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

[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by Hampshire Nanny

Now reading A String of Beads by Thomas Perry, the latest in his mystery series featuring Jane Whitefield, a guide who helps innocent people adopt new identities to escape from those who would do them harm. Think "private witness protection program", except Jane will not take a client who is simply tattling on others. She's the last resort for battered wives, the falsely accused, an inadvertent witness, and the innocent whistle blower. So far, I'm enjoying it.

Finished A String of Beads at breakfast this morning. Now I'm bouncing back and forth between Time Voyage, a mid-grade time-travel adventure by Steve Brezenoff and Unbreakable by W C Bauers, a military SF novel.

Next up will be a return to Echo Burning, the 5th Jack Reacher thriller by Lee Child which I set aside to focus on a couple of books which I had promised to review. I'll also be starting The Leper of Saint Giles, the 5th Brother Cadfael mystery by Ellis Peters. Both of these are library books. I had to renew both of them because I didn't finish them in the original 2 week check-out period.

My "I want to read this" list is getting longer and longer as I hear about all the good books you guys are reading! Just sayin' ...

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I am considering continuing the James Potter series when I am done since I am enjoying this re-read so much but I am not sure yet. I read the first JP book (James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing) in 2011 and enjoyed it but never picked up the second one.

I have the first 3 James Potter books on hand -- perhaps I should queue the first one up when I catch up with the library books I have borrowed.

[chookie2]

Just completed second in a new series I was recommended. Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter.I am enjoying the different aspect in these books, lots of action from supergirl Jane the Cherokee Indian "princess" but love the way her Beast takes over and thinks/talks cat speak..a different paranormal. I have tracked down several more so will read through them until I reach satiation. I have entered the reading challenge for 100 books for the year and already have four downwith five on the way. Body not enjoying such marathon reads when I wake up though. 3 am last night meant I didn't want to wake today.LOL I am addicted to reading I cannot deny it.

[Lusitanic]

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And I'm still reading Catweazle

Now finished. And very good it was too. Although a fairly straight novelisation of the TV series, there were, I think, more reminders that Catweazle is a real magician. As would be expected, Catweazle hasn't dated as a character, but the 1970s is very 1970s.

I think an updated Catweazle would be a fun film.

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Mission to Minerva by James P. Hogan. Bought in a Baen bundle way back in April 2005. I fear I may abandon this one, but since I'm still only in the prologue, I'll give it a chance.

I'm a fair way in now, but Hogan pushes his 'scientific' and political opinions rather hard in this book and series. I'll probably finish it, but if it starts getting worse I'm going to abandon it.

[Alsicole]

Reading 'Flower of Iowa' by Lance Ringel. Stephen Fry recommended it on his Twitter last year and it looked interesting. Having just finished Mary Renault's 'The Charioteer', this has some aspects in common, but Flower of Iowa is set during WWI and has quite a lot of detail about active combat in France and relationships between various allied soldiers.

[sakura-panda]

I just finished Delivery by Diana Prusik, a Kindle freebie that I've had for about three years. I enjoyed it but don't think I will read it again. I have not chosen my next book yet.

[DrNefario]

I've been making some good early progress this year. In the last few days I've finished:

The Way the Future Was - Frederik Pohl. His 1977 memoir about the early days of science fiction. Interesting. Not all that gripping.

Tehanu - Ursula Le Guin. The 4th Earthsea book. For some reason I'm always a bit worried going in that these are going to be hard work, when they're actually a delight.

Call for the Dead - John le Carré. His first book, and not really up to the standard of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, but still featuring an early version of Smiley. A short murder mystery with added spies.

I'm struggling to make my mind up about what to read next. Maybe Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed.

[Strether]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Currently re-reading Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage.

It's an historical account of the first expedition across the American West by Lewis and Clarke. It is (IMO) very well written and includes a lot of quotes from both Lewis' and Clarke's contemporary journals and background information about the time (early 19th Century).

If you're a fan of consistent, correct spelling, the contemporary journals might drive you mad, but for me, they add character to the tale.

You might enjoy reading the full journals, which are in the Patricia Clark library.

Jim

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

I'm struggling to make my mind up about what to read next. Maybe Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed.

I keep hearing good things about that one. His book of shorts sounds interesting too. And from the description below (copied from the blurb) some of them might be available free online to get a flavor of his writing style.

Engraved on the Eye
Stories to Captivate the Imagination: Welcome to the worlds of Saladin Ahmed
A medieval physician asked to do the impossible. A gun slinging Muslim wizard in the old West. A disgruntled super villain pining for prison reform. A cybernetic soldier who might or might not be receiving messages from God. Prepare yourself to be transported to new and fantastical worlds.The short stories in this collection have been nominated for the Nebula and Campbell awards. They've been reprinted in The Year's Best Fantasy and other anthologies, recorded for numerous podcasts, and translated into several foreign languages. Now they are collected in one place for the first time. Experience for yourself the original voice of one of fantasy's rising stars!
PRAISE FOR SALADIN AHMED
"Ahmed's characters...are a terrific blend of the realistic and the awesomely magical." — io9
"[Ahmed is] revitalizing the fantasy genre with fresh perspectives and original stories." — Library Journal
"Ahmed's debut masterfully paints a world both bright and terrible." — Publishers Weekly
"An arresting, sumptuous and thoroughly satisfying debut." — Kirkus Reviews

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Now finished. And very good it was too. Although a fairly straight novelisation of the TV series, there were, I think, more reminders that Catweazle is a real magician. As would be expected, Catweazle hasn't dated as a character, but the 1970s is very 1970s.

I think an updated Catweazle would be a fun film.



I'm a fair way in now, but Hogan pushes his 'scientific' and political opinions rather hard in this book and series. I'll probably finish it, but if it starts getting worse I'm going to abandon it.

I am think I would like to read the book or see a bit of the series just based on the name Catweazel. Plus I am partial to magicians.

Helen

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I am think I would like to read the book or see a bit of the series just based on the name Catweazel. Plus I am partial to magicians.

Helen

It is available as an ebook at Amazon. You could get the preview for free.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It is available as an ebook at Amazon. You could get the preview for free.

Thanks I will take a look. My TBR list is possibly as long as yours but temptation beckons.

Helen

[cromag]

I'm reading hard copy right now. I took advantage of some free time to make a trip to my favorite used book store. I found a few issues of Fantasy and Science Fiction from the 60s -- including one that I remember buying from a drug store magazine rack in 1969 (the cover story was Keith Laumer's Once There Was a Giant, and even as a senior in high school I had been a fan of Laumer's for years). But I had completely forgotten that there was also a Fred Saberhagen non-Berserker story, etc., etc.!

I'll be back on battery power soon!

[Luffy]

Simple Genius (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell #3)
by David Baldacci - 4/5

Simple Genius was told in a simple vocabulary and in simple terms. I remember quite little of it, although because of some salient stuff, I won't confuse it with any other book. A more demanding reader or maybe someone of greater intelligence will not be impressed by Simple Genius. For the first half of it, I was thoroughly entertained. I thought 5 stars were a given. But Baldacci couldn't sustain the ethereal and intangible schema that made the book impossible to put down. The ingredients into the making of a page turner are untraceable for me. Word after simple word, sentence after sentence are put together in such a fashion as to make the book a delight to read. In the hands of another author, I'm sure the plot would have resulted in a different finished product. I can't begin to say how much bedazzled but grateful I am.

I was reluctant to give Simple Genius a go. I thought that prior to 2010, Baldacci was inconsistent. Also he possibly still can misfire or prove to be uninspired. But maybe one needs to read a handful of his works to find him irresistible. Having said that, I am far from having blinding faith in maybe my most favorite author. Before tagging Simple Genius as the next to be read book, I read some reviews of the book and didn't like all that I read. Well, the ending was much better than I thought it would be. Romantic people, at least those that don't stick to romance novels, will take much heart from the ending. I do think that's misleading. I will be very surprised if King and Maxwell become a couple.

I've been reading another book along with this one. A fantasy book. That book has a hero who is super intelligent and precocious. There's a difference between him and the characters of Baldacci. The latter's characters are easier to like. Just like the hero of the fantasy novel, King and Maxwell are above average. Here end the similarities. King and Maxwell are a detective team. They seek out danger in the course of making a living. They are vulnerable. But the fantasy hero is overpowered - not in the bad way. Everything bad happens to him. That makes him, in my eyes, as a Gary Stu, or Marty Stu. It all comes down to preference and to how many people like the same thing. The fantasy book I'm speaking of is more highly rated and liked than our book. What can I say, I can only talk freely from my own point of view.

I started reading Simple Genius as a distraction before getting down to the business of reading a series of Urban Fantasy books that's very popular these days. But now that I've read Baldacci's book, the shoe is on the other foot and I can't let go. The sole reason for moving on is that I know Baldacci has not written a ton of books. I must pace myself. Baldacci publishes one book every year. Along with my desire to read another Camel Club book, I hope to be able to follow, and like, all of the good books that this author releases. It's an advantage when one's go to author is not much older than yours truly. This means that we have more in common than, say, a Matt Groening, a James Cameron, or a John LeCarre. It all boils down to preference and the existence of a writing style that Baldacci has cracked and is compatible with me and people who think like me. Not knowing how to crack the same code, I do the next best thing...I read.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

I finished reading the Moriarty Trilogy's first novel, The Devil's Grin and since I enjoyed it immensely am launching directly into the second novel in the trilogy, The Fall!

I borrowed my one monthly Free Lending Library selection. I chose The Case of the Violent Virgin (Ed Noon, #7) by Michael Avallone. I'll fall back on this if I need a break from the Trilogy or will read it after I've completed reading the Trilogy.

I've now finished reading the Moriarty Trilogy's second novel, The Fall and it was also a highly enjoyable read! So I'm excitedly launching into the final novel, The Journey!