catch up on my reading list.

I’ve been horribly lazy reading-wise, off late… I guess I just haven’t been in the mood in the past few months. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever read less in y whole life. I’m getting back to my normal reading pacenow (well, it’s summer, isn’t it), but I’m still kinda surprised at myself. I’d always been really addicted to reading.

I’ve read almost all Discworld books, and love them to pieces. The last one I read was Going Postal, which was absolutely wonderful, funny, to the point, and everything a book should be (IMNSHO, of course). Never thought one could write such an amusing book about post office, of all things.

The only ‘grown up’ discworld books left to read is Truth, which I will probably take to Ireland with me, in August.

Now I’ve started reading young adult Discworld books. I was somewhat sceptical, but I’m almost finished with Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, and I’m enjoying it no end. Not much differwent than the ‘grown up’ books at all, really.

I’ve read this book, and didn’t like it. Note to self: pick books myself, NOT take recommendations from friends; especially not friends that have different taste in books than I do.

‘Deus Irae’ is well written (Zelazny and Dick ARE good, after all), but it deals with religion (which is not a topic of interest to me). Characters were well done but not likable. Book was not boring in itself, but didn’t leave a particular aftertaste either. I have this feeling that in a few years I won’t remember what it’s about.

So, I’me done with ‘The Borrowed Books List’, thanks gods.

Uh. Uhh.
Fighting my way through ti, basically. Read first 100 pages. Laughing out loud at overly melodramatic passages when I’m in a good mood. I doubt it’ll get any less melodramatic as I read on, but perhaps it’ll become more interesting.

Basically, what bothers me most is badly-paced prose. Maybe it’s because of the translation, but all the sentences seem to be of EXACTLY THE SAME LENGTH. I never knew something like this could be so irritating.

I finished The Rule of Four this morning. Didn’t like the book overly, but the last 15 pages or so appealed to me in a way (sappy ol’ me… ;) ).

The interesting part is: there are two mysteries in this book. I wasn’t overly interested in either of them. The first one – the one connected to a book and Renaissance didn’t work for me simply becaue it didn’t follow the old rule for writing mysteries: the reader must have all the clues the hero does for solving the mystery. Well, I’d say most of today’s readers don’t speak dead languages and aren’t experts on Renaissance texts and the like… No way I could solve any of Paul’s ‘riddles’. No way I could even try. That’s probably why it didn’t hold my interest for long. There were some interesting facts, but that’s all.

The second mystery -the contemporary one – wasn’t overly mysterious, that’s all.

Some parts of the book didn’t ring quite true for me – the college atmosphere didn’t, for some reason. Maybe I expected too much. Maybe I expected another ‘Secret History’ (by Donna Tartt).

What I did like was the relationship the four friends have. That WAS interesting (although it didn’t get quite so interesting until before the end). It seems to me that friendship is the only thing the authors REALLY know something about from personal experience and, as it usually happens, it’s the part that worked best for me.

I’m not sorry I read the book, but am not overly happy either.

Lately I’ve been working on my ‘borrowed books list’. Spending my life in company of bookworms most of the time, people recommend me books all the time, then make me borrow them and promise to read them AT ONCE. Of course, I tend to do the same to others. Don’t we all.

Anyway, only two library books and three books borrowed from friends to go.

From the library-

America 1&2 – can’t be bothered to check the name of the author.

It’s a story of some Norwegian settlers in America. Basically, it’s trash literature. Really. I’m reading t only becaue it’s in Norwegian and I need to read morein Norwegian. Anyway, I’m some 70 pages into the first book, and it’s rather boring at the moment.

From friends-

1. The Rule of Four – by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason

My best friend has a thing for mysteries. I don’t, not quite. She made me take this book. Anyway, I’ve read 130 pages and NOTHING IS HAPPENING )and there are no particularly well developed characters or anything to compensate for the lack of plot). I keep wondering why I’m still trying to read it (but I have a thing about finishing what I start, so duh).

2. Valhalla Rising – by Clive Cussler

Oh dear. I haven’t read anything in ‘adventure’ genre since I was a kid. I’m somewhat afraid ;)

3. Deus Irae – by Roger Zelazny and Philip K. Dick

Since Zelazny is my favourite writer, this should be a real treat :D

I’ve also been working on rereading Jordan’s ‘Wheel of Time’, so that I can read the book 11. Actually, I’ve been listening to the audiobooks – a fun thing to do while commuting. I’m halfway through the book 7 at the moment.

At least one of my reading list. Being meticulous idiot I am (in some things, at least), my reading lists are categorized by genre, time period, urgency etc. That doesn’t help them get any shorter, though. Vice versa, they get longer every day…
I should at least start with my fantasy reading list, those books are quickest to read :)