Topic: Rate the last book you just read

[pandamonium]

Making Money--Terry Pratchett: 9/10. Not my favorite Discworld novel, but Moist von Lipwig is a great character and the story flowed nicely. Granted, I'd give most of the Discworld novels 9/10...and the rest 8/10...but we all have our sacred cows. Mine is satirical fantasy written by Terry Pratchett.

[Johnny Slick]

I hate that he has Alzheimer's and is going to commit suicide at the end of this year.

[pandamonium]

I hate that he has Alzheimer's and is going to commit suicide at the end of this year.

...wut?

[Johnny Slick]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_pratchett

In an article published mid 2009, Pratchett stated that he wishes to commit 'assisted suicide' (although he dislikes that term) before his disease progresses to a critical point.[56] Pratchett was selected to give the 2010 BBC Richard Dimbleby Lecture,[57] entitled Shaking Hands With Death, which was broadcast on 1 February 2010.[58] Pratchett introduced his lecture on the topic of assisted death, but the main text was read by his friend Tony Robinson because of difficulties Pratchett has with reading – a result of his condition.[59][60][61]

I thought I'd read that he'd set a date for this October or something but that does not appear to be documented in wiki.

[pandamonium]

I knew about the Alzheimer's, didn't know about the assisted suicide. I guess it doesn't change much--Alzheimer's doesn't have a cure.

[wastrel]

I knew about the Alzheimer's, didn't know about the assisted suicide. I guess it doesn't change much--Alzheimer's doesn't have a cure.

It's probably mad cow.

I hadn't heard anything about an assisted suicide either.  Now I'm sad.

[MikeHz]

"Bonk," by Mary Roach. 9/10. Funny and informative. I've never read anything from her that wasn't great.

[pandamonium]

The Wind-Up Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. 6/10. It was okay. I never really cared about the main characters or the situation that was going on in the book. There were some pretty weird, horrible things that happened in the book that almost made me stop reading.

[Neutral Milk]

Finally got to read George RR Martin's The Hedge Knight! 8/10

Really fast paced and entertaining. I think any story set in Westeros written by GRRM would get a high score from me. I can't get enough of that universe. On to Sworn Sword.

[Frank]

Just spent an hour or two in the local Uni's library as it's got a decent old copy of Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges. I'd finished Death and the Compass last time and worked through to The Immortals this week. Gloriously enjoyable writing. Deeply imaginative and extremely thought provoking, I love it.

[moj]

Tough Sh*t: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good by Kevin Smith

6 7 out of 10

But, I think I'm burnt out on him and his style. If you've listened to smodcast or any of his regular podcast for any length of time there is not much point in reading this. It does go a little more in depth in some aspects of his life and has some cool story's, but aren't nearly as funny as when heard in podcast forum. He even talks a lot about the start of his podcasting and how awesome it was. Hmm, ok maybe I'm being to harsh. I'll change it to a 7. It is pretty good, but if you've listend to a lot of his stuff, it won't really cover anything new. I think also I am a little bumed cased this book made me watch red state and I didn't really like that much. He's very proud of it, and has some amusing stories in the book, but it just left me kinda hoe hum about it all.

[petrolpetal]

I tried to listen to a smodcast - hated it....maybe I didn't get beyond the promo stuff...

Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre is hilarious. But his second book (Ludmilla's broken English) was disappointing- he was trying too hard to be funny.

Currently reading David Deutsch - The beginning of infinity. I like his thinking, and he expresses himself clearly.

[pandamonium]

Son of a Witch--I liked it a lot better this time through. Maybe because there weren't years between reading Wicked and SoaW. I'd give it a 8/10.

[Eternally Learning]

Got two this time.  Forgot to review the first one, just finished the second one:

Dexter in the Dark - 5/10

For anyone even tangentially aware of the books, this is the one that made most people scratch their heads.  This is the one where we find out that Dexter's Dark Passenger is not the product of a damaged psyche, it is actually the spawn of the demon Moloch.  ... Yeah, you heard that right.  I knew about this ridiculous twist before I read the book, so perhaps it was this preparation which spared me, but oddly enough the Moloch and demon parts of the book didn't bother me at all.  The Dark Passenger is much more of a personality in the books than in the show so it actually fit a bit, and the slip from the real world into this fantasy one fit in with Dexter's intuition on murders being the product of the Passenger's whispers.

What killed this book for me though was the goddamn resolution.  Dexter does not save the day through skill, intelligence, quick and decisive action, or any other character trait which can be attributed to him.  He saves the day because for some reason Moloch's control over him goes away when he starts to be burned.  That's it.  The love for his kids didn't do it, his own personality wasn't strong enough to overcome it, it just happens.  With no explanation whatsoever.  That pissed me off and was some damn lazy writing in my mind.

Dexter by Design - 3/10

The ending had the same problem as the last book's ending and this book didn't have the benefit of having an actually interesting storyline leading up to it.  The bad guy is a new criminal with no history of being a criminal mastermind, but it always making Dexter look like a fool.  Deb's boyfriend, Kyle is of more use than Dexter and he is missing a hand and a foot.  Dexter makes foolish mistakes, underestimates the bad guy, and ignores Harry's code for no reason which gets him in trouble.  The killings were somewhat interesting I guess, but the resolution was not only just plain stupid luck for Dexter, but also incredibly unbelievable.  Would not recommend at all.



All that said, upon some reflection of the other books I've decided I'm done with Dexter on paper.  The show's fine, but I've come to realize that despite how clever, smart, and resourceful Dexter is supposed to be, in every book he's played for a fool and basically has nothing to do with saving the day.  He only found Brian because of some psychic connection, was nearly sliced up by the baddie in the second book if not for Deb, is randomly released from demonic control in the third one, and Rita saves his ass in the fourth one.  What's the point in setting up such a quick-witted, skillful, and methodical pro/antagonist if he's always making horrible decisions, not figuring anything important out, and never actually stopping the bad guy?!

[moj]

Mockingjay  8 out 10

It was my least favorite of the series and really took a while for me to get into it. Probably around the first 40% just dragged and was more teen anxity then the rest of the series. It then picks up quite a bit and is darker then any of the others. I enjoyed the series a lot and look forward to watching the hunger games movie when it's on netflix.