What Fiction are you reading this week, May 30, 2021?

[hermetic]

Land of the free, thanks to the brave


Reading Greenwood by Michael Christie. I love the way this story is laid out. It begins in the future, 2038, then travels back in time 100 years as we get to know the family, generation by generation, and the reasons why things are the way they are. It's sad and strange and marvelous.

Just started listening to The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. "In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves The Thursday Murder Club. When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case." It is delightfully amusing and sounds like it will be great fun throughout, dead bodies notwithstanding.

What's your reading plan this week?

[LizBeth]

1. I am having fun with Laura Griffin Tracer series. Enjoyed Dean Koontz Velocity the other day.

[hermetic]

9. This series is quite popular

Romantic suspense thrillers.

[LizBeth]

27. Pairing, less romantic. Doesn't go on and on and on.

Quick reads with fun tactical story telling. Easy reads and love series that develop character further in series.

[cilla4progress]

2. I gave up on Bel Canto!

I like Patchett's writing, but I didn't like the story line. Could not get engaged. Also, I think Amazon took it back from my Kindle? It was due.

A friend of mine suggested Hunter Biden's recent memoir. Not fiction of course.

On a separate note: what is your picture in your sig line?

Good morning!

[cilla4progress]

3. Oh now I see (your pic)

your kitty enjoying her cat bed?

[hermetic]

4. Yeah,

she's half pointer.

[hermetic]

8. It does sound a bit odd

"..terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents become compatriots. Friendship, compassion, and the chance for great love lead the characters to forget the real danger that has been set in motion."

Not sure I could get into this, either, considering the world the way it is now. That book was written 20 years ago and things aren't what they used to be. Remember Patty Hearst? She made us aware of that syndrome, the name of which escapes me now.

[cilla4progress]

13. Yes, I guess it's based on a true incident

that occurred in Peru some 20 or so years ago?

I should have looked into it more.

I am a wimp about violence in my "entertainment."

[bif]

33. I really enjoyed it.

It was my introduction to the world of Ann Patchett.

[cilla4progress]

34. I read The Dutch House

and loved it.

Reminded me of John Irving's writing, themes.

[SheltieLover]

5. Still looking for new cozy series with some humor

Hard to find ebooks in a series in library, at least those not yet inhaled. Lol

The Thursday Murder Club sounds great. I'll try searching for them.

[SheltieLover]

6. There is a second Thursday Murder book on order at library

"The Man Who Died Twice." No info on when it will be avail; no ecopy listed yet.

[TexLaProgressive]

7. Still being a listener 2nd of a series - "The Awakened Kingdom" - N.K Jemisin

I listened to her The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and Prayer for the Dead by James Oswald. The readers for all 3 are outstanding story tellers. I'm not sure I would enjoy these novels as much on the printed page.

[hermetic]

12. I know what you mean

I've found quite a few that I'm glad to have heard. Don't know if you saw the recent post in this group where it was revealed that this summer Amazon would start allowing libraries to access their ebooks and I am thrilled to hear that.

[WVreaper]

10. Fountainhead

for my book club. Listening to Louise Penny on Audible with my wife , and then a couple of new C.J.Box series books.

[cilla4progress]

14. Fountainhead!

Ayn Rand!

I read Rand with a couple friends in HS. I didn't take from her what is apparently the usual effect.

[hermetic]

17. I looked that up

since I was thinking the same but discovered that Rand's is THE Fountainhead, while the one-word title refers to a sci fi book. We'll hope for the best there.

[hermetic]

15. I sure hope

you are talking about the sci fi novel by Hugh Flowers, where a family asruggles to survive on a new world. That sounds good.

Louise Penny is one of my all time favorite authors. I enjoy C.J. Box, as well.

[Srkdqltr]

11. The Consequence of Fear #16 Masie Dobbs.

Jacqueline Winspear. 1941 London. A young boy sees a murder during the blitz. Masie figures it out.
This is a good cozy type series.

[hermetic]

16. Winspear's Among the Mad

sounds like it might be one of her best ever. Will have to look for that one.

[northoftheborder]

18. The Wrong Side of Goodbye, Connelly

A Bosch story. Like his plots; this one has two going on at the same time.

[hermetic]

19. I do love Bosch stories

We have several fans in the group here.

[The King of Prussia]

20. "The Memory Game"

The debut novel by "Nicci French", who is actually a husband-and-wife team.

Bought the Richard Osman book recently. I generally shie away from books written by celebrities, but I do like Richard Osman and "Thursday Murder Club" has had generally good reviews, so I'm looking forward to it.

Big week next week. We are actually meeting family for the first time since February of 2020, and then on Sunday I get my second jab.

Stay safe. Science is saving us.

[hermetic]

21. Ah, I did not know

Osman is a celeb. And a comedian. That explains a lot. He is quite charmingly funny.

I was going to say something about The Memory Game, but I forgot. Well, it's a psychological thriller so it's on my list now.

How lovely for you, a family meetup. Maybe I'll be able to do similar sometime this year.

Enjoy!

[Laffy Kat]

22. Colton Whitehead's "Nickel Boys".

It's based on true events. I love his writing ad this is the third Whitehead novel I've read, but boy is it emotionally difficult to get through. Like "Underground Railroad", I feel like I'm going to need six months of psychotherapy when I'm through. Still, I recommend it.

[hermetic]

23. I totally agree

That's some harsh reality.

[Laffy Kat]

24. I couldn't put "Underground Railroad" down.

Yet I know there is no way I can watch the series.

[Number9Dream]

25. Finished "The Winter King" by Bernard Cornwell

A different take on the 'Arthurian' characters. I had enjoyed some of Cornwell's other books, so I gave this a try and liked it too. Lancelot is a coward. Merlin is flaky. Arthur and Guinevere are not the usual from legend. I just started the sequel, "Enemy of God".

[hermetic]

26. I like it!

Many years ago I went through this phase where I read every book I could find about that bunch. Looking back, I'm not sure why. I was just really into them. But, now the idea of reading a whole different take on them sounds very appealing. So, thanks.

[Number9Dream]

28. Don't know if you're familiar with Mr. Cornwell...

...but his stories are kinda violent (but well written), and this is no exception. Check it out more on 'Goodreads', etc.

[hermetic]

30. Thanks! I did

And everybody LOVES this. "..this could be the most original and the best Arthurian legend retelling of all time", "I really can't say enough about this book. There are a lot of reasons to enjoy books and this one scores highest in so many categories. It is just very fun to read" and "..a brilliant retelling of the mythic saga of King Arthur."

So, I'm sold. But I guess the book will have to be, as well. My library doesn't have it.

[Number9Dream]

35. If you eventually read it, let me know what you think.

[Ilsa]

29. 2034 by Adm. Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman

2034 A Novel of the Next World War.

Not a long book, but the plot involves China trying to take Taiwan, cyber attacks, etc. So far, no details have been revealed on how China managed the attack. Iran is a major part of the story as well.

[hermetic]

31. Wow. Scary stuff

"Everything in 2034 is an imaginative extrapolation from present-day facts on the ground combined with the authors' years working at the highest and most classified levels of national security. Sometimes it takes a brilliant work of fiction to illuminate the most dire of warnings: 2034 is all too close at hand, and this cautionary tale presents the reader a dark yet possible future that we must do all we can to avoid."

Wired says: “Consider this another vaccine against disaster."

[Ilsa]

32. It's very disturbing reading. Early story SPOILER below:

A US Navy flotilla is exercising its right to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea around Taiwan. They come across a fishing trawler that looks suspicious. They board the trawler and discover computer and electronics unfamiliar to them. They are warned by Chinese navy to disembark and leave the trawler and equipment and leave Chinese territorial waters. For some reason, the flotilla's comms go out, weapons systems targeting shuts down, and any other systems computers go offline. Rebooting doesn't work. Navigation fails. They are fired upon as they try to fire. Most of the US flotilla sinks.

Meanwhile, in the Strait of Hormuz, a US Navy pilot is supposed to take his F-35 to the edge of Iranian airspace to see if some new equipment makes the F-35 invisible to any tracking. His instruments suddenly are under the control of someone else, remotely.

Characters are developed. So far, no explanation of how the "hacking" happened.

[bif]

36. Just finished "Tell the Wolves I'm Home".

Great book!