Timstar
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Posts posted by Timstar
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Oooh, I'm so glad you loved The Stand. It's beyond epic, isn't it? I've probably read it 7 or 8 times, and I still love to think of my favorite parts every now and then.
It really is! 7 or 8 times is pretty impressive, but understandable. I also want to read the graphic novel, but there are 6 books which run about £16 ea or this.
Me want!
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Just finished the audiobook of The Stand and it is now without a doubt my favourite book ever. I wrote a review here.
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The Stand - Stephen King (Audiobook - Read by Grover Gardner)Synopsis
First came the days of the plague. Then came the dreams. Dark dreams that warned of the coming of the dark man. The apostate of death, his worn-down boot heels tramping the night roads. The warlord of the charnel house and Prince of Evil. His time is at hand. His empire grows in the west and the Apocalypse looms.
Review
Wow, simply wow. I have never had a favourite book, there have always been a number of contenders for different reasons which meant I couldn't choose, until now. The word epic doesn't begin to cover the scope that this book does: Good and evil, life and death, plague, famine, society and war all this and much more is addressed. Countless characters, all vividly realised, both hated and loved. The geography of the book is described upon a grand scale - stretching from Maine, to Las Vegas and everywhere in between. However, it is the characters that keep your interest, my favourite was the deaf, mute and half blind Nick Andros. Also loved the mentally challenged Tom Cullen, who I really thought would annoy me with his inability to contribute in a helpful way but I found myself almost cheering upon his return.
Ultimately it is the titanic struggle between good and evil that shines through...the Devil's imp in the form of the dark, but subtly comical, Randall Flagg, against the survivors of the plague and the awe-encompassing Mother Abagail.
At over half-million words the only bad thing about this book is that it is not long enough!
I should believe that the narrator deserves a special mention. I haven't listened to many audiobooks in my life but I can safely say that Gardner was outstanding! Bringing each character to life in a unique style, a superbly poetic verbal prose that warms, frightens, makes gasp and laugh at all the right moments. A particular favourite moment was him reciting a beautiful version of The First Noel in two different characters voices.
A truly remarkable book that should be on every recommended reading list ever written. If you haven't read it yet. you should... and soon. I am already itching to start reading again!
M-O-O-N that spells EPIC!
Overall 10/10 (wish it could be more!)
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And your head is growing.
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Jealous why?
Whomever posted it stated "I need this books so bad
"Poor grammar aside, they sound jealous...
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All I know is it's a free to use blogging site, not sure how they would have your picture or if there is anything you could do about it (if you wanted to). It's a harmless enough website and they seem to be very jealous....
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Dr. Sleep by Stephen King, the sequel to The Shining. Another King book called Joyland is also due this year. Can't wait for them.
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I have Magician, I hadn't intended to buy it but I saw it for £1.99 and before I knew it it was on book shelf. I get the feeling it will keep getting pushed back for a while though.
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Totally geeky fact: I got The Painted Man in the same Amazon order in which I bought Gardens of the Moon. May 2009 that was (yes, I did just check
) - I was at the top of a very slippery slope 
Hehe, the beginning of the end?
I thing about it I didn't agree with about The Painted Man was the title change for the UK edition. It is an American novel and there it is called The Warded Man, which makes much more sense and I think sounds slightly better. I assume all references within were also altered but I may be wrong. There may have been a good reason for the change but I haven't checked.
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I also like the cover art. I have the Desert Spear on Kindle and hopefully won't be too long before I get around to it. It had been on my list 'to check out' for quite while but never fully bothered until I saw it in the Kindle deal and just decided to take the chance, I'm glad I did.
A good start to 2013. I am thoroughly enjoying Starship Troopers already.
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The Painted Man - Peter V. BrettSynopsis
"Enter a world where darkness belongs to Demons"
Every night the people in the cities and villages hide in their houses, behind their protective wards, for night is when the Demons come. Crawling out of the ground from the core, every night the Corelings torment the people, smashing, killing and burning wherever they can. Believed to be powerless, the humans are suppressed and scared, never willing to make a stand. Until now.
Review
I hadn't read a lot about this book at all so didn't know what to expect but the concept intrigued me. It follows three children from separate areas of the world, one of them as young as three. We are introduced to them one by one and this worked very well to immerse me into their world. It is as much a story of discovery for them as it is for us, as they grow we are introduced to the problems and opportunities as they face them.
I really enjoyed the concept and the characterisation, everyone had a distinct yet not cliché personality. The writing style wasn't particular sophisticated but this made for some light and enjoyable reading. The battle scenes were very well written and I found my self glued to the pages for hours at a time, at nearly 600 pages it didn't feel drawn out at all. It also left a lot of scope for the sequels which I am now looking forward to reading.
The debut novel of Brett was very enjoyable and accessible, perfect for new and old fantasy fans.
Overall 9/10
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I read this recently, and you've just reminded me that I still haven't got around to watching the movie. I'd imagine the book to be quite different to the movie (only guessing here) as a lot of what is discussed in the book probably wouldn't translate easily to film.
I am only about 30 pages in, the first chapter is not in the film at all, but a lot since then was. I was expecting them to tie-in much either but there have been a couple of direct lines that I recognise from watching the film far too many times.
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Finished the first season and really enjoyed it! Ended up watched the last 3 episodes back-to-back as I was a bit hooked.
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Finished The Painted Man and enjoyed it quite a lot, really picked up speed in the last-quarter and I whizzed through it. Started Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. It was adapted into one of my favourite sci-fi films ever so it has a lot to live up to!
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It's a modern re-print of an older edition. There was a complete set in a charity shop but I couldn't afford the whole lot so I bought the first 4 or 5 assuming that no-one would buy half a set. I was wrong, when I went back a few weeks later they had been sold so I'm keeping my eye out for others in the set. I prefer the covers of old books compared to the modern versions, they remind me of the old Ladybird books and Airfix kit boxes I had a young 'un.
I do like the old editions, but I have the penguin modern classics set which are very nice also. I enjoyed Moonraker quite a bit, mainly because it wasn't even remotely what I was expecting, such a simpler and more down-to-Earth (literally) story.
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I saw The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. It was quite enjoyable, like all Gilliam films. It was clever how they covered the unfinished Heath Ledger scenes.
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Just went for my usual lunchtime stroll up to Waterstone's only to find that they've closed it down. Gutted.
That sucks, not even a closing down sale?
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Definitely want to see pictures when it's ready
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Yeah, more Peter Jackson excess.
Certainly didn't help that film.
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American Pie: Reunion
The Running Man
Hitch
Had a very productive Saturday.
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Life is good. A full bookshelf and two good books on the go.
Sounds perfect!
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Oh, but wasn't the copper really scary? He scared/scares the crap out of me every time. When he was sitting on the park bench with the (very unlucky) guy who'd found Rose's credit cards and had used them, and threatened the life out of him? Wasn't there some ... private bits crunching involved? Dude, my ovaries shrunk in sympathy!
I've been mildly curious about Watership Down, I'm a lot more curious about Last Exit to Brooklyn, and I'm sooo jealous of the Dexter title
All in all, a great haul!He was a scary character and there was quite a bit of uncomfortable private crunching. In fact the book was full of uneasiness. I am also curious about Watership Down and Last Exit to Brooklyn. The Dexter book is the last one I need but I have still only read the first three. The first season is great though!
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Nor me
But, as I said in post #29, if I don't start it now, while I have some enthusiasm for it, I'll just never do it. It'll keep sliding down my list of priorities until another ten years have passed Back when I was in Primary school
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I'm going to start on the first book this weekend
I did not expect you to start this soon! I have placed a reservation for it at my library, which should be no later then 20th Jan. Still have my current read which I will follow by a shorter one then hopefully I will have it and can start
Tim's Horror, Fantasy and Sci-Fi Reads from 2012
in Past Book Logs
Posted
It was the new 'uncut' version. (It was 48 hours). Although I wouldn't have cut a single word from it.
Do it!