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

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

But unlike the first two books, this one's a cliff-hanger! Luckily I have the fourth volume immediately to hand....

Next up:
Dragonstar by Barbara Hambley. The final part of her Winterlands series. I hope!

And it does finish off the story rather nicely. 5/5

Next up: Nine Mile Walk by Harry Kemelman. A collection of short stories about accidental armchair detective Nicky Welt. Excellent so far.

[Dr. Drib]

Currently finishing (50 pages left) an incredible book by Mexican writer Guadalupe Nettel, titled 'The Body Where I Was Born.'

This is her first novel to appear in English.

[Luffy]

My 4 star review of Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman, by A.R.

Spoiler:

I won't be writing much about this reading experience. I don't have the guts to do so. Something ethereal passed by me when I read it. That something is the sophistication, dry wit, and bravado of Alan Rickman alone with his thoughts. The entries are very honest, and they are private too. Devastatingly so.

I have not read more than a couple of memoirs so far in my life. That is by the way something to rectify. The other memoir (so technically this is a diary) I read had more average rating than 'Madly, Deeply'. So do the books of Tom Felton, Matthew Perry (I know!), Richard E. Grant (the guy who quoted Shakespeare's 'To be or not to be' in a rap music video). All of these books outrank Alan Rickman's diaries. How?

Due to the low scores, I nearly refrained from downloading the e-book. But I should have trusted the little things about this book that ultimately made me read it. Rickman's choice of movies, his theatre background, his sparse but voluble interviews, his decision not to go under the surgeon's knife for cosmetic purposes, his intermittent silences, his very persona, all of them urged me to go read his posthumous book.

At first I was enjoying it effortlessly. But then I got irked by the pacing of the stuff in it. It made for choppy reading. After that phase, I settled down and finished the book with much vindication and admiration for it. I am glad to report that though I recognise less than half of the names thrown around by A.R., I had accumulated enough knowledge to recognise some of the friends and acquaintances of his. I also got to get some pretty random knowledge, such as the fact that Ken Follett, a writer of popular literature, has enough money to live it really large.

The book has been edited, but that fact didn't destroy the flavour of Alan Rickman's personality. His words were hard hitting. When he was diagnosed with his last illness, he didn't kick up a fuss. I think he had been quietly preparing for the shuffling of his own mortality. This is how I want to go too. I want to die old enough to outlive my parents, but not old enough to see all my contemporaries dead. I would see my body fail me rather than carry me through my 70s only to fall apart as it almost always must.

Rickman's work in Die Hard made of me a devotee. He is the best villain in cinema for me. What acting chops, what allure. An unfamiliar face, yet a face animated by the hammer of years of theatre work. By the way before reading this diary, I had no idea that Rickman was still doing theatre work, once partnering Helen Mirren in Antony and Cleopatra. He looks happy in the company of friends.

He was cultivated. He knew when to be petty, but his humanity shone through this pettiness. He was fussy and high maintenance, and he was kind, and generous, and humble, and gifted. I have planned to reread his diary next year too. Alan Rickman has not taught me much about life, but he has schooled me about the human condition. It is a pity that not every section of the reading community will take up this book. It is also a blessing that this book is as understated, if not underrated as its author. A man who lived once, who now is no more. Yet we can see him onscreen. His shadow is here. His talent is untouched. The things that made him special are for everyone to sample. I still admire his talent on the page, never mind on the big screen. Yeah? Harry Potter movies suck though.

[Kindleing]

I'm in the middle of a collection of the first 21 of Dashiell Hammett's "Continental Op" short stories. Some consider these to be the prototype of the hard-boiled detective stories. They were published between 1923 and 1926; all but one were published in "Black Mask", the pulp magazine published by H. L. Mencken and the drama critic George Jean Nathan. Later short stories (not contained in this collection) were combined into Hammett's first two novels Red Harvest and The Dain Curse.

I'm enjoying these; the stories are in order of publication and the progression of Hammett's writing skills is evident. I'm particularly enjoying the depiction of life in the 1920s; these stories were published when my father was 17 years old. I wish I had read them when he was still alive. It would have been interesting to hear his comments, although life in 1920s San Francisco (the location of the stories) would have been far different from my father's small town in 1920s central Florida.

After I finish the short stories I'll read his novels in publication order: Red Harvest, The Dain Curse, The Maltese Falcon, The Glass Key and The Thin Man.

Although these are probably available free from various public domain sources, I thought this collection was nicely put together with very few errors. It was worth the $2.99 to me.

The Continental Op: 21 Classic Detective Stories:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086XHDDF6

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Nine Mile Walk by Harry Kemelman. A collection of short stories about accidental armchair detective Nicky Welt. Excellent so far.

And splendid they were, of their kind.

That book's publisher offered me a free ebook from a link at the end of the book.

Bad Lawyer by Stephen Solomita. It was an OK trial/lawyer/crime sort of thing.

Next up: So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams.

[issybird]

I’ve finished:

• The Odd Women by George Gissing; his novelization of the economic, social and moral issues affecting unmarried women in the late Victorian era. Insightful and affecting.
• Turnabout by Thorne Smith, the author of Topper. Quite amusing. I think he’s been forgotten, but well worth looking up for those with a taste for black comedy of manners, if I may create a portmanteau.

I’ve started:

• Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
• A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk's True Life, The Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 3: 1952-1960

[Uncle Robin]

Two-thirds through Stillness and Speed the Dennis Bergkamp autobiography. My favourite Arsenal player by far, what's impressed me most about him as a person from the book is learning that his longest and closest friendship has been with the kit manager.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams.

Fun, but seems to me it's a partial book. Hopefully carries on well in the next book.

Next up: Simple Genius by David Baldacci

[Dr. Drib]

After hearing about Geetanjali Shree's novel, Tomb of Sand, and then after reading only the first paragraph, I had to buy it. I just started it, and the language is rich and beautiful. Here's the opening first paragraph:

"A tale tells itself. It can be complete, but also incomplete, the way all tales are. This particular tale has a border and women who come and go as they please. Once you’ve got women and a border, a story can write itself. Even women on their own are enough. Women are stories in themselves, full of stirrings and whisperings that float on the wind, that bend with each blade of grass. The setting sun gathers fragments of tales and fashions them into glowing lanterns that hang suspended from clouds. These too will join our story. The story’s path unfurls, not knowing where it will stop, tacking to the right and left, twisting and turning, allowing anything and everything to join in the narration. It will emerge from within a volcano, swelling silently as the past boils forth into the present, bringing steam, embers, and smoke."

This is a long novel, but I don't let length deter me from reading a novel. If it sounds interesting to me, and if the language flows like a river, this way and that way, moving me along, then I'm caught. Some readers say the book is "exhausting" and "hard to read". I say "pfftttttttt" to you! Yes, you! Oh, you know who you are!

[Luffy]

My 5 star review of My Story, by Steven Gerrard:-

Spoiler:

I feel like I committed treason by giving My Story, by Steven Gerrard, 5 stars. But I have to admit that this book was much better than many of the autobiographies that I had the pleasure of reading. Gerrard was a name that I had been associating with anathema for over a decade. To summarize my agony with his career, I'd say that Gerrard played for Liverpool Football Club, and I support Manchester United. These 2 clubs are rivals in English and European football - or soccer if you want to be pedantic.

Gerrard might not have actually sat before a keyboard or with a pen in writing this book. The de facto route to writing a sports autobiography is to record one's voice before a collaborator, who is also going to be dubbed the co-writer. After which comes a tedious editing process. I suppose that Gerrard must have used an associate. But the fact remains that there are no co-authors on the cover of this book. Still, even actual writers have support from a team of professionals. This means that Gerrard is not a superlatively silver tongued author along with having been a very good footballer. I could breathe again...

Gerrard's book is full of his love for his club, which was also his boyhood club that he followed. Towards the wrapping up of his career, when he is leaving Liverpool for an American soccer club, his vulnerability really shines through. We think footballers in terms of athletes, which they are. But for many footballers, including Steven Gerrard, there is much wear and tear. The body goes through swift movements in games that it never ought to have gone through. Men's feet were made to stand upright and walk and run long distances, not to twist, jump, change direction in the middle of a sprint, have a defender clip one's boot with studs showing etc etc.

The world class midfielder or defender will always carry hurts and tiny scars to their grave. However fit these players might be, they remind us that beneath their six packs and their deltoids, they are only human beings who will one day grow old having retired from football at the age of 35 years. Gerrard narrates in his book that once, a few days before a match, he had to have an abscess removed from his mouth. So footballers like him have that Spartan life during their careers.

I don't know if I believe every word in this book, but I feel Gerrard is not as scummy as some other players... or managers. Gerrard, the former Liverpool captain, comes across as a humble, quiet, and grounded person. He has the occasional drinking marathon. Like many Englishmen, Gerrard considers getting drunk with your 'mates' as an example of having fun. I personally don't see any fun in that. So, the odd episode aside, he seems honest, even. That was the difference between this book and countless other sports biographies. One other reason for Gerrard not to feel like the king of the world was that there were players better, more good looking, with more trophies and more pedigree than him! One such person was Paolo Maldini; football royalty, and the best player not to win the World Cup. So when Gerrard insinuates that he felt grateful to his fans, I reluctantly believe him.

Steven Gerrard ended his book at the point where he was going to play and settle in the US. At that point he would not know that he would become a semi successful manager. As the latter he would have, if he were managing in the English first league, to pit his wits against his former club Liverpool. He has in effect done that. Gerrard never won the Premiership. He was never crowned English champions. Reading his book, I feel that the difference between my club and his was that his had defenders and keepers that were error prone. Mislaid passes, own goals, misuse of the offside trap... they took their toll against Gerrard's and his team's efforts in winning each and every match. I liked this book for its insight, and its honesty. Gerrard might be slightly boring, but that is a pleasant quality for a football superstar. He is boring and also has enough nous to write a 5 star book. Well done indeed.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Fun, but seems to me it's a partial book. Hopefully carries on well in the next book.

Next up: Simple Genius by David Baldacci

Which was most enjoyable. Kept me awake!

Next up: The Young Chevalier by R L Stevenson, which I suspect is another fragment, or at best a short story. So after that I'll be reading the next Inspector Montalbano, The Scent of the Night

[DiapDealer]

Finished the first (official) Firefly novel - Big Damn Hero. It was quite fun. Much like with the TV show though, I was still mostly annoyed by the tendency to use invented words and Mandarin only when swearing (Reading Vent & Rant anyone?). But at least I didn't have to try and read those parts (since I was listening to the audiobook). I may check out some of the other Firefly novels.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Finished the first (official) Firefly novel - Big Damn Hero. It was quite fun. Much like with the TV show though, I was still mostly annoyed by the tendency to use invented words and Mandarin only when swearing (Reading Vent & Rant anyone?). But at least I didn't have to try and read those parts (since I was listening to the audiobook). I may check out some of the other Firefly novels.

Does it come after Serenity? That is

Spoiler:

No Wash or Preacher.

Why couldn't they have killed off that annoying Summer instead?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by issybird

Does it come after Serenity?

From what I can tell (because I'm not really well versed in the comics) they all take place before the Serenity film. Big Damn Hero, for instance, is slotted between episodes 13 and 14 of the TV series.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Young Chevalier by R L Stevenson, which I suspect is another fragment, or at best a short story. So after that I'll be reading the next Inspector Montalbano, The Scent of the Night

The Young Chevalier was indeed just a fragment of a novel.

The Scent of the Night was OK, but only a 3/5 for me. A quick enough read though.

Next up: First Family by David Baldacci. The next of his King and Maxwell series.