What are you reading when not on this forum IV

[Katariina]

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. The books is the third part of His Dark Materials trilogy, I liked the first two books, but I'm really struggling with this one.

I really struggled with that one too, in fact, I gave up and never finished it. I've come to the conclusion that Pullman is over-rated.

Yeah, I got tired of it and am now reading Orson Scott Cards The Crystal City.

Hope I can find the interest to finish the Pullman later

[Exp. Date, the rat]

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. The books is the third part of His Dark Materials trilogy, I liked the first two books, but I'm really struggling with this one.

I really struggled with that one too, in fact, I gave up and never finished it. I've come to the conclusion that Pullman is over-rated.

Yeah, I got tired of it and am now reading Orson Scott Cards The Crystal City.

Hope I can find the interest to finish the Pullman later

This was his soap box book. I think every author has one. This was his. I struggled through it and regret that I did. He ruined a perfectly good series with this book as its ending.

Not good, but help waste some time.

[chrisboote]

This was his soap box book. I think every author has one. This was his. I struggled through it and regret that I did. He ruined a perfectly good series with this book as its ending.
Not good, but help waste some time.

I agree about it being the soapbox, and the struggle (I didn't put it aside and read something lighter because I feared I wouldn't go back to it if I did) but I felt that the ending redeemed the turgid chunks of the book
Each to their own...

[rentawitch]

I was like that with Gormenghast. The last book got more 'normal' and wasn't such a struggle.

There were a lot of great ideas in the Pullman but the overall effect was for me depressing and muddled.

[Darren]

I also found it rather cliche'd in places, and a bit contrived (given how large the planet is, why did the same few characters keep bumping into each other all the time?). Read the trilogy once, wondered what all the fuss was about and have never felt the urge to pick any of them up again since.

[Nausica]

Oh my goodness, I've read a lot since I last posted on this thread. I blame the library. Well, let's see...

First there was the World of Darkness core rule book, which I haven't quite finished, but have still found somewhat inspiring. (I have to stop buying rpg books - I currently owe the nice GM $80).

Then I read volume 1 of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (an entirely unexpected and most welcome gift! ) which was quite quite good. I should be able (funds willing) to pick up volume 2 in about three weeks...

Then the library books! Eternal City, by Nancy and Michael Kilpatrick, was okay. Something about it kind of fell flat for me, though.
Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austin, was fun. I found I didn't want to throttle the heroine as much as I initially suspected I would.
Magician, by Raymond E Feist, was pretty darn good. Particularly like the way the characters, situations, and general feel became... I guess grittier, as the main characters grew up.
Neuromancer, by William Gibson. Well, I did enjoy it, and quite a lot, but something about it... Possibly I'm just too familiar with the concepts this book spawned, which is a bit of a shame. Would've been excellent to read as a teenager (although I might not've liked The Matrix as much, then).
The Cat Who Went Bananas, by Lillian Jackson Braun, freaked me right out! It was fairly innocuous, really, but the description of the town at the beginning read just like something (anything, really) by Stephen King. And it was sort of like a Stephen King book, told from the perspective of one of the "innocently unknowing" townsfolk. I would love to read a The Cat Who/ Lovecraft crossover.

[Nausica]

And then I read The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, by Robert Heilein. I mostly liked it, but... geez... Robert Heinlein, you bastard.

And now I'm reading Web of Futures, by Jefferson something initial Swycaffer. About halfway through, and liking it so far - quite interesting.

[Basement]

Well of Lost Plots, by Fforde. Was given First Amongst Sequels for my birthday, but realised that I had forgotten most of the Next story so am re-reading it.

[Darren]

Oddly enough snap. Although in my case I'm reading the Thursday Next Chronicles (the first 3 books in one softback omnibus). Finished The Eyre Affair and now about half-way through Lost in a Good Book. Well of Lost Plots still to come.

[ladyramkin]

Glad you enjoyed Northanger Abbey, Nausica. Catherine is my favourite JA heroine. She's very young and impressionable to begin with, but there is a steely strength of character there. She will always do the right thing, whatever the cost. OK, she can be silly. I dont mind silly. I can do silly. The sad thing is, when I first read the book, I wished she was my sister. Later, I wished she was my daughter. Now I'm reaching the stage when I wish she was my grand-daughter

[Tonyblack]

I've just started reading 'The Dogs of Riga' by Henning Mankell, it's an Inspector Wallander book and it's really good so far.

[Nonny Mouse]

I am now reviewing a draft of my Mom's book. It hurts a bit because I am sooo critical when I read but that's why she wanted me particularly. Well, I hope I can be of some use to her.

[bigchief]

Just finished reading The Scarab Path by Adrian Tchaikovsky (which is a good feat since it's not released until next Friday ).

It's book 5 in the series Shadow of the Apt and if you've read the rest then you'll like this one - although it seemed to be around 50-100 pages too long for what actual content there was.

Bring on book 6! (February 2011 )

[Exp. Date, the rat]

About 1/2 way throught Dead in the Family and so far a good read. Nothing too exciting so far, but not as jumbled and rushed as the last book. Kim said that she didn't like it, but so far I do.

It is nice that I was able to Borrow this book from the Lend Me option on the nook. I love my Ook!

[Catch-up]

Read Shutter Island on vacation - it was excellent! I'm now in the middle of Lion's Den, good book so far.