What are U reading these days? (Part Five) (begun 3/12/09) Showing 851-900 of 1,049

[Jackie]

Yes, for something like that it's ideal...and innocent. Don't mind me, I'm paranoid.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

The gadget which I previously referred to as a "digital pen" (in Message #826 of this thread) is properly referred to as a "handheld scanner". It's known as the C-Pen.
Below are links to a website which describes it:
http://www.cpen.com/
http://www.cpen.com/artikel.php?aid=75
http://www.cpen.com/artikel.php?aid=6...
(The above page shows a good closeup of the C-Pen in action.)

To use the C-Pen, I first attach the cable from the pen to my computer. Then I run the tip of the pen across the line of text which I want to copy from my book page. The text then appears on my computer screen. From there I'm able to save the digital text to a file of my choice.

[Erin]

I've seen those and I think I saw one that didn't have to be hooked up to a computer but I'm not positive.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Erin wrote: "I've seen those and I think I saw one that didn't have to be hooked up to a computer but I'm not positive."

I wish I had gotten that kind. I'm sure I'd get more use out of it than I'm getting out of the other one.

[Jackie]

Just finished The Winds of Dune. Yet another excellent addition the the Duniverse I love with all my heart. With each interquel, I get a better understand of the main characters and what drives them. I will never get enough of Dune. I hope it continues forever, as long as it stays interesting.

The most perfect closing line:
In time, all things came back to Dune.

Absolutely correct, LOL

I'll be starting the next set of Amber novels, starting with with The Trumps of Doom.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Just finished The Winds of Dune. ... I'll be starting the next set of Amber novels, starting with with The Trumps of Doom."

Good going, Jackie. (Cover links below.)

The Winds of Dune by Brian Herbert

Trumps of Doom by Roger Zelazny

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I've begun reading _All I Did Was Ask Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists (2004) by Terry Gross.
I discovered this book while looking around the Net for something else. It was included at the website of wnyc.org.

You can read the book's introduction online at:
http://www.wnyc.org/books/36189

I've always enjoyed listening to Terry Gross on NPR Radio. So I know I will love this book.

[Jackie]

Read three out of five of the Amber novels. Ready to take a break. I'm starting The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman. It looks like it'll be a fast easy read. I'll let you know...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Read three out of five of the Amber novels. Ready to take a break. I'm starting The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman. It looks like it'll be a fast easy read. ..."

Jackie, I know you like time-machine stories. I do too. Good luck with the quantum physics. :)

[Werner]

Yesterday, I started reading Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom (which finally arrived on interlibrary loan!) by Goodreads author Tim Byrd. An adventure novel inspired by Lester Dent's Doc Savage series from the early modern pulp period, it's written for kids (and kids-at-heart in the 18-99 bracket :-)); and is this month's common read in the Pulp Fiction group here on Goodreads. (The official group name is longer, but I usually don't bother to look it up. :-))

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "Yesterday, I started reading Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom ... by Goodreads author Tim Byrd. An adventure novel inspired by Lester Dent's Doc Savage series from the early modern pulp period..."

Werner, I looked at the Goodreads description of _Doc Wilde and The Frogs of Doom_.
Interesting excerpts from the description:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom is an adventure yarn in the old tradition. It gets that reading is an intellectual activity, and that an adventure, to be really good, has to engage the reader’s brain. I love a smart book!” —Daniel Pinkwater

"Doc Wilde and The Frogs of Doom recaptures the magic of old-fashioned pulp adventure stories, with lost worlds, ancient ruins, cool gadgets, evil villains and daring heroes, and brings them into the 21st century with contemporary themes, modern scientific notions, the wonders of a close family, and a deep appreciation of literature and of the thinking life in general."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow! That's a lot of good features.

In addition, your post motivated me to look for more info about "pulp" and "Doc Savage".
=====================================================
PULP: "Pulp magazines (or pulp fiction; often referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines. They were widely published from 1896 through the 1950s."

"The term pulp fiction can also refer to mass market paperbacks since the 1950s."

"The name "pulp" comes from the cheap wood pulp paper on which such magazines were printed."

"...many eminent authors started out in the pulps before they were successful enough to sell to better-paying markets..." *

"The collapse of the pulp industry changed the landscape of publishing because pulps were the single largest sales outlet for short stories. Combined with the decrease in slick magazine fiction markets, writers attempting to support themselves by creating fiction switched to novels and book-length anthologies of shorter pieces."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_fic...
====================================================
* The list of well-known authors (at the above page) who wrote for pulps is amazing.

****************************************************
DOC SAVAGE: "Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L. Nanovic ... with additional material contributed by the series' main writer, Lester Dent.

"The heroic-adventure character would go on to appear in several other media, including radio, film, and comic books, with his adventures reprinted for modern-day audiences in series of paperback books. Into the 21st century, Doc Savage has remained a nostalgic icon referenced in novels and in popular culture."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Savage
(This page has a good picture of the cover of a 1933 Doc Savage magazine. Ten cents!)
****************************************************
Since this is the first time I had ever heard of Doc Savage, my curiosity was sparked.

[Werner]

I'd heard of Doc Savage before (he comes up at times in discussions in the Pulp Fiction group), but I've never read any of his adventures. (What I've read so far in Tim's book is sparking my curiosity to explore those stories, though!)

[Jim]

I read some of the Doc Savage books, but even as a kid, I could only take them in small doses.

[Jackie]

Jim, can you elaborate?

[Jim]

Too many good guy bullets. All the characters are caricatures, too many coincidences, too predictable. Besides, Doc can always get the girl & never does. He's too noble. Blech! Waste not, want not.

[Jackie]

OK, I see what you mean. I'm not a fan of predictability.

[Jackie]

Just finished The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman. This is the first book I've read by this author and I found it an easy, interesting read.
I've got the dreaded bronchitis yet again, so I was grateful to have a book I didn't have to think too hard about. What I liked best about this is that while the scientific theory could be a possibility to time travel, the author didn't go all physics teacher on me. Wrote what it was but I didn't have to get mind-bendy to comprehend it. The story was more about the person(s) involved and the journey, not so much the science involved. A good balance for my liking. I don't care for novels that go too hard in the science, it is a novel not a textbook. While I understand it, I don't find it entertaining. When I'm in science mode, the textbooks/articles are what I read.

Next up is Mary, Mary (Alex Cross, Book 11) by James Patterson. I borrowed it a month ago from a friend and forgot about it and just noticed it on my shelf. Patterson fits the easy read where I don't have to think too much, which is all I want right now.
Going to the doctor's today. Might as well get it over with before the holiday tomorrow.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Feel better, Jackie.

I too have found an easy and compelling read. I got it from the library yesterday as part of the Tues. afternoon book group's selection for December.
It's _The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time_ by Mark Haddon. It's a fictional story, told in the voice of a boy with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild kind of autism. By coincidence, I've also been listening to an audio of _Look Me in the Eye My Life with Asperger's_.

[Werner]

Yes, Jackie, we're all rooting for you to feel better! And I agree 100% about not wanting detailed scientific explanations in my SF. What counts in any form of fiction is character and story --historically, some SF authors (especially in the purist, "hard" SF tradition) haven't always understood that, with unhappy results!

Tim Byrd's book proved to be a very quick (and fun) read, so I've started another one: Water Witch, by my Goodreads friend Deborah LeBlanc. It's supernatural fiction, set primarily in the bayou country of her home state, Louisiana.

[Jackie]

Thanks.
The Lightning Thief came into the library today, so I may start that in a little while.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Thanks. The Lightning Thief came into the library today, so I may start that in a little while. "

Jackie, I'm nibbling away at it. I'm on p. 136. I'm sure you'll finish it before I will. :)

[Earl]

Jackie wrote: "I've got the dreaded bronchitis yet again, so I was grateful to have a book I didn't have to think too hard about. "
I'm coming off a 2-week cold myself that got into my chest. Last two nights I've finally been able to sleep on my back, and actually GET some sleep. Hang in there.

[Jackie]

This cold has been the worst I can ever remember, everyone has it for 2 weeks, that's a long time for a cold. Unfortunately, in my case, a simple cold always turns into bronchitis. I was crankier than usual this time around because I've only just gotten over my last bout of bronchitis and it really wipes me out. No sleep, coughing all the time, it stresses me out.
I'm glad that you are feeling better, Earl; hopefully I'll recover quickly.

[Jackie]

PS: I know I must sound crazy, with the back and forth, but I decided to just stick with Mary Mary til it's finished.

[Jackie]

Didn't care for the Patterson book. A few things were left unfinished in my opinon, questions that needed answering.

Started on The Lightning Thief so we'll see where that takes me....

[Katherine]

I'm new to this group; this is my first comment besides The Introduction.
I just finished Edward Rutherfurd's "New York" and highly recommend it. The way the author interweaves his characters into the story of four centuries of the growth of New York City makes this a page turner.
If you have read "London" or "Sarum" by this author, you know the format.

[Werner]

Welcome to the group, Katherine! My oldest daughter is a big fan of Rutherfurd's work (though I haven't read any of it myself). I'll have to recommend New York to her.

[[deleted user]]

Hi Katherine, welcome. :)

I'm a Rutherfurd fan, at least to some extent. I thoroughly enjoyed London and Sarum, but wasn't so keen on Russka, in fact couldn't finish it. I have a few more of his on the shelf, and will, someday, get to them. Have you read the Irish series? Good?

[Katherine]

I haven't read Rutherfurd's Irish series yet. Matter of fact, they're not even on my radar right now. I picked up "New York" because it is about American History, and wanted to see if the book would be an appropriate gift. I've added two copies to my Christmas list for people who live here that originally came from New York City.

[Jen]

Hi Katherine! I hope you like it here! :)

I just finished The Lightning Thief and Shantaram. I'm now reading The Pillars of the Earth, and listening to The Sea of Monsters. I'm also starting a book that I won from another site - Into the Path of Gods.

[Katherine]

Jenni wrote: "Hi Katherine! I hope you like it here! :)

I just finished The Lightning Thief and Shantaram. I'm now reading The Pillars of the Earth, and listening to [boo..."
My Goodnes! Thank you so much; I haven't thought about Ken Follett in quite a while. I will have to reread "Pillars of the Earth" because it's been quite some time. I think he has a newer book out featuring the descendants of those characters in Pillars.
I like him as an author because he is so diversified. Have you read "Night Over Water"? It's my favorite of his. Hard to imagine he's the same person who wrote "The Third Twin". I think that was a LIfetime movie sometime back.

[Jen]

This is my first Ken Follett book. I'm somewhere around 50-60 pages into the book, and am enjoying it. I think that I will be reading more of his stuff in the not so distant future. :)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I've just added the book, _The Pillars of the Earth_ by Ken Follett, to my To-Read shelf. It's such a familiar title. It's about time, I read it.

Below is an excerpt from the GR description:
"In 12th-century England, the building of a mighty Gothic cathedral signals the dawn of a new age. This majestic creation will bond clergy and kings, knights and peasants together in a story of toil, faith, ambition and rivalry. A sweeping tale of the turbulent middle ages, The Pillars of the Earth is a masterpiece from one of the world's most popular authors."

[[deleted user]]

I've actually read Pillars of the Earth twice, the last time about 4 years ago, have the [sorta:] sequel on the shelf unread so far. I've read several of his spy novels, the one that comes immediately to mind is Eye of the Needle, very well done. I'll definitely have to investigate Night over Water.

[Jen]

I am going to read Eye of the Needle. I've heard several people tell me that they like it. I'm charging up my ereader now so that I should be able to make it through the rest of the book without charging again! :)

[Joy H., Group Founder]

You people certainly are great motivators. OK, now I'll put two more Ken Follett books on my TR shelf:

_Night Over Water_ (first published 1991)
and
_Eye of the Needle_ (first published 1978)

Hmmm, look what I found as well:
_The Needle's Eye_ by Margaret Drabble (first published in 1972)

[Jackie]

The Lightning Thief was good for a juvenile book. Adventurous and moved at a good pace, but a bit predictable. I liked the unique way the author moved the Greek Gods into the present. I thought it was well done and will probably continue with the series at some point.

Started A Princess of Landover by Terry Brooks last night but didn't get very far.

[Werner]

Jackie, A Princess of Landover would be part of Brooks' Magic Kingdom of Landover series. I haven't read this particular volume; but Barb and I have read (and really liked) the series opener, Magic Kingdom for Sale --Sold!, and several of the sequels. Have you read any of these? With this series, there is a case for reading the books in order; the first one gives some essential basic information, and there is a progressive development of the characters, IMO.

Brooks' Sword of Shannara has often been faulted (justly, I think) for its excessive obvious dependence on Tolkien. This series is much more original; for what it's worth, I felt that with these books, Brooks found his own voice.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "The Lightning Thief was good for a juvenile book. Adventurous and moved at a good pace, but a bit predictable. I liked the unique way the author moved the Greek Gods into the present..."

Jackie, I'm still reading "The Lightening Thief". I like the way it switches from non-reality to everyday reality. Gives me a chance to catch my breath.

I'm also currently reading several other books, among them, _Changeling_ by Roger Zelazny. You folks have really gotten me into the fantasy genre. I just finished Janny Wurts' _To Ride Hell's Chasm_. Quite a ride.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "Jackie, A Princess of Landover would be part of Brooks' Magic Kingdom of Landover series. I haven't read this particular volume; but Barb and I have read (and really liked) the series opener, Magic Kingdom for Sale --Sold!, and several of the sequels. ..."

Werner, I think I'll give the book, _Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold_, a try one of these days. I've added it to my To-Read Shelf and have made some reminder-notes there about what you said. I like the idea of getting the basic info first. I find that the fantasy author, Roger Zelazny, doesn't give much exposition. He makes you jump right in and you have to guess what/who he's talking about. Explanations seem to come later. This puzzles me. In fact it frustrates me. :)

[Jackie]

Werner, Oh yes! Magic Kindom was the first book Anthony recommended to me. I've read all the Landover books since. It's been a long time since I read the last one so I pretty much forgot what happened. 'Princess' starts of with a reminder of what happened to Nightshade, but I'm still fuzzy on the details.

Sword of Shannara, well, at first, I thought it was very Tolkien-ish too but it wound up holding it's own about halfway through on to the end and each book after was unique to Shannara, not Middle Earth. With many of these fantasy quest type books there will be some similarities. But I have to say, the beginning of Sword was too much. I was quite annoyed and kept complaining to my husband, who didn't read it, didn't recommend it, but he got the hear about it anyway. I felt like putting it down, but we all know that is something I have a hard time doing. And I'm so glad I kept at it because Shannara has given me some of my greatest reading pleasure. At times, Brooks was pure genius.

[Jackie]

Joy, I kind of like that about Zelazny but I can see it being annoying and frustrating. I like a bit of mystery, if it's given to me too soon then there's nothing left. But if the author holds back too long, it only frustrates me. It's a delicate balance, and it's probably different for each of us.

I think you'll like Magic Kingdom, it's a fast, easy read, and a lot of fun. Brooks gives you the lay of the land, so to speak, so you know where you are, who's who and what's going on. Of course, there's things you'll find out along the way, but it's a straight-forward novel. I loved it. The characters are quite memorable.

[Jim]

I agree about Zelazny & "Magic Kingdom for Sale". He is mysterious, sometimes to a fault, but it happens to suit me most of the time. Brooks is a much easier read, Joy. More fun, but not the same caliber of writer, as either either Zelazny or Janny. I think you'd like his books, though. I certainly enjoyed the first one & I've read 3 or 4 others, but lost interest. The first was worthy of a re-read a few years ago, though.

I never could read any of the Shannara books. I tried the first one when it first came out but the rip off of Tolkien was too blatant. Years later I did go back & read it, but was never very impressed.

[Werner]

Actually, some time after reading The Sword of Shannara, we read the first two books in the Heritage of Shannara series, Scions of Shannara and The Druid of Shannara, and felt that they were pretty good --"unique to Shannara, not Middle Earth," as Jackie well put it. (Of course, those two books were written well after the original one.)

[Jackie]

Directly after Sword is Elfstones of Shannara and Wishsong of Shannara (but before Heritage) and they are two of my favorite Shannara stories. I can't decide which I like better. Both are very good, I would highly recommend them.
Elfstones is supposed be developed for a big screen movie but I haven't heard anything in a while about it. I'm not even sure if it's still on.
I loved Heritage but you have to read all four books, it's one continuing story. My husband never finished it; it was just too long for him.

[Werner]

We started reading the first sequel shortly after we read the original book; but Barb had expected it to be set right after the original, and to follow the same characters. For her, learning that it was actually set some 70 or so years later (if memory serves) was a major negative, so we only read a part of the first chapter.

The two books in the Heritage series that we read were loaned to us by one of my brothers-in-law, who's an avid fantasy reader. I'm not sure why he didn't loan us the next two --maybe he didn't own them, or perhaps they hadn't been published yet. I'll have to keep an eye out for those, and ask him about them the next time we visit.

[Jackie]

You're right, Elfstones centered around Shea's son Wil, so it's the next generation. And Wishsong is more descendents of the Olmsford family. Heritage too. Those Olsmford's just keep getting caught up in things, LOL

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Joy, I kind of like that about Zelazny but I can see it being annoying and frustrating. I like a bit of mystery, if it's given to me too soon then there's nothing left. But if the author holds ba..."

Jim wrote: "I agree about Zelazny & "Magic Kingdom for Sale". He is mysterious, sometimes to a fault, but it happens to suit me most of the time. Brooks is a much easier read, Joy. More fun, but not the sam..."
====================================================

I'm continuing to read Zelazny's _Changeling_, but I'm taking it a bit at a time. I don't really enjoy his style of writing (because of the ambiguity), but I do want to expand my knowledge of his work.

[Jackie]

I finished A Princess of Landover early this morning. I enjoyed it very much and hope Brooks continues with this series.

I'll be starting The Host by Stephenie Meyer later today. I had plans to see New Moon this afternoon but now I'm not sure. I woke up at 4 AM and the earliest showing is at 1 PM. I'm afraid I'll be too tired then and I'd be really annoyed if I fell asleep. If I don't get a second wind by noon, we'll just leave it for another day.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "I finished A Princess of Landover early this morning. I enjoyed it very much and hope Brooks continues with this series.
I'll be starting The Host by Stephenie Meyer..."

Jackie, I've put in a reserve at our library for _Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold (Magic Kingdom of Landover, #1) by Terry Brooks. It's my next venture into the fantasy/sf genre, thanks to the good advice I've received from the good folks in this group.

I really should try reading something by Stephenie Meyer, another writer in the fantasy/sf genre. I'm curious about her writing style. Which book of hers would you recommend for me?