Rate the last book your read.
 

I have a feeling that this thread might go under fast without some cooperation, but I'm sure there are plenty of TFP'ers out there reading books.

So just like the 'Rate the last movie' thread -here-, share the last book you finished; Why'd you read it, did you like it, etc. I know there's a "What book are you reading right now" thread, however no one seems to be sharing these kinds of comments.

I'll start:

(I went on a reading binge recently when I moved and didn't have internet for a while...)

-Beyond the Deep, Bill Stone and Barbara am Ende.
A documentary/non-fiction about deep caving/diving to find the deepest cave in the world. I really enjoyed it. No real climax, but an inspiring story and adventurous nonetheless.

-The Coma, Alex Garland.
I really enjoyed it and recomend checking it out. Don't expect anything as "immediately-exciting" as The Beach, though it's a pretty interesting subject he writes about, and he accomplishes it well. I read it quickly (it's less than 200 pages) and I think it was meant to be read this way, almost as if I enjoyed reading it more than I enjoyed the specific story.

-The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz.
A spiritual (non-denomination) book about how we make certain agreements as we're raised that make us live lives as slaves to the society rather than living our own dream. Gives four 'agreements' to live by and how to slowly incorporate them within your life. I enjoyed the book. Might be a little heavy if it's your first spiritual read.

"The Legacy" by R.A. Salvatore

It continues where The Icewind Dale Trilogy left off. Following the adventures of Drizz't Do'Urden and his friends. Overall i'd rate it at a 9.5....but im a sucker for anything with Drizz't in it.

"StingRay Shuffle" Tim Dorsey - Another fine violent and vulgar madcap comedy featuring everyone's favorite psychotic anti-hero, Serge Storms. Dorsey, in my mind, has now officially passed Hiaasen as the premier writer of Florida crime comedies.

Just read my first Dorsey novel, "Orange Crush," and while I have a great fondness for Hiaasen's earlier novels, I have to say that Dorsey's definitely doing better work than Hiaassen is currently.

But the book that I most recently finished is "Interesting Times," by Terry Pratchett, from the Discworld series. It's fun, but it's not one of the better Discworld books. And while the Discworld books usually can be read in any order, this one is an exception: you'd miss a lot if you read this one without reading some of the earlier books, like "The Colour of Magic."

So, it's an okay book for the Discworld fans, but if you're new to this series, you might be better off starting with a different book.

Always nice to meet a fellow Dorsey fan. :)

On topic - "Night Watch" Terry Pratchett - Excellent book. One of my favorites from Pratchett so far. He mixes in quite a bit of serious drama and emotion along with the usual social satire and broad humor. An EXCELLENT read for those somewhat familiar with his work. A damned good read even to those who aren't.

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith - Jon Krakauer

From Publisher's Weekly (since I'm too tired to type my own synopsis):
"Using as a focal point the chilling story of offshoot Mormon fundamentalist brothers Dan and Ron Lafferty, who in 1984 brutally butchered their sister-in-law and 15-month-old niece in the name of a divine revelation, Krakauer explores what he sees as the nature of radical Mormon sects with Svengali-like leaders. Using mostly secondary historical texts and some contemporary primary sources, Krakauer compellingly details the history of the Mormon church from its early 19th-century creation by Joseph Smith (whom Krakauer describes as a convicted con man) to its violent journey from upstate New York to the Midwest and finally Utah, where, after the 1890 renunciation of the church's holy doctrine sanctioning multiple marriages, it transformed itself into one of the world's fastest-growing religions."

A really interesting read

The Bounty: The True Story of the mutiny on the Bounty by Caroline Alexander

"More than two centuries after Master’s Mate Fletcher Christian led a mutiny against Lieutenant William Bligh on a small, armed transport vessel called Bounty, the true story of this enthralling adventure has become obscured by the legend. Combining vivid characterization and deft storytelling, Caroline Alexander shatters the centuries-old myths surrounding this story. She brilliantly shows how, in a desperate attempt to save one man from the gallows and another from ignominy, two powerful families came together and began to create the version of history we know today. The true story of the mutiny on the Bounty is an epic of duty and heroism, pride and power, and the assassination of a brave man’s honor at the dawn of the Romantic age. "

Thought this was a very good book. Uses first hand writings to tell how the mutiny happened, the mindset of the mutineers and loyalists, and what happened to everyone.

Would recommend it to anyone interested in that time period or ocean travels.

Just finished reading Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett for the second time.

It is (as far as I'm aware) the first of the Watch sub-series (or whatever) of the Discworld Novels, which happens to be my favourite. It's a good read, and it even has a twist in it, however it was rather short and had less humour than some of Pratchett's other novels (probably due to the fact that Detritus isn't in it).

"A Wild Sheep Chase" by Haruki Murakami

Again, athoughtful and introspective novel about various themes that visit you when you are alone and too tired to change your mind. While I sometimes think it teeters on depression, the story moves along in a unusual path and keeps the plot fresh.
I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but it is very nice compared to Murakami's other works. It also has a great chance of NEVER being made into a bastardized movie.
There is a chase, it is isn't always outside the mind, and the clarity of the story is completely due to the authors/translators elegant style.

A Generation Between Us........
oh wait....I wrote that one....

The Divici Code.

Just finished "By the Light of the Moon" by Dean Koontz. 6.0/10

A bit corny for my tastes, and the story was fairly lackluster. After deciding Koontz wasn't up my alley many years ago, in desperation, I picked up "The Face", an excellent read that prompted getting "The Taking", which, while enjoyable, was more of a writing excercise than a story. BtLotM, while quite readable, like many Koontz books for me, failed to satisfy. His cookie cutter rendition of his typical female lead was especialy irritating in this book.

Next up:Book six of the Dresden Files, "Blood Rites", assuming Amazon gets my order to me this century.

"Tara Road" Maeve Binchy

Excellent book. My new favorite. I leads you through an intricate story line but it isn't ever slow. The ending is awesome too.

"The hunt for red october" Tom Clancy
A hell of a lot better than the movie. Not that the movie was bad. The book goes on a bit further than the movie. Of course, it also explains things better.

Wormwood-Poppy Z Brite

Collection of short stories (the horrorish kind) They really make you think....the closest I can compare them to is Lovecraft, although I hate making any comparison at all.

Drawing Blood-Poppy Z Brite

I didnt enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed Lost Souls, but its still a very well written "dark gothic culture" type book. Not recommended for people that couldnt handle reading about men's bisexual behaviour. There is something about her ability to cast images with her words that will cause me to read anything she puts out.

Dark Descent by Kevin F. McMurray

The history and wreck of the Empress of Ireland from it's creation to today. Many lives lost during the collision of two ships just before WWI and the deaths coming in later years as divers discover and explore this massive wreck.

Very good book in my opinion. Touches on the national pride of Canadians, the separatist movement in Quebec, strong personalities of world class wreck divers, and of course a little history of inernational travel before airlines became the standard.

Last book i read was

Dune by Frank Herbert

To be honest ive read this book several times, its a classic of the sci fi genre and im sure most people have read it, but if you havnt i heartily reccomend at least this first one, the rest of the series gets heavy on the politics and the ones ive read have been a little dry, but this first is definatly the best.
Takes place on Arrakis, a desert planet that is the only source in the universe of the spice melange that grants psychic powers and is needed for intersellar travel. This creates a power struggle as whoever controls this resouce can control markets and wield considerable power.
The book follows the atriedes family, in particlar the son Paul, as the family moves in to take control of Arrakis, opposed by the Harkonnen house sworn enemies of the Atriedes. The novel follows the coming to age of a great leader from a child to messiah-like leader and mixed the right amount of action, politics and adventure to keep you interested throughout.
This barely touches on the good things about the book, just read it, you wont be disappointed :D

Little Children by Tom Perrotta.

I picked it up because I loved Election and wanted to read more of his work. Also, I don't read a lot of adult novels because I'm a teen librarian, and I need to expand my reader's advisory repertoire.

Eh.

Some of his wit is still there, but I was dissatisfied by the ending. Overall, I thought he was dealing with too many characters and didn't get the chance to really develop any of them well...or maybe that was the point, to show how shallow they all were.

Dreamcatcher By Stephen King 7/10
It was good through most of the book up until the ending where it was half confusing and half stupid. So far King has been 2/2 on long books with semi crappy endings.

Thief of Time by Pratchet :) 8/10 i guess

"American Psycho"

I thought it was great. A first person story about a homicidal psychopath.

The Revelation, The Mailman, The Summoning, The University, The Store, The House, The Town, The Walking, The Association, The Collection, The Return, The Policy.

I have yet to read The Resort and The Dominion.

Written by whom...Bentley Little, my favorite author. That is why I chose that screen name.

Stephen Donaldson's Forbidden Knowledge.

5-6 out of 10. Just so-so. Too easy to tell what's coming next. Unfortunately, I bought the entire series, so I'll wade through the rest. But, like Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, I won't read these again, either.

Stephen King's IT.

Very long book, but I found it very enjoyable. 8/10

Just started Speaker for the Dead.

On the Road Jack Kerouac. 5/10

Not a bad book, but way too detailed. It just kept plodding on.

The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne 2/10

It gets two points for being a "classic." I'm sure somebody is going to defend it, but this book makes me want to exact stabbity vengeance against Mr. Hawthorne.

A Walk in the Woods Bill Bryson(?) 8/10

The best out of the three. Funny at points, and barely, if ever, dragged.

/summer reading done!

Blood Rites: Dresden Files book 6-Jim Butcher 8.0/10

The latest about a series of books about a wizard PI in Chicago. Book 6 continues in stride as Butchers writing continues to improve. Highly recommended for people who have enjoyed early Laurel K Hamilton, Laurawnce Block Burglar series, and supernatural adventure in general.

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. :)

Good book but not as good as the first and third.. I'd give it a 7/10 rating.

Absolutely American, by David Lipsky. A good look into life at West Point, something very few people know anything about. It jumps around a bit making it confusing, but its a very good way to get to know the institution that trains a good number of our Army's officers. 8/10.

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

Once you get used to the southern black dialogue of the main characters, it gives a tremendous look into the plight of the black American moving from slavery to freedom in the Deep South. The book was written in the 1930's and Hurston never received any recognition for it until after her death when Alice Walker brought "Eyes" into the mainstream.

HIGHLY recommended -- 9/10

John Maxim's "Bannerman's Ghosts"

A good book. Continues Maxim's tales of Paul Bannerman and his "retiring" contract agents. Not quite as good as the previous Bannerman novels, but very nice.

Bannerman keeps his word ;-)

I hate that fucking book. We had to read it in AP English for 11th grade. I read the entire DAMN THING and I made a 70 on the test. Everyone else read the Cliff's Notes and made a fucking A on the test. That book fucking sucks. I hated it.

Lord of the Flies William Golding 9/10

Pretty good, actually. I wish I had to read this instead of some other books for school. And for 60 cents, it was a bargain. Only thing bad is you might get confused by the British slang (if you're American, that is.).

As far as Scarlet Letter, I could only get halfway through it. I have the Sparknotes sitting on my harddrive.

My Life - Bill Clinton


It is an awful long book and sometimes it is absolute agony to plod through. However, there it's an awful interesting take on political life as a whole and the little anecdotes he sprinkles through the paragraphs of seemingly endless sentences makes this a pretty good book.

Not to mention, being Arkansas bred, I know a lot of the people and events that he recounts in the book because...you know...I live here.

It's still too long and in some of the narrative it never really feels like he's expressing his own opinion, but rather the "least offensive" version of what he's feeling. Does that make sense?

If I had to rate this monster on a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a pretty solid 7.

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

Flippin amazing like most of Vonnegut.

The Davinci Code

8.5 of 10
Good read, hard to put down

S

"Generation Kill" by Evan Wright
he is a editor for Rolling Stone that was with a platoon of Recon Marines for the first few months of Op. Iraqi Freedom. Its almost like Black Hawk Down, it is just 350 pages of action with some good humor thrown in. I loved the book, it took me 4 days to read it. It kinda makes me want to go in the Marines instead of the Army. I would recommend this to anyone who is easly offended. 9/10

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Good book from start to finish, nice twists in the end. I rate it 8/10.

Three on this one:

The Wastelands, Stephen King 6.5/10.0

I just started reading the Dark Tower books a bit ago, have been enjoyable so far, but this one was the worst one for me so far. I found myself just not caring so much about Spoiler: Jake. Picked up in the latter half though, so that was a bit of saving grace. Typical King fare imo here, with everything I hate about him, although not as bad as it could be.

Wizard and Glass, Stephen King 8.0/10.0

An excellent read and possibly the most entertaining and encaptivating book for me of the series so far. At times, I could almost believe I was reading Gaiman, which is high praise from me indeed.

Monstrous Regiment, Terry Pratchett 7.5/10.0

Terry Pratchetts writing has improved by leaps and bounds, and after Night Watch, I'd of thought his stories had to. Imagine my dissapoint to learn that it was essentialy Men at Arms rehashed. An enjoyable read as always nonetheless, Mr. Pratchett still has missed a beat in this book compared to many of his recent tales (Thief of Time, Night Watch).

Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland

Mainly conserns a fictional high school shooting in Vancouver, Canada. Told from the points of view of four different characters. Lots of grappling with religion and trying to find meaning in the world, especially in the face of a tragidy as sencless as a school shooting. Gruesome scenes during the shooting in the beginning of the book, but the vast majority does not so much concern the shooting as much as its effects, years and years after the fact. Coupland is still welcomely funny in parts (although his humor is very black) and the ending is as inspiringly hopeful as any in my recent memory. A great, fast read.

Theif of Time, Terry Pratchett.
I'm always sad, yet estatic with anticipation whenever I finish a discworld book.
I have read all of them in order, which made the experience even more enjoyable, even though I did stop for a few months at a time and picked up other books in the process.
This book, however, 'Theif of Time,' it's possibly (and I know this will be a bold overstatement, but am ready to make it) the best discworld I've read.
'Small Gods' was great, though it lacked the humor and satire that I come to expect (not in the terms that he 'owes' me satire and cynicism, but perhaps one can expect a level of at least humor in his books).
In any case, Theif of Time contains all of what one has become to love about discworld.
My rating: 4.5/5

Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson 9.0

I read Cryptonomicon, and it turned out to be a bit of a struggle for me to become interested in the story. A portion of it was so good, I gave Neal another chance with Snow Crash, and it paid off big time. This book had me after the initial sequence regarding "The Deliverator", and kept going fairly strong throughout the entire book. I was thouroughly engrossed in both the world and the characters, and while the underlying principles of the plot were a bit sketchy, the enjoyment more than made up for that.

Matadora -Steve Perry 8.0

The sequel to The Man Who Never Missed. Fun light read here. The 'twist' of the book is completely transparent, but hardly detracts from the overall story. Not anywhere near as obviously influential on recent sci-fi as it's predescesor, Matadora still continues to delight. It's a continuation of a hard story told in a pulpish manner, a rare find, and rarer to be done so well.