Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Tomorrow I will start Hyperion by Dan Simmons for the book club. Really looking forward to it.

For some reason it took a long time to get into Hyperion so it took a lot longer than I was expecting but it was worth it. Now I have a song stuck in my head though. For those that have read it, you know what I am talking about.

Next up is probably NOS4A2 by Joe Hill or maybe The Wizard of Oz, which I have been considering since April's "Classics" month in the book club, I have a few hours to decide.

Edit: April, not December, although I had been considering it before that.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I just started that one. Looks interesting. The Doctor isn't as popular in the USA as he is overseas, but I've been fortunate to view some of the earliest episodes, although many have missing scenes and many scenes have missing video or audio, and other episodes are lost entirely.

Dr. Who is very popular in the USA.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Something a bit more recent - the latest Analog SFF, September 2014.

Which was OK. I would have rated it as good, except one story was written in the "You are..." kind of style which I really dislike.

Now for The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter, which I bought all the way back in October 2013!

[samhy]

On Monday I've started 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. In the first twelve hours I've already read 41% of the book, which is quite unusual for me.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by samhy

On Monday I've started 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. In the first twelve hours I've already read 41% of the book, which is quite unusual for me.

Good going samhy! I've just finished A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (#2 in the Chronicles of St. Mary's series), which was just as good as #1, and am contemplating whether to go straight on to the next one, A Second Chance, or pace myself and read something else first. Decisions decisions.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Ooh, that was fun. I think I'll go ahead and read #3, Whispers Underground. I must say, I'm quite enjoying these books. Police procedural in modern London, with urban fantasy overlaid. Oh, and a protagonist who is not a DCI, not a toff, and not white.

Loved it. I'm not quite sure what it is about these books that really works so well for me, but I think it's the Peter Grant character as much as anything. He is so not like the typical police detective of most British mysteries - at least a DI, and all too often from a better background than pretty much any real British DI. Plus the backdrop of modern London definitely adds to the story.

Next up, A Mighty Fortress, book #4 in the Safehold series from David Weber. I'm doing a combined audio/eBook read of this.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by orlok

Good going samhy! I've just finished A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (#2 in the Chronicles of St. Mary's series), which was just as good as #1, and am contemplating whether to go straight on to the next one, A Second Chance, or pace myself and read something else first. Decisions decisions.

I am very glad to hear that the second is as good as the first. I need to get my hands on #2 and #3 soon.

[PurpleStar]

Almost halfway through Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King. Didn't like it at first, but I'm liking it better now as I'm getting more interested in the characters. Not his usual horror type of book, it's more of a mystery.

[BelleZora]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Loved it. I'm not quite sure what it is about these books that really works so well for me, but I think it's the Peter Grant character as much as anything. He is so not like the typical police detective of most British mysteries - at least a DI, and all too often from a better background than pretty much any real British DI. Plus the backdrop of modern London definitely adds to the story.

Next up, A Mighty Fortress, book #4 in the Safehold series from David Weber. I'm doing a combined audio/eBook read of this.

I struck a reading lull a few weeks ago and now have five books going, but none that hold my attention. Some of these failures are beautifully written books. Based upon your posts, CRussel, I tried Midnight Riot, the first Peter Grant, and it is defeating this current reading paralysis. Very entertaining. Thanks!

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Loved it. I'm not quite sure what it is about these books that really works so well for me, but I think it's the Peter Grant character as much as anything. He is so not like the typical police detective of most British mysteries - at least a DI, and all too often from a better background than pretty much any real British DI. Plus the backdrop of modern London definitely adds to the story.

Next up, A Mighty Fortress, book #4 in the Safehold series from David Weber. I'm doing a combined audio/eBook read of this.

I am a big fan of British urban fantasy and Steampunk. I enjoyed all of the Abrahams books. Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris introduced me to Steampunk. Very good IMO. I am a big fan of British mysteries of almost any type.

Two Canadian mystery authors I have been enjoying recently are Jack Batten - Crang and Howard Engel - Benny Cooperman. Not Urban Fantasy, sort of medium boiled detective. I think you would like them.

Helen

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Next up is ... The Wizard of Oz, which I have been considering since April's "Classics" month in the book club...

It was a short, fun read; as expected. I read it probably 20 years ago and didn't really remember what the differences between it and the movie were. I know I continued farther into the series then (although it may have been a novelization of "Return to Oz") but I doubt I will continue this time around.

Next up: NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. I think. Nope, Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, another purchase from early this year.

[HarryT]

Just finished "Crooked House" by Agatha Christie. This was her 48th book, and was originally published in 1949.

Three generations of the Leonides family live together under wealthy patriarch Aristide. His first wife died; her sister Edith has cared for the household since then. His second wife is the indolent Brenda, decades his junior, suspected of having a clandestine love affair with the grandchildren's tutor. After Aristide is poisoned by his own eye medicine (eserine), his granddaughter Sophia tells narrator and fiancé Charles Hayward that they cannot marry until the killer is apprehended. Charles' father, "The Old Man", is the Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, so Charles investigates from the inside along with assigned detective, Chief Inspector Taverner. When 12-year-old Josephine is discovered seriously injured by a booby-trap and Nanny is poisoned by hot chocolate after Brenda and the tutor are arrested, the danger escalates to a surprise finish.

This was Agatha Christie's personal favourite of her own books, and it's easy to see why. The ending is an absolute stunner - something that was, at the time, unique in detective fiction. Very, very highly recommended.

[samhy]

Originally Posted by samhy

On Monday I've started 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. In the first twelve hours I've already read 41% of the book, which is quite unusual for me.

I finished it before going to bed. There was no way I could wait to see how it would end. And I loved it. The story was much more sensible than I expected it to be. I haven't been that tensed when reading a book in a long time (and surely people around me in the bus could tell).
If suicide isn't a blacklisted topic for you, I highly recommend this book.

Originally Posted by orlok

Good going samhy! I've just finished A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (#2 in the Chronicles of St. Mary's series), which was just as good as #1, and am contemplating whether to go straight on to the next one, A Second Chance, or pace myself and read something else first. Decisions decisions.

If it were me, I would read something else first but it's only because I need some "fresh air" to keep enjoying a story.

I hope the issue with #2 at Kobo will be over soon. It doesn't cast a good light on Kobo, Jodi Taylor nor Accent Press

[Apache]

I just finished Custer at the Alamo by Gregory Urbach. I looked at the description and thought why not. I was pleasantly surprised at how well written the book is. The attention to historical detail was spot on. The characters came across as very human. I would rate it at least 4 stars for a good story even if the premise is fantasy. If you like historical fiction give it a try.
http://www.amazon.com/Custer-at-Alam.../dp/B00DQJC4EC
Apache

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by BelleZora

I struck a reading lull a few weeks ago and now have five books going, but none that hold my attention. Some of these failures are beautifully written books. Based upon your posts, CRussel, I tried Midnight Riot, the first Peter Grant, and it is defeating this current reading paralysis. Very entertaining. Thanks!

So glad you're enjoying it! It's one of those odd books that if you simply read the description you'd likely give it a pass. But somehow, it works. Even though I'm mostly avoiding "urban fantasy" or anything like it these days.

I just broke down and bought #4 in the series (Broken Homes), which gives me incentive to finish off this current Safehold monstrosity so I can get back to Peter Grant and the other characters in these Rivers of London books.