Recent comments in /f/books

Mentalfloss1 t1_j6b43gd wrote

Reply to Have you ever felt this when reading a book? by RVG990104

Back when Gravity's Rainbow was first published I had a loose connection with some "intellectuals". Now one of these guys was indeed extremely intelligent but the others struck me as pretenders. They went on and on about how wonderful the book was but there were never any specifics, no questions, no real discussion. Just praise.

So I got a copy and, like you, it started well but soon became what I call bad writing. If I need to slog then I'm done. I did that with some required texts but life, to me, is too short to slog.

I've heard people have that same complaint about Beloved, by Morrison. But that book made good sense to me even though I read it twice in a row to really clarify it.

So, my lame conclusion is that we all read and understand differently. Good luck with the book!!

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Deaf_Witch t1_j6b31ax wrote

Reply to comment by Thornescape in Does having ads on the Kindle really bother anyone? by rhaegarsimp

> I prefer the smaller screen size for one handed reading.

The paperwhite only has a screen size of 6.8". It's basically the size of a paperback. Real easy to hold one handed. Battery lasts a hell of a lot longer, and the later versions are water proof, so you can read in the tub/shower/pool/rain. Best part is you don't have to worry about light hitting the screen; that just makes it easier to read instead of having a glare.

I used to read primarily on my phone, until I fooled around with a friends paperwhite. 6 months later bought my own.

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wheres-the-waffles t1_j6b2yam wrote

Reply to Does having ads on the Kindle really bother anyone? by rhaegarsimp

I’m someone who usually pays ad-free for anything bc I hate ads so much but on the kindle it’s a non-issue. It’s only on the lock screen that is used for a second while loading.

Not worth it to pay extra for no ads. I do understand though that often people can get lucky paying nothing by asking customer service.

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DavesWorldInfo t1_j6b2r7f wrote

Reply to comment by ChickenDragon123 in Thoughts on David Weber by ChickenDragon123

> (I still maintain that she murdered Pavel Young, even if he cheated. She intended to leave him dead for what he did to her.)

I'm going to have to categorically disagree with any definition of what happened between Honor and Pavel on the field as murder. I really do.

First, what she did was legal. In the Kingdom of Manticore, dueling is legal. Debating the morality or "rightness" of dueling is a separate discussion I feel. In Manticore, dueling is legal.

Second, I've got the file for FoD open on another screen, but I'd have to literally skim through the whole thing to count to be certain I hadn't missed something. But Young was attempting to destroy her, and doing it via violence. Some of it was legal, some of it clearly wasn't.

He abused the dueling regulations by hiring a ringer; legal, but of questionable morality. Dueling is designed for two people of good standing to settle differences they can't settle via other means. Young hired a professional duelist, a literal killer who does it legally, to kill Paul.

I don't remember just how clear Young was about his ideas for "the full plan", but IIRC his thinking was Honor would go after Summervale for "revenge" and die in that duel. Because Summervale was supposed to be death with a gun, fast and accurate and unstoppable; that's why Summervale had a career as a professional duelist, and why Young had hired him.

Clearly, Honor was better with a gun than anyone expected. Mary Sue, but that's also a separate discussion (and not an interesting one IMO). Honor challenged Summervale and took him out, legally. Young also didn't expect Summervale would have been made to talk and spill Young's involvement, when Honor's subordinates forced Summervale to reveal the whole scenario when they 'questioned' him.

So now Honor knows Young orchestrated the whole thing. Young immediately begins using politics and the dueling code to avoid her being able to challenge him. The setup was a challenge (to duel) has to be issued in person, so he moved Heaven and Earth trying to ensure she'd never be in a room with him.

He, and others in the Navy and Government, started trying to force Honor to either accept orders and be shipped out to a duty station (away from Young), or resign and continue seeking to challenge him. Then Young hired mercenaries (common criminal hitmen IIRC) to attempt to assassinate Honor in public.

At that point Honor (and Weber, in a twist I rather enjoyed) took advantage of the fact that while she despised politics, she actually did have the legal right to be seated in the House of Lords. Which was where Young was hiding from her, thinking she couldn't go. Where she was finally able to challenge him.

The entire setup was Young was trying to hide behind politics and position, including his position in society. He couldn't decline the challenge without suffering political damage (another discussion about dueling, not the story) so he was 'forced' to accept.

Then, at the duel, he broke the dueling rules. Which were quite simple; stand back to back, walk thirty paces, and stop. When the master of the field says turn, they can both turn and fire a single shot at the other.

After that one shot was exchanged, Young would be able to "honorably" declare honor had been satisfied without political damage. Except he felt Honor would kill him with that single shot. So he panicked, acted without honor, and attempted to murder her by turning early and shooting before the master of the field had declared turn.

The very story states Young's life was forfeit when he broke the rules. The master of the field, using a space gun, was in the process shooting him as penalty for violating the dueling rules. Honor was hit by Young's shot, seriously wounded. Yet (Mary Sue, gotta love Mary Sues) even wounded she manages to roll back to her feet and shoot Young three times in the chest before the master of the field could get his own shots off.

Young was dead the moment he fired at Honor early. The master of the field was empowered to kill him for that, and did fire. Honor was entitled to defend herself from someone who broke the rules of the duel in an attempt to murder her before being killed himself for his actions.

The Kingdom of Manticore didn't charge her with murder. None of Young's political allies were able to charge her with murder. They used political maneuvering to dismiss her from the House of Lords and active service because they're evil villains who just seek to torture and punish all who dare oppose them, but that was the extent of the penalties.

The fact that she got her own shots off in self defense against Young doesn't make her returning fire murder. It really doesn't. I strongly reject any contention that it does. Of course each reader is always encouraged to have their own reactions. Mine will never include characterizing Honor as a murderer. Ever.

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reluctantredditor822 t1_j6b2hxo wrote

Reply to Does having ads on the Kindle really bother anyone? by rhaegarsimp

The ads are just on the lock screen and if you go long enough without connecting to WiFi they just won’t appear at all (just a generic “find your next great read on the kindle store” and a nice graphic)

I’ve always had the kindle with ads and it never bothered me, but sometimes the book covers advertised can be a little inappropriate for kids.

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