The End of All Things [Nov 2017]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

This is a Buddy Read for The End of All Things starting November 30, 2017.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

The end is near!! This is scheduled for Saturday. I don't think I'll be finished with Oathbringer by then, but I'll still be starting on time. I'm looking forward to seeing how it wraps up. :)

[Rob]

I was slowed going through Oathbringer by Esslemont, but am full on Oathbringer now (about a fifth of the way in). Hopefully, be finished with it by then. I just put a hold on The End of All things (since the library is closed as of today till Monday).

My goal hopefully is to somehow finish Oathbringer, read this, and then jump right into Persepolis Rising when it is released.

I was hoping to jump in and read Dragons of Autumn Twilight for the first time in possibly over 20 years, but we'll see if time allows.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Rob wrote: "I was slowed going through Oathbringer by Esslemont, but am full on Oathbringer now (about a fifth of the way in). Hopefully, be finished with it by then. I just put a hold on The End of All things..."

I'm also hoping to start Persepolis on time. Let's see where we're at on the 25th. We can either tackle it quickly if we're in between titles or do the episode a day thing so we can focus on the others. Too many good books at once haha.

[Rob]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Rob wrote: "I was slowed going through Oathbringer by Esslemont, but am full on Oathbringer now (about a fifth of the way in). Hopefully, be finished with it by then. I just put a hold on The End o..."

Thought the start date on this was the 30th :)

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Rob wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Rob wrote: "I was slowed going through Oathbringer by Esslemont, but am full on Oathbringer now (about a fifth of the way in). Hopefully, be finished with it by then. I just put..."

Ah crap haha

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Well, I should definitely be finished with Oathbringer by then lol.

[Rob]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Well, I should definitely be finished with Oathbringer by then lol."

Ditto. If we had to be done by the 24th my eyes would bleed. or i'd ignoring the family on turkey day.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Neither of those outcomes sound appealing. ;P

You're probably over there like, "why is she asking about this so early?" Lol

We set the book club thread to run throughout the entire month, so if you don't have time at the beginning you can still join after Persepolis and garner some conversation. I think Margret is also reading Persepolis on start date and DoAT was her book club pick, so she might be late too.

[John]

I will definitely be late as well. Still reading Oathbringer and I have a pretty hectic schedule this month.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

20% left in Oathbringer, then I'll be ready to pick this up. Priorities, you know?

[Rob]

Still 39% left myself. Hoping I can churn it out this weekend! I've been avoiding the Oathbringer thread. Refuse to check it out until I"m done since it feels like the majority of people have finished already

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Started this evening. Just through ch. 1 (view spoiler)[ this is the first book where the similarities between characters is starting to annoy me. They can't ALL be as witty or sardonic as Perry, and yet this POV and everyone around him talks the same way. Unfortunately I now think Scalzi a one trick pony. Maybe I'm less forgiving because I just finished Oathbringer lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Rob]

86% done in Oathbringer. Really at the climax now. Annoyed I have my board meeting and annual holiday party tonight, otherwise I'd knock it out :) Maybe I still will, so I can start End of All Things Tomorrow

[Rob]

(view spoiler)[Yes, I think Scalzi inserts himself into his own stories too much. Collapsing Empire first book does a better job of diverse characters (hide spoiler)]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Rob wrote: "86% done in Oathbringer. Really at the climax now. Annoyed I have my board meeting and annual holiday party tonight, otherwise I'd knock it out :) Maybe I still will, so I can start End of All Thin..."

haha I can really commiserate with that. And no rush. :)

I'm looking forward to Collapsing Empire because I really do love the voice, it's just overused here. Maybe I'll devour that one next.

I can't believe how fast I'm getting through this book. It would seem that a whole month of all three Stormlight Archives made me feel like I'm the world's slowest reader lol. I'm a little disappointed in this series-ender so far. A lot of rehash and discussions, but no real plot advancement.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

I breezed through this book waaaaayy faster than I'd intended to. I think I'm going to reserve my thoughts on it until you both get into it a ways.

[Rob]

lol. thanks. I will begin it tonight.

[Rob]

And then this news just dropped:

Netflix - Old Man's War

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

O_O ooooohhhh! I'd watch that. Actually, all of the issues I had with lack of alien description in the first couple of books would be a non-issue on screen (obviously). Thanks for sharing that - I'm looking forward to it. :)

[Rob]

Posted to the wrong place last night!

Ok I'm finished. To start, I thought in many ways this was the most interesting book of the series, but also the least interesting. The ending was satisfying, but rather unexciting. I enjoyed the continuity of characters and Raif's bit in the first 100 pages, but was glad when it turned to other characters too.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Rob wrote: "Posted to the wrong place last night!

Ok I'm finished. To start, I thought in many ways this was the most interesting book of the series, but also the least interesting. The ending was satisfying,..."

I enjoyed the characters, as usual, but I didn't enjoy how much talking and recap there was. It seemed like by the time things started happening, I no longer cared. I'm pretty sure this was my least favorite of the series. From what I gather, Scalzi had a really difficult time writing this one, and for me it showed. In some ways I wish it had wrapped up in book 5. Since some of this book was simultaneous timelines, I think it could have been done.

That's just me being a bit overly-critical, though. Overall, I'm really glad I read the series. It was a good bit of fun. :)

Now, on to Emperor's Blades! I'm having a difficult time getting any reading/listening done this season. Been busy at work and home. I've been eager to start that one for ages and now I'm late to the read lol. For sure by next weekend I'll have dived in.

[Rob]

Yes, the last book was definitely a disappointment. Zero big climatic/epic scene. It was all over for me by the end. Not much if any surprises, so I'm sad it ended on this note.

The holiday season is INSANE around my house, but I managed to start Emperor's Blades (so far so good!) which I bought a year ago on sale in both kindle and audible format. Didn't get much done on it after seeing Star Wars twice over the weekend and going out for birthday dinner with my wife.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Rob wrote: "Yes, the last book was definitely a disappointment. Zero big climatic/epic scene. It was all over for me by the end. Not much if any surprises, so I'm sad it ended on this note.

The holiday season..."

I am disappointed too… Although since I really liked the end of Zoe's Tale, I'm going to pretend it really ended there lol. (view spoiler)[ I was hoping a similar "moment" where it really felt climactic and evoked some sort of emotion. Instead we got "whelp, the plan worked. Good deal." (hide spoiler)]

Your household sounds a tad busier than mine haha. No birthdays at least here, and I don't work retail anymore, so I've no excuse. I bought the book during the same sale. I'm glad we're finally getting around to it.

I loved this Star Wars. I'm fixin' to see it a second time, myself. :)

[John]

Disappointed to hear that the ending of this wasn't great. I still intend to read it, but I took forever on Oathbringer, and went right into Gardens of the Moon. This should be next though, as I can't stand to have a series unfinished.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

John wrote: "Disappointed to hear that the ending of this wasn't great. I still intend to read it, but I took forever on Oathbringer, and went right into Gardens of the Moon. This should be next though, as I ca..."

You might like it more than I did. It definitely had some good moments. I'm looking forward to your evaluation. :)

[Rob]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "John wrote: "Disappointed to hear that the ending of this wasn't great. I still intend to read it, but I took forever on Oathbringer, and went right into Gardens of the Moon. This should be next th..."

I mean it wasn't terrible or a bad read, I just wish it was a more satisfying conclusion to the series. I actually rathered enjoyed the first part.