RJ - Slayer of Trolls’s Comments

RJ - Slayer of Trolls’s comments from the 2025 Reading Challenge group.

Note: RJ - Slayer of Trolls is not currently a member of this group.

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Loved your review of The Looming Tower, RJ!"

Aww thank you Patti! It's a great read. I always seem to like the Pulitzer winners.

I finished a stunning Pulitzer-Prize winning non-fiction book about the birth and rise of Islamic fundamentalism:


The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading:


D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose

because I'm a male over the age of 50 so genetically this is the time in my life where I become fascinated with WWII.

#18 in 2021:

I finished a stunning Pulitzer-Prize winning non-fiction book about the birth and rise of Islamic fundamentalism:


The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading:


D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose

because I'm a male over the age of 50 so genetically this is the time in my life where I become fascinated with WWII.

Such a beautifully written book. I envy those of you who get to read it for the first time. Enjoy!

I finished this roman noir classic (a new film version of which is coming to theaters this December):


Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham
Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

#17 in 2021:

I finished this roman noir classic (a new film version of which is coming to theaters this December):


Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham
Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Gretchen wrote: "...Also, I’m not a troll. 😀"

Of course you're not. Otherwise I would have to slay you. ;-)

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I remember reading The Alchemist a long time ago and find it unbearably hokey. There are obviously readers who eat that stuff up, but I've just avoided him since then."

Of the three-book collection I just finished, The Alchemist was by far the best of the bunch. If you didn't like that one, don't read any of the rest of his stuff.

I finished:


By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho
Rating: 2 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

which is part of this collection:


The Alchemist / The Pilgrimage / By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept by Paulo Coelho
Rating: 2 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading a book I've had my eye on for a long time:


Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey

#16 in 2021:

I finished:


By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho
Rating: 2 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

which is part of this collection:


The Alchemist / The Pilgrimage / By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept by Paulo Coelho
Rating: 2 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading a book I've had my eye on for a long time:


Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey

I loved this book when I read it a few years ago. I hope everyone enjoyed it!

I finished:


The Devil's Alternative by Frederick Forsyth, a terrific Cold War-era thriller that will resonate even more for those of us who remember the Soviet grain deals and OPEC oil drama of the 1970s.
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading:


The Kings of Cool by Don Winslow, which is a prequel to Savages

I also started reading, for the Pulp Fiction book club, the roman noir classic:


Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham which certainly deserves its stellar reputation.

#15 in 2021:

I finished:


The Devil's Alternative by Frederick Forsyth
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading:


The Kings of Cool by Don Winslow, which is a prequel to Savages

I also started reading, for the Pulp Fiction book club, the roman noir classic:


Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham which certainly deserves its stellar reputation.

Christine wrote: "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!"

Happy (belated) Birthday Christine!

If you want to hate reading, I think you've come to the wrong place. ;-)

I finished the 8th book in the Amber series (the 3rd book in the Second Chronicles of Amber):


Sign of Chaos by Roger Zelazny
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I'm going to read another story in:


The Conquering Sword of Conan by Robert E. Howard

before I get on to the 9th Amber book (4th book in the Second Chronicles):


Knight of Shadows by Roger Zelazny

#14 in 2021:

I finished the 8th book in the Amber series (the 3rd book in the Second Chronicles of Amber):


Sign of Chaos by Roger Zelazny
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I'm going to read another story in:


The Conquering Sword of Conan by Robert E. Howard

before I get on to the 9th Amber book (4th book in the Second Chronicles):


Knight of Shadows by Roger Zelazny

Zeejane (Sara) wrote: "Great job on your progress so far!"

Thank you!

I finished:


The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams
Rating: 2 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading:


All Clear by Connie Willis

#13 in 2021 - I'm 25% of the way done!

I finished:


The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams
Rating: 2 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading:


All Clear by Connie Willis