What are you reading this week of April 8, 2018?

[hermetic]

Last edited Fri Apr 13, 2018, 12:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Gradually working my way down my bookshelf pile and reading the sci fi classic, To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. My paperback version is 500 pages so I guess this will take a few weeks. It's really good so far, though. Really funny.

What's on your bookshelf this week?

[WheelWalker]

1. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Heinlein.

[hermetic]

3. Good choice

One of the all-time greats, IMO.

[WheelWalker]

7. Been reading it again and again every few years since about 1967.

I'm guessing I read one new book for every ten I read that I've read before. I don't get out much.

[Ohiogal]

2. Poison by John Lescroart

[hermetic]

5. Prolific writer

This looks to be about his 36th. "With Lescroart's razor-sharp dialogue and whip-smart plotting, Poison is a nail-biter that will keep you guessing until the very last page." Sounds good. Have you read his earlier works?

[Ohiogal]

14. I've read every single one of his books.

And Poison is pretty darn good so far, too!

[getting old in mke]

22. Is it a Dismas Hardy, or one of the surrounding characters?

[democrank]

4. Everybodys Fool by Richard Russo.

[hermetic]

6. Followup to Nobody's Fool

Which was really enjoyable. I look forward to reading this one soon.

[KPN]

8. Hmmm ... read his "Empire Falls" and really enjoyed it after a rather slow start.

Let us know what you think.

[KPN]

9. Not fiction, but what the heck, it's what I'm reading. "Hacked" by Donna Brazille.

About halfway through. Interesting read. Not sure what I think of it at this point. Seems to be some simmering hard feelings/hurt going on within the upper party ranks from what I've read thus far.

Hope I didn't break any rules.

[hermetic]

10. Rules?

We don't need no stinking rules.....

Someone occasionally reads a non-fiction book here. Just don't make a habit of it.

It does sound interesting, though, with people all put out by it. And maybe it is part fiction after all. We truly are living in interesting times. And anyone who takes the time to actually read any book is okay by me. So,

[KPN]

12. Haha. Thanks for the pardon. I'll try not to do it again.

Yeah, I'm really perplexed by what I've read thus far. I think Donna may be feeling a bit slighted by her experience as interim DNC chair. Hard to tell though.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. To Say Nothing of the Dog

is delightful. I hope you go on to read her other time travel novels if you haven't already done so. The Doomsday Book, Blackout and All Clear. Do be aware that those last two are one giant novel published in two volumes. You must read them in order.


I actually just saw Connie Willis this past weekend at a science fiction event, the Jack Williamson Lectureship in Portales, NM. She is a delight, extremely liberal and opinionated and doesn't hesitate to express herself. Oh, and I believe she is doing research for yet another time travel novel. Meanwhile she back to working on her Roswell novel, but that probably won't be out for two years or more.

[hermetic]

13. How cool

that you got to see her again. I definitely look forward to reading more.

[getting old in mke]

23. Fabulous book. Fabulous author.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

25. Fabulous woman, also.

I get to hang out with her at various s-f events. I've been reading her stuff for however long she's been publishing, but only got to meet her about six or seven years ago when I started attending science fiction cons. The first time I saw her I of course recognized her from the author photos on her novels, and was completely awe-struck. She is not remotely impressed with herself, even though she's won every single award out there, some several times over.

Her husband, Courtney Willis, is a recently retired physics professor, and last year he was giving talks about the upcoming eclipse, and since August he's been giving talks (and showing pictures) about the eclipse.

[murielm99]

15. I am reading Black Book by

Ian Rankin.

[hermetic]

16. I love Rankin

and Rebus. This is an old one, '93. I've read all the newer ones but none of the very first. My library has no Rankin books, in spite of his popularity, 'cause he's not a Murkin. I have to wait and find them at used book stores. Ah well, gives me something to look forward to.

[murielm99]

17. I don't think my library has all of them, either.

If they don't, I plan to buy them in paperback and donate them after I read them. I will buy good quality paperbacks so the staff can keep them on the shelves awhile. We did this with the first six Reacher volumes. They had those, but they had gone missing or been read to shreds over the years. There are many ways to support the public library.

I know Rankin has won countless awards. But sometimes I think he introduces too many characters. Maybe it is the style of European or British Isles writers to do this. I enjoy his books, and enjoy learning the Scottish terms and slang.

[PennyK]

18. Well, this is crazy

Last edited Tue Apr 10, 2018, 01:05 PM - Edit history (1)

It took me a few years to realize I had a problem...while reading, my eyelids were drooping. I thought I was tired? And it turned me off reading. Last year I bought a cookbook holder, and I began using it for reading books. I didn't have the problem when the book was more vertical, and I began reading at almost an insane rate. Just recently, the problem got even worse.

I realized that my eyelids are sagging enough to seriously impede my vision. Anyway, I'm going to see my doctor and discuss surgery (blepharoplasty) to resolve the problem. Very excited! It should improve my reading and my peripheral vision...and I might even look ten minutes younger.
Oh, I'm reading The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes by Leonard Goldberg AND we're going to see "Ready Player One" tomorrow (too much thunder and lightening today).

[hermetic]

20. Oh, gosh

That sounds frightening but glad you saw a doc and can get it all fixed and improved even. Wishing you the best. If you have to rest your eyes for a while, hope you are able to get a bunch of good audible books.

Do tell what you thought of the movie. Take care.

[PennyK]

21. Thanks, hermetic!

I never do audible books, and that is a fantastic idea. I see that the ointment I'll need to use causes blurry vision for a few days, so I'm definitely going to go that route. I'll start looking into how to get started with it (such a n00b am I).

I just started Caleb Carr's Surrender, New York.

[getting old in mke]

24. Two going regularly at the moment

1) Testimony by Scott Turow. Lawyer retires from Kindle County, becomes a prosecutor in the Hague looking into the mass murder of 400 Roma in Bosnia. This is a "show book", so it will take a couple of weeks: I only read it in the green room before and during off-stage times of shows I'm in. Currently, musical version of the Bridges of Madison County.

2) Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley as an audio book. Not sure how I feel about this. I'm loving the story and points of view. I'm absolutely an Arthurian fan. But with the revelations in 2014 of child abuse by MZB, there is something in me that doesn't feel good about the book. She died in 1999 and it's a library book, so it's not like I'm adding to her revenue stream, but still.

How do you all deal with works of art in general when you find the actions of the creators heinous?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

28. Somehow I missed the revelations of child abuse by

MZB.

How to deal with works of art when the actions of the creators are heinous, or even merely disturbing is a genuine conundrum. Such revelations necessarily make you rethink what you'd thought about that person and their work. I don't think there's any one way to think about it.

I wish I could offer more.

[hermetic]

31. Oh wow

I didn't know that about MZB. I was in another country when that story came out. I absolutely adored Mists of Avalon and I'm glad so much time has passed since I read it. I wouldn't now. To be fair, she was not alive to defend herself against the allegations but what I just read in the WaPo was pretty damning. Personally, I can't really enjoy someone's work once I learn something like that.

It is very cool that you are in Bridges of Madison County. I am a huge fan of theatre and find that story quite lovely. Break a leg!

[LisaM]

26. I just finished "A Closed Eye" by Anita Brookner.

I highly recommend it.

[hermetic]

32. Thanks

From '92, Brookner creates a hauntingly flawed heroine and a study in the evasions and disappointments that make up all our lives.

[matt819]

27. Game of Ghosts by John Connolly

A new Charlie Parker novel

Also, Beau Death, the latest Peter Diamond novel by Peter Lovesey.

[hermetic]

33. Oh boy oh boy!

Connolly's latest paranormal thriller. Can hardly wait to get a hold of that one.

[matt819]

36. I've read only a few

But he really is something, isn't he?

The paranormal stuff just kind of sneaks up on your, and you begin to think that, sure, that's perfectly reasonable.

As the title notes, I've read only a few. I'm going to go over the list of 16 novels and check the descriptions on Amazon and then start from the beginning.

[dameatball]

29. Just finished "The Terror" Dan Simmons, starting "Agincourt 1415" Matthew Bennett

[hermetic]

34. Did you enjoy The Terror?

I found it rather gripping and memorable. Made me do research on the actual events.

Many have written about Agincourt 1415. Will Gill has a graphic novel with incredible illustrations.
The battle is still important today. as outnumbered and outmaneuvered, when Henry V won it was a famous victory in the 100 Years War. And it was all because of the humble longbow.

[dameatball]

37. Yes, it was quite an adventure.

Besides the obvious creature, violence, etc., the depiction of the living conditions, ice and frigid weather, was almost too descriptive......agonizing for them. Very well researched as to naval life, native peoples, geography......just a tremendous read.

[Skittles]

30. Dark Assassin by Anne Perry

I love her books

[hermetic]

35. Ahh,

Another author who seems worth looking into. She's written a ton of British mysteries as well as a Christmas mystery every year beginning back in 2003. Sounds like a nice tradition to start. Thanks.

[Skittles]

38. I started by accident

I love mysteries and picked up a Perry paperback at Half-Price Books - I read the back of the book to see if I might be interested. So a few pages in I'm like, WTF YEAR IS THIS? Turns out it was the 1800's......but by then I was already intrigued by Ms. Perry's writing style. I read the book, enjoyed it, then got some more of her books. The historical aspect is so cool - you really get a sense of how things were back then.

When I Googled the author I was so surprised to learn that when she was a teenager (different name back then), she and a girlfriend had murdered the girlfriend's mum. Kate Winslet played her in the movie "Heavenly Creatures".