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  1. #1
    Sovereign Oppressor Member TIE Fighter Shooter Champion, Turkey Shoot Champion, Juggler Champion Kralizec's Avatar
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    Default Re: Book review thread

    Quote Originally Posted by doc_bean
    Ah, I've been reading that series, finished God-Emperor a few weeks ago, read it right after Children and Messiah, I had read the original about a year ago (probably a little less). Still two more to go, but i'm going to take a little break so i don't get Dune overkill.

    Do you happen to know if the Brian Herbert books are really as bad as people seem to claim ?
    The House trilogy was decent, albeit very light reading. Of the Legends of Dune trilogy I've only read the first one, wich I really disliked. I've read Frank Herberts Dune novels 3 or 4 times, but I never felt the desire to read any of Brian Herbert/KJ Anderson's books a second time.

  2. #2
    Arena Senior Member Crazed Rabbit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Book review thread

    Do you happen to know if the Brian Herbert books are really as bad as people seem to claim ?
    They are, trust me.

    I see no one has mentioned Watership Down, a gross oversight. That is a masterful piece of storytelling - a story about a group of rabbits traveling several miles across the English countryside for a new home.

    There are no gimmicks like sci-fi or fantasy to spice up the book - it doesn't need any. It is simply a marvelous story.

    Crazed Rabbit
    Ja Mata, Tosa.

    The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail; its roof may shake; the wind may blow through it; the storm may enter; the rain may enter; but the King of England cannot enter – all his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement! - William Pitt the Elder

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    Member Member Caerfanan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Book review thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Kralizec
    The House trilogy was decent, albeit very light reading. Of the Legends of Dune trilogy I've only read the first one, wich I really disliked. I've read Frank Herberts Dune novels 3 or 4 times, but I never felt the desire to read any of Brian Herbert/KJ Anderson's books a second time.
    Amen to that. OK, but not tremendous, I totally agree with that!

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    Member Member Caerfanan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Book review thread

    Oh, I would highly recommend the books written By Eiji Yoshikawa about Miyamoto Musashi. I think they have been translated in many languages. The french titles are "La pierre et le sabre" and "La parfaite lumière"

  5. #5
    zombologist Senior Member doc_bean's Avatar
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    Default Re: Book review thread



    Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel by Susanna Clarke is simply one of the best books I've read in recent times. It's technically a 'fantasy' book, since it involves magicians and fairies, but it has little to nothing in common with the pulp genre that is usually indicated by the term 'fantasy'. It's a book which succeeds perfectly in creating its own little world, full of history and little details and touches. It's an 'alternative' history of (early 19th century) England, it manages to mix history with fantasy very well. It also doesn't skip on some of the issues with a magical world that traditional fantasy tends to avoid, such as religion. It certainly is deep.

    It's also rather slow. It's not a page turner, only in the latter hundred pages does it really pick up the pace (it's a good eight hundred pages long). The first few hundred pages can perhaps be a bit of a chore to get throuhg, since they focus almost exclusively on the very unlikable character of Mr Norrel. But the writing itself is excellent, so you won't feel like you're wasting your time.

    Highly recommended

    (also, thanks to Lemur for first mentioning this book)
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  6. #6
    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: Book review thread

    *bump*

    Last King of Scotland.

    ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I saw the movie first, kinda liked it, it's nothing like the book. It could have been a much better movie actually, why exclude cool warscenes and a daring hostage liberation-action? Probably because it follows the strict rules of Hollywood, english bad, scottish good, Israewho? The main character sure is a lot more believable then the movie character, imho the only thing that saves the movie after having read the book is Forrest Whitacker, who is absolutily terrifying as Amir.

    The Kite Runner <--

    Incredibly moving. Read it. Really. Now. Excellent writing, great character, you will have a hard time sympathising with the main character at first, bit of a whiner, but you will grow fond of him eventually. The star of the show is afghanistan, it's pretty cliche in it's paradise gone wrong aproach, but the description of the afghan community, their life there, makes it hard to put it aside, cliches aren't bad by default.

  7. #7
    Sovereign Oppressor Member TIE Fighter Shooter Champion, Turkey Shoot Champion, Juggler Champion Kralizec's Avatar
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    Default Re: Book review thread

    Is that De Vliegeraar in Dutch? My parents have a copy, I suppose I'll have to borrow it one of these days if it's that good.

  8. #8
    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: Book review thread

    Yeah, but it's horribly translated, english version is only 12 pleuro so it shouldn't press yours budget too much.

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