Books Read 2019

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Jeff V
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Books Read 2019

Post by Jeff V »

I slightly surpassed my 2018 goal of 75 with 104. So I guess the goal for 2019 would be 105 112 must beat Freelunch. It's doable I guess if I can get over the 100-page per day hump, 2018 ended slightly under 95 per day. Sometime this year though I expect to lose access to one of two library system - and the better of the two at that. That could make things rather challenging.

Read
The Pharaoh Key by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Antiquities Dealer by Ed Protzel (K) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell (B) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Minecraft - The Island by Max Brooks (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Fear by Bob Woodward (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Meaning of Blood by Chuck Caruso (K) :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (A) :binky: :binky:
The Drunk Detective: A Dotty Davis Comedy Suspense by Mary Jean Curry (K) :binky: :binky: :binky:
Elevation by Stephen King (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Presidents of War by Michael Beschloss (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

Addictarium by Nicole d'Settemi (K) :binky: :binky:
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Princess by James Patterson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Family Lawyer by James Patterson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Testimony by Scott Turow (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The House Next Door by James Patterson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Bishop's Pawn by Steve Berry (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Race to Save the Romanovs by Helen Rappaport (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

Verses for the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Ghostbuster's Daughter by Violet Ramis Stiel :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Chef by James Patterson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Overrun - Dispatches from the Asian Carp Crisis by Andrew Reeves (K) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Malta Exchange by Steve Berry :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Amber Room by Steve Berry :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The 13 Minute Murder by James Patterson :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Cornwalls are Gone by James Patterson :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Vacationland by John Hodgman (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Lilith's Children by Rachel Pudlik (K) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers (A) :binky: :binky: :binky:
The $10,000,000 Marriage Proposal by James Patterson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
And Then You're Dead by Cody Cassidy (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami (A) :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Art of Invisibility by Kevin Mitnick (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Exo by Fonda Lee (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

Neither Here Nor There - Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Warcross by Marie Lu :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
100 Below by Adam Hoss (K) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Celtic Empire by Clive Cussler (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
And the Ocean was Our Sky by Patrick Ness :binky: :binky:
World Without Mind: The Existential Threat of Big Tech by Franklin Foer :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Invisible by James Patterson :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Zombies!: Book 1: A Small World by R. S. Merritt :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Lightning Sky by R.C. George (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Smartest Kids in the World (And How They Got That Way) by Amanda Ripley (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man by William Shatner (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Crazy House by James Patterson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Windy City Blues by Renee Rosen (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Mysteries in Time by Rick Rogers (K) :binky: :binky: :binky:
Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Last 8 by Laura Pohl (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Virals by Kathy Reichs (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
True Freedom by Michael Dean (K)

Snow Over Utopia by Rudolfo Serna (K) :binky: :binky:
Ember by Brock Adams (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Space Opera by Catherynne Valente (A) :binky: :binky:
The First Lady by James Patterson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Seizure by Kathy Reichs (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Code by Kathy Reichs (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
House Mother by Amber Lloyd (K) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Exposure by Kathy Reichs (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Terminal by Kathy Reichs (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Ten Innings at Wrigley by Kevin Cook (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Multipliers by Liz Wiseman (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Contagion by Erin Bowman (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Wildcard by Marie Lu (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Cornwalls are Gone by James Patterson (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The President is Missing by Bill Clinton (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

A Darker Sea by James Haley (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Ranger Games by Ben Blum (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show by Daniel De Vise :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:
The Guardians by John Grisham (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

Reading

Origins - Song of the King's Heart by Nicole Sallak (K)
The Institute by Stephen King (A)
Ishtar's Legacy by Rachel Sullivan (K)


2019 Totals - Books read: 85 Pages Read: 31,678 Pages per day: 87
2018 totals - Books read: 104 Pages Read: 32,646 Pages per day: 89
Last edited by Jeff V on Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:38 pm, edited 26 times in total.
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Paingod
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Paingod »

I don't have reading goals, but am starting to think I need to subscribe to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. I'm finding myself buying two or more books a week sometimes at $9.99 each. It seems like it would make more sense to get "over a million books" for $9.99 instead, but don't know if what I want to read will be on the list.

I like having a personal library and will often re-read books I own every few years, but it's getting expensive to keep feeding my Kindle.

So far this year, I've almost finished the second book of the Murderbot series. A quick, easy read - but enjoyable.
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El Guapo
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by El Guapo »

Paingod wrote: Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:48 am I don't have reading goals, but am starting to think I need to subscribe to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. I'm finding myself buying two or more books a week sometimes at $9.99 each. It seems like it would make more sense to get "over a million books" for $9.99 instead, but don't know if what I want to read will be on the list.

I like having a personal library and will often re-read books I own every few years, but it's getting expensive to keep feeding my Kindle.

So far this year, I've almost finished the second book of the Murderbot series. A quick, easy read - but enjoyable.
What I've found super helpful is to sign up to BookBub.com. You can tell them which genres of books you like, and they'll send you a daily e-mail of eBook deals within those genres, usually books at $1 - $3. I've found a lot of great deals on books that I've been meaning to read anyway (including my current read, Nate Silver's book) for just a couple bucks, and now I have a pretty significant backlog of eBooks acquired on the cheap.

That plus checking out eBooks from your local library (which I think most libraries do at this point) makes reading pretty cheap.
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Jeff V
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Jeff V »

I get 1-2 free books a month from Library Thing Early Readers Program and another from Amazon Prime First Reads. The rest I get from the library just using a phone app, I never actually set foot in a library and while I borrow mostly audiobooks, they have a much larger selection of ebooks. In 2018, I read 104 books and purchased approximately 1 (and haven't read that yet).
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Archinerd »

++Read++
JAN-
The Black Company by Glen Cook.
I bounced off this years ago on my first attempt. This time I couldn't put it down. This was nearly the last book on the 2018 list but I fell asleep before I could finish it New Year's Eve. That's right, I was reading a book on New Year's Eve AND fell asleep before midnight.
Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
Shadows Linger by Glen Cook. 2nd Black Company book.

FEB-
The White Rose by Glen Cook. More Black Company.
Shadows Games by Glen Cook. " " "

MAR-
Dreams of Steel by Glen Cook. " " "

APR-
The Silver Spike by Glen Cook. " " "
Bleak Seasons by Glen Cook. " " "

MAY-JULY All difficult reads that but ultimately have a pay off and satisfying ending.
She is the Darkness by Glen Cook.
Water Sleeps by Glen Cook.
Soldiers LIve by Glen Cook.

AUG-
The Port of Shadows by Glen Cook. The last of the Black Company books published but actually set just after the first book in chronology. I should have heeded the bad reviews, this one is a stinker. Other than a few paragraphs with the old gang reunited (Croaker, Elmo, One Eye, Goblin & Silent) there isn't a lot to like about this book. It's hard to follow and although hints at some larger plot never clues the reader in on exactly what that is. In the end, pointless.
Every Tool's A Hammer by Adam Savage
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut

2018
Last edited by Archinerd on Thu Aug 29, 2019 1:39 am, edited 5 times in total.
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Kasey Chang
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Kasey Chang »

I am NOT going to count how many ebooks I read in 2018, as it probably in the hundreds. *sigh*

FWIW, the number of published reviews in 2018 on my other blog was... 1171-12 = 1159 Total published as of December 31st is 1700. And that's NOT counting the non-fic and scifi books I read.

Finished the Ascension series KGU offshoot. It ended on a huge deus ex machina, even though it was a very well setup deus ex machina. Not sure I like that ending, but it's... fitting end to the series.
Spoiler:
Molly and her crew basically became missile magnets, sacrificing themselves to prevent a war. Then somehow, the uber-aliens they were protecting reconstituted them from the wreckage a few weeks later.
Still Reading KGU offshoot "Deuces Wild" series, where Nickie, who ran off to a corner of galaxy, decided to destroy Skaines (evil pirates) when they attacked a colony she protected, while reading adventures of her aunt Tabitha, aka Ranger Two, who was cleaning up the universe in her own ways 50 years before her. This book is basically half Tabitha and half Nickie, both of whom are badasses on the ground and one-(wo)man killing machines. Though Tabitha is a bit more... comical, but then, such things can happen after losing someone. Nickie is still trying to control her emotions, lest she enjoyed killing too much. Just finished book 2 and working on 3.

Reading "the Sword Mage Chronicles" series, just finished #3. Good space adventure. Woman woke up with no memory, and was imprinted with afinity to a special sword. Except a warlord with almost infinite resources was looking for it too. She was rescued by an android and 3 mercenaries, who were former Gods, now merely powerful mortals. The sword may hold a key to reopening the realm of Gods to the outcasts, but that also means the bad guy can't get it... Book 1 is losing the sword, Book 2 was getting the sword back, and Book 3 is instigating an android rebellion. So far, so good.

Reading another KGU offshoot "Shadow Vanguard" series. Jack Marber, former assault marine for the Empire, now a trader on the far frontier, just got a better ship, better equipment, and a special mandate from the now ex-empire now Federation spymaster... Keep an eye out on the frontier. And he just got a new crew member... who may be a wolf-shifter... Their first assignment was supposed to be easy: deliver crowd control barriers to a planet who just lost their president, and be the Federation emissary to attend. But they arrived in the middle of a gravity storm... the weather scientist, mad with the grief of losing his wife, has sabotaged the entire weather control system to destroy the capital. And it's increasingly clear that death of the president was not an accident, but assassination and power grab... Can Shadow Vanguard save the planet and destroy the conspiracy?

So far, so good. It's pretty darn good adventure so far.

Reading a different series: The Cadicle by A K DuBoff. The story spans decades, and the first book is free. Basically, the Taran Empire is hiding a huge secret... They are in a war against the Baksens, but it's a war no one except the select few in the TSS (the military) knows about. And two people with telepathic abilities are brought together for a prophesy... Their child may be the Candicle that will save them all... But when the Baksen collaborators and agents kidnap the child prodigy 15 years later, a desperate rescue mission will be launched...

Finished Book 1, and it's a bit of a mixed bag... The idea of a huge conspiracy that spans an empire and decades is interesting, and the relationships are okay. It's space opera, and it's pretty good. Combat is a bit ho-hum though.

I have put in all of my 2018 reviews into my drafts folder, so that's good. :)
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Re: Books Read 2019

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I just finished Murder on the Orient Express. It's odd but I like the movie adaptions better than the book.
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Finished Shadow Vanguard 2 and 3. Both are good military adventures. Two was the crew investigating reports of a death cult, a pleasure planet, and a serial killer breaking out of prison. Three has the crew stuck in the middle of... a zombie outbreak.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Jeff V »

The Antiquities Dealer by Ed Protzel (K) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

I liked the premise well enough - underground research to clone famous people from history. David Greenberg, however, is a rather unlikely action hero and seems awfully reliant on dumb luck to stay alive than an innate talent for heroism. He is also oddly ambivalent about his fate - maybe it's a Jewish thing, but I found it to be an interesting part of his persona. This appears to be the first book in a series - it'll be interesting to see if the author expands on the premise mentioned above or whether something altogether different.
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Re: Books Read 2019

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The Pharaoh Key by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (A) :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky:

The Gideon Crew series has become more unreal with each volume. Now in it's 5th, Preston and Child are gonna have some 'splaining to do if they plan to trot him out for #6.

The company he was working for was suddenly shuttered when the owner reached his ultimate goal at the end of the last book. Disgruntled and still dying, Crew and fellow agent Manuel Garza discover a computer running a decryption routine on an ancient relic (running for 5 years) had completed successfully. Determined to find out what is actually at the location uncovered and agreed to split any financial windfall equally, they set out to the Egyptian desert. Guides refused to take them where they want to go, telling them that nobody ever returns. Of course, that doesn't stop our intrepid heroes who go on to stumble upon an ancient Egyptian tribe still very much following middle Kingdom traditions. And that includes enslaving our heroes for a rousing month of tomb building.
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Re: Books Read 2019

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My 2018 reading was very spotty apart from my teaching responsibilities, and I wasted a ton of time not doing it.

Max Hastings, Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945-75. Thorough and unsparing narrative from one of the best military historians.
George J.R.R.T. Martin, A Game of Thrones. Re-reading.
Stephen Greenblatt, Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics. More essay than study, but Greenblatt is strong in Bardology.
William Shaksper, Hamlet. (Teaching.)
Wlm Shake‑speare, Romeo and Juliet. Why not?

Chris Hayes, A Colony in a Nation. Skimmed in haste, this is still powerful criticism of American law & order.
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein. (Teaching.)
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice. (Teaching.)
Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness. (Teaching.)
Stephen King, The Stand. Depressing, chilling, and unputdownable every time.

Sam Sykes, The City Stained Red. Fun & frantic party-based low-fantasy romp.
N.K. Jemisin, The Fifth Season. Sharply original dark fantasy, 2016 Hugo winner.
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart. (Teaching.)
Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master & Margarita. Darkly comic suppressed Soviet satire. The Devil visits 1930's Moscow.
GRRM + ghostwriters, The World of Ice & Fire. Rich encyclopedic in-world pseudo-history of GRRM's fantasy setting.

Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring. Always a joy to re-read this.
Ryan North, How to Invent Everything. Really funny, smart guide to inventing civilization from scratch.
Glen Cook, The Black Company. Grimdark military fantasy of all-too-human mercenaries in service to Evil Powers.
Glen Cook, Shadows Linger. Second of the Black Company novels.
Glen Cook, The White Rose. Third of the Black Company novels.

Robert Borski, Solar Labyrinth. Essays on aspects of Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun.
Gene Wolfe, Nightside the Long Sun. First volume of the Book of the Long Sun.
Gene Wolfe, Lake of the Long Sun. BotLS is a 19th-century moral novel that just happens to be set on a generation starship.
Gene Wolfe, Caldé of the Long Sun. Third volume of the Book of the Long Sun.
Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale. Always a chilling and severe read.

Gene Wolfe, Exodus from the Long Sun. Fourth volume of the Book of the Long Sun.
P.D. James, The Children of Men. Very British dystopia of an infertile near future.
Cormac McCarthy, The Road. I am breaking my heart with dystopias.
Norman Spinrad, The Iron Dream. Lurid 1953 science-fiction adventure by hack writer Adolf Hitler(!!).
N.K. Jemisin, The Obelisk Gate. 2017 Hugo winner and sequel to 2016's winner, The Fifth Season.

Helen Macdonald, H Is for Hawk. Powerful memoir of modern grief and timeless nature.
Dan Abnett, The Magos. New Eisenhorn volume in the Inquisitorial series by the best Warhammer 40K writer.
Frank Herbert, Dune. Re-reading in anticipation of Villeneuve.
James S.A. Corey, Leviathan Wakes. First book of The Expanse. Character-driven hard SF space opera.
James S.A. Corey, Caliban's War. Second book of The Expanse.

Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. Journalist lives solely on low-wage jobs for a year.
Last edited by Holman on Mon Nov 18, 2019 10:51 pm, edited 29 times in total.
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Just finished the audio book of Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker.This is a prequel to Dracula, and could have been called The Diary of Bram Stoker (though it also draws from other journals). I have not read any vampire novels, so this was a change from my usual Sci-Fi and fantasy diet. Very gothic. All the traditional strengths and weaknesses of vampires are present, except they are not vaporized by sunlight, merely weakened. What I liked most is the book was read by an actual cast, not one guy with a falsetto voice for the female characters. I give it :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: :binky: 1/2.
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Kasey Chang
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Finished KGU: Deuces Wild series (4 books), where Nikki and Tabitha, from respective timelines, fight the good fight against bad guys, and Nikki contemplates her return to Federation space, while possibly fall in love, after helping a prince complete his own quest.

Finished Sword Mage Chronicles (4 books), where Bentley and her travellers of the ship Chezed was able to defeat the evil Commander Emroth in book 4. I feel the last book has too much of a deus ex machina feel, where basically she shows up with the sword, finally figured out how to use it, then arrived just in time for the bad guy's fleet to about to pound their allies into oblivion, then managed to do a couple moves that got the sword to unleash superpower that not only destroyed the flagship in one hit, but also annihilated all of the enemy fleet except for a few scouts hiding in the outskirts that turned and ran at first sign of trouble. And obviously the UBG, Emroth's boss, happens to have a clone of Emroth available. *cough cough*

Finished KGU: Precious Galaxy (4 books). Ghost squadron, based on the Battlecruiser Ricky Bobby, was just ambushed, and the entire crew taken. There was only three survivors, two of which were not onboard at the time. Someone created a "monster" cloud that infiltrated the ship, and disassembled all of the crew. Only the ship's genius engineer survived the attack and trapped the monster in a forcefield. Now the ship's remaining crew called in assistance... an ex-cop who prefers shoveling manure to solving crimes, and a flight school cadet who hadn't flown anything for real, just sims. Together, they have to travel to the Precious galaxy, confront an enemy that had spent decades chafing at Federation's control, and may have developed the most power weapon, but only to feed one man's mad megalomania: to own the most powerful computer ever, powered by a collection of the best human minds, "removed" from their bodies, and merged into a single entity. Now the ex-detective and the not-quite-pilot, have to rescue the entire crew of "Ghost Squadron", and figure out how to restore them back to physical bodies, while defeating the evil genius... all while finding the best coffee in the galaxy... while, one of them any way.

It's interesting setup, I'll say that. Use some of the characters in the previous Ghost Squadron series, while moving in some new blood. But another galaxy? Really? The action was pretty good though.

Now reading KGU: Enemy of My Enemy series.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by freelunch »

I follow the reading threads here but seldom post because my reviews are kind of brief (and available on LibraryThing, Goodreads and Amazon.com.au if anyone is really interested)

Last year I finished 111 books, up from 36 in 2017 and 15 in 2016 (and not long before that my yearly total sank as low as 5).

Books Finished in 2019
01. A Silent Voice, Volume 5 by Yoshitoki Oima
02. The Education of Caroline by Jane Harvey-Berrick
03. P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever by Raj Haldar
04. When We Were Crowned by Auryn Hadley
05. Book Love by Debbie Tung
06. Cards of Love: The Moon by Sierra Simone
07. Whispers and the Roars by K. Webster
08. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
09. The Castle of Earth and Embers by Steffanie Holmes
10. Love in the Time of Dinosaurs by Kirsten Alene
11. The Castle of Fire and Fable by Steffanie Holmes
12. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland
13. ABC⚡DC - A Rock & Roll Inspired Alphabet Book by Lola Willow
14. The Castle of Water and Woe by Steffanie Holmes
15. Fuck Valentine's Day by C.M. Stunich
16. The Castle of Wind and Whispers by Steffanie Holmes
17. Die, My Love by Zoe Blake, Addison Cain, Stevie J. Cole, Ashleigh Giannoccaro, Jane Henry, Julia Sykes & Celia Aaron
18. Submissive's Guide To BDSM Vol. 1 by Matthew Larocco
19. The Castle of Spirit and Sorrow by Steffanie Holmes
20. Surviving Amber Springs by Siobhan Davis
21. Cirque: Act 1 by Ashleigh Giannoccaro
22. A Pinch of Sass by Chloe Gunter & Jarica James
23. Cirque: Act 2 by Ashleigh Giannoccaro
24. Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
25. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
26. Saphyre by Scarlett Snow & Loxley Savage
27. When the Dark Wins by Jennifer Bene, Addison Cain, Cari Silverwood, Zoe Blake, Yolanda Olson, Dani René, Eris Adderly & Michelle Brown
28. Her Royal Harem by N.J. Adel
29. Fantasy Swap Online by Alyson Belle
30. Gun Shy by Lili St. Germain
31. At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
32. The Raw Touch by Serena Akeroyd
33. Verity by Colleen Hoover
34. Bass-Ackwards: A Wrong-Way Romance by Eris Adderly
35. Wicked Ways by Cari Silverwood
36. Wicked Weapon by Cari Silverwood
37. Wicked Hunt by Cari Silverwood
38. Laci on Top by Donna Jay
39. Judah's Wife: A Novel of the Maccabees by Angela Hunt
40. Motivational Quotes to Help You Be More Positive by Chris (Simpsons Artist)
41. Cole Underneath by Donna Jay
42. The Boys by Lily Harlem
43. Three Little Mistakes by Nikki Sloane
44. Captured by Ella Goode
45. Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee
46. Mating My Mob by Amanda Cashure
47. Mistaken Identity by Donna Jay
48. My Midas Touch by B.J. Hardy
49. H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
50. Ein by Sorcha Black
51. Yes, Roya by C. Spike Trotman
52. Just Jayne by Ripley Proserpina
53. Just for Show by Jae
54. We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby
55. Filthy Vows by Alessandra Torre
56. The Wild by K. Webster
57. Fragments by Ian Banks-Jones
58. By the Book by Scarlett Parrish
59. Haunted Redemption by Rebecca Royce
60. God Creates a Snake by Charles Peterson
61. The Unrequited by Saffron A. Kent
62. The Machinery of Desire by Cari Silverwood
63. Until I Break by Michelle Leighton
64. Hometown by Luke Walker
65. Squirm: Virgin Captive of the Billionaire Biker Tentacle Monster by Cari Silverwood
66. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
67. Like Jazz by Heather Blackmore
68. Forever Theirs by Serena Akeroyd
69. Royal Guard Of Draga by Emma Dean
70. Temporary Position by Scarlett Parrish
71. Until Forever by Luisa Cloutier
72. Coyote Ate the Stars by E.A. Van Stralen
73. BloodLust by Auryn Hadley
74. Pining & Loving by Emma Sterner-Radley
75. Instinctual by Auryn Hadley
76. Blood Glyphs by Cari Silverwood
77. Cold Queen by K. Webster
78. Lord John and the Succubus by Diana Gabaldon
79. Lost in the Affair by E.K. Blair
80. Fan Anonymous: A True Story if you squint, sort of...maybe... Look! Squirrel! by Cari Silverwood
81. Are You Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex
82. Dark Tales by Sinistre Ange
83. Defiance by Auryn Hadley
84. As Flame to Smoke by Eris Adderly
85. Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle
86. Oh Joy Sex Toy, Vol. 1 by Erika Moen & Matthew Nolan
87. Nepenthe by Octavia Hyde
88. Burn by Scarlett Parrish
89. A Lump Of Coal For Christmas by Ashleigh Giannoccaro
90. The Beautiful Ones by Prince
91. No Demons But Us by A.S. Etaski
92. Say Yes by Ashleigh Giannoccaro
93. Inseparable by Auryn Hadley
94. Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy by Doug Savage
Last edited by freelunch on Sat Dec 28, 2019 8:48 pm, edited 96 times in total.
Books I finished in: 2022 | 2021 | 2020

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Re: Books Read 2019

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Finished KGU: Enemy of My Enemy series (3 books so far, 4th coming this month)

The cat-like residents of a little planet, i.e. the Furlorians just wanted to be left alone. There are only 200 or so of them. Their ancestors went out to middle of nowhere and wanted it that way. But one day, an enemy of the Federation, the Wyvvans, landed. They attacked a Federation dreadnought but failed. The counterattack left them heavily damaged and they crashed landed on the planet. After discovering a coveted energy mineral, the Wyvvans only want the residents dead... negotiations are not needed. But the Furlorians are not going down without a fight...

In Book 1 they mounted a guerilla campaign and ultimately defeated the destroyer captain and killed most of the crew.

In Book 2 they were forced to evacuate when the Wyvvans arrived in an armada and only some lucky breaks and a Wyvvan collaborator allowed them to escape, but they have their own agendas... But they need to reach Federation space for refuge (and the Wyvvan collaborator do not want that...)

In Book 3, they became an unofficial Federation "troubleshooter team" going undercover to recover an agent trying to get his planet to join the Federation, but it's clear that the politics and intrigue on the planet means no one can be trusted, when their convoy was attacked by zealots...

(Actually, 4th book was just published, will download ASAP, where the Furlorians went to reconquer their home planet)

Reading KGU: Rise of Magic series (8 books, currently on book 3)

In the far future Irth became a realm of magic/fantasy instead of technology, and people like Bethany Anne and Michael are simply legends. When Hannah, living in the slums of the city was hunted by magic hunters for powers she doesn't' understand, she was suddenly rescued by a powerful wizard... He was Ezekiel, the founder of the city. He had left the city Arcadia in the hands of his most trusted disciple, Adrian, but the vision had been corrupted. Adrian was using the resources of the city to build something, and magic had been outlawed except for the very rich (and the academy), all in the name of "public safety". Ezekiel realized Hannah have potential to be an even more powerful wizard than himself, so he must carefully guide Hannah. Along the way, they will collect various allies... a mercenary (dwarf) captain, a tech wizard trainee (who can't wield magic, but knows tech), another street kid with no power except a lot of spirit, and the mystics with a lot of mind magic. But even this ragtag army can't fight a city head-on, where magic was untrusted, religion was perverted, and hunters and zealots roam the streets...

I don't generally read fantasy, but this one is not bad so far. Like it.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Scuzz »

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

I got this used a couple years ago and finally decided to read it after reading 1492 by Charles Mann a couple months ago. It is not as "entertaining" as 1492 but it does contain some very interesting observations. I also found it basically supported what I believed to be the answers as to why some peoples/societies developed differently from others. Not an easy read but worth the trouble.


The Waterworks by E.L. Doctorow

A first person narrative about a missing persons case in 1870 New York City. The story is told by a newspaperman who went looking for a missing freelance writer who was his friend. Told in a sometimes strange time traveling back and forth way that early on at least kind of muddies up the story. It is an interesting read, a good story of the times if you will, but if you are looking to read something by Doctorow I would recommend Ragtime or Billy Bathgate.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Isgrimnur »

Diamond is not held in high regard by the (actual) historians that post on reddit.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Smoove_B »

Last edited by Smoove_B on Fri Dec 06, 2019 8:48 pm, edited 11 times in total.
Maybe next year, maybe no go
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Scuzz »

Isgrimnur wrote: Mon Jan 07, 2019 5:22 pm Diamond is not held in high regard by the (actual) historians that post on reddit.
Looking there the reaction is actually pretty balanced. But I would assume the basis of Diamond's assertions would be argued against by some.
Last edited by Scuzz on Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Jeff V »

Scuzz wrote: Mon Jan 07, 2019 9:02 pm
Isgrimnur wrote: Mon Jan 07, 2019 5:22 pm Diamond is not held in high regard by the (actual) historians that post on reddit.
Looking there the reaction is actually pretty balanced. Buy I would assume the basis of Diamond's assertions would be argued against by some.
Diamond is good at connecting the dots and creating a beautiful picture of a peach tree. Then someone else uses the same dots and creates an elephant. They both might a compelling case which is right, but I've been reading Diamond since his Discover Magazine days and have always enjoyed his peach trees.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Kasey Chang »

Finished KGU: Rise of Magic series, all 8 books

The end felt like a bit of deus ex machina, but it was set up really well. I think it ended a bit too quickly though. Still, a good end to kick *** adventure that's fantasy, yet clearly have KGU links.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Bad Demographic »

Reading:
The Spell of New Mexico ed. Tony Hillerman

Books read (or unfinished):
Lost Boys: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry
No Middle Name by Lee Child
The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi
Hall of Mirrors by Christopher Fowler
Mazerynth by Gryndyl
The Dungeoneers by Gryndyl (reread)
The Dungeoneers: Blackfog Island by Gryndyl (reread)
The Lost Temple of Ssis'sythyss by Gryndyl (reread)
Odds and Gods by Tom Holt

Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K. J. Parker (pseudonym of Tom Holt)
Terminal Uprising by Jim C. Hines
Head On by John Scalzi
Fortunate Son: My Life My Music by John Fogerty
Divine Assistance by L. G. Estrella (abandoned)
Indian Arts of the Southwest by Susanne & Jake Page
Heart of Barkness by Spencer Quinn
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovich (reread)
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovich (reread)
Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovich (reread)

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovich (reread)
Last edited by Bad Demographic on Wed Jul 31, 2019 11:59 pm, edited 7 times in total.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Kasey Chang »

Finished: War of the Angels Book 1, A Sacred Pact. Demon invasion of Earth, special forces teams that react to incursions, lead by an Angel named Katie, who's paired with an ex-demon named Pandora (ex-wife of Lucifer). The special teams are all "possessed" by a demon, but they are sorta "on our side", as they help the body heal. This is a sequel to the other series "War of the Damned" so you probably should read that first. In this book they encountered a big baddie that even an angel have problem defeating... just as hell's minions cook up another scheme to invade Earth... Good action, but to get more out of it you need to start with the other series.

Read two other books that will not be mentioned here. :)

Total so far: about 28
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Isgrimnur »

I read a few more last year, but lost track of keeping the log updated. I will try to be better this year.
  1. The Dungeoneers: Blackfog Island
  2. The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Isgrimnur »

The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down

Blackfog Island was better.

The book covers the late 17th to early 18th century period of piracy operating in and around Nassau in the Bahamas. A decent covering of the history, but not the most scintillating listen.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by ImLawBoy »

Happy Doomsday - David Sosnowski. This was a free Kindle First book. The basic setup is pretty simple - almost everyone in the world drops dead. While there are vague hints of other survivors, we focus on three high schoolers. Lucy is goth girl in Atlanta who is pregnant by her gay best friend. Marcus is a repentant wannabe Jihadist from Oklahoma. Dev is a social outcast near Detroit whose pharmacist stepfather (who is his deceased father's brother) has diagnosed him as having Asperger's. The story more or less revolves around these three trying to find other survivors (or trying not to be found). It was OK. The author tried to focus on the reality of a world where everyone just dies in place (lots of bodies, stench, rats, giant packs of feral pigs who have mated with giant farm pigs, etc.), but then glosses over things like gasoline still being effective after so much time. That's just a minor quibble, though. Ultimately, the book didn't lead to much, which may have been the point. It's more lighthearted than you might expect a post apocalyptic book to be, which kept things moving along nicely. The reason for the apocalypse was never explained (which I'm fine with), nor was the reason our three protagonists survived (although there is some speculation). Not a bad read for an atypical look at the apocalypse.

Read
Happy Doomsday - David Sosnowski.
Adulthood Rites - Octavia E. Butler
Dungeoneers: Mazerynth - Jeffrey Russell
Six Scary Stories - Selected and Introduced by Stephen King
The Dog of the South - Charles Portis
Black Leopard, Red Wolf (The Dark Star Trilogy Book 1) - Marlon James
Machine City - Scott J. Holliday
Strange Weather - Joe Hill
Imago - Octavia E. Butler
Bleak Harbor - Bryan Gruley
The Killer Collective - Barry Eisler
The Reign of the Kingfisher - T.J. Martinson
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
Trance - Adam Southward
Mr. Mercedes - Stephen King
Finders Keepers - Stephen King
Doctor Sleep - Stephen King
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke
Imaginary Friend - Stephen Chbosky
Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass - Mariko Tamaki/Art by Steve Pugh
End of Watch - Stephen King

Reading
Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

2018 - 16 books
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Finished "Metal Legion 2: Frozen Fire" (Finished book 1: Scorpion's Fury earlier)

Captain Xi Bao and the crew of Elvira, an 80-ton combat mech, has survived the desert, but now the Terran Armor Corp (the only mechanized unit in Terran Combat Corp) is being sent to an ice planet... The planet is technically human (uninhabited), with two other alien forces on the planet. But the boss has a secret order... There is a THIRD alien species on the planet, and the armored corp is ordered to escort the attempt to make first contact... But no plans survive contact. The nominally neutral aliens attacked, the corp has been infected by virus which ruined weapon accuracy, and the aliens have stealth systems that not even Terran sensors can penetrate... And they are definitely trying to prevent this first contact... Esp. when the aliens being contacted did not seem to be friendly... But Captain Xi will do her duty... only to reveal an even greater conspiracy...

Good combat sequences, as the aliens pull no punches. Aliens pop out of sheets of ice, drop tiny suicide bomb robots, overwhelm defenses with missile barrages, even drop mass drivers from high altitude or orbit. Add power struggles within (the admirals of the navy is trying to fold all combat command into the navy) and without (discovery about human's tech history and other conspiracies) and it's an interesting mix of hard combat mixed with grand conspiracy / astropolitique 5/5

Finished two other books that will not be mentioned here.

Total read: 31.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Jaymann »

ImLawBoy wrote: Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:33 am Read
Happy Doomsday - David Sosnowski. This was a free Kindle First book. The basic setup is pretty simple - almost everyone in the world drops dead. While there are vague hints of other survivors, we focus on three high schoolers. Lucy is goth girl in Atlanta who is pregnant by her gay best friend. Marcus is a repentant wannabe Jihadist from Oklahoma. Dev is a social outcast near Detroit whose pharmacist stepfather (who is his deceased father's brother) has diagnosed him as having Asperger's. The story more or less revolves around these three trying to find other survivors (or trying not to be found). It was OK. The author tried to focus on the reality of a world where everyone just dies in place (lots of bodies, stench, rats, giant packs of feral pigs who have mated with giant farm pigs, etc.), but then glosses over things like gasoline still being effective after so much time. That's just a minor quibble, though. Ultimately, the book didn't lead to much, which may have been the point. It's more lighthearted than you might expect a post apocalyptic book to be, which kept things moving along nicely. The reason for the apocalypse was never explained (which I'm fine with), nor was the reason our three protagonists survived (although there is some speculation). Not a bad read for an atypical look at the apocalypse.
Couldn't you find an electric car and hook it up to a windmill generator?
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Could I do that? Probably not. I would not likely have survived the apocalypse, however, for spoilery reasons that I won't give away on the off chance someone else wants to read this book.

In the book two characters do stumble upon an oasis of electricity in the suburbs of Chicago where some wind turbines are still active and pumping juice. I can't imagine those turbines would stay productive for much longer than the gas was effective, though.
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Next Era Energy Resources
Wind turbines generally require preventative maintenance checkups two to three times per year.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by xenocide »

Read Audible:
Regicide: The Completionist Chronicles Book 2 by Dakota Krout
Head On by John Scalzi
The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
Harry Potter 1-7 by J.K. Rowling
Extinction Horizon: Extinction Cycle Book 1 by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Extinction Edge: Extinction Cycle Book 2 by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Dune by Frank Herbert
Second Hand Curses by Drew Hayes
Dungeon Desolation: Divine Dungeon Book 4 by Dakota Krout
Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

Life Reset: New Era Online Book 1 by Shemer Kuznits
Trading in Danger: Vatta's War Book 1 by Elizabeth Moon
Environment Vs. Player: New Era Online Book 2 by Shemer Kuznits
Live Free or Die: Troy Rising Book 1 by John Ringo
Sabriel by Garth Nix

Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe by Mike Massimino
The Trapped Mind Project: Emerilia Book 1 by Michael Chatfield
Midshipman's Hope: Seafort Saga Book 1 by David Feintuch
Viridian Gate Online: Cataclysm by James A. Hunter
Alliance: Viridian Gate Online Book 2 by James A. Hunter

The Jade Lord: Viridian Gate Online Book 3 by James A. Hunter
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
Folsom Untold
Dungeon Lord: The Wraith's Haunt Book 1 by Hugo Huesca

Bushido Online by Nikita Thorn
The Dispatcher by John-Scalzi
CIRCE by Madeline Miller
Hell Divers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Imperial Legion: Viridian Gate Online book 4 by James Hunter

Dust World: Undying Mercenaries Book 2 by B. V. Larson
The Lich Priest: Viridian Gate Online Book 5 by james Hunter
Tech World: Undying Mercenaries Book 3 by B. V. Larson
Machine World: Undying Mercenaries Series Book 4 by B. V. Larson
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Doom Forge: Viridian Gate Online Book 6 by James Hunter
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Planetside by Michael Mammay
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

Way of The Wolf: The Vampire Earth Book 1 by E.E. Knight
Life Reset Book 3: Hobnobbing by Shemer Kuznits
Challenger's Hope: The Seafort Saga Book 2 by David Feintuch
Advent: Red Mage Book 1 by Xander Boyce
Vikings: Myths, Legends & History

Spartacus and the Slave Wars: A History From Beginning to End
The Man Who Knew the Way to the Moon by Todd Zwillich
The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
Legion versus Phalanx: The Epic Struggle for Infantry Supremacy in the Ancient World by Myke Cole
Dungeon Lord: Otherworldly Powers: The Wraith's Haunt Book 2 by Hugo Huesca

Dragons of Autumn Twilight: Dragonlance Chronicles Book 1 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Dragons of Winter Night: Dragonlance Chronicles Book 2 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Dragons of Spring Dawning: Dragonlance Chronicles Book 3 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Redshirts by John Scalzi
Dead Six by Larry Correia & Mike Kupari

Off to be the Wizard by Scott Meyer
Time of the Twins: Dragonlance Legends Book 1 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
Death World: Undying Mercenaries Series Book 5 by B. V. Larson
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith AKA J. K. Rowling

Legacy of the Fallen: Ascend Online Book 2 by Luke Chmilenko
Hell to Pay: Ascend Online Book 3 by Luke Chmilenko
Into the Light: Axe Druid Book 1 by Christopher Johns
Dungeon Lord: Abominable Creatures: The Wraith's Haunt Book 3 by Hugo Huesca
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World: A Novel by C. A. Fletcher

Reign of the Kingfisher by T.J. Martinson
Imager: Imager Portfolio Book 1 by L. E. Modesitt Jr.
Survival Quest: The Way of the Shaman Book 1 by Vasily Mahanenko
Super Powereds: Year 1 by Drew Hayes
Dante's Immortality: Beginnings by Antonio Terzini

The Kartoss Gambit: The Way of the Shaman Book 2 by Vasily Mahanenko
Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian
Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin

Read Kindle:
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Sufficiently Advanced Magic: Arcane Ascension Book 1 by Andrew Rowe
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Ascend Online Book 1 by Luke Chmilenko
Unsouled: Cradle Book 1 by Will Wight
Life in the North: The System Apocalypse Book 1 by Tao Wong
Limitless Lands: Book 1: The Commander's Tale by Dean Henegar
Rexus: Side Quest The Completionist Chronicles Book 3 by Dakota Krout
Raze: The Completionist Chronicles Book 4 by Dakota Krout

Did Not Finish:
The Valley of Horses: Earth's Children Book 2 by Jean M. Auel
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Wizard's First Rule: Sword of Truth Book 1 by Terry Goodkind
Last edited by xenocide on Thu Jan 02, 2020 9:04 pm, edited 12 times in total.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Kasey Chang »

Finished JF Holmes' "Invasion 3-book set". I read volume 1 last year, and it was pretty good. Vol 2 and 3 managed to dial up the tempo and made it better. Even the world building was quite good.

It has been more than a decade since the Confederated Earth Forces have been defeated by the Invy invaders. They have orbital platforms that can drop mass driver strikes anywhere in the globe, plus a virus that killed everyone north and south of 30th parallel. They are also armed with plasma weapons and other technological advances. The CEF fleet had been destroyed, major cities and installations leveled. Majority of population had perished. But Terrans will never give up. A young man's life is changed forever when two strangers arrived at his homestead: they are CEF special forces, and they are there to get the "boy general" back into active service. For the Earth forces may have been defeated, but they have a plan... and it will take a lot of luck and sacrifice to free Earth from the Invy... But only if they can somehow disable the orbital platforms, destroy the two Invy ships in the system... AND close the jump gate... Without getting overrun. Across the world, wars are fought on every continent, and old weapons are renewed and updated... Abrams tank got miniature A/M engines. Battleships are rearmed with mass driver cannons and first-gen A/M generators... but it is the heart of the warrior willing to make the ultimate sacrifice that will free Earth... or die trying.

Lots of death and destruction, people making the sacrifice, etc. etc. 4.5/5

2 other books I shall not mention here.

Total read: 35
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Philip K. Dick _The Crack in Space_ - certainly not one of his better books, probably one of his worst. man, this guy can be an godawful writer, and that's coming from a self-admitted PKD fanboy
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Finished "Feared by Hell" by Michael Anderle... KGU guy writes urban fantasy.

The world had changed since the Oricerans came out 20 years ago... Now the world is full of magic users alongside tech users, and there are plenty of bounty hunters out there... Mr. Browonstone is one of those elite mercenary bounty hunters. He can turn his body into metal (temporarily), which made him almost unbeatable in hand-to-hand combat. But when his dog disappeared, he had to place his trust in a little girl, who is blind, but can sense energy (and work almost as well as sighted). Then he had to pick up a partner, a freelance archaeologist Shay, who has a mysterious past and is way too good in combat to be "merely" a scholar. But when he had to save the girl, and hunt relics with the archaeologist, he got embroiled in a giant conspiracy of betrayal and destiny that he would never expect... And evil will get a smackdown...

Not bad, not bad for an alternate urban fantasy that doesn't involve too much weres and vamps and whatnot. 4.5/5

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Finished KGU/Age of Madness: Dawn of Chaos by Daniel Willcocks

Caitlin always dreamed of joining her brother, the head ranger, to explore the outside of town, which is full of the "Mad", basically zombies that only wanted human blood, and their scratches and bites can infect humans. When she finally got the chance, she found the world outside was NOTHING like she was taught. While mad did roam the forest, she met a vampire... rumored to have all died out. And soon learned that the governor, who lived in lap of luxury with the best woman attending him (think Jabba the Hutt) while the rest of town suffered, knew there was a vampire in the "mansion", and no one who ventured there have ever returned... Except Kaitlin. And the governor has plans... He wants vampire and were under his control, as he wants to control ALL the outlying villages (which no one in town knew) out of fear... and his guards are always out collecting tribute... and abusing citizens, esp women. When Caitlin decided to join Maryann, the vampire, and escaped, her brother was thrown in jail, and that started a chain of events that will change the town forever... and start a revolution toward recovery for all humanity.

4 book series, this is just book 1. Kaitlin turned out to be a leader even better than her brother, with an innate sense of justice. Good events and turning points. 5/5

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Finished two more books that won't be mentioned here.

Total read: 39
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Jaymann »

hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:14 pm Philip K. Dick _The Crack in Space_ - certainly not one of his better books, probably one of his worst. man, this guy can be an godawful writer, and that's coming from a self-admitted PKD fanboy
This is an unfortunate truth. At his best PKD is one of the finest ever. But some of his stuff is unreadable, so choose wisely. I think it is at least partially due to cranking out stories in order to make a living in the 50's and 60's.
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Jaymann wrote: Sat Jan 12, 2019 4:16 pm
hitbyambulance wrote: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:14 pm Philip K. Dick _The Crack in Space_ - certainly not one of his better books, probably one of his worst. man, this guy can be an godawful writer, and that's coming from a self-admitted PKD fanboy
This is an unfortunate truth. At his best PKD is one of the finest ever. But some of his stuff is unreadable, so choose wisely. I think it is at least partially due to cranking out stories in order to make a living in the 50's and 60's.
and there's still many more to read. i'd call Terry Gilliam one of my favorite film directors, but he too has a share of (very) high points and some utter dross. i respect those who aren't afraid to try new approaches and rely on instinct in their creations, even if they bomb completely... i think there's a life lesson there.
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Re: Books Read 2019

Post by Jolor »

Does it get a :clap:?
Exceptional / Strongly Recommend (almost) regardless of your favourite genre :clap:

Does it get a :naughty:
Abandoned, Disappointed, Not Recommended


Paradise Bound - Clines :clap:
The Lost Plot - Cogman
The Stone Sky - Jemisin
14 - Clines
The Poppy War - Kuang :clap:
The Heavens - Newman :clap:
Uprooted - Novik
The Test - Neuvel :clap:

Depth of Winter (a Walt Longmire mystery) - Johnson
Only Human (Themis Files 3) - Neuvel
All Systems Red (Murderbot 1) - Wells
The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite - Way / Ba
The Song of Achilles - Miller
The Umbrella Academy: Dallas - Way, Ba
A Brightness Long Ago - Kay :clap:
Storm of Locusts -Roanhorse :clap:

Kingdom of Copper (Daevabad 2) - Chakraborty
Fate- Hamilton
The Mountain Master of Sha Tin - Hamilton
The Mortal Word - Cogman
This is How You Lose the Time War - El-Mohtar, Gladstone :clap:
Spinning Silver - Novik
French Exit - DeWitt
Washington Black - Edugyan :clap:

Artificial Condition (Murderbot 2) - Wells
Jade War - Lee :clap:
The Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion - Way, Ba
Rogue Protocol (Murderbot 3) - Wells
Wanderers - Wendig :clap:
Exit Strategy (Murderbot 4) - Wells
Death & Honey - Hearne, Dawson (as Bowen), Wendig
The Squirrel on the Train - Hearne

Snow White Learns Witchcraft - Goss
The Djinn Falls in Love & Other Stories - Murad, Shurin (editors)


Reading


TBR
The Walking Dead (Compendium 4)
The Dragon Republic - Kuang
A Plague of Giants - Hearne
The Winter of the Witch - Arden
Twelve Kings of Sharakhai - Beaulieu
Black Leopard | Red Wolf - James
The Queen of Swords - Belcher
Homo Deus - Harari
The Prophecy Con - Weekes

--- ordered or library hold
A Little Hatred - Abercrombie
The New Voices of Science Fiction - Rajaniemi, Weisman (editors)
The Monster of Elendhaven - Giesbrecht
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter - Goss
The Historian - Kostova
The Guinevere Deception - White
Hounded: The Graphic Novel - Hearne
The Ten Thousand Doors of January - Harrow
Foresight: The Lost Decades of Uncle Chow Tung - Hamilton
Vengeful - Schwabb
Gideon the NInth - Muir
The Secret Chapter - Cogman
The Empire of Gold (Daevabad 3)- Chakraborty
Last edited by Jolor on Mon Dec 30, 2019 5:36 pm, edited 50 times in total.
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Kasey Chang
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Re: Books Read 2019

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FWIW: The Witcher Book 2: Time of Contempt is down to $2.99 (normally $9.99) on Amazon ebook. Book 1 is $7.99, so I'll hold off on that. I generally don't buy a book over $4.99 nowadays.

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Finished Blood Sweat and Pixels by Jason Schreier ($2.99) and crew of Kotaku.com, details the background stories of how different games were born, and the background struggles you probably never heard about. How Stardew Valley, a one-man's obsession and tribute became a hit, how Bioware almost destroyed itself building Dragon Age: Inquisition, how Bungie created a mess in Destiny and spend months fixing it... and how "Star Wars 1313" died with a whimper in the wake of LucasArts sellout to Disney... and many other stories. Worth a reading if you like game development or the "backgrounds stories" of tech.

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Finished "KGU/AOM/Caitlin Chronicles Book 2: Into the Fire" by Daniel Willcocks

Caitlin's liberation of her hometown was barely enough. Guards may have pledged loyalty to her, but it's clear they are planning something. And the evil governor had escaped through a tunnel into the forest. After putting key people in charge, Caitlin and her band of Revolutionaries are out chasing the governor... and arrived at a town where the townfolks were enthralled by a priest (previously, the town's trash handler) and his enforcers, known as the Firestarters. And the governor's out there, with his own evil plans to exact revenge...

Good amount of action. One member of the team, Mary-Anne, is a vampire, and everybody calls her "Ma" as she's the oldest (by far). Taking down a town is not difficult. Taking down a town with minimal casualties with just a small band? That'd be a challenge, esp. for Caitlin, who's not enhanced except her sense of justice.

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Finished "Brownstone Book 2: Rejected by Heaven" by Michael Anderle (KGU author's urban fantasy series)

Brownstone needs a special artifact for his young half-Oriceran charge, even as he had to send her to a special magic school. And the only way he can get it is to ask his business partner Shay, part-time archaeologist (read: Tomb Raider), possibly ex-assassin, to go with him to Mexico to retrieve an artifact rumored to be hidden by one of Zhen He's lieutenants, the Dragon Sabre of Guang Yu. In the meanwhile, he's about to take down a bounty in town, a criminal who wanted to be known by the moniker "Fire King", for he's a firestarter... And in Mexico, it seems there's a necromancer there by the name of "Sombra"... a level 5 "preferred dead" bounty...

Good amount of adventure and action. There's a big conspiracy as Brownstone's earlier actions came back to haunt him. Still kicking ass, of course.

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Two other books that I will not mention here. :)

Total read: about 44
My game FAQs | Playing: She Will Punish Them, Sunrider: Mask of Arcadius, The Outer Worlds
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Re: Books Read 2019

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Finished KGU: Enemy of My Enemy Book 4: Vengeance by Tim Marquitz

The cat people previously forced from their planet is going to take back their planet... or die trying. With help of one android who has the ability to remote control a whole fleet as well as shuttles, and some bots, they will do the impossible: take down a superdreadnought and its escorts, WHILE fending off fighters, ground troops, and more. For they have to do this the hard way: enemy have dug in positions right among the slave laborers. But they have came too far to fail...

Somehow, while the plot did progress properly, somehow it just doesn't quite flow right. Why not just perform the "final maneuver" immediately and thus, gain space superiority, kill the gate, THEN carefully take out the ground defense? Tactically it just didn't make sense. Still, it's good battles. 4/5

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Finished Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

The world had been taken over by the Epics... people with superpowers, after the event known as "Calamity". There are High Epics... People with EXTREMELY powerful abilities, and low epics... people with useful but hardly super abilities. David Charleston knew both... esp. Steelheart, because Steelheart killed his father. Steelheart is impervious to known weapons, can fly, and even shoot energy beams. But David had seen Steelheart bleed... when he was eight. And for that, Steelheart destroyed a good portion of Chicago... Because he can't afford for anyone to find out about his weakness. Now David is eighteen, he needs the help of the shadowy rebel group known as the Reckoners... a group of normals who take down abusive and evil epics... so he can take out Steelheart. But first, the group needs to figure out Steelheart's weakness...

Wow, this is one tour de force, with enough plot twists to keep my head spinning, and even an extra one AFTER they took down the big baddie. That's some good plotting that I didn't even see coming. 5/5

All three books in the series are on sale for $1.99 each. I bought all three.
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