The Jim Butcher Files: Dresden . Codex Alera . Cinder Spires & More

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Melon Soda

I haven't even read Skin Game, and I already can't wait for Peace Talks.

I dare you to wait until the next one comes out and read both at the same time ...

Now I need to pick up a new hobby!

Haha, as long as you make Harry authentic and hat free ...

[DuckieTigger]

Hi, it has been a while. Now it is time for my take on Skin Game - and hopefully get a discussion rolling. Watch out I have my brain-picker in my hand.

Skin Game is a really good book. Good enough that you have to at once reread it the first time around. That means if you plan on reading it for the very first time, please allow the time to read it twice. And that is why I think that is: (the spoiler is not very strong, but it will nethertheless potentially spoil the fun of reading it the first time around)

Spoiler:

You have to reread just to see how othen Grey asks Harry by adressing him "wizard." That in itself is a difference to say, Storm Front - a book I would not want to right away read again - I just read it again to start the series over, but are happy to have moved on to Fool Moon. Storm Front had 3 independent story lines that got all connected in the end but a bit easier to remember. No need to immediately read again after finishing. On the other hand whoever claims that they understood Skin Game the very first time around is delusional - the story is different when you know what to look for. The story line is not any different, but a new dimension opens on who is on which team. In Storm Front it was more like: ahh right all fits together now in the end. Skin game? You have to reread or you wonder that you missed something. You did not miss anything, only if you know can you see.

Any thoughts welcome. Just remember spoilers are spoilers even if very slight - if in doubt reply completely spoilered ...

[AlbertaCowboy]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Hi, it has been a while. Now it is time for my take on Skin Game - and hopefully get a discussion rolling. Watch out I have my brain-picker in my hand.

Skin Game is a really good book. Good enough that you have to at once reread it the first time around. That means if you plan on reading it for the very first time, please allow the time to read it twice. And that is why I think that is: (the spoiler is not very strong, but it will nethertheless potentially spoil the fun of reading it the first time around)

Spoiler:

You have to reread just to see how othen Grey asks Harry by adressing him "wizard." That in itself is a difference to say, Storm Front - a book I would not want to right away read again - I just read it again to start the series over, but are happy to have moved on to Fool Moon. Storm Front had 3 independent story lines that got all connected in the end but a bit easier to remember. No need to immediately read again after finishing. On the other hand whoever claims that they understood Skin Game the very first time around is delusional - the story is different when you know what to look for. The story line is not any different, but a new dimension opens on who is on which team. In Storm Front it was more like: ahh right all fits together now in the end. Skin game? You have to reread or you wonder that you missed something. You did not miss anything, only if you know can you see.

Any thoughts welcome. Just remember spoilers are spoilers even if very slight - if in doubt reply completely spoilered ...

Basically did exactly what you did, and for the same reason.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Basically did exactly what you did, and for the same reason.

So what did you think when you read it the second time? Disappointed that there was only a few questions, or that there was more than you thought there was, or simply enjoyed it no matter how? If you basically did what I did then I could answer for you, but I am not sure.

Did Jim Butcher play some dirty mind games with us?

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

WOW!

I'v read 30 chapters and every chapter gets better and better!

WOWZERS!

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Me too. WOW.
If this continues, I think "Skin Game" will edge out "Dead Beat" as my favourite Dresden novel!

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Hi, it has been a while. Now it is time for my take on Skin Game - and hopefully get a discussion rolling. Watch out I have my brain-picker in my hand.

Skin Game is a really good book. Good enough that you have to at once reread it the first time around. That means if you plan on reading it for the very first time, please allow the time to read it twice. And that is why I think that is: (the spoiler is not very strong, but it will nethertheless potentially spoil the fun of reading it the first time around)

Spoiler:

You have to reread just to see how othen Grey asks Harry by adressing him "wizard." That in itself is a difference to say, Storm Front - a book I would not want to right away read again - I just read it again to start the series over, but are happy to have moved on to Fool Moon. Storm Front had 3 independent story lines that got all connected in the end but a bit easier to remember. No need to immediately read again after finishing. On the other hand whoever claims that they understood Skin Game the very first time around is delusional - the story is different when you know what to look for. The story line is not any different, but a new dimension opens on who is on which team. In Storm Front it was more like: ahh right all fits together now in the end. Skin game? You have to reread or you wonder that you missed something. You did not miss anything, only if you know can you see.

Any thoughts welcome. Just remember spoilers are spoilers even if very slight - if in doubt reply completely spoilered ...

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Basically did exactly what you did, and for the same reason.

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

So what did you think when you read it the second time? Disappointed that there was only a few questions, or that there was more than you thought there was, or simply enjoyed it no matter how? If you basically did what I did then I could answer for you, but I am not sure.

Did Jim Butcher play some dirty mind games with us?

The main reason I re-read it was to enjoy it again and since I listened to the audio version this time it was also to enjoy James Marsters' reading performance! But my re-reading of Skin Game was certainly not to answer any particular outstanding question(s) that I might have had (I had none). Also, no dirty mind games were apparent to me. I'm going to start re-reading it again (the text version again this time) before the end of July! Why? To ENJOY it again!

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

... not to answer any particular outstanding question(s) that I might have had (I had none)...

Oh, I was too subtle. Should have made it more obvious. Not questions about the book, or the story, or anything, but literally questions that got asked in the book. And how those questions got answered. Especially one individual asking another, getting one word answers. Some turned into jokes, some into simply the opposite. But each and every one plays by the correct rules. It is hidden pretty well, nobody breaks character.

Spoiler:

Next time you reread it, pay special attention every time Grey says "wizard." Because if I remember right, every time wizard gets spoken, there is a question and answer. I won't ruin it by using search - I will want to read it again before getting a sledgehammer out and flat out search for "wizard". Those conversations are the "questions" I was asking about.

Originally Posted by alansplace

Also, no dirty mind games were apparent to me.

The trick that made me go read again and count questions. Surprisingly the book is good even right after reading it once, even when having a somewhat fresh memory of the story and when what happens. No passage got boring enough that made me want to skip it even though I read it not to long ago. So conclusion? Jim Butcher enchanted the book with a no-boring spell ...

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Easier solution, release the covers so they coincide with the actually books. The hat is wrong and the duster is not leather. So the pictures have multiple mistakes that should have been corrected long ago.

Are they actually leather on the covers anyway? And isn't his duster made out of leather at one point or another. After his old duster kind of got shredded, and he got a new one as present from Susan? Or did the one made out of leather get shredded?

I am rereading right now - so I will keep an eye out on when his duster dies, and when he gets the new one from Susan ...

... unless Alan will just pull the exact scene out of his head ...

[eschwartz]

He got one from Susan in one of the earlier books. I think it may have been Fool Moon.

It was destroyed after half the Red court attacked him in Changes and the fairy magic eventually wore off it.

Molly got him a new one over the internet, in Cold Days.

[eschwartz]

Yep. Looked it up. Fool Moon, page 271.

ereader searches are awesome! What Did We Ever Do in the heathen pbook-only days???

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

He got one from Susan in one of the earlier books. I think it may have been Fool Moon.

It was destroyed after half the Red court attacked him in Changes and the fairy magic eventually wore off it.

Molly got him a new one over the internet, in Cold Days.

Aye, thank you. And the new one in Fool Moon is made out of leather. I wasn't going crazy after all.

[alansplace]

Quoted from jim-butcher.com

Find the rest at the link above:

[AlbertaCowboy]

Basically, I reread it immediately to have a better understanding of the whole heist, as well as having a new appreciation for a couple of favourite characters, both old and new.
When I Tarantino-ed it, essentially going from back to front, I almost enjoyed it more the second time!
No disappointment at all, just a higher level of appreciation for Butcher's imagination and wordsmithing ability.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Basically, I reread it immediately to have a better understanding of the whole heist, as well as having a new appreciation for a couple of favourite characters, both old and new.
When I Tarantino-ed it, essentially going from back to front, I almost enjoyed it more the second time!
No disappointment at all, just a higher level of appreciation for Butcher's imagination and wordsmithing ability.

That's a hell of a way to read a book. I'm going to re-read it forwards. It's enough that I know what's going to happen next.

[AlbertaCowboy]

Originally Posted by alansplace

That's a hell of a way to read a book. I'm going to re-read it forwards. It's enough that I know what's going to happen next.

Hahaha, no, Alan, I did NOT read it from back to front. What I meant was that having already known the end and the twist, I read it with that in mind, seeing all the little clues. That's all.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Hahaha, no, Alan, I did NOT read it from back to front. What I meant was that having already known the end and the twist, I read it with that in mind, seeing all the little clues. That's all.