Vagabond Treehouse (2023) [Beware of Chicken 3 - December 4th] Showing 2,451-2,500 of 5,829

[Choko]

I was very upset that they didn't continue with the movies, but I love the HBO series. Very well done...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The movie made some large changes... I read the book after, and the rest shortly after...

I remember the series got weird near the end, with the rolly mechanical creatures in Eden, or something?...

[Choko]

I really can't compare beyond this first book, because I haven't read the series before, but I am looking forward to it:)))

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The last 2 canonical prequel stories of Marla Mason are great... the fantasy trope delusions one, and the Pale Dog one...

Pale Dog starts with a solid unique premise/intro, middle, and an end that bust me up laughing...

All I have left now is the noncanonical Pride is an Engine, and I'm good to continue with the main series audiobooks...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Read Pride is an Engine... I don't remember all the differences from the abridged version at the end of Bone Shop, but there are some definite similarities and glaring differences... whenever it was written, Pratt had the beginnings of a good story/conclusion, but it was definitely rough...

Ready to continue with Blood Engines, in the coming week... several other things to read, first...

[Nirkatze]

Finished Golden Compass! I have notes, will type them up later when I have time. :) Still enjoyed it, though not quite as much as I read it as a child. I definitely picked up more on the themes and character tensions as an adult.

[Tonari no Emily]

Yeah, kinda hated the movie, I didn't watch it until after I read the trilogy in maybe 2012 ish.
The series I think they're doing a good job. Didn't know there was a second season.. Will there be a third?

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "Yeah, kinda hated the movie, I didn't watch it until after I read the trilogy in maybe 2012 ish.
The series I think they're doing a good job. Didn't know there was a second season.. Will there be a..."

Third season is currently filming! It is supposed to wrap up the trilogy and the series. I haven't watched season 2 yet but I'm looking forward to it.

[Nirkatze]

So I had typed up notes on Golden Compass, and now that I'm sitting down to flesh them out, of course I've forgotten most things. So just a couple random thoughts here, through the end of the book:
(view spoiler)[
--The Great Taboo--I just find this interesting on different levels. Like, don't touch other people's souls! Lyra felt pain and shock when someone touched Pan. The soldier's daemon's attack--but other daemons, and also the Bears? Is it because Bears don't have daemons that they are exempt from this? Then when Iorek kills a daemon, its solder dies. Farder Coram also killed what he thinks was a Witch's daemon once, and that daemon was chasing Serafina Pekkala--so do Witches not abide by this Great Taboo?

--The Witch goose led the severed daemon's away. I wonder what help the Witches will be able to give them. And do the daemons stop changing once they've been severed?

--The cold weather clothing the children have is the best of modern manufacturing--coal silk--but it can't compete to the best of traditional local furs. I just thought it was an interesting contrast of invader technology v. indigenous knowledge.

--The tech on Lee Scoresby's balloon was very interesting. I always think of hot air balloons as rising and falling using a flame that heats the gas--but Scoresby's balloon instead captures lighter gas and has to release it--and no flames allowed. Does that mean they don't have the other style of balloons? Not that I know much of anything about balloon tech.

--Mrs. Coulter's monkey daemon is never given a name--and never speaks! He 'chitters'. In HBO (view spoiler)[she even slaps him once. (hide spoiler)] She treats her own soul like an animal, and like a separate part of herself. What does that say about her character? She is torn and hates herself?

--At the ending, when Lyra shows up at Lord Asriel's--do you think he would have used Lyra if Roger was not available?

--And this bit about Lord Asriel having a "talent" to call things he needs to him... I totally missed that in previous reads. How does that work? What are the details there? Is it something Lyra maybe inherited? Is that how he entranced Mrs. Coulter in the first place?

Lots of themes on innocence & ignorance, prophecy, truth and lies, free will v. fate. (hide spoiler)]

I'm down for starting book 2 next week after the next Middle Falls Time Travel book. :)

[Choko]

I think he would have used Lyra instead of Roger, maybe with some emotional difficulties, but at the end, he wouldn't have even been heartbroken... Just doing whatever is necessary to get the job done....

Mrs. Coulter definitely hates herself, and blames her daemon for her own passions and shortcomings... Easier than to accept you might be flawed somehow...

I am good with reading the second one next week:)

[Nirkatze]

I came to the same conclusions--and it is interesting comparing Asriel & Mrs. Coulter as antagonists. Asriel comes across as a better person--in Lyra's mind--and we completely forget how rough and hostile he was to her in the first encounter. Mrs. Coulter comes across charming at first glance, but we quickly learn her cold insides--still, she is much warmer toward Lyra than Asriel. She seems weaker in will too--like denying her soul has made her so.

[Nirkatze]

Just curious--when we run out of the free Middle Falls books (last one this Monday) are we planning on going into the $$ ones?

[Tonari no Emily]

Yeah I was thinking about that too... There's a way to get them for 7.49 with Kindle Unlimited if you have that, but I don't know if I want to buy the new ones. What do y'all think?

[Nirkatze]

on the one hand, I'd like to support the author, considering I've read 12 of his books without doing so, but on the other hand, I keep hoping for another sale to pop up. Still, it's only two more books, at about $10 each, plus the short story for $1.50. So that's not sooo bad. Don't think I want to buy the new one out in May just yet though.

[Choko]

Nirkatze, we were thinking about replacing the Monday Time Traveling series with another one - The Chronicles of St. Mary's... It is in most libraries and it is pretty easy to get... What do you think?

[Nirkatze]

Yeah, I saw that! Totally on board--I was just wondering where we were going to stop the Time Travel ones. :)

Also, audible series sale right now! Any recommendations?
https://www.audible.com/ep/annual-ser...

[Choko]

Just wanted to say, I started TTCW#12... This poor dude! He is so obviously on the autistic spectrum, I just want to hug him! Which, of course, he would totally not be able to handle, and would freeze... And would be very relieved when I leave him alone...

I am repeating myself, but I have been working with people with autism and severe Asperger's for 20 years, including adopting a dude with developmental disabilities and Asperger's... I have a weakness for those guys! This book, I am on Ch. 10, is talking to me!

[Choko]

Nirkatze, you are evil!!!! Why are you tempting me so!!!!!! Another sale!!!

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "Just wanted to say, I started TTCW#12... This poor dude! He is so obviously on the autistic spectrum, I just want to hug him! Which, of course, he would totally not be able to handle, and would fre..."

I'm working on finishing The Warded Man, but then I'll be jumping into TTCW--good to know it's a heartstring-puller!

Just for the record--are we stopping the Middle Falls Time Travel series with #12 then? Anyone interested in splurging for #13 & 14, 14.5, maybe 15? That would put us at your initial suggested start date of mid-May for the Jodi Taylor books. I'm fine either way! I'd probably like to read the other two Middle Falls books since they've been nice little feel-good nibbles all around, but it doesn't have to be now.

I also may have just bought another 20 books on the audible sale. And I'm itching to pick up more. All the series look so fun! Lots of LitRPGs available! They even have Malazan books in the $5 category--but I'm not sure I can do those on audio.... waaa... put your wallet down girl, it's had a hard enough ride.

[Choko]

You are not right... I am willing to buy the next two books in the TT series, but I just spend a ton of money, once again, on that darn sale!!!! Evil, I tell ya...

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "You are not right... I am willing to buy the next two books in the TT series, but I just spend a ton of money, once again, on that darn sale!!!! Evil, I tell ya..."

What did you pick up, Choko? I got:
Peter Clines Threshold series and Ex-Heroes series
Helen Hoang The Kiss Quotient
Dakota Krout Divine Dungeon series
Craig Alanson Expeditionary Force series (starting with Columbus Day)
Rachel Aaron Heartstrikers series
Steven Moss Fear Saga (starting with Fear the Sky)
Mira Grant Newsflesh series book 1 Feed

Was hard to tear myself away after those... would be down for BRs on any at some point. :)

[Nirkatze]

Just started TTCW. Up to Chapter 4. It is interesting being inside the mind of someone on the spectrum, especially as he deals with a highly emotional situation. I'm looking forward to hearing the author's note at the end.

When Charles needs a snack and eats a snack pack chocolate pudding--I loved those puddings. Especially the vanilla and chocolate ones.

[Choko]

It is very interesting for me to find out how he is going to close the loop up for Charles. I was thinking about my Jack. He is absolutely content with his life, as long as nothing ever changes drastically or without preparation way ahead of time. He is capable of adapting, but it takes a really long time. Every day is just a small variation on the day before here at home for him. I think he would not even realize he needs to do anything different in order to stop the loop, but he wouldn't even want to. I don't think he would even understand he is stuck in a loop. He would take that conversation with the doctor as something that just fits with his life every 30 days or so. Actually, now that I think about it, he will think of it as his 30 day doctor appointment, and as always the doctor will tell him the same thing and send him on his way. He will just add it to his cyclic calendar. Charles is higher functioning than my Jack, because he at least noticed that this is not how things should be...

I really appreciate the effort the author has put in this story, and his quite good grasp on some of the folks living with this type of condition...

[Choko]

I got Mira Grant Newsflash, Rachel Aaron everything, don't forget the Detroit Free Zone I think is connected to the Heartstriker series, and bunch of other stuff... Evil!!!

[Choko]

I got also the Fear saga, The Ascendant series, The In Death series, the ones I didn't have already, (this series is a guilty pleasure of mine), and I got the Expeditionary Force because of you!!!

[Choko]

I finished the TTCW... I loved most of the book, but had a bit of a hard time accepting the ending. Not because I wouldn't love it to happen this way, but because I know the people who deal with this condition, and the author had to change the nature of the character in order to finish it this way. The only way I can accept it is that (view spoiler)[ the Creator creature, who showed up in the Control room this time around, actually changed something within Charles, just as it did with the cancer. Since everything is possible for The Creator, I can take it, but I hate that this thing that made him special, had to be severely modified in order to have a "good" life. In my experience, most of my people who are like Charles, are completely content and happy, as much as they can experience happiness the way we understand it, that I don't think they feel or even think that anything in their lives needs to change or improve. As the creature said, they are closer to G-d than all of us...

As much as I can't ever see the level of Autism Charles is to ever consider the well-being and plight of the homeless and think about feeding them, unless he himself had experienced their situation, I can totally see some with Down syndrome to get involved in a spontaneous charity!

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book, and it's probably one of my favorites:)) (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

I really enjoyed TTCW as well! And I can totally see where you're coming from with how that is just not how Charles would behave. I agree! He was definitely portrayed as autistic; however, he was high functioning.. (view spoiler)[ Also he went through 85 years of the same thing.. which is wild. And he only started to change through the last few cycles... I suppose I can accept there was interference.

But to change how someone is entirely in order to move on?? Doesn't sit quite right with me I think
(hide spoiler)]

That being said, this one pulled on the heartstrings a bit more than the past few have been in a while for me! So I definitely liked it for that.

[Choko]

Exactly!!! :))))

[Tonari no Emily]

I can't say Expeditionary Force is like amazing or anything, and sometimes I really wanna quit, but it's got just enough to keep me buying the new ones when it comes out! haha

[Tonari no Emily]

I may or may not have 40 or so books in my cart right now.. Someone hold me back lmao

[Choko]

I did the same! Those sales are pure evil, I am sure of it!!!

[Tonari no Emily]

Okay, I've pared down to more manageable 13 after removing the things that I can get from the library.. Still not sure about spending $60 right now though.

[Nirkatze]

LOL I'm only about halfway through TTCW--just hit 3rd life--but it is certainly very interesting. I like getting an insight into different minds, and this is the most different so far. It is also interesting seeing how others interact with Charles, and who Charles has an easier time talking to.

I picked up Expeditionary Force because I liked the sound of the narrator and I'm a sucker for military SF. :) Glad to hear it's not bad Emily!

Is the Ascendant series the Sorcerer Ascendant series? Who wrote the In Death series? What do you have in your cart, Emily?

And is it just me, or is the sale like 90% SF/Fantasy?

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "LOL I'm only about halfway through TTCW--just hit 3rd life--but it is certainly very interesting. I like getting an insight into different minds, and this is the most different so far. It is also i..."
I didn't like Ascendant trilogy by Craig Alanson. Just not for me. Can't quite remember why but I do know I like each less than the one before. haha

Maybe it's because majority of series are scifi/fantasy?

[Tonari no Emily]

I've got
Dead Moon (my remaining Threshold)
Code Name Verity (might remove)
Scythe Series
Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe
The Awakened Kingdom by NK Jemisin (Already read the Inheritance Trilogy)
The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

[Nirkatze]

Very shiny!!! I keep...adding more...someone stop me...

[Nirkatze]

TTCW Chapter 36 (view spoiler)[It's interesting how the short lives seem to help Charles have enough repetition and consistency to try small adjustments.

When he wonders what happened to Moon Dog in NYC after he died, and what happens to all the worlds he left behind...we're all wondering there with you Charles! (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

The In Death series is by J. D. Robb, which is the pseudonym of Nora Roberts just for this series. I don't read the regular Nora Roberts, mostly because she writes contemporary romance and I don't read anything contemporary, ever! But this is her semi-futuristic (it is set in the 2059-62) mystery series with a kick-ass female lead, who settles in a relationship with a billionaire around book 2-4, I don't remember anyone, which is why I should re-read it... Every book has a mandatory memory dream of her childhood abuse and a mandatory love scene, both of which I just kind of accept reluctantly, but the rest is absolutely addicting! I would love to see if someone would like it enough to read it with me:))))?

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "The In Death series is by J. D. Robb, which is the pseudonym of Nora Roberts just for this series. I don't read the regular Nora Roberts, mostly because she writes contemporary romance and I don't ..."

I wouldn't mind giving it a try this summer. :) I'll pick up the first few in the sale.

Finished TTCW! I can see what y'all are saying about (view spoiler)[the changes in Charles' life being unrealistic, and needing the Machine bird making changes to Charles' psyche to "fix" him to make it possible. I also agree that I don't like stories that treat people who are differently abled like they are something that needs fixing.

For me, the story started jumping the shark around when Moon Dog from his second to last life contacted Charles in his dreams. Up to then, the changes were smaller--a little change, a little try, a few years to work it into his routine. The big changes, especially people-related, were less likely. (hide spoiler)] Still, like with y'all, much heartstrings tugging! I'm good to pick up the next two for the next two Mondays if y'all are.

Also, Choko, I'm good to start The Subtle Knife tomorrow if you're up for it too! If you haven't already jumped in. :)

[Tonari no Emily]

Yes, I'll read the next two. Went ahead and got those when I checked out my sale items :)

[Tonari no Emily]

Choko wrote: "The In Death series is by J. D. Robb, which is the pseudonym of Nora Roberts just for this series. I don't read the regular Nora Roberts, mostly because she writes contemporary romance and I don't ..."

A 54+ book series a bit too daunting for me to even start... I'd feel too committed so I might have to pass on that one haha

[Choko]

I will do the next two as well. Emily, the In Death, it is one of those series that I treat as a TV show. Every week a new, unrelated crime is committed, Dallas finds the killer, some small growth in the character occurs, the draw on the long run is her group of secondary characters and the running jokes...

[Choko]

The Subtle Knife... Up to Ch. 6... (view spoiler)[ This parallel world hopping is interesting. Lyra is still a child, trusting or mistrusting exactly the wrong people. I think she should have made it a rule, never trust someone before you ask the little compass if you should...

William is another intense kid. So serious all the time. I guess this is a natural progression when raised by a parent with mental illness, and even more so when the paranoia is exacerbated by real danger...

Those creatures eating the souls of the adults on the third world are absolutely terrifying! I wonder if they are the antagonists of the same world's Angels... Ben Elim, like in the John Gwyne books:))) I wonder if these ones are actual colonies of the dark matter/dust particles, congregating together to represent humanoid creatures... I wonder why they are responding to Lord Asriel's call and what the true end game is... (hide spoiler)]

So many more questions and barely any answers... I am keeping on:)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

@Choko: Starting Marla Mason #1, after the perilous journey through the short stories the past few weeks... don't want to lose momentum, like we have with so many other theoretical BRs :)

Good luck with the St. Mary's BR I see you planning... I might join near the end for the newest book or 2 and 1-2 Time Police books... was waiting to read with Charlie & Siobhan, but babies got in the way of their reading...

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I will do the next two as well. Emily, the In Death, it is one of those series that I treat as a TV show. Every week a new, unrelated crime is committed, Dallas finds the killer, some small growth ..."

That sounds like most of the police procedurals I enjoy! I wouldn't mind trying a few out. Only the first 4 were on sale though, so can't guarantee I'll go past them. :) Still, everyone needs some light and fun every now and then, right?

Picked up my last two 1/2 copies of the Middle Falls books too! Ready for Monday.

@Iain, maybe if we're lucky Charlie & Siobhan will have time from baby-ness to join us by the time we hit those ones! Regardless it'll be fun to have you with us!

Started Subtle Knife last night. Agree @Choko about there being more new questions than answers! I remember feeling a little off balance (view spoiler)[especially starting with a whole new POV and in our world too! (hide spoiler)] when reading it for the first time years ago. Only through Chapter 2. (view spoiler)[I didn't remember any of the stuff with the witches!! Serafina Pekkala is a badass! (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I love Serafina! She is awesome!

[Tonari no Emily]

Light and Fun are definitely necessary! Not every book needs to be a Five star.. We can enjoy candy every once in a while 😁

[Choko]

Exactly!!!:))))

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Liars!!!… Our reading “diet” is like 50% popcorn and candy reads… anything to stave off burnout ;)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I re-read Blood Engines yesterday… remembered bits and pieces… forgot about the references to Emperor Norton (same Emperor Laken mentions in Wandering Inn)…