Gilroy attempts to get back to reading 2021
ConversazioniThe Green Dragon
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1gilroy
I feel like last year was an epic fail when it comes to reading. But then, routines were upended and all sorts of changes happened. So I'm going to try again. Normally I'd be trying to increase the number of books read. Nope, not this year.
Each book will have an initial post when I start it, then will receive a bulk update of notes from when I finish it. These will be followed by a month summary of all reads. I'm a slow reader, so you'll have to forgive me updating backdated posts. The notes also will go into the reviews. If books cross months, they don't get a new post for the new month, but they also don't get counted until finished.
At the end of the year, I'll do a final goal count post as well as my annual book poll. That poll will also be posted in the new thread.
The hopeful goals:
Total books to read: 45 -- 30 audio, 9 physical, 6 e-books
(Count as of January 1 - 0 audio, 0 physical, 0 e-books)
The current reads:
Audio - The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Physical book - Game of Thrones by George R R Martin
Teach Yourself Creative Writing by Dianne Doubtfire
E-book -
(Kindle) Dreamthief by Tamara Grantham (5% complete)
(Google Books) (None)
Each book will have an initial post when I start it, then will receive a bulk update of notes from when I finish it. These will be followed by a month summary of all reads. I'm a slow reader, so you'll have to forgive me updating backdated posts. The notes also will go into the reviews. If books cross months, they don't get a new post for the new month, but they also don't get counted until finished.
At the end of the year, I'll do a final goal count post as well as my annual book poll. That poll will also be posted in the new thread.
The hopeful goals:
Total books to read: 45 -- 30 audio, 9 physical, 6 e-books
(Count as of January 1 - 0 audio, 0 physical, 0 e-books)
The current reads:
Audio - The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Physical book - Game of Thrones by George R R Martin
Teach Yourself Creative Writing by Dianne Doubtfire
E-book -
(Kindle) Dreamthief by Tamara Grantham (5% complete)
(Google Books) (None)
2gilroy
Dud Books - Books I attempted to read and gave up:
(Also known as Pearl Rule books)
The Cold Between by Elizabeth Bonesteel
Note on how I designate a dud book:
Unless the book is so horrid of prose/story/cliché that I can't get past the first few pages, I feel the need to give the author at least 50 pages or a third of the book, which ever I can make. This allows for initial bad openings and characters to grow enough. At that point, if I continue to struggle and can't get into the book, I'm done and it becomes a dud. At least that's the plan.
(Also known as Pearl Rule books)
The Cold Between by Elizabeth Bonesteel
Note on how I designate a dud book:
Unless the book is so horrid of prose/story/cliché that I can't get past the first few pages, I feel the need to give the author at least 50 pages or a third of the book, which ever I can make. This allows for initial bad openings and characters to grow enough. At that point, if I continue to struggle and can't get into the book, I'm done and it becomes a dud. At least that's the plan.
3gilroy
2020 Reading poll :)
Annual Book Poll on Google Forms
Annual Book Poll on Google Forms
4gilroy
Plot point updates from 2020 that need to be resolved:
Broken Pinky -- No surgery, got through physical torture ... Uh I mean therapy ... without issue. It won't completely straighten without a little assistance, but this was to be expected per doctor and therapists.
15 years -- Forgot to mention, I got my present bill paying job the same year I started here. So I celebrated 15 years at the same company back in June.
Xbox Upgrade -- I did end up getting an Xbox One in November. Waited to see what wife might get for me for the holidays, then started replacing things. Found out that if the disc transferred from the Xbox 360 to Xbox One, your saved games moved with. If you had to buy new, you lost ALL saved games. Which means I lost almost 80 hours of work in Skyrim, and progression through half of Lego Star Wars. BUT I got a new game to start teaching my wife the joys of game controllers. Untitled Goose Game. You play an annoying goose and have tasks to complete. It's quite amusing. And kinda cathartic. You're supposed to be an arse.
House Repair -- I've managed to learn to patch my Basement walls to prevent leaks. One wall fixed... Three to go. But the difference in the amount of water coming in has been HUGE. Next big test will be the next mega storm we get. Right now, I'm hoping for snow to kill off all sorts of bugs.
Broken Pinky -- No surgery, got through physical torture ... Uh I mean therapy ... without issue. It won't completely straighten without a little assistance, but this was to be expected per doctor and therapists.
15 years -- Forgot to mention, I got my present bill paying job the same year I started here. So I celebrated 15 years at the same company back in June.
Xbox Upgrade -- I did end up getting an Xbox One in November. Waited to see what wife might get for me for the holidays, then started replacing things. Found out that if the disc transferred from the Xbox 360 to Xbox One, your saved games moved with. If you had to buy new, you lost ALL saved games. Which means I lost almost 80 hours of work in Skyrim, and progression through half of Lego Star Wars. BUT I got a new game to start teaching my wife the joys of game controllers. Untitled Goose Game. You play an annoying goose and have tasks to complete. It's quite amusing. And kinda cathartic. You're supposed to be an arse.
House Repair -- I've managed to learn to patch my Basement walls to prevent leaks. One wall fixed... Three to go. But the difference in the amount of water coming in has been HUGE. Next big test will be the next mega storm we get. Right now, I'm hoping for snow to kill off all sorts of bugs.
5MrsLee
I took your poll, why do you do it? Curious. :)
Also Happy New Year, and glad to see your plot point updates!
Also Happy New Year, and glad to see your plot point updates!
6gilroy
>5 MrsLee: I did my first one back in 2007 when LT was new and it was a silly thing we did as part of the LiveJournal group. And I've just found it to be a good annual tradition to see how weird my reading tastes tend to be versus the populace at large. :)
7MrsLee
>6 gilroy: gotcha! Well, I had read 3 of your fantasy novels, I think, and none of the others. So many books to get to!
8Storeetllr
Happy New Year, Gilroy!
You aren't the only one who had a rough reading year. I read one (1) book in November. That's not unusual when I do NaNoWriMo, but I didn't do it in 2020. I just could not get into any books I tried to read. And December was almost as bad. Six books, all read in the last week of the month, and one of them I'd started in November and another was a how-to watercolor workbook, so.
ETA I did your poll.
You aren't the only one who had a rough reading year. I read one (1) book in November. That's not unusual when I do NaNoWriMo, but I didn't do it in 2020. I just could not get into any books I tried to read. And December was almost as bad. Six books, all read in the last week of the month, and one of them I'd started in November and another was a how-to watercolor workbook, so.
ETA I did your poll.
9Sakerfalcon
Happy new year!
I took your poll and hadn't read very many of your books at all, although several are on my TBR pile, or I'd read others in the series/by the same author.
I hope 2021 is a better year for you in every way!
I took your poll and hadn't read very many of your books at all, although several are on my TBR pile, or I'd read others in the series/by the same author.
I hope 2021 is a better year for you in every way!
12YouKneeK
>3 gilroy: Happy new year. I took your poll also. I had read a couple of the SF and a few of the fantasy, but none of the others.
13Bookmarque
Happy New Year. I participated in the poll and as usual have read very few of the same books.
15clamairy
Happy New Year, >1 gilroy:. May your reads for 2021 surpass all your previous totals. I'll try to remember to come back and do the poll.
16gilroy
>5 MrsLee: >8 Storeetllr: >9 Sakerfalcon: >10 majkia: >11 Peace2: >12 YouKneeK: >13 Bookmarque: >14 Narilka: >15 clamairy:
Thank you and happy new year to you too!
>5 MrsLee: >8 Storeetllr: >9 Sakerfalcon: >12 YouKneeK: >13 Bookmarque: >15 clamairy:
Thank you for playing along. I appreciate it.
For fun, I decided to start adding the polls to my profile now. So they go back to 2016 right now...
Thank you and happy new year to you too!
>5 MrsLee: >8 Storeetllr: >9 Sakerfalcon: >12 YouKneeK: >13 Bookmarque: >15 clamairy:
Thank you for playing along. I appreciate it.
For fun, I decided to start adding the polls to my profile now. So they go back to 2016 right now...
17hfglen
Jislaaik! Only one book in common! Nevertheless, have a great year with lots of good books.
18NorthernStar
Happy New Year!
19-pilgrim-
>16 gilroy: Have just done the lot. We really don't read a lot in common!
20gilroy
Mythology 101: A crash course in Green and Roman Myths by Kathleen Sears
Start Date 11/06/2020 End Date 01/08/2021
Thoughts:
-- I'd definitely call this a crash course as the book suggests. It glances across the surface of many myths out there without delving too deep.
-- While it claims Greek and Roman myths are covered, the Roman myths get like maybe 30 pages of the 270 pages of text. And even then it's a very minor bits.
-- more thoughts to come
Start Date 11/06/2020 End Date 01/08/2021
Thoughts:
-- I'd definitely call this a crash course as the book suggests. It glances across the surface of many myths out there without delving too deep.
-- While it claims Greek and Roman myths are covered, the Roman myths get like maybe 30 pages of the 270 pages of text. And even then it's a very minor bits.
-- more thoughts to come
21Jim53
Happy new year! I took a look at your poll and have read only the Vonnegut and the Narnias, and both of those many years ago. I hope 2021 is better for you in all respects.
22gilroy
>17 hfglen: >21 Jim53: Thank you!
23Peace2
So I went and took all the polls - sometimes our tastes look more similar than others.
2020 - ticked 3 although technically it's probably 2 1/2 because I never got all the way through the Chronicles of Narnia - but I do have Snuff on my TBR pile
2019 - managed an amazing 16 of those.
2018 - finished 7 (and have a few others on my TBR pile)
2017 - 8 this time (there were a couple where I had read different ones in the series but not the listed one - so almost could have been higher)
2016 - just 3 on that list
2020 - ticked 3 although technically it's probably 2 1/2 because I never got all the way through the Chronicles of Narnia - but I do have Snuff on my TBR pile
2019 - managed an amazing 16 of those.
2018 - finished 7 (and have a few others on my TBR pile)
2017 - 8 this time (there were a couple where I had read different ones in the series but not the listed one - so almost could have been higher)
2016 - just 3 on that list
24-pilgrim-
>20 gilroy: For more depth, I would recommend Classical Mythology by Mark P. O. Morford and Robert J. Lenardon.
Its emphasis is on the fact that the myths never did have a static form; the ones that we know best are those retold in the 5th century plays, that came from the Golden Age school of Athenian drama, but in fact different versions of those gods and goddesses held sway over other parts of Greece. So it tries to tell these other stories, and earlier and later versions.
So you will definitely find Latin as well Greek myth, and how both developed and were interpreted in later eras.
Its emphasis is on the fact that the myths never did have a static form; the ones that we know best are those retold in the 5th century plays, that came from the Golden Age school of Athenian drama, but in fact different versions of those gods and goddesses held sway over other parts of Greece. So it tries to tell these other stories, and earlier and later versions.
So you will definitely find Latin as well Greek myth, and how both developed and were interpreted in later eras.
26gilroy
Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin
Narrator Gretchen Rubin
Start Date 01/11/2021 End Date 01/28/2021
Narrator Gretchen Rubin
Start Date 01/11/2021 End Date 01/28/2021
27gilroy
We were late getting holiday gifts this year, but this shirt shows how much my sister understands:
28Sakerfalcon
>27 gilroy: I love it!
29clamairy
>27 gilroy: Very funny!
30gilroy
Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin
Narrator George Guidall
Start 02/11/2021 End 03/02/2021
Thoughts
-- Already I'm liking the book and I'm barely through the prologue!
-- There was a big deal made about the forward thinking of the androgynous race but that isn't the primary focus of the book. So much of a big deal when it really isn't. Though I supposed since the book was written in 1969, it WAS a bigger deal back then.
-- I'm disappointed in this audio version of the book. I realized about four chapters ago that the main POV alternates from chapter to chapter. The narrator is making no effort to distinguish between the two characters. The same tone, the same inflection throughout it all.
-- The story ends very abruptly, almost in the middle of the action. I was expecting a lot more, especially after the death of the one character. Looking now, I see this is the middle of a series, so maybe more is to come in other books?
Narrator George Guidall
Start 02/11/2021 End 03/02/2021
Thoughts
-- Already I'm liking the book and I'm barely through the prologue!
-- There was a big deal made about the forward thinking of the androgynous race but that isn't the primary focus of the book. So much of a big deal when it really isn't. Though I supposed since the book was written in 1969, it WAS a bigger deal back then.
-- I'm disappointed in this audio version of the book. I realized about four chapters ago that the main POV alternates from chapter to chapter. The narrator is making no effort to distinguish between the two characters. The same tone, the same inflection throughout it all.
-- The story ends very abruptly, almost in the middle of the action. I was expecting a lot more, especially after the death of the one character. Looking now, I see this is the middle of a series, so maybe more is to come in other books?
32Jim53
>30 gilroy: LHOD is one of my all-time favorites. Hope you enjoy it!
33pgmcc
>30 gilroy: This was my first Ursula K Le Guin reads and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
34Sakerfalcon
>30 gilroy: That is such a good book!
35gilroy
Getting old sucks.
Woke up February 5, had what I'd describe as a baseball sized knot on the back of my shoulder, right about where it connects to the neck. I'd had these before, it results from a pinched nerve. No problem I thought, I'll do my stretches and it will go away in a couple days like normal.
That night, I could not get comfortable, couldn't get to sleep. (Thank goodness the next day was Saturday.) Instead, I'm lying on my living room floor (wood and cold cause it'd during our wave of cold weather) trying to get those muscles to relax. My cats are loving it because they can walk all over their human. Pain is so bad I end up going to Urgent Care for some relief. Still saying pinched nerve. If the muscle relaxers and pain pills don't fix things in a few days, go see primary care.
Go to Primary Care, he gives me stronger muscle relaxer, same pain pill. X-rays and PT scheduled, though an MRI is pending if these don't fix things. An ice storm delayed my first visit to the PT center, which then gave me the latest news:
I'm going to be going twice a week. For however long it takes. I'm getting the nice warm wrap and tens unit. 15 to 20 minutes at a time... But that's after I get through exercises and being put in traction for both my neck and my back. It seems something in my mid back is also causing some of my finger numbness.
This has been my month, dealing with this pain...
Woke up February 5, had what I'd describe as a baseball sized knot on the back of my shoulder, right about where it connects to the neck. I'd had these before, it results from a pinched nerve. No problem I thought, I'll do my stretches and it will go away in a couple days like normal.
That night, I could not get comfortable, couldn't get to sleep. (Thank goodness the next day was Saturday.) Instead, I'm lying on my living room floor (wood and cold cause it'd during our wave of cold weather) trying to get those muscles to relax. My cats are loving it because they can walk all over their human. Pain is so bad I end up going to Urgent Care for some relief. Still saying pinched nerve. If the muscle relaxers and pain pills don't fix things in a few days, go see primary care.
Go to Primary Care, he gives me stronger muscle relaxer, same pain pill. X-rays and PT scheduled, though an MRI is pending if these don't fix things. An ice storm delayed my first visit to the PT center, which then gave me the latest news:
I'm going to be going twice a week. For however long it takes. I'm getting the nice warm wrap and tens unit. 15 to 20 minutes at a time... But that's after I get through exercises and being put in traction for both my neck and my back. It seems something in my mid back is also causing some of my finger numbness.
This has been my month, dealing with this pain...
36Sakerfalcon
>35 gilroy: Oh no, that really sucks. I'm glad you have a treatment regimen planned, but it sounds like it will be a long and painful road to recovery. I hope you get the best of care.
37haydninvienna
>35 gilroy: Getting old sucks: hooboy, yes. But still better than the alternative. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
38clamairy
>35 gilroy: Oh, I am so sorry!
:o(
Can you alternate heat and cold at home to loosen things up between PT sessions?
:o(
Can you alternate heat and cold at home to loosen things up between PT sessions?
39gilroy
>36 Sakerfalcon: I fortunately got in with my favorite physical torturer, whom I dealt with the last time I had a bad pinched nerve... 6.5 years ago. In fact, that's where most of my already known stretches came from. Right now, holding a book or even an ereader is difficult, since the hand goes to sleep and I can't tell if it's the nerve or just in the position for too long. LOL
>37 haydninvienna: Thank you!
>38 clamairy: I've been doing the heat and cold at home, when work doesn't have me running between buildings. Plus continuing my stretches I already know.
>37 haydninvienna: Thank you!
>38 clamairy: I've been doing the heat and cold at home, when work doesn't have me running between buildings. Plus continuing my stretches I already know.
40hfglen
>35 gilroy: Back in the day we used to have a unit secretary (Noble by name and noble by nature) whose favourite saying was "Getting old isn't for cissies". I never thought to ask her how she felt about the alternative. Get well soon.
41gilroy
Mechanical Failure. Please Restart Your Warship by Joe Zieja
Narrator Joe Zieja
Series Epic Failure
Start Date 03/03/2021 Finish 03/19/2021
-- Oh, this one is amusing. Up there with the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers.
-- More thoughts to come
Narrator Joe Zieja
Series Epic Failure
Start Date 03/03/2021 Finish 03/19/2021
-- Oh, this one is amusing. Up there with the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers.
-- More thoughts to come
43gilroy
>43 gilroy: Torturous. Though I'm down to just tingly fingers and a thumb that sometimes feels like it was dipped in glue and trying to use it as such.
44Tane
>3 gilroy: I'm probably coming at this poll a little late (like 2 months late) - but interesting nonetheless. (and I like the t-shirt you posted in February... I could use one like it).
I hope the PT isn't too bad.
I hope the PT isn't too bad.
45gilroy
Communication Failure by Joe Zieja
Narrator Joe Zieja
Series Epic Failure
Start Date 03/20/2021 Finish 04/06/2021
Narrator Joe Zieja
Series Epic Failure
Start Date 03/20/2021 Finish 04/06/2021
47gilroy
Project ELE by Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels
Series ELE
Start Date 02/01/2021 End Date 03/25/2021
Thoughts:
-- I'm not normally this much of a grammar nazi, but the punctuation is throwing me out of the story. It just doesn't allow the story to flow right. Word Choice is a touch of a question sometimes too. Click instead of Clique was the big one I noticed.
-- The plot builds and builds and builds and builds … and then you come to a cliff with a rope bridge to the next book. There is NO ENDING! It just stops.
-- I feel like they tried to smash too many plots into one book. Too much into one book. The join the shelter plot. The strange changes to people plot. The conspiracy regarding the changes plot. The broken family plot. This could probably been broken out into 3 books easy. It would allow for a better world build and, frankly, stronger characters.
-- Forced romance in a book that probably didn't need it. (Love at first sight. Sigh) Though at least they didn't go true triangle as the other two primary males in the story were a close friend and an enemy. Doesn't help that the enemy wants the main character.
-- The characters feel very thin to me, like nebulous clouds of concept rather than solid people. One of the primary questionable characters is just a stereotype villain with the sneer and the unsettling looks. Love interest makes main character go all melty, also stereotypical.
-- This is a long running series from what I see, but this is the last book of this series I'll be attempting.
Series ELE
Start Date 02/01/2021 End Date 03/25/2021
Thoughts:
-- I'm not normally this much of a grammar nazi, but the punctuation is throwing me out of the story. It just doesn't allow the story to flow right. Word Choice is a touch of a question sometimes too. Click instead of Clique was the big one I noticed.
-- The plot builds and builds and builds and builds … and then you come to a cliff with a rope bridge to the next book. There is NO ENDING! It just stops.
-- I feel like they tried to smash too many plots into one book. Too much into one book. The join the shelter plot. The strange changes to people plot. The conspiracy regarding the changes plot. The broken family plot. This could probably been broken out into 3 books easy. It would allow for a better world build and, frankly, stronger characters.
-- Forced romance in a book that probably didn't need it. (Love at first sight. Sigh) Though at least they didn't go true triangle as the other two primary males in the story were a close friend and an enemy. Doesn't help that the enemy wants the main character.
-- The characters feel very thin to me, like nebulous clouds of concept rather than solid people. One of the primary questionable characters is just a stereotype villain with the sneer and the unsettling looks. Love interest makes main character go all melty, also stereotypical.
-- This is a long running series from what I see, but this is the last book of this series I'll be attempting.
48pgmcc
>47 gilroy: I feel your frustration. Whatever about the plot spaghettie, using "Click" for "Clique" just demonstrates the author knows what a clique is but always thought it was spelled, "click"! :-)
Are you sure it was not written by an AI?
I would be annoyed as hell with a book like that.
Are you sure it was not written by an AI?
I would be annoyed as hell with a book like that.
49-pilgrim-
>48 pgmcc: Voice recognition software could also be a possible explanation.
I know most people in the GD are tolerant of the weird language in my posts when I don't spot how the AutoCorrect on my phone has mangled what I wrote (as my vision sometimes struggles with the screen).
It makes me wonder what some independent authors are using to write with.
Why everyone is so confident that they don't need a proofreader, I don't know.
I know most people in the GD are tolerant of the weird language in my posts when I don't spot how the AutoCorrect on my phone has mangled what I wrote (as my vision sometimes struggles with the screen).
It makes me wonder what some independent authors are using to write with.
Why everyone is so confident that they don't need a proofreader, I don't know.
50pgmcc
>49 -pilgrim-: Rpoof reiders only waist time and cost mnoey. Why wood anyone use one?
51gilroy
>48 pgmcc: Well, it was coauthored, so I would expect better when two people are writing/reading it. To for two, click for clique, and I know there were a few more that were just "wait, wut?" type moments.
Then there's the whole dialogue attribution: "I have to go." I say twisting my hair.
They did this A LOT. The lack of commas was very jarring.
Then there's the whole dialogue attribution: "I have to go." I say twisting my hair.
They did this A LOT. The lack of commas was very jarring.
52gilroy
System Failure by Joe Zieja
Narrator Joe Zieja
Series Epic Failure
Start Date 04/06/2021 Finish 04/24/2021
Narrator Joe Zieja
Series Epic Failure
Start Date 04/06/2021 Finish 04/24/2021
54gilroy
Small Favor by Jim Butcher
Series Dresden Files
Start 05/14/2021 End 05/30/2021
-- I admit, I'm spacing this out for my own enjoyment. I also know I'm WAY behind. Do you know how hard it is to avoid spoilers for this series?!
Series Dresden Files
Start 05/14/2021 End 05/30/2021
-- I admit, I'm spacing this out for my own enjoyment. I also know I'm WAY behind. Do you know how hard it is to avoid spoilers for this series?!
55gilroy
Damia by Anne McCaffery
Series Tower and the Hive
Start Date 01/11/2021 End Date 05/14/2021
Thoughts:
-- Being that this is the second book in the series and I've not read the first, I have to temper some of my negatives until I read the first. If I read the first.
-- Liking the cats, almost all the characters are annoying.
-- There's a lot of time skipping. It feels more like a back story than an actual book so far and I'm more than half way in.
-- the book seemed fine until about 50 pages from the end, then it hit on a whole story line that made me squirm.He was 30 years her SENIOR! and he'd diapered her and helped raise her. How is that not in any way squicky?
-- The whole alien invasion thing feels like it could be a book all on its own.
-- Not sure I want to read the whole series. There is a notable use of big words just to use big words. The setting doesn't work for me. The world building is haphazard. It's definitely an Anne McCaffery book. But not my taste from her writings.
Series Tower and the Hive
Start Date 01/11/2021 End Date 05/14/2021
Thoughts:
-- Being that this is the second book in the series and I've not read the first, I have to temper some of my negatives until I read the first. If I read the first.
-- Liking the cats, almost all the characters are annoying.
-- There's a lot of time skipping. It feels more like a back story than an actual book so far and I'm more than half way in.
-- the book seemed fine until about 50 pages from the end, then it hit on a whole story line that made me squirm.
-- The whole alien invasion thing feels like it could be a book all on its own.
-- Not sure I want to read the whole series. There is a notable use of big words just to use big words. The setting doesn't work for me. The world building is haphazard. It's definitely an Anne McCaffery book. But not my taste from her writings.
56MrsLee
>54 gilroy: Glad you are enjoying it. :)
57gilroy
The Cylon's Secret by Craig Shaw Gardner
Series Battlestar Galactica
Start Date 05/30/2021 End Date 06/19/2021
Thoughts:
-- The description and the actual novel really don't align well.
-- Of the three that I've read, this was the worst of the updated Battlestar Galactica books to date. Now I've not read Unity, but the others were much stronger plot and character wise than this one.
-- I feel like they shoe horned in a named character from the TV show just so people would recognize them. They could have used anyone other thanTom Zarek as the raider in question and it would have worked just as well.
-- The wholecompanions versus Cylons distinction got confusing toward the end of the book. Like we have a bunch of robots stomping around.
-- It was nice to learn more about Tigh and Adama, their past. I felt like some was also dropped as things they could write additional books about without doing a huge info dump on their backstories.
-- Overall, I'd be okay with telling people to skip this one with regard to the rest of the series.
Series Battlestar Galactica
Start Date 05/30/2021 End Date 06/19/2021
Thoughts:
-- The description and the actual novel really don't align well.
-- Of the three that I've read, this was the worst of the updated Battlestar Galactica books to date. Now I've not read Unity, but the others were much stronger plot and character wise than this one.
-- I feel like they shoe horned in a named character from the TV show just so people would recognize them. They could have used anyone other than
-- The whole
-- It was nice to learn more about Tigh and Adama, their past. I felt like some was also dropped as things they could write additional books about without doing a huge info dump on their backstories.
-- Overall, I'd be okay with telling people to skip this one with regard to the rest of the series.
58gilroy
The Requiem Shark by Nicholas Griffin
Start 06/19/2021 End 07/26/2021
Thoughts
-- This one has sat a while, figured I'd get to reading it.
-- Within the first two paragraphs, purple prose and an author trying to show off big words when lesser would do. Ugh. Suspect I'm tending toward a dud on this one. It has to the end of the chapter to impress me or I'm done.
-- It took a while to get used to the third person omniscient point of view, and it threw me off for a good quarter of the book, because it wasn't done well for like 10 chapters. Though once it settled in, it was okay.
-- I'm not into historical fiction and this one tried to stay rather close to the facts. It read dry in places, but also had some decent scenes. It read too much of exposition and not enough of dialogue or action.
-- More thoughts to come.
Start 06/19/2021 End 07/26/2021
Thoughts
-- This one has sat a while, figured I'd get to reading it.
-- Within the first two paragraphs, purple prose and an author trying to show off big words when lesser would do. Ugh. Suspect I'm tending toward a dud on this one. It has to the end of the chapter to impress me or I'm done.
-- It took a while to get used to the third person omniscient point of view, and it threw me off for a good quarter of the book, because it wasn't done well for like 10 chapters. Though once it settled in, it was okay.
-- I'm not into historical fiction and this one tried to stay rather close to the facts. It read dry in places, but also had some decent scenes. It read too much of exposition and not enough of dialogue or action.
-- More thoughts to come.
59gilroy
Rulers of Darkness by Steven Spruill
Hemophage
Start 07/26/2021 End 09/04/2021
Thoughts -
-- This was an interesting take on the whole vampire idea. Brought out some differences and having one hunting the others was not really new. Nor was trying to keep family in line.
-- The whole how to deal with the humans regarding the vampire secret thing seemed overdone in many of these books. This book struggled with the same question without a good answer.
Hemophage
Start 07/26/2021 End 09/04/2021
Thoughts -
-- This was an interesting take on the whole vampire idea. Brought out some differences and having one hunting the others was not really new. Nor was trying to keep family in line.
-- The whole how to deal with the humans regarding the vampire secret thing seemed overdone in many of these books. This book struggled with the same question without a good answer.
60gilroy
Artifacts by Mary Anna Evans
Narrator Cassandra Campbell
Series Faye Longchampe
Start 03/26/2021 End 07/30/2021
Thoughts:
-- This is definitely a "in media res" type book. You're thrown into the action with little understanding of the character and learn tidbits as you go. There has been some slower beats, yet the info given seems to come as info dumps.
-- It seems like an intriguing mystery in a different part of the usual haunts of the south. Have to see where it goes
-- There's built into the story a feel of the racial tensions that are gripping the world we live in. Faye is part native American, the prime suspect is a black man, the sheriff is white and accused of racism during an older investigation, and the actual culprit played all that off people.
-- When we first met the person who they revealed as the culprit, something about the character just didn't sit well with me. Probably didn't help that he was a politician.
Narrator Cassandra Campbell
Series Faye Longchampe
Start 03/26/2021 End 07/30/2021
Thoughts:
-- This is definitely a "in media res" type book. You're thrown into the action with little understanding of the character and learn tidbits as you go. There has been some slower beats, yet the info given seems to come as info dumps.
-- It seems like an intriguing mystery in a different part of the usual haunts of the south. Have to see where it goes
-- There's built into the story a feel of the racial tensions that are gripping the world we live in. Faye is part native American, the prime suspect is a black man, the sheriff is white and accused of racism during an older investigation, and the actual culprit played all that off people.
-- When we first met the person who they revealed as the culprit, something about the character just didn't sit well with me.
61clamairy
>60 gilroy: And? It looks interesting. Archeology! Do you recommend it?
62gilroy
>61 clamairy: I'm still processing my thoughts. Give me a few. It has a lot of loose threads that bundle toward the end.
It's ... interesting.
It's ... interesting.
64gilroy
The Cold Between by Elizabeth Bonesteel
Read by Katharine Mangold
Start 08/25/2021 End 09/15/2021
-- Oh my, the dialogue is stilted, the action meh, and I'm really NOT liking this narrator.
-- Um, you don't get a narrator who doesn't understand military jargon to read a military sci fi novel. It's En-sin, not En-Sign... *face palm*
-- I'm 30% into the book and seriously thinking I'm going to drop it, mostly because the narrator just is not working for me. I'm hoping if I try to read the physical book it will be better, but I'm not holding my breath.
Read by Katharine Mangold
Start 08/25/2021 End 09/15/2021
-- Oh my, the dialogue is stilted, the action meh, and I'm really NOT liking this narrator.
-- Um, you don't get a narrator who doesn't understand military jargon to read a military sci fi novel. It's En-sin, not En-Sign... *face palm*
-- I'm 30% into the book and seriously thinking I'm going to drop it, mostly because the narrator just is not working for me. I'm hoping if I try to read the physical book it will be better, but I'm not holding my breath.
65gilroy
Dungeon Desolation by Dakota Krout
Narrated by Vikas Adam
Series Divine Dungeon
Start 09/16/2021 End 10/08/2021
Narrated by Vikas Adam
Series Divine Dungeon
Start 09/16/2021 End 10/08/2021
66gilroy
This years mega plot line has finally appeared!
We put our house on the market in early September. Signed on the contract to sell it last week.
This morning we got informed that our offer was approved to buy our new house.
Closer to work, nicer neighborhood, more room to work. Split level. 1.5 car garage. (They claim it's a two car garage. Yeah, only if you have two Smart Cars.)
Now we start into the scramble to move. And have it done before Thanksgiving.
We put our house on the market in early September. Signed on the contract to sell it last week.
This morning we got informed that our offer was approved to buy our new house.
Closer to work, nicer neighborhood, more room to work. Split level. 1.5 car garage. (They claim it's a two car garage. Yeah, only if you have two Smart Cars.)
Now we start into the scramble to move. And have it done before Thanksgiving.
68-pilgrim-
>66 gilroy: Congratulations! That should keep you busy.
69tardis
>66 gilroy: Congrats! Although I had a moment when you said "done before Thanksgiving" because in Canada, that's this coming Monday!
70gilroy
>69 tardis: Oh! No, United States Thanksgiving, definitely.
71clamairy
>66 gilroy: WOOHOO! Congrats, and best of luck making it all happen.
72Bookmarque
Congrats on the new digs! Moving is a pain in many ways, but it can be fun and adventurous, too.
74Karlstar
>66 gilroy: Congrats and good luck! Moving is a pain.
75NorthernStar
Congratulations! And I had the same first thought about Thanksgiving as tardis.
76Sakerfalcon
>66 gilroy: Congratulations! That's great news! I hope your new house will soon feel like a home.
77gilroy
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Narrator Greg Newbern
Start 10/11/2021 End 10/18/2021
-- Yes, I'm just now reading this classic. I slacked on a lot of the classics when I was younger... Don't judge.
-- Fascinating.
Narrator Greg Newbern
Start 10/11/2021 End 10/18/2021
-- Yes, I'm just now reading this classic. I slacked on a lot of the classics when I was younger... Don't judge.
-- Fascinating.
78MrsLee
>77 gilroy: No judgement, but I hope you enjoy the journey. :)
79gilroy
The subtle art of not giving a F by Mark Manson
Read by Roger Wayne
Start 10/19/2021 End 10/22/2021
--Definitely some pop psychology stuff. But some buried gems if you watch/listen for them.
Read by Roger Wayne
Start 10/19/2021 End 10/22/2021
--Definitely some pop psychology stuff. But some buried gems if you watch/listen for them.
80gilroy
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Narrator Paul Boehmer
Series Night Angel
Start 10/25/2021 end 11/10/2021
-- Already to Chapter 18 and this feels like someone just created the backstory as the book.
Narrator Paul Boehmer
Series Night Angel
Start 10/25/2021 end 11/10/2021
-- Already to Chapter 18 and this feels like someone just created the backstory as the book.
81gilroy
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Series Old Man's War
Start 11/26/2021 End 12/15/2021
Thoughts
-- The opening is not promising to me. I've read a page and I'm not excited to get into the book.
-- I'm more than 80% through. I admit, once I got past the initial opening, this book has just rolled by. So much I can't believe I'm this close to the end.
Series Old Man's War
Start 11/26/2021 End 12/15/2021
Thoughts
-- The opening is not promising to me. I've read a page and I'm not excited to get into the book.
-- I'm more than 80% through. I admit, once I got past the initial opening, this book has just rolled by. So much I can't believe I'm this close to the end.
82gilroy
Wolves of the Northern Rift by Jon Messenger
Series Magic & Machinery
Start 12/15/2021 End
Thoughts
-- I'm only a few pages in and I already have this sense that a good editor would have tightened a good chunk of this prose.
-- Completed version in the 2022 thread
Series Magic & Machinery
Start 12/15/2021 End
Thoughts
-- I'm only a few pages in and I already have this sense that a good editor would have tightened a good chunk of this prose.
-- Completed version in the 2022 thread
83gilroy
Please join me at my new thread as I attempt to get back into my reading habit:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338158
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338158
84Karlstar
>81 gilroy: Glad you enjoyed that one. I thought it was pretty darn good.
85gilroy
>84 Karlstar: It actually did end up being a fun, interesting book. I think it helped that I went in with no expectations and no thoughts other than I want to read some science fiction.
86Tane
>58 gilroy: you’re the only other person I know that has read this book. I had high hopes when I read it years ago, but they quickly fell down to big disappointments. Should’ve been better.
