What book are you reading...

The Wandering Inn - Pirateaba.

Just started this book, well, more than just started, am about 25% of the way through it. It's an extremely long book. It's interesting, the book is available for free(mostly) online at the Wanderinginn website. They update the book with a new chapter twice every week. You can support it through Patreon or you can buy the book, like I did, on the Kindle. I should say I only bought volume 1. There are 9 volumes so far!!

Never heard of anything like this before, a book that's constantly evolving. The story is mainly about a woman called Erin Solstice who is from our Earth, goes to the bathroom one night and steps into this other world. I haven't found out why or what happened or even what this other world is called yet. Just that she ends up in this other world and finds an abandoned inn while fleeing from goblins. Through the story that I have read so far, I have learned that there are other people from Earth in this other world.

The story is been told mostly from the viewpoint of Erin. So you only learn things about the world as she finds them out. The book is sort of a cross between a fantasy novel and a D&D video game. In this world you level up at things just like you would in a video game. So if you cook a few things you will eventually get [Basic Cooking level 1] that will allow to cook more things. You level up at night when you go to sleep.

However, as I said, I am still finding out about the world and how it works. Nothing is explained until Erin gets it explained to her or she learns it somehow.

Now the hard part, rating the book. The main character is annoying at times and so are the other characters for that matter. The writing is bad at times and you can tell that it's a work in progress. Despite all the annoyances, I am finding it fascinating. It's a real page turner. I have to see what happens next. It's a book that's keeping me awake long into the night as I read that "just one more page" It's the first time in a while that I have fallen asleep while reading with the light still on and wearing my glasses.

Worth giving it a go if you have the time. The first volume is available for free online. So it will cost you nothing to give it a go.
 
I just finished A Moment Of War, by Laurie Lee (the Cider With Rosie guy).

It's the third part of his autobiography, about when he went to fight in the Spanish civil war. It was grim from start to finish, and far from the romantic adventure he expected.

An excellent book.
 
I've just ordered the 8gb kids paperwhite. Currently on offer for £89.99 but you can do a trade in for 20% off and the a further £10 gift card which was instant. I don't have a kindle to trade in but apparently this doesn't affect the discount when failing to send a device in... they may just take a tenner back off you for the gift card.
 
Not started it yet but I bought The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie yesterday.

I was going to buy the The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss but I understood that the 3rd book in the series isn't out yet and didn't want to start something I couldn't finish so will get those once the 3rd book is out.

I'm excited. I've been reading a few poor books recently.

Children of Time (Excellent)
Children of Ruin (Average)
Children of Memory (Rubbish)
Dying Of The Light (Average at best)
 
I've just ordered the 8gb kids paperwhite. Currently on offer for £89.99 but you can do a trade in for 20% off and the a further £10 gift card which was instant. I don't have a kindle to trade in but apparently this doesn't affect the discount when failing to send a device in... they may just take a tenner back off you for the gift card.

See this is interesting. I have toyed with the idea of going digital but I just love books so much.

the only good thing is the space saving that something digital gives you. But there is somethng nice about physical books in your hand and on a self.
 
See this is interesting. I have toyed with the idea of going digital but I just love books so much.

the only good thing is the space saving that something digital gives you. But there is somethng nice about physical books in your hand and on a self.
I'm the same but I decided this will be in addition to physical books, not instead of. I usually pay between £5 - £15 per book and often see them for sale on kindle for a couple of quid. The savings will pay for the kindle over say 10 books, so worth it in my opinion.
 
Not started it yet but I bought The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie yesterday.

I was going to buy the The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss but I understood that the 3rd book in the series isn't out yet and didn't want to start something I couldn't finish so will get those once the 3rd book is out.

The First Law Trilogy is very good!!

The KingKiller Cronicle is worth reading, even if the third book isn't out yet. It's very good, there is some Deus ex-machina, but the books are so well written that it doesn't detract from the story. And I think you should start reading them after you finish the First Law books. I believe there won't be third book released for years yet, if he releases one at all. Personally, I think the Author is stuck. How does he follow up the first two books?? Where does he go with the main Character, this paragon of perfection, that he created? When you read them you will understand.
 
Not started it yet but I bought The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie yesterday.

I was going to buy the The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss but I understood that the 3rd book in the series isn't out yet and didn't want to start something I couldn't finish so will get those once the 3rd book is out.

I'm excited. I've been reading a few poor books recently.

Children of Time (Excellent)
Children of Ruin (Average)
Children of Memory (Rubbish)
Dying Of The Light (Average at best)


Very wise, Rothfuss is moving into GRRM territory with that final book. 12 years.... Likewise with George, he might as well give Brandon Sanderson a ring so the series gets finished.

I have a rule now that I never start a series that isn't complete.
 
See this is interesting. I have toyed with the idea of going digital but I just love books so much.

the only good thing is the space saving that something digital gives you. But there is somethng nice about physical books in your hand and on a self.

I was of the same opinion until I got a Kindle. But I'd never go back now.

It's so much easier to read a Kindle and it fits in most jacket pockets so I carry it everywhere.

Also I use reading to get to sleep, I really struggle to switch my mind off without something to distract me, so having a back-lit Kindle is great as I fall asleep reading it and don't have to worry about turning the lights off.
 
The Wandering Inn - Pirateaba.

Just started this book, well, more than just started, am about 25% of the way through it. It's an extremely long book. It's interesting, the book is available for free(mostly) online at the Wanderinginn website. They update the book with a new chapter twice every week. You can support it through Patreon or you can buy the book, like I did, on the Kindle. I should say I only bought volume 1. There are 9 volumes so far!!

Never heard of anything like this before, a book that's constantly evolving. The story is mainly about a woman called Erin Solstice who is from our Earth, goes to the bathroom one night and steps into this other world. I haven't found out why or what happened or even what this other world is called yet. Just that she ends up in this other world and finds an abandoned inn while fleeing from goblins. Through the story that I have read so far, I have learned that there are other people from Earth in this other world.

The story is been told mostly from the viewpoint of Erin. So you only learn things about the world as she finds them out. The book is sort of a cross between a fantasy novel and a D&D video game. In this world you level up at things just like you would in a video game. So if you cook a few things you will eventually get [Basic Cooking level 1] that will allow to cook more things. You level up at night when you go to sleep.

However, as I said, I am still finding out about the world and how it works. Nothing is explained until Erin gets it explained to her or she learns it somehow.

Now the hard part, rating the book. The main character is annoying at times and so are the other characters for that matter. The writing is bad at times and you can tell that it's a work in progress. Despite all the annoyances, I am finding it fascinating. It's a real page turner. I have to see what happens next. It's a book that's keeping me awake long into the night as I read that "just one more page" It's the first time in a while that I have fallen asleep while reading with the light still on and wearing my glasses.

Worth giving it a go if you have the time. The first volume is available for free online. So it will cost you nothing to give it a go.
Started reading this at work a while back. Although I enjoyed the concept, the writing style just felt off to me and I didn’t have any want to continue.

I’m finally ready to attack Wheel of Time 11.
 
Very wise, Rothfuss is moving into GRRM territory with that final book.

I seriously doubt that book three (if it ever appears) will be last. At the end of book two we had barely even started the over-arching plot, and book one was just an introduction. I predict five books minimum, and that's a theory. What actually gets written is another matter.

But I tend to agree with you over series. Trouble is, lots of people think the same way, so publishers like to hide that new book is part of a series, never mind how long that series will be. Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire is slightly unusual in that's a little "1" on the spine. No other hints, but that's enough. Sure enough, a trilogy. Although that was never said anywhere on the release of that first book.
 
I seriously doubt that book three (if it ever appears) will be last. At the end of book two we had barely even started the over-arching plot, and book one was just an introduction. I predict five books minimum, and that's a theory. What actually gets written is another matter.

But I tend to agree with you over series. Trouble is, lots of people think the same way, so publishers like to hide that new book is part of a series, never mind how long that series will be. Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire is slightly unusual in that's a little "1" on the spine. No other hints, but that's enough. Sure enough, a trilogy. Although that was never said anywhere on the release of that first book.

Yes, you really have to do your detective work beforehand these days.
 
I finished The Outcasts Of Time, by Ian Mortimer. A good page turner about a man who lives one day each hundred years from 1342 to 1942.

Ian mortimer is a serious historian, so he's pretty good on the detail of what that means.

Entertaining nonsense.
 
Iain Banks - Use of Weapons 8/10

This was a difficult read on many levels. I really enjoyed it but I think it might actually be better on a second read.

It reads a bit different the second time around when you know what the outcome of the flashback sections are. People are not who you thought they were.

If you're going to skip "State Of The Art" (Culture short story anthology which is a bit of a mixed bag), then the next book is "Excession" which is an absolute banger of a book. I managed to accidentally buy a signed, first edition hardback when I purchased it on release.
 
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I finished Of All Possible Worlds, by William Tenn. Very good, and pretty funny in parts. "Me, Myself and I" was particularly good. A man goes back in time, messes things up, goes back again to fix it and things just go downhill from there....

He's a minor sf short story writer from the 1940s and 50s, but is consistently excellent and original. I think many later writers stole from him- some "classic" sf is too close for comfort to his plots.

Edit: that was the 1968 Ballantyne Books printing. Just found another (Mayflower, 1956) copy on my shelf with different stories in it. How annoying!
 
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Iain Banks - Use of Weapons 8/10

This was a difficult read on many levels. I really enjoyed it but I think it might actually be better on a second read.
The Use of Weapons is probably my favourite Culture novel, it's a close run thing with The Player of Games.

I've just finished The Big Short 10/10 a terrific book. Easy to read well explained and made me want to tear my hair out, howl at the moon and occasionally join the SWP. The film is both informative and entertaining I think the book just takes it to another level. I kind of knew what happened but is fades with time, reading about it again is just maddening. A great read I would recommend everyone read it to understand how ****** up parts of Western society are.
 
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