What book are you reading?

**Xiahou** · 07-28-2010, 20:54

Finished Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and after reading a few different short stories, have started The God of the Machine by Isabel Paterson.

**Myrddraal** · 07-28-2010, 23:56

Well I'm reading "The Goal" because I was told I should. My thoughts so far are these:

- The protagonist is pretty dumb. Most of the great revelations so far I guessed immediately, so I'm pretty unimpressed by these moments of clarity in the book.
- The protagonist (and the author) apply the principle of generalising 'goals' ruthlessly to his company and work, but never even stop to consider applying the same ideas to his personal goals as an individual. The story of his relationship with his wife seems almost to be thrown in to keep the reader entertained between the lectures on business strategy.
- The book is well written. Despite it's faults, it does keep you reading. You want to find out what happens next. Whether this will last I can't guess.

**CountArach** · 07-30-2010, 15:12

Originally Posted by Xiahou

Finished Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Thoughts? It is sitting on my bookshelf at the moment.

**Xiahou** · 07-30-2010, 18:36

Originally Posted by CountArach

Thoughts? It is sitting on my bookshelf at the moment.

I'd say it was good, but not great. It didn't quite live up to my expectations- but with a name like that, how could it? I think I was expecting far more action and general cheesiness than was actually in the book. Still, it was entertaining to see how the auther blended historical fact with.... vampires- and I thought the end was satisfying.

**Ronin** · 07-30-2010, 20:09

‘Yippee Ki-Yay Moviegoer! Writings on Bruce Willis, Badass Cinema, and Other Important Topics’ - Vern

A very funny, down to earth collection of movie reviews.

**Mouzafphaerre** · 07-30-2010, 23:36

.
The Treason of Isengard (Tolkien)
Gildersleeve's Latin Grammar (Gildersleeve & Lodge)
A sub-par translation of Slave Trade in the Ottoman Empire (Toledano)
Vox Graeca; you can't translate a book without reading it can you? (Allen)
Arbitrary sections of countless e-books.
.

**Ferret** · 07-31-2010, 18:17

Day of the Triffids

**Sigurd** · 08-13-2010, 15:29

Just finished 'Assassin's Apprentice' and Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb. They are book one and two in the Farseer trilogy.
Oh my.. If you enjoyed the emotional roller-coaster of 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by Gorge R.R. Martin, then Hobb's books are for you.

The books that let you immerse far enough to want to punch certain character's faces are just my cup of tea.
George R.R. praises Hobb's work in both books.
The books are in the Medieval time fantasy genre, and like George R.R, the focus is on the interaction of characters rather than the fantasy bit.

**CountArach** · 08-15-2010, 13:50

Originally Posted by Sigurd

The books that let you immerse far enough to want to punch certain character's faces are just my cup of tea.
George R.R. praises Hobb's work in both books.
The books are in the Medieval time fantasy genre, and like George R.R, the focus is on the interaction of characters rather than the fantasy bit.

I've heard good things about them before and I'll give them a look some time soon.

I've been reading The Social and Economic History of the Roman Empire by Michael Rostovtzeff lately. A huge piece of scholarship that is deeply flawed in several of its premises (I'm doing an analysis of it for Uni) but is still worth reading for an in-depth view of the fall of the Empire, particularly in the 3rd Century. I'm also reading some Suetonius for Latin. I just finished Otho, my favourite Emperor by far, and I've just started Vitellius.

**Martok** · 08-22-2010, 19:00

Just finished reading Mission of Honor, the most recent book in David Weber's Honor Harrington series. Good lord, that man knows how to ratchet up the HSQ!

Next on the agenda is Roma Eterna by Robert Silverberg. I haven't read any alternate history novels in a while, so I'm looking forward to it.

Originally Posted by Sigurd

Just finished 'Assassin's Apprentice' and Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb. They are book one and two in the Farseer trilogy.
Oh my.. If you enjoyed the emotional roller-coaster of 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by Gorge R.R. Martin, then Hobb's books are for you.

The books that let you immerse far enough to want to punch certain character's faces are just my cup of tea.
George R.R. praises Hobb's work in both books.
The books are in the Medieval time fantasy genre, and like George R.R, the focus is on the interaction of characters rather than the fantasy bit.

I think I'm going to have resign myself to the fact that I'll never understand the appeal of either of those two authors.

They're both extremely good at creating a cast of characters I loathe, although Martin isn't quite as bad (there's at least a couple characters from his Ice & Fire series that I somewhat enjoy). Hobb takes the prize, though -- when I find myself wanting to even punch and/or strangle every single one of the eponymous "good guys", something has definitely gone awry.