Started this one finally (library check out via Kindle). Seems like an interesting cross between World War Z and I, Robot. Good so far, about 25% through.
A fascinating story. Reading this book has me intrigued to read some more about tsarist Russia and the revolution. My only gripe is the author's style - it's plainly evident she's practiced journalism, where grabbing your attention is often brute-forced to draw you rapidly in. This does not work as well in a long book, I think. I'm also typically not a fan of authors who insert their own opinion as to what a historical person "would have been" thinking. I prefer the Tuchmann approach of never presuming anything that was not explicitly mentioned from a good source regarding someone's "feelings" or "thinkings". That being said, the era in question is missing a lot of good reference material, so I give her some amount of leeway. Recommended. I'm finally starting Game of Thrones.
Just finished The Hunger Games Trilogy. I enjoyed all 3 books. I've heard criticisms of the 3rd book, but I thought it was the best one. I'll probably shed some man tears at the end of the 3rd movie!
Finished Ready Player One earlier this week. I loved that book. It's from a writer who lives in Austin TX. I loved the book. Tons of 80's geek references if anyone is into that stuff, but the novel weaves it in to the whole story so it doesn't seem forced or out of the place most of the time. One of the characters in the story is also based partly on Lord British if anyone knows who that is.
About to finish up Legacy of Ashes. The C.I.A. is a **** organization. Started The Sister Brothers too. Vacation week last week was all about Elmore Leonard and Raylan Givens.
I just finished the opening section of Robert McCammon's The Providence Rider. It's not released until May 31, but you can download the first 120 pages free in PDF, MOBI, and EPUB format here. I'm definitely stoked to read this entire novel. The first three books were excellent, but we're finally diving into the second act of McCammon's ambitious, gritty Colonial reimagining of a Sherlock Holmes\James Bond character in one Matthew Corbett. In book 2 we were given bare hints at a nefarious Professor Fell, and that was ramped up in book 3. Now in book 4, Fell wants to meet Matthew and hire him to solve a problem for the criminal mastermind. And what a way to convince a reluctant Matthew to meet with him. This novel looks like it'll introduce a whole slew of macabre and fascinating criminals for Matthew to contend with, but the face-to-face meeting with Professor Fell should be memorable. I love the first meeting of major characters in an epic book or series like this. If the author knows where future books are going, these scenes often take a different perspective in future readings when you know their motives better. Sometimes major plotpoints are hinted at or even brazenly trumpeted, but you don't realize it until you actually read that passage down the road. I was watching the BBC version of Sherlock Holmes recently, and my favorite scene of all 6 episodes was that initial meeting between Holmes and Watson. Looking forward to reading this novel May 31, then pivoting immediately to re-read Shadow of the Wind and the Angel's Game before the release of The Prisoners of Heaven. It should be a mighty fine month of reading. I'm going to read something light next. Probably Lisa See or Amy Tan. I've been meaning to read both authors for years. McCammon switched publishers after the first two books, and he's been in a bit of a quandry trying to get them to offer the first book in ebook format. The rest of them are available in that format.
Same here. I'm almost done with it. I'm gonna wait to see the movie until tomorrow after I hopefully finish the book.
Finished The Hunger Games a few days ago, started Catching Fire last night. Since I see they are 2 of the more popular reads here....I read World War Z and Hunger Games back to back. I enjoyed The Hunger Games quite a bit more.
