Which book are you reading now? Volume XIV

[Synobun]

"The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" is both an engaging read but it has a very satisfying ending too. Just be careful if you make a deal with the Devil.

How does it compare to her other titles?

 

[Birdjaguar]

How does it compare to her other titles?

I haven't read any of those. The story involves a Faustian deal, but otherwise is straight forward fiction. I found both the story and writing excellent. It is not a page turner like To Sleep in a Sea of Stars.

 

[Takhisis]

You got lucky, as some back cover blurbs actually don't have anything to do with the story.

This wasn't a story but a handbook on sociology.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

This wasn't a story but a handbook on sociology.

You don't think nonfiction books can suffer from an incompetent blurb writer?

 

[Takhisis]

Incompetence is ubiquitous, unfortunately.

 

[red_elk]

Reading the Mockingbird - the book itself is fine, but I'm a bit disappointed by translation. Some moments seemed weird, so I had to look them up in original text or summaries.
The Scout nickname is translated as "Глазастик" - this word usually means baby with big and beautiful eyes. Kids wouldn't use this word to call each other.
The n-word is also awkwardly translated with something people never say. It doesn't have exact Russian equivalent, so it would be better to leave as is.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Just beginning "Run Me to Earth" by Paul Yoon. It begins in war torn Laos in 1969 but looks to move forward in time. An excellent read so far.

 

[Kyriakos]

Just read BOULE DE SUIF.
This is the kind of story only De Maupassant would write. It enrages the reader, to see how vile people can be.

 

[Synobun]

Started reading Three-Body Problem. Isn't this supposed to be sci-fi? When does this get to the point? 1100 pages and I'm 110 pages in, so 10%, and this has gone nowhere.

Truly terrible fiction and storycraft. That this won awards and has such a cult following is incredible. I can only chalk it up to the physics fetishism.

I tried to start the second book, and that was even worse. Hard pass. Maybe the TV show will redeem the idea, though I can't imagine wanting to sit through what I read visually.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Truly terrible fiction and storycraft. That this won awards and has such a cult following is incredible. I can only chalk it up to the physics fetishism.

I tried to start the second book, and that was even worse. Hard pass. Maybe the TV show will redeem the idea, though I can't imagine wanting to sit through what I read visually.

Writers and editors sure are fussy readers.

 

[Synobun]

Writers and editors sure are fussy readers.

What point are you trying to make besides personally antagonizing me?

 

[Birdjaguar]

What point are you trying to make besides personally antagonizing me?

Exactly, you are astute!

 

[EnglishEdward]

I have just finished reading:

Fire and Blood

by

George R R Martin

A Game of Thrones novel.

My only complaint is that it should have included a map.

 

[Kyriakos]

I have just finished reading:

Fire and Blood

by

George R R Martin

A Game of Thrones novel.

My only complaint is that it should have included a map.

Next novel's title: Guns, Germs and Fire.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Perfume: A Century of Scents by Lizzie Ostrom looks at 100 key 20th century products, divided into 10 per decade, that have shaped the world of scent. The entries show how perfumes have evolved and found many uses in other products . While product formulation is covered, the main focus is on cultural zeitgeist. Alongside the well-known names such as Chanel and CK are more surprising ones like Pfizer and Dali. The only thing I felt was missing was more coverage of the scent-free trend beyond mentions in one or two entries.

 

[Smellincoffee]

Forgotten Continent: A History of the New Latin America, by Michael Reid. I know little about those nations south of Mexico and am trying to get a idea that's better than military dictatorships and drug wars.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Truly terrible fiction and storycraft. That this won awards and has such a cult following is incredible. I can only chalk it up to the physics fetishism.
I tried to start the second book, and that was even worse. Hard pass. Maybe the TV show will redeem the idea, though I can't imagine wanting to sit through what I read visually.

Starting at the second book is just a terrible idea, as many of the characters are carried over and much of the story is set out in the first book
Its the type of realistic sci-fi that pioneers a raft of new ideas from first contact, future wars and human condition

A lot of the minute details means that the story pace is often meandering but it sets out the initial Alien contact and how the Chinese government completely botches everything
Much of it is shaped in part by how the West treated China, and the trauma of being occupied by hostile Japan as a result of the break up the country.

The Movie will cut away much of the excess, but may be too much to try and compress down to just 3 hours. At its heart though it could work if they reshape it as an Alien first contact. Second as Alien war and third as the tragic destruction of humanity

 

[EnglishEdward]

I have just finished reading:

The Coming of the Terraphiles

by the English author

Michael Moorcock

A humorous Doctor Who novel published in 2010.

 

[Kyriakos]

I started reading 100 years of Solitude, but I am not sure if I will continue (probably will, it isn't that long a volume).

 

[EnglishEdward]

I have just finished reading:

Channel Blue

by

Jay Martel

a light hearted comedy where our world serves as an entertainment show for aliens.