Amph What book are you reading right now?

I`m on a Naval history kick at the moment. Just finished Ship Of Ghosts by James D Hornfischer and have started on Neptune`s Inferno by the same author.

 

This is apparently a sequel that stands alone.

 

Northwest Angle[/] by William Kent Krueger

It does not read like the 11th book in a series.

 

Finished A Winter's Tale by the Bard.

 

Coincidentally, I also just finished The Winter's Tale. Meant to be a sort of tall tale, it isn't overly concerned with credibility, but Shakespeare manages to imbue it with some depth anyway. The sudden, overwhelming madness of Leontes's jealousy creates a tense atmosphere and allows Shakespeare to really examine the loyalty of his family and courtiers, and it gets some thematic resonance in Polixenes's sudden rage at his son, and Florizel's overwhelming devotion to Perdita. Overall, I really enjoyed the mix of heightened royal paranoia drama and pleasant pastoral. The one area where the play falls down a bit is the end, when the reunion the whole play has been building to is skipped over in favor of emphasizing a miraculous reunion with a character you didn't even know was alive. It's interesting that Shakespeare's trying to throw you such a curveball, but it isn't done in a very graceful way.

 

Thinking about starting Titus Andronicus.

What say you Havac?

 

The First Phonecall from Heaven by Mitch Albom

 

I read Asterios Polyp yesterday. The second time. It was better than the first time.

 

The Black Company, by Glen Cook. Also:

Stonewielder: A Novel of the Malazan Empire by Ian C. Esslemont. Recently finished his Return of the Crimson Guard. Esslemont isn't quite on Steven Erikson's level, but he has definitely improved since Night of Knives.

 

It's an interesting curiosity, but one of Shakespeare's weakest works.

The Tempest. Prospero is an intriguing character, seemingly benevolent but also manipulative and controlling, with incredible power. He, and the atmosphere of magic and power on his island, and the questions of power and right he raises, are key to the play. The other characters aren't particularly deep, though Ariel and Caliban have interesting relationships with Prospero, and the plot, though pleasant, is thin and every plotline that isn't Prospero's confrontation with his enemies just sort of fizzles out. A play of extraordinary atmosphere and spectacle that is solid fun, but doesn't rise to the heights of Shakespeare's greatest work.

 

Wasn't The Tempest Shakespeare's last play he had written before he retired?

 

Non-fiction - The Norman Conquest by Marc Morris. Just what the title says - about 1066, Harold, and William the Conqueror.

Fiction - Creole Belle by James Lee Burke. It's part of his Dave Robicheaux series. I haven't read all the previous books but this one sounded interesting.

 

Mice Templar:


I'm about halfway through now. Fantastic so far!

 

Does it have talking animals? I hope not.

 

It's 100% talking animal goodness.

 

I guess I'm sorta jumping on the bandwagon today as I've been reading A Midsummer Night's Dream

 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Again)

 

My favorite 2nd most favorite book of the series behind DH.

 

I don't know if I can pick a favorite. If I had to, probably DH or OOTP.

 

DH/GOF/OOTP are my top 3 books in that order.
SS/COS/POA in no particular order.
and then HBP.

 

I've tried to rank the books before and I just can't. It always results in a 7-way tie lol.

 

I know the feeling. GOF was my favorite for years leading up to DH, OOTP was all over the place, the others? No idea.

 

With Desolation of Smaug coming out next week, I am rereading The Hobbit

 

OoTP is my favorite Potter book hands down despite the over-usage of ALL CAPS OF PEOPLE YELLING AT OTHERS