What Are You Reading? Part 15 [September]
#51
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Originally posted by immortal_zeus
Really? I didn't think it was all that great. I mean, it's good, but there's just one part that nags the hell out of me. Lehane does a good job of painting a picture of South Boston and the characters are good, but....
I guess if you tell yourself that this isn't a mystery/suspense/thriller and more of a character study of 3 old friends whose lives are changed one fateful day during their childhood, then the book is much better.
Still, I couldn't get past the issue that I spoilered, so I guess that kind of ruined the book for me. I'm looking forward to the movie, though, since it has a great cast and a good director.
Really? I didn't think it was all that great. I mean, it's good, but there's just one part that nags the hell out of me. Lehane does a good job of painting a picture of South Boston and the characters are good, but....
Spoiler:
I guess if you tell yourself that this isn't a mystery/suspense/thriller and more of a character study of 3 old friends whose lives are changed one fateful day during their childhood, then the book is much better.
Still, I couldn't get past the issue that I spoilered, so I guess that kind of ruined the book for me. I'm looking forward to the movie, though, since it has a great cast and a good director.
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Spoiler:
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the book, because I did to a point. I really enjoyed the character interaction, and the story about the 3 friends is excellent, if a bit tragic.
#52
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Well, I started and finished Star Trek: Nemesis yesterday. I havn't seen the movie, so everything was new to me.
It seemed an awful lot like Wrath of Kahn, and it seemed like a really poor ending for the ST:TNG crew.
To be honest, I really don't know what to think.....
It seemed an awful lot like Wrath of Kahn, and it seemed like a really poor ending for the ST:TNG crew.
To be honest, I really don't know what to think.....
#53
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Originally posted by immortal_zeus
I guess if you tell yourself that this isn't a mystery/suspense/thriller and more of a character study of 3 old friends whose lives are changed one fateful day during their childhood, then the book is much better.
I guess if you tell yourself that this isn't a mystery/suspense/thriller and more of a character study of 3 old friends whose lives are changed one fateful day during their childhood, then the book is much better.
#54
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Originally posted by PalmerJoss
I agree with you--it just seemed like a cop out to me. I also figured out who killed who about 3/4 of the way through the book, so my enjoyment of the book was diminished because of that. My whole problem with
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the book, because I did to a point. I really enjoyed the character interaction, and the story about the 3 friends is excellent, if a bit tragic.
I agree with you--it just seemed like a cop out to me. I also figured out who killed who about 3/4 of the way through the book, so my enjoyment of the book was diminished because of that. My whole problem with
Spoiler:
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the book, because I did to a point. I really enjoyed the character interaction, and the story about the 3 friends is excellent, if a bit tragic.
Originally posted by Geofferson
That's just it - I didn't really consider it a suspense novel, because the characters always came first for me. The reason I enjoyed the novel is because it felt so 'real'. The identity of the killer was not shocking and a bit of a let-down, but while reading the book, I wasn't reading to find out who did 'it'. I was reading because I was so engaged in finding out what was going to happen to these characters.
That's just it - I didn't really consider it a suspense novel, because the characters always came first for me. The reason I enjoyed the novel is because it felt so 'real'. The identity of the killer was not shocking and a bit of a let-down, but while reading the book, I wasn't reading to find out who did 'it'. I was reading because I was so engaged in finding out what was going to happen to these characters.
Spoiler:
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#55
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Originally posted by immortal_zeus
I guess the reason I was let-down is because of what PalmerJoss said.
I guess the reason I was let-down is because of what PalmerJoss said.
Spoiler:
#56
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Originally posted by Geofferson
I hear ya' - and I see why it can be a let-down. I've heard that his best work was with his early detective novels. I'll give those a try eventually. Maybe they are more along the lines of suspense/thriller-type reads.
I hear ya' - and I see why it can be a let-down. I've heard that his best work was with his early detective novels. I'll give those a try eventually. Maybe they are more along the lines of suspense/thriller-type reads.
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#57
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I'm slogging my way through Tom Clancy's Red Rabbit--it's taking forever since, so far, it's just not that interesting (in the past, I've read his books in a day or two, this one I've been reading all month).
#58
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Just finished:
SeaBiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand - Expands on the movie. See the movie FIRST, then read the book. Really fantastic.
BirdWatching by Larry Bird - Great followup to his first book Drive.
On Deck:
Hughes: The Definitive Bio of America's First Billionare by Richard Hack
J Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets by Curt Gentry
I'm on a reality/biography/history kick right now.
SeaBiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand - Expands on the movie. See the movie FIRST, then read the book. Really fantastic.
BirdWatching by Larry Bird - Great followup to his first book Drive.
On Deck:
Hughes: The Definitive Bio of America's First Billionare by Richard Hack
J Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets by Curt Gentry
I'm on a reality/biography/history kick right now.
#60
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Starting to read Thomas Perry right now. Recently read Pursuit, and now starting on his Jane Whitefield series. I have read the first, Vanishing Act, and am currently reading Dance for the Dead. After that Shadow Woman and Face Changers.
#61
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Originally posted by Cedar
Starting to read Thomas Perry right now. Recently read Pursuit, and now starting on his Jane Whitefield series. I have read the first, Vanishing Act, and am currently reading Dance for the Dead. After that Shadow Woman and Face Changers.
Starting to read Thomas Perry right now. Recently read Pursuit, and now starting on his Jane Whitefield series. I have read the first, Vanishing Act, and am currently reading Dance for the Dead. After that Shadow Woman and Face Changers.
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#62
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LOL, I just picked up Blood Money today at a church book sale. Perfect condition hardcover for 75 cents, though I normally don't get HCs because they take up more space in the bookcase. I hadn't forgot it Geofferson, just ommitted it from the list.
Haven't had much luck finding his stand alones so far on the book sale and garage sale circuit. There is a big library book sale coming the end of October, so I hope to remedy that situation then.
Haven't had much luck finding his stand alones so far on the book sale and garage sale circuit. There is a big library book sale coming the end of October, so I hope to remedy that situation then.
#65
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Originally posted by Cedar
Haven't had much luck finding his stand alones so far on the book sale and garage sale circuit. There is a big library book sale coming the end of October, so I hope to remedy that situation then.
Haven't had much luck finding his stand alones so far on the book sale and garage sale circuit. There is a big library book sale coming the end of October, so I hope to remedy that situation then.
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Thanks for the info Geofferson. His only stand alones I've found so far were Death Benefits and Pursuit, which was a fairly easy one to find. I've picked up about 60 books in the last month so I can be patient. One way or another I will find them!!
#68
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STILL reading Imajica ![LOL](/images/smilies/lol.gif)
Just started DUNE:BUTLERIAN JIHAD
(I waited for the paperback...being the cheap bastard that I am)
I see the next DUNE book is out and I'll wait for that one to go to paperback too.
![LOL](/images/smilies/lol.gif)
Just started DUNE:BUTLERIAN JIHAD
![Up](/images/smilies/thumpsup.gif)
I see the next DUNE book is out and I'll wait for that one to go to paperback too.
#69
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I finished Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman. I was pretty disappointed with it. It was very readable, but not nearly as funny as I thought it would be...barely slightly humorous in places.
I'm now reading Job: A Comedy of Justice by Heinlein.
I'm now reading Job: A Comedy of Justice by Heinlein.
#70
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Just finished Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. It wasn't bad--it dealt a lot with religious history which, to me, was extremely interesting and was the main reason that I enjoyed the book. The plot is something you could expect to find in a hollywood movie and it had a pretty predictable ending IMO, but it was very enjoyable. I will check out Dan Brown's other big bestseller, the DaVinci Code, when it comes out in paperback.
I'm just starting on The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon and Live In New York by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller.
I'm just starting on The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon and Live In New York by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller.
#71
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I'm still burrowing through Grisham's The Runaway Jury.
For whatever reason, I cannot get all that engulfed in this story. After I eventually finish it, i'll be reading Michael Crichton's Timeline and book IV in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, Wizard and Glass.
![LOL](/images/smilies/lol.gif)
For whatever reason, I cannot get all that engulfed in this story. After I eventually finish it, i'll be reading Michael Crichton's Timeline and book IV in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, Wizard and Glass.
#72
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Finished Larry Brooks' Darkness Bound. His first novel and very disappointing -- at least his subsequent Serpent's Dance was a huge improvement.
I'm almost finished with Jason Starr's Hard Feelings. Fast, interesting read.
I'm almost finished with Jason Starr's Hard Feelings. Fast, interesting read.
#73
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I finished Job by Heinlein. The only other book I've read by him so far was Stranger in a Strange Land. This touched on a lot of the same themes, in a similar (but much more satirical) style.
I'm now starting Boy's Life by Robert McCammon.
I'm now starting Boy's Life by Robert McCammon.