Was able to get a lot of reading done since I was on vacation.

Finished this week:

Armada, by Ernest Cline

A steaming pile of garbage. Ready Player One, for all its flaws, worked. I enjoyed that book immensely and it was a fun popcorn book. Armada had none of that. Someone on goodreads described Cline as that guy at work who made a joke that you laughed at once, then repeats it every time you see him. Absolutely awful book but I am listening to the 372 Pages We'll Never Get Back which someone recommended and it made parts of the book more bearable.

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly, by Sun-mi Hwang

A short novella with a nice story. I'm a sucker for cheesy stories involving animals. Read in about an hour and I recommend it if you like novellas. Trying to find more of her work in English but it isn't so easy.

The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

What a slog. I've commented on it before, but I struggled to get through this because it was so dull and boring. The story starts to pick up in the last 30 pages but it wasn't worth the previous 200 or so. I also did not connect with the characters or setting at all, possibly because I didn't grow up in the 1980s when Atwood wrote the book and things were different. I'd like to see her rewrite it in today's world.

84, Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff

Another quick read about antiquarian booktrade. It was a neat little glimpse into a post-war UK and I have some of her follow-ups which should be interesting as well. Hanff has a sense of humour I enjoyed.

About A Boy, by Nick Hornby

Okay I finished this last week, but didn't get a chance to talk about it. I've now read every Hornby book and this is one of the stronger ones. I thought Marcus was a little too adult-like for me at times, but Hornby did a good job of making the children feel like children. Although I don't quite buy the premise of Will's father writing a Christmas song. Surely he could have come up with something better?

Currently reading:

The Stone Gods, by Jeanette Winterson

After reading her Gap of Time book, I wanted to check out her other stuff. It's certainly interesting. I'm about 2/3s of the way through this and it's clear where her politics lie. I do kinda enjoy the fact that the third part of the book has a character finding the text of the first part of the book. Very meta.

Self, by Yann Martel Just over halfway through this and it's a bit of a slog. It made me realise why I don't like Yann Martel. He overwrites. What one could describe in 5 words, he uses 20. I see what he is attempting to do, but he just isn't talented enough to pull it off. A good editor is what he needs who can really go in and trim off the excess fat.

A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole

Just started this one because it was on my to read list. I think I put it on the to read list because I liked the title. No idea what to expect and I am enjoying it so far. He certainly has a way with words.

Naked, by David Sedaris

What a life this man has lived. Are all his stories supposed to be completely true or are they embellished versions of the truth? I read that the SantaLand Diaries are now considered fictional and I wonder if some of these stories are as well.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Last week I finished:

The Titan’s Curse, by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians book 3)

City of Glass, by Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments book 3)

Both of these have been a turning point in the two series and I’m loving it.

Now I’m reading:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by JK Rowling (re-read)

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins (starting this one today, the book came in later than I expected)

In case anyone hasn’t figured it out yet I’m kinda big on YA fiction lol

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

The hugely popular sci-fi story that inspired a movie of the same name. Easily the worst book I’ve ever read in my life. It has no redeeming features.

After reading a couple of italian books, today I’ll start Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. I’m very curious because I watched the movie but husband says it’s pretty different.

Finished Watership Down, by Richard Adams - What a great book. It's hard to say much more than it's a good story. A lot of books that feature animals end up being allegories, like Animal Farm and Life of Pi. This book was just a good book about rabbits, if a violent one. "The Shining Wire" and "For El-Ahrairah to Cry" rank up there as some of the most frightening chapters I have ever read.

Finished The Stranger, by Albert Camus - Very short read. The beginning was almost unbearably Hemingway, but the book became far more interesting in its second half. The main character is dull as a piece of bread, and the book plays with that idea interestingly. Overall a good read and I understand why it's such a classic.

Started Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline - Taking a break from reading classics, this was recommended by a friend. Just from the prologue I can tell I'm going to hate it, but I'll power through.

So i started 3 good books last week.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by JK Rowling re-read of course. PoA is one of my favorites in the series.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline I loved the movie so much that I added the book to my current To-Read list (any new books I find I put them on my next list whoch I’ll get to after this one). Already love it more than the film.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins much more detailed than the movie although it’s been a minute since I last watched it. The book is going great.

So last week I finished:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by JK Rowling (re-read of course)

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

This week I’m reading:

City of Fallen Angels, by Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments book 4)

The Battle of the Labyrinth, by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians book 4)

I started and finished Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. This has been on my "to read" list for years and I decided to pick a book off the list at random. I grew up in the 1980s and I love my computer games so I really enjoyed all the references to 1980s pop culture. The underlying story was a bit cliche I thought but I still really enjoyed it due to the references. I bought the film adaptaption yesterday and started to watch it but didn't enjoy it so much so gave up after about 30 minutes. Perhaps it was too soon after finishing the book so I will give it another go some time.

I started Stories of Your Life, by Ted Chiang which is a collection of short stories. I'm about halfway through and it's decent so far.

I read volumes 20 to 23 of The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman. This covered the storyline involving the Saviours which I really enjoyed and I have just started the storyline with the Whisperers. I have put a reserve on volume 24 to 26 at my local library and I'm hoping they will arrive this week so I can continue.

I also read volumes 1 and 2 of Gyo, by Junji Ito which is another graphic novel. I first came across Junji Ito about a year ago and I have been working through all his stuff. I found Gyo a bit average and wonder if I'm over saturated from reading all his work in such a short space of time. Volume 2 included the short story The Enigma of Amigara Fault which is the first horror short I read by Junji Ito and I thought it was amazing so got me into him.

Finished Morning Star, by Pierce Brown

What an amazing trilogy. It really pulled me in and the twists and turns where fantastic.

Going to start Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Finished:

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline - Wanted to read it before seeing the movie and after having all my friends get on my case for not having read it yet, I blasted through it. Really loved it and I'm looking forward to getting to the movie this week.

Started:

Infinite Jest, by David Foster Wallace - Because having also recently re-read ASOIAF all the way through, I felt I needed a challenge. Only a few hours in and I'm really digging it.

This week I’ve finished reading Apt Pupil from Different Seasons, by Stephen King and Fire On All Sides, by James Rhodes.

I have now started Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline.

Last week I finished Shapre's Tiger, by Bernard Cornwell and The Invisible Man, by H. G. Wells

This week I'm finally on to Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Very immersive at about 107 pages in. I started it Friday for reference, and I'm usually not the quickest when it comes to consistent reading so I'm making good progress with this one. I think Wade is a great, relatable protagonist and I love the geeky video-game centric plot and the references to all kinds of different shows and video games.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

I wanted to read this book I had heard so much about before the movie came out. I was impressed at what a love letter to the eighties it was. It was a very compelling story and the puzzles that were presented were interesting. I wonder if anyone has tried to solve the puzzles via google as they read along?

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline Reading the HP series for the first time ever, and trying to read Ready Player One before the movie comes out!

Finished since last week:

The Black Tides Of Heaven, by J.Y. Yang Very intriguing and packed a lot into a novella. The world building was very cool and I'm excited about the second novella in the series.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline - Very enjoyable for what it was, a fast paced love letter to just about everything 80s. I grew up 80s-90s, so the nostalgia thing hit hard, although it felt like the book leaned a little too heavily on that as a crutch, and then would sometimes over explain. I saw a few of the 'twists' coming, but that's ok. This seemed like it wasn't meant to be heavy literature, and it wasn't, and it certainly didn't need to be.

Currently reading:

Six Of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo - Not quite Lies Of Locke Lamora, but has some of the humor and amusement due to the heist nature of it. I'm quite enjoying this.

Finished: Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline Very much enjoyed this one, better than the film, although the film did add a better emotional arc to the reason behind the the contest.

Finished: The Apostle, by Brad Thor This are fun, short, and fast paced spy/thrillers, not as good as some of the others, but still enjoyable.

Started: The City of Brass, by S.A. Chakraborty Rereading this before the sequel comes out later this month, and it's the r/books book club selection this month.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

I know I am a little late to the party with this book since it was published eight years ago and it has been made into a movie. I wanted to read this book before watching the film and I am glad I did. I think the book was AMAZING! I am going to watch the movie tonight. I am not a big fan of Science Fiction novels, but this one hit home with me. A lot of great themes in this book. Personally, my favorites deal with obsession and personal transformation. Anyway, if you have watched the film or have considered reading this book, do it. Also, check out this great infographic on the book! Wish I could get it as a poster.

Finished:

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline A fun, fast-paced and entertaining read, though not terribly literary. Ton's of 1980s references.

Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch Also a well-paced and entertaining read with an interesting thought-experiment in physics, though some scientific holes.

Started but abandoned:

The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood Loved Oryx & Crake but just could not get into this.

Tinkers, by Paul Harding Beautifully written but was desirous of something more plot-driven. Will likely return to it some day.

The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin Just not my cup of tea.

Started and currently reading:

Red Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson A little slow getting started but so far it's interesting.

Ready player one, by Ernest Cline just finished

Loved it. Devoured the book in about 36 hours - lots of fun to read. Not a life changer, but enjoyable

Heartburn, by Nora Ephron halfway through

So far I love it. Very funny and laced with poignant lines like "The infidelity itself is small potatoes compared with the low-level brain damage that results when a whole chunk of your life turns out to have been completely different from what you thought it was."

Inifinite Jest, by David Foster Wallace up next

Any tips?! I'm mighty apprehensive.

Finished American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Started The Pioneers, by David McCullough, Armada, by Ernest Cline, and The Lost Vintage, by Ann Mah (last 2 for book clubs)

Finished:

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Started:

Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon

Decided to pick up Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline after taking a very long hiatus from reading. I've yet to watch the movie but I'm loving the story so far!

Today I finished Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. I originally saw the film adaptation of this book which had me in love with it then I had to read the book which I enjoyed even more I loved the tribute to all the old games and pop culture in the book.

I just recently started Armada, by Ernest Cline. So far I really like thought im only through the first couple chapters.

​

Whose Body by Dorothy L Sayers

Finished this. Didn’t enjoy it much. Too twee, too predictable.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This was enjoyable enough. Wasn’t really feeling the 80s nostalgia though. It was way overboard, even though I was a teen in the 80s. The story’s fun and I enjoyed the setting. It was a good world to inhabit for a few hours. But it’s very much in that shallow, event-driven Young Adult style.

Finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows last week.

Started Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Only a chapter into it. Liking it so far.

I just finished:

• The Talented Mr. Ripley, by Patricia Highsmith . Wow. I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop the whole time, just like Ripley was. Very compelling story.
• Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline . Now I can see the movie! I enjoyed the book quite a bit, but it's very adolescent.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

It's okay, good setup and a terrible ending. Everything else is just 80s references.

Physical book:

Finished - Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury

Started - Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Book on phone:

Finished - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

Finished - Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll

Started - Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch

Audiobook:

Finished - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling

Started - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J. K. Rowling

Finished Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro. Very well written and composed. A modern dystopian classic.

Just started Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. Easy reading so far; about 15% in.

Backburnered The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood. Read Oryx and Crake years ago and started this sequel last week. About 100 pages in, but have paused while reading these other library books.

Finished:
Persuasion, by Jane Austen

Week-End Wodehouse, by P. G. Wodehouse

The Crying of Lot 49, by Thomas Pynchon

Started:

Nostromo, by Joseph Conrad

Frenzy, by Percival Everett

As You Like It, by William Shakespeare

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

This last title is one I actually haven't started yet, but which I intend to listen to as my next audiobook now that I've finished Persuasion. I already know I'm going to hate it, but it's for a reading challenge and it represents the only category that can't be worked around or adjusted. So I thought tackling it early in the year will allow me to look forward to the other challenge categories with greater pleasure.

I also haven't started As You Like It yet, but I recently got a used copy of the Folger Shakespeare Library edition, and I wanted to take it to Balboa Park with me and read it there. There are some lovely out-of-the-way nooks where one can sit and read for hours. However, I've been kept from making the day out because we've had winter storms blowing through and making the weather very uncertain. That all seems to have passed, so I'll do it this week, probably tomorrow because I can combine it with the Free Tuesday program for local residents.

Just finished re-reading Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline after seeing the movie. Going to start the audio version of The Perfectionists, by Simon Winchester

Armada, by Ernest Cline

Someone posted about the must read Sci-Fi's before they are made into movies and so I picked up a few but started with this one. It's closely similar to Ready Player One but I'm into the 6th chapter already and I'm still enjoying it!

About halfway through Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I’m reading Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline yet another recommend from my husband but being a massive geek I’m loving it. Plan to finish it over the next couple of days before the film comes out

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Just started reading this one and really enjoying it thus far.

Started reading: Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Finished reading: Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

Last week I finished Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

This week I'm reading Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, by C. S. Forester

I finished The Fire Sermon, by Francesca Haig, very cool take on the post apocalyptic dystopia, but definitely a spin on that that I haven't seen before.

Also finished my 2nd read through of Armada, by Ernest Cline. First time I read it I was mostly thinking about how similar it felt to Ready Player One, but I think I gave it a little more time and started to enjoy it for itself a little more.

I'm kind of in a rut right now, I have a really old copy of Lemuria: Lost Continent of the Pacific, by W.S. Cerve, but it's really out there. Might do a second read through of Seveneves, by Neil Stephenson instead...

Timeline, by Michael Crichton

A few chapters and I can tell that I'm going to enjoy this book. I also just finished Jurassic Park and I the style of his writing. No complaints at all with this book but I'm only in the first 50 pages of the book.

Armada, by Ernest Cline

I finished this a week or two ago and wouldn't read it again. It's pretty disappointing that such a great idea for a book fell so short and frustrating. The characters had no progression. Numerous plot holes. No real drive. And stereotypical nerd fantasy with a girl that doesn't make sense.

And the worst is the pop culture references. At least one every page. A pop culture reference every once in awhile would be fine but the amount that is put in this book tells me that the author had a creative writing block and couldn't come up with something else. All in all if you're interested in this book there are plenty of other books that won't frustrate you like this.

I finished Armada, by Ernest Cline

and am finally just starting Dune, by Frank Herbert

also slowly working my way through The Penguin History of the World: 6th Edition, by J M Roberts and Odd Arne Westad

I am 32 pages into Infinite Jest, by David Foster Wallace

Last week I read Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

I finished Ready Player One, By Ernest Cline Enjoyable nostalgia filled read as Promised by this sub.

I started reading Watership Down, By Richard Adams .

I started listening to The Pearl, By John Steinbeck narrated by Hector Elizondo. Both are off to a great start.

I finished Ready Player One by Ernest Cline so I could watch the movie next.

An easy read but have mixed feelings about it. I love all the 80s references (especially the Japanese 80s stuff like Raideen and Ultraman) since I grew up at the same time, owning a 2600 as a little kid, and played text adventure games, but the characterization in the book was rather thin even for a YA novel.

The writing quality was just alright, and at times put me off, but I got used to it. I can't hate a novel that somehow managing to incorporate the band Rush into the story.

I can see why it was popular. You can feel the author's love for the subject and it compelled me to finish the book in a couple days. I guess I was just expecting more due to the hype.

Armada, by Ernest Cline

Didn't really enjoy this book. Constant popculture references that got really annoying, a cool and unique story line that didn't follow through, and a main character that didn't evolve into much. Really it's just another Ready Player One with different context.

Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton

Really looking forward to this book as I start it this evening. Heard a lot of great things about this book from many people.

Armada, by Ernest Cline

Continuing

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War, by Nathaniel Philbrick

Started last week. It's superb.

I picked up a copy of

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

at the same used book sale at which I found "Mayflower", and I started it during the past week to give me something light to read on the side. I was in High School 1977-1981, and college 1981-1985, so I get all of the references. I've never quite gotten the appeal of games, though, and it's not doing much for me. I'll finish it, because it's still an OK diversion.