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

[Fbone]

Read from the library, A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik.

Nicely written story of teenagers in a school with danger lurking in every corner. Mostly told using the main character's introspection. A whole gamut of feelings there. I didn't think I'd like it but Novik with her witty word skill and clever storyline kept me engaged. Will continue with the series for sure. In fact, I'll read the next now since it's available to borrow. Rated B [4 stars].

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths. The sixth in her "Brighton Mysteries", and just today on special offer at Amazon UK for £0.99, along with the previous five in the series. My most recent purchase!

And it was excellent. Lovely to return to the characters, and a good mystery.

Next up was Podkayne of Mars by Robert A. Heinlein. This is the version from Phoenix Pick with the ending Heinlein originally wrote.

I can see why the publishers insisted on changing it. The inclusion of a letter from Heinlein at the end explaining why he was against changing the ending is an interesting and slightly horrifying insight into Heinlein's opinions.

Next up: Casino Royale by Ian Fleming.

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Read from the library, A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik.

Nicely written story of teenagers in a school with danger lurking in every corner. Mostly told using the main character's introspection. A whole gamut of feelings there. I didn't think I'd like it but Novik with her witty word skill and clever storyline kept me engaged. Will continue with the series for sure. In fact, I'll read the next now since it's available to borrow. Rated B [4 stars].

I wondered about this one. Novik is hit or miss with me. Loved Temeraire but couldn't get into Spinning Silver at all.

[Bookstooge]

Just finished another Alfred Hitchcock anthology, Stories to be Read with the Doors Locked, Vol 1. Kind of disturbing actually...

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Casino Royale by Ian Fleming.

Which was interesting. A different character than in the films, and possibly in the late books. We'll see.

Then I read The Sun Smasher by Edmund Hamilton. An early SF, almost space opera, but with some interesting bits.

Next up: The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets by Simon Singh. It's been seven years since I bought it. About time I opened it!

[gmw]

Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky. A far distant future science fiction in which the sun is dying and the remaining humans seem to have given up hope. I mostly liked the various parts of this, although some did seem to drag out too long, but the culmination left me disappointed. It fell flat and unsatisfying for me, too many things left unexplained and too much that was told seemed in retrospect redundant and pointless. Whatever my complaints, the author writes well enough to still earn a comfortable 3/5.

The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths. The third Dr Ruth Galloway mystery. In some respects this is more of the same as the first two (not quite cosy, not quite full-on forensic investigation), but I'm not sick of them yet. There was a good enough mystery to keep me intrigued and on ongoing personal dramas to keep me amused. 4/5 and I've moved right on to book 4.

P.S. The Ruth Galloway books do have a few publishing/proof-reading errors - scenes not properly split, occasional typos. (Publisher is Quercus.) The errors have not been enough to disrupt my enjoyment, but I know some people are more sensitive to such things.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets by Simon Singh. It's been seven years since I bought it. About time I opened it!

It was OK. Nothing very new until the very end, where there's a theorem about mind switching.

Next up: The Heart of Valour by Tanya Huff. Third in a series. I don't remember much about the first two, but I rated them 3/5. We shall see. If this doesn't go better, I'll probably abandon the remaining three.

[spacequince]

The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. eBook found on mkgandhi.org.

[Bookstooge]

just read Rebellion yesterday; another entry by "Doc" Spears in the Galaxy's Edge space opera franchise. This sub-series by Spears seems to be more mil-sf than space opera though.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Heart of Valour by Tanya Huff. Third in a series. I don't remember much about the first two, but I rated them 3/5. We shall see. If this doesn't go better, I'll probably abandon the remaining three.

I remembered the first ones as I went along. This one caught my attention a a bit more - at least the second half. 4/5. They stay in my TBR pile.

Next up: Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell

[spacepope]

Been busy with my new job so it’s been hard to focus on books. But I just started Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan on Friday and I’ve been really enjoying it so far. I’ve had it in my library for ages but hadn’t picked it up. A perfect time to pick it up, as it seems to have a rather lighthearted tone.

[ReadingManiac]

I finally worked up to starting The Storyteller by Dave Grohl. I was about ready to start when Taylor Hawkins died suddenly and couldn't bring myself to it right away.

He's an excellent writer and so far it's been very entertaining and made me laugh a few times.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell

Which was delightful.

Next up: H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald. I can't remember why I bought this. Possible because it was a MobileRead bookclub pick sometime back.

[Bookstooge]

Finished up Henry VI, Part II. I must say, I am struggling with this Shakespeare journey of mine. Gotta keep slogging.

[Bookstooge]

Conan the Valorous by John Maddox Roberts. Decent sword and sorcery but have to admit, not as good as the original stuff by Howard.