Books I've Read
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Vorpal Blade
A student at work told me that he really like John Ringo's books, so I thought I had better try another after the disaster of Sister Time. This title caught my eye, and I checked it out even thought it is book two of the series, book one, Looking Glass, not being available. I was prepared to dislike it, and in fact was annoyed by several things. The artificial cursing (grapping, maulk) bothered me, but I see a need for soldiers (Marines!) cursing, so I can't think of another way around it, this book being intended for teens. Older teens! Anyway, lots of physics (the author says, hey, it's science fiction!), lots of shooting, almost everyone dies. The last hundred pages were real page-turners!
Words I Had To Look Up:
when the Santa Annas blew down (pg. 31) -- Should be Anas, I think.
"Semper-grapping-Fi, behanchod,"Berg muttered (pg. 67) -- You don't really want to know what it means. This book is aimed at teens?
in like flint (pg. 167) -- It is generally agreed the actual phrase is in like Flynn. In Like Flint is a movie. Derek Flint. James Coburn. Jeesh!
talking like Donald Duck... That's a side effect of hydrogen. (pg. 204) -- It's also flammable, dude!
Quote:
"On the Bounce, Marines!" ...
"What the hell is 'On the Bounce'?" Hatt asked.
"Oh. My. God," Berg answered, grinning inside his suit.
"Top read that book, too?: Jaen said. "Cool." -- (pg. 365) Love it!
Read:
2/2009
This Book Is Overdue!
Subtitled: How Librarians And Cybrarians Can Save Us All. Made me ALMOST sign up for Second Life...
Read:
1/2013
The Great Greene Heist
A good conjob story has always been enjoyable, and a bit of humor heops. I didn't laugh out loud until page 133, but I enjoyed reading this very much.
Quote:
Allegedly. Read:
10/2014
Bone By Bone By Bone
David's father, a racist doctor in 1960s (cit. needed) Tennessee, inspires love and hate in his son. Some story incidents inspired by author's father, she says she does not apologize for the sometimes strong language, as it was how her father expressed himself. I paraphrase. The "N" word is used often, too.
Words I Had To Look Up:
Miss Grace was in a real swivet (pg. 75) -- A state of extreme agitation.
Read:
6/2009
Entice
Bad Pixies are abducting teens in Bedford, Maine. Zara, now a good Pixie, formerly a human, battles to protect the humans while trying to find the way to Vahalla to bring back her love Nick.
I think the reason I didn't really care for this book is the same reason I didn't really care for the Kim Harrison book I read the other week. They were not written for the likes of me! They are for girls! And again, this is the third book in the series, so if you start here you are missing a lot of back story.
I read the Advance Uncorrected Proof edition.
Read:
2/2011
Castle in the air
Abdullah yearns for a bride, the princess Flower-In-The-Night, as it turns out. Sophie and Lettie and Howl eventurally turn up, after 176 pages, more or less.
Read:
3/2007
Dogsbody
The Dog Star Sirius is sent to Earth, in dog form, as punishment. He become the pet of an Irish girl who is living with her awful English aunt while her father is in prison. One of the best books I have ever read, of its kind! I am still choked up an hour after finishing it.
Words I Had To Look Up:
viridian (pg. 1) -- A chrome green pigment that is a hydrated oxide of chromium.
Zoi (pg. 2) -- Probably an invented term, refers to an object of power. Possibly inspired by borzoi dogs?
effulgence (pg. 2) -- A state of being bright and radiant, splendor, brilliance..
eughky (pg. 12) -- "I still have dry and (a very technical term) eughky ends" from http://www.archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=70034
sloven (pg. 18) -- A coarse obnoxious person.
quaint and knowing (pg. 52) -- Marked by beauty or elegance. I figured the author was using a different meaning!
sluttish (pg. 54) -- A saucy girl. Yet another different meaning..
couchant (pg. 129) -- Lying on the stomach with head raised with legs pointed forward.
empyrean (pg. 255) -- Of or relating to the sky or heavens.
Melpomene (pg. 260) -- The Muse of tragedy.
Quote:
He remembered that his Companion had tried to use the Zoi on him. (pg. 169) Wait, what??
Read:
3/2009
House Of Many Ways
The sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, it says. I thought that other book was the sequel. Charmain goes to house-sit for her magician uncle while he gets cured by the elves of a mysterious ailment. Sophie and Howl show up eventually.
Read:
7/2010
Howls moving castle
Sophie is turned old by a wicked witch, moves in with wizard. Just when you think you know where the story is going, everything changes.
Read:
2/2007
The Acorn People
The author writes of his time as a summer camp counselor for handicapped children. Short, but moving.
Read:
9/2013
Starship Titanic
In the introduction Douglas Adams tells how he came up with the Starship Titanic idea, but didn't have time to write the novel as he was involved with the video game.
So anyway, this big space ship lands on a rectory on Earth and picks up three people (and leaves one being behind), and there's a bomb on the spaceship, and alien/human sex, and the "f" word. And everyone is pretty happy at the end.
Quote:
"I mean a transportation system with an average speed of just above stationary is not really a transportation system at all!"..."It's more like a storage system!" -- pg. 225
Read:
9/2011
The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry
An elderly man (A young fella, around my age) uncharacteristically goes on a walk the length of England to visit a dying co-worker that he has not seen in many years. A whole lot of weeps at the end.
Quote:
"I miss her all the time. I know in my head that she has gone, but I still keep looking. [...] It's like discovering a great hole in the ground. To begin with, you forget it's there and you keep falling in. After a while, it's still there, but you learn to walk around it." -- page 210
Read:
12/2014
12 books displayed
[Jackson - Johansen] [John, and Travis S. Taylor - Joyce]