What Fiction are you reading this week, June 24, 2018?

[hermetic]

I am now enjoying The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doig. Gosh, those sure were simpler times. "From a great American storyteller, a one-of-a-kind father and his precocious son are rocked by a time of change (1960)."

I just got the audio book The Golem of Paris by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman. Haven't started it yet but it says: "From two #1 bestselling masters of crime fiction comes an extraordinary thriller about family, murder, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried." Sounds like the kind of story I enjoy.

What are you enjoying this week?

[dameatball]

1. "Lamb" by Christopher Moore

Finally finished "By Gaslight" and wanted something lighter. It's a hoot so far.

[hermetic]

2. Haven't read that one yet

God knows it does sound like a hoot. (See what I did there? )

[dameatball]

4. Yup, sure did. The book does the same thing pretty much continually.

Moore is great at making one pause, go back, reread and then laugh.

[kimbutgar]

30. That is one of the greatest books I've ever read

I gave it to my religious church going Mother in law the book who loved the book so much she shared it with her church group. When I think of Jesus I think of this book. I will definitely re read it someday.

Enjoy.

[murielm99]

3. Odd Hours,

by Dean Koontz.

[hermetic]

6. I loved Odd Thomas

from so many years ago. I didn't realize there were so many sequels.

[mindem]

5. The Art of The Deal

True fiction it is.

[hermetic]

7. Be careful

That stuff might break your brain.

[bobbieinok]

8. Rereading some Georgette Heyer Regency novels. Very soothing.

[hermetic]

9. Lovely

Delightful, glittering, timeless romance; stories brimming with intrigue, villainy, gallant heroes, compelling heroines...

[PennyK]

10. The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye

I read her The Whole Art of Detection and fell in love. This is the first of three books about New York policeman Timothy Wilde in 1845 and I love it! If you liked The Alienist, this is very similar, but in an earlier time. The slang alone is fascinating.

[murielm99]

11. That sounds wonderful!

[pscot]

12. The Strangler Vine by Miranda Carter

This is a detective/ road/historical novel set in India in 1837. William Avery is a bored young ensign wallowing in debt and debauchery in Calcutta. He's selected to find and bring back a missing poet who has written a scandalous novel about the British residents of the city. He's paired with Jeremiah Blake, a derelict spy who speaks a dozen languages and has gone native. They travel North along the Grand Trunk Road to the country of the Thugee. A rousing yarn ensues. Good stuff. Very enjoyable.

[hermetic]

14. Oh, fun.

I have strangler vines in my yard. Hate the little suckers. Sounds like a good story, though.

[Number9Dream]

13. "The Glorious Cause" by Jeff Shaara

The second of the American Revolution novels from about the time of the Declaration of Independence to Yorktown. Although mostly historically accurate, this is found in the fiction section of the library. Shaara includes fictional dialogue between the characters to breathe more life into them (Washington, Franklin, Cornwallis, Greene, Lafayette, etc.). An enjoyable read.

[hermetic]

15. Hiya,

I really enjoy when writers lend dialogue to non-fiction. I think it would be fun to write. Henry and Clara by Mallon was good that way, being about Lincoln.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

35. Shaara's books are fiction.

As is Henry and Clara

Both Mallon and Shaara do their research, and they have real historical, believable people, but they are not lending dialogue to non fiction.

[PoorMonger]

16. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

{ A Hogarth Shakespeare version of The Taming Of The Shrew }


Pulitzer Prize winner and American master Anne Tyler brings us an inspired, witty and irresistible contemporary take on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.

Kate Battista feels stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she’s always in trouble at work – her pre-school charges adore her, but their parents don’t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.

Dr. Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There’s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr, all would be lost.

When Dr. Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he’s relying – as usual – on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time he’s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men’s touchingly ludicrous campaign to bring her around?

[hermetic]

17. Nice!

I want to read all of those. I so enjoyed Atwood's Hag-Seed.

[TexasProgresive]

18. Just picked up "The Late Show" Michael Connelly

Finished #12 of The Wheel of Time "The Gathering Storm" 750+ pages so I'm ready for some good ole murder.

[hermetic]

20. This one's really popular

Not surprising. We can always count on Connelly.

[Paladin]

19. Michael Ondaatje's new one, "Warlight."

About a brother and sister in post WWII London, abandoned by their parents and left in the care of people who seem to be small-time criminals. Lots of Cold War spy-craft as the boy begins to look into what happened to his mother and father. Predictably excellent writing by Ondaatje, author of "The English Patient." Recommended.

[hermetic]

21. Truly

He is such a great writer, one can be sure they will enjoy his books.

[PoorMonger]

22. Macbeth by Jo Nesb

{ a Hogarth Shakespeare adaptation }

A heart-pounding new thriller from the author of The Snowman and The Thirst

Set in the 1970s in a run-down, rainy industrial town, Jo Nesbo's Macbeth centers around a police force struggling to shed an incessant drug problem. Duncan, chief of police, is idealistic and visionary, a dream to the townspeople but a nightmare for criminals. The drug trade is ruled by two drug lords, one of whom—a master of manipulation named Hecate—has connections with the highest in power, and plans to use them to get his way.

Hecate’s plot hinges on steadily, insidiously manipulating Inspector Macbeth: the head of SWAT and a man already susceptible to violent and paranoid tendencies. What follows is an unputdownable story of love and guilt, political ambition, and greed for more, exploring the darkest corners of human nature, and the aspirations of the criminal mind.

[PoorMonger]

25. This is awesome!

My favorite of the series so far, though I do have my genre leanings that would make this a logical hit for me. It feels like Macbeth in Sin City.

[PennyK]

23. Regarding Island of the Mad

From Laurie R. King's website:

https://laurierking.com/2018/06/madness-and-melania/

[hermetic]

24. Well,

That is certainly interesting. Thanks.

[Kilgore]

26. Ringworld

By Larry Niven

[KansasKali]

27. The Starlit Wood

A collection of short stories where modern writers retell traditional fairy tales. Edited by Navah Wolfe and Dominik Parisien.

[mainstreetonce]

28. The Flight Attendant Chris Bohjalian

Decent summer reading. Reviews compare it to
The Girl on a Train, if you like that kind of story.
Not the best Bohjalian, but worth the readl

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

32. I read that recently and it was quite good.

[lordsummerisle]

29. Bless Me Ultima

non-fiction: Something Wonderful

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

33. Just finished

The Good Father by Noah Hawley. A man's life is turned upside down when his son shoots and kills a Senator running for President. Quite good, especially as a study of how people think, and the lies they tell themselves.

He also wrote Before the Fall which I've read and enjoyed a lot.

[mainstreetonce]

34. Sounds interesting

I think I will look for that.