Athena's Reading List 2014

[Athena]

Thanks Weave .

[Signor Finzione]

Great new books Gaia! New hauls are always exciting.

[Athena]

Woohoo- new books!   And oh oh oh!!!!  Read Pillars of the Earth first  

Whoops somehow I missed your post. I plan on reading The World Without Us first of that haul since it's a book for the Reading Circle in July, and the manga for the read-a-thon if not sooner. But I'm very excited to read Pillars of the Earth! I might need to read some shorter books first though after reading some longer books lately.

 

Great new books Gaia! New hauls are always exciting.

Thanks !

[Athena]

Peter F. Hamilton - Commonwealth Saga 2: Judas Unchained



Genre: Science-fiction
Age-range: Adult
Format: Paperback
Pages: 1235
Synopsis: (no synopsis because it's part two of a duology)

My thoughts: After reading the first part of this duology I was quite eager to read the second and final part of it.

This book continues the story that began in Pandora's Star. I quite enjoyed reading the second part of it. It's a pretty tense book, you want to keep on reading to find out what happens.

The major problem I had with it was the pacing. At some points in the story, it moved slow because of a lot of descriptions. This bothered me less in book one, but particularly in the second half of book two this bothered me because I wanted to get on with the action. Instead, at times, the author talks for three pages about the particular landscape that the characters are moving across. It's interesting but I really want to know what happens with the overall plot! The book could have done with a bit more editing and condensing it. That was really my major gripe.

The characters were pretty good. There are a lot of them but I didn't find them too hard to keep track of. Some I liked more than others (in particular I liked Paula a lot), but all had their redeeming qualities. The world is very well made (as in the first book) and I enjoyed reading about for example the technologies. While the first book of course had more worldbuilding than the second, I felt I understood things straight away this time around.

There are a lot of plot twists in the book, most of which I didn't see coming. I really enjoyed reading this book (minus the problem mentioned above) and spending time with the characters and the world. Overall I would recommend the Night's Dawn trilogy before this duology, but if you like science-fiction and have already read the Night's Dawn trilogy and want to read more of the author's work (and don't mind the descriptions too much), I'd recommend this duology. There are a lot of interesting ideas in it and it's a good story with great characters.

Rating: **** (9/10)

[Timstar]

You do have to be patient with it! But I agree the pacing can be off but the ideas and characters are brilliant. Glad you enjoyed it

 

I'm still looking forward to reading Night's Dawn.

[Athena]

Thanks . I hope you enjoy the Night's Dawn trilogy when you read it !

[bobblybear]

You finished Judas Unchained so quickly! Glad you enjoyed it, and nice review - I think the excessive descriptions would bother me too, as my favorite parts (of the first book) were the fast paced sections. Hopefully I will get to it this year.

[Athena]

You finished Judas Unchained so quickly! Glad you enjoyed it, and nice review - I think the excessive descriptions would bother me too, as my favorite parts (of the first book) were the fast paced sections. Hopefully I will get to it this year.

Thanks BB . I read it from June 14 until June 23rd, so it took me 9 days. I felt like that was a while though I suppose it's not too bad. I hope you like the book when you read it.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Athena

[Athena]

I went to the charity shop a few days ago (I was nearby..) and bought:

 

A. C. Baantjer - Baantjer 48: De Cock en Tranen aan de Leie

A. C. Baantjer - Baantjer 49: De Cock en het Lijk op Drift

A. C. Baantjer - Baantjer 50: De Cock en de Onsterfelijke Dood (it's great to find more out of print Baantjer books at low price)

Carlos Ruiz Zafón - The Cemetary of Forgotten Books 1: The Shadow of the Wind (this one has been on my wishlist for a while, I was so happy to find it)

Cherry Whytock - Tina Topper 58: Wat een Zootje!

Connie Palmen - De Vriendschap

Jacques Vriens - En de Groeten van Groep Acht (I read this one when I was a child / young teenager at the library)

[Athena]

I've read 101 books so far this year and I'm also going to order some books online.. terrible . But I now know why I feel the need to order so much. I have ADD (attention deficit disorder). Not that that's an excuse, but I feel better knowing how it works in my brain. Not all signals are being transferred through properly, particularly those to do with dopamine (and noradrenaline).

[Little Pixie]

Congrats on breaking the 100 barrier !

 

And commiserations -  Is there anything which will help ADD ?

Edited June 26, 2014 by Little Pixie

[Athena]

Congrats on breaking the 100 barrier !

 

And commiserations -  Is there anything which will help ADD ?

Thanks !

 

I hadn't heard of commiserations, that'll be my new word for today. There are several medications you can take which will calm down your brain. What they believe is going on, how my doctor explained it, is that when transferring a signal from one neuron to the next, vestibules go to the end of the neuron and release dopamine in the gap (this happens with everyone). It then transfers to the next neuron. But in ADD the 'vacuum cleaners' that clean up the dopamine in the gap, are too strong, so the signal might not get through to the next neuron. One of the medications available makes these 'vacuum cleaners' (the doctor's words) less strong so more signals get through. I've read that for a lot of people with ADD or ADHD they can help a lot. It might take a while to fine tune. How high the dosage is needed per person and how often they need to take it is different for everyone so it might be some time to get the best effect. These medications work for several hours, but how long depends on the person. Once it stops working you need to take the next one (this is what I've read in a book). So if the medication works 6 hours on you, you need to calculate how to spread it on the day to have the best effect. Well, this is just what I've read, I will need to talk with the nurse when I have the appointment. I'm kind of happy that they should be able to help me better.

[Little Pixie]

Thanks !

 

I hadn't heard of commiserations, that'll be my new word for today. There are several medications you can take which will calm down your brain. What they believe is going on, how my doctor explained it, is that when transferring a signal from one neuron to the next, vestibules go to the end of the neuron and release dopamine in the gap (this happens with everyone). It then transfers to the next neuron. But in ADD the 'vacuum cleaners' that clean up the dopamine in the gap, are too strong, so the signal might not get through to the next neuron. One of the medications available makes these 'vacuum cleaners' (the doctor's words) less strong so more signals get through. I've read that for a lot of people with ADD or ADHD they can help a lot. It might take a while to fine tune. How high the dosage is needed per person and how often they need to take it is different for everyone so it might be some time to get the best effect. These medications work for several hours, but how long depends on the person. Once it stops working you need to take the next one (this is what I've read in a book). So if the medication works 6 hours on you, you need to calculate how to spread it on the day to have the best effect. Well, this is just what I've read, I will need to talk with the nurse when I have the appointment. I'm kind of happy that they should be able to help me better.

 

Fingers crossed that they hit on the right dose early on !

 

I wonder how many books you`ll be able to read with the new meds.   Drug-assisted reading.

[Athena]

Fingers crossed that they hit on the right dose early on !

 

I wonder how many books you`ll be able to read with the new meds.   Drug-assisted reading.

Thanks .

 

I don't know, it'll be interesting to find out . Some of the medications actually work a bit similar to street drugs like speed and coke. The doctor said that people without ADD get all hyper and bouncy from them, but people with undiagnosed ADD sometimes take the drugs because for them it works. I could tell him gladly I've never tried drugs so that's good. I'm looking forward to see what the effect will be, too little dosage and the effect isn't strong enough but too much and I might go all bouncy too (I don't know what would happen exactly to be honest).

[Little Pixie]

Thanks .

 

I don't know, it'll be interesting to find out . Some of the medications actually work a bit similar to street drugs like speed and coke. The doctor said that people without ADD get all hyper and bouncy from them, but people with undiagnosed ADD sometimes take the drugs because for them it works. I could tell him gladly I've never tried drugs so that's good. I'm looking forward to see what the effect will be, too little dosage and the effect isn't strong enough but too much and I might go all bouncy too (I don't know what would happen exactly to be honest).

 

Whoah, you could get through your TBR list in weeks !

[Anna Begins]

Thanks .

 

I don't know, it'll be interesting to find out . Some of the medications actually work a bit similar to street drugs like speed and coke. The doctor said that people without ADD get all hyper and bouncy from them, but people with undiagnosed ADD sometimes take the drugs because for them it works. I could tell him gladly I've never tried drugs so that's good. I'm looking forward to see what the effect will be, too little dosage and the effect isn't strong enough but too much and I might go all bouncy too (I don't know what would happen exactly to be honest).

I take a lot of medications for my head, so I totally understand.  I'm working my way through a new one right now, the doses are so hard to figure out and which combination.  It's taken me 10 years of seeing doctors, but I think I am as "good" as I'm going to get, ya know?

PS- The US would never give us a prescription to take like that.  It's 30 pills or 60 and that's the way they do it.  Ever once in awhile there is an antibiotic to take 3 times a day, but to get more than 30 or 60 days is virtually impossible.  You can only fill it once a month too.  And then we have to pay for it.  I have insurance, but one of my meds it $450.  A month.  For 30.

Edited June 26, 2014 by Anna Begins

[Athena]

Whoah, you could get through your TBR list in weeks !

Weelll, it's quite big but it's be nice to read even more . I think it will mainly help me with things that aren't reading though, since I have trouble concentrating on things that aren't reading or book related.

 

I take a lot of medications for my head, so I totally understand.  I'm working my way through a new one right now, the doses are so hard to figure out and which combination.  It's taken me 10 years of seeing doctors, but I think I am as "good" as I'm going to get, ya know?

I'm glad to hear that .

[Anna Begins]

Sorry, had to edit for the part  that is the sadness of our Healthcare

[Little Pixie]

Sorry, had to edit for the part  that is the sadness of our Healthcare

 

It does make me appreciate having to pay £8.05 per prescription in England. Sorry.

[Anna Begins]

It does make me appreciate having to pay £8.05 per prescription in England. Sorry.

Obama met with the Japanese Prime Minister last year or the year before at a G8 Summit.  The Japanese PM asked Obama "You want to give them free healthcare and they call you Hitler?"  It's so messed up over here!

[pontalba]

Obama met with the Japanese Prime Minister last year or the year before at a G8 Summit.  The Japanese PM asked Obama "You want to give them free healthcare and they call you Hitler?"  It's so messed up over here!

 

No, I wouldn't call Obama a "Hitler". However, I don't know where that Japanese PM got the idea that there was any "free healthcare" in the United States.  That's the biggest joke of the century. 

 

Only if a person is just about destitute, living in poverty can one get free healthcare.  Too many people fall between the cracks and are unable to afford the 500.00 to 600.00 USD monthly premiums that are available.  And, these high premiums also carry at least a 5,000.00 USD deductible. 

If that is considered "free", I'll eat my hat.

 

Obamacare is a monstrous joke.  IMO.

 

Sorry, I avoid any political stuff like the plague, but I couldn't let that go by.

[Anna Begins]

No, I wouldn't call Obama a "Hitler". However, I don't know where that Japanese PM got the idea that there was any "free healthcare" in the United States.  That's the biggest joke of the century. 

 

 

Obamacare is a monstrous joke.  IMO.

 

Sorry, I avoid any political stuff like the plague, but I couldn't let that go by.

At the time, Republicans were going on and on about 'Socialized Healthcare" and putting down European healthcare- so I think that's what the PM meant.  Once baby boomers start to get sick, what a mess that will be. 

Sorry Athena!

[Athena]

Wow, US healthcare can be so expensive! Here we pay a set amount per month (it depends which package you have, I pay around 130 euros). There is something called 'eigen bijdrage' which means you have to pay up to 360 euros of what healthcare you get. Because of my medical appointments and medications I always spend this amount of money per year. If you need more healthcare than 360 euros worth the insurance pays for it if they cover the type of healthcare or medication you're getting. The doctor said some of the medication for ADD is 100 euros per box and my insurance unfortunately doesn't cover that one, so I won't be using it unless as a last resort (but tbh, certainly in the future, I can't afford that). The government pays 'zorgtoeslag' to those with a low income to help them pay their healthinsurance. The amount depends on their income, I get the maximum amount since I have a low income (I'm not complaining though or anything, I'm grateful).

 

500-600 dollars per month, that is a lot. What is your minimum wage, how do people afford that? I think here minimum wage would give you maybe 1500 euros per month (or maybe 1800 with taxes still to be deduced)? I get less than minimum wage per month so I could not afford spending 600 dollars each month. I thought health insurance was not obligatory in the United States, is this true?

 

@ politics

I don't like to discuss politics either to be honest.

 

I don't mind at all to talk about this, it's interesting to talk about I think . Talk away!

 

 

I downloaded some free ebooks:

 

Jackie Collins - Lucky Santangelo 1: Chances

Jodi Picoult - Where There's Smoke

 

Both were on my wishlist.

 

And some ebook comics of the Humble Dynamite 10th Anniversary Bundle, I'm not sure if they count as books or not though.

 

I also ordered lots of books online. Must try not to buy much books in the next while, after all this. And later in the month I'll be spending money on furniture and such for the bakery.

Edited June 27, 2014 by Athena

[julie]

Hope you all don't mind if I jump in here .

 

Anna - 

I understand completely about the high cost of meds. I take some too, that are unbelievably high WITH insurance.

 

And yes, our insurance situation here is a mess .

 

I, also don't tend to talk politics online much. Too much of a chance of someone getting angry at someone else .

 

I wouldn't say I'm an Obama Fan, but also not an Enemy. I guess he's tried to do something about the healthcare ,and from our last piece of time without it, we found out a lot about it. I think if they can get the kinks worked out of it ,it will help more people . Anything that will give people health care is a step in the right direction so I hope it'll be improved more in time . They actually have a sliding scale based on income so you can get a huge discount . We were taking steps to get that ourselves awhile back .

 

Our insurance would have been  $1,100 a month for the 2 of us ,and with Obama care ,it would have been about 600 . Still a LOT of money, but at least a big chunk would have been paid .

 

When you get into the Medicaid system, it will actually pay all of your costs in most instances. We also looked into signing up for that ,but if you get into the System, THEY tell YOU what Dr's and hospitals you have to use . I guess it's still a good route for those that need health care ,but we were hesitant to try that . It's really nice to have your own Dr's that you have seen for years and trust .

 

So, I  hope eventually ,someone down the road will make more improvements in our health care system.

 

Like Kate said, sadly, there are lots of people who fall between the cracks with the current one. They all DESERVE good health care, but it'd still be a real struggle to pay for it .

[Athena]

Wow, I didn't know they told you what doctors to use! I don't think they do that here. The GP's is nearby here but our dentist lives in the village we used to live in, we just stayed with him. My dad had some possible health issues and he went to a different doctor as well as the one that the GP appointed, I don't think insurance made a problem of that (though I haven't asked him). I think all people deserve good health care.

 

I think a sliding scale based on income is quite nice, they are thinking of doing that here too I think.