Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 2020

alansplace · 10-03-2021, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyrilson

I love this book. This was my first Heinlein book, so perhaps that's why.

Same here!

Fbone · 10-06-2021, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next, a recent purchase (on sale, of course), Star Wars: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray.

This one was only OK. The main characters introspection was very interesting and rather complex for a MG book. However, the plot details were not intelligently done. Inconsistencies, alternating dumb and smart (in)actions and poor battle scenes. My favorite character was the one who didn't speak. Rated D+ [2 stars]

Next tbd

pdurrant · 10-07-2021, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And now another recent purchase, Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell. A stand-alone set in 1777 Philadelphia.

It was OK. A bit disappointing to read in the afterword how many timings of events had been slightly tweaked (often by just a few days, or by relative order), for no particularly good reason.

Spoiler:

Next up: A random pick from my TBR pile. Hot Stuff by Janet Evanovich and Leanne Banks. A freebie from Fictionwise way back in February 2010.

ReadingManiac · 10-08-2021, 09:05 AM

Finally getting around to reading The Butcher Bird by S.D. Sykes, second in a Historical Mystery series around the time of the plague. Excellent writing in this. I'll probably go straight onto the third book after.

The first book of the series was Plague Land and was very good too.

pdurrant · 10-09-2021, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: A random pick from my TBR pile. Hot Stuff by Janet Evanovich and Leanne Banks. A freebie from Fictionwise way back in February 2010.

Which was a fun, quick read. An enjoyable mystery/romance.

Next up: Swords Against Darkness edited by Robert E. Howard. Epic fantasy short stories from some very well-known authors. A freebie I picked up earlier this year.

pdurrant · 10-12-2021, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Swords Against Darkness edited by Robert E. Howard. Epic fantasy short stories from some very well-known authors. A freebie I picked up earlier this year.

It was good. 4/5. I do prefer novels to short stories, but there are some excellent sword & sorcery stories in here, and the comments by Robert Howard are interesting too.

Next up: Angels and Visitations by Neil Gaiman. A collection of shorter works from a humble bundle back in 2015.

poohbear_nc · 10-12-2021, 08:05 PM

The Collected Stories of Louis Auchincloss - that were selected by the author himself for this compilation. Often compared with Henry James and Edith Wharton, his short fiction is spare, precise, cutting, and often unexpectedly funny with a dry wit. This collection includes his first published short story 'Maud' as well as a ghost story, a Civil War story, and many of his characteristic legal tales.

Ksquared · 10-16-2021, 04:18 PM

Just started Endurance: My Year In Space by Scott Kelly
A year on the International Space Station interspersed with reflections on his life.

pdurrant · 10-17-2021, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Angels and Visitations by Neil Gaiman. A collection of shorter works from a humble bundle back in 2015.

Which was excellent.

Next up by random choice: The Wrecker by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne.

Not very good so far. I'm afraid the combination seems more Lloyd Osbourne than Robert Louis Stevenson. I'm 11% into it and I think we're into the third or fourth regression into tale-telling, and I expect I'll abandon it shortly unless it miraculously improves.

gmw · 10-17-2021, 06:13 AM

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. This took me a long time to finish - partly because the story is intricate, and partly because work kept me busy. It's a book made up of many short parts, many seeming to be myths and fairytales, but all linked in ways that don't become clear until you approach the end. It is cleverly done, and each piece beautifully written. I liked Morgenstern's first book, The Night Circus better, but I did end up enjoying this one very much, and I look forward to reading it again when I have more time to really get lost in it. 4/5.

With work still being intense I've spent some of my time since then picking my way through Black Summer, edited by Michael Rowland and compiled for the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). It is a collection of articles written by ABC journalists about the bushfires of summer 2019/2020. It's interesting enough, although it may be describing events that are still too recent and familiar to me, for me to really appreciate the text. And while emergency broadcasts from the ABC undoubtedly played an important part in the events, I must say that some of the articles feel a little too self-serving; some things said that would have been much better left implied. I haven't finished yet ... will probably intersperse some other reading around this.

ReadingManiac · 10-17-2021, 09:52 AM

Starless Sea is on my tbr!

Uncle Robin · 10-23-2021, 03:43 AM

I just learned of this book from a post at languagehat, and after deciding that I had to buy it, I was delighted to find that my patience in sitting on my Kobo Super Points was rewarded - the book was free (or, at no extra cost, for the tetrapyloctomous killjoys

pdurrant · 10-23-2021, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up by random choice: The Wrecker by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne.

Not very good so far. I'm afraid the combination seems more Lloyd Osbourne than Robert Louis Stevenson. I'm 11% into it and I think we're into the third or fourth regression into tale-telling, and I expect I'll abandon it shortly unless it miraculously improves.

I'm still going. At around 75%, we get yet another regression! But there were enough good bits to keep my attention, and there's a mystery about to be explained. So I will be finishing this one. But not one of his best.

poohbear_nc · 10-23-2021, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm still going. At around 75%, we get yet another regression! But there were enough good bits to keep my attention, and there's a mystery about to be explained. So I will be finishing this one. But not one of his best.

I tried to read this a couple of times, but couldn't make it past mid-point.

pdurrant · 10-25-2021, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up by random choice: The Wrecker by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne.

Not very good so far. I'm afraid the combination seems more Lloyd Osbourne than Robert Louis Stevenson. I'm 11% into it and I think we're into the third or fourth regression into tale-telling, and I expect I'll abandon it shortly unless it miraculously improves.

I didn't abandon it, and I should have abandoned it. Very poor.

Next I read the latest Penric & Desdemona story from Lois McMaster Bujold - Knot of Shadows. As expected, as delight from start to finish, despite the tragic events.

And now I'm starting on Andy Weir's latest, Project Hail Mary.

10-12-2021, 08:05 PM	#30292
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,852 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	The Collected Stories of Louis Auchincloss - that were selected by the author himself for this compilation. Often compared with Henry James and Edith Wharton, his short fiction is spare, precise, cutting, and often unexpectedly funny with a dry wit. This collection includes his first published short story 'Maud' as well as a ghost story, a Civil War story, and many of his characteristic legal tales. Last edited by poohbear_nc; 10-12-2021 at 08:24 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hey hey! I found the first Kindle 3 bug!	WilliamG	Amazon Kindle	22	02-14-2012 05:28 PM
Advice on Action	jaxx6166	Writers' Corner	5	06-25-2010 12:29 AM
Hey! From Reading - P.A. that is.	GlenBarrington	Introduce Yourself	3	01-01-2010 09:00 PM
Seriously thoughtful Affirmative Action	Jaime_Astorga	Lounge	39	07-07-2009 06:24 PM

10-08-2021, 09:05 AM	#30289
ReadingManiac Genre Jumper Posts: 1,070 Karma: 11070900 Join Date: Dec 2015 Device: Kindle paperwhite	Finally getting around to reading The Butcher Bird by S.D. Sykes, second in a Historical Mystery series around the time of the plague. Excellent writing in this. I'll probably go straight onto the third book after. The first book of the series was Plague Land and was very good too.

10-16-2021, 04:18 PM	#30293
Ksquared Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 2635236 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA Device: Original Kobo Aura 6", Libra H2O	Just started Endurance: My Year In Space by Scott Kelly A year on the International Space Station interspersed with reflections on his life.

10-17-2021, 06:13 AM	#30295
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	*The Starless Sea* by Erin Morgenstern. This took me a long time to finish - partly because the story is intricate, and partly because work kept me busy. It's a book made up of many short parts, many seeming to be myths and fairytales, but all linked in ways that don't become clear until you approach the end. It is cleverly done, and each piece beautifully written. I liked Morgenstern's first book, The Night Circus better, but I did end up enjoying this one very much, and I look forward to reading it again when I have more time to really get lost in it. 4/5. With work still being intense I've spent some of my time since then picking my way through *Black Summer*, edited by Michael Rowland and compiled for the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). It is a collection of articles written by ABC journalists about the bushfires of summer 2019/2020. It's interesting enough, although it may be describing events that are still too recent and familiar to me, for me to really appreciate the text. And while emergency broadcasts from the ABC undoubtedly played an important part in the events, I must say that some of the articles feel a little too self-serving; some things said that would have been much better left implied. I haven't finished yet ... will probably intersperse some other reading around this.

10-17-2021, 09:52 AM	#30296
ReadingManiac Genre Jumper Posts: 1,070 Karma: 11070900 Join Date: Dec 2015 Device: Kindle paperwhite	Starless Sea is on my tbr!

10-23-2021, 03:43 AM	#30297
Uncle Robin Diligent dilettante Posts: 3,417 Karma: 48736498 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: in my mind Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra H2O	I just learned of this book from a post at languagehat, and after deciding that I had to buy it, I was delighted to find that my patience in sitting on my Kobo Super Points was rewarded - the book was free (or, at no extra cost, for the tetrapyloctomous killjoys