What Fiction are you reading this week, September 22, 2024?

[hermetic]

Happy Fall/Equinox


Just started reading The Evil Men Do by John McMahon. A murder in a small town in Georgia reveals professional rivals, angry neighbors, and a wronged ex-wife. Murder might be the least of its troubles; we will see what happens when ordinary people become capable of evil. (As if we didn't already know...)

Listening to The Night Ocean by Paul La Farge. A novel about secrets and scandals, psychiatry and pulp fiction, inspired by the lives of H.P. Lovecraft and his circle. A tale "about the way that stories earn our trust, and betray it."

What books will start your autumn reading?

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. I wanted to say "Project 2025" but that's what this selection is about isn't it!

Whether or not that will be fiction or fact.

Sorry you can delete my post if it's off-topic and unnecessary and annoying.

[Srkdqltr]

2. Ann Patchett These Precious Days. Not fiction exactly but smooth reading.

It's her Essays about her and her life. I'm most of the way into it, of course it's sort of me me me. Interesting look at her.
Also Jodi Taylor's Smallhope and Pennyroyal. A back story on some of her characters. I like her books and this one was good.

[brer cat]

3. I just finished Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke.

It involves two murders in a small east Texas town, and has heavy racial overtones. I think the author deftly moves through the troubled waters, showing the intrinsic racial and class conflicts in small Southern towns, while telling a gripping story.

Last night I started Anne Hillerman's, The Way of the Bear.

[japple]

6. I'm reading Bluebird, Bluebird now, so don't drop any spoilers! I'm really enjoying

this author and look forward to the next two books in the series. I like the main character, Darren Matthews. In spite of his flaws, I think he must be a good man. We shall see...

[cbabe]

4. Eclectic week:

Telephone/Percival Everett

Finely crafted, many layered. Almost a prose poem. Young daughter diagnosed with rare deadly genetic disorder. Side trips: Paris. Caves and fossils. Saving enslaved migrants.

Notes on an Execution/Danya Kukafka

Serial killer on death row and the lives of the women who collided with him. Very dark. Also women being obtuse, making really bad choices.

Well written but I read by flipping through it. Too annoyed by all the characters.

Happiness Falls/Angie Kim

Big book. Intense family drama after dad goes missing. Breathless narration with lots of diversions by 20something who sounds about 12.

…

The most moving true story this week was about a group of gifted Palestinian teens on an exchange program to learn about America. And then October happens.

Stranded. Bewildered. Terrified as their families and friends are killed on air. Their homes and schools destroyed. Hour long program. This American Life.

[hermetic]

5. Horrible!

Those poor kids.

Just finished Happiness Falls. It started off so well, then turned to drudgery, IMO, as it just went on and on. I skimmed through most of it.

[txwhitedove]

7. Happy cooler weather, leaves and pumpkin spice. I am now reading a big book of historical fiction

by Stephanie Dray, The Women of Chateau Lafayette. "...saga based on the true story of a castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy," from 1774, 1914, to 1940's. Only 35 pages in and love it, already mysteries, WWI, love, and a family motto "cur non" why not!

Last week read Mrs. Plansky's Revenge, Spencer Quinn. No dog this time, but a fiesty grandmother taken advantage of by cybercrime scammers. I have actually had one of those phone calls pretending to be one of my grandkids, so this was fascinating fun.

[hermetic]

9. Sure hope you realized

it was a hoax before any $$ were lost. Did they catch the perp? Were you able to report it to authorities? What crazy times we live in.
Does sound like a good book, though.

[txwhitedove]

11. I had already read news of this type of scam,

plus usually always know where all my kids and grandkids are. So, when I answered a cell call identified as from Indiana and a sad voice fuzzily said "Grandma...", I burst out loud laughing, they hung up. None of my kids have ever been to Indiana, but I sent out a group text asking which of my rascals was in Indiana today. They got a good laugh out of it.

The book is great, he writes knowingly of older people, thoughtful, and exciting. What would you do if all your money was taken away in a flash after a midnight call?

[hermetic]

10. I just managed to get

the audio of the Quinn book. So I'm going to go start listening to it now. Thanks for the rec!

[rsdsharp]

8. I'm still reading Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Tales. I just started the ninth book, Warriors of the Storm.