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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

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    • thomasnunnallyT
      thomasnunnally
      Joined:

      @GimpKid:

      Both A Dance with Dragons and A Feast for Crows were kind of a let down, but it's hard to match the intensity of Storm of Swords. I guess these books are more like building blocks for books 6 and 7.

      Good call on Dune, Tom. I should reread that myself.

      Yea I suppose you are right.  But I feel like some exceptions should have been made with the amount of characters being developed.  I realize some died, but still, I feel like the last two were generally indicative of the fact that maybe even Martin himself was not sure where the story was going.  I am genuinely interested in some characters, but at the rate he is going, it will take him 30 years to get somewhere.  Here's to hoping he has it sorted out for the next one.

      Out with the new! In with the old!

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • emceeQE
        emceeQ
        啓蒙家
        Joined:

        @GimpKid:

        Both A Dance with Dragons and A Feast for Crows were kind of a let down, but it's hard to match the intensity of Storm of Swords. I guess these books are more like building blocks for books 6 and 7.

        Took the words out of my mouth.

        J, really love Murakami's work.  As the Elephant Vanishes, his other short story collection, is great and The Wind Up Bird Chronicle is one of my favorite novels.  Just recently reread it actually.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • ChrisC
          Chris
          Raw and Unwashed
          Joined:

          @GimpKid:

          I guess these books are more like building blocks for books 6 and 7.

          I don't hold out a lot of hope for the series.  Feast and Dance were planned to be a single book; that means it took Martin about a decade to write them, and he seems to be getting slower.  I don't think his heart is in it any more, which is understandable, since he started this project close to 20 years ago.  I think he's writing only out of contractual obligation at this point.  Frankly, given his age and what appears to be mediocre health, I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled a Robert Jordan and died before the last book gets written.  It's a shame, because the first three were so amazingly good.

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • GimpKidG
            GimpKid
            Joined:

            @J-IV:

            @GimpKid:

            And if anyone can recommend any other interesting finance/economics books, I'd appreciate it.

            IF you haven't already, "Freakanomics" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. They also have a follow up book call "Super Freakanomics.". Both really great reads. Though it uses economical concepts, it doesn't do much financial analysis. Real fun to read though, thats forsure.

            Currently on Murakami's work. Just finished his short story compilation "After the Quake."

            I've actually wanted to read Freakonomics. And I think there's documentary, too. I'll check it out. Thanks.

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • J-IVJ
              J-IV
              啓蒙家
              Joined:

              @emceeQ:

              J, really love Murakami's work.  As the Elephant Vanishes, his other short story collection, is great and The Wind Up Bird Chronicle is one of my favorite novels.  Just recently reread it actually.

              Have it sitting at home waiting to be read. Murakami's a great story teller and I hear this story is a one of his best. Though I'm trying to read all of his past works before I get to IQ84

              I'm as ugly as you

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • thomasnunnallyT
                thomasnunnally
                Joined:

                @Chris:

                @GimpKid:

                I guess these books are more like building blocks for books 6 and 7.

                I don't hold out a lot of hope for the series.  Feast and Dance were planned to be a single book; that means it took Martin about a decade to write them, and he seems to be getting slower.  I don't think his heart is in it any more, which is understandable, since he started this project close to 20 years ago.  I think he's writing only out of contractual obligation at this point.  Frankly, given his age and what appears to be mediocre health, I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled a Robert Jordan and died before the last book gets written.  It's a shame, because the first three were so amazingly good.

                Gosh Chris I consider myself pessimistic, but you are even worse than me!

                Out with the new! In with the old!

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • J-IVJ
                  J-IV
                  啓蒙家
                  Joined:

                  GK; they did make a movie out of it but the book is way more entertaining.

                  I'm as ugly as you

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • ChrisC
                    Chris
                    Raw and Unwashed
                    Joined:

                    Martin made me this way; I read Game Of Thrones way back in 1996 and pre-ordered every one of the next 4 books.  I used to check his website regularly for updates, but after so many missed deadlines, promises of, "this is the year, I swear"and the pervasive lack of enthusiasm in his posts, I just gave up about two years ago.  I'll read whatever comes out, but when his heart clearly isn't in it, it's hard to get enthusiastic.

                    As for the Jordan comment, yeah, that may have been a bit harsh.  On the other hand, at this rate, it will take him another 10-15 years to finish the series, which would put him in his late 70s.  Not completely unreasonable of me…

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • thomasnunnallyT
                      thomasnunnally
                      Joined:

                      @Chris:

                      Martin made me this way; I read Game Of Thrones way back in 1996 and pre-ordered every one of the next 4 books.  I used to check his website regularly for updates, but after so many missed deadlines, promises of, "this is the year, I swear"and the pervasive lack of enthusiasm in his posts, I just gave up about two years ago.  I'll read whatever comes out, but when his heart clearly isn't in it, it's hard to get enthusiastic.

                      As for the Jordan comment, yeah, that may have been a bit harsh.  On the other hand, at this rate, it will take him another 10-15 years to finish the series, which would put him in his late 70s.  Not completely unreasonable of me…

                      Not harsh…realistic...I with you actually.  So, what are your thoughts on the TV show?  Real quick not to derail the thread.

                      Out with the new! In with the old!

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • ChrisC
                        Chris
                        Raw and Unwashed
                        Joined:

                        Haven't watched it.  Can't decide of I want to; seeing someone else's idea of how things and people should look usually annoys me to the point where I don't enjoy movie/show.  Everyone tells me it's amazing, though, so I might still watch.  What about you?

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • thomasnunnallyT
                          thomasnunnally
                          Joined:

                          i've only seen two episodes so far.  The visuals are good, but I can't really comment much on the story.

                          Out with the new! In with the old!

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • ChrisC
                            Chris
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined:

                            Yeah, unfortunately, the visuals might be the problem for me.  Oh well, like I said, I may end up watching it eventually anyway.  I am kind of interested in how they'll streamline the story to work on TV.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • madmondayM
                              madmonday
                              Raw and Unwashed
                              Joined:

                              gimp the little documentary/movie "Freakanomics" is really well done.  check it out, i think you would enjoy it.

                              just "found" this in my bookcase & have just re-read the forward, great stuff here:

                              head high, middle finger higher

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • DougNgD
                                DougNg
                                Joined:

                                Read Freakonomics a long time ago. A really good book by a guy that thinks very much outside of the box

                                Emails From an Asshole. Great book. Funniest thing I've read in a long time

                                I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Finn666F
                                  Finn666
                                  Joined:

                                  @madmonday:

                                  gimp the little documentary/movie "Freakanomics" is really well done.  check it out, i think you would enjoy it.

                                  just "found" this in my bookcase & have just re-read the forward, great stuff here:

                                  think i need to start buying me one of these as well…thinking about a tattoo recently!

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • madmondayM
                                    madmonday
                                    Raw and Unwashed
                                    Joined:

                                    no finn, not for the images. the introduction of the book gives incredible insight into "irezumi" & through out the text explains different meanings of symbols & such.

                                    it's really an incredible book

                                    head high, middle finger higher

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                                    • J
                                      jacoavlu
                                      Joined:

                                      I find it interesting that it's done by two folks with the names Fellman and Thomas

                                      kidding, I'm sure it is interesting. the notion of a tattoo especially a visible one has traditionally been rather taboo in japan yes? I believe there has been/was a general association of the tattoo with organized crime (yakuza) and I believe it is not uncommon for public places or businesses to have bans on visible tattoos

                                      But of course I only know what I read on the internet

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • madmondayM
                                        madmonday
                                        Raw and Unwashed
                                        Joined:

                                        i'll ship it off to you in a few when i return the items i have for you. great read & taken from a perspective i didn't expect (coming from the authors). the culture in general & the folks that make the items that we love(d).  the artists tend to not work on folks unless they have some sort of "empathy" for them.

                                        the sh!t is bonkers in a great way.

                                        head high, middle finger higher

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • Finn666F
                                          Finn666
                                          Joined:

                                          @madmonday:

                                          no finn, not for the images. the introduction of the book gives incredible insight into "irezumi" & through out the text explains different meanings of symbols & such.

                                          it's really an incredible book

                                          when it comes to such things that have history and you having the chance to read up on it to know all about it, i´m really interested in things like that. so o/course not for the images only, further more for having the chance to get to know everything about it, how it´s done and o/course the meanings behind different styles and symbols…who wants a tattoo on his body that looks good but that also means "i´m gay"...ok there might be some folks around, but i´m really not one of those!
                                          so having the chance to get to read up on an interesting part of human history is really what i´m looking for when purchasing such a book!

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                                          • J
                                            Jpo1932
                                            Joined:

                                            Reading "Better to Have Never Been: The Harm of Coming Into Existence" by David Benatar.
                                            Pretty good so far; although the premise is maybe a bit flawed, it's an interesting read nonetheless.

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