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

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Audio:
Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King - this series is really declining in quality. This is the last one she gets out of me. They are primarily my light car listening, but my patience is wearing thin.

She lost me back when her wunderkind achieved native level fluency in Arabic in less than 2 weeks then did the same with Hindi (in which her howlers were noticeable even to my far-from-L1 level eyes)

[Dazrin]

I started reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler in mid-December. It's set in a dystopic 2024/2025 (at least the parts I've read) and has fires in California (past tense for them, but...), awful "leaders", and just a breakdown of society. I've dabbled but mostly have been avoiding it because, even though it is exaggerated, it's a little too on the nose right now, so I'm going to try something else.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I started reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler in mid-December. It's set in a dystopic 2024/2025 (at least the parts I've read) and has fires in California (past tense for them, but...), awful "leaders", and just a breakdown of society. I've dabbled but mostly have been avoiding it because, even though it is exaggerated, it's a little too on the nose right now, so I'm going to try something else.

I don't need to read anything dystopian, all I have to do is turn on the news. No way I'm going to read a dystopian novel.

[Uncle Robin]

I've just starte on When I was Old by Georges Simenon, my tenth and final book for the 2025 Reads The World Challenge at the Storygraph. I was struck by this passage near the very beginning:

I’m not a writer. I’m a novelist. And the novelist does not know the joy of writing.

I have not yet been able to get into any Maigret books I've tried, but these musings are interesting.

[JSWolf]

I am currently reading/listening to...

Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings by Jodi Taylor

[Bookpossum]

I'm reading The Manticore by Robertson Davies. It's the second book of his Deptford trilogy and I'm enjoying it though not as much as I did the first book.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin. A recent purchase that my wife wanted. Let's see if I like it enough to put any future books on a watch list.

It was an enjoyable cosy mystery, with a cooking background. A quick, fun read. The next one is on my watch list.

Next up: The Torso in the Town by Simon Brett. Another recent purchase, the third in his Fethering series. More cosy crime.

[Dr. Drib]

Just started Pure Colour, by Sheila Heti. This is a beautifully written literary novella. If you want to feel what it would be like if you were something other than what you are, then this book may be the experience you'll want to read. A wonderfully unusual novel (so far).

When I finish this (probably tomorrow), I think I'll purchase her Alphabetical Diaries.

[Mike Hobart]

BOOKS OF THE NEW YEAR -- January's reading report ��
ROADSIDE PICNIC by A&B Strugatski 1971 (filmed as STALKER)
RENTAL PERSON WHO DOES NOTHING by Shoji Morimoto 2019
WILD ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES 3 by Will Murray 2023
WHISTLE STOP by Maritta M. Wolff 1941
TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS by Raymond Chandler 1950

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Torso in the Town by Simon Brett. Another recent purchase, the third in his Fethering series. More cosy crime.

Which was an enjoyable cosy crime.

Next up: The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths. The third in her Dr Ruth Galloway series.

[Fbone]

I went with Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey the second in the Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles Series.

I thought this one was much slower than the first book. It seems most of the story was just day-to-day stuff and not leading anywhere. Then about three quarters in, it gets interesting and finally very exciting. Also, the ending has no mild cliff hanger like the first one. A few things aren't realistic some of them glaringly so. It made the storyline easier to write. Rated C- [3 stars].

I'll continue on to the third installment hoping it gets better.

[issybird]

I've finished in audio Graham Greene's Stamboul Train, which I know I read years ago. Subtle and evocative. I've also finished Bring on the Girls! by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton, their memoir of their theater partnership and it was delightful. It's #82 in my long-term challenge to read all of Wodehouse. People understandably think of Wodehouse in regard to Jeeves, or perhaps Blandings Castle; it's less well know that he was huge in musical theater between the wars, partners including Porter, the Gershwins and Kern among other greats.

[Bookpossum]

I am reading The Drowned by John Banville. I haven’t read any of his crime novels but as Kobo was offering this one for almost nothing, I decided to try it, even though I gather it is the fourth in a series featuring a detective inspector in 1950s Ireland.

I’m enjoying it very much so far.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

I am reading The Drowned by John Banville. I haven’t read any of his crime novels but as Kobo was offering this one for almost nothing, I decided to try it, even though I gather it is the fourth in a series featuring a detective inspector in 1950s Ireland.

I’m enjoying it very much so far.

I bought it for exactly the same reason - 5X VIP points made it too good a deal to pass up. It's way down on my TBR, I'd be interested to know what you think

[Dr. Drib]

Finished Pure Colour, by Sheila Heti. Recommended if you like experimental metaphysical fiction. Sorry, but there are no BEMs with tentacles wrapped around a scantily-clad female. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

Now reading another novella: The Hole, by Hiroko Oyamada.

After that, I may start The Tunnel, by Ernesto Sabato. It's been on my radar for some time. (I keep one in the backyard.)