DaBeast on 12/7/2009 at 18:14
Quote Posted by Matthew
The first book is so horrendously tragic, there's a real sense of potential lost in it*. Where are you up to?
*Edit: on the part of the characters rather than the book, I mean.
I agree completely and think Dan Abnett is an excellent writer. I find it strange that he's never written an original peice. It all seems to be Warhamer and comics, with the odd bit of torchwood and Doctor Who thrown in.
The other authors in the series aren't bad either, but the subsequent books seem to lack a certain something. I suppose it could be down to the serial nature of the writing. The other authors have to make do with the limits set by those before them.
Right now I'm just over half way through Fulgrim. Feels a bit like filler, which is a shame. Not to say I'm not enjoying it, I just think it could be better. I've been getting the feeling that Black Library, in keeping with the GamesWorkshop tradition, are trying to milk this for every drop, which ofcourse would affect the quality of the books.
An example would be the structure of Darkblade. "Oh, you have to find 5 relics do you? Well, take your time and spread that out over quite a few novels please". Aside from the somewhat abupt ending of volume 1, it was great.
june gloom on 12/7/2009 at 20:33
I have Horus Heresy book 9, but I'm not going to read it until I get the others, which could take a while.
That said, I can't recommend Lord of the Night enough- it's stupendous. Really worth reading. The novel focuses on two characters, and the tone tends to shift slightly with the character focus. Fits the characters nicely.
Tocky on 13/7/2009 at 04:13
Quote Posted by Starrfall
You and Angel Dust are crazy, Faulkner is the only author depressing enough to make me wish I was reading something by Tennessee Williams
Aint it true? Hemmingway and Faulkner had that famous adversarial tiff about writing style and I confess I fall on Hemmingways side. If I have to slog through pages of maze like passages which lose the intent among the intricacy then what is the point? Tennessee may have been maudlin but he could lead you right to the point. Consise. What a lovely word.
I'm reading "Nelson" as edited by Colin White which is a compilation of Admiral Lord Nelsons correspondence. God that sounds pretentious. But he was a very personable sort for all his military genius. Not the least bit pompous. I like him off the bat and want to understand the battle of Trafalgar. I may speed read the "editing" part a bit though.
I
want to read "The Day it Rained Forever" though. I often find things suggested here that ring my bell and Bradbury had me from the moment he described the things in his fathers pockets which were so near the things in my Dads. Ohgod the story where he called his Dad back from the grave for one last talk. Rip my heart out and make me chew it hard and slow you bastard.
june gloom on 14/7/2009 at 18:26
:D
SubJeff on 14/7/2009 at 20:46
Just finished The Drowned World by JG Ballard.
I've no idea what his other books are like but this was quite wonderful in a primal way and I could really identify with the main character (accept for his attitude to one of the female characters which was just... wasteful). I reckon out doorsy type people would appreciate it and probably most Americans on account of the fantastic landscapes you guys must all have experienced. Towny Brits will not get it all though, I can feel it in by bones.
Angel Dust on 15/7/2009 at 10:28
Quote Posted by Aja
Jesus christ you're just
plowing through this stuff! ;)
:laff: Yeah, I had the sudden 'brainwave' that instead of watching a couple of hours of bullshit TV every night I could read instead! I've also been on such a reading kick lately that I've even been forgoing some of my other interests, films and gaming, in favour of having a good read.
Quote Posted by Tocky
Aint it true? Hemmingway and Faulkner had that famous adversarial tiff about writing style and I confess I fall on Hemmingways side.
I must confess that I love them both! I never for a million years thought I could get into a writer like Faulkner but hey, I genuinely love what I read so far. I find this raw power and emotion in his work that just completely floors me.
Anyway I finished
A Farewell to Arms a few days ago, which was brilliant and perhaps my favourite Hemingway novel yet, and I'm currently halfway through Salman Rushdie's
Midnight's Children, which so far has been supremely entertaining.
Glasmand on 15/7/2009 at 11:59
"Peace" by Gene Wolfe. I guess it's his only non-sci fi/fantasy book. Still weird, though.
Herr_Garrett on 15/7/2009 at 19:09
Titus Groan, by Mervyn Peake, Meditations of the First Philosophy by René Déscartes, Poetics by Aristotle and Waiting for Godot by Beckett (the last two because I'm writing an essay about them for my own entertainment :D).
Queue on 16/7/2009 at 05:31
The Poe Shadow, by Matthew Pearl.
About twenty pages in, and--well--it's interesting. I'm not sure if I like the writing style, but it's got a great hook.
