@LieutenantFatman you have piqued my interest even further with that explanation. Will keep a note of the series and hopefully get to it this year.
As I'm turning 40 this year I've set myself a goal of reading a minimum of 40 books, if I can surpass that I'll be chuffed but no doubt the years line up of games will interfere!
@MightyDemon82
I'm not to far behind you on the age thing. That's a decent number of books, I tend to read during my lunch break at work. Keeps progress at a decent rate, great way to switch off for a short while during a hard day.
@LieutenantFatman yes, reading during any breaks at work is a great way to get through them and like you say a nice way to switch off for a bit before jumping back in to work.
Victor Hugo needs to get to the bloody point. Hundreds of pages into Les Miserables and 90% of it is utterly superfluous. I also finished A Little Life the other day there. The most unflinchingly depressing book I’ve ever read. Hauntingly horrible at every turn. Lord knows how I made it to the end. Ironically given the subject matter, my relationship with that book was almost abusive, as it throws overwhelming energy-draining grimness at you for pages upon pages yet I kept going back to it. If I’m being honest, it’s probably negatively affected my mental health in the end. Definitely a book I’d lock away in a cupboard with a big sign saying DO NOT READ. If you ever start a book club, assign that book if you want to end it.
I’ve read most of them now and they are (mostly) fantastic. I love how Banks created the universe and focuses on so many different aspects of it across different times so it’s not all about super high tech intergalactic warfare.
Surface Detail is his magnum opus in my opinion. I was thinking of a re-read of Consider, Phlebas as my next book as it goes.
As for me, this year I’ve read Ranulph Fiennes’ biography of Ernest Shackleton which was really good (his biography of Capt Scott is also really good, as is his own autobiography) and I’m currently in the middle of “The Importance of Being Interested” by Robin Ince which has been an interesting look at broad scientific topics (mostly physics) but from an almost philosophical point of view.
@nessisonett noted about little lies! The premise really interests me in the following of friends over the years. Particularly as someone who's getting on a bit, I know the friends I've had for the last couple of decades have truly seen some ***** and I've been right there with them. I've nearly picked it up a couple of times but given that review, I might stay well clear!!
@lolwhatno At the end of the day it’s one scene in a very long book written by a man so high on cocaine he probably couldn’t see straight. But I sort of understand what he was going for with it. Pennywise goes for kids because he feeds off their innocence. So Beverly decides on a way for them all to lose their innocence. In a way, ‘It’ refers to social stigma about sex, King draws parallels all through the book. Not talking about it being why Pennywise gets away with killing so many kids etc. So there’s a certain irony in you skipping those pages!
@MightyDemon82 I'm glad you enjoyed it! Player of Games was the first Culture book I read and really liked it. Quite the change of tone and pace from Phlebas though but, like I said above, I like that Banks was happy to experiment with different types of story through the series.
@Thrillho I had planned on starting State of the Art yesterday but Aloy had my attention all day. I'll crack it open and get it started before I go to sleep!
I have started reading The Cockroach by Ian McEwan- it is such an interesting subversion of Kafka's vermin. I am also for college reading Algebra and trying to be ready for the prep test
Directive 51 Trilogy
Star Wars High Republic Rising Storm
The Silmarillion. re-reading it for the 3rd time. mostly reading a few things here and there in the book
@XandertheWise I only ever got through the first 4 or 5 of those before women became a focus in my life. Still have them all so will have to read the lot this time!
Just got done with Stephen King's Under the Dome. What a great book, one of his best. Page-turner for all 800-odd pages, and minimal supernatural stuff (which is good for me). I didn't really like how divisive political stereotypes separate the town - of course the evil town selectman is an Obama hating Republican Christian, but still a great novel.
Now reading a bloody big book about Lyndon Johnson - LBJ: Architect of the American Dream. Truly formidable politician. They're made of different stock to the idiots on both sides of the divide and the Atlantic these days.
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