What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed* Showing 5,051-5,100 of 13,523

[Josh]

Antonella wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "I'm giving Elliott Mackle a try"

I had already ordered ''It Takes Two'' when I saw the review by Josh! But two other friends gave it 5 stars. I'm curious to hear your ..."

I haven't read the new book, but I felt the first was an amateurish effort with a predictable plot, cliche and undefined characters, and a poorly developed relationship arc. The historical detail was nicely done.

BUT it occurred to me later that I have the first edition of this book and it's more than possible that it's since been revised.

[Antonella]

There is no other edition. It would have been nice if you would have written your review a couple of weeks before ;-).

Still, there might be a hope that I like it. In your review you also listeda couple of positive points about the book...

[K.Z.]

Josh wrote: "Ah. Horror. So is horror the big new genre on the block? Because Samhain just launched a new line -- 10 books released yesterday in the new horror line. And they'll be doing an additional two books each week in horror along with the regular releases.

I had no clue horror was such a hot genre."

I hadn't either, Josh. It's simply been a literary passion of mine since childhood (and believe me, that's a long enough time to make me a true connoisseur *g*). I'm picky, though -- really detest the recent reliance on gore in lieu of carefully crafted atmosphere and the subtleties of pacing. Nuanced, bone-chilling horror is really tough to do right . . . but so, so satisfying when it is done right.

That's somewhat surprising news about Samhain. Maybe they're slowly reverting to their original vision of publishing more than romance.

[K.Z.]

Josh wrote: "I haven't read the new book, but I felt the first was an amateurish effort with a predictable plot, cliche and undefined characters, and a poorly developed relationship arc. The historical detail was nicely done."

Hm. Wonder where I'm going to fall on the opinion scale. Sometimes I have to read a book twice to fully appreciate it. (I did that with The Little Stranger. Even though I had the same issues with it after the second go-round, I realized its strengths far outweighed its weaknesses.)

[Kristie]

I love The Little Stranger! It's got a creepy atmospheric vibe that's all about what you don't see instead of graphic violence and gore. I wish there were more books like it. I love Sarah Waters writing. Fingersmith is my favorite book of all time.

[K.Z.]

Kristie wrote: "I love The Little Stranger! It's got a creepy atmospheric vibe that's all about what you don't see instead of graphic violence and gore. I wish there were more books like it. I love Sarah Waters wr..."

Wasn't it absorbing, Kristie? I agree, Waters is a wonderful writer -- so polished, and with such a keen historical sense. She makes conjuring up another era seem so effortless. The Little Stranger was part of my personal Horror Galore October Reading Fest. :) Guess I'll have to look into Fingersmith now. (Dang!)

[Kristie]

All of Sarah Water's stuff just sucks me right in, even when I didn't particularly enjoy the book - like with The Night Watch. Fingersmith is amazing. It's like Dickens with lesbians. *L* It's the greatest love story I've ever read.

[[deleted user]]

Kristie wrote: " Fingersmith is amazing. It's like Dickens with lesbians. *L* It's the ..."

I was about to call it lesbian Gothic. Full of all kinds of plot twists and the expected gothic stereotypes and situations. Fun book.

[Candice]

Kristie wrote: "Becky wrote: "Advance Reading Copy. They give them out to reviewers, and the occasional random contest winner. I got all four stories in the anthology on Friday, and I managed to hold out until S..."

I've only had mine for a few months, and I just love it. I didn't think I wanted to read that way, an electronic reader, no pages to turn, no book smell. That was silly of me because books aren't going anywhere. Any I have a ton I haven't read yet and certainly will read. But you'll find the ebook experience is another matter, has lots of pluses. (Did I spell "pluses" right?)

There's one: While I'm reading a book on my Kindle, my dictionary is right there on the home page. I find myself actually looking up words I don't know (where before I knew I should, wished I would and never did).

[K.Z.]

"It's like Dickens with lesbians."
"I was about to call it lesbian Gothic."

Ha! I also have Affinity on the nightstand. I get the impression it's the same sort of thing.

I'd like to dip more into the L, T, and I of GLBTI. Must try harder to be an equal opportunity liberal. ;-)

Have any of you read Eugenides' Middlesex? I have the book, but it looks daunting to me.

[Josh]

Candice wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Becky wrote: "Advance Reading Copy. They give them out to reviewers, and the occasional random contest winner. I got all four stories in the anthology on Friday, and I managed to ..."

I think it does ease that anxiety if you consider ebooks as supplementary to print.

I know in real life, most of the people I know still read print and don't yet own an electronic reading device.

This holiday season might change that?

[mc]

KZ, I read Middlesex when it was first released, and though I unfortunately can't provide a 'review,' I do remember that I loved it. Rather long, IIRC, but I was very engaged.

It's one of those broad, sweeping novels that explores this character, the family, a medical situation, with some mythology thrown in (again, IIRC). Just the type of book I like, if done well, and this one was.

I really like Eugenides' Virgin Suicides as well, but Middlesex was something else.

Your mileage may vary, of course (I feel I have to throw this in, since I knew a few people who didn't like it as much as I did).

[K.Z.]

Thanks for the helpful comments, mc. I just might delve into it this winter. This long, long, *$*%# winter...

[mc]

Where are you located, KZ, if you don't mind me asking? Siberia? North Dakota? In the inner recesses of a Klondike ice cream factory?

[Cleon Lee]

I finished Solid Core of Alpha a while ago. It's a very interesting concept. The first part is really chilling, about how a 12 year old boy trapped alone for 10 years in a space shuttle started to create his own world, his own holo-friends who become sentient (the author said they're half-sentient, but from what I see, they're completely sentient). Unfortunately, (view spoiler)[the fuel can't support that many people, so the boy has to start "erasing" unnecessary characters and it burdens him with such guilt (because he sees it as "killing" that his "lover", a holo-person created by other holo-persons, started to mirror his guilt and became very abusive toward him. I wish the author could explore the moment when the first time the boy had to erase some people. (hide spoiler)] This story has so much potential, psychologically & philosophically. Basically, it's like playing God and religious people can use this story as a reflection about a Creator's prerogative to the sentient beings he/she has created.

[Antonella]

I liked the first part, and it was very interesting, but then all that puking and sobbing (I suppose this is not a spoiler) were too much for me.

Also: IMO the revisiting of the 10 years spent in the spaceship through the eyes of someone else were a unnecessary repetition. For the sake of the environment I'm all for recycling ;-), but I don't like when authors recycle bits of stories, in a flashback or like here.

[Cleon Lee]

Antonella wrote: "I liked the first part, and it was very interesting, but then all that puking and sobbing (I suppose this is not a spoiler) were too much for me.

Also: IMO the revisiting of the 10 years spent i..."

I think the author is going for the emotional and romance lane, pun not intended, rather than the philosophical aspect.

[K.Z.]

mc wrote: "Where are you located, KZ, if you don't mind me asking? Siberia? North Dakota? In the inner recesses of a Klondike ice cream factory?"

:-D

Oops. No matter how much duct tape I use, my inner drama-queen keeps leaking out.

I wish it were a Klondike ice cream factory, but it's only the land of suppliers for ice cream factories -- Wisconsin. I'm afraid winter stopped being fun when I outgrew my frisky-young-thang panties.

[Becky]

I'm coming up on my one year anniversary in Indiana, after living in Houston for almost 20 years. If anyone repeats this I'll deny it, but at this point I'll take the miserable cold over the miserable heat any day. Even with the extra aches and my paralyzing fear of driving on the ice and snow, it's more manageable than the heat. Even the pitiful Indiana heat was hard for me to deal with this summer. (Although, to be fair, it was a particularly hot summer for Indiana, and if I'd been allowed control of the a/c, I'd have kept the house cooler and been less miserable.) My decrepit, 30-something body just can't cope with anything above 75 degrees any more.

Also, I like wearing hand knit socks. Thick, slouchy hand knit socks on a cold day are the best. Back home I'd get to wear them for a couple weeks, tops. Here I can schlub around in them 6 months a year.

[K.Z.]

Good points, Becky. I love bundling up and watching the snow fly . . . as long as I can stay indoors. :)

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

I'm cold-blooded. The hottest the better, but this year's heat wave in Southern Europe almost defeated me. Almost. I had to turn the air-conditioning on for 15 minutes at night before going to bed ;)

[Candice]

Josh wrote: "Candice wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Becky wrote: "Advance Reading Copy. They give them out to reviewers, and the occasional random contest winner. I got all four stories in the anthology on Friday, a..."

It really could. Just around the job I'm hearing of it frequently as a gift item. And it's a great gift idea. Not many of those around.

[Candice]

ns (et al Parhelion fans): I finally got back around to reading more Parhelion. Silver Lining was just okay. LOVED Oilwell Ben... That was the bomb. Parhelion slings that early 20th century jargon around like old home week. It reminds of my dad--90-day wonder, WWII. He used to talk some of that. Some I don't even understand, but I like it anyway. And his dialog is easy, like a dancer makes hard moves look like a stroll. And funny. The guy's a winner, isn't he?

[Antonella]

Candice, I'm a new acquired Parhelion fan, I love his stories!

I can imagine he won't have that many followers tough: not that much sex or easy angst in them!

[Kari]

...because ending life as we know it by zombie apocalypse isn't as easy as you might think. ;-p

[K.Z.]

Antonella wrote: "Candice, I'm a new acquired Parhelion fan, I love his stories!

I can imagine he won't have that many followers tough: not that much sex or easy angst in them!"

Ooo, I have Parhelion's books on my TBR list. I have a feeling I'm going to like his stories.

[Josh]

Lisa wrote: "Josh wrote: "Candice wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Becky wrote: "Advance Reading Copy. They give them out to reviewers, and the occasional random contest winner. I got all four stories in the anthology..."

I know!

[Josh]

Cleon wrote: "I think the author is going for the emotional and romance lane, pun not intended, rather than the philosophical aspect...."

Yeah. Because nothing says romance like puking and sobbing.

[Josh]

Candice wrote: "Josh wrote: "Candice wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Becky wrote: "Advance Reading Copy. They give them out to reviewers, and the occasional random contest winner. I got all four stories in the anthology..."

Very true.

I admit that rampant pirating has made me less generous than I used to be. And I hate that I'm becoming...stingy. But it really does chill your enthusiasm when you see books that could only have been obtained through review copies or contest prizes up for sale on pirate sites.

[K.Z.]

Josh (and other authors), do you ever get "sob" letters from readers hinting around, or flat-out asking, for free books? This poses a real dilemma for me. It's difficult to distinguish genuine fans who are genuinely poor from plain old hustlers.

[Cleon Lee]

Josh wrote: "Cleon wrote: "I think the author is going for the emotional and romance lane, pun not intended, rather than the philosophical aspect...."

Yeah. Because nothing says romance like puking and sobbing."

Or being interrupted by a mummy when you're making out ... :D

[Becky]

K.Z. wrote: "Josh (and other authors), do you ever get "sob" letters from readers hinting around, or flat-out asking, for free books? This poses a real dilemma for me. It's difficult to distinguish genuine fans..."

I have a hard time imagining approaching an author and asking for a freebie. Entering a contest? Oh, hell yes. But not just asking out of the blue.

What about borrowing through Amazon or Barnes & Noble? Both have lending programs, and there are plenty of places that hook up borrowers and lenders, if they don't know anyone personally who owns the book. There's even a section of the M/M group set aside for this, if you're being approached here on GR. And they can be read on the computer, so they don't need to have a nook or Kindle.

[Charming]

Antonella wrote: "Candice, I'm a new acquired Parhelion fan, I love his stories!

I can imagine he won't have that many followers tough: not that much sex or easy angst in them!"

I am a fan.

[Charming]

Josh wrote: "Yeah. Because nothing says romance like puking and sobbing. "

(Snicker)

[Charming]

K.Z. wrote: "Josh (and other authors), do you ever get "sob" letters from readers hinting around, or flat-out asking, for free books? This poses a real dilemma for me. It's difficult to distinguish genuine fans..."

When I was teaching, I made a point of *not* changing grades for the people who came to me and whined, unless I actually made a mistake. Too unfair to the non-whiners. So I feel pretty cold hearted towards your supplicants. :-)

And as Becky points out, anyone can Kindle-borrow books, so I really don't see why anyone needs a free copy.

[Charming]

Josh wrote: "I admit that rampant pirating has made me less generous than I used to be. And I hate that I'm becoming...stingy. But it really does chill your enthusiasm when you see books that could only have been obtained through review copies or contest prizes up for sale on pirate sites. "

Ooh, this really makes me want to insert a code in each advance copy so you can tell who did this.

[Candice]

Josh: Just finished "Mummy Dearest..." Boy, was that a ball. And this couple was really appealing. I enjoyed them and the way they enjoyed each other. Their adventure, their "fun" date, just as the narrator said, reminded my of some of my childhood adventures. Pure, innocent, silly fun. Refreshing. Thanks.

[mc]

KZ, not to be hard-hearted, and I am not speaking an independently wealthy person, but guess what? As much as the books you all write bring great joy to my life, they are not staples of existence (hey, no need to pelt me with your pens, writers!). This person can wait for sales, or save up, or enter contests, the way every one else does.

Boy, I really sound mean, don't I? But you guys work really hard, and it's not like you're raking in the big bucks, unless there's something I don't know about writing m/m, and there's a value attached to that, unless it's a member of your writing group or a family member or personal friend or something.

[Cleon Lee]

mc wrote: "KZ, not to be hard-hearted, and I am not speaking an independently wealthy person, but guess what? As much as the books you all write bring great joy to my life, they are not staples of existence ..."

I agree. If they don't have money to buy books, there are tons of free reads out there. More than one can read in a lifetime, even. And some of them are really in top notch quality, like Slave Breakers, Special Forces, Administration. So, there's really no reason to beg for free books.

[Sylvia]

KZ, I don't know how they dare ask for free books I guess they have success doing it, who knows how many books they accumulate like this from different authors.

Of course you can send freebees to whomever you like but I would never send them to people who are shamelessly asking.

[K.Z.]

Weird thing is, when I do mention some giveaway that's going on, these "needy" people don't bother entering. Go figure.

[Kari]

K.Z. wrote: "Weird thing is, when I do mention some giveaway that's going on, these "needy" people don't bother entering. Go figure."

I had a reader ask for help b/c LI doesn't take paypal, but other than that...

[Ayesh]

Finished Vesselby Mickie B. Ashlingand I gave only 1 star to this damned book. I wanted to give 0 star but unfortunately 1 is the lowest. This book totally ruined the first one. The lovers break up here and not only that . One cheats on another and marries a female geisha for god's sake. I dunno what's wrong with the author...how can she do this to us after the first book
Now I'm going to read some good book[hopefully] to remove the puky feeling from reading Vessel

[Candice]

Sylvia wrote: "KZ, I don't know how they dare ask for free books I guess they have success doing it, who knows how many books they accumulate like this from different authors.

Of course you can send freebees to..."

I think it's funny. The scams people will perpetrate just because they know they can. "Shameless" is precisely correct. The idea that they're foraging for the reading they need just to survive...Go on ahead. If we fall for that, we deserve what we get, don't we?

[Candice]

Becky wrote: "I'm coming up on my one year anniversary in Indiana, after living in Houston for almost 20 years. If anyone repeats this I'll deny it, but at this point I'll take the miserable cold over the miser..."

Becky, Amen! I'm from Michigan (basically--my Dad was Air Force, but I was in and out of that state a lot) and have lived in Florida for about 17years. I've been very happy here--but the heat! Horrible. And I'll take struggling with the cold over same with the heat any day.

[Candice]

Kari wrote: "...because ending life as we know it by zombie apocalypse isn't as easy as you might think. ;-p"

I went to the Goodreads synopsis. Unfortunately, me being me, that's as close as I'll get to reading the book. However, fascinating, even that much. Sounds like a terrific source for somebody's apocalyptic fiction. Pity about the cockroaches.

[Kari]

Candice wrote: "Pity about the cockroaches."

Heartbreaking, no? LOL

The book is chock full of details that are interesting but basically useless for my purposes. I'm primarily interested in how rapidly infrastructure disintegrates. I need to line up the deterioration of our infrastructure with the emergent societal evolution that's been cooking inside my head.

[[deleted user]]

Kari wrote: "Candice wrote: "Pity about the cockroaches."

Heartbreaking, no? LOL

The book is chock full of details that are interesting but basically useless for my purposes. I'm primarily interested in how r..."

Look for something circa 1991 following the break up of the Soviet Union. I've read some stuff that's just eye opening and would give you plenty of ideas. Or maybe Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed which is full of historical information and interesting conjecture.

[Kari]

Kate Mc. wrote: "Look for something circa 1991 following the break up of the Soviet Union. I've read some stuff that's just eye opening and would give you plenty of ideas. Or maybe Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed which is full of historical information and interesting conjecture. "

The World Without Us is from 2007, but focuses on our things, not the human animal. Sent a sample of Collapse to my K3, but I already know how the societal paradigm will shift in my story.

I'm fascinated with the Anasazi & etc, though, so I expect it'll be an interesting read. Maybe something a little weightier for the beach wk after next.

[Ami]

I recently finished Isabelle Rowan's A Note in the Margin. I know this one often appears on list to recommend for people who wants to start with LGBT. I wish I read this sooner. It's an amazing book, though of course now I feel melancholy, and I probably need a serial killer/murder mystery to deal with it.

Oh, I also just start R.D. Zimmerman's Closet, since the series are being re-released for Kindle. Just got to chapter 3 though.