Originally Posted By alexbook >>>spawned a whole sub-genre called steampunk< Debatable. I think it comes out more from the early 60s and Difference Engine is just what made it mainstream.<< Fair enough. Still, I doubt we'd have a tenth as many authors writing steampunk if it weren't for "Difference Engine."
Originally Posted By Labuda Finished the Steig Larsson books and WOW, LOVED them. Such a shame he died! Then read a Dean Koontz novella called "Darkness Under the Sun" that is a companion piece to his latest book, "What the Night Knows" - a book that I read the first 5 chapters of last night. All in all, I think I read about 300 pages yesterday, what with finishing "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" then the novella and how far I am now in the new book. Having a sore throat is keeping me from going out after work and my favorite thing to do when under the weather is read.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb >>>Rick Riordan, "The Lost Hero"<<< I read that shortly after Christmas and really enjoyed it. I just happen to be re-reading Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief". I saw the movie a few moths ago and thought Chris Columbus really trashed it, VERY sad considering the excellent job he did with Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. Can anyone tell me why he cast college age actors when the main characters are TWELVE?! But now I'm re-reading I seeing how very badly it was interpreted for the screen.
Originally Posted By Longhorn12 I enjoyed the series,but never saw the movie and probably never will. Somehow my aunt knows Rick Riordan though, and hooked me up with a signed copy of the first book when it came out.
Originally Posted By alexbook Haven't read any Riordan before. I was told this was a stand-along book, but it turns out to be a spin-off from the Percy Jackson series. I'm enjoying it, but I've had to do a lot of catching up.
Originally Posted By Longhorn12 Just finished another collection of Conan stories... I need more low-magic settings Starting up the 4th book in the Sword of Truth series "Temple of the Winds"
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin I finally, finally, finally finished Madame Bovary. I really felt I had to read it, and it was nice to read in French again, but I didn't really enjoy it. Enough with the "have to read" books... on to something fun. Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
Originally Posted By Labuda Hey, I have a question for y'all - do YOU consider Dean Koontz to be a horror writer? I think of him more as a writer of supernatural suspense, but it seems like everybody and their brother thinks eh writes horror. And, for the recored, I HATE horror - I don't like to be scared. But never once has a book of Dean's scared me! Yeah, made me a bit uneasy, but it's all supernatural stuff that does it in the books, and nothing SCARES me just makes me think "ooooo, that would suck!" So, am I just odd for thinking he's NOT horror, and he actually IS?
Originally Posted By alexbook I've never read Koontz, so I can't offer an independent evaluation. I can tell you that he's usually classed as a horror author. I just checked and he's been nominated for four Stokers (the Horror Writers Association awards), for "Robot Santa: The Further Adventures of Santa's Twin," "Fear Nothing," "Hideaway," and "Midnight."
Originally Posted By JenniBarra >>Hey, I have a question for y'all - do YOU consider Dean Koontz to be a horror writer?<< I think some of his books are horror while some of his books are suspense or thrillers. I read some of his stuff, but not everything, precisely because the tone does vary between books, and some of his writing is just too intense for me.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book Two: The Sea of Monsters. Alex, there are only 5 books in the series and they are all quick reads, I highly recommend them and they'll give you a good base for the new series (although I suspect you can enjoy it without reading them). For instance you'll find out why Anabeth doesn't have warm cuddly feelings toward Jason patron Hera.
Originally Posted By mele Catcher in the Rye I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never read it before. Always meant to, just never got around to it. I'm a little more than half way through it; I'm really enjoying it; I find it quite funny and sad...but I think some of the unique writing style is kind of lost over the passage of time. Too many copycats and crappy books these days. I can only imagine how controversial it was when it was released, however, and that intrigues me. I want to read about its history but don't want to read any spoilers. It reminds me of the movie 'Annie Hall' in a way. The movie is lauded for having a revolutionary female character, but because I've grown up in a more liberal time, at time when feminists are commonplace (and women wear pants all the time. LOL), it just loses a bit of the edginess that made it a classic.
Originally Posted By Labuda If it makes you feel any better, April, know that you're not alone. It's in my current "to read" pile on my nook... the pile is at about 120 books right now, but I'll try to read Catcher in the Rye sooner rather than later.
Originally Posted By Labuda Oh, and in addition to the Koontz book, I'm also partway through David Sedari's latest, Chipmunk seeks Squirrel.
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin I have never read any, and I think of Dean Koontz as a horror writer. I hated Catcher in the Rye when I read it in HS. My aunt (a HS English teacher) says students usually love it or hate it. I do think I will need to read the Percy Jackson books at some point. I am so happy with my Tad Williams book again.
