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message 2301: by megHan (new)

megHan (raiyine) | 7 comments Currently I'm reading two YA novels, but I just finished reading Harlequin/The Archer's Tale by Bernard Cornell and even though it's a historical novel, I totally recommend it for the action. The book is the first in his Grail Quest series and his battle scenes and other conflicts are very detailed and great pounding. One of my favorite scenes was the final battle, but you'll have to read it to see why. :)


message 2302: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
Meghan wrote: "Currently I'm reading two YA novels, but I just finished reading Harlequin/The Archer's Tale by Bernard Cornell and even though it's a historical novel, I totally recommend it for the action. The b..."

Yes, I love the battle scenes in Epic Fantasy Novels (which these might not be). I remember the Trolls pounding on the walls of the Castle in The Sword of Shannara and the wonderfully frightening battle of Helm's Deep and Minas Tireth! in Tolkien.

For a more grounded (historical fiction not fantasy) the rag-wagon duels at sea in Ramage were a lot of fun. And the Sorceror's Duels in The Mageborn Traitor and The Ruins of Ambrai were wild and exciting (I wish Melanie Rawn would finish and release the last one of that trilogy, or somebody would).

Everyone remembers Gandalf on the rock bridge in Moria "You shall not pass!"

Great stuff.


message 2303: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
I really enjoyed The Innocent, which I finished Friday. I hope to see more of Robie and Julie. I am currently reading The Crown Conspiracy.


message 2304: by Kevin (last edited Mar 04, 2013 03:58PM) (new)

Kevin (spiralcity) Ctgt wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "I've watched aboutv20 movies but never read a single King book but I do plan on reading the Dark Tower Series, the Stand, the Running Man, The Green Mile and 11/22/63"

Lik..."


I, Curmudgeon wrote: "Salem's Lot, with David Soul... made a classic mini-series for TV.... and made vampires cool again."

Salems Lot, The Stand, The Dead Zone, The Shinning, Cujo, The Bachman Books were all decent reads.

Under The Dome? Not so much, same with much of his newer catalouge.


message 2305: by Scott (Ozziespur) (last edited Mar 04, 2013 03:49PM) (new)

Scott (Ozziespur) | 2 comments reading A memory of light ... borrowed from the library and to be honest I'm not sure I'll get through it before it's due back, it's huge !
(Not action/adventure I know :o( ... )


message 2306: by Jim (new)

Jim (jimmaclachlan) I'm reading Full Cry by Rita Mae Brown, an interesting mystery set in VA to the fox hunting scene. The Master of the Hunt, Sister, is a 72 year old woman who solves the mysteries. I've read one before it & they're not bad. Brown really captures the fox hunt well.

I'm listening to Sharpe's Fortress by Bernard Cornwell. I think I like listening to these books better than reading them. We originally were introduced this series by watching the series that ran on PBS.


message 2307: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
The Sharpe movies are good, Jim. I've thought about reading the books.


message 2308: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
I just finished Whores: not intended to be a factual account of the gender war by Nicolas Wilson. I'll post a review soon. It's not going to be for everyone, but it was well written as far as how smoothly it read with the exception of changing first-person characters at about the 75% mark without warning or enough explanation/reason why and how that happened.

There's lots of harsh language, cussing and ugly phrases and metaphors. I think their in keeping with the environment he's created but, it'll be difficult for some to enjoy on that point.

The violence is pretty harsh too, noir as it were, and, even though the victims are often deserving of something, much of it falls in the "two wrongs don't make a right" catagory.

It does make a strong statement about women's issues, but there's some exploration of that I'll save for the review.

I'm going to give it three stars, but bare in mind that 1) three stars is a good score for me on a book, 2) that one of the main reasons for the low marks is the use of violence and the language. It doesn't phase me, though I am aware of it, and I'm also aware that it would offend a good number of people whom I know and 3) The statement - I give it high marks in some areas and low marks in others and, the statement that it makes isn't going to be palatable for some readers.

Those things withstanding, as far as the writers skill, the plot and execution and the characters go, it's well written and executed (save the switching first person POV bodies in the middle of the story).

If your okay with hardcore violence and language and don't mind a political-social statement in your story then it's enjoyable Dystopian storytelling.

I'd also add that I'd read more by this author (he has several other stories and novellas out there) but, the violence and dark side of this means I have to be careful to be in "the right mood for it" if I want to enjoy it. you know? Sometimes I'm in the mood for "Law and Order SVU" and sometimes I'm in the mood for a sitcom like "The Big Bang Theory." These two things are like oil and water. I need to be ready for oil, to enjoy oil.

That said, there is some storytelling and writing skill on display here. It may have some harsh violence, but parts of this book are very well done and, I tip my had to anyone who can mix a "message" into his plot on purpose and pull it off without drowning the story in extraneous details.

It's tough to recommend without qualifying it so, 3 not four. For the rest, wait for my review... (heh, yeah, like there are armies of elves and trolls waiting to read my reviews... but they make me happy.)


message 2309: by Jim (new)

Jim (jimmaclachlan) Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "The Sharpe movies are good, Jim. I've thought about reading the books."

The books are much better, IMO. Cornwell really makes the daily life pop. Makes me appreciate how well I have it.


message 2310: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
I think books are almost always better, Jim.

You had me at elves and trolls, Hugh!


message 2311: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
Oh... well, then... a double dose of Monster Hunter International for you... and I'll let you know when I post my review.


message 2312: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
I have the first three of those in the pile. I can't seem to catch up on my reading!


message 2313: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell. It's a good start (though I poked fun in my "update.")

Nobody does "Small biblical appocalypse like James Rollins!"


message 2314: by Chris (new)

Chris Marshall | 52 comments I couldn't finish The Blood Gospel. It was good but after awhile it felt like the story just went in circles.


message 2315: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
I am only just getting my feet wet. I like what I've read (though there are some things I think may not appeal to a certain group of readers). We'll see how I wade through the circles as I go.

Right now, I like what I'm getting.

Then again, I'm not particularly fond of The Stand so, I may be that one looney outstanding in his feild...I mean, out standing in his feild, fighting to keep the other loonies out of his rice bowl. I only promise to report honestly. People are different. The world would be so boring and ...yuck...if we were all the same, with the same tastes. I mean, I like Texas Pete's Hot Sauce on my scrambled eggs in the moring...and I wasn't even born in Texas!


message 2316: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 2933 comments Mod
...what's unusual about that???? Texas Pete's goes good on most "stuff".


message 2317: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "...what's unusual about that???? Texas Pete's goes good on most "stuff"."

Yep! it's like Worchestershire Sauce. It's one of the five Miracle spices.


message 2318: by Mike (the Paladin) (last edited Mar 05, 2013 08:48AM) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 2933 comments Mod
I got up early to get a roast in the slow cooker today. Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce, onion, garlic, brown sugar, dry mustard...course salt and pepper. Makes me stop and be thankful to live in America.


message 2319: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
The five miracle spices! Texas Pete's Hot Sauce, Worchestershire Sauce, Soy Sauce, Barbeque sauce and Tartar Sauce...or Tar-tere sauce if you buy the classy kind.

Mustard deserves honorable mention.

These five Miracle Spices will be the foundation of Food Utopia in the future... I just don't know how distant that is.


message 2320: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 2933 comments Mod
...you have to include mustard Hugh! I mean I'd go with Tarter sauce as an honorable mention and mustard as one of the 5. More uses and more varieties, "regular", spicy, hot, sweet, hot and sweet, etc.

Of course you could go wit 7 miracle spices include tarter sauce and mustard along with cocktail sauce.


message 2321: by Scott (new)

Scott | 126 comments I finished Darkness, Take My Hand. The series is so good that I'm continuing on with Sacred.


message 2322: by Travis (new)

Travis (travistousant) | 362 comments finished Haunted Ground very good mystery I guess they call it cozy mystery I don't know. Starting Don Quixote


message 2323: by Eileen (new)

Eileen Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I got up early to get a roast in the slow cooker today. Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce, onion, garlic, brown sugar, dry mustard...course salt and pepper. Makes me stop and be thankful to live..."

That sounds delicious, I'm going to try that sometime. Nothing tastes better when it's been in a slow cooker all day.


message 2324: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 2933 comments Mod
Still in, I got up because it stays in 10 hours.


message 2325: by Tony (new)

Tony Evans (tonyevans) Just found a comic book store near my house. Picked up Ender's Game: Battle School Looks great so far. The art is fantastic and the images are almost exactly what I imagined.


message 2326: by Eileen (new)

Eileen That's a long time. After all that time it will melt in your mouth...YUM!


message 2327: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
I just read Ender's Game the book last year (as part of a group read on this group). Glad you're enjoying the GN. Have you read the book before, Tony?


message 2328: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 2933 comments Mod
I know as a tough macho type guy it's unusual...but I made cornbread to.


message 2329: by Travis (new)

Travis (travistousant) | 362 comments Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I know as a tough macho type guy it's unusual...but I made cornbread to."

I'm 31 and for most of the guys I know even though most are married including myself do the bulk of the cooking these days. If I want cornbread I probably have to go cook my own. Real men cook whatever they want to eat.


message 2330: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
My dad cooked. I'm all for guys who cook!


message 2331: by Travis (new)

Travis (travistousant) | 362 comments Earlier it was mostly sauces hit upon. For dry seasoning easy awesome steak shake on some montreal steak also good on venison. The best all purpose seasoning is buck seasoning. Good on meat or poultry but my favorite is to shake it on pork chops loin whatever


message 2332: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (last edited Mar 06, 2013 04:38AM) (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
I'm about 33% of the way through The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell.

So far, this is a good read for me. I like the Vampires and the plot/story idea. The characters are solid, though the Ruhn is more interesting than the Male lead character. Resourceful, if not strong, Heroine, (view spoiler) and we don't have all the Vampire Lore yet or how it will be in the hands of Cantrell/Rollins.

It's got some signature Rollins ... fingerprints but, a decidedly different feel from the Rollins Novels were' used to... I guess Rebecca Cantrell brought a can of wickedness to the party?

So far, it's good, in my eyes.
The Blood Gospel (The Order of the Sanguines, #1) by James Rollins


message 2333: by Ctgt (new)


message 2334: by Eileen (new)

Eileen Travis of NNY wrote: "Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I know as a tough macho type guy it's unusual...but I made cornbread to."

I'm 31 and for most of the guys I know even though most are married including myself do the bul..."


That's fantastic! I do ALL the cooking.


message 2335: by Joe (last edited Mar 06, 2013 08:17AM) (new)

Joe  Noir (goodreadscomgoodreadscomjoe_noir) | 19 comments Currently reading The November Man by Bill Granger, from 1979. The first novel in an espionage series that includes Schism and Henry McGee Is Not Dead. I am on page 186 of 346 and enjoying it. This is the first novel of Granger's I've read, but already picked up others in the series. The action is realistic, and violent, but not constant. Realism is important in this book,and the spycraft seems very true to life. It's not Nick Carter but it's not LeCarre, either.


message 2336: by Joe (new)

Joe  Noir (goodreadscomgoodreadscomjoe_noir) | 19 comments I, Curmudgeon wrote: "The five miracle spices! Texas Pete's Hot Sauce, Worchestershire Sauce, Soy Sauce, Barbeque sauce and Tartar Sauce...or Tar-tere sauce if you buy the classy kind.

Mustard deserves honorable men..."


I just had to say I agree completely with this. These are the top five!


message 2337: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
Joe wrote: " I just had to say I agree completely with this. These are the top five!"

And, through discussion with another Grand Pooh-Pah of trivial information, Mike (the Paladin), I believe we should make it the "Seven Miracle Spices" and make room for Ketchup and Mustard. I'm still thinking about cocktail sauce, but, you can make a nice cocktail sauce out of worchestershire sauce and ketchup and a little horseradish which is a wonderful spice, but not a miracle worker.


message 2338: by Joe (last edited Mar 06, 2013 08:40AM) (new)

Joe  Noir (goodreadscomgoodreadscomjoe_noir) | 19 comments I, Curmudgeon wrote: "Joe wrote: " I just had to say I agree completely with this. These are the top five!"

And, through discussion with another Grand Pooh-Pah of trivial information, Mike (the Paladin), I believe we ..."



I could go along with this...The Seven Miracle Spices!


message 2339: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 2933 comments Mod
Cool, I can go there. Cocktail sauce is kind of limited and you can make it. I used dry mustard in things, but that's still mustard.


message 2340: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (last edited Mar 06, 2013 06:38PM) (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
Just finished The Crown Conspiracy, and I found it very charming. If you get intimidated by doorstopper-long epic fantasy, it's a good choice. Two very likable amiable rogue heroes and lots of adventure with good humor.

Next, I will start By the Blood of Heroes.

My library is too good. I picked up five books there today!

Stray Souls
Stormdancer
Resurrectionist
Rasputin's Bastards
The Six-Gun Tarot


message 2341: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
This is what I have on deck:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

my "Intended-next-read shelf"


message 2342: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
Good way to organize your reading, Hugh!


message 2343: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
I had to. My TBR is growing like its on a human growth hormone and out of control. I also have a "review pending" shelf. I set an artificial ceiling at ten books on either and when the needs review shelf gets full I don't let myself add any to the next read shelf.


message 2344: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
Oh mine is so out of control, it's not funny. I have zero resistance to books! I keep adding them though. I guess I'm like Wallis Simpson except with books. You can't have too many.


message 2345: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
Wallis Simpson...is that Bart Simpson's little sister? I saw a clip she says "books for me are like beers for Homer. I have a serious book problem.

To which Homer looks at his beer and replies, " yes you do?".

That's a Richard update I think.....

Oh, wait...walls isn't Homer's sister.


message 2346: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (last edited Mar 06, 2013 07:14PM) (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
I love Lisa Simpson. She's such a cutie!

It was the other Simpson. :) The one who had a king abdicate from the throne of England for her fair hand.

The original quote was "You can never be too rich or too thin." I don't care about being rich or thin, but I sure do love my books!

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quo...


message 2347: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "I love Lisa Simpson. She's such a cutie!

It was the other Simpson. :) The one who had a king abdicate from the throne of England for her fair hand. ..."


Lisa married the King of England! I'm shocked and dismayed. I missed that episode.


message 2348: by The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) | 5326 comments Mod
(view spoiler)


message 2349: by Mark (new)

Mark Chisnell (markchisnell) | 255 comments Eileen wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I know as a tough macho type guy it's unusual...but I made cornbread to."

I'm 31 and for most of the guys I know even though most are married inclu..."


I'm the sous chef, I get to do all the chopping, but none of the clever stuff like adding spices. I leave that to the boss... :-)


message 2350: by Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie (new)

 Danielle The Book Huntress  (gatadelafuente) | 5158 comments Mod
I, Curmudgeon wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

:)


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