what are you reading (thread 4)

[LouBarlow]

I'm addicted to the Chris Carter books at the moment and I don't know why - they are pretty much tripe, but I really find them entertaining for some reason - kinda like a sickly, sugary treat that you know is bad for you, yet as soon as you finish one you want another.

[statto]

I read a fair bit but don't often make recommendations here unless a book really impresses me.

The Martian by Andy Weir. Amazing book; proper "hard" sci-fi, though it's so plausible and it's set in such a near future potentially that it's hardly sci-fi at all. I picked it up this week and read it in a single sitting.

[rustybin]

Thanks. That's looks excellent, I've gone for it. Ł3.49 on Kindle

[LouBarlow]

Yeah I picked it up when it was on offer recently. Not gotten round to it yet. Too many damn video games to play!

[rustybin]

You still gotta read...

[LouBarlow]

Do the subtitles in games count as reading?

[rustybin]

Yes I believe they do.

[sleep4ever]

Originally Posted by LouBarlow

I'm addicted to the Chris Carter books at the moment and I don't know why - they are pretty much tripe, but I really find them entertaining for some reason - kinda like a sickly, sugary treat that you know is bad for you, yet as soon as you finish one you want another.

An appalling writer who tries to end every chapter on a cliffhanger.

And yet I keep reading them every time a new one comes out...

[LouBarlow]

Originally Posted by sleep4ever

An appalling writer who tries to end every chapter on a cliffhanger.

And yet I keep reading them every time a new one comes out...

I know!

It's like he tries to be as disgustingly violent in each one, to top his previous book. None of his characters have any personality - even after 6-7 books! Saying all that, I think his latest work is the most assured of the bunch.

[TonyG]

I totally agree regarding the Chris Carter novels. I've read them all in the last year or so. Strangely addictive despite the writing being very basic & the plots stolen from other sources. His debut, "Crufix Killer" was my favourite until his latest which, despite being a simplistic rip-off of Silence of the Lambs, remained entertaining throughout & is now my favourite.

I even pass them to my Mum who loves them too. She normally hates gory/nasty movies, but adores these!

I also agree with the comments above for The Martian. My favourite book of this year by a considerable margin. For what it lacks in characterisation, it more than makes up for with a multitude of scientific MacGyver moments that thrill yet remain believable throughout. I can't wait for the movie version as I'm curious how they are going to adapt it faithfully...

[Boink!]

Have been travelling on long train journeys because of work so have been working through the Harry Potter series. Up to the Half Blood Prince now, which was the last film I saw. Have all the characters & places in the book like they are as in the film.

[gjkendall]

I have just started the latest from Adam Nevill...have to say the first chapter left me feeling so tense..you could absolutely feel the panic the main character was going through!

[EdgeOfVictory]

I've been reading The Waste Lands by Stephen King - I started reading the Dark Tower books when I finished uni 10 years ago. Struggled through the first one, rushed through the 2nd and about half of the 3rd but never finished it (just kept putting it down and never picking it up again), so gone back to finish it off

[dunkle]

Originally Posted by statto

I read a fair bit but don't often make recommendations here unless a book really impresses me.

The Martian by Andy Weir. Amazing book; proper "hard" sci-fi, though it's so plausible and it's set in such a near future potentially that it's hardly sci-fi at all. I picked it up this week and read it in a single sitting.

Big Thanks

I tend to use this thread to stack up on a couple of books every now and then and based on your suggestion went for The Martian

Only just started but for "proper" Sci-Fi it feels very accesable and very good so far

[MovieMax]

Just started reading Ghost of the Well Souls by Jack L Chalker, the final novel in the Well World series.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by rustybin

I'm just over half-way through Pines by Blake Crouch.

It's readable, but only in a Lee Child sense. It thinks it's far cleverer than it is. It has been turned into a FOX TV show and I guarantee the show will lead us a merry dance and then get canceled without a conclusion.

This got far more interesting in the final quarter - enough so that I'll give the second book a go. Moved in a different direction to what I expected.

I noted this a while ago when I saw your post as I thought that it sounded interesting and a little different from my recent reads. Anyway, just finished it and imagine my surprise when the big reveal in the final chapter turned out to be very similar in concept to a book I read recently.

Like you said, it took a bit of a left turn near the end and I'll be reading the other two parts at some point, so thanks for the heads up.

[rustybin]

Glad you enjoyed it. I think I'll read the second when I've finished Cibola Burn, the fourth in the expanse series and absolutely brilliant.

[Guest 85850]

Just starting The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. Only started but cant wait to get into it, such an interesting subject and bright guy.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by rustybin

Glad you enjoyed it. I think I'll read the second when I've finished Cibola Burn, the fourth in the expanse series and absolutely brilliant.

That series is on my list as well. I liked Daniel Abraham's "Dagger & Coin" fantasy series, so I'm sure that I'll like The Expanse.

[dunkle]

Finished The Martian
Brilliant
Fist time I ever read anything like it
Anything similar that's so easily accessible.