April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Reading

[woodsman]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Just finished The Black Tulip and starting on Twenty years After Vol I both by Alexandre Dumas Pere. Dayum I love the way this man wrote. Shame that a lot of his work does not a appear to be that well known although another one has just been translated for the first time I believe.

 

[elvet]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Started The Family Trade by Charles Stross. It's so good, I went through over half of it in one sitting. Only stopped to get some sleep. I hope the rest of the series is as compelling.

 

[Lioness]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

About half-way through The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer-Bradley. My piano teacher recommended it to me, knowing that I liked the same kind of books that she does, and its excellent so far.
At the moment it seems that every book I pick up is based on Arthurian legend.

 

[Pyan]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Just about to start A Sword from Red Ice, by J.V.Jones.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

About half-way through The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer-Bradley. My piano teacher recommended it to me, knowing that I liked the same kind of books that she does, and its excellent so far.
At the moment it seems that every book I pick up is based on Arthurian legend.

Great great book. One of my favorites.

 

[j d worthington]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Finished off The New SF. While I'm in a different place mentally/emotionally now than I was then, I still find a lot of impressive work here. Very good stuff -- though a lot of this still seriously stretches the definition of science fiction... "speculative fiction" remains the best label (if we must have one) for it, as it's close enough to science fiction to not rest easily with anything else...

Am now going to move on this evening to another Wilkie Collins; this time the story collection The Queen of Hearts....

 

[Thadlerian]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Just devoured the second book in Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy: Royal Assasin. Maintaining the astonishing style and quality of Assassin's Apprentice, I found it easy to read the last 500 pages in one day. Go home, George R. R. Martin and R. Scott Bakker!

 

[HoopyFrood]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Some George Herbert poetry for me today. And I will finish Deadhouse Gates eventually, I will.

 

[AvoidingReality]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Finished A Companion to Wolves; it was a very good book, different style and type from the things I usually read, but I really enjoyed it.

I've now started The Name of the Wind which looks very promising. Although it doesn't add anything new, it presents the old very well and I'm completely engrossed. Only problem is I've now heard that there isn't a proper ending to the book, as it's split over the trilogy, and the second book isn't coming out for a while .

 

[Nesacat]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Robert Mack, you say. He's an English lecturer here at Exeter. He's awesome -- certainly makes a lasting impression every time you meet him. He has quite the fascination with Judy Garland, I hear.

I don't know about Garland but he did a right good job with Sweeney Todd. Went into a lot of trouble to describe the times and the place and even the peculiar turns of phrase. It was a pleasure to read the book despite all the flipping back and forth.

 

[murphy]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Finished A Companion to Wolves; it was a very good book, different style and type from the things I usually read, but I really enjoyed it.

I've now started The Name of the Wind which looks very promising. Although it doesn't add anything new, it presents the old very well and I'm completely engrossed. Only problem is I've now heard that there isn't a proper ending to the book, as it's split over the trilogy, and the second book isn't coming out for a while .

The Rothfuss book will be out next April, according to his website. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[AvoidingReality]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

The Rothfuss book will be out next April, according to his website. I'm looking forward to it.

Yeah, I saw. Still, it's quite a long time to wait to read the next 1/3 of the story; especially for my impatient nature . At least I didn't pick the first book up any earlier, and I guess I've got a while for the anticipation to build.

 

[GOLLUM]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Just finished reading Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Published by Oxford University Press and put together by Robert L Mack. It's very well put together with a huge glossary explaining many things peculiar to the times.

It was a tad aggravating having to switch back and forth but i don't know if it could have been done any other way; unless it were footnotes.

I bought that book last month and have now borrowed a BBC DVD from the local library featuring that story. I'm yet to see the Johnny Depp film, have you?

 

[Nesacat]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

GOLLUM - Yes I've seen the film (twice). The first was a media preview and I think I was so tickled by the fact that everyone was singing most of the rest of it whizzed by so I went to see it again. It's pretty decent and certainly very melodramatic. A lot of fun.

The book however is very different in tone. Can't imagine anyone singing here.

 

[j d worthington]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Finished Collins' The Queen of Hearts. Though the framing story (it's cast in the Scheherazade mode of tales being told to defer a seemingly inevitable outcome) isn't that well-integrated into the whole, save occasionally by certain themes and motifs, it's an entertaining set of 10 tales, and one occasionally sees some of Collins' serious concerns peeking through now and again -- ideas that he addresses at more length in his novels, for instance.

 

[Clansman]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Just started Harry Potter and the Philopher's (my copy says Sorcerer's) Stone. First time. ever. Bedtime reading for my daughter, who is now seven and who really liked the first movie (I haven't let her see the others, as they are a bit more frightening). Rowling is actually quite a humourous writer, and I am sensing the same tone as The Hobbit in the opening chapter. Light and fun, with a bit of darkness in behind.

 

[Shamu]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Read both Magic Bites and Magic Burns again by Ilona Andrews.
Once again read The High Kings Tomb by Kristen Britain.

 

[Razorback]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Completed Darwin’s Children, by Greg Bear. It’s a true sequel to Darwin’s Radio, not just a related stand-alone. I liked this one a bit better than Darwin’s Radio, but you should read that one first. It’s a near future work dealing with the potential evolution of the human species. I found the treatment of various anthropological, theological (not heavy handed), and biological issues intriguing. The slant on political issues was simple-minded, but not too annoying or distracting. It also helps that Bear’s writing style is so smooth and easy to read. Overall, I found it a compelling read and rate it an 8 on a 10 scale. The end was satisfying, but I wonder if Bear intends to add a third volume at some point.

 

[Talysia]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

The Kraken Wakes, by John Wyndham.

 

[Razorback]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

The Kraken Wakes, by John Wyndham.

I've been looking for that one. How is it?