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Rate the last book you read
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Tonka 31,979 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years ago -
Some kid. -
Tonka 31,979 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoA Meeting at Corvallis
Third and final book in the Emberverse series. (That later expanded into 6 books)
It's poorly written but a cool alternate reality. I have never in my life skipped so much in a book as I did in this. I even skipped an entire chapter.
TBH I think you are better off reading the plot summary on wikipedia. -
Kid_Icarus 553 posts
Seen 8 years ago
Registered 14 years agoA Short History of Nearly Everything - A wonderful book covering the history and significant findings of all the aspects of science. Amazingly well written with at least one brilliant fact per page, along with many strange stories about the scientists themselves. 10 / 10
Climbing Mount Improbable - A Dawkins book about evolution. Go figure! Describes the processes by which we came to be in his usual manner with a whole chapter dedicated to the evolution of the eye. Not his best, but if you liked any of his others this is a must read. 8 / 10 -
Aurian 6/10
A book by Maggie Fury in the same vien as Lord of The Rings / David Geddings. Its the first in a 5 (I think ) part series and has a fairly good plot, but although the plot is pretty good, the writing is less than perfect. As an example the author insists on telegraphing pretty damned obviously anything that is going to happen "unexpectedly". It doesnt make it feel suspenseful though, just makes me think "yeah, thanks, I realised the creepy statue was creepy without you saying "they would regret not paying attention to the creepy statue"". ALso got a bit too much "love interest" for me.
I'll buy the next book, but only because its an easy pulp read with a reasonable plot... not that I think for a moment that the good guys will loose. -
Tonka 31,979 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoWhen Red is Blck by Qiu Xiaolong
Third entry in a series about a Chinese police solving politically sensitive murders in Shanghai. I like them mainly because of the insight into chinese culture, politics and modern history I get from them. The plots are down to earth and more about police work than what I'm used from from western crime novels. -
glaeken wrote:
Did you finish it? What did you think? Just finished it myself, I was a bit disappointed. It didn't really spark in the way that his other books have for me.
Just started The city in the city by China Mieville and its off to a promising start so far.
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generica 4,279 posts
Seen 3 years ago
Registered 15 years agoI borrowed Tuesdays With Morrie recently I think because it was a book recommended on this forum, I think by cubbymoore - his synopsis focused around the arse wiping shenanigans. That sold it to me. Or made me borrow it. I think the value of the book was lost to me though as I'm not a very materialistic person, I don't have a job, certainly not a career and I have no major responsibilities. I couldn't relate to the journalist in the slightest and I thought the wisdom of Morrie was actually quite patronising and obvious and little bit gay. It might be a profound read for the right sort of person - BGIE? - but it wasnt for me. Maybe though I suck from the cock of goats. -
RobTheBuilder 6,976 posts
Seen 10 minutes ago
Registered 17 years agoThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo 8 / 10
Took a while to get into its stride, but a well written and intriguing story. -
Tonka 31,979 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoThe Echo Maker
One of the worst books I've read. The premise is interesting. Or wait, the superficial premise is interesting. The idea that could have turned into a good plot but that the writer (Richard Powers) instead use as an excuse to bring a bunch of whiny McWhiners together so that he can fill page after page with their mundane whining.
Whole chapters are devoted to the inner whining of an old fart that anyone who has ever read anything in his or her life knows will go back to the case.
Save yourself some time and energy and stay well away from this book. Mind numbingly boring. It will take some time before I've worked my life back to where it was before I read this shit. -
boo 13,901 posts
Seen 20 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoCurrently reading The Stainless Steel Rat Omnibus, which is the first three in the series:
The Stainless Steel Rat
The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge
The Stainless Steel Rat Saves The World
Have read (1), and part way through (2). Haven't read them for about 30 years. Time has not been kind to them.
5/10 (so far) -
YenooR 540 posts
Seen 6 months ago
Registered 14 years agoBlood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
A good story starring Geralt the Witcher.
If you like fantasy books I would recommend it. -
StarchildHypocrethes 33,974 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 17 years agoPatient Zero by Something Marberry or Maberry
"24 with zombies" one of the reviews on the book said. This is what attracted me to it. Pretty accurate in the end too. Although with far more shooty/kung-fu action and less political intringue.
Completely stupid, but a lot of fun.
Think a slightly better written version of Matthew Reilly with zombies. -
glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years agootto wrote:
glaeken wrote:
Did you finish it? What did you think? Just finished it myself, I was a bit disappointed. It didn't really spark in the way that his other books have for me.
Just started The city in the city by China Mieville and its off to a promising start so far.
Yeah it was a little life less. It seemed like the concept came before the overall story and characterisation. It seemed like they came up with the concept first to me and then tried to come up with a story that would make good use of it. I think they did make the concept work but I ended up with an impression that it was a clever book but not particularly enjoyable.
It looks like my word of the day is concept. -
localnotail 23,079 posts
Seen 2 weeks ago
Registered 13 years agoHandling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist
It would have been a massive achievement to come up with a superior follow-up to Let The Right One In, so there is no shame in the fact that this isn't anywhere near as good.
A novel take on the zombie phenomenon - done partly as reportage, but mostly as character driven stories. I enjoyed following the story through but I think the concepts were not as well formed as its predecessor's. Not a waste of time, but neither was it great. 6/10 -
Tonka 31,979 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoI really needed a quick enjoyable read after my latest disasters. First I polished
Day by Day Armageddon
off in no time. I'm a slow reader but this was a quick three night affair. Enjoyable, geeky and very genreiffic. The author is a bit of a right wing nut which shines through. But, if you like Zombie apocalypses I think it's well worth a read. (I think it's available on Google books)
After reading DbD:Armageddon Ifelt a bit dirty and ashamed of myself for always reading geeky books so I wanted to try one of the "classics". Well, I'll let ypu be the judge of whether or not
The Alchemist
is a classic. Cult classic might be a better word. Now I could go all cynical and completely thrash this novella. But it's a cute entertaining story with filled with simple wisdoms that I've read before but doesn't hurt to read again. If I had read this at an impressionable age I think I would have filed it away with "illusions" and "Ince Memed" as it is now I can still recommend it as a quick pleasant fairytale. -
Murbs 25,151 posts
Seen 18 hours ago
Registered 17 years agoThe Shadow of the Wind 10/10
Finished it on the train this morning, a truly beautiful novel which almost (almost!) made me blub on a carriage full of commuters. One of the greatest books I've ever read. -
BanjoMan 13,692 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 15 years agoElmore Leonard - Out of Sight
Good crime yarn as usual from Leonard, although it feels a little bit generic for him. I've not seen the subsequent film, but it's clearly written as a pitch to the studios. Before Out of Sight, the last book of his I read was Cuba Libre and I'm still of the opinion that's his best work. They should really make it into a film. -
mad_caddy 3,751 posts
Seen 20 hours ago
Registered 17 years agoGood Omens 10/10
The Many Minds of Billy Milligan 8/10 (so hard to believe it's a true story and 100% accurate) -
TOOTR 10,459 posts
Seen 1 week ago
Registered 15 years agoIain M Banks - Player of games 10/10
Quite ashamed it's taken me this long to get round to reading this. Fantastic book. Am now going to rinse through the rest of The Culture novels. -
The Northern Lights - Pullman 9/10
Getting round to re-reading this series after 10 years or so. Still enjoy it immensely.
I also now remember being quite distraught (on first read through) that I don't have a daemon of my own. This hasn't changed over time!
It's also got a slightly darker tone/undercurrent than I remember. -
phAge 25,487 posts
Seen 3 weeks ago
Registered 18 years agoStarchildHypocrethes wrote:
No! NO! Patient Zero is fucking SHIT! SHIT I TELL YOU.
Patient Zero by Something Marberry or Maberry
"24 with zombies" one of the reviews on the book said. This is what attracted me to it. Pretty accurate in the end too. Although with far more shooty/kung-fu action and less political intringue.
Completely stupid, but a lot of fun.
Think a slightly better written version of Matthew Reilly with zombies. -
TOOTR wrote:
Try not to go through them in a row Tootr, as they'll run out of steam quite quickly. Do give the non-Culture books a go too - The Crow Road is a bit of a classic.
Iain M Banks - Player of games 10/10
Quite ashamed it's taken me this long to get round to reading this. Fantastic book. Am now going to rinse through the rest of The Culture novels.
While you're busy reading, I'll try to take down your Defense Grid scores...gif)
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BanjoMan 13,692 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 15 years agoElmore Leonard - Pagan Babies
Good, but I need a break from Leonard. It starts out in Rwanda, well out of his comfort zone, but then the story moves to Detroit, and it starts to be more familiar EL territory. It is good, but not Leonard at his finest. -
jellyhead 24,355 posts
Seen 2 weeks ago
Registered 18 years agoCherie Priest - Boneshaker
Disappointing but good for a teen book and kept me entertained. I just wish there was more to it after all is said and done because i love Cyber/Steampunk novels.
Currently reading Steven Erikson - Dust of Dreams and bloody loving it. He's the only fantasy author i really enjoy and look out for. This is the penultimate book in the series i've been reading for 11 years and i'm devouring it as usual with his work. 1200 pages of awesome -
sirtacos 8,279 posts
Seen 4 months ago
Registered 14 years agoAravind Adiga - Between the Assassinations
A collection of short stories describing the ironies, injustices, squalors, riches and beauties of a fictitious Indian town called Kittur. The prose is sharp, the characters for the most part well-drawn etc etc. It's good.
8/10 -
iokthemonkey 4,662 posts
Seen 9 years ago
Registered 13 years agoEssential Iron Man Volume 1 - Stan Lee, Don Heck and Friends
Ace early appearances from the Golden Avenger, complete with hilarious ''science'' (Iron Man uses ''special transistors'' to make horseshoe magnets more powerful) and outstanding anti-Red jingoism (every Communist in it works out of fear of the government.) It takes a while to get going and the first few issues don't have the proper Marvel feel but when it gets into the groove, it's top stuff from an age when comicbooks were still fun and naive enough to get away with it.
8/10 -
Tonka 31,979 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoThe Scar
For the second time. Absolutely love it. It's the most accessible of the Bas-Lag books. Focused and surprisingly "crafted" compared to Perdido (which I really should re-read).
Mievilles imagination is second to none and Bas-Lag is without a doubt te richest make believe world I know. -
BanjoMan 13,692 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 15 years agoChina Mieville? Had one of his recommended to me the other day: The City & The City, apparently a modern detective noir. Different to his usual stuff or not? -
I wouldn't know. I'm his worst fan since I refuse to read any of his stuff that is not set in Bas-Lag. I heartily recommend those books though.
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