I'm re-reading Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro. Such a fantastic book, but I haven't really enjoyed his other works sadly
this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2023
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Remains of the Day is maybe my favorite book of all time. Never Let Me Go was fine but paled in comparison. I wanted to like it a lot more than I did. I'm glad you're liking it. I think RotD set up some unrealistic expectations.
Fair enough. I haven't read that one because the idea just didn't grab me from the synopsis. I'm taking you recommend it?
It's incredible. Probably the most "human" book I've ever read in my life. It sounds boring but I was absolutely enthralled with this old butler taking a road trip from the first 3 pages. There's a bit of unreliable narration and a lot of nuance to the writing. The prose is beautiful and the characters are incredibly memorable and amazing.
Just finished Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin. I knew going in that it involved the devil and a pregnancy. I did not know it involved a husband who is the slimiest most manipulative gaslighter. Tough read. Also, it felt like half a book. I would have liked to seen how Rosemary handled things going forward.
That does sound like a tough read. Let us know your opinion once you finish it.
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The Inimitable Jeeves - P G Wodehouse - Evidently these chapters were originally published as stand-alone short stories rather than as this episodic novel that loosely links them. IMHO these links serve only to transform the whole from individually amusing to collectively mildly frustrating, since there is no progression or development from start at least to approaching the end, as I now am. I do enjoy Wodehouse, but this is not one of his best.
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The First Signs - Genevieve von Petzinger - A study of the range of abstract symbols found in paleolithic cave art. I was imagining that this would focus largely on the relatively small range of symbols themselves, from the introduction of the book, and it may eventually do so, but the initial chapters, as far as I have reached are largely scene-setting: first for the authors study itself and then for the anthropology and evolutionary development of humans and peri-humans of the time, and the indications of abstract thought that can be found from the period. All interesting stuff, but not quite matching my expectations so far.
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Finnegans Wake - James Joyce - which I am still working though across this year. The latest chapter started off seeming slightly less incomprehensible than many, but that hasn't lasted.
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Flashman's Waterloo - Robert Brightwell - This continues to be as entertaining and well-researched as the previous entries in the series, with a stronger and more driven plot than some, as can be imagined from the title: the 100 days and the buildup to the inevitable battle.
Interesting list of books. Do share your opinion on The First Signs, once you have finished it. The topic sounds interesting.
I have read a little more now and realise that the author is progressing chronolically with the introduction of evidence for more complex symbols - and their potential indication of increasingly abstract thought.
Still a frustrating lack of detail on the actual types and variations of symbols themselves though. I will push on though.
Neuromancer by William Gibson.
Neuromancer or Necromancer?
Stupid autocorrect 🤣
Haha, I thought maybe it's some lesser known book by Gibson. 😀
I'm about a third of the way through Children Of Dune currently and am really loving in. Once I finish that, I'll be reading The Commodore/Commodore Hornblower.
It has been a long time since I read the Dune series, maybe I should read it again. How are you liking it?
Have you read rest of the Hornblower series? How is it? I have never read any naval warfare book, except for Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian in my younger days, didn't like it much then, but can't say if I will like it now or not.
I love the Hornblower series, but my grandpa was an old Geordie sailor, and i grew up sailing on Lake Erie. I'm actually reading my dad's old collection of Hornblower and have loved it. Forrester sometimes goes a bit heavy on the sailing jargon, but they are such excellent adventures. Start with Beat To Quarters and if you like it read them in chronological order.
As for Dune, i have been loving the series as well. My only experience prior to reading them was references in other media and watching the 2021 movie, but they are hands down the best series i have ever read.
Thanks for the recommendations! I have never actually sailed, or ever have been on any ship (not counting 2-3 mins boat rides in some parks), but will checkout Beat To Quarters. 👍
I'm about 80% through Pandora's Star by Peter F Hamilton. It's okay. Went in with quite high expectations since it comes up a lot but man, so much of it could be cut. The man likes to incessantly ramble and describe the most mundane and uniportant details. And there's a lot of viewpoints. Which I'm not necessarily adverse to (I've read Wheel of Time) but it does chop and change quite a bit and mostly just as something exciting starts happening, it cuts to a different POV. I'll probably read the second book to finish the story but doubt I'd read another of his.
Loved that series. Must read it again soon!
"Reading" might be a stretch, but listening to the audio book of "To Sleep in a Sea of Stars," a sci-fi book by Christopher Paolini. I'm maybe 1/3 to 1/2 through, and it's a far cry from Paolini's other books about magic and dragons. Not that that's a bad thing, the book has been very good so far.
i have heard mixed things about his Inheritance cycle, some people love it, and some people hate it. I personally liked the Eragon movie they made, which everyone seems to hate.
I would love to hear what you think about the book once you have finished it.
The movie is... fine, if you haven't read the book. I saw the movie first myself but had a change of heart about it after reading the book. The series has more of a cult following kind of feel compared to say, Harry Potter, but I'd say it's worth a read.
As for To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, as it stands, I'd recommend it, despite my 18-ish hours still to listen to. It's entertaining for what it is, even if it doesn't seem to be breaking new ground for the genre. I'm no expert in summary or buzzword-salad tossing, nor clever enough to pick up all of the nuance on my first read, but I know what I like, and this book, I like.
Thanks for the recommendations!
Recently finished Foundation and started Foundation & Empire but I can’t get into it. So it’s going to my abandoned pile. Sure Foundation had its moments but I just couldn’t care for the store or characters. Gonna try the TV show instead.
So instead I finally started Norse Mythology. Grew up reading norse mythology in school and at home so I know most of the stories but everyone praises Neil Gaimann so I figured I should give it a go. So far it’s pretty good.
I remember liking Foundation & Empire, but it has been a while, but series spans over so many generations, so you have to be ready for change of characters.
Does Norse Mythology stick to actual myths or changes them in the retelling?
Currently reading It by Stephen King, I like it overall but boy is this man long winded at times.
Haha, agree about his long windiness, though I have come to appreciate some of it.
I am reading "Dread Wyrm", third book in the Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron. Plot and world are OK, but I have feeling they are written in clumsy style.
This book only, or the whole series?
I had this feeling with two first books too.
I am curious, what kept you still reading the series? Is the story interesting, or just didn't have anything else interesting to read.
As I wrote, story is OK. Not great, but it has some dark fantasy elements I like.
The Twenty Days of Turin, by Giorgio de Maria
The wikipedia page doesn't give much info about it. What kind of book is it, and how are you liking it?
Blowing the bloody doors off - by Michael Caine. Pretty good, nothing in life gets just handed out to you. Hard work and luck is needed. That's pretty much what it is about so far.
Is that his memoir or about something else?
Still reading the Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. More than 70% through. Absolutely love it! I think this book is a 5 ⭐ read for me. I don't want this book to get over. I don't know what to read next!
Nice. I have been steering away from the classics for quite a while now. Forcing myself to read those in my youth, because they must be read, put me off them. Should get back to them sometimes.
Have a few on the go:
- Finished Don Juan by Lord Byron. Very weird, and I was weirdly into it despite not know who he was making fun of most of the time.
- Need to finish Fire Weather: Making of a Beast by John Vaillant in the next couple of days. Lots of people waiting on it at the library, lots left to go, but so far it's been great.
- Nabbed Dead of Winter by Anders de la Motte for a phone read via Libby. It's, uh, not my favourite, but I feel kind of committed at this point.
- I also started Ulysses by James Joyce. I'm on chapter 4 and have already established that I am in trouble.
Fire Weather looks interesting. How are you liking it?
I'm about 75% done with The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe, and about 50% done with Anxious People by Fredrick Backman. I'm enjoying both more than I thought I would.
The Bonfire of the Vanities "has often been called the quintessential novel of the 1980s", as per Wikipedia. I guess I need to read it now.
Anxious People also looks interesting. Would love to hear how you liked them, once you have finished them.
Currently reading The Flying Sorcerers by David Gerrold & Larry Niven. About 1/3 way through and not sure what to make of it so far. Very strange!
That's making me curious. Good? Bad? Complicated?