What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
#1
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Thread Starter
What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
Just finished:
![](https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408500437l/7094569.jpg)
Despite critical acclaim, I think I stayed away from this for a while because zombies seemed overdone. But thankfully this isn't another variation on the tired "small group of people trying to survive in zombie-overrun world" formula. In fact, while there are Romero-esque zombies, I don't remember seeing this type of story being done - set in a paranoid, militaristic future a generation after civilization survived a zombie plague. And the zombies themselves aren't that big a part of the story (readers looking for gory gut-munching will be disappointed). Instead, this is more a political/journalism thriller, and more sci-fi than horror (especially with looking forward how the nature of the internet and technology is set to change how news is distributed).
Anyway, I quite liked this. It's not without its flaws: technical details are tedious and repetitive, the main human villain is a laughable caricature, and the snark of the young-adult protagonists (especially Shaun) is wearisome. But as I said, the world creation and genre mix is interesting. And it builds to a truly intense and emotionally powerful ending. Despite being the first of a trilogy, thankfully this stands completely on its own as a self-contained novel (so new readers don't have to feel like they're committing to 3 books to get any kind of ending). I'll probably move on and give the 2nd of the series (Deadline) a shot ... though unfortunately, it sounds like the annoying Shaun character is the 1st person narrator (hopefully he tones down the snark or I may not make it through).
![](https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408500437l/7094569.jpg)
Despite critical acclaim, I think I stayed away from this for a while because zombies seemed overdone. But thankfully this isn't another variation on the tired "small group of people trying to survive in zombie-overrun world" formula. In fact, while there are Romero-esque zombies, I don't remember seeing this type of story being done - set in a paranoid, militaristic future a generation after civilization survived a zombie plague. And the zombies themselves aren't that big a part of the story (readers looking for gory gut-munching will be disappointed). Instead, this is more a political/journalism thriller, and more sci-fi than horror (especially with looking forward how the nature of the internet and technology is set to change how news is distributed).
Anyway, I quite liked this. It's not without its flaws: technical details are tedious and repetitive, the main human villain is a laughable caricature, and the snark of the young-adult protagonists (especially Shaun) is wearisome. But as I said, the world creation and genre mix is interesting. And it builds to a truly intense and emotionally powerful ending. Despite being the first of a trilogy, thankfully this stands completely on its own as a self-contained novel (so new readers don't have to feel like they're committing to 3 books to get any kind of ending). I'll probably move on and give the 2nd of the series (Deadline) a shot ... though unfortunately, it sounds like the annoying Shaun character is the 1st person narrator (hopefully he tones down the snark or I may not make it through).
Last edited by brainee; 08-02-15 at 09:38 PM.
#8
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Thread Starter
Re: What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
Finished:
![](https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408500444l/8429687.jpg)
Book 2 of the "Newsflesh" trilogy. Unlike the first one, this is not standalone (you'd need to read the first one to get much out of it, and it ends on a cliffhanger). It's still very good and I'll move right on to #3.
![](https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408500444l/8429687.jpg)
Book 2 of the "Newsflesh" trilogy. Unlike the first one, this is not standalone (you'd need to read the first one to get much out of it, and it ends on a cliffhanger). It's still very good and I'll move right on to #3.
#10
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
Still working on The Wages of Destruction. ![:|](/images/smilies/indiff.gif)
Not only is it a huge doorstopper of a book, but the author writes in thousand-word paragraphs. It's not uncommon to see a two-page spread with a single paragraph indent.
But it's fascinating. Hitler bet the whole German economy and the whole army on the invasion of France. If it had met a delaying opposition, the army had no reserves of fuel, manpower, or vehicles, and would have been destroyed. The German economy would have been a shambles. The army was outnumbered, outgunned, and the Allied tanks were superior to German tanks. He bet everything on a single stroke. Luckily for him, the Allied generals were inferior and he carried it off.
After France was taken, Romania agreed to sell 100% of its oil to Germany, Switzerland sold 100% of its precision instruments to Germany, and Italy became an ally.
![:|](/images/smilies/indiff.gif)
Not only is it a huge doorstopper of a book, but the author writes in thousand-word paragraphs. It's not uncommon to see a two-page spread with a single paragraph indent.
But it's fascinating. Hitler bet the whole German economy and the whole army on the invasion of France. If it had met a delaying opposition, the army had no reserves of fuel, manpower, or vehicles, and would have been destroyed. The German economy would have been a shambles. The army was outnumbered, outgunned, and the Allied tanks were superior to German tanks. He bet everything on a single stroke. Luckily for him, the Allied generals were inferior and he carried it off.
After France was taken, Romania agreed to sell 100% of its oil to Germany, Switzerland sold 100% of its precision instruments to Germany, and Italy became an ally.
#14
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Re: What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
Finished:
![](https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320486552l/406161.jpg)
I liked it quite a bit, but it really made me want to re-watch the film. A good example of an adaptation being superior to the source material.
![](https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320486552l/406161.jpg)
I liked it quite a bit, but it really made me want to re-watch the film. A good example of an adaptation being superior to the source material.
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
I know I'm late to the game on this one, but in anticipation of the movie, I'm a little more than halfway through:
![](http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a513/Mister_Salty/Martian%20cover_zpsjmhznwcf.jpg)
Every once in a while it briefly gets bogged down in technical details, but overall I'm enjoying it a lot. Last night I finally got to the point that it sold me on how good a movie it could be.
![](http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a513/Mister_Salty/Martian%20cover_zpsjmhznwcf.jpg)
Every once in a while it briefly gets bogged down in technical details, but overall I'm enjoying it a lot. Last night I finally got to the point that it sold me on how good a movie it could be.
#18
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Thread Starter
Re: What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
Finished:
![](https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317680509l/11806716.jpg)
Really good trilogy of books ... solid all the way through. I'll have to keep an eye out for other things by Mira Grant.
![](https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317680509l/11806716.jpg)
Really good trilogy of books ... solid all the way through. I'll have to keep an eye out for other things by Mira Grant.
#19
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
![](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BwrjhtA5L._SX376_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Last edited by Ginwen; 08-17-15 at 06:16 PM.
#20
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
Field Of Prey (Kindle) - John Sandford
#23
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
![](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dAriB850L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
#24
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: What Are You Reading? (August 2015)
![](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9781476785677_p0_v6_s192x300.jpg)