Reading in November 2009

[Winter]

Originally Posted by DurzoBlint

Finished Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman, had a lot of potential but failed to deliver.

I am tempted to buy that for the title alone. There are so few books that make me want to buy it based only on the title, the other two are Bradbury titles (just bought I Sing the Body Electric! the other is Something Wicked This Way Comes, but I haven't gotten around to it yet). Am I the only one that does this?

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Just finished Dradin, In Love from VanderMeer's City of Saints and Madmen. I loved the novella and find myself rather happy that I am reading this book after Shriek: An Afterword and Finch. It sucks that I likely missed references in those latter books to City of Saints and Madmen, but I enjoy the contrast of this Ambergris to those future cities.

[Seegee]

Originally Posted by Winter

I am tempted to buy that for the title alone. There are so few books that make me want to buy it based only on the title, the other two are Bradbury titles (just bought I Sing the Body Electric! the other is Something Wicked This Way Comes, but I haven't gotten around to it yet). Am I the only one that does this?

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Just finished Dradin, In Love from VanderMeer's City of Saints and Madmen. I loved the novella and find myself rather happy that I am reading this book after Shriek: An Afterword and Finch. It sucks that I likely missed references in those latter books to City of Saints and Madmen, but I enjoy the contrast of this Ambergris to those future cities.

I really enjoyed Soon I Will Be Invincible. It was a load of fun. I bought it partially on the title, too.

[Seegee]

Just completed R.A Salvatore's Spearwielder's Tale trilogy. That was largely a waste of time and money. I'd heard good things about Salvatore, but I won't be reading him again.

[BrightStar]

Originally Posted by Flint Fireforge

I actually liked Wizard's First Rule (though I read it awhile ago). Were the other books that bad?

I pretty much share the same opinions as Obtuse does: Wizards First Rule was okay, and even some of the books after that weren't too bad. But it does go massively downhill later on in the series.

Whenever I see someone reach around books 5 and 6 start asking "Should I go on?" I always hope that they have more strength (and sense!) than me and quit there and then. I don't think I got much out of Sword of Truth, except a lot of wasted time and a rather useful set of doorstops.

[NickeeCoco]

Originally Posted by Winter

I am tempted to buy that for the title alone. There are so few books that make me want to buy it based only on the title, the . . . Am I the only one that does this?

That's why I bought The Lies of Locke Lamorra. I really liked the alliteration and the "lies" conveyed mystery. I also thought the main character was going to be Scottish.

[tyriseus]

[QUOTE=Winter;550212]I am tempted to buy that for the title alone. There are so few books that make me want to buy it based only on the title, the other two are Bradbury titles (just bought I Sing the Body Electric! the other is Something Wicked This Way Comes, but I haven't gotten around to it yet). Am I the only one that does this?]

I really liked the title of "Something Wicked" myself...I tried starting it earlier this month but found the style very awkward. Not sure if I will return to it later but I don't really trust my judgement right now. I've been writing like crazy (already have over 80K words this month alone) as I've been trying to finish up my trilogy. The title does influence me, as does the cover, if I know nothing about the author/book. Otherwise, I try not to pay too much attention to them.

I don't think I've mentioned it here - but I thought I'd give the Deathgate Cycle a try. I'm about 150 pages in after two weeks mostly thanks to the addiction mentioned above. It hasn't really struck me yet but it's early still and when it's only getting read a few pages at a time it's hard to give a fair assessment.

[BrightStar]

Originally Posted by tyriseus

I don't think I've mentioned it here - but I thought I'd give the Deathgate Cycle a try. I'm about 150 pages in after two weeks mostly thanks to the addiction mentioned above. It hasn't really struck me yet but it's early still and when it's only getting read a few pages at a time it's hard to give a fair assessment.

I enjoyed the Deathgate Cycle. Overall, it's a fun read with some great characters and very in-depth world building. Not every book is equally strong, but they are all at least decent. I think it's probably better to try and read more than a few pages at once though, in order to get the most enjoyment from it.

Now that I'm done with Sword of Truth, it's time to move onto something new. I thought I'd give Dave Duncan's The Reluctant Swordsman a go, since I've had very mixed reactions to his work: his The Gilded Chain was enjoyable, whilst The Rose Red City was a huge struggle, and I could not get through it.

Unfortunately, I'm having difficulties with The Reluctant Swordsman. The first few chapters, particularly were a big struggle for me. The writing, the world, the characters, the story - none of it gripped me at all. Now things have started to interest me slightly, but I really have to say that I'm still struggling and think that my interest isn't going to last much more than another chapter (unless something new is added). This book has received overall very positive reviews, so I'm extra dissapointed that I'm not liking it. After enduring Sword of Truth, I wanted something fairly short and enjoyable to read.

[kater]

Just finished Caine: Black Knife by Matthew Woodring Stover, it was a second read through and I think I rushed it the first time (the new-Caine-book fever) because I picked up on so much more this time around. The back and for between present and past events is pitched really well, leaves you hanging for the one thread but quickly into the other. It's visceral story telling and I could clearly see the ending in my head, working my way back through what happened in light of that perspective. Itching for the second part now.

[AuntiePam]

Under the Dome -- I thought it had perfect pacing but fell short in every other category that matters.

Now reading No Dominion, the second Joe Pitt (he has a Vyrus that gives him some vampiric characteristics) novel by Charlie Huston. Huston's biggest strength is dialogue -- it's how he builds his characters and it really works.

[Seegee]

Originally Posted by BrightStar

I thought I'd give Dave Duncan's The Reluctant Swordsman a go, since I've had very mixed reactions to his work: his The Gilded Chain was enjoyable, whilst The Rose Red City was a huge struggle, and I could not get through it.

Unfortunately, I'm having difficulties with The Reluctant Swordsman. The first few chapters, particularly were a big struggle for me. The writing, the world, the characters, the story - none of it gripped me at all. Now things have started to interest me slightly, but I really have to say that I'm still struggling and think that my interest isn't going to last much more than another chapter (unless something new is added). This book has received overall very positive reviews, so I'm extra dissapointed that I'm not liking it. After enduring Sword of Truth, I wanted something fairly short and enjoyable to read.

If you're going to read any Dave Duncan I cannot recommend the first Pandemia set of books: A Man of His Word, highly enough. The first book is The Magic Casement. I adored these books and they're high on my all time list. They may not be easy to find now, but they're well worth the time it tales to look for them.

[BrightStar]

Originally Posted by Seegee

If you're going to read any Dave Duncan I cannot recommend the first Pandemia set of books: A Man of His Word, highly enough. The first book is The Magic Casement. I adored these books and they're high on my all time list. They may not be easy to find now, but they're well worth the time it tales to look for them.

Certainly the first book is available at Amazon. I recall looking into the series a couple of months back, but was never particularly drawn to A Man of His Word. The plot summary didn't really interest me very much. If I'd found that A Rose Red City and Reluctant Swordsman were more enjoyable, I might have decided to give A Man of His Word a try simply on the knowledge of it being by an author I liked, but my experiences of Dave Duncan's writing is so mixed that I just can't decide whether I want to give him another try and read something else, or give up completely. I did read a bit more of Reluctant Swordsman last night-managed to muddle through, but still not enjoying it all that much. I'm somewhat tempted to quit, but right now can't seem to decide what to read instead. I'm keeping on at Reluctant Swordsman until I do make up my mind.

[Keyoke]

I was a big fan of Dave Duncan's "The Cursed". It's a single novel, and loved it. I wish he would revisit this world, but, I had contacted him sometime ago, and said he did not own the rights, the publisher did.

Still, great great book.

[DurzoBlint]

Just finished Triumff Her Majesty's Hero by Dan Abnett. Started off REALLY slow and then got a tad bit better but, didn't live up to Abnett's previous standards. I had a lot of expectations from the novel and it just never really got off the ground. Compared to his previous work, this novel was a real let down.

Moving on to David Gemmell's Legend. Few pages in and still have no opinion on it just yet.