What are you reading?

[Blacklight]

Started Catching Fire recently because my sister owns the book and I had decided to finish the series.

And Mister Monday (Keys to the Kingdom book 1) because I started it a long time ago and never finished it.

[rocklobster]

Finished the first book in the Conspiracy 365 series and now I'm reading the book that I am Number Four was based on.

[FllMtl Novelist]

The other day I finished Brandon Sanderson's The Alloy of Law, which was every bit as fun, clever and excellent as I was led to believe. Great book.

However, it's not quite self-contained as I'd thought. Sanderson is an established author (and I listen to him on the amazing Writing Excuses podcast), but this is the first of his work I've read so I'm not entirely trusting he can pull off a series as good as this first book. I'll definitely check out the next installment whenever it comes out, though, and in the meantime I'll add his other work to my never-ending to-read list.

[uc pseudonym]

I've been reading, but not keeping track of it. One notable nonfiction book was The Shallows by Nicholas Carr, which is a mix of history, neurological research, and arguments about how browsing the internet rewires the brain.

The other day I finished Brandon Sanderson's The Alloy of Law, which was every bit as fun, clever and excellent as I was led to believe. Great book.

However, it's not quite self-contained as I'd thought. Sanderson is an established author (and I listen to him on the amazing Writing Excuses podcast), but this is the first of his work I've read so I'm not entirely trusting he can pull off a series as good as this first book. I'll definitely check out the next installment whenever it comes out, though, and in the meantime I'll add his other work to my never-ending to-read list.

If you liked it, good, but Ally of Law isn't the best place to start with Sanderson. It draws very heavily from his Mistborn trilogy and can't really be considered self-contained. I'd recommend Elantris or Warbreaker, which stand alone (and I felt were better books).

[the_wolfs_howl]

FMA: Under the Faraway Sky by Makoto Inoue. This novel was made with two smaller stories, one about Ed and Al and the other about Mustang, Hughes, and Armstrong. Both stories felt quieter and slower (in a good way), more about them taking the time to stop and appreciate life. Even so, they had some action in the climaxes. I greatly preferred the one about Mustang, just because the other one was kind of...boring, sad to say.

[FllMtl Novelist]

If you liked it, good, but Ally of Law isn't the best place to start with Sanderson. It draws very heavily from his Mistborn trilogy and can't really be considered self-contained. I'd recommend Elantris or Warbreaker, which stand alone (and I felt were better books).

Yeah, it definitely wasn't what I was planning to start with. It just sort of fell into my lap when I didn't have another book immediately on-hand, and my brother gave me just enough push to start me in on it. I'll definitely check those out sometime, thanks for the recommendation.

[Kaori]

Currently about 8/9 of the way through reading The History of Herodotus. By far the best part so far has been reading Herodotus' accounts of the famous battles at Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis.

Also recently read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. It's very well-written, but one of the major themes I disapprove of outright (need for a female deity) and the other I simply cannot identify with in any way (search for a mother figure). It didn't strike the chords it was intended to strike, which might be symptomatic of the fact that I am really not the right reader for this book.

One notable nonfiction book was The Shallows by Nicholas Carr, which is a mix of history, neurological research, and arguments about how browsing the internet rewires the brain.

What's your opinion of this book? Are the author's credentials commensurate with the subject matter?

[uc pseudonym]

Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson

Though I had some frustrations with this book (I'm sad to say Karsa has worn out his welcome) it reminded me why I read the Malazan series. One character delivers apparently random historical information about an ancient war between the philosophies of control and non-intervention. He's asked when it ended and simply replies "Ended?"

Also, there's an army consisting of everyone who has ever died in the history of all worlds. It is deployed as a stalling action.

What's your opinion of this book? Are the author's credentials commensurate with the subject matter?

One reason I didn't elaborate much was that my full opinion would be an essay, but I'll try to be cogent.

Carr is a columnist, so he's mostly reporting on research others have done. Some of this research is fascinating. Some of it does not actually test what he claims the results tested. Some test something that doesn't have much relevance to the actual internet. Those three subsets overlap.

He avoids the alarmist tone of some writers and instead of condemning new technology says he intends to point out that there are costs along with benefits. I still felt he tends to idealize the past. For this reason I found many of his comparisons frustrating, especially since he talks about "book-reading culture" and "internet-using culture" as if we transitioned between two society-wide groups.

Having said that, there were some thoughtful arguments. I think he's correct that computers used improperly can erode the ability to concentrate deeply, which is his main point. It's simply not how most people I know use computers, but he has plenty of counterexamples.

[rocklobster]

The other day I finished Brandon Sanderson's The Alloy of Law, which was every bit as fun, clever and excellent as I was led to believe. Great book.

However, it's not quite self-contained as I'd thought. Sanderson is an established author (and I listen to him on the amazing Writing Excuses podcast), but this is the first of his work I've read so I'm not entirely trusting he can pull off a series as good as this first book. I'll definitely check out the next installment whenever it comes out, though, and in the meantime I'll add his other work to my never-ending to-read list.

I got into him when he replaced Robert Jordan on his Wheel of Time series. (which inspired Sanderson's career, btw). I'd say he's definitely worth a read. He's not as good as Jordan was (so sad that he died ), but he filled the shoes well, and it looks like we'll FINALLY get a conclusion. BTW, I highly recommend reading the rest of the Mistborn books and the Wheel of Time novels. But you'll need to start with Eye of the World first, because by the time Jordan died, he stopped leading you by the hand and filling you in on what has happened before.
Oh, and I'm starting Dragonknight, book 3 in Donita K. Paul's Dragonspell books. Very good series so far. I'd recommend it to any fan of fantasy, especially someone who likes the Narnia books.

[Atria35]

The Picture of Dorian Gray- I've never read this before, it's so very Victorian. And it will be quite a slow read for the first few chapters, I think.

[Maokun]

As Victorian as it can be, Wilde goes down really easily, I believe.

I'm reading Fragile Things, a compilation of short stories by Neil Gaiman, most of them Horror. Right up my alley.

[Atria35]

As Victorian as it can be, Wilde goes down really easily, I believe.

I've read and loved The Imortance of Being Ernest, but that had a lot of clever wordplay and mix-ups that I was wild (:P) about. This is a little different.

[FllMtl Novelist]

I got into him when he replaced Robert Jordan on his Wheel of Time series. (which inspired Sanderson's career, btw). I'd say he's definitely worth a read. He's not as good as Jordan was (so sad that he died ), but he filled the shoes well, and it looks like we'll FINALLY get a conclusion. BTW, I highly recommend reading the rest of the Mistborn books and the Wheel of Time novels. But you'll need to start with Eye of the World first, because by the time Jordan died, he stopped leading you by the hand and filling you in on what has happened before.

I'll have to see if my library has Mistborn (my brother said last time he looked, it wasn't on the shelf). I definitely want to read it sometime. But I don't think I'm brave enough for Wheel of Time. I'm a slow reader, and I've heard too many incredibly conflicting things about the series for me to prioritize investing several months in it.

[uc pseudonym]

Since I've been in this thread for a while, hopefully everyone will forgive me one advertisement. I have an ebook available from Amazon or Smashwords. Paperbacks are available from Createspace, though that's more expensive, and of course it's available in e-reader stores.

Any of those links features the official synopsis, but that's written for general audiences. This is an urban fantasy I wrote to try to get away from my usual serious tone: relatively light and quick overall, genre-savvy, and hopefully a fun read.

[Maokun]

Sounds like one of those fun Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently books I'll give it a spin once my girlfriend returns from her trip, bringing back my kindle

[TheMewster]

Faith Hope and Ivy June by the woman who wrote Shiloh.

Also read a book on Haitian refugees today. Never knew that they had so much trouble besides the earthquake.

[Kaori]

Carr is a columnist, so he's mostly reporting on research others have done. Some of this research is fascinating. Some of it does not actually test what he claims the results tested. Some test something that doesn't have much relevance to the actual internet. Those three subsets overlap.

He avoids the alarmist tone of some writers and instead of condemning new technology says he intends to point out that there are costs along with benefits. I still felt he tends to idealize the past. For this reason I found many of his comparisons frustrating, especially since he talks about "book-reading culture" and "internet-using culture" as if we transitioned between two society-wide groups.

Having said that, there were some thoughtful arguments. I think he's correct that computers used improperly can erode the ability to concentrate deeply, which is his main point. It's simply not how most people I know use computers, but he has plenty of counterexamples.

Thanks for the heads-up. The subject sounds interesting enough that I might check this out if I get a chance, keeping the above warnings in mind.

[SierraLea]

I've just finished "The Ranger's Apprentice", not to be confused with the sorcerer's apprentice. A series with lots of adventure, but all with a good story, and great sarcastic characters for a joke. Try it!
Also there's a book I wrote online, "Politics and Love", about an arranged marriage. It only takes a second to read. Check it out!

[SierraLea]

Really? Who are they by, and are they true blue fantasy? I need something to start reading.

[rocklobster]

Might be starting One for the Money by Janet Evanovich soon.

[SierraLea]

I'm assuming that you were talking to me? I already mentioned in the author in my post. It's a fantasy series known as the Age of Fire with six books in total. I'm on the fifth book, and I'm still able to say that I love it]here[/u].

I was talking to you, and will definitely try that! Sounds Good!

[rocklobster]

Now reading the DC COMIC Kingdom Come, not the manga. I repeat, not the manga.

[A_Yellow_Dress]

Planning on starting ROOM, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and Sarah's Key right away. Yay! (Gift cards are amazing things)

[the_wolfs_howl]

FMA: The Ties that Bind by Makoto Inoue - I really enjoyed this one. It had many wonderful moments of tenderness, and an interesting little story about Ishbal that connected with both Ed and Mustang.

[rocklobster]

Starting the final book in the Fablehaven series tomorrow!

[The Doctor]

Isaac Asimov's "The Foundation Trilogy". Amazing so far.

[SincerelyAnomymous]

Just finished the second volume of Ultimate Spider-man. Incredibly good.

[MomentOfInertia]

Fredom's Landing by Anne McCaffrey
I liked it.

And the third book in the Adventurers Wanted series by M.L. Foreman
A good book with a neat world. The problem I ave with this series is that things never go properly wrong, I never feel like our heroes were really in peril. I see the same thing happening to a lesser degree in most of David Eddings' books, I don't mind it as much there.
I suppose you could say that Forman writes YA Eddings, not as polished but a similar feel.

[SierraLea]

I'm rereading The Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a series based on owls for characters. Don't write this series off if you didn't like the movie.

[rocklobster]

Will finish up the second book of the Conspiracy 365 series. Tomorrow, I start The Power of Six the sequel to I am Number Four.