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

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by orlok

I've read them all, and those by his son Felix. Like you, I have no interest in the horse-racing world, but really like his books. Those by Felix aren't as good, but still evoke that world and I still look forward to a new one being released.

I've read all the Dick Francis novels too, and they are excellent. If I'd realised Harry hadn't read any, I'd have recommended them years ago!

I have only read one of the Felix Francis novels, and it was a almost a Disk Francis novel, but without the spark that the originals have, IMO.

[HarryT]

He's an author I've always been aware of, of course, but just never got around to reading. It's nice to have a prolific author to look forward to discovering!

(Isn't automatic spelling "correction" a wonderful thing )

[issybird]

Originally Posted by HarryT

He's an author I've always been aware of, of course, but just never got around to reading. It's nice to have a prolific author to look forward to discovering!

(Isn't automatic spelling "correction" a wonderful thing )

My autocorrect opted for Sick Francis. Poor fellow!

[bfisher]

In Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm, Dick Francis novels are mentioned as among the favourite reading material of swordfishermen; he posits that the books may appeal to their gambling instincts. "The books get passed around the fleet ... they've probably been to the Grand Banks more times than the men themselves."

[Dngrsone]

Halfway through Legends of the Nameless Dwarf: The Complete Saga by D. P. Prior. I think I'm on the third of four books in this volume. Pretty dark reading, but not terrible enough for me to put down permanently.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

And started Neil Gaiman's American Gods, but in full dramatic audio.

Reading Mary Beard's SPQR on my Kobo.

Still reading both of those. Read Master Keaton Vol 2 this afternoon as well as a nice novellette by Spencer Ellsworth called "When Stars Are Scattered"

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Still reading both of those. Read Master Keaton Vol 2 this afternoon as well as a nice novellette by Spencer Ellsworth called "When Stars Are Scattered"

I had to ditch SPQR, I was not enjoying it.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by Luffy

I had to ditch SPQR, I was not enjoying it.

I'm enjoying it quite a lot! This is probably because I minored in classics in undergrad. I have read much, much drier histories of Rome than this.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

I'm enjoying it quite a lot! This is probably because I minored in classics in undergrad. I have read much, much drier histories of Rome than this.

Mary Beard is an excellent writer (and a former teacher of mine). Her books are always entertaining and informative.

[HarryT]

Just finished "The Lies of Locke Lamora", by Scott Lynch. I've had for years (I bought the whole series in an Amazon sale) but not got around to reading it. Description from "Fantastic Fiction:

An orphan's life is harsh - and often short - in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains - a man who is neither blind nor a priest. A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected “family” of orphans - a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting.

Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful - and more ambitious - than Locke has yet imagined.

Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi's most trusted men - and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr's underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game - or die trying.…

Superb fantasy. VERY highly recommended.

[Cinisajoy]

Reading Survivor in Death and Julie & Julia.

[kansaskyle]

I finished A Cold Day for Murder, and I look forward to discussing in the MR Book Club soon. I rated it three stars.

I started Stephen King's End of Watch (Book #3 in the Hodges Trilogy).

[Luffy]

I finished A Cold Day For Murder as well. I liked it enough.

[Strether]

I've just finished yet another re-read of Dorothy Dunnett's Nicol novels and felt a sense of loss after the last one. By the time you've finished the eighth novel, you feel like you know the characters very well and hate to see them go. Started in on the Lymond series, but grew disinterested halfway through the second. I've never been able to warm up to Lymond, but it must be me, because I think the consensus is that the Lymond novels are the more interesting. I tried to get into the first Patrick O'Brian book because from the reviews, that seems to me to be a series I'd be interested in, but abandoned it for now when the local library threw up the first Louise Penny Inspector Gamache book, Still Life. I think someone on this thread recommended her novels. Enjoyed that and spent the day with my nose in the book and put my name in the queue for the second novel. Reminded me a lot of Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police. If I had to be picky, it might have been more drawn out than necesssary. Hopefully the second book will be equally good. The library seems to have all of hers as ebook loaners but you do have to wait a while.

Jim

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Warleggan by Winston Graham, the fourth in his Poldark series, to catch up to where the TV series has got in the story.

And most enjoyable it was, too. An excellent pre-Napoleonic Cornish historical drama.

Next I read Cutting Corners by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller. A freebie on the Baen web site, a nice short about a minor character with hints of the bigger story going on.

And now I'm reading Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith. And so far it's looking very good.