dteowner
Shoegazer
Plugging thru "The Ruins" by Scott Smith. Should have read some reviews before buying this one. At the 60% mark, I'm starting to wish it was over.
Just wrapping up Steven Erikson's Malazan book #2 Deadhouse Gates.
I continue to struggle with this series frankly. I know it has a strong following but it is still somewhat unreachable although I'm starting to "get it" - the brilliance that is. To me it is still essentially George Martin meets Dune. Lots of characters, lots of gore, lots of vague mysticism and politics. Forget guessing what is going to happen next that is for certain!
Anyone else read this stuff?
I just finished that one too, and I agree with you . I definitly liked it, but I admit that I also find it very complex and difficult to follow. I didn't hated the first book, but to be honest I wasn't sure what was really going on. The second one was a bit easier to understand, though, and I hope with the third book it will be even easier.
I think the problem is that his world is incredibly rich (Middle-Earth is simplistic compared to it), but the author does a poor job of introducing it to the reader. For example, there are many differents races (and we're not talking about the clichéd elves/dwarves/hobbits here), but with hardly any descriptions on how any of them look like. Also, we the readers don't really know this world, but the characters certainly don't have THAT problem so they don't explain much to each other. I believe it's especially important for a fantasy novel to properly introduce its setting. It's not as if the story takes place in a real place like America . Still, I'll stick with it for the moment.
Hopefully one of these days, some kind of guide will come out, like there is for the Shannarra and Wheel of Time series. It would definitly be really useful .
Yeah I hear you. Try this, its very good!
http://encylopaediamalazica.pbwiki.com/
I just finished Joe Abercrombie's "The Blade Itself"
Singer and I tend not to agree on many things!! Still, he's interesting to read.
Got a whole bunch of books for Christmas. Just started on Molecular Gastronomy by Hervé This. Fascinating stuff. Already discovered lots of interesting things, some of which even have practical applications.
For example, to make for a tenderer lentil soup, add some sodium bicarbonate to the water, and to make a perfect soufflé, sear the surface under a grill, then cook it by heating it from the bottom (i.e., put the dish on the floor of the oven).