What Fiction are you reading this week, December 17, 2023?

[hermetic]

Reading Taken by Robert Crais. While searching for a young woman who was taken by bandits at the border, Elvis Cole gets taken, as well. Will his partner, Joe Pike, be able to find him? Or is it too late?

Listening to The Pawful Truth by Miranda James. Another exciting cozy with Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel. Murders on the campus have everyone on edge.

Good stories to snuggle up with. What are yours this week?

[byronius]

1. Again, Dangerous Visions.

1970 (about) — the second volume of the amazing Dangerous Visions anthology by the brilliant Harlan Ellison.

It changed science fiction enormously — a large number of female authors launched careers in it, including Ursula K. Leguin.

Very gripping volume — more than 800 pages, but readable and powerful. The final volume is due out in late 2024 — Harlan’s estate finally pulled it together.

Can’t wait.

[Bayard]

2. I will look for that

Thanks!

[hermetic]

3. That's something to look forward to

in 2024. For sure.

[Midnight Writer]

4. I loved those Dangerous Visions books. Read them in High School. Great food for the imagination.

[Bayard]

5. I finally finished, "Sleeping Beauties,"

By Stephen and Owen King. Very glad I re-discovered I had it in my library. It was a page turner for me, especially the last half.

I picked up, "On Writing," by Stephen King, in of all places--the hairdresser. Much better than the old magazines she had laying around. He started writing it after he had his bad accident. It covers his history, then moves on to how to use tools of the trade.

I just ordered 13 new used books online, and I see they've been shipped. Can't wait!

[hermetic]

6. I just picked up

Sleeping Beauties - the graphic novel, Part 1. It looks to be quite entertaining. Something to enjoy while I'm trapped in my house by freezing fog. The weather this past week has been so bizarre.

Happy Christmas presents!!

[Bayard]

17. Merry Xmas, hermetic!

[Basic LA]

7. The Enchanters by James Ellroy, 2023.

My 1st Ellroy book, this one a fantastic Marilyn Monroe historical rewrite involving the L.A. police, Hollywood underworld, plus the Kennedys & Jimmy Hoffa. The plot slipped away from me early on but the snappy Hunter S. Thompson-ish gonzo writing is worth the ride.

[hermetic]

12. Oh fun

Hunter is/was one of my most favorite writers ever. Will for sure be on the lookout for this. Thanks.

[mentalsolstice]

8. The Nurse's Secret by Amanda Skenandore

It’s novel about Bellevue’s nursing school in the 1880s, the first in the country. Love the tree ornament!

[hermetic]

15. Yeah. Me, too

“In this superior historical, the author's diligent research, as well as her empathetic depiction of those subjected to forced medical isolation, make this a winner.”
-- Publishers Weekly

[The King of Prussia]

9. The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves

Latest in her Matthew Venn series set in North Devon. Good so far (of course). Been in a reading slump, so relying on Ann to snap me out of it.

[hermetic]

13. Hopefully Ann will do that

Sounds like a good one. 400 pages that "never get too dark, never venture too far into dangerous territory, but aren’t outright cozy, either." Stay well, and warm.

[bahboo]

10. finally started Cloud Cuckoo Land last night....;

really looking forward to digging in....

[hermetic]

14. What a treat you have ahead of you

"a beautiful and redemptive novel about stewardship -- of the book, of the Earth, of the human heart."

[cbabe]

11. Elizabeth George/this body of death

While waiting for library holds. Filling in the characters life stories while searching for a psychopathic killer. (Scary, unsettling.) Lots of realistic opaque floundering. New Forest setting where ponies run free and homes are thatched placed against grimy stifling London.

Lovely Hadiyyah vs new super Ardery.


‘Dark, unrelenting powerful’ ‘brillant’

Next: John Grisham/the exchange

After The Firm which I barely remember. Have to do a quick refresher.

[rsdsharp]

16. I just finished Fighter Fury and Tempest Glory, both by Richard Sullman.

These are works of historical fiction regarding RAF fighter/bombers in WWII, from shortly before the Normandy invasion, through the battle for France, the Battle of the Bulge, and on through until the end of the war.

These are the fourth and fifth books in the five book Harry Rose Saga. I started them a couple of years ago, when I found them on Kindle Unlimited. I was a little worried that they were going to be “Tom Swift, Boy Ace” crap, but they proved to be fairly well written, and pretty decent historically.

They follow Rose from a 19 year old flying officer, fresh out of training, as he reports to a Hurricane squadron during the summer of 1940 at the height of The Battle of Britain, on through to war’s end as Wing Commander of a mixed wing of Australians and free French flying Tempests out of a base in Belgium.

In between, he flys Hurricanes, Bristol Beaufort night fighters, Typhoons and finally Tempests. I’d recommend them If you’re into this type of thing.

[Jeebo]

18. "Dear Child" by Romy Hausmann

She's German and lives in Stuttgart. The blurb says this is her first English-language novel. It's hard enough to write a novel in your native language. I am SO in awe of somebody who can write a novel in a second language. But maybe I'm making an assumption; I have spent enough time in western Europe to know that lots of people there speak English about as well as their native language. Anyway, this one is really good; I'm about a third of the way through it and it's a real page-turner.

-- Ron

[hermetic]

19. A must read

"Twisty, suspenseful, and psychologically clever, Romy Hausmann's Dear Child is a captivating thriller with all the ingredients of a breakout hit."

I've spent some time in western Europe, too. My French is adequate but I could sure never write any sort of literature in it. I knew people, though, who could easily converse in 3 and 4 languages. Always amazed me. Thanks for sharing this.

[berniesandersmittens]

20. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

A girl who sees ghosts wakes up from a drug coma and is recruited by a secret society to attend Yale University. Her gift/curse of seeing the dead is used by Lethe House, who oversees the other societies. (Skull and Bones, Scroll and Key, etc)

The Houses use magical rites for fortune, fame, and power.

Pretty good fantasy so far.

[yellowdogintexas]

21. Still reading The Granite Key but am about 75% through it

I just haven't done much reading this week.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

22. Twice now, my posts to the 'what are you reading' threads

Have disappeared.

Why is that? They were on-topic and contained no curse words.

[hermetic]

23. I have no idea

Across the top of the page is the tab bar. One of those says Posts. Click on that to see where they are.