Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 1212

fantasyfan · 11-20-2013, 10:13 AM

I have finished Isaac Asimov's Caliban by Roger MacBride allen. It reads nicely as an Asimovian type of mystery set in the Settler/Spacer Cosmos and plays with the Tree Laws concept of Asimov. Allen does write in a similar style to IA, even to the point of some of the odd futuristic names.

It was enjoyable for the most part but there were certain sections where the action of the plot stalled while Allen filled in pages of expository material. I feel that all that exposition could have been handled more elegantly.

There are two more novels in the series which might be worth taking a look at.

LovesMacs · 11-20-2013, 10:48 AM

I'm still reading William Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, just past the point when Mussolini has fallen from power. There's a paradoxical feeling of having read a lot yet at the same time having rushed through World War II.

bfisher · 11-20-2013, 11:15 AM

Yes, any general book on WW2 is going to feel like the Readers Digest condensed version

Yapyap · 11-20-2013, 04:01 PM

Done with World After. Really liked it.

bcgirl · 11-21-2013, 02:19 AM

Just finished A House In The Sky by Amanda Lindhout, a girl who loves to travel. When she is starting out as a journalist, meeting up again with her ex-boyfriend photo journalist Nigel Brennan, they both were kidnapped just after they arrived in Somalia and held hostage for 15 months. Amanda has been tortured, raped, starved but Nigel was treated better since he is a man. After reading I did some research. They are not in touch together at all. Nigel wrote his side of the story.
Bought the printed version because the hardcover book looks so nice.

CRussel · 11-21-2013, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

An enjoyable set of stories, two long ones and a handful of short shories.

And now for something completely different: A Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer.

Ah, that will be fun. I read it last spring.

Currently reading Storm from the Shadows, by David Weber.

Gazella · 11-21-2013, 01:36 PM

Currently reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

Yapyap · 11-21-2013, 03:33 PM

Finished World After yesterday, which was excellent, although it didn't quite grab me the way I've been hoping. It's one of those cases where a book has nearly everything I want in it, and yet some final element of chemistry is missing.

Today I picked up Bruno, Chief of Police ... made it only ~15% into it for now. Maybe I'll be more in a mood for it tomorrow. I'm struggling a bit with the writing style, but I assume it's a case of getting used to it.

jersysman · 11-21-2013, 08:34 PM

Started reading Best Little Stories from the Civil War by C. Brian Kelly. I've been reading books of the history of the Civil War and decided to get a more personal touch.

Dazrin · 11-21-2013, 10:40 PM

Cryptonomicon took me too long to be able to finish the book club read in time to discuss it, so I read the short story Portrait of Lisane da Patagnia by Rachel Swirsky which was nominated for a Nebula Award this year and available free on Tor.com.

It was much better than I thought from the blurb I had read and ended up really enjoying it.

pdurrant · 11-22-2013, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

something completely different: A Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

Ah, that will be fun. I read it last spring.

It was fun. Fairly obvious where things were going, but the journey was really the point.

Next up: The Long Earth by Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett.

HarryT · 11-22-2013, 06:28 AM

Finished "Seeress of Kell", the 5th and final book in David Edding's "Mallorean" fantasy series. Wonderful story, and as always I finished it with a tear in my eye. Superb.

Dr. Drib · 11-22-2013, 07:21 AM

Almost finished with Doris Lessing's "Memoirs of a Survivor," in Hardback American First Edition.

After that, I'll start with another literary author, one whom I love to read: "October Light," by John Gardner. (Note: Decidedly NOT the other John Gardner, the mystery writer.)

Don

BelleZora · 11-22-2013, 08:36 AM

Dr. Drib, October Light has been on my TBR list for too long. Please let us know what you think about it.

LovesMacs · 11-22-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfisher

Yes, any general book on WW2 is going to feel like the Readers Digest condensed version

On the other hand, I wouldn't want to read a history book that unfolded in real time.

11-21-2013, 02:19 AM	#18170
bcgirl Groupie Posts: 197 Karma: 996872 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC,Canada Device: iPad2-64gb, Sony PRS-T1, KOBO mini	Just finished A House In The Sky by Amanda Lindhout, a girl who loves to travel. When she is starting out as a journalist, meeting up again with her ex-boyfriend photo journalist Nigel Brennan, they both were kidnapped just after they arrived in Somalia and held hostage for 15 months. Amanda has been tortured, raped, starved but Nigel was treated better since he is a man. After reading I did some research. They are not in touch together at all. Nigel wrote his side of the story. Bought the printed version because the hardcover book looks so nice. Last edited by bcgirl; 11-21-2013 at 10:11 AM.

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11-20-2013, 10:13 AM	#18166
fantasyfan Wizard Posts: 1,376 Karma: 28116892 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Oasis 3, iPad 9th gen. IPhone 11	I have finished Isaac Asimov's Caliban by Roger MacBride allen. It reads nicely as an Asimovian type of mystery set in the Settler/Spacer Cosmos and plays with the Tree Laws concept of Asimov. Allen does write in a similar style to IA, even to the point of some of the odd futuristic names. It was enjoyable for the most part but there were certain sections where the action of the plot stalled while Allen filled in pages of expository material. I feel that all that exposition could have been handled more elegantly. There are two more novels in the series which might be worth taking a look at.

11-20-2013, 10:48 AM	#18167
LovesMacs Fanatic Posts: 513 Karma: 2644386 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: iPhone, Kindle Touch	I'm still reading William Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, just past the point when Mussolini has fallen from power. There's a paradoxical feeling of having read a lot yet at the same time having rushed through World War II.

11-20-2013, 11:15 AM	#18168
bfisher Wizard Posts: 1,638 Karma: 28483498 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Sony PRS-T3, Galaxy (Aldiko, Kobo app)	Yes, any general book on WW2 is going to feel like the Readers Digest condensed version

11-20-2013, 04:01 PM	#18169
Yapyap Guru Posts: 861 Karma: 3543721 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Estonia Device: Kindle Paperwhite, iPad 3, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	Done with World After. Really liked it.

11-21-2013, 01:36 PM	#18172
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 4619474 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle Paperwhite	Currently reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

11-21-2013, 03:33 PM	#18173
Yapyap Guru Posts: 861 Karma: 3543721 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Estonia Device: Kindle Paperwhite, iPad 3, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	Finished World After yesterday, which was excellent, although it didn't quite grab me the way I've been hoping. It's one of those cases where a book has nearly everything I want in it, and yet some final element of chemistry is missing. Today I picked up Bruno, Chief of Police ... made it only ~15% into it for now. Maybe I'll be more in a mood for it tomorrow. I'm struggling a bit with the writing style, but I assume it's a case of getting used to it.

11-21-2013, 08:34 PM	#18174
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	Started reading Best Little Stories from the Civil War by C. Brian Kelly. I've been reading books of the history of the Civil War and decided to get a more personal touch.

11-21-2013, 10:40 PM	#18175
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,730 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	Cryptonomicon took me too long to be able to finish the book club read in time to discuss it, so I read the short story Portrait of Lisane da Patagnia by Rachel Swirsky which was nominated for a Nebula Award this year and available free on Tor.com. It was much better than I thought from the blurb I had read and ended up really enjoying it.

11-22-2013, 06:28 AM	#18177
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,556 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Finished "Seeress of Kell", the 5th and final book in David Edding's "Mallorean" fantasy series. Wonderful story, and as always I finished it with a tear in my eye. Superb.

11-22-2013, 07:21 AM	#18178
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,461 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Almost finished with Doris Lessing's "Memoirs of a Survivor," in Hardback American First Edition. After that, I'll start with another literary author, one whom I love to read: "October Light," by John Gardner. (Note: Decidedly NOT the other John Gardner, the mystery writer.) Don

11-22-2013, 08:36 AM	#18179
BelleZora Wizard Posts: 1,442 Karma: 25151986 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Seattle, US Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Libra 2, Pocketbook Verse Pro Color	Dr. Drib, October Light has been on my TBR list for too long. Please let us know what you think about it.