Ultimate Reading Madness 2.0

[Jim North]

The only Michael Crichton book I've ever read is Timeline and it was pretty awful.

It's possible you watched the movie and thought you were reading a book at the time.

[Agrajag]

Nope, the book was bad, but I actually read the whole thing. I had to turn off the movie partway through because it was so atrocious.

[Jim North]

So I finished reading Prey, and will never pick it up again. Ever.

I started reading Along Came a Spider by James Patterson. It was recommended to me by one of my aunts. May have to consider the possibility that my aunt secretly hates me. But to be fair, I'm only on the fourth chapter. Surely it might get better soon. Surely.

[Joopac_Badur]

Dudes, I love Cricton. Timeline had its weak parts, but overall I loved it. Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain were my favorites. I've also read some of Patterson's work. It's entertaining, for sure, but he writes in a very simple, one-clause-per-sentence style, which gets a little annoying.

That said, I'm venturing into Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It's pretty good so far, but man, she really wants to hammer home that the main characters are really hard workers and everyone else is lazy and stupid and fuck liberals. I get that it's her overall point, but she just ... over and over ...

[Jim North]

Dudes, I love Cricton.

Oh, I definitely do as well. I'm very fond of The Andromeda Strain, The Terminal Man, Eaters of the Dead, Congo, Sphere, Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Rising Sun, Timeline, and - to my own surprise - Airframe.

But Prey is just awful.

I've also read some of Patterson's work. It's entertaining, for sure, but he writes in a very simple, one-clause-per-sentence style, which gets a little annoying.

I'm just wondering when he's going to stop reminding me that his main character is black. And that everyone else, in contrast, is not black.

Maybe I should try some of that Ayn Rand instead.

[Agrajag]

So I recently read the first two Song of Ice and Fire books (A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings). I thought they were pretty good, but too long and slow paced. Apparently the later books are even longer and slower, and so I'm debating whether or not to continue reading them (although I've already purchased the third book).

I also just read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin, one of this year's Hugo nominees. It was interesting, but a bit shallow, and not terribly surprising. The mythology and narrative structure of it reminded me of the Mistborn books, although those are much better written (with far far better twist endings).

Anyone else read anything good recently?

[ninja-pie]

Plugged by Eoin Colfer. Finished it in 2 days, which is unusual for me. It's quite good.

Oh, and Souless by Gail Carriger, if you're into vampires and werewolves but not sparkly fuckwits.

[Agrajag]

Hmm, Plugged looks interesting, but it's only available in hardcover apparently. I really really need to read a good book soon, the last half dozen have been kinda mediocre, and it's going to put me off reading. Was gonna start on either The Left Hand of Darkness or The Dervish House tomorrow, but maybe I should go with something less serious like Deathtroopers so I don't fall into an anti-reading funk.

[Jim North]

Since my last post, I have read:

The Uncanny by Andrew Klavan - Good.

Slatewiper by Lewis Perdue - Tolerable for the most part, with a few very bad parts, particularly the sloppy ending.

10 Lb. Penalty by Dick Francis - Good, if a bit digressive and meandering.

Twilight's End (Star Trek novel) by Jerry Oltion - Good.

And just today I started The Mummy by Anne Rice.

[ninja-pie]

Hmm, Plugged looks interesting, but it's only available in hardcover apparently.

...Well, that's interesting considering it's a softcover copy sitting on the table in front of me. I didn't think new hardcover books were even a thing anymore.

[Kelso]

Whenever I get bored with novels, I usually fall back on Terry Pratchett to restore my faith. Unseen Academicals was good, even though I care nothing for the theme of football. But of course, it's not about the football. I haven't read I Shall Wear Midnight yet, but I am looking forward to Snuff later this year.

[Agrajag]

Hmm, Plugged looks interesting, but it's only available in hardcover apparently.

...Well, that's interesting considering it's a softcover copy sitting on the table in front of me. I didn't think new hardcover books were even a thing anymore.

Looks like it hasn't even been released at all in America yet, and the hardcover is coming out first.

Whenever I get bored with novels, I usually fall back on Terry Pratchett to restore my faith. Unseen Academicals was good, even though I care nothing for the theme of football. But of course, it's not about the football. I haven't read I Shall Wear Midnight yet, but I am looking forward to Snuff later this year.

Sounds like a great idea, unfortunately when I moved three months ago I didn't think to bring any of my Pratchett books with me. Guess I could go buy one of the ones I haven't read. Maybe a Tiffany Aching book or some non-Discworld thing? I own all the main Discworld books and Nation.

[kleptoman]

Plugged by Eoin Colfer. Finished it in 2 days, which is unusual for me. It's quite good.

I might check that out soon. Oh, and I have a signed copy of Artemis Fowl somewhere.

[ninja-pie]

Artemis Fowl is probably my favourite series of books. I've only got the first three, but they're the original glittery covers. Shiny.

[Agrajag]

So I just finished the Eyre Affair and it was friggin amazing. Thanks for the recommendation Ben, I gotta go buy all of Jasper Fforde's other books now.