Flights of Fantasy discussion
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Books & Discussions
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What are you reading in July 2014?
I never read 'Wrinkle of Time' as a kid - wasn't aware of its existence at all, honestly.I read it recently, and I can't say I was that impressed with it. I didn't review it, though, so I don't really recall what didn't work about it for me...
c.o.lleen ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "How was 'Prince of Mist'? The blurb sounds kinda generic, but you seemed to rate it well." Zafon's writing has a cinematic quality to it, which I love. I don't know why, but this book reminds me of 80's childhood movies. Something like The Goonies, but without the kooky characters. The mystery part was cool and the villian was creepy because his being is not exactly explained so Zafon leaves it up to your imagination. I also surprisingly liked the ending. It didn't end as I expected.
I really enjoyed A Wrinkle in Time. I also read it as a kid so that feeling has stuck with me. While I have read the whole series and I've re-read the series at least once...I don't *think* I've read it since becoming an adult.
Jackie wrote: "Zafon's writing has a cinematic quality to it, which I love. I don't know why, but this book reminds me of 80's childhood movies. Something like The Goonies, but without the kooky characters. The mystery part was cool and the villian was creepy because his being is not exactly explained so Zafon leaves it up to your imagination. I also surprisingly liked the ending. It didn't end as I expected. "Hmmm - I didn't notice who the author was at first. I wasn't all that impressed with The Shadow of the Wind. *ponders*
Well, if anything it's a really quick read. I read most of it while hanging out on the beach.
Ok. I'm trusting you here... ô_o
Regarding Wrinkle in Time - maybe the heavy science turned me off? I love science fiction. But I hate science. So - that actually makes sense. I'm not against intelligent books for children, that was only my impression.
Nienna wrote: "Regarding Wrinkle in Time - maybe the heavy science turned me off? I love science fiction. But I hate science. So - that actually makes sense. I'm not against intelligent books for children, that..."
I haven't read it, so I don't know how sciency it is, but I think that makes sense. LOL I tend to be like that too, actually. Science it up, but make it understandable and interesting and relateable to me, or you lose me.
Someone mentioned the Goonies?I'm sold. Time to read whichever book that is.
Ala wrote: "Someone mentioned the Goonies?I'm sold. Time to read whichever book that is."
LOVE the Goonies!
I even have it on VHS.
MrsJoseph wrote: "Ala wrote: "Someone mentioned the Goonies?I'm sold. Time to read whichever book that is."
LOVE the Goonies!
I even have it on VHS."
Everything? OK! I'll talk! In third grade, I cheated on my history exam. In fourth grade, I stole my uncle Max's toupee and I glued it on my face when I was Moses in my Hebrew School play. In fifth grade, I knocked my sister Edie down the stairs and I blamed it on the dog...
Scott wrote: "Everything? OK! I'll talk! In third grade, I cheated on my history exam. In fourth grade, I stole my uncle Max's toupee and I glued it on my face when I was Moses in my Hebrew School play. In fifth grade, I knocked my sister Edie down the stairs and I blamed it on the dog... ":-D
I'm reading nothing! My shelf is nekkid! o_O
I went through a slump, but I'm almost at 100,000 words for the first draft of my novel. Okay trade off?Should finish Shattered today or tomorrow.
Oh yes, that does change everything. I first saw Laurel's post from my phone, so I thought she was saying she'd be done with her novel today. Now I see there was a book there. lol
Laurel wrote: "I went through a slump, but I'm almost at 100,000 words for the first draft of my novel. Okay trade off?Should finish Shattered today or tomorrow."
congrats!
Has Absolutewrite been any help?
Yes, thank you! I've been a troll thus far, but it's helpful to read. I started my NaNoWriMo yesterday, and I will hopefully be done with my first draft of my longer project this week. It's been fun!But, this is about reading. So, I did finish Shattered today. It was fun. It feels like a middle book, setting up for a bigger, new storyline. I'm not sure where to go next. I'm tempted to give Larry Correia another try with Monster Hunter Nemesis. But, How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back has also hit my kindle. Hard to decide!
I finished The Riddle-Master of Hed and I am going to read the whole trilogy in July (hopefully). Also finished Remnant Population - with all the rain I can get a lot of reading done. Next I start Ancillary Justice for Sci-Fi and Assassin's Apprentice for F.
Christine wrote: "I finished The Riddle-Master of Hed and I am going to read the whole trilogy in July (hopefully). Also finished Remnant Population - with all the rain I can get a lot of r..."That's something I've been meaning to ask people in this forum. Does anyone read multiple books at once? It sounds that way from your post so I figured this was a good a time as any to ask? I have never read two books at the same time, but curious to see if it is more common than I realize.
Laurel wrote: "Yes, thank you! I've been a troll thus far, but it's helpful to read."
;)
I usually have one, sometimes two, "main" books that I'm reading and a bunch of other books which are half-read, many of which I seem to never finish but I'm still technically currently reading.
Yeah, I usually have 2-3 books going at the same time. One physical book, one audiobook and one ebook. I'm going through a phase right now though where I prefer to read physical books. I can't seem to focus on audios or ebooks. It's starting to bug me because I feel like I'm wasting time on my commute listening to the radio.
Scott wrote: "Christine wrote: "I finished The Riddle-Master of Hed and I am going to read the whole trilogy in July (hopefully). Also finished Remnant Population - with all the rain I ..."I read multiple books at a time but never two from the same genre at once because it makes my head spin :) At times I listen to audiobooks on the side.
And yes, as Paolo said, I have some unfinished books from the last months I got distracted from.
I love the Princess Bride correction! Man, I feel like I'm getting schooled today;) More coffee! I've been snooping around the threads, reading conversations, bits of advice. Better?
I read multiple books at once - format/genre doesn't matter.
Laurel wrote: "I love the Princess Bride correction! Man, I feel like I'm getting schooled today;) More coffee! I've been snooping around the threads, reading conversations, bits of advice. Better?"Lurking?
I'm reading Dorothy Must Die. I love fractured fairy tales, the more fractured the better, and a book where the original heroine is the villain... Hells yeah. I'm not really into Oz. But I do like this book more than I thought I would.And I love this version of the scarecrow and tinman. ;)
Christine wrote: "I am halfway through with Assassin's Apprentice and really enjoying it."Nice! Love Brent Weeks books.
Nan wrote: "I just finished The Quick. I found the story was bit slow to develop but I'm glad I stuck with it."I was going to laugh too, but then I followed the link, and it actually looks pretty interesting.
I'm reading The Girl with All the Gifts. This book. I like. Seriously. Like. 'Something' has happened and most of the population of the world has been turned into zombie-like monsters. Except for a group of researchers and soldiers and a few 'gifted' children who are more than brainless zombies but less than human. So far - I'm less than halfway - it is one of the best zombie books I've read. (Not that I've read many). I also finished Dorothy Must Die. And read the prequal novella No Place Like Oz. The series isn't perfect, it is not great literature, but it is fun to read - which is how I rated it. I've noticed - I rate most retellings well...
I read two chapters of Rot and Ruin last night before putting it down. The main character, Benny, comes off as such a brat! Also, I really hated the dialogue. It's like the author is mimicking what he thinks 15 yr olds sound like and apparently, they sound like douches. Blech!I'm off to the beach now. I'm taking with me City of the Beasts and The Last Kings of Sark: A Novel...hopefully, I'll like one of 'em.
Becky wrote: "The Quick was slow? Booo! ;)"Sorry to cause any pain! :D
Nienna wrote: "I'm reading The Girl with All the Gifts. This book. I like. Seriously. Like. 'Something' has happened and most of the population of the world has been turned into zombie-like monste..."Wow! I'll definitely be reading this one.
Just started Annihilation yesterday. So far it's pretty interesting. Should be a quick read.After that, I'm planning to move onto Shadows in the Asylum: The Case Files of Dr. Charles Marsh. Don't know anything about this one, bought it on a whim off Amazon when picking up Annihilation.
Jackie wrote: "I read two chapters of Rot and Ruin last night before putting it down. The main character, Benny, comes off as such a brat! Also, I really hated the dialogue. It's like the author is..."Yep. There was something about it that didn't work for me either.
Nan wrote: "Becky wrote: "The Quick was slow? Booo! ;)"Sorry to cause any pain! :D"
LOL No, I was just laughing at the irony of writing a slow-builder of a book and then calling it The Quick.
Nienna wrote: "I also finished Dorothy Must Die. And read the prequal novella No Place Like Oz. The series isn't perfect, it is not great literature, but it is fun to read - which is how I rated it. I've noticed - I rate most retellings well... "Glad it worked out better for you than it did for me. I liked it at first, but kinda hated Amy by the end, so I'm out.
colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "Nienna wrote: "I also finished Dorothy Must Die. And read the prequal novella No Place Like Oz. The series isn't perfect, it is not great literature, but it is fun to read - which is how I rated it..."I admit - I would rather read about Wicked Dorothy (Scarecrow, Tinman, & Cowardly Lion) more than Amy. I don't mind the Amy story but - it isn't as engaging as the whole Wicked Dorothy idea. I liked the end too (view spoiler) I do wish Amy was more interesting. And had more interesting companions.
Jackie wrote: "I read two chapters of Rot and Ruin last night before putting it down. The main character, Benny, comes off as such a brat! Also, I really hated the dialogue. It's like the author is..."I think that's the problem I had with it too. The dialogue. While the characters themselves developed over time, the dialogue never really improved. That's not good in such a dialogue-heavy story.
I was like, "STFU and kill some zombies, already!"
Chris wrote: "I was like, "STFU and kill some zombies, already!"LOL! Yeah, that's pretty much how I felt by Ch. 2...not good for a 400+ pg book.
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I ended up starting The Last Kings of Sark: A Novel. Figure I'd switch it up since I've been reading so much YA lately. Um, so far I've read close to 100 pgs and I'm not sure how I feel about it. There's something intriguing about it, but there is a lot of awkwardness coming from both the narrator and from the writing itself. I read a few reviews and they all seem to mention how beautiful the writing is, but I don't see it. Many of the similes and metaphors don't make sense.
I read Rot & Ruin last year. I remember it being one of those books where I liked the idea but I didn't like the main character. I did like the older brother. But even that character was written in such a way that you *had* to like him. The author tried too hard to make the book 'cool'. I liked it well enough. But I haven't, and have no plans to, continue the series.
Still reading Rogues. Seriously - does anyone even wrote SHORT short stories anymore?? These are all novellas! I've been skimming around but I'm going to try to read all of them. So far (haven't read Rothfuss or Martin) my favorite is Lynch's. I guess I need to read The Lies of Locke Lamora sooner rather than later. My least favorite so far is Abercrombie. I'm not sure if it's his style I don't like - or if he just doesn't do short stories well. Guess I'll find out someday. I also started Boy, Snow, Bird. Its supposed to be a Snow White retelling from the step mother's point of view. But so far it's boring. Very. Very. Boring.
BTW - I loved The Girl with All the Gifts. Can't say much about it. But one of the best science fiction books I've read in awhile. I really enjoyed it a lot.
I've been seeing the Leftovers trailers on HBO, but it didn't strike my interest. Looked a bit like Left Behind with angst.
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Flights of Fantasy
Books mentioned in this topic
Ruin and Rising (other topics)Wings of Fire (other topics)
Taken (other topics)
Dracula (other topics)
Maleficent (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Peter S. Beagle (other topics)Andre Norton (other topics)
Isaac Asimov (other topics)
How was 'Prince of Mist'? The blurb sounds kinda generic, but you seemed to rate it well.