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

[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Still reading the F&SF, but I also started and finished The Limpopo Academy Of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith. A delight, as always.

I really like the Botswana series. I read each book as soon as it is released. Now I choose to listen to the Scotland Street series and the Isabel Dalhousie series. I tried reading the text of each and simply cannot enjoy them that way.

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I tend to think of books like this as "mind candy". They taste pretty good but not much value to them. Lots of fun.

Indeed! I talk about books as being movies played out on the back of my eyelids just for me!

[Hampshire Nanny]

I'm currently trying to finish up several mystery series. I'm reading Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch, 17th of 19 in the series by Nancy Atherton. Also Murder in the Dark, 16th of 20 in the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood and Through the Evil Days 8th and last so far in Julia Spencer-Fleming's Rev. Claire series.

When I've finished with Aunt Dimity and Phryne Fisher, I'm going to plunge into the last four books in the Honor Harrington series.

[bfisher]

I just finished reading Allan Mallinson's "1914:Fight the Good Fight".

I have greatly enjoyed reading Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series of novels about the career of a British cavalry officer, a junior in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo who goes on to fight in many of the colonial wars of the early 1800's. Mallinson is a career armour officer (13th/18th Royal Hussars), who rose to command of his regiment, and then to flag rank (Brigadier).

I looked forward to reading this book both for his ability to tell a story well, and for his military knowledge. This book did not disappoint on either aspect.

The book is concerned for the most part with the fate of the original BEF (the Old Contemptibles) - its mobilization, the advance into Belgium in August 1914(and, in particular, why it was there), the encounter battle at Mons, and the subsequent retreat, including the battle at Le Cateau. It includes the background of Army reorganization following the South African War.

There are some wonderful details in it, for example, how the BEF was able to mobilize its wartime horse strength (165,000 horses drafted in 12 days), as well as the call up of the soldiers. Likewise, there are some illuminating comments on the early usage of airborne reconnaissance. Of particular interest is his commentary on leadership at the army and corps level in August 1914, as well as the what-if discussion at the conclusion of the book. The footnotes are wonderful, many of them little stories in themselves.

[Gazella]

Just started Fer-de-Lance, the first book in the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. I've been having some difficulties getting back to reading and so I'm really glad I picked this one as I can't put my Kindle down. A really fun and great read so far!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And now onto this month's Phoenix Pick freebie, The Warlock In Spite of Himself by Christopher Stasheff. I'm sure I've read this, but over 30 years ago. If I really like it now, I'll buy the next two, which Phoenix Pick have on special offer this month.

It was enjoyable, but is showing its age a little. But not enough to make it worth getting the next two (for me).

Next up: Grantville Gazette #53 edited by Paula Goodlett. The next in the long-running semi-fan-fic set in the 1632 universe. Often a mixed bag, but usually a lot of fun too.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Gazella

Just started Fer-de-Lance, the first book in the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. I've been having some difficulties getting back to reading and so I'm really glad I picked this one as I can't put my Kindle down. A really fun and great read so far!

And one with a real shocker of an ending.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Gazella

Just started Fer-de-Lance, the first book in the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. I've been having some difficulties getting back to reading and so I'm really glad I picked this one as I can't put my Kindle down. A really fun and great read so far!

Excellent. And with a whole bunch of books after in the series. The Nero Wolfe series is really a good one to dip into when you need a bright spot in your reading. They're short, well written, and dependable.

[HarryT]

Just come back from 2 weeks in Egypt, during which I read quite a few books:

Ripping Time/The House that Jack Built by Robert Asprin and Linda Evans

The 3rd and 4th books in the "Time Scout" series - one novel split over two books. Set in a future world in which "time tourism" is commonplace, these books tell the story of the "Jack the Ripper" murders. Very, VERY good indeed, but I'd recommend reading the first two books in the series first. All published (or were - I don't know if they're still available) by Baen.

Search for the Sun by Colin Kapp.

The first book in the "Cageworld" series. In the future, the continued growth in the human population means that mankind now lives on a series of solid concentric "shells" around the Sun. "Search for the Sun" is the story of an expedition by people from the "Mars Shell" to seek out the mythical "Sun" that is rumoured to lie at the heart of the solar system. Good SF, although Kapp's writing style is a little over the top at times.

N or M? by Agatha Christie.

Christie's 38th novel, originally published in 1941. The third book in the "Tommy and Tuppence" series of hugely enjoyable but wildly improbable "thrillers". Set in contemporary times (ie a background of the early years of WW2), this one is about hunting down enemy agents in a sleepy English seaside town.

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie.

The second "Miss Marple" novel, and Christie's 39th, originally published in 1942. An ingenious take on a classic theme of detective fiction. Very, very good indeed.

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie.

Christie's 40th novel, originally published in 1942. A young woman whose mother was convicted of murder 16 years previously asks Poirot to reinvestigate the case. Excellent.

Time's Manifold trilogy by Stephen Baxter

Wonderful hard SF by one of by the best living British SF authors. The three books in the series, "Time", "Space", and "Origin", each tell the story of the same characters, but in alternate universes. "Time" is set in a universe where humans are the only intelligent life in the universe, and explores the evolution of the human race into the unimaginably distant future. "Space" is set in a universe which is full of alien races, where expansion and the resource mining of star systems is rife. Finally, "Origin" (which I'm still reading) tells the story of the origin of the human race by manipulation of different species of hominids in alternate universes. Thought-provoking, and very highly recommended.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Finished Grand Central Arena, and enjoyed it. Better than I expected, a solid 4 stars. And I'll definitely be reading later books in this universe.

Next up, the second book in the DCI Banks series by Peter Robinson, A Dedicated Man. Started this yesterday, and enjoying it so far. Definitely at a different pace than GCA.

Finished A Dedicated Man, and enjoyed it quite a bit. Though I found the silliness of Banks playing with his pipe annoying, and I can tell that the regular switch of what music he's obsessed about is going to annoy me a bit. But overall, well worth the read, and promises to get better as we go along.

Next up, the sequel to Grand Central Arena, Spheres of Influence, by Ryk E. Spoor.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Grantville Gazette #53 edited by Paula Goodlett. The next in the long-running semi-fan-fic set in the 1632 universe. Often a mixed bag, but usually a lot of fun too.

It was fun, with some continuing stories, and only one story I wasn't fond of, overall very good.

Next up: Renaissance by Raymond F. Jones, which is my oldest unread ebook, as I bought it back in on 14 June 2004!

[samhy]

I'm 38% into The Shining and I would have never guessed how much I'm enjoying it.
When I was a teenager I read Misery and The Green Mile but I wasn't impressed. At all. Maybe I was too young. Maybe... I don't know.

Fast forward to The Shining: even though I've seen the movie several times, the book is a pleasure to read, the story is flowing nicely and the suspense is building steadily

[caleb72]

Just finished The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski. It was OK. It might have been better in Polish, but I found the anachronistic colloquialisms and semi-humorous banter a bit corny.

It was readable and some of the scenes were compelling enough, but it didn't really hit the spot.

I'm now starting Anathem by Neal Stephenson. This is another one of my "must reads" that lingered in my shelf for far too long waiting for the attention it deserves. Time to pay tribute.

[Ranny]

Reading "Vanished' by Tim Weaver, the third in this cracking series featuring David Raker.

[PurpleStar]

I FINALLY finished The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan. It took me almost a month to read it! Whew. It was a looooooooooooong book and it kind of dragged on in parts. I did like Perrin a lot in this book, but the rest was really long and drawn out.

I needed a really light read, so I chose Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. I am enjoying the heck out of it! I read some of the books in the series, but I haven't read them all. It will be fun to read them from the beginning. This series won't take nearly as long as Wheel of Time even if there's more books.

[mewmartigan]

Originally Posted by caleb72

I'm now starting Anathem by Neal Stephenson. This is another one of my "must reads" that lingered in my shelf for far too long waiting for the attention it deserves. Time to pay tribute.

Let me know what you think...it has been on my Kindle as a must read for quite a while (got it for $1.99 during an Amazon promotion). I have read a lot of other Stephenson but just haven't made it to Anathem yet.