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PaperclipPerfector  4d ago (text post)   2052 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for December 29, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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So, what are you reading?

I'm adding Legend of the Galatic Heroes to my pile. Perhaps I'll get past book 3 this time.

Just finished Red Roulette: An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption, and Vengeance in Today's China. There should be some regulation on how long book subtitles can be.

It’s basically a Chinese guy’s real life rags to billionaire story. He is quite open about how their wealth was almost entirely made through mediating various forms of corruption between CCP officials. He tries to spin his own role in this corruption many times and it’s definitely tailored for attracting sympathy from western audiences. But overall quite a fascinating book.

Still reading Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland.

Curious thing - I often try to guess what's going to happen next in books or movies based on how far through them I am. It's usually pretty effective, even for non-fiction books. But here I am 45% through the book based on my Kindle, and I don't really know where this book is going for the next half of it. They've already covered the Good Friday agreement, where most such books end, and have been going on a while about post-GFA issues, agreements and legal battles regarding how to handle people who were "disappeared" and people who may or may not have been involved in such acts. Apparently, despite the amnesty provisions, you can still be prosecuted for at least some crimes committed during the Troubles years, including for being confirmed to be a member of illegal organizations like the IRA.

It's also rather curious that apparently they still to this day can't figure out for sure what the deal was with poor Jean McConville. It's confirmed that the IRA murdered her and "disappeared" her, but they still to this day claim she was an informant working for the Brits, with radio equipment found in her apartment, who was warned once to stop collaborating before being murdered. Meanwhile, the authorities still claim they don't know anything about here being any kind of informant. But nobody can confirm for sure which one is true.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

A few years ago I read On Love by Alain de Botton and liked it a lot. Now I kind of feel like he was using this as a crib sheet.

Doc, by Mary Doria Russel.

Not bad at all. I have some nitpicks with it. "Is not Cormac McCarthy" might be one of them. Overall I'm enjoying it though.

Sapiens. I like the subject material a lot but it's a bit too pop pop sci for me, but I don't have other books I really want to read more at the moment.

For some reason it took me for bloody ever but I just finished Cloud Cuckoo Land last night. I didn't dislike it but it didn't draw me in like it seems to a lot of other people. I'm guessing because I'm not worried about climate change. It was kind of fun in that I'm very familiar with the parts of Idaho the story takes place in, I know where his photo on goodreads was taken on sight. Lakeport is very obvious McCall, Idaho, my parents like to point out the cabin on the lake they almost bought in the 70's.

I think I'll take my 4th foray into 40k with Eisenhorn - Xenos as a fast read.

Currently working my way through Wind And Truth by Sanderson. Also, was at the bookstore recently and decided to pick up some more Heinlein after I enjoyed Starship Troopers so much. I got The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, will probably start that sometime later this week.

Adolin story carries hard tbh

For me it's the Dalinar story. Finding out more about the history of the world is fascinating. The Kaladin story is my second favorite for similar reasons.

Wind and truth is a slog, honestly. Sanderson is spending a lot of time on modern mental health issues for every single viewpoint character. There is character building and then there is exhausting navel gazing....

I'm quite enjoying it. Not finding it a slog at all. I'm only 40% through or so, we'll see if that changes but I doubt it.

I think I first noticed it in Dawnshard, the therapist speak. I think his older work is much more balanced and not as grating in this way. (WOK still rocks, I reread 1-3 and then read Dawnshard and Rhythm of War in Nov/Dec.

I noticed in the last couple of books. It’s a damn shame because the idea that only people with a crack in their soul can get powers is genius - it naturally integrates “is a plot-relevant character” and “has potential for character development”.

But then it’s like he lost sight of the difference between character flaws and DSM entries. Which leads to cringy writing but also causes problems because you are not allowed to treat DSM issues as things that can be overcome.

But then it’s like he lost sight of the difference between character flaws and DSM entries. Which leads to cringy writing but also causes problems because you are not allowed to treat DSM issues as things that can be overcome.

That's exactly why I decided not to bother continuing after Rhythm of War.

Fair, but it’s £10 every two years, he’s earned that much from me. And I liked Wax & Wayne, so he’s still putting out good stuff in general.

Just started The Way of Kings for the first time myself, it's tough avoiding spoilers on social media. Initial thoughts are that the spren are very goofy and Kaladin's depression isn't as effective a plot point as it would be if he weren't already an incredible soldier and surgeon. The worldbuilding seems cool though.

The Way of Kings was my first Sanderson book and I really struggled with it. I spent probably 2/3 of the book wondering when there was going to be an interesting plot. In truth I would've dropped it, if not for the fact that it was a Christmas gift (so, a bit rude to give up on it) from my sister (who I know to have good taste in books). But man when the book finally gets going, it goes hard. Sanderson loves to write his books as a slow burn followed by an explosion.

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