What Fiction are you reading this week, Sept. 20, 2020?

[hermetic]

Fall already? Geeze, where does the time go?


I'm still reading the same 2 books. The Sherman Alexie memoir is SO SAD. He's also very funny and really hates tRump. Margaret Atwood, as well, is at her eclectic, funny, vibrant, terrifying, beautiful, and utterly delightful best.

Listening to Leader of the Pack by David Rosenfelt. Defense attorney Andy Carpenter is once again re-investigating an old case where he discovers that oaths of silence are sometimes stronger than family ties.

What books will you be spending time with this week?

[dameatball]

1. Been off my fiction for a while. Reading Cohen book at the moment. I'll be baaak!

[hermetic]

2. I am always happy

to hear from our regulars here, whatever they're reading, just to know they are okay. Looking at you, meatball.

[RGinNJ]

3. Needed a laugh so I am reading some of Terry Pratchetts Ringworld books again.

[hermetic]

5. That is definitely

a great place to find some laughs. Timeless humor.

[Srkdqltr]

4. I'm in the middle of Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay.

I'm about a third of the way through. Interesting story so far.
I guess i'm in a mood and i'm looking for something very light. I'm almost ready to re read some of the Plum books. The world just seems to heavy at the moment.

[hermetic]

6. It does, indeed.

Escaping into books is highly recommended.

[MuseRider]

7. Finished Cohens book last week

and am now almost caught up on a ton of podcasts I had kept to listen to.

Getting ready to start Leviathan by James S A Corey. Not sure what to expect but I was told it was really good by a friend and I think I also saw someone like it here.

[hermetic]

9. I haven't read it

but it does sound like good adventure: a sci fi space opera involving Earth's government, Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations.

[MuseRider]

10. It should keep me busy

and I do love a good space romp. I will let you know what I think.

[Polly Hennessey]

8. Just started, A Dream of Death,

by Connie Berry. It takes place on a remote Scottish island.

[hermetic]

11. Mmmm, a remote Scottish island

is someplace I'd sure like to be. This mystery, cozy, ghosty series sounds like a good way to get there vicariously. I, myself, have old family connections to Bonnie Prince Charlie. Must read.

Slainte!

[The King of Prussia]

12. "Death in Disguise" by Caroline Graham

A "Midsomer Murders" mystery - these books formed the basis for a long running TV show. Next up is "Fortune Favours The Dead" by Stephen Spotswood - the first in a new series set in New York City in 1946

The Covid thing continues to escalate, so I expect I will be hiding in the house with my books & music for the next few months.

Stay safe everyone.

[hermetic]

13. I love those

"Midsomer Murders". Always great to hear about a new series, too.

The pandemic continues to run amok here, as well. Interesting observation today: the number of infected in my country today is 2020. Which is also the date.

[TexasProgresive]

14. Still with the Nine Taylors

This is the most convoluted mystery I’ve ever read. I’m really enjoying it and have no idea even though I have many clues

[hermetic]

16. How intriguing

"Steeped in the atmosphere of a quiet parish in the strange, flat fen-country of East Anglia, this is a tale of suspense, character, and mood by an author critics and readers rate as one of the great masters of the mystery novel."

They don't have the book at my library but they do have it on CD so I will get that on my next scheduled library run.

[TexasProgresive]

18. I hope you like it

[TexasProgresive]

30. You will be surprised at the end.

[shenmue]

15. Wychwood, George Mann

About creepy folk horror in an Oxford murder. I love folk horror.

[hermetic]

17. Oooh, so do I

And that one does sound really good.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. silly bit of fluff "Undead and Unwed" which is kind of a cross between Stephani Plum and

Sookie Stackhouse books.

Woman is killed in a freak accident and wakes up in a coffin at the mortuary. She soon discovers she is now a vampire.

Silly bits of fluff are very important

[hermetic]

23. Yeah, they are

They can sure help get us through some troubling times.

Keywords: Romance, Speculative Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Comedy / Humor
Sounds like fun.

[Ohiogal]

20. Dead Land by Sara Paretsky

One of my favorite authors. 😄

[hermetic]

24. Suspense/Thriller

Just out this year. Chicago's legendary detective, V.I. Warshawski, investigates lakefront land deals and learns that people who pay to play take no prisoners. Sounds good.

[AmyStrange]

21. Still working on Troubled Blood...

-

it's long and complicated, but I like the continuing romantic story between Cormoran and Robin.

Did you ever notice that most heroes in fiction aren't married?

There are probably some, but that's always bothered me, because it seems that authors don't know how to write a hero that's married.

Also, it seems that a lot of them are the silent brooding type and don't say much.

And what's with all the sallow skinned people?

Anyway, I'm probably wrong about all that, but it's why I wrote my heroes the way I did.
============

[hermetic]

25. My guess would be

Hero types are just always too busy being heroes to settle down into married life. Besides, the wife might get jealous if hubby is out rescuing damsels in distress. But, trust me, I'm no expert in this matter.

[AmyStrange]

27. Yup, I think you might be right, and...

-

that's why my heroes save animals together.

Of course, if Superman and Lois ever got married (I know they did in one version), you know she'd be begging him not to wear his underwear to fight crime.
===============

[Number9Dream]

22. Finished "Celtic Empire" by Clive Cussler & Dirk Cussler

An interesting premise that ancient Egyptians partially colonized ancient Ireland. Also bad guys trying to make use of an ancient Egyptian plague. One annoyance was that after the bad guys third or fourth attempt to kill the good guys, the good guys still don't arm themselves in any way. At the time of the finale, the good guys still aren't even carrying side arms... duh. On the whole though, I did enjoy it.

[hermetic]

26. That is an interesting premise.

Doesn't seem too likely, though. Just like the good guys going to a gun fight with....fists? Good luck with that.

[Staph]

28. James Clavell's Asian Saga

I've been in a mood to revisit books and series that I read many years ago.

The Asian Saga consists of six books, ordered by internal chronology:
* Shōgun: set in feudal Japan, 1600.
* Tai-Pan: set in Hong Kong, 1841.
* Gai-Jin: set in Japan, 1862.
* King Rat: set in a Japanese POW camp, Singapore, 1945.
* Noble House: set in Hong Kong, 1963.
* Whirlwind: set in Iran, 1979.

They are a wonderful way to escape the horrors of 2020 and visit an entire world.

[hermetic]

29. That's for sure

I did read King Rat and Shogun ever so long ago. Clavell had quite an amazing life and persevered through some horrible circumstances. Now is our time to do the same.

[MuseRider]

31. Oooh I am putting those on my list!

I read all of them long long ago and loved them. I do not remember Whirlwind though. I loved Shogun and Noble House I remember them the best but really....I could use a refresher.

I am so glad you posted this!

[Staph]

32. I originally read them as they came out in the 1980s and 1990s.

Now I'm reading them according to internal chronology. It's interesting to see characters and descendants of characters appearing in later novels.

I've found all of these in my library's e-books, but I can't find Whirlwind there. It turns out the Hoopla Digital has it!

[MuseRider]

33. Hoopla has provided me

with several I could not find. I just started using the request button in my library. Now and again they will get it within a few days.

[yellowdogintexas]

34. I love those books!

When I read Shogun, I imagined Richard Chamberlain as Blackthorne. Well by golly they listened to me.

However, my wish for Sean Connery to play Ian Dunross went on deaf ears.

I wish someone would make Whirlwind into a movie or a series. It is a very fast paced and exciting book.

[Staph]

35. I found the start of Whirlwind, about the first 10% or so,

as slow and draggy. It took sooooo long to introduce each of the characters and their work environment and the Iranians who work for and with them and the politics of Iraq and Hong Kong and Britain and the whole European Union and, and, and.

But about a third of the way in, the plot took off. I ended up loving the book. It isn't my favorite of the Clavell's Asian Saga (that would be Shogun, closely followed by Noble House), but it is a book I will gladly recommend.