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

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Gee, that's too bad. For me I experience nostalgia and that nostalgia maintains the fondness. I believe, at least for me, it's mostly in the mindset you approach the experience with. It's kind of similar to suspending ones disbelief.

I think it's as much about how I changed rather than a reflection on the books. I was a much different person at 13ish than I am now that I am middle aged.

If you enjoy revisiting them, more power to ya!

BOb

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Gee, that's too bad. For me I experience nostalgia and that nostalgia maintains the fondness. I believe, at least for me, it's mostly in the mindset you approach the experience with. It's kind of similar to suspending ones disbelief.

I find the majority - not all, but the majority - of children's books to be too shallow and superficial to hold my interest as an adult. There are exceptions - eg I enjoy the "Narnia" books, Harry Potter, "The Dark is Rising" series, etc, but even though I collect turn of the 20th century children's books, such as Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, etc, I rarely read them.

[Stitchawl]

I tried to re-read the Tom Swift Sr. books when I bought them at a library sale years ago, but they just didn't do it. I tried Tom Swift Jr. too but he was just too goody-goody for me these days. I kept hoping he'd at least make a pass at his girlfriend, but no such luck...

Stitchawl

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think it's as much about how I changed rather than a reflection on the books. I was a much different person at 13ish than I am now that I am middle aged.

If you enjoy revisiting them, more power to ya!

BOb

Originally Posted by HarryT

I find the majority - not all, but the majority - of children's books to be too shallow and superficial to hold my interest as an adult. There are exceptions - eg I enjoy the "Narnia" books, Harry Potter, "The Dark is Rising" series, etc, but even though I collect turn of the 20th century children's books, such as Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, etc, I rarely read them.

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I tried to re-read the Tom Swift Sr. books when I bought them at a library sale years ago, but they just didn't do it. I tried Tom Swift Jr. too but he was just too goody-goody for me these days. I kept hoping he'd at least make a pass at his girlfriend, but no such luck...

Stitchawl

These are all reasons why I tend to read the Nancy Drew books (and other YAs too) 'in conjunction with'/'at the same time as' a more adult oriented book and switch back and forth between the two. Anyway, this aproach seems to float my boat.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Apparently my next book with be Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell which just came available through my library. I reserved it last year for the book club. So, just to be clear, Cloud Atlas is science fiction, right Jon?

I will leave it there for now and decide later if I think it fits elsewhere better.

Well, I wouldn't place this in Science Fiction although it does have some obvious SF sections, probably just place it in a general "literary fiction" category. This was one of those books whose purpose seems to be getting the reader to see how clever or witty the author can be.

That said, it was an ok read, I don't think I wasted my time, but I don't yearn for more of his books. I did enjoy seeing how each of the parts was completed, some satisfactorily others not so much.

I have no clue what to read next, probably something that is more clearly science fiction though.

[JSWolf]

Currently, I am reading Jack & Jill by James Patterson. It is the 3rd book in the Alex Cross series.

A game of Life and Death. Sam Harrison (Jack) and Sara Rosen (Jill) delight in their board game that has photos of famous people; a simple roll of the dice determines their destiny.

When sixty-four-year-old Senator Daniel Fitzpatrick is found murdered, the FBI makes a formal request for Cross. The FBI is stymied. The code name for President Thomas Byrnes is Jack. The First Lady's is Jill.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: another new book in a series I've liked, Honor's Paradox by P. C. Hodgell

I spent the first three quarters of the book remembering what had happened in the previous books. However, I still enjoyed the book. I suspect that when (if) the series comes to a conclusion, I shall re-read in quick successsion, and so appreciate the story much more.


Next: Asimov's SF, April-May 2013 by Dell Magazine Authors. My Asimov and Analog subscriptions have just delivered the new issues, so I shall read them next.

[DiapDealer]

Finished up Hugh Howey's Third Shift: Pact. Thus endeth the prequel series to Wool. Didn't really enjoy this one quite as much as the previous installments, but it certainly fills some necessary gaps (both in knowledge and time) and efficiently sets the table for what will hopefully be a great finale to the entire saga in "Dust". It didn't suck at all, but it seemed more of a functional bridge between two time periods: —functional meaning it got me to where I needed to be, but maybe not in quite the aesthetically pleasing manner I would have preferred.

Oh well... can't all be home runs, I guess. I'm still super-excited to see how it all turns out.

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Finished up Hugh Howey's Third Shift: Pact. Thus endeth the prequel series to Wool. Didn't really enjoy this one quite as much as the previous installments, but it certainly fills some necessary gaps (both in knowledge and time) and efficiently sets the table for what will hopefully be a great finale to the entire saga in "Dust". It didn't suck at all, but it seemed more of a functional bridge between two time periods: —functional meaning it got me to where I needed to be, but maybe not in quite the aesthetically pleasing manner I would have preferred.

Oh well... can't all be home runs, I guess. I'm still super-excited to see how it all turns out.

This is exactly how I feel as well. I just finished it this morning. Can't wait for Dust to come out .

[PurpleStar]

I borrowed Mr. Penumbra's 24 hour Bookstore from the library. I'm liking it a lot so far! Getting attached to the characters and into the story and everything, it's quite good.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

I really enjoyed all 3 of the YA's Disney After Dark, Nancy's Mysterious Letter and Five Against Venus. Next I'm going to read the last (#17) of Tony Hillerman's Navajo Mysteries, Skeleton Man along with the 9th Nancy Drew Mystery Story, The Sign of the Twisted Candles.

Well, I've now finished reading all 17 of Tony Hillerman's Navajo Mysterys with the completion of Skeleton Man. To pay a visit to those old friends from now on I'll have to re-read, which is okay since I usually enjoy re-reading. I also just completed reading the 9th Nancy Drew Mystery Story, The Sign of the Twisted Candles. I enjoyed reading both of these novels a lot.

Now on to the 10th Nancy Drew Mystery Story, The Password to Larkspur Lane, which I' looking forward to a lot because it's the Nancy Drew title I remember most vividly from my 3rd and 4th grade reading of a number of the Nancy Drew books. I'm interested to see if I remember anything else other than the title! Also I'm starting the 17th Kate Shugak novel by Dana Stabenow, A Night Too Dark.

[Nyssa]

I'm currently 53% of the way through The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1) and am sad to say that right now, I'm not impressed. While the world and its fea/supernatural characters are fascinating, the main character, Meghan, is annoyingly weak and willfully stupid; especially for a 16 year old girl. Where is that teenage stubbornness and fight?

This is a

Spoiler:

You would think that a girl whose life has been turned upside down and whose surroundings have become dangerous would try to be more observant, try to learn as much as possible and would definitely ask a lot more questions, instead of just bumbling along. I understand her concern and desperation to get to her brother, but if you're repeatedly told, don't eat anything and don't talk to anyone, don't use you "real" name, don't make promises, etc. don't you think you'd take a second to get the lay of the land and learn the rules of the game? Instead, she's having full blown temper tantrums of denial and self pity.

I'm beginning to see why some compare her to Bella Swan from Twilight.

I really hope she gets her act together and quickly.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

I'm currently 53% of the way through The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1) and am sad to say that right now, I'm not impressed. While the world and its fea/supernatural characters are fascinating, the main character, Meghan, is annoyingly weak and willfully stupid; especially for a 16 year old girl. Where is that teenage stubbornness and fight?

This is a

Spoiler:

You would think that a girl whose life has been turned upside down and whose surroundings have become dangerous would try to be more observant, try to learn as much as possible and would definitely ask a lot more questions, instead of just bumbling along. I understand her concern and desperation to get to her brother, but if you're repeatedly told, don't eat anything and don't talk to anyone, don't use you "real" name, don't make promises, etc. don't you think you'd take a second to get the lay of the land and learn the rules of the game? Instead, she's having full blown temper tantrums of denial and self pity.

I'm beginning to see why some compare her to Bella Swan from Twilight.

I really hope she gets her act together and quickly.

Give Christopher Pike's Alosha Trilogy a try, I'll bet you'll love Allison and she's even younger than Meghan as well as not being at all weak and certainly not stupid.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Give Christopher Pike's Alosha Trilogy a try, I'll bet you'll love Allison and she's even younger than Meghan.

Thanks for the recommendation.


I'm hoping Meghan takes a "big girl pill" soon. The story has been interesting and many of the other characters have been quite enjoyable.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next is Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. A return to classic 50s sci-fi.

The book read more like a subdued documentary. A bit dry. It was missing the drama and emotion an H-bomb detonation would produce. Everyone was so calm.
I understand this book was used as a sort of preparation/instruction manual in the event of a nuclear war. Makes sense. It was well researched politically and militarily. Although, the author believes the US would not have electricity or fuel for decades post war. This seems extreme. Rated C- [3 stars].

Next a recommendation from a MR member, The Case of the Caretaker's Cat by Erle Stanley Gardner. My library was able to get me a HC copy.