GhastlyHun
Full Member
Finished the latest Expanse novel, Thiamat's Wrath. Very enjoyable, sadly it's now at least another year to the next one (but hey... better than GRRM or Patrick Rothfuss would ever manage ).
Really picks up once they get to Bree, are you there yet?Does The Fellowship of the Ring get any better? I'm about 100 pages in and it feels a bit of a slog so far...is this just Tolkien's style?
I've just got to Chapter 4, they've just met Gildor Inglorion.Really picks up once they get to Bree, are you there yet?
Ah you’re not even past the Old Forest yet. Be sure to stick with it. It definitely starts slow, your patience will be rewarded.I've just got to Chapter 4, they've just met Gildor Inglorion.
I shall stick with it!
I try to do an hour a day.Typically how long do you fellas read for per week?
I’m currently wrapping up a PHD, I’d say I’ve averaged something like 5 hours a day over the last four years. But it’s not proper reading, the number of books I’ve sat down and read cover to cover in that time wouldn’t be much at all.Typically how long do you fellas read for per week?
Fair enough. I guess you’ve seen the movie? If so I can definitely understand why you’d find the first half a slog.Sorry @2cents, I really couldn't carry on reading TFOTR, I found it a real slog and I read for enjoyment . I'll give it another go over the summer.
For me his early books are his best but they are much darker (Outer Dark, Child of God and Blood Meridian). Blood Meridian is brilliant the best one of what I read. But a lot of McCarthy fans rate his best boot as Suttree (which I haven't read yet).How do you guys rate Cormac McCarthy? About two thirds into The Road and impressed. The stylised staccato writing of it is effective, but took a bit of getting used to.
Just curious about whether his other work is worth exploring. Don't ruin the end btw!
Oh nice what made you pick that up? I just finished Secret History. Let me know when you are about halfway in as I want to get the opinion of someone else whose read it on somethingSorry @2cents, I really couldn't carry on reading TFOTR, I found it a real slog and I read for enjoyment . I'll give it another go over the summer.
Started The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Only about 50 pages in but enjoying it so far.
You haven't read the Silmarillion, have you?Does The Fellowship of the Ring get any better? I'm about 100 pages in and it feels a bit of a slog so far...is this just Tolkien's style?
Silmarillion is much better than LotR for me. I found LotR unbearable and some of the only 5 books I forced myself to finish even though I hated them (other two were Dickens)You haven't read the Silmarillion, have you?
It gets better, and the pacing is better in the next 2 books.
It came up on my recommendations when I was browsing Amazon, saw the synopsis and it looked interesting so thought I'd pick it up.Oh nice what made you pick that up? I just finished Secret History. Let me know when you are about halfway in as I want to get the opinion of someone else whose read it on something
I haven't no, I was planning to pick up that and the Hobbit after the 3 LoTR books, but it may be a while before I doYou haven't read the Silmarillion, have you?
It gets better, and the pacing is better in the next 2 books.
I have next to no interest in Westerns as a genre, but you reckon the quality of his writing makes it still a worthy read? Reckon I will give Blood Meridian a go.For me his early books are his best but they are much darker (Outer Dark, Child of God and Blood Meridian). Blood Meridian is brilliant the best one of what I read. But a lot of McCarthy fans rate his best boot as Suttree (which I haven't read yet).
I'd definitely recommend Blood Meridian (I think anyone with even a mild interest in the Western genre should read that one and Warlock by Oakley Hall). Also Suttree (even though I haven't read it yet, I trust the recommendations I received and its on my list to read in 2019).
I'd say so yeah, Blood Meridian isn't what you'd call a typical Western as such, almost veers closer to existential horror in some respects set against a Western backdrop.I have next to no interest in Westerns as a genre, but you reckon the quality of his writing makes it still a worthy read? Reckon I will give Blood Meridian a go.
Sounds good. He seems to write psychological horror well, evocatively.I'd say so yeah, Blood Meridian isn't what you'd call a typical Western as such, almost veers closer to existential horror in some respects set against a Western backdrop.
Just read it, fantastic book. Plays as a thriller, despite it being a true story where you (likely) know where it’s going. Utterly amazing sequence of events, and has made me sceptical of essentially everything that we hear out of Silicon Valley.Anyone read 'Bad Blood', the book on Theranos?
I haven't read it yet, but I'm definitely putting it on my list. Thanks.Just read it, fantastic book. Plays as a thriller, despite it being a true story where you (likely) know where it’s going. Utterly amazing sequence of events, and has made me sceptical of essentially everything that we hear out of Silicon Valley.
I couldn’t decide how I felt about Secret History. The first half (until the event) was great, but it then seemed to stumble through the rest of the book. By that point I felt like you were stuck with a group of unlikable, and scarcely believable characters.Oh nice what made you pick that up? I just finished Secret History. Let me know when you are about halfway in as I want to get the opinion of someone else whose read it on something
I agree with the bold. I feel a number of books I read are like that. For the characters I found them realistic and reminiscent of quite a few people I've known. She was a college friend of Bret Easton Ellis (Less than Zero, American Psycho) so I get the impression they were both part of this circle of 1980s liberal arts undergrads that liked to do lots of drugs and party because both their writing has their northeast suburban rich kid feel to itI never come in this thread for some reason.
I couldn’t decide how I felt about Secret History. The first half (until the event) was great, but it then seemed to stumble through the rest of the book. By that point I felt like you were stuck with a group of unlikable, and scarcely believable characters.
I've just started Secret History and loving it so far - extremely well-written and an interesting portrayal of how memory recollection and of certain times/memories in themselves can be very paradoxical and contradictory. The characters are pretentious as feck but then that partially feels like the point to an extent. Disappointing to hear it seemingly dips as it goes on but suspect the writing will (hopefully) be strong enough to allow me to sustain interest all the same.I couldn’t decide how I felt about Secret History. The first half (until the event) was great, but it then seemed to stumble through the rest of the book. By that point I felt like you were stuck with a group of unlikable, and scarcely believable characters.
The Road was good and the curious pacing/staccato delivery works really well. Also liked that it didn't bother with what had caused the apocalypse.@Jippy How are you liking McCarthy?
I just started what some consider his best, Suttree to treat myself to a slow read. I love tasting his sentences.
Nice, I really loved the Counselor movie.The Road was good and the curious pacing/staccato delivery works really well. Also liked that it didn't bother with what had caused the apocalypse.
Did a charity shop run and got The Counsellor by him. Will see how that goes.
What do people think of Ian McEwan? Picked up Atonement. Early days but seems a tad dense.
I read Amsterdam a couple of years back - interesting at times but also some weird choice I felt plot-wise. Not delved into anymore of his stuff yet though.The Road was good and the curious pacing/staccato delivery works really well. Also liked that it didn't bother with what had caused the apocalypse.
Did a charity shop run and got The Counsellor by him. Will see how that goes.
What do people think of Ian McEwan? Picked up Atonement. Early days but seems a tad dense.