The Quasi-Official August Book Reading Game

[KingAl]

Peter, I'm about 50% through "Deep as the Marrow." I really like the premise, and I've been wondering why no terrorist has tried this tactic before (or maybe they have, but have failed)

[ciscokid]

Deep as the Marrow is by F.Paul Wilson, isn't it?  I've been working my way through his Repairman Jack series. I love them and have downloaded some of his other books onto my kindle and hope to get to them soon. 

[ciscokid]

RiddleMeThis, I'm sorry to say that I just can't get interested in "The Rest Falls Away".  I got through about 1/3 of the book and set it aside.  Its not that I don't like Vampire books(I've read my share of them lately...good and bad vampires), but the characters didn't "grow" on me the way I hoped they would. I'd go back and try the J.D. Robb book again, but I can't manage to find my copy. 

[KingAl]

Deep as the Marrow is by F.Paul Wilson, isn't it?  I've been working my way through his Repairman Jack series. I love them and have downloaded some of his other books onto my kindle and hope to get to them soon. 

Yes, it is. I'm definitely going to read more of his works.

[Geoffrey]

Geoffrey ,
The first ten pages or so of The Time of Troubles i found wordy and uninspiring.However i persevered with stand boy am i glad that i did.I may only be 15 percent into the book but i am reading in big chunks now and thoroughly enjoying it, so it looks like you hit the ball out of the park with this recommendation.I certainly hope to have completed the book by the end of this week, just in time for next months recommendations to begin lol


Thanks


Peter

Hurray!   I've read this first book in the series 2 or 3 times now and really enjoy this world....

[Berrytastic]

Al ,

I am so so chuffed that i finally got a book for you that you are enjoying.Made my day


Peter

[Basilius]

dpinmd, I forgot to post that I had finished The Name of the Wind earlier in the week. Definitely a book that's hard to put down.

I love the structure. The idea of him telling his story to Chronicler turns it into an autobiography of sorts. Quite well done. I'll certainly be reading the rest of this series. Hopefully he can keep it to just a trilogy.

Thanks for the rec!

[Tripp]

I finished The Mote in God's Eye and liked it quite a bit.  This  kind of reading experience is why I joined this game.  It is about as far from my normal genre as possible while still being a good read.  It started out slowly but picked up the pace.  But the most interesting thing to me is that I am still thinking about it and what the author was trying to say.  Thanks Annalog.

[KingAl]

Al ,

I am so so chuffed that i finally got a book for you that you are enjoying.Made my day


Peter

Peter, I enjoyed the other one (the first Jack Reacher book) as well. You're a perfect 2 for 2.

[Annalog]

I finished The Mote in God's Eye and liked it quite a bit.  This  kind of reading experience is why I joined this game.  It is about as far from my normal genre as possible while still being a good read.  It started out slowly but picked up the pace.  But the most interesting thing to me is that I am still thinking about it and what the author was trying to say.  Thanks Annalog.

Tripp, I am glad that you enjoyed The Mote in God's Eye. It has been a while since the last time I read the book but I still find myself thinking about about various topics and scenes in the book. Actually, a few different books by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle popped into my mind when I was considering your normal genres. This one seemed to hit most of your genres, at least if you looked at it through some SF filters.
"historical fiction; chick lit; family saga; drama; suspense; thrillers; religion is OK if it is presented culturally, not to convert."

[Tripp]

Tripp, I am glad that you enjoyed The Mote in God's Eye. It has been a while since the last time I read the book but I still find myself thinking about about various topics and scenes in the book.

I think this will be the case with me, too.  I have already brought up some of the plot lines into discussions with my kids.  What can I say, I am a nerd.

This one seemed to hit most of your genres, at least if you looked at it through some SF filters.
"historical fiction; chick lit; family saga; drama; suspense; thrillers; religion is OK if it is presented culturally, not to convert."

I didn't see that earlier, but now I wonder how I missed it.  It is so obvious.  

One other observation, this was written in the early 70's and I was impressed with how contemporary it was.

[Basilius]

I think this will be the case with me, too.  I have already brought up some of the plot lines into discussions with my kids.  What can I say, I am a nerd.

I didn't see that earlier, but now I wonder how I missed it.  It is so obvious.  

One other observation, this was written in the early 70's and I was impressed with how contemporary it was.

I bought my copy from Webscriptions, so I'm not sure if they're included in the Kindle version, but the extra material on how The Mote in God's Eye was written was fascinating.

[kaotickitten]

Ok so I finished Ender's Game.  I am so glad this was recomended.  I loved this story.  The writer tells this story in a rich fashion that makes you belive it could happen.  The characters are simple yet complex enough where they feel real and compelling. I now have to go and check out the rest of this writers work.   I wish there was more to this story.  I never would have found this book if it hadn't been recomended so thank you.

[Geoffrey]

I started reading Peace Like a River by Leif Enger and read the first 11% - and it's GOOOD ... and it's completely what I'm not looking for at the moment.  I'm going through a very stressful time in my life and all I've been able to read are light Scifi and Fantasy and things I've loved since forever - you know comfort books.   This book is one I'm going to love at some point - just not right now.

[imallbs]

Basilius, I finished Gun, with Occasional Music a couple of days ago. I have mixed feelings about the book.  I liked the writting, the characters and the idea (I love a good noir) but the typos kept throwing me out of the story.   If Joey wasn't dead I'd have him go lean on the publishers and get them to do a little editing.  Bottom line, enjoyed the story but the typos made it too hard to read so I won't be recommending it to anyone else. 
Thanks for the recommendation.  I would not have picked it up on my own, or finished it if not for this game, and I would have missed a fun story.

[KingAl]

Ok so I finished Ender's Game.  I am so glad this was recomended.  I loved this story.  The writer tells this story in a rich fashion that makes you belive it could happen.  The characters are simple yet complex enough where they feel real and compelling. I now have to go and check out the rest of this writers work.   I wish there was more to this story.  I never would have found this book if it hadn't been recomended so thank you.

Glad you liked it! There are other books. I haven't gotten very far in the series yet, but some of the sequels cover things that happen very far in the future and some are in the time frame of Ender's Game.  Hopefully someone who has read them will correct any errors I made.

[Annalog]

Hi CiscoKid,
I finally read the two samples last night. I decided to choose No Good Deed by Mary McDonald based on its price and a couple of the reviews. I suspect that it will take me a while to finish it due to the subject matter. I found the three sisters irritating in Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb and did not want to read more about them.

[Basilius]

Glad you liked it! There are other books. I haven't gotten very far in the series yet, but some of the sequels cover things that happen very far in the future and some are in the time frame of Ender's Game.  Hopefully someone who has read them will correct any errors I made.

I only read the sequel, but I felt Speaker for the Dead, was a much better book. Ender's Game was great read, but I don't think it has staying power with any particular person. Speaker for the Dead does.

[Basilius]

Basilius, I finished Gun, with Occasional Music a couple of days ago. I have mixed feelings about the book.  I liked the writting, the characters and the idea (I love a good noir) but the typos kept throwing me out of the story.   If Joey wasn't dead I'd have him go lean on the publishers and get them to do a little editing.  Bottom line, enjoyed the story but the typos made it too hard to read so I won't be recommending it to anyone else. 
Thanks for the recommendation.  I would not have picked it up on my own, or finished it if not for this game, and I would have missed a fun story.

Glad you liked it, but sorry about the typos! I don't recall them, but it's been a few months since I read it. Will keep that in mind for future recommendations...

[Tuttle]

I started reading Peace Like a River by Leif Enger and read the first 11% - and it's GOOOD ... and it's completely what I'm not looking for at the moment.  I'm going through a very stressful time in my life and all I've been able to read are light Scifi and Fantasy and things I've loved since forever - you know comfort books.   This book is one I'm going to love at some point - just not right now.

Glad that you like it even if you can't read it currently. I completely understand the need to just read comfort books sometimes.

[ciscokid]

Annalog, I had a hard time getting into Henry's Sisters also, but I ended up loving it.  I hope you like No Good Deed.  Its one of the best I've read in a long time. 

[Annalog]

Annalog, I had a hard time getting into Henry's Sisters also, but I ended up loving it.  I hope you like No Good Deed.  Its one of the best I've read in a long time. 

Ciscokid, if DH still worked at the library, instead of volunteering there, I might have had him check Henry's Sisters out for me. However, since the beginning reminded me of other books where I never cared about the characters, I am not willing to risk buying it. I am willing to take the risk with No Good Deed.

[Tripp]

Annalog, I just got The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks from the library.  If all goes well I should have it finished before the September game starts.  I will let you know how I like it.

[Annalog]

Ciscokid, I finally finished reading No Good Deed. I enjoyed the book and I am definitely glad I read it. I picked it back up last night as I would be able to keep reading until I got past the section where I would be concerned about going to sleep. (I have very vivid dreams.) I was surprised at how early that section was.

[ciscokid]

Annalog, I'm glad you liked the book.  There is a sequel out now if you're interested....don't remember the name.  Its not as good as the first one, but still pretty good.