Reading
Ok, so no one seems terribly interested in my reading posts, but it's my blog so I'm going to do them anyway.
I just finished the book I was reading (review), and I liked it better than the first book in the series. Mainy, because this one was able to focus on developing the story and did not have to do all the introduction that the last one did. If you're looking for a big science fiction epic, I would recommend this one.
Now, until I get the next book in that series, I am going to continue re-reading The Hicthhikers Guide to the Galaxy trilogy with The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which I should finish quickly since it's not very long.
I'm also reading a novel posted online, by Shakespeare's Sister, which is surprisingly good. I'm only about halfway through with it at this point, but it's only going slow because I hate reading on the computer. It's not something that I would probably have read under normal circumstances, but seeing it on a site that I read regularly made me curious to see if it would be any good. And it definitely is, so check it out if you like to read, it's a good story (so far, anyway).
And as always, feel free to comment on anything you're currently reading or if you have read anything mentioned, or if you have any recommendations.
13 comments:
I never heard of him, I'll have to look it up.
which is surprisingly good
LOL! ...because she's kind of a dumbass.
:)
Did I mention that I finished Life of Pi? It was amazing, best book I've read in awhile (and I've read some good ones lately). Right now, I've just started Kazuo Ishiguro's new book, and it's pretty interesting so far.
Speaking of books, I know you can hardly wait for Friday at midnight. Want to come with us to Barnes & Noble?
I've never read anything by John Varley, but I think I have The Ophiuchi Hotline somewhere. I'll have to see if I can find it.
I just started Jonathan Strange & Mr Norell, which I got for Christmas. It's good so far. It's set in a semi-historical England at the beginning of the 19th century. If you like these kind of historical fantasies, like I do, it seems promising.
Shakes, I knew you had said you were reading it, but I didn't know you had finished it. I've heard good things about it, but I'm not sure it's something I'll like, but I'll probably give it a look, anyway.
I'm not big on historical fantasies, but I did like the first few of the Alvin Maker books.
I just finished one that I need to give you - Idlewild by Nick Sagan. I'd been wanting to read it and I found it in the discount books at B&N. It's kind of a hard-SF mystery. And it's not one of those that I hate, where the author tries to get all cute and won't explicitly give you any information. You figure things out bit-by-bit and by the end you have the whole story.
You should read this series I'm reading. It reminds me a lot of Peter Hamilton, not quite that good or anything, but similar in style and scope. I don't have the first one since I got it from the library, but I have the second one if you ever want it.
I'm currently reading Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer. It's about a vicious murder committed by a Mormon Fundamentalist, but it explores the violent history of Mormonism, as well as the violence that all fundamentalism condones.
While Loki and I were waiting for a movie showing last week, I read 2/3s of Tom Perotta's Little Children. So far, it's very entertaining, and an easy read. I was won over on the first page when the first character introduced, a mom who doesn't fit in with the other moms in her daughter's playgroup, says to herself "This is just an anthropological study. I am not a boring suburban mother. I am merely observing boring suburban mothers." That's a sentiment I can relate to (although I am well aware that not all suburban mothers are boring).
This same character, Sarah, also comments on one of the other moms, a super efficient right-winger who is completely oblivious to the fact that other people might have differing opinions. Sarah notes that Mary Ann always has snacks, drinks, a change of clothes, and says "there is something fascistic about how she makes the trains run on time."
I didn't realize there was a violent history of Mormonism.
Oh, jesus, please don't mention problems with mothers in playgroups, those things are ridiculous. I had never heard of them, but when my wife joined one, I thought it was for the kids to play together, but it turned out that it's so the moms can pretend they're in high school all over again.
I've never done playgroups, but I did join the PTA, and it is like high school all over again, except now I'm confident and I don't give a shit if Queen Bee likes me or not.
That Steel Beach looks pretty good, I'll have to check it out. I love to find good new (to me) science fiction writers.
I'm not a big fan of Heinlen. He's ok, I guess, but I was never overly impressed with any of his stuff that I've read. I noticed in some of the reviews for that, people said it was a Heinlen rip-off.
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