Editted after giving the changes in the storyline some thought. Due to the edits, I guess this no longer answers the "What are you reading now?" topic of the thread and is more of a review. Sorry! Last night I finished the third installment of the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, and I was looking foward to picking up the fourth book today. I was really excited because Patterson had taken a subject I found very interesting (recombinant DNA) and made it into an action-packed series that was both thrilling and somewhat enlightening. I also liked that it was directed for the YA audience. As the series has been finished for some time now, all the books are in mass media market paperback form and are being sold for $7 or $8, so the price wasnt bothering me. I decided to check Amazon anyway; I'm so glad I did. The fourth book averaged out at 2.5 stars. It had only about 10 five star ratings and close to 100 one star ratings. Apparently the fourth book is a massive diatribe on global warming being delivered by a patronizing narrator, and the storyline takes a serious turn for the worse with no mention of the first three books' original plot. From the reviews I read, it seems like readers could and should skip the fourth book (The Final Warning) entirely, as it functions more as a filler, and move right on to the fifth without spending the money or the time on the lackluster fourth segment. I then decided to check out the fifth book and see if the reviews were any better and if it was worth it to suffer through an environmentally-concious lecture for the sake of the series overall. The fifth book fared better with fans, but apparently the plot never gets back on track and most of the action is replaced with romance. In fact, the entire sixth book is a love triangle more than anything else. After thinking about the third installment, I see the beginnings of the downward spiral forming. Yes, it had its redeeming qualities, but based on the summaries and reviews of the next books, it seems to me like it is in this book where the problems for the series begin. I had picked up on subtle plot deviations and on some of the characters' views on issues that seemed completely unrelated and unnecessary to move the story forward, however, I let that slide based on the series' previously very good track record. I was also becoming a little annoyed with the shortcuts Patterson was taking --solving crises with improbable and sometimes impossible plot twists. Apparently these shortcuts happen with more frequency in the follow ups. What a bummer. Based on the reviews and summaries of the next three novels, I feel really disappointed. It seems like the problems established and addressed in the first three books never get cleared up and the characters' personalities change severely (particularly the narrator, whose tone goes from sarcastic wit to complete condescencion) --and two of the six central characters are left out completely! I've decided that I'll save the small amount of literary integrity the first three books have (well written, but not without some serious flaws) and keep my mind untainted by not picking up the fourth, fifth, or sixth (final) book. I take back what I said in my previous post, saying that you should pick this up only if you're both a Patterson and sci-fi fan. If you're smart, you'd stop after the third installment too. Now, thanks to an unfinished story and unresolved conflicts, I would actually recommend that you stay far, far away from this series. I feel cheated more than anything. James Patterson is a highly prolific author who is often at the top of the bestseller lists, but there's something to be said about quality trumping quantity.
James Joyce's Dubliners. I bought it today and am about half way through it. It's a really fantastic collection of stories.
I found that the other day in the Oxfam bookshop I volunteer in - it looked like a pretty good read, and it's on my ever growing 'to read' list.
Definitely buying it if it's still there when I go in tomorrow. Haha, yeah. Far too many books to read.
I loved that book, I have it in first edition, hardback. Yeah. I'm a fan of Richard Dawkins. I even have him as a friend on Facebook.
So do I. I have only had the pleasure of reading, The God Delusion and The blind watchmaker, until now.
I've been wanting to read this for a while now; thank you for reminding me. Now that it is in paperback, I think I'll pick it up at the bookstore soon. I've had the priviledge of reading The God Delusion and really loved it, but this one, I feel, will be even better. Is it?
It is not about religion at all, so nothing like the God Delusion. He writes science in a easy understanding way though. So going in if you knew nothing about the evolution process, he outlines it with a high lighter for you. If you know a bit then its a even smoother read.
I guess I never realized how many people actually take this book seriously. It's essentially the equivalent of someone like me writing a 400 page mean-spirited opinion book on Aeronautics, which is something I know almost nothing about. I honestly don't think I've facepalmed so many times when reading a book, as I did when I read this. Twice. Some serious logic holes throughout. Personally, I think he should stick to Science and leave Philosophy to the professionals.
Wow, I really think your opinion is off base with this one. Although you are in your own rights to have one, I do think that you speak it as fact to much. I am unaware of anything that Ricard couldn't back up in one of his seminars. Actually I have watched his seminars and he backs up the majority of the book. He has held Q and A's several times on this book, and nothing he says he doesn't have a reason for. I am just curious as to what you find wrong with the book. I mean what passages, or what expressions, turned you away.
To be honest, I'd rather not use this thread to debate one book, but there is an abundance of problems- and this isn't a cop-out. Long story short, I felt that most of his apologetics were old and had already been refuted long ago. It felt to me like a string of strawman arguments strung together. One specific problem I had was how he quoted people such as James Madison out of context and also with the court cases he mentions. Specifically with Nixon v. Northern Local School District Board of Education, he says that they were given priveleges due to freedom of religion when really it was the constitutional right of freedom of speech. What's worse is that he actually states something like "It would hve been different, if the court had ruled in their favor due to freedom of speech, but they didn't." or something like that. This, unfortunately, is a lie. This specific court case was ruled in favor due to freedom of speech, not "freedom of religion." I don't mind opinions, but people shouldn't just make stuff up or twist the truth to help their case.
As Rob said, this thread is not the place for debating books. I'm just about to start "Shutter Island" by Dennis Lehane.
I started that. It was good what I read but then I got distracted by other books so haven't come back to it yet.
I'll be interested to know what you thought of it compared to the movie. --- I've got too many books that I'm reading now, like there are 2 audiobooks in my car, one on the ipod Kindle, one on a little playaway thingy, and I just finally got It's Kind of a Funny Thing by Ned Vizzini. Everyone keeps recommending books to me, and I get them from the library without thinking about my current inventory, and then wonder later why I always have to return them past the due date. I justify my fines by figuring that the library can really use the money, so it's okay to return them late.
Love that book Marina (but you already knew that ) I just finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It was incredibly sad and very well written. Easily one of the best books I have ever read. It was a very hard read emotionally as I really got invested into it. I definately would reccomend it. Now though i must go find a new book, preferably something happier lol
Eh, I quite liked the film. It was flawed, but had flashes of true brilliance. So far the book is good. Looks like the film followed it almost to the letter.
I wanted to see it, but I was too scared to see the film. I cant stand horror films, and I'd heard that this one was a bit frightening. (And for me, that translates into OMFG terrifying! ) I really like the idea of Shutter Island--from what I understand of it, at least, it's a little cliched, but if it's executed properly, it, like all stories, has loads of potential. If the book turns out to be as good as you think it will be, will you let me know? Also, will you let me know if you think the book is less frightening than the movie? I didnt even know the film was actually an adaptation until just now.
