News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Ask HN: Books you read in 2016? by demicynic on Thursday December 22, 2016 @02:54PM (#13239852)
I tried to read it a couple of years ago and was unimpressed by the long lists of 'references' to 80's pop culture. I only made it about half way through before I abandoned it. Is it worth going back to finish it if I didn't enjoy the first half?
Re:Ask HN: Books you read in 2016? by Freak_NL on Thursday December 22, 2016 @03:11PM (#13239981)
It's worth finishing I think — I enjoyed it, but that's not much to go on — but it is definitely the type of book that should remain unique in your collection. The eighties pop reference angle is interesting for those of us who had parts of their childhood in the eighties, but it is not something you would want to see repeated in a second or third book. A gimmick that works well once.

Reminds me of House of Leaves (Danielewski), which employs typography and layered (fictional) authors in a very compelling and unique manner. I can't imagine ever reading another book like that though (although I know I'll enjoy rereading it in the future). Any copy-cat would seem like cheap clone compared to the original.

Re:Ask HN: Books you read in 2016? by cableshaft on Thursday December 22, 2016 @04:21PM (#13240493)
There's less of it in the second half, but really at this point I'd just say wait for the movie to come out, which will likely do a better job of telling the story anyway (I say that mainly because I was thinking the entire time "I hate this guy's writing style, but this would probably make a fun movie").
Re:Ask HN: Books you read in 2016? by kingosticks on Thursday December 22, 2016 @03:07PM (#13239958)
I also found them a bit annoying but yes, it's worth going back to it.