What are you reading? (August 2010)
08-06-10, 05:41 PM
#27
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: Jim Butcher's Dresden Files
I agree with you both. I read the first one, thought that it was okay but was mildly disappointed, but I do plan to give at least another one or two of the series a try before I call it quits.
08-06-10, 05:51 PM
#29
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I have finally finished Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and reviewed it in my blog. For those who don't care enough to read the whole thing, I read it because Roger Ebert made me feel guilty for not having already done so. I found much of it lacked momentum; there was no compulsion to begin the next chapter for most of the book. And, as I've already mentioned, the various regional dialects being presented in phonetic form became tedious.
Those caveats aside, though, I really enjoyed it and I see now why it's considered such a special work of fiction. When Huck eventually reaches his moral crossroads and makes the choice to help Jim escape slavery, it was a genuinely thrilling moment for me as a reader. I likened it to being a literary equivalent of when Rick commits himself to helping Lazlo get out of Casablanca...
Those caveats aside, though, I really enjoyed it and I see now why it's considered such a special work of fiction. When Huck eventually reaches his moral crossroads and makes the choice to help Jim escape slavery, it was a genuinely thrilling moment for me as a reader. I likened it to being a literary equivalent of when Rick commits himself to helping Lazlo get out of Casablanca...
Some of Twain's other books such as Life on the Mississippi, about his life as a river boat pilot, are a bit more fun. As are some of the short stories, The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, for example.
08-06-10, 08:34 PM
#30
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Jim Butcher's Dresden Files
Interesting to read the not-super-enthusiastic comments. So many people seem to love these I've almost picked them up a few times, but so far there's always something better I want to read first. Maybe I'll try a rental (aka library).
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08-07-10, 11:20 AM
#33
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: What are you reading? (August 2010)
The Stand (Complete and Uncut) by Stephen King
The last 15 books I've read (all Hard Case Crime novels) I totally breezed through, so I thought I'd mix it up some to prevent any potential burnout. This is fulfilling one of my New Year's resolutions: to read an epic-length novel. (Also considered Gone with the Wind, Atlas Shrugged and The Count of Monte Cristo) My anal retentiveness practically demanded that I read the expanded edition over the shorter one. I'm digging it so far - about 300 pages in - but I feel that I'll be reading this one for a while since I'm a fairly slow reader. Afterward I'll catch the mini-series and comic adaption.
08-08-10, 01:35 AM
#34
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: What are you reading? (August 2010)
Really too long and not that enjoyable. Took me like 3 weeks to read it.
08-08-10, 09:19 PM
#36
Moderator
08-09-10, 11:33 AM
#41
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
08-10-10, 11:43 AM
#44
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: What are you reading? (August 2010)
Finished and absolutely loved the first Sherlock Holmes book, A Study In Scarlet. Definitely going to continue reading the series. For now, next up is:
