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Post by MarcusAntonius on Feb 1, 2017 17:35:12 GMT
I'm into the first law trilogy right now and I'm not usually that big on fantasy aside from a couple series but this has been very enjoyable.
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Post by stoneheartsrevenge on Feb 1, 2017 20:30:58 GMT
I'm into the first law trilogy right now and I'm not usually that big on fantasy aside from a couple series but this has been very enjoyable. It only gets better IMO. First book is a bit on the weaker side, and it's noticeable it's a debut. But by the end of the trilogy Abercrombie seems to have found his voice. The standalone novels are awesome too. Best Served Cold is my favourite, the ultimate "revenge" story
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Post by Zadeth on Feb 1, 2017 21:31:01 GMT
I have been half way through The Girl on the Train for like 6 months. I really need to finish it. I've managed to stay spoiler free, even after the movie came out. I might dedicate some time this weekend to finish it.
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Post by kingeomer on Feb 2, 2017 3:15:31 GMT
I started reading Ron Chernow's biography on George Washington. Chernow is the one who wrote the Alexander Hamilton biography that the musical Hamilton is based on.
150 pages in and I had no idea Washington was a good dancer and enjoyed dressing well.
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Post by MarcusAntonius on Feb 2, 2017 10:30:37 GMT
I'm into the first law trilogy right now and I'm not usually that big on fantasy aside from a couple series but this has been very enjoyable. It only gets better IMO. First book is a bit on the weaker side, and it's noticeable it's a debut. But by the end of the trilogy Abercrombie seems to have found his voice. The standalone novels are awesome too. Best Served Cold is my favourite, the ultimate "revenge" story Nicee now I'm even more hype to read them.
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Post by Singer of Death on Aug 29, 2017 19:17:57 GMT
I finished reading Phantom of the Opera book. I enjoyed the fact that the book is a lot more darker than the adaptations and it read like a gothic novel. The passages on the torture chambers are my favorite. Also, man Erik is way tragic here than in the Broadway and films depiction. Unfortunately as much as the plot is intriguing, i agreed with you guys like the writing is awful and as stoneheartsrevenge pointed it out that Gaston Leroux was a journalist, it really shows. It read like a journal article and the narration device changes a lot throughout the book to the point it became frustrating to read and comprehend what are happening. Even in the original source material, the characters are not that interesting, and aside from Erik, there are little character development among them (especially Raoul whom i find irritating). Oh and i don't care for the subplot about the managers of the Opera. The chapters of them are painful to read. Had Gaston Leroux wrote the book into a standard writing form, it would make the reading more pleasing. Now i'm onto reading 1984. Heard a lot of great things about it, so looking forward to it! Edit: i know this is the "what are you reading" thread, but i don't where to put my book review.
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Post by Basil on Aug 29, 2017 20:05:48 GMT
The thing is, The Phantom of the Opera was never supposed to be some kind of high literature. Leroux intended for it to read like a dry newspaper article, because he wanted people to believe that it is actually real, that the Phantom really exists. It's pulpy by design.
It's partially based on true events, for example, there really was an accident with the chandelier, and it claimed the life of a concierge who had just started working at the opera (though in reality it was not the chandelier that came down, but one of the counterweights). Superstition was a pretty common thing among the cast, especially the corps de ballet, and after a series of suicides, the myth of the Opera Ghost was born, which Leroux used as inspiration for his novel.
I'm very conflicted when it comes to Leroux' Phantom of the Opera. I don't like reading it, it's not very well written, it's actually rather boring. But I think the core story is pure genius, I really do. It's one of my favourite stories period. And even though Leroux is not a great writer, he still manages to create some amazing atmosphere and haunting imagery. One of my favourite scenes is when Erik plays his violin for Christine at the cemetery, in my mind, that's such a beautiful, eerie image. And there are several unforgettable moments like that in the book ... in between a million red herrings and a pointless subplot about the managers, that takes up like half the book and doesn't lead nowhere.
Erik is a fascinating character, but I also love Christine with all my heart. There are not many fictional characters I feel so protective of as I do of her, I find her innocence and naivety absolutely enchanting.
Anyway, if you liked the story but didn't like the book, I recommed reading "Phantom" by Susan Kay. It's essentially the same story and the same characters, but it's actually really well written, too.
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Post by stoneheartsrevenge on Aug 30, 2017 14:04:59 GMT
Agree with Basil that the characters and core story are very good, even if the writing leaves much to be desired. Anyway... Why am I crying? www.theguardian.com/books/2017/aug/30/terry-pratchett-unfinished-novels-destroyed-streamroller"The unfinished books of Sir Terry Pratchett have been destroyed by a steamroller, following the late fantasy novelist’s wishes. Pratchett’s hard drive was crushed by a vintage John Fowler & Co steamroller named Lord Jericho at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, ahead of the opening of a new exhibition about the author’s life and work. After his death, fellow fantasy author Neil Gaiman, Pratchett’s close friend and collaborator , told the Times that Pratchett had wanted “whatever he was working on at the time of his death to be taken out along with his computers, to be put in the middle of a road and for a steamroller to steamroll over them all”.
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Post by Basil on Oct 17, 2017 15:43:51 GMT
I'm currently reading 'Aristotle and Dante discover the Secrets of the Universe'. I'm still at the beginning, but I'm already in love with it. There is a sincerity and simplicity to both the writing and the characters that I really enjoy. It makes me feel incredibly nostalgic.
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Post by Basil on Mar 4, 2018 17:33:38 GMT
I spent four hours this afternoon reading Origin by Dan Brown ... and I'm kind of loving it, not gonna lie. And yes, I'm aware that Dan Brown is widely considered to be a pretty mediocre and controversial writer, and while I don't really disagree with that notion, I still totally love most of his books, like a lot. I've read some of them more times than I'm willing to admit. It's my guilty pleasure ... don't judge! I thought Inferno was just okay and The Last Symbol was horrid, but I'm really digging Origin so far. It deals with a subject matter very similar to Angels & Demons, which was the novel that introduced the Robert Langdon character, and is still by far my favourite book by Dan Brown. Say what you will about Brown, he's really good at creating suspense. Normally my short attention span makes it hard for me to just sit and read a book for too long without getting distracted by other things, but I spent my entire afternoon reading Origin and I can't wait to get back to it. It's like, just one more chapter ...
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Post by kingeomer on Mar 5, 2018 13:24:27 GMT
I spent four hours this afternoon reading Origin by Dan Brown ... and I'm kind of loving it, not gonna lie. And yes, I'm aware that Dan Brown is widely considered to be a pretty mediocre and controversial writer, and while I don't really disagree with that notion, I still totally love most of his books, like a lot. I've read some of them more times than I'm willing to admit. It's my guilty pleasure ... don't judge! I thought Inferno was just okay and The Last Symbol was horrid, but I'm really digging Origin so far. It deals with a subject matter very similar to Angels & Demons, which was the novel that introduced the Robert Langdon character, and is still by far my favourite book by Dan Brown. Say what you will about Brown, he's really good at creating suspense. Normally my short attention span makes it hard for me to just sit and read a book for too long without getting distracted by other things, but I spent my entire afternoon reading Origin and I can't wait to get back to it. It's like, just one more chapter ... I was wondering about Origin. Dan Brown is my guilty pleasure. I just finished Inferno, which I agree was just okay, but I don't regret reading it. I am working on another Ron Chernow biography about Ulysses S Grant, which if you want to read an acclaimed biographer totally fangirl over a historical person then this biography is for you. Grant is an interesting dude though, he was kind of loser (but good dude)who was only fit for military service and basically went from broke as a joke to Civil War BAMF. But at the same time, didn't feel the need to correct the error in his name with West Point and that's why he's known as Ulysses S Grant. Haven't gotten to his presidency yet, but as he was kicking ass in Civil War, people were all like, "Grant for Prez!" and Lincoln was like And Grant was pretty much like, "LOL. I have too much respect for Lincoln to do that nonsense and I am pretty happy kicking some confederate ass right now. No worries."
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Post by kingeomer on Mar 6, 2018 13:05:07 GMT
My mom: I need a book to read. Me: May I suggest Inferno by Dan Brown? The Grant book when I am done. My mom:
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Post by Basil on Mar 6, 2018 21:06:55 GMT
Origin is really good. I'm like 2/3 through, and it's so hard to put down. I really like Ambra Vidal, who is Langdon's obligatory female side kick in this. She is the coolest character in this series since Vittoria, I lowkey hope she and Langdon end up together in the end.
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Post by kingeomer on Mar 7, 2018 18:28:09 GMT
I'll be checking out Origin! I just ordered I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle Mc Namara, Patton Oswalt's wife. She was trying to solve who the Golden State killer was when she died. I believe he finished the book for her. link
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Post by Basil on Mar 7, 2018 20:54:58 GMT
I finished Origin and yeah ... I really loved it. I have some mixed feelings in regard to the ending though. The big revelation. the mystery that was teased and hyped up literally since the first page of the book fell a bit short, all things considered. I thought the resolution was pretty underwhelming and weird. But apart from that, it was a great novel, definitely Brown's best work since Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code. It's so strange that Brown introduces a new female character to accompany Langdon on his adventures in every book, and then he completely forgets about her in the next. The relationship between the female sidekick and Langdon tends to be one of the most compelling aspects of the story, but it is never followed up in the sequel. They are all great characters in their own right too, I absolutely loved Vittoria and Sophie, but they were never mentioned or heard of again, it's like they never existed. Ambra in Origin is a cool character, I'd love to see more of her, but sadly, even if we get another Robert Langdon novel, we know she's not coming back. That's so disappointing.
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Post by kingeomer on Mar 8, 2018 13:58:28 GMT
I finished Origin and yeah ... I really loved it. I have some mixed feelings in regard to the ending though. The big revelation. the mystery that was teased and hyped up literally since the first page of the book fell a bit short, all things considered. I thought the resolution was pretty underwhelming and weird. But apart from that, it was a great novel, definitely Brown's best work since Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code. It's so strange that Brown introduces a new female character to accompany Langdon on his adventures in every book, and then he completely forgets about her in the next. The relationship between the female sidekick and Langdon tends to be one of the most compelling aspects of the story, but it is never followed up in the sequel. They are all great characters in their own right too, I absolutely loved Vittoria and Sophie, but they were never mentioned or heard of again, it's like they never existed. Ambra in Origin is a cool character, I'd love to see more of her, but sadly, even if we get another Robert Langdon novel, we know she's not coming back. That's so disappointing. I never understand why he has the female companions of Langdon to be disposable. How did I miss that Inferno was made into a movie???
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Post by stoneheartsrevenge on Mar 15, 2018 13:53:27 GMT
I'm totally being judgemental if you both in my head but all in good fun/in a friendly way, I get that tastes differ My own favourite historical fiction mystery which you may enjoy if you like the Dan Brown books is the Shardlake series by C J Sansom. Its historical fiction set during the reign of Henry VIII with a 'mystery of the novel' format, but also following some historical events and with a backdrop of the tense political and religious climate of the time. The main character is not the Gary Stu Langdon is though
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Post by kingeomer on Mar 16, 2018 12:11:39 GMT
I'm totally being judgemental if you both in my head but all in good fun/in a friendly way, I get that tastes differ My own favourite historical fiction mystery which you may enjoy if you like the Dan Brown books is the Shardlake series by C J Sansom. Its historical fiction set during the reign of Henry VIII with a 'mystery of the novel' format, but also following some historical events and with a backdrop of the tense political and religious climate of the time. The main character is not the Gary Stu Langdon is though Oohhh...those books sound good...combining two of my favorite things: history and mystery. Still reading Grant biography. Thing I didn't know or I forgot: Grant and his wife were supposed to go with the Lincolns to Ford Theater the night Lincoln was killed. The plan was to kill them both. However the Grants backed out because Julia Grant felt this way about Mary Todd Lincoln: Chernow says Mary Todd could be hard to take.
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Post by Singer of Death on Mar 29, 2018 4:27:13 GMT
I'm very skeptical on reading any works by Dan Brown cause how much Da Vinci Code really turned out.
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Post by kingeomer on Mar 30, 2018 12:07:21 GMT
I'm very skeptical on reading any works by Dan Brown cause how much Da Vinci Code really turned out. I understand that feeling. I consider Dan Brown beach reading. I like some of the historical facts he puts in there but in no way is it grounded in reality. I wish the movies based on his books were better, I do like Tom Hanks in the role.
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