tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post2184941998872052411..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: The Bone HouseAndrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-68261114328967527062013-05-15T06:13:47.144-07:002013-05-15T06:13:47.144-07:00Sarah: Well, it's been a long time since I rea...Sarah: Well, it's been a long time since I read those books, but I really liked them. I mean, I really liked them. I do vaguely remember Taliesin starting slow, and, in one sense, the events in Taliesin are unimportant in that they're not exactly related to Arthur, BUT they are related to Merlin, and I loved that book. Of the three, Merlin is my favorite, but you really need the weight of Taliesin behind it.<br />[I did, however, almost completely disenjoy the 4th book.]Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-868303614696592072013-05-15T05:49:50.658-07:002013-05-15T05:49:50.658-07:00Speaking of books that start out slowly, let me as...Speaking of books that start out slowly, let me ask you opinion of Lawhead's Taliesin. I recently tried to read it because it was recommended to me, but I honestly found it to be one of the most boring books I've ever tried. I didn't get very far into part two when it appeared that it wouldn't be much more interesting than part one, which was downright dull and, IMO, unnecessary to the plot. Also, I found all the characters to be dull. I didn't dislike them, but I couldn't manage to like them either.<br /><br />Now, I LOVE Arthurian legend and Welsh mythology and speculative stories about Atlantis, all of which this book is about. So it really should have been a perfect book for me. But I found the writing to be (here it is again) dull and unskilled. But more importantly the story telling was just... boring. <br /><br />So what do you think of the book? Does Lawhead get better? Does the series get better? Should I give it another try?Sarah McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985261436020635823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-89576644240570521492013-05-13T11:26:24.575-07:002013-05-13T11:26:24.575-07:00Kristen: I wouldn't worry about that. At all.
...Kristen: I wouldn't worry about that. At all.<br />After I finished House, I started reading The Dresden Files, and my first thought was, "Wow! We use a lot of the same concepts. People are going to think I stole these ideas." But I hadn't, and I knew I hadn't, because I'd finished writing the book before I started reading Dresden, and, truthfully, it doesn't matter what people think. And the truth is that we all "steal ideas" even without meaning to. And I blatantly used the Narnia idea in House, because that's the kind of thing I wanted to do.<br /><br />My suggestion would be to finish your book, then read his, just to keep any influence out of your own work before you've finished. Once you've finished, don't worry about it. Your book won't be the same book, even if it does have similarities.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-70706006764678659172013-05-13T11:20:45.013-07:002013-05-13T11:20:45.013-07:00Rusty: I was enough unimpressed by Endymion that I...Rusty: I was enough unimpressed by Endymion that I haven't managed to make myself try and read anything else by him.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-51837960368644175462013-05-13T07:21:10.962-07:002013-05-13T07:21:10.962-07:00To too? I couldn't believe how lame that was. ...To too? I couldn't believe how lame that was. I did slog through but hated every last word. Can't believe it's the same gun that wrote Hyperion. Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-4775975680789916212013-05-12T15:30:23.579-07:002013-05-12T15:30:23.579-07:00I'd better read this, because it sounds an awf...I'd better read this, because it sounds an awful lot like the book I am writing. I hope it's not the same, because I've been working on it for awhile now. :(Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08827651632884248765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-77756970750948659762013-05-12T12:57:56.115-07:002013-05-12T12:57:56.115-07:00Donna: Oh, yeah, I have a long list of "I hat...Donna: Oh, yeah, I have a long list of "I hate when a novel has a ninja on a motorcycle delivering pizzas" type things.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-22741761781412612662013-05-12T10:10:13.934-07:002013-05-12T10:10:13.934-07:00Yeah, I've persevered through many a book and ...Yeah, I've persevered through many a book and been glad I did. I rarely give up on a book in the first about a third. I like stories that take their time to build.<br /><br />And sometimes I learn a life lesson as opposed to being entertained by a novel. At the least, I learn what I don't like in a book and perhaps avoid the same mistakes in my own writing.<br /><br />.....dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-70495092849092577172013-05-11T14:56:42.002-07:002013-05-11T14:56:42.002-07:00MP: That hasn't really been my experience. I h...MP: That hasn't really been my experience. I have found it more often the case that first book is better and the series goes steadily downhill from there.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-12612573884926839072013-05-10T21:49:35.222-07:002013-05-10T21:49:35.222-07:00I don't really read series, so I am wondering ...I don't really read series, so I am wondering if it is often the case that the second book is stronger than the first?Missed Periodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10343265071637032284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-22492346221068527582013-05-10T15:58:59.357-07:002013-05-10T15:58:59.357-07:00Jo: I avoid as much as possible picking up things ...Jo: I avoid as much as possible picking up things that I'm not going to read right away. It's just too much stuff.<br /><br />Briane: Oh, well, bad writing is something else entirely, and you should be able to tell the quality of the writing within a relatively short time.<br /><br />FYI: I'll be looking forward to your new classic.<br /><br />Also FYI: I'll also be looking forward to those reviews.<br /><br />Also, also FYI: You should check my Wed. post.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-54962617839833737142013-05-10T15:29:00.858-07:002013-05-10T15:29:00.858-07:00Sometimes books start slow, but are worth reading....Sometimes books start slow, but are worth reading. I remember "The Fellowship of the Ring," which has very very slow parts to it. But "slow" is different than<br /><br />(different from? I don't know)<br /><br />"bad." Like when I started reading "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" and just couldn't get hooked, at all. I don't think it was just that it was slow. It was that it wasn't very well-written.<br /><br />I've read lots of stuff that sounds dull on paper. "Longitude" is billed as "the true story of the man who invented the marine chronometer," and could have been boring, but the excellent writing and the way the story is put together make it worth reading.<br /><br />So that's how I try to tell: if a book is a bit slow-paced, but the writing is good, I'll read it. But if it's just bad, or dense, or hard to get into, I've got better things to do.<br /><br />I don't think it has to hook me on page one, but each line should make me want to read the next one, at least a little.<br /><br />(FYI: I picked out my new classic book, based on a recommendation from Kurt Vonnegut, and it hooked me instantaneously.)<br /><br />Also FYI: I'm going to post some more reviews of the excellent "Shadow Spinner" now that I've finished up a trial and have some time.<br /><br />Brianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616494058636881575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-49078940888281483502013-05-10T14:00:45.370-07:002013-05-10T14:00:45.370-07:00I have a listing of 41 pages on my Kindle with abo...I have a listing of 41 pages on my Kindle with about a dozen books per page. Not only that I am still ordering books from the library. I must be nuts. Do read W&P it is a great book once you get past the first 100 pages or so which is basically telling you who everyone is. I was told to start reading at 101 and then go back later, I didn't, but it's not bad advice.<br /><br /><a href="http://henderson-jo.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE</a>Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-48003393923646566252013-05-10T13:30:29.937-07:002013-05-10T13:30:29.937-07:00Jo: I still need to get to that one. My stack of b...Jo: I still need to get to that one. My stack of books is SO tall.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-47972768050950856962013-05-10T12:32:02.075-07:002013-05-10T12:32:02.075-07:00If one put books down too quickly because of lousy...If one put books down too quickly because of lousy beginnings then War and Peace would never have been read and that is a magnificent novel. Mind you, today I might not have persevered.<br /><br /><a href="http://henderson-jo.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE</a>Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-30377705245770559912013-05-10T11:06:52.452-07:002013-05-10T11:06:52.452-07:00Shannon: I more willing put down a book now than I...Shannon: I more willing put down a book now than I did in my youth, but I'm still willing to give it more than a fair shake. I mean, I did, after all, finish reading Snow Cash.<br /><br />Alex: Dan Simmons? I've only read his sc-fi.<br /><br />PT: ...<br /><br />Tina: I know how that is. I still hate putting down a book part way through, but I have made exceptions. Like with Hawthorne. Ugh!<br /><br />Sheena: So far all of these have great titles.<br /><br />Sia: Yeah, I'm not saying that, once started, every book should be finished, but I do think that if you have any reason to believe that your impression of the book could be wrong then, maybe, you should wait it out.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-54142656672788296222013-05-10T10:44:08.963-07:002013-05-10T10:44:08.963-07:00I agree with you on that thought Andrew. Sorry, bu...I agree with you on that thought Andrew. Sorry, but that first line or paragraph don't always have to reach out and smack me to get my attention. I tend to give a premise a bit of time--a few chapters at least. I've found there are reasons, many times, for the way the book starts. Once you get further into it you realize it was the perfect start.<br /><br />I won't lie, as a reviewer there have been a few that I've tried to read that just didn't hit the mark and a few that I could not get into, no matter how hard I've tried. <br /><br />On series, there have been some installments I haven't enjoyed as much as others.<br /><br />Enjoyed your article!<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.siamckye.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Sia McKye OVER COFFEE</a>~Sia McKye~https://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-23161884009958001202013-05-10T09:09:02.020-07:002013-05-10T09:09:02.020-07:00Glad you liked it, that's one chilling title.Glad you liked it, that's one chilling title.Sheena-kay Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712661419116636671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-81206564388529247442013-05-10T08:19:06.283-07:002013-05-10T08:19:06.283-07:00I used to ALWAYS persevere through a book, as if i...I used to ALWAYS persevere through a book, as if it were some rule that once you start one, you have to finish. But this coming from a type A control freak, so that may have been the problem. I'm with Alex, I'll give a book a couple of chapters, but I have so little reading time in my life I refuse to spend it on crap.<br /> Tina @ <a href="http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Life is Good</a>Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08925730745204736744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-16199691430804937212013-05-10T05:46:22.829-07:002013-05-10T05:46:22.829-07:00I'd have trouble getting past the title. Bone...I'd have trouble getting past the title. Bone...huh huh.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-59889638304658557992013-05-10T03:18:36.041-07:002013-05-10T03:18:36.041-07:00I'll give a book several chapters. But I will ...I'll give a book several chapters. But I will put it down if it doesn't eventually grab me. I used to force myself to slog through bad books, but after my mind-numbing experience with The Terror by Simmons, I decided I'd never do that to myself again.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-23324086891889727762013-05-09T23:34:14.464-07:002013-05-09T23:34:14.464-07:00I have only put down a couple books without finish...I have only put down a couple books without finishing them, and only after such a significant struggle that I just couldn't do it anymore. I may be more likely to do it now, but haven't run into a book lately that needed giving up on.<br /><br />Shannon at <a href="http://thewarriormuse.com/" rel="nofollow">The Warrior Muse</a>Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.com