Chaos Reading discussion
It's all about you
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What are you reading right now?
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Richard, I'll let you know how American Elsewhere goes, but it's a bit of a kitten squisher, so that might take a while. So far it's excellent, (I'm about 180 pages in I think).
Jennifer wrote: "I am reading The Stand. At about chapter 36 or so. Nope have never read it."Loved that as a mildly religious teen. Struggled with it as an atheist adult. It's a great world he creates but it's so damn Old Testament
Is that is what is niggling me? I am not sure about the whole mother Abigail and Randell Flagg set up. Is this going to turn into some kind of good vs evil thing? I am committed, but not sure if it will work for me.
The stand is 90% wonderful and the imagination on display is huge. Without it we'd likely not have The Walking Dead or any other post apocalypse drama. And the essence of how people would act without law is great - would they try and rebuild or would they self serve and take everything is a great moral conflict - not all the bad are bad and not all the good are goodBut God, he's there front and centre and I just flat can't swallow that anymore. If you can suspend belief to swallow belief then keep going, the characters are well developed and the book is unforgettable.
But it is the Old Testament
Richard wrote: "Loved [ The Stand ] as a mildly religious teen. Struggled with it as an atheist adult. It's a great world he creates but it's so damn Old Testament"Oh, dear. I keep thinking it's time to reread it. But I haven't read it since I was a very religious teen. And I really can't do Old Testament now...
Derek (Guilty of thoughtcrime) wrote: "Richard wrote: "Loved [[book: The Stand|149267] ] as a mildly religious teen. Struggled with it as an atheist adult. It's a great world he creates but it's so damn Old Testament"Oh, dear. I keep ..."
I tried re reading it last year. I loved much of it but then up popped god and......
re read Blood Music instead.
Mod
Not sure just what to read next. Maybe a nice easy Mira Grant.... but then we do have that whole love/hate thing going....
Derek (Guilty of thoughtcrime) wrote: "Richard wrote: "Loved [[book: The Stand|149267] ] as a mildly religious teen. Struggled with it as an atheist adult. It's a great world he creates but it's so damn Old Testament"Oh, dear. I keep ..."
My eyes just glaze over some parts...
Ruby wrote: "I've just finished American Elsewhere, and LOVED it. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Not sure just what to read next. Maybe a nice easy Mira Grant.... ..."
I bought Parasite, even though you were pissed at her. I still haven't read it yet though...
Mod
I only read an ARC of that one, so it might have been tidied up since I saw it. I certainly hope so!
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I hate that. I got into a fight here with an indie author who cliff-hangered me. He didn't think I had any right to give his book a mere two-stars because I felt it was incomplete. So, I changed it... to one-star. Usually, I reserve one star for books I couldn't complete, but special circumstances for authors who argue with my reviews (especially since I had pointed out a couple of mistakes and he insisted he was right all along...).
Mod
That's the worst part of GR - having to actually talk to authors! ;P
Ruby wrote: "Derek (Guilty of thoughtcrime) wrote: "I hate that. I got into a fight here with an indie author who cliff-hangered me. He didn't think I had any right to give his book a mere two-stars because I f..."Did you change it to a 1 star Ruby?
Ruby wrote: "I've just finished American Elsewhere, and LOVED it. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Not sure just what to read next. Maybe a nice easy Mira Grant.... ..."
American Elsewhere is definitely going on my next-to-read list! I have been curious about it for some time.
I just recently finished Sacré Bleu: A Comedy d'Art by Christopher Moore. It's a comedy, a mystery, and an adventure through art history all in one, with a wildly absurd story following a bunch of famous painters from the Impressionist period, including Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and many others. I'm definitely a Christopher Moore junkie, so I might be a bit biased, but I thought it was fantastic! He has this brilliant way of inserting sophomoric humor at the most inappropriate of times. I love it.
Mod
Currently I'm reading The Word by Irving Wallace. So far it has been excellent--it's about the discovery of a new gospel and the effort to publish a Bible containing same.
Just finished The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThis is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Star MakerI set myself the task of reading 25 SF novels in 2016, as I feel a bit behind on my SF. The first of these was Star Maker, which I've begun to review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've actually finished it now, but it's hard finding time to finish the review.
I might include my entire list here, if it seems interesting, and if it's simple enough to put the links for 25 books in one comment.
Good start! I have never found a copy of Star Maker, but it occurred to me that Australia has never agreed with retroactive extension of copyright... It's available from http://gutenberg.net.au/plusfifty-n-z...
Jennifer wrote: "I don't think I can read it in that format."It's disappointing that they don't have an ePub version. The HTML version converts to ePub (or mobi if you're into Kindle) really nicely with calibre. Though it's illegal for you Americans to do that...
Derek wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I don't think I can read it in that format."It's disappointing that they don't have an ePub version. The HTML version converts to ePub (or mobi if you're into Kindle) really nice..."
Who decided these things??
Who decides which things? What formats are provided on Project Gutenberg?
Beats me. The main site, gutenberg.org, usually provides ePubs, but I haven't seen any on the .au site.
But whether you can download a file that is public domain in Australia, but not in the US? That would be the Disney corp—the people largely responsible for the extension of copyright after death from 50 to 75 years (the so-called Mickey Mouse law).
The old Empire and the First Order.Here's proof:
or
Jennifer wrote: "Disney is the empire isn't it...."Jennifer wrote: "Disney is the empire isn't it...."
They bought the Death Star didn't they?
Derek wrote: "The old Empire and the First Order.Here's proof:
or
"
I think the First Order is more scary than The Empire
I Am Pilgrim - ok yes its a boy thriller with 900 pages of dense plot and intrigue but it's so damned good. short chapters, ideal for biting a chunk out of now and then, very well developed characters and a rambling almost Pynchon-esque style that leads down plots and sub plots and sub sub plots and asides.loving it, already bought it for my dad and he's 200 pages behind me and texting me updates every day. if you're in the mood for a damn good thriller this is that
i'm not looking forward to finishing it
Mod
I am reading true horror:Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again
This is the Trump political manifesto for his presidential bid.
What is it they say? Know the enemy
CD wrote: "I am reading true horror:Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again
This is the Trump political manifesto for his presidential bid.
What is it they say? Know the enemy"
Done with this one! Not what you might expect from all press reports, but not for everyone.
Mod
You don't say? LOL!
Black Hole - I get a bit sick of the expectation that you must read a thing twice to really get it. Some of the art is beautiful, the Cronenberg sexuality is cool and a few of the chapters are hauntingly Carver-esque but as a whole this is a bit like taking to a drunk who really feels he has a point to make but can't get beyond the fact that he's quite monotonous. And damn the whole thing is vagina obsessed - I think a female co author could have added a great deal
The Whites - my copy is by Richard Price but Goodreads insists it's Harry Brandt so I guess there is a pseudonym in action hereonly a chapter in but it's immediate, beautifully dialogue and I'm hopeful. Given Price used to write for The Wire it's safe to say this feels like he knows his stuff
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He originally used a pseudonym because he intended the book to be lighter entertainment than he usually writes, but his publishers wanted people to know it was Price so it became an 'open pseudonym', i.e everyone knew it was him. I heard an interview where he said the whole thing was kind of stupid, and it's pretty much just a "Richard Price" book anyway.
I just started reading Mars by Ben Bova, which is about the first manned mission to that planet. So far I've been enjoying it.
Olivia wrote: "I just started reading Mars by Ben Bova, which is about the first manned mission to that planet. So far I've been enjoying it."I was about to read that book, too, soon... do you have to read the other 3 books before it in the Grand Tour series or can it be read as a stand alone? :)
Nesrin wrote: "Olivia wrote: "I just started reading Mars by Ben Bova, which is about the first manned mission to that planet. So far I've been enjoying it."I was about to read that..."
Mars is stand alone. Dive in. It's fun
Richard wrote: "Nesrin wrote: "Olivia wrote: "I just started reading Mars by Ben Bova, which is about the first manned mission to that planet. So far I've been enjoying it."I was abo..."
Ah, thnx for the info!! :)
I just finished
by Lee Child. It was good. This is my review — https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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American Elsewhere sounds good, give a loud review when you're done please