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

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I've just started 'The Brass Verdict' by Michael Connelly; the first one of his I've read.
50 pages in and not sure whether to carry on. It looks like it might be reasonably entertaining, but not very satisfying. I'll probably give it another couple of chapters.

Sparrow, I urge you to stick it out. Very good ending. Also, if, by the end, you do like it, I'd recommend you try some of Connelly's earlier novels (e.g., The Concrete Blond)

Also, if you're into detective novels, have you read any Robert Crais? I've thoroughly enjoyed him over the years.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by cassidym

Sparrow, I urge you to stick it out. Very good ending. Also, if, by the end, you do like it, I'd recommend you try some of Connelly's earlier novels (e.g., The Concrete Blond)

Also, if you're into detective novels, have you read any Robert Crais? I've thoroughly enjoyed him over the years.

Thanks for the reassurance! I'll stick with it.

I haven't tried Robert Crais; but I'll bear him in mind.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

I keep seeing recommendations for this, I guess I'll have to pick it up. I'm reading the second Lorna Barrett bookshop mystery in a vain attempt to keep my sanity between finals. But after today's Accounting final, there are no classes til January 5th; and my crocheting projects have a Christmas deadline, since they're all gifts, so after Christmas I plan on hibernating on the couch and reading for a solid week!
Oh, and some unsolicited general advice? If you're going to plan on crocheting homemade gifts, start in March, not November.

Ooh I just got the first Bookstore Mystery by her, I'm going to be reading it next. You should check out "Homicide in Hardcover" by kate Carlise. It has a little more of a chicklit bent (barely) but I really liked it.

[omk3]

Originally Posted by cassidym

Sparrow, I urge you to stick it out. Very good ending. Also, if, by the end, you do like it, I'd recommend you try some of Connelly's earlier novels (e.g., The Concrete Blond)

Also, if you're into detective novels, have you read any Robert Crais? I've thoroughly enjoyed him over the years.

Seconded about Connelly. Maybe Brass Verdict is not his best book, but the truth is I always buy anything he writes and I haven't been disappointed yet.

I haven't read any Crais, I will have to check him out.

But I have to suggest Ian Rankin to anyone who likes Michael Connelly.

[lilac_jive]

To get in the spirit of things, I'm reading "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding" by Agatha Christie, which I got on sale from Sony (their holiday book sale). Just finished the first story in it and now on to the next.

[pdurrant]

I've now finished "A Serial Garden." The only criticism I have of it is that it really is just a collection of short stories - there's no overall structure.

And a slight disappointment that that's the lot - I would enjoy reading more, but there aren't any!

Now for a complete chage of pace - Catharine Asaro's Diamond Star, a side story in her Skolian Empire series. An interesting publishing project in that there's a CD available of the original songs that appear in the story.

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And now that I'm half way through I must say I'm very much enjoying the stories. A delightful quirkiness, mixed with good writing.

[neilmarr]

Anyone looking for original new crime novels, by the way, check out the titles at my own wee publishing house (www.bewrite.net), drop me a line of anything that catches your eye, and I'd be happy to send you the ebook/s free of charge for the rest of the year. PDF only right now, I'm afraid. Some titles are available in other formats from Smashwords.com, and the rest there within a month, but there's a price tag. Cheers for now. Neil ntmarrATbewrite.net (use the @ sign)

[columbus]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I've just started 'The Brass Verdict' by Michael Connelly; the first one of his I've read.
50 pages in and not sure whether to carry on. It looks like it might be reasonably entertaining, but not very satisfying. I'll probably give it another couple of chapters.

The Brass verdict is a (loose) follow on from the Lincoln Lawyer and if you read that first the Brass Verdict will make more sense and is most definitely worth a read.

I would second Cassidym's recommendation of Robert Crais and all Connelly's other novels particularly the Harry Bosch series.

[mores]

Originally Posted by ould

First up was Dark End of the Spectrum by Athony S. Policastro, this one started out good and really piqued my interest with a fairly original idea for a Thriller. However, the further I got into it the more confusing the writing and dialogue became. The story was decent but it needed some serious editing to be more enjoyable.

I dunno why I picked this book, I think it was recommended here, somewhere. But currently I'm about 40% through and wondering if I should continue.
I am no litterateur, and english isn't even my first language. But this book is just so horribly nasty that even the promise of a good story makes me wonder every single page I turn if I want to put up with this crap only to find out what happens at the end.

This has got to be the worst book I ever read. This guy has no clue how to write action sequences, how to make people interact, how to express his characters' feelings ... you shake your head on every other page and wonder, who allowed this to become public.

By the way, I am reading on an iPhone. So one page for you is about 4 of mine ... do the math

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by omk3

But I have to suggest Ian Rankin to anyone who likes Michael Connelly.

Similarly, I would also recommend John Sandford.

In fact, try this Web site http://www.literature-map.com/ Just type in an author's name, click OK and a page will appear with that author's name in the middle and similar authors arranged around the page. The closer an author is to the one you entered, the more alike their writing and plots are.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by mores

I dunno why I picked this book, I think it was recommended here, somewhere. But currently I'm about 40% through and wondering if I should continue.
I am no litterateur, and english isn't even my first language. But this book is just so horribly nasty that even the promise of a good story makes me wonder every single page I turn if I want to put up with this crap only to find out what happens at the end.

This has got to be the worst book I ever read. This guy has no clue how to write action sequences, how to make people interact, how to express his characters' feelings ... you shake your head on every other page and wonder, who allowed this to become public.

By the way, I am reading on an iPhone. So one page for you is about 4 of mine ... do the math

I'm a firm believer in that if it not keeping you interest to put it away!

Life is too short.

[kennyc]

I just read about Pillars of the Earth becoming a TV mini-series next year and found this.

http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth....d=12&Itemid=20

[Sweetpea]

Just finished the second book of The Great Tales of English History. On to the third!

I think I'll re-read Ruled Britannia by Harry Turtledove after this, now that I know a bit more about how it was back then in this timeline...

[DixieGal]

Trying to decide whether to begin Judgement or Book of Lies. Which one should I read?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I just read about Pillars of the Earth becoming a TV mini-series next year and found this.

http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth....d=12&Itemid=20

Interesting... but no release date mentioned. Of course, it won't be as good as the book.

BOb