Books: The Book Review!

[mrsticky005]

Great Expectations Chapter Gr8 Review

So Pip is escorted by Uncle Pumblechook to behind the shed for some "discipline"
to Miss Haveasliceofham's house. Her super rich house of richness. Her guard dogs are made out of diamonds. On the way to the jail house super rich house, Uncle Pumblechook quizzes Pip on the number of beatings he will get. Pip answers 28
and then Uncle Pumblechook laughs heartily and says "Oh ho! You WEREN'T going
to get ANY beatings. But if you insist 28 sounds like a good number!" And so Uncle Pumblechook beat Pip a good 29 times. The extra for good luck. So anywho back
to the super rich house where Miss Haveasliceofham lives. Uncle Pumblechook
and Pip are greeted for lack of a better word which probably be "greetedwithdisdain"
if that were a word and not just three words without spaces by a young lady who will later be named Electronic STELLLA!!! or simply E-Stella.
E-Stella makes Pip learn the wonders of women...mainly the wonders of how they can be so cruel, evil, despicable, manipulative, deceptive and yet so pretty at the same time. Then of course Pip learns that the answer is Adobe Photoshop but Pip is assassinated at Mount Rushmoremoremore before he can reveal the truth.
Pip soon meets Miss Haveasliceofham who is not only rich but rich in craziness.
She is so crazy she has Pip play a game of cards...WITHOUT A SINGLE BEATING!
I know! A old lady who does not beat children she just met in a Dickens novel...say it isn't so!! So Pip plays a game of cards with E-Stella. Pip calls a Jack a well what else would he call it but a Jack? E-Stella is quick to point out that this is wrong and that
Pip is worthless and not rich meaning poor which is when you have no money and die.
Pip is then sad because he is not rich and has no money which means he is poor
which means he will die. Then Pip dies...in his spirit and walks home for like 17 miles.


Oh and if you wondering what Jack is called according to rich people unlike you...
Just read Great Expectations and find out!

Or cheat and google it.

[Wooster]

How dare you, KNAVE?!

[Kreegah!!!]

Originally Posted by mrsticky005

Great Expectations Chapter Gr8 Review

So Pip is escorted by Uncle Pumblechook to behind the shed for some "discipline"
to Miss Haveasliceofham's house. Her super rich house of richness. Her guard dogs are made out of diamonds. On the way to the jail house super rich house, Uncle Pumblechook quizzes Pip on the number of beatings he will get. Pip answers 28
and then Uncle Pumblechook laughs heartily and says "Oh ho! You WEREN'T going
to get ANY beatings. But if you insist 28 sounds like a good number!" And so Uncle Pumblechook beat Pip a good 29 times. The extra for good luck. So anywho back
to the super rich house where Miss Haveasliceofham lives. Uncle Pumblechook
and Pip are greeted for lack of a better word which probably be "greetedwithdisdain"
if that were a word and not just three words without spaces by a young lady who will later be named Electronic STELLLA!!! or simply E-Stella.
E-Stella makes Pip learn the wonders of women...mainly the wonders of how they can be so cruel, evil, despicable, manipulative, deceptive and yet so pretty at the same time. Then of course Pip learns that the answer is Adobe Photoshop but Pip is assassinated at Mount Rushmoremoremore before he can reveal the truth.
Pip soon meets Miss Haveasliceofham who is not only rich but rich in craziness.
She is so crazy she has Pip play a game of cards...WITHOUT A SINGLE BEATING!
I know! A old lady who does not beat children she just met in a Dickens novel...say it isn't so!! So Pip plays a game of cards with E-Stella. Pip calls a Jack a well what else would he call it but a Jack? E-Stella is quick to point out that this is wrong and that
Pip is worthless and not rich meaning poor which is when you have no money and die.
Pip is then sad because he is not rich and has no money which means he is poor
which means he will die. Then Pip dies...in his spirit and walks home for like 17 miles.


Oh and if you wondering what Jack is called according to rich people unlike you...
Just read Great Expectations and find out!

Or cheat and google it.

Originally Posted by Wooster

How dare you, KNAVE?!

Very good, Gents!


Lees of Laughter's End

This second tale of our murderous and beloved trio duo picks off immediately where the first left off: setting sail on the Suncurl, headed to lands far and away. Unfortunately, someone decided to house forbidden statues within the hold, and the hold was constructed of haunted nails. Add to that a look-out with a decapitated head for company and a ship-hunter on the high seas, and you have a recipe for the best yet story in the entire series. Good fun, with more to come!

Next up will be Night of Knives, where we get to see just how the assassination of the Malazan Emporer and his Chief Assassin went down, along with a promising view of things to come.

[Kreegah!!!]

Knight of Knives by the second author, Ian Cameron "Cam" Esslemont.

This volume focuses on the night the Emperor and his Chief Assassin Dancer were assassinated - supposedly. Pulling an Aizen, Kellanved and Dancer manage to outwit everyone and become gods. From there, the pair have been orchestrating plans to overcome the original orchestrators to fulfill plans unknown. The two are so unpredictable and adaptable within the whole series that you never know what they are going to say or do. While they have made a few errors, they recover so quickly that it's as if they'd planned to make an error just to throw others off.

The story also focuses on an underground soldier trying to avoid assassins and a wannabe assassin.

There's a lot going on in this little book, and it all takes place in 24 hours. And there is a Jack Bauer, and he kicks arse. Not enough to go by to judge an author's debut work, but it isn't terrible. Quite enjoyable in fact!

Next up, Bonehunters, one messed-up tale. Back to the present!!

[Kreegah!!!]

Bonehunters by the first author.

This account portrays the aftermath of the 7C rebellion and what happened to the 14th Army. The leader of the rebellion is dead; the whirlwind goddess is dead; dead bridgeburners are still dead but ascendants by the first ever group rate, and by song no less; yet the rebellion itself still persists in the form of a force a few thousand strong holed up in a city of bad repute for Malazans.

No fear, this volume doesn't spend the whole book battling this remnant force; in fact, it's more or less over by the seventh chapter, but is far from anti-climactic.

A new god is almost born from the flames set in the city by the very rebel leader's command. How? The city is a lone treasury in the desert for olive oil storage. LOTS OF OIL. Oil filling the very walls of the buildings. A huge portion of both armies perish in the proto-fire god's blaze. The rebel leader escapes to serve a goddess, and the fourteenth army continues on after collecting survivors. They pick up interesting allies and proceed to the Empire's former capital where a mini civil war erupts and irreversible decisions must be made. Meanwhile, Lether naval subjects launch out every which way to seek champions to permanently kill the ever-maddening god-emperor. Among those abducted? Karsa Arlong, AKA God-slayer and civilization destroyer; Icarium, who has managed to shatter warrens of magic with his hands and voice; and mad priests who cannot laugh.

Stay tuned for the next riveting installment where the Bonehunters, AKA the 14th Army, make a huge strategic error. Includes Tehol Beddict's rise to fame!

Also, this marks the first novel that should absolutely not be read on its own. DO NOT START HERE.

[Wooster]

I guess I was procrastinating, but here is my review of Dune by Frank Herbert.

A quick synopsis: It is the the future, human are living on a planets around the galaxy( at least as far as I can wager as it might be many galaxies). While the setting is the future, it also has a very feudal feel because computers are evil or something, so they are not in use. That is not to say they are not technologically advance, iIguess it is more a Star Wars culture vs. Star Trek.
Moving on, Baron Atredias is moving to a desert planet, Dune, from his family seat because in some sort of deal with a rival, Baron Harkonnnen, a fat bastard, no really. He walks around with most of his weight support by devices called suspenders strapped around his waist. This planet Dune, has spice that makes you live longer see the future and other crap. Essentially, the entire political and economic order of the universe depends on it. So why did Harkonnen give it to Atredias? A trap of course.
I wouldn't go on much further, but there is political intrigue, fighting, war, love and sand people, which are the standard noble savage motif that can kill and kick everyone's ass. And most importantly Atredias son, who becomes this tripped up godlike person, Muad'Dib.

So is the start of this well renowned series any good. I say yes, it is. This is worth reading even if you are not a big sci-fi fan. The writing is intricate, but not flowery and nearly taxes my verbiage its limits. It is not the type that makes you stop mid paragraph and marvel at a turn of phrase, but its certainly better than serviceable. The story itself is interesting and keeps you reading. It does get bogged down in the middle with the standard traveling through the desert. It isn't that bad, but Lord of the Rings has built an allergic reaction in me to monotonous traveling of any sort. The end is not surprising in the least, but it is interesting at how you arrive there.

There, my review. Go out and find it if you have not read it yet.

[Kreegah!!!]

Originally Posted by Wooster

I guess I was procrastinating, but here is my review of Dune by Frank Herbert.

A quick synopsis: It is the the future, human are living on a planets around the galaxy( at least as far as I can wager as it might be many galaxies). While the setting is the future, it also has a very feudal feel because computers are evil or something, so they are not in use. That is not to say they are not technologically advance, iIguess it is more a Star Wars culture vs. Star Trek.
Moving on, Baron Atredias is moving to a desert planet, Dune, from his family seat because in some sort of deal with a rival, Baron Harkonnnen, a fat bastard, no really. He walks around with most of his weight support by devices called suspenders strapped around his waist. This planet Dune, has spice that makes you live longer see the future and other crap. Essentially, the entire political and economic order of the universe depends on it. So why did Harkonnen give it to Atredias? A trap of course.
I wouldn't go on much further, but there is political intrigue, fighting, war, love and sand people, which are the standard noble savage motif that can kill and kick everyone's ass. And most importantly Atredias son, who becomes this tripped up godlike person, Muad'Dib.

So is the start of this well renowned series any good. I say yes, it is. This is worth reading even if you are not a big sci-fi fan. The writing is intricate, but not flowery and nearly taxes my verbiage its limits. It is not the type that makes you stop mid paragraph and marvel at a turn of phrase, but its certainly better than serviceable. The story itself is interesting and keeps you reading. It does get bogged down in the middle with the standard traveling through the desert. It isn't that bad, but Lord of the Rings has built an allergic reaction in me to monotonous traveling of any sort. The end is not surprising in the least, but it is interesting at how you arrive there.

There, my review. Go out and find it if you have not read it yet.

I like the Sand Worms. Original progenitors of graboids, maybe?? Haven't read the books yet, but I did see the filmy version.



Reaper's Gale:


Abandoning the Malazan Empire and Admiral Nok's excellent services, Adjunct Tavore takes the Bonehunters and Perish naval escorts to the long-forgotten (by most) continent of Lether. The Adjunct has heard reports of coastal regions being harried by a terrifying force and decides that she must act in the interest of the Empire, not the Empress. Her underlings are unsure but stay the course.

Meanwhile, in Lether, champions are constantly killing the god-emperor - but he keeps coming back stronger. His skills improve too, but only of his own merit, not some supernatural help. Tehol Beddict and his servant god are revamping their underground (literally) operations to shatter the empire and look destitute doing it. A new character, Redmask, seeks to undo the Letherii Empire, surrounding countries, and refine his tribe.

This book is highly chaotic with all the plot threads, but entertaining as well. The Malazans come bearing the gift of liberty to the Letherii, hoping to overthrow the government seat; but make grave miscalculations and end up stranded on the continent. Pay especial heed to Gesler, Stormy, and Hedge for upcoming volumes; and adore the brilliance of Mage Beak.

Next we go back to the past again, several years after the events of Lees of Laughter's End, to see how necromancers overthrow governments for fun on their merry way to another continent. That's right, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach are about to leave Korel behind to wreak havoc on Quon Tali, so stay tuned!.

[Kreegah!!!]

The Healthy Dead

After countless years (4?) of wreaking havoc all over Korel and Stratem, our heroes from some foreign land endeavor to leave behind this continent and head to Quon Tali/7C for more magic research, and more sorcerous baby-making.

Emancipor Reese, long since freed from the shackles of his imperious and profoundly ugly wife - and her children he cares for even though they aren't his - is nonetheless entertaining a drug habit to keep his mind away from his employers' affairs. His employers are unhappy about this, needing him coherent. So off they go, pursued by remnant forces of every misadventure they conducted - only to head straight into the maw of a Righteous City. Bauchelain takes it upon himself to save the city because he like the challenge and hates the self-righteous prigs running the show (in one case literally, and beyond even his death). Of course, this only makes them more enemies, and now the hunt is on, to be told in the next tale! Stay tuned!!!!

One of my favourites in the B&KB series actually.

[mrsticky005]

Originally Posted by Kreegah!

The Healthy Dead

After countless years (4?) of wreaking havoc all over Korel and Stratem, our heroes from some foreign land endeavor to leave behind this continent and head to Quon Tali/7C for more magic research, and more sorcerous baby-making.

Emancipor Reese, long since freed from the shackles of his imperious and profoundly ugly wife - and her children he cares for even though they aren't his - is nonetheless entertaining a drug habit to keep his mind away from his employers' affairs. His employers are unhappy about this, needing him coherent. So off they go, pursued by remnant forces of every misadventure they conducted - only to head straight into the maw of a Righteous City. Bauchelain takes it upon himself to save the city because he like the challenge and hates the self-righteous prigs running the show (in one case literally, and beyond even his death). Of course, this only makes them more enemies, and now the hunt is on, to be told in the next tale! Stay tuned!!!!

One of my favourites in the B&KB series actually.

Chapter 9 of Great Expectations

In this chapter Pip is interrogated by his sister Mrs. Joe Gavel about what happened at Miss Haveasliceofham's house. Pip lies and tells them it was wonderful because Miss Havasliceofham is rich. But then Pip later reveals the truth to Joe Gomorrah that it was actually quite terrible because Miss Haveasliceofham is rich and they are poor.
Joe Golem coughs because he has caught the black lung disease. Pip catches it too
and being much smaller dies quicker. The town's people then cook Pip and ration the delicious meat for days to come. Pip becomes a delicacy in England because it so tasty and yet so rare. Gourmet expert Chef Zeff of the Baratie Ocean Going Restaurant that just happened to be near the English Change the Chanel said this

"Pip is delicious. We must make more!"

And thus a second Pip was made with 120% more meat and 1000% less jibberjabber.

Then a explosion at the General Mills Factory caused the second Pip already smothered in Worcestershire Sauce to be covered with cereal.

And that is why to this very day the English say "Pip Pip Cheerio"

[Kreegah!!!]

Originally Posted by mrsticky005

Chapter 9 of Great Expectations

In this chapter Pip is interrogated by his sister Mrs. Joe Gavel about what happened at Miss Haveasliceofham's house. Pip lies and tells them it was wonderful because Miss Havasliceofham is rich. But then Pip later reveals the truth to Joe Gomorrah that it was actually quite terrible because Miss Haveasliceofham is rich and they are poor.
Joe Golem coughs because he has caught the black lung disease. Pip catches it too
and being much smaller dies quicker. The town's people then cook Pip and ration the delicious meat for days to come. Pip becomes a delicacy in England because it so tasty and yet so rare. Gourmet expert Chef Zeff of the Baratie Ocean Going Restaurant that just happened to be near the English Change the Chanel said this

"Pip is delicious. We must make more!"

And thus a second Pip was made with 120% more meat and 1000% less jibberjabber.

Then a explosion at the General Mills Factory caused the second Pip already smothered in Worcestershire Sauce to be covered with cereal.

And that is why to this very day the English say "Pip Pip Cheerio"

Loved the random inclusion of my post.


Return of the Crimson Guard, second entry by Cammy.

Well, the Malazan Empire just got troll-stomped in Genabackis, Seven Cities, and elsewhere besides; so you'd think it would just consolidate what assets remain and suck thumbs in peace. How dare you, you rank supporter of lassitude? You quitter! No way, Jose!

No, the Empress decides that she needs to remove all potential opposition and actual opposition. Right now, even as the formidable and immortal Crimson Guard moves on them.

This story is a mess gone well. There is civil war with the Old Guard empire fighters and Empress Lasseen's New Guard; Crimson Guard shows up in the middle of it; formerly neutral city-states take up arms; Wickan forces launch a counter-offensive; A man-beast makes meals of everybody; and rivalling prison escapees join up to add more mayhem. This is AWESOME.

Major downside: my first edition copy is riddled with typos and random italicizations. Apparently the Publisher holds an editor, not Cammy himself to blame.

Everything before now sets the staging ground for the next volume. You don't want to miss it, especially if you liked Kruppe.

[Kreegah!!!]

Toll the Hounds

This epic ballad of prose takes place once again on the battered continent of Genabackis. However, the events taking place here supersede (in importance) everything that came before. Draconus has an escape plan, and he's set to return, with all his prisoners, to the world at large. Anomander Rake is set against this, but must prepare for both the upcoming tyrant in Darujhistan and the culmination of the gods' games.

To make matters worse, an assassin of the Dark Mother is tracking down Rake, upstarts in Rake's kingdom are readying to rebel, and the lands abroad are filled with a sickening abomination.

But it's not that simple. Gruntle's friend's son is being tortured by his brat cousin, and eventually gets sold off to the mines (think Charles Dickens) where he befriends a foul menace.

Karsa Orlong meets up with Traveler to tag along for a wee bit---whoa, whoa, whoa, Kreegah! You told us Karsa went to fight the god-emperor! What happened there? You basically made it seem like all the champs lost!

Well, I can't spoil everything, moron! Anyway, Karsa's ego takes a massive hit when he sees Traveler and Rake duel for a brief moment. Karsa quickly realizes he's not half as badass as those two, and as they admit to not being the best swordsmen, where does that leave Karsa??

In the end, we find Lord Hood of Death making war with Chaos and attempting the unattemptable, but first we need to visit the Dust of Dreams.

[Wooster]

This just in, The Wise's Man Fear by Patrick Rothfuss is awesome.
When I finished, a review shall be written. I am too lazy to do a chapter-by-chapter review like Sticky.

[Kreegah!!!]

Originally Posted by Wooster

This just in, The Wise's Man Fear by Patrick Rothfuss is awesome.
When I finished, a review shall be written. I am too lazy to do a chapter-by-chapter review like Sticky.

When you do, be sure to post your take on "cDonald's Theorem".

OK, Nexties-up is Dust of Dreams, which is the first half of the last volume of Erikson's half of the main series - which somehow circumvents mathematical laws by being larger than Cam's half of the main series ("9" volumes/6 volumes respectively).

We shift focus back to Lether Continent. Here the renegade Adjunct of the 14th Army embarks upon her still unclear mission - but clues point to it involving defeating the gods, by bare hands if necessary; and to free the Crippled God, which seems outrageous.

In the meantime, Perish forces are invading Lether Empire's border nations in an attempt to shortcut through to the Kolanse region, acting as a sort of vanguard for the 14th. T'oolan's Barghast forces are warring each other; the Darkness Realm welcomes back its Matron at its gravest moment; Draconus makes his arrival known; the dead are out and about; the Key-chain Tamales are fleeing from the Forkrul Assail, only to meet in battle with the Key-Chain Nah'Ruk who were just mowing through the Bonehunter forces with nary a scratch; the Forkrul Assail are hunting down a renegade chain of child survivors; and Icarium is trying to reclaim his sanity and focus. Oh, and much more.

This volume's particularly depressing not because of certain characters' deaths, but because of what certain people are made to suffer through. More than any volume before, I seriously wanted to just put Kevorkian on speed-dial. But there are lighter bits, especially involving Hedge, Captain Kindly, and the one-time Lieutenant Pores.

It is sort of cliff-hangar-y, but we do have some great parenthetical - yet necessary - maybe - volumes to go through before we hit up the second half of Volume 9: The Crippled God. So stay tuned for a much needed humor break in the form of B&KB's fourth Tale of Excellence: Crack'd Pot Trail.



Other user's are welcome to post reviews and such here. It is mostly what the thread's for, and casual discussion of your books is not discouraged either. JOIN US.

[mrsticky005]

Great Expectations Chapter 10

So Pip is trying to become uncommonly commonly uncommon aka rich. He tries to do this by getting help from Biddy. There's something I'm unsure about and that is Biddy's age. I get the picture of her being an old lady with a name like Biddy but I'm not sure.
Well close enough. Pip goes to the bar with Mr. Joe Greatexpectations, Mr. Wobble,
and some random guy who has Joe Grossepointblank's .txt file and dips it in rum.
The .txt file is then corrupted and haunts Pip's in his dreams telling him that
he'll never become commonly uncommonly uncommon. Pip then gets a virus.
Pip tries to fix his Commodore 65 but then realizes that he was just poking
a rock. Pip then gets a real virus and dies from being poor and insignificant.

[Kreegah!!!]

Poor Pip dies rather often, eh? Must be the punishment of the poor and orphaned as interpreted by one Chucky Dick.

Crack'd Pot Trail:

This volume does have Bauchelain and Reese within it, but focuses mainly upon the travails of B&KB's relentless pursuers that have teamed up together to bring down the Insipid Duo. It also focuses on the Arts & Criticisms. Contains nearly enough cannibalism to sate any palate.

Sure, some may bemoan the lack of our Illustrious Trio, but I think this sets up the final two tales (forthcoming) rather nicely. Will there be an eventual confrontation? How heavy the toll on both sides? Will Reese ever be free and his luck changed?

Now, some bad news: according to a past interview, B&KB will not show up in Steven's part of the main series again, but I'm fairly certain nothing was said about them not featuring in Cam's half. I don't recall their nationality ever being confirmed, but they are everywhere called foreigners, so I'm guessing Jacuruku or Assail. Not Lether, just because of the warrens employed, but they may have visited there once. If this theory holds, I'm hoping they end up being two of the chief antagonists in the entire series.

Next up will be Stonewielder by Cammy. The re-civilized Malazan Empire is fielding a reconstituted military force to lambast the Korelri continent, but mostly to quell the AWOL 6th Army which has established itself as separate ruling entity within the continent's borders. Will this be another massacre? After all, only the second attempt to conquer Korel/Fist had any headway, and even then more than one in five ships were destroyed before the Malaz were within landing range. Stay TUNED.

Argh, and I gotta order up The Crippled God while I'm at it.

[Kreegah!!!]

Stonewielder is the half-way mark of Cammy-Cam's part of the series.

While the novel doesn't seem to directly tie in with events transpiring on Lether, we do find that the Crippled God does indeed exert influence here, and has for quite some time. I won't detail his involvement, but it should make for an interesting segue into The Crippled God--I'm hoping.

As the Malaz Emperor marshals his forces, we see Iron Bars of Quintuple-Tarthenoe-gods-killing fame incarcerated in the Stormwall, press-ganged into fighting off the indefatigable Stormriders. Meantime, a religious/martial upheaval is taking place in the southern half of the Korelri sub-continent and is moving inexorably northwards. The Mare unsinkable fleets are massing to crush the Malaz Naval Forces for the third recorded time, Yeull the Usurper formerly of the Malazan 6th Army is consolidating forces in his kingdom, and a remnant contingent of Crimson Guardsmen from the southernmost region of Korel--Stratem--is moving in to rescue the enslaved at the Stormwall.

Admirals Nok (Malaz) and Swirl (Moranth Blue) are bringing to bear the most ingenious naval strike/advance/siege team to the Marese and Skolati.

Newly reinstated (forcibly impressed) High Fist Greymane leads the groundside contingent in a brutal and wearying campaign across the breadth of the mangled continent.


This volume is much improved over Return of the Crimson Guard, although there is still the annoying use of third-person pronouns within a charcter's thoughts of himself. While it's still not as "deep" as Erikson's volumes, it is more heavy on the action side, which makes for a great change of pace.

Also, despite many heroic and sad deaths, many people actually survive for once. I guess the former Empress was like Tsunade: great for solo efforts; terrible for leadership and group efforts. Remember, kids: brains and battle-prowess are never enough.

It'll be sometime before I get the next volume, so feel free to add your own submissions, guys! Don't make me review Tech Manuals to keep this thread going.

[Wooster]

Here is my short review of as I too lazy to write more of The Wise's Mans Fear by Patrick Rothfuss.
Excuse me for the size but it is that amazing. To start with his is the second book of the Kingkiller Chronicles the first being The Name of the Wind. . Essentially the story is about Kvothe who is a magician/scholar/alchemist of sorts; however, the story starts at the end where he is now Koth a barkeep living with his Fae friend, Bast Don't let that fool you, Bast is all man as the maidens of the small village would attest.
As so happens, Kvothe identity is discovered by the Chronicler at which point his story is told. I will not go into detail, but the story includes magic, thieving, songs (don't worry they are short and no where near ponderous like Tolkien's travasties), love, archives () mysterious god-like villains, scotch (), pompous but deadly twits, lutes, love, various and sundry monetary units, sex, crazy lunatics, prank, kings, political intrigue and grouchy school masters. Oh and other things.

However, I believe my favorite is Chapter 52, for what it doesn't contain. It is only a page or two and contains these lines:

Spoiler:

Several unfortunate complications arose during the trip.
In brief, there was storm, piracy, teachery, and shipwreck, although not in that order. It also goes without saying that I did a great many things, some heroic, some ill-advised, some clever and audacious.
Over the course of my trip I was robbed, drowned, and left penniless on the streets of Junpui. In order to survive I begged for crusts, stole a man's shoes, and recited poetry. The last should demonstrate more than all the rest how truly desperate my situation had become.
However, as these events have little to do with the heart of the story, I must pass them over in favor of more important things. Simply said, it took me sixteen days to reach Severn. A bit longer than I had planned, but at no point during my journey was I ever bored.

That's right entire boring journey complete skipped over; thus, I was never bored either.

Finally, the writing amazing. The sentences are at times short and at others quite flower, but all well placed. At times it is like Harry Potter for adults, others Huck Finn, a good Robert Jordan and even The Once and Future King for brief glimpses. Even if you are not into fantasy, this is something everyone should at least try. The Wise's Man Feat is almost a tome itself with 152 chapters, some long, some short, but reading goes extremely fast.
However, don't take my word for it...ask Kingsnoke.


Next time on Wooster Reviews: The History of the American People by Paul Johnson. It took me about a year but I am near the finish, please look forward to the amazing review.

[Kreegah!!!]

The Crippled God

It's over! Erikson's half is over! Sadly, you can count on your hands and feet how many in Tavore's army survived. But they didn't die from an uberhax destructo-beam or some such; no, they died through attrition warfare.

Book seems a little more poet-y than other volumes, but is full of action and drama and tragedy. Like the part where a god dies and his blood literally rains down upon undead warriors and they become flesh again, only seconds before meeting in battle with the Forkrul Assail. Life--so bittersweet.

Hedge's Alchemical Bridgeburners make use of the most horrifying concoctions and Ganoes Paran plays poker in the midst of battle.

This book contains two of the largest chapters in the entire series, over 100 pages in Hardcover. O_o

Well, the biggest, most important mission Cotillion and Shadowthrone planned is now accomplished, but the campaign is far from over. Now it's time to punish gods. Cannot wait for Cammy to finish his half! Next up will be the story of Darujhistan's Tyrant. I wonder if it takes place after or before The Crippled God, as certain passages make it somewhat unclear. Either way, Cam's last two novels will almost certainly be in the future, so let's cheer on the Malazans; May they conquer all!

[Wooster]

Quick review this time

A History of the American People by Paul Johnson

Guess what? It is a history book about American. Surprising I know.
However, what makes this interesting is that Mr, Johnson is British giving the entirity of the book an interesting perspective. The writing is excellent, which is important because this is over 900 pages. It is somehow both in depth and a breaazy read. Took me about half-a-year to get through.

It includes politics, art, cultural trends, and often a descriptions of notable people involved. Some interesting perspectives here such as the Great Depression was great exasperated by New York and British Central bankers. Aha, I knew lose money is always bad, and the JFK is a conmplete and utter phony include his election win.

If you like history try to find this book and take a read.

[Azal]

still reading catching fire......
I shall say this




read the damn book