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

[Mike Hobart]

When I was a youngster, I always checked out the new titles in the bookshop before browsing the second-hand section. But today I seem to spend more time reading stuff from a century ago.

For example, take this month:

• MAPP AND LUCIA by E F Benson 1931
• AT THE VILLA ROSE by A.E.W. Mason 1910
• BEHIND THAT CURTAIN by Earl Derr Biggers 1928
• PAST MASTERS #239
• PARNASSUS ON WHEELS by Christopher Morley 1917

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Currently:

• Kobo - The Books of Earthsea, complete illustrated edition, by Ursula K. Le Guin - in the last book now!
• Paper - A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton
• Paper - Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World by Irene Vallejo translated by Charlotte Whittle
• Audio - The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths - an in-between listen while I wait for a hold to come in.

My wife and I finished Earthsea together this weekend. I'm debating, after a small break, tackling all the Hainish novels now. I've read some piecemeal, but never straight through.

I also read Eudora Welty's One Writer's Beginnings yesterday and Hannah Arendt's Thinking and Moral Considerations: A Lecture this morning.

Currently:

• Kobo - The Documents in the Case by Dorothy L. Sayers, with Robert Eustace
• Paper - A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton
• Paper - Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World by Irene Vallejo translated by Charlotte Whittle
• Audio - Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann Henion

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Femina by Janina Ramirez. This month's pick from my in-person book club group, which meets next Tuesday. A history of the middle ages from the women in it, rather than just the men.

It was OK. Some interesting information. Each section is split in two - some present-day factual stuff about the actual present day discoveries, and then an interpretation of what might have happened in the past. I wasn't really gripped.

Next up was Blindsight Dare by Lois McMaster Bujold. The latest Penric & Desdemona story. Great stuff, as usual.

And now I'm reading The Wedding Hitch by Clair McCauley, a light rom com of a novel. As expected in this genre, the ending is obvious, but it how we get there that's the fun bit. Good so far.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

IAnd now I'm reading The Wedding Hitch by Clair McCauley, a light rom com of a novel. As expected in this genre, the ending is obvious, but it how we get there that's the fun bit. Good so far.

And it was the expected rom com. 4/5

Next up: Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. The first in their Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. It seems to be a steampunk fantasy.

[drofgnal]

Stopped War and Peace at the start of the last book to read The Correspondent before our next neighborhood book club. I'll pick up War and Peace again after The Correspndent (Moscow burning). After that it will be Downbelow Station by Cherryh (see news forum)

[issybird]

Originally Posted by issybird

In the middle of a book of Marie Antoinette's correspondence with Maria Theresa and The Athene Palace, a journalist's account of Bucharest in the seven months following the fall of France. I'm enjoying both.

Both very good. History as witnessed, in effect.

Originally Posted by issybird

I've started May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry.

I read an intriguing review at the NY Times and stopped reading when I thought I'd like it, as you do. I'm about halfway through and I'm liking it well enough, but there needs to be a payoff.

Gorgeously written and provocative, but hurt by some clunky exposition at the end. Very worth reading for all that.

I've also finished:

• Company for Henry, my 89th in my quest to read all of P.G. Wodehouse. Only a few more to go. Late Wodehouse isn't his best, but as always it had its moments.
  
• The Crossway by Guy Stagg, his walk from Canterbury to Jerusalem in an attempt to heal his depression. I love pilgrim narratives and this is a better one.

Currently reading:

• Fateful Choices by Ian Kershaw, an account of ten key decisions taken by belligerents in 1940 to 1941. Almost done; the framework seems a little forced but it's a good and inciteful examination.
  
• Ecstatic Nation by Brenda Wineapple about the US mid-19th century. Very enjoyable so far.

[issybird]

^^I've started Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick, an atypical choice for me and I'm enjoying it very much. I was feeling the need to shake things up and this was a lucky dip.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. The first in their Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. It seems to be a steampunk fantasy.

A few typos, but the main problem was that I’m not very fond of steampunk. I wish it had been Tee Morris’s Billibub Baddings fantasy noir detective series that had taken off. Only 3/5 for me.

Then I read Total Eclipse by John Brunner. Very good SF with a team investigating an extinct alien species. 4/5

Now reading The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner. Also looking like very good SF, but of near-term future on Earth

[Tarana]

Finished Guiltless by Viveca Sten and now on book 4 of Sandhamn Murder Mysteries entitled Tonight You're Dead. This one is hard to put down but I did have to go to sleep.

Also listening to Orbs by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. It's been in my TBR since 2015. Scifi adventure.

[drofgnal]

Originally Posted by drofgnal

Stopped War and Peace at the start of the last book to read The Correspondent before our next neighborhood book club. I'll pick up War and Peace again after The Correspndent (Moscow burning). After that it will be Downbelow Station by Cherryh (see news forum)

Finished The Correspondent. A very enjoyable read. It took a bit to figure out the relations of various people she was writing, a character list would have been nice.

Going back now to finish the last book of War and Peace.