Books you're currently reading??? - Page 40

Gleep · 12-11-2006, 04:20 PM

I see that no one has posted for a while, and as I'm insanely bored, waiting to become tired enough to pass out, I figured I'd post. Pretty much just becuase I can.

The last book I read was "Cursor's Fury", by Jim Butcher. Excellent freaking book, as are all of his books.

I'm currently waiting for Laurell K. Hamilton's next book to come out--tomorrow! "Mistral's Tears", I think it's called. I've abandoned her vampire books, but I'm completely hooked on the Meredith Gentry series.

Sundae · 12-11-2006, 04:26 PM

I read the whole of Hamilton's vampire series (whole until 2001 anyway) while I lived in London. It was recommended to me by my local bookshop and although I never really rated it, it was a habit. She has great ideas for storylines, but never had the quality of writing to really appeal to me. They were Tube books (ie books I could read on the Tube without worrying I'd miss my station)

Is Meredith Gentry better, or does she still have a habit of duplicating descriptions from one book to another?

Gleep · 12-11-2006, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I read the whole of Hamilton's vampire series (whole until 2001 anyway) while I lived in London. It was recommended to me by my local bookshop and although I never really rated it, it was a habit. She has great ideas for storylines, but never had the quality of writing to really appeal to me. They were Tube books (ie books I could read on the Tube without worrying I'd miss my station)

Is Meredith Gentry better, or does she still have a habit of duplicating descriptions from one book to another?

Ummm.... well....
Kind of? I read most of her vampire books, but it's been quite a while. I'd have to say that yes, some of her descriptions do get repetitive. But I like her style, and I really like her characters. The Gentry books have characters that I like a lot more than the vampire ones...they're a lot more sympathetic, I suppose.

DanaC · 12-11-2006, 04:27 PM

I've just finished a fantasy novel called Voyage of The Shadowmoon. It was one of the really nice occasions when I've picked up a book on a second hand stall, been intrigued and bought it despite the truly awful cover art.It takes a peculiar delight in subverting some fantasy pillars without ever losing its own cohesion. Engaging characters (one a chivalrous, 700 year old vampire, trapped inside the body of a never aging 15 year old.) Australian writer, Sean McMullen. Really good read, so much so I've ordered the second one in the sequence from Amazon:P

Currently reading: Paine's 'Rights of Man', and 'Gentlemen and Players' by Joanne Harris.

Happy Monkey · 12-11-2006, 04:39 PM

I'm currently reading a Lovecraft collection. It's weighted towards his earlier work, and some of it isn't quite so polished, but there are passages here and there that caused me to pause and reflect.

wolf · 12-19-2006, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

I'm currently reading a Lovecraft collection. It's weighted towards his earlier work, and some of it isn't quite so polished, but there are passages here and there that caused me to pause and reflect.

Dark Seas of Infinity (book club edition of Lovecraft's writings) is somewhere in the morass of covers of my bed. I set it aside for a bit, and made a terrible, terrible mistake.

Clearly, the stress of dealing with my mom has made me insane.

I bought a series of three books that looked like they should be good. The story has mystery and magick and vampires and a mission from Goddess, I mean, how much better could you get? Except that the thrice-dam'ned things were written by Nora Roberts who is a miserable, formulaic romance novel writer. Total, unrepentent suck, they are, I tell you! Plot contrivances that should have caused the pages to shred of their own accord ... forced dialog ... trashy softcore sex scenes.

Whatever you do, dear friends, steer clear of Morrigan's Cross, Dance of the Gods, and Valley of Silence. Please, do it for the children.

DanaC · 12-11-2006, 04:43 PM

Ohhh. I love Lovecraft!

Happy Monkey · 12-11-2006, 05:00 PM

Repeated descriptions go back to Homer (and probably before). The question is, was it lazy and repetitive then, and we just give him a pass 'cause he's old?

Sundae · 12-11-2006, 05:15 PM

Reasonable point Hm, but have you read Laurel K. Hamilton? I'm not putting her down, but she won't be being read in 2000 years time.

DanaC · 12-11-2006, 05:16 PM

Nope. The reason for repetition is different: Homer was repetitious because it was recited to an audience and therefore needed to be easy to remember; one of the methods used to act as memory cues/aids, was a kind of circular descriptive form. There was also more of a need in oral poetry/story telling, for expected anchors for the audience, such as archetypal descriptions. You see it a lot in Norse sagas too.

Gleep · 12-13-2006, 10:57 AM

I finished Hamilton's new book. While the first four Gentry books were awesome, this last one was a little dissappointing. Only 200 pages, for one thing! She's trying to do too much in too little time, and it's starting to show.

But Darkness and Frost almost make up for it, so I suppose I'll keep reading...whenever she gets around to writing another one.

Has anyone else read it?

Bullitt · 12-13-2006, 11:12 AM

Access All Areas: a user's guide to the art of urban exploration, The Screwtape Letters, and will soon be starting on Michael Yon's book Danger Close

melidasaur · 12-13-2006, 03:31 PM

I just finished Wicked. I still don't know what to think...

12-13-2006, 03:43 PM

When I was on vacation I got the first ed. of The Faber Book Of Northern Legends and it's companion book of Scandinavian fables.

Ibby · 12-15-2006, 12:41 PM

Read "For Us, The Living" by Heinlen today (yesterday? something like that).

I'm completely on board for just about everything expressed in the book.

12-11-2006, 04:26 PM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I read the whole of Hamilton's vampire series (whole until 2001 anyway) while I lived in London. It was recommended to me by my local bookshop and although I never really rated it, it was a habit. She has great ideas for storylines, but never had the quality of writing to really appeal to me. They were Tube books (ie books I could read on the Tube without worrying I'd miss my station) Is Meredith Gentry better, or does she still have a habit of duplicating descriptions from one book to another? __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

12-11-2006, 04:27 PM	#4
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I've just finished a fantasy novel called Voyage of The Shadowmoon. It was one of the really nice occasions when I've picked up a book on a second hand stall, been intrigued and bought it despite the truly awful cover art.It takes a peculiar delight in subverting some fantasy pillars without ever losing its own cohesion. Engaging characters (one a chivalrous, 700 year old vampire, trapped inside the body of a never aging 15 year old.) Australian writer, Sean McMullen. Really good read, so much so I've ordered the second one in the sequence from Amazon:P Currently reading: Paine's 'Rights of Man', and 'Gentlemen and Players' by Joanne Harris. Last edited by DanaC; 12-11-2006 at 04:31 PM.

12-11-2006, 04:39 PM	#5
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	I'm currently reading a Lovecraft collection. It's weighted towards his earlier work, and some of it isn't quite so polished, but there are passages here and there that caused me to pause and reflect. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

12-11-2006, 05:00 PM	#8
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Repeated descriptions go back to Homer (and probably before). The question is, was it lazy and repetitive then, and we just give him a pass 'cause he's old? __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

12-11-2006, 05:15 PM	#9
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Reasonable point Hm, but have you read Laurel K. Hamilton? I'm not putting her down, but she won't be being read in 2000 years time. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

12-11-2006, 04:20 PM	#1
Gleep Bibliophile Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: I have the great misfortune to be currently residing in Greeley, CO, USA. Posts: 15	I see that no one has posted for a while, and as I'm insanely bored, waiting to become tired enough to pass out, I figured I'd post. Pretty much just becuase I can. The last book I read was "Cursor's Fury", by Jim Butcher. Excellent freaking book, as are all of his books. I'm currently waiting for Laurell K. Hamilton's next book to come out--tomorrow! "Mistral's Tears", I think it's called. I've abandoned her vampire books, but I'm completely hooked on the Meredith Gentry series.

12-11-2006, 04:43 PM	#7
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Ohhh. I love Lovecraft!

12-11-2006, 05:16 PM	#10
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Nope. The reason for repetition is different: Homer was repetitious because it was recited to an audience and therefore needed to be easy to remember; one of the methods used to act as memory cues/aids, was a kind of circular descriptive form. There was also more of a need in oral poetry/story telling, for expected anchors for the audience, such as archetypal descriptions. You see it a lot in Norse sagas too.

12-13-2006, 10:57 AM	#11
Gleep Bibliophile Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: I have the great misfortune to be currently residing in Greeley, CO, USA. Posts: 15	I finished Hamilton's new book. While the first four Gentry books were awesome, this last one was a little dissappointing. Only 200 pages, for one thing! She's trying to do too much in too little time, and it's starting to show. But Darkness and Frost almost make up for it, so I suppose I'll keep reading...whenever she gets around to writing another one. Has anyone else read it?

12-13-2006, 11:12 AM	#12
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	Access All Areas: a user's guide to the art of urban exploration, The Screwtape Letters, and will soon be starting on Michael Yon's book Danger Close __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

12-13-2006, 03:31 PM	#13
melidasaur Traded your soul for pogs. Join Date: May 2004 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 646	I just finished Wicked. I still don't know what to think... __________________ I love England, what can I say?

12-13-2006, 03:43 PM	#14
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	When I was on vacation I got the first ed. of The Faber Book Of Northern Legends and it's companion book of Scandinavian fables.

12-15-2006, 12:41 PM	#15
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	Read "For Us, The Living" by Heinlen today (yesterday? something like that). I'm completely on board for just about everything expressed in the book. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

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