I, Robot - Isaac Asimov
Every Boy's Got One - Meg Cabot
Future Boston - Edited by David Alexander Smith
Life After Life - Jill McCorkle
Robots of Dawn - Isaac Asimov
The Naked Sun -Isaac Asimov
Caves of Steel - Isaac Asimov
Insurgent - Veronica Roth
The Wise Man's Fear -Patrick Rothfuss
The Name of the Wind -Patrick Rothfuss
Alright, I have been TERRIBLE about updating this lately. If I don't get this posted now I'll just keep hiding this post forever.
Not even sure when I read I, Robot but I know I liked it. Its definitely unabashedly scifi though, heads up.
In brief, Meg Cabot's book was a chick flick, as expected, which I read because I needed a physical book to read on Shabbat.
Future Boston was a book written in the 90's by a group of scifi authors imagining Boston was sinking into the ocean and writing short stories about every few years for several hundred years. It was very interesting to read about the place I live, and some of the stories were really great. Overall mediocre though.
Life After Life was recommended highly to me by a friend but I recall thinking it was 'Ok but not great'.
Robots of Dawn/Caves of Steel/The Naked Sun were nice. I really like 'historic science fiction' and while some hate Asimov, I enjoy his details! It is always interesting to see how sometimes writers just couldn't imagine things that we take for granted today (ie - the internet. In one of the books the main character cannot comprehend that a fleet of thousands of robots could communicate easily.)
I really don't remember Insurgent. I think the 3rd book is out now and I'm going to have to re-read this one, or at least skim the wikipedia page. I bet that I thought that it was Ok but didn't live up to the first book in the series (Divergent).
I'm only just starting the Wise Man's Fear, but I've read both this and the Name of the Wind before. I cannot recommend these highly enough. Read them!
And now back to work for grad school...
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
July
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
The Shoemaker's Wife, Adriana Trigiani
The Boy Next Door, Meg Cabott
1/2 of The Emperor of All Maladies, Siddhartha Mukherjee
I was reading the Emperor of all Maladies when I left Boston so sadly I was unable to finish it, however the first half was fantastic and I will definitely read the rest once I am home.
The Help was also amazing. The writing was great, the story was enticing and interesting and I felt like I really knew the characters well. Highly suggest this book.
The Shoemaker's Wife was pretty good in the middle, but it started slow and I felt that the end was like the end of the last Harry Potter book, ie, fanfic. Although maybe I was just disappointed with the plot.
The Boy Next Door was a terrible chick flick book. It felt like it was written to be a screenplay. Unsurprisingly it was made into a movie in 2008 which has pretty mediocre reviews. Read only if you need something quick and fluffy/contentless.
I've been reading on an e-reader lately. Its nice to have so much versatility and to loan library books from Israel, but its frustrating to read in the sun because of glare, or when the battery runs out, or the glow when the light is low, or especially on Shabbat when I cannot read it at all. If I ever repeat a trip like the one I am on now (2 months away from home) I'd bring an e-reader again, but I'll never use them regularly.
The Shoemaker's Wife, Adriana Trigiani
The Boy Next Door, Meg Cabott
1/2 of The Emperor of All Maladies, Siddhartha Mukherjee
I was reading the Emperor of all Maladies when I left Boston so sadly I was unable to finish it, however the first half was fantastic and I will definitely read the rest once I am home.
The Help was also amazing. The writing was great, the story was enticing and interesting and I felt like I really knew the characters well. Highly suggest this book.
The Shoemaker's Wife was pretty good in the middle, but it started slow and I felt that the end was like the end of the last Harry Potter book, ie, fanfic. Although maybe I was just disappointed with the plot.
The Boy Next Door was a terrible chick flick book. It felt like it was written to be a screenplay. Unsurprisingly it was made into a movie in 2008 which has pretty mediocre reviews. Read only if you need something quick and fluffy/contentless.
I've been reading on an e-reader lately. Its nice to have so much versatility and to loan library books from Israel, but its frustrating to read in the sun because of glare, or when the battery runs out, or the glow when the light is low, or especially on Shabbat when I cannot read it at all. If I ever repeat a trip like the one I am on now (2 months away from home) I'd bring an e-reader again, but I'll never use them regularly.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
May, June
The Angels Game, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Snow Crash, Neil Stephenson
Divergant, Veronica Roth
The Gate Thief, Orson Scott Card
The Lost Gate, Orson Scott Card
I've been reading a bit faster I think lately. Also really these are mostly great books.
The Angels Game is a prequil to Shadow of the Wind, which I loved. I have to say I felt that this one was not quite as good, but thats really not a bad thing since Shadow of the Wind was so epically good. I'd definitely suggest this to people who read fiction on a semi-regular basis.
Snow Crash was an excellent romp through 'An America so strange that you'll recognize it immediately' (Or something like that... its a quote from the cover which was actually quite apt) Its simultaneously hilarious and a commentary on modern commercial culture. And the plot/imagery/characters are great too. Definitely check out this book.
Divergant was a Hunger Games esqe book. Good, but only because thats a fantastic formula to write good books. Great for the beach.
I'd already read the Lost Gate and liked it. I enjoyed it this time too, but the second reading wasn't as good as the first. And The Gate Thief was great because its always nice to follow up with characters and because I love Card, but probably isn't actually objectively good. Read only if you like Card and scifi.
Snow Crash, Neil Stephenson
Divergant, Veronica Roth
The Gate Thief, Orson Scott Card
The Lost Gate, Orson Scott Card
I've been reading a bit faster I think lately. Also really these are mostly great books.
The Angels Game is a prequil to Shadow of the Wind, which I loved. I have to say I felt that this one was not quite as good, but thats really not a bad thing since Shadow of the Wind was so epically good. I'd definitely suggest this to people who read fiction on a semi-regular basis.
Snow Crash was an excellent romp through 'An America so strange that you'll recognize it immediately' (Or something like that... its a quote from the cover which was actually quite apt) Its simultaneously hilarious and a commentary on modern commercial culture. And the plot/imagery/characters are great too. Definitely check out this book.
Divergant was a Hunger Games esqe book. Good, but only because thats a fantastic formula to write good books. Great for the beach.
I'd already read the Lost Gate and liked it. I enjoyed it this time too, but the second reading wasn't as good as the first. And The Gate Thief was great because its always nice to follow up with characters and because I love Card, but probably isn't actually objectively good. Read only if you like Card and scifi.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
February, March, April
Well, this is awkward. Its been three months. Here are some books:
The Good Wife, Steward O'Nan
The Traveler, John Twelve Hawks
Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell
Pathfinder, Orson Scott Card (again)
Heart of Gold, Sharon Shinn
Mr. Penubra's 24-hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan
Ruins, Orson Scott Card
I am the Messenger, Markus Zusak
Lets get this out of the way first, I've already read Pathfinder since I've been keeping this blog. You can read what I thought of it here. I had slightly different opinions this time. I re-read it because the sequel FINALLY came out, its called Ruins. Pathfinder was definitely better than Ruins, which almost reads like fanfic. It just keeps going and going and don't get me wrong, its good, but every turn of events had me thinking "really? You're just farting around with your characters."
The Good Wife reminded me of Room, and maybe one other book who's name isn't coming to me just now. It was OK, it kept me hooked, but only really because I wanted to know how it ended. Thus, beach read.
Cloud Atlas and Heart of Gold were both OK scifi. Cloud Atlas was slightly more literary (or trying to be literary) whereas Heart of Gold was quite scifi-ish. Both were interesting and I got through them, but neither were amazing or stood out in any way.
Mr. Penubra's 24-hour Bookstore on the other hand WAS amazing. Great adventure, great characters, great plot, well written, kept me engaged... On the back it said it was similar to The Night Circus which I totally disagree with because that was SO MUCH BETTER even than this book, but I do agree that both have a charm. I highly recommend this book.
Lastly I am the Messenger was a huge letdown. Zusak also wrote The Book Thief which was truly fantastic and witty and powerful. I am the Messenger was bumbling, random, undriven in plot, unlogical, and the end in particular stank of "Oh shit how do I get my character out of this mess? Let me pull some metaphysical strings which may not be metaphysical" The entire time I expected that the ending would make me understand the motives behind the main character's actions throughout the entire book. Instead it made everything even less clear, and not in a 'The Giver' kind of way. Don't read it.
More books coming soon, you can be sure.
In other news I am departing on a 2 month journey soon and won't be able to take books with me so I will experiment with e-books. If I have anything interesting to say I'll post it here. Its mostly notable now because I have been quite opposed to e-readers, and still would be if there were any possibility of packing books or having library access while I'm travelling.
The Good Wife, Steward O'Nan
The Traveler, John Twelve Hawks
Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell
Pathfinder, Orson Scott Card (again)
Heart of Gold, Sharon Shinn
Mr. Penubra's 24-hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan
Ruins, Orson Scott Card
I am the Messenger, Markus Zusak
Lets get this out of the way first, I've already read Pathfinder since I've been keeping this blog. You can read what I thought of it here. I had slightly different opinions this time. I re-read it because the sequel FINALLY came out, its called Ruins. Pathfinder was definitely better than Ruins, which almost reads like fanfic. It just keeps going and going and don't get me wrong, its good, but every turn of events had me thinking "really? You're just farting around with your characters."
The Good Wife reminded me of Room, and maybe one other book who's name isn't coming to me just now. It was OK, it kept me hooked, but only really because I wanted to know how it ended. Thus, beach read.
Cloud Atlas and Heart of Gold were both OK scifi. Cloud Atlas was slightly more literary (or trying to be literary) whereas Heart of Gold was quite scifi-ish. Both were interesting and I got through them, but neither were amazing or stood out in any way.
Mr. Penubra's 24-hour Bookstore on the other hand WAS amazing. Great adventure, great characters, great plot, well written, kept me engaged... On the back it said it was similar to The Night Circus which I totally disagree with because that was SO MUCH BETTER even than this book, but I do agree that both have a charm. I highly recommend this book.
Lastly I am the Messenger was a huge letdown. Zusak also wrote The Book Thief which was truly fantastic and witty and powerful. I am the Messenger was bumbling, random, undriven in plot, unlogical, and the end in particular stank of "Oh shit how do I get my character out of this mess? Let me pull some metaphysical strings which may not be metaphysical" The entire time I expected that the ending would make me understand the motives behind the main character's actions throughout the entire book. Instead it made everything even less clear, and not in a 'The Giver' kind of way. Don't read it.
More books coming soon, you can be sure.
In other news I am departing on a 2 month journey soon and won't be able to take books with me so I will experiment with e-books. If I have anything interesting to say I'll post it here. Its mostly notable now because I have been quite opposed to e-readers, and still would be if there were any possibility of packing books or having library access while I'm travelling.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
January, Feburary, March 2013
I have been incredibly delinquent in updating this blog and for that I apologize, dear non-existent reader.
Here's what I've read recently:
Blackout, Connie Willis,
The Good Wife, Stewart O'Nan
The Traveler, John Twelve Hawks
The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
Dear non-existent reader, I am ashamed to have read so few books in 2.5 months! However I have been quite busy, yes, I am plotting to take over the world! Actually no, but I am plotting to get my PhD and that has been draining. The end is in sight though!
Comments on these books:
Count of Monte Cristo was good albeit slow. It was an interesting look into a different time and place. The Traveler was actually quite interesting and grabbing, although pretty far into the scifi realm. The Good Wife reminded me of Room in the way I wanted to know how it ended but wasn't really interested in it. And Blackout was interesting but excruciating in that the characters just seemed so dumb! There is a sequel that I would have read, but I couldn't stand reading through an entire additional book of the characters being incredibly dimwitted.
Here's what I've read recently:
Blackout, Connie Willis,
The Good Wife, Stewart O'Nan
The Traveler, John Twelve Hawks
The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
Dear non-existent reader, I am ashamed to have read so few books in 2.5 months! However I have been quite busy, yes, I am plotting to take over the world! Actually no, but I am plotting to get my PhD and that has been draining. The end is in sight though!
Comments on these books:
Count of Monte Cristo was good albeit slow. It was an interesting look into a different time and place. The Traveler was actually quite interesting and grabbing, although pretty far into the scifi realm. The Good Wife reminded me of Room in the way I wanted to know how it ended but wasn't really interested in it. And Blackout was interesting but excruciating in that the characters just seemed so dumb! There is a sequel that I would have read, but I couldn't stand reading through an entire additional book of the characters being incredibly dimwitted.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
December
Here we go, the last bit of 2012!
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Pure by Julianna Baggott
Alright first of all, I think everyone would enjoy Name of the Wind. It tilts towards fantasy, but the writing is so vividly luscious and the story is so pulling that I think almost anyone would enjoy it. Its not a super fast read, but in this case that is a good thing. You can luxuriate slowly in the masterpiece of a book.
The Wise Man's fear is similar, but its just a tad less well written, in my opinion. Likely you will have been caught by Name of the Wind and that won't matter, but just a forewarning that the first book is better.
Elantris is a good book an interesting story, but seriously fantasy. Don't pick it up if you don't like fantasy. Its also not fantastically written, but if you enjoy good stories that are a little out of the ordinary, you'll probably like this book.
Pure is trash. Futuristic fantasy that reminded me of Hunger Games trash, but YA trash all the same. Get it for a plane ride or a beach trip, don't bother otherwise. Its a trilogy and I'm not going to bother getting the other books, I'm just going to read the synopsis on Wikipedia to assuage my curiosity. Also the pseudo-science just rubbed me the wrong way. Overall, not a horrible book, but definitely not something I'll pick up again any time soon.
And now, invisible ladies and gentleman, what you have all been waiting for, the final 2012 tallies!
I read 32 books in 2012 (~60% of a book each week), putting me a solid 12 books behind last year's 44. I embarked on several reading 'journeys' which took me far more time than I would have otherwise spent on books. The longest was my expedition of re-reading Harry Potter. I'm glad I did, but I won't be doing it again soon. I also re-read many Ender's Game books, but looking back those actually didn't take much time. I just read a lot of slow books, and read more slowly in general.
I've already finished my first 2013 book and I have a slew more on the agenda, so stay tuned for more good books!
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Pure by Julianna Baggott
Alright first of all, I think everyone would enjoy Name of the Wind. It tilts towards fantasy, but the writing is so vividly luscious and the story is so pulling that I think almost anyone would enjoy it. Its not a super fast read, but in this case that is a good thing. You can luxuriate slowly in the masterpiece of a book.
The Wise Man's fear is similar, but its just a tad less well written, in my opinion. Likely you will have been caught by Name of the Wind and that won't matter, but just a forewarning that the first book is better.
Elantris is a good book an interesting story, but seriously fantasy. Don't pick it up if you don't like fantasy. Its also not fantastically written, but if you enjoy good stories that are a little out of the ordinary, you'll probably like this book.
Pure is trash. Futuristic fantasy that reminded me of Hunger Games trash, but YA trash all the same. Get it for a plane ride or a beach trip, don't bother otherwise. Its a trilogy and I'm not going to bother getting the other books, I'm just going to read the synopsis on Wikipedia to assuage my curiosity. Also the pseudo-science just rubbed me the wrong way. Overall, not a horrible book, but definitely not something I'll pick up again any time soon.
And now, invisible ladies and gentleman, what you have all been waiting for, the final 2012 tallies!
I read 32 books in 2012 (~60% of a book each week), putting me a solid 12 books behind last year's 44. I embarked on several reading 'journeys' which took me far more time than I would have otherwise spent on books. The longest was my expedition of re-reading Harry Potter. I'm glad I did, but I won't be doing it again soon. I also re-read many Ender's Game books, but looking back those actually didn't take much time. I just read a lot of slow books, and read more slowly in general.
I've already finished my first 2013 book and I have a slew more on the agenda, so stay tuned for more good books!
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