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What did you just read?
- Thread starter Fippy Darkpaw
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INTHEMIDSTOFLIONS
Trakanon Raider
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Thanks for sharing. I really do need to read BNW (I haven't, yet). I think DrRetarded or Lanx recommended it. I added it to my TBR along w/ Lord of the Flies (another classic I just never read).
I was looking up the differences last night between:
- Socialism - government ownership of the means of production and the distribution of goods rather than private profit
- Democratic Socialism - a socialist economy with social ownership of production alongside democratic principles
- Social Democracy - capitalist market economy but utilizes high taxation and regulation to fund strong social programs
- Nationalism - policies and taxes aimed at national citizens, no foreign intervention, no foreign wars, free trade w/ foreign countries, benefits for national citizens, not world police or world day care center
- National Socialism - socialism for national citizens only
- Classical Liberalism - individual liberty, private property rights, and free markets with minimal government intervention in personal and economic life
For a second, I thought maybe I was for social democracy + nationalism, which I was like wait.. is that national socialism? lol. Then I remembered that the nazi party really were socialists at the heart of it and I dont believe in a socialist economy. Anyone who thinks nazis werent socialist havent read Mein Kampf or anything really about Nazis except that they hated Jews. Even if you look up "national socialism" on wikipedia, it's pretty much all about how they hated ethnic groups and nothing about their economic policies. Which, I mean nazis had social security before USA did, and at the time, USA even had strong advocacy by political leaders for Eugenics. Hell, everyone did until the end of WW2 and they all collectively backtracked.
"Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia."
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A few comments:
It is the crux of the matter that after WW II ended, and it was put on very public display (in the Nuremberg trials) where Eugenics would lead to if implemented consequently and ruthlessly, that everyone suddenly scurried away from the very concept, just like cockroaches from light. It was so fucking bad that the supreme court upheld the involuntary sterilization of a 17 year old woman because of "feeble-mindedness" (Buck v. Bell, 1927). Money quote: "a genetic threat to society". Which wasn't overturned to this day.
As for the Nazis being socialists: As explained in Mein Kampf, Hitler saw two rising societal concepts after the fall of the monarchy and feudalism: British style industrial capitalism, and Russian style global soviet communism. He hated both, and saw himself proposing a third way, because he didn't want to defer to a global communist rulership far away that had no interest in national identity. This was his common point with Mussolini, who ironically started as a socialist, but was was kicked out because he wanted to intervene in World War I. Mussolini didn't want egalitarianism like his commuinist and socialist counterparts, but advocated for class collaboration, which is probably the most defining difference between national socialism and communism, as the latter defines itself on class struggle with the goal of classless society.
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Halfway through book one and there is quite a bit of faggotry afoot. For me, it detracts from the story which otherwise is pretty solid. Being a 2018 book it makes me wonder if it was forced in due to pressure at the time and would push books up various lists for promotion/publishing.
Springbok
Karen
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INTHEMIDSTOFLIONS
Trakanon Raider
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Finished 1984 yesterday. Bleak and dreadful, but glad I read it.
Then started Shibumi by Trevanian. It was terrible so I DNF it.
Then started Shogun. Currently about 35 pages in and digging it so far. Thanks for the rec!
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INTHEMIDSTOFLIONS
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Clicked on this expecting the usual suspects but she is surprisingly based.
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Springbok
Karen
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Started Red Rising at the behest of a guy I work with after wrapping up Sun Eater.
Yikes, big mistake. This guy is a very mediocre writer - good premise, a few interesting characters, but he doesn't give any character, arc, set piece the space and time it deserves to flesh anything interesting out. I'm into book 3 now and none of the deaths, love interests, political maneuverings have managed to make me care one iota. It's a bit like Hunger Games - I see the audience for the books but it just isn't me. Gave the series a good effort but the world building and characters just never get enough time to develop and it feels like he's writing high on cocaine or something.
Yikes, big mistake. This guy is a very mediocre writer - good premise, a few interesting characters, but he doesn't give any character, arc, set piece the space and time it deserves to flesh anything interesting out. I'm into book 3 now and none of the deaths, love interests, political maneuverings have managed to make me care one iota. It's a bit like Hunger Games - I see the audience for the books but it just isn't me. Gave the series a good effort but the world building and characters just never get enough time to develop and it feels like he's writing high on cocaine or something.
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Intrinsic
Person of Whiteness
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I felt the same way at the end of the 3 books and am not sure I even started book 4… maybe, definitely didn’t finish it. I can understand why it has mass appeal and has garnered so much attention, but it is very mediocre. Something about the scale and impact of everything just never resonated with me. Discussions about the ground assaults and these millions or whatever of soldiers fighting and dying, none of it had any weight.
But man people go gaga for the series and I’ve got rights to the Lettered editions Curious King is releasing. Hoping I can make a bit of profit off that if the series popularity stays high.
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Glad it's not just me. This series gets so much "Oh my god it's the best you have to read it!" and it just falls flat for me for similar reasons. Book 1 is carried enough by the fact that it's an interesting enough premise and story, but after that I couldn't get far. I think I forced myself to finish book 2, and only made it a handful of chapters into 3. Which is pretty rare for me, if I start a book I almost always finish it, so for me to put it down a few chapters in says a lot.
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INTHEMIDSTOFLIONS
Trakanon Raider
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Nothing about it caught my interest to give it a shot, seemed like more YA slop. I've had it recommended to me by a few people who I know do not regularly read and don't know any better.
This past week I've continued reading through Shōgun and read Robert E Howard's first Conan story: The Sword in the Phoenix. Conan is awesome, but the dialogue suffers from "show don't tell." Shōgun is awesome, I'm really liking it, but I realistically won't be able to finish this book before the end of February. This book is like 440,000 words long. It's a big boy.
Duckliver
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Crime and punishment.
Interesting concepts. Psychologically gripping.
things like the weight of the axe, the realization he has a horrible secret and the loss of honest relationships, the madness that can overcome people.
ultimately didn’t enjoy the read overall, kinda felt like a chore.
war and peace.
brilliant writing, always a pleasure to read. I think I enjoyed Dostoevsky prose more than Tolstoy, but I found Tolstoy to be more philosophically grounded and less psychologically felt. Tolstoy is able to describe concepts and illuminations of life in a very brilliant well thought out manner. And the bitter ironies on display through actions/scene vs characters perception of things is 10/10.
Thoroughly enjoyable book, can confidently say it’s the best book I’ve ever read, already have the rest of his works lined up.
candide, voltaire
funny as fuck. Philosophically balanced and pangloss ends up “right” in the end.
Interesting concepts. Psychologically gripping.
things like the weight of the axe, the realization he has a horrible secret and the loss of honest relationships, the madness that can overcome people.
ultimately didn’t enjoy the read overall, kinda felt like a chore.
war and peace.
brilliant writing, always a pleasure to read. I think I enjoyed Dostoevsky prose more than Tolstoy, but I found Tolstoy to be more philosophically grounded and less psychologically felt. Tolstoy is able to describe concepts and illuminations of life in a very brilliant well thought out manner. And the bitter ironies on display through actions/scene vs characters perception of things is 10/10.
Thoroughly enjoyable book, can confidently say it’s the best book I’ve ever read, already have the rest of his works lined up.
candide, voltaire
funny as fuck. Philosophically balanced and pangloss ends up “right” in the end.
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I've been working my way through goodreads winners for 2025.
So far :
Not Quite Dead Yet
Winner for mystery
Girl is attacked and develops a more or less inoperable aneurysm that is going to kill her within the week. Spends her last few days trying to track down her murderer.
This was tightly paced, entertaining, and sufficiently twisty to keep you guessing, but always in a grounded and realistic way.
I liked it a lot, and it's an easy recommend for anyone that enjoys the occasional murder mystery.
www.goodreads.com
Winner for fantasy
The life and times of psychotic lesbian vampires.
This was interesting and well-written, but it really isn't covering any new ground. A lot of it is 'life sucks as a woman, but then you become a vampire and life sucks more'.
Didn't really grab me, and I don't think it deserved the win over some of its competitors
Winner for best debut novel
The story of a failed resistance movement against an evil necromancer, from the point of view of a foreign exchange student who got caught up in it due to associations with the ruling elites.
First up - this is not a nice book - horrible things happen to everyone, many nice things turn out to be nice only on a superficial level and some 'good' things turn out to be a hollow mockery built on lies and abuse. It also features a relationship so toxic that 'Gone Girl' looks heartwarmingly romantic in comparison.
That said, I thought it was excellent - compelling, thought provoking and original. I am pretty sure I will remember this one long after many of the books from 2025 are entirely forgotten.
And that history book entry on her at the end - oof.
Winner for science fiction
In the grim-dark dystopian future, the 'Big Brother' tv show is... slightly worse than it is now ?
Taking the brave, principled stance that shows like "Big Brother' are exploitative and about shallow people obsessing over meaningless bullshit, this is an exploitative story about shallow people obsessing over meaningless bullshit.
It was readable, but after finishing it my main reaction was 'what's the point here ?'
I can't imagine how this one won, although I haven't read any of the competitors other than the Scalzi, which was pretty mid, but still probably better than this book.
So far :
Not Quite Dead Yet
Winner for mystery
Girl is attacked and develops a more or less inoperable aneurysm that is going to kill her within the week. Spends her last few days trying to track down her murderer.
This was tightly paced, entertaining, and sufficiently twisty to keep you guessing, but always in a grounded and realistic way.
I liked it a lot, and it's an easy recommend for anyone that enjoys the occasional murder mystery.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
From V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling au…
The life and times of psychotic lesbian vampires.
This was interesting and well-written, but it really isn't covering any new ground. A lot of it is 'life sucks as a woman, but then you become a vampire and life sucks more'.
Didn't really grab me, and I don't think it deserved the win over some of its competitors
The story of a failed resistance movement against an evil necromancer, from the point of view of a foreign exchange student who got caught up in it due to associations with the ruling elites.
First up - this is not a nice book - horrible things happen to everyone, many nice things turn out to be nice only on a superficial level and some 'good' things turn out to be a hollow mockery built on lies and abuse. It also features a relationship so toxic that 'Gone Girl' looks heartwarmingly romantic in comparison.
That said, I thought it was excellent - compelling, thought provoking and original. I am pretty sure I will remember this one long after many of the books from 2025 are entirely forgotten.
And that history book entry on her at the end - oof.
In the grim-dark dystopian future, the 'Big Brother' tv show is... slightly worse than it is now ?
Taking the brave, principled stance that shows like "Big Brother' are exploitative and about shallow people obsessing over meaningless bullshit, this is an exploitative story about shallow people obsessing over meaningless bullshit.
It was readable, but after finishing it my main reaction was 'what's the point here ?'
I can't imagine how this one won, although I haven't read any of the competitors other than the Scalzi, which was pretty mid, but still probably better than this book.
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I had to go check out that Alchemised book...I've been working my way through goodreads winners for 2025.
So far :
Not Quite Dead Yet
Winner for mystery
Girl is attacked and develops a more or less inoperable aneurysm that is going to kill her within the week. Spends her last few days trying to track down her murderer.
This was tightly paced, entertaining, and sufficiently twisty to keep you guessing, but always in a grounded and realistic way.
I liked it a lot, and it's an easy recommend for anyone that enjoys the occasional murder mystery.
Winner for fantasyBury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
From V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling au…
The life and times of psychotic lesbian vampires.
This was interesting and well-written, but it really isn't covering any new ground. A lot of it is 'life sucks as a woman, but then you become a vampire and life sucks more'.
Didn't really grab me, and I don't think it deserved the win over some of its competitors
Winner for best debut novel
The story of a failed resistance movement against an evil necromancer, from the point of view of a foreign exchange student who got caught up in it due to associations with the ruling elites.
First up - this is not a nice book - horrible things happen to everyone, many nice things turn out to be nice only on a superficial level and some 'good' things turn out to be a hollow mockery built on lies and abuse. It also features a relationship so toxic that 'Gone Girl' looks heartwarmingly romantic in comparison.
That said, I thought it was excellent - compelling, thought provoking and original. I am pretty sure I will remember this one long after many of the books from 2025 are entirely forgotten.
And that history book entry on her at the end - oof.
Winner for science fiction
In the grim-dark dystopian future, the 'Big Brother' tv show is... slightly worse than it is now ?
Taking the brave, principled stance that shows like "Big Brother' are exploitative and about shallow people obsessing over meaningless bullshit, this is an exploitative story about shallow people obsessing over meaningless bullshit.
It was readable, but after finishing it my main reaction was 'what's the point here ?'
I can't imagine how this one won, although I haven't read any of the competitors other than the Scalzi, which was pretty mid, but still probably better than this book.
Not trying to change your opinion or anything, but apparently it is basically a name-changed Harry Potter fanfic about Draco and Hermione?? That's also 1000 pages long? With rape and emotional manipulation and such? I generally take your reviews pretty seriously into consideration when I am looking for new books, but I think I'm gonna have to sit this one out.
Thank you for the reviews all the same, I do appreciate them.
Uh, no ? That's not even a little bit accurate.
That is though.
I'd never complain about people not liking the same things, and the book definitely isn't for everyone.
INTHEMIDSTOFLIONS
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Fun fact
Twilight (allegedly) started off as a Harry Potter fanfic.
50 Shades of Gray (confirmed by the author) started off as a Twilight fanfic.
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Multiple reviews reference it, this is the original (by the same author):
and the Reddit thread talking about how it is going to be "trad" published (apparently that means just take out the HP references) as Alchemised.
EDIT: To be clear, I don't care that anyone likes it, but just pointing out that I'm not taking crazy pills.
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INTHEMIDSTOFLIONS
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Second Story has a good video on fanfiction's influence in the current market.
One point she makes in this video is how a good fanfiction writer often is weak on character creation or worldbuilding if they try to create a new, original world. It's easier to write a Star Wars fan fiction with Han Solo and Chewie facing Vader, than it is to write and create your own universe/world/villains, etc.
Unfortunately, I wrote fanfiction when I was like 9 years old in the 90's and its still on fanfiction.net. I cant get them to take it down. You cannot find it unless you specifically look for my name on fanfiction.net, but it still exists.
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That's what some of the Goodreads reviews talked about, how they felt the "trad" version of the stories always lack a lot because you don't have all the emotional connection to the world and characters that you do with the fanfic versions.
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