So what are you reading this year 2021?

[Richards]

I'm only three stories in thus far (each only about 10 pages long), and so far they're...okay. Nothing terrific, but not disappointing. I figure I'll give it a hundred pages or so and see what I think then.

I've never read any Raymond Chandler. Perhaps some day - so many good books to try, so little time...I've long since consigned myself to the sad realization I'll never have time to read all of the books I'd really like to.

Johnathan

 

[Nellisir]

I'm only three stories in thus far (each only about 10 pages long), and so far they're...okay. Nothing terrific, but not disappointing. I figure I'll give it a hundred pages or so and see what I think then.

I've never read any Raymond Chandler. Perhaps some day - so many good books to try, so little time...I've long since consigned myself to the sad realization I'll never have time to read all of the books I'd really like to.

Johnathan

Dashell Hammett weaves a good solid story, but yeah. They lack a certain something, IMO.
Honestly, I'm putting these quotes here because I haven't read Raymond Chandler for a bit and I went looking for a quote or two and now I'm drunk on them.

“I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun. I put them on and went out of the room.”
― Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely

“The girl gave him a look which ought to have stuck at least four inches out of his back.”
― Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye

“I don’t mind if you don’t like my manners. They’re pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings.”
― Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep

“He snorted and hit me in the solar plexus. I bent over and took hold of the room with both hands and spun it. When I had it nicely spinning I gave it a full swing and hit myself on the back of the head with the floor.”
― Raymond Chandler, Pearls are a Nuisance

“She had eyes like strange sins.”
― Raymond Chandler, The High Window

“Mr Cobb was my escort. Such a nice escort, Mr Cobb. So attentive. You should see him sober. I should see him sober. Somebody should see him sober. I mean, just for the record. So it could become a part of history, that brief flashing moment, soon buried in time, but never forgotten - when Larry Cobb was sober.”
― Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep

 

[Blue]

Oh. Cool. Another book/series that isn't done..... Should have figured that out, I guess.

Worse then that, he's George R.R. Martin slow.

His wordcrafting in amazing, especially the lead for each chapter. But I'm still waiting, and waiting.

 

[Zaukrie]

Worse then that, he's George R.R. Martin slow.

His wordcrafting in amazing, especially the lead for each chapter. But I'm still waiting, and waiting.

I'm trying to decide if I care. The writing is so good.

 

[Blue]

Finished Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. Second half to Six of Crows. Quite enjoyed it. I liked 6oC, but it had some flaws such as the pacing in the first half of the novel and the deux ex machina solutions they came up with in the second. This seemed to be on the money and avoided those pitfalls. The only thing that left me hanging is where the prologue introduced got a somewhat weak closure. Besides that, it wrapped things up. I was ready to end with the second-to-last chapter -- it hit all the emotional points I needed for the denouement. But remember how I said this wrapped up well -- that last chapter was no mistake. Just the last taste of the book on your lips.

Will pick up more by the author.

 

[Blue]

I'm trying to decide if I care. The writing is so good.

I didn't. I read them knowing what a wait I was getting into. Love his way with words.

 

[Zaukrie]

well, I did start book 2......so, I guess I don't care.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Rothfuss' writing is so gorgeous, it's clever and evocative. I think it also covers up some of the flaws of an author that is still early in his career. Though I suppose that at the rate of publication he's maintaining, he could also be at the end. In any case, for all else I delight in reading his prose.

I'm trying to decide if I care. The writing is so good.

I finished reading Saberhagen's The First Book of Swords. I definitely got more out of it on the second read, after having read the Empire of the East series. The 80s were a time of codification of fantasy, though, and it shows as the post-apocalyptic lost tech elements aren't as prominent here.

I read Weldon and Bjornstad's Playing with Fire, a prime document of the Satanic Panic. It's a fascinating piece of propaganda, that makes a big show of being a fair and scholarly assessment of RPGs, but is pretty much a kangaroo court from the beginning. I'm reminded of the quote from the Witcher series..."You talk nonsense while making wise and meaningful faces."

Now I'm re-reading Jack Vance's The Star King.

 

[darjr]

Reading 1e Manual of the planes

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Finished Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. Second half to Six of Crows. Quite enjoyed it. I liked 6oC, but it had some flaws such as the pacing in the first half of the novel and the deux ex machina solutions they came up with in the second. This seemed to be on the money and avoided those pitfalls. The only thing that left me hanging is where the prologue introduced got a somewhat weak closure. Besides that, it wrapped things up. I was ready to end with the second-to-last chapter -- it hit all the emotional points I needed for the denouement. But remember how I said this wrapped up well -- that last chapter was no mistake. Just the last taste of the book on your lips.

Will pick up more by the author.

Glad to hear. I've got the first book of the series that's now on stream reserved at library; but as is usually the case, that'll be a while. Which is OK, as my to be read list is quite long.