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Post by Enid on Dec 11, 2015 19:48:35 GMT
Just finished a book by my friend and former writing group partner, Keija Parssinen, The Unraveling of Mercy Louis. So weird to read something by someone I know personally. I thought it was very good, not quite great, but the characters are so very compelling. And I just finished another book that is truly formally brilliant, How To Be Both, by Ali Smith. Do you still write? Maybe you can share something here? (only if you want, of course). Anyway, you know what's even weirder than that? a friend sending you her terrible fan-fiction of a lame tv show you no longer care for because she wants to know what you think. And then finding a way of not telling her how fucking awful it is. On topic: I'm still with The Man in the High Castle, the world it builds is interesting, and it has a very cool way of linking all the different characters, and it took me a little while, but now that I see the connection and where it's going, I'm getting hooked. I also started His Dark Materials, but I'll wait until I'm done with The Man in the High Castle before I start it again. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2015 20:39:58 GMT
Just finished a book by my friend and former writing group partner, Keija Parssinen, The Unraveling of Mercy Louis. So weird to read something by someone I know personally. I thought it was very good, not quite great, but the characters are so very compelling. And I just finished another book that is truly formally brilliant, How To Be Both, by Ali Smith. Do you still write? Maybe you can share something here? (only if you want, of course). Anyway, you know what's even weirder than that? a friend sending you her terrible fan-fiction of a lame tv show you no longer care for because she wants to know what you think. And then finding a way of not telling her how fucking awful it is. On topic: I'm still with The Man in the High Castle, the world it builds is interesting, and it has a very cool way of linking all the different characters, and it took me a little while, but now that I see the connection and where it's going, I'm getting hooked. I also started His Dark Materials, but I'll wait until I'm done with The Man in the High Castle before I start it again. I do, but sharing...I'm kind of insane about that. I will NOT read a friend's work and give them feedback unless I know they're a serious writer. It's just too painful otherwise. Reading bad writing for me is like listening to nails on a chalkboard. |
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Post by evenstar on Dec 12, 2015 16:49:51 GMT
I read a memoir by a friend once. It contained a period of about 7-8 years of his life. I have the book signed and everything. It's a bit of psychedelic reading in a way because we passed through the same experiences in life at about the same time and his perception and how he viewed his own changes and evolution was quite as much as my own yet I have never been courageous enough or crazy enough to put it on paper or even dwell on it too much. It was freaking me out  but I still couldn't put it down until I read the whole thing. I think the writing could have been better, so could the editing, but I never said a word when he asked. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 20:05:30 GMT
I just purchased two new books The Martian and Radiance (Wraith King book 1). Also, a friend just recommended Purple Hibiscus.
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Post by day dreamer on Dec 15, 2015 20:43:11 GMT
I just purchased two new books The Martian and Radiance (Wraith King book 1). Also, a friend just recommended Purple Hibiscus. I LOVE The Martian. I think I'm going to read Columbine by Dave Cullen. It's one I've been curious about for a long time. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 20:49:40 GMT
I just purchased two new books The Martian and Radiance (Wraith King book 1). Also, a friend just recommended Purple Hibiscus. I LOVE The Martian. I think I'm going to read Columbine by Dave Cullen. It's one I've been curious about for a long time. I was a freshman in college when that happened and watched the coverage on TV, quite traumatizing. But I imagine it must be a very interesting book. You'll have to tell us what you think of it. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 23:26:03 GMT
I just purchased two new books The Martian and Radiance (Wraith King book 1). Also, a friend just recommended Purple Hibiscus. I LOVE The Martian. I think I'm going to read Columbine by Dave Cullen. It's one I've been curious about for a long time. I read it. It's very heavy but good. |
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Post by stoneheartsrevenge on Dec 16, 2015 19:36:52 GMT
Still reading Bleak House, which as with all of Dickens' work (I'm a big fan) is a pleasure to read. Got The Rising by Ian Tregillis as a birthday gift though, and because I lack any willpower at all I've dived straight in. This series is fucking great! (A huge thanks to my friend who recommended The Mechanical to me in the first place). So, reading them both together. The Rising www.amazon.com/The-Rising-Alchemy-Wars/dp/0316248010 Bleak House is tough. Let me know when you finish. I want to ask you about something. Finito. And yeah, got a bit tough there. Lives up to the name, certainly. Not really a cheery Christmas read...What did you want to ask? Also finished The Rising. Now I am annoyed because I want the next book already |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 19:57:49 GMT
Bleak House is tough. Let me know when you finish. I want to ask you about something. Finito. And yeah, got a bit tough there. Lives up to the name, certainly. Not really a cheery Christmas read...What did you want to ask? Also finished The Rising. Now I am annoyed because I want the next book already I just wanted to know what you thought of the spontaneous combustion. When I read it I wasn't sure Dickens meant for readers to think it really happened, but since then I've read that he believed spontaneous combustion can really happen. |
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Post by stoneheartsrevenge on Dec 17, 2015 1:42:37 GMT
Finito. And yeah, got a bit tough there. Lives up to the name, certainly. Not really a cheery Christmas read...What did you want to ask? Also finished The Rising. Now I am annoyed because I want the next book already I just wanted to know what you thought of the spontaneous combustion. When I read it I wasn't sure Dickens meant for readers to think it really happened, but since then I've read that he believed spontaneous combustion can really happen. Oh yeah, I found that a bit weird at first so I had to look online see what it was about. Seemingly he was a proponent of the idea, despite professional opinion to the contrary. |
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Post by day dreamer on Dec 19, 2015 14:01:29 GMT
I checked out The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith since Carol isn't hitting my theater anytime soon.
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Post by stoneheartsrevenge on Dec 20, 2015 1:16:28 GMT
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
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Post by evenstar on Dec 28, 2015 18:03:01 GMT
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro It's on my list to read. This one was in a "Best Fantasy Novels of 2015" list somewhere and NY Times gave it an interesting review. Somewhere in between "exceptional" yet "hard to fall in love with it", if I recall correctly. It made me curious because NYT is a little bit biased against fantasy genre. Hope you'll post your opinion on it. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2015 18:26:12 GMT
I read a light inter-species romance novel over the weekend. It was called Radiance, it was entertaining enough. The concept was interesting but the execution could have been much better.
Next, I'm reading The Martian. It's on the docket to start it tonight.
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Post by stoneheartsrevenge on Dec 28, 2015 19:32:02 GMT
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro It's on my list to read. This one was in a "Best Fantasy Novels of 2015" list somewhere and NY Times gave it an interesting review. Somewhere in between "exceptional" yet "hard to fall in love with it", if I recall correctly. It made me curious because NYT is a little bit biased against fantasy genre. Hope you'll post your opinion on it. I started it but then I went to visit family over Christmas and left it at home, so I haven't progressed beyond the first chapter yet. But yeah, I got an email from some book website where I subscribed to email alerts that advertised it and I thought it sounded pretty interesting so decided to give it a go. I'll definitely post some thoughts when I can get back to it |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2015 2:11:12 GMT
Just finished The Martian.....and absolutely loved it!
I though it was smart, funny, emotional and very clever. Really an enjoyable novel and the main character Mark is delightful, he felt so real that I wish I could meet him. :lol: I decided to watch the move after I finished the novel and although it was good, the novel is so much better.
I'm really happy I read it. Now, I need to see what I'll read next.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2016 19:30:47 GMT
I read "Throne of Glass", what a horrible, horrible book. The writing is the most egregious of all, there is so much wrong there. My friend asked me to read it and now I need to reconsider our friendship.  Started reading "An Ember in the Ashes" and so far so good. Cross my fingers. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2016 18:12:12 GMT
Last night I finished "An Ember in the Ashes". I stayed up late, way pass my bedtime, so that I could finish it and I am very satisfied with the ending. Happily, there is a second book coming out.
It's a YA fantasy/dystopia but it has a very interesting premise, instead of taking place in the future, it takes place in a Roman-like Empire where magical creatures exist.
The book is written from the first person POV of the main boy and girl. Although, I imagine they'll end up together, it's not a love-at-first sight thing, where they are declaring their undying love for each other by the end of the book. Which I appreciate.
The next book doesn't come out until the end of August, so I'll have to wait. Unless I can become clever enough to get an advance copy.
Next I'll be reading "A Concise History of Japan" in preparation for my trip.
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valyrianshadow
Snark 
"Seat my daughter on the Iron Throne. Or die in the attempt."
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Post by valyrianshadow on Mar 16, 2016 15:34:28 GMT
Reading Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.
Only about 100 pages in. It's not my type of book (1800's lesbian novel, with thieves??) but it's still good so far. And apparently there are good twists. Only reading it because my favorite director is adapting it. Anyone here read it?
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Post by Admin on Mar 16, 2016 20:49:47 GMT
American Gods. According to my phone I read 20% - it's really fascinating and I love how much of mythology and folklore Neil used in it. Very excited to read what happens next and who Wednesday is. Huge potential for the adaptation - all those additional chapters could really work well as stand alone stories
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but I still couldn't put it down until I read the whole thing. I think the writing could have been better, so could the editing, but I never said a word when he asked.
