Reading at t'moment?

#8201 Traveller

exile

Group: Malazan Artist
Posts: 4,862
Joined: 04-January 08
Location:GSV Nothing To See Here

Posted 07 April 2012 - 07:51 PM

QuickTidal, on 07 April 2012 - 05:36 PM, said:

Finally getting around to reading James Clavell's SHOGUN, which I've always wanted to read.

Good choice. I read it years ago, and I loved the way that as you read, you pick up the language and culture as Blackthorn does. I don't think it's much of spoiler, but I also loved the way that

Spoiler

.

It's one of those books I remember being totally drawn into, for weeks i think, while I read it. I guess it's also one of the first 'historical' novels I read.

So that's the story. And what was the real lesson? Don't leave things in the fridge.

#8202 QuickTidal

Lord of the Waters

Group: Team Quick Ben
Posts: 21,370
Joined: 05-November 05
Location:At Sea?
Interests:DoubleStamping. Movies. Reading.

Posted 07 April 2012 - 08:03 PM

a Reindeer, on 07 April 2012 - 04:27 PM, said:

Or does she hit you over the head with it the way Phillip Pullman did in His Dark Materials?

I liked his agenda.

"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora

"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon

#8203 QuickTidal

Lord of the Waters

Group: Team Quick Ben
Posts: 21,370
Joined: 05-November 05
Location:At Sea?
Interests:DoubleStamping. Movies. Reading.

Posted 07 April 2012 - 08:06 PM

Traveller, on 07 April 2012 - 07:51 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 07 April 2012 - 05:36 PM, said:

Finally getting around to reading James Clavell's SHOGUN, which I've always wanted to read.

Good choice. I read it years ago, and I loved the way that as you read, you pick up the language and culture as Blackthorn does. I don't think it's much of spoiler, but I also loved the way that

Spoiler

.

It's one of those books I remember being totally drawn into, for weeks i think, while I read it. I guess it's also one of the first 'historical' novels I read.

I've only just rounded chapter two, but a samurai has already lopped an insubordinate head off, so you know...pretty good so far! Yes, I love narratives that make you learn with the protagonist as it always serves to truly immerse you in the culture. Being part Japanese,I've always felt this is something I ought to read. Especially considering that Clavell wrote this after having been a POW in Chingi prison in Singapore (which I know is the premise of King Rat).

Anyways, so far I'm quite impressed. Only 1200 more pages...

"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora

"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon

#8204 Salt-Man Z

My pen halts, though I do not

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 4,166
Joined: 07-February 08
Location:Apple Valley, MN

Posted 07 April 2012 - 08:17 PM

CAINE'S LAW, BITCHES

"Here is light. You will say that it is not a living entity, but you miss the point that it is more, not less. Without occupying space, it fills the universe. It nourishes everything, yet itself feeds upon destruction. We claim to control it, but does it not perhaps cultivate us as a source of food? May it not be that all wood grows so that it can be set ablaze, and that men and women are born to kindle fires?"
―Gene Wolfe, The Citadel of the Autarch

#8205 a Reindeer

Recruit

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 16
Joined: 05-April 12

Posted 07 April 2012 - 08:35 PM

QT, I have to say, even if people liked his agenda, it's still not subtle at all.

Sounds like a good read, UseOfWeapons. It does bother me when people fail miserably at subtlety, but if she's able to weave it in seamlessly, then good for her. I will add it to my own reading list.

Shogun is sitting on one of my bookcases somewhere, but I've not yet read it. I've heard fantastic things about it, though, and it's gloriously hefty. How well does it handle period accuracy?

#8206 worry

Master of the Deck

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 14,692
Joined: 24-February 10
Location:the buried west

Posted 07 April 2012 - 08:54 PM

Well, His Dark Materials is a young adult series, and it's subtle enough for that I think. I mean it's quite a bit more subtle in its agenda than The Phantom Tollbooth, and that was still great. And I think the Golden Compass movie provided a lesson in what happens when you're too subtle...the point basically suffocates.

They came with white hands and left with red hands.

#8207 Abyss

abyssus abyssum invocat

Group: Administrators
Posts: 21,992
Joined: 22-May 03
Location:The call is coming from inside the house!!!!
Interests:Interesting.

Posted 07 April 2012 - 09:30 PM

Salt-Man Z, on 07 April 2012 - 08:17 PM, said:

CAINE'S LAW, BITCHES

What he said, only fucking more.

THIS IS YOUR REMINDER THAT THERE IS A
'VIEW NEW CONTENT' BUTTON THAT
ALLOWS YOU TO VIEW NEW CONTENT

#8208 MWKarsa

Midget Toblakai

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 209
Joined: 04-December 10
Location:Austin, TX
Interests:Reading, Sports, Exercise and all things Texas Longhorn.

Posted 08 April 2012 - 12:05 AM

QT- SHOGUN is one of my favorite books of all-time- just a fantastic story with excellent writing.

Finally finished Hero of Ages by Sanderson and really loved the trilogy as a whole. Thought the second one was the weakest of the three but that is just nitpicking the ending was outstanding and just a really great enjoyable read the whole time. Also finished Life is Yours to Win by Augie Garrido and really liked it. If I was still coaching I would have several new great quotes and techniques to pass along and use.

After seeing Wicked in New York last month decided to read the book and am really enjoying it so far.

#8209 Abyss

abyssus abyssum invocat

Group: Administrators
Posts: 21,992
Joined: 22-May 03
Location:The call is coming from inside the house!!!!
Interests:Interesting.

Posted 08 April 2012 - 02:24 AM

Abyss, on 07 April 2012 - 09:30 PM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 07 April 2012 - 08:17 PM, said:

CAINE'S LAW, BITCHES

What he said, only fucking more.

I just want to note that this book has a chapter titled 'ASSBITCH OF THE GODS'.
And I mean that in an entirely fucking positive way.

THIS IS YOUR REMINDER THAT THERE IS A
'VIEW NEW CONTENT' BUTTON THAT
ALLOWS YOU TO VIEW NEW CONTENT

#8210 QuickTidal

Lord of the Waters

Group: Team Quick Ben
Posts: 21,370
Joined: 05-November 05
Location:At Sea?
Interests:DoubleStamping. Movies. Reading.

Posted 08 April 2012 - 03:03 PM

I got about a 100 pages into SHOGUN, and now I've also FINALLY gotten stuck into DRAGONFLY FALLING, and it's getting pretty good!

"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora

"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon

#8211 McLovin

Cutlery Enthusiast

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 2,828
Joined: 19-March 04
Location:Dallas, Texas, USA
Interests:Knives. Stabbing. Stabbing with knives.

Posted 09 April 2012 - 12:56 PM

Feist's MAGICIAN: APPRENTICE.

Hello again, old friend.

OK, I think I got it, but just in case, can you say the whole thing over again? I wasn't really listening.

#8212 Use Of Weapons

Soletaken

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 2,237
Joined: 06-May 03
Location:Manchester, UK
Interests:Writing. Martial arts. Sport. Music, playing and singing, composition.

Posted 09 April 2012 - 02:16 PM

Finished omnibus 3 of the Riyria revelations, _Heir of Novron_ by Michael J Sullivan. Not bad, a tad too predictable, and the

Spoiler

But still a good yarn, excellent pacing, and a satisfying conclusion.

It is perfectly monstrous the way people go about nowadays saying things against one, behind one's back, that are absolutely and entirely true.
-- Oscar Wilde

#8213 acesn8s

Soletaken

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 2,122
Joined: 09-October 07
Location:Northampton, PA USA
Interests:Reading, video games, role playing games, Fountain Pens, journals...

Posted 10 April 2012 - 06:27 PM

Finished reading The Heroes by Abercrombie, fun read - J.A. never fails to impress.

Had to get out of SciFi/Fantasy for bit, so I picked up Point of Impact (book 1 of the Bob Lee Swagger series) by Stephen Hunter. Really enjoying the book, glad I read it after seeing the movie Shooter. I don't think I could enjoy the movie after seeing what they did to a supporting character.

“The others followed, and found themselves in a small, stuffy basement, which would have been damp, smelly, close, and dark, were it not, in fact, well-lit, which prevented it from being dark.”
― Steven Brust, The Phoenix Guards

#8214 LadyMTL

Epic bookworm

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 331
Joined: 19-November 08
Location:Canadaland

Posted 10 April 2012 - 10:26 PM

I have to add in some more love for Shogun, though his other novels were sorta meh for me. Oddly enough, after I finished it I got really into Japanese history and even ended up going to see the opera (Madame Butterfly) shortly after I read the book.

At the moment I'm reading Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace and I'm really enjoying it. She tends to have the most interesting plotlines, even if I don't always end up adoring the book once I'm done.

This post has been edited by Maia Irraz: 10 April 2012 - 10:26 PM

~ Denn die Toten reiten schnell. (Lenore)

#8215 JPK

Lemming of High House Mafia

Group: High House Mafia
Posts: 1,457
Joined: 18-January 11
Location:Oregon City, Oregon
Interests:Sacrificing myself for everyone else's greater good!

Posted 11 April 2012 - 10:05 AM

Halfway through Caine's Law and loving it. However, I got The first few Discworld books for my kindle to read on my downtime on my graves at work. Over the last couple nights I'm now halfway through The Color of Magic and loving it. And yes, I'm admitting that this is my first brush with Discworld.

This post has been edited by The Incredible Kitsu: 11 April 2012 - 10:06 AM

#8216 Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast

Knight Seneschal

Group: Team Quick Ben
Posts: 1,551
Joined: 31-August 10
Location:London, UK
Interests:Fencing, ninpo, didjeridu, good books, good films and irn-bru.
Pre-dinner mayonnaise -- it's good for you!

Posted 11 April 2012 - 10:59 AM

Just started Rise of Endymion. Holy sweet jeebus. I've only read the first chapter but there are several people I want to punch in the face.

Spoiler

The love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villain.

"Perhaps we think up our own destinies and so, in a sense, deserve whatever happens to us, for not having had the wit to imagine something better." ― Iain Banks

#8217 frookenhauer

Mortal Sword

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 1,113
Joined: 11-July 08
Location:England
Interests:Women
Money
AI
Writing

Posted 11 April 2012 - 02:56 PM

Neal Asher - Voyage of the Sable Keech

re-read. I like asher...he is eminently readable.

souls are for wimps

#8218 Salt-Man Z

My pen halts, though I do not

Group: Malaz Regular
Posts: 4,166
Joined: 07-February 08
Location:Apple Valley, MN

Posted 11 April 2012 - 03:09 PM

Started Darth Plagueis last night, and of course I then later dreamed of being a Sith apprentice dueling with my master (though I was either Palpatine or Anakin, depending on the moment, you know how dreams are.)

This post has been edited by Salt-Man Z: 11 April 2012 - 03:10 PM