what are you reading (thread 4) - Page 38

Steve Jackson · 16-07-2015, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Mither

I'm currently on Whitstable by Stephen Volk, the novella about Peter Cushing who's deep in mourning after the death of his beloved wife, and then a young boy begs for his help, because he's Van Helsing, right? The boy is being attacked by a real-life monster and reaches out to a hero, only Cushing isn't Van Helsing, he's a grieving, ageing man riddled with doubts. Really good stuff so far.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jackson

Oooh, I like the premise. Only �2.04 on Kindle too so I've grabbed it. I usually just download samples of recommendations on forums as reminders of which books to buy later on but as it's short I'll try and squeeze it in before I start on The Martian.

Thanks for the recommendation.

I ended up doing this the other way around. I went through The Martian which I loved, and now I've started Whitstable which I'm glad it quite short as my preorder for Ernest Cline's new book Armada has arrived on my Kindle. If it is only half as good as Ready Player One I'm going to love it.

dunkle · 16-07-2015, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jackson

I ended up doing this the other way around. I went through The Martian which I loved, and now I've started Whitstable which I'm glad it quite short as my preorder for Ernest Cline's new book Armada has arrived on my Kindle. If it is only half as good as Ready Player One I'm going to love it.

I was looking forward to armada as ready player one was brilliant but review in one my magazines sort of put me off. Will wait your thoughts

the_daddy · 18-07-2015, 21:53

Currently reading Cujo by Stephen King and thoroughly enjoying it. Surprisingly.

KeyserSoze · 19-07-2015, 15:17

Finally finished A Dance with Dragons, after like 6 months

That was a slog but was interesting to see how it lines up against the TV series.

Now reading Flowers for Algernon (short story version).

Steve Jackson · 19-07-2015, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_daddy

Currently reading Cujo by Stephen King and thoroughly enjoying it. Surprisingly.

Can I just ask, as it doesn't sound as if you expected to enjoy it, why did you start it in the first place?

the_daddy · 20-07-2015, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jackson

Can I just ask, as it doesn't sound as if you expected to enjoy it, why did you start it in the first place?

Trying to read all SK books. Really enjoyed it to be fair.

Steve Jackson · 20-07-2015, 16:07

Fair enough.

avid fan · 24-07-2015, 07:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Mither

I'm currently on Whitstable by Stephen Volk, the novella about Peter Cushing who's deep in mourning after the death of his beloved wife, and then a young boy begs for his help, because he's Van Helsing, right? The boy is being attacked by a real-life monster and reaches out to a hero, only Cushing isn't Van Helsing, he's a grieving, ageing man riddled with doubts. Really good stuff so far.

Isn't that Frightnight?

Jabbitt · 26-07-2015, 21:17

Anyone else enjoying Armada by Ernest Cline. I'm not sure if I can take the 80s referencing anymore? Anyone else feel like this?

I thought they were annoying in Ready Player One but I was enjoying the actual story and wanted to see it through. I'm not sure I can do it again.

KeyserSoze · 27-07-2015, 11:48

Currently reading Count Zero by William Gibson. Does anyone find it hard to follow? I find the writing style a bit difficult to follow. Don't if I'm just being dim, or not concentrating enough. I've read Neuromancer before and remember having similar issues, can't even remember what happened actually!

Steve Jackson · 29-07-2015, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by avid fan

Isn't that Frightnight?

No, not at all actually. The deviation from the suggested plot was really well done and I think it's a very fitting tribute to the actor.

adan.clinton · 30-07-2015, 09:47

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ,which is my best love when at school ,read many times .

umajets · 30-07-2015, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jabbitt

Anyone else enjoying Armada by Ernest Cline. I'm not sure if I can take the 80s referencing anymore? Anyone else feel like this?

I thought they were annoying in Ready Player One but I was enjoying the actual story and wanted to see it through. I'm not sure I can do it again.

I enjoyed Ready Player One but found Armada really hard to finish. Didn't care about any of the characters, found the 80s references tedious and smug this time around, and plot twists you can see a mile off. I'd say avoid.

dunkle · 30-07-2015, 16:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by umajets

I enjoyed Ready Player One but found Armada really hard to finish. Didn't care about any of the characters, found the 80s references tedious and smug this time around, and plot twists you can see a mile off. I'd say avoid.

Cheers
Was wanting to pick it up but reviews in SciFi Now and SFX put me off and the one review is pretty much spot on what you say

Eastlander · 30-07-2015, 19:53

I finished Ready Player One in a day.

Armada, not so much. Not finished it yet, and no real desire to pick it up. Not even close to as good yet. Borderline terrible so far to be honest. Really disappointed as was excited for it.

Jabbitt · 30-07-2015, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastlander

I finished Ready Player One in a day.

Armada, not so much. Not finished it yet, and no real desire to pick it up. Not even close to as good yet. Borderline terrible so far to be honest. Really disappointed as was excited for it.

Exactly how I feel. Read Ready Player One in a couple of days but Armada is really a slog for me. If referencing eighties stuff is all he can do, i'm not picking up and future books from Ernest Cline.

Sent from my Hudl 2 using Tapatalk

EdgeOfVictory · 31-07-2015, 12:34

I never understood all the love for Ready Player One. It came very highly recommended by some of my mates. I got through it pretty quickly but it's one of the worst things I've ever read, it was like bad fanfic.

This week I finished Filth by Irvine Welsh and got through Choke by Chuck Palahniuk - not sure what to go for next, thinking about Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk.

Jabbitt · 03-08-2015, 09:58

Right, given up on Armada. Its terrible! This review sums it up perfectly for me!

I just found "Seeking Perfection: The Unofficial Guide to Tremors" by Jonathan Melville this morning and shall be moving onto it promptly! I love the Tremors franchise!

rustybin · 15-08-2015, 00:56

I'm half way through Child 44 and it's excellent so far...

Just finished Tarkin by James Luceno and it was really interesting. For real Star Wars geeks it gives some deeper insight into the machinations of the Empire, and lots of behind the scenes information on the background of the movies.

LouBarlow · 15-08-2015, 04:06

I've started a Chuck Palahniuk season, and am really enjoying it, but I do find his almost lack abandon of punctuation a little off-putting. There are almost no commas in his work, or very minimal use, and not where they ought to be. Very strange style of writing. I get the whole 'short, sharp sentences' approach, but even short sentences need to be grammatically sound surely? (yes I appreciate my grammar may not be perfect, before anyone picks up on it and nit-picks, but I'm not an established author)