V for Vendetta, by Alan Moore

I'd previously seen the movie, but this smooths over a lot of the film's faults. Namely, in the sense of ambiguity in everything: the ambiguity in the nature of anarchy and fascism, in the identity of V, and perhaps best integrated in the psychological setting and how V's multi-leveled base resembled the exploration of the dreamy, dark corridors of the mind. Everything is improved because of this. Everything. Besides just being a superhuman character, V can now also be the psychological manifestation of Evey's father, or an allegorical symbol of transformation represented by the imprisoned actress Valerie in room 4, who then transforms into the mentally "freed" V in room 5. That mirrors Evey's transformation from her ordeal, which now also becomes hugely symbolic of humankind's struggle towards freedom, born from the chaos that inevitably arises from oppression. He truly does become a symbol of everyone because of this blurring, and not just empty words that sound cool. Moore's blunt anarchic philosophy is still a bit dicey, but that ambiguity in setting, theme, symbolism, and characters improves this 100x more than the film.

Altered Carbon, by Richard K. Morgan

Halfway done. Should be finished by next week. I'll write my thoughts then.

Finished: Wonder, by R.J. Palacio

A nice, touching book. Watched the movie with Julia Roberts after and loved it as well.

Reading: Altered Carbon, by Richard K. Morgan

60 pages in and I'm hooked on it. Will watch the Netlix series after.

Finished The dark Tower, by Stephen King

I was a little bit sad after I finished the last one knowing I can't go back to the universe.

Started Altered Carbon, by Richard Morgan

Just started it after watching season 1 on Netflix. So far I like it.

Just finished: Altered Carbon by Richard k. Morgan I'm excited to watch the new(ish) Netflix series but wanted to read the book first! I really enjoyed the book, I wasn't sure what to expect other than sci-fi, I actually thought the book had been published much earlier than 2003. I may pick up the next in the series but not anytime soon, my TBR pile is way too big.

Just starting: The Last Wish (The Witcher #1) by Andrzej Sapkowski I'll admit I've never played any of the games, but I've heard a lot about the series recently, and it was available on Overdrive.

almost done with Altered Carbon, by Richard K. Morgan. It's interesting and entertaining but I will not be sad to never hear breasts compared to fruit again.

Next is Spoonbenders, Daryl Gregory.

I finished Altered Carbon, by Richard K. Morgan I absolutely loved it. I was thoroughly entertained through the whole read. I'm definitely going to pick up the rest of the series.

I started The Blade Itself, by Joe Abercrombie I only finished the second chapter, but I really enjoy Abercrombie's writing style.

Started reading Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius and I just finished Altered Carbon, by Richard Morgan

I adore the setting of Altered Carbon, and outside of the lack of (as much) personality in my favorite hotel I think the book compares extremely well to the netflix series.

about 2/3 through The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu, which is going to have to go back to the library before i finish i think. noooooo! also started Altered Carbon by Richard K Morgan, which is great so far, except for the MC's oft-mentioned turgid member.

I just finished Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan

It wasn't bad. I think I'm enjoying the TV show more.

I just started Wrath of Empire by Brian McClellan

Everything I've read by McClellan has been great so I'm excited to sink further into this one.

Reread Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers, by JK Rowling, but this time, it's in French.

Currently reading Altered Carbon, by Richard Morgan

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan

Started and finished this week. Pretty good overall, a techno thriller mystery set in a future that is frankly a bit unsettling. I wanted to read it before diving into the Netflix version.

Awaken Online: Precipice by Travis Bagwell

Started and am 2/3 through. It’s a mindless nerdy read about a VR MMOG set in the future. It’s the second book in the series, consistent with the first. One irksome thing about it... if I had a nickel for every time a smile or frown “curled” on someone’s face, I could retire before 40.

I read Altered Carbon, by Richard Morgan.

The story centers around Takeshi Kovacs who has been hired by a "highly influential aristocrat" (quoted words from the imdb summary) Laurens Bancroft to investigate his suicide. The thing is Bancroft doesn't think he committed suicide, he thinks he was murdered.

I am not out of my mind. Let me clarify this by giving a little background.

This story is set in a time when humans can download their consciousness in devices called "stacks". Once the physical body dies, the stacks can be removed from the dead body and inserted in another body. Thus, the person can live again. The problem is, bodies don't come cheap. So if you are rich you can buy a nice young body with all the vaccines and some enhancements if you want and live another hundred or so years. But if you are poor, your consciousness is stored in the form of stacks at storage facilities till you are allotted a new body. Laurens Bancroft is super rich and has multiple clones. The fact that the stack can be replaced in another body makes it difficult to murder people like Laurens Bancroft as they would just come back in a new body. So, one night, Laurens found himself in one of his clones at the storage facility and the body he was using dead in his study. The police dismiss the case as a suicide but Laurens is not convinced.

Enter Takeshi Kovacs, the super soldier. Takeshi Kovacs is revived and put in the body of a corrupt cop to investigate the murder/suicide. Kovacs then sets on a gritty journey full of fights, sex and drugs.

Though this is just the peak of the ice-berg, it is enough to explain the plot.

The book paints a Blade Runner-esque future where everything is dark and grimy. The story is interesting but there are some pacing issues here and there. The characters are well developed and the author doesn't hold back when describing the gritty murders and torture scenes or the sweaty sex scenes. I think the book could have benefited with a little more editing, maybe shave some pages off to keep the pace.

Overall 8/10.

I will start Three Men on the Bummel, by Jerome K Jerome

Altered Carbon has left me feeling a bit down. I am going to start Three Men on the Bummel as a pick-me-up. Will post some words once I am done with it.

Edit: Added a line.

Altered Carbon, by Richard K. Morgan

Highly entertaining. It feels much more cyberpunk than hard sci-fi, but the world built here is incredibly detailed and interesting. In that tradition, the main character Takeshi Kovacks is a man who reveals himself mostly through his actions, but the focus here is more on the high-charged, action set pieces, the world built around it, and the intrigue of the various levels of society. When I think back to this book, I’m not really struck by any deeper philosophical issues illuminated by its sci-fi context, even though a large part of the book revolves around the fascinating notion of death being impermanent (even a mere inconvenience to the wealthy)—with the ability to download your mind into new bodies after you die. The memorable part of this, lies in its high-octane action, memorable and colorful character interaction, and the exploration of a world that seems so incredibly different and yet so fundamentally similar to our own.