Finished reading Ender’s Shadow the other day. Awesome book.
[spoiler]The book is basically Ender’s Game told through the point of view of the character of Bean. So overall the events are the same, but you them a lot differently. So it’s not even a sequel, more of a supliment to Ender’s Game, but can still hold it’s own as a stand-alone novel. You don’t need to have ever read Ender’s Game in order to be able to understand this book.
Bean’s origin is dark, he initially starts to grow up in a ghetto where children have to fend for themselves, the smaller children having to fend for scraps because the big kids bully the little kids so that they can’t even eat out of the charity kitchens. It was amazing to see how Bean eventually overcame this poverty, establishing a glimmer of civilization among all these kids under the notion that he was just increasing his chance of survival. He is eventually noticed by a traveling IF (International Fleet) agent who eventually enrolls him in the command school floating above Earth. From then on it’s kinda like the normal events of Ender’s Game, but you find out that Bean is far above average, even in a school where the kids are already known to be above average to get there.[/spoiler]
Really quite an amazing book, if you liked Ender’s Game, you should definitely read Ender’s Shadow. Especially if you didn’t like the way Card took the series starting with Speaker for the Dead.
Started reading Jurrasic Park, but since I left it in my backpack which was left at my friend’s house, I started reading Anansi Boys today. Already off to a good start in class Niel Gaiman style.
Just finished reading Anansi Boys, another amazing piece of work by Niel Gaiman. Though I think the beginning lasted a bit too long, once it sped up though I couldn’t stop reading. Probably just read the entire second half of the book today. Although it’s kind of a sequel to American Gods it really has nothing to do with it, other than share one of its characters. So you don’t really need to read AG at all to understand this book, though there are a few minor details later on the book that you can kind of grasp better if you’ve read AG, but it’s nothing pertinent to the story of Anansi’s boys.
Sometimes I wonder if Gaiman plans outs how well he brings things full circle in a book, because even the most minor of details at the beginning seems to have a big affect some where at or near the end of his books.
If ever I had a man-crush, it would be for Niel Gaiman. Saw that Borders had a copy of The Graveyard Book, I’m gonna have to buy it next time I go in, which wont be to long from now.
I finished reading A Story Like the Wind by Laurens van der Post, it was a good book but took a long time to read (Couldn’t sit and read it for long periods of time).
I’ve started Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father. I was expecting the book to be boring and a real drag to read, I didn’t want to read it but I was lent the book and said that I would read it. So far its good and makes him more likeable.
After I finish Dreams From My Father I’ll be reading To Kill a Mocking Bird and after that I think I’ll finally start the Sharpe series, I’ve been meaning to start that for a while but I was lent a load of books and so was delayed. If I continue to Enjoy Obama’s book I may read his other book.
Speaking of Dr. Gonzo, I’m reading The Rum Diary, which will be the second book I’ve read by him (first being Las Vegas). I’d like to pick up some of the Gonzo Paper series. The man can write.
[quote]
Speaking of Dr. Gonzo, I’m reading The Rum Diary, which will be the second book I’ve read by him (first being Las Vegas). I’d like to pick up some of the Gonzo Paper series. The man can write.[/quote]
I hadn’t heard of the guy before, someone bought me the book. Enjoyed the drugged up crazy parts most. I want to see the movie, I’ve looked at clips but ummm it really doesn’t do the book any justice, Johnny Depp’s version of Dr. Gonzo really isn’t good, he gives him a stupid voice and delivers the lines way too fast. I might get some of his other books if they are as quick to read I can fit them inbetween some of the longer books as a break.
Speaking of Dr. Gonzo, I’m reading The Rum Diary, which will be the second book I’ve read by him (first being Las Vegas). I’d like to pick up some of the Gonzo Paper series. The man can write.[/quote]
[quote=gunrick]
I hadn’t heard of the guy before, someone bought me the book. Enjoyed the drugged up crazy parts most. I want to see the movie, I’ve looked at clips but ummm it really doesn’t do the book any justice, Johnny Depp’s version of Dr. Gonzo really isn’t good, he gives him a stupid voice and delivers the lines way too fast. I might get some of his other books if they are as quick to read I can fit them inbetween some of the longer books as a break.[/quote]
Yeah, the first half is better for simple entertainment, the second half is more focused on politics.
I thought the movie was excellent, but then again, I saw the adaptation before reading the book. Also, there’s going to be a film adaptation of The Rum Diary, again starring Johnny Depp as another one of Mr. Thompson’s alter egos. Johnny Depp will play an eccentric man with an obsession for rum. Seems like a pattern for him.
**Hentai wrote:**Yeah, the first half is better for simple entertainment, the second half is more focused on politics.
I thought the movie was excellent, but then again, I saw the adaptation before reading the book.
Also, there’s going to be a film adaptation of The Rum Diary, again starring Johnny Depp as another one of Mr. Thompson’s alter egos. Johnny Depp will play an eccentric man with an obsession for rum. Seems like a pattern for him.
I’ve only seen a few very short clips, so it could be just the bad editing. Yeah I just went back and watched some longer ones, it still feels like he’s talking a bit fast.
I was going to buy it since it was only about £4.99 but I just looked on PlayStation Store and I can rent it from there and watch it tonight (Good download rate permitting).
Do it man. It may be like the book in that you preferred the first half, but it’s still hilarious all throughout. If it helps, try to think of it as independent from the book, but I thought it stayed true to the novel really well.
Just watched the movie, the credits are still rolling. Yeah its good and does fit the book. Would have been interesting if they had blacked out the screen and played the tape from chapter 9. Breakdown on Paradise Blvd. couldn’t really expect them to do that though. Also would have liked the airport scene from the end of the book to have been there.
It’s basically a hilarious spin on life in the celebrity fast lane. An idiot pop star hot mess and her handlers (pervo record producer, botoxed twin publicists, stage parents and weed whacker wielding body guard). A secret double has been employed to divert media attention from the real deal’s drug and sex binges. But uh oh, a deranged paparazzo with an obsession for the pop star kidnaps the singer, or so he thinks at first. Turns out he abducts the double. Hilarity and horror ensue.
Carl Hiaassen reminds me of Christopher Moore with a splash of Chuck Palahniuk.
I’ve read Kite Runner over the summer and liked it. Then I started to read The Kiler Angels. It was probably the worst book I’ve ever layed eyes on. I couldn’t even get past the first chapter.