Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 1878

ReadingManiac · 03-15-2019, 12:07 PM

I'm finally going to start Wheel of Time. It's been delayed too many times.

Number9 · 03-15-2019, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReadingManiac

I'm finally going to start Wheel of Time. It's been delayed too many times.

What a great series that is! I'm about to start book 7 soon. 👍

CRussel · 03-15-2019, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It's certainly not her best work, and is her first or second published novel.
There's clearly a problem of racist language and attitudes in the first part of the book, which resurfaces in a different form in the Scottish part. Probably completely unremarkable at the time, which I suppose shows how things have improved.

I quite like the way Inspector Grant is puzzled by the case. And there are some signs of the good writing to come. (I especially liked the Princess and the Pea analogy.)

Yes, we read it for the old MR Book Club (a re-read in my case), and it had both virtues and those now highly jarring and racists sections. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it did require a willing suspension of modern day sensibilities. I'm hoping that we don't run into similar problems with next month's New Leaf Book Club reading of A Daughter of Time.

gmw · 03-18-2019, 07:28 AM

Grayson Manor Haunting by Cheryl Bradshaw. Nothing very surprising here: a clumsy romance, a fairly standard ghost and your average* medium coming into her talent. If you're happy enough to buy into the spirit* of this for the duration, it is light and easy reading, but that's about all. 2.5/5 ( * Sorry, couldn't help myself. No, the book is not a comedy. And yes, this is a real fence sitter score. )

The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale. I loved this. Magical and emotionally intense! The first part was essentially sweet with only hints of darkness, so I came to love the characters and toys and the setting, but then the Great War hits and everything starts to fall apart. Wonderfully done. Except very early on, the story rarely went where I expected it to go, and it felt longer than it was, but in a good way: it seemed to pack a lot in. I didn't want to rush it but couldn't put it down. 5/5

I need some time to wind down from The Toymakers, so I'm moving on to some non-fiction for a day or two: Scientific American's Physics: New Frontiers.

Fbone · 03-18-2019, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next will be The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke. My oldest unread book from 2014.

At first I was struggling with this but I held on and in the end it was superb. The author's style is not my favorite but I grew to enjoy it a lot. Strong sense of place. I actually felt I was in New Orleans experiencing everything alongside the main character who is one tortured soul. Poor guy. This is not a cozy. Pronounced violence. A good solid read. Make that a very good read. Rated B+ [4 stars].

Next TBD.

PurpleStar · 03-21-2019, 11:44 AM

I finished The Party by Robyn Harding. One of those books that has a cliffhanger at the end of almost every chapter! So yeah had to keep reading. lol

Now reading The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan.

astrangerhere · 03-22-2019, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Listening to The Mystery of Edwin Drood from the Librivox audio. This is my third time reading Drood, so the audio is a nice refresher.

Reading (and should finish today) In Black and White: A Novel by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki. This is a recent translation of one of Tanizaki's earliest works. He wrote it serialized for the newspaper.

Which makes me realize, I am reading two serialized novels at once.

Since this I have completed:

The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Dickens
In Black and White: A Novel by Tanizaki
Gently with the Painters by Alan Hunter
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West - First five star read for me since January.
Pluto vol. 3 by Tezuak x Urasawa

ReadingManiac · 03-23-2019, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number9

What a great series that is! I'm about to start book 7 soon. 👍

I've been interspersing it with various book group reads so still in the early chapters and getting to know the characters. I've heard so much about this series and have meant to start this book for ages!

My one mistake is I also started Lightbringer recently. I usually try to keep multiple reads in different genres so I don't get confused about what happened in which book!

Number9 · 03-23-2019, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReadingManiac

I've been interspersing it with various book group reads so still in the early chapters and getting to know the characters. I've heard so much about this series and have meant to start this book for ages!

My one mistake is I also started Lightbringer recently. I usually try to keep multiple reads in different genres so I don't get confused about what happened in which book!

Big mistake! 😂

HarryT · 03-23-2019, 10:48 AM

Just finished "The Witches of Karres" by James H.Schmitz, bought from Baen in 2005. I've read Schmitz's "Hub Federation" short stories (again published by Baen) previously and been moderately entertained by them, but no more. This novel, though, I enjoyed enormously. His best work by far, to my mind. Very highly recommended!

haertig · 03-23-2019, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just finished "The Witches of Karres" by James H.Schmitz, bought from Baen in 2005. I've read Schmitz's "Hub Federation" short stories (again published by Baen) previously and been moderately entertained by them, but no more. This novel, though, I enjoyed enormously. His best work by far, to my mind. Very highly recommended!

I'm glad to hear this! I was just looking over some of my books/audiobooks a week ago and came across "The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume 2B". "The Witches of Karres" is in that volume, and since you recommended it, I'll try to get it read soon. I am 90% finished with a re-read of Volume 1. I bought that, geez, had to be 40 or 50 years ago! I'm just starting into volume 2B now (I haven't read this volume yet). I need to pick up Volume 2A also - I don't have that one.

Apache · 03-23-2019, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just finished "The Witches of Karres" by James H.Schmitz, bought from Baen in 2005. I've read Schmitz's "Hub Federation" short stories (again published by Baen) previously and been moderately entertained by them, but no more. This novel, though, I enjoyed enormously. His best work by far, to my mind. Very highly recommended!

I first read this when I was a lot younger and have enjoyed rereading it over the years. And I also think it is his best work.
Apache

HarryT · 03-23-2019, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haertig

I'm glad to hear this! I was just looking over some of my books/audiobooks a week ago and came across "The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume 2B". "The Witches of Karres" is in that volume, and since you recommended it, I'll try to get it read soon. I am 90% finished with a re-read of Volume 1. I bought that, geez, had to be 40 or 50 years ago! I'm just starting into volume 2B now (I haven't read this volume yet). I need to pick up Volume 2A also - I don't have that one.

That's the original short story from 1949. He expanded it into a novel in 1967. I was referring to the novel.

haertig · 03-23-2019, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's the original short story from 1949. He expanded it into a novel in 1967. I was referring to the novel.

Ahh. I see. Thanks for the clarification.

There are a couple of other short stories in those SciFi volumes that later went on to become novels. From Volume 1 there is "Nightfall" by Asimov, and "Flowers for Algernon" by Keyes. There may be others that went through this evolution that I am not familiar with (like "Witches").

poohbear_nc · 03-23-2019, 06:48 PM

The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner -- in which the solution of the case, not to mention the exoneration of Della Street from the criminal charges brought by Hamilton Burger, rests upon the correct interpretation of a kitten's behavior.

Gardner had to have shared his house with a kitten -- his descriptions of the kitten's behavior and mishaps brought similar examples to my mind from my own experiences with Pixie - my careless kitten. (or brainless... or fearless ... or clueless ....)

03-18-2019, 07:28 AM	#28159
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	*Grayson Manor Haunting* by Cheryl Bradshaw. Nothing very surprising here: a clumsy romance, a fairly standard ghost and your average* medium coming into her talent. If you're happy enough to buy into the spirit* of this for the duration, it is light and easy reading, but that's about all. 2.5/5 ( * Sorry, couldn't help myself. No, the book is not a comedy. And yes, this is a real fence sitter score. ) *The Toymakers* by Robert Dinsdale. I loved this. Magical and emotionally intense! The first part was essentially sweet with only hints of darkness, so I came to love the characters and toys and the setting, but then the Great War hits and everything starts to fall apart. Wonderfully done. Except very early on, the story rarely went where I expected it to go, and it felt longer than it was, but in a good way: it seemed to pack a lot in. I didn't want to rush it but couldn't put it down. 5/5 I need some time to wind down from The Toymakers, so I'm moving on to some non-fiction for a day or two: Scientific American's Physics: New Frontiers. Last edited by gmw; 03-18-2019 at 07:34 AM.

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03-15-2019, 12:07 PM	#28156
ReadingManiac Genre Jumper Posts: 1,070 Karma: 11070900 Join Date: Dec 2015 Device: Kindle paperwhite	I'm finally going to start Wheel of Time. It's been delayed too many times.

03-21-2019, 11:44 AM	#28161
PurpleStar Wizard Posts: 1,620 Karma: 11387182 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Clara 2E	I finished The Party by Robyn Harding. One of those books that has a cliffhanger at the end of almost every chapter! So yeah had to keep reading. lol Now reading The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan.

03-23-2019, 10:48 AM	#28165
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Just finished "The Witches of Karres" by James H.Schmitz, bought from Baen in 2005. I've read Schmitz's "Hub Federation" short stories (again published by Baen) previously and been moderately entertained by them, but no more. This novel, though, I enjoyed enormously. His best work by far, to my mind. Very highly recommended!

03-23-2019, 06:48 PM	#28170
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,843 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner -- in which the solution of the case, not to mention the exoneration of Della Street from the criminal charges brought by Hamilton Burger, rests upon the correct interpretation of a kitten's behavior. Gardner had to have shared his house with a kitten -- his descriptions of the kitten's behavior and mishaps brought similar examples to my mind from my own experiences with Pixie - my careless kitten. (or brainless... or fearless ... or clueless ....)

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