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

[drjd]

Originally Posted by drjd

Next I am taking up Night Has a Thousand Eyes by Cornell Woolrich, an ebook, of course.

Finished up Night Has a Thousand Eyes, One of Cornell Woolrich's most influential novels, this classic noir tale of a man struggling with his ability to see the future is arguably the author's best in its depiction of a doomed vision of predestination. Recommended read.

Next up, another light fiction thriller Waltz Into Darkness by Cornell Woolrich, before I go back to some serious reads in Egyptian archaeology.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Four Roads Cross by Max Gladstone.

The last of the craft series in publication order, fourth in internal chronology, and a direct sequel (I think) to the first in publication order, Three Parts Dead.

Looking good so far.

And very good it was too. If/when I re-read this series, I think I'll read them in chronological order rather than published order.

Next up: Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie. Her 59th book, bought back in Feb 2010 from Fictionwise.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by Luffy

There are four new books that I've lined up for reading. The Arrangements- Box Set, by Annie Adams, One Good Eclair by mobileread's Maria Schneider, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, and Duma Key by Stephen King.

So let's see, I've DNF Duma Key and The Arrangements. The other two titles are on hold. I've also added Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier.

[Dngrsone]

Okay, I've finished Aerie by Maria Dahvana Headley. This is a book of high fantasy and not a little romance, I guess one would classify it as YA; but it was very good and certainly touched my cold, Vulcan heart.

Seriously, if I could write half this well...

Anyway, if you can tolerate young love, epic amounts of snark, and a little abstraction, then I highly recommend this (so far) two book series.

Lots of fantastic books in my TBR, but next I think I may read a little about Q-ships.

[HarryT]

Finished "A State of Disobedience", by Tom Kratman. Bought from Baen in December 2003. The theme is a revolution in Texas following the election of a Democrat US President who tries to introduce extreme Marxist policies, enforced through a police state.

Baen are one of my favourite publishers, and I enjoy almost everything they publish. There is, however, a very small number of their authors who write what feel to me to be ultra right-wing political diatribes thinly disguised as fiction. John Ringo's written a number of books I'd place in this category and now, to my regret, I must add Tom Kratman to that very short list. It's not that it's a badly-written book - it's a competent piece of military fiction - but I find the message it tries to put across extremely distasteful. I didn't enjoy this book at all.

[CRussel]

Kratman is on my list of "never read, never buy" authors. To the point that I won't buy a monthly bundle if he is in it.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Finished "A State of Disobedience", by Tom Kratman. [...]
It's not that it's a badly-written book - it's a competent piece of military fiction - but I find the message it tries to put across extremely distasteful. I didn't enjoy this book at all.

Originally Posted by CRussel

Kratman is on my list of "never read, never buy" authors. To the point that I won't buy a monthly bundle if he is in it.

I won't buy/read Kratman now either. My review of his The Amazon Legion was "More a political/military tract than a story."

[HarryT]

Glad to hear I'm not alone in my view of Mr Kratman's writing. I really have to wonder what audience such books are written for? Whoever they are, I don't think I'd like to meet them .

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Glad to hear I'm not alone in my view of Mr Kratman's writing. I really have to wonder what audience such books are written for? Whoever they are, I don't think I'd like to meet them .

You wouldn't. And I can't even comment further here without you having to put your green hat on and move us both to Blazes. Or whatever we call it here. But I honestly don't think anyone from outside the US can actually understand.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I won't buy/read Kratman now either. My review of his The Amazon Legion was "More a political/military tract than a story."

Originally Posted by HarryT

Glad to hear I'm not alone in my view of Mr Kratman's writing. I really have to wonder what audience such books are written for? Whoever they are, I don't think I'd like to meet them .

Originally Posted by CRussel

You wouldn't. And I can't even comment further here without you having to put your green hat on and move us both to Blazes. Or whatever we call it here. But I honestly don't think anyone from outside the US can actually understand.

You can add me to this list also. Left or right I do not appreciate reading books that the author is using to push an agenda of his. Especially if it is blatantly one sided.
Apache

[cromag]

Originally Posted by cromag

...
And now ... I'm not really sure what I'm going to read next.

Some back issues of Analog and Asimov's and some indie books. Then I found Crazy, VA (Lil and Boris #1) by Shannon Hill in my TBR pile.

This was a heart-breaker. It had an excellent storyline, well-realized characters, and a believable (but off-beat) setting. The writing was very good, etc, etc. The problem was Boris (the cat). Now, I know that cats hold a special place in the cozy mystery genre -- I've read, and liked quite a few of them -- but this cat just wasn't a believable cat.

Supposedly a feral cat, Boris is fed by the sheriff once before becoming permanently attached. This feral cat almost immediately understands -- and obeys --- multiple verbal commands and is unfazed by nearby gunfire. At one point the narrator describes the cat as being very much like a trained German shepherd. And my response was that, in that case, Boris should have been a German Shepherd.

I already had the second book in the series, Gone Crazy (Lil & Boris #2), so I read it. Once again, I loved everything about the story except the cat.

Anyway, if the later volumes ever become available at a steep discount (or free) I'd pick them up, but I'd need substantial incentive.


I've already started my next read: The Unquiet Bones (Hugh De Singleton’s Chronicles Book 1), by Mel Starr. Set in 14th century England, the protagonist is a young surgeon who sets up as a surgeon and bailiff at the village of Bampton.

The author is a retired history teacher. If he's made any mistakes in the setting, etc, I haven't found them ... yet. It's well written and I'm enjoying it so far.

[drjd]

Originally Posted by drjd

Next up, another light fiction thriller Waltz Into Darkness by Cornell Woolrich, before I go back to some serious reads in Egyptian archaeology.

I abandoned the Waltz Into Darkness by Cornell Woolrich. After reading few chapters, the plot did not click me.

Instead, I have started Making Pure Corn Whiskey: A Professional Guide for Amateur and Micro Distillers by Ian Smiley. A non fiction, and the name suggests me there is something interesting in the book. Bought in 2010 and never tried to read it.

[Cinisajoy]

Finished Sixteen through Nineteen of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.
I can't believe how fast I am going through them.

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Finished "A State of Disobedience", by Tom Kratman. Bought from Baen in December 2003. The theme is a revolution in Texas following the election of a Democrat US President who tries to introduce extreme Marxist policies, enforced through a police state.

Add me to the growing list. I've found him to be thoroughly noxious, both in his fiction and online.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I won't buy/read Kratman now either. My review of his The Amazon Legion was "More a political/military tract than a story."

If I pick up a book to read and if I think it is more propaganda than anything else I will drop it.
Apache