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What are you reading in January 2015?
I'm working on my last start of 2014: Doctor Death. It's an ARC of her new book. I've read The Boy in the Suitcase and really liked it a lot, but this one... it's a different culture and a different time (Victorian, I think?) and the style feels... juvenile and passive rather than gritty and real like her previous book felt. I think it is supposed to be a YA book though, which I wish I'd known before accepting it.
Based on the poll I started over on MobileRead asking for help to decide, it looks like Ill be starting my year with The Martian. The poll doesn't end until about a quarter to 11pm EST, but its had a pretty commanding lead from the start, so I doubt that will change in the next 8 hours. I've decided to use the results to determine my first 5 reads, at the very least (I may even go to 10) as all 17 books on the list will make a jump start on one or more of my 2015 challenges.
I loved The Martian. I think you'll be happy you started with that one. :)
Agreed. Love The Martian.
Loved The Martian - cannot wait to see the movie adaptation!
Laurel wrote: "Loved The Martian - cannot wait to see the movie adaptation!"☆αlly☆ (litєrαry єscαpist) wrote: "The Martian was fantastic!"
Chris wrote: "Agreed. Love The Martian."
Becky wrote: "I loved The Martian. I think you'll be happy you started with that one. :)"
:) Thanks... What great endorsements! I'm hoping to start tonight, after my kids are in bed. We're having a very lazy day today, but I'm feeling a bit too tired and too wired to read right now.
There's a movie? Maybe I can get my husband to read it as well, then we can watch the movie together, provided we both enjoy the book.
They're going to start filming the movie this year. Matt Damon is the lead. You'll have to look up the supporting cast - it's one of the best I've seen in a long time! If it lives up to the storyline and cast, should be a classic.
Loved the Martian too. I think I'll be re-reading that before the film comes out. Finished Starship Troopers just before the end of the year so really keen to read some more Heinlein stuff. Think I'm going to try Stranger In A Strange Land next.
Also loving The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones!!
Paul wrote: "Finished Starship Troopers just before the end of the year so really keen to read some more Heinlein stuff. "I think the little I saw of the movie (walked in on a particularly gross part) may have turned me off to ever reading this book, but I am curious about his other work.
Nyssa wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished Starship Troopers just before the end of the year so really keen to read some more Heinlein stuff. "I think the little I saw of the movie (walked in on a particularly gross ..."
The movie really isn't anything like the book. The book actually has surprisingly little action. It's much more about their training and the philosophy behind why they are in the military and the system of government which Heinlein has created. Reminded me a lot of Old Man's War really.
I'll be reading some more of his stories soon so will let you guys know what I think :)
Paul wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished Starship Troopers just before the end of the year so really keen to read some more Heinlein stuff. "I think the little I saw of the movie (walked in on a parti..."
Hmm. Okay.. (I own but have not read Old Man's War, as yet). I look forward to your reviews of his work.
Just picked up Magician yesterday. Looking forward to reading this series. After that, who knows. That's on of the main reasons I joined this group, to help me figure out what I'm reading next.
Into Part II of Lirael, and I'm actually enjoying it now. Read a little of Derkholm, still liking it. And about halfway done with World of Ice and Fire.
Haven't touched a page of the Dean Koontz.
Nyssa wrote: "Paul wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished Starship Troopers just before the end of the year so really keen to read some more Heinlein stuff. "I think the little I saw of the movie (walked ..."
I LOVE Starship Troopers. The movie and the book have...so little in common as to be laughable.
It is - as Paul said - very little action and a lot more philosophy. Strangely, the very lack of action in the book paired with the amazing descriptions of the mobile suits caused a wave of re-writes, movies and games. Halo suits are based off of Starship Troopers.
MrsJoseph wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Paul wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finished Starship Troopers just before the end of the year so really keen to read some more Heinlein stuff. "I think the little I saw of the ..."
Heh...Then I wonder why the movie went so far afield. Thanks for letting me know. Like I said, what I saw of the movie really grossed me out!
Chris wrote: "Into Part II of Lirael, and I'm actually enjoying it now. "Yeah, it picks up when she leaves the mountain.
I loved the whole book, but Jer found the beginning difficult to get through.
Not a moment too soon. I was poised to press the "stop" button and call it DNF'd when Tim said "Part Two".
I thought about telling you to hang in there, but I didn't want to be one of "those people".
Heh..I don't think I'd ever think of you as one of "them".
Nyssa wrote: "Heh...Then I wonder why the movie went so far afield. Thanks for letting me know. Like I said, what I saw of the movie really grossed me out! "IDK but I *think* it's because people wanted more. When the book came out (removed from the controversy) a lot of people were kinda annoyed or felt...let down? that the book has such little action. They felt that the promise of a space war with aliens and the mobile suit tech should have given them a rocking/rolling action filled adventure fest.
Instead, Starship Troopers is more about how the MC became who he is, what the war did to the culture of our planet and what life is like in this new environment. NOT to say that there's no action or that the above is all that takes place in the book...just that the book had a decided LACK of the action people wanted it to have. From what I've read, this has often been the reaction. People who liked the book but wanted more created all the "spinoffs" (they're not really spinoffs) and games and stuff. I'm assuming the writer/director/producer of the movies was one of those people who wanted explosions without the introspection.
Explosions and Denise Richards. :)
Chris wrote: "Explosions and Denise Richards. :)"lololol!! Didn't this one come out after Wild Things? lol
I'm not sure I'd say the movie is completely without introspection since it's meant to be one giant satire.
Yes, and I'm sure that helped ST's box office sales. lol
Last night I finished Waistcoats & Weaponry, which was ok but my attention kept wandering (and I was really tired of the forced love triangle thing), and this morning I started Fables, Vol. 20: Camelot.
colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "I'm not sure I'd say the movie is completely without introspection since it's meant to be one giant satire."Is it?
MrsJoseph wrote: "colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "I'm not sure I'd say the movie is completely without introspection since it's meant to be one giant satire."Is it?"
According to the director it is.
colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± (blackrose13) | 1178 comments MrsJoseph wrote: "colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "I'm not sure I'd say the movie is completely without introspection since it's meant to be one giant satire."Is it?"
According to the director it is. "
Really?? That, I did not know. I haven't seen it in a while but...from what I recall he didn't do a good job, then. What was the satire? Was he satirizing the book or movies?
Is too many things a valid response? Steinbeck, Murakami, Pratchett, Haas. I am totally unfocused.
MrsJoseph wrote: "Really?? That, I did not know. I haven't seen it in a while but...from what I recall he didn't do a good job, then. What was the satire? Was he satirizing the book or movies? "I've never read the book, so I'm just going by second hand information here - but, apparently, the book has been criticized for being pro-military while glossing over the reality of military life, and also of being pro-fascist.
The movie, on the other hand, is meant to be a send up of these ideas and basically used elements of the source material to try and convey the opposite - war is bad, and "war makes fascists of us all".
The Nazi look is obvious in the uniforms and whatnot, but also in the casting - they're pretty but vapid on purpose. They're also the bad guys. They don't think, they don't question, they mindlessly follow orders and kill the "bad bugs", even though the humans were the aggressors.
It could also be argued that even the excess of action is a reaction to the book - the whole bit about glossing over the dirty reality of war.
It's ridiculous on purpose, because the ideas that it promotes on the surface are, according to Verhoeven at least, also ridiculous.
This is all based on stuff I've read, btw, and on stuff Verhoeven has said. I haven't seen the movie in ages. I do kinda want to rewatch it now, though.
I have to both watch the movie and read the book again. That wasn't what I got from my reading or watching. O_oFrom my (remembered) watching - the whole thing was so over the top and so different than the book it was mocking make it a failure. I also found it so OOT that I did not get his message and makes me feel like he's reaching. But that is probably biased as I really liked the book and did not like the movie in comparison.
I will admit that I can't remember who started the war, tbh.
But from what I can remember, the book is one person's experience - there are very few other POVs (if any). (view spoiler)
(view spoiler)
I just asked my husband what he got out of the book (he hasn't finished). He said so far he got (view spoiler) I guess that could be the fascism part?
MrsJoseph wrote: "But from what I can remember, the book is one person's experience - there are very few other POVs (if any). (view spoiler)"The pretty and vapid comment was specifically (view spoiler)
"I just asked my husband what he got out of the book (he hasn't finished). He said so far he got (view spoiler) I guess that could be the fascism part? "
Not just that aspect, per se - but it's certainly not pro-democracy.
Nyssa wrote: "Based on the poll I started over on MobileRead asking for help to decide, it looks like Ill be starting my year with The Martian. The poll doesn't end until about a quarter to 11pm..."Two days into the year and I've barely begun to read. Suggested The Martian to my husband late last night, and he finished it an hour ago. Approximately 22 hours, including the time he took to work, eat, go about his normal daily activities and sleep. *sigh*
colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "But from what I can remember, the book is one person's experience - there are very few other POVs (if any). (view spoiler)"The pretty and vapid comment was specifically [spoiler..."
I think it changed as the book went on but in the beginning it was that. Which makes me think the director and I read different books. IDK, I'm feeling obstinately opposed to his viewpoint. I need to pump my breaks and do a re-read/re-watch before I say anything else.
I want to run through his livingroom with a torch yelling "anarchy!" LOL
MrsJoseph wrote: "I think it changed as the book went on but in the beginning it was that. Which makes me think the director and I read different books. IDK, I'm feeling obstinately opposed to his viewpoint. I need to pump my breaks and do a re-read/re-watch before I say anything else. I want to run through his livingroom with a torch yelling "anarchy!" LOL "
Well, the director apparently never finished reading the book. The screen writer did, though. But they're not alone.
But there's also a bunch of people who agree with you. If you google 'Starship Troopers fascism' or 'Starship Troopers satire' there are tons of reviews and posts and discussions about it from both sides.
Nyssa wrote: "Two days into the year and I've barely begun to read. Suggested The Martian to my husband late last night, and he finished it an hour ago. Approximately 22 hours, including the time he took to work, eat, go about his normal daily activities and sleep. *sigh*"My boyfriend, who claims he is a non-reader, just did the same thing with both The Martian and Ready Player One. He finished both back to back this week and I'm still trying to finish one book.
Jackie wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Two days into the year and I've barely begun to read. Suggested The Martian to my husband late last night, and he finished it an hour ago. Approximately 22 hours, including the time h..."LOL
Oh my husband is a voracious reader, and I've always been jealous of his ability to consume books of almost any size in a single sitting or two. What killed me was that he didn't even know about the book until I mentioned it, and then he went and finished it before I even got started. :)
Jackie,I loved both of those books! It must be great to have a fellow reader in the house to talk about reads with :)
Nyssa wrote: "Heh...Then I wonder why the movie went so far afield. Thanks for letting me know. Like I said, what I saw of the movie really grossed me out! "The movie was actually based on a COMIC BOOK, which was only loosely based on Heinlein's story. Once you've gotten over the shock factor of the movie, you get more out of it watching the second time.
Not sure what all I'll be reading in January. Currently listening to Fellowship of the Ring. Then 3 more Diskworld books should catch me up. Then I'll move back to finishing series. Fewer challenges this year and all related to reading books that I already own. My TBR is just way too big.
Stephanie wrote: "The movie was actually based on a COMIC BOOK, which was only loosely based on Heinlein's story. "That would explain it!
I honestly have absolutely no interest in ever watching whatever I missed of the movie, but I am now more open to reading the book.
Currently reading Deadman's Tome December 2009, a free download I got 1 or 2 years ago but the site it was archived on I believe no longer exists. It might still be available on Kindle though.
Laurel wrote: "Jackie,I loved both of those books! It must be great to have a fellow reader in the house to talk about reads with :)"
Yeah, it's definitely a breathe of fresh air having a live someone to talk books with. I've never dated someone who is excited about reading as I am and best of all, he's actually brought me books!!! No guy has done that before despite knowing how much I love to read.
He bought you books?!?!*faints*
That's a keeper!
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Flights of Fantasy
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On the plus though, I'm loving The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones very much. I'm also enjoying The Dark Lord of Derkholm, though I've been going slowly because of the Ice & Fire book.
On audio, it's Lirael and I'm miserable with it. I hate the characters, though the writing itself is ok. I'm going to give it a few hours (because the scenery and characters are shifting) to see if it improves or it's going to the DNF pile.
Also a little bit into Mr. Murder. Ugh. Fucking Dean Koontz.
It's really not bad, I just have so many things I'd rather read.