[Abyss]

Finished ABADDONS GATE... Another solid Expanse story. Abraham n Franck again manage to blow me away with the human elements in these stories. 10% into CIBOLA BURN before I even realized it. Damn these books fly by!


In earbook, finished Gaiman's OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE. I do so love his writing.Debating what next... Thinking frivolous, maybe Thurman's Cal n Nik series.

[Puck]

 Abyss, on 02 January 2016 - 08:49 PM, said:

Thinking frivolous, maybe Thurman's Cal n Nik series.

Do it! Though the first book isn't the best of the series, it's still quite ballsy.

[Abyss]

 Puck Puckster, on 02 January 2016 - 09:22 PM, said:

 Abyss, on 02 January 2016 - 08:49 PM, said:

Thinking frivolous, maybe Thurman's Cal n Nik series.

Do it! Though the first book isn't the best of the series, it's still quite ballsy.

Noted, tnx for the reco. Any opinion on the earbook narration?

[Puck]

 Abyss, on 02 January 2016 - 09:33 PM, said:

 Puck Puckster, on 02 January 2016 - 09:22 PM, said:

 Abyss, on 02 January 2016 - 08:49 PM, said:

Thinking frivolous, maybe Thurman's Cal n Nik series.

Do it! Though the first book isn't the best of the series, it's still quite ballsy.

Noted, tnx for the reco. Any opinion on the earbook narration?

Yes, I liked the audiobook. Possibly makes the less elegant parts of the book seem less obvious, but I have to admit to be very critical in regards to writing, and it was Thurman's first book.. Personally, I love the series, whatever that's worth. It's insanely fun.

[worry]

 The Incredible Kitsu, on 02 January 2016 - 05:47 PM, said:

I stated Blood Miridian by Cormac McCarthy this morning. My sister-in-law offered to loan it to me and I remembered someone in here recommended it (Worry, I think?) back when I was struggling with Hondo by L'Amour. 25 pages in so far and my only thought is that The Kid is a violent little shit ain't he...

He ain't the only one!

[JPK]

Oh man BK, that wait sucks. Nemesis Games is the strongest in the series thus far. If nothing else you can always look on the bright side and know you didn't have to wait a whole year between those two like some of us on here.

I just finished The Goblin Emperor. It was a very solid enjoyable story, and I'll definitely try whatever Addison puts out next. She didn't reinvent the wheel here, but she put together a very inviting story.

Next on audio is Gardens of the Moon.

[Macros]

 Abyss, on 02 January 2016 - 08:44 PM, said:

 Macros, on 02 January 2016 - 11:18 AM, said:

onto king of foxes now, man midkemia took such a nosedive in quality after rage of a demon king

Quit while you're ahead!

I'm committed. or likely will be committed when I'm done.

!/4 into flight of the nighthawks here now. Don't think I got much further than this when they were being published

[amphibian]

 The Incredible Kitsu, on 02 January 2016 - 05:47 PM, said:

I stated Blood Miridian by Cormac McCarthy this morning. My sister-in-law offered to loan it to me and I remembered someone in here recommended it (Worry, I think?) back when I was struggling with Hondo by L'Amour. 25 pages in so far and my only thought is that The Kid is a violent little shit ain't he...

It was probably me or Worry talking about McCarthy. There are other McCarthy fans on this board, so he's got much cred with the Malazan crowd.

The thing about Blood Meridian is that it is the most brilliant, absolutely grim, and caustic book written in the Western style in a long, long time. Huge achievement in literature and so fun to read the strange/horrifying things that happen. Heck, the book starts off as a look at a scalping expedition.

[worry]

Don't do a re-read of anything!

[Abyss]

 worry, on 04 January 2016 - 02:12 AM, said:

Don't do a re-read of anything!

Silence blasphemer.

[worry]

I just meant for right now! It's the new year, knock down some of that TRP.

[Andorion]

Making painfully slow progress on Claw of the Conciliator. Don;t know why. Only reading a few pages at a time.

[worry]

Try going a word at a time and see if that helps.

[pat5150]

Went on a little Dresden Files reading binge these last two weeks, going through Blood Rites, Dead Beat, and Proven Guilty, and it's the most fun I've had reading since going through the first 6 Malazan volumes in 2006!

[Andorion]

 Briar King, on 04 January 2016 - 04:24 AM, said:

 Andorion, on 04 January 2016 - 03:17 AM, said:

Making painfully slow progress on Claw of the Conciliator. Don;t know why. Only reading a few pages at a time.

Keep going that set is amazing. I got my copy of Shadow and Claw out earlier. I ll truly be upset if I can't get back into Outlander 2 but I'm getting a bit out of Clarie and Jamie atm. I shouldn't have put it down to read Cibola Burn.

Thing is. over the last few days I simply have not had the time to sit and read at a stretch. Its always 15-30 minutes of snatched time. I think this isn't a book that lends itself to such episodic reading

[Salt-Man Z]

 Andorion, on 04 January 2016 - 03:17 AM, said:

Making painfully slow progress on Claw of the Conciliator. Don;t know why. Only reading a few pages at a time.

The first half of that book might be my favorite part of the series, barring the very beginning (in the Matachin Tower.) Jonas is easily my favorite character in the entire Book.

I'm starting in on The Sword of the Lictor right now.

This post has been edited by Salt-Man Z: 04 January 2016 - 05:34 AM

[QuickTidal]

Finished SHANTARAM by Gregory David Roberts. I can see what the fuss is about, a long, but ultimately satisfying book that is VERY in depth. Great story once you get sucked in. The only issue I'd note is how verbose it is, and how hokey some of the pseudo-philosophy stuff comes off...but it's not a huge stumbling block to enjoyement. It DOES feel a tad long in the end...but not excessively so. Looking fwd to the sequel.

Started on my Xmas haul pile and cracked into THE LIARS KEY by Mark Lawrence. Did not realize how mcuh I missed hanging out with Jal and Snorri till now! Great to be back.

[polishgenius]

 QuickTidal, on 04 January 2016 - 12:19 PM, said:

Finished SHANTARAM by Gregory David Roberts. I can see what the fuss is about, a long, but ultimately satisfying book that is VERY in depth. Great story once you get sucked in. The only issue I'd note is how verbose it is, and how hokey some of the pseudo-philosophy stuff comes off...but it's not a huge stumbling block to enjoyement. It DOES feel a tad long in the end...but not excessively so. Looking fwd to the sequel.

The thing I really enjoy about it is that I love big epic books that really embed you in their time and place and this is one of those. Although it's nothing like them otherwise it joins Pillars of The Earth and Matterhorn in that category for me.

[QuickTidal]

 polishgenius, on 04 January 2016 - 12:38 PM, said:

 QuickTidal, on 04 January 2016 - 12:19 PM, said:

Finished SHANTARAM by Gregory David Roberts. I can see what the fuss is about, a long, but ultimately satisfying book that is VERY in depth. Great story once you get sucked in. The only issue I'd note is how verbose it is, and how hokey some of the pseudo-philosophy stuff comes off...but it's not a huge stumbling block to enjoyement. It DOES feel a tad long in the end...but not excessively so. Looking fwd to the sequel.

The thing I really enjoy about it is that I love big epic books that really embed you in their time and place and this is one of those. Although it's nothing like them otherwise it joins Pillars of The Earth and Matterhorn in that category for me.

Yep, a completely immersive novel. Like Tad Williams, I got sucked in and just had to keep reading.

[Tiste Simeon]

Took a break from Ash over Christmas and read 2 John Grisham novels (yep, when I'm on holiday I love the slightly cheesy legal/crime novels!)

Gray Mountain: Tried too hard to write "strong female lead" but fell quite flat. I now know a lot about coal mining in Virginia. OK read, definitely not one of his best. You would miss nothing by leaving it out.

Rogue Lawyer: Much better, interesting way of writing and likeable main character. Really gets into some of the crazy ways that law is conducted in America and also gets pretty tense!

Back to Ash now.