readafew's reading register 2013!

Well I hope this year to be able to keep this list current. I am currently reading R.T. Kaelin's Progeny 2nd edition. I am very impressed with the final copy. The story is the same but it's telling has improved tremendously! Go Kaelin! I have a few other books I have to read after this one and then I'll finally be reading Prophecy!

I think I found 1 small error in the book I'll need to point out to him, after I verify it.

Well, I'll be watching you ;)

and that's a threat!

Stalking you as well!
:o)

(If it's any comfort to you, after all that watching and stalking, I'll simply be lurking. )

I'm a lurker, but of the mostly harmless variety. I really need to pick up a copy of Progeny. I've heard so many good things about it. Maybe this year.

Sandragon, I can assure you that before you even reach the end of Progeny, you will rush out and place Prophecy (Touchstone lists dozens of wrong references, but not the right one!) on top of your Mt. TBR!

With such an esteemed list watching, I better take care!

Finished with Progeny last night. The first edition was a great story, but needed some editing. The second edition blew the first out of the water in it's telling. Kaelin has a story to be proud of there.

Tonight I'll be starting either The Final Faberge or The Aylesford Skull, I received both for review

I have my review of Progeny up, though I didn't put the effort into it that it deserves.

I am about 1/3 of the way through The Final Faberge and it is really starting to pick up. I think I'm going to enjoy it quite a bit. Apparently Jack Oxby mysteries all center around artworks of one kind or another, this one is about a Faberge egg (as you might guess from the title).

How would you describe the Jack Oxby mysteries? Are they more action/thriller style or are they more sedately paced? Are they bloody and gory or are they suitable for older readers? I am totally unfamiliar with the detective and with the author so any information would be helpful to me.

Well this is the first Jack Oxby mystery I've read. I'm not sure yet how I'd classify it, there are two different stories that are going to meet soon and it could change the feel. I will definitely let you know my thoughts on the book when I'm finished. I'm reading for review at LuxuryReading.com so it will have a reasonably thought out review.

Oh dear. Definite book bullet. I adore books about art heists and forgeries. Other suggestions in the oeuvre would be gratefully welcome.

majkia - have you read Gabriel Allon books? They aren't really mysteries but more spy novels, but most of them revolve around artwork, primarily artwork stolen from the Jews by the Nazi's during WWII. The Rembrandt Affair was one of these.

Oh! I do have the first book of the Gabriel Allon series in my wishlist. So now double reason to get to them!

Well I've finished The Final Faberge I thought it was pretty good. It was enjoyable. Jill it was a good mix of action and slow parts. While a couple people met a violent end (and really I would have a hard time coming up with gruesome for any of it) most of what was pushing the story was only the threat of violence. Easy read not really a 'mystery' since as the reader we get all the clues pretty much handed to us, it's seeing if the right people get them and know what to do with them. I think they are all worth a read.

Oh and I'll be starting The Aylesford Skull next, it's supposed to be a Steampunk, which while I think I like steampunk, I'm not sure if I've read actual steampunk before.

Finally got my review up for The Final Faberge Parts I loved, parts were so-so. I should be finishing The Aylesford Skull in the next couple days. It's pretty good, the one thing that I know will bug me is that the evil guy who you want to get a bullet to the brain is the character the series is named after so the chance he finally dies in this one is small. :(

I'm happy to report that The Aylesford Skull had a satisfactory ending. I will say the St. Ives troop consistently give the bad guys opportunities to mess with their lives. The writing was very good, I'd sit down and time would fly. The story was pretty good too, but it didn't draw me back, meaning I didn't need to keep finding time to read.

Started Seal Team Six: Hunt the Scorpion and I have to say the story in this one is very compelling and edge of you seat stuff. I think I'll burn through this one pretty quick.

Readafew:

Thanks for the mention and kind words. Big news for me: I'm about ready to sign with an agent (finally) and start shopping the book to traditional publishers. Keep you fingers crossed that I soon won't be 'indie' any longer.

Well Congratulations! I truly believe you deserve it. Definitely keep me (and us) in the loop on how things progress! I haven't gotten to Prophecy yet, I keep requesting too many books for review. Right now there are 2 non-review books ahead of Prophecy, 1 is a SantaThing book the other is the final Robert Jordan book that I have been waiting 20 years to read!

I've been getting more time to read lately and the end of Feb. I'll be on vacation which will consist of mostly reading. Ya!

readafew: Will most definitely keep you in the loop.

Make sure you read the Acknowledgements in Prophecy. :)

And you, along with all the Green Dragon folks here, should get a kick out of one line in particular I added just for you guys. The support and encouragement I first got here went a long way into getting me to this point.

I thought I read the Acknowledgements, but I will look again!

I finished Seal Team Six: Hunt the Scorpion last night. I now have 2 reviews I need to write! SEAL Team Six was very action packed, it hit the ground running and didn't let up until the last page. In some ways similar to Brad Thor or James Rollings books. Though the level of reality was much better. The other two have a bit of James Bond feel to them. At times Crocker does seem to be too indestructible and superman but in a One man can't be that good at THAT many things' than 'it's impossible!'

started Dancing with the Vodka Terrorists: Misadventures in the 'Stans last night. This one is supposed to be a relatively accurate account of one mans trip to central Asia and the misadventures he dealt with. It will be interesting. I think this one will fit in "Truth is stranger than fiction" category.

I took a break in the middle of Dancing with the Vodka Terrorists and read my Christmas gift XKCD. It was fun and I suspect if I took the time to look at all codes he added in red ink I'd find even more fun. It took me way to long to realize that the pages were numbered in base 3.

I love xkcd, even though I don't usually get all the programming references. Never fails to make me smile.

Also an XKCD fan. I have te book as pdf, but it doesn't quite work on a phone or ereader. There is an android app that works quite well however.

Is Hunt the Scorpion, Clancy like - the early good (well better) ones or all his subsequent team writing? - the other ER reviews currently aren't much impressed?

25 > the programming references were some of my favorite!

Make me a sandwich!
No!
Sudo Make me a sandwich!
OK.

26 > Hunt the Scorpion is kind of Clancy like except that the pace the main characters where going would likely kill a normal person. I enjoyed it because it was very fast-paced and I think I needed something like that. I thought the writing was pretty good, but there were some situations that came up that I was like 'really?'

If Clancy had written the same story it would have been about 3 times longer because he would have filled everything in, gave you some insight to all the characters etc. In this one Crocker is the only one we ever really get to know since it's really his POV and stays there. I could see it getting panned, but it isn't meant to be great literature.

Still reading Dancing with the Vodka Terrorists. Expect to finish sometime this weekend. Lots of things needing doing around the house so haven't had lots of time to read. It's fairly interesting. It's both a history lesson (which I really like) and a chronicle of ones mans ordeal with a soviet style bureaucracy.

Ooh! I didn't know there was an xkcd book out! Perfect birthday present for comp sci major son...

Yes I'm sure he'll get a kick out of it.

I finished Dancing with the Vodka Terrorists this weekend. I thought it was a great look at central asia. I'll have my review up for it in a few days.

I started Gridlinked this weekend and I am loving it. Chances are good I'll finish it by the weekend. It's a cool sci-fi where humanity is spread over the Galaxy and has a wormhole kind of technology that allows for instant transportation between worlds. We get to follow 2 individuals, one basically hunts terrorists and the other is a terrorist who escaped his justice but not unscathed.

Here's the shelf I put up in the kitchen on Valentine's Day


I finished Gridlinked and really enjoyed it. I haven't had a chance to write my review yet, nor for the previous book. I started the final book in the Wheel of Time series and I keep getting sucked in and don't get anything else done. Already a 3rd of the way through the 900+ page tome.

Finished The Memory of Light it was well done. I've been reading this series for over 20 years and it has finally come to an end. I did enjoy the book quite a lot. There were a few surprises for me as well as some things I was pretty sure would happen. Some of those who died surprised me as well as some who didn't. For those who liked the first part of the Wheel of Time, I think Sanderson did an excellent job of completing the series.

I also listened to The Storm by Clive Cussler. I find his books are great to listen to while driving. They are exciting with lots of action but don't need a lot attention. I place him similar too Dan Brown but with a little better writing capability.

I am currently reading both Dilbert 2.0 (It's great so far!) and Prophecy : The Children of the While Lions. It's starting off pretty good. I think I will enjoy this one as much as the first.

*waves* Good to see you posting, readafew.
I have Progeny on my Kindle, I just haven't gotten to it, yet. It was, in part, your recommendations that made me get it. Looking forward to your review of the new one.

Re: #32, what goes up on that shelf? It seems very high up so I am assuming it's stuff you won't need often? (Being a short woman, I tend to think of high shelves as a drawback in a kitchen. It was made worse by living in a house of 3 rather tall men. I'd always have to yell "Somebody come be tall" in order to get them to reach something down for me.)

"Somebody come be tall." :oD In the same boat here, but only have one person who can reach for me. I tend to drag stools and chairs around quite a bit.

It is a lovely shelf!

I've been on vacation this last week, it was nice and relaxing. First time I've been on my cross-country skies in over 10 years. That was nice.

34 - do you have the 2nd edition? While I enjoyed the 1st, it might be jarring to read Prophecy because lots of little things were changed. Most notably the names of the races. The 2nd was also head and shoulders better than the first ed.

I am absolutely loving book #2. I should be done before the weekend. I'll try to get review up for it quickly.

35, 36 - Thanks. It is a tall shelf and it is mostly meant for decorations. My wife has a bunch of old 'Ball' jars and some other 'old' utensils up there. such as a flour shifter. But my wife is 5'8" so I don't have to do to much 'reaching' for her. ;)

I'm just amazed at the color of that wall! I'm a white wall type of person myself.

Ditto #38

My sister-in-law just painted her sitting room that colour, and it looks great. My brother and I discussed how we could never think of such a creative colour choice.

We redid our dining room and half-bath in a bit darker red on the top half of the walls with white/light tan on the bottom half with white chair rail molding between. The colors work really well!

That is the accent wall, my wife is planning to paint the cabinets antique white, the kitchen is a slow project...

Finished Prophecy : Children of the White Lions this weekend. Very good read. I'll try to have a review of it up in the next couple days. Kaelin has certainly improved his writing. I think the story needed a little more work to take it from 'Very Good' to exceptional. However, I still gave it 4 stars. I can't wait for him to get the 3rd book written!

I also started Deadweather and Sunrise. It's a YA series and I it is looking to be an excellent one. The main character is a 13yo boy unfortunately named Egbert. He lives on a barely livable island with his family and the only town is populated by pirates. So far it's a very fun read and like most YA pretty fast. So far it has a thumbs up from me.

Finished Deadweather and Sunrise Wednesday it was pretty good. I think I would have loved it if I was still about 13. Great writing a bit of action. Still haven't had a chance to write a review for Prophecy. Hopefully soon.

Finished Dilbert 2.0 last night. I enjoyed reading it. It wasn't exactly what I had thought, I thought it was a collection of all the Dilbert comics from the last 20 years, it was more a sampling (a large sample) and it had a lot of notes about different comics and I learned a bit about Scott Adams. I also learned that some of the comics I thought were exaggerations to be funny were actually true stories.

I am currently reading Angelguard which is an ER book. So far it's so-so, it has potential but the ratings of others suggests it won't reach it.

I am also almost done listening to The girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I think it's pretty good.

Granted, there could be some rework on book 2. Let's see what the trad-pubs have to say on it.

Send me a note on your criticisms. Be honest. I'm curious.

I'll try to get my thoughts together, I know that something needs/needed work but I'm having a hard time putting my finger on it. It's like all the different pieces were great but how they were all put together was not optimal. I'll try to get you more concrete info about it.

honestly I really enjoyed the book from cover to cover, and I think it's great as is, but I think a few little changes could push it to the next level. I'm just trying to figure out what it is I think needs to be tweaked.

#44 - Who narrates the audio version of Tattoo?

I'm pretty sure it's Simon Vance I think he's a pretty good narrator.

If it is Simon Vance, he's one of my favorites. He's reading the book I'm listening to at the moment. Reminds me of Hugh Laurie for some reason.

Oh yes, he is awesome. He narrated Bring Up the Bodies!

And Tigana ;-)

LOL Yes! :oD

Well I just finished up Angelguard last night and I have to say my feelings were mixed. I'll be writing a review for it soon especially since it's an ER book. I'm about to start my first Paid review book. I read the first 5 pages and I'm a little scared. And it's 716 pages long...

I really hope I can manage to read it.

Oh, good luck with that, readafew. I'm sure you'll do a fine job.

Thanks, I've read another 40 pages. it's a bit surreal. Not a clue what is going on yet either. The author uses lots of adjectives and adverbs, I think in an attempt to be 'flowery'. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

I'm sure I won't have much trouble writing a review, but finishing this book is another story...

;) (crosses fingers!)

I took a break from the Dash and read Quintessence which was a nice change of pace. The story actually moved and made some kind of sense. It takes place around the time of Henry the 8ths children, Edward and Mary. It's pretty cool, the premise is that the world really is flat, the ocean does fall off the edge of and out in the deep there do be monsters. I enjoyed reading it.

For those that like sailing and exploration books with a little magic you might want to consider this one.

Now back to The Dash (which isn't).

Quintessence sounds really interesting, I really like the concept. Definitely one to look out for.

Quintessence has been on my radar since I first heard about it. Now it goes on the wishlist!

Good luck finishing Dash. :o/

57,58 Let me know what you think, I hope you like it.

59. Thanks, I suspect I might start writing the review before I'm done reading it.

Here's a little sample of the writing.

"Mrs. Des Moines shoots her face up toward him, its complexion even more drained, and its features even more exaggerated and threatening. 'Excuse me?' she spits, but through relaxed lips."

Just one paragraph out of 700 pages...

Ewww.

'Excuse me?' she spits, but through relaxed lips.

I can't even visualize that.

It did make me laugh, though. (I envision the spit drooling out between her relaxed lips.)

I did envision her shooting her face up toward him, though.

With a canon?

Well if I wasn't actually getting paid for this one, I would call it quits.

I just randomly opened the book to a page from the section I've read. Here's another sample:

"They hear a vague stumbling, so that even Sera breaks out of her deep stupour, in time to step out of the path of the doorway before it crashes open. In gallops Zandro Kirkley, an incredibly tall and thin, and extremely pale young man dressed in a shiny dark suit, all of it incongruous with his spiky mohawk of black hair. everyone is frozen with the uncertainty of how to respond, as they often are in his presence. He dances around with frightening energy, and lets out a piercingly high mating call, so that again, even Sera reacts to it in a strong way. 'Well, hel-lo, everybody!' he squeals. The stretching of his taut, childlike face and glittering eyes makes Jane stand back in wonder; he smiles down at Father Sunn next.

I hope you're being paid well.

it works out to be 5.6 cents/page. In this case, it's not really worth it. I do think I'll enjoy writing the review though...

Well, you should be able to find plenty to say.

I hope you have plenty to say, readafew, I'm speechless!

However much they are paying you, it is not enough for wading through 700 + pages of prose like that. Good luck ...

I finally finished. There is an intriguing story hiding inside, but it needs a major pruning and rewrite to even make it recognizable. I have already started on my review and I think it's going to be a doozy. I am also starting Frozen Solid tonight, it's an ER book and I have much higher hopes for this one. Though The Unholy Communion which is another ER book sounds even better and that will follow. I suppose any book I read next will feel like a masterpiece after 'The Dash'...

Finished Frozen Solid yesterday. thought it was pretty good decent amount of suspense, but the main character was borderline Mary Sue.

Currently I'm reading New Lands the 2nd book in the Chronicles of Egg. It's turning out to be a fun YA series and I think most who like YA will likely enjoy this one. I have a review for the first book up Deadweather and Sunrise.

I'm slightly surprised, when an author pays to have their book reviewed they have the choice of it being posted or not. The Author of the Dash is going through with it. When it goes up on LuxuryReading I'll try to let you all know for those interested in reading the full review.

Finished New Lands and am currently working on the review. I think the 2nd book in the series is even better than the first. I think it's a great YA series and I know I would have enjoyed it immensely around the age of 13.

Currently reading An Unholy Communion, an ER book and so far pretty good. I was very much thrown off by the write up of the book, I thought it was a murder mystery like Cadfael or Sister Fidelma, taking place a long time ago in a monastery, it's actually a contemporary book, but it does give a history lesson. No problem with it, just a surprise.

I confess I couldn't get through the first one in that series, A Very Private Grave -- the combination of the male and female sleuth didn't work for me. (Felicity and Whatsisname).

Anthony. I'm not considering this a great book. it's decent, and I would normally consider it a cozy mystery but there is a bit of supernatural suggestion to say the least. Also for anyone offended by Christian themed books this one might bother you. I'm awaiting final judgement until I finish. This one is at least pleasant to read compared to 'The Dash'.

76: Awaiting final judgment...oh, no. I hope they let you in!

Well Unholy Communion took me a little longer than normal to finish. It was a decent read and I enjoyed the history lessons but the mystery was only so-so. Felicity and Anthony just seemed off to me. I hope to get my review up in the next couple days.

My next book is Spartacus Rebellion by Ben Kane. This is the 2nd (and last?) book in his Spartacus series. he also wrote The Road to Rome series too. He's a pretty good story teller but he tries to show the brutality of day to day life of those not wealthy.

Just finished Spartacus Rebellion. if you like Roman Historical Fiction I think you'll like this one! This was the second book in the series. Ben Kane had planned on writing a book about Spartacus and it swelled into two. I think he did a great job and I enjoyed the whole book. Currently working on the review.

Sorry all that I haven't been spending more time here. Got a new job at the end of March and I don't get much time at work to play on the internet and at home I've been trying to catch up on all the things that need doing outside. Still cleaning up trees that came down in the May snow storm etc...

Just finished Choke Point last night and I really enjoyed it. I think it was better than the first one in the series. There are still a few things I found irritating but overall a pretty good read.

Started A Question of Honor by Charles Todd. This pair does a good job of turning out books. This one is another Bess Crawford, she's a nurse during WWI and solves mysteries because she's a natural snoop and can't ignore an interesting question. I think they fall under the British cozy mystery.

A Question of Honor was in my opinion the best Bess Crawford mystery so far. The Charles Todd duo have the English cozy mystery down pat.

I also read and The Warriors by Tom Young. I enjoyed reading it and I will likely read some of his other work. This one was about finding and stopping a madman from reigniting the genocide killings in Serbia. Good writer.

I'll be starting William Shakespeare's Star Wars tonight. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to review the book. I shall return anon with a pithy review.

I finished William Shakespeare's Star Wars and The Alchemist Agenda. Both were decent reads, I have my review up for the Star Wars book and am currently working on the the other one.

I Also finished The Chalice of Blood by Peter Tremayne. In my opinion it was the best one of the last several. I'll be writing a review for that one very soon too.

Tonight I just started reading The Kill List and it looks to be a pretty decent international thriller.

Read the The Kill List enjoyed it and I'd recommend it to those who like the international spy game chasing terrorists. I then finally got around to reading The Alloy of Law and while I was a little cautious about a 'magic' book moving into the 'wild west' I have to say it was expertly done and I loved every minute of it. I think Brandon is an exceptional storyteller.

Currently I'm reading Bone Song. I saw that it was coming out in a movie so thought I should read it before I'm tempted to see it. So far, so good. enjoying the book. Rather interesting world I've been tossed into here.

Finished Bone Song. It was interesting and I thought it was pretty good. Just barely squeeked a 4 star. The ending was a little predictable. I'm still going to read the next book in the series, the world that was put together was incredible, the story could have used a little more work.

I started A Case of Doubtful Death and it has a very Sherlockian feel too it. I then left it at the in-laws and had to start another one while I waited for it to come back to me. The second book is The Joshua Stone by James Barney (an Early Reviewer book). I am finding the story to be very engaging and I am enjoying it very much. I'm just blasting right through it!

Finished A Case of Doubtful Death this evening. While I thought it started out pretty slow by the end I was rather impressed with the mystery. I'm pretty sure I'll be looking for the 2 earlier books to read as well. I'm going to read Gunnerkrigg Court: Research (volume 2). I just got it for my upcoming birthday with volume 4 so now I can read 2-4 finally! I'll also be reading Deceived by Randy Wayne White.