ian

Just catching up on the thread - glad you liked the game of thrones book. I'm on book two at the moment, so I'll be reading that one soon hopefully.

Tyrion Lannister is rapidly turning into one of my favourite characters ever. Should I be worried about this?

I know what you mean - all those books, and oh so long! I'm going to be some time over this.......but so far, it's been worth it!!

I would tend to read the book if I see the film first, even if I haven't enjoyed the film that much. I don't mind if the film differs from book as long as they don't change it too much. I enjoyed the LOTR films as stand alone films, but I thought that they got the tone of the books wrong, which are much lighter. I think if the film encourages you to read the book, that's not a bad thing.

Too. Much. Information. This thread has made my realise that I haven't remembered a dream I've had for ages. I'm sure I'm having them, but I'm just not retaining them. Not fair!!

It's very nice to have a book that you can completely immerse yourself in.

Game of Thrones - by George RR Martin. My thoughts I had avoided this, and other books like this for one reason. I was sick of reading books that wanted to be the new LOTR, and only getting poor imitations. So, when I first heard about this series, I didn't really pay any attention. The fact the the author had managed to get a "R.R" in his name just seemed to reinforce the Tolkien comparison. Then, while looking for a book for my Mother-in-law at the hospital, I found this in the waiting room. A quick look at the VERY Tolkien-esque maps in the front gave me a sense of foreboding, but I took it anyway. Ok. I was wrong! This book is simply epic. Great characters you can love and hate, a storyline that never gets boring or samey at any point in the 800 odd pages. I did promise myself to re-read all the Harry Potter books this year, but, I going to have to continue on with this. 5/5

I've read a few Robert Goddard, and do find him a bit hit and miss to be honest. I'd convinced myself that I had read this, but reading the synopsis, I realise I haven't. Great review, Alexi and another book on the wish list!

Watched The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas last night. I've not read the book, but my son was studying it in English (although for some reason they didn't finish it). Very difficult to watch the ending, but beautifully acted throughout.

It certainly seems to have improved since the mid-series break. I almost gave up on it just before that, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

She was one of the writers that kept me reading as a teenager - I wasn't quite 13 3/4 in 1982, but I wasn't far off, so I really identified with Adrian Mole.

Heaven can wait - Iron Maiden

I'm reading Game of Thrones at the moment, which when I picked it up, I would have said would have been it for the whole of April. But I'm charging through it - already 200 pages in. I think I may have re-discovered my love of both fantasy and sci-fi with my last two books, so I will hopefully be going in that direction once I've finished this.

Thanks - only a couple of chapters in, and my head is already spinning from all the characters! I have no idea why my last post had such big font.

I haven't been posting here what I am going to read - I've just been reviewing them when I've finished. However, I think I need to announce that I am today starting A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin, so it may be some time before I post again!

It's my birthday soon - guess what I'll be asking for!

No, couldn't get past the first chapter! Awful, yet hilarious!

The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons The mysterious Time Tombs are opening and the Shrike that has risen from them may well control the fate of all mankind. The Ousters are laying seige to the Hegemony of Man and the AIs we created have turned against us to build the Ultimate Intelligence; God. The God of Machines. His genesis could mean annihilation for man. Something is drawing the hegemony, the Ousters, the AIs, the entire universe to the Shrike. My thoughts. Where do I start? This is the continuation of the story started in Hyperion, following on where that book left off. I don't really want to say anything else about the story, as if you have read the first but not this, I don't want to spoil it for you. I'm actually at a loss for words - nothing I can say can convey just how good I think this book is. The story is great; the fight sequences are beleivable; the philosphical/religious dicussions between characters are credible and relevant. And most importantly - the questions you were left with from the first book are answered. This was a very satisfying book to read, in every sense of the word. Easily 5/5.

It's an interesting idea, and I was actually reading something along these lines on the BBC website only this lunchtime. Can't find it now (typical), but the gist of it was that we, as adults see things in children's books, even modern ones, that children won't necessarily get consciously, but will pick up sub-consciously. This is how young children learn a lot of the time anyway. They may not understand fully what an adult is saying, but will get the some of it from facial expression, tone etc. If I find the article - I'll post it

That's a very interesting question! I think I would have to agree that it's a disaster film rather than sci-fi - which would have been my initial response without thinking about it - 'cos it's set in space. Either way, it's a great film, and a testament to great writing, acting etc that a film can maintain your attention for the entire length of the film with only one person on screen for the majority of it.

The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey It starts with you waking on a Maine beach, naked, half-drowned and very, very cold. Your name is Daniel Hayes. At least, you think it is. That's the name on the insurance card you find in the BMW parked near you. How did you get here? And why? All you remember is a woman's face. So you set off to the only place you might find her. But this raises the most chilling question of all: what will you find when you get there? My Thoughts This book has so much promise, but ultimately I felt a bit let down by it. The first chapter is excellent; it really draws you into the story and leaves you wanting more, but the rest doesn't quite live up to this start. Don't get me wrong, this book is still worth reading, it just doesn't deliver what I thought it would. Normally I'm a writers dream. I will literally lap up most stuff no matter how implausible so long as I am enjoying the read. As soon as that dips, I start asking questions, and this book didn't survive that process for me. Plot twists are telegraphed from about a third of the way through, so you pretty much know how it's going to end. And I must admit, I was expecting more from the memory loss angle. Sakey starts off questioning the role that memory plays in determining who we are and what we do next, but he doesn't follow up on it, which is a real shame. The second half of the book, after the first of the big reveals reverts to straight thriller, and to be fair, becomes better. If the twists at the end weren't so obvious, I would have enjoyed it more. Having said all that, I read the blurb to another of his books at the back of this one and thought "oh, that sounds interesting", so I guess I will give him another chance. 3/5

Welcome to the forum!

I've only read the one book by her, which I enjoyed (which begs the question why I didn't go out for more?). I thought it was a testament to her good writing and research that I didn't realise till I googled her afterwards that she isn't English.

Welcome back to the forum!