Chris > Recent Status Updates

It should be noted that the "crossing of paths" between the two series was fun. It also gives me a sense of the timeline, which I THOUGHT I had known at the start of the novel. Turns out I was WRONG.

So, I'm a good way to the end of this novel now. I loved the "Thorns" series so much, that the Jal character (who I'm am inevitably comparing to Jorg of "Thorns" constantly) is not what I had hoped. He is Jorg's moral twin, but courageous antithesis (or, he's just as selfish but a complete coward.) I'm hoping for character growth as the novel wraps up.

Oh dear Mr Lawrence, how I've missed you. New book is going well so far. And no, this protagonist is NO Jorg.

Sanderson is continuing to delight me in this fantasy epic of politics, war, class struggle and cultural clashes.
I like it.
I love it.
I want more of it.

Almost done with this, my first collection of short stories. I must say, I think I MUCH prefer the novel structure to the short story. Even the good ones just left me wanting more. There were some standouts, but as a whole I'll probably not get into reading a lot of these.
It was for a good cause, though. So I'm happy I bought it. :-D

And ANOTHER good one. "Double Negative" was great. I think they may have set this book of short stories up to get better as it went. :-)

I must say that "The Emperor's 13th Choice" by N.E. White was a standout from the rest so far. A short story that didn't feel rushed or truncated. It hit the "Goldilocks Zone" perfectly and was a fun, surprising story to boot! Hope this collection has a few more like THAT.

So, I don't think I've touched this book in about 3 or 4 weeks. But I read enough to convince me that the founder of Scientology was a seriously self-deluded individual and all around con-man. I'm not really sure if I WILL finish this book though. From an enjoyment standpoint, I think I've seen enough of the train wreck and can tear my eyes away now. ;-)

Some of 'em miss, some of 'em hit. Most of them just seem too short to really get a handle on them. Almost like the story was SUPPOSED to go one but they hit a word count limit. lol

"Sanderson's got a waaaaay of writing. Don't know what it is. But he nails it when the guys start fighting." (To the tune of Billy Joel's "She's Got a Way")

Meh. Alright. That last story about the aluminum was okay, for the most part, but I feel like the ending just didn't punch like it should have. Also, it was hard to get a feel for any of the characters personality wise. I think the art of writing a GOOD short story is under appreciated. Some of the authors in this book are amazing novelists. But their short stories? Ugh!

Still has my interest, although it appears we've entered a section more about court politics than anything else. I've found few authors (R.R. Martin, for instance) who can make that stuff REALLY exciting. Not to say that it's dull in this novel. It's just an ebb to the flow of the first 15% of the novel. ;-)

Started this one a few days ago (on audiobook) and I gotta say... I'm intrigued. Neat new fantasy setting. Magicy type stuff that's unique. And, best of all, GREAT CHARACTERS!! Woo-hoo! It's beginning to look at lot like a good book.

Finished another one of these short stories. That one came to an interesting end, but I still wanted more. Maybe I'm just to used to the novel format?

These have been neat little stories, but I have to say that I wish some were longer. :-( They seem like great premises for novels. At least great worlds were great novels could be placed?

I cheated and read the last story first. O.O
Don't tell anyone, okay? It was by Mark Lawrence and his post about this short-story collection is what made me buy it in the first place. I couldn't resist.

Alright, I think the main character has been "frozen in place" or "unable to speak" for approximately 1/2 of the novel. It's getting old.

I believe I have read my last page of this book. :-P

ACK!!! This book is riveting at time and so frustrating at others. So much internal monologue! I keep screaming at Juliette to DO something.

It's interesting going back to this series after such a looooong break. And I must say, Mafi's writing style (how she is, more-or-less, IN the protagonist's head) doesn't bother me like it bother a lot of other readers. The partial thoughts, the scratch out sentences, etc, help to shape the mental state of the character, I think. But we'll see how I feel in 200 pages or so. ;-)

Alright... it may have "Jumped the Shark" but it got some good redemption points in that last scene. It moved the book out of straight horror and a little bit into horror/adventure IMHO. We'll see. But I feel more encouraged about the 2nd half now.

This feeling is not dissimilar to your football team getting way behind, then being able to put together a scoring drive right before 1/2 time. ;-)

Very interesting book so far. Frustrating, as well. Not in a bad way, mind you. (You: How the hell can frustration be good?) I just mean that I'm sympathizing with the characters' frustration as they attempt to do difficult and morally challenging things.

Man time travel books mess with my head. It's like if they're here, but they were there, and now they're going there, won't they have to be... ACK!!

Fun book, though. Well written. I really love the characters.

Uh oh... Heart-Shaped box may have just jumped the shark for me. It's WAY too early in the book for this level of tom-foolery.

This may put the book more into a "are you serious?" category than a hiding under my covers with a flashlight category like it was initially.

Note to self: Do not, under any circumstances, reply to emails sent to you by ghosts. It's just a bad, bad idea.

As is common in this kind of novel... shit just got real. I don't know if I like where this is going.

This has been equal parts dizzying and intriguing so far. I'm very interested. :-)

This book is pretty, uh, scary so far. Not being a "horror" reader in general, is that usually the goal? I mean, so far it's been like a really great ghost story. O.O

Strangely, as this book is drawing to it's "big finish", I've grown less fond of it. :-( I really loved it at first, but I'm not getting that "oh no, it can't be over yet" that I get when I've really enjoyed a book.