@f00l@sammydog01 I haven’t read it, but it sure seems gimmicky and like too much trouble to read - I like to be absorbed in a book, not have to do mental calesthenics to get through it!
@f00l@Kyeh It kept coming up on lists of super scary books. I bought the paperback years ago but the print was too small. I just bought the kindle version a few months ago, They had to make it linear for the kindle which made it easier.
Some parts are pretty good but I wouldn’t call them super scary. And a lot of parts are bullshit. At least now I know what I was missing.
I had been trying to avoid getting Netflix but got suckered in around March for obvious reasons. I finally started The Great British Baking Show and realized why everyone likes it- so pleasant.
I’m planning on playing with bread in January. Wish me luck.
I hope Netflix follows that up with “The Great British Royalty Show”. I want step by step “show-me” instructions on how to become an HRH and how to wear a tiara.
@sammydog01 I saw that in the kindle deals, kept the page up all day, finally decided it could wait. It looked really good! Paul Hollywood seems like kind of a jerk, though. I’m surprised Mary Berry’s stuff didn’t show up in kindle daily deals first.
I messed up the water because apparently pints in Paul land aren’t the same as pints where I live so I had to add more. And my scale is only accurate to 1 g which makes weighing 10 g of salt accurately a problem.
I ordered a new scale for salt and yeast and will try again. ONE DOWN 99 MORE TO GO!
@sammydog01 I started following The Midnight Society on twitter and now I think of Dean Koontz as a somewhat slow, naive young boy hanging out with older kids who indulge him.
I am listening to the Wheel of Time (still) in the car but I don’t drive much. I am reading the Recluce books by L.E. Modestitt Jr. My house is a mess since I am reading instead of other things.
@yakkoTDI They did make worse ones. The asshole producer hated Heinlein and was proud of the fact that he never read the actual book, and had his own agenda to push. As an adventure movie it was meh, but as Starship Troopers it was utter, almost unrelated crap.
The animated series was quite a bit better but was never completed.
@mgpmn
I just finished reading the book (sorry can’t stand audio books) And it’s not as good all the way through. I didn’t have the smiles and the "I remember that’ moments that made the first one so enjoyable. in Ready Player One I felt at times that I could see the game and feel the controls in my minds eye.
This one has more ‘movie’ moments but the writing style doesn’t fit the story as much. And the story is a very … (sorry, don’t want to spoil it for those who are or are planning to do their thing with it. )
Took me way too long to read it and I hope what I pick up next (is always someone random) holds my interest for longer at a sitting.
I’ve been catching up on some semi-recent kindle purchases.
First, The Star Machine, about classic Hollywood and how stars were manufactured, which focused on less-well-known (today, and at a very general level) stars and almost-stars. It was great, I now understand William Powell much better, and love Jean Arthur even more. Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz, OK, not as good as Eve’s Hollywood. Parts were great, but having to craft a narrative, rather than free-associating in unconnected essays, really hurt it overall.
Followed by a couple of early Gladys Mitchell mysteries, The Mystery of a Butcher’s Shop (it was the obvious suspect!) and Death at the Opera (it was the obvious suspect in two of the three murders!). I realized I’ll have to read them all in order, since the first introduced characters who occasionally show up over decades, and the second was the first second appearance of a character who also shows up occasionally over decades, so I’m thinking that other characters I don’t recall will probably grow up and have children and feature in later mysteries as well. Gotta be methodical.
I finally, after decades, started Anti-Intellectuallism in American Life, and I love it, but took a break almost immediately because amazon offered me a $5 credit towards Season of the Witch: How the Occult Saved Rock and Roll because it was on my wish list, and it was marked down to $4.99, so I pretty much had to get it.
I think that’s everything recent. It’s been very self-indulgent because I really ought to be ruthlessly weeding my books because now we’re probably going to be moving in the spring sometime, and I have a riduculous, actively stupid amount of books. And they are largely ridiculous, actively stupid books. But I’m pretty sure I need every last one of them! And if I don’t go through them, who can prove me wrong?
@mossygreen I just did a ruthless purge. They are boxed up to donate but I am allowing myself a bit of time in case I change my mind. I have done this before and then scoured the discount books to find one (buying more of course).
@mossygreen@speediedelivery We did the same with magazines and started on books in prep for a move in the next year or three. It hurts to give up a book, and even the magazines (I saved maybe 10% that had specific articles or info I wanted). Especially since nobody local (Craigslist) wanted the magazines (and ebay is too much of a pita to do)
@duodec@speediedelivery Ugh! I know as soon as I give anything away, I will immediately want to rebuy it, which will be a problem if I donate them somewhere I normally shop. Even if I only have it because it has a funny cover. Because the cover will still be funny to me. It’s going to be very difficult.
I just bailed on House of Leaves and started When Elves Attack by Tim Dorsey. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore will be next. Tis the season for warped stories.
Just finished The Boy on the Bridge and started Minimum Wage Magic. MWM has some tie-ins to the Heartstriker series but only inasmuch as they both take place in the DFZ.
The Boy on the Bridge is related to The Girl With all the Gifts but isn’t necessarily a proper sequel. Either book stands fine on it’s own. But if you are going to read both, start with TGWATG.
Amazon has the kindle verison of the Silo Saga Omnibus on sale today for $4.99. I haven’t read it, but I feel like people around here were raving about Wool awhile back? Is that right? Thinking about picking it up, seems like a good deal and they’re doing a “Spend $25 on ebooks, get $6 back in credits” thing again. I’m only $3.99 in so far with a Fritz Leiber collection from a couple of days ago. https://smile.amazon.com/Silo-Saga-Omnibus-Shift-Stories-ebook/dp/B088BBLMGS
I’m still finishing House of Leaves. It had some interesting parts but still feels like mostly pretentious crap. It’s probably just me.
@sammydog01
It may not be just you.
Some books are written “for the literati”. These aren’t intended to be entertaining, or even comprehensible, to ordinary yet intelligent folk.
@f00l @sammydog01 I haven’t read it, but it sure seems gimmicky and like too much trouble to read - I like to be absorbed in a book, not have to do mental calesthenics to get through it!
@f00l @Kyeh It kept coming up on lists of super scary books. I bought the paperback years ago but the print was too small. I just bought the kindle version a few months ago, They had to make it linear for the kindle which made it easier.
Some parts are pretty good but I wouldn’t call them super scary. And a lot of parts are bullshit. At least now I know what I was missing.
I’ve been bad about checking deals on Amazon but just bought Paul Hollywood’s bread book on sale (kindle edition).
https://www.amazon.com/100-Great-Breads-Original-Bestseller-ebook/dp/B00RTY0KLE/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1608483582&sr=1-8
I had been trying to avoid getting Netflix but got suckered in around March for obvious reasons. I finally started The Great British Baking Show and realized why everyone likes it- so pleasant.
I’m planning on playing with bread in January. Wish me luck.
@sammydog01 Get Jeffrey Hamelman’s Bread. He’s a genius.
@sammydog01
I hope Netflix follows that up with “The Great British Royalty Show”. I want step by step “show-me” instructions on how to become an HRH and how to wear a tiara.
@AnnaB Thanks, I’ll check it out if bread making turns out to be enjoyable. I have my doubts.
@sammydog01 I saw that in the kindle deals, kept the page up all day, finally decided it could wait. It looked really good! Paul Hollywood seems like kind of a jerk, though. I’m surprised Mary Berry’s stuff didn’t show up in kindle daily deals first.
@mossygreen @AnnaB @f00l
We baked a loaf!
It tastes a bit off somehow.
I messed up the water because apparently pints in Paul land aren’t the same as pints where I live so I had to add more. And my scale is only accurate to 1 g which makes weighing 10 g of salt accurately a problem.
I ordered a new scale for salt and yeast and will try again. ONE DOWN 99 MORE TO GO!
@AnnaB @f00l @sammydog01 It looks PERFECT!
And I’m listening to The Watchers by Dean Koontz on audible. I’ve had some long car trips recently. It’s really good so far.
@sammydog01 I have it on good authority that Santa is bringing me a copy of his new book “Elsewhere”. I’m eager to start reading it!
@sammydog01 oh my gosh I LOVE that book! So good. My fave Koontz by far.
@sammydog01
Have you tried “Audible Plus”? It’s kinda like “Kindle Unlimited” for audiobooks. Lots of listening for a single monthly fee.
They seem to have some decent stuff within.
@f00l I buy way more stuff than I listen to already.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@sammydog01 I started following The Midnight Society on twitter and now I think of Dean Koontz as a somewhat slow, naive young boy hanging out with older kids who indulge him.
I am listening to the Wheel of Time (still) in the car but I don’t drive much. I am reading the Recluce books by L.E. Modestitt Jr. My house is a mess since I am reading instead of other things.
I just recently bought Starship Troopers but it has to wait until I finish Last Exit to Brooklyn and Cascadia’s Fault.
As usual I am also reading through The Hobbit/LoTR again.
@yakkoTDI I read Starship Troopers this year! Hope you enjoy it.
@yakkoTDI The book is so much more complete and understandable compared to the awful movie they made.
@duodec They made an awful movie in addition to the Casper Van Dien one?
@yakkoTDI They did make worse ones. The asshole producer hated Heinlein and was proud of the fact that he never read the actual book, and had his own agenda to push. As an adventure movie it was meh, but as Starship Troopers it was utter, almost unrelated crap.
The animated series was quite a bit better but was never completed.
I’ve been listening to Ready Player Two. So far (about 1/4 of way in), not as good as the first one. But there are signs it may be picking up.
@mgpmn
I just finished reading the book (sorry can’t stand audio books) And it’s not as good all the way through. I didn’t have the smiles and the "I remember that’ moments that made the first one so enjoyable. in Ready Player One I felt at times that I could see the game and feel the controls in my minds eye.
This one has more ‘movie’ moments but the writing style doesn’t fit the story as much. And the story is a very … (sorry, don’t want to spoil it for those who are or are planning to do their thing with it. )
Took me way too long to read it and I hope what I pick up next (is always someone random) holds my interest for longer at a sitting.
Have only done podcasts for a bit.
Looking at some bios as my possible next listen.
I’ve been catching up on some semi-recent kindle purchases.
First, The Star Machine, about classic Hollywood and how stars were manufactured, which focused on less-well-known (today, and at a very general level) stars and almost-stars. It was great, I now understand William Powell much better, and love Jean Arthur even more.
Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz, OK, not as good as Eve’s Hollywood. Parts were great, but having to craft a narrative, rather than free-associating in unconnected essays, really hurt it overall.
Followed by a couple of early Gladys Mitchell mysteries, The Mystery of a Butcher’s Shop (it was the obvious suspect!) and Death at the Opera (it was the obvious suspect in two of the three murders!). I realized I’ll have to read them all in order, since the first introduced characters who occasionally show up over decades, and the second was the first second appearance of a character who also shows up occasionally over decades, so I’m thinking that other characters I don’t recall will probably grow up and have children and feature in later mysteries as well. Gotta be methodical.
I finally, after decades, started Anti-Intellectuallism in American Life, and I love it, but took a break almost immediately because amazon offered me a $5 credit towards Season of the Witch: How the Occult Saved Rock and Roll because it was on my wish list, and it was marked down to $4.99, so I pretty much had to get it.
I think that’s everything recent. It’s been very self-indulgent because I really ought to be ruthlessly weeding my books because now we’re probably going to be moving in the spring sometime, and I have a riduculous, actively stupid amount of books. And they are largely ridiculous, actively stupid books. But I’m pretty sure I need every last one of them! And if I don’t go through them, who can prove me wrong?
@mossygreen I just did a ruthless purge. They are boxed up to donate but I am allowing myself a bit of time in case I change my mind. I have done this before and then scoured the discount books to find one (buying more of course).
@mossygreen @speediedelivery We did the same with magazines and started on books in prep for a move in the next year or three. It hurts to give up a book, and even the magazines (I saved maybe 10% that had specific articles or info I wanted). Especially since nobody local (Craigslist) wanted the magazines (and ebay is too much of a pita to do)
@duodec @speediedelivery Ugh! I know as soon as I give anything away, I will immediately want to rebuy it, which will be a problem if I donate them somewhere I normally shop. Even if I only have it because it has a funny cover. Because the cover will still be funny to me. It’s going to be very difficult.
@duodec @mossygreen I have done that. I also find multiple copies of a book because I like it each time I see it. I have problems.
“None Dare Call it Treason”…the 1964 original.
I found a box of my Grandmother’s books from the 50’s and 60’s…well, a bunch of boxes.
I just bailed on House of Leaves and started When Elves Attack by Tim Dorsey. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore will be next. Tis the season for warped stories.
@sammydog01 I keep reading this post as “When Elvis Attacks”.
Just finished The Boy on the Bridge and started Minimum Wage Magic. MWM has some tie-ins to the Heartstriker series but only inasmuch as they both take place in the DFZ.
The Boy on the Bridge is related to The Girl With all the Gifts but isn’t necessarily a proper sequel. Either book stands fine on it’s own. But if you are going to read both, start with TGWATG.
Amazon has the kindle verison of the Silo Saga Omnibus on sale today for $4.99. I haven’t read it, but I feel like people around here were raving about Wool awhile back? Is that right? Thinking about picking it up, seems like a good deal and they’re doing a “Spend $25 on ebooks, get $6 back in credits” thing again. I’m only $3.99 in so far with a Fritz Leiber collection from a couple of days ago.
https://smile.amazon.com/Silo-Saga-Omnibus-Shift-Stories-ebook/dp/B088BBLMGS
Hmm, looks like both Fritz Leiber collections are still on sale, if you like Swords & Socery:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0741VJC4D
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L8WP9LR
@mossygreen I liked Wool. I never followed through and read the rest. I think you are costing me money today
@mossygreen Leiber’s Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories are some of my VERY favorites in all of literature.
@compunaut I remember loving them as a teen, but haven’t read them since. Really looking forward to diving back into them!
@mossygreen Maybe I’m just a kid at heart, but Leiber’s writing is SOOO much better than the average ‘heroic fantasy’.
@compunaut OK FINE, I’LL START READING TONIGHT. I agree, though, Leiber brought a lot of style to everything he wrote.
anyone want to be my friend on Goodreads?