LunaticDruid reading books 2012

This year I will try to become a more active member at "The Green Dragon" and Librarything in general. To take the first step up the "ladder of activeness" I have decided to make my own "I am reading this" thread. As the days only got 24 hours it leaves me with less time to read books than I would prefer. I'm therefore setting a modest goal of reading 12 books this year. I will try to update my progress and write my first reviews. (Warning: English is not my native language, miss-spelling and faulty grammar can and will occur)

To start of I have selected a book from one of my favorite authors I know I will enjoy.
Book 1 2012:
Conqueror by Conn Iggulden



I'm currently five chapters in and enjoying it already. This is the fifth book in "The Conqueror Series" following Kublai Khan (grandson to Ghengis Khan).

I won that as an ER book. Looking forward to hearing what you think if of it. And good to see you in the pub!

Welcome, LD. Good luck with your goal. I look forward to following your progress.

I'm happy you are participating in the reading threads, and I look forward to "seeing you" more around the pub!

Thank you all! I've been hiding in the darkest corner only sticking my nose out of my hood for brief moments until now. Time to pull back the hood a little bit.

I think I'll start off with some hot chocolate.

Welcome. I love these threads for finding about new books/authors and for discussing old ones, although I tend to lurkishness as well.

10 chapters in and still a great read. My goal is about 5 chapters a day or more.

Lurkers are always welcome (loved them in Starcraft), and any digital human contact (comments), also very appreciated!

I'll look forward to following your thread.

It's always nice to interact with the folks here and as everyone else points out, it's great for finding new ideas about what to read. I've got you starred and I'll keep an eye out on your progress!

"digital human contact." Such an elegant phrase.

I want to get back to the Conqueror series at some point. I've read the first 2 in the series and have the 3rd in my tbr. Thanks for reminding me with the start of your new thread.

Despite falling to sleep on the sofa when I returned from work I am still keeping my goal of five chapters a day, now 15 in. I'm finding the book easy to read, the pace is good and the story interesting. I won't go into details as I'm afraid to be carried away and serve unwanted spoilers. Still struggling too read Mongke Khans name (I tend to read "Monkey Khan"... hrmpf).

I'm a bit surprised about getting so many "followers", but boy is it fun! I'll think it's time for me to return the favor and throw some stars around.

#11 AHS-Wolfy - You're welcome. I remember I loved the first three books (five stars) and liked the fourth book (four stars) and also his Emperor (Julius Caesar) series (four stars). It's been some time between reading the books and rating them (as I read long before I joined Librarything) so they might not absolutely correct (I sense a re-read coming). I rate books after how much I enjoyed reading them, not by how "correct" they were written.

I'll help you get more active in the Dragon and follow ya heheh...

I got butterflies! My signed Limited Edition of Perfect Shadow by Brent Weeks just arrived! It is number 1082 of just 1500 books. This will be next in my reading pile (if I dear open it).

A fellow Scandinavian! Most welcome out from the shadows :)

Thank you Busifer, great to see other "northerners" here!

Indeed. And you haven't gotten blown away by the latest set of storms, either. Doubly good. Have seen some disturbing news footage from Norway (even if that admittedly has been from more exposed parts of the country; I'm imaging you'd have some lee where you are?)

The latest (Emil) just missed us (hit Denmark instead), and the "Christmas storms" hit furter north. It's been some windy days, but we escaped the worst of it.

I don't mind a couple of storms tho... Just gives me an ecuse to stay inside, reading books and drinking cocoa. (As long as the roof stays on).

I have now finished 30 chapters. The only thing I don't like is that I have to stop reading to get some sleep (curse the human body....) The book started great and keeps getting better (my opinion). I actually wish I had more than 162 (of 533) pages left to read. I don't think the book will reach 5 full stars, but it's not far from it. All depends on how it ends!

Conqueror by Conn Iggulden



I have now finished reading the first book of the year and what a great start it has been! I found the book easy to read and loved the journey it brought me on (following Kublai from being a scholar to a great warrior). I would have liked to be a bit more involved in the bigger battles in part one and two of the book, watching the battle evolve (rather than skip to the end (or after)). Four and a half stars!

I really hope Conn will revisit his Mongol Series at a later point (seems like he is returning to his "Emperor" series for now). I love to "be a part of" such a different culture from the traditional cultures (British, Roman, Greek etc.). So put on your deel and send me the airag (non alcohol version please) you are given Guest rights in my Ger.

My first ever review is up (http://www.librarything.com/work/11786284/reviews/80434328)

I was unsure if I was ready to write a review, but I got to start somewhere (and sometime).

I plan to start reading my next book tomorrow (no time to read today). It's quite short so I might manage to finish it in one sitting.

Glad you enjoyed it and good to see it's a worthy addition to the series. Congratulations on your first review!

Thank you AHS-Wolfy.

I'm of to wash my hands, put on some cotton gloves and prepare to read:
Book 2 2012:
Perfect Shadow by Brent Weeks



This is a novella prequel to the "Night Angel" series. My copy is one of the signed limited editions from Subterranean Press. Mine is number 1082 (of 1500).

Edit:

Done. An enjoyable read, but I think you have to read the "Night Angel" trilogy first. This rather short story lets us know more about who became the mysterious Durzo Blint. Four stars.

The last book took me quite a short time to finish, I do not expect my next reads to go quite as fast. Im in for a "Tomefest" as I start on one of the best known (and popular) fantasy series this last year.

Book 3 2012:
A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin



I really liked the HBO series (stil got the picture of the khaleesi with the three newly hatched dragons etched into my mind). The politics, the brutality, the different cultures. I'm really looking forward to sink many hours into this, seeing it all evolve page by page.

>21: I gave your review a thumbs up. It told me just what I would want to know about a book such as that one. Good work.

BTW, I'll be interested in your thought about reading Game of Thrones.

#25 - maggie1944 - Thank you! I tried to write why I liked the book without giving away too much of the story. I don't like reviews containing spoilers so I try to avoid them.

I'm only four chapters into Game of Thrones but it was hard to put down. I really like Martins writing style. He got a "historical fiction" feel to his writing wich brings the world alive!

I agree his world does feel very real, but of course it does not hurt to have seen the TV version.

Not much time for reading this weeks so I'll be reading when I should be sleeping.

I'm now 263 pages into "Game of Thrones". The story so far is great! Every person got his own personality, his own story and his own goals (hidden or not). I do react on the age of some of the characters and what happens to them. Especially Daenerys only being thirteen years of age. (I'm glad they made her older in the TV-series.)

George R.R. Martins decision to name each chapter after which character we follow turns out to be very helpful.

And even more so as you move through all five volumes. Enjoy! But do not, repeat do not, become too attached to any of the characters. George R.R. Martin is not kind to his readers in this regard!

Thanks for the warning maggie1944 :)

Not much time for reading at the moment. Got some not so great shifts at work.
I'm also preparing myself to "Mass Effect 3" by replaying "Mass Effect" and "Mass Effect 2" with at least 6 different characters (to open up all versions of the story).

I have managed to read 2/3 of "Game of Thrones" and I'm still enjoying it. Somehow it never becomes dull.

Book 3 2012:
A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin



WOW. What a masterpiece. 780 pages of pure text and never a dull moment. I knew the story was good since I've seen the TV series, but I had no idea that it was such a "just one more chapter" kind of story.

Five full stars! (Review: http://www.librarything.com/work/8366/reviews/80434018)

Book 4 2012
A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin



Continuing the saga...

Enjoy the whole series. They are great, I'm just sad that the series is not finished. I hate waiting for the next book as rumor has it that I could be waiting a long time.

We just got to wait a little bit... 6-9 years for the last two??

I normally don't start on a series until it is complete, but with this one I couldn't wait (thanks to HBO)...

At my age waiting 9 years might just be too long! I may not be able to hold the damn books.

I forget not everyone using the internet are in their twenties (got to work on that one...). I let Catelyn and Walder Frey do the talking on this one...

Catelyn: "I have every hope that you will live to be a hundred."
Walder Frey: "That would boil them, to be sure."

yup, that's a good sentiment, for sure. And I do expect to live until a hundred, too, but will I be able to hold one of Martin's books? Don't count on it.

Hopefully the ebook format has matured when that time comes...

I'm about halfway through "A Clash of Kings". I'm not able to read as much as I like due to work, headaches and some sleeping issues (wich in turn gives me even more headaches).

Things are getting better tho. I finally managed to read several chapters in one sitting today. I'm really exited as the story keeps twisting and turning all the time. I never know for sure what will happen next. Everything might change at the stroke of a shadow (see what I did there?)

Wohoo! No work tomorrow and lots of rain (the snow is finally melting)! I love it!! Perfect conditions to get in several hours of good reading!