Rangerland Forum Information

[Nilan 666]

I thought 'A Dirty Job' was excellent. I am listening via Audible to 'The Fifth Elephant' - #24 (I think) of the Discworld series. I enjoy these very much.

I also highly recommmend 'Thank You for Smoking' by Christiopher Buckley.

I just saw the movie they made of that, not bad mostly due to Aaron Eckhart.

[Dunc]

I just saw the movie they made of that, not bad mostly due to Aaron Eckhart.

The book is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better....

[CSI Tink]

Ive been reading Bloodstain Pattern Analysis by Gardner, but come midnight Friday I will have my hands on Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer and will not leave my apt until the entire book is finished!!

Interesting how I go from reading about blood to reading about vampires. hmmm...

[Nilan 666]

Just started The Family by Jeff Sharlet. The history of the guys behind the National Prayer Breakfast, among plenty of other things.

[Alitaki]

I thought 'A Dirty Job' was excellent.

It was. Recently finished Bloodsucking Fiends, Coyote Blue and You Suck.

I though Fiends was great, but the follow up You Suck was really really weak. It had some good moments but really felt like he was just bored with it and going through the motions. Blue took a little time to get going but it was fun. Not his best, but not bad either.


So I finally read Watchmen. Not impressed. I thought V for Vendetta was way better than it. Not happy with the ending at all and I think that is what brings the story down for me.

[xcheck24]

I need to get the Watchmen. I've never been a graphic novel reader, but the movie is intriguing me. And this is one I want to know the background.

I thought both Dirty Job and You Suck were a little weak by Moore standards. A lot of his best books (like Fluke and Lamb) he spent a lot of time researching and didn't just churn out work just for the sake of churning them out. I felt that's what he did with the last two. He's working on something new, and I'm hoping he's going back to the research and taking careful time with it. I really want a new book from him, but I'm willing to wait.

I'm reading Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen. I read Skinny Dip by him, which I really liked. I picked it up because Hiaasen had written a comment on some of Moore's books. I really liked Skinny Dip and someone recommended Sick Puppy and Basket Case to me. I'm not so sure what I think of Sick Puppy. I'm still reading it, so I guess that says something there. But it's not as good as Skinny Dip, IMO.

[Alitaki]

I thought both Dirty Job and You Suck were a little weak by Moore standards. A lot of his best books (like Fluke and Lamb) he spent a lot of time researching and didn't just churn out work just for the sake of churning them out. I felt that's what he did with the last two. He's working on something new, and I'm hoping he's going back to the research and taking careful time with it. I really want a new book from him, but I'm willing to wait.

I didn't get that feeling with A Dirty Job. Then again it was the second Moore book I read so maybe I need to go back and read it again. You Suck just felt like he was disinterested in it. The three vampires that show up at the end out of the blue? Elijah's sudden change of heart to leave Jody and Tommy alone? I don't know if he had intended to write a follow up to Fiends or was dogged into doing it but that was a really weak effort IMO.

I've Island of the Sequined Love Nun and The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove on deck and then need to get The Stupidest Angel. Hopefully those are better than You Suck.

Fluke and Lamb are turning out to be the best of the bunch.

[xcheck24]

I liked Lust Lizard a lot.

It took me a little bit to get through Practical Demonkeeping. I started reading it once and put it down. I read a bunch of his other books and then went back to it. It was actually the last of his books that I've read, which is funny since it was the first he wrote.

Fluke and Lamb were my favorites. Fiends and Lust Lizard would be the ones a step below that I liked.

Oh and I just went and read up on his next novel. It's apparently set in medieval times with a Shakespeare influence. And it's due to be out late this year, early next year.

[Dr. D]

I picked up House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski yesterday and I'm on chapter six. Completely fucked up book. The structure's weirder than anything I've ever read, but it's really, really interesting.

[Bavoo]

I know I mwntioned it in my previous thread, but I've finally started The Host. Wow, what a great, great book. It's been a while since I've read a Sci-Fi book and I'm really enjoying it.

Check it out.

This post has been edited by Bavoo: Aug 19 2008, 08:34 AM

[LeNea]

Can we fix the grammar in the title of the reading thread?

[Mike B.]

Based on the recommendations of everyone here, I picked up a copy of "The Road" the other day. The woman behind the desk at the book store said, "this is the best book ever written, of all-time." She was exaggerating, of course, but it seems like everyone who I've spoken to about this book has the same reaction - so enthusiastic about it that they have a hard time finding the appropriate accolades or words to analyze it.

Also, it took a week of vacation to do it, but I am now finally up to date on my Esquire and Economist subscriptions.

[Dunc]

I need to get the Watchmen. I've never been a graphic novel reader, but the movie is intriguing me. And this is one I want to know the background.

I thought both Dirty Job and You Suck were a little weak by Moore standards. A lot of his best books (like Fluke and Lamb) he spent a lot of time researching and didn't just churn out work just for the sake of churning them out. I felt that's what he did with the last two. He's working on something new, and I'm hoping he's going back to the research and taking careful time with it. I really want a new book from him, but I'm willing to wait.

I'm reading Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen. I read Skinny Dip by him, which I really liked. I picked it up because Hiaasen had written a comment on some of Moore's books. I really liked Skinny Dip and someone recommended Sick Puppy and Basket Case to me. I'm not so sure what I think of Sick Puppy. I'm still reading it, so I guess that says something there. But it's not as good as Skinny Dip, IMO.

I tried Chris Moore (started with 'A Dirty Job') because Hiassen recommended Moore.

Christopher Buckley has a new book out - 'Supreme Courtship' - that will be my next read.

[Kusand]

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. Halfway through it, and loving it to death. Amazing writing.

[xcheck24]

I loved that book, Kus. I couldn't put it down.

[Nilan 666]

In honor of the upcoming elections, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Probably chase that with Better Than Sex.

[xcheck24]

In honor of the upcoming elections, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72.

I read about half of that. I should pick it up and finish it.

I just finished "The Summer of Naked Swim Parties."

It's not about what you think it's about. lol
It's about a teenage girl and a summer of growth for her. I really liked it although it's sad and painful at points.

[Sed]

I'm reading, "Are You There, Cod? It's Me, Halibut."

And by "reading," I mean that I'm imagining a totally awesome combination of The Incredible Mr. Limpet and Blood Meridian.

[Mike B.]

I'm about halfway through A Death in Belmont, by Sebastian Junger. One of those books that you can't put down, despite the fact that it's 1 a.m. on a weekday night and you really should be going to sleep.

It's an account of the Boston Strangler murders, with the added twist that Junger grew up in Belmont right around the corner from one of the murders, and Albert DeSalvo was a carpenter that worked on the house that Junger grew up in, during the time that he was in the middle of his killing spree. Lots of amazing aspects to this story. The one murder (out of the dozen or so) that was "solved" before DeSalvo confessed was the Belmont case. A black man who had left Mississippi to escape Jim Crow and some personal demons was convicted, based on the fact that he had been hired to clean the victim's house and was one of the last people to see her alive. The trial ended on the morning that JFK was assassinated, and Junger implies that it had a lot to do with the guilty verdict.

To some extent, this story would tell itself, but Junger chops up the chronological narrative in a way that really keeps you hooked. Plus, his personal connection, and interviews with a lot of people involved in the murders, including DeSalvo himself, really add a lot.

This post has been edited by Mike B.: Sep 2 2008, 10:57 AM

[ree]

Yes -- I would highly recommend it. It's a good introduction to McCarthy and who doesn't love a good post-apocalyptic yarn? As you're reading it and wondering if you should read more of McCarthy's books, just remember that The Road is one of the most optomistic things I've read by McCarthy.

It's next on my to buy list, once I get through the next two books I have lined up to read. I'm currently reading 'Twilight.' I think the pages are laced with crack it's so addicting.

[Rocha]

I just finished "The Summer of Naked Swim Parties."

It's about a teenage girl and a summer of growth for her. I really liked it although it's sad and painful at points.

Yeah yeah, whatever. What about the naked swim parties?

[xcheck24]

Yeah yeah, whatever. What about the naked swim parties?

Her parents are hippie types and have naked swim parties with their friends.

[Sed]

Those parties are giving Pete a "summer of growth."

[Frankie5Angels]

Reading The Road. Meh

This post has been edited by Frankie5Angels: Sep 29 2008, 05:34 PM

[NYRhitter]

Rangerland.net

[ree]

I started reading The Secret. I'm kind of freaked out.

[Alitaki]

I finished up the Dresden books with the exception of the current one pending its release in paperback. Eh. It was really tough getting through the first 3 books, but they've gotten better from book 4 and on. Its a fun series.

Started reading Persepolis. Got it as a birthday gift. Pretty eye opening stuff.

[Rhino]

I finished up the Dresden books with the exception of the current one pending its release in paperback. Eh. It was really tough getting through the first 3 books, but they've gotten better from book 4 and on. Its a fun series.

Started reading Persepolis. Got it as a birthday gift. Pretty eye opening stuff.

Yeah, once he stopped trying to be cute and clever with his writing and just started telling a good story the Dresden books really picked up. Hopefully he can keep it up. He plans to write something like 24 books and a trilogy to finish off the series. Or so I hear.

[Alitaki]

Yeah, once he stopped trying to be cute and clever with his writing and just started telling a good story the Dresden books really picked up. Hopefully he can keep it up. He plans to write something like 24 books and a trilogy to finish off the series. Or so I hear.

The thing that drove me crazy was that every book had to describe everything all over again - i.e. - re:his apartment "I decorate in layers". Ugh. I'd skip over those paragraphs because really, I don't need to read the same thing in each book. The constant repetition of the character's chivalrous nature. Um, Mr. Butcher? I get it already. I don't need to read it EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Yeah once he concentrated on the stories the books got much better.

[Kusand]

The thing that drove me crazy was that every book had to describe everything all over again - i.e. - re:his apartment "I decorate in layers". Ugh. I'd skip over those paragraphs because really, I don't need to read the same thing in each book. The constant repetition of the character's chivalrous nature. Um, Mr. Butcher? I get it already. I don't need to read it EVERY SINGLE TIME.

I think the problem here is each book in the series is meant to be able to stand alone. So people familiar with it (I've read two and have enjoyed it thus far) have to deal with the constant reiteration. I think series like Discworld have the same problem - they want you to be able to pick any book up for the first time and jump in, so characters have to be redescribed each time.

[Alitaki]

I think the problem here is each book in the series is meant to be able to stand alone. So people familiar with it (I've read two and have enjoyed it thus far) have to deal with the constant reiteration. I think series like Discworld have the same problem - they want you to be able to pick any book up for the first time and jump in, so characters have to be redescribed each time.

I think the first three books were written with this in mind, but he must have made the decision to focus more on the continuity because the stories have become more intertwined and he's not explaining past events with enough detail to make the books truly "stand-alone". Case in point, in book 8 he brings up characters and events from book 4 but doesn't really go into what happened, like he did in the earlier books. To me that's not "stand alone". Whatever though, they've definitely have gotten better and I'm having fun reading them now.

[Kusand]

I think the first three books were written with this in mind, but he must have made the decision to focus more on the continuity because the stories have become more intertwined and he's not explaining past events with enough detail to make the books truly "stand-alone". Case in point, in book 8 he brings up characters and events from book 4 but doesn't really go into what happened, like he did in the earlier books. To me that's not "stand alone". Whatever though, they've definitely have gotten better and I'm having fun reading them now.

Yes/no, I guess. I read the most recent (I think) book first, and he does reference stuff that happened in previous books without an explanation, but it really doesn't harm the plot, whereas I think some of the repeated characterization stuff would make it hard for a new reader to get into it if you skip a lot of it. Not sure, really. Just thinking out loud.

[Rhino]

Yes/no, I guess. I read the most recent (I think) book first, and he does reference stuff that happened in previous books without an explanation, but it really doesn't harm the plot, whereas I think some of the repeated characterization stuff would make it hard for a new reader to get into it if you skip a lot of it. Not sure, really. Just thinking out loud.

To me it seems like Butcher has grown to a point where he can reference and quickly summarize events from previous books, whereas before he would try to reproduce everything in fine detail. Another aspect of the series that I like is how integral the continuity is to the storytelling. He will introduce a plot point in one book and it won't be resolved until two or three books later, sometimes longer. It gives a real sense of a continuing story and not just a series of self-contained episodes.

[xcheck24]

I'm trying to finish About a Boy by Nick Hornby.
Apparently Christopher Moore has a new book coming out soon, fellow fans.

[Kusand]

Also, slowly making my way through Cryptonomicon.

[leedsy99]

I just got an email confirming my order for a stemware rack from Bed, Bath and Beyond. Sometime I sit quietly in the dark and like to see if I can slow my pulse rate to the point of near death.

[jburns]

I just got an email confirming my order for a stemware rack from Bed, Bath and Beyond. Sometime I sit quietly in the dark and like to see if I can slow my pulse rate to the point of near death.

I just read the box score. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAH.

[Pymonte]

[Levitate]

What books were you talking about, Tak and Kusand?

I need to pick up some new books...just finished the Foundation series, since I hadn't read them before

[Alitaki]

What books were you talking about, Tak and Kusand?

I need to pick up some new books...just finished the Foundation series, since I hadn't read them before

The Dresden Series by Jim Butcher. Its a fun read once you get past the first few books.

[ree]

I just picked up the new Bret 'Hitman' Hart book. I'm up to chapter three and I have more respect for this guy now than I did in his entire pro-wrestling career.

[Rhino]

What books were you talking about, Tak and Kusand?

I need to pick up some new books...just finished the Foundation series, since I hadn't read them before

Like the Isaac Asimov Foundation series. It's been years since I read those. I had a passing fancy with picking them all up on Ebay, but there are just so many.

[Levitate]

Is there really? I thought there was just 3 in the foundation series. Then again, I was reading old, old copies of them that said there were only 3

[Rhino]

Is there really? I thought there was just 3 in the foundation series. Then again, I was reading old, old copies of them that said there were only 3

Okay, let me be more specific. There are only three or four books in that series, I think, but Asimov wrote several connected series' in the same universe. That's more what I was referring to.

EDIT: From Wikipedia

The Foundation Series is an epic science fiction series written over a span of forty-four years by Isaac Asimov. It consists of seven volumes that are closely linked to each other, although they can be read separately. The term "Foundation Series" is often used more generally to include the Robot Series and Empire Series, which are set in the same fictional universe, but in earlier time periods. In total, there are fifteen novels and dozens of short stories written by Asimov, and six novels written by other authors after his death. The series is highly acclaimed, winning the one-time Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" in 1966

This post has been edited by Rhino: Oct 10 2008, 09:34 AM

[rightbug]

I just finished one of the best books I've read in a long time, Birds in Fall by Brad Kessler. It's a very melancholy book about a plane crash -- A modern retelling of the Greek myth of Ceyx and Alcyone. Short and extremly beautiful.

On a brighter note, I think I've recommended them before but, anyone looking for a good series of quick, action packed, entertaining books, should check out Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe novels. They follow the career of a soldier in the British Army during the Napoleanic War. They are not works of art but they're wicked fun.

[hoser]

On a brighter note, I think I've recommended them before but, anyone looking for a good series of quick, action packed, entertaining books, should check out Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe novels. They follow the career of a soldier in the British Army during the Napoleanic War. They are not works of art but they're wicked fun.

Cool, I'm always down for some war books. Which one do you start with?

I may just have to read All Quiet on the Western Front again. A good WWII book is The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer.

[rightbug]

Cool, I'm always down for some war books. Which one do you start with?

I may just have to read All Quiet on the Western Front again. A good WWII book is The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer.

If you want to go in chronological order, which is what I'm doing, Sharpe's Tiger is the first and is actually set in the Indian subcontinent. These are straight up action books so, while the historical aspects are all accurate and well researched (these are all actual campaigns he participates in), I wouldn't put any of the novels in the same breath as any of the great works of literature focusing on the subject of war.

[Nilan 666]

A good war book would be Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.

[Dunc]

http://www.heathermallick.ca/cbc.ca-column...convention.html

Canadians are funny.

[Kusand]

http://www.heathermallick.ca/cbc.ca-column...convention.html

Canadians are funny.

Man, people get fucking angry. Wow. I do find it pretty amusing how she can go from mocking the Republicans for saying "community organizer" the wrong way to dropping the term "hick vote" at the drop of a hat, though. A little fixated on Bristol Palin, too.