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

[John F]

I read The Terminal Experiment by MR's own Robert J. Sawyer. Very enjoyable.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by John F

I read The Terminal Experiment by MR's own Robert J. Sawyer. Very enjoyable.

Good to hear. I have it on hold at the library. Though it's annoying that it isn't in my BC library -- I had to use the US library I have access to. What's with that, Robert?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: By the Pricking of my Thumbs by Agatha Christie. I bought this over ten years ago! And goodness, I didn't read a single Agatha Christie book in 2019!

Originally Posted by DrNefario

I just finished that one on Tuesday. It was ok, but that style of book is not my favourite from her.

I must admit to being a little disappointed. Two mysteries, only one resolved, and yet they seemed a bit intertwined. Most unsatisfactory.

But I did like Tommy and Tuppence now that they're about my age.

Next up: No idea.

[Lusitanic]

I'm reading "station eleven"

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: No idea.

Sleipnir by Linda Evans. A freebie from the Baen FreeLibrary that I picked up in 2008!

[Luffy]

My review of The Black Cauldron (The Chronicles of Prydain, #2) by Lloyd Alexander:-

Spoiler:

Reading this book was like eating a big bowl of ice cream. Its innocent chivalry and intrepid heroism bear the signature of a genius Fantasy writer.

I thought about the Cauldron long and hard. The reasoning by which the characters travel is childish and not really reasonable. But the story is so good.

The other 4 books in the series are ordinary. This one, is not. I really want to reread it again. Don't we all wish that Disney had stuck to the original book? This too applies. Sigh. At least I'm not lactose intolerant to great stories.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by issybird

This group read is getting a fair amount of media attention. I was so glad you mentioned it, as I’ve been meaning to reread War and Peace for years and this was the goad I needed. The daily stints are so very short there are no excuses for not keeping up. Someone could start now and easily catch up, too.

I’m enjoying this lelsurely read, but I’m not entirely happy with the “official” translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky. It may be accurate, and I do like the untranslated French in the text, but it makes for clunky English. The last time I read W&P it was the Dunnigan translation and at least in my memory, it flowed and was more pleasurable. The Dunnigan translation is only $1.99 and I’m toying with the idea of switching over, or at least going back and forth between the two.

On other fronts, for something lighter, I’m about to start the outrageously funny and plainly outrageous Black Mischief by Evelyn Waugh. I’m on a reread of most of his oeuvre. Any other Waugh fans?

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by issybird

I’m enjoying this lelsurely read, but I’m not entirely happy with the “official” translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky. It may be accurate, and I do like the untranslated French in the text, but it makes for clunky English. The last time I read W&P it was the Dunnigan translation and at least in my memory, it flowed and was more pleasurable. The Dunnigan translation is only $1.99 and I’m toying with the idea of switching over, or at least going back and forth between the two.

That's so interesting! I much prefer the Pevear, but to each his own. When it came out, I remember the New York Times running a side-by-side paragraph of one of the older translations and this. I was sold from the get-go and never looked back. I have since read some of their other translation work and found it just as enjoyable.

[Bookpossum]

Originally Posted by issybird

(Snip)
On other fronts, for something lighter, I’m about to start the outrageously funny and plainly outrageous Black Mischief by Evelyn Waugh. I’m on a reread of most of his oeuvre. Any other Waugh fans?

Having waded through the blood-soaked ending of Bring Up the Bodies, and then had a bit of R&R with Angela Thirkell's Wild Strawberries, I think some Evelyn Waugh would be a good choice. So I shall join you in this issybird, as I have been rereading Waugh in recent months also.

[Luffy]

My review of Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2) by Michael J. Sullivan:-

Spoiler:

This duology of an omnibus struck me as user friendly, but I also realize I had little love for it. Book 1 was definitely better than book two...with a better first, second, and third act. Also a better last chapter.

I thought this last chapter might be missing pages. It ended so suddenly. Another thing is that there was something unsatisfactory about the entire book.

It looked like I was expecting lembas and got cram instead. I can't put my finger on it but I'm in a less hurry in reading the sequels. I gave the rating that reflected on the easy narration. That's a rare plus for me in Fantasy. That's all.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Sleipnir by Linda Evans. A freebie from the Baen FreeLibrary that I picked up in 2008!

Which was OK to good, but didn't give Odin enough credit, IMO.

Then I started Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton. But I abandoned fairly early on. I'm afraid it just didn't hold up for me. I also discarded the two later books in this series. I was less cautious about purchases in 2008.

But now I'm reading my latest purchase, Highfire by Eoin Colfer. Yesterday's Amazon UK daily deal, and looking like a good buy .

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

But now I'm reading my latest purchase, Highfire by Eoin Colfer. Yesterday's Amazon UK daily deal, and looking like a good buy .

It was enjoyable, but I felt I it didn't really convey the setting very well, and I was unconvinced by the villain. 4/5 only, when I expected a definite 5/5

Next up: A recent Freebie, A Very British History by Paul McAuley. Short SF stories.

[Luffy]

My review of Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15) by Jim Butcher :-

Spoiler:

This is the first time I've read Skin Game. I think the world of it. I think it should be taught in schools. I think it should be adapted onscreen by the best of the best. It should have won a Hugo award at least. In comparison all the subsequent books I've tried to read pale in comparison.

So, Harry Dresden's latest adventure - until Peace Talks comes out on July the 14th - has more twists than a slinky. It has more drama than Hamlet, and more revelations than The Book of Three. I was voluntarily spoiled regarding the story because I thought I'll never read it. I was deterred by the first chapter(Parkour!).

The book picks up from the point where Harry has resided on Demonreach island for a long time. Mab comes roiling by and offers Harry a mission. From then on it's wall-to-wall thrills. There are a few references to movie lines (the ones onscreen not those waiting to gain entry) and the one I like the most is from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

I cried when Butters became a Knight of the Cross. I was told about the resuscitating Sword. Butt I still shed tears of wonder and excitement when the event occurred. And the event occurred at the right time. I feared Butters would accomplish this feat when chased by Dresden and co. But this story was tighter than super glue on a bullet wound.

I was happy that Dresden did not really tap Murphy when we thought he had. That too showed remarkable restraint by Jim Butcher. A plot device that has been on since the first book. It has been 20 years since that book got printed. 15 books in twenty years is a great feat. It shows stamina. Creativity under duress.

Frankly, I don't see any other book besting Skin Game this year. The author can write the odd putrid story, and I'm first to criticize him when I think he deserves it. But this book is the best of the series so far and from now the only way is down. Especially for us fans waiting for Peace Talks. Since the book after the latter will be called Battle Ground, it presupposes that the peace talks will have been in vain. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Toodle-oo for now.

[Luffy]

My review of A Thin Crust of Murder (Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria, #14) by Patti Benning :-

Spoiler:

This book was full of spaces. Spaces to be opened as restaurants, spaces to be vacated for Eleanora's benefit. Spaces between the paragraphs, because the book was super short. Which was why I read it.

But the customary brilliance was not there. The book makes writing look easy. Except that it's bad writing.

I must read more healthy short books other than this type of fare. Maybe Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. But whoever ghostwrote this book has hopefully been released from his responsibility.

[Luffy]

My review of Moss Hysteria (A Flower Shop Mystery, #18) by Kate Collins:-

Spoiler:

I liked this book better than some of the others in the series. It didn't have a slow start. There was not a lot of romance, all credit to author Kate Collins.

As the case of the day unfolded, our heroine, Abigail Knight Salvare, found her week planned for her by others. Informal gatherings, questioning of suspects, looking after the business, dealing with the loss of her car.

There was much to do for Abby. I thought this book deserved 5 stars instead of 3, not because it's jaw-droppingly good, but because it does the simple things simply. That's why I read this book in 3 days. It could have been two.