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.

I just finished my 20th book of the year - Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy which I gave 5 stars. You can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

To replace it in my Currently Reading pile, I started The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.

I'm still working on:
- Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card which I should finish in a week or so
- The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich which I should finish later this month or early September
- Inferno by Dan Brown which I will probably finish in late September
- A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
- The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2015 edited by Rich Horton

I decided not to revise my goal, even though I have already completed the 20 books I set out to read. I made an effort to focus on quality not quantity at the beginning of the year and I feel like overall I am pleased with what I have read. I'll keep plugging away to see how far I get by the end of 2016 and I will use those results to set 2017's goals.

Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Great job Randy. I'm like you. I always have at least 5 books going at a time."

Thank you Kadijah Michelle. :)

I just finished my 19th book of the year - Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny which I read so I could participate in a group discussion for my Sci-Fi and Heroic Fantasy book club. I gave the book 2 stars.

I started reading A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin.

I'm still working on:
- Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy which I should finish later this week
- The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich which I should finish later this month
- Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card which I hope to finish later this month or early September
- Inferno by Dan Brown which I will probably finish in late September
- The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2015 edited by Rich Horton

Hannah wrote: "Good luck on your reading goal!"

Thank you Hannah! :)

I finished Hard-Boiled (anthology) edited by Bill Pronzini and Jack Adrian, and The Lost City of Z by David Grann. I gave both books 4 stars.

I also read a quick science fiction anthology, War Stories from the Future edited by August Cole. It is available for free online at http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/public.... It's OK - I liked some stories but others weren't so great. I gave it 3 stars.

Replacing the books above in my Currently Reading pile are:
- The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2015 edited by Rich Horton
- The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich

And of course I'm still working on:
- Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny
- Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
- Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card
- Inferno by Dan Brown

I've reached 18 books for 2016, just two short of the goal I set at the beginning of the year. I might be able to finish Jack of Shadows by the end of July, but if not I should finish it in August, along with Blood Meridian and hopefully Shadow of the Giant.

Last night I finished my 15th book of 2016: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. To sum it up: a bunch of people quarrel over the throne, and there's plenty of illicit sex. Not so different from the upcoming presidential primaries, is it?

To take its place in my reading pile I've chosen Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny. I have only read Zelazny's first Amber quintology so I'm looking forward to it.

I'm still working on:
- Hard-Boiled ed. by Bill Pronzini and Jack Adrian
- The Lost City of Z by David Grann
- Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
- Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card
- Inferno by Dan Brown

I should be able to complete 2-3 from this list by the end of July.

I finished my 14th book of 2016 - Call for the Dead by John le Carré. I gave it 3 stars - it's the first book featuring Le Carre's indelible George Smiley character, but as a mystery it's just OK. The pacing is awkward, and I predicted most of the twists. The best part is the Cold War espionage setting, which Le Carre used to such advantage in later works such as The Spy Who Came in From the Cold .

Now I'm starting Inferno by Dan Brown.

Other books I am currently reading:
- A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin
- Hard-Boiled ed. by Bill Pronzini and Jack Adrian
- Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
- The Lost City of Z by David Grann
- Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card

I should finish the first two or maybe three in that list in July. My 13 year old daughter has a lot of basketball games in July including a 4-day tournament out of state so my reading schedule is going to be erratic for the next few weeks.

Yesterday I finished Ubik by Philip K Dick.

I decided to remove the graphic novels from my yearly total (that would be the 3 Walking Dead compendiums) so Ubik gives me 13 for the year. I should still easily hit 20.

Later this month I'll probably finish Call for the Dead by John Le Carre, and maybe one more.

I finished The Giver The Giver by Lois Lowry - 3 stars. That gives me 15 for the year so far.

I finished The Walking Dead Compendium 3 today, my 14th book of the year. It was terrific - I gave it 5 stars.

Nothing replaces it immediately in my Currently Reading pile, but next week or so I may start reading the Sin City books.

Right now, I'm currently reading (in order of projected finish):
- The Giver by Lois Lowry - I'm reading along with my daughter's 7th grade English class
- Ubik by Philip K Dick - a re-read of one of PKD's most highly regarded books
- Call for the Dead by John Le Carre - Le Carre's first novel, and the first appearance of George Smiley
- A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin - book 3 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones on TV)
- Hard-Boiled (anthology) ed. by Bill Pronzini and Jack Adrian - noir crime stories from the 1920s-1990s
- The Lost City of Z by David Grann
- Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
- Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls - re-read of a childhood favorite

Thanks to my daughter's basketball practice last night, I was able to finish The Man Who Killed His Brother by Stephen R Donaldson writing as Reed Stevens. I gave it 3 stars and you can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Replacing it in the Currently Reading pile is Call for the Dead by John Le Carre which is the book that introduces his George Smiley character.

As I suspected, I decided to give up on Papillon. Too bloated and boring. I haven't given up on a book in probably more than 10 years so congratulations Papillon!

In its place I added The Lost City of Z by David Grann. It seems much more suited to my tastes so far although I've only read the preface.

I think I am still on track to finish The Man Who Killed His Brother by Stephen R Donaldson writing as Reed Stevens and The Walking Dead Compendium Vol. 3 by the end of May, with the Giver to follow in early June (I am reading along with my daughter's 7th grade English class so I am not dictating the pace).

I've finished another two books:
11 - The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 - collects issues 49-96 of the comic book series, which is approximately halfway through Season 6 of the TV show for those of you who watch (and if you don't, you should! it's ridiculously good). 5 stars
12 - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - I wanted to read this book in May since it is the Monthly Read for the Study Break Book Group here at GR. It's such a fun book that I read through it quickly, at least for me. I tend to read at a slower pace, about 10 pages per day at best, but in this case I read about twice that fast. 4 stars

Replacing those two books on my Currently Reading pile are:
- The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 3 - collecting issues 97-144 of the comic book series. Now I'm going well past where the TV show is, which increases the spoiler risk for the show, but it seems like the show's writers mix things up enough to keep us guessing even if we've read the comics. I should finish this one in May.
- Ubik by Philip K Dick - I read this one several years ago. It was one of my first PKD books, and I don't remember it that well so I'm going to re-read it before I hop back into the Ender/Bean series by Orson Scott Card. I'll probably finish this one in June.
- I'm also reading The Giver by Lois Lowry - my daughter's 7th grade English class is reading this book and I thought I would follow along. I think I will probably finish this in May also.

Other books I am reading now (I read several at a time to keep myself from getting bored and getting into a "reading slump"):
- Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy - I really like this book, and I am reading it slowly. Might finish in June, might finish in July.
- The Man Who Killed His Brother by Stephen R Donaldson writing as Reed Stephens - this noir detective book is pretty average so far. I should finish in May.
- Hard-Boiled (anthology) edited by Jack Adrian and Bill Pronzini - noir crime stories from the 1920s through the 1990s. I will probably finish it in July.
- Papillon by Henri Charierre - this supposed memoir about an imprisoned convict reads like a lot of hot air. Not sure when I will finish this, and if it doesn't improve I might just kick it.
- A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin - #3 in the Song of Ice and Fire series ("Game of Thrones"). I love this book, I love this book series, and I really like the TV show. I'm hoping to finish this in June.
- Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls - loved this book as a child. I started reading it to my daughter but she got bored so I'm going to finish it myself...someday.

I finished my 10th book of the year - Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card. It was OK, I gave it 3 stars. I'll read the fourth book in the Bean series (not sure which volume it is in the Ender series - 8 maybe?) later this year.

Replacing it in my Currently Reading pile is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (the book of the month in the Study Break Book Club - new members welcome). Also coming up this month is The Giver by Lois Lowry - my daughter is reading it in her 7th grade English class and I'm going to read along.

My top 10, in no particular order:
- Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler - Philip Marlowe #2, a heartbreaking and beautiful detective story
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey - counter-culture classic that eclipses the movie version
- Stardust by Neil Gaiman - a fairy tale for grown-ups
- Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer - first half is slow but interesting, second half is like a runaway freight train
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy - post-apocalyptic story that will haunt any parent
- A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin - fantasy epic with medieval politics hooked me right from the start
- A Scanner Darkly by Philip K Dick - oddly hilarious but still plenty of deeper themes to explore
- The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester - outer space retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo was far ahead of its time
- Neuromancer by William Gibson - the poetic birth of cyberpunk, never to be equaled
- Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson - gotta love the main character's name: Hiro Protagonist

Just Missed the Cut (I didn't vote for these or add them to the list, just wanted to give them an honorary mention):
- The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien - has a special place in my heart but may have faded after the fifteenth reading or so
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - kicked off a huge series but the original is by far the best
- Parliament of Whores by P J O'Rourke - hilarious look at politics while still making some very valid points
- The Big Short by Michael Lewis - read this if you think Wall Street isn't the most corrupt den of thieves in the world
- Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card - Seventh Son #2 but the best of the series, fantasy set in early frontier USA
- Red Dragon by Thomas Harris - The birth of Hannibal Lector, the series should have stopped after #2 (this one is a must read if you want to have any chance at deciphering the author's intent in the much-maligned third installment)
- The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick - Might be PKD's greatest achievement, alternate history book suggesting Axis forces won WWII

Only three of my top ten were already posted so I added the others. Only one (A Game of Thrones) was in the Top 100.

Hi Leslie,

I haven't read A Man Called Ove but the description reminded me somewhat of Little Children by Tom Perrotta. Enjoy!

Randy

I'm up to 9 books finished this year. I just finished The Taking of Pelham One Two Three by John Godey. I thought it was awful, and I posted a review which I would link to except, um...I don't know how to do that yet. One of these days I will figure out how to have gifs and memes in my reviews but today isn't that day.

Taking its place in the currently reading pile is The Man Who Killed His Brother by Stephen R Donaldson writing as Reed Stephens. Donaldson is famous for his fantasy work, especially the Neverending Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (just kidding about the "neverending" part...kind of) but this was his stab at a noir-crime series. From what I understand, he plans to write a fifth book in the series sometime in the future.

Taylor R wrote: "I like your rating system. :)"

Thanks Taylor!

Hi everyone, I'm Randy from Southern California.

I'm going to read 20 books in 2016. I know that's not much compared to many of the other readers out there, but I am pretty busy with work and being a dad.

I read 6-7 books at a time for different genres because I have found that I get bored when I read just one book for long stretches. Mixing it up helps keep me interested. I do usually have one main book I try to focus on daily and I work the others in where I can. I read about 20 pages a day on average.

I'm always looking for Goodreads friends - I tend to send friend requests to people who have read books/series I am currently reading, especially if we have a lot of books/ratings in common. I accept all friend requests. When I am deciding to add a book to my Wish List I usually look at friend reviews first.

For 2016 I have already read:
1. The High Window by Raymond Chandler - Philip Marlowe #3, not as good as the first two (3 stars)
2. The Mothman Prophecies by John A Keel - enjoyed the movie, found the book used and thought I might enjoy it. I was wrong. (2 stars)
3. Night Fall by Nelson DeMille - John Corey #3, enjoyable as always just for the witty dialogue (3 stars)
4. The Big Short by Michael Lewis - my first Michael Lewis read but won't be my last. Although the book focuses on a few individuals who made an obscene amount of money betting on the collapse of the subprime lending market, you will learn a lot about how Wall Street works and why/how our financial markets are so corrupt (5 stars)
5. The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk - took me almost a year to finish but it was well worth it, starts very slow but it is a real page-turner for the last third (4 stars)
6. Zero History by William Gibson - Blue Ant #3 - The Blue Ant trilogy mercifully comes to an end in this book about...uh, blue jeans? Gibson's Neuromancer is one of my favorite books but his recent work leaves a lot to be desired - I think it can be summed up thusly: Needs more ninjas. (1 star)
7. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson - more amusing than hilarious, and fairly uneven, the best parts are the repartee between Bryson and his recovering alcoholic friend Katz (3 stars)
8. The Walking Dead Compendium Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkland - I don't read a lot of comic books/graphic novels but I enjoy them from time to time. This collection of the first 48 issues of the comic book that is the basis for the TV series (to which I am addicted, and waiting for Netflix to get Season 6) is a fantastic value for the price, especially with a Barnes & Noble membership and a 20% off coupon (4 stars)

There's more info on my profile and on my 2016 Reading Challenge Post if anyone is interested.

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone. Good luck on your Reading Challenges, and I hope 2016 is a bountiful year for you all!

I'm going to read 20 books in 2016. I know that's not much compared to many of the other readers out there, but I'm a single dad working full-time and my 12 year-old daughter plays year-round basketball on two teams (not including her Jr High team) so I am pretty busy. I do try to take a book with me if I go somewhere where I'll be sitting and doing nothing but unfortunately that doesn't work well at basketball practice where I spend a lot of time talking to other parents. I do try to get some reading in before bed when I can, sometimes while watching a Dodgers, Lakers or Kings game on TV.

I read 6-7 books at a time because I have found that I get bored when I read just one book for long stretches. Mixing it up helps keep me interested. I do usually have one main book I try to focus on daily and I work the others in where I can. I read about 20 pages a day on average.

I read a few different genres - I usually have a general fiction book going along with a non-fiction book, a science-fiction book, a fantasy book, a short story collection/anthology and a mystery/thriller book, along with others as I feel like adding them.

I'm always looking for Goodreads friends - I tend to send friend requests to people who have read books/series I am currently reading, especially if we have a lot of books/ratings in common. I accept all friend requests. When I am deciding to add a book to my Wish List I usually look at friend reviews first.

The way I rate books:
5 stars - an all-time favorite, something I will probably keep to read again
4 stars - good enough that I tell my friends about it and recommend it to others
3 stars - good book but not remarkable
2 stars - I finished it but didn't enjoy it much
1 star - hated it, might not even finish

For 2016 I have already read:
1. The High Window by Raymond Chandler - Philip Marlowe #3, not as good as the first two (3 stars)
2. The Mothman Prophecies by John A Keel - enjoyed the movie, found the book used and thought I might enjoy it. I was wrong. (2 stars)
3. Night Fall by Nelson DeMille - John Corey #3, enjoyable as always just for the witty dialogue (3 stars)
4. The Big Short by Michael Lewis - my first Michael Lewis read but won't be my last. Although the book focuses on a few individuals who made an obscene amount of money betting on the collapse of the subprime lending market, you will learn a lot about how Wall Street works and why/how our financial markets are so corrupt (5 stars)
5. The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk - took me almost a year to finish but it was well worth it, starts very slow but it is a real page-turner for the last third (4 stars)
6. Zero History by William Gibson - Blue Ant #3 - The Blue Ant trilogy mercifully comes to an end in this book about...uh, blue jeans? Gibson's Neuromancer is one of my favorite books but his recent work leaves a lot to be desired - I think it can be summed up thusly: Needs more ninjas. (1 star)
7. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson - more amusing than hilarious, and fairly uneven, the best parts are the repartee between Bryson and his recovering alcoholic friend Katz (3 stars)
8. The Walking Dead Compendium Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkland - I don't read a lot of comic books/graphic novels but I enjoy them from time to time. This collection of the first 48 issues of the comic book that is the basis for the TV series (to which I am addicted, and waiting for Netflix to get Season 6) is a fantasic value for the price, especially with a Barnes & Noble membership and a 20% off coupon (4 stars)

I'm currently reading:
1. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three by John Godey - I found this used and thought it might be good since it was made into a movie two different times. Unfortunately it's not very good, I should be finished next week.
2. Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card (Shadow series #3, also part of the Ender series) - This is part 3 of a 4 part arc (with a fifth book later tacked on) and seems to be setting the stage for action to come later. Card gets kind of talky in his lesser works and this one appears to be going in that direction, regrettably.
3. The Walking Dead Compendium Vol 2 by Robert Kirkman - see #8 above - this should take me up to and slightly beyond the point where I left off on the TV show but the two have diverged so much that I don't think it will be a problem if I read on
4. A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin - Song of Ice and Fire #3 - this might be the best fantasy series I have ever read, lots of adult themes make it not right for everyone
5. Hard-Boiled (anthology) ed. Bill Pronzini and Jack Adrian - noir detective stories from the pulp era and beyond, arranged in chronological order of publication starting in the 1920s through the 1990s, I'm about halfway through the 1950s right now reading a story by Ross MacDonald
6. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy - a revisionist western, very bleak and violent, Cormac McCarthy is a master of prose so I am savoring this one by reading it very slowly
7. Papillon by Henri Charriere - said to be a partial memoir of how the author escaped from several prisons after being wrongfully imprisoned, the authenticity of many of the events has been questioned

I already have a few books picked out to start reading later this year including:
- The Man Who Killed His Brother by Stephen R Donaldson writing as Reed Stephens
- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
- Call for the Dead by John Le Carre

OK that's enough for now. I'm not sure if that was a post or a manifesto. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone. Good luck on your Reading Challenges, and I hope 2016 is a bountiful year for you all!