What are you reading this week of October 1, 2017?

[hermetic]

I am now reading Crosstalk by Connie Willis. It's a pretty funny concept. I'm enjoying putting myself in the protagonist's shoes and wondering what I would do. Arrgh! Note to Poindexter, I started with this one as my library only has 3 of hers: this one, Blackout, and Christmas stories. I will have to start checking all my used book stores for other works.

Oh noes!! I about bust a gut when I saw this the other day. That could be me (but I'm a she).


What's on your bedside table this week?

[northoftheborder]

1. Me Too!

I'm reading (listening to) "Ghost Army of WW2". There was a whole army contingent whose assignment was to invent ways to deceive the enemy into thinking that thousands of soldiers, equipment, etc. were in a designated place, while the real army division moved around to surprise and overcome the Germans. It included artists, sound engineers, lots of people with ingenuity, to build inflatable tanks, paint camouflage, fake signs, record sounds of all kinds of equipment moving, sounds of bridge building, general movements of troops, send fake morse code and other radio messages. They were very effective in the final months of the war in Europe, from the Normandy landing to the very end. It was all highly secretive, of course, and only a very few of army officers even knew of it. Several of the artists went on to become successful and famous, including Dr. Seuss (he had another name.) It describes their ordeals of war as they moved from place to place though France. They were scarcely armed, and their assignments were often dangerous.

Others may have heard of this group, but I hadn't, and it is told in a very entertaining way. I think in this instance I would recommend trying to find the actual book, because apparently there are a lot of pages of the on-site drawings that the artists did in their off-time. One even carried around a tiny water-color set to record what he saw.

Another I am reading: "The Other Side of the Sun" by Madeleine D'Engle. Set in South Carolina, on a beach not too far from Charleston - after the Civil War. To me it is poetic and colorful. Involves race and class of the time, and generational secrets and stresses.

Edit: Sorry, didn't notice this was a fiction thread. Ghost Army is a true story.

[hermetic]

2. No probs

That sounds absolutely marvelous. Almost too good to be true. Been out since 2001, by Jack Kneece. But then, there seems to be another story. Website here: http://www.ghostarmy.org/ that says: This award-winning documentary film premiered on PBS in 2013 and was written by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles. Maybe that was just the screenplay. Whatever, it also says: Looking forward to the September 2018 Ghost Army /Secret War tour of Europe. Led by Rick Beyer, it will trace the route of the unit from England, across the Channel to France, through Luxembourg, and Belgium, all the way to Germany.

This is absolutely fascinating and I am so glad you brought it to our attention as I think there are others here who will be as intrigued by this as I am. Thanks!!

[shenmue]

3. Just got 'Twelve Drummers Drumming' by C. C. Benison

[hermetic]

7. I'll seek this one out

Sounds somewhat like Broadchurch from the description. A lovely, picturesque village full of seemingly delightful people who harbor many dark secrets which will soon come to light after a brutal murder.

Found it interesting that there is another book with the same title written the same year by one Kaye George, a dark fantasy/horror short story. I found a PDF online for free so I'm saving it for my December reading.

[sagesnow]

4. Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson

I'm Reading this for my monthly Mystery Book Club selection. Follow Amnesiac Christine Lucas ""As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I’m still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me. . . ."
Found unconscious and near death in a hotel room in London, Christine must sort her life out anew each day as she wakes up with a totally blank memory each morning. This book has been made into a movie starring Nichole Kidman, but as usual, the book is much better. The book always gives deeper expository detail of motive and history. All in all, a good suspense novel.

[hermetic]

8. Oh, neat

My library actually has that one so I will for sure check it out. Sounds most intriguing. Thanks.

[PoorMonger]

5. The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente

The lives of six female superheroes and the girlfriends of superheroes. A ferocious riff on women in superhero comics

From the New York Times bestselling author Catherynne Valente comes a series of linked stories from the points of view of the wives and girlfriends of superheroes, female heroes, and anyone who’s ever been “refrigerated”: comic book women who are killed, raped, brainwashed, driven mad, disabled, or had their powers taken so that a male superhero’s storyline will progress.

In an entirely new and original superhero universe, Valente subversively explores these ideas and themes in the superhero genre, treating them with the same love, gravity, and humor as her fairy tales. After all, superheroes are our new fairy tales and these six women have their own stories to share.

[hermetic]

9. Ooh, that sounds fun

And quite brand new. Sounds like one everybody should read.

[PoorMonger]

11. If you've never read her

Valente is one of the most interesting writers around today - purely on concepts she is unlike anyone I know of. Plus she writes a ton.

[TexasProgresive]

6. Still in the "Foundation" series

Reading the 2nd prequel Forward the Foundation. Its good but a little slow moving. There is one more in the series which is at the end, Foundation and Earth. When I finish that I suppose I will get to Roddy Doyle's Barrytown trilogy, begining with The Commitments. I notice new names here in fiction, welcome to all.

Edit- Love the toon. We often joke that the house is gonna collapse on the side with all the books.

[hermetic]

10. Hi

I am so looking forward to reading 2 and 3.

Yeah, it's always good to see new folks here.