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

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by issybird

Any other takes on this?

Not now!

I'm currently in the middle of "The Ox-Bow Incident" by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, but I'm also flailing a bit. I've always been a fan of the Western genre, and I understand that this was intended to be more of a statement on justice, human nature, and civilization in general rather than a traditional "Rope Opera". But considering the sheer volume of high praise for its Transcendence, I've found it to be overly purple, muddy with far too many characters, too preachy, and pointlessly racist** at times. It's very short, so I don't think I'll have too much trouble finishing it, but it's going to have to work very hard to redeem itself from its lackluster start.

**Before anybody gets in a twist; I'm not suggesting the author was racist, or that the book needs to be vilified for its portrayal of "the times." I was just frankly uncomfortable reading what amounted to phonetically-spelled Amos and Andy skits pointlessly interspersed throughout the early parts of the otherwise competently written (if not loved) story. Tilburg may have been writing about 1885 society, but it was published in 1940. For all the talk of his mastery of the language, I would have expected far less ham-handed portrayals of the racism of "the times." But since the passages did nothing to advance the narrative, in my opinion, I would have much rather not encountered them at all.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by issybird

I’m listening to Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. My attention was caught by a stellar review in the WaPo for the second book in the series and when I checked, a bunch of my GR friends absolutely loved this.

Well. I keep plodding along, but so far, I hate it. The device is a book within a book, the interior book is supposed to be about one of the greatest fictional detectives of all times. It’s terrible. Set in 1955 England, the anachronisms keep on coming. The story itself is a series of info dumps and stock characters. So I think there has to be a payoff in terms of the relevance of this dreadful detective novel to the framing story, hence all the love, but how long do I have to put in? At this point, there has to be one heck of a payoff and one that accounts for the sheer awfulness of the novel within the novel. I’m having my doubts.

Has anyone here read it? Should I keep going? Or stop throwing good listening time after bad?

I didn't like it at all. I think I finished it at the time, but I only gave it 2 stars. I have since started and dropped a few of Horowitz's other books.

[Bookstooge]

Just started Fall Out by Ken Royce this evening.

[ReadingManiac]

Currently re-reading A Christmas With the Dodger by Charlton Daines. Highly recommended if you like that Dickensian Christmas vibe.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler. (A recent purchase.)

Which I liked a lot. I actually understood the plot. I'm not sure I ever really did from the film. 4/5

Next I read a freebie, Lucky Universe by Joshua James. A poor start, with a throwaway viewpoint character, and flashbacks, but on the whole, an enjoyable MilSF read, and I'm interested to see what happens next. 3/5

Next up: Tales from the Folly by Ben Aaronovich. A very recent purchase - about fifteen minutes ago, as it's on special offer today at Amazon UK.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Tales from the Folly by Ben Aaronovich. A very recent purchase - about fifteen minutes ago, as it's on special offer today at Amazon UK.

Which was excellent. A collection of short stories in the Rivers of London universe, with introductions by the author.

Next up: Another recent special offer purchase, The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin. I wasn't taken with her "The Fifth Season" SF, but I did like her earlier fantasy "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms". So I thought I'de give this a go, as it was on offer.

So far, so good.

[Luffy]

My 5 star review of Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide by Lois Tyson:-

Spoiler:

Lois Tyson poured her everything in this book. It's the work of a genius mind. I loved reading this book several times. It changed me for the better.

It was required for my courses, but the book became a friend who was urging me to study while having some fun. Compared to all of the other recommended reading (all men), this book was a ray of sunshine.

The knowledge was distilled in the pages of this book. Complex ideas presented with such simplicity made for a terrific read. I'm a bit disappointed that the author, well, authored just this one book, but the glass is completely full.

[Bookstooge]

Just started Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Ruin, a completely unnecessary sequel imo, to his excellent Children of Time

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Another recent special offer purchase, The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin. I wasn't taken with her "The Fifth Season" SF, but I did like her earlier fantasy "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms". So I thought I'de give this a go, as it was on offer.

So far, so good.

And a most satisfying 'urban' fantasy it was too.

Next up: A random pick from my TBR: The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson

[Bookstooge]

just started Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan. Much easier to read Jordan's books every other month than to wait 2 years. I suspect this re-read will be my final time with this series though.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'm currently in the middle of "The Ox-Bow Incident" by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, but I'm flailing a bit. I've always been a fan of the Western genre, and I understand that this was intended to be more of a statement on justice, human nature, and civilization in general ...<snip, snip, yada, yada> ...It's very short, so I don't think I'll have too much trouble finishing it, but it's going to have to work very hard to redeem itself from its lackluster start.

It didn't work hard enough.
Maybe it was important in 1940, but it certainly didn't seem to age very well in my opinion. The characters just weren't up to the task the author assigned them.

[Uncle Robin]

I just finished reading Murder on the Mountaineer a dire short mystery novel from Kindle, and went to leave a review only to discover that I don't spend enough to be allowed that privilege! I'm please Kobo doesn't bar me from reviewing books I buy there simply because I don't spend enough.

[Fbone]

Finished my 24th and last book of the year with a dud. Full Fathom Five by Max Gladstone. This one was my least favorite in the series so far. Too much waiting for something -anything- to happen. And when it did there wasn't much to write about. Good character transformation. A few interesting ideas. I'll still continue with the series although my interest is diminishing. Rated C- [2 stars].

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And a most satisfying 'urban' fantasy it was too.

Next up: A random pick from my TBR: The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson

Oooh! That's a brilliant book! I read it years ago after the TV movie with Richard Thomas and Michael York hooked me on the story.

[Bookstooge]

Just started Magician's Ward by Patricia Wrede. An excellent sequel to Mairelon the Magician.