Wayne Smallman > Recent Status Updates

Of the programming books I've read over the years, this is — by far — the worst.

In addition to the mistakes, there are parts that are missing, which I'm having to figure out as I go along.

It's not often I use the word: "gripping" with respect to reading, but here it is...

So far, while showing its age, Dracula is brisk and engaging, similar in pace, if not style, to Conan Doyle.

I have a high abandon rate of "classics", mostly because they're boring and / repetitive, like Heart of Darkness, The Portrait of Dorian Grey, and 1984. So let's see...

Work is getting in the way of reading.

Absolutely brilliant.

I am hugely impressed with the attention to detail, both of the chaos of war and the movements and machinations of the Martians.

While at times a struggle, given the agedness of the prose and words, thus far, Wells has entertained with insights and observations that are both timeless and eerily prescient.

My only real complaint is that excessive detail Flynn when demonstrating his knowledge of the White House, or the city streets of Washington.

Also, as a writer, I too find myself describing the mannerisms, postures and expressions of characters, which Flynn does a lot.

So far so good. Vince Flynn certainly has an efficient style, and demonstrates his knowledge of American political and military minutia in a way that doesn't unduly slow things down.

The effect is that I'm reading two different novels, one that just happens to have emerged from the other.

Yes, it holds together, but the time between the Wenerstrom affair at the beginning and its resurrection towards the end gives the feel of a denouement that's lost its way.

Now that we're into the mystery proper, things are less laborious.

While the writing style is immaculate, it's cold and mostly completely detached, as if written as a report after the fact.

You have to be kidding me? An advert for NotePad, complete with URL slap bang in the story. I am agog.

25

So far, the movie appears not to have deviated too far from the novel.

Am I supposed to be reading this as if it's a diary or a journal? I ask, because that's the feeling I get.

Wading through lots of background, which I feel could have been distributed more evenly by the characters themselves. But it's still early days.

So far, a lot of "tell" and very little "show".

Game over!

Things have really sagged quite dramatically since the middle.

Oh dear, unrequited teenage love.

Read Player One is a very slow starter, that's for sure. Almost half way in before things start to heat up.

Although not a great novel, the story is compelling, which I suspect to be because it mirrors some of my own experiences.