EPT![[image loading]](http://www.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/Large/7/9780061582417.jpg)
I have no idea what im getting myself into but i see maps of rome and family trees and a glossary... so I'm sold.
What Are You Reading 2013 - Page 24
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DannyJ
United States5110 Posts
I have no idea what im getting myself into but i see maps of rome and family trees and a glossary... so I'm sold. | ||
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Inertia_EU
United Kingdom513 Posts
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lungic
Sweden123 Posts
But the style doesn't change after Gardens? With that I mean a less character focused approach. Switching viewpoints, time and locations very often. Nope, not at all. The story is all context and in the characters and what they experience, only there are so many of them, and they crisscross everywhere and intersect with each other, so you get to puzzle it together on the go. IIRC most of the events in Memories of Ice occurs a long time before the first two books. Midnight Tides and Bone Hunters are in parallel I think. What really differentiates Gardens from the rest of the is books in my opinion, is that Gardens is rather vague and incoherent at times. Certain characters are not really fleshed out and events are really not explained mostly due to lack of context. I think he had so many things he wanted to say but had to cut some out to finish the book somehow, and the result wasn't perfect. Say when I read the chapter about the battle of Pale, I didn't really care for, and much less appreciated that there would be enormous consequences of what happened to the sappers and the mages that were involved in the battle. Stuff just happened. These things are redeemed in the later books, and one gets to enjoy so many personalities, and not to mention warfare. (I'm having a really hard time not to delve into a wall of text on the subject). | ||
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aZealot
New Zealand5447 Posts
On February 02 2013 22:32 DannyJ wrote: I have no idea what im getting myself into but i see maps of rome and family trees and a glossary... so I'm sold. You are in for a treat. The first 3 novels, in particular, of The Masters of Rome series are fantastic. Enjoy! Due to the recommendations in this thread I got out Zamyatin's We. I will read this concurrently with Clarissa Oakes. | ||
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Doppelganger
488 Posts
On February 02 2013 23:09 lungic wrote: Nope, not at all. The story is all context and in the characters and what they experience, only there are so many of them, and they crisscross everywhere and intersect with each other, so you get to puzzle it together on the go. IIRC most of the events in Memories of Ice occurs a long time before the first two books. Midnight Tides and Bone Hunters are in parallel I think. What really differentiates Gardens from the rest of the is books in my opinion, is that Gardens is rather vague and incoherent at times. Certain characters are not really fleshed out and events are really not explained mostly due to lack of context. I think he had so many things he wanted to say but had to cut some out to finish the book somehow, and the result wasn't perfect. Say when I read the chapter about the battle of Pale, I didn't really care for, and much less appreciated that there would be enormous consequences of what happened to the sappers and the mages that were involved in the battle. Stuff just happened. These things are redeemed in the later books, and one gets to enjoy so many personalities, and not to mention warfare. (I'm having a really hard time not to delve into a wall of text on the subject). I then might just skim through the second half of Gardens and jump into Deadhouse Gates, when I am finished with Ravenor. ![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/11/Deadhouse_Gates.jpg/200px-Deadhouse_Gates.jpg) It is lying on the ground looking at me like I should. Something different I have been reading for a presentation was "Egypt: The Moment of Change" from El-Mahdi & Marfleet. The book really gives a good contextualization of what happened in Egypt till 2009. It was very useful for the purposes and a good read. | ||
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Cambium
United States16368 Posts
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Flicky
England2670 Posts
On February 02 2013 23:43 Cambium wrote: I'm almost done with Hyperion, and I'm so glad I have the next book already. The story itself is super enticing, and I can't wait to finish and start reading book 2. So the book leads right into the second one? That means no closure from the first? | ||
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nunez
Norway4003 Posts
On February 04 2013 00:02 Flicky wrote: So the book leads right into the second one? That means no closure from the first? i don't think it was supposed to be two books in the first place, because the way the 'first book' ends is without any closure. i am going to start on the second part after i finish 'walden'. | ||
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Cambium
United States16368 Posts
On February 04 2013 00:02 Flicky wrote: So the book leads right into the second one? That means no closure from the first? Finished the first book last night and started the 2nd book today. The first book just tells you six individual stories, and there are no closures at the end. The 'ending' was actually kind of ridiculous, to the point I laughed out loud. None of your questions will be answered. From the reviews I carefully read, book two will conclude the main story line with the Shrike and whatnot, but there will be questions left unanswered until the end of book 4. | ||
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Cambium
United States16368 Posts
On January 25 2013 01:12 Cambium wrote: + Show Spoiler + On January 15 2013 20:00 Cambium wrote: + Show Spoiler + Gave up on: Destiny of the Republic ![[image loading]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wVSPXy3pL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg){kind=icon} Another exceedingly dry book, I really don't know why I even started reading it. Reamde ![[image loading]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510i-6nzRJL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg){kind=icon} I read over 60% of this book, and finally decided to give it up as well. I've really enjoyed Stephenson's previous works like Snow Crash, and to a lesser extent, The Diamond Ages. This book is excruciatingly long at over 1000 pages, and there were just passages after passages about irrelevant events that neither add anything to character development nor drive the plot forward. As a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese, I found the random Chinese phrases and names (loads of those) in the book as gimmicky nuisances, as they served no purposes other than to appeal to the 'nerdy' crowd who'd perchance find random Chinese phrases fascinating and chic. The story itself was decent, but the book was just too long and uninteresting for the most part. Reading: Mao's Great Famine ![[image loading]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FW5rLdXWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg){kind=icon} So far so good, I've always had a keen interest in North Korean and Chinese histories. Next The Fault in our Stars ![[image loading]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ak%2BCRtMOL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg){kind=icon} Just finished: Mao's Great Famine This was initially really interesting, but then it read too much like a history/fact book than a novel. The author only had a handful of sources and stories, and he kept on re-using these same examples to proof different points under different section of the book. I did learn a lot about modern Chinese history, of a period I've only heard stories of. While this book only offered one opinion, it did broaden my perspective, and made me realize how lucky I -- nay, China as a whole -- was that China did not turn out to be like North Korea. While I was reading this book, I read a ton of wikipedia articles on the same topic, which interestingly frequently cited this book. Strongly recommended for those who wish to learn more about 'the Great Leap Forward'. Reading: Hyperion ![[image loading]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zwyTJNlWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg){kind=icon} The Mao book was too dark, need something that pull me away from reality for a while... I might finish the entire series if the this one proves to be captivating enough. Next The Fault in our Stars Just Read: Hyperion Okay, that was a great read. There were a lot of times when I couldn't put the book down until I had finished the whole chapter (and those are long, since there are only six of them). I enjoyed the different writing styles, but, at times, the style would seem really contrived, and obviously not something the author is used to write. Some of the stories were a lot better than the others, but overall, it was a very pleasant read. Reading ![[image loading]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51p3aocONWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg){kind=icon} Okay, the first book was great, except it leaves you with the biggest cliffhanger ever... Next The Fault in our Stars | ||
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elt
Thailand1092 Posts
![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/87/PerdidoStreetStation(1stEd).jpg) Hyperion didn't particularly have closure, but at the same time I was more focused on the back-stories anyway and of yet haven't been particularly motivated to read the second book. | ||
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Davidxcom
Germany94 Posts
![[image loading]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51REU9nF9pL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU03_.jpg){kind=icon} Amazingly, the authors did a great job on writing it in an interesting way, and it was good to get a comprehensive overview of British history. The book is structured in several large chapters, each about one specific time in history. (1. Roman's influence on the isles, 2. Anglo-Saxons, etc...) Because each chapter was written by a different author, it really added to the reading experience. You could clearly see the differences in style and I found it to be quite the amusing experience. Another book I just reread is "Attila: King of the Huns". ![[image loading]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51C9HSBCWRL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) I got that book about ten years ago, read it and was pretty amazed. Since then I somehow find myself reading it every two years... (Funny thing, historical novels aren't really concerned about nudity, sex, and colorful description. I was eleven when I first read it, and boy did those spicy chapters hook me on the genre. I'm sure that it's the same for other genres, but historical novels were my first, and I'll always remember them! <3) Just finished rereading it two days ago. | ||
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dmnum
Brazil6910 Posts
Already ordered War and Peace, also by Tolstoy. While waiting for delivery I'll read The Process by Kafka, along with some of his short stories. | ||
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sam!zdat
United States5559 Posts
On February 04 2013 03:29 dmnum wrote: Finished Anna Karenina. Hands down best book I've ever read. I would start to read and feel tired sometimes, just to realize that I already read 30 pages or something. It's sooooooo goood  On February 04 2013 00:27 elt wrote: Been sitting around for ages, but finally going to get around to: This book is sick, enjoy! | ||
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babylon
8765 Posts
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sam!zdat
United States5559 Posts
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HeavenS
Colombia2259 Posts
On February 04 2013 00:27 Cambium wrote: Just Read: Hyperion Okay, that was a great read. There were a lot of times when I couldn't put the book down until I had finished the whole chapter (and those are long, since there are only six of them). I enjoyed the different writing styles, but, at times, the style would seem really contrived, and obviously not something the author is used to write. Some of the stories were a lot better than the others, but overall, it was a very pleasant read. Reading Okay, the first book was great, except it leaves you with the biggest cliffhanger ever... Next The Fault in our Stars i got to the poet's story and i havent kept going since....idk man so far while a bit interesting the books seems a bit tedious at times. Do the stories get significantly better or is it the same quality as its been up until the poet story? I heard fall of hyperion is even more tedious lol....sorta discouraging. | ||
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lungic
Sweden123 Posts
On another note. My standing recommendation for anyone who want easier to read book (but still hilarious) fiction is Jennifer Government. Edit: (fixed link) | ||
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ZapRoffo
United States5544 Posts
On February 04 2013 04:42 HeavenS wrote: i got to the poet's story and i havent kept going since....idk man so far while a bit interesting the books seems a bit tedious at times. Do the stories get significantly better or is it the same quality as its been up until the poet story? I heard fall of hyperion is even more tedious lol....sorta discouraging. I've read Hyperion a couple times and liked it, and both times I can't get past 50 pages into Fall of Hyperion, I thought the tediousness significantly increases. | ||
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Enki
United States2548 Posts
![[image loading]](http://herevilroyalty.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/ready_player_one_cover-image1.jpg) Ready Player One - Liked this a lot, especially enjoyed all the video game and pop culture references throughout the book. Reading Now: ![[image loading]](http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100721153318/boondockstv/images/e/e1/All.jpg) Boondocks: All the Rage - Loving this as the Boondocks is one of my favorite comic strips. Reading Next: I change my mind so much but lately I have been thinking of starting Snow Crash. ![[image loading]](http://www.cyberpunkforbeginners.co.uk/Sci-fibookcovers/SnowCrashCover.jpg) | ||
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