h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Last year, Create ran a challenge or two and one of which was to write a book review for the Edited Guide. We had some great submissions, one of which was 'The Book Thief' A87768391. So, I bought a copy of the book and began to read it. Then life intervened, and the book and I parted company for over a whole year.

Well then, move forward to this week and I started reading over from the beginning. It's incredibly moving, and I've very nearly finished it. I've got so close to the end I don't really want to read those final pages in case the ending isn't just how I'd hope it to be.

I have a horrible habit of reading the ends of books when I am in the middle somewehere. I don't know why - even when I do I am not trying to find out what happens, although I often do, of course. Then, whether I finish the book depends on how interested I am in finding out how they get to that point. It's an illness, I tell you. I admire your restraint.

I had a copy of The Book Thief, purchased from a charity shop and ready to read over the summer. Then my daughter, Moonlight, visited and stole it! I must ask her for it back if you recommend it.

I was reading a book, a couple weeks back, and was, I dunno, pretty near the end, and I nearly couldn't finish it... It was so* geared up for the main male character to shoot the female main character, I couldn't face it.....
Eventually I forced myself to read the final half a chapter or so, and when she didn't* get killed... I cried and it was only some cheap trashy short novel not like actual* proper fiction or anything by a proper* author I had to hunt down a book for after that which had absolutely* no likelyhood of a main character dieing and found a Sue townsend one I'd not seen before which at least didn't make me cry I must find some new fiction to read, I've been reading historical books the past few days (online E-books, of old out of copyright things)

I rarely start a book without finishing it. But I often buy books and never get around to starting them. I've a special shelf on my bookshelf for books I intend to read eventually. Some of them have been there for more than 10 years. I really should date them and then throw them out when they've been there five years.

reddit

I've still not read the last chapter of the Last Argument of Kings because I didn't want to say goodbye to Logan. I must finish it now, mind, as the character turns up in a later book.

I now read on a kindle and I find one thing I miss is that sense of impending completion. Although the kindle shows what percentage you are through the book, you can never quite tell how much at the end is footnotes, a taster of the author's next book, publishing info, whatever.

Deb

I'm similar in relation to book endings. It must be difficult for the authors to decide how to finish, but more than once I have had a 'Noooo' reaction, because my imagined ending was so much better than the real one. I plan to write about one such book this month. Sometimes the ending is just right though.

I also have a bookshelf of pending books and I daren't think how long some of them have been there... At least one is Guide Entry material, though, so I will get motivation soon-ish...

This reminds of the episode of "Dallas" where it was revealed who shot JR. Even the actors didn't know it because they had filmed tree different versions with three different shooters

I've read hundreds of detective stories in the last few years. It's almost an addiction. There has to be at least one death per book. Fortunately, many of the authors are kind enough to make the victims unsympathetic.

I can't think of any books I've failed to finish* reading; A few I've started, and decided, useually within a few pages or so, that I'm not going to read, so stop there... but that isn't quite* the same, in my mind, anyhow, as not finishing a book... Just when I get the feel I don't like the writing, or the pace, or soemthing... Or, which happens to me quite oftne, I can't stand* the voice of the narrator (as I read audio books) Actually, it is strange, but the narrators voice makes such* a differnce to my 'reading' of the book, and I've gotten quite bad at my prefernces, as I find listening to a male voice so much easier for some reason which is rather annoying, as it can tend to rule out a lot of books, which otherwise I'd probably enjoy to read

I love that book. It's so beautiful.

I gave up on the Dark Materisl trilogy, I really didnt like teh wriiting style.

And I only managed one of the Game of Thrones books, though I'm happy to watch the TV series.

I loved the style of the Dark Materials, but the content got very extreme. It seemed to be a bigoted rant against just about everybody - the religious, atheists, scientists... Only the polar bears came out well.

I didn't even manage one of the Game of Thrones books. I gave up after about 50 pages. I didn't like the style.

"Only the polar bears came out well"

Please can I steal that phrase/line, for my NaNoWrimo novel this year? it could take the surrealness into a whole new surreal direction

I'm hoping for a bit of sunshine this afternoon, so I can sit somewhere and finish this book.

( I loved Dark Materials, but also agree it was skewed towards some personal grievance, it would have been a far better story without the battering narrative.)

As it's been raining, I've been reading other books via this tablet thingy. The tablet is not suitable for the beach really. Basically it's a posh kindle. Eventually it will pay for itself in the cost of paperbacks. But more of that in a later journal entry