Frankie reads 2012

[vodkafan]

This is what the squirrels do when you're not there

 

 

 

I knew they were up to something.

[Brian.]

I was rearranging, organizing and dusting the bookcases in my livingroom yesterday, and today my bedroom bookcase is getting the same treatment. I'm picking up book one by one, and leafing them through a bit, just so they'd get a breath of fresh air.

 

I picked up Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. This is a novel Kylie bought for herself when I was living with her, and she told me about it and it seemed so intriguing that when I got back home I had to get my own copy

 

Anyhow, I think I told Kylie that I found the surname of the author adorable/funny. In Finnish, 'tammet' means 'oak trees' (plural).

 

Moving on: As I was leafing through the book, I noticed a Finnish word on one of the pages 'Mänty'! This is what Daniel writes:

 

"I continued to dream that one day I would speak a language thas was my own, that I would not be teased or reprimanded for using and that would express something of what it felt to be me. After leaving school I found I had the time to begin seriously to pursue such an idea. I wrote words down as they occurred to me and experimented with different methods of pronunciation and sentence building. I called my language 'Mänti' (pronounced 'man-tee') from the Finnish word mänty meaning pine tree. Pines are native to most of the Northern hemisphere and are particularly numerous across parts of Scandinavia and the Baltic region. Many of the words used in Mänti are of Scandinavian and Baltic origin. There is another reason for the choice of name: pine trees often grow together in large numbers and symbolise friendhip and community."

 

Awww! I should bump this book up on my TBR pile. And not only because Finland/Finnish was mentioned: as I'm leafing through the pages, there are a lot of other interesting references to a lot of different things.

 

This isn't a novel btw Sari, it is a biography written by a man who suffers from Savant Syndrome which is a severe type of aspergers syndrome. It means that he lack social skills and common sense but has incredible mental agilty especially where numbers are concerned. If I recall correctly he sees numbers as colours hence the title of the book. It really is a fascinating read so you should bump it way up your TBR.

[Kylie]

I was rearranging, organizing and dusting the bookcases in my livingroom yesterday, and today my bedroom bookcase is getting the same treatment. I'm picking up book one by one, and leafing them through a bit, just so they'd get a breath of fresh air.

 

Aw, what a great person you are.

 

"There is another reason for the choice of name: pine trees often grow together in large numbers and symbolise friendhip and community."

 

Aww, that's nice. I should bump mine up as well. Tammet has just published another book called Thinking in Numbers, which went straight onto my wishlist (I have to wait a few more months until it's out in a smaller paperback size). Here's the blurb from the BD:

 

"This is the book that Daniel Tammet, bestselling author and mathematical savant, was born to write. In Tammet's world, numbers are beautiful and mathematics illuminates our lives and minds. Using anecdotes and everyday examples, Tammet allows us to share his unique insights and delight in the way numbers, fractions and equations underpin all our lives.Inspired by the complexity of snowflakes, Anne Boleyn's sixth finger or his mother's unpredictable behaviour, Tammet explores questions such as why time seems to speed up as we age, whether there is such a thing as an average person and how we can make sense of those we love.Thinking in Numbers will change the way you think about maths and fire your imagination to see the world with fresh eyes."

 

ETA: Ooh, and he's also written Embracing the Wide Sky:

 

"Daniel Tammet captivated readers with his bestselling memoir, Born On A Blue Day, and its vivid depiction of a life with autistic savant syndrome. In his fascinating new book, Embracing the Wide Sky, Daniel combines the latest scientific research with insights drawn from his personal experience to shed light on the mysteries of how our minds work and the incredible feats of which each one of us is capable. A unique and brilliantly imaginative portrait of how we think, learn, remember and create, Embracing the Wide Sky is a profound and provocative book that will transform our understanding and respect for every kind of mind."

[wordsgood]

This is what the squirrels do when you're not there

 

 

:giggle2: Just got instructions that I am to THANK YOU for this Star Wars squirrel picture. Apparently its going to his new profile picture at his Star Wars forum!

[Karsa Orlong]

:giggle2: Just got instructions that I am to THANK YOU for this Star Wars squirrel picture. Apparently its going to his new profile picture at his Star Wars forum!

 

 

Not before he's seen this one, surely?

 

[frankie]

^ I will get back to your posts a bit later.

 

I'm quite miffed and appalled again! Pretty livid, actually.

 

Last weekend someone set fire to a very old building next to the railway station. The whole building was destroyed except for the brick layout. An antique shop was completely destroyed, and I think there was also some other business running in that building. 12 cars and 2 vans were destroyed. Fortunately there were no human casulties.

 

So, today (I can't believe I only hear about it today!) I find out that someone tried to set fire to a department store building as well, and my BELOVED LIBRARY this Monday!!! What the hell is going on with people these days. I read in an online newspaper that theperson had tried to set the garbage bin in the ladies restroom on fire in both places, but that fortunately the fires were discovered very quickly and people were able to put them out.

 

I can't believe somebody would want to set the library on fire (or the other places). The police have caught the suspect, thank goodness. But what's really astounding is that the suspect is a female A 23 years old local woman.

[wordsgood]

 

Not before he's seen this one, surely?

 

 

OMG, he'll love this!! Be careful, he might just start to fall in love with you. I will certainly pass this along to him. And I will give you his thanks and appreciation now, because that will be the first thing out of his mouth after the inarticulate squeal of delight!

[Janet]

I'm sorry to hear about the damage to your town, frankie. Some people are just mindless morons.

[wordsgood]

^ I will get back to your posts a bit later.

 

I'm quite miffed and appalled again! Pretty livid, actually.

 

I can't believe somebody would want to set the library on fire (or the other places). The police have caught the suspect, thank goodness. But what's really astounding is that the suspect is a female A 23 years old local woman.

 

That's horrible, Frankie! I don't blame you for being angry or appalled. I'm so sorry this has happened, but very, very glad to hear no-one was hurt and that the library escaped unharmed.

 

I don't understand why people do this, even if they have severe mental health problems, what would possess some to go around burning everything down!?! What could possibly be there motivation, aside from wanting to hurt people? By what you described, it sound like she was not intending to actually hurt or kill someone, *just* burn places down. I could be wrong, but it sounds like she is more of a compulsive fire bug (can't remember the official term such folks), and as I understand that particular disorder, they generally don't seem to get they are putting people in serious danger. Mind you, I could be wrong about that information too.

 

It is indeed a crazy world.

[vodkafan]

Pyromaniac is the word for somebody like that.

[wordsgood]

Pyromaniac is the word for somebody like that.

 

Of course, don't know why I couldn't remember that. You have officially been my brain the last few days, Vodkafan, have you noticed? This is not one of my great weeks, insomnia again. In my world insomnia = stupid! More than a couple straight days and I move into full on brain dead zone. Very close to that region right now. Oooh, look at all the pretty flowers.......

 

Frankie, I'm sorry. I hope you don't think I'm being disrespectful here. But I have yet more for you 'cause I thought you'd need them.

Edited October 10, 2012 by wordsgood

[chaliepud]

Oh no frankie that's awful, sadly there are nutters everywhere .... We just have to hope that some of the nutters love books as much as we do!

[Kylie]

That's disgusting, Frankie. I'm glad she was caught and there wasn't too much damage done. I wonder what possessed her to want to set fire to the library? We may never know, I guess.

[frankie]

This is what the squirrels do when you're not there

 

I knew they were up to something.

 

You guys read way too much sci-fi!

 

These are always 'zip-a-dee-do-dah' moments .. I love it when it happens. I always come over all Mary Poppinsish and think that I can start talking to them and they'll understand me .. they always put me right on this a few secs later

 

Oh I think they can understand you, but they can't let you know that! That'll be the end of their era of practical pranks

 

I love it that you get 'miffed' .. I'm always miffed .. or on the way to being miffed. There is so much to be miffed about out there. Thank goodness for the squirrels .. and cake/cheese (and they have rather successfully put those two together .. it was always going to be a winner).

 

Oh, there's definitely a lot to be miffed about I haven't discovered anything today, but it's only 10.42 AM, so I'll have plenty of time! Just as long as one remembers to be happy and blissful in equal amounts. It's good to have some sort of balance in life.

 

 

Yeah .. in your face 2012 edition .. and 2008 for that matter .. you're miffing me off

 

Here here!

 

Oh, and I don't think I've even started on the cover of the 2012 edition. Oi vey! It might be a picture referring to geishas (to honor the Memoirs of a Geisha's return, perhaps), but to me it screams vampires. And eventhough I love the Sookie series and the other few vampire books I've read, I'm so over the vampire phase. I'm so so incredibly happy about my 2006 edition

 

That would be so annoying. Its very frustrating when you try to decipher the sorting system that has been used when books are laid out at a market. Not having the prices in the books would annoy me as well. I am lucky, the charity book shop I use most charges £1 for every book except very old and vintage books which are in a separate section.

 

I'm personally of the opinion that no shop should be allowed to sell books without putting price tags on them! I have to have my own private time to consider whether I want the title for a certain amount of money. I don't want to do that at the counter when the owner's looking me in the face and a line's forming up behind me. No sirree!

 

You are really lucky. Everything under £1? Take me there

 

I thought this book was original and fascinating when I read it. I'd heard about it on a radio programme and borrowed it in hardback from the library as soon as it became available, but after I'd finished it, I saw a few ambivalent reviews about it afterwards. I'd never read anything like it, but it was before I really started to fully stretch my literary wings, and I'm not sure if I'd feel the same way about it now, but the story definitely still sticks with me even now.

 

I think when this book came out I saw it everywhere and thought it might be interesting, but I thought it might be too 'difficult' for me. Now that my former co-worker recommended it (that's a first recommendation on that book I've gotten, by the way), I'm more keen. She said pretty much the same thing about the novel as you did: original and fascinating. And maybe exciting in a suspense-growing way?

 

I'm sure my literary wings aren't as stretched as yours and I'll get along well with the novel

[frankie]

This isn't a novel btw Sari, it is a biography written by a man who suffers from Savant Syndrome which is a severe type of aspergers syndrome. It means that he lack social skills and common sense but has incredible mental agilty especially where numbers are concerned. If I recall correctly he sees numbers as colours hence the title of the book. It really is a fascinating read so you should bump it way up your TBR.

 

As Homer Simpson would say to self: Doh! I know the book's an autobio, and I meant to write 'book', but instead wrote 'novel'. I always have problems with the word 'novel', I have to be very careful when using it. I know what it means, but I have a tendency to use is as a synonym to 'book'.

 

Interestingly, the Finnish word 'novelli' means a short story in English. A 'novel' is 'romaani' in Finnish, and a 'book' is 'kirja'. (Just a little Finnish lesson for you peeps)

 

Aww, that's nice. I should bump mine up as well.

 

Yes you should!

 

 

Tammet has just published another book called Thinking in Numbers, which went straight onto my wishlist (I have to wait a few more months until it's out in a smaller paperback size). Here's the blurb from the BD:

 

"This is the book that Daniel Tammet, bestselling author and mathematical savant, was born to write. In Tammet's world, numbers are beautiful and mathematics illuminates our lives and minds. Using anecdotes and everyday examples, Tammet allows us to share his unique insights and delight in the way numbers, fractions and equations underpin all our lives.Inspired by the complexity of snowflakes, Anne Boleyn's sixth finger or his mother's unpredictable behaviour, Tammet explores questions such as why time seems to speed up as we age, whether there is such a thing as an average person and how we can make sense of those we love.Thinking in Numbers will change the way you think about maths and fire your imagination to see the world with fresh eyes."

 

It seems like an interesting read, but one that might go over my head. I think chesilbeach might be into this.

 

 

"Daniel Tammet captivated readers with his bestselling memoir, Born On A Blue Day, and its vivid depiction of a life with autistic savant syndrome. In his fascinating new book, Embracing the Wide Sky, Daniel combines the latest scientific research with insights drawn from his personal experience to shed light on the mysteries of how our minds work and the incredible feats of which each one of us is capable. A unique and brilliantly imaginative portrait of how we think, learn, remember and create, Embracing the Wide Sky is a profound and provocative book that will transform our understanding and respect for every kind of mind."

 

Now this might get on the wishlist. I think I'll read the Blue Day first and then see about that. Thanks for the info!

 

 

I'm sorry to hear about the damage to your town, frankie. Some people are just mindless morons.

 

Thanks, Janet! It still feels very weird. I'm off to the library today, to return some books and to borrow more The Men from the Ministry CDs, and I'm hoping to see A there, I'm definitely going to ask her if she knows anything about the whole deal. Or anyone else. I don't know if they're allowed to say anything, though, even if someone knows something. I bet the men who work as 'bouncers' and who open and close the doors and monitor the screens and take care of safety business know something, the restrooms are right next to their office and of course they'll be notified of anything weird that's going on. They've probably notified the police and the fire department.

 

That's horrible, Frankie! I don't blame you for being angry or appalled. I'm so sorry this has happened, but very, very glad to hear no-one was hurt and that the library escaped unharmed.

 

I don't understand why people do this, even if they have severe mental health problems, what would possess some to go around burning everything down!?! What could possibly be there motivation, aside from wanting to hurt people? By what you described, it sound like she was not intending to actually hurt or kill someone, *just* burn places down. I could be wrong, but it sounds like she is more of a compulsive fire bug (can't remember the official term such folks), and as I understand that particular disorder, they generally don't seem to get they are putting people in serious danger. Mind you, I could be wrong about that information too.

 

Thanks, wordsgood! Yep, it was really lucky nobody got hurt. Like you, I just don't get pyromaniacs. Well, I don't get other criminals either, but what's the fascination in setting things on fire? I've never gotten that. I agree, I don't think she wanted to get anyone killed, because she must've known the old building at the railway station is most likely empty at night. And the department store and the library? She must've realised there are security cameras all over the place and that people would notice the fires soon enough. She must have a thing about fires. Normal people don't do that.

 

Frankie, I'm sorry. I hope you don't think I'm being disrespectful here. But I have yet more for you 'cause I thought you'd need them.

 

Oh, don't worry, not at all! We are not to dwell on the bad things, life goes on

 

Oh no frankie that's awful, sadly there are nutters everywhere .... We just have to hope that some of the nutters love books as much as we do!

 

Oh I bet a lot of book lovers were mightily miffed off

 

The person who was brought in for questioning has now been arrested for two weeks, and I think the police will need to come up with something solid in that time. Well, I'm not very familiar with the way things work over here. I did read in the papers that charges need to be pressed before the end of the year, or something like that.

 

That's disgusting, Frankie. I'm glad she was caught and there wasn't too much damage done. I wonder what possessed her to want to set fire to the library? We may never know, I guess.

 

Yeah, we're really happy she was caught as soon as she was. Phew!

[frankie]

Onto some other bookish news: I have received my first review book, sent to me by Kell, and provided by the BCF Here's a picture of the copy (what a beauty!):

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Tom-All-Alone's by Lynn Shepherd and I'm very much looking forward to getting into the story! I've not read Bleak House by Charles Dickens, quite sadly, but I came to the conclusion that as I want to start on T-A-A soonish, I wouldn't have time to read BH before that, and I don't really want to read those two books in succession, anyways.

 

Here's what Book Depository says about the novel:

 

"The story of "Tom-All-Alone's" takes place in the 'space between' two masterpieces of mid-Victorian fiction: "Bleak House" and "The Woman in White" - overlapping with them, and re-imagining them for a contemporary reader, with a modern understanding of the grimmer realities of Victorian society. Charles Maddox, dismissed from the police force, is working as a private detective and can only hope to follow in his uncle's formidable footsteps as an eminent thief-taker. On a cold and bright Autumn morning, a policeman calls on Charles at his lodgings with information that may be related to a case he is working on. He goes to a ruined cemetery to find a shallow grave containing the remains of four babies has been discovered. After examining them he concludes they are not related to his investigation, which is to find a young girl abandoned in a workhouse 16 years before, when her mother died. But all is not as it first appears. As he's drawn into another case at the behest of the eminent but feared lawyer, Edward Tulkinghorn, London's sinister underbelly begins to emerge. From the first gruesome murder, Charles has a race against time to establish the root of all evil. "Tom's-All-Alone" is 'Dickens but darker' - without the comedy, without the caricature, and a style all its own. The novel explores a dark underside of Victorian life that Dickens and Collins hinted at - a world in which young women are sexually abused, unwanted babies summarily disposed of, and those that discover the grim secrets of great men brutally eliminated."

[Kylie]

As Homer Simpson would say to self: Doh! I know the book's an autobio, and I meant to write 'book', but instead wrote 'novel'. I always have problems with the word 'novel', I have to be very careful when using it. I know what it means, but I have a tendency to use is as a synonym to 'book'.

 

I knew you knew it was an autobio, but I couldn't think of a diplomatic way of saying it without sounding like I was being rude to Brian or pointing out your error, so I left well enough alone.

 

Yes you should!

 

Yes boss!!

 

It seems like an interesting read, but one that might go over my head. I think chesilbeach might be into this.

 

Have you read Freakonomics yet? Because (I could be wrong, of course) I have a feeling that this book will be similar to Freakonomics in that it will be made very accessible to non-mathematic-type people like you and I. At any rate, if I end up reading it before you, I'll let you know how I get on with it. (If it doesn't go over my head, it sure as heck won't go over yours!

)

 

Speaking of Freakonomics, I was browsing the BD the other day and a book called The Undercover Economist caught my eye in the 'Customers who bought this also bought...' section. I looked up some reviews on Goodreads, and it appears to be Britain's answer to Freakonomics, and a lot of people have even said it's better! I have already ordered it because I loved Freakonomics so much.

But I want to read Superfreakonomics before I read the TUE.

 

Now this might get on the wishlist. I think I'll read the Blue Day first and then see about that. Thanks for the info!

 

You're welcome! xo I'll definitely read Blue Day first, too.

[frankie]

I knew you knew it was an autobio, but I couldn't think of a diplomatic way of saying it without sounding like I was being rude to Brian or pointing out your error, so I left well enough alone.

 

Hehe, I knew that if you read Brian's post, you'd at least know I mean 'book' I'm sure Brian will appreciate your diplomacy

 

Yes boss!!

 

Wohoo, I'm in full command!

 

Have you read Freakonomics yet? Because (I could be wrong, of course) I have a feeling that this book will be similar to Freakonomics in that it will be made very accessible to non-mathematic-type people like you and I. At any rate, if I end up reading it before you, I'll let you know how I get on with it. (If it doesn't go over my head, it sure as heck won't go over yours! )

 

I haven't had the time yet =( Eventhoug I own a beautiful copy of it, thanks to poppyshake! But I don't think Freakonomics was too mathematic? I mean, figures might've been discussed, but somehow I'm sensing Tammet will do deeper into figures and numbers themselves. But then again, what would I know

Anyhow, I appreciate it that you'll let me know how the book is when you get to it, thanks! =)

 

Speaking of Freakonomics, I was browsing the BD the other day and a book called The Undercover Economist caught my eye in the 'Customers who bought this also bought...' section. I looked up some reviews on Goodreads, and it appears to be Britain's answer to Freakonomics, and a lot of people have even said it's better! I have already ordered it because I loved Freakonomics so much. But I want to read Superfreakonomics before I read the TUE.

 

So spooky!

I was recommended that book, TUE, last summer at Ilosaarirock. I was talking books with a person I'd never met before and we somehow got into recommending each other non-fiction titles. I think I told him to read Stiff. He told me to read TUE and said it's a bit like Freaconomics. Sorry, it never occurred to me that you might like the book Silly, silly frankie!

[Kylie]

Wohoo, I'm in full command!

 

Uh oh.

 

I haven't had the time yet =( Eventhoug I own a beautiful copy of it, thanks to poppyshake! But I don't think Freakonomics was too mathematic? I mean, figures might've been discussed, but somehow I'm sensing Tammet will do deeper into figures and numbers themselves. But then again, what would I know

Anyhow, I appreciate it that you'll let me know how the book is when you get to it, thanks! =)

 

Well, at my rate I won't get to it for approx. 10-20 years, but if you're patient...

 

So spooky!

I was recommended that book, TUE, last summer at Ilosaarirock. I was talking books with a person I'd never met before and we somehow got into recommending each other non-fiction titles. I think I told him to read Stiff. He told me to read TUE and said it's a bit like Freaconomics. Sorry, it never occurred to me that you might like the book Silly, silly frankie!

 

Yes, how silly of you not to be constantly on the lookout for books that might interest me! It's cool that you were recommended the book, though. Makes me even happier that I bought it. Did you add it to your wish list at the time?

[frankie]

Uh oh.

 

Too late

 

Well, at my rate I won't get to it for approx. 10-20 years, but if you're patient...

 

I'd better edit my first post in this log to add the link to that post of yours where you promise to read it in 10-20 years

 

Yes, how silly of you not to be constantly on the lookout for books that might interest me!

 

Well I think my worry and apologies were due, because I know how much you liked that particular book! I should've remembered. But I'm glad you mentioned the title now so I could finally tell you about it. Hehe!

 

It's cool that you were recommended the book, though. Makes me even happier that I bought it. Did you add it to your wish list at the time?

 

No I didn't, but I kept the piece of paper on which he wrote his recommendations, and I stashed it with other bits of paper with other recommendations from other people and books I need to check out. It wasn't til a few weeks ago that I wrote the title down when I was going through the stash and decided to finally add the titles to my wishlist. So it's a pretty funny coinky dinky!

 

~

 

Okay, so I've just come home from the library. I talked with a few people about the fire, and I got some rather interesting information. I'm not sure how much of it is gossip, how much fact, etc. But here's what I found:

- None of the people I talked to about it were at the library during the incident, so I have no first-hand info.

- It appears that the person set or attempted to set the restroom garbage bin on fire twice at the library. Only a few hours apart. After that she went to the department store, where she went to the ladies room and set the garbage bin on fire. The department store was closed for one hour because of it (that last sentence was actually in the news). She was caught at the department store. A co-worker of mine, R, was actually at Subway in the same building when she noticed a lot of police cars and paramedics pulling over, but at the time she of course had no idea what was going on. She focused more on the cute men in uniforms

- I also heard (and they said this was in the papers, too, I've not read them today) that apparently the same person has been suspected of setting fires in apartment buildings in Lieksa, too, which is maybe 70-80 kilometers from Joensuu, and is in fact the neighboring town of my own hometown, Nurmes. She was never convicted, though, maybe they didn't have an airtight case against her.

- Last but not least: apparently she set those fires because she'd been trying to get some sort of mental health help, a place at an institution, but she was never admitted, and she thought this was a sure way to get in.

 

I know the mental health care is in desperate need of resources and it's really sad that people feel they have to resort to doing something like this to get in. Of course it's no excuse, but it's still very sad that people who are really in a serious need of help can't get in. And if you are mentally unstable, it might not seem as such a drastic thing to set a building on fire.

[frankie]

My timing at the library was great: T was shelving books at the children's section, which meant I could talk with her freely and I did a bit of shelving myself so she wouldn't get behind on her work, because she had to concentrate on talking to me as well as shelving It's weird not being able to see her at the library in the future!

 

I was going through The Men from the Ministry CD section, and I got lucky, I found six CDs I've never heard of. I think this will be the perfect thing to listen to when I'm cleaning my books with my new cleaning product, Super 10. I was about to leave the section to maybe go home, but I noticed my friends L and R in the nearby aisle, apparently they'd been 'kicked out' behind the book return machine because there was a new intern there today and he needed the time and space to get to learn how to deal with returned books. R calls the three of us 'the dream team', I think because she feels we all do a great job and we all like each other, and L and I agree It was really lucky they were shelving the same bookcases together, so I could hang with them and talk to them. If they'd been stationed at the desk or behind the book return machine I would've had no such luck. We talked about the case of the firestarter, of course, and other library related goss. It's so nice I have friends there so I can keep up with the weekly happenings of the library. L told me she'd e-mail me her work schedule so it would be easier for me to come and see her when I know she'll be around.

 

I found some great titles, too! I'm currently reading Naapurit by Inna Patrakova, she was born in St. Petersburg and the book was published in Russian, but Patrakova now lives in Finland. I found her earlier novel at the library, I'm very much enjoying the current one so I wanted to see if I'd like her other stuff.

 

I also found a copy of a novel I noticed at the library when I was still working there. The blurb was so intriguing, as well as the title and the cover art. It's Kilpikonnien hidas valssi by Katherine Pancol, but unfortunately I think this hasn't been translated into English (at least as of yet). The title means 'The slow waltz of turtles' in English.

 

I also found the first two titles in the ... oh crap, no I didn't. God damn it! I thought I'd found the first two copies of the G. R. R. Martin series, the whatsitsname series, but holy crap, this is A Storm of Swords -series. God dang it! I already cancelled my reservation of the first book in the series when I got home because I thought now I had a copy in English.

 

So, is this series any good?

[Karsa Orlong]

I also found the first two titles in the ... oh crap, no I didn't. God damn it! I thought I'd found the first two copies of the G. R. R. Martin series, the whatsitsname series, but holy crap, this is A Storm of Swords -series. God dang it! I already cancelled my reservation of the first book in the series when I got home because I thought now I had a copy in English.

 

So, is this series any good?

 

The George R.R. Martin series is actually called 'A Song of Ice & Fire', but people keep calling it 'Game of Thrones' because that's what the tv series is called. It's the same thing, basically. A Storm of Swords is the third book in the series, the first two are called A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. The first and third books are great, the second book is decent, the fourth book (A Feast for Crows) is poor, and the fifth book (A Dance with Dragons) is the biggest waste of time in the history of wastes of time

[frankie]

The George R.R. Martin series is actually called 'A Song of Ice & Fire', but people keep calling it 'Game of Thrones' because that's what the tv series is called. It's the same thing, basically. A Storm of Swords is the third book in the series, the first two are called A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. The first and third books are great, the second book is decent, the fourth book (A Feast for Crows) is poor, and the fifth book (A Dance with Dragons) is the biggest waste of time in the history of wastes of time

 

But I don't get it. It says here that the series name is A Storm of Swords. Not the third book. I've got title number 1: Steel and Snow and title number 2: Blood and Gold.

[Kylie]

I know when I've looked at his books in the shops I've been fooled a few times and thought I was looking at different series. In fact, I was certain of it. But I just looked up Wikipedia, and it looks like he only has the one main series.

 

Aha! According to Wikipedia, A Storm of Swords was published in two volumes in the UK (Steel and Snow and Blood and Gold, which you've apparently got). In the US, it was just published as A Storm of Swords. I'm not sure why yours says it is the series name, unless it is just referring to a series of two books. But that doesn't make much sense.

 

Man I hate it when they start naming things differently. I just realised the other day that a book I bought from the book fair is one that I already own under a different name. Argh!

[frankie]

Aha! According to Wikipedia, A Storm of Swords was published in two volumes in the UK (Steel and Snow and Blood and Gold, which you've apparently got). In the US, it was just published as A Storm of Swords. I'm not sure why yours says it is the series name, unless it is just referring to a series of two books. But that doesn't make much sense.

 

Ah!! So it's not the series name, it's just that I have book 1 and book 2 of the novel A Storm of Swords. Good god this has been confusing.

 

After my previous post I looked at the bit of the cover that was covered by the library sticker and it stated A Song of Ice & Fire, but I thought maybe it said this series is by the author of this other famous series.

 

Man I hate it when they start naming things differently. I just realised the other day that a book I bought from the book fair is one that I already own under a different name. Argh!

 

I hate it too, with a passion! :banghead: So annoying, and it's only confusing the customers. It should be illegal!