Reading in October 2006

[Jack]

The saga continues.

I picked up Iron Council by China Mieville to read after having read the first three Malazan books in a row (okay, well I read Jonathan Carrol's White Apples in there somewhere, but that one doesn't count); all points of logic tell me it was time to take a break from Erikson for a bit. Unfortunately, I left House Of Chains where it could see me on my bookshelf, and it kept talking to me in my head, "You don't want to read that Mieville, you know he discourages individualism in favor of the greater utilitarian good. No kick ass heroes like in Malazan. You sure about your reading choice? I mean, no matter what you think about socialism, do you really wanted to be preached at right now? Why not just be entertained? Don't you want to literally cheer out loud at passages in a book? Just pick me up, it's time."

So now I'm 200 some odd pages into House Of Chains. It's so awesome already.

 

[Gildor]

No problem, but what i've read of Holdstock is three out of four of his Mythago cycle, there loosely connected but you can easily read Lavondyss, the Hollowing or Mythago Wood seperately without fear. The other book is Gate of Ivory Gate of Horn, and this is a prequel of sorts to MW, only it follows a different persepctive to one of the characters that featured.

 

[Eventine]

Now i've just got a few chapters into The Etched City by K.J.Bishop, and its looking like its something of a treat so far, i'm loving the wild Western brutality of the initial parts, though I suspect theres some more delights to come ... ooh Goody!

WE've previously discussed this in the bookclub here. Kirsten was nice enough to come along and discuss the book as well, so you might like to have a read of that thread when you've finished the book.

 

[NoWeakness]

I'm reading The Fellowship of the Ring for the third time. I just bought the limited edition sets of the movies and thought it time to read this great story over again.

 

[zorobnice]

Just started on DawnThief the third in the series by James Barkley. I am riveted. I strongly recommend the series, with it's unexpected twists, and the total npredictability of it. I mean it's quite refreshing to know that you have not figured out what's to happen before it does. After this, back to Erikson's House of Chains. (I heard you Jack)

 

[Korpiklaani]

Re-reading Ascendants of Estorea by James Barclay before the second and final installment comes out next month. (Awesome read by the way).

Blood Tears by Raven Dane, which i've just started and so far i'm really enjoying it.

 

[Ondine]

After ploughing through The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, I decided to go and invest in The Liveship Traders Trilogy. I've started book one but it just seems to be going very slowly for me. I'll definitely stick with it but I'm thinking of maybe starting "The Lies of Locke Lamora" and then perhaps coming back to "The Liveship Traders"! Any advice???

 

[Gildor]

Just started on DawnThief the third in the series by James Barkley.

Thats the first is it not? I've never really got round to reading some more Raven books, the one I read was quite enjoyable.

Thanks for the heads up Eventine, will check it out!

Ondine, do it .. it's one of the best books of the year so far

 

[Korpiklaani]

Thats the first is it not

Yeah, Dawnthief's the first, then Noonshade, then Nightchild.

 

[Evil Agent]

Ondine: After ploughing through The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, I decided to go and invest in The Liveship Traders Trilogy. I've started book one but it just seems to be going very slowly for me. I'll definitely stick with it but I'm thinking of maybe starting "The Lies of Locke Lamora" and then perhaps coming back to "The Liveship Traders"! Any advice???

Hi Ondine. Yes, Liveship is a little bit slower than Farseer, and some people find it a bit harder to get into. However, it is a great series, and definitely worth reading. It picks up as it goes along, as well. I'd say stick with it. And then you get the pleasure of reading the Tawny Man series afterwards, which continues the story of FitzChivalry and the Fool.

Jack: So now I'm 200 some odd pages into House Of Chains. It's so awesome already.

Jack, your sincere love of Erikson always makes me chuckle. I know that feeling, of a book calling to you from the shelf. I think in that situation, you should read the book that's calling to you... it's obviously what you want to read. And yes, the first 200 pages of HoC are "so awesome". Karsa Orlong... enough said.

 

[ravenlynne]

The saga continues.

So now I'm 200 some odd pages into House Of Chains. It's so awesome already.

I just put Gardens of the Moon on request at the library.

 

[s271]

I just put Gardens of the Moon on request at the library.

I tried to start Gardens of the Moon twice already, but both times lost interest after dozen of pages. Somehow I always have feeling that I already read something very similar...

 

[Ondine]

Thanks Evil Agent and Gildor. I appreciate the advice from both of you. I continued reading Ship of Magic last night and I am getting more into it so I'll stick with it. Unfortunately unlike some I can never read two books at once otherwise I'd try "The Lies of Locke Lamora" at the same time. I always feel for some reason that I won't appreciate a book fully if I read another at the same time ... Odd I know ! Anyway once I'm finished Ship of Magic I 'll read Lies... cos I really am dying to read it! Thanks again

 

[Blog_the_troll]

Just finished Shield of Thunder by David Gemmell

Excellent story following on from Lord of the Silver Bow. Brings the storyline up to the start of the war. If you liked the first one you'll love this.

 

[sic's mom]

Well while I am waiting for my shipment of Stephen King's books in the Dark Tower series I thought I would read some of his I never have and see if they tie into the series. I picked up yesterday "Needfull Things, Desperation, Insomnia, Eyes of the Dragon and Christine." Not some of his best I know, but the used bookstore didn't have too large of a selection, believe it or not. "It" is one I really want to read and will probably break down and buy new. O well, is October and I guess tis the season for SK.

 

[Eventine]

I'd strongly suggest reading The Regulators straight after Desperation. They have a very strong resonance.

 

[Evil Agent]

I picked up yesterday "Needfull Things, Desperation, Insomnia, Eyes of the Dragon and Christine." Not some of his best I know, but the used bookstore didn't have too large of a selection, believe it or not. "It" is one I really want to read and will probably break down and buy new.

Eyes of the Dragon is actually one of my favorite King novels. Insomnia was pretty cool as well. Needful Things is one of the only books I've ever given up on, after trying to read it twice; I never got past the halfway mark. It wasn't bad, but it just couldn't maintain my interest. I still haven't read It either.

 

[ravenlynne]

I'd strongly suggest reading The Regulators straight after Desperation. They have a very strong resonance.

That's putting it mildly...

 

[Jack]

I tried to start Gardens of the Moon twice already, but both times lost interest after dozen of pages. Somehow I always have feeling that I already read something very similar...

Like you, I tried to start reading Gardens Of The Moon twice. For me, the third time was the charm, I just relaxed my mind a little and told myself just to read closely but not get hung up on anything that wasn't immediately clear. Now I am seriously hooked.

In other news, I found myself back in the Mighty Recommendation Thread, a chaotic land I had not ventured into for many months. I was on a mission to discover books like Erikson, since I am at the end of the Malazan books currently available in the states. So I did a search for Erikson in the "If you like ^^^^^^^ you might like ^^^^^^" thread, and came up with Greg Keyes' Briar King, which I've taken a risk on and ordered from a 3rd party seller via amazon. Not a risk because I don't think I'll enjoy the book: RobB's sterling review of the book convinced me it was one I would enjoy, but because I'm always afraid I'll end up with a BCE. I'm hoping I get a remaindered copy. We'll see next week.

 

[Eventine]

Well, recently finished books include Scott Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought (which I found hard to put down but am still not sure how I feel about), this months book club book Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.

Now I'm about a third of the way through The Mistsof Everness by John C. Wright. I'm finding it just as enjoyable as the first - it does a really cool mix of magic encroaching upon the modern world (c'mon - don't tell me you haven't all ben crying out for more fantasy featuring special ops soldiers taking on magicians).