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

[drjd]

Has the world stopped reading lately?

I just finished Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada, a cozy murder mystery with typical Japanese flavor. Good page turner.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Intrigues, the second in the Collegium pentalogy.

Which I followed up quickly with the remaining volumes. All good, quick reads. Most enjoyable.

Next up: Games Wizards Play by Diane Duane. The 10th novel in her Young Wizards series.

[Dngrsone]

My plate has been a bit full lately, and teh book I am reading is not as engaging as I would think it should be, so... nearing the end, though, and hopefully I will pick up something a little more appetizing.

[Solitaire1]

Lost In The Grooves edited by Kim Cooper and David Smay

Contains a list of albums, with a description of each one, that you might have missed that are worth a listen (such as L.A. [Light Album] by The Beach Boys).

[RobertLCollins]

Yesterday I finished Royal Assassin, the second book in Robin Hobb's "Farseer Trilogy." It was a really good novel. Took some turns I wasn't expecting, especially towards the end. I read Assassin's Apprentice, the first book in the trilogy, earlier this year. I'm going to wait a few days before starting on the third and final book, Assassin's Quest.

[orlok]

I'm reading The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon, August's choice for the New Leaf Book Club. How have I never heard of this event before? It is a remarkable retelling of a boat crammed with various explosive materials which blew up in Halifax harbour in 1917. To say it was a catastrophic event is to play it down, like saying a tornado is just a strong breeze. Painstakingly researched and well told, I am riveted.

[drjd]

Originally Posted by orlok

I'm reading The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon, August's choice for the New Leaf Book Club. How have I never heard of this event before? It is a remarkable retelling of a boat crammed with various explosive materials which blew up in Halifax harbour in 1917. To say it was a catastrophic event is to play it down, like saying a tornado is just a strong breeze. Painstakingly researched and well told, I am riveted.

Perhaps you may also like to read The Town That Died by Michael J. Bird, another chronicle of the Halifax disaster. I read that a few years ago in paperback format and I was stunned over the first documentary account of this disaster told from the personal experiences of survivors - before, during, and after the disaster.

[Dngrsone]

I'm 6% into Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn, but I'll probably start Halifax next, so I don't hit the discussion late again.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by drjd

Perhaps you may also like to read The Town That Died by Michael J. Bird, another chronicle of the Halifax disaster. I read that a few years ago in paperback format and I was stunned over the first documentary account of this disaster told from the personal experiences of survivors - before, during, and after the disaster.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried to find The Great Halifax Explosion in paper form today, for my Mother's birthday next week, but apparently it just isn't available (at least here in the UK). I'll have to see if The Town that Died is. She has a Kindle, but just doesn't really get on with it, so a DTB it has to be.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by orlok

I'm reading The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon, August's choice for the New Leaf Book Club. How have I never heard of this event before? It is a remarkable retelling of a boat crammed with various explosive materials which blew up in Halifax harbour in 1917. To say it was a catastrophic event is to play it down, like saying a tornado is just a strong breeze. Painstakingly researched and well told, I am riveted.

I'm also currently reading The Great Halifax Explosion, along with the 9th book in the Leary/Mundie RCN chronicles by David Drake. Those I've been binge reading, but mostly as audio books. More Space Opera than MilSF, but really somewhere in between. And definitely an homage to the Aubrey/Maturin series from Patrick O'Brian. Delightful reads, and so far no duds in the series at all.

As for The Great Halifax Explosion, I'll save discussion of that for the club, except to say that I'll second everything orlok said above.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next I'll try, Something From the Nightside by Simon Green.

This is one of those books full of improbabilities purposely written that way. Once I understood that I mildly enjoyed it. Still, too much telling and not enough showing. In total about 230 pages, the author could have added more danger and suspense especially as he states how dangerous, wild and unpredictable the Nightside is on nearly every page! I liked how it was written in a gumshoe sort of way with a nicely unexpected ending. Could have gone two or three stars on this one but in comparison to other reads I stuck with two stars. Rated C- [2 stars].

Next, a library book, City of Endless Night by Preston & Child.

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by CRussel

along with the 9th book in the Leary/Mundie RCN chronicles by David Drake. Those I've been binge reading, but mostly as audio books. More Space Opera than MilSF, but really somewhere in between. And definitely an homage to the Aubrey/Maturin series from Patrick O'Brian. Delightful reads, and so far no duds in the series at all.

I started the second of those last night, only to (temporarily) give it up for poor formatting. Turns out I have an old copy of the ebook, which has since been updated, so I’m putting that title on hold until I update my library.

I did notice a very early typo in both editions, though. The first page of Chapter One describes a spaceship “lowering above” the people who are talking. I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to be “towering.”

[CRussel]

Possibly. But I think he was actually going for "lower" to rhyme with glower:

1. look angry or sullen; frown.
"the lofty statue lowers at patients in the infirmary"
* (of the sky, weather, or landscape) look dark and threatening.
"a day of lowering clouds"

synonyms: overcast, dark, leaden, gray, cloudy, clouded, gloomy, threatening, menacing, promising rain
"the lowering western sky"

ETA: I might add that this interpretation is supported by the audiobook version.

[CRussel]

Finished The Great Halifax Explosion. 5 stars, and the rest will wait for the New Leaf Book Club discussion starting August 15th. Next up, a return to Flavia DeLuce. I started one, but got sidetracked by book club reads.

[ekbell]

Originally Posted by orlok

I'm reading The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon, August's choice for the New Leaf Book Club. How have I never heard of this event before? It is a remarkable retelling of a boat crammed with various explosive materials which blew up in Halifax harbour in 1917. To say it was a catastrophic event is to play it down, like saying a tornado is just a strong breeze. Painstakingly researched and well told, I am riveted.

Here's a tiny but memorable video about the Halifax Explosion https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/halifax-explosion.