809 replies to this topic

[Phalanxman]

That's a pretty good book.

[Stars]

Haven't started reading it yet, but I picked up a copy of Battlefield Earth for cheap this afternoon. I don't know much of anything about it other than it's apparently really, really good. Also really, really long.

[Arutha]

I started 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

[Monkeydog]

I started 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

It's okay but it's not a very good Murakami book.

 

It's not Dance Dance or Norwegian Wood or Hard Boiled.

[Vicious Parker]

Haven't started reading it yet, but I picked up a copy of Battlefield Earth for cheap this afternoon. I don't know much of anything about it other than it's apparently really, really good. Also really, really long.

I got that for like $0.99 on kindle some time ago, but haven't bothered reading it yet. Maybe we should read it together....after a song of ice and fire is done.

 

Speaking of which, I'm not getting in to the fourth book quite as easily as the others. The opening chapters focused on two entirely new characters (and the prologue, which, as with every book, happens with a one-off character who typically dies...). Even though it picks up before the third book ended, it feels really disconnected.

[Phalanxman]

That is my favorite sci fi novel!

[Shoulder Devil]

Granuaile: Grace O'Malley - Ireland's Pirate Queen by Anne Chambers. And I'm going to tl;dr you about her right now, or at least give the abridged version of tl;dr.

Basically, Grace O'Malley is my history crush and she basically rocked Ireland's entire coast as the undisputed Pirate Queen of Ireland, and even Elizabeth over in England was like "this chick's alright." Even though Grace was not above just ransacking the bajeezus out of anything with a British flag on it if it didn't pay the toll for traveling through her territory. Oh, and there was that one time where she gave birth on her ship, some Turkish corsairs attacked it, and when she was told they were going to lose the ship she handed the baby off, wrapped a blanket around herself, took a swig of whiskey, grabbed her pistols, and went out on deck and just jumped into combat (including shooting the first corsair she encountered point blank, which hey, probably terrifying to see). Less than two hours later not only was she fine, her ship fine, and her kid fine, but she had their ship and a whole bunch of prisoners to execute.

She also had the ovarian fortitude to show up in Elizabeth's court and basically tell her "okay, you have some relatives and land of mine, give it back. Now." In front of everyone. And also refused to bow to her when she entered, and when asked why, just flat-out said "because you aren't the Queen of Ireland." Again, in Elizabeth's court, in front of the Queen and all the nobles.

There's also the story of a noble family who turned her away for dinner one night, so she forced her way in and told them in no uncertain terms that Bad Things would happen if they didn't save her a space from that point onward. So they did, and the descendants of the family still saves a seat the table for her to this day.

Keep in mind, Grace O'Malley died in 1603, more than four centuries ago. And she was doing all this in the 16th century, a time when women (let alone Irish women) weren't exactly allowed to have anything resembling actual authority.

[Arutha]

/> It's okay but it's not a very good Murakami book.
 
It's not Dance Dance or Norwegian Wood or Hard Boiled.

Im enjoying it so far also i couldn't find a epub of norwegian wood for the life of me

[Stars]

I've resumed The Eye of the World after a lengthy hiatus. Everyone is doing a lot of walking at the moment.

EDIT: But it does look like we're finally to Caemlyn at least.

[Phalanxman]

I'm still reading The Case for Gold. I have never read any book that was this thick. I don't mean thick as in tons of pages. I mean thick as in toooooooooooooooooooons of information in every sentence. It's a very hardcore look at US monetary policy. I'm over halfway through the book and I'm just now getting to the 20th century. I love how when Ron Paul is trying to explain something he has to give a history lesson first. :)

[Arutha]

Stars i am very pleased to hear this I on the otherhand have just broken thru chapter 4 of book 2 of 1Q84

[Phalanxman]

Just finished the Case for Gold. It was EXCELLENT! I would recommend to anyone that wants to take a very indepth look at United States monetary policy. It has helped change a couple of my previous beliefs. Now, I'm reading Diversity Alliance. It's part of the Young Jedi Knights series and the one with the most horrible name. lol

[Stars]

Finally finished The Eye of the World. It got interesting again once everybody got to Caemlyn.

I may continue straight on to The Great Hunt, but I haven't decided yet what I want to read next.

 

EDIT: Ended up starting The Great Hunt.

[Arutha]

Stars youre gonna get hooked

As for me im still on 1q84 this sucks is long

[Vicious Parker]

I hate to say it, but getting through A Storm of Swords has been incredibly difficult. Not because I'm not still intrigued... but the missing POV characters are really getting me down. I should be thankful that I didn't read these books as released. I think it would have been terrible to wait 6 years between the fourth and fifth book (which chronologically occur at the same time).

 

So I'm going to take a break and read something else. Maybe something by Chomsky.

[Monkeydog]

Do you mean a Feast of Crows?

 

From what I've heard A Feast of Crows is pretty weird when it comes to the POVs, I think the only major one is Arya?

It goes back to some normalcy in Dance of Dragons.

[Vicious Parker]

Sorry, yeah. That's the one I meant.

 

Sansa is in there, too. Both of which only have three chapters each. Jaime and Samwell had some POV chapters in A Storm of Swords, so having them around is rather nice. But man, Cersei has more chapters than anyone else, I think, and she's just a raging bitch.

 

Spoiler

And some of the new characters from Dorne are interesting, but not interesting enough, it seems...

[Phalanxman]

I had some spare time in between two of my classes and I decided to check out the Patents and Government Documents sections at the university library. I kept seeing the Lopez Expeditions being mentioned in Senatorial minutes from the 1850s. It peaked my interest and so I read this: http://www.latinamer...ons_to_Cuba.pdf

[Donkeymog]

"ovarian fortitude" = new favourite expression.

[Phalanxman]

I'm excited. I just ordered some books!

 

The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek

Ultimate Guide to US Army Survival Skills, Tactics, and Techniques

The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa

 

I also pre-ordered:

The School Revolution by Ron Paul :)