Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 1457

HudsonSpike · 02-25-2015, 08:01 AM

Just started "Cause of All Nations" by Don Doyle, an international pespective to the American Civil War. Seems that there was a bit more to the war than just our struggles here.

Luffy · 02-25-2015, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

The Hamish books were great, and the TV series made from them just as good. From the books I had a very different mental image of Hamish, but the TV series Hamish carried it off well.

Stitchawl

I also forgot to say that I don't love all the books by a favored author. The first 3 Agatha Raisin books(3, 2, and 4 stars) and the first 3 Hamish books(5, 2, and 5 stars) reflect that disposition.

orlok · 02-25-2015, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luffy

Guys, I don't know for certain how much you'll like the series, but I've read a lot of mysteries and the Hamish and Agatha Raisin ones just seem better than most. IMHO.

I won't hold it against you...

. My main reading genres are thrillers, crime and mysteries, so it won't be too much of a difficulty to give it a go. And it was free

.

CRussel · 02-25-2015, 12:12 PM

I really enjoyed the early Hamish books, but grew tired of them after a while. Not sure why, but my DW had the same response. OTOH, we both liked the Agatha Raisin books quite a bit and continue to.

KyBunnies · 02-25-2015, 12:24 PM

I love the Agatha Raisin series. I have read and listened to all of them. I am currently working on Hamish Macbeth. I admit to not being as fond of it as Agatha Raisin. But I am listening instead of reading them.

Currently listening to Death of an Outsider (Hamish Macbeth #3) and reading the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day.

Also trying to work my way thru 50 Cult books everyone should read (according to somewhere site I found). I admit to not being very fond of the cult books. They are very hard to get into and understand. But that is just me.

Hampshire Nanny · 02-25-2015, 02:45 PM

Re: M.C. Beaton - I'm reading my way through the Hamish MacBeth series this year. An enjoyable mystery series that's just to the point. No more and no less. Good storytelling.

I just finished reading The Dante Connection, second in Estelle Ryan's mystery series starring Genevieve Lennard. Can't wait to get my hands on book #3.

Trying to finish reading The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow. Normally I just gobble steampunk books, but this one is more of a challenge. I can't really put it into words, but I feel like I'm just plodding along. I am enjoying it -- sort of -- so I won't set it aside unfinished.

DiapDealer · 02-25-2015, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Next up: Jen Williams' The Copper Promise.

Not bad. Nothing mind-blowing, but solid adventure-type fantasy that's different enough to not get boring. Little thin on character-depth, but still quite fun.

Now starting Devices and Desires by K.J. Parker. First book in the Engineer Trilogy.

silverraven · 02-25-2015, 05:41 PM

I read the first of the Agatha Raisin series. I can't say I was real fond of the lead character. Does she get more likeable as the series goes along?
S

issybird · 02-25-2015, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I really enjoyed the early Hamish books, but grew tired of them after a while. Not sure why, but my DW had the same response. OTOH, we both liked the Agatha Raisin books quite a bit and continue to.

I got tired of Hamish and Agatha, too. The books seemed to get both slighter and more repetitive over time and the dei ex machinis more and more farfetched. But early days, both series were most enjoyable; Hamish was more charming and Agatha was funnier.

Luffy · 02-26-2015, 04:24 AM

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (Agatha Raisin #4)
by M.C. Beaton - 3/5

At three quarters in the book I had penciled it as a one star book. I was beginning to cohere about writing the review differently from the usual. I wanted to list 10 reasons why the book was irredeemable. Well, here we are in the middle of a 3 star review with no bullet points in sight. As soon as the annoying young ramblers were gone from the story, the book picked up pace.

Agatha Raisin got lucky with James, but that was not the only reason for the change in my mind. I thought that for someone as Agatha, there was a lot going to go against her, what with her stubborn and a tad abrasive ways, and what not. It's a pity that the author tried to give voice to a group of young teachers which were ramblers and militants. She isn't good at it and should not repeat such an experiment. She'll only embarrass herself, same as her obvious role model, Agatha Christie herself did. That side went nowhere and took the place of the usual build up that was so merrily cozy to read in previous books. I'm also beginning to be worried about the murders themselves.

I think that only the first book encased a truly well thought out murder with a clever culprit. Ever since then, not only have the murders been less ingenious, but Agatha herself only got her murderer by luck, sometimes with no shred of proof for support. I'm sure those issues aren't going to be an issue and that the enticing cliffhanger that promises a world of hurt for Agatha will bring in further developments. These books in the series are neither lowbrow nor thrash, but I can't defend them against accusations of being light and fluff. I hope, now that I have a vague resolve to read most of the books, that the best of the lot isn't already past me. Enough room exists where things can evolve. The series is still fresh. I have reasonable faith for the future.

Dngrsone · 02-26-2015, 10:59 AM

I am reading Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

She certainly knows how to write flawed characters...

Fbone · 02-26-2015, 04:34 PM

I finished The Thought Readers by Dima Zales. It's only my 3rd self-published book I actually finished. This one didn't start out well but the author's writing improved towards the end. He had difficulty with the first person perspective. The pronoun "I" was used 17 times in the first 4 paragraphs. The plot was interesting and unique enough for me to finish and mildly enjoy it. It's book one of a series. Rated C- [2 stars].

Next is The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne.

HarryT · 02-26-2015, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

The pronoun "I" was used 17 times in the first 4 paragraphs.

Isn't that fairly inevitable if an author writes in the first person? One of my pet hates is books that are written in the first person present, which seems to be distressingly common in "YA" books. I tried reading "The Hunger Games", having seen many people recommend it, but that was one of the things about it that really annoyed me.

Nyssa · 02-26-2015, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Isn't that fairly inevitable if an author writes in the first person? One of my pet hates is books that are written in the first person present, which seems to be distressingly common in "YA" books. I tried reading "The Hunger Games", having seen many people recommend it, but that was one of the things about it that really annoyed me.

Please explain, if you can. why? I hear this complaint (about novels written in 1st person perspective) quite a bit, but I don't understand why it bothers people so much.

Fbone · 02-26-2015, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Isn't that fairly inevitable if an author writes in the first person? One of my pet hates is books that are written in the first person present, which seems to be distressingly common in "YA" books. I tried reading "The Hunger Games", having seen many people recommend it, but that was one of the things about it that really annoyed me.

I would hope a skilled author wouldn't need to use "I" so frequently. If you are the only character in the chapter, there is no need to start almost every sentence with "I". In the book I just read the first 4 paragraphs contained only 8 sentences with 17 "I"s used.

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02-25-2015, 08:01 AM	#21841
HudsonSpike Member Posts: 21 Karma: 25 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: The Catskills, Upstate NY Device: Kindle Fire HD10	Just started "Cause of All Nations" by Don Doyle, an international pespective to the American Civil War. Seems that there was a bit more to the war than just our struggles here.

02-25-2015, 12:12 PM	#21844
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,296 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	I really enjoyed the early Hamish books, but grew tired of them after a while. Not sure why, but my DW had the same response. OTOH, we both liked the Agatha Raisin books quite a bit and continue to.

02-25-2015, 12:24 PM	#21845
KyBunnies Book & Bunny Crazy Posts: 1,291 Karma: 6468095 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: USA Device: K3 (x2), Fire HD 7-inch (x2), Fire HDX 8.9, Acer Android Tablet	I love the Agatha Raisin series. I have read and listened to all of them. I am currently working on Hamish Macbeth. I admit to not being as fond of it as Agatha Raisin. But I am listening instead of reading them. Currently listening to Death of an Outsider (Hamish Macbeth #3) and reading the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day. Also trying to work my way thru 50 Cult books everyone should read (according to somewhere site I found). I admit to not being very fond of the cult books. They are very hard to get into and understand. But that is just me.

02-25-2015, 02:45 PM	#21846
Hampshire Nanny Guru Posts: 615 Karma: 8064562 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3 KB, iPad2	Re: M.C. Beaton - I'm reading my way through the Hamish MacBeth series this year. An enjoyable mystery series that's just to the point. No more and no less. Good storytelling. I just finished reading *The Dante Connection, second in Estelle Ryan's mystery series starring Genevieve Lennard. Can't wait to get my hands on book #3. Trying to finish reading The Iron Wyrm Affair* by Lilith Saintcrow. Normally I just gobble steampunk books, but this one is more of a challenge. I can't really put it into words, but I feel like I'm just plodding along. I am enjoying it -- sort of -- so I won't set it aside unfinished.

02-25-2015, 05:41 PM	#21848
silverraven Guru Posts: 970 Karma: 3438612 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle 4NTB x 4	I read the first of the Agatha Raisin series. I can't say I was real fond of the lead character. Does she get more likeable as the series goes along? S

02-26-2015, 04:24 AM	#21850
Luffy Wizard Posts: 4,464 Karma: 429063498 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mauritius Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (Agatha Raisin #4) by M.C. Beaton - 3/5 At three quarters in the book I had penciled it as a one star book. I was beginning to cohere about writing the review differently from the usual. I wanted to list 10 reasons why the book was irredeemable. Well, here we are in the middle of a 3 star review with no bullet points in sight. As soon as the annoying young ramblers were gone from the story, the book picked up pace. Agatha Raisin got lucky with James, but that was not the only reason for the change in my mind. I thought that for someone as Agatha, there was a lot going to go against her, what with her stubborn and a tad abrasive ways, and what not. It's a pity that the author tried to give voice to a group of young teachers which were ramblers and militants. She isn't good at it and should not repeat such an experiment. She'll only embarrass herself, same as her obvious role model, Agatha Christie herself did. That side went nowhere and took the place of the usual build up that was so merrily cozy to read in previous books. I'm also beginning to be worried about the murders themselves. I think that only the first book encased a truly well thought out murder with a clever culprit. Ever since then, not only have the murders been less ingenious, but Agatha herself only got her murderer by luck, sometimes with no shred of proof for support. I'm sure those issues aren't going to be an issue and that the enticing cliffhanger that promises a world of hurt for Agatha will bring in further developments. These books in the series are neither lowbrow nor thrash, but I can't defend them against accusations of being light and fluff. I hope, now that I have a vague resolve to read most of the books, that the best of the lot isn't already past me. Enough room exists where things can evolve. The series is still fresh. I have reasonable faith for the future.

02-26-2015, 10:59 AM	#21851
Dngrsone Almost legible Posts: 1,457 Karma: 4611110 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: In a high desert, CA Device: Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy Tab A (2017), Likebook P78	I am reading Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn She certainly knows how to write flawed characters...

02-26-2015, 04:34 PM	#21852
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,292 Karma: 101697116 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	I finished The Thought Readers by Dima Zales. It's only my 3rd self-published book I actually finished. This one didn't start out well but the author's writing improved towards the end. He had difficulty with the first person perspective. The pronoun "I" was used 17 times in the first 4 paragraphs. The plot was interesting and unique enough for me to finish and mildly enjoy it. It's book one of a series. Rated C- [2 stars]. Next is The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne.