Books you've been reading/listening to

[BlackMastodon]

I finished Book 1 (or part 1, I guess) it the first Dune book yesterday. Also rewatched the Villeneuve movie over the weekend again and I really wish it was like an hour longer. Seemed like it was extremely rushed to get to the Harkonnen attack and so much was omitted. I know I'm being pedantic and was annoying my partner because, duh, the book is always gonna have more, so she just said you gotta treat them as 2 separate things. I did, however, prefer what they did with Leto towards the end in the movie.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

I finished Book 1 (or part 1, I guess) it the first Dune book yesterday. Also rewatched the Villeneuve movie over the weekend again and I really wish it was like an hour longer. Seemed like it was extremely rushed to get to the Harkonnen attack and so much was omitted. I know I'm being pedantic and was annoying my partner because, duh, the book is always gonna have more, so she just said you gotta treat them as 2 separate things. I did, however, prefer what they did with Leto towards the end in the movie.

Have you watched the 2001ish SciFi miniseries? It's worth it, though the CGI is dated as hell. Where it falls short on the visuals, it massively makes up for in deep world-building that the Villeneuve version really skimped on. The first movie covers Dune and Dune Messiah, you can find it for free online pretty easily. They also had a Children of Dune followup which is a little harder to find, I got it on DVD from the public library. I remember SciFi running them as an all-day marathon when I was a kid.

The Lynch version is worth watching as well, for the sheer level of Lynchian what-the-fuck-ness that pervades it. When you consider how old it is, the special effects are downright impressive, and much less jarring than the awful 00's CGI. The Miniseries also has the best Vladimir Harkonnen of the three IMO, though I appreciated where Villeneuve took him.

Here's hoping we get a 3.5-hr extended cut of the newer movie(s) down the line.

 

[gabito]

I’ve been reading a lot these past few months:

Currently reading A Confederacy Of Dunces again, one of my favorite books.

A few weeks ago I read Nemesis, by Isaac Asimov. Also Fahrenheit 451.

And I read One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad) last month, I think. In spanish, of course Very good book, I wasn’t expecting to like it so much.

 

[devastone]

Been reading a lot over the summer and fall due to a screwed up shoulder, potential LTC, and some side effects from a herbal sleep aid (liver toxicity, be wary of 1906 Midnight drops) keeping me from playing outside all summer.

I read Rob Halford's autobio, interesting, he struggled a lot (duh), decent read, the autobiography of the metal god. Bruce Dickinson's auto bio was good too.

Also read through Barry Eisler's John Rain series and working on some of the peripherals, assassin/spy stuff but entertaining, Dox makes it better when he comes on the scene.

Reading God's Eye View now, another Eisler book

I'm sure there are more that I'm missing, gone through a dozen or more in the last 4 -5 months. Thankfully getting back to playing, but still not a lot of stamina for biking or anything.

You guys are making me want to reread the Dune books, it's been decades.

 

[Furtive Glance]

Just grabbed 3 non-fiction books from the library. I never have to wait for new books or be put on a waiting list because it seems nobody in this town reads anything... Good and bad, I guess.

The Auschwitz Photographer
How the World Really Works
Stolen Focus

 

[Ralyks]

Literally just finished this. Kinda bittersweet, seeing how they're my favorite band and their most recent album will be their last.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

took a break from the Dune saga to read Starship Troopers and I'm not sure what I was expecting but I'm almost done and still have that "where's the beef?" feeling. I've been blasting through it waiting for the story to start, I guess I just DGAF about all the extraneous military stuff. Johnnie Rico keeps saying "I won't tell you everything about boot camp," "I won't tell you everything about officer training," and then tells you everyfuckingthing about it. Half the book is boot camp.

I really enjoyed Stranger in a Strange land and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress as a teen so I expected to love this but I'm honestly glad it's almost over.

 

[Furtive Glance]

I'm reading through all the Halo novels #nerd. I own a good portion of them and am slowly building up so I have the good ones (IMO) in my possession. The Kilo-5 trilogy could stand alone as a sci-fi series - it's fantastic.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

Finished The Hobbit. A nice palate cleanser from Starship Troopers. Started back into the Dune Saga, on Heretics now. Nothing else seems to be scratching the itch currently, even The Hobbit felt a little flat compared to Herbert's storytelling. Not many books left in the series, not sure what I'll do after that....

 

[BlackMastodon]

Finished The Hobbit. A nice palate cleanser from Starship Troopers. Started back into the Dune Saga, on Heretics now. Nothing else seems to be scratching the itch currently, even The Hobbit felt a little flat compared to Herbert's storytelling. Not many books left in the series, not sure what I'll do after that....

Isn't there technically like a dozen+ books in the Dune saga once Herbert Jr. picked up the mantle? Ive heard that the main Frank Herbert ones are the only worthwhile ones, though, so not sure the extended universe necessarily counts here.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

Isn't there technically like a dozen+ books in the Dune saga once Herbert Jr. picked up the mantle? Ive heard that the main Frank Herbert ones are the only worthwhile ones, though, so not sure the extended universe necessarily counts here.

That is correct. Some of them are based on dad's notes, and Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune comprise the sequel and conclusion to Heretics and Chapterhouse based on a hefty manuscript dad left. I'll probably read as far as those two, and decide based on the writing whether I want more of Jr or not.

 

[lurè]

Finished the entire Witcher saga. Absolutely in love with the the work and just made me realize how bad is the TV show.
Now that I've finished the books I like the games even more, but the TV show is just about Henry Cavill fanboyism and has nothing to do with the books.

 

[MFB]

I bought The Shining like three weeks ago and finally broke into it last night and got through the first two chapters before bed; curious to see how it compares to the movie/mini-series as I've heard the differences are quite numerous between both, and neither being an exact representation. One thing I sometimes hate about reading books after knowing them in a different medium is that now for me, Nicholson will always be Jack, and Shirley Whatshername will always be Wendy when I picture them in the book. Minor grip for sure, but still a valid one.

 

[Leviathus]

Still hype.

Probably won't get to these til spring tho, as i've just begun reading Alan Walker's 3 part bio set on Franz Liszt.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

Still working through Heretics of Dune. I might have to re-read this one, lots of new characters and threads to keep track of, I'm following the main story arc fine but feel like I'm missing a lot of detail.

Ursula K Le Guin's The Dispossessed is up next based on my partner's strong recommendation.

 

[Lorcan Ward]

Finished the entire Witcher saga. Absolutely in love with the the work and just made me realize how bad is the TV show.
Now that I've finished the books I like the games even more, but the TV show is just about Henry Cavill fanboyism and has nothing to do with the books.

I just finished Blood of Elves and I feel the same. It's given me a whole new love for the four games and how they brought the world and characters to life. I can fully understand the dislike towards the show now too. Season 2 follows about 10% of the book and made up the rest, changing characters and story arcs completely. Book vs show Geralt are two very different characters. I would be surprised if the show makes it to season four with Henry and I don't see them making season five.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

I just finished Blood of Elves and I feel the same. It's given me a whole new love for the four games and how they brought the world and characters to life. I can fully understand the dislike towards the show now too. Season 2 follows about 10% of the book and made up the rest, changing characters and story arcs completely. Book vs show Geralt are two very different characters. I would be surprised if the show makes it to season four with Henry and I don't see them making season five.

Cavill is leaving after s3, and liam hemsworth is taking over for s4.

 

[feilong29]

Having always had an interest in the studies of psychology, I stumbled upon Carj Jung. This led me to acquiring quite a few of his books but before I dive into his studies, I am getting through two books by Robert A. Johnson, specifically Inner Work and Owning Your Own Shadow. VERY eye-opening, the dive into the sub-concious and the concept of a universal unconsciousness. I think many people are unaware or choose to neglect that "inner" self and it comes out in ways that suprise us--usually in a negative way.

 

[Lorcan Ward]

Cavill is leaving after s3, and liam hemsworth is taking over for s4.

Meant to say "without Henry". I've been following the whole thing and his push for a Warhammer show which I'm a bit torn about. An Eisenhorn TV show would be great but a near impossible task to portray the characters and setting accurately.

 

[TheBlackBard]

Finished the entire Witcher saga. Absolutely in love with the the work and just made me realize how bad is the TV show.
Now that I've finished the books I like the games even more, but the TV show is just about Henry Cavill fanboyism and has nothing to do with the books.

You're placing the blame in the wrong area there, bud. It was Henry Cavill who left the show BECAUSE it wasn't following the books enough.