Currently reading
Epic read but it deserves more pictures and better detailed maps though.
Waiting for Volume 2: The Apogee to make its way to my local library.
Interests sparked for possible next reads in my history shelf:
The Goths, the Persian empire, early christianity (which is something I have been meaning to approach for a long time, and possibly a (short) history of the popes?
: The Early Centuries - John Julius Norwich, Elizabeth Sifton)
Finally finished "Absolution Gap", final of this dystopian space opera. It took me a while to pick up the third as the second was a bit of a disappointment, I was hooked with "Revelation space" in which the potential for an epic story was laid out, disappointed with "Redemption Ark" where more characters that I could handle (or care for) were introduced, so it took me a while to pick up this third volume. For a period I was considering leaving it at that. Yet I found myself going back to my to-read list and ending up reading (mostly negative) reviews for of "Absolution Gap" so I went for it.
It wasn't as bad as I was expecting. In fact it wasn't bad at all. The end was disappointing, in fact it may even be infuriating given the length of this saga and the time it took to build this plot.
But this is still a good book, it was a great ride.
The Sleeper and the Spindle
Twisted retelling of classic fairytale by a master storyteller. Excellent.
Leviathan Wakes
Not a mind-expanding, epic space opera. But a reasonably well written, fun little adventure spanning the solar system. I enjoyed it. I may read the sequel one day if I fancy a light read.
Crux
Not as good as the first. He managed to stop me caring about characters I was loving in the first book.
Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters
A business book that was actually enjoyable. Lots of story telling. that must be why
A Funny Kind of Education
A personal account of a family's experience of home education.I recommend it to all parents of school age children.
Reading enjoyment: 3/5
Influence on my thinking: 4/5
The Art of Thinking Clearly
Rolf Dobelli shares his annotated list of the cognitive biases he has recognised and kept note of over the years.If you are looking for a more rigorous research backed, the author is very open in pointing towards Daniel Kahneman and Nassim Taleb who he quotes throughout the book.
A very enjoyable read I will go back to.
Enjoyment: 4/5
Influence: 3/5
The Quantum Thief
Very good stuff. You will not understand half of what is happening in the first half and you will think you know more than you actually do towards the end. Still it is a fun ride. I will go through the wikipedia and fan articles and then read it again before I start "The fractal prince"
Use of Weapons
I could not bring myself to care for the protagonist, was bored by the flashbacks and didn't quite get it. But it's a Culture novel and I loved it anyway.
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Farcical, silly, mindless fun.You do need that sometimes.
Enjoyment: 4/5
Influence on my thinking: 0/5
1
The Tiger's Wife
It leaves you with the feeling that I have missed a few things, some information that would have got me to a "a-ha" moment near the end, when the various loose ends were supposed to be tied. That I should read it again to get it, but I just cannot be bothered. It wasn't an engaging or enjoyable read.
