The Quasi-Official February Book Reading Game

[Geoffrey]

I'm at 46% in The Briar King.  Enjoyable, so far, not too far outside my comfort zone, but I probably never would have read it otherwise, even though I'd snagged it as a free download last year.  Once I'm finished, I'll probably move on to book two in a month or so.  Fairly traditional fantasy elements, characters, and plot, but overall it is a good pick.

I agree that it's fairly traditional ... although one of the things I like about this series is that it gets pretty dark ... not every fantasy author seems able to do dark without it becoming overwhelmingly dark ... Gaiman does a good job in that area too .. but some authors get too wrapped up in the Dark Side to keep the story entertaining, IMO. 

I'm glad you're liking this one.

[Marguerite]

I can't believe that I am seeing this thread for the first time.  Please let me know when you do this again.  It sound right up my alley.

[akagriff]

I think we should just list the genre that we definately wouldn't read and not list our typical genre.  It felt as though many of us choose books for our partners that fit into their likes vs a choice that may (or may not) be different than our usual selection. 

[Megs]

I'm at 46% in The Briar King.  Enjoyable, so far, not too far outside my comfort zone, but I probably never would have read it otherwise, even though I'd snagged it as a free download last year.  Once I'm finished, I'll probably move on to book two in a month or so.  Fairly traditional fantasy elements, characters, and plot, but overall it is a good pick.

Glad you're liking it so far   I agree with Geoffrey that it does start out traditional but changes from there.  It's also interesting to see how the characters progress throughout the story...even if my favorite character gets the short end of the stick

As for my book, I'm loving it so far!  It's so...cheerful, and yet there are these bits of sadness interspersed where you get glimpses at sad things that happened to the main character that were sort of glossed over in the story progression.  It's like every time you start thinking it's a bit silly, something serious reminds you that it's not.

I'm probably about 60% now and I started it...the day before yesterday?  I've only been reading it before bed so that says a lot about how easy it is to get sucked into this book!

[Geoffrey]

I think we should just list the genre that we definately wouldn't read and not list our typical genre.  It felt as though many of us choose books for our partners that fit into their likes vs a choice that may (or may not) be different than our usual selection.  

hmmmm ... There were so many people listing Science Fiction as a preferred genre for Feb., I wonder how many of us would have gotten Sci-Fi books as our picked book?  On the other hand, splitting everyone up so preferred genres didn't match made that much more work for yours truly.   

[NogDog]

As the original purpose was to push us outside of our comfort zones, it seems to me we have to state what those zones are to try to ensure that some pushing actually happens.

[Dana]

I can't believe that I am seeing this thread for the first time.  Please let me know when you do this again.  It sound right up my alley.

Check back on the 17th or so...  that's when he's planning on starting signups for March...  I wanna give it a try too. 

[Marguerite]

Check back on the 17th or so...  that's when he's planning on starting signups for March...  I wanna give it a try too. 

Thanks, I definitely will

[Geemont]

I'm giving The Briar King 4 stars for entertainment value and already purchased book 2 for TBR queue in May or April. I liked the darker tones, twists, and turns.  Maybe I'm a bit twisted, but I enjoy it when authors are willing to kill off characters die like the King and his daughters.

[pomlover2586]

I finished a Handmaids tale.......it was ok. Twilight's better LOL

[Geoffrey]

I'm giving The Briar King 4 stars for entertainment value and already purchased book 2 for TBR queue in May or April. I liked the darker tones, twists, and turns.  Maybe I'm a bit twisted, but I enjoy it when authors are willing to kill off characters die like the King and his daughters.

Me too ... I like it in books and movies both .... I also like it when evil triumphs over good occasionally .... keeps me on my toes.

[Megs]

I'm glad you liked it!  That's probably one of the things I like about the books as well, because it makes it unpredictable and takes away that sense of security you get with some books, knowing that eventually everything will work out just fine.

The other nice thing, which you'll see more in the rest of the series, is how the characters grow and develop in a realistic way.  They don't have some sudden epiphany and change, or at least that's not the only factor.  What happens to them gradually helps to shape who they become at the end.

As for the book I was assigned...



This book was fantastic, and definitely not the type of book I would have picked for myself.  The narrator has this understated way of relating things that often makes you go back and re-read a section to be sure you understood it correctly.  Important events aren't overplayed or pumped full of drama, and somehow that only adds to the drama of the story.  It also helps to highlight the pragmatic nature of the main character.

The writing has a way of being minimalist and yet still including all the colorful descriptions you could possibly want.  I don't re-read many books, but I would probably re-read this one, and I certainly plan on checking out other books in the same series.

I would say this was a perfect example of how well this game can work out!  Thanks    Imallbs for recommending it

[Luvmy4brats]

I started Neverwhere this morning. I'm at 22% and am a bit unsure of it. It's hooked me enough that I want to see where it goes.

[Geoffrey]

I'm curious what you think as you read further into Neverwhere.   That was my first Gaiman novel and I've been a fan ever since.  I find him dark, amusing and highly entertaining.

[imallbs]

Much appreciated by someone who's sister got him a T-shirt for Christmas this year that says:

National Sarcasm Society
Like We Need Your Support

Nice, I wish your sister would give me a shirt like that.

Megs, I'm glad you enjoyed the book.  McCall Smith has definitely learned the art of understatement.  Cheerful isn’t my usual style but he pulls back at just the right time so it doesn’t irritate me.  If you read more of the series I think you'll find the character development in this series to be similar to that in the book you recommended.  (I'm basing that on your description - I've never read The Briar King)

Now for Watchers
I think this was a 5000 – 6000 location book stretched to 10000 locations.  The only character I actually cared about was Einstein.  The others just kinda got on my nerves, especially the damsel in distress.  This being a formula book I knew none of the heroes would die so there was no suspense there.  What surprised me is that I felt a little sorry for the evil character (The Outsider not the hit man).  I’m not going to become a Kuntz fan from this but I’m glad I read it; I liked the premise and in case you missed it, I really liked Einstein.   If nothing else it whetted my appetite for a nice tight action adventure story.  Maybe that’s why I chose Dewey as my next book. 

[Luvmy4brats]

I'm really struggling with Neverwhere. I don't particularly care for Gaiman's writing style. It doesn't help that I just read a sentence that he used the word and 12 times. 

For the most part I feel that the characters are just wandering around aimlessly not doing much of anything. There are some interesting bits and pieces, but not enough for me to enjoy. 

[Susan in VA]

I started The Color of Magic yesterday, and am about halfway through.  If I didn't have to be up early I'd be reading until I finished it...   

[Megs]

Oddly enough I read Watchers just before starting the book imallbs recommended.  I kept getting deja vu...until I realized this was a re-release of an older book of his that I have read before, probably fifteen years ago.  I had a very similar impression of the book, I think.  There were a lot of slow parts.  I do have one question though...did the 'love scene' crack you up as much as it did me?  It was like being suddenly transported from a horror/suspense novel into a really bad romance novel with overly flowery wording.

I just thought I'd ask if I was the only one who got that impression

[Winter9]

I'm looking so forward to the next game!!!

[NogDog]

I started The Color of Magic yesterday, and am about halfway through.  If I didn't have to be up early I'd be reading until I finished it...   

Sounds like a good sign.

[imallbs]

Oddly enough I read Watchers just before starting the book imallbs recommended.  I kept getting deja vu...until I realized this was a re-release of an older book of his that I have read before, probably fifteen years ago.  I had a very similar impression of the book, I think.  There were a lot of slow parts.  I do have one question though...did the 'love scene' crack you up as much as it did me?  It was like being suddenly transported from a horror/suspense novel into a really bad romance novel with overly flowery wording.

I just thought I'd ask if I was the only one who got that impression

That love scene was horrible but at least it was short.  I actually reread it to make sure I was reading it right, then I started cracking up. 

[Geoffrey]

We're two-thirds the way through the month and here's a summary of the comments so far ....

Participant          Book Picked by      Selected Book
akagriff                 luvmy4brats            The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
                                                            FINISHED - I physically felt their sorrow and laughter
Cora                     Malweth                  The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
                                                            FINISHED - Enjoyed it and found her emotional connection
Fuzzy Dunlop       sem                          Andersonville Volume 1 A Story of Rebel Military Prisons by John McElroy
                                                            FINISHED - Dry but fascinating
Geemont              Megs                       The Briar King by Greg Keyes or Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman
                                                            FINISHED - I liked the darker tones, twists, and turns.
geko29                RiddleMeThis            Dhampir by Barb and JC Hendee
                                                            FINISHED - Very well-written and different 
Geoffrey               pomlover2586         The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
                                                            FINISHED - Emotional but pleased with book
imalbs                   Lynn                        Watchers by Dean Koontz
                                                            FINISHED - Not going to become a Kuntz fan from this but I’m glad I read it
luvmy4brats         Fuzzy Dunlop           Neverwhere by Neil Gaimen
                                                            22% finished - There are some interesting bits and pieces, but not enough for me to enjoy.
Lynn                     Susan in VA             One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
                                                            FINISHED - Enjoyed it a lot
Malweth               akagriff                    The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson or Radium Halos by Shelley Stout
                                                           
Margaret              Geemont                 Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
                                                            FINISHED - Outside comfort zone but glad she read it.
Megs                    imalbs                      #1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
                                                            FINISHED - I would probably re-read this one
NogDog                geko29                    RipTide by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
                                                            FINISHED - Cannot recommend; reads like an escapist movie script
pomlover2586      Cora                        The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood   
                                                            FINISHED - It was ok. Twilight's better LOL
RiddleMeThis        Margaret                  A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
                                                            FINISHED - Absolutely LOVED it.       
sem                      welshcorgi               White Seed: The Untold Story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke by Paul Clayton
                                                            FINISHED - Really enjoying it."Would recommend this book."
Susan in VA          NogDog                   The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
                                                            Started - If I didn't have to be up early I'd be reading until I finished it
welshcorgi            Geoffrey                  Ruled Britannia by Harry Turtledove
                                                            FINISHED - found it most enjoyable

[NogDog]

I'm giving The Briar King 4 stars for entertainment value and already purchased book 2 for TBR queue in May or April. I liked the darker tones, twists, and turns.  Maybe I'm a bit twisted, but I enjoy it when authors are willing to kill off characters die like the King and his daughters.

Me too ... I like it in books and movies both .... I also like it when evil triumphs over good occasionally .... keeps me on my toes.

Well, I got to about 30% into it earlier this week before putting it on the back burner. I thought the writing was good, and the overall plot was not bad, but I just got tired of what seems to be a common technique/theme/motif in fantasy these days: some overwhelming evil/bad thing that threatens everyone, several different and separated characters who presumably will somehow be involved in dealing with the main challenge, jumping back and forth between these characters (usually with a cliff-hanger just as things get interesting), and all of these characters having interpersonal problems that we'll apparently have to deal with if we're to have any hope of dealing with the big problem. And on top of everything, probably nothing important will be resolved for several more books. (E.g.: see Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series for an extreme example.)

I just don't feel like dealing with it, at least not at this time. I wonder if this is why I often seem to like 1st person novels: it keeps the author from jumping around and confusing my poor, tired brain with a plethora of characters attacking me from multiple directions.

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

sorry it didnt turn out to be as interesting of a read as I thought it would be for you.

I'm really struggling with Neverwhere. I don't particularly care for Gaiman's writing style. It doesn't help that I just read a sentence that he used the word and 12 times. 

For the most part I feel that the characters are just wandering around aimlessly not doing much of anything. There are some interesting bits and pieces, but not enough for me to enjoy. 

[Luvmy4brats]

sorry it didnt turn out to be as interesting of a read as I thought it would be for you.

Don't feel bad. I did have it on my list. If it hadn't been for this I would have never gotten to it. Even though I didn't enjoy it much, I'm glad I read it. At least now I know I'm not a Gaiman fan and don't have to wonder anymore.