Travis' low octane ABC

[Travis]

4/19 Ringworld by Larry Nivenagain dissappointed as I thought the ideas and details and descriptions really were set for a 5 star read, but I think he wrote this intending on it to be a series and didn't want to put too much in a single book and dragged things out a bit when he could have done a little more with the plot. Have to sadly go with a 3.5 but will continue series to see how it all pans out.

[Cherie]

Travis of NNY wrote: "4/18 After a bit of bouncing around I finally settled and finished Moby-Dick by Herman Melville a disappointment to give this 3 stars because some editing and a little more focus to Ahab and his ob..."

I have never gotten past about the first 10 pages on this one. I have tried several times, but I have to say that this one I could never get into. Did you listen to it, or read it to get through it?

[Cherie]

Travis of NNY wrote: "4/19 Ringworld by Larry Nivenagain dissappointed as I thought the ideas and details and descriptions really were set for a 5 star read, but I think he wrote this intending on it to be a series and ..."

I agree with you on this one, Travis! I thought Lucifer's Hammer was much better, if you want to give him another try.

[Travis]

Cherie wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "4/18 After a bit of bouncing around I finally settled and finished Moby-Dick by Herman Melville a disappointment to give this 3 stars because some editing and a little more fo..."

I listened to a free one narrated by Frank Muller who did a nice job giving some real gruff voices to tough whale fisherman. Even with good narration I can't recommend any one to read this book.

[Travis]

Cherie wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "4/19 Ringworld by Larry Nivenagain dissappointed as I thought the ideas and details and descriptions really were set for a 5 star read, but I think he wrote this intending on ..."

Added it thanks.

[Travis]

4/22 Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Michael B. Oren I'll give this 4 stars although it was really more than I bargained for. I had no real knowledge of this war going into this book and talk about including every last tiny detail. For any one with an interest in this topic probably a sure 5 star read any one not too interested will be like teeth pulling.

[jaxnsmom]

I've added Six Days of War to my tbr. Thanks for reading it so I could benefit!

[Travis]

jaxnsmom wrote: "I've added Six Days of War to my tbr. Thanks for reading it so I could benefit!"

glad to help

[Travis]

5/25 The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman I went 4 stars and have to read the rest of the series to see exactly where this all goes but gotta get through this busy time of year first

[Marcus]

nice work Travis....I'm working on my O and P books as we speak....you should check out Pandora's Star when you get a chance. I'm pretty impressed with the author so far.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Travis of NNY wrote: "5/25 The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman I went 4 stars and have to read the rest of the series to see exactly where this all goes but gotta get through this busy time of year first"

I read this last Toppler and really enjoyed it too. Nice little universe that's been set up.

[Travis]

I don't know what format you used Rusalka but I did an audio with a full cast on characters I was worried I'd hate it but turned out really good with multiple people reading

[Janice, Moderator]

I've shied away from multi cast performances, too. I guess all it takes is to give it a try. Maybe a free book would be the way to go.

[Travis]

hey can't beat a free one to experiment with

[Travis]

6/3 Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinnhad to go 3 stars. I had no real problem with the story itself just seemed like the whole thing could of been written in a 10 page paper by a high school kid. Seemed like a lot of repeating the same thing over and over at times.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I read the old fashioned paper version.

Although, I don't know Janice. I'm listening to Angels & Demons while at work (need something mindless) and I want to smack the narrator as he does voices. Badly.

[Janice, Moderator]

Who was the narrator, Rusalka? Audible shows different editions by two different narrators - Raul Amundaray or Richard Poe. I haven't listened to anything either one of them has narrated.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

This is a... um... borrowed... copy from someone from about 8 years ago. So a while before Audible. I will check when I get home though and see if I can find you more information about who to avoid, I mean, the narrator.

[Janice, Moderator]

LOL! I've read the book, so I'm not likely to listen to it. But, the narrator may have other books to his... um... credit.

[Travis]

Sean Mangan is the narrator I make a point to stay away from

[Travis]

6/15Bloodline: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins 5 stars this book really added some much needed elements to the sigma series. The last couple were enjoyable but lacked something and Bloodline has it all. glad to see a lengthy series find a way to put some new life in things.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I remembered to look at Audible for you when this guy just tried to do an Australian accent. His accent was Italian, New Jersey mobster crossed with southern cowboy crossed with cockney crossed with Kiwi vowels (depending on what word he was saying). So in the end, nothing like an Australian accent in any part of the country nor imagination. I threw my headphones in disgust.

Anyway, Raul Amundaray does the Spanish version, so don't think it's him and I listened to Richard Poe. Not him either. So just so you know those two are safe, well, in this case.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Sean Mangan is the narrator I make a point to stay away from"

Thanks Travis, I'll make a note.

[Janice, Moderator]

Thanks Rusalka.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

NO! NO! It's Richard Poe!
STAY AWAY!!

Sorry to commandeer your wall for this Travis. But I hope I'm doing you a service by yelling on it.

[Travis]

Yell away my page is open to all forms of discussion

[Naomi]

Travis of NNY wrote: "6/15Bloodline: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins 5 stars this book really added some much needed elements to the sigma series. The last couple were enjoyable but lacked something and Bloodline h..."

You finished in time to read the new one that comes out next week.

[Travis]

Naomi wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "6/15Bloodline: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins 5 stars this book really added some much needed elements to the sigma series. The last couple were enjoyable but lacked som..."

Yes and Rollins has been torturing his readers for months by telling us he will kill off a main character in the next one so finally the suspense will be over

[Travis]

6/23 Hyperion by Dan Simmons I give this a 3.5 not that its necessarily a bad book but because it is one of those first in a series that trap you. If one does not plan to move to the next book this one is a complete waste of time as it is merely a lengthy background of each of the 7 main characters as they tell their past to each other to try to understand why they have been chosen and what skills or knowledge they hold to try to decide which one is the chosen one to save the world and which 6 are destined to die. Other than getting on a craft and heading to Hyperion this book really never moves forward to the actual adventure at hand.

[Cherie]

Travis, I think you have saved me from having to finish this book. I put it away after starting it a couple of months ago, but I never really got into it. I think this was the second time because I cannot remember if I finished it the 1st time.

[Travis]

7/19 One Rough Man: A Pike Logan Thriller - Book 1 by Brad Taylor 4 stars although future books in this series will require a little less luck by the main character. Always seemed to be in right place at right time. It was ok for the first book, but hopefully characters develop a bit more as we go along. Now on to "U" which may take a while. I have some books just not sure which one is the "one".

[jaxnsmom]

One Rough Man sounds interesting, I've added it to my tbr. Need someone to replace Mitch Rapp :)

[Travis]

jaxnsmom wrote: "One Rough Man sounds interesting, I've added it to my tbr. Need someone to replace Mitch Rapp :)"

Can't give an honest opinion on replacing Mitch rapp I have not yet read any Vince Flynn

[Travis]

Battle Cry by Leon Uris After much thought I ended up giving this 4 stars. With a title of battle cry I was expecting a little more action, but by the time it was done I see the point of the book in full. Uris did a good job telling the story of young men who got drafted during WWII and takes you from their pre draft life through boot camp and all the way to the front line. He really depicts what it must have been like quite well which considering he had some first hand experience to some of these things only seems right. Considering this was his first novel it is very well written.

[Travis]

Jules Vernes Journey to the Center of the Earth.Not my favorite works by Vernes to date, but still an enjoyable story. Gave about a 3.5. Rather slow to start but got better toward the end. With these old stories like this I have to put my mind set of a 12 year old back in the 1800's. If I do this it brings a new level of enjoyment compared to reading it as a 31 year old in the year 2013 who may just find some of these older works foolish.

[Travis]

working my way through Doomsday Book for W. Enjoying it so far but may take a while as time is short for me to read much on my kindle, but that is ok as it gives me more time to decide on my X book. Had the autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X marked but unless my mood changes I'm just not in an autobiographical mood lately. Maybe something else will pop up before then.

[Cherie]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Jules Vernes Journey to the Center of the Earth.Not my favorite works by Vernes to date, but still an enjoyable story. Gave about a 3.5. Rather slow to start but got better toward the end. With th..."

Do you think most 12 year olds in the 1800s were reading his books? I think you have to revise that to be a 31 year old in the 1800s, or maybe even older because books were very expensive.

I found that the easiest thing for me was to just turn off my 2013 mind and read his books as if I were part of the timeline he came from. Sadley, I think we have been so influenced by old movies and TV that it is hard to appreciate his imagination regarding the subjects and stories in his books.

[Cherie]

Travis of NNY wrote: "working my way through Doomsday Book for W. Enjoying it so far but may take a while as time is short for me to read much on my kindle, but that is ok as it gives me more time to decide on my X book..."

Funny, Malcolm X was mentioned in my autobiography of Quincy Jones that I am currently reading for my Q book.

[Travis]

W was Doomsday Book by Connie Willis I think a 4.5 is appropriate for a quality well written novel such as this was.

[Travis]

X was The Persian Expedition by Xenophon and what can I say I couldn't finish the alphabet without an X book

[Travis]

About a third through my y book which appeared like it should read quickly being a mix of short stories and poems but that would be incorrect. Irish Fairy and Folk Tales

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed other Jules Verne books better than Journey to the Center of the Earth (sorry for reviving old topics, I'm catching up). I was a bit disappointed with that one, and it was the first of his I picked up. I haven't yet psyched myself back up for another.

Enjoy your Yeats stories!

[Marcus]

Hey man. Looks like you are almost done with the alphabet. I just finished and am now going to catch up on a few that have been burning in the back of my mind for a while. I've added a few good looking ones to my TBR list because of you so here are a few suggestions in return.

Epic/Dark Fantasy: Gardens of the Moon is the first of a ten book series which now has a prequel trilogy in the works which I am about to start with The Forge of Darkness

Great Space Opera: Pandora's Star and it's sequel which I am about to start Judas Unchained

Historical Fiction: anything by Bernard Cornwell...the Saxon series is particularly awesome Bernard Cornwell

[Travis]

Nice I'll check em out. just gotta get through Y its a doozy with its non typical writing style trying to portray some good Irish language

[Marcus]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Nice I'll check em out. just gotta get through Y its a doozy with its non typical writing style trying to portray some good Irish language"

Good luck with all of that :)

[Travis]

Y: Irish Fairy & Folk Tales by W.B. Yeats although Yeats himself had only a couple of his own poems. This is not mother goose or the brothers Grimm. The Irish like their stories to include death spirits the good folk etc. Some parts of this book were a little tricky for me and I could only read a story or two at a time.while I didn't like every single tale there were some good ones and I enjoyed the experience in general just as it is a tidbit of Irish history no doubt many of these started passed on through oral history I assume at least. And now about an hour left of my z book and I done smacked this one out the park.

[Marcus]

Well done sir! You are a reading machine

[Travis]

Thanks man

[Travis]

Z: Markus ZusakThe Book Thief I was going to 4.5 this then I thought what kind of heartless bastard denies a great book which also completes the alphabet a full 5 stars. So I will end this challenge with a 5 star for what is really an excellent book for basically anyone anywhere of any age. Well the age thing may depend on the swearing but hey most of us swear so eff it you know

[Sarah]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Z: Markus ZusakThe Book Thief I was going to 4.5 this then I thought what kind of heartless bastard denies a great book which also completes the alphabet a full 5 stars. So I will end this challeng..."

At least most of the swearing is done in German though!