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Whatcha readin now? (book, books, reading, read) (2 Viewers)

Best book I've read in the last few months was My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. It was a bit slow going at the beginning, but once it picked up I couldn't stop reading. So, so good.

 
Trying to get in the Halloween mood and got some ideas online for some horror books to read. 

The Shining Girls:

Right up my alley - we have a serial killer that can jump back and forth in time.  Very unnerving descriptions and scenes of him interacting with the girls he is stalking.  Intertwined with is is the story of one of his targets that ended up surviving her attack, and her trying to figure out WTF was going on.  Not great, but thought it was a good, quick read and an interesting concept.  Also on some lists I saw was this author's other book, Broken Monsters.

Heart Shaped Box:

####in' hell.  I am about 1/4 through this book, and I am honestly having trouble motivating myself to go back to it.  That's a good thing - it is really effecting me.  Good ghost stories really scare me, and this one is doing the job so far.  Great descriptions and really like the simplistic nature of the book.  We have a few characters, so it can get right into the scares.  I hope it maintains the quality.  It is bringing me back to my youth and feeling I got reading his dad's books for the first time. 

 
trying to find the time/energy to re-read Absalom, Absalom! ... in my memory banks as one of my favorite books, but read before I was 20 and tbh I don't remember squat.

 
Reading Robert Graves' I, Claudius.  As I love historical fiction and ancient Roman history in general, I'm not sure what took me so long to get around to reading it.  Phenomenal book, and I'm not even up to the reign of Caligula yet.

 
Uruk-Hai said:
End Of Watch  This was the final book in King's Mr Mercedes series. I thought this was on a par with the first two, which I'd categorize as "good, but not great". They are fun reads, but King's age is starting to show in how he draws his younger characters.
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Half way through this one and agree - especially about the age thing.  Didn't think I'd like this one when the "supernatural" stuff started but am surprised that it didn't turn me off of the story.

 
Just finished Symbiont by Mira Grant. 2nd book in the tapeworm/zombie series. 1st book Parasite was enjoyable, this book felt like they wanted to stretch a 2 book to a 3 book. But I will read the last one when I can snag it at the library

 
Uruk-Hai said:
Post a review when you're done. I may do this one next
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I'm over 1/3 of the way through it and I can't put it down.  It might as well have been written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  Holmes is sadly missing but his disciple Atheleny Jones is nicely substituted.  Sort of a watered down version of Holmes with a Pinkerton from NY Frederick Chase playing the Watson role.  They are searching for an American Criminal Mastermind that came to London to meet with Moriarty.

 
Finished Moriarty this week.  It was a very fun read.  A nice twist at the end that wasn't all that unexpected.  I would recommend it.

Just picked up a new book "After the Fire" by Jane Casey. 

 
Uruk-Hai said:
I finished The Fireman. If you like Hill, you'll like this one.

Also, Robert McCammon slipped out another Matthew Corbett novel when I wasn't looking (Freedom From The Mask), so I read that one next. I've liked the whole series, but the previous two I thought were a little weak. This one was better, though it ended on a  - spoiler alert! - cliffhanger just like the rest.

NOW, I'm on to the new Kortya book. I'm not sure what I'll try after that.
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Michael Kortya's Rise The Dark . Pretty quick, fun read. Kortya writes good characters, though they're a little rote, and writes really good dialogue compared to a lot in this genre. 4/5 stars

Paul Tremblay's Head Full Of Ghosts. The blurb makes this seem like an The Exorcist knockoff, but it's not. I'm not the most perceptive reader, so some of the twists may not be as much of a surprise to other readers, but a couple had me going "whoa....no ####?". Thoroughly enjoyed this one and his Disappearance At Devil's Rock is on my short list. 4.5/5 stars

But first, I'm gonna try The Boys Of Summer by Richard Cox. I know nothing about the author, but supernatural coming-of-age stories are catnip to me and I've read good reviews, even though it sounds an awful lot like King's IT. The back flap:

In 1979, a massive tornado devastates the city of Wichita Falls, Texas, leaving scores dead, thousands homeless, and nine-year-old Todd Willis in a coma, fighting for his life.

Four years later, Todd awakens to a world that looks the same but feels different in a way he can't quite grasp. For Todd, it's a struggle to separate fact from fiction as he battles lingering hallucinations from his long sleep.

The new friends Todd makes in 1983 are fascinated with his experience and become mesmerized by his strange relationship with the world. Together the five boys come of age during a dark, fiery summer where they find first love, betrayal, and a secret so terrible they agree to never speak of it again.

But darkness returns to Wichita Falls twenty-five years later, and the boys--now men--are forced to reunite and confront the wounds from their past. When their memories of that childhood summer refuse to align with reality, the friends embark upon a search for truth that will threaten their lives, and transform their understanding of each other--and the world itself--forever.

 
Uruk-Hai said:
But first, I'm gonna try The Boys Of Summer by Richard Cox. I know nothing about the author, but supernatural coming-of-age stories are catnip to me and I've read good reviews, even though it sounds an awful lot like King's IT. The back flap:

In 1979, a massive tornado devastates the city of Wichita Falls, Texas, leaving scores dead, thousands homeless, and nine-year-old Todd Willis in a coma, fighting for his life.

Four years later, Todd awakens to a world that looks the same but feels different in a way he can't quite grasp. For Todd, it's a struggle to separate fact from fiction as he battles lingering hallucinations from his long sleep.

The new friends Todd makes in 1983 are fascinated with his experience and become mesmerized by his strange relationship with the world. Together the five boys come of age during a dark, fiery summer where they find first love, betrayal, and a secret so terrible they agree to never speak of it again.

But darkness returns to Wichita Falls twenty-five years later, and the boys--now men--are forced to reunite and confront the wounds from their past. When their memories of that childhood summer refuse to align with reality, the friends embark upon a search for truth that will threaten their lives, and transform their understanding of each other--and the world itself--forever.
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This looks great.

 
"After the Fire" was a very good book.  I didn't realize it was the newest of the Maeve Kerrigan series.  I had no idea until I looked up Jane Casey and her other books.  A detective constable in London investigating a fire in a low income housing complex that killed several people including a high profile politician.  The characters are what really make this an interesting book (4/5).  After reading it I picked up the first book in the series called "The Burning" which I am finishing up.  This one investigates a serial killer that beats women to death and then sets them on fire.  Very good book (4.5/5).  I think I liked this one a little better than After the Fire.  I will be picking up some more of these books since Jane Casey writes really fascinating characters.

Also read "House of Silk" by Anthony Horowitz.  This is a really interesting Sherlock Holmes mystery that delves into the homeless children Sherlock uses as spies.  I liked this one a little better than Moriarty, but they were both very enjoyable. (4.5/5)

Up next is "Rough Riders-Theodore Roosevelt His Cowboy Regiment, and the Immortal Charge up San Juan Hill" by Mark Lee Gardner.

 
Don Quixote said:
Reading Robert Graves' I, Claudius.  As I love historical fiction and ancient Roman history in general, I'm not sure what took me so long to get around to reading it.  Phenomenal book, and I'm not even up to the reign of Caligula yet.
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After finishing "I, Claudius" read the second volume Claudius The God.  Not as good as the first volume (I think it's just more interesting to read Claudius's (fake autobiographical) take on the reigns of Augustus/Tiberius/Caligula and everything going on in the empire those days than his own reign), but still an interesting read.

Next up is The Bad-### Librarians of Timbuktu, about librarians saving ancient manuscripts from al Qaeda.

 
I made a release date purchase of Michael Chabon's new one, Moonglow.  Hard to put down and up late reading it. I almost forgot how much I enjoyed Kavalier & Clay.

 
facook said:
I ended up liking Seveneves well enough, though the last 1/3 dragged imo.

Just finished The Bone Tree, book 2 in a trilogy by Greg Iles.  Really good.  Iles does an incredible job of packing 3 days or so of story into an 850 page novel.  Strong characters, and he is not afraid to spring some surprises on the reader.

No onto Shantaram for the 2nd time.  Read it 10 years ago and it is one of my favorite novels ever.  Rereading it and then will move directly on to the sequel, The Mountain Shadow, which had more mixed reviews.  I'm hopeful though.
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If Shantaram was 4.5 stars (5 the first read, dipped a bit on rereading) Mountain Shadow is 3.5.  Good story, great characters. But the pseudo-philosphy in each chapter and dragging focus on the lost love of Karla Karla Karla is costly. Reviews are correct in those aspects. Still, if you loved Shantaram TMS is worth the read.

 
Started on The Name of the Wind, and I am really liking it so far (only about 150pgs in).  Interesting character and fun way to set up and tell the story so far.

 
Don Quixote said:
I made a release date purchase of Michael Chabon's new one, Moonglow.  Hard to put down and up late reading it. I almost forgot how much I enjoyed Kavalier & Clay.
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Finished Moonglow.  Really enjoyed it.  It takes the form of a fictionalized family memoir.  Beautifully written and some interesting stories.  Lots of Wernher von Braun, for anyone similarly interested in him.

...Starting up on Zadie Smith's Swing Time next.  I feel like I'm turning back the clock to 15 years ago when I was reading Kavalier & Clay and White Teeth.  

 
I use overdrive and my local library card.  I get 80% of books for free.  Make sure to change the checkout option to 3 weeks if you need the time.

 
Swing 51 said:
Next up is quite different. The Crossing, book 2 of the Border Trilogy by Cormac McCarthy.
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Holy ####, it took me almost four months to finish this. I just could not get in to it, it wasn't bad it just couldn't hold my interest. Not sure what is up next, might wait to see what books I get for Xmas.

 
Don Quixote said:
Starting up on Zadie Smith's Swing Time next. 
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I finished "Swing Time." I wouldn't put it on my best of the year list as some are doing, but it was still solid. She's a helluva writer, which is really what carried it, but plot wasn't all that interesting to me.

Currently on "The Earth is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West." Really good comprehensive history, starting at around the end of the Civil War to Wounded Knee -- thoroughly researched and fairly evenhanded (in the intro, the author sets out the book's purpose as a more balanced "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee."). 

 
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Highlighted in a separate thread, but since this thread is populated with FBG readers, I'll mention here as well.

My Christmas book - The Three Christmases of William Spencer - is on a limited time promotion with Amazon right now where the Kindle edition is FREE until Sunday, 12/18.

It's a warmhearted Chicken Soup for the Soul'ish holiday book with a message about happiness and the meaning of Christmas. If you like that sort of thing (or know someone else who could use some free Christmas cheer), please check it out.

Merry Christmas!  :)

 
Captain Fantastic said:
Highlighted in a separate thread, but since this thread is populated with FBG readers, I'll mention here as well.

My Christmas book - The Three Christmases of William Spencer - is on a limited time promotion with Amazon right now where the Kindle edition is FREE until Sunday, 12/18.

It's a warmhearted Chicken Soup for the Soul'ish holiday book with a message about happiness and the meaning of Christmas. If you like that sort of thing (or know someone else who could use some free Christmas cheer), please check it out.

Merry Christmas!  :)
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Thanks Derek.  Just downloaded.  I'll make a point of giving you my thoughts if you want them. :)

 
facook said:
Thanks Derek.  Just downloaded.  I'll make a point of giving you my thoughts if you want them. :)
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Thanks for the download, facook.  :thanks:

Would love to hear your thoughts once you've had a chance to read. But please know ahead of time that I'm unable to give refunds in the event of "you wasted thirty minutes of my life and I want them back" (the laws of time and space hinder my ability to provide this service).

If you like it and want to sample a different genre, please feel free to download either of my thrillers.  :whistle:

Hostile Takeover: Following a tragedy in their lives, a former corporate raider and his wife enroll in a rehabilitation-oriented retreat located at a compound deep in the desert of New Mexico. Isolated from civilization, the program seems perfect, until participants start dying. This book is a psychological suspense novel released last year that garnered a nice critical reception (very flattering) including unexpected praise from some bestselling authors hailing from New Mexico.

Second Son: To catch a killer. To solve a mystery. To survive a storm. Released about six weeks ago, this novel is a follow-up to Hostile Takeover, but both books are standalone stories (you could read either of them independently and it wouldn't hinder your enjoyment). This book falls in the mystery/crime-thriller genre.

Alas, while the Christmas book is free until 12/18, the thrillers cost actual money. You can use Three Christmases as the testing ground to see if you want to invest a whole $3.99 (and your time) in either of the other books. 

Personal promotion over. Please return to your day.

And thanks in advance if any FBGs on this thread decide to read any of the above.  :hifive:  

 
Don Quixote said:
I made a release date purchase of Michael Chabon's new one, Moonglow.  Hard to put down and up late reading it. I almost forgot how much I enjoyed Kavalier & Clay.
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Did you read Telegraph Avenue?  It reminded me how much I love Chabon's writing but don't so much love his story-telling, if that makes any sense.  I could, and did, read some of the paragraphs over and over because they were so perfect, but I couldn't much get into the plot.  I'm more interested in Moonglow due to the subject matter - just downloaded it. :excited:

 
krista4 said:
Did you read Telegraph Avenue?  It reminded me how much I love Chabon's writing but don't so much love his story-telling, if that makes any sense.  I could, and did, read some of the paragraphs over and over because they were so perfect, but I couldn't much get into the plot.  I'm more interested in Moonglow due to the subject matter - just downloaded it. :excited:
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I haven't read Telegraph Avenue. The plot didn't seem that interesting to me, and the reviews were a bit mixed.  The plot description of Moonglow certainly interested me a bit more. Loved the Wernher von Braun stuff.

I hope you enjoy it as much I did. 

 
I've been wanting to read Kafka for a while now. What is a good starting place? 

Also, anyone here into reading philosophy? That has been on my bucket list too. 

 
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krista4 said:
Don Quixote said:
I made a release date purchase of Michael Chabon's new one, Moonglow.  Hard to put down and up late reading it. I almost forgot how much I enjoyed Kavalier & Clay.
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Did you read Telegraph Avenue?  It reminded me how much I love Chabon's writing but don't so much love his story-telling, if that makes any sense.  I could, and did, read some of the paragraphs over and over because they were so perfect, but I couldn't much get into the plot.  I'm more interested in Moonglow due to the subject matter - just downloaded it. :excited:
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I only read his Adventures of Kavalier etc.... liked it fine, but didn't really grab me. are there others I should look at?.

 
bosoxs45 said:
I've been wanting to read Kafka for a while now. What is a good starting place? 

Also, anyone here into reading philosophy? That has been on my bucket list too. 
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dunno that it's any better than The Trial or The Castle, but I started with Metamorphosis. 

I haven't really read philosophy since college... but we were "forced" to read a lot of amazing things that I'd love to look back over now that I'm not an idiot trying to get high and laid all the time, or without adequate time to digest the stuff because of... well, getting high and laid.

here's a link to the current syllabus which is chock full o' goodies to get a start on things. (granted, more a cross-section of political, social, religious than straight up philosophical, but still...)

 
Don Quixote said:
Finished Barkskins. My favorite book of the year so far. Proulx's writing is fantastic. I wasn't expecting 700 pages on the timber industry and deforestation to appeal to me as much as it did, but such a great read.

Emma Cline's "The Girls" up next (refers to "girls" in Manson's cult).
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Review on "The Girls"? I need to find a captivating book.  Don't have a lot of time other than flights, but i have lots of those planned for early 2017. Will scour this thread for other suggestions to download to my Kindle

 
Judge Smails said:
Review on "The Girls"? I need to find a captivating book.  Don't have a lot of time other than flights, but i have lots of those planned for early 2017. Will scour this thread for other suggestions to download to my Kindle
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I was a bit disappointed in The Girls. It didn't grab me as much as I thought it would based on the plot description and the hype that it got when it was released. The characters were not all that memorable either. But it probably falls more on the easy, beach read side of fiction, and I tend to read heavier stuff; so, YMMV.

 
El Floppo said:
I only read his Adventures of Kavalier etc.... liked it fine, but didn't really grab me. are there others I should look at?.
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Honestly no.  Kavalier is the best from those I've read.  As I mentioned, I have mixed feelings on his work.  I love love love the writing itself and will read paragraphs or sentences over and over again, but the plots just never do it for me (probably why Kavalier didn't "grab" you either).  Haven't started Moonglow yet, though, and the plot/background is more interesting to me in this one than the others, so I'm remaining hopeful.

 
El Floppo said:
have a 3 hour trainride to my inlaws for the holidays.

bringing tom delillo's White Noise. 
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Did you get some sort of discount for it being his brother's ripoff of the same book or something?

ETA:  What did you think of it?

 
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