Well, it seems I don't read much these days. What with class and all, all I have time for is a few pages every night before I crash. Here is what I read, such as it is, anyway.
Iron West by Doug TenNapel: 3 and 1/2 Stars. This graphic novel was pretty good. I liked Creature Tech better but this was still a pretty good read. It was a little less overtly religious than Creature Tech, but it still dealt with serious issues like duty and responsibility and doing what is right rather than what is easy. I enjoy TenNapel's work with the graphics as well, and I feel that these alone make it a good read. It doesn't take long to get through it, which is nice (and, let's face it, probably why it's the only book I finished this month). So, on the whole, if you have a chance, you should give this author and this book a shot.
That's it for the reads. Feel free to share your own longer and more auspicious lists in the comments.
Posted by LoWriter at April 2, 2007 02:54 PMme too, lo... its been wayyyy too busy for my liking lately. i like that you've been reading graphic novels lately! did you see the 300?
i got through Proof by Dick Francis and The Tenth Man by Graham Greene.
Proof is a crime mystery novel set in 80's england. we follow the reluctant but capable & vulnerable main character through a "minor" but suspenseful mystery of "who stole the scotch?!". sounds hokey, and i thought it would be laughable, but turned out to be well written and fun to read. i recommend Dick Francis to anyone with a few hours to kill (haha) on the beach, in the woods or just before bed.
The Tenth Man has a great forward by Graham Greene about how it was created. the story is a compilation of 2 or 3 screenplays that Greene wrote at different parts of life. consequently, it reads smoothly, has good suspense and tangible details plus a very unique plot. Jean-Louis Chavel is a citizen prisoner in a Nazi camp in France. the prisoners are told to pick three among them to be executed. Jean-Louis is a wealthy, land-owning lawyer, and when the group draws lots to see who dies and he gets the short end, he offers his fortune to anyone who will trade places with him. a young impulsive parisian takes up his offer, and has Jean-Louis sign his funds to his poor sister & mother. the majority of the story takes place after Jean-Louis is released and visits his old home. short story & well written - great for a week's worth of lunchtime reads!
lets hope life slows down a bit so i can enjoy literature again... sigh...
Posted by: dr gonzo at April 4, 2007 03:23 PMI did see 300 and LOVED it. It was amazing.
I'm sorry life is crazy. We need to hang out when it slows down!
Posted by: Lo at April 4, 2007 08:42 PMi KNOW! we're trying to plan a trip to MN in late april. and, now that our internet is up and running at home, hopefully i'll be able to get into a groove w/ the online group thingy.
Posted by: dr gonzo at April 5, 2007 11:24 AMi forgot.... i listened to an audiobook in march: The Lovely Bones by Alice Seibold. i enjoyed it quite a bit, and am glad it was a good audiobook. sometimes audiobooks are hard (ie Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell), but this moved well and had excellent narration. i loved the perspectives throughout the book, and highly recommend it to anyone - hell, hans even enjoyed it!
Posted by: dr gonzo at April 6, 2007 09:55 AMI tried to listen to The Lovely Bones, but I got too creeped out listening to it alone at work at night, so I had to quit. What I listened to was great, but it was definitely a ghost story. I actually enjoyed listening to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
Hey, if you do get a chance to set up your account, I would love to do an online group for writing. I am trying to test drive it for work, but it would be fun in any case.
I am a book whore, also lazy since I haven't responded and you posted this on the 2nd...
In The Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant. I really enjoyed her other historical Italian novel (The Virgin Birth), but this one just wasn't as good. It was engrossing but seemed to be kind of a repeat of the earlier novel.
Masterpieces of Science Fiction, edited by Orson Scott Card. I like some of the stories (I didn't read all of them honestly) and it expanded my SciFi borders. Overall decent.
The Dawn Star & The Misted Cliffs by Catherine Asaro. These two are lighthearted fantasy fiction, which I can't in all honesty reccommend for reading, but Catherine Asaro is supposed to be a great SciFi writer and I hope to be picking up some of her earlier works soon.
Sanctuary by Mercedes Lackey. I am trying to get ready for Aerie which just was published recently. This was a re-read and was third in the series (Aerie is 4th). It's about Dragons and war, and is rather like The Dragonriders of Pern but without the parasites. I liked it, but then I like Dragons.
The Twentieth Wife & The Feast of Roses by Indu Sundarsen. These two books are really one story, and I have to say I loved it. Her character development isn't particularly strong, but as this story is based (mostly) on historical fact I can't blame her for not taking too much liberty with the story. It is about India during the Mughal empire and before the Taj Mahal was built. It is about an Empress who achieves a lot of power, even though she is the 20th wife of the Emperor. She really achieved amazing amounts of power, for that day and age - and probably for any other (except when women can rule themselves, like today).
I have never read The Lovely Bones, I know it's supposed to be good but the premise just wierds me out. So onto this month, I have a few books picked out... it should be fun!
Posted by: 10lees at April 9, 2007 06:17 PM