Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 1290

benham · 03-23-2014, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyC

Just finished Burglars Can't Be Choosers by Lawrence Block. This is the first in a series of books he wrote back in the late 70's and 80's. It was very good.

His protagonist is a burglar but a gentleman which made for an interesting read. Several turns I did not see coming.

I have to get back to Block.Thise books are always entertaining. What series is that?

BelleZora · 03-23-2014, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benham

I have to get back to Block.Thise books are always entertaining. What series is that?

The Bernie Rhodenbarr series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/409...nie-rhodenbarr

orlok · 03-23-2014, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BelleZora

Add me to the list of Gentleman Burglar Bernie fans. Not only are the books fun, but Bernie has interesting conversations. I suspect Block saves up all the fascinating trivia he comes across and gives it to Bernie to discuss. Not even Matt Scudder or Keller (other Block series) are as witty and sophisticated. I read The Burglar Who Counted Spoons (the latest in the series) earlier this month. It was great fun and increased my store of interesting trivia considerably.

Well thank you for that! I had not spotted that there was a new Bernie Rhodenbarr book out - Fictfact doesn't show it, so hadn't alerted me. I'll be reading this as soon as I finish The Martian

.

BelleZora · 03-23-2014, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlok

Well thank you for that! I had not spotted that there was a new Bernie Rhodenbarr book out - Fictfact doesn't show it, so hadn't alerted me. I'll be reading this as soon as I finish The Martian

.

Lawrence Block self-published The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons and it is available for $9.99 only at Amazon. I have Amazon Prime so was able to borrow it for free. It is also available as a trade paperback. More information on Block's website: http://lawrenceblock.com/look-whos-back/

benham · 03-23-2014, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BelleZora

The Bernie Rhodenbarr series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/409...nie-rhodenbarr

Thanks, I bought the 1st 2 in the series.

alansplace · 03-23-2014, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansplace

I read Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality for a bit then (because of all the folks inhabiting this thread discussing it favorably) I began reading The Martian by Andy Weir and I am finding it quite interesting so far.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansplace

Taking a look at Harry Potter and the Sun Source as a Kindle compatible (or ePub) file!

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansplace

Checked out and began reading Harry Potter and the Sun Source. Now I'm reading 3 books at once!

Was quite pleased with Harry Potter and the Sun Source. What an interesting alternate universe the author has created. Now back to The Martian.

BelleZora · 03-23-2014, 11:54 PM

Just finished Naïve. Super by Erlend Loe. It was published in 1996 in Norway and has been a best-seller there. The English translation must be successful because I found it to be a delightful book about an earnest 25-year-old man who becomes obsessed by Paul Davies' book About Time: Einstein's Unfinished Revolution. He deals with the pain of the questions raised in the Davies book by making lists, throwing a ball against a wall and, most therapeutic, hammering a toy Brio pounding bench. He eventually and reluctantly travels from Norway to New York City, coerced by his concerned brother, hoping to find perspective. Charming book.

orlok · 03-24-2014, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BelleZora

Lawrence Block self-published The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons and it is available for $9.99 only at Amazon. I have Amazon Prime so was able to borrow it for free. It is also available as a trade paperback. More information on Block's website: http://lawrenceblock.com/look-whos-back/

Thanks - I have borrowed it through Amazon Prime lending too

.

HarryT · 03-24-2014, 06:29 AM

Just finished "Sad Cypress" by Agatha Christie. This was her 35th book, originally published in 1940. Unusually for me for Christie, I'm pretty sure I hadn't read this one before, so I was coming at it afresh.

The book opens with a young woman in court, charged with the murder by poisoning of another young woman. The first section of the book consists of the story, in "flashback", of the events that led to her being in court, the middle section of the book is Poirot's investigations into the affair, and then the final section of the book covers the actual trial that we started the book with.

Although this is a Poirot novel, it's not at all like the usual Poirot novels. Poirot is really only a minor character in the book, with several other characters much more prominent in the story.

An excellent detective story, which I really enjoyed very much indeed. This now goes close to the top of my favourite Christie novels.

CRussel · 03-24-2014, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

Finished Cauldron of Ghosts. The writing in this side-series is way better than recent efforts from David Weber. There are still a few dead spots, which in some cases I know are his because they're copies of stuff he wrote in the mainline series. But the vast majority of the book is well written, and certainly exciting. I'd give it a solid 4.5 stars.

Next up? Not sure. I've got Waldo and Magic, Inc, or Outback Station, or a Miss Silver book, or the first of the God Stalker Chronicles, or the 3rd Harry Hole book from Jo Nesbo. Decisions, decisions...

Went with Waldo and Magic, Inc.. Enjoying it so far. And I find it fascinating that not only did Heinlein add the word waldo to the dictionary, but his descriptions of free-fall are quite good considering no one had yet actually been in space.

Dazrin · 03-25-2014, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazrin

This was book #23 for the year which puts me on pace for just over 100 this year. Next is ?? by ??. I feel a little burnt out after that one, so I may take a little break.

I ended up reading Honor Harrington #8, Echoes of Honor, and really enjoyed it. I may start #9, Ashes of Victory, since none of my library holds have come in yet. At least the first couple chapters to see what the fallout from the last book is.

Gazella · 03-25-2014, 10:42 AM

Just finished Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. The protagonist is an eighteen year old called Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three sisters, who live in the town of Market Chipping in the kingdom of Ingary. Because she's the eldest, she thinks she is doomed to fail and live a miserable life since in the land of Ingary, that's what people believe ("the eldest of three will never be successful"). As she is the eldest, she is resigned to look after her late father's hat shop making hats while her other sisters go live happy lives. One day, the evil Witch of the Waste (one of the most powerful magicians in all of Ingary) visits Sophie's hat shop, Sophie accidentally insults her, which led the Witch to put a spell on Sophie that turned her into an elderly lady. She goes to Wizard Howl in hopes that he can undo the spell. This is where the story really picks up.

I really loved the book, it's fun, it's exciting, I loved the humor in it. Excellent world-building and character development. Beautiful lyrical writing. And just the right amount of twists and turns. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy or is looking for an easy read.

covingtoncat73 · 03-25-2014, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazella

Just finished Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. The protagonist is an eighteen year old called Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three sisters, who live in the town of Market Chipping in the kingdom of Ingary. Because she's the eldest, she thinks she is doomed to fail and live a miserable life since in the land of Ingary, that's what people believe ("the eldest of three will never be successful"). As she is the eldest, she is resigned to look after her late father's hat shop making hats while her other sisters go live happy lives. One day, the evil Witch of the Waste (one of the most powerful magicians in all of Ingary) visits Sophie's hat shop, Sophie accidentally insults her, which led the Witch to put a spell on Sophie that turned her into an elderly lady. She goes to Wizard Howl in hopes that he can undo the spell. This is where the story really picks up.

I really loved the book, it's fun, it's exciting, I loved the humor in it. Excellent world-building and character development. Beautiful lyrical writing. And just the right amount of twists and turns. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy or is looking for an easy read.

I really need to read that. I saw the movie and I'm sure the movie is not the whole story, lovely as Miyazaki's animation is.

I'm reading Neil Gaiman's Dr. Who novella, Nothing O'clock.

Gazella · 03-25-2014, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

I really need to read that. I saw the movie and I'm sure the movie is not the whole story, lovely as Miyazaki's animation is.

I read that it's a whole lot different from the book. I haven't watched it yet though now that I've read the book, I will soon!

Moe The Cat · 03-25-2014, 01:49 PM

I jumped aboard The Martian train, after reading everyone's comments in this thread. I'm three-quarters done and enjoying it very much.

Also re-reading the first book in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy. I've read it before, but I wanted to refresh my memory before moving on to books two and three.

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03-23-2014, 11:54 PM	#19342
BelleZora Wizard Posts: 1,442 Karma: 25151986 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Seattle, US Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Libra 2, Pocketbook Verse Pro Color	Just finished Naïve. Super by Erlend Loe. It was published in 1996 in Norway and has been a best-seller there. The English translation must be successful because I found it to be a delightful book about an earnest 25-year-old man who becomes obsessed by Paul Davies' book About Time: Einstein's Unfinished Revolution. He deals with the pain of the questions raised in the Davies book by making lists, throwing a ball against a wall and, most therapeutic, hammering a toy Brio pounding bench. He eventually and reluctantly travels from Norway to New York City, coerced by his concerned brother, hoping to find perspective. Charming book.

03-24-2014, 06:29 AM	#19344
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Just finished "Sad Cypress" by Agatha Christie. This was her 35th book, originally published in 1940. Unusually for me for Christie, I'm pretty sure I hadn't read this one before, so I was coming at it afresh. The book opens with a young woman in court, charged with the murder by poisoning of another young woman. The first section of the book consists of the story, in "flashback", of the events that led to her being in court, the middle section of the book is Poirot's investigations into the affair, and then the final section of the book covers the actual trial that we started the book with. Although this is a Poirot novel, it's not at all like the usual Poirot novels. Poirot is really only a minor character in the book, with several other characters much more prominent in the story. An excellent detective story, which I really enjoyed very much indeed. This now goes close to the top of my favourite Christie novels.

03-25-2014, 10:42 AM	#19347
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 4619474 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle Paperwhite	Just finished Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. The protagonist is an eighteen year old called Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three sisters, who live in the town of Market Chipping in the kingdom of Ingary. Because she's the eldest, she thinks she is doomed to fail and live a miserable life since in the land of Ingary, that's what people believe ("the eldest of three will never be successful"). As she is the eldest, she is resigned to look after her late father's hat shop making hats while her other sisters go live happy lives. One day, the evil Witch of the Waste (one of the most powerful magicians in all of Ingary) visits Sophie's hat shop, Sophie accidentally insults her, which led the Witch to put a spell on Sophie that turned her into an elderly lady. She goes to Wizard Howl in hopes that he can undo the spell. This is where the story really picks up. I really loved the book, it's fun, it's exciting, I loved the humor in it. Excellent world-building and character development. Beautiful lyrical writing. And just the right amount of twists and turns. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy or is looking for an easy read.

03-25-2014, 01:49 PM	#19350
Moe The Cat Bear Melt Posts: 919 Karma: 5433051 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Device: Google Pixel 6, Moto G9 Power (both with Fbreader) & Kindle PW2	I jumped aboard The Martian train, after reading everyone's comments in this thread. I'm three-quarters done and enjoying it very much. Also re-reading the first book in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy. I've read it before, but I wanted to refresh my memory before moving on to books two and three.