Reading at t'moment?

#3181 stone monkey

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Posted 22 August 2008 - 09:16 AM

Cougar;373144 said:

I've just finished 'Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee' a great book. I'd have to say I doubt some of the historical rigour in the research of things presented as facts and there is a certain bias in the way that it is written but still very good stuff.

Makes you feel ashamed though, the way the Europeans have effectively committed genocide against so many aboriginal peoples is appaling.

I read that a few months back. Whilst it does wear its bias fairly evidently on its sleeve, the whole thing is heartbreaking from start to finish. Pretty much a long catalogue of broken treaties and massacres.

If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do. If some one maintains that two and two are five, or that Iceland is on the equator, you feel pity rather than anger, unless you know so little of arithmetic or geography that his opinion shakes your own contrary conviction. … So whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants. Bertrand Russell

#3182 prq

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Posted 22 August 2008 - 01:57 PM

Started Glen Cook's "The Black Company".

Not impressed so far tbh, but then I guess it's hard to be impressed by any fantasy book after having finished TtH

#3183 Tattooed Hand

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Posted 22 August 2008 - 03:27 PM

I'm on a vampire novel kick and am blasting my way through JR Ward's series. But the best of the books is Octavia Butler's Fledgling, hands down.

#3184 Cougar

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Posted 22 August 2008 - 07:55 PM

stone monkey;373151 said:

I agree, to be fair the title strikes a melancholy note from the start and it's down hill from there. Being European doesn't feel great at anytime whilst you're reading that book.

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#3185 caladanbrood

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Posted 22 August 2008 - 10:03 PM

All the chapter summaries of Gardens of the Moon were done already by someone esle... so it's onto Deadhouse Gates, which I haven't read in ages!! Looking forward to it:)

O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde; keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi.

#3186 Binder of Demons

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Posted 23 August 2008 - 06:00 AM

Just finished reading BRASS MAN by Neal Asher. my first Neal Asher book, and i really enjoyed it. The ending didn't leave me as wowed as i would have hoped, but it wasn't bad by any means. I can't put my finger on why exactly the end didn't blow me away so maybe it is just me.

I'm going to do a reread of Toll the Hound next, and then CONNIE WILLIS' award winning "To Say Nothing of the Dog". I've read To Say Nothing.. before and really enjoyed it, but that was years ago and I could do with a lighthearted book about a confused time-traveller trying to find an obscure historical curio. Especially after having my brain stretched again by TtH.

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#3187 Werthead

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Posted 23 August 2008 - 11:22 AM

Currently reading Greg Keyes' The Blood Knight, although reading some Gaiman and Morgan inbetween the second and third books has got me out of the zone. Getting back into it.

Best ever review of War and Peace:

Quote

"Altogether too much Peace and not enough War."

Visit The Wertzone for reviews of SF&F books, DVDs and computer games!

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#3188 Astra

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Posted 23 August 2008 - 11:36 AM

Werthead;373598 said:

Best ever review of War and Peace:

Quote

"Altogether too much Peace and not enough War."

Superb!

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#3189 Dag

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Posted 25 August 2008 - 07:36 PM

Another Mr. B recomendation:

Adrian Tchaikovsky - Empire in Black and Gold

The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.

#3190 Raymond Luxury Yacht

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Posted 25 August 2008 - 11:09 PM

Not really getting into the first Instrumentalities book. Not sure what it is. Just not getting sucked in.

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#3191 stone monkey

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Posted 26 August 2008 - 02:00 PM

That reminds me of a comment about The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman which is in the introduction to the edition I own which states that the books itself contains very little of the life and absolutely none of the opinions of Tristram Shandy himself.

#3192 Fist Gamet

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Posted 26 August 2008 - 05:37 PM

RLY - As someone who loved the Black Company series I was horribly dissappointed with the Instrumentalities of the Night and couldn't even bring myself to finish it. Hope it works out better for you.

Anyhoo, just started The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever...finally!

Victory is mine!

#3193 pat5150

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 01:08 AM

Just finished Ekaterina Sedia's The Alchemy of Stone.

Sedia set up the bar pretty high with The Secret History of Moscow, and her latest work doesn't quite live up to the expectations generated by its predecessor. While The Secret History of Moscow delivered on all fronts, one reaches the end of The Alchemy of Stone with a sense of "what might have been." The potential was there, no doubt about it. I think that the author simply needed to run with those ideas a little more. . .

Check the blog for the full review. :Rodeo:

Patrick

For book reviews, author interviews, giveaways, related articles and news, and much more, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

#3194 Dark Wolf

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 07:33 AM

I managed to write and post my review for the last read of vacation, "30 Days of Night" by Tim Lebbon.
This horror novel is a fun and entertaining read. And the author did a pretty good job considering that he made the novelization of the movie and he was restricted by the screenplay.

My book reviews, authors and artists interviews and explorations of fantasy art: Dark Wolf's Fantasy Reviews

#3195 Astra

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 12:32 PM

Reading The Secret History of Moscow was a waste of time on my part.

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#3196 Obdigore

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 01:58 PM

Fist Gamet;375027 said:

I need to call you on this. Instrumentalities of the Night is the strongest series from Cook so far, and it is only 2 books long (so far).

I love it and am eagerly awaiting the next book.

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#3197 Deornoth

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 02:59 PM

I've just finished reading Peter V. Brett's 'The Painted Man'; a tale of humanity's struggle against demons and the consequences of a young boy's decision to fight them himself. It sounds a bit of a cliche, and sometimes it is, but once you get past the first few pages what you find is a fast paced, character focussed tale that certainly sucked me in and had me wanting to find out what happened next. The blurb says that fans of Feist and Gemmell will love 'The Painted Man' and I can see this being the case. If you're into stuff that's a little deeper though then this might not be for you... My full review is over Here.
I've now got Kristin Cashore's 'Graceling' on the go and then it may be time to see if Tim Lebbon is as good as I've heard...

#3198 Raymond Luxury Yacht

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Posted 27 August 2008 - 06:09 PM

Obdigore;375410 said:

I need to call you on this. Instrumentalities of the Night is the strongest series from Cook so far, and it is only 2 books long (so far).

I love it and am eagerly awaiting the next book.

I'm having a hard time struggling through. NOt to the point of quitting yet, but am to the point of losing concentration, realizing I've read a couple of pages without remembering what happened, and not caring enough to go back.

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#3199 Fist Gamet

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