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Post by lycoris on Sept 3, 2007 15:27:27 GMT
Outcast by Michelle Paver. Actually I finished it already and it was really good.
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ikosho
Tree-hugging jaywalker.
Posts: 8
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Post by ikosho on Nov 1, 2007 7:40:13 GMT
The Pact by Jodi Picoult. It seems to follow a similar trend to some of her other books - that knowledge seems to have spoilt the story a little for me.
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Post by lycoris on Nov 6, 2007 21:40:26 GMT
Across the Nightingale Floor by...someone I've forgotten and am too lazy to look up. Japanese ninjaness in the form of a great story, always good, although the character goes to brothels a surprising amount for having lived in a hidden village.
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Post by Surreptitious Cardboard Box on Nov 6, 2007 22:01:31 GMT
By Lian Hearn, no? Frances lent me that book about a year ago and I started it, but as soon as I realised that the main character was gonna be mute for the rest of the series, I decided that I could not be bothered to continue to read it. I have the first part of it, though, as back when Harts was still around (sob) they were giving away free copies of part one of book one as an incentive to buy the latest book in the series, lol. I picked a copy of the free book up, with the intention of sending it to Richard ... and never got round to that.
Currently, I'm reading Neil Gaiman's Smoke and Mirrors. Normally I'm not that fond of short stories, but this guy has a crazy imagination, so his stories are pretty innovative. Besides, they're not just stories; there are poems and poem-style film scripts and so on. Some of it is semi-pornographic, although apparently that was an attempt to exploit how far and low porn will stretch. @_@ Whatev.
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Post by lycoris on Nov 6, 2007 22:06:05 GMT
By Lian Hearn, no? Frances lent me that book about a year ago and I started it, but as soon as I realised that the main character was gonna be mute for the rest of the series, I decided that I could not be bothered to continue to read it. Spoiler: He's not mute for the rest of the series, if you'd read past that bit, you'd have found out the reason for him being mute and the reason why he could speak again. Can't remember what's just happened but I think it goes along the lines of his teacher being annoyed at him for not killing someone who recognised him.
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Post by Richard El Britannia on Nov 8, 2007 9:23:18 GMT
I'm onto book eight of The Wheel Of Time: The Path Of Daggers. Not even past the prologue yet, though. xD
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ikosho
Tree-hugging jaywalker.
Posts: 8
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Post by ikosho on Nov 9, 2007 9:41:49 GMT
My Jap textbook and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.
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Post by LinksFan on Nov 9, 2007 20:39:46 GMT
I just finished reading Henry Tumour by Anthony McGowan. Brilliant book, I recommend all of you read it.
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Post by Surreptitious Cardboard Box on Feb 6, 2008 17:22:10 GMT
Asimov's Foundation. It's a sci-fi novel, the first in the series of the same name. Thus far, it appears to be quite philosophical, raising questions about the state of society and how easily it can deteriorate, and what events cause such deterioration to occur in the first place, but it is set many centuries in the future, presumably in an entirely different universe (certainly it's set on another planet). To see my thoughts on the book so far, check out the Asimov thread in this board.
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Post by lycoris on Jun 3, 2008 14:03:13 GMT
The Amazing Adeventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon.
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Post by Surreptitious Cardboard Box on Jun 3, 2008 14:20:30 GMT
Oh dear, I never read any more of Foundation and I still need to give it back to Karl. Still, I'm now reading What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn, which I started when I got into bed last night. I've read the first quarter now, which is 13/14 or so chapters, and so far it's been pretty enjoyable. Half of the book focuses on Kate, a ten year old detective who lives with her grandmother. It's got that kind of quirky feel to it, like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, because of this focus on a young child, but I always found Christopher in that to be quite frustrating and tiresome because of his autism and felt the book is slightly overrated, whereas Kate is more endearing. Anyway, I feel good about this. The chapters are very short, making it very easy to get into, even if you're reading late at night when you're really tired. There's some nice comedy injected throughout, particularly when she explains the hierarchy of Kate's year 6 class, and how their teacher tries to seat them in the classroom. But also, because Kate is a detective, there's a nice mix of genres, with a bit of mystery added as we wonder if any of the people that she watches actually are criminals. Anyway, yeah, I should imagine I'll have this finished in a few days.
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RAND_AL'THOR
It's a cat wearing a tiny hat, and you can never unsee that.
Posts: 280
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Post by RAND_AL'THOR on Jun 3, 2008 15:24:10 GMT
I just finished reading Alien Bodies by Lawrence Miles, the sixth book in the Eighth Doctor Adventures line from BBC Books. The story was very well written, and of the EDAs I've read (I've read the first four and this one), this would easily be my favorite. The basic premise involves the Doctor and Sam (his companion in the EDA books) attending an auction being held in secret on Earth. The object up for bids is described as being some sort of superweapon that powers from across the galaxy are extremely eager to get their hands on. I'll not reveal what is being auctioned, as that is part of the surprise. The cast of characters is quite intriguing, and ranges from a conceptual identity known as a Shift, to an animated corpse known as Mr. Trask, to a Time Lord known as Homonculette, to two members of the Faction Paradox, to E-Kobalt, a Kroton. The auction is overseen by one Mr. Qixotl, who has some connection to the Doctor. As far as I know, this book introduces the Faction Paradox. The Faction is a group of characters who have stolen Time Lord technology, and base their religious views on paradoxes. In fact, the "god" of their religion is the Grandfather, a reference to the Grandfather Paradox. Their religious practices are frequently compared to Voodoo practices, and the Faction's obsession with paradoxes causes endless disgust in all Time Lords, including the Doctor. The Faction Paradox is a very intriguing concept, and well used in this novel. The layout of the story is also interesting. Lawrence Miles presents backstories for the characters as the plot progresses and we become familiar with each of the characters. Perhaps what I like best about this book is that it shows how much of an effect the Doctor has on every living thing in the universe, whether or not the Doctor himself is actually aware of it. The book's been out for a bit over a decade now, and if you can track down a copy, I highly recommend reading it.
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Otzlowe
Enigmatic Horror
How many miles to heaven? I think I'm getting close.
Posts: 669
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Post by Otzlowe on Jun 6, 2008 12:38:52 GMT
I'm currently reading both Reaper's Gale by Steven Erikson. It's kind of slow to start, but the author writes in just my kind of style. The one thing that actually makes me quite happy about this book is the fact that the author commonly uses words that I'm not familiar with. (Which doesn't happen often. >.>) He's also quite descriptive in his explanations, and manages to really paint a picture in your head. It's kind of hard to figure out who the main character is at first, because there isn't really one single main character, as the book is written in 3rd person omniscient, and as such, is written from both points of view. (Rather than only following the "Good" party of characters.) It keeps you guessing, too, as he doesn't reveal who is, in fact "good." Up to this point (halfway through), it's left mostly to your own opinion, but I suspect more details to be revealed later. He's also pretty good with his characters, as each has a clear personality, and none of the main characters are really flat. (He has a large cast of "main" characters, so that's actually pretty tough.) Good read so far, and I'm glad I borrowed it. I'm also reading Book Five of The Wheel Of Time series, of course.
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Post by Surreptitious Cardboard Box on Jun 6, 2008 13:09:18 GMT
I know what you mean about narrative style. I seem to naturally adopt the third person omniscient limited whenever I write, and always follow a range of characters, including those that might be seen as the 'bad' ones. It's more fun to toy with the reader in that way, and alert them to fact that the main characters are not always the ones that should be sympathised with. I think it's important for readers to remember that the characters that narrate a story, or whom are most closely followed by the narration are only passing on their own view of events and feelings and people. Doesn't make them right. Doesn't make them good. Besides, ensemble casts are more fun.
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