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

[HarryT]

I've just finished "Artists in Crime", by Ngaio Marsh. I'm reading all her "Inspector Alleyn" books in order (with other things in between). This is the 6th book in the series, and, to my mind, by far the best yet; easily on a par with a good Agatha Christie, which I've not been able to say for any of the earlier books.

It's a classic "English country house" murder mystery, with an artist's model murdered in an art studio, and only the 8 art students present being suspects in the case.

This is the first one of Marsh's books in which there is, to my mind, real character development; I felt a real attachment to the people in the story as the events unfolded, and I was completely fooled by the final "denoument" of the case.

I'd give this book a rating of 4 stars out of 5. Definitely well worth reading.

"Death in a White Tie" next!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: F&SF Magazine, January/February 2012 by Spilogale Authors which has just recently appeared on my iPhone. Now moved over to my new CyBook Opus.

Another good issue. Lots of interesting stories that I liked. I think I'll keep my subscription going!

Next up: A Quest Lover's Treasury of the Fantastic edited by Margaret Weis. I'm pretty sure I bought this in back at the end of 2009, but (as occasionally happened at Fictionwise) I don't seem to have a receipt for it.

[missimpossible]

Finished Notre-Dame de Paris on Wednesday. It was really could, but compared to the other contemporaneous French literature that I've read it was a little long-winded and I never really bought the melodrama the same way I did with, for instance, Count of Monte Cristo. To much of what people did seemed completely irrational for me to totally lose myself in it.

Read When God Was a Rabbit yesterday. It was a lot better than I expected, particularly after the first thirty pages. I found it quite light and not too heavy on the depressing elements. I really liked Elly as a character, she had a great voice, and she made sense in the context of what happened to her as a child. I was also surprised how well Joe's arc was dealt with, especially towards the end. Decent read.

About 120 pages into Crime and Punishment - I'm enjoying this a great deal more than I expected. It's a lot lighter and less dense than I had thought it would be.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

I just watched the Jim Butcher interview (Thank You Alan! ) and wishlisted one book from each of his favorite authors, except for David Weber, as I have all of the Honorverse books already. I know I won't get to any of those authors in 2012, but they'll at least be there for reference should I want to give one a try.

You're quite welcome (for anyone interested, here's a link to the post where the interview mentioned is posted). Hmmm....that's an interesting method of further expanding your ever-expanding TBR list.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by alansplace

You're quite welcome (for anyone interested, here's a link to the post where the interview mentioned is posted). Hmmm....that's an interesting method of further expanding your ever-expanding TBR list.

Wait! How did that comment get here? I honestly thought I posted that on the Dresden Files thread!

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Wait! How did that comment get here? I honestly thought I posted that on the Dresden Files thread!

Hmm....guess you missed the target, perhaps holiday confusion?

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Hmm....guess you missed the target, perhaps holiday confusion?

I probably had two tabs open and didn't pay attention. *sigh*

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've just finished "Artists in Crime", by Ngaio Marsh. I'm reading all her "Inspector Alleyn" books in order (with other things in between). This is the 6th book in the series, and, to my mind, by far the best yet; easily on a par with a good Agatha Christie, which I've not been able to say for any of the earlier books.

It's a classic "English country house" murder mystery, with an artist's model murdered in an art studio, and only the 8 art students present being suspects in the case.

This is the first one of Marsh's books in which there is, to my mind, real character development; I felt a real attachment to the people in the story as the events unfolded, and I was completely fooled by the final "denoument" of the case.

I'd give this book a rating of 4 stars out of 5. Definitely well worth reading.

"Death in a White Tie" next!

Yes, one of her better ones. I definitely prefer the books where Troy plays a significant role. I've read most of them now, but as audio books, rather than actual reading.

[benham]

Currently reading Without Remorse. Does anyone know why it is listed as Jack Ryan #1 when Ryan does not seem to be in it?

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've just finished "Artists in Crime", by Ngaio Marsh. I'm reading all her "Inspector Alleyn" books in order (with other things in between). This is the 6th book in the series, and, to my mind, by far the best yet; easily on a par with a good Agatha Christie, which I've not been able to say for any of the earlier books.

I'd give this book a rating of 4 stars out of 5. Definitely well worth reading.

Thanks for the info. My library has it available pbook and audio. Placed in my TBR list.

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by missimpossible

Finished Notre-Dame de Paris on Wednesday. It was really could, but compared to the other contemporaneous French literature that I've read it was a little long-winded and I never really bought the melodrama the same way I did with, for instance, Count of Monte Cristo. To much of what people did seemed completely irrational for me to totally lose myself in it.

The Count is about revenge, while Notre Dame is about hopeless love. They have the same melodrama fator, I think, so you just don't like emotional reading, do you?

[orlok]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've just finished "Artists in Crime", by Ngaio Marsh. I'm reading all her "Inspector Alleyn" books in order (with other things in between). This is the 6th book in the series, and, to my mind, by far the best yet; easily on a par with a good Agatha Christie, which I've not been able to say for any of the earlier books.

It's a classic "English country house" murder mystery, with an artist's model murdered in an art studio, and only the 8 art students present being suspects in the case.

This is the first one of Marsh's books in which there is, to my mind, real character development; I felt a real attachment to the people in the story as the events unfolded, and I was completely fooled by the final "denoument" of the case.

I'd give this book a rating of 4 stars out of 5. Definitely well worth reading.

"Death in a White Tie" next!

Do you recommend starting from the beginning of the series, or could one just read Artists in Crime as a stand-alone? Never read any of her books, but after your review I am tempted.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by orlok

Do you recommend starting from the beginning of the series, or could one just read Artists in Crime as a stand-alone? Never read any of her books, but after your review I am tempted.

You could certainly read it as a standalone book. There is on-going character development throughout the series - eg, this book open with Alleyn on a cruise ship in the Pacific, returning from New Zealand, where he was in the previous book in the series - but it's nothing that will spoil your enjoyment of the book. You don't need to know WHY Alleyn is on the ship at the start of this book.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You could certainly read it as a standalone book. There is on-going character development throughout the series - eg, this book open with Alleyn on a cruise ship in the Pacific, returning from New Zealand, where he was in the previous book in the series - but it's nothing that will spoil your enjoyment of the book. You don't need to know WHY Alleyn is on the ship at the start of this book.

Great, thanks. Just added to my 2012 TBR list .

[tecweston]

Just finished:

- The Night Eternal by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

I enjoyed The Strain trilogy for what it was. It's action-packed and there are some great characters, and it really did feel like a novelization of some nonexistant Guillermo del Toro vampire movie. However, it seemed in the first two novels that Messrs. del Toro and Hogan wanted the vampires to have a strictly scientific explanation, akin to Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend," but in the final book it took a huge turn towards the religious. Which is odd because crucifixes have no effect on these vampires, but given their origin as told in The Night Eternal, an aversion to crucifixes would easily fit. Final verdict: not as good as The Passage, way better than Twilight.

Currently reading:

- 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (73%)

- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (37%)

- 11/22/63 by Stephen King (36%)

eBooks I will be reading as soon as I finish these:

- A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

- The Nerdist Way by Chris Hardwick

- The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel by Anthony Horowitz

- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Books I'm on the waiting list for at my library:

- Plugged by Eoin Colfer