Carolyn's comments
(member since Mar 31, 2009)
Carolyn's comments from the Beyond Reality group.
(showing 1-20 of 66)
I've been enjoying them so much that I've been reading ahead!
I just started Diplomatic Immunity last night and I'm trying to read slower to make it last longer, since it's the last one. = (
On the WP site, Miss Manners said "Donations" are given to institutions or charities that do good works.
I'd argue with that definition. I think a donation is defined by the giver, not by who the recipient is. That is, a donation is something for which the giver expects nothing in return. (In the purest form, not even a tax reciept.)
The dictionary defines it as 'a gift, grant or contribution' - with nothing specified as to the recipient.
While I didn't read the rest of the articles, there are several boards/groups/blogs that I know of that have 'donate' buttons on their sites. Doesn't bother me in the least. I do if I want to, don't if I don't.
Also, I'm pretty sure the widget/app that places the button on the sites is premade with the word "Donate" on it - I doubt the individual site can change the term just because Miss Manners says so.
Sisimka wrote: "For those of you looking to read our November Sci Fi selection Blindsight by Peter Watts, the author has it available for download on his website: http://www.rifters.com..."
Thanks Sisi!
I really enjoyed this book!
The peek into the Cetaganda culture was fascinating - excellent 'world-building' by Bujold.
I also think Barrayar is Russian-descended.
I think Jackson's Whole is polyglot - a gathering of the riff-raff, business at any cost, black marketers and mafiosos from everywhere, sorta like a Pirate's Island kind of model.
Beta Colony makes me think of Great Britain, or possibly the U.S. (although Jackson's Whole sounds a bit American, now that I think of it... = )
The strong caste system of Cetaganda made me think of India, but the facepaint and other things about the culture make me think Asian/Japanese.
Great question!
I really enjoyed the series - they are very good space opera. Marty said it well "space opera with a hero who is tortured by conscience". Nice light reading, plenty of action and tight situations that the hero needs to come up with sharp solutions to get out of, and with plenty of space battles/ship emergencies.
I agree with Random that the first 3-4 books were best. Let us know what your dad thinks of them.
Kathi wrote: "Anyone know what the new Card book is about?"
Actually, it isn't new, it was released in Oct 2007, this is just the paperback edition being released.
It's just a novella that was published as a HC (waste of $$). I didn't think much of the story, it's about when Ender has a battle of wills with the staff of the Battle School when he gives someone a gift for Sinterklaas Day - which is against school rules - and the giving becomes a spreading rebellion of the students v. the teachers. I'm a die-hard Ender fan, but I didn't think much of the story.
For my reading, I also love Arthurian stories, so I'll definitely be checking out the Lackey book Gwenhwyfar The White Spirit.
I'll also be picking up the new Aguirre book Doubleblind, as the series so far has been ok.
I'm also not sold on the new Maguire
Matchless A Christmas Story, because I've heard that it is a bit depressing - might wait until after Christmas to read that one.
I've already got Barb Hendee's Blood Memories on my tbr list, nice to see the sequel is already out (adding that now... = )
That's pretty much it for me off the list, except I'll probably check out the Jim C. Hines books, I've always liked fairy tale-retellings.
I haven't read the whole series yet (just 1-6), but just wanted to add in that the omnibus editions throw the math off for each of the novels that stand alone and are in one omnibus edition or another. Just a thought.
I enjoyed this - but I don't want to post anything further until people have read it - don't want to do any spoilers...
Good one! (Always the weakest plot point in the book, I thought.)
Thanks for sharing!
I'm glad I read Shards/Barrayar first, because now I feel like I 'get' all the little comments and asides about Miles' mother and about Bothari...
Thanks for the links Sisi!
I'm with you Mawgojzeta! I'm going to reread O&C before I attempt the new one.
Thanks for the list Stefan - it is a great reminder for me to go reserve ones I want at my library. Usually I get one of the first copies in, when I do this. Here are my picks:
Atwood, Margaret: The Year of the Flood - this is supposed to be set in the same world as Oryx & Crake, so I will definitely be reading this one.
Bear, Elizabeth: All the Windwracked Stars (pap)- Looks interesting and got three great reviews, so I will be reading this one.
Gabaldon, Diana: An Echo in the Bone (#7 Outlander) - I LOVE this series and have been anxiously awaiting the new one - this is a 'buy in HC, first edition' series for me!
Hieber, Leanna Renee: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker (pbo) - the title is catching my attention, so I'll be checking this one out.
Lee / Miller: Fledgling (Liaden) - I love this series, so this is a must-read for me, probably buy it in pb if I enjoy it.
Meyer, Stephenie: The Host (tp) - Haven't read the Twilight series yet, so I'm going to start with this one and see what all the fuss is about.
Moon, Elizabeth: The Serrano Succession (Change of Command and Against the Odds) (trd &tp) - I've already read this whole series - twice! Very enjoyable, but not planning on reading it again soon, my tbr list is too long. = )
Pelevin, Victor: The Sacred Book of the Werewolf (tp)-Looks interesting, getting this one from my library.
Roberts, Adam: Splinter (pbo) - read this one last year & didn't like it much at all.
Twelve Hawks, John: The Golden City (#3 Fourth Realm trilogy) - will read this to finish out the trilogy
Weber, David: Worlds of Weber (pbo)- I really enjoy Weber's space opera, so I will be checking this one out.
Ed. Little: Intelligent Design (pbo)- sounds interesting, will be reading this if I can get it from the library.
Sisimka wrote: "This is my first encounter with Miles and I basically didn't put the book down until I was finished."
I felt exactly the same way - other than having to go to work and dinnertime, once the little one was in bed I stayed up late each night reading it - started it Tuesday night and finished it last night (Wednesday.)
My only previous exposure to Miles was a short story I read many years ago, but I think he's shortly going to move up to my 'favorite characters' list - I love a clever character that solves problems with brains and not [just:] brawn.
I'm looking forward to watching his character grow and mature, without losing his inner-Miles spark!
Welcome to the group Lindalee!
The nice thing about GR is that the discussions on past books are still 'live', so you can also choose to read one of those books and then join in the discussion threads for it and see who replies. Most of us are subscribed to threads that we've commented on, so we'll see if a new comment posts and we can respond.
Beyond Reality only recently joined GR though, so there aren't too many older threads yet, but you can always pick a book from the previous BoM list and start a new discussion on it. = )
Diane wrote: "I'd like to nominate The two pearls of wisdom by Alison Goodman. I haven't read it yet, so I can't vouch for it, but the premise sounds interesting:
From Amazon: Eon ..."
FYI:
Just wanted to let people know that this book has been published under three different titles, which is confusing - they are all combined correctly in GR under Eon Dragoneye Reborn (it's the most rated, so it is the one that comes up first...)
Edit: Forgot to say, it looks good, so I added it to my TBR list! =- )
I just finished the LeGuin The Left Hand of Darkness last week, and I have two others by her on my shelf to read, not sure which I'll pick up next: Changing Planes or A Fisherman of the Inland Sea Stories.
Meanwhile, I've been reading the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig, I'm on the 4th book and enjoying them, one more to go!
Nothing really grabbing me from the list this month - I'll be concentrating on catching up with some of the books already on my immense TBR shelf, I think. = )
