Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 675

WT Sharpe · 07-15-2011, 07:59 PM

I just finished reading Decoding the Language of God: Can a Scientist Really Be a Believer? by George C. Cunningham, which was written as a rebuttal of The Language of God by Francis S. Collins, which I read a couple of weeks ago. Now it's on to WWW: Wonder, the third book in the wonderful WWW trilogy by award winning sci-fi novelist Robert J. Sawyer and Ageless Memory: The Memory Expert's Prescription for a Razor-Sharp Mind by famed mnemonist, Harry Lorayne.

Decades ago I read The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas, and I credit it with my perfect score on all tests I took in a college biology course I was taking at the time (with the exception of one test on which I got a 99—much to the instructor's delight

). I even surprised a few folks by doing things like memorizing the order of a deck of cards by looking at each one for a few seconds and then being able to list them in order or out of order (example: "What is the 22nd card in the deck?"—"The king of clubs."); something else the book taught. It's been years since I've been in practice, and as with all skills, they fade over time if not practiced, so I thought now would be a good time to reawaken them.

SeaBookGuy · 07-15-2011, 08:18 PM

I'm reading two ebooks at present, both Overdrive library downloads and both non-fiction:

Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light, interesting book, though I now know way more about whaling than I'd care to!

Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff, which I'm enjoying more than I'd expected.

maianhvk · 07-16-2011, 11:00 AM

I finished "From Russia with Love" some days ago, interesting Bond book. While I still prefer Casino Royale, it is pretty nice to see SMERSH tricks MI5 and their best (!?) spy with a brilliant plan which fails only because the assassin is over confident.

And I also started "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". Story in story. I don't like that, and the word using is sort of... abnormal. I fail to indulge in it. I guess books from those time have that way of putting words. Since I never read this famous book I think I should try to finish it.

Iridal · 07-16-2011, 12:08 PM

I finally managed to finish The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan. It took me 2 weeks ...

Now I've started I am the messenger by Markus Zusak. I'm about halfway through, and I like it a lot!

pdurrant · 07-16-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Silverlock by John Myers Myers

A classic fantasy that was recommended in one of the favourite fantasy novel threads.

Well, I can see why it was recommended. It is fun identifying all the mythic characters our 'hero' encounters. And it's nice to see our very unpleasant hero gradually becoming a more decent person through the course of the book.

On the whole, I liked it.

Next up: Asimov's SF, August 2011

pdurrant · 07-16-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Fictionwise have now got back to me about Next of Kin — they're contacting the publisher for an updated version. (Although I suspect that B&N/Fictionwise do their own conversion to eReader format, and that it's this stage that's get messed up, so a new version from the publisher might not help. We'll see.)

Fictionwise have failed to get an updated version and have refunded me for this book. I have enough to read that I'm not going to fiddle about trying to fix the formatting myself.

However, they still have it listed at their web site, at $15.99! A disgraceful price for such a shoddily formatted ebook.

Crusader · 07-16-2011, 05:06 PM

Just finished with The Metalmark Contract by David Batchelor (reviewed here). A promising debut novel with an interesting take on first contact. His writing style reminds me of Ben Bova. This was the first in a planned trilogy so I can't wait to see how the trilogy turns out.

benham · 07-16-2011, 05:40 PM

Just starting Dead On Time by HRF Keating

Iridal · 07-17-2011, 02:37 AM

Finished I am the messenger this morning. It was very good, but not as good as The Book Thief though.

Now I'm starting another Karen Miller series: Fisherman's Children. The first book is called The Prodigal Mage.

caleb72 · 07-17-2011, 08:01 AM

Just started if [tribe] = by Gary Ballard. This is the final book of the Bridge Chronicles. The first two were very good.

orlok · 07-17-2011, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iridal

Finished I am the messenger this morning. It was very good, but not as good as The Book Thief though.

Exactly what I thought too.

GeoffC · 07-17-2011, 08:15 AM

The Oolite Saga - book 1 - free on Smashwords and so good I've just downloaded parts 2 & 3.
Fast-paced sf ...

kennyc · 07-17-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

The Oolite Saga - book 1 - free on Smashwords and so good I've just downloaded parts 2 & 3.
Fast-paced sf ...

Hmmm.....will check

thinkpad · 07-17-2011, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

The Oolite Saga - book 1 - free on Smashwords and so good I've just downloaded parts 2 & 3.
Fast-paced sf ...

Downloaded. Will give it a try after I'm finished with A Dance with Dragons.

BearMountainBooks · 07-17-2011, 01:08 PM

Anyone read any of the Gray Whale Inn series by Karen MacIerney (Cozy mystery)?

It's boring me. I don't think I'll finish it. Oh, it's a cozy's cozy--lots of food talk, quaint bed and breakfast in on a gorgeous island...but it's too predictable for me. I knew who would be murdered, we all know who will find the body...and so it plods. The characterization is okay, but not grabbed yet. It might not get a second chance. About all it's done so far is make me want brownies or blueberry coffeecake.

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07-15-2011, 07:59 PM	#10111
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	I just finished reading Decoding the Language of God: Can a Scientist Really Be a Believer? by George C. Cunningham, which was written as a rebuttal of The Language of God by Francis S. Collins, which I read a couple of weeks ago. Now it's on to WWW: Wonder, the third book in the wonderful WWW trilogy by award winning sci-fi novelist Robert J. Sawyer and Ageless Memory: The Memory Expert's Prescription for a Razor-Sharp Mind by famed mnemonist, Harry Lorayne. Decades ago I read The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas, and I credit it with my perfect score on all tests I took in a college biology course I was taking at the time (with the exception of one test on which I got a 99—much to the instructor's delight ). I even surprised a few folks by doing things like memorizing the order of a deck of cards by looking at each one for a few seconds and then being able to list them in order or out of order (example: "What is the 22nd card in the deck?"—"The king of clubs."); something else the book taught. It's been years since I've been in practice, and as with all skills, they fade over time if not practiced, so I thought now would be a good time to reawaken them.

07-15-2011, 08:18 PM	#10112
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I'm reading two ebooks at present, both Overdrive library downloads and both non-fiction: Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light, interesting book, though I now know way more about whaling than I'd care to! Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff, which I'm enjoying more than I'd expected.

07-16-2011, 11:00 AM	#10113
maianhvk whimsical Posts: 2,779 Karma: 88193939 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: in darkness Device: current: PPW 4. brick: K3 & Voyage.	I finished "From Russia with Love" some days ago, interesting Bond book. While I still prefer Casino Royale, it is pretty nice to see SMERSH tricks MI5 and their best (!?) spy with a brilliant plan which fails only because the assassin is over confident. And I also started "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". Story in story. I don't like that, and the word using is sort of... abnormal. I fail to indulge in it. I guess books from those time have that way of putting words. Since I never read this famous book I think I should try to finish it.

07-16-2011, 12:08 PM	#10114
Iridal Mysteriarch Posts: 1,422 Karma: 26606984 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The land of impossible deadlines Device: iPhone 4, Kindle 3	I finally managed to finish The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan. It took me 2 weeks ... Now I've started I am the messenger by Markus Zusak. I'm about halfway through, and I like it a lot!

07-16-2011, 05:06 PM	#10117
Crusader Space Cadet Posts: 1,180 Karma: 4030536 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Africa Device: Sony PRS-T1, Cybook Opus, Kobo Glo	Just finished with The Metalmark Contract by David Batchelor (reviewed here). A promising debut novel with an interesting take on first contact. His writing style reminds me of Ben Bova. This was the first in a planned trilogy so I can't wait to see how the trilogy turns out.

07-16-2011, 05:40 PM	#10118
benham Guru Posts: 882 Karma: 5565888 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Townsend, WI Device: Palm TX, PRS-505 (BLUE)	Just starting Dead On Time by HRF Keating

07-17-2011, 02:37 AM	#10119
Iridal Mysteriarch Posts: 1,422 Karma: 26606984 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The land of impossible deadlines Device: iPhone 4, Kindle 3	Finished I am the messenger this morning. It was very good, but not as good as The Book Thief though. Now I'm starting another Karen Miller series: Fisherman's Children. The first book is called The Prodigal Mage.

07-17-2011, 08:01 AM	#10120
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Just started if [tribe] = by Gary Ballard. This is the final book of the Bridge Chronicles. The first two were very good.

07-17-2011, 08:15 AM	#10122
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	The Oolite Saga - book 1 - free on Smashwords and so good I've just downloaded parts 2 & 3. Fast-paced sf ...

07-17-2011, 01:08 PM	#10125
BearMountainBooks Maria Schneider Posts: 3,746 Karma: 26439330 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Near Austin, Texas Device: 3g Kindle Keyboard	Anyone read any of the Gray Whale Inn series by Karen MacIerney (Cozy mystery)? It's boring me. I don't think I'll finish it. Oh, it's a cozy's cozy--lots of food talk, quaint bed and breakfast in on a gorgeous island...but it's too predictable for me. I knew who would be murdered, we all know who will find the body...and so it plods. The characterization is okay, but not grabbed yet. It might not get a second chance. About all it's done so far is make me want brownies or blueberry coffeecake.