Now Reading...

[Yippee38]

NR: In shade and shadow - Barb and J.C. Hendee.

What do you think of those books? I really liked the first one, and then they kind of went downhill for me. In Shade and Shadow was really good though. I get kind of tired of the characters acting stupidly stubborn, but that's my only real gripe with the books. It's a nice change to the fantasy vampire genre.

 

[OrbWeaver]

Now reading Evil Genes: Why Rome Fell, Hitler Rose, Enron Failed, and My Sister Stole My Mother's Boyfriend by Barbara Oakley

 

[Rider of Theli]

NR: The Solie Chronicles - The Life & Times of Gordon Solie

 

[Magius]

What do you think of those books? I really liked the first one, and then they kind of went downhill for me. In Shade and Shadow was really good though. I get kind of tired of the characters acting stupidly stubborn, but that's my only real gripe with the books. It's a nice change to the fantasy vampire genre.

"Stupidly stubborn" is a legitimate gripe. It also permeates a lot of the character developement in Jordan's 'Wheel of Time,' and does become tiresome at times. Mostly because it leads to a lack of discussion or debate between characters. They just bullheadedly plow ahead, while the rest of the party anxiously worries about the obsessive behavior. I'm fine with an obsessive quest on occasion, but this series is one obsessive quest after another.

So, like you, I prefered the first book as it was based on the characters being thrust into circumstances rather than being quest besed. I liked the second also, as it was based on them being given a specific task to do. It also wrapped up the first book pretty well. Unfortunately I'm usually cursed with the need to see a series through once I get started. That said, 'Child of a Dead God' was better than the middle of the series, and like the second did a pretty good job wrapping up the storyline.

I'm liking 'In Shade and Shadow' as it's a return to the thrust into circumstances basis. Some of the stupidly stubborn behavior remains, but it's more justifiable since it's based more on a lack of alternatives rather than obsession.

 

[LunaTEKKE]

I picked up the first two books of the "Dreamers" series from David Eddings (R.I.P.) to read on my flights to/from Atlanta.

The series is certainly not a classic like "The Belgariad" -- but I am finding them to be mildly entertaining.

 

[end]

"The Blind Watchmaker" - Richard Dawkins. Over halfway through and it's very good so far.

 

[Dogs Playing Poker]

I am reading Charlaine Harris' "All Together Dead," and am trying to decide on what to read after that. Possibly Jennifer Rardin's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy."

 

[LunaTEKKE]

Richard N. Bolles: What Color is Your Parachute - A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers

Martin Yate: Knock 'em Dead - The Ultimate Job Search Guide 2009

For obvious reasons.

I can't decide whether or not I am "lucky" that my last day on the job is 10/9 -- some people were escorted out of the building the day of the layoffs. Getting paid for the 3 extra weeks is nice, but the environment in our office is like a freaking "Night of the Living Dead" movie.

Is is time to go back to Atlanta for ProgPower XI yet?

 

[OrbWeaver]

The Phoenix Transformed - Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

 

[Pellaz]

The Phoenix Transformed - Mercedes Lackey and Andre Norton

A Misty Lackey book involving birds?! Nahhh, pull the other leg, why doncha?


NR (still): Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, 80% done

 

[jaimek]

Queen of Angels is boring as shit, so I moved on to Diana Gabaldon's Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, which is far more interesting. Her next Fraser book, An Echo In The Bone, comes out in two days, too, and I'm trying to decide whether to order it now and try to plow through it before vacation (because I sure as hell am not dragging a very large Gabaldon hardcover on a plane and across two countries) or if I should wait til I get home.

But considering it takes her about five years between books in this series, and there's at least one more book (she's as bad as GRRM when it comes to the overarching story requiring more and more books to tell, so who knows), I'm in no hurry...

 

[OrbWeaver]

A Misty Lackey book involving birds?! Nahhh, pull the other leg, why doncha?


NR (still): Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, 80% done

Well, having read the first trilogy, and being almost done with this second trilogy, I haven't seen any birds at all in any of these novels. Except as food.

The titles of this current trilogy is a metaphor.

 

[Diamond45]

Richard N. Bolles: What Color is Your Parachute - A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers

I'm surprised this is still in print. How long ago was this published?

Edit: Looks like it's updated every year. First published in 1970.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Color_is_Your_Parachute?

Is it time to go back to Atlanta for ProgPower XI yet?

No kidding... you mean we have to wait a whole year to see Tarot???

 

[LunaTEKKE]

I'm surprised this is still in print. How long ago was this published?

Edit: Looks like it's updated every year. First published in 1970.

Yep, got the brand spanking new 2009 "Job Hunting in Hard Times" edition.

Talk about a slight understatement.

 

[ratanda]

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk. It's a collection of short stories that are somewhat related to one another. Some of them are absolutely kickass, eye-popping stuff, while others are simply not bad.

 

[Cheiron]

Now reading --

Tales of the Dying Earth - Jack Vance
and
Cyteen - C.J. Cherryh

 

[metalprof]

Tales of the Dying Earth - Jack Vance

Is this by Vance himself, or is this the collection of stories by others set in the Dying Earth universe?

Anyway, for me:

Just finished Old Man's War by John Scalzi

Now re-reading Magician: Apprentice by Raymond Feist

Up next: Gardens of the Moon, by Steven Erickson. Yep, I'm taking the leap!

Ken

 

[Cheiron]

Is this by Vance himself, or is this the collection of stories by others set in the Dying Earth universe?

This is just Vance's stories. There's a collection of other writers in that universe I think called Songs of the Dying Earth. Apparently the UK is going to do a reprint of it, because the other printing has now sold out (partly due to recent press Vance has received).

 

[Pellaz]

Finally finished re-reading Atlas Shrugged -- and there was much rejoicing.

I'll probably cobble up a blog about the book vis a vis current political trends....but later. Maybe in a few days/weeks.

Now reading: Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey.

 

[booB]

History of the Millennium (So Far), by Dave Barry
The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner
The Paleo Diet, by Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

sort of simultaneously.