What Are You Reading (March 2016)
03-03-16, 11:10 AM
#1
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What Are You Reading (March 2016)
OK guys ... I know February's weird with the fewer days but time to move onto March! 
Just finished:
I really wanted to like this book but just it just didn't work for me. I just found the writing style completely unengaging and it ended up seeming like a chore to finish. There were a few stretches, mostly in the first third, where I started getting into the twisted fairy tale vibe the book was going for. Only for it to be derailed by a long philosophical debate between moronic characters.
It didn't help any that the ending was so awfully anticlimactic that it seems like it had to be a joke. Only it doesn't feel so funny after slogging through 400 pages to get there.
Just finished:
I really wanted to like this book but just it just didn't work for me. I just found the writing style completely unengaging and it ended up seeming like a chore to finish. There were a few stretches, mostly in the first third, where I started getting into the twisted fairy tale vibe the book was going for. Only for it to be derailed by a long philosophical debate between moronic characters.
It didn't help any that the ending was so awfully anticlimactic that it seems like it had to be a joke. Only it doesn't feel so funny after slogging through 400 pages to get there.
03-04-16, 12:28 AM
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Re: What Are You Reading (March 2016)
Read The Black Echo years ago because I got into Connelly after seeing him at one of Castle's poker games he used to have with other mystery writers. Really dug it but didn't start the next one. Watched the Amazon series, thought it was fantastic so now I'm most of the way done with rereading The Black Echo and I have the next two 3-book omnibuses ready to go too.
03-04-16, 11:05 AM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What Are You Reading (March 2016)
I'm maybe a third of the way through Infinite Jest, which I started over a month ago. I'm intentionally taking my time, because of the nature and denseness of the book, but it's definitely taking longer than I thought it would. Hoping to get it done in March, but wouldn't be surprised if it spreads to April.
03-06-16, 12:34 PM
#6
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Re: What Are You Reading (March 2016)
Still slogging through Red Mars. The first half was pretty good, not so much the beginning of the second half. I hope it can redeem itself, or else I'm not going to bother with the rest of the series.
03-08-16, 10:00 PM
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Re: What Are You Reading (March 2016)
Just Finished:
11/22/63 by Stephen King
I really liked it, but it's very long and slow in a few places. I wish King would write more non horror books. I really enjoy it when he writes outside his usual grenre. I finished it in about 22 days which is pretty good for me since I'm a slow reader.
11/22/63 by Stephen King
I really liked it, but it's very long and slow in a few places. I wish King would write more non horror books. I really enjoy it when he writes outside his usual grenre. I finished it in about 22 days which is pretty good for me since I'm a slow reader.
03-13-16, 03:48 PM
#14
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What Are You Reading (March 2016)
Stephen King - On Writing
Definitely worthwhile if you're interested in writing. I wish it had been available when I was 20.
John Marquand - Last Laugh Mr Moto
The only one of the Mr Moto books that I wouldn't recommend. It's too contrived, the mystery isn't very good, and the writing is weaker than in the other books.
Robert Heinlein - Farmer in the Sky
Excellent book. It's very hard-nosed for a juvenile. A non-romanticized depiction of planetary colonization.
Definitely worthwhile if you're interested in writing. I wish it had been available when I was 20.
John Marquand - Last Laugh Mr Moto
The only one of the Mr Moto books that I wouldn't recommend. It's too contrived, the mystery isn't very good, and the writing is weaker than in the other books.
Robert Heinlein - Farmer in the Sky
Excellent book. It's very hard-nosed for a juvenile. A non-romanticized depiction of planetary colonization.
03-13-16, 04:04 PM
#15
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What Are You Reading (March 2016)
Erle Stanley Gardner - Donald Lam and Bertha Cool #10: Crows Can't Count
Erle Stanley Gardner - Donald Lam and Bertha Cool #11: Fools Die on Friday
I am running down on this series. The characters started out being fun and weird, but they are each settling into a cluster of 2-3 traits. The mysteries are too complicated for me to solve, so my only interest is in the story.
Crows Can't Count has: Emerald smuggling, a stabbing, a poisoning, an "accidental explosion", inheritance fraud, two barely-legal businesses, and babies switched at birth. The murders are all done by different people for different motives. Eventually, I didn't care.
Erle Stanley Gardner - Donald Lam and Bertha Cool #11: Fools Die on Friday
I am running down on this series. The characters started out being fun and weird, but they are each settling into a cluster of 2-3 traits. The mysteries are too complicated for me to solve, so my only interest is in the story.
Crows Can't Count has: Emerald smuggling, a stabbing, a poisoning, an "accidental explosion", inheritance fraud, two barely-legal businesses, and babies switched at birth. The murders are all done by different people for different motives. Eventually, I didn't care.
03-15-16, 07:56 PM
#19
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Re: What Are You Reading (March 2016)
Finished:
Another fast-reading enjoyable entry in the series. Too bad the titles of the last 3 books seem to drop some huge spoilers:
Another fast-reading enjoyable entry in the series. Too bad the titles of the last 3 books seem to drop some huge spoilers:
Spoiler:
03-19-16, 01:22 PM
#24
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Re: What Are You Reading (March 2016)
Finished:
The vagueness and uncertainty might have been a problem in a long book. But for me, it was just fine for such a short (under 200 pages) novel. Certainly did a great job at establishing a creepy and unsettling tone, and building a world I want to know more about. I'll certainly check out the other 2 books in the series.
No surprise at all that this has gotten mixed reader reviews. This will not be everyone's cup of tea.
The vagueness and uncertainty might have been a problem in a long book. But for me, it was just fine for such a short (under 200 pages) novel. Certainly did a great job at establishing a creepy and unsettling tone, and building a world I want to know more about. I'll certainly check out the other 2 books in the series.
No surprise at all that this has gotten mixed reader reviews. This will not be everyone's cup of tea.
