Re: Reading | So there are these things called books...

Had a pretty productive reading day, mostly since I didn't feel like doing any real work.

Finished off The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker first. I found it interesting, though I'm not really sure I'd rate it all that highly. It was very clearly the first novel of a series, which isn't necessarily a terrible thing, but it felt like a book entirely of table-setting and I'm not sure I ended up caring about any of the pieces being shifted about. Will read the second book of the series at some point, as I did find some of the world-building and characters intriguing.

After that, I read Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. I didn't really respond to it. The prose didn't capture me(Might have been better had I read it in German) and the philosophy espoused left me cold. Given the content and style, it isn't surprising that it was popular in the 60s and 70s in the US, matches up well with the general counter-culture philosophy and the fascination with eastern religions that permeated the era.

Finally, I got around to reading To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. I thought it was fantastic, worthy of all praise. The characterization was sublime, as was the style. Took a few chapters to get used to the shifting perspectives, but from that point out I hardly looked up from the page.

By Andromeda Go To PostI just re-read The Peace War by Vernor Vinge and now reading Metro 2033 (because I liked the games).

Lots of talk about Murakami here. Which books written by him should I read first ?

I'd say The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore, or, if you're not a fan of surreal/fantastical elements, Norwegian Wood.

By Stolichnaya Go To PostHad a pretty productive reading day, mostly since I didn't feel like doing any real work.

Finished off The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker first. I found it interesting, though I'm not really sure I'd rate it all that highly. It was very clearly the first novel of a series, which isn't necessarily a terrible thing, but it felt like a book entirely of table-setting and I'm not sure I ended up caring about any of the pieces being shifted about. Will read the second book of the series at some point, as I did find some of the world-building and characters intriguing.

After that, I read Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. I didn't really respond to it. The prose didn't capture me(Might have been better had I read it in German) and the philosophy espoused left me cold. Given the content and style, it isn't surprising that it was popular in the 60s and 70s in the US, matches up well with the general counter-culture philosophy and the fascination with eastern religions that permeated the era.

Finally, I got around to reading To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. I thought it was fantastic, worthy of all praise. The characterization was sublime, as was the style. Took a few chapters to get used to the shifting perspectives, but from that point out I hardly looked up from the page.



I'd say The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore, or, if you're not a fan of surreal/fantastical elements, Norwegian Wood.

Every book in The Second Apocalypse (Baker's novels) is better than the one before it, or near enough. You should keep reading.

There's also quite a lot to uncover with rereads and such.

By Andromeda Go To PostI just re-read The Peace War by Vernor Vinge and now reading Metro 2033 (because I liked the games).

Lots of talk about Murakami here. Which books written by him should I read first ?

Norwegian Wood is a good one to start with.

The Strange Library is good as well. Very short, and will give you a good idea of what to expect from his longer works.

I read Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage a couple of months ago. It absolutely slayed me. Wonderful book.

By Planck Energy Go To PostEvery book in The Second Apocalypse (Baker's novels) is better than the one before it, or near enough. You should keep reading.

There's also quite a lot to uncover with rereads and such.

I'm torn between waiting for a sale or just moving ahead right away. I'll probably crumble and get The Warrior-Prophet at full price, because I am actually excited about where it's going, even if the first book wasn't that great of an experience for me by itself. It definitely felt like a book that would be better on a reread with the full context of the series. Not like that's a new thing for a long fantasy series, I try to reserve judgment until I'm two or three books deep.

By Andromeda Go To PostLots of talk about Murakami here. Which books written by him should I read first ?

Rat Trilogy

Buy them all 5 times so Bakker can stop working at Burger King to make ends meet.

Though I should say I loved the first book right away for various reasons.

By Apollo Go To PostRat Trilogy

Any word yet of when Killing Commendatore will hit?

By Planck Energy Go To PostBuy them all 5 times so Bakker can stop working at Burger King to make ends meet.

Though I should say I loved the first book right away for various reasons.

I didn't like it. I can't put a finger on exactly what it is that I don't like about his books, I just know I didn't enjoy them much. If it's the exaggerated introspection by many of the characters, how he writes, something completely different or if it's a combination of things.

A series I warmly recommend is the books about Eddie LaCrosse by Alex Bledsoe. They have become some of my favourite fantasy books.

By Shanks D Zoro Go To PostAny word yet of when Killing Commendatore will hit?

Nope, I’m going to say summer 2018 or 2019

By zon Go To PostI didn't like it. I can't put a finger on exactly what it is that I don't like about his books, I just know I didn't enjoy them much. If it's the exaggerated introspection by many of the characters, how he writes, something completely different or if it's a combination of things.

A series I warmly recommend is the books about Eddie LaCrosse by Alex Bledsoe. They have become some of my favourite fantasy books.

A lot of people find it too nihilistic or depressing. Or they feel there's no one to cheer for (kind of hard to argue this one, at least in the traditional sense).

By Planck Energy Go To PostA lot of people find it too nihilistic or depressing. Or they feel there's no one to cheer for (kind of hard to argue this one, at least in the traditional sense).

Hmm, I can't say that was my issue with his work. I've read the Farseer Trilogy and that got me depressed. Maybe it's because there's no one to really cheer for, although I did cheer for Cnaiür to an extent. There's just so much nothing in the books, that's what it feels like. There's so much thinking about thoughts and emotions, and then speaking about thoughts and emotions. Most of it, to me, never felt relevant to move the story forward, it was just there.

I'm usually better at describing what I don't like about books. That's why I remember Bakker, I don't like it but I can't formulate why.