Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 1749

DrNefario · 07-28-2017, 08:12 AM

I'm reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, and will be for some time. Seems quite fun so far, but it's early days.

This is an actual paper book, which isn't so great when it's 950 pages long, but on the other hand the only reason I have it at all is because I saw it cheap in a charity shop.

pdurrant · 07-28-2017, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Prince Ivan by Peter Morwood. I really liked his Clan Wars series, so I decided to get his 'Tales of Old Russia' when they had a special offer recently. Looking good so far.

And most enjoyable it was too. It has the feel of a real folk tale, but with the characters fleshed out a bit. I'm looking forward to the next two.

But first The Last Herald Mage by Mercedes Lackey. An omnibus of three books in her Valdemar setting.

I'm 2/3rd of the way through, and enjoying it so far. I'm pleased I've been buying these when they're on offer - it will be a fun series to read through in order.

ReadingManiac · 07-28-2017, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Finished listening to Neil deGrasse Tyson read his Astrophysics for People in a Hurry on a long drive for work today. Quite enjoyable

I was reading a Kindle sample of that this morning. Is there anything interesting for people with a fair bit of layman's knowledge of the subject already?

astrangerhere · 07-28-2017, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReadingManiac

I was reading a Kindle sample of that this morning. Is there anything interesting for people with a fair bit of layman's knowledge of the subject already?

The book is really a series of essays. I have a good foundation in much of his material, but it was still very interesting for me. I think the audiobook had the advantage of being read by Neil himself, which added quite a flair.

CRussel · 07-28-2017, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

The book is really a series of essays. I have a good foundation in much of his material, but it was still very interesting for me. I think the audiobook had the advantage of being read by Neil himself, which added quite a flair.

I'm next in line at the library for the audiobook. (It's been a LONG wait. ) Looking forward to it. And yes, I have a pretty solid background in this area, but I still expect to enjoy it.

CRussel · 07-28-2017, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And most enjoyable it was too. It has the feel of a real folk tale, but with the characters fleshed out a bit. I'm looking forward to the next two.

But first The Last Herald Mage by Mercedes Lackey. An omnibus of three books in her Valdemar setting.

I'm 2/3rd of the way through, and enjoying it so far. I'm pleased I've been buying these when they're on offer - it will be a fun series to read through in order.

I'll be curious what your final opinion is, Paul. I bought the three omnibus editions when they were on sale in the UK, and read the first. Which left me rather disappointed. I just didn't think they stood the test of time as well as I'd hoped. And what was annoying in a single book, read a year or so apart from the others, was nearly intolerable in a binge read. (The whiny-ness and continual excessive self-doubt of the main character.)

Cinisajoy · 07-28-2017, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrNefario

I'm reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, and will be for some time. Seems quite fun so far, but it's early days.

This is an actual paper book, which isn't so great when it's 950 pages long, but on the other hand the only reason I have it at all is because I saw it cheap in a charity shop.

I liked it. Oh and the mini-series is very close to the book if you ever get a chance to watch it.

HarryT · 07-29-2017, 07:19 AM

Finished "The War God's Own", by David Weber. This is the second book in the "War God" fantasy series, and carries directly on from "Oath of Swords". Baen description:

Quote:

Bahzell Bahnakson of the Horse Stealer hradani never wanted to be a champion of the War God. Unfortunately, Tomanak had insisted. Even more unfortunately, Bahzell's own sense of responsibility hadn't let him say, "No."

Which was how he found himself in the Empire of the Axe, where even people who didn't actively hate hradani regarded them with suspicion and fear. Of course, that was only the start of his problems.

Next, there was the Order of Tomanak, many of whom were horrified by the notion that their deity had chosen a hradani as a champion . . . and intended to do something about it. And assuming he survived that, he had to go home-across three hundred leagues of bitter winter snow-to face a Dark God who threatened to destroy all hradani. Throw in the odd demon and brigand ambush, and add a powerful neighboring kingdom with no intention of letting Bahzell (or anyone else) save his people, and you have the makings of a really bad day.

But one thing Bahzell has learned: a champion of Tomanak does what needs doing. And the people in his way had better move.

Another fantasy novel. Highly recommended!

pdurrant · 07-30-2017, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

But first The Last Herald Mage by Mercedes Lackey. An omnibus of three books in her Valdemar setting.

I'm 2/3rd of the way through, and enjoying it so far. I'm pleased I've been buying these when they're on offer - it will be a fun series to read through in order.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I'll be curious what your final opinion is, Paul. I bought the three omnibus editions when they were on sale in the UK, and read the first. Which left me rather disappointed. I just didn't think they stood the test of time as well as I'd hoped. And what was annoying in a single book, read a year or so apart from the others, was nearly intolerable in a binge read. (The whiny-ness and continual excessive self-doubt of the main character.)

Well, I've finished it now, and there were two things wrong

(1) The self-doubt that was OK in the young character does become increasingly annoying as the character gains in power and experience.
(2) The ending requires the villain to behave in a unbelievably stupid way.

So only 3/5 for me.

I note that as well as being early in internal Chronology, they were also written fairly early on in her career. I didn't notice this flaw in the Mage War novels, so I'm hoping this was an result of not being experienced enough to avoid the whining tone.

Anyway, next up: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys. A recent daily deal, and well worth a re-read, as I'm sure I've read it before.

Dngrsone · 07-30-2017, 09:43 PM

Finished Boundary Born by Melissa F. Olson, third book of her second trilogy. Enjoyable in an urban fiction kind of way.

Starting on Numbers: Their Tales, Types, and Treasures by Alfred S. Posamentier. Not thrilled about the fixed background (white); I may have to figure out how to fix that.

CRussel · 07-31-2017, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Well, I've finished it now, and there were two things wrong

(1) The self-doubt that was OK in the young character does become increasingly annoying as the character gains in power and experience.
(2) The ending requires the villain to behave in a unbelievably stupid way.

So only 3/5 for me.

I note that as well as being early in internal Chronology, they were also written fairly early on in her career. I didn't notice this flaw in the Mage War novels, so I'm hoping this was an result of not being experienced enough to avoid the whining tone.

Anyway, next up: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys. A recent daily deal, and well worth a re-read, as I'm sure I've read it before.

Thanks, Paul. I'd recently been reading the Herald Spy trilogy, and didn't have a problem with any whiny characters, so I admit to being a bit taken aback. It had been so long since I read these that I admit I had almost no memory at all. Occasional snippets, but none of the overall story, really.

orlok · 07-31-2017, 05:36 AM

Just started Richard Matheson's Somewhere in Time (originally titled Bid Time Return, but this edition is named to match the film, which is something of a cult classic). I found it hard going to start, due to the staccato style of writing, but have found my rhythm now and am starting to really enjoy it.

I've been doing a bit of background research - the female lead and object of the protagonist's obsession is Elise McKenna who is based on the real-life actress Maude Adams, who Matheson "fell in love with" after seeing her picture in a Nevada opera house, despite the fact she had died when he was still young. From this moment, he started wondering how it would be if he could travel back in time to meet her, and from this idea the novel was born.

HarryT · 07-31-2017, 07:07 AM

Finished "Twice Shy", by Dick Francis. When a schoolteacher is asked by a friend to help him out with a computer program to predict the winners of horse races, he little thinks his life will be threatened by gangsters out to steal the betting system for themselves. Absolutely excellent - one of the best in the series so far! And fond memories of the days of personal computers whose programs were loaded from cassette tapes (the book was published in 1981). It's even got snippets of BASIC programs in it

.

Rumpelteazer · 08-01-2017, 04:24 PM

I just finished Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch, the fourth book in the PC Peter Grant/Rivers of London series. I already loved the series, but this book is the best so far, I didn't see that twist coming. The twist also means the next book in the series has been put higher on my TBR list.

philandjan · 08-01-2017, 05:40 PM

Having just caught up with a backlog of paper books that I've been given over the last couple of years (including the underwhelming Pratchett/Baxter "Long Yawn" series), I've got started again on my neglected ebook library.

What a joy it was to read the whole Barry Longyear "The Enemy Papers" from start to finish. Not being a great film watcher, I prefer to use my imagination (whoever thought that HHGTTG could ever be put onto a screen, big or small, failed miserably), I never saw the Enemy Mine film, even though I'm old enough to have seen it if it was made in black and white (though with sound)!

I now have that nasty little vacuum I'm sure we all get when we've finished something we've enjoyed and then have to find something new. I've got a feeling that Kim Stanley Robinson's Capital Code trilogy is creeping up on me, demanding to be next. Hope I'm not disappointed.

07-31-2017, 05:36 AM	#26232
orlok Close to the Edit! Posts: 9,797 Karma: 267994408 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Amazon Fire 8", Kindle 6"	Just started Richard Matheson's Somewhere in Time (originally titled Bid Time Return, but this edition is named to match the film, which is something of a cult classic). I found it hard going to start, due to the staccato style of writing, but have found my rhythm now and am starting to really enjoy it. I've been doing a bit of background research - the female lead and object of the protagonist's obsession is Elise McKenna who is based on the real-life actress Maude Adams, who Matheson "fell in love with" after seeing her picture in a Nevada opera house, despite the fact she had died when he was still young. From this moment, he started wondering how it would be if he could travel back in time to meet her, and from this idea the novel was born. Last edited by orlok; 07-31-2017 at 06:02 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hey hey! I found the first Kindle 3 bug!	WilliamG	Amazon Kindle	22	02-14-2012 05:28 PM
Advice on Action	jaxx6166	Writers' Corner	5	06-25-2010 12:29 AM
Hey! From Reading - P.A. that is.	GlenBarrington	Introduce Yourself	3	01-01-2010 09:00 PM
Seriously thoughtful Affirmative Action	Jaime_Astorga	Lounge	39	07-07-2009 06:24 PM

07-28-2017, 08:12 AM	#26221
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,205 Karma: 12029046 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I'm reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, and will be for some time. Seems quite fun so far, but it's early days. This is an actual paper book, which isn't so great when it's 950 pages long, but on the other hand the only reason I have it at all is because I saw it cheap in a charity shop.

07-30-2017, 09:43 PM	#26230
Dngrsone Almost legible Posts: 1,457 Karma: 4611110 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: In a high desert, CA Device: Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy Tab A (2017), Likebook P78	Finished Boundary Born by Melissa F. Olson, third book of her second trilogy. Enjoyable in an urban fiction kind of way. Starting on Numbers: Their Tales, Types, and Treasures by Alfred S. Posamentier. Not thrilled about the fixed background (white); I may have to figure out how to fix that.

07-31-2017, 07:07 AM	#26233
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,548 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Finished "Twice Shy", by Dick Francis. When a schoolteacher is asked by a friend to help him out with a computer program to predict the winners of horse races, he little thinks his life will be threatened by gangsters out to steal the betting system for themselves. Absolutely excellent - one of the best in the series so far! And fond memories of the days of personal computers whose programs were loaded from cassette tapes (the book was published in 1981). It's even got snippets of BASIC programs in it .

08-01-2017, 04:24 PM	#26234
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,332 Karma: 27919658 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	I just finished Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch, the fourth book in the PC Peter Grant/Rivers of London series. I already loved the series, but this book is the best so far, I didn't see that twist coming. The twist also means the next book in the series has been put higher on my TBR list.

08-01-2017, 05:40 PM	#26235
philandjan Trainee Old Git Posts: 78 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dégagnac, France Device: Kindle	Having just caught up with a backlog of paper books that I've been given over the last couple of years (including the underwhelming Pratchett/Baxter "Long Yawn" series), I've got started again on my neglected ebook library. What a joy it was to read the whole Barry Longyear "The Enemy Papers" from start to finish. Not being a great film watcher, I prefer to use my imagination (whoever thought that HHGTTG could ever be put onto a screen, big or small, failed miserably), I never saw the Enemy Mine film, even though I'm old enough to have seen it if it was made in black and white (though with sound)! I now have that nasty little vacuum I'm sure we all get when we've finished something we've enjoyed and then have to find something new. I've got a feeling that Kim Stanley Robinson's Capital Code trilogy is creeping up on me, demanding to be next. Hope I'm not disappointed.