O – Off Armageddon Reach, David Webber

Off Armageddon Reef [OFF ARMAGEDDON REEF] [Mass Market Paperback]Loved: Um…honestly not much. I liked the premise and the back cover. I never actually finished the book. But I did learn a lot from it…

Learned: I learned NOT to change the spelling of commonly-pronounced names just for the sake of being different (Haarahld - Harold; Zhenyfyr - Jennifer). I also learned the dangers of burying a somewhat intriguing main character (A woman whose intellect is basically transferred into a male cyborg centuries later) beneath boring plotlines and secondary characters. The book had a great title, great cover, great description, but it still fell flat for me and reinforced the idea that it’s the story that counts!

15 comments:

  1. Love your insights to these books. I am going to remember that about spelling names too. Those are really difficult and I would have been struggling to figure them out (I probaby would have just skipped over them each time they came up). Unfortunately.

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  2. Oh dear, did those names really happen? *cringe*

    J.C. Martin
    A to Z Blogger

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  3. I agree with not spelling your children's names in a weird way. The poor things have to live their lives with it, long after parents are gone.
    My name is Catherine...with a C, but, I was always called Kathy...with a K...I'm 60 years old and still having to explain that one...Thanks Mom!! But,I digress!
    What a great way to present this year's Challenge. I'm in a book club and we're always looking for good reads.
    I posted on Opposites.
    Kathy at Oak Lawn Images

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  4. well, I hadn't read it but after your post not so sure I would anyway. and as far as spellings of names; leave them as they are!

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  5. Ok, I need your advice then. Do you think Kaitlyn would be ok for a main character's name? It is not the typical spelling. Normally different spellings don't bother me, but if a main character is named Dill or Zsadist.. it just takes me out of the story.

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    1. Haha, I don't mind that kind of stuff at all! People spell their names differently all the time. With this book in particular, it became pretty clear that the names were a trope to try to make it sound more exotic. And some of the spelling was so crazy that I was sitting there saying them outloud to figure out what to call a character. ;) I think you're fine.

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    2. hehe, ok thanks! So, its ok to be a little different but don't go too overboard!

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  6. Secondary characters are such a tricky thing: you need them to have a great book, but too many and not well enough defined will bog down a book too.

    So glad to see you mentioned Narnia for N!

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  7. So... should I read the book or should I forget about it?

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    1. I'm not sure I could recommend this book, but I have heard good things about David Webber's other stuff.

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    2. I'm not sure I could recommend this book, but I have heard good things about David Webber's other stuff.

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  8. I can understand that! The spelling of those names are atrocious and distracting. LOL

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  9. Good lessons. That name thing is annoying!

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  10. Thanks for the mini review. I like how you worked it into the challenge. I agree with each point you make. I am a new follower from the challenge.

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  11. Wow...I can't believe I'm actually thanking you for introducing me to a book not to read. haha. Nice review though!

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