Daniel's Friend Comments

For Samhain...
Want a free Kindle version of After Life? Just ask.

Happy Birthday, Bilbo & Frodo.

Hi all.
I released a new book a few weeks ago: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

If you want a free Kindle version, just let me know.
Daniel

Happy Fall of Sauron Day. The only holiday worth celebrating.

~~Sing now; ye people of the Tower of Anor,
for the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever,
and the Dark Tower is thrown down.~~

QUESTION: Do you think the Malazan books are best read in order, or does it not affect the experience? Thanks.

For Gemmell fans, here's a timeline of the tales for you:
http://www.gemmellaward.com/page/dren...

Happy Deathday to #Tolkien. Hope you found something other than the Void

►If millions of people believed that millions of people have read your book, it would become true overnight.
#Marketing #Psychology

►Happy Fall of Sauron Day!
"'Sing now ye people of Minas Anor for the realm of Sauron is ended for ever..."

The closer one gets to the speed of light, the slower time travels. The exact thing is true when completing a book.

Goodbye, Terry Pratchett. Thanks for the countless laughs.

►►If you would like GR to add fractional ratings to their star system, they've got to hear it:
https://www.goodreads.com/about/conta...

►►There is an excellent audiobook of Children of Hurin out there, narrated by Christopher Lee.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

►►Happy Birthday, Tolkien!

Shii wrote: "Hi Daniel! Happy to be your friend :)
I owe myself reading some philosophy books, but I always end up with a fantasy one in my hands. Major problem!"

Hi Shii. Yes- both are enriching and also complimentary. I am completing my short philosophy book now before returning to a new Fantasy series.

Good reading.
Daniel

Hi Daniel! Happy to be your friend :)
I owe myself reading some philosophy books, but I always end up with a fantasy one in my hands. Major problem!

Lisa wrote: "Daniel wrote: "QUESTION: Sometimes I hear someone start a review by saying, "I really wanted to like this book..." (usually followed by "but I didn't...")

But my question is about what would mak..."

Thanks, Lisa. That makes sense. Sometimes it seems that the desire to especially like a book is also based on things like marketing hype, or even just the cover! Yours is the more rational of the shifts.

Daniel wrote: "QUESTION: Sometimes I hear someone start a review by saying, "I really wanted to like this book..." (usually followed by "but I didn't...")

But my question is about what would make you "want to ..."

For me, I pick up a book to try it, but there's something about the book that I really like, but much more that I dislike. It could be that there is a very good story destroyed by poor writing skills, or the author writes beautifully, but has nothing to say. Recently, I read a book that started wonderfully, I loved it. Then the book deteriorated to such an extent that the only reason why I finished it was because it was a review copy and I felt obligated to read it to the end. The first of the book was so amazing that I wanted to like the book, but the rest of it was so bad that I couldn't.
That's what I mean by "I really wanted to like this book...", that there's such strong potential but something ruins it.

Daniel wrote: "Some people are [listed as] reading 5 books at once. Really? Does that not diminish the reading experience for you?"

I felt I had to answer to this one, because I am a sucker for doing exactly that- reading multiple books at once.
Why I do it? Well, I tend to have different moods in what I would like to read on different days. I started Plato's The republic and halfway through I started one or two other books because I felt like reading something entirely different to spend my time.
Having said that- if a book is really good I do read it in one go (without starting another one at the same time) - other books, I don't find as interesting but I feel I should read are the ones I crawl through.
Also- I read some books via the Kindle app on my phone when I'm out and about, and I read paperbooks at home... hence the various amount of books going at once! :D

Science Shows Something Surprising About People Who Still Read Fiction:
http://mic.com/articles/104702/scienc...