[JPK]

Finished The Alloy of Law and I must say that I loved it. I can't wait to see where this is going. Started Side Jobs and I'm already about halfway through. So far Heorot and Backup have really stood out for me and I absolutely loved Thomas's description of Harry.

[Traveller]

Now reading 'The Presidents Vampire,' by Christopher Farnsworth..

..because I just finished 'Blood Oath,' and needed more! It's like methadone for the Dres-Crack.

Good story, (bit like Hellboy to start, with the rookie being introduced to the big government secret badass, but hey) and a few early cheesy bits that I soon forgave as the pace picked up.

If you like the Dresden, give this a look, it's seriously good fun.

[QuickTidal]

Traveller, on 22 November 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

Now reading 'The Presidents Vampire,' by Christopher Farnsworth..

..because I just finished 'Blood Oath,' and needed more! It's like methadone for the Dres-Crack.

Good story, (bit like Hellboy to start, with the rookie being introduced to the big government secret badass, but hey) and a few early cheesy bits that I soon forgave as the pace picked up.

If you like the Dresden, give this a look, it's seriously good fun.

^^this. 100% agreed.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 22 November 2011 - 01:13 PM, said:

Traveller, on 22 November 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

Now reading 'The Presidents Vampire,' by Christopher Farnsworth..

..because I just finished 'Blood Oath,' and needed more! It's like methadone for the Dres-Crack.

Good story, (bit like Hellboy to start, with the rookie being introduced to the big government secret badass, but hey) and a few early cheesy bits that I soon forgave as the pace picked up.

If you like the Dresden, give this a look, it's seriously good fun.

^^this. 100% agreed.

Thirded, with link to ded-thread...



After a string of GNs i'll ref over in the comics thread, have started MISS PEREGRINE'S SCHOOL FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN.... a friend reco'd it as an interesting use of photos with a creepy narrative. Only a few pages in, can't quite decide whether it's meant to be YA, but not bad so far.

If anyone's read this and has non-spoiler comments, i wouldn't mind your thoughts.

[T77]

Finished The Riddle-Master trilogy by Patricia McKillip and thought it was OK. It had its moments, but in the end I wasn't all that impressed. I doubt I will read any more of her works.

I'm about 20% into Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami and so far I'm really enjoying it. This is the first novel of his I read. I don't know too much about him - any opinions on him or recommendations of his other stuff?

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 22 November 2011 - 02:15 PM, said:

have started MISS PEREGRINE'S SCHOOL FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN.... a friend reco'd it as an interesting use of photos with a creepy narrative. Only a few pages in, can't quite decide whether it's meant to be YA, but not bad so far.

If anyone's read this and has non-spoiler comments, i wouldn't mind your thoughts.

It's definitely cataloged in the YA section at Chapters, but they don't know much.

I plan on reading it at some point, let me know what your final thoughts are.

[QuickTidal]

T77, on 22 November 2011 - 02:50 PM, said:

I'm about 20% into Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami and so far I'm really enjoying it. This is the first novel of his I read. I don't know too much about him - any opinions on him or recommendations of his other stuff?

Wow, starting with that book is bold...but the good news is that if you like that one, then the rest of his books will be a breeze for you.

Murakami does either bittersweet love stories, or love stories intermingled with the utterly, interestingly bizarre.

Other good ones (from what I've read):

AFTER DARK (interconnected stories told through the POV-narrative of what can only be assumed is a film camera)

NORWEGIAN WOOD (one of the aforementioned bittersweet love stories, very very good)

KAFKA ON THE SHORE (probably his most well known/received work, metaphysical mind-bender.)

UNDERGROUND (Non-fic. collects a series of separate interviews Murakami conducted with 60 victims of the sarin gas attacks on the Tokyo subway in 1995 and 8 members of Aum (the terrorist/cult group who caused it), descriptions of how the attacks were carried out, and his essay "Blind Nightmare: Where are we Japanese going?") < ---If you like non-fiction this one is fascinating and is a REALLY clever way to approach a NonFic. type book.

1Q84 (His most recent work. Originally released as 3 separate novels in Japan, and considered a masterpiece, it is basically the love child of NORWEGIAN WOOD and HARD-BOILED WONDERLAND...It's excellent!)

Works I've not read but have good buzz:

THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE

[Ain't_It_Just_]

Wise Man's Fear, which, apart from the fact that by book resembles a brick, is rather good. The University and the Eolian I love, because it actually feels like guys from uni going out on weekends

[JPK]

Finished Side Jobs and now I'm sad because I've run out of crack. Think i'm going to give Citizen of the Galaxy by Heinlein a go.

[T77]

QuickTidal, on 22 November 2011 - 03:07 PM, said:

T77, on 22 November 2011 - 02:50 PM, said:

I'm about 20% into Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami and so far I'm really enjoying it. This is the first novel of his I read. I don't know too much about him - any opinions on him or recommendations of his other stuff?

Wow, starting with that book is bold...but the good news is that if you like that one, then the rest of his books will be a breeze for you.

Murakami does either bittersweet love stories, or love stories intermingled with the utterly, interestingly bizarre.

Other good ones (from what I've read):

AFTER DARK (interconnected stories told through the POV-narrative of what can only be assumed is a film camera)

NORWEGIAN WOOD (one of the aforementioned bittersweet love stories, very very good)

KAFKA ON THE SHORE (probably his most well known/received work, metaphysical mind-bender.)

UNDERGROUND (Non-fic. collects a series of separate interviews Murakami conducted with 60 victims of the sarin gas attacks on the Tokyo subway in 1995 and 8 members of Aum (the terrorist/cult group who caused it), descriptions of how the attacks were carried out, and his essay "Blind Nightmare: Where are we Japanese going?") < ---If you like non-fiction this one is fascinating and is a REALLY clever way to approach a NonFic. type book.

1Q84 (His most recent work. Originally released as 3 separate novels in Japan, and considered a masterpiece, it is basically the love child of NORWEGIAN WOOD and HARD-BOILED WONDERLAND...It's excellent!)

Works I've not read but have good buzz:

THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE

Thanks so much! Since they are related, I will read NW or 1Q84 next. I'm assuming NW should be read first.

Read a bit more of Hard-Boiled Wonderland and it is just getting better and better. It's really sucking me in. I hope it doesn't fizzle out.

[Abyss]

The Incredible Kitsu, on 23 November 2011 - 05:23 AM, said:

Finished Side Jobs and now I'm sad because I've run out of crack. ...

Carey's FELIX CASTOR series. It's like methodone for dresdencrackheads.

[QuickTidal]

T77, on 23 November 2011 - 03:07 PM, said:

Read a bit more of Hard-Boiled Wonderland and it is just getting better and better. It's really sucking me in. I hope it doesn't fizzle out.

It's a total mind-melter that one. You ought to dig it right up to the end.

Yeah, read NORWEGIAN WOOD next since it is more straight up love story, and 1Q84 is so utterly, fantastically bizarre.

My next Murakami is going to probably be DANCE, DANCE, DANCE since I hear nothing but amazing reviews of it.

[JPK]

Abyss, on 23 November 2011 - 03:26 PM, said:

The Incredible Kitsu, on 23 November 2011 - 05:23 AM, said:

Finished Side Jobs and now I'm sad because I've run out of crack. ...

Carey's FELIX CASTOR series. It's like methodone for dresdencrackheads.

Ooo. Will look that up as soon as I can. Thanks Abyss, you and QT do wonders for my trp (in a good way).

[QuickTidal]

Having still not read the second and third Takeshi Kovac's books, I have started BROKEN ANGELS by Richard Morgan...already enjoying!

[Use Of Weapons]

Rereading _The Trouble With Physics_ by former string theory practitioner Lee Smolin, in an effort to understand the neutrino debate and everything surrounding current particle physics. Read it before and most of the content went "whoosh!" over my head so quickly it was probably FTL. But it's sticking a bit better this time around.

[JPK]

Finished Citizen of the Galaxy. Every time I read a Heinlein novel I love the author a little more. Super excited now though cause I'm starting my first reread of GotM.

[T77]

QuickTidal, on 23 November 2011 - 05:29 PM, said:

T77, on 23 November 2011 - 03:07 PM, said:

Read a bit more of Hard-Boiled Wonderland and it is just getting better and better. It's really sucking me in. I hope it doesn't fizzle out.

It's a total mind-melter that one. You ought to dig it right up to the end.

Yeah, read NORWEGIAN WOOD next since it is more straight up love story, and 1Q84 is so utterly, fantastically bizarre.

My next Murakami is going to probably be DANCE, DANCE, DANCE since I hear nothing but amazing reviews of it.

Thanks! I'll follow your suggested order. Read more of HBW over the weekend and it's still great. He has potential to move into my list of favorite authors.

Also, finished Reaper's Gale and it was incredible! My favorite Malazan book.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 22 November 2011 - 02:58 PM, said:

Abyss, on 22 November 2011 - 02:15 PM, said:

have started MISS PEREGRINE'S SCHOOL FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN.... a friend reco'd it as an interesting use of photos with a creepy narrative. Only a few pages in, can't quite decide whether it's meant to be YA, but not bad so far.

If anyone's read this and has non-spoiler comments, i wouldn't mind your thoughts.

It's definitely cataloged in the YA section at Chapters, but they don't know much.

I plan on reading it at some point, let me know what your final thoughts are.

Just finished MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (HOME, btw, not SCHOOL)

It was... ok. I read it through, i wasn't bored, and at no point did i consider dropping the book. I hate to damn a book with faint praise, especially when an author attempts to do something original, but faint praise is all i can really offer.

The book is... unsurprising. I don't think there was a twist or a turn in this book that wasn't either massively foreshadowed or just generically standard. Someone who has read a lot of sf and fantasy is going to see the tropes coming early and obvious, tho' i suppose a less extensively read audience might enjoy it more than I did. There are some fairly dark moments and some almost wonderous ones, altho none of them are genuinely all that novel and at times that lack of novelty irks. Every time i thought i knew where the author was going with something, he went right there. That level of predictable doesn't work for me, altho i'm certain there are readers who love it because this book did make the NYT bestseller list.

I can see why it lurks on the edges of YA lit... the author doesn't seem to decide just whom he's writing for, so the narrative wavers between 'tween and adult themes without really picking a zone and staying there. He raises some nifty enough ideas, but doesn't really explore them, to the story's detriment.

The visual element, the pictures, is a nice touch, and at times lifts a fairly dull bit of plot or exposition by adding an actual picture in a style that is the most original part of the book. I've seen criticism that the author at times tried too hard to fit the story to the pics but really i wish he had done it more because it provided some of the most interesting and entertaining bits.

The ending is utterly open. There is closure, but only in the sense that the characters aren't pinned under a wall or hanging from a cliff. Otherwise it's so wide open that the title might as well have included 'Book 1 of the Peculiar Chronicles', except that then the readers who won't invest in the first book of an open ended series would be put off.

Worth a library pull or a low cost purchase. Possibly a decent pick for the YA reader on your gift list, but imnsho not worth the dollars for a new hb.

That said, I would check out a sequel or another book by this author. The potential is there.

[rhulad]

Just finished "Anarchy Evolution" by Greg Graffin and Steve Olson, Next up is "Fool Moon" which I expect to be done in a few days. Then it will probably be "A Clash of Kings"

[Abyss]

Started John Farrow's CITY OF ICE.

It's a mystery thriller... not my usual genre of choice, but it's set in Montreal, a city i know well (and the author lives in) and i'm curious to see what he does with it.