger Games. Am probably the last person on earth to have read it. But I was absolutely horrified/tensed out to the max by the novel (in a good way). I am hoping the rest of the trilogy stands up to this one.

I have it on my reader. I've yet to read it. I should get to it next month.

[thinkpad]

1/3 into the Dragon's Path, but boy what a slowly progressing story/plot, right out boring. There's a couple of different paths/people we get to follow in the book but there's only one story-line I find interesting (Chitrin).

I'm moving on to something better and if this book is any indication of the writers previous books I won't be quick to pick any of them up.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Crusader

Sorry you didn't like it. It definitely is a quite bizarre story. What really made the book for me was the ending. Definitely more concept driven and thought provoking than most although still bizarre.

Maybe if you can briefly explain the ending to me the book would make more sense. I was a bit lost there.

I did like it overall. I wouldn't have finished it if I didn't. If it was a 600 page monster, I'd have stopped but at 316 it was OK.

It's uniqueness and unpredictability were good and perhaps it's just my mind that had difficulty working out the details.

[jodykihara]

I agree that The Hunger Games was a terrific book... I heard the next two in the series aren't as good, though.
But I'll definitely read the second, as the first leaves you wanting a sequel!

[edbro]

Originally Posted by jodykihara

I agree that The Hunger Games was a terrific book... I heard the next two in the series aren't as good, though.
But I'll definitely read the second, as the first leaves you wanting a sequel!

Not sure where you heard that but I thought the third was just as good as the first. The second was very good but maybe not as good as the first/third.

If anybody is looking for a very funny book then check out Lisa Lutz's Spellman Files. I mentioned a few posts back how I had just started it. I'm about 75% done now and this book is hilarious.

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next up is a first for me. A self-publishing author. The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J Sullivan. It's not my usual subject matter but the library was able to get me a print copy.

you'll like it

Spoiler:

although I must agree with Iri that this book is perhaps the worst in Riyria series when I finished it I thought it was flawless, wonderful but when I finished the others books in the series... no it's not bad at all, just not as mind-blowing as the later ones

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Well, it was OK. It was certainly better than I expected.

Spoiler:

The sudden conversion of the heroine from loner (in old school) to great popularity (in new school) is unexplained, and a weakness.

There are certainly problems with the working of the Meyer universe with vampires in it, and certain inconsistencies in the descriptions of vampire abilities.

And if you take it as an allegory for a controlling relationship, then it's rather disturbing. But I read it as a fantasy, as I think it should be read.

Bella's intention to become a vampire seems entirely rational to me.
Upsides: Beautiful, immortal, wealthy, strong, fast, with her love interest.
Downsides: Don't need to eat, breath or sleep. Inclination to murder people. Inability to have children (although that last isn't mentioned).

Being a vampire in Meyer's universe seems to have very few draw-backs at all - far fewer than in Charlaine Harris's universe.

that's right. I liked the Twilight saga generally, but being vampire appears ways too perfect. I don't like it to be idealistic. therefore I don't like Twilight any more

anyway, maybe you should consider reading Midnight sun (the 5th book in Twilight saga). It isn't released (or won't - in the near future) due to some illegal leaks, but on Wikipedia there's a link to a partial draft on the author's site. You can read it right away 'cause it has nothing to do with the 3 books in the middle - this one tells the story of the 1st book from Edward's perspective and I think it's much better than Bella's.


--------------------------
Me? I just began A game of thrones. Some first pages only, and still I'm not impressed very much. 90% of the books are boring at the beginning, right?

[thinkpad]

After laying aside Dragon's path I've decided to continue with the next book in the William Marshal saga: The Scarlet Lion. I enjoyed the first book and found the story intriguing. I'm hoping I will enjoy this one as well.

[maianhvk]

talking about "scarlet"... has any of you read Scarlet Sails by Alexander Grin? (Russian: Алые паруса) It's not a famous novel, but I think it is wonderful.

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Maybe if you can briefly explain the ending to me the book would make more sense. I was a bit lost there.

I did like it overall. I wouldn't have finished it if I didn't. If it was a 600 page monster, I'd have stopped but at 316 it was OK.

It's uniqueness and unpredictability were good and perhaps it's just my mind that had difficulty working out the details.

It's definitely difficult to wrap your head around it. People who love physics or thinking about multi-verses would like it the most. Personally most of the stuff just boggles my mind.

Spoiler:

If I recall correctly the ending basically comes down to the fact that Alice planned and lures one of her little brothers to the creation of the new universe. Each time she sends the little brother into this new universe where he has the power to actually be a "God" and form the universe to his will and since he's the only lifeform there's no competition for planets/resources etc. So in affect Alice constantly creates new universes for her brothers to inhabit.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by thinkpadx

1/3 into the Dragon's Path, but boy what a slowly progressing story/plot, right out boring. There's a couple of different paths/people we get to follow in the book but there's only one story-line I find interesting (Chitrin).

I'm moving on to something better and if this book is any indication of the writers previous books I won't be quick to pick any of them up.

I have this book on my to read list. Maybe I better take it off. You make it sound sleep-inducing.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

you'll like it

Thanks. Looking forward to it.

[SeaBookGuy]

I have three ebooks going at present, all Overdrive library books:

Beyond the Sky and the Earth -- Canadian woman sent to Bhutan as part of that country's Peace Corps-like program. She seems a bit naive and whiny, though admits it and it's understood she gets over it and goes "native" by the end.

Turning the Tables -- an "insider" look at the restaurant industry from the point-of-view of a New York blogger-critic, not easy to relate to him unless you're used to relatively high-end New York dining.

The Lunatic Express: Discovering the World . . . via Its Most Dangerous Buses, Boats, Trains, and Planes -- when I last put down the book, he'd just finished one of the most dangerous bus trips in the world (Peru), but I don't get a sense of adventure from him; it's more "okay ... check (tick) that one off!"

[thinkpad]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I have this book on my to read list. Maybe I better take it off. You make it sound sleep-inducing.

I was a little bummed spending money on it but it had gotten good reviews so I took a chance. I'm not a hardcore Fantasy fan for which I think this book might appeal. For me it was too much reading back and forth between cities and people, without really getting anywhere. You will have to remember a handful of cities and names just in the first 1/3.

[MickeyC]

Just finished The Last Patriot by Brad Thor. Great thriller!!