I'm halfway through the first Murderbot book (which is very short). I'm not seeing what all the praise was about. What am I missing?
Sooley was amazing. He still has some in the tank.dc509 said:TXTransplant said:Diggity said:
Yeah, his more "recent" stuff (read last 15 years) is pretty forgettable.
I'll still read it occasionally and it's mildly entertaining, but he never seems to be able to finish his books in a satisfying way.
I probably have only read one book of his in 20 years. I think the last one was Sycamore Row. I liked that one pretty well. Before that, I think it was The Brethren (which actually has a plot point in common with a real Biloxi/Dixie Mafia scandal from my childhood).
I actually didn't mind the ending of this book. But it was the 400+ pages in between that seemed to just rehash the same few plot points and themes over and over.
I use to be a big John Grisham fan, but you're right about his last 15 years. Unfortunately I think he has run out of stories.
Thanks...i'll put on on my waitlist from the libraries.mrsbeer05 said:
Deacon King Kong by James McBride fits your requirements and was very good
I like funny, but anything outside the typical books...sci/fantasy, legal thrillers, thrillers, war, romance, etc.713nervy said:
So to be sure - you're looking for humor / comedy?I
Chuck Cunningham said:I like funny, but anything outside the typical books...sci/fantasy, legal thrillers, thrillers, war, romance, etc.713nervy said:
So to be sure - you're looking for humor / comedy?I
John Irving, Graeme Simision, etc.
But that being said, there are authors outside of my preferred styles I love.
Scott Sigler, Andy Weir, Grisham and a few more.
I need to check that out then.Chuck Cunningham said:Sooley was amazing. He still has some in the tank.dc509 said:TXTransplant said:Diggity said:
Yeah, his more "recent" stuff (read last 15 years) is pretty forgettable.
I'll still read it occasionally and it's mildly entertaining, but he never seems to be able to finish his books in a satisfying way.
I probably have only read one book of his in 20 years. I think the last one was Sycamore Row. I liked that one pretty well. Before that, I think it was The Brethren (which actually has a plot point in common with a real Biloxi/Dixie Mafia scandal from my childhood).
I actually didn't mind the ending of this book. But it was the 400+ pages in between that seemed to just rehash the same few plot points and themes over and over.
I use to be a big John Grisham fan, but you're right about his last 15 years. Unfortunately I think he has run out of stories.
Have you tried A Confederacy of Dunces?Chuck Cunningham said:
Anyone have any recommendations for non romance, non science fiction/fantasy humorous books?
Not police procedural, not laywers, not spys, etc?
Yep, like 20 years ago!TAMU-93 said:Have you tried A Confederacy of Dunces?Chuck Cunningham said:
Anyone have any recommendations for non romance, non science fiction/fantasy humorous books?
Not police procedural, not laywers, not spys, etc?
Philo B 93 said:
I'm halfway through the first Murderbot book (which is very short). I'm not seeing what all the praise was about. What am I missing?
Your book club at work made you read a romance novel? Besides it being a romance novel, what made it "pile of dog $#!+? Hoover seems to be incredibly popular nowadays.Madmarttigan said:
Read Ready Player One, would give it a B- to B+.
Read books 4 and 5 of Red Rising which I have very mixed opinions about.
Book club at work read Verity and that was the biggest pile of dog **** I've ever read.
Really trying to trudge through the Blade Itself but the beginning third of the book has been really really boring and too many view points to create any sort of attachment. Only one character even seems mildly likable.
I also found Blade Itself to be slow and poorly written. But I had heard so many positives from others I fought through it (very nearly didn't). But glad I did. Books 2 and 3 are much better written and you do strt t form relationships with the complex characters.Madmarttigan said:
Read Ready Player One, would give it a B- to B+.
Read books 4 and 5 of Red Rising which I have very mixed opinions about.
Book club at work read Verity and that was the biggest pile of dog **** I've ever read.
Really trying to trudge through the Blade Itself but the beginning third of the book has been really really boring and too many view points to create any sort of attachment. Only one character even seems mildly likable.
I generally like Abercrombie's world-building, but just can't get through all of the unlikeable characters. I get that deconstructing heroic fantasy is kind of his thing, but just not what I want spend my time with.StinkyPinky said:I also found Blade Itself to be slow and poorly written. But I had heard so many positives from others I fought through it (very nearly didn't). But glad I did. Books 2 and 3 are much better written and you do strt t form relationships with the complex characters.Madmarttigan said:
Read Ready Player One, would give it a B- to B+.
Read books 4 and 5 of Red Rising which I have very mixed opinions about.
Book club at work read Verity and that was the biggest pile of dog **** I've ever read.
Really trying to trudge through the Blade Itself but the beginning third of the book has been really really boring and too many view points to create any sort of attachment. Only one character even seems mildly likable.
Agreed, hard to find yourself vested in the story when you don't have any moral investment in any of the characters. Even anti-hero's can be likeable (see Jorg in Lawrence's Broken Empire Trilogy).Claude! said:I generally like Abercrombie's world-building, but just can't get through all of the unlikeable characters. I get that deconstructing heroic fantasy is kind of his thing, but just not what I want spend my time with.StinkyPinky said:I also found Blade Itself to be slow and poorly written. But I had heard so many positives from others I fought through it (very nearly didn't). But glad I did. Books 2 and 3 are much better written and you do strt t form relationships with the complex characters.Madmarttigan said:
Read Ready Player One, would give it a B- to B+.
Read books 4 and 5 of Red Rising which I have very mixed opinions about.
Book club at work read Verity and that was the biggest pile of dog **** I've ever read.
Really trying to trudge through the Blade Itself but the beginning third of the book has been really really boring and too many view points to create any sort of attachment. Only one character even seems mildly likable.