Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 361

WT Sharpe · 07-03-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

Just finished Einstein's Cosmos by Michael Kaku and what an excellent read! Kaku does a masterful job blending Einstein's science with his life story. This book gives you an superb insight into both Einstein the Scientist and Einstein the man. And, thanks to Kaku's ability to describe very complex principles of physics in understandable terms I now have a much better understanding of Einstein's work.

Next Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

Heads up, cassidym: I have a nice Michael Kaku quote queued up and waiting to be posted Monday in the Notable quotes, excerpts, and profound lines thread.

crc · 07-03-2010, 08:57 PM

This week I read Berserker, The Lens, and Factory Orbit by Steve Jordan. I also read a short story (Debt of Bones, by Terry Goodkind) and The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (with my six year old son. I just gave him my older PRS-505 to use for reading and he seems to be enjoying himself so far). It was a light week for reading due to an increase in the amount of time I spent on proofreading OCR'd scans of various books.

I also started on Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. I expect to finish this in a day or two, then I'll probably read Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon. I'm not sure what to read after that...

bookwormfjl · 07-03-2010, 09:09 PM

Just finished the 4th book in Richard Tuttle's Demonstone Chronicles series. Three more to go! Love the series so far.

Trebro · 07-03-2010, 09:31 PM

Despite taking some accelerated classes, still made time to finish Year's Best Sci Fi 15, a very solid collection that had just the right mix of great, good, ok, and "pass" stories for 500 page anthology.

It's likely Blockade Billy by King for me next, then the Moon book. Or perhaps the other way around.

neilmarr · 07-04-2010, 02:13 AM

***Well perhaps for you it is more about "selling good books" than "good selling books"? ***

Kind of you to suggest that, BOb, and I'd like to think it's true.

I must confess, though, that I learned a long, long time ago that acquisition editing -- even when commercial potential is a secondary issue -- is far from an exact science. I guess when marketability becomes key, though, the assessment job becomes a little less subjective because of the introduction of some 'givens'. Popularity of a name or genre alone, for example, can lend some assurance to an editor's choice. Sad, but true.

If BeWrite Books ever hit major league with a title, though, it will be on the story-telling and literary merit of its author rather than its near-guaranteed place on a bandwagon.

Cheers. Neil

Ea · 07-04-2010, 04:57 AM

Finished "Girl with the dragon tattoo". The story was interesting enough for me to want to finish it, but I will never understand why it got the kind of reviews it got. The prose was pretty bad; slowly plodding along, and with far too much exposition - and Mikael Blomkvist is a bit of a Mary Sue for the author. B

I think it was a little better than "The da Vinci code" (but not much). I've been wondering why books like these can become so popular, but I mentioned in an earlier post, I think it may be because they are easy to read.

kennyc · 07-04-2010, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

Finished "Girl with the dragon tattoo".

...

I think it was a little better than "The da Vinci code" (but not much). I've been wondering why books like these can become so popular, but I mentioned in an earlier post, I think it may be because they are easy to read.

I think that is it exactly. The public these days just wants to be entertained.

and due to the movies and TV expect it to be served up on a platter to consume without any effort.

I'm not saying that there is not a place for this type of written entertainment, clearly there is and I enjoy it as well in some cases -- Edgar Rice Burroughs for example.

Ea · 07-04-2010, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I think that is it exactly. The public these days just wants to be entertained.

and due to the movies and TV expect it to be served up on a platter to consume without any effort.

I'm not saying that there is not a place for this type of written entertainment, clearly there is and I enjoy it as well in some cases -- Edgar Rice Burroughs for example.

These days - as any days ever

People reads lots of genre fiction, too, and most of that is far from writing as an art. I guess the reason books such 'da vince code' and the millenium trilogy becomes so popular, is because they simply belong to a genre that's a little more 'respectable' than e.g. romance, fantasy and "war fiction". And then of course the hype wants people to find out what all the fuss is about. That's certainly why I read it.

neilmarr · 07-04-2010, 08:22 AM

One great thing about the short 'reactions' rather than 'reviews' in this thread is the fact that so many are willing to shout, without fear of intellectual embarrassment: "Look ... the Emperor is wearing no clothes!" It's encouraging to read folks who say what they think rather than what they're told they should think.

I hope the trilogy does leave some readers as satisfied as they say they are. The fact that it leaves some folks (the majority here?) decidedly otherwise is evidence of the true value of hype in publishing and its ancillary services. Even those who didn't like the book seem to have given it a 100+ page chance I don't think it deserved.

Over the past eighteen months or more, I've learned a lot from this thread ... not the least of which is to hold the opinion of posters here in higher regard than the NYT or ST literary reviews. Appreciating this honesty and astute reading has led me to some wonderful self-published work that, at one time, I'd never have even glanced at.

Thanks and cheers. Neil

Ea · 07-04-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

I hope the trilogy does leave some readers as satisfied as they say they are. The fact that it leaves some folks (the majority here?) decidedly otherwise is evidence of the true value of hype in publishing and its ancillary services. Even those who didn't like the book seem to have given it a 100+ page chance I don't think it deserved.

I know I kept reading because the story was just about interesting enough to make me want to know what happens next. Though I cringed at almost all the dialogue. I wonder how he managed to sell the books to a publisher in the first place. The Scandinavian book market is small, there isn't room for a lot low quality stuff.

*reg* · 07-06-2010, 03:26 AM

Just finished Alexander McCall Smith's- No.1 Ladies Detective Agency.

An enjoyable easy read. As is the one I'm currently reading, Jennifer Weiner's- Certain Girls (chick lit)

GeoffC · 07-06-2010, 10:13 AM

Just started War of the Worlds .....

WT Sharpe · 07-06-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Just started War of the Worlds .....

How did you do that? Did you beam spam-mail into space?

GeoffC · 07-06-2010, 11:08 AM

MelC · 07-06-2010, 12:18 PM

After a conversation with my sister I veered off the NF straight and narrow and polished off the last two Stephanie Plum books (can someone tell me if that series is going to end? they are like potato chips - I can't stop reading them even though I have already had too many and I can't even really tell what they taste like any more and they might be making me a little sick to my stomach). Then I started a new book The Passage - apocalyptic novel apparently (I'm only at about 130 of 850), very much borrowed from SK and MC but so far passable presentation of the genre.

Mel

07-04-2010, 02:13 AM	#5405
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	*Well perhaps for you it is more about "selling good books" than "good selling books"? * Kind of you to suggest that, BOb, and I'd like to think it's true. I must confess, though, that I learned a long, long time ago that acquisition editing -- even when commercial potential is a secondary issue -- is far from an exact science. I guess when marketability becomes key, though, the assessment job becomes a little less subjective because of the introduction of some 'givens'. Popularity of a name or genre alone, for example, can lend some assurance to an editor's choice. Sad, but true. If BeWrite Books ever hit major league with a title, though, it will be on the story-telling and literary merit of its author rather than its near-guaranteed place on a bandwagon. Cheers. Neil Attached Images

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07-03-2010, 08:57 PM	#5402
crc unknown Posts: 57 Karma: 38 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oakford, PA, USA Device: Kindle Voyage	This week I read Berserker, The Lens, and Factory Orbit by Steve Jordan. I also read a short story (Debt of Bones, by Terry Goodkind) and The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (with my six year old son. I just gave him my older PRS-505 to use for reading and he seems to be enjoying himself so far). It was a light week for reading due to an increase in the amount of time I spent on proofreading OCR'd scans of various books. I also started on Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. I expect to finish this in a day or two, then I'll probably read Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon. I'm not sure what to read after that...

07-03-2010, 09:09 PM	#5403
bookwormfjl Book Junkie Posts: 62 Karma: 78 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Dallas/Fort Wroth Device: Sony PRS-505; Cybook Gen 3; Kindle 1; Kindle 2; Kindle DX; Nook	Just finished the 4th book in Richard Tuttle's Demonstone Chronicles series. Three more to go! Love the series so far.

07-03-2010, 09:31 PM	#5404
Trebro Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 14 Join Date: May 2010 Device: nook	Despite taking some accelerated classes, still made time to finish Year's Best Sci Fi 15, a very solid collection that had just the right mix of great, good, ok, and "pass" stories for 500 page anthology. It's likely Blockade Billy by King for me next, then the Moon book. Or perhaps the other way around.

07-04-2010, 04:57 AM	#5406
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Finished "Girl with the dragon tattoo". The story was interesting enough for me to want to finish it, but I will never understand why it got the kind of reviews it got. The prose was pretty bad; slowly plodding along, and with far too much exposition - and Mikael Blomkvist is a bit of a Mary Sue for the author. B I think it was a little better than "The da Vinci code" (but not much). I've been wondering why books like these can become so popular, but I mentioned in an earlier post, I think it may be because they are easy to read.

07-04-2010, 08:22 AM	#5409
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	One great thing about the short 'reactions' rather than 'reviews' in this thread is the fact that so many are willing to shout, without fear of intellectual embarrassment: "Look ... the Emperor is wearing no clothes!" It's encouraging to read folks who say what they think rather than what they're told they should think. I hope the trilogy does leave some readers as satisfied as they say they are. The fact that it leaves some folks (the majority here?) decidedly otherwise is evidence of the true value of hype in publishing and its ancillary services. Even those who didn't like the book seem to have given it a 100+ page chance I don't think it deserved. Over the past eighteen months or more, I've learned a lot from this thread ... not the least of which is to hold the opinion of posters here in higher regard than the NYT or ST literary reviews. Appreciating this honesty and astute reading has led me to some wonderful self-published work that, at one time, I'd never have even glanced at. Thanks and cheers. Neil

07-06-2010, 03:26 AM	#5411
reg Human Posts: 47 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo, iPhone	Just finished Alexander McCall Smith's- No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. An enjoyable easy read. As is the one I'm currently reading, Jennifer Weiner's- Certain Girls (chick lit)

07-06-2010, 10:13 AM	#5412
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	Just started War of the Worlds .....

07-06-2010, 11:08 AM	#5414
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

07-06-2010, 12:18 PM	#5415
MelC Evangelist Posts: 410 Karma: 2081 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: Cybook Gen3, PRS600	After a conversation with my sister I veered off the NF straight and narrow and polished off the last two Stephanie Plum books (can someone tell me if that series is going to end? they are like potato chips - I can't stop reading them even though I have already had too many and I can't even really tell what they taste like any more and they might be making me a little sick to my stomach). Then I started a new book The Passage - apocalyptic novel apparently (I'm only at about 130 of 850), very much borrowed from SK and MC but so far passable presentation of the genre. Mel

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