David’s Comments (group member since Dec 29, 2010)

David’s comments from the BGGWW Books group.

The 2nd half of Foundation and the first half of Foundation and Empire really, really dragged for me. The books are about 95% dialogue. Just dudes sitting around talking. Rarely does something happen. I really liked the beginning of Foundation with the establishment of Terminus and the surprise revelation 50 years later. It then hit the long drag, then started to get good again with the introduction of the Mule in the end of the second book. I am just about to start Second Foundation (3rd book) where the Mule goes searching for said 2nd Foundation.

The whole thing suffers a bit from (or is cute because of?) assuming 1950s social roles and certain sensibilities will remain unchanged however many thousands of years from now this is supposed to be taking place. For example, we will all still be smoking like an episode of Mad Men, in space ships and on other planets. Also, women will remain 2nd class citizens. The books hardly have any women characters, but there is reference to how nuclear technologies will be helpful to women in the kitchen.

I'm here too! I got mired down in some long and slow books (Fountainhead and the first two Song of Fire and Ice books). Long books really slow me down no matter if I like them or not.

I actually like what the BGGWW Books group has become. It is a repository of books. It is too difficult to read books concurrently as a group. But it's nice to check in with a book's entry in the group as I read it. Now I am reading Foundation, which has been posted here for a while. Now I can give my input and read others.

Sure there will be times when you find someone or a few others to read a book concurrently (Dr. Ben and I did that with Dune). That was nice to follow each other's experiences as we went.

So, here and loving this group still. I'm just not reading the books from this group every day.

Just started Foundation last night. It griped me right away with the first section. Then, 50 years later... was a little crazy.

The edition I have includes the original Foundation Trilogy. So, I am going to plow through all 3. So far, so good.

So, who's getting the Kindle Fire?

I just finished it today. Still enjoying it! I am looking forward to the TV show.

I finally finished Clash of Kings. Reading that back to back with The Fountainhead really slowed my reading down.

I didn't love Clash as much as games, but I will continue. I need a bit of a break before jumping into the next one.

I started Rand's The Fountainhead. So far it is very good, but sheesh, this thing is an epic beast.

Anyone else read it? Is it worth it? I always felt I should read Rand at some point to see what it's all about. But this thing is going to take me 6 months.

Finally finished here. I really liked it. For some reason, I will finish a book that is <500pp in 2 weeks. >501pp takes 3 months. Must be an attention span thing.

It's everything I want from good fantasy. The story is strong and it is primary. The fantasy is the backdrop to the good story. Also the characters are nicely fleshed out and not caricatures. They are interesting and unique. I really liked Tyrion, Eddard, and Arya.

I was not really that into the story in the East. It was usually an unwelcome break in the action I would rather be reading at King's Landing or on the wall.

Overall, fantastic read and I will continue in the series (eventually). Nice pick, BGGWW group!

Okay, poll is closed. Looks like Foundation won with LHLV anyway.

I've been off reading Game of Thrones and not checking in here much. Finally finished, but I still haven't read the Rothfuss stuff. The group should forge ahead (don't be a hero, go on without me... save yourselves).

I'll go vote for Foundation now.

I thought Handmaid's Tale was meh. It's okay.

I, Robot was great. I tried the Caves of Steel, which would be the next step in the robot series and didn't really get into it so set it aside.

I have a shiny new copy of the Foundation Trilogy just waiting to be read.

But I'll leave the decision up to those ready to read. I'm 60% through Game of Thrones and hoping to read at least Name of the Wind soon (and maybe the next one if so inspired).

I'm coming, I'm coming. I'll probably read this in April. So, keep discussing so I have something to read when I get here.

I'm still soldiering on with this one. I'm almost halfway through. I see what everyone is saying about the sisters, not sure how I confused the two. It was right after I said that they started to be very distinctly depicted (earthy badass vs. princess).

I don't totally get what's going on in the east but obviously it will become more important to the main story (and I know that part of the story was published on it's own as a novella and won the Hugo, so it must be good, I'm just not feeling it yet).

This forum really needs thumbs. That was funny, Jeff.

I'm not sure where to go after First Impressions. The book is broken into small chapters but not larger parts that it would be easy to break the discussions out into.

Seems it wouldn't work to separate discussion into regions (North, South, Dany & Viserys, etc.) since the story moves back and forth.

Maybe someone who has finished can think of 2 or 3 good break points. Or maybe we just break it out into:

First Impressions
Reading Through
Final Thoughts

We have to break it out some so we can discuss as we go without leaving spoilers. I am really enjoying it so far and would love to see discussion here increase.

I tossed a coin and started A Game of Thrones. I was about 20 pages in when I noticed how intensely you all have been drooling over the sequel to Name of the Wind and started kicking myself a bit. If I get through AGoT quickly, I might dive into NotW right away.

Okay, I am now about 100pp in. This is a refreshing read after finishing Dune. I had to cleanse my pallet after Dune and read a few other things, but now I'm into this.

So far, I really enjoy it. The characters are interesting and the conflict is well crafted and interesting. I like the problem that Ned has in that he does not want to become the Hand but he can't really say No. Then the message comes through and he has to go and walks straight into a position knowing his predecessor was killed.

It's hard to get a read on all the kids. Jon's the bastard, the sisters are hard to differentiate, Bran is the boyish imp (hope he's okay, but I don't know yet).

The story moves along making reference to the history that lead to this point and making the reader curious about it, but not knowing the history yet does not take away from enjoying the present (you know those books where you are totally lost until you finally get let in on he history, then you go, oh, now I see).

I did think finding the direwolf that had choked on the antler a bit too obvious. I mean, really? Really?

I totally hear everything Ben is saying. I did really like the setting and the political backdrop. So, I get why the book/series has fans.

Even the larger idea of the story is strong.

It is just all undermined by the horribly flat characters, uninteresting melodramatic style, jilted and random pacing, primitive sexual politics, and is overall mostly kinda dull.

But I also didn't hate it despite all the bad things I have to say about it. Arakis is a fascinating world. The spice mining, worms, mentats, and many more things were really nice ideas and intriguing.

So, I'm glad I read it. I'm just not compelled to continue the series.

Sounds like a Spinal Tap album.

So, now I have a decision to make. I was considering starting A Game of Thrones in the next week or so, but now there's this. They are both about the same length (Wise Man's Fear is going to be over 1000pp, though).

I'm working on a goal of 50 books this year (almost done with 8 so far). In order to get 50 books in this year, I'm using 350pp as an average sized book to read in one week. If I read a 500pp, I can follow it up with a 200pp and be on track. I'm trying to get a book or so ahead so I can squeeze in one of these longer ones. I've started reading for 45-60mins in the morning before my kids wake up. That's anywhere from 25-50 pages right there depending on how tired I am or how dense the book is. Then between lunch, 15-20 minutes after dinner family reading time, and reading before bed, I'm getting in about 350pp/wk without rushing, skimming, or feeling like I am doing homework or being burdened by it. Actually, I should start this as its own thread when I have time. Being a more prolific reader is really an interesting experiment and so far I love it.

Anyway, deciding between AGoT and NotW is a tough decision here.

In ancient Rome there was a poem
About a dog who found two bones
He picked at one, he licked the other
He went in circles, he dropped dead.

Years ago, my high school/undergrad years in the late '80s and early '90s, I received Analog, Ellery Queen, and one other I can't remember (Hitchcock themed). I barely remember them, but I remember really enjoying them. It was nice to feel in touch with what was going on in sci-fi and mystery. When it comes to mystery I only liked Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes mystery (as opposed to more crime drama like today's CSI or similar TV shows). So, it has been years, but at the time I really looked forward to when they would arrive. I know my local Borders (whichever will be closing soon) carries Analog and maybe another in that ilk. I might go down and get one.