What Fiction are you reading this week, August 4, 2024?

[hermetic]

This looks cool


I decided it was just too freaking hot, 103, to drive for a half an hour to the library. So, I got to digging around in my bookshelf and, by golly, found several books I forgot I had.
I'm now reading Invisible by James Patterson. Constant house fires, killing people inside. But that's the only similarity. No motives, no murder weapons, no suspects. Could one person really be responsible for these unthinkable crimes? "Patterson's scariest, most chilling stand-alone thriller yet." This is a real page-turner.

Listening to Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor. The first in The Chronicles of St. Mary's.
When Dr. Maxwell is recruited by the St Mary's Institute of Historical Research, she discovers the historians there don't just study the past - they revisit it. "A great mix of British properness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun."
I love this story. It is so funny, then turns super serious and wise. Looking forward to the whole series.

What books have you found to read this week?

[unweird]

1. Alex Cross Series

As soon as the library gets Along Came a Spider in for me. Figure to do them in order starting there. Wife got me back into fiction as part of the retirement regimen.

[hermetic]

7. Good plan

[Tetrachloride]

2. Startide Rising by David Brin

Last edited Sun Aug 4, 2024, 11:31 AM - Edit history (1)

and subsequent stories

[hermetic]

11. Space operas

from the 1980. Fun stuff. He's got a collection of tales called Otherness that sounds really good.

[roscoeroscoe]

52. Way to Go

What a classic. Surprised this hasn't been made into an anime at least, the elevator pitch is amazing: "The first starship with dolphin pilots - they're a whiz at piloting in three dimensions."

[Tetrachloride]

55. i believe the problem is dolphin speech: sounds and portrayal of the mouth, plus

the fact that Ender’s Game movie didn’t come off as epic as the book

and

some movies ( producers, directors, writers, audience) don’t like a big cast

[Diamond_Dog]

3. Your books sound good, hermetic.

I just started The Hidden One by Linda Castillo. It’s a Kate Burkholder mystery. I have read just about all of them.

[hermetic]

12. She has written

SO many. Good reads.

[brer cat]

4. Nine Lives by Peter Swanson.

This is a new author for me. Nine people receive a list of names, including their own, with no other information. Then they begin to be murdered. Interesting concept, although not a page turner.

[hermetic]

10. Peter Swanson

I've read a couple of his: 8 Perfect Murders and Before She Knew Him. Some good reading there.

[kenziemom06]

54. Highly recommend checking out...

His Henry Kimball books, The Kind Worth Killing and The Kind Worth Saving. So, so good, great characters, very Patricia Highsmith & Agatha Christie.

[sagetea]

5. "Name The Wind"

By Patrick Rothfuss. It's a pretty thick book and there are two books, I think... Actually, I just started it yesterday so not much to say about it yet!


sage

[hermetic]

13. Fantasy

"A tale unequaled in fantasy literature -- the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man's search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend."

[Zoomie1986]

47. A remarkable book

I'm not a fantasy fan. Leave that to my husband. But I did hear a portion of the audiobook, and found the writing beyond impressive. It was almost poetry.

[Srkdqltr]

6. Im reading Ann Cleves , The Darkest Evening.

Some of Vera's backstory and, of course, a murder.

hermetic, I hope you enjoy the St.Marys books. I have read them all and love the series.

[hermetic]

14. Luv me some Vera

Thanks. Will do.

[TexLaProgressive]

32. Thanks, I was looking for something ms Cleeves is a winner

[Zoomie1986]

46. I'm rather anal about getting into a mystery series

I prefer to have all of the set before I start reading. Either owning a copy or the library having all of them so that I can read them straight through without having to wait.

The TV series was so good that I decided to start gathering up the books as they went on sale. I'm down to only 2 or 3 left, and the library has those. Not even a wait list for them anymore. Hm....

[mentalsolstice]

8. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

I don’t want it to end. It’s about India’s caste system and the Emergency in 1975. The characters are finely drawn out.

Thank you for the thread 🧵! Love the Book Fountain.

[hermetic]

15. Nice

Thank you for the suggested book.

[Zoomie1986]

45. I keep meaning to get to this one

I've had it for ages, but somehow never get to it.

I enjoy books about topics I'm unfamiliar with, so you've motivated me to move it up my list of what to read soon.

[mentalsolstice]

48. Yes, move it up!

Many sections could’ve been a book in its own right. Parts of it are tragic and brutal, yet many parts are LOL funny 😄. As well, I like a book that takes me to a different time and country, and I come away with a knowledge I didn’t have before, and yet is entertaining.

[yellowdogintexas]

50. I read A Fine Balance several years ago. It is a good book and I learned a lot about

India during the time of PM Indhiria Ghandi. There were some unreal things going on that most of the world did not know about.
It will stick with you for a long time

[biophile]

9. Bruno Chief of Police

Have been doing the Bruno Chief of Police series this summer. Written by Martin Walker - I’m on the the 10th book. It’s very interesting- lots of history- takes place in the Southwest region of France so it’s great timing with the Paris Olympics!

[hermetic]

16. Good choice

Thanks for joining in here.

[biophile]

17. Thank you!

👍

[Number9Dream]

25. Welcome to DU and the hermetic thread

[biophile]

37. Thank you

I am very grateful for the DU community. Also a fan of Hermes Trismegistus 😉

[Prendy]

28. And the food . . .

These books are wonderful. The picture they paint of rural France is amazing. Reading these books is like taking a small vacation. And, on top of all the great imagery, there is such beautifully written descriptions of the love of food and wine and the preparation of phenomenal meals enjoyed by friends. There is even a wonderful “Bruno“ cookbook.

[biophile]

34. Wonderful indeed

Although I am not a fan of most of the recipes, I do love France! I also am not a wine connoisseur. But I have found the series very compelling in its depiction of the French countryside and customs. Very informative, too, regarding the history of 20th century French political entanglements.

[txwhitedove]

18. Hi. I just put both your books on my library list, thanks. Finished reading Good Night, Irene. It was

Indeed a 5-star page turner, with humor, love and loss.

Now reading non-fiction Longest Con, by Joe Conason, on how grifters, swindler's and frauds hijacked American conservatism. And, the country, I would say. Have 2 fictions en route to pick up at the library this week.

[Jilly_in_VA]

19. Learning to Fly Alien Spacecraft

by Fay Abernethy. It's the second in the Shantivira series, which began with The Cleaner, The Cat, and the Space Station. Delightful SFF, slightly on the YA side, just what's needed in this heat.
Last week it was The Tempest, by Charlotte Hawkins. This was apparently based on the BBC Robin Hood series, which I haven't seen, and took the series' villain Sir Guy of Gisborne, and turned him into a brooding hero. I realized, when I had got into it a bit, that this was exactly the sort of bodice-ripper that we used to pass around when I was in nursing school as a relief from the stress of it all. However, this was well-written and enjoyable of the sort, despite its historical inaccuracies, so all in all a fun read.

[hermetic]

22. Oh my

Good times.

[PikaBlue]

20. The Midnight Library

Author: Matt Haig

[Zoomie1986]

43. Oh, that's a lovely book

I'm not usually a fan of magical realism, but the premise was so interesting that I couldn't resit it.

[PikaBlue]

57. Magical Realism

My tastes run more to historical topics; however, I found this book to be deeply philosophical and generated a great deal of personal reflection and introspection. It was also a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[rsdsharp]

21. I'm currently reading The Pale Horesman, book 2 of Bernard Cornwell's

13 book The Last Kingdom series. I read book one last week.

Set in the 9th Century, the series traces the reign of King Alfred, as he tries to save Anglo Saxon culture (and his kingdom) from the Danes, after they have taken over Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia, leaving only Wessex to stand alone against the Danes.

[Number9Dream]

27. I've read the entire Uhtred / Saxon series through twice...

That's how much I enjoyed it.

[rsdsharp]

29. I've read a number of his series. I'm enjoying this, but 13 books is a long series.

[Number9Dream]

33. For me, they were page turners .

Cornwell made his flawed hero, Uhtred, interesting and even humerous. Also a unique take on Alfred the Great, the religion of the time, and many interesting characters.

[rsdsharp]

36. I agree, at least so far.

[yellowdogintexas]

23. Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

Cocaine Blues (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Book 1) The first volume in what looks to be fun series!
(the Netflix series based on these books certainly was~)

The London season is in full fling at the end of the roaring 1920s, but the Honourable Phryne Fisher—she of the green-gray eyes, diamant garters, and outfits that should not be sprung suddenly on those of nervous dispositions—is rapidly tiring of the tedium of arranging flowers, making polite conversations with retired colonels, and dancing with weak-chinned men. Instead, Phryne decides it might be rather amusing to try her hand at being a lady detective in Melbourne, Australia.

Almost immediately from the time she books into the Windsor Hotel, Phryne is embroiled in mystery: poisoned wives, cocaine smuggling rings, corrupt cops, and communism—not to mention erotic encounters with the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse—until her adventure reaches its steamy end in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street. Tension and danger rise like steam, and Phryne must save herself and other young women before it's too late. Find these historical mystery series in Kindle books or in print—this lady detective will chase criminals to the end of the line!

[hermetic]

24. Oh fun

Sounds like a great series. Thanks.

[Skittles]

26. Lee Child's Past Tense

it's fun imagining Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher

[WestMichRad]

30. Earth by David Brin

Started it a few weeks ago and am making good progress, about halfway through. I’m a slow reader with limited time for reading, so it takes me awhile…
Very compelling story.
I’m new to David Brin, so any recommendations are most welcome.

[Number9Dream]

31. Re-reading "Map of Bones" by James Rollins

The second entry in the Sigma series. Rollins excellent blend of action, science, and archaeology.

[hermetic]

39. Cool

Thanks for joining in today.

[TexLaProgressive]

35. Was a bit under the weather for weeks

Finished the 2nd Inspector McLean novel which was good but wanting something new and familiar, Ann Cleeves , The Darkest Evening

[hermetic]

40. Hope you're feeling better.

Yeah, Ann is always a good choice for relaxation, I think.

[Moostache]

38. I have 3 in-process...

100 Years of Solitude
Don Quixote
Jade War (Book 2 of Green Bone Saga)

I needed a break from my journey to Stephen King's Dark Tower... after this I will pick up Volume 5 - The Wolves of the Calla.

[WmChris]

41. L.E.Modesitt

https://www.lemodesittjr.com/recluce-chronology/

[Zoomie1986]

42. Yay! DU + books!

Does it get any better?

I'm going old school with Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None.

Also delighted that I got notified just now that I finally scored a copy of James by Percival Everett from the library. I only thought I'd be on the wait list forever. Probably my most anticipated book of the year. I'd start it now, but Dame Agatha got to me first.

[hermetic]

44. Welcome

Glad to have you here.

[yellowdogintexas]

49. the Chronicles of St Mary's books are loads of fun!!! nt

[BOSSHOG]

51. Just finished The Deserter by Nelson Demille

He always has swaggering characters, well defined bad guys, dialog fun and easy to keep up with. But, dare I share a spoiler? I won’t, but the ending pissed me off. Just like John Grisham books. One of my favorite authors but most of his endings leave me dejected.

[hermetic]

59. Hey, thanks for stopping in

That sounds like some good story-telling:
"With ripped-from-the-headlines appeal, an exotic and dangerous locale, and the hairpin twists and inimitable humor that are signature DeMille, The Deserter is the first in a timely and thrilling new series from an unbeatable team of True Masters: the #1 New York Times bestseller Nelson DeMille and his son, award-winning screenwriter Alex DeMille."

[BOSSHOG]

60. I always got a book going

Mostly fiction. I like old stuff. My favorite author is James Lee Burke. Lots of violence and angst. His books are like 400 page poems. I squeeze in a Poe Story on occasion. Do most of my business with Thrift Books. And really enjoy Naval History through the 60s.

[roscoeroscoe]

53. Red Moon

Kim Stanley Robinson. Hope there will be a sequel at some point - he ended his book with the protagonists having just launched off the moon with no set destination. Good luck out there!

[Bayard]

56. Into the last few chapters of, "Zero Hour," by Clive Cussler

Enjoying it, and it was a recommendation on here--so thank you! Now, I'll be checking into some of his others.

Is that a new Patterson? Haven't heard of it.

[hermetic]

58. Not exactly, 2014

It's not part of any series. It's somewhat unusual in that it gets a 5-star rating even though some readers did not like the protagonist at all. A woman who has experienced unfair treatment at work is bound to have a bit of attitude, in my opinion. I found the mystery to be so intriguing that I didn't really pay much attention to the FBI agents' inner workings.
As one reviewer said, "I really didn't plan to read the book in one sitting...But, here we are"

[Bayard]

61. I will look for it

Thanks!