Thread: What are you reading?

The Alchemist - a lovely little book

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

Finished the 2d book in Sanderson's series, Words of Radiance. I hope he doesn't go all Robert Jordan and lose the thread. These are perhaps the best fantasy books I've ever read. Definitely in the top tier.

So far he hasn't. Oathbringer is still very coherent. I have a lot of hope for him keeping it tied nicely together because he was able to gather in the mess that was the end of the Wheel of time and bring it to a pretty satisfying conclusion for Jordan.

I also feel like Sanderson has grown as a writer since finishing Wheel of Time on behalf of the Jordan estate. If you read the original Mistborn trillogy (which is still good by its own right) then read Way of Kings you can see a drastic difference. His second Mistborn Series (The Wax and Wayne Trillogy) is also very good.

His writing process and the amount of people he has checking his work to ensure there is good continuity is pretty crazy. He has a good support system in place to keep him in check and that is pretty important too.

Originally Posted by Freyaka

So far he hasn't. Oathbringer is still very coherent. I have a lot of hope for him keeping it tied nicely together because he was able to gather in the mess that was the end of the Wheel of time and bring it to a pretty satisfying conclusion for Jordan.

I also feel like Sanderson has grown as a writer since finishing Wheel of Time on behalf of the Jordan estate. If you read the original Mistborn trillogy (which is still good by its own right) then read Way of Kings you can see a drastic difference. His second Mistborn Series (The Wax and Wayne Trillogy) is also very good.

His writing process and the amount of people he has checking his work to ensure there is good continuity is pretty crazy. He has a good support system in place to keep him in check and that is pretty important too.

That's what I was thinking--the Mistborn trilogy was great, Elantris was great, and I'm told I need to finish Wheel of Time...but this is his best work in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

That's what I was thinking--the Mistborn trilogy was great, Elantris was great, and I'm told I need to finish Wheel of Time...but this is his best work in my opinion.

Have you read the second mistborn series yet? Not everyone likes them, but honestly it's my favorite of his works. I read the words of Wayne in my head like Jason Statham which made the character even more hilarious to me for some reason. Not everyone is into the whole "Fantasy/Western" aspect of it.

Originally Posted by Freyaka

Have you read the second mistborn series yet? Not everyone likes them, but honestly it's my favorite of his works. I read the words of Wayne in my head like Jason Statham which made the character even more hilarious to me for some reason. Not everyone is into the whole "Fantasy/Western" aspect of it.

I got about 20 pages in and put it back on the shelf. I'll probably revisit. Have you read the Abercrombie trilogies? Or Mark Lawrence? The Locke Lamora books? Be interested in your take.

Originally Posted by Valar Morghulis

The Alchemist - a lovely little book

what a completely gay critique

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

I got about 20 pages in and put it back on the shelf. I'll probably revisit. Have you read the Abercrombie trilogies? Or Mark Lawrence? The Locke Lamora books? Be interested in your take.

Mark Lawrence yes, loved it. I liked the original trilogy a lot, but I actually think I liked the second trilogy from Jalan Kendeth's perspective even better. As for Abercrombie, I feel like I started the first book in his First Law series, but couldn't get into it. I think I switched over to the Riyria books by Michael J Sullivan instead.

I'm currently reading Elysium Fire by Alastair Reynolds.

I will say, as for the second trilogy of Mistborn. The first book Alloy of Law isn't great, it is more of an introduction to the characters, it's not vital that it be read, but it can cause some confusion as to the things that happened in that book. That one was written prior to him taking on Wheel of Time and released sometime afterwards. His follow up, Shadows of Self the second in that series is far better, Bands of Morning is also very good.

White Fang by Jack London. Wolf-dog born in the wild encounters grave perils but overcomes them to become the exemplar of all dogs. Although superficially paternalistic and white-man as superior race, the author is surprisingly liberal underneath. I'm not sure if Jack London is a lawyer, but he thinks like one and his writing reflects it. In the good way. How a man approaches existence and assigns to things words. White Fang the dog is first ballot hall of famer type dog. Perhaps the best human writing from a dog's perspective extant.

Another thing--written in 1906, I'm surprised how consistent London's perspective is with our own times. His scientific values, his skepticism, his pet theories of neural plasticity. A thoroughly cogent mind worth a visit.

The deepest well by nadine Burke harris

Cutting edge neuroscience, in an easily accessible format that shows how how childhood adversity impacts future health

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

White Fang by Jack London. Wolf-dog born in the wild encounters grave perils but overcomes them to become the exemplar of all dogs. Although superficially paternalistic and white-man as superior race, the author is surprisingly liberal underneath. I'm not sure if Jack London is a lawyer, but he thinks like one and his writing reflects it. In the good way. How a man approaches existence and assigns to things words. White Fang the dog is first ballot hall of famer type dog. Perhaps the best human writing from a dog's perspective extant.

Another thing--written in 1906, I'm surprised how consistent London's perspective is with our own times. His scientific values, his skepticism, his pet theories of neural plasticity. A thoroughly cogent mind worth a visit.

Had you never read it before? That seems strange... Disney made a movie a few years ago that wasn't bad.

Originally Posted by BroncoJoe

Had you never read it before? That seems strange... Disney made a movie a few years ago that wasn't bad.

I had never read it. In high school or college I read the one where the guy is going to freeze to death. Picked up the audiobook at the library on a whim.

I didn't read any of the novel type books they told me to read in high school or college except for Dandelion Wine by Bradbury. Bless the man who invented cliffs notes.

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

I had never read it. In high school or college I read the one where the guy is going to freeze to death. Picked up the audiobook at the library on a whim.

I didn't read any of the novel type books they told me to read in high school or college except for Dandelion Wine by Bradbury. Bless the man who invented cliffs notes.

This post is disappointing.

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

I had never read it. In high school or college I read the one where the guy is going to freeze to death. Picked up the audiobook at the library on a whim.

I didn't read any of the novel type books they told me to read in high school or college except for Dandelion Wine by Bradbury. Bless the man who invented cliffs notes.

I tried my best to skim the assigned readings and sparks noted them before our class discussions. I watched the movie for Fahrenheit 451.

They mostly seemed like good books though.

Originally Posted by aberdien

I tried my best to skim the assigned readings and sparks noted them before our class discussions. I watched the movie for Fahrenheit 451.

They mostly seemed like good books though.

I read every book I was assigned and then sought out many others. I used to read a LOT, but not nearly as much anymore. It seems I've always got something to do, some task I can be working on rather than reading. Makes me a little sad to think about it, maybe I should go get some books and set aside reading time each night.

Originally Posted by aberdien

I tried my best to skim the assigned readings and sparks noted them before our class discussions. I watched the movie for Fahrenheit 451.

They mostly seemed like good books though.

Yeah, I'm sure they were good. To Kill a Mockingbird was probably a mistake not to read. Oh well.