What are you reading?

[Jude]

Did you like books 1 and 2?

[Frelga]

In general, a character not caring about certain things can be an important point for plot or character development (see, The Christmas Carol). But in particular, Murderbot is not always the most reliable narrator of its own emotional state.

[Maria]

Did you like books 1 and 2?

Not really.
My husband tells me there's an epiphany coming up soon that changes everything.
I'll hang on until that happens.

It's not like I have anything else in mind to read right now anyway.
I was briefly tempted to try some of Bruno Miller's other fiction (because those "Dark Road" people really cared!) but the reviews on Audible said the "Virtual Voice" narrating those other books was pretty annoying.

Edit: And I'm just not ready to try virtual voice narration anyway. A bad narrator can ruin a book, and I've quit plenty of books due to bad narration done by humans. I don't need to put up with 'bot narration.

[narya]

Here are a few more books I've read lately.

A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 & 2 (additional volumes are queued up). This set of graphic novels is based on George R R Martin’s weighty tomes, squeezed down to their absolute essence by Daniel Abraham. The original book one, A Game of Thrones, was about 700 or 800 pages. This book is adapted into 4 volumes of graphic novels, each volume containing 6 issues that were originally released once per month. Since each volume has about 170 pages of adaptation, the total number pages is similar to the original book. But each graphic novel page has actions and scene setting via the art work, with a few text bubbles of conversations, highlighted from the original book. Though the graphic novel does a good job of reenacting the original book, it certainly doesn’t have room for the depth of description and inner thoughts of the characters. The best part, though is the 40 or so pages at the end of each volume revealing the making of the graphic novels. Abraham adapted the original text by streamlining the storyline, roughing out the scenes he wanted to see, and selecting/abridging the conversations he wanted in text bubbles. He also needed to tweak the story so that there was a cliff hanger at the end of each of the issues. Abraham’s work was much like story-boarding for a movie. Then the artist, Tommy Patterson, took that direction to draw the illustrations. Then Patterson’s black and white drawings were colored by Ivan Nunes, and the lettering was filled in by Marshall Dillon. Even if you don’t want to read the novels themselves, the “Making of” part at the back of each volume is fascinating.

Service Model, by Adrian Tchaikovsky. As you mentioned, Frelga, Tchaikovsky’s protagonists tend to be of the single trope variety. In this case, a robot who is perfectly satisfied being a butler, but when that is no longer possible, has to go out into the wide world a grow a bit. The robots in this book remind me so much of my GPS, that calmly and without snark updates its directions every time I ignore it and go where I want to go. The book is nominated for a Hugo, which is why I’m reading it for one of my book clubs, the cumbersomely named “Sci Fi Books of the East Bay Nebula and Hugo Nominees Meetup”. If it weren’t for wanting to spend the afternoon with my friends in this club, I would have dropped the book – I found it to be tedious. But clearly, it has a fan base.

I’m Glad my Mom Died, by Jeannette McCurdy. Another book club, another book selection. I was hesitant to pick it up because of the name, but it was a page turner (so to speak, I listened to the audio version, read by the author). This is a memoir about a child actor and her stage mother. It’s non-fiction, but has some hard to believe stuff in it. The mother was an absolute monster, yet it wasn’t until the very end of the book that the author came to understand this. I’d recommend this one, just as peek into someone else’s life, and how childhood trauma can lead to adult behavior around food, alcohol, and other poor life choices.

Original Sin, by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. Biden’s derailed second run for the presidency, and all the people who helped him get there. It was scary to learn how much went on behind the scenes for him, and is no doubt going on behind Trump in a similar manner right now.

[Alatar]

A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 & 2 (additional volumes are queued up). This set of graphic novels is based on George R R Martin’s weighty tomes, squeezed down to their absolute essence by Daniel Abraham. The original book one, A Game of Thrones, was about 700 or 800 pages. This book is adapted into 4 volumes of graphic novels, each volume containing 6 issues that were originally released once per month. Since each volume has about 170 pages of adaptation, the total number pages is similar to the original book. But each graphic novel page has actions and scene setting via the art work, with a few text bubbles of conversations, highlighted from the original book. Though the graphic novel does a good job of reenacting the original book, it certainly doesn’t have room for the depth of description and inner thoughts of the characters. The best part, though is the 40 or so pages at the end of each volume revealing the making of the graphic novels. Abraham adapted the original text by streamlining the storyline, roughing out the scenes he wanted to see, and selecting/abridging the conversations he wanted in text bubbles. He also needed to tweak the story so that there was a cliff hanger at the end of each of the issues. Abraham’s work was much like story-boarding for a movie. Then the artist, Tommy Patterson, took that direction to draw the illustrations. Then Patterson’s black and white drawings were colored by Ivan Nunes, and the lettering was filled in by Marshall Dillon. Even if you don’t want to read the novels themselves, the “Making of” part at the back of each volume is fascinating.

I'm a big fans of well done Graphic Novel Adaptations. I really liked the Hobbit one in particular, and I kickstarted the Dune one also. Curious about the GoT ones but I still haven't read the books (was waiting for GRRM to finish them...)

https://www.amazon.ie/Hobbit-Delve-vers ... 261102664/

[narya]

Alatar, don't hold your breath on GRRM ever finishing his series. The graphic novels only go thru the second book - four volumes for the first book and three volumes for the second book (A Clash of Kings).

That said, I recommend reading the book series, and the graphic novel set. And unlike most people I've talked to, I thought the HBO ending was good.

[RoseMorninStar]

I've never read a graphic novel. I have read Game of Thrones, as much as has been written. GRRM says there is a person (or more than one person) who knows the plot and, should he not finish the series, they will. However, will that be in my lifetime?

I've started 'The Rose Code' and I'm also reading a biography of Leonardo da Vinci.

[Alatar]

See, I'm a bit confused by this. Surely then ending in the TV Series is whatever GRRM told them it was going to be? I mean, it might have been rushed or the timeline compressed, but surely the main plot beats are canon?

[RoseMorninStar]

See, I'm a bit confused by this. Surely then ending in the TV Series is whatever GRRM told them it was going to be? I mean, it might have been rushed or the timeline compressed, but surely the main plot beats are canon?

I wouldn't bank on that. There were so many changes made to characters in the TV series that not all the same people will be alive, and some the TV show did away with, still have a role to play.

Hmm. Here's an article from 2 days ago. “It won’t be any good”: George R.R. Martin’s Crippling Update on the Final ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ Book After The Winds of Winter

After years of inconsistent update about his writing progress, George R.R. Martin drops the biggest news on his final book, A Dream of Spring.

I think perhaps the TV show getting ahead of the books and setting a 'canon' that was not what he had in mind ruined his enthusiasm for the project.

Straight from GRRM's blog.

[RoseMorninStar]

I'm currently reading The Rose Code and I'm enjoying it very much. I'm about 20% in. I've read quite a few similar books, so if this is the type of book you enjoy, I'll put a list here.

[Inanna]

Rose, same! I’m also reading the Rose Code and quite liking it.

[RoseMorninStar]

I just finished The Rose Code. Wow. A good read. Some tough moments in the story where I had to put it down for a bit, but that is to be expected in a story about war.

I love good historical fiction but this story is heavily based on actual people and events, in particular Women Code Breakers and the development of (what would become) the first computers. Well done.

Kate Middleton's grandmother worked at Bletchley Park and she took an interest and it seems that is what spawned recent interest and efforts to restore Bletchley Park as a historical site.

I will make a list of some other historical fiction I've read that others might enjoy, but I doubt anything has as many actual people and events as the main characters as this book does.

Edited to add list:
When the World Goes Quiet: A Novel by Gian Sardar (WWI, Belgium)
All The Light We Cannot See: A Novel by Anthony Doerr (WWII, Paris/Germany)
Sea of Memories by Fiona Valpy (WWII, France/Scotland)
The Beekeepers Promise by Fiona Valpy (WWII, France)
The Dressmaker's Gift by Fiona Valpy (WWII, France/some Nazi concentration camp)
The Skylark's Secret by Fiona Valpy (WWII, UK/Scotland)
The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris by Daisy Wood (WWII, Paris)
The Memory Box by Katheryn Huges (WWII & modern day, Italy/Ireland/more romance-y than some)
The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa (WWII, Germany, Cuba) This novel is based on actual history of Jewish refugees fleeing Germany. It wasn't one of my favorites. It starts out well but the story drags and loses it's way. It is a look into another aspect of man's inhumanity to man that we hope is never repeated (but too often is).

[RoseMorninStar]

I enjoyed The Rose Code. I see the same author (Kate Quinn) has a novel for $1.99/Kindle on Amazon called The Huntress. It's set in WWII, Russia.. and it's about the legendary Night Witches. I don't know how many of you remember lidless /The Lidless Eye, but he wrote a screenplay about the Night Witches for which he'd always hoped to get a movie deal. I think I may have to give the book a read.

[Jude]

I just finished The Diamond Eye, by the same author, about a real historical WWII sniper and can thoroughly recommend it.

[Frelga]

If you are looking for more.



This is the 1981 Soviet movie, Night Witches in the Sky, with English subtitles. The director and screenwriter, Yevgeniya Zhigulenko, was one of the pilots.

[narya]

I just finished Wearing the Lion by John Wiswell and it's the best book I've read in a long time. It starts out looking like a retelling of the myth of Hercules, but then turns it on its ear, and ends up being a strong foray into grief, vengeance, forgiveness, healing, and finding alternatives to violence. I highly recommend it for adults (you know those Olympians, they got around). The audio book narration is excellent - the weary, humble, pensive voice of Heracles is not "heroic" at all. Hera, on the other hand, sounds irritated during the first half of the novel, but eventually comes around.

As for the other books I've read since my last book report, I can recommend these two to you:

Secret Identity by Alex Segura: Alatar, you might like this one. It’s a mystery set in the comic book industry by someone who has authored quite a few comic books and mystery books.

From a Certain Point of View: There are 40 short stories by 40 different authors that take place during the original movie Star Wars (AKA A New Hope Episode VI). It’s fun to see the famous story through the eyes of minor characters – a droid, a jawa, a storm trooper, a band member in the cantina, etc.

And since you are all raving about The Rose Code, I've downloaded it to my Libby queue. (My poor abused queue with 175 hours of audio book that I am possibly not going to finish in the 3 weeks before they are due. Well, it's better than having a physical bookshelf full of books I'll never get to.)

[RoseMorninStar]

If you are looking for more.



This is the 1981 Soviet movie, Night Witches in the Sky, with English subtitles. The director and screenwriter, Yevgeniya Zhigulenko, was one of the pilots.

Do you know if this is more of a war film about war or more of a survivor film? I know it might sound like a funny question, but to me there is a great difference between watching (or reading) about war or reading/watching stories about how ordinary people deal with and get through war and hardship.

[Frelga]

I don't remember it well, but Soviet WWII movies are not like American war movies. Despite the heavy use of the war in propaganda, there is less focus on badass adventures, although these pilots were unquestionably extremely badass, and more on ordinary people whose lives were interrupted by war. There's often a certain lyrical quality to them.

[Alatar]

Just finished the Sword Triumphant. Really enjoyable fantasy trilogy by Gareth Hanrahan, asking the question "What happens to heroes after the quest". It owes more than a passing nod to Tolkien and, while the world and quest are completely different, the heroes are referred to as The Nine. In fact, Hanrahan calls out the Tolkien inspiration directly in his afterword.

[Inanna]

The Huntress was amazing - I remember that one.

Neither of my two libs have Gareth…. maybe I should just buy it?