Rather than resuming Kay's Children of Earth and Sky, I decided on a change of pace and read Thorarinn Gunnarsson's Song of the Dwarves for the third time, finishing it at 1045 this morning. I'll either continue on with the second installment in the series, The Valkyrie, or read a book recently purchased through Amazon, Beethoven for a Later Age, Living with the String Quartets, written by the first violinist of the Takacs Quartet.

At 2222 yesterday evening I finished Thorarinn Gunnarsson's Revenge of the Valkyrie, second and, so far as I know, concluding volume of his Song of the Dwarves series. I find both books enjoyable interpretations of the Nordic myths that inspired Wagner's "Ring Cycle" of operas. I find the earlier chapters of book one especially intriguing, where Gunnarsson details the origin and travels of the beings who eventually came to be the Nordic gods. My only real problem with the series as that it ends too soon, with Brunhilde placed in enchanted sleep atop a flame-protected mound. Surely the tale should have continued on with the story of Siegfried.

The Sanctuary Seeker by Bernard Knight...Good book so far... ...

I've bailed on the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, pretty much brunt out on it with book 8. I'll get around to reading them all from the start again sooner or later.

With them on hold I've been working my way the the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. And if I'm honest, I'm not particularly impressed. Too many instances of characters knowing things they shouldn't. So far the worst was a character discerning exactly a particular occurrence from a letter which provided no details, involving items the character in question couldn't possibly have known existing. I actually went back to reread the letter in question, and I couldn't see anything that could have lead the character to this deduction.

And I really don't like some of the characters. Characterisation seems to become irrelevant whenever the plot demands it, no matter how clumsy the resulting scenario. I've got no problem with an honourable character, but when he refuses the throne because he only wants it for personal ambition(which is at no point actually portrayed) in favour of someone motivated solely by personal ambition, you've missed honourable and hit stupid. And then he makes the same decision a second time, knowing full well that the character he's giving the crown to won't be a good ruler.

And then there're the damsels in distress, who are far too numerous, and typically saved by a Gary Stu-ish main character. I don't mind the main character, in all honesty, I just wish they weren't queuing up three deep around him while he's busy rushing off to safe just about everyone at any given moment.

At 1541 this afternoon I finished Beethoven for a Later Age: Living with the String Quartets by Edward Dusinberre, first violinist with the Takacs Quartet. A good read, though it reinforces my long held self-realization that though I was a practicing musician for some years I was in truth much more a music lover and listener and lacked the temperament and dedication to perfection of a full-fledge pro-level performing musician. (Being a flawed mediocrity didn't help matters.)

I struggled through the first book of this series, Gardens of the Moon, back in 2008 and had absolutely no interest in continuing on. I know the series is (or was) quite popular but just couldn't figure out what the fuss was about. Can't tell you what I found so dissatisfying, as nothing about the book stuck in my mind.

This post has been edited by Decrepit: Jun 13 2016, 10:12 PM

I had a nice spring pilgrimage to visit Acadian Sr and help him celebrate surviving his 95th winter. One thing that made the journey more pleasant is that I dusted off The Clan of the Cave Bear from last reading it a couple decades ago and thoroughly enjoyed giving it a nice leisurely reread. I read the first four books of the series many years ago and have always been conscious of the impact that the series had on influencing several aspects of Buffy and Buffy Fiction.

It felt different reading it this time – better. Having now written so much myself now, it gave me a much greater appreciation for what Jean Auel was trying to do as she wrote the series. It all just seemed more vivid this time around and I was, again, struck by how much her books influence Buffy. It is, after all, about a young blond orphan who takes a path that is rife with hardship to gradually develop into a strong and capable young woman.

I also enjoyed how the author unapologetically lingered to lavish attention of the flora, fauna and setting of the northern tundra type setting. The book is quite character-driven and focused more on the journey than the destination - features that are integral to Buffy Fiction.

Heh, being SubRosa trained, I also notice that despite the author’s impressive talent, she is not perfect. I noted a few misspellings or typos during the 500 pages and was quite struck as the author changed perspective/PoV as often as sometimes two or three times on the same page. It quite felt like she chose almost an omniscient third person view. I couldn’t help feeling that SubRosa and I would have taken her to task for excessive head hopping were she posting here.

I have seen the same thing with many professional writers, especially when you go back decades or centuries. Jane Austen was really bad with it when I read Pride and Prejudice.

SubRosa trained me too; I never would have noticed something like that before either; but since her training it became glaringly noticeable, and shockingly enough did also find it in published works of some of my favorite authors as well

I remember you telling me about the strong influence that story had on Buffy fiction, so glad you got a chance to read it again!

...Me three!...(Or is it four?)...I spotted something like that in this book I'm reading now...It was, "How could he know that?"...

I thank you all for your training... ...(Especially Trey though...I have to admit... ....)... ...

McB, it is so nice to see you hanging around here again! I think we all gain from each other. As you have seen, I stole your wonderful concept of null iron to still the magicks of captive mages. Another inspiration I have taken from you (and ghastley) is the concept that immortals (Divines / Daedra Lords) can act like people with quirks, personalities, imperfections and emotions.

I just read through the Children of Hurin and .... yeah. What a damn tragedy.

At 1221 today I finished The Claw of the Conciliator, volume two of Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun. This was its fourth reading, the first having ended Sep 1988, the most recent Apr 2002. I find it interesting that this series' main character, Severian, claims to forget absolutely nothing, while another of his series centers on a fellow who, due to a head wound, forgets pretty much everything after a brief span of time. (This wound also lets him see and communicate with gods and other supernatural beings.) I think Wolfe's handling of the man's forgetfulness very well executed. That said, I feel the meat of the story is contained in volume one, Soldier of the Mist, while volume two is more "The continued adventures of . . . ". (Wolfe wrote a third volume many years after publication of the first two. I never bothered with it.)

I will continue on with volume three of The Book of The New Sun, The Sword of the Lictor. Gotta love those Wolfe titles.

I started reading Imajica, but I've given up on it. According to my Kindle I'm 15% of the way through the book, and thus far everything's moving forwards by chance. There are hints being dropped that something major is going to happen, but at this point it looks as though the author has resolved to have the characters stumble blindly into it, because no-one seems to have any intent connected to it.

I don't mind a book having a slow buildup, but without the impression that someone's actually trying to accomplish something, the whole thing just falls flat for me.

At 2037 this evening I finished my fourth reading of volume three of Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun, The Sword of the Lictor. I'll begin volume four, The Citadel of the Autarch, either later tonight or sometime tomorrow.

At 0742 this morning I finished my fourth reading of The Citadel of the Autarch, fourth and concluding volume of Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun. I at first thought to forgo Wolfe's sequel, The Urth of the New Sun, but am reconsidering.

My grandmother gave me her old kindle for my Birthday before I bought one of my own so I gonna start reading more.

I have just started The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

At 0309 this morning, almost an hour after waking for the day, I concluded my second reading of John E. Klapproth's Beethoven's Only Beloved: Josephine! This was its second reading, the first occurring little over a year ago. It is, in fact, the last book I read prior to joining this forum.

Why reread it so soon? I was having trouble settling on a book to read. I'd started at least three only to lose interest not far in. Being keen to all things Beethoven, I figured the Klapproth might tide me over until my reading block faded. I was right in that Josephine kept my interest start to finish. We shall see about the rest.

The book champions Josephine von Brunsvik as the intended recipient of Beethoven's (supposedly unsent) 'Immortal Beloved' letter, found among his possessions after death. There are of course other candidates. I have for some years felt that the preponderance of evidence points to von Brunsvik.

Here's Wikipedia's article on the subject.

I've been reading The Monuments Men, by Robert M. Edsel.

I've also seen the film, which is almost criminally inferior to the book.

I'm about to finish the Dark Half, a King's novel from 1989. I had this book at my parents' house for years but never got around to reading it because when my brother bought it years ago, my English wasn't good enough to fully understand it. Then, as time was passing, the book got lost somewhere, I knew it had to be stored somewhere but never really bothered to find it. When we were moving to our new condo in 2015, I found it again and now I'm about to finish it for the 1st time. It easily became one of my favorite King's novels.

There is an evil criminal in that book called Alexis Machine, which partially served as an inspiration for Rattler, my evil character from FO3.

Yog Sothoth Rules!

Does that mean Rattler is a high-toned son of a bitch?