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

[DrNefario]

I saw in the latest Ansible that Dalmas died in June. And was way older than I had previously thought (90).

I have a few of his books, from various old Baen bundles, but haven't read any of them yet.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

<snip>

Now listening to Seanan McGuire's Every Heart a Doorway and reading Lindsey Davis' The Silver Pigs.

Finished Seanan McGuire's Every Heart a Doorway while getting an oil change and radiator flush this morning. Very interesting ideas on self, home and the nature of family.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

I saw in the latest Ansible that Dalmas died in June. And was way older than I had previously thought (90).

I have a few of his books, from various old Baen bundles, but haven't read any of them yet.

You really should give them a go. I've not read anything of his that I've not thoroughly enjoyed.

[astrangerhere]

Read Nina Allan's "The Art of Space Travel" on my lunch break and enjoyed it immensely. I know some folks are a little fussed that this made the Hugo list because it is not traditional science fiction. Save for it being set in the 2070s, there is very little science fiction about it. But I thought it asked very interesting questions about astronauts and what drives them.

It's a free read and I recommend it to anyone who has a spare 40 or so minutes.

[MickeyC]

Just flew through The Gray Man by Mark Greaney and, as thrillers go, it was right on. Next up, the new Michael Connelly book; The Late Show

[drjd]

Finished reading Chase Baker and the Da Vinci Divinity by Vincent Zandri. Despite my disappointment over the previous book in the series, I am impressed with the plot and presentation of this book. Worth 4 stars. Now I'll not abandon the other books in the series but will keep them pending for future reading.

Not decided yet what I am going to read next.

[issybird]

One of my themes for this year is the 19th century novel and I've finally got around to Dickens. I went with Little Dorrit as it was the only one in the first six of Time magazine's top ten list as chosen at his centenary that I haven't read.

Unfortunately, it's reminding me forcibly of why Dickens has never been one of my favorites among the Victorian novelists. Overly polemical? Check. Insipid female characters? Check. I'm already on board as debtors' prisons being a very bad thing and while I grant little Dorrit herself is noble and long-suffering, she's also insufferably tedious.

I hope things pick up, as this is a long 'un.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by issybird

One of my themes for this year is the 19th century novel and I've finally got around to Dickens. I went with Little Dorrit as it was the only one in the first six of Time magazine's top ten list as chosen at his centenary that I haven't read.

Unfortunately, it's reminding me forcibly of why Dickens has never been one of my favorites among the Victorian novelists. Overly polemical? Check. Insipid female characters? Check. I'm already on board as debtors' prisons being a very bad thing and while I grant little Dorrit herself is noble and long-suffering, she's also insufferably tedious.

I hope things pick up, as this is a long 'un.

If reading it isn't working for you, Mil Nicolson (who is a professional reader) did an audiobook of Little Dorrit for Librivox. She has done almost all of Dickens and is an absolute delight to listen to.

[HarryT]

Dickens is one of my favourite authors, but I have to admit that "Little Dorrit" would be pretty close to the bottom of my list of his novels.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

If reading it isn't working for you, Mil Nicolson (who is a professional reader) did an audiobook of Little Dorrit for Librivox. She has done almost all of Dickens and is an absolute delight to listen to.

Thank you! If not this time, I'll try her on a different Dickens.Because, see below:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Dickens is one of my favourite authors, but I have to admit that "Little Dorrit" would be pretty close to the bottom of my list of his novels.

I don't see how this made #3. I'm close to jettisoning it; I know it's Dickens and I haven't read it, but it's a big investment of time and no point in throwing good time after bad when I could be reading Trollope. I think your input will tip me toward abandoning it; thank you!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by issybird

I don't see how this made #3. I'm close to jettisoning it; I know it's Dickens and I haven't read it, but it's a big investment of time and no point in throwing good time after bad when I could be reading Trollope. I think your input will tip me toward abandoning it; thank you!

Which others of Dickens' novels haven't you read? I'd be happy to give you my opinion (for what it's worth ) on them, given that I'm pretty sure I've read everything - both fiction and non-fiction - that he wrote.

[poohbear_nc]

If you haven't read it yet - I heartily recommend 'Bleak House' - absolutely delightful IMHO - some tedious slow sections, but overall wonderfully tongue-in-cheek handling of despicable characters.

And the film versions with either Gillian Anderson or Diana Rigg are well done.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

If you haven't read it yet - I heartily recommend 'Bleak House' - absolutely delightful IMHO - some tedious slow sections, but overall wonderfully tongue-in-cheek handling of despicable characters.

And the film versions with either Gillian Anderson or Diana Rigg are well done.

Agreed - one my favourites, too (as well as being one of the first detective stories in the English language).

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

If you haven't read it yet - I heartily recommend 'Bleak House' - absolutely delightful IMHO - some tedious slow sections, but overall wonderfully tongue-in-cheek handling of despicable characters.

And the film versions with either Gillian Anderson or Diana Rigg are well done.

+1 on this as well.

[issybird]

Bleak House is in the third spot for me, bested by Great Expectations and
Our Mutual Friend.