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

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Let It Bleed by Ian Rankin. His 7th Inspector Rebus novel

Excellent. Really getting into gear now.

Next I read Queen of Storms by Raymond E. Feist. A good second novel in the trilogy.

Next up: Dogland by Will Shetterly. A freebie I got from tor.com ages ago. A random pick from my TBR pile.

[Bookstooge]

The Yellow Sign by James Hodge. An excellent novel using the King in Yellow as its subject matter.

[Quizlit]

Am on an Ian McEwan binge at the moment, read On Chesil Beach, fantastic book, now onto Amsterdam

[gmw]

I recently finished Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot. I had been looking forward to it and so perhaps came with too high expectations. It did not live up to them. I don't know whether it was the author or translator, but I found the text repetitive and the dialogue awkward ... and more I won't go into. 2/5.

Since then I've been reading a few Terry Pratchett books, partly to satisfy some points of curiosity after reading his biography, and partly because it's been a long while since I'd read these: The Carpet People and Strata were both good fun to revisit. I'm currently reading Dodger for only the second time, and while it's not bad, it's not one I enjoy that much (I thought the first time might just be mood). It is not quite an adult read and yet it doesn't quite feeling like something for younger readers either.

[astrangerhere]

I finished James Rebanks' Pastoral Song yesterday. It was a follow-up to his stellar A Shepherd's Life. I don't think it was *quite* as good as Shepherd's, but it was still excellent.

[Bookstooge]

A Pelican at Blandings by Wodehouse. The next to last book in the Blandings Castle series. I really enjoyed it, as usual

[isarl]

Originally Posted by isarl

Enjoying Starding Rising even more than Sundiver. Still quite a ways left to go, but so far I'm enjoying more of the great worldbuilding Brin did in Sundiver; the development of the intercivilizational dynamics of the Galactic community and the (totally seamless, plot-driven) incorporation of ecological considerations. The story ties in with the larger setting really well in a way that I find both engaging to read, but also interesting in its broader implications. It's what I enjoyed about the first book and it's even better in the second.

Also revisiting the “Audio Renaissance” edition of Dune, narrated by Simon Vance (and a cast of others). I listened to this same recording many years ago but thought it was time for a revisit as a possible entry into the later books in the series, which I haven't yet read.

Startide Rising was great, really enjoyed it right through the end. The Trinary language the dolphins use, and some of the Trinary poems in particular, were a small but noteworthy highlight among the many elements that made this great. Compared to Sundiver, the action and pacing are both better, as is the slightly greater depth in which the setting can be explored, as it deserves. Onward to The Uplift War, and time to start watching for a sale on the subsequent Uplift Storm trilogy.

I am spending more time on this listening of Dune, too, and appreciating it more as a result. Something about the way Herbert balances worldbuilding with action and immediate (or not so immediate) danger to the protagonists is just enthralling.

[Bookstooge]

Originally Posted by isarl

I am spending more time on this listening of Dune, too, and appreciating it more as a result. Something about the way Herbert balances worldbuilding with action and immediate (or not so immediate) danger to the protagonists is just enthralling.

Who is the narrator for Dune?

Never mind. Just read your post that you quote

[Rumpelteazer]

This morning I finished Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club, the first in the series with the same name. It's a cozy mystery set in a retirement village in England, where a group of seniors look at cold cases and see if they can solve them. Until the owner of the retirement village is found bludgeoned to death and they manage to get the two detectives working the case to give them information and they help each other out.

I liked the mystery itself and the characters. It wasn't too obvious and it kept me guessing until the end. But it was too cozy for me. Everyone is quirky, even the supposedly gruff lead detective. It's all a bit too much for me. However, I liked the mystery enough that I'll give the second book a try and hopefully Osman will tone it down a bit.

Up next is Owl Goingback's Evil Whispers, which was released earlier this week. The two books I've read by him so far are horrors with Native American believes, myths and lore. Hopefully I enjoy this one as much as the previous two.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Dogland by Will Shetterly. A freebie I got from tor.com ages ago. A random pick from my TBR pile.

A fantasy set in early 1960s Florida. But a hidden fantasy - the fantastic elements are not made obvious.

Next I read "Being an Account of the Life and Death of the Emperor Heliogabolus" by Neil Gaiman. Which was OK for a 15 page comic made in one day.

And now I'm reading another random pick, and another freebie, D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton.

[alansplace]

Just started reading Cold, Cold Bones, the 21st Temperance Brennan Novel by Kathy Reichs.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And now I'm reading another random pick, and another freebie, D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton.

Which was OK, but a bit depressing.

Next up: The Royal Show by Anton Du Beke. A recent purchase, and a bit of light entertainment.

[Bookstooge]

Just finished up the 3rd Widowmaker book by Resnick, The Widowmaker Unleashed. Ahhh, good ol space western

[kyrilson]

Originally Posted by drvenom

I'm currently reading the second book in the Hyperion series by Dan Simmons. The second book, the Fall of Hyperion is just as good as the first book, but I think it was originally written as one book but the publisher decided to split it. Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion are amazing and in my top 5 favorite books, which include Dune. I'm having a great time reading right now.

I never read any of the other books in the Hyperion series, but I really should. I loved the first book. I vividly remember a chapter in it with a father and his daughter that devastated me. "See you later, alligator".

[PlatinumWarlock]

Originally Posted by drvenom

I'm currently reading the second book in the Hyperion series by Dan Simmons. The second book, the Fall of Hyperion is just as good as the first book, but I think it was originally written as one book but the publisher decided to split it. Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion are amazing and in my top 5 favorite books, which include Dune. I'm having a great time reading right now.

I'm glad you said this... I'm going to put these on my list. I read the first one many years ago and remember being impressed and fascinated, but I've forgotten most of it (although I never forget the word "Shrike" - clearly that had an impact!).