Timstar

Sharknado...

Great review! IT is one my favourites Wish I had the time to re-read it more often!

I love The Works, I always manage to find books in there I didn't even know I wanted That is quite amusing, at least it's going to a good cause I suppose.

It is my current 'reading at work' book, it's OK so far, it is a non-fictional account of his time hunting in Africa. Certainly not one for animal activists . What other Hemingway's would you recommend?

Yeah I'm not especially bothered about them, it wasn't left on a cliff hanger and the unanswered questions leave a satisfying sense of wonderment as oppose to a need to read more.

Rendezvous With Rama - Arthur C. Clarke Synopsis It's 2130 and Rama, a cylindrical space vessel 50km long by 20km wide has arrived in our solar system. Humanity do not know what it is or where it has come from, only that it is artificial and is passing through our solar system before heading out into deep space again. The only human spaceship that can reach it in time is the Endeavor with its commanding officer Bill Norton. Review It's been a while since I've read some hard SF and I can tell I really missed it. I've said before that Clarke is very much an 'ideas' man and Rendezvous with Rama contains some of his best. Although it's impossible to relate to what some of the astronauts experience as they enter and explore Rama, Clarke describes it with such vivid detail and marvellous prose that it easy and joyful to imagine. For example: Rama is hollow and spinning on it's cylindrical axis, this creates gravity on the inside at the base and all around the edge via the centrifugal forces. The entrance is at the end in the centre where there is no gravity. Clarke explains how, as they descend/ascend towards one of the edges (it can't be described as the top or bottom) gravity begins to take hold and it gradually becomes the floor. There is also a sea in the middle that spans the circumference, this means the sea appears to them to rise on both edges and carry on all the way around to ceiling above them, meeting in the middle. Apologies if that doesn't make much sense, I find it difficult to simply sum up the ideas but Clarke makes them so clear and interesting. As with his other books I have read, the characters are there to experience Clarke's inventions and relate them to the audiences, we get a real feel for their sense of awe and curiosity but we ultimately struggle to relate to the characters at all as they don't express emotion. Although the story as a whole may suffer slightly for this and put some readers off, the ideas certainly don't. There are numerous cliff hangers that keep the readers glued to the pages in the way that thrillers strive for. A fantastic, thrilling read that makes you think and question what you know about physics. My favourite Clarke so far. Overall 9/10

I find Oxfam and BHF quite expensive but they seem to have the best selection of books, but Cancer Research is my favourite has it has a good selection and very cheap.

I can't do what you do, I need an Abercrombie break, I have the Best Served Cold audio book (cue Steve sighing) which is currently fourth on my TBL pile

That's good, those are the only two I haven't read yet

Last Argument of Kings - Joe Abercrombie Review I'll forego a synopsis, simple to say it is the final book of The First Law trilogy and continues in much the same fashion as the previous two. Just a short review for this as there really isn't much that can be said without repeating myself from the previous reviews. Although I feel the same quality of writing was maintained for the final instalment, I did think that it was a bit longer than necessary, especially the ending which takes over 100 pages to wrap things up. The whole book just felt at a bit of a slower pace when compared to The Blade Itself and Before They Are Hanged. It also felt like certain characters such as West and Ferro were pushed to the sidelines a bit and as such we don't get the full benefit of their set-ups over the course of the trilogy. It was nice seeing a bit more of Cosca (one of my favourite characters from Red Country), plus he had something to do in this novel. Logen Ninefingers and Glokta continued to shine as the best characters from the trilogy, whom Abercrombie appears to write for effortlessly. We're treated to the same levels of grittiness and black humour that we're already accustomed to, as well as plenty of character driven scenes to make you grimace and be grateful that you're not in their shoes. Not my favourite of the trilogy but a good solid ending to it. Overall 8/10

Thanks, really enjoyed it! Now started A Feast for Crows - G.R.R. Martin

... That's because most of my reads come from your suggestions in the first place

Hopefully! Is it definitely only a trilogy? or is he planning to make it even longer do you know? Did you hear that Fox bought the rights to a TV series? There's an article here about fantasy casting for The Name of the Wind - I actually agree with a lot of them except Kvothe himself I did hear that but I hadn't seen the fantasy casting, they sound pretty good, not sure about Kvothe as well, he doesn't look quite right. You mean we're not helping? Although I wouldn't recommend Name of the Wind I wouldn't discourage giving it go.

Yeah I agree, the blurb on the back on the first book should apply to the the events in the first book (or lack of them) not what will happen at the end of an unnecessarily long trilogy. I'm still bitter about it... can you tell? Freaks...

Finished The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, now started Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke.

Oblivion, really enjoyed it, surprisingly intelligent as well.

I've just reserved a copy of The Straight Razor Cure from the Library earlier this week! Not usually keen on detective novels but the premise sounded interesting to me (great title as well) Glad you enjoyed The Wise Man's Fear, I really didn't get on with it, it's the only book I have ever thrown across the room in frustration! I was determined to finish it but with only 100 or so pages left I had absolutely no will, nothing had happened for the previous 900 pages or in the previous book. I was just waiting for anything of the things that he boasted about to happen but they didn't. But lots of other people seem to like it so I guess i'm in the minority

I Like King as well, listening to Bag of Bones which is read by him and really enjoying it. I'd say my favourite is John Lee who has narrated hundreds of books including Ken Follett's historical epics and The Count of Monte Cristo. Also really like Steven Pacey and Michael Page.

Many congratulations! He looks adorable with his older Brother

I tried reading Looking For Alaska by John Green this month as it had tonnes of great reviews saying it is their favourite book ever etc. but I thought it was awful, couldn't finish it. The characters are inherently unlike-able, the prose is simple and boring and the story is incredibly dull. I had to double check that I had downloaded the correct book as it is nothing like the reviews. Has anyone else read this?

You invented this sort of behaviour Scott Lynch would be mine, I recommend The Lies of Locke Lamora to everyone I meet. Also Stephen King as well.

Did you enjoy Roverandum? The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy is great! Hope you enjoy it.

TI

I've had to add three more books to my current plan Green Hills of Africa - Ernest Hemingway Goldfinger - Ian Fleming (James Bond 6) Prince of Thorns - Mark Lawrence (Broken Empire 1)

This was the first King book I ever read, and though it is far from his best, it was good enough to get me hooked on King. Looking forward to the film