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Retired Topics > Crusader's 100+

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message 51: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
55: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

3/5

I really can't see what all the hype is about with this book. It only gets interesting in the last 150 pages or so. A large portion of the book could conceivably have been left out without affecting the storyline.


message 52: by Lauren (last edited Aug 17, 2010 10:53PM) (new)

Lauren Smith Many people seem to share this opinion of the book. I enjoyed it, but I have to admit it took a while to get going. I think perhaps Larsson was very much focussed on character-building at the start. This is great ito Lisbeth (I love her) but with Blomkvist it can get dull. And there are way too many family members to keep track of in the investigation.

The second book is much more focussed on the mystery, although Larsson still shows that he cares very much about who his characters are. And that he likes to have a lot of them.


message 53: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Yes, I'm busy with the second book now and it seems to be much better especially the pace.


message 54: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
56: The Girl Who Played with Fire

3/5 - Better than the first one, but once again slow reading at times. Interesting ending though.


message 55: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
57: Spider Light


message 57: by Lu (new)

Lu | 12672 comments Mod
Did you enjoy it Crusader? I am a big fan of James Patterson, but haven't read that one yet.


message 58: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Yes, I did. That's actually the first book in the Alex Cross series. I've read quite a few of the later books, but couldn't get my hands on the earlier books until I came across this and 'Jack and Jill' at a yard sale.


message 59: by Lu (new)

Lu | 12672 comments Mod
Will have to read them then :) Seems Patterson is winning the Author of the month, so might just get the chance soon :)


message 60: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
59: You've Been Warned

Not typical Patterson and frankly not amongst the best. A somewhat expected ending.


message 61: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
60: Book of the Dead

A fast, fun read which was better than I expected. No complex plots, just action in a similar line to the TV series.


message 62: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
61: Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void

Contains some nice anecdotes about manned spaceflight. Had me laughing out loud at times.


message 63: by Lu (new)

Lu | 12672 comments Mod
Hehe i like the cover!

Tell me have you read Flashforward yet?


message 64: by Lauren (new)

Lauren Smith Crusader wrote: "61: Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void

Contains some nice anecdotes about manned spaceflight. Had me laughing out loud at times."


I've heard Mary Roach speak, she's very funny. I'd like to read
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, or any of her others really.


message 65: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Lu wrote: "Hehe i like the cover!

Tell me have you read Flashforward yet?"


No, I haven't. I think I've got the ebook around somewhere, but haven't gotten round to it yet.

Lauren wrote:
I've heard..."


She definitely is funny. Here's a bit from the book where she tests the space toilet (it includes a positional camera, showing your... uhm, backside).


Broyan and Weinstein have offered to let me try the Positional Trainer. Weinstein reaches over to the wall and flips a switch that illuminates the inside of the bowl. Because once you sit down, you are blocking the light from the ceiling fixtures.

“So,” says Weinstein. “You’re going to try to align yourself, flip on the light, see how you did.”

I ask him whether the astronauts are observing while they go, or before they start.

Broyan appears quietly stricken. “You can’t defecate on that toilet.” He glances at Weinstein, the briefest of glances yet unmistakable in its message: Oh my god oh my god she was gonna crap on the camera.

I wasn’t, honestly.

Weinstein, ever genial: “Well, technically you can, but then Crew Systems has to come in and clean it up.”

“It’s not a working toilet, Mary,” says Broyan, just to be sure I’m clear.

It has happened just once, a hit-and-run. “It was before my time,” says Weinstein. “If I’d been here, I’d have been pulling security tapes.” He wishes me good luck. The two of them leave and shut the door.

Imagine stumbling upon an especially rank porno channel, and then realizing it’s you on screen. My brain elects to reinterpret the image: See the funny puppet? Watch his mouth. What’s he saying? He’s saying, “Ooooo-aaaah-oooooo.”



message 66: by Lu (new)

Lu | 12672 comments Mod
Lol i love the extract!


message 67: by Lauren (new)

Lauren Smith Gross!


message 68: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Well, it's necessary when the toilet bowl is just 4 inches instead of the normal 18 inches.


message 69: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
62: The Black Prism

4.5/5

Wow. Brent Weeks doesn't disappoint with this completely new fantasy world. The characters are excellent and the mix between magic and technology is a breath of fresh air. The magic system is one of the most innovative I've come across in a fantasy novel. Highly recommended!


message 70: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
63: Flasforward

7/10

Great thought provoking book about the near future and the nature of time. It seamlessly integrates actual scientific theory into the story without becoming too complex.

Seeing that it was first published in 1999 the view of 2009 was pretty accurate. Quite interesting was the mention of ebook readers/data pads in the story and actually reading the book on my ebook reader.

This will have you pondering the nature of time and the universe long after reading the book.


message 71: by Lu (new)

Lu | 12672 comments Mod
I'm so glad you also liked it!! :D


message 72: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
That's the kind of scifi I enjoy. Making you think about something you would not normally have. The concept that the universe exists only if consciousness observes it is intriguing.


message 73: by Lu (new)

Lu | 12672 comments Mod
If you find another book that's similar please recommend it my way!

Also my boyfriend is now reading the other Brent weeks series, but he says he thinks he has read it before. But he is going to go on and see if he has read the whole series.


message 74: by [deleted user] (new)

Wow Crusader! Your doing so well with this challenge :)

I read Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I really liked it, but I agree that I dont really know why all they hype was, it was a good read, but the expectations were to high

Cant wait to read the next one anyway :)


message 75: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Will do Lu. I think the Night Angel trilogy was published in 2009, so it is very possible that he might have already read it.

I agree completely Niecole. There really wasn't anything truly outstanding about it.


message 76: by [deleted user] (new)

I know... I hate it when people make a great fuss about something, and then when you read it its just a really good book, but nothing THAT special.

I felt the same with Twilight, I really enjoy reading it, also its a good and easy read, but I dont know what all the hype was about


message 77: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
64: The Portable Door

6/10

The first Tom Holt book I've read. It's very similar to Terry Pratchett with some chuckle worthy pop culture references. A nice fun read for when you just want to relax.


message 78: by [deleted user] (new)

Whats your opinion on Terry Pratchett? And if I'm a beginner with his books what would you recommend????


message 79: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Niecole wrote: "Whats your opinion on Terry Pratchett? And if I'm a beginner with his books what would you recommend????"

I love his books. They are often wacky and hilarious. You might want to start with The Color of Magic which is the actual start of the series. I prefer to read the books out of series (as I get my hands on them).

Ones I've personally enjoyed was Mort and Night Watch. Night Watch is somewhat darker than his normal style, but so far that's my favourite one.


message 80: by [deleted user] (new)

Wow thanks crusader... I think I saw The Color of Magic in a bookstore here, I'll have to go check it out.

Sorry to bug you like this in your thread, but what other authors do you like? And what types of books do you like in general? What genre?


message 81: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
No problem. Discussion is what threads are for.

My favourite genres are Sci-fi and fantasy but I also like thrillers, horror and crime. The only genre I never read is romance.


message 82: by [deleted user] (new)

Oooh I also love fantasy, thrillers, horror and crime
Are you reading Swan Song?

You should come join us in the True Crime group, we're not so big yet, but getting there, discussions about your favorite serial killer and stuff like that, if you like true crime.

Sci Fi, havent read to much of that...

I do like a good scary book, what would you recommend?
I've read some of Stephen Kings work, but that wasnt really all that scary...


message 83: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
No, I'm not reading Swan Song. Have to read what I can find in the library or have in my own collection.

I can't really think of an extremely scary book I've read. Will see if I can remember one later...


message 84: by [deleted user] (new)

Thanks Crusader

Say, do you have a blog????

I did enjoy the Ammityville Horror, have you read that?


message 85: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Nope, no blog. I'm not disciplined enough top actually write stuff for a blog and my wallpaper site keeps me busy enough.

I think I read the Ammityville horror while at school, but never got into it since I knew it was all based on a hoax.


message 86: by [deleted user] (new)

Really???? I didnt know that...
I have the Excorcist, but I'm to afraid to read it.
Also, I want to read It, but as a child I was really afraid of it.


message 87: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Niecole wrote: "Really???? I didnt know that...
I have the Excorcist, but I'm to afraid to read it.
Also, I want to read It, but as a child I was really afraid of it."


Yup. You should read http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/... (great site for those chain-letter e-mails as well)


message 88: by Lu (last edited Sep 03, 2010 12:14PM) (new)

Lu | 12672 comments Mod
Crusader wrote: "Nope, no blog. I'm not disciplined enough top actually write stuff for a blog and my wallpaper site keeps me busy enough.

I think I read the Ammityville horror while at school, but never got in..."


I forgot to tell you, I got a awesome wallpaper from your site! Thanks :)


message 89: by [deleted user] (new)

Ah cool thanks Crusader!

Oh and I went and got myself The Color of Magic!!! And I must say that I am enjoying it


message 90: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Cool. I think I need to try to find and read more of the Discworld novels myself. I've only read a few so far, and they are surprisingly difficult to come by on the 2nd hand market.


message 91: by [deleted user] (new)

I know!!!!! The bookstore I went to (They sell new and used copies) only had 3 Discworld books... she wrote my name down and she's keeping me some second hand ones that come in. She also told me that the books are pretty popular and that she has to order new stock all the time...


message 92: by Lauren (new)

Lauren Smith I think most of the people who buy Discworld novels tend to keep them, unfortunately. I know I won't be giving mine away any time soon.
And if they make it to second-hand stores they won't be there for very long.


message 93: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
Lauren wrote: "I think most of the people who buy Discworld novels tend to keep them, unfortunately. I know I won't be giving mine away any time soon.
And if they make it to second-hand stores they won't be there..."


Very true. My small collection of 5 won't be leaving my library at all. They are great for re-reading when you feel a bit down.


message 94: by Lauren (new)

Lauren Smith Yeah, Pratchett is my go-to guy when I'm in a reading slump, after Douglas Adams. Even the average ones are still good reads.


message 95: by [deleted user] (new)

I generally dont like giving books away... only if I really didnt like them, but this is going well so far :)


message 96: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
65: The Algebraist

6/10

This was a slow read for me. Somewhere in the middle I almost gave up, but perceived. Normally I love Bank's work, but this one was just a bit too slow, with nothing much happening except for dialogue/descriptions of history/political/religion lessons.

The last 120 pages or so did redeem it and was much more enjoyable. In the end the concepts presented where interesting, but some storylines could easily have been left out.

The villain, seems to pop in for two or three appearances and then disappears without any trace or a gratifying demise.


message 97: by [deleted user] (new)

Lauren this might sound strange, but I love it when you talk about authors you like, they are so different from anyone I know, and just when I think I'll never like their books you recommend one, I read it and love it! Thats what happend with two of Margaret Atwoods books...


message 98: by Lauren (new)

Lauren Smith That's really cool Niecole, thanks :) I'm glad I could help you find some great new books!

What was the other Atwood? I know you read The Handmaid's Tale...


message 99: by [deleted user] (new)

The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus
I loved that one!
Any other great suggestions you might have??? :)

Wow Crusader, how many books do you read in one week?


message 100: by Crusader (new)

Crusader (crusaderza) | 2457 comments Mod
It depends on the lenght of the books. Normally I read 400+ page books and then I can fit in 2/3 a week.


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