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Post by dfunked on Mar 29, 2023 7:55:55 GMT
I bounced off song of Achilles. I get that there's a romance side to it, but fucking hell I don't need to be reminded every couple of pages how bronzed and glistening and perfect the love interest is, or how bang average the protagonist is.
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Post by Nanocrystal on Apr 3, 2023 23:57:20 GMT
Blackwater - Michael McDowell
A series of six books set in small-town Alabama and following the lives of a well-to-do family and the development of the town and their various businesses over the course of the first half of the 20th century. Oh, and one of the family members is a river monster that occasionally kills and eats someone. It's 80% family drama and 20% gothic horror with Stephen King vibes. I came for the latter but ended up really enjoying the former too. The books aren't too long and move at a brisk pace. Highly recommended.
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Apr 6, 2023 23:38:32 GMT
Silent Parade - Keigo Higashino
A newish murder mystery from the guy who wrote The Devotion of Suspect X. A girl goes missing, her body turns up 3 years later, the most obvious suspect is smart enough to not get tried for it, DETECTIVE GALILEO steps in, etc.
It's all a bit shit, really. Suspect X was great, but I'm beginning to think it was a fluke. There's barely any whodunit, the howdunit is a convoluted mess, and the whole thing ends with several chapters of people just explaining things with no drama or meaningful twists.
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Post by simple on Apr 9, 2023 13:34:10 GMT
I really enjoyed the first
well, I say “enjoyed”
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Post by harrypalmer on Apr 9, 2023 16:32:16 GMT
The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis
Fucking great. Riveting from the start, almost unbearably tense at times. Need to reread Lunar Park next.
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Rich
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Post by Rich on Apr 15, 2023 18:33:50 GMT
Lords and Ladies - Terry Pratchett
Very good, but not really doing anything new and is very similar to the previous witches books. Nothing wrong with that though.
7/10
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Post by barchetta on Apr 22, 2023 6:31:48 GMT
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wunty
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Post by wunty on May 17, 2023 9:58:42 GMT
Garth Marenghi's Terrortome
Technically I didn't read it as it was on audible but it's a book so...
Anyway. After not being particularly impressed initially it got steadily more hilarious as it went on, until by the time I was done with it I was sniggering away walking to and from work. The psychic dugong with the voice of Liam Neeson (which is why the audible version is surely the superior way to consume this book, as the impersonation was spot on, adding to the hilarity) had me grinning like a moron.
The one thing I'll say is that - as he lumps cliche on top of cliche with a knowing wink - it's perhaps too easy to lampoon the horror genre, particularly the works of King, Herbert et al. Yet it was all so ludicrous and stupid that it doesn't matter.
This is something that - much like the two Partridge audiobooks and the superb Toast on Toast - I'll happily listen to every so often when I need cheered up.
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Post by dfunked on May 17, 2023 11:23:56 GMT
Bret Easton Ellis - The Shards - 7/10 I'm not as fond of this one as harry above. For the first half or so it felt like any time the suspense started to ramp up, it just went off on a tangent about how utterly perfect someone's ass is, or detailing some mildly obscure 80s record. That seemed to be less of an issue in the latter half, though
Blake Crouch - Upgrade - 8/10 He's fast becoming a favourite author of mine for a bit of a fun sci-fi romp. Nothing massively challenging and nice and quick to blast through.
Also been getting through the Expanse series: Leviathan Wakes (2011) - 8/10 Caliban's War (2012) - 8/10 Abaddon's Gate (2013) - 8/10 Cibola Burn (2014) - 6/10 Nemesis Games (2015) - 9/10
Very nearly dropped it after the disappointing fourth one, as I just didn't gel with the planetside antics at all. The next one felt like a huge step up. Splitting the team up for a bit and delivering a massive dollop of backstory helped it massively.
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mikeck
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Post by mikeck on May 17, 2023 13:27:03 GMT
Working through my pile of shame, finally got to Abercrombie's The Blade Itself. I know this book has been discussed before so I won't dwell, but fuck me that was good. Took me a few days to devour, which is great considering the last book I was reading took me months (good, but challenging read so I kept putting it off).
Immediately ordered the next two and put them straight to the top of the reading pile.
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Post by Vandelay on May 22, 2023 16:34:51 GMT
Just finished off reading Game Design Theory: A New Philosophy for Understanding Games by Keith Burgun. This was included in a recent bundle of game design books over at Humble Bundle. Just thought I would flag it here, as I found it fairly worthwhile read for anyone that is interested in game design.
Burgun sets out to try to define design principles for video games. He argues that games currently don't have any particular principles set out, certainly not to the extent that films, books, photography, etc. do. In reality though, the book lays out a way of thinking instead of actual principles. He begins by setting out what he believes games are and how they differ from other interactive systems. He briefly looks at a condensed timeline of games, both non-video games and video games, before breaking down individual genres and identifying areas of improvement for them. He also takes a look at other forms of games (particularly board games) to suggest ways video games could improve.
It was certainly an interesting read, although I don't agree with much of it. Burgun is incredibly dismissive of story in games and sees no benefit of them being included. He holds point and click games in particular contempt. Platformers too come in for derision, as he considers these contests, with no decision making required.
His forthrightness on these issues is quite entertaining though and in-between this there are some interesting points to consider around how games could be designed to be more interesting and to be something that you will want to continually return to. His ideas about reducing mechanics down to their basics and only adding complexity where needs be is a good philosophy, as is the negative impact complexity can have on balancing games (for example, the amount of extra match-ups you need to consider everytime you add a new fighter to a fighting game).
A fun read and provides some interesting food for thought. A bit old now (think it came out in 2012), but still seems relevant today.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2023 10:15:30 GMT
House of Leaves
Man, where to begin with this one. One of the more interesting things about the haunting MyHouse.wad map is one of it's frequently cited inspirations, the Mark Z. Danielewski novel House of Leaves. I'd never read it myself, but I'd heard of it, a borderline unreadable book (the storyline jumps around at random, and the text can appear sideways, upside down, backwards, in another language, or not at all) with a compelling central tale of a huge, ever changing labyrinth appearing in someone's home. The notion that such such a strange piece of literature would be the driving force behind a goddamn Doom map of all things was fascinating to me and led me to my playing MyHouse, and then eventually to the book itself.
The novel is mostly constructed of two main narratives, one being a diary of sorts of Johnny Truant, a young man who discovers a mysterious unfinished manuscript and tasks himself with completing it to the extreme detriment of his physical and mental health. The contents of the manuscript make up the second narrative, in which Will Navidson and his family discover a horrifying and impossibly huge labyrinth exists in their living room. Johnny's entries are inserted completely at random, with cutoffs frequently occurring midsentence. There's frequent mention of a short film portraying the events of the house on Ash Tree Lane within the manuscript, but Johnny has already told us that it is entirely fictional. However by his own admission, he himself may be an unreliable narrator.
Honestly I'm still trying to gather my thoughts on this, but I really wanted to get some thoughts down while it's still fresh in my mind and without sounding like a total dumbass. All the stuff I mentioned combined with the aforementioned forays into near total gibberish make this a tough read. But once the Navidson plotline had it's hooks in, I found it very hard to tear myself away. The book is frightening, unfriendly, bewildering. It seemed almost hostile at times, almost resenting my presence and punishing efforts to continue while at the same time not letting me leave. It's a labyrinth.
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Rich
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Post by Rich on May 25, 2023 10:19:23 GMT
through. Also been getting through the Expanse series: Leviathan Wakes (2011) - 8/10 Caliban's War (2012) - 8/10 Abaddon's Gate (2013) - 8/10 Cibola Burn (2014) - 6/10 Nemesis Games (2015) - 9/10 Very nearly dropped it after the disappointing fourth one, as I just didn't gel with the planetside antics at all. The next one felt like a huge step up. Splitting the team up for a bit and delivering a massive dollop of backstory helped it massively. It stays strong now until the end. Really good series.
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wunty
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Post by wunty on May 25, 2023 10:22:35 GMT
House of Leaves Man, where to begin with this one. One of the more interesting things about the haunting MyHouse.wad map is one of it's frequently cited inspirations, the Mark Z. Danielewski novel House of Leaves. I'd never read it myself, but I'd heard of it, a borderline unreadable book (the storyline jumps around at random, and the text can appear sideways, upside down, backwards, in another language, or not at all) with a compelling central tale of a huge, ever changing labyrinth appearing in someone's home. The notion that such such a strange piece of literature would be the driving force behind a goddamn Doom map of all things was fascinating to me and led me to my playing MyHouse, and then eventually to the book itself. The novel is mostly constructed of two main narratives, one being a diary of sorts of Johnny Truant, a young man who discovers a mysterious unfinished manuscript and tasks himself with completing it to the extreme detriment of his physical and mental health. The contents of the manuscript make up the second narrative, in which Will Navidson and his family discover a horrifying and impossibly huge labyrinth exists in their living room. Johnny's entries are inserted completely at random, with cutoffs frequently occurring midsentence. There's frequent mention of a short film portraying the events of the house on Ash Tree Lane within the manuscript, but Johnny has already told us that it is entirely fictional. However by his own admission, he himself may be an unreliable narrator. Honestly I'm still trying to gather my thoughts on this, but I really wanted to get some thoughts down while it's still fresh in my mind and without sounding like a total dumbass. All the stuff I mentioned combined with the aforementioned forays into near total gibberish make this a tough read. But once the Navidson plotline had it's hooks in, I found it very hard to tear myself away. The book is frightening, unfriendly, bewildering. It seemed almost hostile at times, almost resenting my presence and punishing efforts to continue while at the same time not letting me leave. It's a labyrinth. I've been promising myself a read of this for years and years. Maybe this year will finally be the year.
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wunty
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Post by wunty on May 25, 2023 10:25:59 GMT
I'm aware I wrote year a lot there.
The trouble is that I feel hardback would be the best way to read this and I can't bloody find a copy at a good price anywhere.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2023 10:26:48 GMT
It's a headache, and hella expensive, but worth it. I think.
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wunty
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Post by wunty on May 25, 2023 11:21:48 GMT
Paperback for £24 on the amazons though. Hmmm.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2023 11:47:33 GMT
Do eet. I paid... considerably more.
/headache intensifies
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on May 25, 2023 11:52:08 GMT
House of Leaves is like nothing else you will ever read. I couldn't recommend it to everyone, but personally it's one of the few books that I regularly revisit.
It's also genuinely terrifying. Not in a "Steven King monsters coming to get you" kind of way, more in the sense of being in a nightmare. Where you're horribly lost and nothing makes sense, or can make sense.
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on May 25, 2023 11:52:49 GMT
It's also really hard to talk about without sounding like a pretentious wanker.
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wunty
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Post by wunty on May 25, 2023 13:01:03 GMT
House of Leaves is like nothing else you will ever read. I couldn't recommend it to everyone, but personally it's one of the few books that I regularly revisit. It's also genuinely terrifying. Not in a "Steven King monsters coming to get you" kind of way, more in the sense of being in a nightmare. Where you're horribly lost and nothing makes sense, or can make sense. If I wasn’t on board already that’s just sealed the deal. It’s on its way.
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on May 25, 2023 13:10:35 GMT
My only advice is: don't feel like you need to read it from front to back. The thing will take you around in circles; embrace that as part of the experience.
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wunty
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Post by wunty on May 25, 2023 13:17:12 GMT
That's fine, I know the feeling of going around in circles very well.
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wunty
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Post by wunty on May 27, 2023 12:06:10 GMT
It has arrived! Will start reading tomorrow!
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Post by nemesis on May 27, 2023 13:20:00 GMT
The Secret History - Donna Tarrt
Well....that was bloody miserable. A good read, but it's a very slow journey, so be ready for the slow pace. 8/10 rasperry roses
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Post by 😎 on May 27, 2023 15:10:40 GMT
The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece - Tom Hanks
I suspect most people will glance at the cover and assume it’s an autobiography, but it’s not, it’s a novel about the making of a superhero movie. And it’s actually really good. Tom Hanks is an incredibly good writer and storyteller, and reminds me of a more saccharine Stephen King in places. It’s just this general feel good book about nothing fundamentally important, and maybe it’s a little self indulgent in the same way the movie Chef was, but I really enjoyed it.
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Post by LegendaryApe on May 27, 2023 17:26:24 GMT
The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece - Tom Hanks I suspect most people will glance at the cover and assume it’s an autobiography, but it’s not, it’s a novel about the making of a superhero movie. And it’s actually really good. Tom Hanks is an incredibly good writer and storyteller, and reminds me of a more saccharine Stephen King in places. It’s just this general feel good book about nothing fundamentally important, and maybe it’s a little self indulgent in the same way the movie Chef was, but I really enjoyed it. I pre-ordered this and got a signed copy. Only did it for the autograph, but will read it eventually
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mikeck
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Post by mikeck on May 27, 2023 18:05:21 GMT
It's also really hard to talk about without sounding like a pretentious wanker. Loved it, but don't want to say anything as I'll sound like a wanker 😉
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Post by LegendaryApe on May 27, 2023 18:18:34 GMT
It's also really hard to talk about without sounding like a pretentious wanker. Loved it, but don't want to say anything as I'll sound like a wanker 😉 At least you're not pretentious
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2023 10:26:34 GMT
House of Leaves apparently lives in my head now, so I went down a bit of a reddit rabbit hole with decoding and theorising about the Whalestoe Institute Letters and... Jesus. I think I'll be sleeping with the light on tonight.
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