What are you reading and book reviews

[Haly]

I'll shortly be reading Darkly Dreaming Dexter which I just bought in Asda for the bargain price of £1

Currently reading Trust me I'm a Junior Doctor. Interesting diary style book about the life of a new Junior Doctor. Tad unnerving in places But very interesting imo, especially as I have a friend who's recently started as one

[cleanbluesky]

Originally Posted by Ravenlord

I haven't been able to put George RR Martin's 'A song of Ice and Fire' series down since I picked up the first book. I'm now on the 4th, with more to go. The man is a literary demi-god; without question it's one of the finest fantasy series I've come across and I'm barely half way through it, definitely up there with Tolkien.

I doubt that, Tolkien's education was far beyond the average writer and it showed in the complexity of what he wrote. Only better educated writer I think I've read is CG Jung and he never wrote fiction.

[_dogma_]

I'm not about half-way through Stoker's Dracula. It's awesome though I've been finding it a little hard going in places because of his style of writing.

[Ravenlord]

Originally Posted by cleanbluesky/ Reuters

I doubt that, Tolkien's education was far beyond the average writer and it showed in the complexity of what he wrote. Only better educated writer I think I've read is CG Jung and he never wrote fiction.

He is as different from Tolkien as say, Rowling is. He doesn't set out to create a new LOTR, far from it, the world he creates is so fantastical but also very much analogous to medieval Europe with some obvious parallels to the War of the Roses in the early books. You talk about Tolkien's education which is interesting, he weaves a fine tale in LOTR, but it's very much a linear progression throughout and the quality of his education is such that at times he is seeking such intellectual heights that for the average reader is just tedious; take for example the long, droning pages of poetry that add nothing to the plot other than to demonstrate the fact that Tolkien knows his onions when it comes to English literature.

I really suggest you read this if it tickles your fancy. As someone who has read and enjoyed both I think your assumption that it cannot equal Tolkien is wrong; what it lacks in language it makes up for in the way he weaves such a massive evolving plot and constantly keeps you guessing. The characterisation is phenomenal, as you'd expect from a series this long. I went from despising one particular character in the first book, to completely reversing my opinion of him by the third, yet it wasn't as if he'd committed some great deed, it was a gentle push by the writer as characters are explored in more depth and new facets to their personality come to the fore. He is probably the most unpredictable writer I've read. Plots lines that he seems to be setting up for chapters and chapters are suddenly 'abandoned' and something completely unexpected happens. What I think is a real credit to the series is the fact that no character is safe. Time and time again, main characters are killed off, often meeting their end in really gruesome ways, so that you are literally left scared to turn the page. It's almost cruel, he makes you love them, then takes them away from you, but then suddenly new characters spring up to take their place. They don't magically come back to life either like so many other authors are apt to do; it's a series where the lines are blurred, there is no 'good' and 'evil' and the ones you might consider bad guys often win. But then, the bad guys suddenly become the good guys, or at least a little less bad. There aren't really any good guys, and if there are, they tend to fall by the wayside rather quickly. It's an ensemble cast, there is no hero on his quest to save humanity and meet his destiny. It's pretty gritty too with everything you wouldn't put in a children's book making an appearance; graphic sex and violence, incest, fratricide, rape, heavy swearing and political intrigue that would put the Borgias to shame. A massive breath of fresh air for a genre that has lacked originality for so long.

[Tak]

Nearly finished Twilight - very much enjoyed the series and seriously recommend them. They are such a refreshingly new idea and are very well written

[Tak]

Finished Twilight Excellent series of books

Have just started the first of the 3 new Torchwood books "Pack Animals" - its set around Halloween which I thought was quite good timing

[semi-pro waster]

Finished The Great And Secret Show last night, it's a good book, I'm not quite prepared to say great but I'll definitely read some of the others in the future. Not for a while though as I tend to notice patterns in the authors use of language or meter if I read too many by the same author in succession. I'll have to have a think about what I want to read next, a possibility is Dog Eat Dog by Edward Bunker or possibly A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley if I remember to get a copy from a mate.

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by semi-pro waster

Finished The Great And Secret Show last night, it's a good book, I'm not quite prepared to say great but I'll definitely read some of the others in the future. Not for a while though as I tend to notice patterns in the authors use of language or meter if I read too many by the same author in succession. I'll have to have a think about what I want to read next, a possibility is Dog Eat Dog by Edward Bunker or possibly A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley if I remember to get a copy from a mate.

I'm a definite fan of Clive Barker's work although I do feel he goes into a little bit too much detail with some of his stuff. If you enjoyed The Great and Secret Show then I'd recommend the sequel, Everville, but agree that leaving it for a while is a good idea.

No idea about Dog Eat Dog, but Brave New World is definitely worth a read

[Glaucus]

currently reading Jack Higgins - The killing Ground
Only got a few books left before I run out. I like series with the same action hero in them

Jack Higgins - Sean Dillion series
Lee Child - Jack Reacher series
Andy Remic - Carter series
Mathew Riley
Vynce Flynn
James rollins

So if anyone knows of any similar authors and series I'd be grateful.

[Garp]

I'm working my way through the Deathstalker Series. Pretty reasonable Space Opera stuff. Completed Deathstalker and Deathstalker Rebellion, now onto Deathstalker War. About the main criticism has to be the utterly dire names given to characters. Jack Random, professional rebel. Ruby Journey the bounty hunter, Topaz the Investigator, Captain John Silence, Investigator Frost, Investigator Razor, Jenny Psycho the rather crazy Esper, et. al.