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

[HarryT]

Just finished "Devices and Desires", by K. J. Parker (pen name of the British author Tom Holt). This is the first book in the "Engineer" trilogy.

Amazon description:

When an engineer is sentenced to death for a petty transgression of guild law, he flees the city, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Forced into exile, he seeks a terrible vengeance - one that will leave a trail of death and destruction in its wake.

But he will not be able to achieve this by himself. He must draw up his plans using the blood of others ...

In a compelling tale of intrigue and injustice, K. J. Parker's embittered hero takes up arms against his enemies, using the only weapons he has left to him: his ingenuity and his passion - his devices and desires.

I've read a fair number of Parker's books and, although they're enjoyable, they always leave me with a vague feeling of dissatisfaction. The protagonists always self-destruct, leaving me to ask "why did you do that?". I'm not sure I want to read the rest of the series (which I have already bought).

[KyBunnies]

Originally Posted by KyBunnies

I have finished London Psychic series by J.F. Penn. This was an amazing series. I highly enjoyed it and recommend it. Not quite mystery but not quite paranormal.

Also finished the following:
Trust Me by Margaret Watson (4-star author read/review request)
The K2 Virus by Scott Rhine (ARC copy 5 stars

Finished Murder Strikes a pose by Tracy Weber. I started Died in the Wool by Mary Kruger. The first in the Knitting Mysteries.

For some strange reason, I cannot get the other two book in the Downward Dog series by Tracy Weber on my Kindle. They were purchased at Kobo not Amazon and I use Calibre to transfer books. I connected using the USB cable but nothing is transferring over. Will need to figure out what's wrong before I can finish this series.

[GeoffC]

"Seven Hanged" - short story written in Russian, said to be a blueprint for the Sarajevo assassination that helped kick off WW1.

"The Bazaar of Bad Dreams" by Stephen King next up ...

[Pulpmeister]

Just finished two Richard Matheson novels: I Am Legend, and The Shrinking Man.

I saw the Incredible Shrinking Man movie way back when I was very young and I remembered the fight with the spider very clearly. I have never seen any of the numerous movie versions of I Am Legend.

Both books, to my surprise, were very much about the protagonists emotional and pyschological difficulties coping with the bizarre situations they were in. Like how a man copes as he becomes smaller than his wife, then smaller than his children...

Recommended.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Pulpmeister

Just finished two Richard Matheson novels: I Am Legend, and The Shrinking Man.

I saw the Incredible Shrinking Man movie way back when I was very young and I remembered the fight with the spider very clearly. I have never seen any of the numerous movie versions of I Am Legend.

Both books, to my surprise, were very much about the protagonists emotional and pyschological difficulties coping with the bizarre situations they were in. Like how a man copes as he becomes smaller than his wife, then smaller than his children...

Recommended.

While looking for The Shrinking Man at Amazon, I found this:

Richard Matheson’s The Shrinking Man Comes To Life At IDW This July

IDW Publishing is proud to announce the comic-book adaption of the late Richard Matheson’s seminal science fiction novel, The Shrinking Man. Ted Adams, IDW’s CEO & Publisher, is adapting the material, alongside artist Mark Torres.

Looks interesting.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure I want to read the rest of the series (which I have already bought).

Then don't! You have lots of other wonderful books to read. This seems a classic sunk cost fallacy. "I have bought the books, so I will read them."

I'm trying to get better at abandoning series I've bought which I don't enjoy as much as I would like.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Then don't! You have lots of other wonderful books to read. This seems a classic sunk cost fallacy. "I have bought the books, so I will read them."

But I've bought them. I have to read them ...

Yes, I know I should be better at abandoning book or series. I tend to grimly struggle through them in the (generally vain) hope that they'll improve.

Don't misunderstand me - I'm not saying that Parker's books aren't well written. They are. It's just that they all, without exception (of the ones I've read, at least) have singularly depressing endings, and that's really not the kind of book I like. He's the Thomas Hardy of fantasy authors .

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But I've bought them. I have to read them ...

Yes, I know I should be better at abandoning book or series. I tend to grimly struggle through them in the (generally vain) hope that they'll improve.

Don't misunderstand me - I'm not saying that Parker's books aren't well written. They are. It's just that they all, without exception (of the ones I've read, at least) have singularly depressing endings, and that's really not the kind of book I like. He's the Thomas Hardy of fantasy authors .

This post makes me so thankful for my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. They all taught me if I didn't like a book I didn't have to finish it. (School books being the exception. ) If a project wasn't turning out right I didn't have to finish it. (Now that being said, my mother has the horrible bracelet I made her. What I was trying to do didn't work out so I made that one as a joke.)
If I didn't like a food, I didn't have to eat it but I did have to try it before I said I didn't like that.

Needless to say, I have no qualms about not finishing a book.

My dislike of writers is JD Robb. It seems most of her books use the same emotional theme.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Now I think I will start Odd Apocalypse.

I enjoyed this a lot, more than I was expecting given the title.

Next up: American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot by Craig Ferguson to fill in the "book by a comedian" slot for the Something for Everyone challenge.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But I've bought them. I have to read them ...

Yes, I know I should be better at abandoning book or series. I tend to grimly struggle through them in the (generally vain) hope that they'll improve.

Don't misunderstand me - I'm not saying that Parker's books aren't well written. They are. It's just that they all, without exception (of the ones I've read, at least) have singularly depressing endings, and that's really not the kind of book I like. He's the Thomas Hardy of fantasy authors .

Harry, I totally understand. I've always been that way, but I'm _slowly_ learning to abandon series when they aren't working for me. Even when I've bought several more than I've read. The Chronicles of St. Mary's series was one of those. Loved the first book, enjoyed the second, and just went OFF it by the end of the third. Unfortunately, I had bought four of them by then. Plus Audible versions and a couple of shorts. My frugal nature makes me unhappy that I've bought these and am not reading them. But my TIME is worth something too, and these just weren't working any more for me.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I enjoyed this a lot, more than I was expecting given the title.

Next up: American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot by Craig Ferguson to fill in the "book by a comedian" slot for the Something for Everyone challenge.

The book is a good read. Craig Ferguson is funny and pull no punches about his life. The man is lucky to be alive.
Apache

[Dngrsone]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

Hit the library, and I have two books to read-- The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore and Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul and Rock & Roll by Ann & Nancy Wilson with Charles R. Cross.

Done, and done. Both very fascinating books.

Now, I still have Bloodworth to read.

... and an otherwise huge pile of TBR

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Apache

The book is a good read. Craig Ferguson is funny and pull no punches about his life. The man is lucky to be alive.
Apache

Thanks! So far it has been interesting but I wish he moderated his language a bit. I am a bit sensitive to language and this one is getting me so far.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Thanks! So far it has been interesting but I wish he moderated his language a bit. I am a bit sensitive to language and this one is getting me so far.

I forgot about the language in the book. I think he wrote the book the same way he speaks and he is known for using curse words. They used to have to bleep him all the time on his talk show. And to me, when reading the book, I felt like I was standing in front of him while he told me his life story both the good and the bad.
Apache

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Royal Escape by Georgette Heyer. One of her historical novels, featuring Charles II.

Well, it was OK. But only OK. Her romances are more fun.

Next I read The Broken Cycle by A. Bertram Chandler. A little dated, even for the early seventies. Or was sexual harassment and attempted rape in the workplace really so common back then that it's treated as normal and expected?

Oh - an a week or two back I also read An Honest Answer by Neil Gaiman.
Three short graphical stories. Not really my kind of thing.

Now reading: Lightspeed #68, the January 2016 issue, edited by John Joseph Adams.