Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

I know what you mean about best written. Abercrombie isn't as poetic or flowing as Rothfuss but I enjoy his works more because they have the elements that entertain me more so.

A well-written prose is a good way to make people interested in your book though. You're definitely half way there with it anyway.

Meanwhile a badly-written book can destroy one's enjoyment of a book with great ideas. I've been turned-off a great many deal of times by books that had amazing ideas and great world-building but that were, for lack of a better term, badly written.

You need to be able to write at least a decent prose to convey your ideas in a good manner.

Patrick Rothfuss indeed has a gift with that. He's got a flowery writing style that manages to be modern without feeling out of place which is something many modern writers struggle with.

Robin Hobb has the best writing style I've ever read in fantasy though. It's very much her own, I don't think I could ever read a text by her and not know she was the one who wrote it.

It's highly functional, simple and really feels unbounded by time; it's not old-fashioned nor modern, timeless indeed. Plus she effortlessly writes insanely quotable sentences that feel like life lessons into her books.

I freely admit to being highly biased as I'm a huge fan of hers though.

There's no doubt it cuts both ways.

I think they're both talented writers but I think they tend to lose sight of the story line and become myopic on nuances.

I think books do speak to you and there are different things that attract you to an author's work. It can vary widely about what attracts you though. For me I have to connect with at least one of the main characters (hence one of my problems when I tried Rothfuss). If I don't I'm going to struggle to read the book. By connect, I mean I actually have to become invested in how a character or multiple characters are going to progress through a series.

Dani I like to read multiple reviews as well to gage if I want to read a book. There are a couple of people I know though that 90% of the time, anything they recommend I'm going to love. Which is great as one of them broadens my horizons to read books I wouldn't normally read.

You're right about the different things to attract different people. I myself find I don't need to like all the characters of a story but yes, there's got to at least be one you connect with on some level. Not connecting or seeing any character growth happening will mean I'll struggle with reading on but generally for me a dnf is more likely to be caused by bad writing/hard to read prose or the story being off putting and/or boring than for the reason of being unable to connect with its characters.

Isn't it great when that happens, when you read a book that you had entirely no expectations of (or maybe even dreaded reading because you never would have chosen it yourself) and then it completely surprises and gets to you? I like that about as equally as I resent being disappointed by a book that I was sure I was going to enjoy. It sure is one of the main reasons why I love coming to GR. The downside of course is that I now have to accept the fact that my tbr list probably won't get finished EVER :-).

Dani wrote: "The downside of course is that I now have to accept the fact that my tbr list probably won't get finished EVER :-). "

It really won't. ;)

Haha, thanks for the reassurance.

Samuel wrote: "I was in Stratford for the Shakespeare Festival. Very beautiful country.

We saw All My Sons, A Little Night Music, and Macbeth. They were all fantastically done, and I'm seriously thinking about returning next year. So much talent in such a little town. "

Going WAY back to this - if you do go to the festival again Samuel, check out the warehouse tour. I went this past weekend and it was awesome. They have 65000 costumes and tons of props. Plus you get to try some on at the end. They already have the play bill out for next year as well.

On top of multiple reviews I weight people who I have similar book interests with higher. I also look at those people's average ratings. Somebody who's average rating is a 3.9 vs another who's is a 3.2 and they respectively give the same book a 4 and a 3 probably means the same thing.

I can probably without looking come close to guessing everybody here's average rating off the top of my head. Which completely off topic I can memorize numbers without issues but I'm AWFUL with names. Back in the bar scene days if somebody gave me their number I would likely remember it but forget their name! That's my yes I'm an awful person story for the day. :)

Dan wrote: "A well-written prose is a good way to make people interested in your book though. You're definitely half way there with it anyway.

Meanwhile a badly-written book can destroy one's enjoyment of a b..."

Just talking about unique and interesting writing styles, have you ever read any Gene Wolfe? He is without a doubt my favourite writer ever, but I know his style can really put people off - he tends to be quite florid with his prose and uses a lot of archaic words. I personally love it, and his style directly contributes to his world-building by allowing him to hide a lot of detail in plain sight, encouraging careful and repeated reading.

I'll just stop myself before I start fully gushing - but I can at least ask if you or anyone else has read much by Wolfe? :)

I have Peace on my tbr list but somehow ended up reading The Sorcerer's House recently. I like his writing style but dnf because the story didn't grab me.

Sean wrote: "Dan wrote: "A well-written prose is a good way to make people interested in your book though. You're definitely half way there with it anyway.

Meanwhile a badly-written book can destroy one's enjo..."

No, I haven't. But as I searched for him now I realized he was already in my ever-growing tbr list, so I'll be sure to get to him sometime in the not-so-distant future.

Archaic words you say? Hm, any interesting quotes you can think of?

Dan wrote: "Archaic words you say? Hm, any interesting quotes you can think of? "

I'm not great with quotes, but here is a list of some of the words that pop up:

Just scan the list to get an idea - some of the descriptions give the context the words are used in. Not direct spoilers for anything, but just said I'd leave a warning.

Peace is a weird one, even by his standards. I also think it's one of his more difficult books, so not a great place to start.

Check out The Book of the New Sun - it's his most famous work and is definitely the best place to get started. Like mentioned above about Rothfuss, you'll either love it or hate, and you'll know pretty quickly which way you fall.

Sean wrote: "Dan wrote: "Archaic words you say? Hm, any interesting quotes you can think of? "

I'm not great with quotes, but here is a list of some of the words that pop up: ..."

I'll check it out sometime, thank you for the recommendation! It does sound interesting

Thank you to everyone who has sent me or accepted friend requests from me in the last couple of weeks. It's wonderful to find a great group on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ that is so active and has a lot of great conversations / recommendations.

Also thanks for my now continuously exploding TBR list that feels like it's quickly increased in size over the last couple of weeks. My 200 book limit on it just went in the trash bucket.

Angela wrote: "Thank you to everyone who has sent me or accepted friend requests from me in the last couple of weeks. It's wonderful to find a great group on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ that is so active and has a lot of great con..."

<3

Angela wrote: "Thank you to everyone who has sent me or accepted friend requests from me in the last couple of weeks. It's wonderful to find a great group on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ that is so active and has a lot of great con..."

Completely agree with you. It's very nice to talk to like-minded people.

Jenna/Scott, I no longer see my bingo challenge topic in the 'personal tracking and challenges' folder and I think there's other ones missing as well (Angela's for one).
Is this something in my personal settings or do you not see them either?

Click on the main folder. You simply haven't updated it as recently as others.

Oh okay, Sorry to be such a newbie...

No worries.

Yeah, if we allow more than 5 threads to show, the page would go on and on and on and people looking for the stand-alone folder would be scrolling forever.

Okay, y'all. If I don't get as involved in upcoming buddy reads as I'd hoped, it's not necessarily because I'm flaking out. I actually enrolled in college (again) this week and I'll be taking a full load in addition to the full time job. 5 classes, 13 semester hours. I'm looking to get a second Associates Degree, this time in Health Information Systems.

I recently completed a Medical Coding Certification, so add that and the degree program and I'll have some kick ass resume fodder. Then I can get a better paying job and more money for books.

Chris wrote: "Okay, y'all. If I don't get as involved in upcoming buddy reads as I'd hoped, it's not necessarily because I'm flaking out. I actually enrolled in college (again) this week and I'll be taking a ful..."

Wow - good luck!

Good luck Chris.

Jenna wrote: "Yeah, if we allow more than 5 threads to show, the page would go on and on and on and people looking for the stand-alone folder would be scrolling forever."

Sounds logical.

Chris, I'm impressed with all that you're taking on. Good luck!

Thank you, thank you :)

As much as I look at the group reads schedule and as daunting as it looks at times.........thank goodness I have it. Just trying to figure out want to read in my little breaks I'm so scatter-brained wanting to read everything and changing my mind constantly. I look at the feed and see what others are reading and think oh-oh that looks good let's read that........right up until the next feed refresh.

My mother calls me......

M: Where’s Cayden?
S: She’s went to running camp in the Berkshires.
M: Does she go every day?
S: Yes Tamara dropped her off today and they stay over.
M: You dropped her off tomorrow and today?
S: No Tamara dropped them off.
M: So she’s not going until tomorrow?
S: No I told you Tamara dropped them off today.
M: How would you drop her off tomorrow and today?
S: T-A-M-A-R-A dropped them off.
M: Is that Cayden’s friend?
S: Yes Cayden’s (14 next month) friend drove them out there.
M: Don’t be wise.
S: You asked.
M: Well who is she I haven’t heard of her.
S: Cayden’s friend Sophia’s mom.

I felt trapped in an old skit like who's on first. She's know for months Sophia and her were going, who Sophia is and who Tamara is.

Scott wrote: "My mother calls me......

M: Where’s Cayden?"

Oh dear.

Jenna wrote: "Scott wrote: "My mother calls me......

M: Where’s Cayden?"

Oh dear."

I did an imitation for my 11 year old and she was roaring laughing knowing her grandmother can be, to be nice, a bit dense.

Hey everyone! I have some great news to share: I got a job!! I'm going to be moving to Korea at the end of September. Hopefully I'll still have enough time to complete all my scheduled buddy reads!

Jenna wrote: "Hey everyone! I have some great news to share: I got a job!! I'm going to be moving to Korea at the end of September. Hopefully I'll still have enough time to complete all my scheduled buddy reads!"

Wow congrats Jenna! What kind of work will you be doing?

Well done Jenna. I hope you love Korea. We just had two Korean students (13 year olds) for two weeks and it was brilliant. Haha although my eldest definitely thinks kimchi tastes terrible. My eldest is going on a school trip to Korea and China in 2017 so you will have to give me some tips about food he might like. He doesn't like anything hot. Do you speak Korean? My son has to taken Korean and Mandarin lessons from October.

I am so excited for you!

That's awesome. Do you speak Korean? I remember you speak a few languages but I'm not sure which ones. What will you be doing and which city?

Wow, Jenna, congrat.! How exciting! What kind of job is it?

Congrats, Jenna! That's awesome. Savor your overseas experience.

Tracey the Lizard Queen wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Hey everyone! I have some great news to share: I got a job!! I'm going to be moving to Korea at the end of September. Hopefully I'll still have enough time to complete all my schedule..."

Thank you! I'm going to be a teacher for adults (mostly business people).

Angela wrote: "Well done Jenna. I hope you love Korea. We just had two Korean students (13 year olds) for two weeks and it was brilliant. Haha although my eldest definitely thinks kimchi tastes terrible. My eldes..."

Haha tell him that I don't like kimchi that much either. Best advice - if it's red, it's probably spicy! But I can give you more details later. I do know some Korean, but my speaking is atrocious so it's the perfect chance to practice it. It's so cool that your son is learning two difficult languages. Good for him!

Scott wrote: "That's awesome. Do you speak Korean? I remember you speak a few languages but I'm not sure which ones. What will you be doing and which city?"

Again, my Korean speaking level is pretty low, but yes, it is on the list of languages. I'll be in Seoul, teaching adults. :)

Dani wrote: "Wow, Jenna, congrat.! How exciting! What kind of job is it?"

Thanks Dani! (see above answers)

Chris wrote: "Congrats, Jenna! That's awesome. Savor your overseas experience."

Thanks Chris!

Hehe Scott your Mom and mine sound pretty similar. Sometimes I worry that I will worry that I'll just drive my kids nuts when I'm older.. Other times I chuckle at that idea

And apparently the sentence structure is the first thing to go.... Ah well I'm too lazy to edit my comment

Margret wrote: "Hehe Scott your Mom and mine sound pretty similar. Sometimes I worry that I will worry that I'll just drive my kids nuts when I'm older.. Other times I chuckle at that idea"

I can't wait to say "but you said you would let your kids do this...." and act bewildered.

Any Canadians watching the Tragically Hip concert tonight? I am, feeling nostalgic

Margret wrote: "Any Canadians watching the Tragically Hip concert tonight? I am, feeling nostalgic"

No, but I really should be!

I just bought a paperback The way of kings....Jesus Christ it's huge and weighs a ton:D

Jarek wrote: "I just bought a paperback The way of kings....Jesus Christ it's huge and weighs a ton:D"

I brought The Way of Kings on a plane a couple years back and when I was going through security, they asked to open up my bag. Of course, I agreed, and they pulled out the book and said to the other security worker, "It's a BOOK!" I'm not really sure what they thought it was...

Well jenna you could use this book as a weapon if needed;)

Whack an annoying passenger over the head ;).

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

That's true - it could be quite persuasive!

It's funny cause my friend sent me a photo from the library where there was a large gap in the "S" section of Fantasy... Her message was "looks like someone checked out The Way of Kings"

Hey guys. I started pharmacy school on the first and the info piles up really fast so I haven't had much time to read which is why I haven't been participating on here much.