What are you reading?

[kristina]

I haven't, Gob. Saw many of the episodes done by the BBC and liked them a lot; how do they compare to the books?

[Gob]

"Overly dramatic", would be my thoughts.

If you are a fan of P D James, I would heartily recommended that you pick up a copy of "The Riddle of the Third Mile" as a "mid series" introduction to the books, and probably my favourite.

I bet you read them all following that!

[Guinevere]

Starting tomorrow, this (many thanks again, Gob):

[Gob]

My pleasure...

[loCAtek]

I'm trying to stay current with shifting social trends

That series ended months ago...

I'm reading;

End in Fire





...one of the few books I actually keep, most I donate or give away...

[Gilead]

Well, the Andy Mcdermott books were absolutely dreadful. I can't recommend them. According to the author bio he used to be a movie critic. Sadly he puts all of the worst movie cliques in his books. He even describes a person running from someone shooting a gun, and how the bullets hit the ground just behind the persons feet... Most shooters don't aim for your feet, and if they could see a bullet hit the ground near you, they'd adjust their aim. I only read 2 of Andy's books, and will never read another.

Next on my list... hmm... I'm thinking I need to read this one:


I need to find out how I'm going to fall. Hope I have a good trip. Or perhaps he's making a metaphor on how I'm in the Fall of my life. Spring, and Summer are over...

Anyone here use the Goodreads website? I've tried, but it's difficult keeping my library up to date. Also the site has odd recommendations. It rightly has Twilight listed as one of the worst books of all time. At the same time it's listed as one of the best. The Twilight books sucked so much, I think they were written in a vacuum.

[Jarlaxle]

Executive Intent, the latest Air Battle Force book by Dale Brown.

[Grim Reaper]

I've been reading some end-of-the-world stuff lately, stuff like World War Z and various anthologies about what happens after it hits the fan.

[loCAtek]

I'm not the one reading them currently, but the White-trash, Welfare Wifefriend has taken an interest in my library of books! She's read, 'The Bonesetter's Daughter' by Amy Tan, and is working on 'The Kite Runner.'

I can't believe it, I'm a good influence!

[Jammies]

Gilead, I love Goodreads (my user name there is the same as here, if you want to add me to your friends). The best and worst lists are user-generated, which is why Twilaffs wound up on both. I find that it's pretty easy to update--when I get new books, I sit down and type in the ISBNs and put 'em all on my "to read" list then move them as I'm reading them.

And I am currently reading Tapping the Dream Tree by Charles de Lint and just loving it!

[Jarlaxle]

Maybe 75% finished For Want Of a Nail: If Burgoyne had Won At Saratoga. Very interesting, though an older (1973) book.

[Rick]

A commentary on Acts of the Apostles
By: H. Leo Boles

[Andrew D]

My wife recently gave me Gordon S. Wood's Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815, so I'm rereading his The Radicalism of the American Revolution first. When I get to Empire of Liberty, I'll probably reread Marshall Smelser's The Democratic Republic 1801-1815 side-by-side with it. I'm also rereading Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy and Its Connection with Political and Social Circumstances from the Earliest Times to the Present Day, but I have that in the Folio Society Edition, so I can't (or won't) drag it around with me the way I do the others.

For current events, my favorite read is The New Republic. For escapism, I usually read thrillers. Yesterday, I read Lynn Abercrombie's The Body Box. Before that, in no particular order, Robert Ludlum's The Prometheus Deception, Brian Pinkerton's Abducted, Harlan Coben's Just One Look, Stuart Woods's Dark Harbor, Robin Cook's Crisis, and John Sandford's Phantom Prey; before that, I don't remember. Next up in the escapism pile is either Lee Child's Gone Tomorrow or Iris Johansen's Dead Aim.

[Gob]

Andrew, I was a big fan of Stanford's "Prey" series, one of the few American authors I enjoy, but the series has taken a real dip in quality over the last few books, would you agree?

I'm currently reading John Otway's "I did it Otway"



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Otway

[Andrew D]

I didn't know that it was a series. As is the case with most such books, I barely remember it. (I initial all such books after I've read them; otherwise, I can easily find myself (as I have numerous times) realizing halfway through such a book that I've read it before.)

[Guinevere]

Just finished this one, and quite enjoyed it. 4/5 stars -- well written, enjoyed the characters and the plot, but written completely from the male perspective and the few (2) women characters were flat little caricatures which annoyed me.

[Gob]

Read some of his "Rebbus" series would be my recommendation Guin.

Don't start with "Exit Music" as that is the last of the series, I'd highly recommend "Dead Souls" "Resurrection Men" or "Fleshmarket Close".

Though I must admit, that the female characters, with possibly the exception of Sioban Clarke,, aren't fully fleshed out.

[BoSoxGal]

I've read three of Rankin's Rebus novels in the past year; Mortal Causes, The Hanging Garden and Dead Souls. I stumbled onto them in a supermarket bargain bin whilst on unemployment.

Rebus is a great character; I've got the ITV television series in my Netflix queue. The novels are most certainly told from the perspective of this world-weary male detective, and female characters are to some degree ancillary, with the notable exception of Sioban Clarke - though his love for his daughter is quite pronounced, as well as his conflicted feelings over his ex-wife and on-again/off-again serious girlfriend. I don't think there is any sexist intent behind this literary device, other than to shed light on Rebus' shortcomings - he is presented as very much the flawed human being. I look forward to someday reading all the Rebus novels.

At present I have been exploring the world of Vermont author Chris Bohjalian: http://www.chrisbohjalian.com/

In the past few weeks I've read Secrets of Eden, Midwives, The Law of Similars and am presently reading The Double Bind. The first three are legal 'thrillers' which are largely focused on the complexities of human nature & relationships.

Guin, if you're not already a fan, you should check him out - you would doubtless enjoy the Vermont settings, given your ties there.

[Gob]

Rebus is a great character; I've got the ITV television series in my Netflix queue.

There were two actors who played Rebbus in the TV adaptations, one good one shite, be warned. (Oh and TV is never as good in my estimation.)

The novels are most certainly told from the perspective of this world-weary male detective, and female characters are to some degree ancillary, with the notable exception of Sioban Clarke - though his love for his daughter is quite pronounced, as well as his conflicted feelings over his ex-wife and on-again/off-again serious girlfriend. I don't think there is any sexist intent behind this literary device, other than to shed light on Rebus' shortcomings - he is presented as very much the flawed human being. I look forward to someday reading all the Rebus novels.

I agree 100%

[Guinevere]

Finished Hornet's Nest in the wee hours of this morning (couldn't put it down -- 3+ solid hours of reading) -- terrific conclusion to three great books. It made me want to stand up and cheer!

On to more Rankin, I think. My comments were simply observations about the book, since Gob recommended the author to me. I wasn't ascribing any particular motive to his lack of interesting female characters -- although since the series I've been buried in focusses on a strong female lead and has many other Amazonian-type women, the contrast was particularly great.

I've read lots of Bohjalian and met him in VT. I still think Midwives was perhaps his best although I've enjoyed the other things he has read.