What book did you just read and how was it?

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2148 posts

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#2166243 23-Jan-2019 13:27

I read lots of books I just never think to comment on them.
Mat Rogers' Jason King series of three is under weigh ATM. Pretty implausible, silly action type thing featuring a Delta force dude righting wrongs in Australia, easy read and entertaining. Good beach fare.

I read Ready Player One some months ago. Entertaining book, easy read, better than the movie.

Anderle's Feared by Hell an urban fantasy easy read, action oriented pretty dumb. Probably won't read any sequels.

The Passage series now a tv series... liked the first book, the others less, the tv show is good so far.

Educated by Tara Westover, quality read about a kid raised a bit feral who educates herself. Recommended.

My Brilliant Friend, series, about 2 girls growing up in Italy. Really enjoyed it, watching the subtitled tv show by the same name. Recommended.

The Last of Us by Rob Ewing. End of days type book about a group of kids. Excellent read, recommended. Might have mentioned this one before.

I read them on iPad and delete as I go so can't remember the rest.

Lizard1977

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#2592643 28-Oct-2020 09:52

I just finished reading Neuromancer by William Gibson. This has been on my reading list for so long, often cited as a seminal work (and famous for coining the word "cyberspace" and creating the cyberpunk genre, I believe).

However, I found it quite difficult to read and follow. Part of that may be the fact that I read most of it while sick with glandular fever, and I struggled to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes. I'm sure there is some deeper meaning to the story, but I probably missed it. All I really got was the basic story of Case and the job he is recruited for, to do with an AI. Gibson writes in the style of diving into a world and letting the reader catch up, almost as if the background was given in a previous book. I found it frustrating though. I don't need everything spelled out for me, but so much of the world seems brushed aside or left for the reader to just guess at.

Continuing with my plan to read some classics, I've also picked up Isaac Asimov's Foundation novel. I'm hoping that will be a little more enjoyable to read, especially with the prospect of a TV adaptation on the horizon.

JayADee

2148 posts

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#2592652 28-Oct-2020 10:14

I've been reading a bunch of dog related books because my 16 month old dog is leash reactive to dogs (frustrated and a tad nervous, not aggressive). The one I am on now is BKLN Manners https://www.amazon.com/BKLN-Manners-Positive-Training-Solutions/dp/1621871258

mdf

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#2592702 28-Oct-2020 11:57

I'm currently reading Titan, a biography of Rockefeller. Lots of discussion about Standard Oil, vertically integrated monopolies and business practices. First published in 1998 so predates Big Tech. But *lots* of parallels to the current tech giants.

Before that I read Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir. It's not like anything else I have read, but I really enjoyed it. And was pleased that I enjoyed it before finding out the author was a Kiwi which - as I understand it - I am obliged to do by New Zealand law.

afe66

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#2592719 28-Oct-2020 12:44

If you are open to reading older books ie 1994, I can recommend "The coming plague - newly emerging diseases in a world out of balance" by Laurie Garrett. https://www.lauriegarrett.com/the-coming-plague

Some of the hard science might be out of date but historically interesting to read about WHO and other groups running around in africa and other places tracking diseases around.

Mentions history of the emergence of Lassa fever, Marburg, TSS, Various harmorrhagic fevers, Ebola, HIV

MikeAqua

7779 posts

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#2593333 29-Oct-2020 14:26

I'm currently reading The Trouble With Peace by Joe Abercrombie. I love his books. He blends fantasy, gallows humour and adventure very well IMO.

Mike

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#2622193 15-Dec-2020 17:58

Stop Reading The News by Rolf Dobelli.

Highly recommended. Delves in easy, well-written prose into why your brain is no match for the news corporations and why news is mostly useless and unnecessary in any case.

I found it quite revelatory and am taking his advice. Give the book a read if you can.

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

k1w1k1d

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#2622195 15-Dec-2020 18:02

The Sentinel. Latest Jack Reacher book. Very good.

Geektastic

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#2622215 15-Dec-2020 19:02

MikeAqua:
I'm currently reading The Trouble With Peace by Joe Abercrombie. I love his books. He blends fantasy, gallows humour and adventure very well IMO.

Yes he writes nice books, but too slowly!!

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2622271 15-Dec-2020 22:59

This is an interesting page with lots of good titles. I don't usually like young adult books, but Ready Player One & Two were worth reading (I actually only listen to audiobooks nowadays). RPT was not quite so good as RTO, and the movie was definitely disappointing, but I find there are just aren't enough truly excellent books available to be able to ignore the likes of the Earnest Cline books.

It's a while since I last read Neuromancer, and I am having to think to differentiate the plot from Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive, or even aspects of other authors work like Neal Stephenson's outstanding Snow Crash but Lizard helped me out by mentioning the moon and an unpleasant AI, and it is now all coming back to me. The 'Sprall' trilogy are totally worth a read, and stand the test of time well.

The Foundation series is an epic undertaking. Especially if you read the prequals and sequels dealing with robot Daniel's development. I reread some of those early short stories recently and found I'd got some things wrong like that [SPOILER] Daniel was not the original robot that was able to read and manipulate human minds. Some of Asimov's work is maybe a wee bit dated, but they remain essential reading for every SiFi fan.

The Reacher books are one of the very few series that I tend to abandon what I am currently listening to when one becomes available. Sentinel's writing style was 'not quite' as good as previous Reacher titles, and I am not sure how much Lee Child helped his brother Andrew (I know they are both pen names). Jack seemed to be more wordy than usual in Sentinel, explaining himself and the reader more than we are used to. I still look forward to October 2021 and the next Reacher book.

The book I just finished was The Gun Seller by Hugh Lawrie, which was incredibly good. It is perhaps sadly ironic that John Le Carre has sadly just passed away, because Hugh use of Language is honestly right up there with Le Carre's, but Hugh Lawrie is a lot more funny.

Other authors who I would hesitate to recommend are Robert Galbraith (who we all know is actually J K Rowling), Iain Banks, Daniel Silver's Gabriel Allon books (another series that can cause me to abandon the book I am currently listening to), Mick Herron's Slough House series, Tom Cain, Barry Eisler (another BIG favourite), Dean Koontz (mainly his Jane Hawk series), Greg Hurwitz's Orphan X series, and lost more that I can't remember right now.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

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#2622291 16-Dec-2020 07:57

Someone wrote a book about Slough?! I wonder if they’ve ever been there? Truly a place to avoid. John Betjeman was spot on with “Come, friendly bombs, fall on Slough” I can tell you!

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2622313 16-Dec-2020 09:23

Geektastic: Someone wrote a book about Slough?! I wonder if they’ve ever been there? Truly a place to avoid. John Betjeman was spot on with “Come, friendly bombs, fall on Slough” I can tell you!

Hah! I didn't know the John Betjeman quote. It's the sort of thing Paul Henry might have said about Hamilton.

I wonder if authors use Slough's boring reputation deliberately? Rick Gervais made Slough the location for his The Office TV series for instance. In Mick Herron's case Slough House is where British intelligence officers who have _really_ messed up are sent. Sort of like being sent to Siberia.

Mick Herron's characters are all flawed being alcoholics, or have left secret documents on the Underground, or in one case, was framed for a mistake his nemesis made. Their leader is fat, deeply uncouth, and farts a lot, but is loyal to those who work for him despite his constantly taking the piss out of them. Like Le Carre and Hugh Lawrie, Herron has a wonderful way with words, and makes you laugh at some very dark situations. Check him out. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Mick Herron on Goodreads

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

landcruiserguy

765 posts

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#2622555 16-Dec-2020 11:23

Lizard1977:

I just finished reading Neuromancer by William Gibson. This has been on my reading list for so long, often cited as a seminal work (and famous for coining the word "cyberspace" and creating the cyberpunk genre, I believe).

However, I found it quite difficult to read and follow. Part of that may be the fact that I read most of it while sick with glandular fever, and I struggled to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes. I'm sure there is some deeper meaning to the story, but I probably missed it. All I really got was the basic story of Case and the job he is recruited for, to do with an AI. Gibson writes in the style of diving into a world and letting the reader catch up, almost as if the background was given in a previous book. I found it frustrating though. I don't need everything spelled out for me, but so much of the world seems brushed aside or left for the reader to just guess at.

Continuing with my plan to read some classics, I've also picked up Isaac Asimov's Foundation novel. I'm hoping that will be a little more enjoyable to read, especially with the prospect of a TV adaptation on the horizon.

This was on my reread list (along with Snow Crash) so that I could see if all the things that were predicted to come true have actually come true or not.

Foundation is a nice easy read if you have a free half hour.

landcruiserguy

765 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2622560 16-Dec-2020 11:32

I reread 1984 and I would recommend it to everyone. It's a short, easy to read and very wise book.

I read "How to change your mind" by Michael Polland. I had read some of his food books and listening to Joe Rogan peaked my interest in psychedelics. The title is a little confusing as I first thought it was how to change your mind about psychedelics. It's actually "How to transform your mind". Psychedelics are about to revolutionise the treatment of mental health (which is good because it needs improvement). Even Oz is getting on board with it.

It's not a book but a Netflix doco but I recently watched "Trial of the Chicago 7" It was a great watch and went into some of the cultural history of the 70s. This was related to the change your mind book because at the center of that swirling culture war was the Vietnam war, hippies and LSD.

The doco and book was interesting because I wasn't alive then so didn't know the history. I think it's relevant to the current day when we have to deal with fake news and trump\biden\whoever. It's important to note that while America seems broken and divided at the moment, it has been worse in the past and has recovered.

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2622715 16-Dec-2020 13:42

landcruiserguy: It's important to note that while America seems broken and divided at the moment, it has been worse in the past and has recovered.

That's actually quite profound and reassuring. I think I'll pass that on to some of my American buddies on the Adobe forums, if you don't mind me stealing it.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

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