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

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by LovesMacs

You might find this reader review of book 10 amusing. I think Robert Jordan gets more wordy as the series goes on. Is it as bad as in this parody?

I haven't read that far in the series and I don't expect to start my reread soon.

That is pretty hilarious and does hit the mark perfectly.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Austenland by Shannon Hale. It was the Kindle Daily Deal in the UK today, and it sounded too fun to pass up for £0.99. Now I find out if I was right to buy it.

A quick, fun read. Well worth the £0.99, and a clever romance makes a good change from my usual range.

Next: Guardian of Night by Tony Daniel. One from the March Baen Bundle. It's started off well.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I've lost my virginity! I've just listened to my first audio book!
Rather than bagpipe music or Sousa marches, I decided to try something different on my long walk, and picked up Asimov's "Caves of Steel," a BBC radio drama. Two hours of fast and hard uphill and down, and by the time I was back in my neighborhood, I was just about at the end of the program and the only way I knew for sure that I'd been walking was that my clothes were soaking wet from the effort! What a delightful way to do Asimov!

Stitchawl

I heard that cherry pop from here!

I have always found audio books are a great way to take your mind off boring/repetitive/tiring tasks. The only time I can't listen to them is in bed, as I'm asleep within minutes...

[jmilica]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

A third book in the series has been announced, actually! Called MaddAdam, I believe.

It's called MaddAddam and it will be published in August/September this year. The whole trilogy is called MaddAddam
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17262203-maddaddam

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I've lost my virginity! I've just listened to my first audio book!
Rather than bagpipe music or Sousa marches, I decided to try something different on my long walk, and picked up Asimov's "Caves of Steel," a BBC radio drama. Two hours of fast and hard uphill and down, and by the time I was back in my neighborhood, I was just about at the end of the program and the only way I knew for sure that I'd been walking was that my clothes were soaking wet from the effort! What a delightful way to do Asimov!

Stitchawl

Ah, excellent. I've been a confirmed eBook reader for all my exercise for years. I even have a waterproof case and earbuds for my iPod when I swim. A good book will definitely help get you over the hump of a boring swim/walk/run/bike. (Though for biking around here, I have to do without. Just too risky. But I do listen to a book when on my stationary bike. )

[dreams]

Originally Posted by dreams

So, I picked up and have started Everything Howls by Christoper Lopez when it was offered for free just recently.

Originally Posted by dreams

I am about 80% through and so far the gore isn't too bad although a few places had me decide to put off eating my snack for a while. I'll see what happens and what I think when I have finished it.

Originally Posted by caleb72

Thanks. Sounds like fun.

Well, I guess, I would classify it as a "fun" read; as in pretty quick, mostly light read, but probably would not read it again. The gory parts were not over the top descriptive or over long, but I don't believe it would be a true horror book. It didn't give me nightmares or cause me to think more about it. I just didn't enjoy it as much as the other short story about the Wendigo that I had just read by Nicholas Antinozzi (Odd Whitefeather)

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I've lost my virginity! I've just listened to my first audio book! <snip>

Originally Posted by orlok

<snip> I have always found audio books are a great way to take your mind off boring/repetitive/tiring tasks. The only time I can't listen to them is in bed, as I'm asleep within minutes...

Audio books are what get me through the boring house and yard work. I find that a good book has me so engrossed in the story that the time just flies by and I am done before I know it. Plus, it made the work more enjoyable.
I can't listen to them is in bed, as it puts me to sleep, too.

I've had a hard time trying to settle on something to read after Everything Howls; Nothing held my attention. I finally settled on The Sword and the Pen by Elysa Hendricks.

Spoiler:

It was time. After penning ten popular sword-and-sorcery novels, Brandon Alexander Davis was ready to move on. Ready to stop hiding in his fictional world. Ready to start living a real life. There was just one problem: as he plotted the noble death of Serilda D'Lar, his fictional creation, complete with mile-long sword, skimpy leather outfit and badass attitude, appeared in his study.

Was she nothing more than a crazy fan, or had Brandon finally cracked?

This warrior woman whom he knew so well, so strong yet vulnerable, was both fantasy and reality. She was an invitation to rediscover all he once knew--that life is an incredible, magical journey and, for love, any man can be a hero.

The story is from the male writer's view and the first part is in present day. I liked that it was a "his" story and reading how he expressed his thoughts - although the author of this book is female. My only negative thought so far is the the requisite detailed sex scene is included and stopped the flow of the story for me. I had the feeling that it was one of those things that writers and publishers think all "modern" stories have to have in order to make it sell.
I've just started part two and he is now in her world; Castles, kingdoms, battles, etc.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by jmilica

It's called MaddAddam and it will be published in August/September this year. The whole trilogy is called MaddAddam
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17262203-maddaddam

Thanks for the info!

I'm reading 'Nowhere Man' by Aleksandar Hemon. I'm about halfway through, and though I have some gripes I am enjoying the book greatly.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by dreams

I've had a hard time trying to settle on something to read after Everything Howls; Nothing held my attention. I finally settled on The Sword and the Pen by Elysa Hendricks. The story is from the male writer's view and the first part is in present day. I liked that it was a "his" story and reading how he expressed his thoughts - although the author of this book is female.

In my 30's I took a short story writing class. One of the exercises we were given was to write a story from the perspective of the opposite sex. It was an interesting experience and the class results were rather startling, seeing how some people think the opposite sex thinks and feels!


Stitchawl

[Dr. Drib]

Almost finished with "Plum Island," my first book by Nelson DeMille.

The wise-cracking gets to be a bit too much in such a long book, but the mystery is certainly enjoyable.

I'll read another book by him. Can someone suggest a good second title to read?




Don

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Almost finished with "Plum Island," my first book by Nelson DeMille.

The wise-cracking gets to be a bit too much in such a long book, but the mystery is certainly enjoyable.

I'll read another book by him. Can someone suggest a good second title to read?
Don

He really did lay it on too thickly in that book. His subsequent books are toned down to reasonable levels. Try "Lion's Game," "Nightfall," and "Wildfire" for the same characters, and even better story lines . (Check for timeline sequence.) For his other books, "Charm School," "Up Country," and "The General's Daughter," (made into a good movie staring John Travolta,) are all excellent reads! I've got his newest "Panther" coming up in my TBR list.

Stitchawl

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Almost finished with "Plum Island," my first book by Nelson DeMille.

The wise-cracking gets to be a bit too much in such a long book, but the mystery is certainly enjoyable.

I'll read another book by him. Can someone suggest a good second title to read?

Don

My favourite DeMille is "Cathedral". I also really liked "Word of Honor" (slightly different feel to it than many of his others). "Gold Coast" is good too.

The follow on from "Plum Island", "The Lion's Game" is also very good, but I didn't like the "Night Fall" or "Wild Fire" as much.

I have enjoyed most of his books, but wouldn't recommend "Spencerville" (well enough written, just a bit ugly for my tastes).

If you haven't read it, you might like to try "Mayday" - written by Thomas Block and Nelson DeMille. The early edition (published as by Thomas Block only) thanked Nelson DeMille for his editorial assistance. An updated edition came out in 1998 with both names on the cover. Either copy is a very good read.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I've lost my virginity! I've just listened to my first audio book!

I don't think that word means what you think it means.

BOb

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I don't think that word means what you think it means.

BOb

"audio book" means a story that you 'to listen to,' right?


Stitchawl

[dreams]

Originally Posted by dreams

I've had a hard time trying to settle on something to read after Everything Howls; Nothing held my attention. I finally settled on The Sword and the Pen by Elysa Hendricks.

Spoiler:

The story is from the male writer's view and the first part is in present day. I liked that it was a "his" story and reading how he expressed his thoughts - although the author of this book is female. My only negative thought so far is the the requisite detailed sex scene is included and stopped the flow of the story for me. I had the feeling that it was one of those things that writers and publishers think all "modern" stories have to have in order to make it sell.
I've just started part two and he is now in her world; Castles, kingdoms, battles, etc.

Although, time travel is something I've read before, this was a bit different in the three parts. Well, it did finally have the happy-ever-after implied ending, but the protagonist's way of getting there kept me guessing wrong on how he would get to that end. It was a very fun book to read and one I would read again.
Now on to try Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits by Janet M. Tavakoli; An Amazon freebie from March 2013.

Spoiler:

WHEN CONTROL OF THE VATICAN IS AT STAKE—MONEY TALKS, AND NOBODY PLAYS FAIR.

Italian intelligence specialist Michael Visconte is shocked by the brutal murder of a Jesuit priest, who turns out to be a hedge fund manager for the Vatican. The victim, Father Matteo Pintozzi, achieved an unblemished record of extraordinary returns.

The next day, Michael is visited by two Jesuits who ask him to investigate the murder, and Michael soon finds himself in the middle of a struggle for power and control over the finances of the Vatican. Unfortunately, his lucky break—one that should provide critical evidence—blurs the line between good and evil and not only endangers the lives of Michael and the Jesuits, but also imperils the lives of his wife and children.

From the Back Cover

"A word of advice Mr. Visconte. This is Vatican business. It's dangerous to forget that."

Michael Visconte never forgot the Vatican Bank's $250 million payoff to the defrauded depositors of Banco Ambrosiano or the murder of Roberto Calvi. The fresh corpse at his feet told him it was far from over. He thought he already knew the consequences of double-crossing the Vatican.

But that was before he agreed to help the Jesuits blackmail the Pope...

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

He really did lay it on too thickly in that book. His subsequent books are toned down to reasonable levels. Try "Lion's Game," "Nightfall," and "Wildfire" for the same characters, and even better story lines . (Check for timeline sequence.) For his other books, "Charm School," "Up Country," and "The General's Daughter," (made into a good movie staring John Travolta,) are all excellent reads! I've got his newest "Panther" coming up in my TBR list.

Stitchawl

Thanks, Stitchawl, for the recommendations.

Very much appreciated.




Don