What Fiction are you reading this week, Dec. 13, 2020?

[hermetic]

Happy Hanukkah!

I am reading The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. A majestic work of fiction based on real events during the life of her grandfather. This story explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman. That's what it says on the cover and I completely agree. "Sly humor:" Government is like sex. When it's good you don't appreciate it enough and when it's bad you can't stop thinking about it. Ms Erdrich is a woman of great wisdom.

Listening to Ian Rankin's 13th John Rebus mystery, Set In Darkness. From 2000, I don't know how I missed this one after all these years but am glad I found it now. It's a fun listen while Rebus confronts his dark side with his usual snarky wit and deals with three seemingly disparate cases.

What is your pleasure this week, fiction-wise?


(I gotta make a small grocery run now as it's supposed to start snowing later today and not let up for days. Back soon )

[MOMFUDSKI]

1. Just finished

Michael Connelly's THE LAW OF INNOCENCE. Quite entertaining as only he can be.

[hermetic]

9. Good

Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller is back in Connelly's newest. I'm on the waiting list for this one and looking forward to reading it.

[orwell]

2. Trump's twitter feed... n/m

[matt819]

3. Listening and reading

Last edited Sun Dec 13, 2020, 03:59 PM - Edit history (1)

Listening to the third in the department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen, A Conspiracy of Faith. Policrme procedural set in Denmark. Entertaining and creative cast of characters.

Just finished reading the 19th in the Peter Diamond series by Peter Lovesey, The Finisher. Another curmudgeonly police detective. Enjoyable series. The authors note at the end of the people is pretty funny. You just know that Lovesey loves what he does.

Just started reading the third in the Tracks series, Shadows of the Dead, by Spencer Kobe. Another marries they will keep you entertained, if not necessarily riveted.

Also in the beginning of the seventh in the inspector Erlandur series by Icelandic crime writer Arnaldur Indrisason Outrage. So far, typically bleak with a cast of moderate to highly dysfunctional people.

Notice a trend here? I do love my crime series novels.

[hermetic]

10. So do I.

Looks like I need to add Peter Lovesey to my list. And Spencer Kope. Thanks!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. I'm working on several s-f collections on my Kindle.

Stories 2: Space by Robert J. Sawyer and Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow by Kevin Kuhn. I've been reading Sawyer's stuff for some years now and really like most of his work. Kuhn is new to me, and is one of the titles that was suggested to me on the Kindle. So far they are really good and quite original. I read a fair amount of s-f.

I'm also in the middle of reading Intern by Dr X, who was actually Alan E. Nourse, a medical doctor and writer of s-f. Intern came out in 1965 and is based on a dictated nearly day-by-day account of his intern year several years earlier. He didn't feel free to publish under his own name, and it was years before we learned who it was. What's so fascinating is realizing how relatively primitive medicine was sixty plus years ago, how limited the tools were. Even with that, it's worth reading today. I'd actually read it when it first came out and loved it then. I'm loving it again.

[hermetic]

11. Sounds good.

I do want to check out Kuhn. His Do You Realize? won some major awards.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

13. Hmmm.

Considering I've been reading (and occasionally writing) science fiction for some 65 years, I will say that I haven't heard of any of those awards. So I'll venture to say they really aren't major awards.

Do You Realize has gotten sufficiently mixed reviews that I probably won't read it. Plus, it's above the price point I'm willing to pay for an ebook. I know, I'm an unrepentant cheapskate.

[hermetic]

17. Hey, fellow skater

If my library doesn't have it, then I probably won't either. Unless it's one of the few authors I absolutely adore.

Thanks for that info. That's why I no longer buy books from someone I have not read extensively.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

22. I get most of my books from the library, and have for a very long time now.

I simply cannot afford to buy all the books I want. If a kindle book that looks reasonably interesting to me is $2.99 or less, I will go for it, but only if it is either an author I already like, or the reviews are good enough. So many of the bargain-priced books are self-published and have not been properly edited, which is why I tend to be very down on self-publishing.

As it is, I long ago decided that if a book wasn't holding my interest, I'd stop reading it and go on to something else. Life is too short in the first place to waste time on something you don't enjoy. And it doesn't matter how many others loved the book. If I'm not enjoying it then I move on.

[Ohiogal]

5. Olive, Mabel and Me: Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogs

By Andrew Cotter

This book was an early Christmas present from a good friend who knows I love Labrador Retrievers.

[hermetic]

12. Oh, who's a good friend?

Anyone who gives us books. Right?

[The King of Prussia]

6. Murder at the Seaside by Frances Brody

Set on the North Yorkshire coast between the wars.

Otherwise nothing changes. The vaccine arrives locally on Monday, but I imagine it'll be a few months before they work their way round to me. So we're still shielding.

[hermetic]

14. Hang in there

Say, I was wondering about where you live. I have a book titled Ghost Stores and one of those is Pallinghurst Barrow, which is a real place and I wondered if you were familiar with it. The place and/or the story. It describes a strange glow that appears on the moors on Michaelmas and I was curious about that, as well.

Stay well!

[The King of Prussia]

27. I had to Google it

and it seems odd.Apparently it's in Hampshire - which doesn't have moors. Where I live is surrounded by moors - the ones the Bronte sisters walked and wrote about.

[hermetic]

29. I remember that you said that

About being by those moors. So I was curious if you had ever seen any strange lights out there? I promise I won't tell anyone. It can be our little secret.

[The King of Prussia]

39. Well...

The moors are beautiful but bleak, but just very dark at night. No ghostly Bronte sisters frolicking I'm afraid. And if there's ever strange lights up there... probably drug dealers 😥

[Wicked Blue]

7. The Late Scholar by Jill Paton Walsh

It features Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, characters created by the late Dorothy Sayers.

Paton Walsh, who is also now deceased, did a marvelous job of completing Thrones, Dominations, an unfinished Sayers mystery. She then wrote three more Wimsey mysteries, including her final one, The Late Scholar.

This one, like Sayers' Gaudy Night, is set at Oxford University, from which Wimsey and Vane were described as having graduated.

It centers on the question of selling or retaining a very old manuscript from the time of King Alfred the Great. The faculty at the fictional Oxford college of St. Severin is evenly divided on whether to keep the manuscript, and members of the faculty are dying or disappearing mysteriously. Lord Peter, as the hereditary college Visitor, is summoned to facilitate a decision over the fate of the manuscript, but becomes involved in investigating the murder or murders with his wife Harriet.

Sayers managed to create characters who are so thoroughly detailed in even their littlest quirks and habits, that the reader feels they are long-time friends.

[hermetic]

15. Love Peter Wimsey stories.

I agree about the characters. Feels like they were people I used to know.

[japple]

8. Ellen Cooney's book, One Night Two Souls Went Walking

A young interfaith chaplain is joined on her hospital rounds one night by an unusual companion: a rough-and-ready dog who may or may not be a ghost. As she tends to the souls of her patients—young and old, living last moments or navigating fundamentally altered lives—their stories provide unexpected healing for her own heartbreak. Balancing wonder and mystery with pragmatism and humor, Ellen Cooney (A Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances) returns to Coffee House Press with a generous, intelligent novel that grants the most challenging moments of the human experience a shimmer of light and magical possibility.

I am really enjoying this one. Good stories, well told.

Thanks for the thread, hermetic. I hope you like The Night Watchman as much as I did.

[hermetic]

16. That sounds so lovely

Yeah, Louise is one of my favorite writers ever. Her books never disappoint.

[PennyK]

18. More No 1 Ladies'

They are like delicious candy treats.
Also going through the Lord Peter series; lots of fun, too, although The Five Red Herrings is becoming a slog-through at this point.

[hermetic]

20. Heh

Five is a lot of herrings to get through.

[birdographer]

19. I'm reading a lightweight

fast read called In Five Years. A woman gets an hour-long glimpse of her life in five years and it's not quite what she was aiming for. Pieces are falling into place to indicate it's where she's going, though. Light, but very readable and so far, about half through it, holding my interest.

[hermetic]

21. "Perfect for fans of Me Before You"

which I did enjoy. Rather intriguing premise here, from author Rebecca Serle.

[Gymbo]

23. Good stories to be had this year

I finished two this week, The Sentinel by Lee Child, which was surprisingly good. The Jack reacher character was getting tired, until Lee Child turned over the character to his brother who is a fine writer. We'll see if the franchise remains successful.
I also read 'Daylight' by John Grisham who always writes a good story. I was not disappointed by any of the books I read this fall.
I have also stopped buying hardcovers, it is too hard to find storage space for them, so I have been reading via Kindle and I have adapted better than I thought I would.

[hermetic]

24. That's good to hear

Thanks

[SheltieLover]

38. Ty for sharing

About the new Reacher!

I can't find Daylight by Grisham. Found this title by Baldacci & put a hold on it in e-format.

Is there more to the Grisham title?

Ty again!

[SheltieLover]

25. You know I've been rapidly inhaling Hiaasen's work

Love the characters, environmentalist perspective & anti FL repuke bent! New fav author!!!

Ty for sharing this great author, Hermatic & group!

Happy Hanukkah, All!

[stopwastingmymoney]

26. Something old from my shelf

Mistral’s Daughter by Judith Krantz. The writing is not quite as good as I remember but it’s enjoyable still


Next up is my book club one, Lila by Marianne Robinson

[Number9Dream]

28. Finished "Lords of the North" by Bernard Cornwell

This was my favorite, so far, of the Saxon series. A lot of action in the 315 pages, and a very good ending.

My library announced that they were totally closing for two weeks, because an employee came into contact with a Covid positive person. My book was automatically renewed. Hope they reopen in a couple days.

[hermetic]

30. Oh wow.

Totally closed. Not even curbside pick up? I can see why not if they knew someone had been in there with the virus. It only lasts on paper and such for a few days but maybe they have to quarantine all the employees for the 2 weeks. Damn. Sure will be glad when that vaccine gets passed around. And it actually works.

If you will be totally bookless you might want to check out Thrift Books, Alibris, other online used book dealers and get a few to tide you over. Meanwhile, stay safe.

[Number9Dream]

40. Yes, not even curbside & thanks for the suggestion

They're predicting at least a foot of snow for the Lehigh Valley starting Wednesday afternoon. We're planning on feeding the barn cats on Wednesday afternoon before the roads get bad, and then on Thursday after we can open up and get down there.
Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year, Hermetic.

[pscot]

31. Snow? Yuck!

I finished Blond Faith by Walter Moseley midweek so I've been re-reading Stevenson's Baroque Cycle, which I have on kindle. But I picked up 4 from my library today and I'm not sure where to start.

IQ by Joe Ide, Lucifer's Tears by Jim Thompson, Pogo; Clean as a Weasel by Walt Kelly and Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann who has won some prestigious literary prizes. Actually I'm almost certain i'm gonna start with Pogo but I don't know anything about Kehlmann or Ide. I've read something by Jim Thompson, but that was long ago and I can't recall what. I do know he's allegedly the guy who put the noir in noir.

As always, thanks for the thread, Hermetic. Keep warm.

[hermetic]

34. I love Pogo!

Didn't know you could still get those. Check this out, I remember this from 60? years ago: Oh I may be your cup of tea, but baby don't you sugar me. Don't stir me boy, or try to spoon. Don't sugar me cause us is throon!



I don't know anything about those other authors, either. So be sure to fill me in later.

Yeah, it's blizzarding right now. I'll be shoveling tomorrow. I love shoveling. It will be long needed exercise and I will take it slow and easy. And treat myself to a beer after.

[TexasProgresive]

32. I have to confess how social distancing et al has changed me.

I was always a great reader and didn't watch a lot of TV or movies. However I really prefer print books over ebooks and those have dried up for me. Worse we have unlimited high speed internet and if I have a book on my tablet I also have Prime and Acorn. So I have been watching lots of British and Australian dramas and Police procedurals.

I watched 1 season of Tin Star. I am probably not going for another dip in that pool. However current favs are an Australian police show, "Murder Call," and "Mystery Road," the British ones are "Silent Witness,"Foyle's War," "Janet KIng" and Rebus. For a bit of fun there the Canadian PI comidrama "Republic of Doyle. I hope Prime give us another season of "Bosch."

Perhaps if the stuff on US TV and movies was of this quality perhaps I would've watch more.

[hermetic]

33. I'd be doing the same

if I could. There is a lot of great literature on British TV. But, I pulled the TV plug 15 years ago and haven't gone back. I did buy a big screen (32&quot TV about 6 months ago for watching DVDs. But it isn't 'smart' and I can only pick up one channel from the big city. That works for me. I know there are ways to find stuff on the computer but I can't find the time anymore. I agree, American TV sucks. Except for a few things. Right now I am enjoying Parks and Recreation immensely. I get it on DVDs from the library.

We all gotta do whatever we can now to keep us somewhat content. And stay safe.

[Demovictory9]

35. picked up a few Dean Koonz books. Can't recall if I read them before...

went through a Dean Koonz phase about 20 years ago.. not sure if I caught all his books then

[Harker]

36. "Seven Days in May."

I have a lot of catching up to do.

[SheltieLover]

37. Lucky You by Hiaasen

Highly recommended! Funny as can be.

Like a spoof of magats!

[AmyStrange]

41. The best horror e-book (or hardcopy) that I've ever owned...

-

is called the, "HALLOWEEN Ultimate Collection: 550+ Horror Classics, Supernatural Mysteries & Macabre Stories."

It's over 80 thousand e-book pages (yes, 80,000), cost 99 cents, and has the best classic horror tales ever written, including Dracula and Frankenstein, all the way up to Edgar Allen Poe and H. P. Lovecraft.

The Table of Contents is HUGE!!!

Also, the introduction was written by H. P. Lovecraft himself.

Unfortunately, none of the new horror masters are in it, and doubly unfortunate, I don't know if anyone else sells it except Apple.

For 99 cents, it just might be worth buying an old iPod Touch just to read it.
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