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

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Finished Limits of Power, and enjoyed it, though it clearly is a set-up for the rest of the series. The good news is that Paks is clearly about to play a more central role, though not yet in this book.

Now, back to Treecat Wars.

Finished Treecat Wars. As I suspected, a 3/5. Good, not great. I generally like YA SFF, but this one just didn't work as well as I'd hoped.

I was planning on reading the Murder on a Midsummer Night, #17 in the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood. But instead, I grabbed one that had been languishing in my TBR for rather too long, the first book in J. A. Jance's Ali Reynolds series, Edge of Evil. The main protagonist is Alison Reynolds, a 40-something TV newscaster who is fired for being 40-something, and ends up moving back to her hometown and becoming a blogger. I'm not at all sure I quite believe the premise, but as usual with books by Ms. Jance, the characters are interesting and the plot moves right along.

[HarryT]

I've been away on holiday for a couple of weeks. Books I've read in that time are:

"The Mysterious Mr Quin" by Agatha Christie. Interesting short story collection featuring the eponymous Mr Harley Quin, who aids socialite Mr Satterthwaite in solving mysteries.

"Castle of Wizardry" and "Enchanter's Endgame", the 4th and 5th books in David Eddings' classic "Belgariad" fantasy series.

"Peril at End House" by Agatha Christie. The 8th Hercule Poirot book. Poirot and Captain Arthur Hastings are holidaying when they meet a young girl, who casually mentions that she has escaped certain death at least thrice. Poirot suspects that somebody is out to get her, and his suspicions prove true. He finds many characters that are shady and may have some reason to kill the girl. Despite Poirot's best efforts, a murder does occur, but not of the intended victim. When the motive itself is unclear, why did the murder take place? Very good indeed.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've been away on holiday for a couple of weeks. Books I've read in that time are:

"The Mysterious Mr Quin" by Agatha Christie. Interesting short story collection featuring the eponymous Mr Harley Quin, who aids socialite Mr Satterthwaite in solving mysteries....

Oh, I like him. He never got nearly the attention that her more well-know crime solvers Poirot and Marple got. Even Tommy and Tuppence are better known, but he always managed to fire my imagination. Have there ever been any movie, television, or even radio shows based on the character?

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Finished Treecat Wars. As I suspected, a 3/5. Good, not great. I generally like YA SFF, but this one just didn't work as well as I'd hoped.

I was planning on reading the Murder on a Midsummer Night, #17 in the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood. But instead, I grabbed one that had been languishing in my TBR for rather too long, the first book in J. A. Jance's Ali Reynolds series, Edge of Evil. The main protagonist is Alison Reynolds, a 40-something TV newscaster who is fired for being 40-something, and ends up moving back to her hometown and becoming a blogger. I'm not at all sure I quite believe the premise, but as usual with books by Ms. Jance, the characters are interesting and the plot moves right along.

Well, that was certainly a quick read! Not bad, but hardly Ms. Jance's best work. Still, worth the read.

[Rumpelteazer]

Today I finished The Final Descent by Rick Yancey, the final book of the Monstumologist series. For me it was disappointing, I loved the first three books but this one was mostly confusing finished by an extremely confusing ending.

I'm now reading Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead, the first book in his King Raven trilogy. It tells the story of Robin Hood, who is Welsh in this book.

[poohbear_nc]

Well, I'm continuing along in my quest to read all of Henry James' oeuvre in chronological order - I'm up to 1881 and 'Portrait of a Lady' - which I last remember reading during an unexpected delay in a Toronto air port during a blizzard.

I've rediscovered the forgettable 'Roderick Hudson', the still unsettling 'The American', the forgettable 'Daisy Miller', the screwball comedies of 'The Europeans' and 'Confidence' - yes, they are funny to read now, and plowed through 'Washington Square' with the dullest heroine ever known, and the most despicable do-gooder Mrs. Penniman.

Not to mention legions of short stories of varying quality. And the much maligned 'Hawthorne' - a quasi tribute to America's only great novelist [in James' not so humble opinion] .... which understandably angered the American readers, by listing all the attributes and features America lacked.

I'll continue on with the ultimate goal of finally reading all of 'The Golden Bowl' without suffering brain damage. Gradually acclimating my senses to James' increasingly complex style may allow me to enjoy one of his most stylistically dense compositions.

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

I'm now reading Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead, the first book in his King Raven trilogy. It tells the story of Robin Hood, who is Welsh in this book.

Did you just get that on special? I picked up the trilogy yesterday for $1.99 each as a Kindle Daily Deal.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by caleb72

Did you just get that on special? I picked up the trilogy yesterday for $1.99 each as a Kindle Daily Deal.

No, it wasn't available in Europe via Amazon, but it seemed like a book I would like so I got the series as an omnibus in epub (which was the same price as the epub for only the first book ). I'm glad I treated myself to it, I love Robin Hood stories and I'm enjoying this one.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Bull God by Roberta Gellis

Not a paranormal romance, more a (literally) divine romance. But still an interesting and entertaining retelling of Ariadne's story.

Next up: Another of my Agatha Christie collection: A Murder is Announced. Her 49th Mystery book.

[Crusader]

Finished The Lowest Heaven. An anthology of science fiction stories paired with historic images from the National Maritime Museum. It contains work from a diverse set of authors including big names like Alastair Reynolds, Adam Roberts etc. All of the stories are enjoyable but some are really stunning. (Read full review)

[Yapyap]

Finally got done with The Dream Thieves, which was a major disappointment, considering how much I'd enjoyed The Raven Boys. I'm sure it'll appeal to many fans of the series, but it just wasn't my cup of tea at all - so much so that I'm currently finding it unlikely that I'll even want to continue with the next book.

Perhaps I'll wait until there are plenty of reviews after the next book is out and choose to get thoroughly spoiled, just so I can decide whether it's worth my while or not.

So that makes five consecutive reads this month ranging from "not as good as I'd hoped" to "major disappointment".

Figuring that perhaps a bit of a change might be in order, as my usual genres are currently letting me down, I picked Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell as my next read. Contemporary YA isn't my usual fare at all, but as someone who has been relatively active in various fandoms for over a dozen years, I'm quite curious as to how this part of the book works out. So far, I'm tentatively enjoying it - final enjoyment will likely depend on the light in which fandom participation will end up being portrayed.

[HarryT]

Just finished "The Sittaford Mystery" (US title "Murder at Hazelmoor") by Agatha Christie. This was her 14th book, and was originally published in 1932. This is one of her "standalone" books, rather than featuring one of her regular detectives, such as Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. As with many of her standalone books, the narrator is an independent young woman who sets out to solve a crime that she inadvertently gets involved with: in this case, clearing her fiance of a murder which she believes he has been wrongly accused of.

An extremely enjoyable book, with an interesting location (Dartmoor), a good cast of characters, and a strongly plotted mystery. Definitely one of her better books. Highly recommended.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

No, it wasn't available in Europe via Amazon, but it seemed like a book I would like so I got the series as an omnibus in epub (which was the same price as the epub for only the first book ). I'm glad I treated myself to it, I love Robin Hood stories and I'm enjoying this one.

I have the omnibus on my waiting list at the library so I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

[CRussel]

Currently reading Murder on a Midsummer Night, #17 in the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood. I had been about to start this book, but got temporarily distracted. But reading now, and enjoying it.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

Today I finished The Final Descent by Rick Yancey, the final book of the Monstumologist series. For me it was disappointing, I loved the first three books but this one was mostly confusing finished by an extremely confusing ending.

This is what many people are saying. The book doesn't end well.