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

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Those books, they will jump into your checkout bin while you're standing in line. Happens to me with little homeless plants in the nursery center ALL the time. I have NO room for more flowers or veggies, yet, somehow, a few more make it into the cart...

You should try carrying them home on the subway (along with the planters and soil to go with them). Believe me, that puts a damper on your enthusiasm pretty fast.

[Fbone]

Still struggling with Emissaries From the Dead. About half way through and losing interest fast.

It's basically a Tarzan whodunit with baggage.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Still struggling with Emissaries From the Dead. About half way through and losing interest fast.

It's basically a Tarzan whodunit with baggage.

Tough crowd.
I love the Andrea Cort Novels, but I'm also certain they won't be everyone's cup of tea.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Finished Elizabeth Peters' Die For Love, 3rd in her Jacqueline Kirby mystery series.

Between this and that Mercedes Lackey short story, I'm beginning to get this impression that fictional recountings of romance writer professional gatherings are a hotbed of pointless squabbling, passive-aggressive backstabbing, vicious catfighting, and silly costume-wearing. I have got to start finding more of these things to read.

In any case, this was a very funny case of an academic librarian's visit to a trashy genre publicity event where nothing is what it seems, everybody has it in for everybody else and a couple of former friends may or may not harbour deep dark secrets which drive them to kill and kill again. With bonus mockery of stereotypical romance novel prose.*

The whodunnit was pretty good, with a completely different character than I thought being the obvious victim getting killed (I'd have pegged the initial victim as a murder suspect), and the character whom I'd then thought would turn out responsible for the death being eliminated from consideration. I'm usually fairly bad at these things, so mysteries where I don't guess the answer before the amateur sleuth does get bonus marks.

Highly recommended for entertainment value provided by good clean satirical fun. This was the only one in the series my library had in e-edition, but I'll be happy enough to look at the rest in their paper collection.

Now if you'll excuse me, I feel the urge to go plagiarize The Lustful Turk under an assumed name. Valerie von Drachenstein†, perhaps.

* Kind of like Sharyn McCrumb's Bimbos of the Death Sun, come to think of it, only set at a romance instead of a sci-fi convention.

† Started on Borrower of the Night, 1st in Peters' Vicky Bliss series, but it's not grabbing me nearly as much.

I love it! Great description and have fun plagiarizing

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Great write-up. Give Vicky some time. She'll grow on you.

What she said. Vicky is my favorite heroine of the series that EP writes. But Borrower was a bit slow. You have to keep going though, there's some really great surprises that you'll miss if you don't! And yes, that's all the hint I'm giving you.

[Crusader]

Just finished "Airframe" by Micheal Chricton. Somewhat dated but still a very riveting technology thriller about plane manufacturing of all things. Takes a dim view of air safety and how news media are only in it for sensationalism instead of reporting the truth.

[GeoffC]

Treason is proving to be a little gem this far. It's a long read and I'm coming towards the final 20% .... ... (A bewrite novel).

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy.

I'm pleased to find I was right, and I haven't read this one before. Quite good, but without the suspense of the other books, at least for me, since I can remember the reporting of the main event depicted. Quite nice to see Jack Ryan in action.

Next: One from the October 2010 webcription I recently bought. Fangs for the Mammaries edited by Esther Friesner. A collection of short stories on te theme of vampires, with a bit of humour thrown in.

I really liked her series of books that started with Chicks in Chainmail (& I hope the first one of those makes it to webscriptions eventually). I think that this will be just the sort of light relief I could do with after the rather portentous Red Rabbit.

BTW, if you're not signed up at webscription.net, you might be able to get the October 2011 webscription for free by joining my gift webscription chain over in the Freebies forum.

[FlorenceArt]

I bought Cormack McCarthy's Blood Meridian some time ago and even started to read it, but somehow got sidetracked repeatedly. Now I'm ready for it and decided to re-start from the beginning. Wonderful book so far. Feels a bit like coming up for air after diving in a see of everyday OK writing.

[kennyc]

I've started All the Pretty Horses but have tabled it for a bit...

He's a great writer.

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I've started All the Pretty Horses but have tabled it for a bit...

He's a great writer.

Wouldn't it have been better to have Stabled it?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Crusader

Wouldn't it have been better to have Stabled it?

Uhhhh, no, more better to let it out to pasture.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Crusader

Wouldn't it have been better to have Stabled it?

Originally Posted by kennyc

Uhhhh, no, more better to let it out to pasture.

[DiapDealer]

As long as you don't ride it hard and put it away wet... you should be golden.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

But sometimes the audio book is more enjoyable then the read book. Current example is The Hitchhiker's Guide I'm now listening to from Audible. I liked the book, but the English narrator has put a fun twist to the story.

As far as the HHGTTG series goes, I suggest reading the books and listening to the radio dramas by the BBC. The BBC radio dramas are very good. Way better then an audiobook read.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Michael McLovin

ever tried to read and drive at the same time?

I don't listen to audiobooks in the car. The problem is that I'm not about to devote the concentration needed to fully get the book. So to me, that's a bad idea. I'd rather pay attention to my driving. Just do me a favor, if you are listening to audiobooks in the car, please do not drive anyplace near me or anyone else I know.