What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Part 2 - Page 3

Ash J. Williams · 01-11-2013, 11:06 PM

Blood Meridian - Cormac McCarthy

The Navigator · 01-12-2013, 07:10 AM

Wind Through The Keyhole, by Stephen King.

Not bad, really enjoyed the titular story the best, rather than the other two framing it. And holy crap, a Dark Tower story with a happy ending? Who would have thought.

Damned, by Chuck Palahniuk.

Really didn't care for it. The pre-death backstory stuff was fairly interesting, but it felt like he was throwing everything at the wall and seeing what stuck for the afterlife. The main character suddenly becoming a Hitler-stomping, Genghis Khan slapping badass (suddenly relative to the pacing of the story, anyway) that marshalls an army big enough to threaten hell's bureaucracy felt completely forced and out of left field. And then the "twist" that this entire story might be the devil's screenplay--and ending the story on a "To Be Continued..."--what the hell? Just seemed messy overall.

mongoose-mania · 01-13-2013, 06:49 PM

"2001: A Space Odyssey" by Arther C. Clarke

Scarecrow_King · 01-13-2013, 07:26 PM

A Farewell to Arms

Mr. Wooden Alligator · 01-13-2013, 08:22 PM

I enjoyed the titlesake story in TWTTK as well. King added lots of juicy lore to Mid-World.

I just finished A Cure for Cancer by Michael Moorcock. The book is split into four sections, each one being titled after a medical procedure: First Incision, Transfusion etc. Overall, ACFC is a delightfully nihilistic romp through England and American in a world where each nation is at war with the other. The chapter headings--inflammatory beauties such as "Rape Goon Takes a Nap with a Corpse!"--are, well, interesting but don't seem much related to the plot.

The plot sort of meanders in and out; it boils down to a photonegative Jerry Cornelius (pitch-black skin with starkly white hair vs. white skin with black hair as in The Final Programme) racing against a gluttonous Bishop Beesley to procure a machine which increases the entropy levels throughout the universe. Jerry is, at best, an amoral protagonist who is trying to save the world by bringing about its dissolution into Chaos, so that it can be reborn with a greater sense of equilibrium between Law and Chaos. He's got no qualms about turning his vibragun on his allies and lovers once he's done with them.

The Bishop, of course, wishes to destroy the entropy machine to preserve the word, even though its basically gone to pot.

I give it an 8.5/10.

nite-owl · 01-16-2013, 09:46 AM

A Feast of Crows by George R.R. Martin

Number 6 · 01-17-2013, 11:23 AM

South of the Border, West of the Sun

uniqueweasel · 01-17-2013, 01:42 PM

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Total Recall

masterthehero · 01-17-2013, 01:58 PM

Diamond Age by Neil Stephenson.

SO BORING! The only thing I learned from reading this book is how NOT to write a book.

Figs · 01-17-2013, 04:45 PM

Where Have All the Leaders Gone? - Lee Iacocca

The Hobbit - Tolkien

ComicChick · 01-17-2013, 05:39 PM

Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini Taylor

SuperT · 01-18-2013, 03:06 PM

The Brides of Rollrock Island - Margo Lanagan

the last son · 01-18-2013, 03:09 PM

Still trying to finish cannibal reign. It's ok so far.

mongoose-mania · 01-18-2013, 08:53 PM

"Uggie: My Story."

StrainedEyes · 01-19-2013, 10:56 PM

"The Girl Next Door" - Jack Ketchum

Messed up, but hard to put down.

Wyrminarrd · 01-20-2013, 06:23 PM

"Princep's Fury" by Jim Butcher.

squeekness · 01-20-2013, 06:24 PM

Pulling up stakes -- Peter David

Rob3880 · 01-21-2013, 02:18 PM

2666 by Roberto Bolano... Mind-blowingly amazing. I was so depressed when I finished it because it sunk in that Bolano will never write another novel. He was only able to write a handful of novels during his short life, but those few are so amazing that he should be considered one of the greatest novelists of the last thirty years, and high up on the list at that.
I just started another novel called The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen. It's pretty great so far, and has a lot of great ideas. The big question is whether he can tie them all together into something coherent and ultimately satisfying.

Rob3880 · 01-21-2013, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masterthehero

Diamond Age by Neil Stephenson.

SO BORING! The only thing I learned from reading this book is how NOT to write a book.

Have you read Snow Crash or Cryptonomicon? Those two along with Readme are his best, IMHO. Diamond Age left me feeling kinda cold. It just wasn't as compelling as his other stuff... But I guess my point is, is this is your first Stephenson novel, don't let it turn you off from checking out his other material; because when he is on his game, he is one of the best. His problem is he tries to do too much sometimes.

Specter313 · 01-21-2013, 08:57 PM

Iced ~ Karen Marie Moning

ComicChick · 01-22-2013, 01:36 AM

finished Buffy Ombnibus #3 tonight

dude love · 01-22-2013, 05:15 AM

Metro 2033 by Dimitri Glukovski

Brilliant. The whole thing takes place in the Russian underground metro after the nukes went off. Really immersive in its world building. On paper the story is standard Luke Skywalker 'heroes journey' fare, but as you read on, a lot of the tropes are subverted and not to spoil it, but by the end you realise it's actually a complete perversion of the heroes journey.

The only gripe I have, was that the English version is obviously translated from the Russian original, but some of the wording just feels like the missed the mark occasionally.

uniqueweasel · 01-22-2013, 07:41 AM

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Conspiracy - S.D Perry

bonoferox · 01-23-2013, 09:51 AM

The Appeal: John Grisham.

Think the Racketeer may be next.

hammerhedd11 · 01-26-2013, 01:23 PM

The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh

01-12-2013, 07:10 AM	#52
The Navigator Compliance Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mountains of Madness Posts: 14,664	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa Wind Through The Keyhole, by Stephen King. Not bad, really enjoyed the titular story the best, rather than the other two framing it. And holy crap, a Dark Tower story with a happy ending? Who would have thought. Damned, by Chuck Palahniuk. Really didn't care for it. The pre-death backstory stuff was fairly interesting, but it felt like he was throwing everything at the wall and seeing what stuck for the afterlife. The main character suddenly becoming a Hitler-stomping, Genghis Khan slapping badass (suddenly relative to the pacing of the story, anyway) that marshalls an army big enough to threaten hell's bureaucracy felt completely forced and out of left field. And then the "twist" that this entire story might be the devil's screenplay--and ending the story on a "To Be Continued..."--what the hell? Just seemed messy overall. __________________ Look at my crap!

01-13-2013, 06:49 PM	#53
mongoose-mania Gentleman Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,176	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa "2001: A Space Odyssey" by Arther C. Clarke

01-13-2013, 07:26 PM	#54
Scarecrow_King King of Swinging Moods Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Point of Diminishing Returns Posts: 4,250	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa A Farewell to Arms __________________ Well, it's been a shattering disillusionment. Goodnight.

01-13-2013, 08:22 PM	#55
Mr. Wooden Alligator The White Wolf Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 8,797	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa I enjoyed the titlesake story in TWTTK as well. King added lots of juicy lore to Mid-World. I just finished A Cure for Cancer by Michael Moorcock. The book is split into four sections, each one being titled after a medical procedure: First Incision, Transfusion etc. Overall, ACFC is a delightfully nihilistic romp through England and American in a world where each nation is at war with the other. The chapter headings--inflammatory beauties such as "Rape Goon Takes a Nap with a Corpse!"--are, well, interesting but don't seem much related to the plot. The plot sort of meanders in and out; it boils down to a photonegative Jerry Cornelius (pitch-black skin with starkly white hair vs. white skin with black hair as in The Final Programme) racing against a gluttonous Bishop Beesley to procure a machine which increases the entropy levels throughout the universe. Jerry is, at best, an amoral protagonist who is trying to save the world by bringing about its dissolution into Chaos, so that it can be reborn with a greater sense of equilibrium between Law and Chaos. He's got no qualms about turning his vibragun on his allies and lovers once he's done with them. The Bishop, of course, wishes to destroy the entropy machine to preserve the word, even though its basically gone to pot. I give it an 8.5/10. __________________ Don't let the death of the three horses be in vain-see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

01-16-2013, 09:46 AM	#56
nite-owl Gipsy Danger Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 6,078	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa A Feast of Crows by George R.R. Martin __________________ VIDEO-CLick to Watch!: There are only two things I can't stand in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures... and the Dutch.

01-17-2013, 11:23 AM	#57
Number 6 Be seeing you Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: The Village, for now Posts: 354	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa South of the Border, West of the Sun

01-17-2013, 01:42 PM	#58
uniqueweasel Don't Drink and Bake Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Skynet Posts: 987	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa Arnold Schwarzenegger - Total Recall

01-17-2013, 01:58 PM	#59
masterthehero Superheroine Book Author Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 68	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa Diamond Age by Neil Stephenson. SO BORING! The only thing I learned from reading this book is how NOT to write a book.

01-17-2013, 05:39 PM	#61
ComicChick The River's Just a River SHH! Global Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Kitchen, Yall Posts: 45,097	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini Taylor

01-18-2013, 03:06 PM	#62
SuperT Boom Shaka Laka Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 3,612	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa The Brides of Rollrock Island - Margo Lanagan

01-18-2013, 03:09 PM	#63
the last son Side-Kick Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,068	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa Still trying to finish cannibal reign. It's ok so far.

01-18-2013, 08:53 PM	#64
mongoose-mania Gentleman Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,176	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa "Uggie: My Story."

01-19-2013, 10:56 PM	#65
StrainedEyes All the way up it! Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: WA Posts: 15,068	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa "The Girl Next Door" - Jack Ketchum Messed up, but hard to put down. __________________ Top of the world, all that's around you is beneath me Me learnin' from your mistakes is the only way you can teach me.

01-20-2013, 06:23 PM	#66
Wyrminarrd Side-Kick Join Date: May 2004 Location: Iceland Posts: 1,264	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa "Princep's Fury" by Jim Butcher.

01-20-2013, 06:24 PM	#67
squeekness The mighty squeek! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Getting nothing done Posts: 61,873	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa Pulling up stakes -- Peter David __________________ Please read my X-men fanfiction. There's pictures! Proud Co-founder of Gambit’s Royal Flush

01-21-2013, 02:18 PM	#68
Rob3880 Side-Kick Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 265	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa 2666 by Roberto Bolano... Mind-blowingly amazing. I was so depressed when I finished it because it sunk in that Bolano will never write another novel. He was only able to write a handful of novels during his short life, but those few are so amazing that he should be considered one of the greatest novelists of the last thirty years, and high up on the list at that. I just started another novel called The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen. It's pretty great so far, and has a lot of great ideas. The big question is whether he can tie them all together into something coherent and ultimately satisfying.

01-22-2013, 01:36 AM	#71
ComicChick The River's Just a River SHH! Global Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Kitchen, Yall Posts: 45,097	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa finished Buffy Ombnibus #3 tonight

01-22-2013, 05:15 AM	#72
dude love Pissin fire is awesome! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Val Verde Posts: 7,892	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa Metro 2033 by Dimitri Glukovski Brilliant. The whole thing takes place in the Russian underground metro after the nukes went off. Really immersive in its world building. On paper the story is standard Luke Skywalker 'heroes journey' fare, but as you read on, a lot of the tropes are subverted and not to spoil it, but by the end you realise it's actually a complete perversion of the heroes journey. The only gripe I have, was that the English version is obviously translated from the Russian original, but some of the wording just feels like the missed the mark occasionally. __________________ At one point, Stallone punches Schwarzenegger and he shoots back, "You hit like a vegetarian!" It doesn't matter whether you trust in Whedon or Nolan.... always bet on Black.

01-22-2013, 07:41 AM	#73
uniqueweasel Don't Drink and Bake Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Skynet Posts: 987	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa Resident Evil: The Umbrella Conspiracy - S.D Perry

01-23-2013, 09:51 AM	#74
bonoferox Side-Kick Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 365	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa The Appeal: John Grisham. Think the Racketeer may be next.

01-26-2013, 01:23 PM	#75
hammerhedd11 OHaiMark Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,969	Re: What's the Last Book You Read/Finished? - Part 1 Page 1 Chapter 1 Paragraph - Pa The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh __________________ Avatar made by Kane VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

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