On a scale of 1-10, rate the books you've read lately

[Readordie]

Okay, the title is pretty straightforeward: rate books you've read recently on a scale of 1-10 and why you chose that rating.

The Da Vinci Code(Dan Brown): 9.5. This has, in short, EVERYTHING. However, the plot is a tad convoluted.

Sabriel(Garth Nix): 9. Beautifully written, characters have massive amounts of backstory, and the character Mogget had me rolling in laughter, however the romance at the ending was very artificial.

Liriel(Garth Nix): 9.5. Everything that Sabriel was without any of the letdowns

Wish List(Eoin Colfer): 9.5. Bust-a-hole-in-your-gut funny, well-fleshed out characters. Even the writing style is sardonic. However, the problem is that if someone very into Christianity reads this they will launch into a furious rage. This book looks down at religion. Satan plays a gameboy. Beelzebub and St. Peter are IMing from heaven to hell. Hell has great computer systems...but all of their programmers speak japanese except one. Truly halarious. Also sweet, despite itself.

[Smitty]

1984 - what a snooze. It's basically Animal Farm, only depressing. Why didn't Orwell quit while he was ahead? 5.5/10

Lord of the Flies - just plain twisted. It's well-written, but the storyline was beyond disturbing, not to mention the two who died were the two best characters in the story, which made me sad. 7/10

One Hundred Years of Solitude - I dunno yet, I'm only on page 20. :cutie

However, the problem is that if someone very into Christianity reads this they will launch into a furious rage. This book looks down at religion. Satan plays a gameboy. Beelzebub and St. Peter are IMing from heaven to hell. Hell has great computer systems...but all of their programmers speak japanese except one. Truly halarious. Also sweet, despite itself.

I think it's sad that you automatically assumed that Christians have no sense of humor.

[Tamashii]

Brave New World - 9.0
Loved it. The brilliant characters and dark themes makes this one of the more thought-provoking novels I've read.

Hirohito Emperor of Japan - 7.5
Very informative, I've learned quite a bit from it. But it's nonfiction and at times it's quite a bore to read. Still, it has its moments.

[DarkKanti]

Siddhartha - 7.5
Meh at best. A cool story and everything, but it was far too philosphical and boring for my tastes.

[Zero]

Haven't read much fiction lately, unfortunately, but I'll rate the last book I read:

The Dark Tower (Book 7 of 7) by Stephen King - From a slightly more objective point of view, I'd give it an 8/10 (The writing is well developed, keeps you going even if it's not greatly eventful or fulfilling. Finally provides closure to the series, but the ending leaves it open ended enough that the reader is left to question and re-think the themes/events/"morals" of the story). From the point of view of a DT fan, and the expectations set up by the other books, it's more of a 6/10 (too many characters are kind of wasted, expectations of a final battle/confrontation is a grand disappointment, the ending is kind of a love and/or hate thing)

[genki sakura]

Brave New World was great(I read this about a year or so ago, so I'm not mentioning a rating here)...it was probably one of the only books I actually enjoyed that was assigned by my school to me...

Anyway, back on topic:
The Da Vinci Code-9/10. Absolutely loved it.

Battle Royale-9.9/10. A bit gory and a twisted plot, but it's a fantastic book, in terms of a whole. But the death of pretty much my favorite character made me a tad upset...I didn't want him to die...

Gossip Girl, Vol.1-3/10. Really, really trashy, but it was addictive...

[Tsukushi]

The Da Vinci Code: 8.5/10

Angels and Demons: 8.5/10 If you enjoyed the Da Vinci Code, read this one.

The Lord of the Rings: 10/10 Just wonderful.

[KiraraKim]

Well this is what I have read since the New Years

First Riders Call- 7/10 This is a sequel to a book called Green Rider. I actually didn't like the first one too much as it was too predictable but I figured I would give the second one a go. Still not the greatest fantasy book but it was a fun read.

Wicked- 5/10 A good concept but the book never goes anywhere.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister- 7/10 I liked it more than wicked, the story was good but it could of had better characters.

Now I am currently reading Man's Search for Meaning, a holocaust survival/psychology meaning of life book. It is pretty good so far.

[GWS923]

Restaurant at the End of the Universe - 7/10, not nearly as funny as Hitchhiker's. But still very much Douglas Adams.

Children of the Mind - 8/10, the last of the ender's game books. Very well written, as can be expected from orson scott card. It was nice to find out how the series ties itself together, but the cliffhanger ending (well, debatable whether or not the story needs further explanation) sort of annoyed me.

[Smitty]

Wicked- 5/10 A good concept but the book never goes anywhere.
Agreed, the book is terrible, but the stage musical is wonderful, hehe!

[Phelddagrif]

[b]Jesse Jackson[b] - Rascism, justice, & the death penalty. LEGALLY LYNCHING

Black men should not write books. Sjust shouldnt. Jesse Jackson, you suck.

4/10

[PassiveObserver]

Well lets see
The Power of Three- Pretty cool all around, but it wasn't the best thing I ever read. I'd give it an 8.

Book One, Fellowship of the Ring- Well...it's well written I suppose, but my god, it could have been twice as short and still said just as much. For this reason I only give it a 7 out of 10.

Go ask Alice- Well...it was disturbing...definately makes me not want to do drugs....6

[Saya-biki]

The Call of the Wild-7/10 I like puppies though not when they die :(
ummm, that's it I can't say I'm a big reader; I pretty much read actual books for school.

[GWS923]

Black men should not write books.


Whoa, whoa, whoa... you sure you wanna leave that standing?

[Readordie]

I think it's sad that you automatically assumed that Christians have no sense of humor.


I don't thing that Chtistians have no sense of humor, but I DO think that this book will make a lot of people in the Christian religion unhappy because this book is a complete and utter mockery of the religion, even if it is rather lightheatred, no matter how lighthearted a mockery, SOMEONE is going to be offenced by it(because it is, after all, a mockery).

Anyway, back on topic...
Lord of the Rings(J.R.R.Tolkein): 8.5. Great story, but the writing style made my brain itch. Also the characters were a bit shallow...

Moves Make the Man(Bruce Brooks): 7. Decent story, but you'd think the proofreaders would catch the humongous amounts of spelling and punctuation errors.

Go Ask Alice(Anonymous): 7.5. Disturbing, but realisitic...well, not that I would know but it seemed that way.

Speak(Laurie Halse Anderson): 9. This is the(I repeat) THE darkest comedy I've ever read. It makes Pulp Fiction seem chipper. However, the writing style started to grate on my nerves.

[Tamashii]

Black men should not write books.


Whoa, whoa, whoa... you sure you wanna leave that standing?


Clearly, farmers know nothing. The Life of Frederick Douglass, anyone?

[Tremolo]

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami - 9
An incredibly imaginative and beautiful book. It may be slightly flawed in places but I soaked up every word.

South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami - 7
Murakami-lite. At only 190 pages this slips down, but it's a very simple little story that I enjoyed.

Yeah, I'm on a Murakami kick recently.

[Zelkiiro]

Hmm...

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald - 10/10: I love this book. Intriguing plot, likeable characters, great ending...I could go on, but this needs to be short.

Santiago by Mike Resnick - 9/10: An excellent science-fiction story. Really reminds me of a Cowboy Bebop meets Outlaw Star at Trigun kinda thing.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - 7/10: Has a good plot and characters, but the ending is kinda vague and it can be extremely wordy at times. Damn you, Bradbury, for the assassination of 42% of my brain cells!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling - 8/10: My second favorite HP book. Has more plot twists than a box of Twizzlers, but there is an infintesmal amount of melodrama, and that's enough to ruin a great book...

The Giver by Lois Lowry - 6/10: Interesting idea and plot, but the whole thing seems kinda...plastic. The characters are bleh. The ending is bleh. But at least the cover art is cool...at least on my version...

[DarkKanti]

Black men should not write books.


Whoa, whoa, whoa... you sure you wanna leave that standing?


Clearly, farmers know nothing. The Life of Frederick Douglass, anyone?


Frederick Douglass was one of the foremost leaders of the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery within the United States in the decades prior to the Civil War.

A brilliant speaker, Douglass was asked by the American Anti-Slavery Society to engage in a tour of lectures, and so became recognized as one of America's first great black speakers. He won world fame when his autobiography was publicized in 1845. Two years later he bagan publishing an antislavery paper called the North Star.

Douglass served as an adviser to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that guaranteed voting rights and other civil liberties for blacks. Douglass provided a powerful voice for human rights during this period of American history and is still revered today for his contributions against racial injustice.

I did a report on him a couple months back.

[Admiral Ackbar]

well I just finished "Brave New World" for my English Course, Aldous Huxley was definitely a major druggie. A powerful message about the problems of technology but it does seem a bit out of date. 7 of 10.

[avoidingthepo]

Brave New World is a really good piece of literature in my opinion, and great themes and settings and characters to relate the themes to the intelligible reader.

but back on topic...

Tanequil by Terry Brooks-9.5/10- any terry brooks fans out there? anyway awesome book, great brooks writing as usual but I have like a year til the next book comes out.

Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett-9/10- really really good satire, and very funny. i definitely recommend this book for any fans of douglas adams because it was great. and you cant beat the subject. definitely check this one out!

Fates Worse Than Death by Kurt Vonnegut-8.5/10- a collection of non-fiction from kurt vonnegut but still as good as ever, "the closest thing to an autobiography you can expect from vonnegut"

The Immense Journey by Loren Eisely-8.5/10 really really beautiful writing from a naturalist, and an easier read than some of the more philosophical books out there but still beautiful writing.

[PsychoSaiya-jin]

1984I think it's sad that you automatically assumed that Christians have no sense of humor.
Indeed,
Monty Python were Christian, and they gave us The Life of Brian ^_^

Personally, I don't like Da Vici Code for the simple reason that Dan Brown keeps spouting that everything in his book is fact when he knows damn well that he just ripped fictitions from Holy Blood, Holy Grail.
The Sion were invented as a prank by a bunch of bored Surrealists, the same type of surrealism as a Monty Python sketch.

Favorate last read:
Good Omens : 10/10.
A collaboration is 2 of my favorate authors, Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman.
Its a book about some amusingly accurate predictions made by a woman that knew far too much to make sense. Its about the young anti-christ living in a small english countryside suburb. Its about the first ever Demon and Angel and their duties getting in the way of their side business.

In short, its a great bloody story about the end of the world. Surely the most bizzare apocalypse in existence.

"Kids
Bringing about armageddon can be dangerous.
Do not attempt at home"

Currently reading:
Across the Nightingale Floor
First part of the Otori Trilogy. A story set in ancient Japan.
A tale of Samurai, Assasins, Magic, Love, Sex, and Killing.
A refreshingly mature read [in comparison to say.. Harry Potter, which I found too childish for my tastes].
I particularly like the way alternating chapters are from the perspective of the main male and female protagonist. You start to feel sparks of a different kind of magic when their worlds begin to intersect and intertwine.
Currently about halfway through and savoring each chapter.
top stuff

[Readordie]

I DON'T think that Christians have no sense of humor...I give up. Think what you will. Anyway...

The Xanth Series(as a whole. Yes, all 27 books.): 8. Seriously punny, with some deep characters. However, once you get past book...Golem in the Gears(book 9), it simply doesn't present any new ideas. With the Exception of Swell Foop(book 24).

[Major Tom]

I just finished reading the Halo trilogy, and gotta comment.

Halo: The Fall of Reach: 8/10 I found this to be very enjoyable. A shamelessly action title, but it's a good story none the less. Some internal politics opportunites were missed out on, but that didn't hurt the story.

Halo: The Flood: 6.9/10 Not as good as the first. Some things I noticed;
a) overuse of military terms and numbers e.g. We didn't need to know that the LAAG (chaingun wuld have done) was sweeping the area with 12x99mm rounds. I have a tendency to do this, so I noticed each one........
b) some part (partcularly in the later parts) need to have some knowlegde of the game to visualise it properly.
c) It seemed to fall into the same trap the game did, after the appearance of the flood. Lost it's focus, and concentrated on killing Flood.
d) The main SPARTAN character didn't quite mesh with the character portrayed in the 1st novel.
Overall, not bad, but could have been better. It is also to note that a different author did it as well.

Halo: First Strike: 8/10 Back to an enjoyable standard. Once again shamelessly action, but much fun. Sets up perfectly for Halo 2, which is a good and a bad thing. Good because reading the novel gives you the story inbetween Halo and Halo 2, bad because you'll probably need to play Halo 2 to get closure on the series.

[Kagome654]

I feel left out as I don't read much in the way of fiction anymore...I mostly read political crap...which depending on who you read may as well be fiction at times. That being said;

Attack Poodles and other Media Mutants; James Wolcott. 8/10, fun and insightful it really is a fun read for all those who are getting sick of pretentious political punditry...fear my alliteration. It deals with poodles as respectable as Thomas Friedman to those as obnoxious as Ann Coulter and Bill (I'm Moderate!) O' Reilly. Not a book to be taken too seriously, but it does raise some good points.

Bushwhacked; Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose; 8.5/10. Have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy reading Molly Ivins? She is fierce and open minded but also has a good dose of Southern common sense. Bushwhacked talks about a variety of subjects all related to Bush, from his poor Environmental record, the failure of his 'No Child Left Behind' act and the lead up to the war in Iraq, in a witty and intelligent manner that rarely fails to make an impact.

Gag Rule; On the Suppression of Dissent and the Stifling of Democracy: Lewis H. Lapham; 7/10. Like Wolcott Lapham is interested in discussing the bias in the news media (especially as it concerned the war) and like Ivins he is fierce, but unlike them he seems to lack humor. Though occasionally insightful he has a tendency to go off on tangents that seem unrelated and he was the only one whose facts I didn't feel I could trust 100% without doing some research of my own. An interesting book though.

[Yurika Star]

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke - 10/10 - Great book, funny, interesting, twists history well, and her first novel. How she didn't win the Booker Prize I've no idea, she was robbed!! Great read ;(

[Toshiro]

I DON'T think that Christians have no sense of humor...I give up. Think what you will. Anyway...



You got to remember readordie, people will just tak ethings the wrong way, glad to see you just let it go..

I I’ve recently been getting into authors from different countries after reading some Modern American others I’ve found most of them to be to pretentious for me to read. However Dan Browns book The Da Vinci Code will have to say was very imaginative and kept my attention, as for the writing style I wasn’t too impressed by it.

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini 7.5/10

Dance Dance Dance - Haruki Murakami 8/10

Norwegian wood Haruki Murakami 9/10

The Da Vinvi Code Dan Brown 7/10

Confessions St. Augustine 9/10

I suggest to anyone of you, if you read a lot like im sure most us do here at Anime Academy, read any, and I mean any novel by Haruki Murakami. I would start with the Wind-up Bird Chronical, but you dont have to too. I started with Norwegian Wood, this book was amazing, I loved every minute of it. If you love shoujo anime like Ayashi no Ceres or His and Her Circumstances, you will love this Novel, even though those anime arent quite like it, those are the only ones, that ive seen, that I can compare it too. HM is one of, if not the, leading modern Author in Japan.


Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami - 9
An incredibly imaginative and beautiful book. It may be slightly flawed in places but I soaked up every word.

South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami - 7
Murakami-lite. At only 190 pages this slips down, but it's a very simple little story that I enjoyed.

Yeah, I'm on a Murakami kick recently.

Yeah, I know what you mean... its hard once you're on that kitcket to get off, believe me. Im hopefully getting Kafka soon... to quite soon.

[jiffyjimbothe3]

Watership Down- 9.0
I havent finished it yet, but im re-reading it, so I have finished it before. Overall its a great book. Its...about rabbits, for someone who hasnt read it before, it might sound odd, and its definetly not for everyone. But most people, would love it.

Romeo and Juliet (The play)- 8.0
In my opinion, its Shakespeare's worst play, but still...its Shakespeare.

[genki sakura]

Ring by Koji Suzuki- 8/10. Interesting plot and characters but it (especially the last 100 pages or so) creeped the daylights out of me. Onto Spiral...once I find it.

[Risen Hell Fire]

the only book i red was harry potter and the chamber of secrets before the movie came. a 8/10.

[sakura_blossom]

Catcher in the Rye: 6.5/10 well it was the new book in class that we had to read in English class and I didn't really enjoy it. The main character Holden gets on my nerves so easily he all but complains, not a very good read in my opinion.

Of Mice and Men: 9/10 I really enjoyed this book well written and I couldn't help but like the relationship between the two friends Lennie and George...for a while at least (if you read the book you know what happens in the end) it was a cool story and really got into it a must read if you ever get a chance to read it.

[Rqgnqrok]

i just got & read harry potter and the order of the phoenix, loved it 8/10
previous book : umberto ecco : de slinger van foucault = foucoult's pendula?
i hated it, i mean even if a book/movie is terrible. I always and I mean ALWAYS want to know how it ended, .....this one, i just tossed away in a dark corner of my closet. I loved the history flashbacks and the conspiracy theory part.But i hated the ramblings of the editor in between. 4/10

[Soleta]

The Tree of Swords and Jewels by C. J. Cherryh 9/10
I love the style this story is written in. It reads like a celtic ballad.
Very very enchanting story, if a lil slow at times.

[umi_amano]

Harry Potter Series - 10
Angels and Demons - 9.5
Da Vinci Code - 10
Princess in Pink - 9

[Alex]

Pillars of the Earth - 8/10

[Benny_]

The Da Vinci Code- 6- I'm probably the only person in the world who's read it and dislikes it, really ultra-sensitive Catholics aside?
Of Mice and Men- 9
The Catcher in the Rye- 10
War and Peace (Yay for me, 5 months and 10 books after I started, I'm finally done. Great read, the type of literature that everyone can enjoy imo)- 10
The Picture of Dorian Gray- 8

[Soleta]

The Da Vinci Code- 6- I'm probably the only person in the world who's read it and dislikes it, really ultra-sensitive Catholics aside?

Nope, you're far from the only one. There are a good bit of people who didn't like it for one reason or another. The biggest complaint I hear is about the ending. (Excluding the rabid zealots)

The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey/James Mallory (9/10)
I held out reading this one for a year or so.. I love fantasy and I love the older Lackey books but I was afraid of Lackey's recent fluffy tendencies. Thankfully this one has no nicknames, minimal cutesy children and a very good story. Methinks Mallory must've had a hand in that. lol

A Treasury of Chinese Literature by Ch'u Chai & Winberg Chai
Includes some works from Shu Ching to (time wise) a few modern works of fiction & drama. I have a thing for ancient literature or even ballads. At the time my library didn't have any Francis James Child bks on hand so I went for my other favorite; ancient Asian prose & fiction.
Can't really rate something like this. You're either interested or you're not. It's a good collection if you'd like to read it. :)

[porkyliquid]

Negima (10)

[RenZhe]

Naked by David Sedaris (9/10)

[umi_amano]

The Da Vinci Code- 6- I'm probably the only person in the world who's read it and dislikes it, really ultra-sensitive Catholics aside?
Of Mice and Men- 9
The Catcher in the Rye- 10
War and Peace (Yay for me, 5 months and 10 books after I started, I'm finally done. Great read, the type of literature that everyone can enjoy imo)- 10
The Picture of Dorian Gray- 8

I rated Da Vinci Code 10 because I enjoyed some parts of it. What i hate about it is the story..well the story spreads Science vs. Religion.... :yuck:

[Nakita]

kushiels dart.(10)

i love books like this one. anyone who likes fantasy should read it!

[Major Tom]

Just finished reading this stuff by Douglas Adams.

The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy: 9 Marvellously funny.

The Restaurant at the End fo the Universe: 9 A good continuation

Life, the Universe and Everything: 7.5 Keeps the story going, and is still amusing

So long, and thanks for all the fish: 7 Starts to lose it here, but it is mostly amusing.

Mostly Harmless: 7 Still amusing, but not the best to wrap up the series IMHO.

[Phelddagrif]

The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald) - 9.2/10

A good read and a really entertaining book. Covers a lot of themes yet remains uncomplicated. Also, one of few "must reads" at school that I haven't fallen asleep while reading.

So far that's it. I'm a fast reader, but I'm too lazy to turn the pages...

[Angry John]

Dune: The Battle of Corrin - 1.5 (generous)

I'd been following this series because I liked the original years ago.

This book was the first one I've ever just put down saying to myself, "Its OK. You don't have anything to prove by finishing it. It just sucks"

[Two-twenty]

All Quiet on the Western Front- 9.8/10

I took off .2 of a mark just in case there's an off chance that one day I might come across a book that's better. This truely is a magnificent piece of literature, stripping away all the heroism and romance of war and shows it as terrifying as it truley is. I can't do this justice by describing it. Read it, and you'll understand.

[Major Tom]

Ooh, I bought this book a couple weeks ago....now I'll have to hurry through my very big 'to read' pile to get to it.....now I'm really looking forward to it.

[Barrelhaven]

Dark Tower Series I-V (currently reading VI now) by Stephen King.

Rating: 10

Although the flow of the story has become abit sluggish in the last book and not looking too great in the beginning of IV, it's still quite a strong piece of work by King. He takes you into another world filled with fantasy and mysticism. The characters are deep and compliment each other so well. Love this series to death so far.

[Kiba]

Wuthering Hights 10/10, this is an excellent book.

[Neo-Hunter]

who afride of virgina woolfe 8.9

the importance of being ernest 7.9

The art of war 8.9

[sohryu]

I know, I know, I'm far too old to have just read these books, but the public schools here suck, so it wasn't required reading.

Animal Farm by George Orwell - 6 out of 10
This book is...elementary. I suppose I should have read it when I was younger, because now I can't really appreciate it. To me, it seemed like it was written with children in mind. Good story, but the writing was too bland.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - 9.5 out of 10
I really enjoyed reading this book. At first, I thought the plot was a bit..off. Then I started reading it, and I was pleasantly surprised. Good book.

[Itachi Uchiha]

Sister of the Dead (Forgot the two authors names, their last name's must be the same because their married though.) Overall Rating: 7.8

[Zelkiiro]

To Kill a Mockingbird - Good storyline and interesting characters. A good book overall. However, some of the symbolism could've been expressed in more detail and the writing style can be confusing at times. 8/10.

[Major Tom]

Time to bump this thread, cause I've finaly finshed a couple of books.

Dune: 9 Sci-Fi masterpiece. It doesn't feel like it's as long as it is, an enjoyable read. It does tend to race in parts, though.

Dune Messiah: 6.5 What happened Frank Herbert? Dune set up such a plausible universe, and with this there are some things that just don't fit. I didn't like the whole Tlxewhatever angle, it didn't work for me. Also a big gap in universe time between the two, and I never felt the events in that gap that are pertinent to events in this book are fully explained.

I'm currently reading Children of Dune, after that I'll be borrowing God Emperor of Dune, so opinions on those soon.

[animefreek_CM]

Grendel by John Gardner- 10: This was quite possibly the best book i have read for school. I highly recommend it to anyone who knows of the legend of Beowulf.

[sohryu]

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tsu (as translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English)

One of the books I had to pick up for my writing class during my short-lived college career had an excerpt of this, and I enjoyed it. Brentano's was having a sale (4 books w/5th free), so I picked this up as mah free one. :D

Oh yeah, the rating part. :XD:

Definitely a 10/10. OMG 'tis so guuuuud. T.T

[Javer]

Stephen King's IT - 9.1. Of the fifteen or so of King's novels that I've read, this one has always remained my favorite. Far better with imagery and pace than the movie (although it's worth taking a gander at Tim Curry's Pennywise in motion to be able to picture him while reading the book), IT has an augural way of linking every event to five or six or seven others. It can be as large as two similar killings or as small as the look in a man's eye.

They say that we enjoy the sensation of fear sometimes -- thus explaining horror movies, shock sites, and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo. I assume he enjoys it, seeing just how readily terrified he is. But I digress!
Perhaps the reason why I personally enjoyed IT so much is that I happen to be profoundly coulrophobic. Which is why it probably wasn't the best idea for me to read IT in the first place. But damn it, I'm glad I did.

Of course, there are flaws. One major flaw sticks in the brain. I mean, if it's possible for a single book to jump the shark at any one point, then that flaw's it. Thankfully, though, it's near the end, and takes as little of the remaining story down with it as I suppose King felt it could have -- without being edited out.

[Mana]

VALIS - Philip K. Dick - 8.5 - Truly a wonderful book and a bizarre look at life. It's one of those books that makes you wonder about the author's drug record. The biggest problem I have with this book is the beginning, first 100 pages or so x__x;;; It's incredibly confusing and all of the characters seem completely one-dimentional plot devices structured around this one central idea, and that central idea is so insane, it really makes the book feel like it isn't worth reading. However, once you get past that, the rest of the book is spectacular, even if the characters still don't get very fleshed out in the slightest, with the exception of the main character/narrator.

Feeling Sorry for Celia - Jacklyn Moriarty - 8.0 - One of my favouritest books of all time, and actually a second re-read for me. I'd rate it a lot higher, except for the fact that's REALLY female oriented, and a lot of guys probably wouldn't get much out of it. Yet, I still love the damn book, feminine-ness aside. It's written incredibly well, using a diffferent sort of style (the whole book is written through letters, both real and imaginary), and the characters are some of the most believable characters I've ever read. One of the reviews on the back of the book sums it up really well: "I loved Feeling Sorry for Celia and wish I had written it myself."

[KidKolt]

I read Marx's German Ideology. Loved that one, very intuitive, and it made several decent points. I also read On The Jewish Question. Both get a 9/10
I read Children of the Jedi by Barbara Hambly. Definitely a great book, and a 7/10
Darksaber gets a 3/10. The worst plot development, and use of deus ex machina I have ever come across. The only saving grace is it's cute story, and faithfulness to the characters.

[Dennis]

Tuesdays With Morrie- an absolutely beautiful tale about the lessons learned from death and how a former student put them into practice. 8.9/10

[Javer]

Hey, has anybody read the Mythadventures series, by Robert Asprin?

[Two-twenty]

Jimmy Corrigan: The smartest kid on earth. - 9/10

Quite possibly the best portrayal of a loser in any medium. Genius wrapped in mediocrity.

[Zero]

Enemy at the Gates - William Craig

"An unforgettable and haunting reading experience," as Cornelius Ryan reviews it. This book truly leaves an impression on your mind on what the battle for Stalingrad was like, from the lowliest drafted soldier to the actors within the high ranks that pulled the strings in this bloodbath. While the book lends the story a bit more to the German side (due to what I'd assume the number of records available at the time of the author's writing), it still gives an excellent account of the thoughts and actions of both sides; occasionally giving rise to the heroics, but moreover to the tragedies and senselessness of war when human beings are at their worst. Whether you're an all-out WWII buff or just an average reader looking to hear a side of the story not so often heard, Enemy at the Gates won't just tell the story; it'll play it right in front of your eyes

9/10

Note: Please do not confuse this book with the film by the same name. Other than the general subject matter, the film is based on a smaller aspect of the war concerning its snipers and owes more homage to War of the Rats than this book. Even taking that into note, it's a rather crappy movie.

[Veraca]

National Treasure 8/10
This movie was exactly what I expected it to be and wow I love it. It came out so great in terms of action and mystery. I love it. The characters and plot were full and there were perfect doses of humor where they should be and where they would be, should this event was/is real. It didn't feel like watching a movie, it felt like I was part of it watching a real life event happen on screen as it happened. In fact when the credits and the title went on the screen before and after the movie I was surprised it was a movie.

Howl's Moving Castle 10/10
It wasn't what I expected it would be at first, but I would have to say that Miyazaki definately out did himself this time. Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away were terrific movies and, to me, are great Miyazaki films to be put in with all his other movies. This movie, had stunning art and it blended so well with the music, that with the credits I just sat and listened the music because I didn't notice it during the movie it blended so well. Humor, action and Miyazaki flare- I loved this movie 100% and I can't think of anything I don't like about it.

[Hakumei]

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - 8/10
Return of the Native (Thomas Hardy) - 8/10
Far From the Madding Crowd (Hardy) - 7/10
Jude the Obscure (Hardy) - 7/10
Mein Kampf - 7/10
Dark Arena (Mario Puzo) - 8/10

[Major Tom]

I finished this one a couple weeks ago, ran out of time to do an opinion, and then forgot about it........

Children of Dune: 7 Better that Dune Messiah, but still not up to par with Dune. Again, some concepts introduced that just don't work all that well, either because they just don't fit in or aren't explained enough.

[Bebophitchhiker]

Let's see now.

Harry Potter/Half-Blood Prince--8.75
Dune:The Battle of Corrin--9.5
Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy--10
Dale Brown's Dreamland-Satan's Tail--9.975

If no one knows about them, Dune has six new prequels. House Atredies, House Harkonnen, and House Corrino take place in the years following the birth of Leto Atredies, Vladimir Harkonnen and Shadamm IV. The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade, and The Battle of Corrin take place 10,000 years in the past with the uprising against the thinking mahines. The second trilogy also gives the origins of thr Bene Gesseret Sisterhood, the Spacing Guild, the Mentats, the first discovery of the Spice, and the first space-folding ships. Truly facinating.

[Rence]

The Da Vinci Code(Dan Brown): 9.5. This has, in short, EVERYTHING. However, the plot is a tad convoluted.

Sabriel(Garth Nix): 9. Beautifully written, characters have massive amounts of backstory, and the character Mogget had me rolling in laughter, however the romance at the ending was very artificial.

Liriel(Garth Nix): 9.5. Everything that Sabriel was without any of the letdowns


The Da Vinci Code is wildly overrated. It was really easy to read because the plot moved so fast and that was why so many people liked it, but the story really wasn't that good and nothing in it was necessarily revolutionary. Also, the fact that people like to read it and take what is said in it as fact drives me insane... it's all a wild speculation.

Sabriel and Lirael, conversely, were amazing. Garth Nix does a wonderful job of creating a fantasy world in which you can truly believe; his world engulfs you totally.

That said, Abhorsen, the third in the trilogy, is even better than either of its predecessors. The book ends the series so damn well that I almost cried. I wanted it to keep going. It was written amazingly and the world only becomes more encompassing. Look foward to that. I read it over a year ago, but I'll give it a 9.8 - one of my favorite books ever.

The last book I finished was Chuck Klosterman's Killing Yourself to Live. I don't really feel like explaining it. Just read it. And then read Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. They're both really damn good.

[Major Tom]

Until the Final hour: 8 By Traundl Junge, one of Hitler's personal secretaries. A very interesting book, a look at a side of the Führer that probably most Germans saw until the final years of the war, not the maniacal megalomanic that the rest of us have been presented with. Still, it's not perfect, her writing style changes halfway through, which is a little disconcerting.

Scattered Suns: 7 By Kevin J. Anderson, book 4 in the Saga of the Seven Suns. Now Anderson is not everyones favourite writer, some peoples favourite punching bag, but I like him. His writing style is simple, but to me that make it easy to read (which also brings some problems), and I like the universe he's created here.

Currently reading a book of the Habsburgs and one on Atilla the Hun.

[KidKolt]

Just finished the latest in the Wheel of Time series (the eleventh...). Though the series has gone on for some time now (and shows no signs of slacking) Jordan has put forth yet another remarkable story. I don't have much of an inclination towards fantasy, beyond Tolkien, but this is an all around good book, with a surprising amount of depth, for something in the swords and sorcery vein.

[Javer]

Misery, again. I think this makes the third or so time now. In comparison to the rest of King's work, I'd give it a 7/10 -- while the plot is inventive (if not entirely original) and the antagonist can be truly frightening, many of the stream-of-consciousness metaphors King uses for the main characters don't make a lot of sense if you don't recognize the terms beforehand ("Bourka", and some German guy's name that I can't remember). And it seems he has to rely heavily on blood and gore to keep the tension up.

[Major Tom]

Thud! : 8.5 By Terry Pratchet. A most excellent book. Very amusing, and quite easy to read. Once I started reading I couldn't stop. This would have to be the first novel I have read in one sitting. Some knowledge of Discworld is required, though (I didnt' get all the jokes, I'm a few books behind.)

[Major Tom]

Tossing up to double post....or to edit the above one....meh, posting again at least gets attention. Anyway this is the book I was reading before Thud! grabbed my eyeballs and wouldn't let go.

Atilla: A Barbarian King and the Fall of Rome: 9 By Andrew.....someone. I'll get his name later. A very good book, reads like a novel. He does tend to divert a little too much into not so related topics like the rediscovery of horseback archery, and perhaps speculates al ittle too much on what actually killed Atilla, but otherwise makes a good job of his source material, most of which is either copies of copies or so wrapped in early Catholic propaganda it's difficult to tell truth from fiction. One topic I think he makes a good point on is that of stirrups. Common historical convention has stirrups appearig about th 6th century, but horseback archery is not effective without stirrups, so the case is there for a much much earlier introduction.

[Zelkiiro]

A Time to Kill - 9.0: It was an overall good book, but I felt that there were a few loose ends left at the end, and I would've liked to see them resolved. Other than that, it's a great book.

[Mana]

Out, by Kirino Natsuo - 9/10 I'm actually kind of suprised no one here has mentioned reading this, what with the Japanese culture involved and whatnot. It actually attracted me by the cover ^^; I'm normally not one for mysteries, but this was actually a damn good book. The characters are incredibly real to life, despite the bizarre situations they put themselves into, and it has a lot of that Japanese feel to the characters and situation that I miss out of a lot of anime these days. The ending was incredibly off the wall, but not too unexpected.

[Major Tom]

Jingo: 7 By Terry Pratchet. Not his best of discworld books, but amusing nonetheless. I quite liked the great big poke at the 'them' and 'us' problems that we still face today.

Roman Armies from Caesar to Trajan: 8 Osprey Publishing. I forget the author. A good study of the Roman army and it's equipment during this period. I did feel that the author did skimp a little on army composition (numbers in a cohort and such), but it could be a case of 'we simply don't know', but I got the feeling that he did know. Other than that, very good, with lovely illustrations and photos.

Romano-Byzantine Armies of the 4th - 9th Century: 8 Also by Osprey Publishing. I have a pile of these I am going through, these books are a godsend to nuts like me. Another good book, but I did get a feeling that he was skimping a little on arms and armour, however even less is know about this period of time than that of Rome at it's peak. Again, marvellous illustrations and photos.

[Yurika Star]

Louis De Bernieres - The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0749391308/qid=1133856023/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_11_8/026-4949829-9245240


Love this book hugely, this is the first book by the author of "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" and it's brilliant, it is the first in a series of three books and just had it lieing around the flat. It takes place in a make-believe South American country fighting the three C's: Communism, Corruption and Coups (and also the British at one point).


10/10



Jasper Fforde - The Thursday Next books: 1) The Eyre Affair, 2) Lost in a Good Book, 3) Well of Lost Plots and 4) Something Rotten - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books-uk&field-author=Fforde%2C%20Jasper/026-4949829-9245240


A series of 4 books which I read in September and October. What can I say? These books re-write the crime genre, as wel as several other well known genres, in more than one way (read it to understand!). The heroin is Thursday Next, and the books take place in a Britain (and World) where the Duck has never been seen, Dodos were cloned (as wel as Neanderthals, used for cheap labour), the Nazis won the Second World War, the Crimean War is still going on, where books are bigger than TV, Movies and Music and an Evil Corporation is pulling most of the strings.

The two main Genres here are Crime and Fantasy, so that's what you gotta call it. Very interesting and a great set of fantasy. The first and fourth are the highlights for me, as the story moves very well, with the second and third creating a new-sort of world for you. With this created the fourth can shine.


9/10

[Major Tom]

The Russian Army 1914-1917: 9 By Nik Cornish, Osprey Publishing. Quite an informative little book on Russian equipment, uniforms and a brief overview of operations and troop histories in WWI. I had no idea that the Russians had such success, but then again, when it comes to WWI, everyone thinks of the Somme and the rest of the Western front, never mind about the Balkans, the Italian front, the Eastern front......

The Japanese army 1931-45 part 1: 8 By Philip Jowett, Osprey Publishing. A good book on the Army, this giving a brief overview of the event of 1931 to 1942, the second book in the series concentrating on the rest of the war. This book concentrates more on uniforms more than anything else, with other euipment getting short mention, which was a little disappointing. Also, in my opinion, the artist had a little trouble with Asian facial features in the colour plates, they all come off looking rather angular.

[MZeroX]

most recent books i've read are Lolita, Lord of the Rings, Physics of Neutrinos, and (if manga counts) Tenjou Tenge.

I give Lolita a 10/10. Before you think that i'm a perv, first realize that the book is not about child porn! It is the journey of the mind of a perverted psycopath. It makes me feel uneasy, akward, and happy. The former due to the fact that there is explicit material. The midst due to similarity in my childhood. The latter due to the fact that i know i'm sane enough to not do anything in the book. Valdimir Novikov is a genius!(he's the author)

LotR, i give a 8/10. In my opinoin, it needs more comical relief. Yeah i know it's a serious series, but it is fantasy. Also, movies tend to reduce my respect of books. While the movies were excellent for movies, the fact that most good movies were originally books make movies themselves seem like a weak mediumfor real entertainment. Association with movies is what made me give this awsome serious such a low score.

Physics of Neutrinos is an excellent book. 9/10. But then again, it is a text book. But i read it for fun, anyways. Yes, i am a geek.

Ten-Ten(if mangas count) is friggin' awesome. 9.5/10. If you disagree, too bad! This is a personal opinion. Plus, i need a sanity outlet. Oh! Great (the mangaka) makes me laugh. He lives for Dragon Quest games and manga. He is my hero.

[Zelkiiro]

The Last Juror by John Grisham - 10/10: This guy is good, I must say. I really liked the story and characters, and the twists were really well thought-out. And, as an added bonus, I liked how some characters from A Time to Kill made their appearances; it's always nice to find something familiar in unfamiliar territory.

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris - 8.5/10: Another great story with intriguing characters, but with a much darker atmosphere than that of The Last Juror (and it's pretty tough for one murder mystery to be darker than another, lemme tell ya...). However, there were several parts that seemed superfluous and disposable. In saying that, the book's greatest flaw is that its movie counterpart is more enjoyable, due to its conciseness.

[genki sakura]

Memoirs of a Geisha- 9.5, A great book. Addictive and amazing. I can't wait to see the movie.

[Itachi Uchiha]

Black Rain - 7/10 very interesting and informative book, but it's choppy and rather dull. The way that the story jumps around makes it confusing at times and the only really good part of the story is down played. The ending was somewhat clever and unique though.

[Major Tom]

I thought it time to revive this thread.

Le Comte de Monte Cristo: 9.5
OK, I don't speak French so it's a translation, but i think it sounds better in French. After veiwing the first few episodes of the suitably awesome Gankutsuou (http://www.animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=565), I decided to pick up the source material. This is one of those classic novels that has been on my 'to read' list for a long time.

I very glad I did. It has everything, love, vengence, murder, intrigue, all woven into a wonderful narrative that is rather easy to follow. Those who have been watching Gankutsuou and are considering reading the book, don't despair for the anime is different enough to the book so that the events still catch you off guard.

What I found equally impressive is that many events and people are actually real and tangible historical figures. Though there are some mistakes (that's what the appendix is for), the amount of research that went into this book is astounding. It makes the story that much more believable.

There is a German saying that goes along the lines of 'you know a book is good when you get angry when it ends.' This is very true of Monte Cristo. Everything is wrapped up (except for one side story which happens a bit too quickly, IMHO), but I still wanted to follow the fates of Hererre, Morrel, de Villefort and the others.

Perhaps the only thing about this book that can be considered a downside is that it is a serious reading commitment. At over 1200 pages (plus appendix), it will take some time to get through. Possibly the reason I took so long to get through it.

[Osaka!]

Illium- 9.5 science fiction/space opera. I really recommend this one to science fiction fans and look for its sequel Olympus
Hyperion Series- 8 The last two books were not as good as the first two
Dies the Fire- 9.5 Great adventure book with loots of action
Spin- Very interesting story

[Arkaine Deao]

The Fountainhead: 10/10; An extremely stimulating read. The interaction betwwen the characters was amazing when you stop and realize their personalities were fairly simple.

[genki sakura]

My friend loaned me two books over the course of this past week:

Twilight- 9/10...I suppose it could be 10/10, but let's deduct one point because of the possibility that I might give it a 10/10 because I love Edward Cullen. Loved the book, in love with Edward Cullen. Story is about a girl who falls in love with a vampire...it was great.


and its sequel:
New Moon-8(+/- .5)/10. Twilight was better. Lags a bit in the middle...or maybe it was because of what was going on in Bella's life at the time (phrasing it so that there are no spoilers). And Jacob's personality after a certain point annoyed me a bit...I liked him when he was a cute, seemingly-innocent teenager who would fix a motorcycle so that Bella could get an adrenaline rush. Ending was wonderful.

Now I have to wait until late summer for the third book...

[Niner]

lol, I'm about to start reading Twilight, g_s. xD

As for the last book I read...

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause - 4/10. Ugh. It hurt to read this book. I don't even know where to begin. The story was meh, the character development was crap, the characters themselves were vapid and flighty and the execution of it all was complete shit. The only thing that saved this book were the cool wolf scenes and the fact that the main character spent so much time naked. Other than that, it was a total waste of good paper.

[zarahf]

Douglas Adams The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul: 8 possibly the only Douglas Adams book I hadn't read previous to now. Don't know how I missed it. Hillarious as always. Holistic Detective Dirk Gently is at it again.

Isaac Asimov Foundation and Foundation and Empire: 7 the second and third of seven. I have yet to read the prelude (number 1) but as it was written 40 years after the original series I thougt I would read it as it was written. So far it has been pretty interesting. But unless the series picks up as it pregresses I don't think it holds up to the other Asimovs I have read.

Edit: Just finished Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris and would only give it a 6. Not to suggest it wasn't a good book and all but it in no way stood up to Silence of the Lambs or even Hannibal or Red Dragon which weren't as good as Silence of the Lambs to start with.

[Angi]

Abarat- Stimulating and original. Follows certain topics that have been followed very often before, like the existencial question of "who am I?" in an original way. I give it a 8

[Dark Lord]

The Five People You Meet in Heaven-9.5/10
I just started and finished reading this book today. I found it to be wonderful because it even managed to awaken me from my reading comatose state. The characters in the story were just so deeply developed in the story that I felt I was part of it. Also, the author's idea of heaven is very original, from everything else I've seen. Overall, this is a must read for almost anyone who likes reading.

[Major Tom]

These days it's not often I finish a book (damn aniems, vidyagames, currently studying for a university audition, and life in general), and cause this thread isn't on the front page I often forget to post in it when I do finish a book.

12 Days: Revolution 1956, Which goes under this title (http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Days-Hungarian-Revolution-Vintage/dp/030727795X/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196118852&sr=8-2) at Amazon. An excellent book detailing the abortive Hungarian Revolution starting in October 1956. It traces the origins of the Revolution through to the aftermath of the Revolution, so it doesn't leave anything out.

it is really easy to read (which is probably why I finished before the other 2 books I've had running for ages, All Quiet of the Western Front and Catch 22), it reads much more like a novel than a history book. Which is good as somethimes history books can be a bit dry.

The only point of contention I have with Sebestyen is the portrayal of the Horthy Regime. He portrays it as a facist regime, willing allies of Germany that got them involved in the mess that was the war. The impression I get of his regime was certainly authoritarian, but that does not automatically equate to facist. My reading of him was a leader wary of the Germans, but forced into patronage with them over fears of communism and general disinterest by the west in the problems of Eastern Europe. But that point is really negligable, as the particular reading of the old regime doesn't actually have much bearing on the sources of the Revolution.

If you want to read about those heady days in 1956 when it looked as if a small nation was going to topple it's overlords, then this is the place to start.

[Kiba]

Master and Commander - 9/10: Master and Commander is the first novel in Patrick O'Brian's, Aubrey-Maturin series. The book introduces us to the series heroes, Commander Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy and his dearest friend and ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin; although being a physician he is overqualified, the book also introduces us to other characters that will appear throughout most of the series. Most of the novel deals with the developing friendship between Jack and Stephen, and the general life aboard a 19th century sloop of war. Master and Commander also contains, detailed ship action, the trials and tribulations of being an officer in His Majesty's Navy, as well as O'Brian's mix of malapropisms and toilet and sexual humour. Master and Commander is probably one of the best historical novels ever written and an excellent way to start off the series.

*Note: For those of you wondering, no Master and Commander has nothing to do with the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, aside from the name and several puns. In fact, no one book in the Aubrey-Maturin series provides the plot line for the movie but a significant portion of the movie does come from Far Side of the World and HMS Surprise. Just as well the movie was never written by O'Brian and is purely something conjured up by Peter Weir and John Collee.

[Zushio]

The first four (and so far only four available) books of The Song of Ice And Fire series by George R.R. Martin

1. A Game of Thrones: Brilliant beyond worlds. the single most refreshing and imaginative take on a fantasy universe that I've ever seen. Combined with characters that are deep and interesting, to the point where you actually feel for them, and fearless plot twists that lesser authors would have been terrified to use. Easily one of the best books I've ever read. 9.7/10

2. A Clash of Kings: A brilliant follow-up to the first book, continues the wonderful universe, incredible characters and outstanding plot twists. In this book you see characters from the first from a whole new angle, heroes become tarnished, villians become less so and you feel a living breathing fantasy world. 9.8/10

3. A Storm of Swords: Somehow even better than the previous two, it continues the stunning writing found in both volumes and takes it even further into places where most authors would never dare to tred for fear of the marketing and sales affect it would have. This book changed my opinion of several characters I though I had known well, and it was around here that I decided this series made Lord of the Rings look like a grade school creative writing assignment. 9.9/10

4. A Feast for Crows: Wow, just wow. That is the only thing I can say about this novel. It's essentially the first half of a much larger book, with half the characters focused on here and the next book having the others, but it doesn't feel like half a book, it feels like a whole novel and an amazing one at that. I simpy can't wait to read the next one, as I'll see the motivations for some of the actions in this one, and in the next one I'll see the ramifications of actions in this, I have never wanted a book to come out more than I want "A Dance with Dragons" to. 10/10

I'm also reading the Troy series of historical fantasy by David Gemmel, these books take the mythology of the Trojan War and flesh it out, making heroes such as Aneas, Odyssus, Agamemnon, and Hector into real living breathing people. I've read the first two books and would rate them as such.

1. Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow: Started slow but by about page 30 I was hooked beyond belief. These are lengthly books but they go down quick, I found myself going through the 600 or so pages in about 2 days, I just couldn't put it down. An excellent book for those with an eye to history or mytholgy. 9/10

2. Troy: Shield of Thunder: A worthly successor to Lord of the Silver Bow. Focuses on new characters and brings back old favorites from the first. Again, a lengthy book but it felt like I finished it in no time at all. A true joy to read. Slightly better than the first book, but no significantly. 9.1/10

I'm looking forward to the 3rd book, sadly David Gemmel died shortly after finishing book 2 and only about half of book 3 was done. Thankfully his wife was essentially his writing partner and knew the characters and plot as well as he did, and using his extensive notes has finished the saga. According to reviews the integration is seamless, you can't even tell which part was written by David Gemmel and which parts were his wife. Hopefully a worthy conclusion to one of the most enjoyable novels I've stumbled across.