What Are You Reading? Part 17 [November]
#26
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Originally posted by Anjanettea
To: Geofferson I had to stop reading Mystic River b/c I just couldn't get pass the first few pages. I have a strange reading system. If I can't get pass the first few pages, I will not read the book, even though I tourtured myself with The List. I know this sounds silly, but when visiting Barnes & Noble, I choose books by how intrigues I am by the covers. Just think about all the great books I have passed on b/c I did not like the cover. Also, if I like a particular author, I will read all of his books one after another. I did that with Steve Martini's books.
Anj
To: Geofferson I had to stop reading Mystic River b/c I just couldn't get pass the first few pages. I have a strange reading system. If I can't get pass the first few pages, I will not read the book, even though I tourtured myself with The List. I know this sounds silly, but when visiting Barnes & Noble, I choose books by how intrigues I am by the covers. Just think about all the great books I have passed on b/c I did not like the cover. Also, if I like a particular author, I will read all of his books one after another. I did that with Steve Martini's books.
Anj
#27
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Just finished 'Midas World' by Frederik Pohl, which is an interesting little social commentary about a world which has unlimited energy. Its 'chapters' are basically standalone short stories that follow the progression of this society through hundreds of years. I was surprised to find a Pohl I actually hadn't read before.
Just started 'Dayworld' by Philip Jose' Farmer. Based on his short story 'The SlicedCrosswiseOnlyOnTuesday World' [or something like that], it's about a world that is so overpopulated and has so much drain on resources, that everyone gets 'stoned' in suspended animation 6 days out of the week, so only 1/7th of the population is 'alive' on any given day, which is manageable. 'Stoned' time basically freezes time, so you'd still live ~80 or whatever subjective years; so obviously one generation can last hundreds of objective years. The short story is classic, and has a 'Twilight-Zone' like twist at the end. Literally just started this one last night, so I'm only one chapter in.
RevLiver: While the rest of that Wasp Factory does sound **** ed up, unfortunately life imitates art--I just read yesterday about a six year old kid who shot his grandfather to death. Purposefully. He had already been in trouble for assaulting and stabbing people. I wish it was just in books : (
Anjanettea: I do the same--I've had a few books that do take a while to get started, but if I get a chapter or two in, and it doesn't really engage me, I'll put it down and try something else. Life's too short, and there are too many books out there, to spend time reading something I don't enjoy [unless I have to.] The weird thing is, sometimes I'll go back and try it again later, and love it. That happened with Piers Anthony's _Mute_, I think it was.
Just started 'Dayworld' by Philip Jose' Farmer. Based on his short story 'The SlicedCrosswiseOnlyOnTuesday World' [or something like that], it's about a world that is so overpopulated and has so much drain on resources, that everyone gets 'stoned' in suspended animation 6 days out of the week, so only 1/7th of the population is 'alive' on any given day, which is manageable. 'Stoned' time basically freezes time, so you'd still live ~80 or whatever subjective years; so obviously one generation can last hundreds of objective years. The short story is classic, and has a 'Twilight-Zone' like twist at the end. Literally just started this one last night, so I'm only one chapter in.
RevLiver: While the rest of that Wasp Factory does sound **** ed up, unfortunately life imitates art--I just read yesterday about a six year old kid who shot his grandfather to death. Purposefully. He had already been in trouble for assaulting and stabbing people. I wish it was just in books : (
Anjanettea: I do the same--I've had a few books that do take a while to get started, but if I get a chapter or two in, and it doesn't really engage me, I'll put it down and try something else. Life's too short, and there are too many books out there, to spend time reading something I don't enjoy [unless I have to.] The weird thing is, sometimes I'll go back and try it again later, and love it. That happened with Piers Anthony's _Mute_, I think it was.
#28
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Originally posted by RevLiver
You are missing an excellent book, in fact, I'd say it's the best mystery I've ever read. The characters and setting are so well-developed, I felt like I was in Boston. I like James Patterson, but Lehane's Mystic River blows away anything Patterson has ever written.
You are missing an excellent book, in fact, I'd say it's the best mystery I've ever read. The characters and setting are so well-developed, I felt like I was in Boston. I like James Patterson, but Lehane's Mystic River blows away anything Patterson has ever written.
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Ditto on Mystic River being excellant. I'm proud to say I guessed the killer fairly early, though I was wrong on the motive.
So far I have read the first three of Robert Crais Elvis Cole series, The Monkeys Raincoat, Stalking the Angel, and Lullaby Town. Next up is Free Fall. So far I would say they compare very favorably to Harlan Cobens Myron Bolitar series of books. I think Elvis and Myron are almost interchangable in fact. Right now I give the edge to the Myron series, but only a slight one, because there is a little more of a true mystery quality to Cobens books to go with the action, while the Elvis books seem to be more action adventure oriented. But you couldn't go wrong with either IMO.
So far I have read the first three of Robert Crais Elvis Cole series, The Monkeys Raincoat, Stalking the Angel, and Lullaby Town. Next up is Free Fall. So far I would say they compare very favorably to Harlan Cobens Myron Bolitar series of books. I think Elvis and Myron are almost interchangable in fact. Right now I give the edge to the Myron series, but only a slight one, because there is a little more of a true mystery quality to Cobens books to go with the action, while the Elvis books seem to be more action adventure oriented. But you couldn't go wrong with either IMO.
#30
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Originally posted by RevLiver
You are missing an excellent book, in fact, I'd say it's the best mystery I've ever read. The characters and setting are so well-developed, I felt like I was in Boston. I like James Patterson, but Lehane's Mystic River blows away anything Patterson has ever written.
You are missing an excellent book, in fact, I'd say it's the best mystery I've ever read. The characters and setting are so well-developed, I felt like I was in Boston. I like James Patterson, but Lehane's Mystic River blows away anything Patterson has ever written.
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#31
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Originally posted by immortal_zeus
I don't consider Mystic River a mystery at all. It's more a character study of the 3 main characters. As a mystery, it horribly fails; as a character study of the relationship between the 3 main characters, it's good. Still, I was let down with the unveiling of the killer and the motive. I thought that part was tremendously lame.
I don't consider Mystic River a mystery at all. It's more a character study of the 3 main characters. As a mystery, it horribly fails; as a character study of the relationship between the 3 main characters, it's good. Still, I was let down with the unveiling of the killer and the motive. I thought that part was tremendously lame.
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I just like when books break outside the bounds of their genres.
#32
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I finished Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. It was a very fascinating read and if you've ever played a hand of blackjack in your life (especially with money on the line), this book is a must read.
Next up is Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. It's been sitting on my shelf for a long time and I'm anxious to read it because I heard the ending is a doozy. I haven't been too thrilled with the two previous Lehane books that I've read (A Drink Before the War (2 out of 5 stars) and Mystic River (4 out of 5)), so I'm hoping that this book lives up to my expectations.
Next up is Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. It's been sitting on my shelf for a long time and I'm anxious to read it because I heard the ending is a doozy. I haven't been too thrilled with the two previous Lehane books that I've read (A Drink Before the War (2 out of 5 stars) and Mystic River (4 out of 5)), so I'm hoping that this book lives up to my expectations.
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#33
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Well, I had to stop reading Flesh and Blood. For some reason I just couldn't grasp what I was reading. Have no idea what is going on, so I started reading Reversible Errors by Scott Turow. I'm sure I will go back to Mystic River and Flesh and Blood. My friend is going to give me 2nd Chance by James Patterson, so I'm waiting patiently to read that before I am forced to read law books again.
Anj
Anj
#35
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Originally posted by Calistoga
Just picked up a copy of "The Funny Thing Is..."
by Ellen DeGeneres. Highly recommended gift for anyone on your Xmas list who is a fan of hers.
Just picked up a copy of "The Funny Thing Is..."
by Ellen DeGeneres. Highly recommended gift for anyone on your Xmas list who is a fan of hers.
#37
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I finished reading Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. I figured out the major "mystery" about halfway through the book, but I still enjoyed it much more than A Drink Before the War or Mystic River.
I'm not too sure what I'm going to read next. I have so many unread books sitting on the shelf.
I'm not too sure what I'm going to read next. I have so many unread books sitting on the shelf.
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#40
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Right now G.K. Chesterton's "Autobiography." I've just ordered "Canticle for Leibowitz", "Red Mars", and "Mistress of Empire".
Hard working out a good reading schedule with my current job. Hopefully I'll be able to get more done soon.
Hard working out a good reading schedule with my current job. Hopefully I'll be able to get more done soon.
#41
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Reading Philip Roth's The Human Stain before I see the film.
Up next is most likely Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone.
Up next is most likely Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone.
#42
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Apparently, I am losing my mind, as I have stopped reading Reversible Errors and started 2nd Chance by James Patterson.
This is probably why I haven't been able to read anything I have picked up within the last week, I've been waiting for my friend to bring me this book. I will most likely read the other books once I am done with 2nd Chance.
This is probably why I haven't been able to read anything I have picked up within the last week, I've been waiting for my friend to bring me this book. I will most likely read the other books once I am done with 2nd Chance.
Last edited by Anjanettea; 11-19-03 at 07:42 AM.
#43
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Originally posted by Anjanettea
Apparenly, I am losing my mind, as I have stopped reading Reversible Errors and started 2nd Chance by James Patterson.
This is probably why I haven't been able to read anything I have picked up within the last week, I've been waiting for my friend to bring me this book. I will most likely read the other books once I am done with 2nd Chance.
Apparenly, I am losing my mind, as I have stopped reading Reversible Errors and started 2nd Chance by James Patterson.
This is probably why I haven't been able to read anything I have picked up within the last week, I've been waiting for my friend to bring me this book. I will most likely read the other books once I am done with 2nd Chance.
#48
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I just finished In the Company of Heroes by Michael J. Durant.
If his name sounds familiar, he was the helicopter pilot shot down in Somalia (made famous by Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down and the movie of the same name) and held captive for 11 days.
Since I never got a chance to finish it before, I'm going to finish reading Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team by Christopher Whitcomb.
![Up](/images/smilies/thumpsup.gif)
Since I never got a chance to finish it before, I'm going to finish reading Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team by Christopher Whitcomb.
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#50
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Currently reading Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro and Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. (And for school, Tristram Shandy, The Faerie Queene, and The Alliterative Morte Arthure, but they don't really count.)
tasha
tasha