pontalba Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 It always surprises me when I see you disliking Steinbeck, Pont, but I don't why, exactly! Maybe because I consider him the 'great American novelist'. He's such a vivid writer, and I like to think he captures America and the spirit of its people beautifully. It's been a few years now since I read The Grapes of Wrath, but it's still so fresh in my memory. That almost never happens to me! I guess, given your reading tastes, it just seems like you should like him! No one's perfect, I guess. (Except me, of course.) It's funny, the expectations we have of others. Sometimes they just pull us up short, wondering. Actually, I'm not sure what the technical reason for Steinbeck putting my teeth on edge. I know he is extremely popular, well liked by many lovely and interesting people. He is considered a classic, in general. I have a visceral reaction that I can't, yet, explain. Quote
Kylie Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 It's funny, the expectations we have of others. Sometimes they just pull us up short, wondering. Actually, I'm not sure what the technical reason for Steinbeck putting my teeth on edge. I know he is extremely popular, well liked by many lovely and interesting people. He is considered a classic, in general. I have a visceral reaction that I can't, yet, explain. Yep. Sometimes I feel like I don't know you at all, Pont. I'm glad it's not just me who can't understand your distaste for Steinbeck. And I'm glad you didn't take it the wrong way when I said I couldn't understand it. I didn't want you to think I was being critical of you or your taste in books. It's just puzzling when you think you understand a person's likes/dislikes and then they go and surprise you like that! Quote
pontalba Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 Yep. Sometimes I feel like I don't know you at all, Pont. I'm glad it's not just me who can't understand your distaste for Steinbeck. And I'm glad you didn't take it the wrong way when I said I couldn't understand it. I didn't want you to think I was being critical of you or your taste in books. It's just puzzling when you think you understand a person's likes/dislikes and then they go and surprise you like that! Oh, I'm sure there are many aspects of me, or any of us, that the others on the forum cannot know. And not even I know what they might be. Quote
Kylie Posted January 20, 2015 Posted January 20, 2015 Oh, I'm sure there are many aspects of me, or any of us, that the others on the forum cannot know. And not even I know what they might be. Now I'm scared. Quote
frankie Posted February 18, 2015 Posted February 18, 2015 Oh goodo, I will be sure to read it before the movie is out. I didn't read the article in full (I stopped once they mentioned the storyline), but I like Emily Blunt as an actress. Emily Blunt is great! Finally, my last review of 2014. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte ... For the most part I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t blown away by it. I disliked most of the characters, which I think is why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped. That’s not to say that I don’t like reading about unpleasant characters, but you have to have some form of common ground to relate to them – or at least I do. I also founds the names and relationships a bit confusing, and even towards the end of the book I had to stop and really think about which character I was reading about. I agree I don't mind dislikeable or even unpleasant characters, if there's something there I can relate to or they grow as people throughout the story or something. But with this novel, ... Nah! And I also agree about the names and relationships being a bit confusing. I don't really know why, and how it had happened, but I'd lost grip of who was who and how they were all related to each other by the end of the novel I guess it was partly to do with me not being interested in them... Well anyhow, congrats on closing the lid on the jar that was the reviews of books read in 2014 Onwards and upwards! Quote
bobblybear Posted February 19, 2015 Author Posted February 19, 2015 Thanks! It took me a while to get there. Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted June 29, 2015 Posted June 29, 2015 The Legacy of Heorot - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Steven Barnes Ooh, this was a brilliant book. The story is centered around a group of colonists who have been sent to an island on Avalon, a planet that has taken them approximately 100 years to reach. They are mostly reknowned scientists, and have been tasked with determining if human life can survive on Avalon. However, due to the effects of such an extended Hyper-Sleep, they have lost a great deal of their intellectual capacity. In fact, some haven’t woken at all. Among these colonists is Cadmann Leyland, who is sort of the odd-man-out, as he isn’t a scientist, but rather he is in charge of security. From the start, he has an uneasy feeling about Avalon, and senses something is off about the islands ecology. For the first few months things are peaceful as the colonists start to settle into their new home. Their only fellow inhabitants are fish – called samlon – and some large birds. The colonists have brought over cows and chickens, and are planting their own crops, and all seems to be going nicely. Then something begins to hunt their animals and cause damage to their camp. I thought the story was told brilliantly. It was real edge-of-your seat material. There weren’t any concepts that were difficult to grasp, and it wasn’t heavy on the sci-fi; instead it was more of a story of survival. The ‘enemy’ is very well developed and detailed, with a great explanation about their life-cycle and biology in a way that seems believable. The chapters told from their point of view added an extra level of interest. I thought I’d reached the climax of the story about half way through, and couldn’t figure out why there was so much of the book remaining. Then when all is revealed and you realise things weren't as simple as originally thought........it’s such a great moment! There is a sequel, which I bought a few days ago. Hopefully it is just as good as this one. Hugely recommended!! 5/6 Aha! Late to the party but found it eventually Yes, it's brilliant, isn't it? I remember buying it because I thought it sounded like Aliens, then being so thrilled because it was like Aliens and yet different, too. So tense and exciting. A real thriller, full of the edge-of-seat stuff I love. Also, that twist in the middle, that was ace. Like you, I was wondering how they were going to fill the rest of the book Hmm, you've really got me tempted to take Beowulf's Children off the shelf now. Brilliant review Quote
bobblybear Posted June 29, 2015 Author Posted June 29, 2015 Thanks! I really hope the sequel doesn't let it down....I'm only a couple of chapters in so it's all background basics as the moment, but there are already some exciting actioney bits in there. Quote
pontalba Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) The Legacy of Heorot - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Steven Barnes sounds terrific! excellent review, BB. EDIT: Just peeked at Amazon, and the first line of the Publisher's Weekly Review reads as follows..... Barnes has joined the co-authors of Footfall to produce an entertaining if uncomplicated SF version of Beowulfwith a Grendel courtesy of the Alien movies. Crikey, what's not to love there!? Edited June 30, 2015 by pontalba Quote
bobblybear Posted June 30, 2015 Author Posted June 30, 2015 You should give it a go! Mind you, we often have polar opposite tastes in books (The Crimson Petal and the White, and Wolf Hall ), but you may enjoy it like I did! Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 Crikey, what's not to love there!? Exactly! Okay, bobs, I think I'm going to read Beowulf's Children, too Quote
pontalba Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 You should give it a go! Mind you, we often have polar opposite tastes in books (The Crimson Petal and the White, and Wolf Hall ), but you may enjoy it like I did! Yes, well, all true. I have put it on my kindle, it was a good price.......... Quote
bobblybear Posted June 30, 2015 Author Posted June 30, 2015 Yes, well, all true. I have put it on my kindle, it was a good price.......... Glad you have as much discipline as me. Quote
pontalba Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 Glad you have as much discipline as me. Yeah, well.....we have to keep our side up, dontcha know...... Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted July 1, 2015 Posted July 1, 2015 Yes, well, all true. I have put it on my kindle, it was a good price.......... Read it next! Read it next! Quote
pontalba Posted July 1, 2015 Posted July 1, 2015 Read it next! Read it next! I give up!! I give up! I'll def start it next, and pronounce my opinion......... Quote
pontalba Posted July 1, 2015 Posted July 1, 2015 Glad you have as much discipline as me. Yeah, well......./sigh/ Yeah....... Quote
Nollaig Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 I'm not normally into Sci-Fi (though I'd like to get more into it). The Legacy of Heorot sounds really good, although I know Pontalba didn't like it.... but that's still two against one with yourself Bobbly and Steve both liking it... soooo I think I'm gonna give it a go. Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 I guess it depends on whether or not you're sensitive to the kind of things Ponts is. Have you seen movies like Aliens or The Thing? If so, did you like them? If you did, then it's a fair bet you'd like the book. If not . . . Quote
Nollaig Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 Nope and nope. But I like the idea of creepy alien creatures terrorizing human colonies, because apparently I am sadistic (and/or masochistic, depending on whether I join a colony?! ) I've started reading it and so far it seems pretty good. The icky stuff doesn't bother me. R.e. the thing: Because of the mention of the frog before the story and because it's semi-aquatic, I'm literally just picturing a giant frog bouncing around, even though I know it has a tail. It's no Shrike but I'm looking forward to seeing some frog-human interaction Quote
pontalba Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 I guess it depends on whether or not you're sensitive to the kind of things Ponts is. Have you seen movies like Aliens or The Thing? If so, did you like them? If you did, then it's a fair bet you'd like the book. If not . . . Actually, I liked both of those films. As I told you on the other thread, I really liked the original The Thing better. I liked all the Alien films. Note: Ripley went back for the cat at the end of the first one......... When my husband (at the time) and I saw it, he turned to me and said....you'd do just that! And he was right. Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 (edited) Actually, I liked both of those films. As I told you on the other thread, I really liked the original The Thing better. Given what happens to the dogs in John Carpenter's The Thing I'm not too surprised! The John Carpenter version is more faithful to the novella upon which both films are based, Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell. The first movie, The Thing from Another World, is great fun in that classic 50's SF kind of way but they've changed the original premise so much from the Campbell story it almost shouldn't be compared, IMO. ETA: Btw, I wouldn't compare either of them to the 2011 prequel Edited July 7, 2015 by Karsa Orlong Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.