What are you reading and book reviews - Page 24

cleanbluesky · 14-09-2008, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy

American Pyscho was a book for its time, haven't read it for yonks but I suspect it wont resonate with todays culture now that the yuppie boom is long gone.

It's a complex novel, there is little or no metaphor and its all written in first person by a delusional obsessive. I can't tell how accurate the cultural references are and I've only got an idea of what the author is trying to achieve with his style - its commonly seen as a significant book, hence why I'm reading it although one things I've noticed about books is that the well touted ones may tend to be the "Great American Novel" and capture a particular culture or time in a way that other book don't. But that doesn't guarantee well developed characters or ideas.

Last books I've read are "Your brain is God" by Tim Leary, "Speed on New York on Speed" by Tim "Speed" Levitch (watch Waking Life if you want to know why that one) and "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl.

SCM · 14-09-2008, 15:43

Ok finished Nation a few nights ago and it was a good book although, strange reading a non discworld based Pratchett book. Up to his usual standards but not maybe as funny as some of the discworld ones can be. Worth grabbing a hold of though.

Also finished the new Terry Brooks Genesis of Shannara book, Gypsy Morph, at 6am this morning lol. A good read and for those of us who wondered how the elves survived into the books set later on it answers that question. Will say no more except it is well worth a read for those Brooks fans around these parts.

Now it's either the new Kevin J Anderson and last of his Saga of the Seven Suns series or the new Alastair Reynolds book.

SCM

loki · 14-09-2008, 15:47

Slightly OT but has anyone read any of the Dexter books. I understand they are a little darker than the TV series but wouldn't mind giving them a go.

Ravenlord · 14-09-2008, 16:23

Emperor series by Conn Iggulden and A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin. Both very good reading.

Tak · 14-09-2008, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by loki

Slightly OT but has anyone read any of the Dexter books. I understand they are a little darker than the TV series but wouldn't mind giving them a go.

Think thats what SINC is reading atm

Metalface Mark · 14-09-2008, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by loki

Slightly OT but has anyone read any of the Dexter books. I understand they are a little darker than the TV series but wouldn't mind giving them a go.

Ive read all of them, the first two are superb, the first series being pretty much based on the first book, the second series somewhat being based on it (goes totally off tangent but there are similarities).

I dont really think its a darker dexter, if anything, he seems to have more of a personality, im sure in the series, he mentions that he dosent like eating, while in the books he really loves to eat.

The third book i finished a few weeks ago, it went into the realms of weirdness, while still interesting, it was the worst of the books to date.

Jello · 15-09-2008, 00:37

I'm about 20 pages from the end of Jupiter's Travels.

Ted Simon circumnavigates the world on a motorbike, for 4 years. It's more personal than just a writing of his adventure. It's very thought provoking, humorous in places, yet sincere and inspiring.

I always read before I go to bed, and I've had some very exciting dreams after reading his book before I sleep.

Tak · 21-09-2008, 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takhisis

Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine - its book 2 of the Weather Warden series.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy

I read book 1 of of the Weather Warden series and thought it was blah, so wont be bothering with the rest.

I didn't mind it too much, you could definitely tell that it was a "filler" book in the series but it hasn't put me off getting the others in the future

I have started The Night Watch now and am really enjoying it

I've over half way though it at the moment and will be buying the Day and Twlight books as soon as I have some money

NokkonWud · 23-09-2008, 12:23

I've just finished Ugly Americans by Ben Mezrich. The structure of the book itself was very good, as was the delivery of information - though it's subject; the stock markets, went straight over my head with the mentionings of arbitrage accounts etc... It did describe it, but not too in-depth, which in my mind was probably to the benefit of the book.

It's about a group of American traders who play the Nikkei (Japanese stock market) and make an absolute killing, playing it in ways that the Eastern Traders can't, and being 'gaijin' in Japan lets them get away with many things, however it becomes apparent that it's not all plain sailing and that Yakuza are very much engrained in the Japanese economy markets in many levels.

It revolves around a 'John Malcolm' (not being his real identity) who graduates from University, a Football scholar who has a degree in economics and, through links to his school is offered a job as a button pusher in Osaka for 'Dean Carney', an American trader, who like Malcolm, graduated from the same University many years earlier.

The story flits between the many different companies and people Malcolm works for, some which collapse through economic strain (one company collapsed from the crippling losses of one Nick Leeson.

It's a pretty good book, it's structured better than Bringing Down The House (which later became the movie, '21' with Kevin Spacey), but as a read it's not as engrossing I would say. Certainly not for me anyway. The other issue is that the book is quite clearly one sided in the way it's written, painting Japan as a sex-city, concentrating pretty much on the Kubichi-Cho province of Tokyo, seldom mentioning the positive sides (if you don't class a sex district as positive that is

), which is a shame, and it seems to lose its way in the end, meaning you never really know if you are getting all the facts and in the end, all the differing points of view don't really intersect as you would have hoped, but it still remains a decent read.

Certainly worth reading on a plane journey or so, but it won't be remembered as great book.

Snuggle Ferret · 25-09-2008, 15:34

Am reading The Duchess; the book that the film is based on. I do like my history

14-09-2008, 15:43	#232
SCM As endorsed by Mr Black Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hell/Scotland take your pick Posts: 443	Ok finished Nation a few nights ago and it was a good book although, strange reading a non discworld based Pratchett book. Up to his usual standards but not maybe as funny as some of the discworld ones can be. Worth grabbing a hold of though. Also finished the new Terry Brooks Genesis of Shannara book, Gypsy Morph, at 6am this morning lol. A good read and for those of us who wondered how the elves survived into the books set later on it answers that question. Will say no more except it is well worth a read for those Brooks fans around these parts. Now it's either the new Kevin J Anderson and last of his Saga of the Seven Suns series or the new Alastair Reynolds book. SCM __________________ The sun is rising The screams have gone Too many have fallen Few still stand tall Is this the ending of what we've begun? Will we remember what we've done wrong? Last edited by SCM; 14-09-2008 at 15:51.

14-09-2008, 15:47	#233
loki Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 871	Slightly OT but has anyone read any of the Dexter books. I understand they are a little darker than the TV series but wouldn't mind giving them a go. __________________ PC & Console LAN 9th-11th July

23-09-2008, 12:23	#239
NokkonWud BD Recruitment Officer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Smogville Posts: 3,880	I've just finished Ugly Americans by Ben Mezrich. The structure of the book itself was very good, as was the delivery of information - though it's subject; the stock markets, went straight over my head with the mentionings of arbitrage accounts etc... It did describe it, but not too in-depth, which in my mind was probably to the benefit of the book. It's about a group of American traders who play the Nikkei (Japanese stock market) and make an absolute killing, playing it in ways that the Eastern Traders can't, and being 'gaijin' in Japan lets them get away with many things, however it becomes apparent that it's not all plain sailing and that Yakuza are very much engrained in the Japanese economy markets in many levels. It revolves around a 'John Malcolm' (not being his real identity) who graduates from University, a Football scholar who has a degree in economics and, through links to his school is offered a job as a button pusher in Osaka for 'Dean Carney', an American trader, who like Malcolm, graduated from the same University many years earlier. The story flits between the many different companies and people Malcolm works for, some which collapse through economic strain (one company collapsed from the crippling losses of one Nick Leeson. It's a pretty good book, it's structured better than Bringing Down The House (which later became the movie, '21' with Kevin Spacey), but as a read it's not as engrossing I would say. Certainly not for me anyway. The other issue is that the book is quite clearly one sided in the way it's written, painting Japan as a sex-city, concentrating pretty much on the Kubichi-Cho province of Tokyo, seldom mentioning the positive sides (if you don't class a sex district as positive that is ), which is a shame, and it seems to lose its way in the end, meaning you never really know if you are getting all the facts and in the end, all the differing points of view don't really intersect as you would have hoped, but it still remains a decent read. Certainly worth reading on a plane journey or so, but it won't be remembered as great book. __________________

25-09-2008, 15:34	#240
Snuggle Ferret Mellow Birds Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gosport Posts: 367	Am reading The Duchess; the book that the film is based on. I do like my history __________________ ]

14-09-2008, 16:23	#234
Ravenlord Abandoned Ship Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 52	Emperor series by Conn Iggulden and A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin. Both very good reading.

15-09-2008, 00:37	#237
Jello Nice weak cup of Earl Grey Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 33	I'm about 20 pages from the end of Jupiter's Travels. Ted Simon circumnavigates the world on a motorbike, for 4 years. It's more personal than just a writing of his adventure. It's very thought provoking, humorous in places, yet sincere and inspiring. I always read before I go to bed, and I've had some very exciting dreams after reading his book before I sleep.