July reading

[The Red Wolf]

reading Heir of Autumn & the blood knight

Ah the Blood Knight. Now there is another example of a series that I can't wait for the next book. For me its book five in the crown of stars series, a series where just when you think ugg not another 600 page book an interesting plot line picks up and its back on. Then a co-worker gave me a box of old paperbacks with a few interesting books among the junk.

[beniowa]

What did you think of the ending? I don't mind an ambiguous ending, but damn. I felt like Alaerien felt about Hyperion upthread.

It didn't bother me too much surprisingly.

SPOILER: Brasyl

Part of it may have been McDonald's style of jumping to the next /timelime and leaving the plot hanging. Mostly though I think it was the nature of the infinite universes and of the war between the Order and the Rebels. The sheer scope of the conflict is far beyond the capability of a single book and the characters within it. And maybe that's McDonald's point. The war and consequences are too large, too distant to grasp. What's really important are the beliefs and actions of the individual characters.

[Caligula_K]

I'm currently reading The Jewish War by Josephus (Penguin paperback). It's the story from the birth of Herod until the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in 71 A.D. Josephus calls the war the greatest conflict of his time, which prompts him to write it's story.

The introduction by the original translator drips with contempt for Josephus (a Jewish defector), and his won shortcomings in prefering the New Testament over Josephus and his unwillingness to concede that the NT may not be entirely true.

I also have Lynch's Locke Lamora lined up, as well as Bakker's Prince Nothing.

A very interesting- and most accurate- history. Just watch for Josephus trying to cover his ass a bit- he wants the moral high ground and distorts a bit to make it so. But that introduction sounds like crap- too bad, because I have an older penguin edition and its introduction is very informative. May I reccomend, after you're done, Martin Goodman's Rome and Jerusalem, a truly fascinating comparison of the two cultures and the reasons their relations become so dramatic, leading to the rise of true anti-semitism when the Christians came along. Very well researched, very well written, and will leave you slightly depressed as you ponder how much of our modern world is based on coincidencental events (essentially chance) that took place two thousand years ago.

As for me- Just finished The Gap Into Vision: Forbidden Knowledge by Stephen Donaldson. I haven't read Covenant, but I'm really enjoying the series so far, especially in this one where the scope widens and a real plot emerges. Superb characterization, and I'll definitely be reading the third.

Am now reading volume III of Theodor Mommsen's History of Rome: From the Union of Italy to the Conquest of Carthage and the Greek States. I love Roman history all over, but it is from here (particularly from the Gracchi, actually, but I do love the second punic war) to the third century crisis that my heart is exceedingly fond of.

To read (other than the final two volumes of History of Rome and the Gap)

Neil Gaiman- American Gods

China Mieville- Iron Council

Colleen McCullough- Caesar's Women

Donaldson- Lord Foul's Bane

Titus Livius- History of Rome, Books VI-X- union of Italy

Oh yes, and Harry Potter, of course, and the new Lynch too if I feel like ordering it from overseas... For now I think I can wait till the Canadian release.

[Antonius Pius]

A very interesting- and most accurate- history. Just watch for Josephus trying to cover his ass a bit- he wants the moral high ground and distorts a bit to make it so. But that introduction sounds like crap- too bad, because I have an older penguin edition and its introduction is very informative.

I have the first edition penguin (published in 1954 I believe), the translator was born in 1874 or something. He hadn't quite gotten around to being able to doubt the gospels. I later bought a more recent penguin edition (the original was falling apart), and it didn't have the lame introduction any more.

It's certainly true that Josephus can be slippery at times. Also, he's very ingratiating to the Romans, Titus in particular. Gets annoying after some time.

May I reccomend, after you're done, Martin Goodman's Rome and Jerusalem, a truly fascinating comparison of the two cultures and the reasons their relations become so dramatic, leading to the rise of true anti-semitism when the Christians came along. Very well researched, very well written, and will leave you slightly depressed as you ponder how much of our modern world is based on coincidencental events (essentially chance) that took place two thousand years ago.

Thanks, I'll be checking this one out, you can be sure.

Am now reading volume III of Theodor Mommsen's History of Rome: From the Union of Italy to the Conquest of Carthage and the Greek States. I love Roman history all over, but it is from here (particularly from the Gracchi, actually, but I do love the second punic war) to the third century crisis that my heart is exceedingly fond of.

Mommsen's a good read, but be careful of the classicistic traps he's laid out. A bit like Gibbon in that respect.

For the Second Punic War, see Adrian Goldsworthy's Fall of Carthage if you haven't already. it's about all three the Punic Wars, but the second is of course pre-eminent.

[pat5150]

I'm currently reading Ngugi wa Thiong'o's Wizard of the Crow and James Barclay's Cry of the Newborn.

Patrick

[Alaerien]

SPOILER: Hyperion

Fall of Hyperion is the ending... I can't really understand that complaint. Now, if someone complained about the goofy "We're off to see the wizard!" final scene I'd be right there with them.

SPOILER: Hyperion

When I got to the end of Hyperion, expecting to find the end of the Shrike pilgrimage, I turned over the page and found a teaser scene which takes place almost 250 years later with a different cast of characters. Hence my wails of outrage. I now realise that this is in fact a teaser for Endymion - why there's a teaser for book three in my copy of book one I don't know - so I suppose I'd better go get a copy of The Fall of Hyperion.

[Ser Hot Pie]

I just finshed Blaze, the new "Richard Bachman" book. It was OK. Decent enough page turner, like most King, but nothing really gripping about it. Predictable ending. Also, there is an unrelated King short story at the end called "Memory" which was truly 'meh.'

I'm just starting Cornwell's Winter King.

[Mr. X]

I finished Expiration Date and moved right along into Earthquake Weather, both by Tim Powers.

Expiration Date was flat out awesome. Powers is now contending for the title of "My Favorite Writer." Earthquake Weather is alright so far (I'm only ~50 pages in), though I'm yet to be convinced that it's a natural conclusion to Last Call and Expiration Date rather than one of those "Hey, it might be a cool idea to tie those two books together with a sequel!"

[Daeric]

Well I just saw my Dad for the first time since Christmas the other day so I got my delayed birthday present off him. Winterbirth by B. Ruckley. Enjoying it so far a decent book by a new author.

[Caligula_K]

Thanks, I'll be checking this one out, you can be sure.

Mommsen's a good read, but be careful of the classicistic traps he's laid out. A bit like Gibbon in that respect.

For the Second Punic War, see Adrian Goldsworthy's Fall of Carthage if you haven't already. it's about all three the Punic Wars, but the second is of course pre-eminent.

Goldsworthy has never dissapointed me before, so I'll definitely be checking that one out. In turn, if you haven't read it, I reccomend Hannibal by Theodore Ayrault Dodge, which, while biased in favour of Hannibal and against Publius Cornelius Scipio Jr., is about as comprehensive a military study of the war that we're going to get.

Can I ask you to elaborate on the classicistic traps that you feel are present in Mommsen? I know what you mean in respect to Decline and Fall, but while Mommsen does seem to have his flaws, I find them different from Gibson's.

[Deornoth]

I finished reading 'The Year of Our War' (which is great by the way! ) and then finished reading 'Saturn Returns' (Sean Williams) over the weekend. 'Saturn Returns' was a little too 'hard sci-fi' for my taste but once I got past that it was a gripping well written tale (bodes well for the rest of the series).

I've reviewed both books Here and I'm giving away a copy of 'Saturn Returns' if anyone fancies it

[Larry.]

I'm currently reading Ngugi wa Thiong'o's Wizard of the Crow and James Barclay's Cry of the Newborn.

Patrick

I'm really curious to know what you'll make of the end of the Thiong'o, Pat. It was a very emotional one and fitting with the story and what the story is meant to tell to its readers.

[Yana]

Just finished Amy Tan's Bonesetter's Daughter. Very nice, light and interesting book. Started History of Love (Nicole Krauss), but it's too early to tell what I really think about it.

Of course, can't wait for the new Harry Potter. Planning to start Locke Lamora as well.

[The Much Hated Boz]

SPOILER: Hyperion

When I got to the end of Hyperion, expecting to find the end of the Shrike pilgrimage, I turned over the page and found a teaser scene which takes place almost 250 years later with a different cast of characters. Hence my wails of outrage. I now realise that this is in fact a teaser for Endymion - why there's a teaser for book three in my copy of book one I don't know - so I suppose I'd better go get a copy of The Fall of Hyperion.

Ah... see that i can understand. Why it doesn't give a preview for Fall of Hyperion in the back of the book instead is something of a question. If I had not known about Fall of Hyperion and instead read the Endymion preview thinking that was the next book in the series I too would've been pissed, given what the first few sentences of Endymion say. However I bought Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion together so I didn't have that problem. I don't think this needs to be spoilerized but someone please tell me if I am wrong.

Anyhow... I've only skimmed the first page of Winter King thus far, but I love the first sentence. It's so blunt.

[WhiteQueen]

I just started Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje. As usual - haunting parallels, echoes, reflections across time and place. The writing is beautiful, the subject is his usual - passion, love, memory, time, violence, connections between seemingly unconnected events and characters. I can't wait to keep reading.

[Mauvka]

I'm about 4/5 done with Red Seas Under Red Skies and am enjoying it enormously! Though, the thought did hit me recently that when I do finish, there won't be a new Gentlemen Bastards book for a whole other year. I'll either be reading the Mistborn book or the Carrie Vaughn books next; either way, July is looking to be very much a light entertainment kind of month.

[Antonius Pius]

Can I ask you to elaborate on the classicistic traps that you feel are present in Mommsen? I know what you mean in respect to Decline and Fall, but while Mommsen does seem to have his flaws, I find them different from Gibson's.

Just the usual things: letting his neo-classicistic outlook seep through. In Gibbon it was very much hatred of the church/christianity that lead to a distorted view. Mommsen has more of a certain outlook, and he wishes everything to fit into that mold. Also, a lot of his conclusions have been abandoned today because of simple scholarly progress (new discoveries, new interpretations).

[Arbor Gold]

I'm just starting Cornwell's Winter King.

Me too. I'm having a hard time getting into it (I say that about every book I start) but I'm only on pg 34 and lately I have not been dedicating a lot of time to reading.

[kcf]

I just finished Bangkok Haunts by John Burdett. If you haven't read any of Burdett's fiction, I strongly encourage it.

In Bangkok Haunts ghosts, mysticism, and even sorcery clash with the world of prostitution, pornography, and poverty when a horrific snuff film surfaces. Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep guides the reader into the brothels and jungles of Thailand - offering a subtle criticism of the West and its impact on the East through a dark, witty humor that blatantly challenges our basic assumptions - this is Thai noir, and it doesn't get much better than this. (full review at FBS)

[The White Bull]

I just finished reading "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. Loved it, but it was so bleak and depressing. I wonder how much longer the boy survived?

I'm still working on "A Feast For Crows" (yeah, I know) and then next I'll get back to "Vellum" and "Ink" I suppose until RSuRS is out here in the US.