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virtuadept
  
 
| | #1 posted April 6, 2007 at 1:18pm (EST) |
What was the last book you read? Post about it here.
I just finished Shadowrun #4 - Drops of Corruption (from the recent line of SR novels). I really enjoyed #1-#3, but #4 is a bit harder pill to swallow. First of all, 1-3 were a trilogy and all involved mostly the same characters. #4 has a couple of cameos from a few of the characters I liked in 1-3, and one character that I didn't like so well in 1-3 plays a more central role in #4. So I guess it was a bit frustrating at first not having all my "friends" from the series in it.
The plot in #4 however, I thought was very well done, if a tad slow moving. I can see why he did it the way he did, however. It involves the mafia, and one character who was basically a good person slowly getting trapped into working for the mob and how they hooked him in. There are a lot of nasty characters in this book as one might expect from a book dealing with organized crime. Even the main character, who was as I said essentially good, was hard to like for other reasons I can't get into without spoilers. So having a cast of essentially unlikable characters didn't help my enjoyment of the story too much either.
But as I said the plot was well done, and in the end, a rewarding story that actually did have a "lesson" or whatever. There were some really cool scenes in the book, and overall I felt this was a book worth reading especially for Shadowrun enthusiasts like myself. Not my favorite in the series, but I did end up enjoying it, even though it was a slow read for me and I set it down several times before I finally got into it.
This is not a novel I can heartily recommend to anyone. If you enjoy books about organized crime, this book might be for you, with the caveat that it is completely fictional and not all that realistic, plus set in a fantasy future. If you like Shadowrun, this book is definitely worth picking up for a couple of reasons. First, it's a good in depth look at how the mafia in Seattle operates, and secondly it involves a bit of Tir Tairngire, which was interesting, and of a mage who has "burnt out" so you kind of get a feel for how that would work. This book is not a "fan fiction" work, the writing is good quality writing, but the subject matter is such that essentially it will appeal to a limited set of eyes.
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vDub
 
(frozen)
| | #961 posted May 9, 2009 at 1:45am (EST) |
it's the one with the first three books of the series.
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SmarmySir
| | #962 posted May 9, 2009 at 1:21pm (EST) |
Then that should last you a bit longer. |
Patiencepage
  
| | #963 posted May 10, 2009 at 11:10am (EST) |
I'm finishing up A Game of Thrones by George Martin. I really liked it and will be reading more of the series. I love a good epic/fantasy, but this one is especially nice because it's not all about magic and mysticism, plus the characters are very well developed and not simply good or evil. It's definitely a nice break from reading textbook after textbook.
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mmm40x
(frozen)
| | #964 posted May 16, 2009 at 11:38am (EST) |
I've finished several books since I last posted. I can't remember what they were though. At best they must have been mediocre reads otherwise I'd remember them. I think. I hope. Crap, I'm getting old.  Anyhoo, my last read was The Prison by R. Patrick Gates I'm halfway through yet another book by Brian Keene. It's a quick read. I'll be done with it in a few hours. |
mikechi
| | #965 posted May 16, 2009 at 1:26pm (EST) |
I just finished Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. |
mmm40x
(frozen)
| | #966 posted May 16, 2009 at 1:39pm (EST) |
mikechi wrote:
> I just finished Angels and Demons by Dan
> Brown.
I really, really want to read this book. I am waiting to see the movie first. Every time I read the book first and then go to the movie, it ruins the movie for me. The movie never measures up to the book IMO. |
mmm40x
(frozen)
| #967 posted May 16, 2009 at 9:28pm (EST)
edited May 16, 2009 at 9:36pm (EST) |
I just finished Castaways by Brian Keene It was a quick, fun read. I recommend reading it. I like Keene but his books don't have the suspense and thrill I like to get from books. Especially horror books. I keep on reading him though. The references to current pop culture in this book make it fun. When I first read the book description I thought "Ugh, what a cheese bag rip off of the current show." I expected it to be very cheesy. Keene manages to avoid the cheese while capturing the "reality" of "reality" TV in a work that is not real  Hmm...I think I just managed to really cheese up my own review. Ah well. Pick it up if for nothing more than a book that is easy to read while commuting, waiting in the doctors office or when you are avoiding sex with your SO. |
sgtshaggy
 
| | #968 posted May 17, 2009 at 2:16am (EST) |
I've finished a few books, methinks. The 3rd Twilight book and Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson for sure. Maybe one other. I may read Angels and Demons next, but I've been catching up on a few comics first.
shags
Street Fighter IV (360) Tourney--Sign Up! |
vDub
(frozen)
| | #969 posted May 17, 2009 at 2:41am (EST) |
I was re-reading Dune: The Butlerian Jihad because I had forgotten where I left off in the prequel series. Yesterday, I stopped at Barnes & Noble and realized that Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski was out, so I bought that and have been reading that instead. For those who aren't aware, Blood of Elves is the sequel to The Last Wish, and The Witcher video game is based on those books.
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Foxhoundx
| | #970 posted May 19, 2009 at 11:48am (EST) |
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
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koster
| | #971 posted May 29, 2009 at 2:47pm (EST) |
Hackers and Painters by Paul Graham |
nihon
| | #972 posted May 30, 2009 at 12:47am (EST) |
Honey and Clover vol.6. - Very good. Only four more volumes till the series is completed.
-- Apple/Mac Forum -- |
vDub
(frozen)
| | #973 posted May 31, 2009 at 2:02am (EST) |
currently reading A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. A bit slow going as I've only been reading it when I'm at work. 
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mmm40x
(frozen)
| | #974 posted June 1, 2009 at 9:39pm (EST) |
I'm in a book funk. Just can't seem to pick up a book. I usually read 4 books a week. I've been reading The Return by Bentley Little. It's a good book. I just can't get in a reading mood. Anyone else go through this? |
vDub
(frozen)
| | #975 posted June 1, 2009 at 9:45pm (EST) |
I did for the longest time until I started working at the gas station....I got bored working third shifts there, so I started bringing in a book to read.
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Bubbler28
| | #976 posted June 1, 2009 at 10:44pm (EST) |
Any recommended forgotten realms books? I'm trying to acquire the war of the spider queen series. |
sgtshaggy
| | #977 posted June 2, 2009 at 3:06pm (EST) |
mmm40x wrote:
> I'm in a book funk. Just can't seem to pick up a book. I usually read
> 4 books a week. I've been reading
> The Return by Bentley Little. It's a good book. I just can't
> get in a reading mood. Anyone else go through this?
I get in a funk between books sometimes myself, read 20 pages from 10 different books before settling on a book. I do it with games too.
shags
Street Fighter IV (360) Tourney--Sign Up! |
sgtshaggy
| | #978 posted June 3, 2009 at 11:55am (EST) |
David Eddings Passes Away At 77
shags
Street Fighter IV (360) Tourney--Sign Up! |
SmarmySir
| | #979 posted June 3, 2009 at 12:56pm (EST) |
nooooooooooooooo
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mmm40x
(frozen)
| | #980 posted June 3, 2009 at 4:11pm (EST) |
Ahh, that's sad. |
nihon
| | #981 posted June 4, 2009 at 4:08pm (EST) |
Just finished Storm from the Shadows by David Weber. Pretty good, though it ends on a cliffhanger.
-- Apple/Mac Forum -- |
nihon
| | #982 posted June 4, 2009 at 4:10pm (EST) |
sgtshaggy wrote:
>
> David Eddings Passes Away At 77
I'm actually kind of happy for him as he's been quite sick for quite a while.
-- Apple/Mac Forum -- |
sgtshaggy
| | #983 posted June 4, 2009 at 5:35pm (EST) |
I didn't realize it was an extended illness; still, sad to lose him.
shags
Street Fighter IV (360) Tourney--Sign Up! |
koster
| | #984 posted June 4, 2009 at 6:11pm (EST) |
JavaScript: The Good Parts by Douglas Crockford |
nihon
| | #985 posted June 5, 2009 at 2:50am (EST) |
sgtshaggy wrote:
> I didn't realize it was an extended illness; still, sad to lose him.
It wasn't so much an illness as just have multiple things gradually failing over an extended period (from what I understand).
-- Apple/Mac Forum -- |
vDub
(frozen)
| | #986 posted June 7, 2009 at 11:57pm (EST) |
I'm taking a break from A Game of Thrones to read "Hell to Pay" by Simon R. Green, which is book #7 in the Nightside series
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koster
| | #987 posted June 9, 2009 at 6:21pm (EST) |
Bob the Angry Flower: Coffee with Sinistar by Stephen Notley |
SmarmySir
| | #988 posted June 10, 2009 at 12:09am (EST) |
Dire mistake, Dublet.
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vDub
(frozen)
| | #989 posted June 10, 2009 at 12:19am (EST) |
I'm gonna get back to it eventually....I own that book, but I checked out the Nightside books from the library
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GOSH
 
| #990 posted June 10, 2009 at 6:53am (EST)
edited June 10, 2009 at 6:54am (EST) |
I'm wrapping up Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, a Lincoln biography I semi-recently heard so much about by everyone, everywhere. I'm not typically a person who just picks up history books and reads them, but I took a chance with this one. DKG is a really great writer and tells the story of a president's life familiar to us all and makes it feel new. The specific details, anecdotes, and characteristics of Lincoln successes in life as a politician seem applicable to more than just the political. The book ultimately becomes not just a biography about a great man, but a general study on greatness in men -- what it truly means to be great.
I got a lot out of this book, and I highly recommend it. |
sgtshaggy
| | #991 posted June 10, 2009 at 7:03am (EST) |
Have you read Lincoln by Gore Vidal?
shags
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GOSH
| | #992 posted June 12, 2009 at 3:01am (EST) |
I've never read anything by Gore Vidal, but I've heard good things about Lincoln. Did you read it? I'm kind of turned off by him because of how prickish he comes off in public, but I'm sure he writes fabulous books.
I realized after I finished Team of Rivals how little I've read non-fiction books for leisure, and I'm not sure why. I read an unhealthy amount of magazines, so that may be a part of it.. |
sgtshaggy
| | #993 posted June 12, 2009 at 7:08am (EST) |
I've not yet read it. Strangely enough, I snagged it from Paperback Swap after seeing him on Bill Maher's Real Time. He seemed more surly and witty to me, charming enough for me to snag one of his books anyway. I'm going to read it after finishing up my current book, History of the American People by Paul Johnson. I've been on an American history kick the last coupla weeks, thanks to much playing of Empire: Total War .
shags
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GOSH
| | #994 posted June 12, 2009 at 12:26pm (EST) |
I've heard so many great things about PaperbackSwap through various sites, but every time I finally go to sign up and get into the specifics and the process seems daunting. I think the issue was with the points system mostly. But I also remember doing some random book searches and coming up mostly empty -- and these weren't really obscure titles.
Maybe I was just doing it all wrong, but what are your thoughts on PaperbackSwap? I like books, but I love cheap books, so I don't quite get why I'm not taking advantage of this site. |
Amethyst
| #995 posted June 12, 2009 at 12:51pm (EST)
edited June 12, 2009 at 12:53pm (EST) |
I've been on the site for a good 6 months now, and I've gotten a ton of books, mostly manga for my daughter to help fill out her series...
If the titles were newer, then yes, it is hard to get them because everybody wants them so there is a wait list for them, although it's not impossible. I just traded a PB twilight book because my daughter bought it, then bought the hardback set, so I made somebody really, really happy!
I've picked up several series that I thought I'd enjoy, and have them waiting to read... since I'm not in a major hurry, I was able to complete a lot of them...
I like the box of books where you can just trade books, no points involved, for about $8 a year... you just find other boxers and see if they have anything you want, ask them to find something on your list and you're set. Each of you pay your own shipping., which you can do through the site by printing out postage/tracking which you also purchase from the site, each purchase transaction costs .45 for site fees, but that's not bad considering the ease and convenience of doing so. Shipping is generally about $2 per paperback book, $3 for a hard back book. Plus you get instant credit for anything you've sent out & tracking on it by going through the system.
The point system is easy, you get 1 point for any book you send out (you pay postage) and you give 1 point for any book you request (they pay postage), if you don't have any points/credits, you can purchase them for about $3.45 each, although I've also heard you can pick them up from other members cheaper in the forums area...
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vDub
(frozen)
| | #996 posted June 12, 2009 at 12:59pm (EST) |
I've been using PBS for 3 to 4 years now, and I love it. It is hard to get newer books because like Amethyst said, everyone else wants them too and everything is done on a first come, first serve basis.
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sgtshaggy
| | #997 posted June 12, 2009 at 6:15pm (EST) |
Amethyst covered PBS extremely well. I will add that you can add books to your Wish List, which effectively puts you in a line for that particular book, and you can set it up to automatically request the book, or just notify you, kinda like Goozex. Nice for books that you'd like, but are in no big hurry to acquire, when they're not immediately available on PBS.
That said, I've had problems with finding some books as well. I've had quite a few books on my Wish List for some time now, and I may not get them until 2011, or never, lol. Some of them I may break down and buy, who knows, I have too much to read on my shelves already.
Still, it's a great place to snag books, particularly trade paperbacks or hardbacks, which I prefer. I pretty much just fill up on credits nowadays (@$3.45 each) instead of mailing them out (I tend to horde books). I recently completed the currently available Wheel of Time books in hardback for super cheap  .
So yeah, worth a look, and your first two books are free.
shags
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Feeb
| | #998 posted June 12, 2009 at 8:09pm (EST) |
Finally finished the extant Ice and Fire books, certainly was hating Feast for Crows, but it got good just in time to leave me waiting on what may be an eternal cliff hanger..... |
vDub
(frozen)
| | #999 posted June 12, 2009 at 11:31pm (EST) |
Just finished "The Unnatural Inquirer" by Simon R. Green, which is #8 in the Nightside series. Moving on to #9, "Just Another Judgement Day"
Probably one of the best book series to come out of the UK.
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SmarmySir
| | #1000 posted June 13, 2009 at 12:50am (EST) |
Feeb wrote:
> Finally finished the extant Ice and Fire books, certainly was hating Feast for
> Crows, but it got good just in time to leave me waiting on what may be an eternal
> cliff hanger.....
Dude, I can't believe you didn't like A Feast for Crows... I thought it was just as enthralling as the first three!
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