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[LeeC]

Around chapter 8 or 9 they referenced that one of the Catechisms of Command is pretty much the Fear is the Mind Killer Litany from Dune. It was well done and not too cheesy.

[Blue Kitty]

Howl's Moving Castle is my favorite Ghibli movie and I'm finally reading the book it's based on

[Theta9]

Howl's Moving Castle is my favorite Ghibli movie and I'm finally reading the book it's based on

I would have liked to see a film based on that book. One wonders why Miyazaki bothered to license the story at all; it has so little in common.

[LeeC]

Finished the first Cain series collection "Hero of the Imperium" with the 3rd book in the Cain series "The Traitor's Hand" and it was fantastic! Also, fuck Commissar Beije!

I just ordered the second Cain collection "Defender of the Imperium" with should arrive this Tuesday.
I hope Death Or Glory, Duty Calls, and Cain's Last Stand keep up the great quality the others have been.

[Pilchard123]

Do you perhaps mean
HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!

?

[TheEvilDog]

We do, but we can't express it by shouting or depicting it in bold and large print. Games Workshop has copywritten that and thus no one else is allowed to do so without getting a C&D letter. So thanks Pilchard, thanks for getting the GW LawyerHounds after us. Why would you do that? Why do you hate us so?

[Blue Kitty]

I'm reading Howl's Moving Castle again, but that's because I forgot I had read it before

[Theta9]

I'm reading Howl's Moving Castle again, but that's because I forgot I had read it before

Loved that book, as well as most of what DWJ has written.

On a tangent, one wonders why Miyazaki bothered to license the film rights at all, since he obviously had a different story to tell.

I would have liked to see the story that DWJ wrote.

[Thrillho]

My partners are reading Truckers, and I read that as a child and listened to it read by Tony Robinson on tape. Remember little about it except a generally oppressive atmosphere.

They're talking me through what they're reading and they're like bolts of memory lightning. It's fabulous.

I'm also continuing my 'one on, one off' Discworld trawl. I'm currently reading Equal Rites.

I thought both Mort and Soul Music took a while to get moving, plot-wise, and a while for me to get into. But Discworld is such a rich world and Pratchett's prose so distinct that now I just feel like I'm picking up the same one book again and reading a bit more of it.

Discworld isn't that nice a place to be. But Pratchett's writing is. It's like therapy. The other day I was edging on a meltdown before work and I read a few pages of Equal Rites and felt all the tension leave my body.

I have some 30-odd more to read before I run out, but it will be a very sad day when I do.

[hedgie]

Pratchett is one of the few authors I always turn to when I need a pick-up, and it always saddens me that more won't be forthcoming.  But the Discworld spins on, I guess.  I understand that there are going to be small-screen adaptations coming out with his daughter (who is an established author in her own right as well as being heiress to the IP) involved that I eagerly await.

[Theta9]

Pratchett is one of the few authors I always turn to when I need a pick-up, and it always saddens me that more won't be forthcoming.  But the Discworld spins on, I guess.  I understand that there are going to be small-screen adaptations coming out with his daughter (who is an established author in her own right as well as being heiress to the IP) involved that I eagerly await.

I find that Pratchett adaptations suffer from the same problem as Adams and Wodehouse. The humor is more in the narrative than in the action and dialogue, so it doesn't translate well to the screen. I was thoroughly underwhelmed byHogfather and The Colour of Magic.

[cybersmurf]

The first five to ten Discworld novels are pure gold.

[Is it cold in here?]

I just finished Jill Bolte Taylor's "My Stroke of Insight" and learned a great deal.

[Is it cold in here?]

"De Vita Beata", "On the Happy Life", Seneca.

Egomaniacal garbage frequently antithetical to Stoicism.

[LeeC]

I just finished the 4th book in the Cain's series (1st in the second Omnibus titled "Defender of the Imperium") "Death of Glory" where we travel back before the events of the first Omnibus' novels, to the event that made Cain famous.  "Death of Glory" is where he saves the planet of Perlia from an Orkish invasion. Boiling the story down it, was essentially a mix of Mad Max: Fury Road, Von Ryan's Express, and Brigadier Gerard. Great story telling with wonderful characters told from the point of view of Cain along with a few others of his exploits on Perlia that inadvertently made him a legend (which Cain regrets considering he would be involuntarily put into more dangerous situations because of his legend created here).  All in all great fun!

[LeeC]

I've been derelict in my audio-books and have 5 free credits on audible. Can anyone recommend a light hearted adventure tale or fun book?

[Theta9]

Just finished Thirteen Reasons Why (audio). The two readers were a good production call.

Today I start Cress, book 3 of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Myer. Cress is apparently the Rapunzel figure in this story (first two books were Cinder and Scarlet, and Winter finishes the saga.)

[Case]

"De Vita Beata", "On the Happy Life", Seneca.

Egomaniacal garbage frequently antithetical to Stoicism.

Seneca generally employs a pointed rhetorical style in his prose. His writings focus on traditional themes of Stoic philosophy. The universe is governed for the best by a rational providence, and this must be reconciled with adversity. Seneca regards philosophy as a balm for the wounds of life. The destructive passions, especially anger and grief, must be uprooted, although sometimes he offers advice for moderating them according to reason. He discusses the relative merits of the contemplative life and the active life, and he considers it important to confront one's own mortality and be able to face death.

One must be willing to practice poverty and use wealth properly, and he writes about favours, clemency, the importance of friendship, and the need to benefit others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger

Seneca was undoubtedly extremely rich: he had properties at Baiae and Nomentum, an Alban villa, and Egyptian estates. Cassius Dio even reports that the Boudica uprising in Britannia was caused by Seneca forcing large loans on the indigenous British aristocracy in the aftermath of Claudius's conquest of Britain, and then calling them in suddenly and aggressively. Seneca was sensitive to such accusations: his De Vita Beata ("On the Happy Life") dates from around this time and includes a defense of wealth along Stoic lines, arguing that properly gaining and spending wealth is appropriate behaviour for a philosopher

Ethicist, huh?

[sitnspin]

I am about a third of the way through "Children of Blood and Bone" an African-influenced fantasy novel.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orďsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

I am really enjoying it. The fictional world is well-developed, the cultures feel real and fleshed out. The characters are enjoyable and relatable. The story moves at a good pace, never feeling rushed or dragged out.  And plus it's really nice to read a fantasy novel that doesn't feel like yet another pseudo-Europe.

[Blue Kitty]

Did ya'll know that Howl's Moving Castle is the first book in a series? Cause I sure did not. So i'm gonna start the second book soon.

[JoeCovenant]

Every day I look to see if anyone is reading this...

...and every day, my heart breaks just a little bit more...

(Do guilt trips 'work' in this place, or what??    )

[Theta9]

Did ya'll know that Howl's Moving Castle is the first book in a series? Cause I sure did not. So i'm gonna start the second book soon.

If there's another that follows Castle in the Air (which is only loosely connected to Howl's), I'm unaware of it.

[sitnspin]

Did ya'll know that Howl's Moving Castle is the first book in a series? Cause I sure did not. So i'm gonna start the second book soon.

I wasn't even aware that it was a book. Intriguing.

[Theta9]

Did ya'll know that Howl's Moving Castle is the first book in a series? Cause I sure did not. So i'm gonna start the second book soon.

I wasn't even aware that it was a book. Intriguing.

As I've said, the movie has only the most superficial points of contact with its source material.
[ObCliché] The book is SOOOOOO much better! [/ObCliché]

[Blue Kitty]

Did ya'll know that Howl's Moving Castle is the first book in a series? Cause I sure did not. So i'm gonna start the second book soon.

If there's another that follows Castle in the Air (which is only loosely connected to Howl's), I'm unaware of it.

There is one, called House of Many Ways, and it came out pretty recently. It's only a decade old now

[Theta9]

If there's another that follows Castle in the Air (which is only loosely connected to Howl's), I'm unaware of it.

There is one, called House of Many Ways, and it came out pretty recently. It's only a decade old now

Did not know that.
I was saddened when DWJ passed in 2011, because it means (among other things) no more Chronicles of Chrestomanci.

[Aimless]

From Bacteria to Bach and Back, by Daniel Dennett.

I'm taking notes on my phone on pretty much every single page, so it's slow going. But it's a great book

[LeeC]

I finished "Duty Calls" which is the second book of the second Cain volume "Defender of the Imperium." It was pretty good. Felt like it started weak and I had a "here we go again" attitude at first what with the beginning seeming to be a bit like "For The Emperor" until the second assassination attempt and the Sisters showing up. I quite liked it and Kasteen's concern and reserved affection of Cain is rather adorable.  Like a little sister.  It was also cool to see Cain do some investigating. If I was to rate the Cain books so far I'd rate it thusly:

The Traitor's Hand
Death Or Glory
For The Emperor
Caves of Ice
Duty Calls

Although I'd rate Duty Calls and Caves of Ice about the same, Caves of Ice had a certain claustrophobic air to it that I liked. The short stories sprinkled around in the first volume do really help fill you in to the stories too and I understand why they structured the volumes that way.

In the way of Audiobooks: I am putting down Le Morte D'Arthur for now as I need a break from it. I picked up 1984 yesterday and listened to the first chapter on my way in to work today.  Great stuff. The first chapter seems like a short story in and of itself. I may want to re-listen to it as my mind was tuning it out and racing off on its own as I was dozing off on the train (not out of boredom, I just don't sleep well as of late). I rewound it a few times but still want to re-listen to it before I continue. I am fascinated by the world Winston lives in and although I have heard Orwellian and 1984 thrown around a lot and understand their meaning, along with watching videos talking about the book, the first chapter is just full of excellent prose and story telling.

[sitnspin]

Just started reading the lastest Expanse novel, "Tiamat's Wrath". Still too early to say much about it, it's interesting so far.

[cybersmurf]

I've been recommended the Honor Harrington series. Anyone of you read that?

[Is it cold in here?]

"Aspergirls", a book about girls and women on the spectrum from an "us" perspective.

[TheEvilDog]

Currently reading a locally written book about the sports history of my hometown, in particular the GAA. I'm mainly reading it because there's a significant section about my father. The author talks about how he's one of a handful of people in the country's history who won medals for Hurling and football (soccer) at the provincial level in the same year in 1968.

[Theta9]

I've been recommended the Honor Harrington series. Anyone of you read that?

Only On Basilisk Station, the first of the series. I think I remember enjoying it, but it was like 20 years ago.

[LeeC]

I've basically finished 1984, just getting through the appendix right now. Its really good and quite sad. I found myself being paranoid while walking through the city streets to and from work while listening to it.  I did have a question about the ending though.  We see 2 endings simultaneously for the protagonist.

(click to show/hide)

In one he dies and the other he is just a regular at the cafe and totally believes in Big Brother

Is this just narrative doublespeak on what happened to him? Both endings are happening at the same time (or so it seems narratively) but cannot both happen at the same time since they would be contradicting themselves which is doublespeak right?

[TheEvilDog]

(click to show/hide)

The ending essentially says that Big Brother broke Winston. He walks away to live his life, but he is dead on the inside.

[Theta9]

I just finished A Wizard of Earthsea, and now I'm thinking about rewriting Paul McCartney's song "Jet" to be about Ged.

[pwhodges]

You know Ged is pronounced with a hard g, do you?

[Theta9]

You know Ged is pronounced with a hard g, do you?

I listened to the audio book, so yes. What's your point?

[pwhodges]

Not much - I wondered if you'd been seduced by a greater similarity between Jet and Ged-with-a-J; but you haven't, so all's good.

[JoeCovenant]

(click to show/hide)

The ending essentially says that Big Brother broke Winston. He walks away to live his life, but he is dead on the inside.

(click to show/hide)

Hmmm...
I always took it that What happens to Winston is EXACTLY what O'Brien said would happen, what The Party does to dissidents.
He would remain alive, and then when he truly loved Big Brother, they would kill him.

[JoeCovenant]

Not much - I wondered if you'd been seduced by a greater similarity between Jet and Ged-with-a-J; but you haven't, so all's good.

"Hard G" as in God? (So "Gehd")?

Ged, to me, IS almost the same as Jet (G as in "Gee")

Isn't text great for pronunciation discussions?

[pwhodges]

Ged like Get, not Jed like Jet.

[oddtail]

I'm nearing the end of "An Artist of the Floating World" by Kazuo Ishiguro. I first heard of the writer way back in college - one of my professors was often raving about him - but I didn't get around to reading any of his novels until now.

It's... kinda amazing. My mother (whom I bought the book) described it as "a novel where nothing happens", but she really, really liked it. And honestly? That's a good description. Nothing really happens throughout the book. There's not much of a story. But it's also very good. The dialogue maintains tension and held my interest really well.

I'm definitely reading more books by this guy, and soon. If they are all this well-written, his 2017 Nobel Prize was well-deserved.

[Tova]

Not much - I wondered if you'd been seduced by a greater similarity between Jet and Ged-with-a-J; but you haven't, so all's good.

"Hard G" as in God? (So "Gehd")?

Ged, to me, IS almost the same as Jet (G as in "Gee")

Isn't text great for pronunciation discussions?

Well, if you read the books and arrived at different pronunciations to the author's, then I think it's worth noting that you have her blessing.

You the Reader have Reader’s Rights. One of them is to pronounce made-up names and words the way you want to.

From her website.

http://www.ursulakleguin.com/FAQ.html#Names

[Theta9]

Well, I'm going with the way Rob Inglis pronounced them in the audiobook.

[LeeC]

I finished Good Omens yesterday by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. The book was very funny and the story intriguing. The premise is simple. The end is nigh...but an angel and demon kind of like earth the way it is and do not want it all to end, so they team up to stop the end of the world.  The characters are perhaps the best thing about the book, also the narration.  The interpretation of good and evil and how humans seem to do it better than angels or demons was pretty fun. At some point I will try and watch the Amazon Prime show.  The ending wasn't what I expected but made sense in retrospect considering the philosophy and rules set up for the world and story.

[LTK]

Having read the book, the Prime show was mildly disappointing, especially since American Gods was such a riot - although to be fair, I haven't read that book.

(click to show/hide)

Also, I might be misremembering, but isn't the book's ending completely different from the show's ending?

[dutchrvl]

I'm nearing the end of "An Artist of the Floating World" by Kazuo Ishiguro. I first heard of the writer way back in college - one of my professors was often raving about him - but I didn't get around to reading any of his novels until now.

It's... kinda amazing. My mother (whom I bought the book) described it as "a novel where nothing happens", but she really, really liked it. And honestly? That's a good description. Nothing really happens throughout the book. There's not much of a story. But it's also very good. The dialogue maintains tension and held my interest really well.

I'm definitely reading more books by this guy, and soon. If they are all this well-written, his 2017 Nobel Prize was well-deserved.

If you like that (as I did that book as well), let me recommend the movie Tokyo Story (Tokyo Monogatari) to you. It's long, very slow, and not much happens really, yet I was completely entranced by it.

[JoeCovenant]

Ged like Get, not Jed like Jet.

Yeah... s'what I meant.

Ged (in the UK certainly) is pronounced like Jet.

[Blue Kitty]

Watched all of Good Omens and now I'm gonna read the book