What are you reading?

That's funny, Boehner had quite the reputation for being a heavy drinker.

 

And a heavy smoker.

Worth a read if you have any interest, but some might say he is just a RINO complainer. Can't say that I disagree with him 100%.

 

He does talk about his love for children......

 

This is a fantastic deal on all three books of Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle for $2.99. This epic trilogy is not sci-fi and it can be a bit difficult to stick with a couple of times but in the end I really enjoyed it and times I LOLed. There are some great characters here including Isaac Newton and Leibniz.

https://www.amazon.com/Baroque-Cycl...ef=nodl_?_bbid=18457038&tag=dealsreminder1-20

 

I see why this is very popular after reading it. Very enjoyable read...even if I only watched one thing from him in a movie.

 

funny story about John. I worked at a bike shop that had a rear entrance near a tavern that had expanded into an adjoining retail space with a separate AC system. Due to the existing State laws pertaining to smoking in indoor facilities, having a single eating establishment with separate air handler systems meant that this tavern could allow smoking indoors even after the State-wide ban on smoking indoors at eating establishments.

Almost once a week John would rent out the space for dinner, and once while taking a repair bike out for a test ride I ran into him (figuratively). He's a pretty likable guy. RINO or whatever, he was at least willing to chat with a grubby bike mechanic that pretty much disagrees with him on any issue. It was an enjoyable chat! He's honest, at least.

 

Back in 2017 I started reading Malazan Book of the Fallen, I finished Gardens of the Moon and really enjoyed it, but at the time, I had just started going back to school, and didn't have nearly the time required to read this incredibly broad and deep epic fantasy series. So I vowed to return to it later, after I graduated.

Well earlier this year when we froze for a week and a half without power/water, I didn't have anything better to do, so I started re-reading since my Kindle had plenty of battery. I read all of Gardens of the Moon again and started book 2, Deadhouse Gates. I didn't finish Deadhouse Gates till like 2 months ago. I don't want to say it was bad, parts of it were incredible, but overall I found the characters we were following to be less interesting.




This is where book 3, Memories of Ice comes in. I just finished it yesterday, and I have to say, this is easily one of the best books I have ever read. The world in Malazan Book of the Fallen is incredibly broad, taking place over large swaths of land with an enormous cast of characters. The characterization is some of the best I've ever read. The plot is just as deep and epic as the world is. Malazan isn't for the faint of heart, its written more like literature than typical fantasy, that's not to say its a slog, but that the level of the writing is higher, it takes more work to read, but I really do think that it is worth it.

I had heard for many years that Malazan was one of the best epic fantasy series out there, after finishing Memories of Ice, I am starting to believe them. God damn it was good. I really hope the next book, House of Chains, is even half as good as Memories of Ice was.

 

I enjoyed the whole series immensely and plan to read it again by the time the new trilogy is finished.

 

Karsa Orlong!

 

Shexy

 

I've been working my way through the Polity universe by Neal Asher. Lots of excellent world building here with excellent characters and BIG ideas. I'm up to the Spatterjay series now. Here is the recommended reading order:
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WE0NuMU8...PogCLcB/s1600/NealAsher_Polity_draft_full.jpg

 

The other day I finished the next Malazan book, House of Chains. Ive got to say, I went into it kind of worried considering how incredible Memories of Ice was, and while it wasn't as good as that one, it was still fantastic. House of Chains also introduced maybe my favorite character in the series, Karsa Orlong is such a badass

 

Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic.

Bought it again a fortnight ago as I keep giving it away to people who have never read his work.

 

Dune. I last read it ~1984.

 

I read Dune for the 1st time back in 1970 at age 14. I was gobsmaked. I do remember thinking at the time was thank heavens for a glossary of terms.

 

Sylvia & Chris were featured speakers at our Dec AES PNW section virtual meeting. Many rather notable recording, mixing and mastering engineers were also in attendance. Very lively discussion along with amazing demonstrations of still working vintage microphones from Sylvia's mic museum.

 

Currently reading two books - Neal Stephenson’s new one Termination Shock and also reading through Asimov’s Foundation series. Currently on Foundation and Earth but I haven’t read the prequels yet.