What are you reading?

[Syreth]

Nicomachean Ethics - Aristotle

[uc pseudonym]

Sadly, my request for KJ Parker's Engineer trilogy is still unanswered. Interlibrary loan may have failed me for the first time in my life. Meanwhile, I can't even go with my backup choice of Eragon (I need to read it so I can see if it is as abysmal as some people claim) because it is checked out. That is too bad, because I have just completed...

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

As a whole I enjoyed this book as an introduction to the entire series, but I didn't get into it immediately. It follows the usual fantasy practice of throwing a massive number of new names and ideas at you from the start, but it does so without giving you a solid narrative or meaningful bearings. Eventually it became enjoyable, but I don't think the novel puts its best foot forward.

The plot and world-building are good, but I felt the characters were weak. I typically feel that characters are too mercurial - this is quite a few steps above the usual. Even by the end of the book I didn't feel like anyone had a consistent personality, so my favorite is actually Circle Breaker, a nameless and faceless spy. Adjust that hat, Circle Breaker.

It's also a much higher-powered world than I've just been reading, especially compared to something like George RR Martin. The gods themselves are only about in the middle of the power hierarchy. I wish there was more information about how that operates, because it plays a fairly critical role in the plot and it's frustrating when someone just throws out a demon that's apparently capable of going toe to toe with Anomander Rake, one of the more vaunted characters.

All in all, enjoyable, but I won't have a full opinion about the series until the second book. The author stated in an interview that his writing style changed significantly between books, and it also jumps to a completely different place and time in the world. I'm not sure I think the idea of telling a narrative out of order will work in this case, but I'm willing to give it a try.

[Htom Sirveaux]

Eragon's not abysmal, it's just very, very, very derivative. Forget that The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars ever existed, and you're solid.

[Shao Feng-Li]

Blindness by Jose Saramago.

All I can say is, wow.

[rocklobster]

The first book in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. It's called Wizard's First Rule. This series is also the basis for the TV series, Legend of the Seeker.

[bigsleepj]

Blindness by Jose Saramago.

All I can say is, wow.

That certainly was not what fans said of the recent movie adaptation.

[Makachop^^128]

going to read the hobbit for the second time ^^
then most likely another Ray Bradbury book.

[Shao Feng-Li]

[quote="bigsleepj (post: 1354680)"]That certainly was not what fans said of the recent movie adaptation. ]

Oh man, I didn't even realize that that was already out. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 41% :\

[wildpurplechild]

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. So far, I like it, it evens mentions manga a couple times!

[rocklobster]

The Time-Traveller's Wife by Audrey Nieffenegger.

[wildpurplechild]

I'm also reading Watership Down. That's right, the bunny book!

[Barracuda777]

im actually reading "Captivating " by john eldgridge.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Meanwhile, I can't even go with my backup choice of Eragon (I need to read it so I can see if it is as abysmal as some people claim) because it is checked out.

My suggestion? Skim the first 100 pages or so, then it gets a bit more interesting. I don't think the first book is quite as bad as most people say, but it's not very original, and after that, what little potential the series had slipped away almost immediately.

I'm getting through The Hound of the Baskervilles quite swiftly, because I want to finish it before I watch the movie. I'm also nearing the end of The Sight.

[Makachop^^128]

Right now I am starting Percy Jackson and the Olympians the Lightning thief
after that I will be reading the Hobbit for the second.

[rocklobster]

The Shunning by Beverly Lewis

[Htom Sirveaux]

Clive Barker's The Thief of Always 44

[That Dude]

I'm currently reading...

Humility -by- Andrew Murrey.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Finished The Hound of the Baskervilles, still reading The Sight, and I've started Nine Princes of Amber by somebodyorother Zelazny (sweet name, huh? )

Nine Princes of Amber is the perfect example of getting a story off to a running start. The main character is actually proactive, not afraid to get out and do things, and he plays a very dangerous game by not letting on to anyone that he has amnesia and can't even remember who he is, but making them think he does. Very entertaining, though it'll almost be a disappointment to see him get his memory back.

[rocklobster]

I just finished The Giver. Really enjoyed it too. I am now no longer out of the loop about this much-hyped book.
I am now reading The Gathering Storm.

[wildpurplechild]

City of Ashes, sequel of City of Bones. By Cassandra Clare. I'm not very far into it, but I liked the first, and so far it's good.

[Htom Sirveaux]

Am currently on The Last Continent in my Discworld reading. Good ol' Rincewind.

As a side note, I'm somewhat tempted to order one of those 8-suit Fat Pack playing card decks from the UK just so I could play Cripple Mr. Onion if I ever really wanted to, but $17 is more than I wanna spend on cards.

[livxamlis]

i'm reading North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (: about half way in so far..

[uc pseudonym]

Life Sucks by Jessica Abel and Gabe Soria

This graphic novel won awards, I suspect because the dialogue captures casual conversation well. It's the tale of a vampire that works at a convenience store, who struggles with a mediocre life while around him the Goth population obsesses over vampire myths. I enjoyed the low-key aspects overall and while I wouldn't proclaim the book as incredible I have very little negative to say about it.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Unlike this book, where I have mostly negative things to say. However, I think it would be better if I didn't go into these in detail, as it wouldn't be anything new and probably wouldn't be good for me. I'm nearly at the end of the book and while I'm vaguely curious about what happens next, Wikipedia summaries will be sufficient.

[bigsleepj]

I'm currently attempting to re-read The Lord of the Rings by some J-Double-Are guy from England. Although I succeeded on my first attempt to read it, trying to get into it a second time has always been vaguely problematic (and with problematic I mean "new book I haven't read yet, so why read something I already know"). I suppose this is about my third attempt to read it for a second time. Let's see if I get past the first half of Fellowship this time.

[Mithrandir]

"This is the part where you pretend to add value." By Scott Adams.

[Htom Sirveaux]

I love Lord of the Rings, I really ought to re-read it...

I'm currently reading "Pride and Prejudice" by Austen and "And Another Thing" by Eoin Colfer. I'm surprised to be enjoying the first, and the second is brilliant, not quite Douglas Adam's standard but still good.

I've been hearing mixed reviews about And Another Thing, everything from "great" to "good, but pointless" to "garbage." I might read it when I can find it at my local library.

[rocklobster]

Just started Stephen King's newest book, Under the Dome

[ich1990]

“End the Fed” by Ron Paul

Let me first admit my biases. Anyone who has spoken about economics with me for any length of time knows that I dislike fiat currency and am more Austrian than Keynesian. I support commodity backed money (probably gold) and dislike the fact that the Federal Reserve has so much power and so few checks and balances. With that in mind, Ron Paul was preaching to the choir in “End the Fed”. I think he presents a solid, readable case, on moral, political, and economical levels for the dissolution of the Federal Reserve, and I couldn't agree with him more.

Politicians have a generally bad track record when it comes to books, however. They tend to have as many lies as a Michael Moore movie and even more contrived drama. In this respect, “End the Fed” is an improvement over what I have come to expect from this class of literature. While it pushes emotional buttons (bank bailouts, etc.), it also takes the time to make logical arguments and even supports those arguments with citations. The citations are a step up from “The Revolution: A Manifesto”, one of Paul's earlier books, which had none. Still, almost all the scholarly articles and books he references come from the Mises Institute, an organization of which Ron Paul is one of the top members. It would have been nice to see him use “neutral” sources for some of his claims. There are also many places he really should have given sources but didn't, which was a disappointment.

Another hindrance of “End the Fed” is that it is a relatively high level economics book. That is, although its target audience is the common man, it really isn't basic enough for someone with no background in economics to understand. I recommend that all people with aspirations of reading this book watch the short movie “Money as Debt” first in order to gain a basic understanding of the world banking system before they do so. Coming from Dr. Paul, this is par for the course. He is unique among politicians in that he is well versed in the topics he votes on, and that he expects his readers to put effort into becoming knowledgeable as well. He even provides a list of recommended reading at the end of this book to further this goal.

You can watch Money as Debt here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2550156453790090544&hl=en#

Once again, Ron Paul delivers a solid book that lacks some of the polish and attention to detail that could really make it stand out. The core ideas and philosophies are great, and I wish more people would give them thought, but the essay writer in me can not help but cringe at the lack of citations. Still, if the recent Wall Street debacles has made you curious about the Fed and why exactly we are keeping it around, this book comes highly recommended. Watch the video I linked above, read “End the Fed”, then read another economics book from a Keynesian point of view. Learn some more, decide, and then vote. Consider it part of your civic duty. 8/10.

PM me for discussion.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Finally finished Nine Princes in Amber and The Sight. Not that they were bad or boring books, but they were just taking way too long to finish. I didn't plan sufficiently far ahead, so I'm forced to wait till my next books come along from the library and tide myself over with The Slippery Slope by Lemony Snicket.

[rocklobster]

Just finished Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel. This should be a movie! It would make an awesome cartoon. Now I'm reading the first book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy.