What are you reading this week of March 5, 2017?

[hermetic]

I just started Callahan's Crosstime Saloon by Spider Robinson. All I've read so far is the Introduction by Ben Bova of Analog Magazine and the Forward by Spider himself. It's already great reading. Now the fun begins.

I did reach the end of Telempath. I like a story that wraps everything up nicely at the end, even if it's a bit cheesy. This could be a terrific movie: drama, action, romance, humor. Speaking of which...

Watched a couple of Jack Reacher movies. Jack Reacher is based on Lee Child's book, One Shot. Once I got beyond the fact Reacher was being played by 5'7" Tom Cruise, I found it enjoyable. Good story, great chase scene (Cruise did all his own stunt driving), and exciting shootout at the end. Robert Duvall was fun as Cash.

The second, Never Go Back, is based on the book by the same title. Child did not have as much input to the screenplay as he did with the first movie, and it shows. It was ok, especially since I got it free from the library. I liked the woman who could definitely hold her own against the bad guys.

What books are you reaching for this week?

[kimbutgar]

1. I am reading an epic novel the Journeyer by Gary Jennings

It is about Marco Polo traveling as a young man from Venice to China. I'm on page 602 of 1058. I'm getting to the point I force myself to read at least 10 pages a day it's so good.

My next book will be either Handmaids Tale or Ectopia both are futuristic stories centering around women in opposite worlds. One the women are the slaves and the other women are in charge.

[hermetic]

4. Handmaids Tale

is great. I don't know anything about Ectopia. Hopefully you'll stop by later and tell us about it.

[TexasProgresive]

2. I finished "Telempath" and am 1/3 through his "Stardance"

When I finish Stardance I'll be reading either Gallow's View or Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson. I want to read Spider Robinson's Callahan books but they will have to wait while I move through the Stardance trilogy. As to watching little Tommy play Jack the gorilla man Reacher or really anything I would rather not. I just don't like the man. If they wanted me to see a Jack Reacher movie they should've cast someone like Liam Neeson.

[hermetic]

6. Totally understand

as I feel the same way about Tom. BUT, I've seen about all that's worthwhile from the library and I do like to watch a movie every evening while I dine, so I decided to give them a shot. And that first one really was pretty good. Nothing deep, just a good action flick.

So, what did you think overall of Telempath? I found my mind wandering a bit in some spots. I think I would have adored it back in the 70s. Not sure why people said it was a must-read first but maybe that will become clear once I get into the time travelers' tales in the Saloon. Or maybe it will be more relevant to the Stardance trilogy. We shall see.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. Working on Farthing by Jo Walton.

Alternate history in which England surrendered to Germany very early on in WWII. It's now 1947, and a man has been murdered at one of those country weekends the upper classes were so fond of, and it looks like the Jewish husband of one character is being framed for the murder. So far it's quite good.

However, that's a book that I own, so it currently lives inside my purse so I have something to read if I get stuck waiting somewhere. Meanwhile, I have 13 books checked out of the library, two of which are due back on the 14th and are on hold by others so I won't be able to renew them. I have started Why Time Flies by Alan Burdick, which is fairly short and will only take a couple of days to finish up. Next will be The Unbanking of America by Lisa Servon, also not very long.

[hermetic]

7. You sound like me

So many books; so little time. I've got 8 books I just bought on my nightstand and 4 more on the way. I'm taking a brief break from the library to try to get caught up. Sure is a great away to get away from our current reality, though.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. I used to buy vastly more books than I currently do.

After a divorce I had less disposable income, so I re-discovered the joys of the public library. And I'm extremely glad I did. Nowadays I think very hard before buying a book, but if I check one out of the library and decide I don't really want to read it, or finish if I've started it and just am not enjoying it, and no money wasted. It does mean that I place a priority on reading the library books, as there's no urgency about reading the ones I own.

It is nice to be surrounded by books that need reading, isn't it?

[Chipper Chat]

5. Beneath The Rock by Tommy Birk

Thriller about a neo-Nazi plot to take over the government of Indiana. Chilling.

[hermetic]

8. So, non-fiction then?

Just kidding. Ever been to Indiana? I spent 6 months there once and when I think back on the people I met there, I'm

[hermetic]

11. Just looked that one up

It sounds really good so I've added it to my list. Thanks for telling us about it.

[Chipper Chat]

13. It is his first book. He is from Indiana

and the book is one of those "you can't put it down" stories.

[hermetic]

14. Bloomington, IN was a cool town

back then, because of the U. But I was in a tiny town surrounded by some very radical people. There was this really fun bar out in the woods we used to go to. Had a great juke box. So we went one day and wanted to play Bat Out of Hell but it was gone. We asked and were told the censorship police had come in and told them they had to take that off, because it said Hell I guess. But they left Paradise By the Dashboard Lights. Go figure. I was ever so glad to move away from there.

[Chipper Chat]

15. It has changed a lot since those days (for the better).

Probably the only semi-liberal town left in Indiana. Fort Wayne and South Bend are trying. The rest of the state is beet red.

[shenmue]

10. Beyond the Truth by Anne Holt

[hermetic]

12. A couple of Holt's

at my library. I will read them soon. She is obviously a really good writer.

[japple]

16. FINALLY finished Louise Erdrich's book, LaRose and I discovered why it took me so long to read

it--I didn't want the story to end. All of her books have so many complex characters and yet I never have done an outline of those characters when I start reading. Note to self: next time you read a book by Louise Erdrich--unless you are planning to read it in one sitting, make a family tree and an outline of the characters from the very beginning, otherwise you will wind up with characters you don't remember several chapters into the book. I loved LaRose and think it is the best book I've read this year, so I'll add it to my list for 2017.

I found a new author as well as a free download at amazon, so I started this last night and am already sucked into the story.

James Welch, The Indian Lawyer

Sylvester Yellow Calf is a former reservation basketball star, a promising young lawyer, and a possible congressional candidate. But when a parolee ensnares him in a blackmail scheme, he'll have to decide just who he is, and what he wants.

https://www.amazon.com/Indian-Lawyer-James-Welch-ebook/dp/B00P9IF6MK/ref=la_B000AQ3N58_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488902003&sr=1-4

Many thanks for the weekly thread, hermetic! Thanks for keeping us together.

[hermetic]

17. There you are!

Really, LaRose is an extraordinary book. So much heart. So many characters. I did sketch out a family outline as I read and it did help.

Will definitely have to seek out that new writer. Sounds quite interesting.

Thanks, that was nice of you to say.

[hermetic]

18. LaRose a finalist for PEN Award

The finalists for the prestigious PEN/Faulkner literary award were announced this morning. Minneapolis writer Louise Erdrich's novel, "LaRose," is among the finalists.

Four of the five finalists are people of color, and two of the five are immigrants to the United States. The judges said, in a press statement, "Taken together, the five finalists represent something worth reiterating today: that American fiction cannot be defined or contained by any particular border, wall or edit."

http://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-writer-louise-erdrich-finalist-for-prestigious-15-000-pen-faulkner-award/415576024/

[japple]

19. Happy to read this, and the press statement by the judges is perfect!

I haven't read any of the other works, but will add to my ever growing list!

Thanks for posting this, friend!