Week 2, Part 2

Books that I've greatly enjoyed. Let me see if I might be able to step a bit out of my usual comfort zone....

This is hard...

***time passes***

Okay, fail on that count. Books I really liked!

Let's go with...
Thud!
King of Torts
and...Ready Player One

Thud! is the 34th novel in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and 8th City Watch story. The City Watch books tend to be more character driven, and this one is no different. It focuses primarily on the head of the City Watch, Commander Sir Samuel Vimes. A key to this story are the details. One particular detail makes all the difference in this story full of biting wit and masterful use of the English language. At the outset, Thud! has a slow pace and a laid back tone, treating the primary plot line a simple police case. As the story continues, the pace picks up and the tone becomes much more serious. Much of the story involves the characters learning new things about the already irreverently fantastic setting that Pratchett was so fond of writing.

King of Torts is one of John Grisham's classic legal stories. The story is focused on a single character, a down-on-his-luck public defender who dreams of grander things. When offered the chance to make a lot of money very quickly by starting business as a tort lawyer with massive damages, the pace quickens. The details of the story, the small bits that are almost side mentions, wind up being the catalyst for the final chapter. According to the Saricks Method, this book would likey qualify as either Adrenaline or Intellect, with more of a leaning toward Adenaline. Who knew lawyers could have such an adventourus life?

Ready Player One lends itself to the doorway method quite nicely. I recognize that not everyone enjoys video games, but here's the thing: Ready Player One is as much a mystery as anything else. The focus of the story is on a puzzle. A giant, life changing puzzle that nearly everyone on the Earth is involved in trying to solve. The one who solves this puzzle, who wins the contest, becomes the richest person in the world instantly. The language is strong, with lots of descriptive detail and pace that will leave readers at all levels satisfied. If you like science fiction, this book is for you. If you like mysteries and puzzle books, this book for you. If you lived in and/or enjoyed the 1980s, this book is for you. Would you like to chekc it out?