I have to admit that I wasn’t entirely sure about this book, but it soon proved to be a great, easy to read, well flowing story with a nice, equally eI have to admit that I wasn’t entirely sure about this book, but it soon proved to be a great, easy to read, well flowing story with a nice, equally easy to read translation from the original Swedish.
This is the first one in a series and I’m more than willing to keep going with it.
I actually started reading this in the hope that it might shed some light on more of the motivations and character contexts that were not always immedI actually started reading this in the hope that it might shed some light on more of the motivations and character contexts that were not always immediately apparent in the movies.
The first book was okay, a bit bland, and so full of ‘Anakin is a marvelous little saint of the universe’, that all I could do was shrug and move on.
The second book was even more bland, and the author was clearly having a love affair with the word ‘winced’. I should’ve counted how many times he used it. This book did give new insight into Padme, and not in a good way.
The third book started out brilliantly, and it’s use of language was amazing, but it got so heavily bogged down in that same language, I couldn’t finish it for fear of choking to death. It turned into a most peculiar and unsatisfactory style that was both irritating and unhelpful.
I’m glad to be done with it.
Stick to individual novels in the Star Wars Universe, but avoid the movie tie-ins....more
Entertaining, amusing, horrifying, informative, and page turning - this book is everything I enjoy about Jeffrey Archer’s writing.
I have to admit it tEntertaining, amusing, horrifying, informative, and page turning - this book is everything I enjoy about Jeffrey Archer’s writing.
I have to admit it took me a while to realise that I was reading a fictionalized ‘take’ on the lives of Rupert Murdoch and Robert Maxwell - their scheming and their rivalry - but what this book left me with is the overwhelming recognition that some people will do anything, climb over anyone, lie, cheat, deceive in every single way they can, to get what they want, and to out do the next person.
It is also a wake up call for today, reminding me that when I am reading ‘the media’ I’m more than likely to be eating from someone else’s menu.
Townsend (Murdoch) and Armstrong (Maxwell) are as bad as each other in this story, right to the very end of it.
Fabulous stuff. I really couldn’t put it down for long!...more
Thrawn: Treason is all about politics. The nuances, the intrigue and the eye-rolling, cape tossing 'I'm a DirI'm kinda reading this series backwards!
Thrawn: Treason is all about politics. The nuances, the intrigue and the eye-rolling, cape tossing 'I'm a Director! You must respect me!'
Seeing Krennic pop up in this book, made me squee in a way that wasn't likely healthy for someone of my age. Watching the political plays between Krennic and Tarkin, with Thrawn in the middle made the story fascinating and kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed this book more than Thrawn: Alliances, it was a smoother read and the characters much more intriguing.
And I finally finished the series, by reading the first one.
I'm not sure if I enjoyed this book more because I had read the others first, or because IAnd I finally finished the series, by reading the first one.
I'm not sure if I enjoyed this book more because I had read the others first, or because I was so enjoying watching the set ups that I knew flowed into the series.
I can say I very much like Eli Vanto's character dearly, which did help bring a few things to light that I didn't quite get when read the third book.
I highly recommend the series completely (though I would recommend starting with the first book!). The whole series is worth a few weekends. If there was one thing this book did highlight, is how much I loved Thrawn from when I first met him back from Heir To the Empire, and how much I love his character even more now....more
I really wanted from the summary, to like this book, as the concept was intriguing and the context was dramatic. But the truly sumptuous wordage was sI really wanted from the summary, to like this book, as the concept was intriguing and the context was dramatic. But the truly sumptuous wordage was so thick it felt like wading through treacle, and this made it very hard to read.
I couldn’t get very far at all before the repetition of information drove me nuts.
Fascinated by the subject matter, and the idea that Abraham Lincoln was bisexual, I picked this up at the library, but couldn't get more than 10% intoFascinated by the subject matter, and the idea that Abraham Lincoln was bisexual, I picked this up at the library, but couldn't get more than 10% into it before the overly florid language drove me insane.
The absolute nonsense of the tone being used, the incessant 'listing' of things rather than explaining them better, the slightly dodgy use of historical referencing, all combined to make me want to throw this book across the room and out the window.
I have read a lot of excellent novels that take actual history and make them into beautiful, fluid stories.
This was an excellent, witty, amusing, dramatic, and well crafted series of short stories that literally ‘fill in the blanks’ concerning some of the qThis was an excellent, witty, amusing, dramatic, and well crafted series of short stories that literally ‘fill in the blanks’ concerning some of the questions that are generated by episodes in the life of the main character ‘Gordianus the Finder’, through Saylor’s ‘Roma Sub Rosa’ book series.
I loved every minute of it, and laughed out loud more than once!
I was first introduced to Thrawn back 'a long time ago in a galaxy far far away' when Timothy Zahn wrote the first Expanded Universe Star Wars Book - I was first introduced to Thrawn back 'a long time ago in a galaxy far far away' when Timothy Zahn wrote the first Expanded Universe Star Wars Book - Heir to the Empire. When these stories was relabeled Star Wars Legend and no longer canon, I was happy to hear Thrawn was saved and pulled into the newer storylines.
Thrawn: Alliances had a nice balance of Vader and Anakin Skywalker. The story between the two timelines was fascinating and kept me flipping the pages to find how it all tied together.
I admit the only thing that threw me through the whole story was the 'Double Vision' which was when Anakin or Vader was using the force. It was jarring to me each time I saw it, and as an avid Assassins Creed fan, all I kept seeing was Eagle Vision. It wasn't enough to ruin the story, but at times it was a definite jolt to the flow of the words.
If you enjoy reading inside the Star Wars Universe this is a delight to read....more
It's a fun action packed story that makes you laugh, cheer, and ask very philosophical questions. ForI enjoyed this book more than I had expected to.
It's a fun action packed story that makes you laugh, cheer, and ask very philosophical questions. For a Star Wars book, it actually showcased many philosophies - from the quotes from Jedi texts at each chapter, and the age old arguments of revolution against oppression.
If you enjoyed Baze and Chirrut in Rogue One, I would highly recommend this book as it brings out more of who they are, and what they fight for.
Though there is a warning that you may get more attached to them, and the movie might be harder to watch as a result....more
The first book in this trilogy ‘Fire From Heaven’ read like an absolute miracle. Beautiful flowing prose, the likes of which is rarely to be found theThe first book in this trilogy ‘Fire From Heaven’ read like an absolute miracle. Beautiful flowing prose, the likes of which is rarely to be found these days, made the entire experience an exciting and insightful joy.
The second book ‘The Persian Boy’ started out interesting, moved to intriguing, and then became irritating. Actually it became increasingly irritating to the point of utterly unbelievable annoyance, and I couldn’t keep reading it without wanting to scream ‘are you completely f’ing kidding me with this?’.
I have rarely gone from such unfettered admiration for a writer, to being utterly disgusted in so short a time.
And in my life, I’m quite sure I’ve never before read such beautifully, eloquently, gorgeously constructed crap before.
I tried really hard to like this book. Seriously. I do enjoy a good detective story, and a good central character.
And as a follower of the books by StI tried really hard to like this book. Seriously. I do enjoy a good detective story, and a good central character.
And as a follower of the books by Steven Saylor (Gordianus the Finder is very cool!!), this series about Judge Marcus Flavius Severus by Alan Scribner was recommended, but I just couldn’t finish it.
It was lacking in something I really couldn’t put my finger on to start with, but by the time I put it down, rolling my eyes, I came to the conclusion that it was just addressed in far too modern terms for a story set in the Roman Empire.
I kept seeing Columbo in a Toga, and that wasn’t a particularly pretty image....more
I've been a fan of Star Wars since I was kid. I read most of the Extended Universe books, and have been eyeing the new materials suspiciously.
Having I've been a fan of Star Wars since I was kid. I read most of the Extended Universe books, and have been eyeing the new materials suspiciously.
Having seen Rogue One, I was fascinated about reading Catalyst, and wanted to discover how Galen Erso ended up creating the most destructive weapon of the Empire while building into it a flaw that could be exploited.
The story takes place with Jyn's birth, during the Clone Wars. Watching how everything quickly changed from the Republic to the Empire, and all the elements around it, was an interesting insight into society as a whole. Weaving all this in through the Erso's own stories, showcased how much someone can be blinded by what's around them as long as they themselves were okay.
Galen Erso is neither a hero, nor a villain. He's a scientist who forgets the world around him. He doesn't see the implications in what he's doing, or the consequences of it until it hits him in the face. He is the epitome of 'seeing if I can do it, never asking if I should do it'. There are even moments where Lyra, as his wife, is the voice of his conscience, but she too is naive to things around her, until she's confronted head on with what the Empire is truly doing and what they want from her husband.
Krennic's manipulation through the story is well crafted, and despite the reader knowing he's the 'bad guy' you can't help but feel he's the only one who is actually honest about what he is doing.
If you enjoyed Rogue One the movie, you will enjoy this story as it brings past history and depth to characters that the film missed. So when you rewatch Rogue One, the opening takes on a whole new meaning, and that is exactly how movies and books in a Universe should work. ...more
After thoroughly enjoying the first installment of this story, I was eager for the second.
It doesn't disappoint. The author has done an outstanding joAfter thoroughly enjoying the first installment of this story, I was eager for the second.
It doesn't disappoint. The author has done an outstanding job of research and writing throughout.
For a moment however, I thought dear Hildegard was about to turn into Ellis Peter's infamous Cadfael!
But that aside, I have to confess I got so caught up in the characters written about so very well here, that I suffered some serious demolition of the upper lip by the time I reached the end.
This was an interesting but really rather predictable story that was a bit disappointing by the time it ended.
Not that I have any complaint about the This was an interesting but really rather predictable story that was a bit disappointing by the time it ended.
Not that I have any complaint about the style or the writing... not at all!
But that the denouement should be so predictable, when I desperately wanted it to be anything but that, left me sighing deeply and wondering if there will ever be conclusions to such things that aren’t so obviously done.
I do believe Donna Leon more than capable of making such a story nowhere near as obvious. In fact, I’m not sure why she chose the easier path this time.
I can’t express clearly enough how much I enjoy Donna Leon’s capacity to gather me into Brunetti’s world and challenge not only my opinions but my knoI can’t express clearly enough how much I enjoy Donna Leon’s capacity to gather me into Brunetti’s world and challenge not only my opinions but my knowledge of Classical Literature.
Weaving the ancient story of Antigone through the drama of this book was masterful.
I am inspired to want to read more of the things Brunetti reads. I feel now, that as a person with more age and experience behind them than when I first read things like Antigone, I could see them in a whole new light.
Brilliant stuff once again from Donna Leon....more
I had no idea where this book was going, but should never have feared for a pointless or meaningless ending.
No matter how grim the subject matter, DoI had no idea where this book was going, but should never have feared for a pointless or meaningless ending.
No matter how grim the subject matter, Donna Leon finds a way to make such an effective point of it, her conclusions never leave a reader in wont!...more
Being an opera lover, I loved the drama of this book, even if the ending was rather broadcasting itself all over the place the closer it came to conclBeing an opera lover, I loved the drama of this book, even if the ending was rather broadcasting itself all over the place the closer it came to concluding.
I got this from the library because everyone was saying it was worth the read. I’d seen great reviews and it was in high demand.
I got started, but I sI got this from the library because everyone was saying it was worth the read. I’d seen great reviews and it was in high demand.
I got started, but I seriously couldn’t bring myself to pick it up more than once.
I managed to wade into this story as far as my mind, my patience, and my empathy would allow, and that was it.
I felt like I was drowning - quite literally! - in the sheer volume of words this massively long epic was spinning out.
And the story wasn’t that fabulous either.
Set in New York, my first reaction was that this bore some semblance to Mark Helprin’s ‘Winter’s Tale’ but I was wrong. Helprin is lyrical, fascinating, poetic and a true craftsman with words.
The Goldfinch very much isn’t that, at all, and yet it’s roughly the same size, and covers some remarkably similar subject matter on the topic of love.
This book was not a good experience for me. It gets two stars for the effort it clearly took to write it.
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