Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 1741

mewmartigan · 07-07-2017, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mewmartigan

Started reading the Liaden universe.

Local Custom was a bit more romance than I was looking for but I knew that going in.
Scout's Progress seems better so far but that's probably only because the two romantic leads have only just met, haha.

Enjoyed Scout's Progress much more. On to Conflict of Honors, the last book in the omnibus.

Deskisamess · 07-07-2017, 08:45 PM

Just finishing up The Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed by Michael Meyer.

It's a very interesting read for those wanting to know about China in the recent past. There is a good deal of the author jumping back in time with info you need to know as you absorb what is happening in the current time of the book. The book focuses on the sweeping changes the government made to residential areas in and around Beijing in the years leading up to the 2008 Summer Olympics.

It took me a while to finish the book because I'd read a chapter, then put it aside. I couldn't read it like I would read a piece of fiction. But I have enjoyed it and would like to read more by the author. I have another book by him about rural China, In Manchuria: A Village Called Wasteland and the Transformation of Rural China that I plan to start in a couple of weeks.

Dngrsone · 07-08-2017, 12:09 AM

Almost done with Don't Tell My Parents I Have a Nemesis by Richard Roberts. This is likely going to be the last in this series, though I would love to see what he does with a high-schooler Penny, or even an adult one.

Not sure what next, though I am tempted to do either HP or LOTR. I am on hiatus between jobs right now, so hopefully I will be too busy remodeling a bathroom to do much reading.

pdurrant · 07-08-2017, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Now back to F&SF, which is looking good so far.

I really liked this issue. I think the new editor's picks are much more in tune with my taste in stories. There was only one story I didn't like - "An Obstruction to Delivery" - I just hated the writing style. But the rest were wonderful. "In a Wide Sky, Hidden", an SF tale of the far future. "The Masochist's Assistant", a splendid fantasy of manners and society. "The Bride in Sea-Green Velvet", a tale of the price of Lordship in a world with magic. "There Was a Crooked Man, He Flipped a Crooked House", fun with tesseracts. "A Dog's Story", fantasy about canine justice. "I Am Not I", a strange future where altered people rule the world. "Afiya's Song", an alternate history, and perhaps the poorest for me after An Obstruction to Delivery". And finally, "An Unearned Death" - a splendid fantasy setting and a good story.

Now to finish Deadly Decision by Kathy Reichs.

Dngrsone · 07-08-2017, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

Almost done with Don't Tell My Parents I Have a Nemesis by Richard Roberts. This is likely going to be the last in this series, though I would love to see what he does with a high-schooler Penny, or even an adult one.

Not sure what next, though I am tempted to do either HP or LoTR. I am on hiatus between jobs right now, so hopefully I will be too busy remodeling a bathroom to do much reading.

Ahh, plot twist! One more book in the series. Which is great for my reading enjoyment. except now I have to wait for the book to be written. The author was kind enough to inform us that there were plenty more characters int he world to be writing about after he was done with this arc, though.

MickeyC · 07-08-2017, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just finished "The Road to Damascus", by John Ringo and Linda Evans. I bought this in 2004 from Baen. I read it at the time and enjoyed it. On a re-read it has to be one of my all-time favourite SF novels.

Baen description:

Superb book. I can't recommend it highly enough. Do read it if you haven't done so.

Just read this book based on HarryT's recommendation. And it was excellent!

HarryT · 07-09-2017, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyC

Just read this book based on HarryT's recommendation. And it was excellent!

Pleased to hear that you enjoyed it!

Luffy · 07-09-2017, 05:17 AM

I've read Alpine For You by Maddy Hunter. Here's my review of the book:-

Even though it was tough to finish, and even though I didn't understand some of the jokes in this cozy mystery, I knew that I would award the book a praiseworthy rating. At first I didn't like the sentence structure of the book, as the style of the author was to give way to lengthy sentences that lacked that cutting edge, the je ne sais quoi of good writing, and anyway I'd rather end my sentence here because of something to do with stones and glass houses.

I had an inkling that the crime - the first one anyway - was one of passion. But I didn't get farther than that. I didn't know how poison was administered to the murdered. And I didn't know whose alibi rang steely true for whom. Because of these doubts, the author kept me guessing and I found myself upping the rating from 3 to 4 stars. I'm even thinking of reading the second book in the series, but again, more favorite authors are vying for my attention. So many books, so little time.

drjd · 07-09-2017, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drjd

Now I am taking up The Elegant Universe by Brian Green, a non fiction science book during my three days' vacations up north.

Finished The Elegant Universe by Brian Green. Dazzling in its brilliance, unprecedented in its ability to both illuminate and entertain, The Elegant Universe is a tour de force of scientific writing - a delightful, lucid voyage through modern physics that brings us closer to understanding how the universe works. Highly recommended for physics lovers.

Now taking up Chase Baker And The Lincoln Curse by Vincent Zandri, next book in Chase Baker series, a cozy mystery.

Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyC

Just read this book based on HarryT's recommendation. And it was excellent!

Added to my wish list. Thanks!

spindlegirl · 07-09-2017, 07:16 AM

I am currently reading My Grape Year by Laura Bradbury.

I was looking for freebies and when I recognized the author's name I looked at her blog.

I have a very small connection to the author. I lived with her grandmother over 40 years ago (I was a permanent foster child in the Canadian system). And the girls would visit occasionally. She probably wouldn't remember me, but it was nice to get a glimpse of how her adult life is via this book.

issybird · 07-09-2017, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I seem to be going through a bit of parallel reading at the moment. I don't usually have two books on the go!

Golly, I wish I could get it down to only two! Three is my ideal, four is most realistic, five is marginally acceptable in summer when I'll have two audiobooks going concurrently, one for swimming and one for dry land. Right now I'm at seven.

So as not to be entirely OT, they are:

The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789 by Robert Middlekauff (audio)

Divided Loyalties: How the American Revolution Came to New York by Richard M. Ketchum

Austerity Britain, 1945-51 by David Kynaston

The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis (book club, a reread which I'm almost done)

Leaven of Malice by Robertson Davies (audio, another reread)

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterley (audio, book club)

I was going to make a big push in June and get my currents down to a reasonable number, but it didn't happen. I hope to clear away the backlog this month.

Dngrsone · 07-09-2017, 10:30 AM

@Issybird, do you not get confused, trying to parse between two Revolutionary War books?

I'd get two same-genre books scrambled reading one after the other, even in my younger years when my memory still worked...

I'm working on Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delaney. It's... different.

Apache · 07-09-2017, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just finished "The Road to Damascus", by John Ringo and Linda Evans. I bought this in 2004 from Baen. I read it at the time and enjoyed it. On a re-read it has to be one of my all-time favourite SF novels.

Baen description:

Superb book. I can't recommend it highly enough. Do read it if you haven't done so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyC

Just read this book based on HarryT's recommendation. And it was excellent!

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Pleased to hear that you enjoyed it!

I remember reading this one when it was first published. I will have to read it again, but first I have to finish the rereading all of the Sharpe books in chronological order.
Apache

issybird · 07-09-2017, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

@Issybird, do you not get confused, trying to parse between two Revolutionary War books?

I do indeed! And I know better!

One reason I'm stalled is that I made poor choices for concurrent reading which tend to add additional drag.

pdurrant · 07-09-2017, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

but first I have to finish the rereading all of the Sharpe books in chronological order.

I have to finish reading them for the first time! I think one might be in my near future.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hey hey! I found the first Kindle 3 bug!	WilliamG	Amazon Kindle	22	02-14-2012 05:28 PM
Advice on Action	jaxx6166	Writers' Corner	5	06-25-2010 12:29 AM
Hey! From Reading - P.A. that is.	GlenBarrington	Introduce Yourself	3	01-01-2010 09:00 PM
Seriously thoughtful Affirmative Action	Jaime_Astorga	Lounge	39	07-07-2009 06:24 PM

07-07-2017, 08:45 PM	#26102
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,756 Karma: 45827597 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	Just finishing up The Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed by Michael Meyer. It's a very interesting read for those wanting to know about China in the recent past. There is a good deal of the author jumping back in time with info you need to know as you absorb what is happening in the current time of the book. The book focuses on the sweeping changes the government made to residential areas in and around Beijing in the years leading up to the 2008 Summer Olympics. It took me a while to finish the book because I'd read a chapter, then put it aside. I couldn't read it like I would read a piece of fiction. But I have enjoyed it and would like to read more by the author. I have another book by him about rural China, In Manchuria: A Village Called Wasteland and the Transformation of Rural China that I plan to start in a couple of weeks.

07-08-2017, 12:09 AM	#26103
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	Almost done with Don't Tell My Parents I Have a Nemesis by Richard Roberts. This is likely going to be the last in this series, though I would love to see what he does with a high-schooler Penny, or even an adult one. Not sure what next, though I am tempted to do either HP or LOTR. I am on hiatus between jobs right now, so hopefully I will be too busy remodeling a bathroom to do much reading.

07-09-2017, 05:17 AM	#26108
Luffy Wizard Posts: 4,464 Karma: 429063498 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mauritius Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	I've read Alpine For You by Maddy Hunter. Here's my review of the book:- Even though it was tough to finish, and even though I didn't understand some of the jokes in this cozy mystery, I knew that I would award the book a praiseworthy rating. At first I didn't like the sentence structure of the book, as the style of the author was to give way to lengthy sentences that lacked that cutting edge, the je ne sais quoi of good writing, and anyway I'd rather end my sentence here because of something to do with stones and glass houses. I had an inkling that the crime - the first one anyway - was one of passion. But I didn't get farther than that. I didn't know how poison was administered to the murdered. And I didn't know whose alibi rang steely true for whom. Because of these doubts, the author kept me guessing and I found myself upping the rating from 3 to 4 stars. I'm even thinking of reading the second book in the series, but again, more favorite authors are vying for my attention. So many books, so little time.

07-09-2017, 07:16 AM	#26110
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	I am currently reading My Grape Year by Laura Bradbury. I was looking for freebies and when I recognized the author's name I looked at her blog. I have a very small connection to the author. I lived with her grandmother over 40 years ago (I was a permanent foster child in the Canadian system). And the girls would visit occasionally. She probably wouldn't remember me, but it was nice to get a glimpse of how her adult life is via this book.

07-09-2017, 10:30 AM	#26112
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	@Issybird, do you not get confused, trying to parse between two Revolutionary War books? I'd get two same-genre books scrambled reading one after the other, even in my younger years when my memory still worked... I'm working on Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delaney. It's... different.