What Fiction are you reading this week, March 31, 2019?

[hermetic]

“We live & breathe words. It was books that made me feel that perhaps I wasn't completely alone.” ~Cassandra Clare

Been so busy doing stuff outside every day (yay spring!) that I immediately fall asleep at night without any reading time. So, I’m not quite to the end of Lord Foul's Bane yet. But I just got several new (old) Rebus’ novels (Ian Rankin) and look forward to feeling right at home in Scotland soon.

I am currently listening to The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. I’d been on the waiting list for several months for this one. It is so powerful. Damn.

Whose words are your companions this week?

[backtoblue]

1. Well, you quoted Cassandra Clare so I'm gonna have to

read the Mortal Instruments books again!

[hermetic]

4. Lol

I'd never heard of her. I just came across the picture and quote and thought them appropriate for my ramblings here. But wow, vampires, werewolves, demons, etc. in an urban fantasy series. That's right up my alley so now I'll have to look for those. Thanks!

[yonder]

2. Right now it's "Three Mexican Countries" by Newsy McFakeface and it's not very good.

I'll apologize in advance for the thread break.

[hermetic]

5. Yeah

I can imagine...

[dameatball]

3. Trying a new author. "Killers, Bikers & Freaks" by Andrew Allan. This is my first read of what is

called a Walt Asher series, set in Florida. When Asher's best friend is eaten by alligators by the 4th page it tends to get your attention.

[hermetic]

6. Oh my...

Fiction DataBase has absolutely nothing to say about that book, except that it exists. A little Googling tells me it's a fast-paced thriller but badly in need of editing. You'll have to tell us what you think once you've finished.

[dameatball]

17. Eh, made it through the whole thing, but can't recommend it.

[hermetic]

24. That right there

is why we do this. Thanks.

[dameatball]

37. It is in the box do go to the Thrift Store.

[GP6971]

7. Burn by James Patterson

& Michael Ledwidge. Took a break for a while.

[hermetic]

10. Getting back to some intense reading...

Detective Michael Bennett's most unsettling and horrific case. When a charred body is found, he becomes drawn into an underground criminal world of terrifying depravity.

[dweller]

8. The Bat

Jo Nesbo's first in Harry Hole series, already read everything else he's written... finally getting around to the beginning 😜

✌🏼️

[hermetic]

11. Over 20 years old

But it sounds like it probably holds up pretty well, being about a serial killer and all.

[Ohiogal]

9. Becoming.

A friend lent me her copy.

Michelle Obama is a truly amazing woman.

[hermetic]

12. Truly

Miss the family.

[MyOwnPeace]

13. The 4-page memo

from Attorney General Barr.

[TexasProgresive]

14. Nearly finished with Ian Rankin's "A Question of Blood"

It is very good. I am listening to an audio book, "The Fifth Season" by N.K. Jemisin, first book of the Broken Earht Trilogy. It is very good so far. I am in chapter 6. I only listen to audio books while driving alone.

I heard an interview with Ms. Jemisin on To the Best of our Knowledge and was impressed. Last week I heard a repeat of the same one and was doubly impressed.

[hermetic]

15. I guess

I should read some of her books. If for no other reason than many say what a beautiful writer she is. Thanks for your input.

[TexasProgresive]

16. She does have a way with words.

The reader of this book is very good. I think I heard her doing a vampire story on the radio.

[getting old in mke]

22. I so like her books.

Also for her subtle, subtle way of phrasing things:

HOLY FUCKING SHIT I WON A HUGO

[TexasProgresive]

23. Thanks for that link

[hermetic]

25. Ha ha, absolutely

Happily, I just found 3 of her books available to me to listen to.

[Number9Dream]

18. "Deep Storm" by Lincoln Child

Last edited Mon Apr 1, 2019, 11:08 AM - Edit history (1)

I finished "Deep Storm" by Lincoln Child. An excellent action, page-turner. Very original concept which kept me guessing. I've read most of the solo novels by Lincoln Child, and this was my favorite.

[hermetic]

19. Yes, indeed

I really like his solo writings, too. This one sounds terrific. Another reviewer says, "..very intricate, smart and deeply scientific. Most chapters end on a cliffhanger and there are new developments and twists all along the way." A must-read. So thank you Lincoln, AND Number9.

[northoftheborder]

20. Rare Objects by Kathleen Tessaro- finished

I liked this one better than The Perfume Collector by same author.

Also finished The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa. Liked this one, about German Jews trying to escape via ship to America during WWII, end up in Cuba. Several generations story.

Now reading an Alan Furst, Dark Star. Pre-WWII, a Russian journalist, also Jewish, gets involved in spying in France, Germany, and other countries for the Soviet Gov. Have learned a lot about Russia's dealings and methods (their cruelty toward Jewish people rivaled the Germans'.)

Also listening to Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee; Korea/Japanese heroine; very good so far - several generations novel.

[getting old in mke]

21. Have the sads...

A little, anyway.

Just finished another sweep through the Aubrey-Maturin series. Hopefully I'll be around to do it again in a decade or so.

In the months of that, sandwiched in the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries. Talk about cultural whiplash...

Also recently read the latest Reacher, Past Tense. Better than some, but not in the top few. Still, he's always fun to visit.

So decisions to make on where to venture next, although like most of you, I'm sure, there are several waiting to be picked up. And those are just the ones that have slid of the nearest stack

[hermetic]

26. Good stuff, eh?

And so many choices ahead...

I used to really enjoy visiting Milwaukee some years ago. Do they still have that big music festival down by the lake? Good times..

[happybird]

27. Still working my way through the Dark Tower series

Almost done with Wolves of the Calla, just about to the big battle at the end.

Song of Susannah was my least favorite book of the series, so I might skip it this time around. But probably not.

[hermetic]

33. THAT's a lot of reading

Good for you. Enjoy!

[Bleacher Creature]

28. Warlight, by Michael Ondaatje.

It's ok - not terrible, but also not great.

[hermetic]

31. Different strokes...

Some people are raving about this book. Somehow it just isn't calling out to me, though.

[exboyfil]

29. Little Girls by Ronald Malfi

A haunting with a twist I think.

The Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman also just got the audio his prior Alex Delaware book, Night Moves.

[hermetic]

30. Mmm, creepy horror story

sounds pretty creepy.

The Wedding Guest sounds pretty good and I like Kellerman so I am looking forward to that one.

[doc03]

32. The editorials in the local paper. nt

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

34. Bless this House by Norah Lofts.

It's another one of her novels about a house in her fictitious part of England, built in 1577. If follows various families who lived there, and will end in 1953 when Elizabeth II becomes queen. It's on interlibrary loan so I need to finish it in a couple more days.

Also An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim. In 1981 a terrible flu epidemic is killing lots of people. But not too far in the future time travel has been invented, and the intention was to send a flu vaccine back and prevent it from happening, but that didn't work. This story is about a woman who takes a contract to work in the future so here boyfriend can get medical care. Only instead of landing in 1993 she lands in 1998. So far so good.

[hermetic]

35. Meh, 93 - 98...

Same old, same old. Right?
.
.
.
.
JK! Sounds pretty interesting, actually.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

36. LOL!

This is Lim's first novel. Depending on how it ends (I hate to note how often I'm disappointed by a cheat ending these days) I will look forward to her next one.

[mainstreetonce]

38. Before We Were Yours. Lisa Wingate

Just started
Children placed in a terrible foster care situation in 1939 Memphis .
A wealthy young woman in present day SC discovers her family heritage.