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hermetic

(8,301 posts)
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 12:40 PM Aug 2021

What Fiction are you reading this week, August 15, 2021?




I sure feel like I am living in The Winter King. All that fighting between people with different opinions. Someone here said earlier that this book presents a very different Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot than we are used to seeing in other stories. That's for sure.

Still listening to First Among Sequels. Next I plan to get One of Our Thursdays is Missing. Then I will get the next one and I will have listened to/read the entire series. I haven't done that since Nancy Drew so this will be a milestone for me. And I have definitely been drawn into the Next world.

What fictional worlds will you be exploring this week?

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What Fiction are you reading this week, August 15, 2021? (Original Post) hermetic Aug 2021 OP
Two NQAS Aug 2021 #1
My library has a couple of his/her books bif Aug 2021 #3
Yes NQAS Aug 2021 #6
FIXER hermetic Aug 2021 #4
Yeah I know what you mean NQAS Aug 2021 #7
"This Dark Road to Mercy" by Wiley Cash bif Aug 2021 #2
Good for you hermetic Aug 2021 #5
The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2021 #8
Awesome hermetic Aug 2021 #9
Over Zoom. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2021 #11
I look forward hermetic Aug 2021 #13
I'm not so sure about that. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2021 #19
"Find A Victim" by Ross MacDonald The King of Prussia Aug 2021 #10
Well there's an oldie hermetic Aug 2021 #12
We're one of the worst areas. in England for vaccine uptake The King of Prussia Aug 2021 #14
Just started reading Jess Walter's latest book japple Aug 2021 #15
Hi hermetic Aug 2021 #16
I did see your reply. Yep, these fosters need a full time japple Aug 2021 #17
This message was self-deleted by its author japple Aug 2021 #18
"West with Giraffes" by Lynda Rutledge. CrispyQ Aug 2021 #20
That looks great hermetic Aug 2021 #21
I finished it this morning. CrispyQ Aug 2021 #22

NQAS

(10,749 posts)
1. Two
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 12:52 PM
Aug 2021

Fixer by Gene Doucette. Guy sees into the future and intervenes. So far so good. He’s an entertaining storyteller.

Zero Day Code by John Birmingham. About a third of the way through. End of the world as we know it. Stars with a massive cyber attack. That’s all I’m going to say. No spoilers. I’ve started other John Birmingham books and not finished them. Not sure yet about this one. So far I’m sticking with it.

bif

(22,679 posts)
3. My library has a couple of his/her books
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 12:57 PM
Aug 2021

The Spaceship Next Door and Apocalypse 7. Are wither of these worth checking out?

NQAS

(10,749 posts)
6. Yes
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 02:20 PM
Aug 2021

The spaceship next door and its sequel are a riot. So that’s an easy recommend.

My wife wasn’t crazy about the apocalypse 7. I haven’t read it yet.

hermetic

(8,301 posts)
4. FIXER
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 01:13 PM
Aug 2021

Does sound good. I've often wondered about time travel and why it wouldn't work. This story then becomes a mystery.

Sadly, Zero Day Code no longer sounds like fiction. ".. set in a realistic near future with dwindling global food supplies under increasing pressure from worsening droughts, floods and extreme weather events." Let us know if you stay with this one to the end.

NQAS

(10,749 posts)
7. Yeah I know what you mean
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 02:22 PM
Aug 2021

It seems all too possible. Not really escapism any more. I find myself nodding and thinking, yeah, that could happen.

bif

(22,679 posts)
2. "This Dark Road to Mercy" by Wiley Cash
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 12:54 PM
Aug 2021

It's pretty good. Not great, but I made it to the 50 page mark, so I have to finish it. I've got a big pile of books from the library, so I've got a lot of good reading ahead of me!

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,812 posts)
8. The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis.
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 03:28 PM
Aug 2021

My s-f book club will be discussing it in a week.

I've read it before and really, really like it.

hermetic

(8,301 posts)
9. Awesome
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 03:40 PM
Aug 2021

From 1992. It took her around 5 years to write this and it sounds so good. It would be fun to be in a discussion about it. Are you meeting live or over Zoom? Will there be wine? Have a good time. .

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,812 posts)
11. Over Zoom.
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 04:34 PM
Aug 2021

Which is how I get to attend since I live in a different city.

I've had the good fortune to meet Connie at several s-f things. She smart, funny, very sharp.

I've read most everything she's written, and I'm really looking forward to her next novel, which will be about Roswell. I know she's completed it, but not sure how close to publication it actually is.

hermetic

(8,301 posts)
13. I look forward
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 04:46 PM
Aug 2021

to reading that one. Been to Roswell. Recently saw it's the most disliked city in NM, by residents. It was an article that listed every state.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,812 posts)
19. I'm not so sure about that.
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 11:10 PM
Aug 2021

I live in NM, have been to Roswell a couple of times. There are some incredible art museums there, which make a visit quite worthwhile.

I'd say most of the time we just don't pay any attention to Roswell.

10. "Find A Victim" by Ross MacDonald
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 04:13 PM
Aug 2021

Only just started it, but of course it's going to be excellent.

Previously read "The Empty Copper Sea" by John D. MacDonald. Haven't read any of his stuff for decades, and I'd forgotten how good a writer he was.

Had a brush with Covid and have had to isolate in the house since Tuesday. Thursday of the week before last I was in close contact with someone who subsequently tested positive. Tested myself - negative, and have had no symptons. But then I'm doubly vaccinated so there was never going to be a problem. The virus is running wild here, but not many are going to hospital, and even fewer are dying. Johnson's plan seems to be to get the anti-vaxxers infected so they either have antibodies or are dead. My heart has hardened so I'm really not bothered if they die.

Stay safe readers!

hermetic

(8,301 posts)
12. Well there's an oldie
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 04:43 PM
Aug 2021

1954. It takes place in Las Cruces and that's where my sister lives! Although she didn't in 1954. Anyway, sounds good. Wow, Ross wrote a lot of books. Highly regarded.

Things are terrible in my little corner of the world. So many getting sick and school starts tomorrow. No masking rules in place. I shudder to think what it's going to be like. I don't feel sorry for the anti-vaxxers but I sure do pity the kids.
Imagine realizing your mom wouldn't do anything to protect you after you get sick.

You stay safe, too.

14. We're one of the worst areas. in England for vaccine uptake
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 05:21 PM
Aug 2021

62% fully vaccinated. But then I looked at the figures for Georgia & Arkansas. 38%. That's terrifying.

Apart from this ridiculous self-isolating, which ends in a couple of hours, life for me is pretty much back to normal.

Las Cruces looks to have spectacular scenary. If I ever pluck up the courage to visit the States that's the sort of place I'd like to visit.

One day, one way or another, I do believe this will be over for all of us, but until that day comes I think those of us that can escape into books are fortunate.

japple

(9,805 posts)
15. Just started reading Jess Walter's latest book
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 05:58 PM
Aug 2021
The Cool Millions. I read Beautiful Ruins some years ago and liked it very much. Hope this one is as enjoyable.

Many thanks for the weekly thread, hermetic.

hermetic

(8,301 posts)
16. Hi
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 06:49 PM
Aug 2021

Hope you saw my reply from last week, which I only posted yesterday I think it was. Fostering kitties sure does eat into your time, doesn't it? It's a good thing, though.

japple

(9,805 posts)
17. I did see your reply. Yep, these fosters need a full time
Sun Aug 15, 2021, 07:17 PM
Aug 2021

Manager! They are driving my big cats crazy. They will get their operation soon and then be on to rescue.

Response to hermetic (Reply #16)

CrispyQ

(36,413 posts)
20. "West with Giraffes" by Lynda Rutledge.
Tue Aug 17, 2021, 04:13 PM
Aug 2021

I'm not quite half way through, & I'm having a hard time putting it down, to do things like eat!

From Amazon:


An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America.

“Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes…”

Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.

It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.

Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.


In the reviews, someone found a photo of the giraffes in their mobile unit.


on edit: Here's a blog post with the same photo: https://zoohistories.com/2021/02/11/west-with-giraffes/

hermetic

(8,301 posts)
21. That looks great
Thu Aug 19, 2021, 09:48 AM
Aug 2021

I love giraffes. They are so beautiful and strange. And they have the softest lips. I loved going to the zoo in MN to watch them. I would buy the food for them and hold it out in my hand where they would gently nibble it off, looking at me with those big, gorgeous eyes. I definitely want to read this book. Thanks for that link.

CrispyQ

(36,413 posts)
22. I finished it this morning.
Thu Aug 19, 2021, 05:34 PM
Aug 2021

A very satisfying read!

Last week's book, The Midnight Library, was just ok, IMO. I skimmed most of the last half.

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