The Book Thread Book • Page 47

Finished Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero this morning. Very interesting book. It's basically grown up Scooby Doo if the mysteries weren't fake/hoaxes

 

currently reading The Body Artist by Don DeLillo. I have decided that this year I am going to focus on two writers: Cormac McCarthy and Don DeLillo, because I find them to be two of America's greatest living authors and if I am to immerse myself in a book, it might as well be by one of the best

 

DeLillo is probably my #1 favorite author, and by a large margin. I love his writing style and insights.

McCarthy I can take or leave. He doesn't do anything for me, personally, although I have somehow ended up reading seven of his books.

 

I’ve only read The Road of anything either of them have written.

 

I've read everything but Zero K by DeLillo and because I know I'll love it to some extent I'm saving it for a rainy day or to break up a streak of "meh" books (hopefully I don't run into one of those, but it happens)

@Garrett L. i would suggest checking out White Noise. That was my first DeLillo and still one of my absolute favorites. A pretty quick 300 pages (most of DeLillo's work is around this length aside from Underworld)

 

that's too bad about McCarthy. I would say try again but it looks like he's just not for you. glad that we at least can agree that DeLillo is great.

 

Part of me wonders if I read too much of him too soon (seven books in less than 5 full years of reading) and kind of burned out on his style since the majority of his work is very much the same setting and ideas. Nothing I hated, just nothing I outright loved or fully enjoyed. Each book had moments and wonderful passages, but nothing that fully won me over.

But DeLillo? I'll fight past my grave anyone who slights Don.

 

I've only read White Noise and Zero K but love both, I think Falling Man is on my shelf somewhere which I need to dive into. Really curious about The Names too.

 

I'm mainly a fantasy reader. It took me like 2.5 years to read Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, which was 10 books and like 3 million words. I promised my wife that I would finally read the Harry Potter series after that, so I finally did so at age 27. I actually blogged about each book, probably linked in my profile still.

Anyways, I took a crack at some Cormac McCarthy (having previously read The Road and giving up twice on Blood Meridian) and managed to finish All The Pretty Horses, which is a much lighter read than either of the aforementioned books. Very much enjoyed it.

I took another long break after that and just started the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix with the first book, Sabriel. I haven't read any fantasy since the Malazan series (other than Name of the Wind, which was boorrinnggg), but this has been a great read so far, with a cool magic system and an interesting world. Anyone else ever delved into Nix's world?

 

I’ve heard of the series but haven’t read it personally. And how dare you speak of Name of the Wind that way. It’s amazing and I know @Kvothe would take offense to that as well.

 

I think I started in a weird place with DeLillo - Point Omega, then Falling Man. They were excellent, but having since read White Noise I think I should check out more of his popular works, it was a lot more humourous and enjoyable in a straightforward way.

Just read two McCarthy's, The Road and No Country. Got Blood Meridian on the shelf, love his writing so I'm excited to explore more.

 

Another Rothfuss hater?! Yuuuuuuuusssss I’m not alone.

 

I don't hate the guy's writing but he seriously needs an editor. My sister loves his work and wanted to read the book aloud to my husband and me (just a family thing that we do together - now we've moved on to Treasure Island, which I'm reading aloud). I didn't hate it but there are whole pages of unnecessary dialogue and description that could come out - I bet the book could be half its length. Also some super unnecessary plot points/character development... We haven't done the second one yet obviously but I imagine it's much the same.

 

It’s worse, honestly. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the concept of the Mary Sue/Gary Stu, but this is the worst offender I’ve ever come across.

 

Wow really? I was fond of most of the characters in the first book with a few exceptions, but the main character is a bit much. I assume he's the Stu in question?

 

He is. I was fond of the main female. I’m blanking on her name.

 

Denna?

 

Same, I like Denna quite a bit.

 

House of Leaves Book Club (Feb 26-May 31)

 

Yeah. She was very intriguing.

 

Idk, it was just fluff. I'm more of a high-fantasy guy anyways and it was pretty boring after the Malazan stuff

 

Finished So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport today. Good read. Next up is either Shoe Dog by Phil Knight or Building Strong Brands by David Aaker. Haven’t decided just yet.

 

Blood Meridian is a masterpiece. It's not like The Road or NCFOM if that's what you're expecting. I love those two books as well, but Blood Meridian is on another level.

 

Man I read the first book of Malazan years ago and couldn't get into it, so to each their own haha

 

Just finished Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, was a pretty fun read. Never read anything by either of them before, figured that would be a decent start.