April's Amazing Adventures in Fiction

[Tillane]

Finished Broken Angels, which was decent but not a patch on Altered Carbon (and a very different animal, if novels can be described as such). Now finally getting started on Before They Are Hanged.

 

[nj1]

Now finally getting started on Before They Are Hanged.

Hope you enjoy it. Ninefingers and Glokta are two of my fav characters from a new author

 

[Tillane]

Me, too - Glokta in particular. And if this is anywhere near as good as The Blade Itself, I'll love it.

 

[Waziwig]

Just finished China Mieville's IRON COUNCIL ... i dunno ...

Just as inventive as Perditio Street Station, though with a lot less Lovecraftian chills. Loved the Perpetual Train, how he twists an image from a western and takes it to a fantasy place. The revolution was okay, but Victor Hugo did it better, and Terry Pratchet captured the sad, desperate feeling of failed revolutionaries just as well, without half as much curfuffle (is that a word - is that how you spell it?) The golems were cool, but that was about it ...

It was good, but not one I'd read again.

 

[Fried Egg]

Just finished China Mieville's IRON COUNCIL ... i dunno ...

Just as inventive as Perditio Street Station, though with a lot less Lovecraftian chills. Loved the Perpetual Train, how he twists an image from a western and takes it to a fantasy place. The revolution was okay, but Victor Hugo did it better, and Terry Pratchet captured the sad, desperate feeling of failed revolutionaries just as well, without half as much curfuffle (is that a word - is that how you spell it?) The golems were cool, but that was about it ...

It was good, but not one I'd read again.

I've not read anything by China before but I've got Perdido Street Station sitting there waiting to be read. I keep putting it off because it just looks so big...

 

[Hypnos164]

I've not read anything by China before but I've got Perdido Street Station sitting there waiting to be read. I keep putting it off because it just looks so big...

Its a little slow to start with - the 1st 100 pages or so introduce a lot of characters and setting - but it soon picks up to be an amazing page turner.

One of my most frequently recommended books of recent years; almost everyone who has read it has really liked it.

I'd tend to agree with the above on Iron Council, my least favourite of the 3 bas-lag novels

 

[Allegra]

Finished 2nd book of The Culture by Iain M. Banks The player of Games (excellent!) and moved to the 3rd Use of Weapons, so far so good.

 

[Ursa major]

curfuffle (is that a word - is that how you spell it?)

It is a word, but it's spelt: kerfuffle.

It's true that Iron Council is not as good as Perdido Street Station, but it's still entertaining and thought-provoking.

I've not read anything by China before but I've got Perdido Street Station sitting there waiting to be read. I keep putting it off because it just looks so big...

It is big, so give yourself plenty of time to enjoy it.

 

[BookStop]

I'm attempting to get through The Summer Tree, but it is boring me. I feel bad and a little guilty that I'm not enjoying the book. I know it is a beloved classic for its time, but I think maybe that time has passed and there is much better reading material out there. I'm sure I'll finish it, but after I'm reading something intricate and unusual, something challenging.

 

[GOLLUM]

I'm attempting to get through The Summer Tree, but it is boring me. I feel bad and a little guilty that I'm not enjoying the book. I know it is a beloved classic for its time, but I think maybe that time has passed and there is much better reading material out there. I'm sure I'll finish it, but after I'm reading something intricate and unusual, something challenging.

Assuming you're talking about Gavriel Kay's classic trilogy there Bookstop.

It remains one of my fav memories of the '80s when I was really beginnnig my venture into the Fantasy Genre.

Admittedly I haven't read it since but it was a standout for the decade.

Cheers....

 

[BookStop]

I could see it being popular in the eighties, or seventies.. but I'm just too old for it, or it is too old for me.

 

[GOLLUM]

Well if I read it now it may well loose some of its appeal but sometimes its nice to have a nostalgic memory of a book and not always run the risk of spoiling that by revisiting it years later. On the other hand rereading something can always bring a fresh insight as with some books like Silverberg's Lord valentine Castle I just didn't get it when I read it at age 12 but 10 years later and it became one of my fav books and indeed series.

I do believe that sometimes there are books that you're only meant to read at certain stages of your life. Call it sentimentality but it's probably a major reason why I don't tend to do re-reads. OH...that and the fact I've got too much else to read....

 

[HoopyFrood]

Greenmantle - John Buchan

 

[murphy]

Conspirator by C. J. Cherryh.

 

[Connavar]

I finished last night On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers. A book i had left unfinished many months earlier for another Powers book. I thought it was a very good read. The second half of the book was great.

It was like a darker,more vodoo strong,more serious verison of Pirates of the Carabean. Unlike hollywood Powers could make the romantic quest of Jack Shandy interesting,something you cared about.
Not at all like Orlando Bloom's character's quest after his love that semi ruined most of the movies.

 

[BookStop]

Well if I read it now it may well loose some of its appeal but sometimes its nice to have a nostalgic memory of a book and not always run the risk of spoiling that by revisiting it years later. On the other hand rereading something can always bring a fresh insight as with some books like Silverberg's Lord valentine Castle I just didn't get it when I read it at age 12 but 10 years later and it became one of my fav books and indeed series.

I do believe that sometimes there are books that you're only meant to read at certain stages of your life. Call it sentimentality but it's probably a major reason why I don't tend to do re-reads. OH...that and the fact I've got too much else to read....

Wise.

I've put it back on the shelf for now and instead picked up American Gods by Gaiman, which is, so far, a very good read. Kind of amusing because I've put Gods back on the shelf twice before after reading 5-7 pages in maybe.

 

[GOLLUM]

Wise.

I've put it back on the shelf for now and instead picked up American Gods by Gaiman, which is, so far, a very good read. Kind of amusing because I've put Gods back on the shelf twice before after reading 5-7 pages in maybe.

AH..now you're talking about one of my favourite authors full stop. American Gods for me is still Neil's best adult novel.

 

[BookStop]

I'm really enjoying it so far. It's quirky but weirdly believable (I can suspend disbelief not that i really believe it - I'm not a moron) and well written. I love when the printed word flows without constant sighing and eye rolling by me.

 

[ratsy]

Just finished "Angel and Demons" by Dan Brown...I actually really enjoyed it. Quick paced with some good twists. I will be continuing on with "Servent of the Empire" as my at work book.

 

[Ursa major]

Angels and Demons was (give or take some disbelief-stretching elements in the finale) a much better read than its sequel, the Da Vinci Code. (The plot - solve an ancient set of riddles - was similar. I like the graphics, though.)