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

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I don't have Overdrive but good tip.

The Huston Library system has Overdrive and they have Obsession in Death.

I don't know what your local library is, but they may have Overdrive.

[Rev. Bob]

I've been slogging through Cassandra Rose Clarke's Star's End, which was pitched to me as being space opera.

It isn't. Like, at all.

There seems to be a decent story in here somewhere, but the structure ruins it. "Now" chapters told in third-person limited alternate with first-person "X years ago" chapters. Every attempt at creating any sort of tension in the "then" narrative gets gutted as the "now" chapters reveal every pivotal plot point before it comes up. It's like watching a movie that starts with a shot of a shattered vase on the floor, then spends the next two hours trying to create suspense about whether it will fall off the table and break.

We see a family ripped apart by an event that should be the emotional linchpin of the novel, but that scene's saved for the end of the book. Instead, we get enough cold, clinical information to see it coming hundreds of pages in advance, so that when the emotional climax finally arrives, it packs no punch. The heart of the story is reduced to the last piece in a puzzle we've already assembled.

I'll finish the book, because I agreed to review it, but I'll be glad when it's over.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I've gone straight on to the third, Perilous Seas.

Which ends with a character saying "Just feels like there ought to be more, somehow."

And there is! So straight on to the fourth (& hopefully final) book in the series, Emperor and Clown.

[Dngrsone]

Stayed up late last night to finish Trading in Danger. Very nice. Likely a non-fic next...

[Dazrin]

I just finished Mary Roach's Gulp, it was very good. Not many authors can make this particular topic as funny as she did.

You might be thinking, Wow, that Mary Roach has her head up her [...]. To which I say: Only briefly, and with the utmost respect.

[Dngrsone]

Just blasted through Steve Martin's Memoir Born Standing Up.

Might just do the next Vatta's War book...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I just finished Mary Roach's Gulp, it was very good. Not many authors can make this particular topic as funny as she did.

That should have been the book club book. But we got a book about longitude that was so-so at best. At GoodReads I gave it 2 stars.

And now I am reading The Creative Fire by Brenda Cooper.

Nothing can match the power of a single voice...

Ruby Martin expects to spend her days repairing robots while avoiding the dangerous peacekeeping forces that roam the corridors of the generation ship The Creative Fire. The social structure of the ship is rigidly divided, with Ruby and her friends on the bottom. Then a ship-wide accident gives Ruby a chance to fight for the freedom she craves. Her enemies are numerous, well armed, and knowledgeable. Her weapons are a fabulous voice, a quick mind, and a deep stubbornness. Complicating it all--an unreliable A.I. and an enigmatic man she met - and kissed - exactly once--who may hold the key to her success. If Ruby can't transform from a rebellious teen to the leader of a revolution, she and all her friends will lose all say in their future.

Like the historical Evita Perón, Ruby rises from the dregs of society to hold incredible popularity and power. Her story is about love and lust and need and a thirst for knowledge and influence so deep that it burns.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next is a new author for me, The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks.

This was a nice surprise even if it wasn't very original. Typical coming-of-age story of a young man with lots of potential and unknown (to him) abilities. I was worried the book would have too many characters and sub-plots but it doesn't. Very easy to read, flows well and lots of action in the second half. The ending is satisfying. Many things wrap up fully. The author leaves a little mystery to keep readers interested in how the story progresses in the next book. Rated B [4 stars].

Next is a library loan, The Siege of Macindaw, the 6th book in the very good Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That should have been the book club book. But we got a book about longitude that was so-so at best. At GoodReads I gave it 2 stars.

I am still looking forward to Longitude. Yes, Gulp was good but I can see how it wouldn't be to everyone's taste.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I am still looking forward to Longitude. Yes, Gulp was good but I can see how it wouldn't be to everyone's taste.

Longitude wasn't to everyone's taste. It was rather weak and the writing was shallow and the story was dull.

[astrangerhere]

Listening to the audiobook of Salt: A World History. As for my physical book, well that's a real treat. The Wonder Woman Omnibus Vol. 1. This is the George Perez run on the book. Many people believe that Perez is largely responsible for the revitalization of the character in the 80s and 90s.

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

As for my physical book, well that's a real treat. The Wonder Woman Omnibus Vol. 1. This is the George Perez run on the book. Many people believe that Perez is largely responsible for the revitalization of the character in the 80s and 90s.

I got the first arc of that (at least; I'm not sure how long your collection is) free when I bought the animated movie. DC's done a few deluxe packs like that, a solid hardcover with a Blu-ray and DVD in the back, plus digital copies of both movie and graphic novel. Quite handy, really - in fact, I've been inching through Batman: Black & White for a while now. It's slow going not because it's bad, but because it's the book I keep on my iPad for when I'm accompanying my mother to a doctor's office and don't know if they'll have wi-fi.

I also scooped up some digital Marvel collections over the weekend, while Amazon had them marked down an additional 60% from their normal half-off-list. (For the math-challenged, that's a total of 80% off.) The first volume of the new Old Man Logan series was decent, establishing the character in the new Marvel universe and giving enough background for people new to the character to see where he came from, but I don't think I'll be reading further volumes. The second Gwenpool collection continued to remind me of Byrne's Sensational She-Hulk, but with a little different twist on the fourth-wall breaking. The first Champions collection was great - coming out of Civil War II, several of the younger heroes get disgusted with the adults fighting each other and form their own Just Do Good team.

Finally, I've started the big X-23 Omnibus, which collects about 450 pages of early work, starting with her origin miniseries. After watching Logan this weekend, I can definitely see how faithful they were to her backstory: enough to be very recognizable, but not so much as to needlessly complicate and prolong an already lengthy story. Next up will most likely be the second volume of the Miles Morales Spider-Man series, and then I get to wait until the next Spider-Gwen volume comes out in July before I can read their crossover. Looks like someone at Marvel screwed up the publishing schedule...

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

So straight on to the fourth (& hopefully final) book in the series, Emperor and Clown.

Which does bring the series to a satisfying and logical conclusion. A most enjoyable series.

Next up:

Brother Odd by Dean Koontz. The third in his Odd Thomas series.

[Luffy]

I'm reading Moby Dick, and I absolutely hate it. I'm simply reading because someone on Goodreads said that 1% of people who start the book, complete it. I'm reading this book for that reason only. I'm going to give it 1 star.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Luffy

I'm reading Moby Dick, and I absolutely hate it. I'm simply reading because someone on Goodreads said that 1% of people who start the book, complete it. I'm reading this book for that reason only. I'm going to give it 1 star.

I can thoroughly relate. I'm one of the 1% - but mostly because I can be pigheaded about some things. I read it because it's a classic and I wanted to be able to tell myself that I had, in fact, read it. There are a couple of really great quotes in there (you will notice if your eyes haven't glazed over as you read), but you've probably heard them recited elsewhere and don't need the book.