Eigentlich wollte ich mich beklagen, dass ich einfach dieses Mal nicht in seinen Stil gekommen bin. Und überhaupt waren mir die Beschreibungen teilwei...moreEigentlich wollte ich mich beklagen, dass ich einfach dieses Mal nicht in seinen Stil gekommen bin. Und überhaupt waren mir die Beschreibungen teilweise viel zu langatmig und der Erzähler hätte sich ruhig etwas kürzer fassen und das Ganze etwas zügiger erzählen können. Aber dann kam das Nachwort von Moers und alles ist gut. Er hat sein Bestes gegeben, Mythenmetz Erzähltempo zu beschleunigen.
Ich schließe das Buch also mit einem wohligen Gefühl und voller Liebe zu Echo. Ich will auch ein Krätzchen (wobei.. wenn ich denke dass meine beiden Mietzen anstatt zu miauen diskutieren könnten und noch klüger wären als ich...mh). (less)
Half of them are probably praying for a good raping. This annoys me so much. In my opinion a bit more thought on rape would have been helpful. No ...moreHalf of them are probably praying for a good raping. This annoys me so much. In my opinion a bit more thought on rape would have been helpful. No woman would seriously think that, not even Cersei. It has been made clear that this is a world full of evil and apparently all good must perish. The people have no regards for life, animals, women. Obviously. They are also disrespectful. I get it. But I think these 'hints' or ways of showing the cruelty of the world have to be used with care and don't have to be flung about wildly and all the time. Tyrion doesn't always have to waddle. I take offense increasingly. Rape is not something you lightly add. Have it matter or have consequences. I have understood very quickly, that the majority of characters do not share this view. But the author should not have such careless narrators and even though it is the 3rd person narrator... that one isn't very consistent either (I have spotted him slip into the omniscient or switch POVs during one chapter).
Also.. please stop comparing the author with Tolkien. Tolkien's work was about good defeating evil, we all know what historical time it is referring to. In Tolkien's books people are tolerant and work together out of love and respect. This is Tolkien's message. To me, so far, the message of these books is: go ahead and rape and maim and slaughter, it doesn't matter, the world fucks you up anyway and the bad and most scheming people win no matter what you do.
Anyway... continuing to read now. (Also please do not introduce further random character's POV.. because if I have never even paid a mind to them or heard of them before, I do not want to read about them. I want to read about those that I have come to know over the last thousand and more pages.)
EDIT: I'm finished and boy this one was a waste of time. In the author's note he said "that the readers would be better served by a book that told all the story for half the characters than half the story for all the characters". Well, I think you made the wrong choice.
Because: a) I wasted 900 pages on a story of mostly side characters which could have been told in 100 pages. The story did not progress. I was forced to witness the loooong events happening to and destroying some of the characters I previously haven't invested any second thought in. (And yes Arya and Sansa, who has now a personality disorder it seems, turned up briefly.) What do I care for the Princess of Dorne? Can you tell me that? I know it serves a purpose but it could have been told quicker. Length is not always a good thing. b) I have to re-read it again in the next book... in a way. The timeline will repeat itself. Seriously, bad decision.
During the whole read I felt that the narrator (and thus the author.. yes I know, not the same thing) has been telling me: "Hey, look these are the protagonists, I call them the Starks and we will focus on their lives. That over there is the evil enemy (remember the Others anyone?). And also, winter is coming." Only to then go: "Naaah fooled you. Let's what else we can talk about and who else and oh, snow will wait..." I feel cheated. I really do. And I'm annoyed. (less)
**spoiler alert** Let me tell you what I didn't like:
- enough with killing off all the characters I come to invest in. Some of them need to ...more**spoiler alert** Let me tell you what I didn't like:
- enough with killing off all the characters I come to invest in. Some of them need to make it out alive (And I mean alive as in really alive!). Some of them need to win. You cannot always maim and hurt and kill, dear author. You will say that you can but I answer: you piss me off with it. Granted, the world you create is a cruel one. But even in a cruel world, people occasionally succeed and experience moments of happiness... and they aren't always the evil ones because it makes the good ones look incompetent and stupid and this lets the evil ones lose some of their cleverness and you see where I am going with this? Plans work out and not only for the antagonists. Maybe I am rooting for the wrong team, but you are to blame for that as well since you made me be on team Stark in the first novel. Now you cannot switch me around. I'm a faithful reader.
- Sansa. Sansa pisses me off to no extent...that is because I think the author fails her. Nobody goes through whatever she has gone through unchanged. And yet, miraculously, Sansa manages to remain this naive girl without backbone. Grow some balls, girl. Or maybe, if the author would actually be on those character's side that he has originally established as the protagonists, Sansa and Arya might meet and then some of Arya might rub off on her little sister?
- the pace. It is way too slow. I know, sooner or later, Arya and her wolf will meet up or she wouldn't have wolf dreams. Do I have to wait until book 12762?
- I wonder why I should bother reading the next volume. I know I will, but... I expect the remaining characters that I care for (the Hound, Tyrion, Arya, Jon, Ghost) will probably be maimed and killed in it anyway.
What I would like to say is... I see the work that went into it, I also see the typos in the print (yes, I know it is tough work but there is a difference between "Catelyn opened the windows" and "Catelyn opened the widows"... I can even remember that one), and I hope that it won't stay as hopelessly grim and depressing. The bad guys cannot win (and they can be as clever and as layered as they are...they are still the antagonist), the originally established protagonists must have some success as well. Throw them a bone. Throw me a bone but one you don't snatch away when my fingers are already brushing it. Because it isn't good story-telling when it is the only thing you do. We got it: everyone can die. Fine, sing me a new tune, maybe the one that is called "some of them can survive".
Again I am in need for 1,5 stars. Not that I have anything against Bradbury, but I was bored by this. Maybe it works for younger readers, but I was ex...moreAgain I am in need for 1,5 stars. Not that I have anything against Bradbury, but I was bored by this. Maybe it works for younger readers, but I was expecting a bit more creepiness and less education. Also, he reused the mummies in Mexico :-) Have read about them in a short story before.(less)
I'm still amazed at the details and realness of the story. Also I am somewhat confused by the backstory of the different families. And it made it...more I'm still amazed at the details and realness of the story. Also I am somewhat confused by the backstory of the different families. And it made it difficult for me to have new POVs opened up, e.g. Davos.. I couldn't remember who he was no matter how often his POV came up.
I'm glad my favorite characters survived (even though they aren't that well) and I might embark on the next one after I have done Nanowrimo. :-)(less)
I tried watching the TV show and for some reason I didn't bother (which is weord because it has everything I love in TV shows except maybe an abundanc...moreI tried watching the TV show and for some reason I didn't bother (which is weord because it has everything I love in TV shows except maybe an abundance of hmor).
I gave the books a try though because people who have a wonderful taste when it come to literature recommended them to me.
And I loved it. It's quite amazing how many details there are and how real this world it. The characters are interesting as is the plot (I even managed to keep up with the different names and so forth, which is usually my weak point).
I cannot forgive some of the characters short lifespan but in the end, it makes the plot even more realistic. When nobody is save to survive the story, it is even more exciting.
**spoiler alert** I put this on hold on page 133. I liked the beginning and the plane was creepy. But once the coffin showed up, my initial response w...more**spoiler alert** I put this on hold on page 133. I liked the beginning and the plane was creepy. But once the coffin showed up, my initial response was "Been there since Dracula" and then it all was so familiar I just couldn't be bothered. An eclipse? Really? How new.
Maybe I started this at the wrong time in my life, but I was expecting a new spin on the old theme of man vs Vampire/zombies or vampiric zombies or whatever that will be.
- Temeraire and Iskierka did not have an egg. I want them to have an egg. I think it would be a splendid egg and I'd love to see them quarrel over its education.
- Australia. I don't know why I seem to find stories set in Australia not as catching (see e.g. that one Discworld novel). I know so many wonderful Australians and I want to travel there asap but somehow, with stories, I just don't get hooked.
- I wished Laurence and Temeraire went with Iskierka to America. I was just as disappointed as Temeraire. The Australians can have one revolution after the other for all I care, I'm not really interested. The best part was the part on that port, near the end of the story. (hide spoiler)]
However, I like Emily. She kicks ass. And I'm interested to see what'll happen to Kulingile. Also I love how that world gets more flashed out and real. As do the characters.
So I am impatiently awaiting the next installment in the hopes of them going away to America. (less)
This one was again much more grimmer I think. But this is understandable given the situation the protagonists find themselves in. I love how the unive...moreThis one was again much more grimmer I think. But this is understandable given the situation the protagonists find themselves in. I love how the universe gets more and more complete and how the characters evolve and grow through it.
Also, I am not ashamed to say, I love Temeraire and Iskierka together. I hope there will be an egg and cannot wait to meet it :-)
Plodding on straight to the last one published. The series is my new drug it seems.(less)
Despite the fact that the ending felt like a completely different story (I would have left off at them deciding to do what they do in the end), it mad...moreDespite the fact that the ending felt like a completely different story (I would have left off at them deciding to do what they do in the end), it made me teary-eyed. I also think that it is the darkest of the books so far, the themes and trials are not as 'light-hearted' (for lack of a better word) than the previous (those being mainly journeys).
I like the undercurrent topics, or rather the recurrent ones, of (I think I have said so before) humanity and tolerance and of course respect and honor and so forth. Also of, in a way, feminism. Also, the characters have really grown on me.
Anyway. Starting with the next book right away.(less)
My first impression was that the narrator reminded me of both/ or a mixture of the narrators in "The Catcher in the Rye" and "The Curio...moreMy first impression was that the narrator reminded me of both/ or a mixture of the narrators in "The Catcher in the Rye" and "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". But in the end it was all a bit different.
I liked this novel a lot. The further I read the more intense it became. Sometimes it made me uncomfortable, sometimes teary-eyed, sometimes it amused me. I could find myself in some of the things that happened to the narrator and until the end I was deeply worried for him.
This is one of those novels that are classics for a reason (not all of them are if you ask me), so I can highly recommend it.(less)
Third book in the series and still lovely. The beginning was a bit longish but once they were back in the war zone I was hooked again. I also had to l...moreThird book in the series and still lovely. The beginning was a bit longish but once they were back in the war zone I was hooked again. I also had to laugh out loud over little Iskierka. She's adorable.
I also like that question of tolerance and equality and dominance of one being over another are addressed. That never gets old imho.(less)
The part on the ship could have been a bit shorter or faster paced. It makes sense it wasn't since it conveys the 'ordeal' or the annoyance of such a ...moreThe part on the ship could have been a bit shorter or faster paced. It makes sense it wasn't since it conveys the 'ordeal' or the annoyance of such a long travel. But I wouldn't have needed all that much. This time I also didn't get so emotionally involved in the story, but that was to be expected since the first one caught me unawares and this rarely happens anyway.
I still enjoyed the story a lot. It is a relaxing and quick read. And I have started in book 3.(less)
I love this. At first I it really reminded me of "How to Train your Dragon" but then, the whole Man-meets-dragon-and-forms-bond-for-life Sto...moreI love this. At first I it really reminded me of "How to Train your Dragon" but then, the whole Man-meets-dragon-and-forms-bond-for-life Story isn't really new. That is was set in the past of Britain/Europe I didn't like at first but I was quickly won over.
It might be that I am a horse-person, but I immediately took to Temeraire and the other dragons. I want one. It's like a horse but cooler. *lol*
I am also not ashamed to admit I was moved to tears by the end of chapter 1. This happened only on rare occasions before, such as TLOTR. Levitus broke my heart (naturally I wanted to adopt him too).
I have ordered the next 2 books and don't know whether I should wait for them to arrive to continue reading the series or read something in between. Mh.
Anyway, I read it in 3 days, it has 350 pages. This is extremely fast for me and I haven't dug into a novel as happily as I have with this one. I'd like to add more stars now please.(less)
I don't like to read crime novels because the only thing interesting to me is the beginning and then the end. The middle part is just in the way. I do...moreI don't like to read crime novels because the only thing interesting to me is the beginning and then the end. The middle part is just in the way. I don't try to figure out who did it while reading. I just wanna be told already.
That out of the way, the novel is my first Agatha Christie read. I bought it for 80c in a sale. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have bought one ever. I have seen a lot of the movies and enjoyed them a lot.
And now I can happily add, that I might just pick up some of her other books. Because I really enjoyed myself. I quite liked the heroine, even though she is a bit dated in certain characteristics (love, marriage, men-women), but in others she is quite modern and I liked that. I also loved Sir Eustace and his sense of humor.
I didn't much care for the love story because it didn't feel real to me. But I also don't like e.g. "Gone with the Wind" because it is just too much. So that might be just me.
It is also an easy and quick read, I think. And entertaining without forcing you to think much (but you could, if you tried to solve the murder.. which I didn't do.).(less)
I have wanted to read it before it was even out. I never got around to do so until now and I have to say, I am touched. I have expected more texts of ...moreI have wanted to read it before it was even out. I never got around to do so until now and I have to say, I am touched. I have expected more texts of hers, but the ones that are printed show her pretty clear I think.
Let me just state that I can relate to a lot of the thoughts she jotted down in her attempt to come to terms with herself. I have had similar ones. I also think nobody can ever call her stupid again, because you have to be smart and bold to reflect your own self that thoroughly. Also: show of hands who has tackled Ulysses yet?
I think she did the best she could but that she didn't receive the help she would have needed. Therapy forms weren't what they are now, I assume.
What I love about this book is, that it has a feel of neutrality to it. This must be due to the author and her university background, which imho is al...moreWhat I love about this book is, that it has a feel of neutrality to it. This must be due to the author and her university background, which imho is always a plus, who presents the findings and doesn't tell me what to think about them. She offers theories of interpretation and explanations, all well researched it seems to me, but I can make up my own mind how I feel about it. Also it is well.structured and lovingly visually arranged.
And I feel as if I see Marilyn Monroe as a human being for the first time. And I am grateful for that. I look at the receipts, the letters, the various documents and I am saddened that she had to leave this world so soon, but I also see, that this woman was truly just a flawed as we all are. Not that I doubted that before.
I can recommend this book to people who are interested in MM. It doesn't romanticize her, so you'd really have to be interested to read letters of people whom you don't know or look through receipts. It isn't as personal at "The Audrey Hepburn Treasures" e.g.
Premise: Richard Castle lives in my reality. -> The second installment of the series, featuring Nikki Heat, a homicide detective, and Jameson ...morePremise: Richard Castle lives in my reality. -> The second installment of the series, featuring Nikki Heat, a homicide detective, and Jameson Rook, journalist, as the main characters, shows that Castle managed to get to know his characters more. Not just is the story more complex, involving several suspects and murders, but the characters also feel more rounded and human. I enjoyed Naked Heat more than his predecessor and am looking forward to the next chapter Heat Rises. Castle must have done his research.
Metalayer: You can clearly see how the fictional Richard Castle is writing fanfiction about himself and Beckett, drawing from those murder cases he investigated with her. Also that duck-tape scene with Alexis made an appearance in the novel. I love how consistent it is and how it really ties in with the series. I can also imagine that Beckett might be weirded out a bit at the end bit and how domestic Rook/Heat get, being hers and Castles alter egos basically. I am however hoping very much that she rather gets to see it as what it is (namely him being in love with her). Anyway.
Also, any book referring to Firefly makes me happy. And the story did grab me and entertained me a lot more than the first one. (less)
2 stars seem so little and unfair given the complexity of the universe/world that is created in the novel. But that is exactly what my issue is. At fi...more2 stars seem so little and unfair given the complexity of the universe/world that is created in the novel. But that is exactly what my issue is. At first I was almost compelled. I wanted to soak in every detail about the city, its horrors and wonders and inhabitants. But after reaching the climax with the very!evil!antagonists and finding out that that climax seemed to last for 100 pages or more... I just couldn't do it. I didn't want all the detail, it was too much and I just wanted a quicker pace. I wanted to get to the solution and not toil through 100 more pages of information. So I gave up and only cross-read a couple of pages and the last few printed in italic.
I admire Miéville's ability to envision that world. And the story is good, it lures you in and all, but in the end... less would have been a bit more for me. Also, I failed to be scared or horrified by the very!evil!antagonists, maybe because of the whole city being so lethal. Everyone basically was an enemy. The good didn't stick out enough (which is good because it means the characters aren't flat) and maybe I felt that I'd give up anyways, were I to live there. Horror lurked behind every corner so why would the very!evil!antagonists be more horrible?
There is probably more to be said but I just end with the fact, that I am looking forward to another book of Miéville's. This one however in the second half didn't live up to the way it started.(less)
okay, trying to voice what I thought and how I approached it.
First off: brilliant marketing idea.
Second: I love the meta layer of ...moreokay, trying to voice what I thought and how I approached it.
First off: brilliant marketing idea.
Second: I love the meta layer of a fictional character publishing a book (in my reality) which is inspired by the woman he is in love with (yup I'm a shipper, your argument is invalid). So I tried to read it as such, which proved to be difficult. Whenever I heard his voice (or that of Nathan) as the narrator's voice, I was fine. I could happily picture him typing away and having a ball at writing page 105 (well, d'uh). So I liked the insight it gives into him and how he perceives Kate Beckett (mystery maybe, but you have her figured out more than you give yourself credit for, Rick). I give it a thumbs up.
Now. All that meta out of the way, the story itself, without KB and RC attached to it, was okay. I'm not one to read crime, I get bored and lose interest. I don't even watch the show for the crime factor. I'm always interested in characters. And I have to say, don't like Nikki Heat. I really like Beckett (though I want to slap some sense into her sometimes) but Heat... nah. Too bitchy, trying too hard. But that is okay, she can develop. Anyway. Confusing myself here. The plot was good, it is an easy read and I was done in 24 hours.
You like crime? Or Castle you can go for it.(less)
I loved this. It is a wonderful look into the life of not the icon, but I think, the woman. The idea of having those pouches (for lack of a better wor...moreI loved this. It is a wonderful look into the life of not the icon, but I think, the woman. The idea of having those pouches (for lack of a better word), which hold prints of photographs, letters and so forth, makes the book personal. It is like a treasure and I have to say, I was teary eyed at the end.
Not bad. But somehow the issues addressed (war, intolerance, sexism, oppression, discrimination, death, loss, self-denial, everlasting love)... it was...moreNot bad. But somehow the issues addressed (war, intolerance, sexism, oppression, discrimination, death, loss, self-denial, everlasting love)... it was too much. I would have gone with less is more. I mean, the war stories alone would have been tough. Or the domestic violence / oppression of women (or one in particular). I would have been okay to follow Mariam through her life. I wouldn't have needed Laila and her story. And I thought the ending was a bit too much, I found it a bit... maybe not cliché but too sweet.
I think, had the narrator stayed in Mariam's POV, that would have been so much better but that is just a personal feeling.
As a whole, I liked it more than I thought I would and it is definitely worth a read.(less)
Oh war das toll. Ich habs natürlich geschafft die Bücher komplett achronologisch zu lesen, aber das tut dem Ganzen keinen Abbruch. Bemerkenswert finde...moreOh war das toll. Ich habs natürlich geschafft die Bücher komplett achronologisch zu lesen, aber das tut dem Ganzen keinen Abbruch. Bemerkenswert finde ich nicht nur die Fülle an Sub-plots und Geschichten in Geschichten die alle letztlich von Bedeutung sind, sondern auch die Tatsache, dass die unaussprechlichen Grausamkeiten das wohlige Gefühl, dass sich bei mir einstellte, nicht kleinkriegen konnten. Ich war entrüstet, empört, angeekelt und dann kurz darauf entzückt, glücklich und verzaubert.
Rumo ist natürlich toll. Ich will außerdem ein Einhörnchen, aber das wollte ich ja schon als ich Ensel und Grete las.
Am Schönsten ist aber die allerletzte Seite, weil ich das Buch mit einem breiten Grinsen geschlossen habe.
I really enjoyed this. While reading I felt calm and completely relaxed. The characters, even though there is a confusing amount of them, were enterta...moreI really enjoyed this. While reading I felt calm and completely relaxed. The characters, even though there is a confusing amount of them, were entertaining and I think the description of the tourists behavior is a very realistic one. Also, I enjoyed the humor.(less)
**spoiler alert** I put in on hold. I'm in page 106. So far I think this:
- Why does the protagonist, who is an archaeologist and who tried t...more**spoiler alert** I put in on hold. I'm in page 106. So far I think this:
- Why does the protagonist, who is an archaeologist and who tried to find the oldest human remains, not investigate the monster, its origin etc?
- Why is the protagonist's personal drama more unrealistic to me and harder to buy than a monster, which lived in a lake? Or a ghost? I think this does tell you something about the character's motivation and that it was just constructed to add some drama I don't think necessary.
- I fail to see why I should bother about a 30-year-old behaving like a 16-year-old? There are condoms and other means to prevent pregnancies. Please have no Mary Sues, but women who can actually decide what they want to do with their own body, namely have a child or not. Also, there is something like speech which is used by teenagers and speech which is used by adults.
- excuse me: Monster. In lake. Please investigate? React like real people would: freak out/ investigate/ take pictures / run like hell / start a religion revolving around the monster. Or act like people in a fairy tale/fantasy novel would: find its family and start talking with it. Whatever.
- Run the wife over with a plane? Seriously??
- Question: You are really really sick. You feel really really crappy and in the end it turns out to be lupus. But you do not go and see a doctor despite the fact that you have felt really really crappy for 3 months? Really? (Random drama anyone?) Will the lupus pay off in the end? Is it vital for the progress of the plot or the character arch?
- The whole: mom isn't telling me who my dad is this is unfair but to me and not to him as she states - thing... uhm... yes, that is how people react.
*sigh*
Not to be unfair or harsh to a novelist or anything, but will these things make sense? I need a break from it right now, because it angers me because there is potential and I see it wasted. Is it supposed to be a fun thing, because then it lacks the humor. Should I take it serious, which I can't because it needs to be more realistic (not real). (less)
Fast and enjoyable read. Very atmospheric and I thought I could feel the buzz of that age (I always perceive it as exciting). It was thrilling, humoro...moreFast and enjoyable read. Very atmospheric and I thought I could feel the buzz of that age (I always perceive it as exciting). It was thrilling, humorous at times and dark.
Auch wenn das Ganze nicht der wissenschaftlichen Form entsprach (ich hätte mir Quellenangaben zu Zitaten geüwnscht, u.a.) und sich eher wie ein Krimi ...moreAuch wenn das Ganze nicht der wissenschaftlichen Form entsprach (ich hätte mir Quellenangaben zu Zitaten geüwnscht, u.a.) und sich eher wie ein Krimi las, fand ich malte das Buch eine spannende Welt der Entstehung der Paläontologie (damals Geologie genannt). Einiges war mir bereits bekannt, anderes neu. Und der Umstand dass die Erforschung urzeitlicher Funde erst aktiv seit ca 200 Jahren stattfindet, beeindruckt mich wirklich. So lange ist das noch nicht aber umso beeindruckender ist die Leistung von Mantell und den anderen Pionieren der Forschung.
Wer sich für Dinosaurier und die ersten Gehversuche auf dem Gebiet der Klassifiziereung interessiert, dabei keine 100% wissenschaftliche Abhandlung möchte, dem kann ich das Buch empfehlen.(less)
![The Audrey Hepburn Treasures: Pictures and Mementos from a Life of Style and Purpose [With Mementos]](http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168571510s/34597.jpg "The Audrey Hepburn Treasures: Pictures and Mementos from a Life of Style and Purpose [With Mementos]")
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