Books you're currently reading???

[wolf]

I figure GRRM is just going to have to have a comet strike Westeros, killing everyone. It's the only way to resolve the stories in two more books.

It is just supposed to be two more, isn't it?

Finished Doctor Who and the Mutants last night. I really need to read the review book. And there's some editing I'm helping a friend with on a paranormal romance. She's nice. I do it in little bits so it isn't as awful as a sit down read through.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

I read Reamde. It was fine; not quite up to my usual Stephenson expectations.

I read about a hundred pages and then never seemed to pick it up again. Is it worth the read? Should I pick it back up?

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by glatt

I read about a hundred pages and then never seemed to pick it up again. Is it worth the read? Should I pick it back up?

The first hundred pages aren't necessarily representative. The plot takes some wild turns. Like I said, it was good, but not great. It felt like the novelization of a decent action/adventure/thriller movie, rather than a literary adventure I am used to getting from Stephenson.

I wouldn't give up on it, but, I am extremely averse to giving up on books. I only remember doing so once, and:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

The Greenlanders, by Jane Smiley. Very interesting content, but I find the prose style extremely difficult to get into. I gave up on my first attempt years ago, but I'm sticking to it this time.

[infinite monkey]

I don't get it. If I am really into a book you couldn't shoot it out of my hands. If I've read a hundred pages I'm either going to quit or finish it just to see how stupid the protagonist can get.

But I don't read those super-epic-50-volume series books, either.

Except Amish romances. I love a good Amish romance. I can't WAIT to see if Rebekah and Sarah board the spaceship and take it over with their phasers by shooting the one eyed Charpalthar and the Ruminating Romping Rigomatarman or if they quit rumspringa altogether.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Blueflare

I also just recently finished reading A Dance With Dragons - the most recent Song of Ice and Fire book. I really liked it but I do wonder how long this story is going to go on... so many plots!

Originally Posted by wolf

I figure GRRM is just going to have to have a comet strike Westeros, killing everyone. It's the only way to resolve the stories in two more books.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I can kind of sense it starting to turn, all the plots starting to face each other so they can crash together in a spectacular wrap-up. Here's a collection of major plot points as I see it (not actually spoilers, since who knows, but a lot of detailed ideas you may or may not want put into your head):

I think Jon Snow is a Targaryen. His mother is still mostly a mystery, but once, in the very first book, it was mentioned that he has violet eyes, which I only noticed because it was right after describing Daenarys with violet eyes and I thought, "Two major characters with very strange-colored eyes? Not a coincidence." And in ADWD it was noted again that Targaryens have violet eyes.

So Daenaerys is gonna finally show up in Westeros, and she and Jon Snow will get married, maybe before or maybe after figuring out they're related. He'll have to abandon his vows as Lord Commander to do this, which will of course be a torturous decision, but he will rationalize that it is necessary in order for them to join forces so they can defeat the eventual major attack from the Others/Wights (which has got to be the major climax of the whole series,) which is ultimately the Lord Commander's job so by breaking his vows he's actually upholding them.

Penny, Cersei, and Tommen are all going to die. Tyrion will return to Westeros to take the Iron Throne briefly, but will only use it to destroy the last vestiges of his father's realm, basically handing it all over to the Tyrells. He will marry Marjorie to accomplish this, but again not sleep with her, thus continuing the cycle of multiple-marriages-but-no-consummation for both of them. Arya will come back and match wits with the Spider, ultimately killing him. Daenaerys' dragons will only be able to be ridden by women, and Arya will ride the white one in the final battle. The green one will be ridden by Brianna (Maid of Tarth, the big dykey one.)

Also, Rickon has to show up at some crucial plot twist, having been completely missing since the Red Wedding.

[wolf]

spoilers ho: well ... I don't disagree that Jon is a Targaryen, But I think his Mom was Eddard Stark's sister, who was raped by the Targaryen. I think Eddard, aka the most and possibly only man in Westeros who is faithful to his wife made up the story because there couldn't be a living Targaryen heir running around, it would have either made Jon a target or destabilized the Barratheon throne almost immediately. I also think he pushed Jon into the Night's Watch because the oath would prevent him ruling if his parentage ever were to come to light. I think that Arya (my favorite character at this point, which means she's likely dead as a doornail) will come back to Westeros for the pleasure of killing Cersei, and maybe the Red Witch. Rickon is off being raised by wolves (or wargs) somewhere, and will be the last Stark standing. For House Lannister, it's really been interesting watching Jamie turn into less of a sonofabitch, that's for sure.

[Sundae]

The Hunger Games (bought on Mum's Kindle by accident while showing her the steps needed to browse and purchase).

I liked it.
But accept that the following books might be pants.
Still, a colleague has #2 so I can read it without wishing I hadn't bought it.

[jimhelm]

clod and wolf: (secret spoiler type question)

Didn't Jon Cark it at the end of the DWD you read? Or do you think He's not quite dead yet....?

[jimhelm]

reamde was decent, not great. I liked the characters mostly... but.... The plot relied on far too many coincidences for it to be believable. the 1st 3rd was more geeky with how the game worked and stuff,.... and i was liking it... but then it turned into a spy thriller james bond type of thing. not a stand out book.

[jimhelm]

I just finished the latest Outlander book. The Fiery Cross. I love Clair and Jamie. ANd Davina Porter does such a great Scotch accent.... (audiobook) it was loooong.... but enjoyable. I cant wait until the revolutionary war breaks out.

Currently reading Armor. sci fi junk.

[GunMaster357]

Originally Posted by jimhelm

Currently reading Armor. sci fi junk.

I read it some time last year. That's junk all right.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by jimhelm

Currently reading Armor. sci fi junk.

I actually loved that and want to read it again. John Steakley, right? It's in a box here, somewhere.

SF fan who wanted to be able to be a con guest rather than an attendee, wrote himself a book. It sold. Wrote himself a second book. It got made into a movie by John Carpenter. WIN.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by jimhelm

clod and wolf: (secret spoiler type question)

Sure looked like it, didn't it? But since when does GRRM do the expected thing. Multiple factors in play here ... you got the Red Witch, the hardiness of the Starks and possibly Targaryens, and magick is coming back into the world as the dragons grow up. Not to mention whatever it is that Uncle Benjen has become, yes? I'm thinking some Red Witch action, myself.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by jimhelm

clod and wolf: (secret spoiler type question)

Answer: Yeah, I don't think Jon's really dead. There have been a couple of times where main characters were assumed dead at the end of their chapters, and then turned out to only be wounded later. I bet Ghost plays into the explanation for why Jon didn't actually die. I even kind of wonder if Stannis is really dead, but I think he probably is.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Sundae

The Hunger Games (bought on Mum's Kindle by accident while showing her the steps needed to browse and purchase).

I liked it.
But accept that the following books might be pants.
Still, a colleague has #2 so I can read it without wishing I hadn't bought it.

I just read Hunger Games too. It was good, but I didn't love it. My wife read number 2 and says it's actually better than 1. I'll get around to reading it in the next few weeks.