reading by readafew... 2011

Ok I finished Alcatraz vs the Shattered Lens and I found it enjoyable. The best part was an in joke that only a Robert Jordan fan would recognize dealing with Asmodean. I thought it was hilarious.

I also finished Girl Genius 5 and started on Towers of Midnight. That ones a bit of a tome. It's starting off a bit grimmer than most but Matt is finally supposed to enter the tower of Genji to try to rescue Moraine and that should be lot of fun.

previous thread http://www.librarything.com/topic/98924

Got you starred, once again.

;)

Just letting everyone know I'll be interviewing RT Kaelin starting on Jan 12th for his book Progeny. It was an excellent book, and I have my review up for it.

Waiting for my daughter to finish the latest Alcatraz so I can have a go at it. Glad you enjoyed it.

5 > yes, Scholastic only agreed to print 4 Alcatraz books and Brandon had it planned out for 5 and I think Scholastic still hasn't agreed to #5. #4 has a decent ending and it can quit there but he certainly left space for #5 with one large thread left hanging loose out there. I hope he gets the chance to finish it.

I listened to The Spy last week by Clive Cussler and enjoyed it. It's the 3rd book in the Isaac Bell series. I'll have my review up in the next day or 2 for that.

Last night one of my Christmas presents arrived and I got First Among Sequels and Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer. I read Pinocchio right away and found it pretty fun read. It's supposed to be based on the original text, a couple years after the end of the book, and if that is so I'll need to get a copy. Anyway this is a graphic novel and a quick read. I'll have a review for it too some time soon.

I am about half way through Towers of Midnight and I am enjoying it immensely. There is a LOT going on. Sanderson keeps changing scenes trying to keeps things in sync. And while on one hand you don't have to wait for chapters and chapters to get back to someones thread, you don't get to stay with then nearly long enough to get to the part you want to see!

I took a little break and from WoT and read Girl Genius 6. I just love this series. I'm only missing Girl Genius 3 right now, but #10 should be coming out in the next couple months I think.

#7 - please tell me that pinocchio's long wooden nose doens't get used as a stake!

How's Clive Cussler holding out? I used to read all the Dirk Pitt novels, but gave him up a few years ago when his ghost/co written stuff seemed less interesting.

9 > well of course! 8) no surprise there.

Also the first 2 books by Clive I've ever read were the 1st and 3rd Isaac Bell novels. (the 2nd one was so scratched we gave up and found a different copy) so I can't compare them. There good solid stories and fun fast reads so I had no complaints. I'm caught up on all my reviews so you can always look at them for more.

Heh - I used to love Clive Cussler when I was younger... my interest waned, too, as the ghost writers picked up.

Well the Bell books are good enough to listen to on my commute. I plan to sometime try a Dirk Pitt novel, since I thought the movie Sahara was pretty good.

I'm interviewing RT about Progeny over in Author Chat. http://www.librarything.com/topic/107285

Come, visit, watch me bare my soul.

Or at least an elbow.

RT needs more questions!

Yesterday I finished listening to Fearless fourteen and it was enjoyable and made me laugh out loud like all the rest, because it was just like all the rest. I enjoy them but not too close together.

I also finished reading the last 160 pages of The Towers of Midnight. Come on Brandon! Finish it for us! I REALLY enjoyed this book and Jordan might have finished it before he died if he was moving things along like Sanderson is. I'll have a review up for them both in the next few days.

I agree with you on both, readafew. I'm still laughing at the Stephanie Plum books, and I'm so glad Brandon S. is doing such a great job wrapping up the WOT series.

16 > the sad thing is his website shows he hasn't started working on Memory of Light yet.

15 > Please ask a question or seven. I'll answer them all.

My two cents on WOT: the detail in the series is amazing. But by book four, I was bogged down by it. Still, I really enjoyed the depth of the world and story.

18 > ya, they slowed down all the way to #8, then started picking back up again. #10 or 11 you stuff actually happened, then Brandon took over and every other chapter something is happening we've been waiting for, for several novels!

Finished reading The Trinity Six. I felt the first half was 3 stars and the second 4. An interesting spy novel about a '6th' spy that had gone unnoticed at the time Philby and his cronies got caught. I would put this one right down the middle. I wouldn't press this on anyone, nor would I warn them off. If you like Steve Berry and James Patterson I would put this right there at the same level.

Currently reading my latest ER book The Vyne - Mystery of the Hidden Ember. It has potential. This one can go either way, parts of this book are very engaging and other parts will depend on future actions... Overall I like it so far.

I started my masters last week Wednesday and so my recreational reading will be curtailed for a while (as well as my LT time! :()

Good luck to you on your new endeavor.

Masters in what, if I may ask?

22 > I haven't seen you around here much lately! Masters of Information Technology.

21 > Thank you!

I hide out in hidden corners, or something. And, yes, good luck! It's so exciting to start something new! Good on ye. (If you haven't checked out LT Pirate, go see. It's fun.)

24 > I helped translate it! ;)

just finished The Vyne - Mystery of the Hidden Ember last night and while it wasn't awful it could use some work. Honestly, it reads like someone's first attempt to write fantasy, with out having paid much attention to what makes a good fantasy novel, just grabbing all the things they like about other novels and through them all in the bag. though by the end he seemed to be getting better so I have some hope for the second book the series.

I think the worst part was he'd get the characters into a bad situation and then since this was 'fantasy' make up a 'cool' what to get out of it. I think it's one I would have really liked in High School but all the problems stand out to me now.

Oh blimey! Chinwaggin' in Pirate is more enjoyment th'n a mer-lass ina vat o' rum! S' thank ye!

26 > ;)

I just finished listening to The Wrecker yesterday and finished reading The Kensei last night. I enjoyed them both. The Wrecker is the 2nd book of (currently) 3 books about Isaac Bell a 'van Dorn' detective (along the lines of the Pinkertons) and he is trying to stop a train wrecker before he kills any more people.

The Kensei is a vampire book, the 5th in the series (haven't read the others yet). It's a new kind of vampire, where they are much closer to regular humans than the mythic terrors of evil. Lawson is the main character and he's more of a super spy than anything. Fun book decently written but more like a spy novel than a vampire novel. good thing I like both!

Finished reading Elizabeth Tudor Vampire Slayer by Lucy Weston last night. I got this one for review. I did request it but I slipped up on this one. It's more paranormal romance than urban fantasy and so not quite to my taste. For all of that I will admit it was well written and I didn't feel it was a waste of time. I was hoping it was going to be more like the Abraham Lincoln vampire hunter (even though I haven't read it I really want to!) Reading about a woman who seems to be torn between 2 men that really aren't worth her time is kind of irritating.

Next on the docket is Something Rotten ya!

#20:
Let me join the others in wishing you the best on your Masters! :o)

#28:
Have you read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith? If so, what did you think? Was it anything like Elizabeth Tudor Vampire Slayer? Personally I read the former last year and found that the overally-gratuitous gore detracted from the novel and made it a bit of a chore to finish. I started the other: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, a few months back but have yet to finish it. :)

29 > Thanks.
No I haven't read PaPaZ so can't compare. I will say if gore was your problem you won't find it in ET,VS. vampires are about the only ones who die and they dissipate kind of like Buffy the Vampire Slayer vampires.

Finished Something Rotten, in the first 50 pages I wanted to put it down, it was like Fforde was going off super hard on politicians and trying to make a point of how sheep like people are and obviously uncaring all politicians are. It was just getting to much and then it lightened up and I started enjoying the book more.

I am currently reading Hyperion so far so good. The Shrike seem to be the mystery we get to learn about and they certainly have my curiosity peeked.

How is/was the vacation?

Whenever I hear someone is going to Branson, I am reminded of the Simpsons episode...

It's almost over :(

it was pretty fun, the family made it through without bloodshed! I haven't seen that Simpsons episode...

Finished Hyperion. I must say it was a rather unsatisfying ending, it just stopped. I haven't read a book like that for a while.

I started How to lose a job and it's shorter than I expected. It's also a pretty quick read, I'd be done with it by now if I'd actually had some time to read. It's funny and I'm enjoying it.

Finished How to lose a job a little while ago. I agree with MrsLee, it was a little short to be truly enjoyable, but it is a great quick and humorous read that doesn't take much attention to get through. The 3rd book was much better.

I'm almost done with my ER book Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark, it's pretty good I'll be writing a review for it shortly (after I finish!)

Next books are going to be Jasper Fforde Thursday Next's. I got One of our Thursdays is missing for review (for a blog) but I haven't read First Among Sequels yet.

Oh! I didn't know the 6th was out yet! I think I stopped at 3, but I have 4 & 5... somewhere. LOL Are you going to read them back-to-back? Enjoy!

I haven't decided yet. I need to read One of our Thursdays is Missing in the next couple weeks and write the review. So either I'll read them back to back or I'm skipping First Among Sequels. I was hoping to read at least one book in between but I don't think I have time.

I think I'm out of the loop on the Jasper Fforde novels, I haven't heard of either of those! Where have I been?

For those interested in One of Our Thursdays is Missing the blog I review for is giving away 2 copies here

http://luxuryreading.com/jasperffordegiveaway/

#37 - Jasper's had a sudden publishing onslought recently. The last dragonslayer and shades of grey are his other titles (non-bookworld) all released in the last two years I think.

@33: Hyperion is really just setup for The Fall of Hyperion, which takes the threads introduced in that book and ties them all together, albeit in a much more conventional story.

Good to know, sooner or later I'll be reading that one. With all my home work and all the books I keep agreeing to review a year from now is looking like the earliest chance...

Just finished First Among Sequels last night, pretty good, has kind of a cliffhanger ending and lets us know what One of our Thursdays is Missing should be about. I also started that last night, but all of his books you need to get in about a 3rd before pieces start to fit in together.

Finally finished One of our Thursdays is Missing last night. I'd have to say it's the best one since The Eyre Affair. I'll be writing up my review for it in the next day or two for those interested. It is however, quite a bit different than the other 5.

I'll be starting A Lonely Death by Charles Todd tonight. I've never read any of his books and I got this one for review.

Wow, I ripped right through A Lonely Death. It started a little rough for me but I put that down to jumping into a series on the 13th book. I think it was Excellent. MrsLee have you read any Rutledge? If not I think you would like them.

Haven't decided what I'll start next though Girl Genius 3, Trouble Twisters and Zero Day are all at the top of the docket.

"MrsLee have you read any Rutledge?"

I have! Two of them, even. Both for my library book group. Enjoyed the later one much more than the first. The idea is fabulous, but he* had a lot to work out/explain in that first book, so you can't really skip it, but it wasn't great as a mystery.

*It's actually a 'they' isn't it? A mother and son writing team?

The name of Rutledge sounds very familiar, but I don't specifically remember reading any. I've put A Test of Wills on my wishlist, thanks!

45 > well #13 was a pretty good mystery. I'll have to try some of the others later. and yes, it's a mother son team who writes them.

46 > I hope you like them. Let me know what you think of A Test of Wills. I can only vouch for A Lonely Death.

The Rutledge books are indeed a mother-and-son team (although no one knew that initially) and I found them to be fairly tightly written as a series. You have to come to terms with Hamish as a character, but the premise for Hamish's continued presence is a plausible one. I actually talked about this one in a book group and sold it as a more realistic version of what Lord Peter Wimsey would really have been like coming home from the War.

At least in 13 Hamish didn't do anything that a subconscious wouldn't be able to do.

Last night I started and finished Girl Genius 3. I am now caught up with Girl Genius and eagerly awaiting for #10 to come out. So tonight I need to choose between Trouble Twisters and Zero Day. both are books I agreed to review.

Finished my ER book Zero Day by Mark Russinovich it wasn't bad but had a few too many irritations to be 'good' either, so I give it a 'meh'. My review is up but the touchstones aren't working for this book yet.

Started Trouble Twisters by Garth Nix last night (this touchstone isn't working either!) A good start of a Young Adult novel. So far has the feel of James Dashner's 13th Reality. I'll let you know more as I go.

Troubletwisters by Garth Nix was pretty good, I'll be looking for the next in the series. Still writing the review.

After that I read Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow Nathan Bransford It was a fun little book but really written for middle schoolers. A 12 year old and his friends take a space ship ride around the galaxy and have adventures.

I am currently reading The Road to Rome the 3rd book in the Forgotten Legion Trilogy. So far it's just as good as the others!

Finished The Road to Rome a little while ago and am currently in the middle of The Dead Janitors club an ER book I won in August but didn't arrive until late March. Not bad, it's interesting but it's not really what I was expecting, it's a bunch of somewhat interconnected stories generally circling around his time as a crime scene cleaner. It can be crass, crud and even offensive and he admits as much. I am enjoying it but I certainly am not flying through the book very fast, can only deal with a chapter or 2 at a time.

ETA: I really enjoyed the Road to Rome great ancient Rome story.

I finished The Dead Janitors Club on Sunday. It was amusing but I thought it was about 100 pages too long.

I also quickly read The Accidental Genius of Weasel High and I found that to be pretty darn good. Very humorous. It's a 14 year old boy keeping a journal for his English class. Writing down thing that happen every day. It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be but it was an excellent surprise. Only took me a couple hours to read.

I finished The Dead Janitors Club on Sunday. It was amusing but I thought it was about 100 pages too long.

I also quickly read The Accidental Genius of Weasel High and I found that to be pretty darn good. Very humorous. It's a 14 year old boy keeping a journal for his English class. Writing down thing that happen every day. It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be but it was an excellent surprise. Only took me a couple hours to read.

forgot to add, I'll be starting The President's Vampire tonight, it's the second book in the series. The first was a bit of fun and I expect this to be similar. Kind of like Blade meets MIB.

finished The President's Vampire a couple days ago. I am finding this series to be quite enjoyable. Cade is a vampire bound to serve the President of the USA and he's a REAL vampire, not an eternal melancholy teenage heartthrob. He's bad to the bone.

I am currently reading The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry, an ER book. I have to say Berry is getting to be a better writer though he really likes the 'over-the-top' scenarios but I enjoy reading them for the wild ride.

Wondering if I would like The President's Vampire? Sounds as if I might if the vampire is as you describe.

I'll leave Steve Berry to you, but I'm glad to hear he's becoming a better writer. I'm finding that the more my reading time and energy is quashed, the less patience I have for certain genres. I'm having a very difficult time finishing Outlander just because it is far too "romancy" for me.

I'm about halfway through The President's Vampire. It's as readafew says - this is a monster, not a person with superpowers. He just happens to be a monster on our side...

56 > If you're interested in The President's Vampire you might want to start with the first book Blood Oath.

So doc what do you think so far about Cade and company?

I just put my review for The President's Vampire for any others that are interested.

#56 I would have thrown Outlander across the room at the wall if it wouldn't have killed my ereader.

Ugh. Why oh why did a capable woman in her own time, suddenly become a brain-dead dumbass in another? Did she HAVE to make every single stupid decision available to her? COuldn't she just ONCE have been brave and smart??

I quit about 3/4 of the way through.

Hehe, one of the great things with these threads is not only do I find books to read - I also find out about what not to touch ;D

61 > Now you have me wondering if you're talking about Outlander or the President's Vampire (or both!)...

Both ;-)

#56 - So glad it's not just me! I keep waiting for her to wise up, and being disgusted because I know exactly what she will do instead. I may have to skim and give one of those reviews "others may like this, but it wasn't for me."

#58 - Yep, guess that will go on my wishlist. :)

#58 - finished The President's Vampire today, more comments to be posted on my thread. But i really enjoyed both books, especially the whole Lovecraftian connection! Shadow Over Innsmouth is one of my favorite HPL stories.

I figured with the way it was written that it was referring to something like that but I haven't read any Lovecraft yet, I'll have to look that one up.

Finished The Jefferson Key a couple days ago, like a better class of Dan Brown. Lots of pointless action and just enough plot to have a goal.

currently reading The Ranger by Ace Atkins not bad so far but not exceptional either.

I finished The Ranger last week and it was a good solid book, but not excellent. Then I read A Door in the Woods and was pleasantly surprised, it was a really good YA novel and now I need to get the other 4!

I started Soldier of Rome: Legionary and so far so good. It's a good solid story.

I just finished Soldier of Rome: Legionary and it was a good book. We follow a young man who joins the Legions in order be apart of the force to punish the German barbarians for the Teutoburger Wald massacre. They wiped out 3 legions including the one his older brother had been attached to. Pretty good, if you like roman stories this is a good one to add to the list.

I started and have a good start on the The Devil Colony by James Rollins and it's like the other one I read, fast paced with a lot of time sensitive actions that need to be taken. However, at this point I am completely stumped as to how the main problem facing everyone will be explained by physics (even fake physics) because so far I'm confused, as to how some ancient tech was nullified but kept around that had such destructive powers.

OK, finished The Devil Colony last night and while I thought it was pretty good, I didn't like it as much as the previous book. Mostly because to me it just seemed to farfetched for the nanotech to be so dangerous and 4,000 years old.

I will be starting and hopefully finishing Girl Genius 10 tonight. I just found out my neighbor used to know Phil Foglio. He used to buy his comics from the shop that Phil worked at years ago.

I was able to finish Girl Genius 10 last night, that is a great series. And I started my ER book Generation Starship, though I haven't actually made it through the Introduction. It has promise, we'll see if it delivers.

Finally finished Generation Starship this weekend. It took me forever. He'd switch back and forth between analysis and narrative. Also he managed to use 'Transmogrify' 3 times. It was interesting and OK. Gave me a large list of books to read and I have to wait until I forget how they end before reading them.

Next up is Hard Spell. I am almost half done with it already and I am finding this one to be fun. It's kind of like Blood Oath but not quite so hard core. The main character is a cop on the Supe Squad. They deal with all crimes involving supernatural beings; vampires, werewolves, wizards, witches, the Fae folk. Whether they are on the giving or receiving end of the crime. Lots of fun and decently written. Dr. Newt I think this one might be right up your alley.

Finished Hard Spell though still need to write the review. I really enjoyed it and certainly plan to read the next one (if there is a sequel). Lots of fun.

I started Gunnerkrigg Court last night. It's a Graphic Novel from an online web comic. So far it's pretty cool. It follows a new student at the Boarding school Gunnerkrigg Court. Lots of strange things happen, some is a little creepy but it's pretty cool. Robots, Dragons and Demons, The Minotaur even makes an appearance, his name is Basil.

Is hard Spell part of a series, the tags seem to indicate so, but there's nothing listed on the series page? Sounds fun anyway.

74 > I think Hard Spell is the first book in a new series. I got this book for a review like the ER program. So I'll have to wait until the next is written.

It also appears the author has another similar series about a private investigator. Looks like there is at least 3 in that one.

My daughter and I really enjoy Gunnerkrigg Court, but it's been awhile since I've read it.

Did you read the web comic or the books? The 3rd book is coming out next month.

We read the web comics, but my daughter also bought the books, or at least the first one.

Wow, just checked and I haven't updated this since the middle of August. Boy does time fly. Unfortunately I don't have time to update on the few books I've read since then, but I will say what I'm reading now.

Both are ER books, Sanctus is another religious conspiracy like Dan Browns books, just really well written.

Trackers which is a thriller that takes place in South Africa. It's an audio book and so far it pretty good. Just now really getting into the story, had a lot of build up but the action was just starting when I got to work. Can't wait until I start home tonight.

Finished Sanctus a couple days ago. I liked the entire story except the end. it was a little soft an with as well explained as most of the book was a bit incomplete. I am guessing they might decide to have a sequel, though I think it would have been better as a single book.

Read Laddertop volume one and It was rather enjoyable, its a graphic novel aimed at young adults but I still found it rather intriguing. Aliens had arrived on earth a couple decades earlier and gave us some great technology and parts of it needed to be maintained by children because they could fit. The book ends before it could explain how this works but it obviously was going to be continued just from the title.

I started Shadow's edge last night and it starts off with a bang.

Finished Shadow's edge a few days ago, I enjoyed it though in the middle I almost had to quit. As Morphy said, Weeks is pretty brutal to his characters. But the last half made up for it.

Currently reading my ER book The Secret Crown. It's fun but the writing reminds me a lot of Dan Brown but not even that good. He over explains everything. He'll imply something, then explicitly state it to make sure you caught it. Irritating at times. The main heroes are a couple Mary Sue's. If you want action mind candy it ain't so bad but it doesn't even come close to a Tom Clancy or Daniel Silva.