colleen the convivial curmudgeon > Recent Status Updates

Things are picking up, and the pace seems to be getting better. There's still some belavoring and over-repetition of stuff, though, which pulls things down once they start going.

I'm liking the parts with Seabury and Wolf more than with the Bordens and Nance.

SEems a bit slow going, and I'm not really being drawn into the characters or their story...

I don't think I've read a single nominee on the 2014 awards...

I dropped the book I was reading and picked this up instead - and I'm so glad I did.

Ok, I'm bailing. I have nearly 50% left, and I don't give a shit about anything or anyone. I am so bored, and can't bring myself to force myself to continue. I'm out.

"But past service counted for little these days. The world, and those who governed it, moved too quickly to be carrying such burdens as memory and gratitude."

Things seem to finally be getting going. Maybe I'll be able to read more than a chapter without falling asleep!

It's picked up and the night in the house with the dog was pretty creepy at parts, but I still ended up falling asleep mid-chapter with no ill-effects or nightmares...
Part of me just wonders why he's being so stubborn and staying in the house overnight at all. I sure as hell wouldn't be.

It could totally be me, 'cause I've been tired these past few days, but I can't get through more than a few pages before my eyes start drooping, and I'm not sure my brain is really taking in the words...

Not very far in, but right off the bat I can see the movie made big changes to the story.

Things have gotten interesting since my last update.

This one isn't really grabbing me. I'm trying to visualize it as a movie - I think it could be good in that format, but the writing is too "he did this, and then this happened, and he was freaked, and that happened"... not really good for building atmospheric tension. On the other hand, bonus points for using/spelling "piqued" correctly.

The murder scenes are uncomfortable - visceral and perverse as we're in the mind of "the artist". The investigation parts are a bit lackluster, though. They started off well, but now I feel like it's being purposely obtuse for the sake of dragging things out. Then again, this is before any sort of CSI and shit. That said, I'm digging the bits of historical trivial scattered throughout, and Emily's pretty awesome.

Not very far in, but so far I like the urban legend/tales around the campfire feel to the story.

So... I can't help counting down the pages remaining and wanting it to be over. Never a good sign. It's not a bad book, per se... I'm just not all that into it. *sigh* This is, like, my 5th 2(ish) star book in a row...

Alright, I'm done. I'm throwing in the towel.

Around 40% or so I had commented to a friend that I found the noir-sexism incongruous and jarring in the futuristic setting. But this morning - or possible last night, I forget - I read a scene where he was digging around for change to use a payphone, and I haven't noticed cellphones or anything similar... so now I'm not sure when this story takes place - the future or alternate past?

While preior books in this story drew the set-up out more, things happen pretty quickly in this one - mostly because it seems a huge swathe of time has to be covered. It's interesting, but I feel like a lot is getting lost with the jumps in time.

Does not one set sentries in this accursed world?

I like and sympathize with Maia, which is the saving grace of this book, so far. It's more a fish-out-of-water story than heavy with political intrigue... It's interesting enough, but I keep waiting for something more to happen.

"When the world moves forward too fast for some people, they try to pull us all back with their fear."

Disparate threads are starting to come together. The killer's a bit creepy, that's for sure.

"Mrs. Hardcastle was not an evil woman, I decided, but her mind had the depth of a Parisian puddle, and it occurred to me that sometimes the result could be the same."

Strong opening chapters. Here's hoping the rest of the book matches.

Slowly plodding along... Not very impressed with Part 3 thus far.

Pro-tip: If you're an author pimping your book in a promo thread, for the love of sanity, use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. If your post is barely readable, ain't no way I'm even thinking of looking at your book.