Vagabond Treehouse (2023) [Beware of Chicken 3 - December 4th] Showing 2,001-2,050 of 5,829

[Choko]

Soo, yes! Deadhouse Gates .. Depressing and emotionally exhausting... But brilliant nonetheless...

TTJH#6... Finished it earlier. As you said, very light and pleasant, but no real conflict or anything too special... It felt more like a slice of life, and I really did enjoy it, but it didn't... pop... I don't know how to explain it better... However, worked great for a mental break:) Joe was a wonderful dude and you just can't root against him. The Lenon thing would have been the last thing on my to do list in a repeated life situation. I don't know, if just felt a tad contrived ... The rest of it was better. As I said, I enjoyed it and will be here for the next one on Monday:)

[Choko]

Iain, I am good with end of the week!

[Soo]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I finished The Wisdom of Crowds today, and am throwing around words like Masterpiece in the BR thread... it was awesome... glowing review... and this is coming from someone that spo..."

That's great news! I'm one book to go or need to start that trilogy.

Brian, we can BR them at some point. XD

[Soo]

Emily wrote: "TTJH:lots of alcoholism in these books.

I dont think weve had a bad narrator for these so far which I'm pretty thankful for.."

Yup, but it was also a common thing during that time? Or more like it was a common thing period and it's not talked about enough?

Agreed on the good narrators. It makes it easy to listen to the stories.

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I can do it any time:) I am ready! I am taking a mental day break from the second Malazan... The ravages of the war there are just... too much at the moment....

TTGH... Up to Ch. 15... [spoilers r..."

Yeah, Joe's life reminds me a bit of what happens to me during the off season of work--I collapse into a puddle, play lots of video games and read lots of books, and feel intense hatred for the thought of leaving the house.

I really like (view spoiler)[that he's the first person to go talk to a counselor. And I like that the counselor approaches it with a "it doesn't matter if this is true or not, because that's not what you need to see me about" attitude. I also like how Joe comes up with trying to prove to her that he's telling the truth.

And I'm wondering about her other client. Did Veronica go see a counselor and I just missed it? Or is this maybe another character we haven't met yet?

I too am getting serious pet-withdrawal listening to him volunteer at the pound. I've often thought that would be a good thing to do during the summer... I bet those dogs need some walkies! (hide spoiler)] I'm more of a cat person though. That ex-villain from AV3 would be able to smell it on me, I'm sure.

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "TTGH... Ch. 18... You can lead a horse to the river, but you can't make it drink... Those high idiots!"

My thoughts exactly! Or rather, my thoughts mirrored Joe's a lot--(view spoiler)[I thought it interesting how Joe thought of it less as saving his idiot friends, and more as giving them the opportunity to maybe grow in to something else. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I can do Constance Verity after Master of Djinn and Crowbones and Seven Kinds of Hell... so end of week/end I'd say?..."

That'll give me time to try and catch up! XD

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "TTJH:lots of alcoholism in these books.

I dont think weve had a bad narrator for these so far which I'm pretty thankful for.."

I'm amazed that each book has had a different narrator, and each narrator has done a great job.

Though, to be honest, all of the guys sound exactly the same to me.

I wonder if the alcoholism present in these books is a result of the time periods these are set in, or some other influence?

[Nirkatze]

Julian wrote: "I'm about 80% or so finished with Lux at this point. I'm seeing interesting parallels between this series and the original trilogy. I take it that the timeline of these events are running at the sa..."

I've largely forgotten the main series. Which parallels are you thinking of, if you care to share?

[Julian]

Jax + Paige = David + Megan

Especially Paige and Megan. They both (view spoiler)[technically die and we think that they are gone only for them to return. (hide spoiler)]

Also it looks like I was wrong and this takes place during the time of book 3. This kind of makes me wonder if Sanderson retconned the events of Calamity though. In book 3 we are told that Prof (view spoiler)[had killed essentially all other reckoner groups once he goes crazy. David and crew are supposed to be alone with all other reckoner groups dead or MIA. Prof created the reckoners and he is the only person to know where all of the reckoners are. It's weird that the texas reckoners are acting as though it's business as usual though. They only briefly mention that Prof was not heard from after having gone to NYC, but based on the timing of these events there's a discrepancy... (hide spoiler)]

[Julian]

Also what does TTJH stand for? Not really sure what everyone is discussing right now lol

[Tonari no Emily]

Alcoholism (view spoiler)[ Idk if it's a spoiler really, but at the end the author had a note about Al-Anon helping him, so maybe he's just writing about the alcoholics in his life.. (hide spoiler)]

This one was definitely a feel-good slice of life.. I enjoyed it, but not much to talk about.
I have been wandering when we'd get someone trying to change important events though.. Looking forward to the next one in that case!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Julian wrote: "Also what does TTJH stand for? Not really sure what everyone is discussing right now lol"

I think this is all the current BRs?:

LMS = Legendary Moon Sculptor = Choko & Soo
TTXX = Time Travel Character Name on Audible+ = most of group, not me, no time
Broken Room = new Peter Clines standalone = half of us
Legends & Lattes = first Travis Baldree book = most of us, over time
AV = Andrea Vernon = superhero trilogy = most of us
Constance Verity = soon

[Choko]

Iain, have I told you lately how much I appreciate you? ❤️

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I do what I can ;)

[Soo]

What Iain said. =D Bwahahaha

This is why I read the non-spoiler comments even if I'm not in the BR and if I read the book, I read the spoilers too.

For the TT series, I always write out the full book name and then abbreviate it. Bwahahha~ Saves us from writing the long titles out.

TTJH #6: At this point, it's safe to say that all of the books are various parts of the author's life put into fiction format. I don't really want to know that much about a person I don't know, but I also try to dissociate the stories from the author. That way I can just enjoy the stories. Heh

It was SUPER hard during the love story dedicated to my love story book. =P

Like, Stephen King openly talks about AA and how it helped him, but it doesn't always seem apparent that was a part of his life in his stories.

Nirkatze, Joe's not the 1st to talk to a psychologist. He is the first one to talk more about it. I think you may have blinked out during Carrie's talk to Joe. (view spoiler)[Carrie was also a patient of the psyhologist and Carrie talked about how it helped her too. (hide spoiler)]


Current Streaming Spree: Autumn Ballad C-Drama
It's a well written historical romance with humor. So, it's like a smart anime that features investigations to solve crime/issues, has a spunky female MC to go with the kind but asshole male MC and a variety of interwoven events that pull the story together.

I started by watching Legend of the Phoenix C-Drama. The website I'm using only had Ep1. Apparently, I can watch the rest on Youtube. LOL

So, I started watching the other show, Autumn Ballad, and I like it! It's the right mix of story, humor, tackling problems, etc. The show was well written and the actors pull off the wide variety of serious to goofy scenes well.

If anyone else wants a feel good C-Drama, I'll post the link. LOL

I'll probably be watching it for another day at least.

[Tonari no Emily]

Same about TMI for the Shawn Inmon LOL

But spacing the books out everyweek and not binging them one after the other along with having it as a BR is enjoyable enough :)

[Tonari no Emily]

Is there a BR for The Kaiju Preservation Society?

[Julian]

@Emily I've been looking at this book as a potential read. I'll join you at it

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Emily wrote: "Is there a BR for The Kaiju Preservation Society?"

Me and Soo have vague plans for it... I don't think we scheduled anything...

If you load the book page and scroll to the bottom, it shows you every group/thread doing a discussion about the book (until the book link breaks and disappears and ruins it, anyway)...

It's also kinda sad how often the only group that's ever BR'd a book is this one... we've done Wisdom of Crowds twice... it's how I found the old thread from last year to toss a comment in...

Scalzi is an author I think might have more broad appeal, should check BR invite thread... I think we read the Interdependency around here last year... and Old Man's War a few years ago...

I've read everything in between, at this point, basically... Fuzzy Nation, that Audible Original one, Agent to the Stars, Redshirts, Head On, etc...

[Soo]

Several people noted that The Kaiju Preservation Society is coming out and planning to read at some point.

I know I am for sure.

Someone can post in the BR Invite thread to see if there's interest. I wrote to say I'll read it when it comes out and that's TODAY! YAY!

Audible was great about sending me an email when a book is in my Wish List and is released. Now I'm not getting the emails. Which messes up the way I know about the audiobooks I want. Laammmmmme.

I'm down to BR the book today/tomorrow. I won't wait for an official BR.

[Choko]

Emily and Julian, I have been wanting to read it too, so I will join:)

[Tonari no Emily]

I probably need a couple days to start it... but I'm ready for another Scalzi!

[Narilka]

I'm also planning to read The Kaiju Preservation Society Sneak Peek. Need to finish the Broken Room though as I'm planning audio for Kaiju.

[Narilka]

The Broken Room Ch 40 (view spoiler)[Am I the only one who thinks Hector could've saved himself a ton of trouble if he'd have handed Natalie over as soon as she started coughing and let her spew on the guy??? The assassin would have a brain hemorrhage and they could've escaped without the shot out knee.

I know, I know, she's scared of coughing up her guts and dying. But still! Use the tools you have LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Julian]

Currently trying out the waking fire by Anthony Ryan. Does the book get much better? Right now I'm having a hard time focusing due to the dullness of the narrator

[Julian]

I'm wondering if this is one of those books that is good but the narrator is just bad and I need to get the kindle/book version instead.

[Soo]

Waking Fire - The narrator is usually good but not a good fit for Anthony Ryan books. I dunno why. You need to read it vs listening to enjoy the stories. =)

I'll wait a few days to start The Kaiju Preservation Society Sneak Peek and BR it here with ya'll.

I'm still on my C-Drama kick. The show had me laugh a bunch, cry a bit and enjoy the clever story setups for the various events. Good writing + acting makes for a great show.

[Nirkatze]

Julian wrote: "Jax + Paige = David + Megan

Especially Paige and Megan. They both [spoilers removed]

Also it looks like I was wrong and this takes place during the time of book 3. This kind of makes me wonder if..."

Interesting! I'd forgotten pretty much all of that. (view spoiler)[The one thing I do remember from Reckoners was something about alternate universes--maybe it'll turn out Lux is actually taking place in one of those? (hide spoiler)]

Speaking of Retconning--when you get the story of Herschel's leg finally (view spoiler)[I think it retconned Steelheart's story--I don't remember exactly, but I DID go google search Jackson, and what I read on the Reckoners Wiki didn't say anything about him being black ops. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Soo wrote: "What Iain said. =D Bwahahaha

This is why I read the non-spoiler comments even if I'm not in the BR and if I read the book, I read the spoilers too.

For the TT series, I always write out the full ..."

Thanks Soo! Regarding the psychologist bit--I was thinking more first POV narrator, rather than first time traveler, I should have been more specific in my wording.

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "I probably need a couple days to start it... but I'm ready for another Scalzi!"

I'm in that boat too--I <3 Scalzi, but can't do this week.

Soo, let us know how the audio is!

[Nirkatze]

Started listening to the Constance Verity series. Pretty funny! The crazy random stuff that happens reminds me a little of the Andrea Vernon level of craziness.

One thing though--I discovered that I am not built to listen to audiobook sex scenes without feeling extremely uncomfortable.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Started listening to the Constance Verity series. Pretty funny! The crazy random stuff that happens reminds me a little of the Andrea Vernon level of craziness.

One thing though--I discovered that..."

I've read a couple hundred romance novels in my time (contemporary, historical, paranormal, erotica, harem, the gamut basically)... and listened to a couple dozen... but at this point, I'm mostly in it for the story... I stopped seeking them out a number of years ago, and just continue a couple favorites, when the mood strikes...

ANYWAY... I agree for the most part... especially at work :D ... I struggle to think of anything more awkward than listening to a narrator moan their way through a sex scene in public, whether it's at work or out shopping...

[Soo]

Uh, add book isn't working. Yay?

I vote that we do Scalzi first and then read Constance Verity #3. I have the audiobook for Sclazi and will be reading the print for CV3.

Sex Scenes on Audio: I think it depends on the person, but I also felt squirmy uncomfortable the first time I heard a sex scene in a story I wasn't thinking there would be one. Hahahhaha

Then I listened to a few hundred romances and realized the stories don't hold up as well when narrated vs read. It was interesting how much of my own imagination was a part of the reason why I enjoyed reading romances vs the way the stories are written.

So, I have a weird set of what a romance must have and be like to work for me to listen on audio. Hahhahah

[Julian]

@Nirkatze if I remember correctly wasn't Steelheart originally a delinquent?

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Started listening to the Constance Verity series. Pretty funny! The crazy random stuff that happens reminds me a little of the Andrea Vernon level of craziness.

One thing though--..."

Yes--that! I was glad I had headphones in and no one could hear. >.<

In Constance Verity #2 Chapter 2 and she says something like: "36 is too old to start figuring out how to date normally." and I was like...ooof. Well, so much for me ever figuring out how to date then.

[Nirkatze]

Julian wrote: "@Nirkatze if I remember correctly wasn't Steelheart originally a delinquent?"

Yeah, I don't remember for when I read it, but I think that's what the Wiki said. Something like a Pizza Delivery guy or something.

[Soo]

Dating has no age limit on when you can start, etc. You can start now if you want. lol

36 used to be middle age. Now I think of middle age as more around 45-55. Which is the range I'm in now.

[Choko]

Soo, me too:))) But I kind of feel that part of my life is waaaaayyy behind me... Have no idea why...

[Soo]

No one enjoys the trials of dating. The fun part is when you meet someone you connect with and enjoy getting to know them. Part of the process that makes everything shiny & new again because you're talking about it and sharing with a new person.

A bit different from friendships, but great when it happens.

The romantic in me hopes that there will be magical & infuriating 'dating' encounters in my future, but my hermit side is pretty happy doing stuff solo. LOL

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Soo wrote: "Uh, add book isn't working. Yay?

I vote that we do Scalzi first and then read Constance Verity #3. I have the audiobook for Sclazi and will be reading the print for CV3.

Sex Scenes on Audio: I t..."

You can build book links if you're familiar with the code generated:

Fake book link to Kaiju Preservation Society

It's just [ BOOK : NAME | NUMBER ]

You get the number from the URL for the book page... everything past that that gives the book name and series number is extra and ignored by GR server, technically... and you can type whatever you want in the name area, as long as the syntax is correct... if the name is crazy long, I trim it down...

BOOKCOVER does the picture mode instead...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Soo wrote: "Dating has no age limit on when you can start, etc. You can start now if you want. lol

36 used to be middle age. Now I think of middle age as more around 45-55. Which is the range I'm in now."

Old/middle age = your age +10 ;)

[Soo]

LOL

[Choko]

I just started the Kaiju Preservation Society... The narrator is really good, as usual. So far so good... He already referred to one of my favorite authors, Niel Stevenson:)))

[Tonari no Emily]

Broken Room: finished this one today:
-Totally felt like a Threshold.. Not sure how it’s not, but I guess there’s no (view spoiler)[ specific Threshold-y things.. Just different dimensions and gross bug imagery with beings wanting to take over the world… (hide spoiler)]
-It was weird not having Ray Porter narrate, but Timothy Pabon did a really good job!
-I loved how fast-paced it was. But I agree with (maybe Iain, don’t remember exactly who when I was trying to go back to read everyone’s thoughts) that some of it seemed a bit contrive-y (view spoiler)[ with all the guns for hire being conveniently close enough.. What was the timeline of the book? People can get around fast I suppose if they can hop on a plane.. Also how big is this network? (hide spoiler)]
-The political/immigration issues brought up were very heartbreaking and the fact in his afterward Clines said he held back on some stuff when it was already so brutal..
-Also the ferals (view spoiler)[ Someone said how heartbreaking that if they hadn’t have killed the ferals they would have been okay.. Not much to add other than that I didn’t think about that at first, and now I’m sad..
What kind of monster can experiment on kids like this.. ugh. (hide spoiler)]
-I do like the comparisons to Logan about Badass guy trying to help young girl.. Loved there interactions. Also I did get a bit of Stranger Things vibes too…
-Question I’m left with (view spoiler)[ So was this a branch of the overall “Project”? That’s the gist I got with Hector’s convo with that General.. What other things does this Project do? (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

I also finished The Broken Room today.

@Emily's - Based on the author's note, it's not Threshold though definitely has nods to Threshold. We're not supposed to think about that too hard lol I also agree with Iain's note about some of it being a bit too convenient at places in the story.

Time to go open the older spoilers.

[Narilka]

The Broken Room

Re: Foxy/Quilt...

Yeah, that's a great example of some of the things being rather convenient for the story.

@Iain, Ending Fuzziness...
(view spoiler)[Tim went through the portal to keep it closed. He explained it to Natalie like he's the keystone in the arch. If he's not there, it all falls apart. I took it like everything that had broken through had to go back so the portal would close.

I'm not sure about the Russian nesting doll reference. They tend to have dolls within dolls like, what, 5 or 6 deep? They just had to put everything that got out back in with her rift next to the room's rift. I guess the comparison just didn't work for me. (hide spoiler)]

I too really liked the author's note at the end. I kind of hope that becomes a thing. The genesis of the story from one of his B movie marathons was pretty cool. The too many details about the border situation, not nearly so cool and heart breaking.

[Narilka]

I'm queuing up The Kaiju Preservation Society society next and will likely start over the weekend or Monday. Even if I start ahead, you all will definitely catch up to my slow listening speed :D

[Tonari no Emily]

Lux about 40% in..

Original trilogy (view spoiler)[ Yeah I remember something about parallel universes.. Also if it is in the same universe it must be before the events of Calamity since Calamity withdrew I think? It's been a while.. But also the Prof turned evil for a bit.. (hide spoiler)]

The whole situation with Lux (the city) has me uneasy at this point. (view spoiler)[ I remember in the OG trilogy when an Epic gifted powers it relieved the pressure to do evil? I think Lifeforce (is that his name? lol) is doing that to an extent to cause other people to regenerate, so he's probs not totally evil. Might explain the paradise situation going on in the city. But they're still killing a lot of people in the mainland.. so IDK. Also would a goodish Epic work with evilish Epics? Does he have something on them? Or is Lifeforce(?) being enslaved like that other Epic in the OG trilogy that gifted all his powers of electricity into batteries... So much to find out! (hide spoiler)]

I'm enjoying the setting though! I haven't read a lot of books set in Texas. It's fun seeing familiar things and kinda scary to imagine my city being terrorized by evil supes.. I'm happy the narrator didn't give Jax a thick accent because most Houstonians don't have a thick southern drawl. (I just distracted myself with listening to a lot of southern dialects and read on article on development of dialects in the south.. that was fun lol)

[Tonari no Emily]

Lux a bit more than 50%

(view spoiler)[ Okay, I got the gifter part right and that seems to help Lifeforce's anger problems/ influence of Calamity, but he's still an awful person. One of those situations where he chooses to be a megalomaniac I'm thinking. I'm wondering what his weakness is and if Jax and co accidentally found it since he couldn't use Wade healing his hand... Interesting.
I'm also wondering if Jax somehow has Epic powers now? Idk.

My blood bank mind is screaming about just injecting random blood into yourself... I guess blood antigens/antibodies aren't a problem if you're Epic? LOL (hide spoiler)]