What are you reading the week of March 30, 2014

[Goblinmonger]

Sorry this is a day late.

[TexasProgresive]

1. "Countdown City: The Last Policeman" Ben Winters

And nearly through- will be waiting for the 3rd one to be published.

[pscot]

6. Is this a new genre?

Pre-apocalyptic police procedurals?

[TexasProgresive]

7. I guess that's as good a way to put it as any

It follows Detective Henry Palace as he tries to solve cases that no one cares about- Who would care with a 6.5 kilometer rock scheduled to land on your head in a few months. Hank cares. He's got a case and he's worrying it like a terrier.

Maia the asteroid joins a cast of characters, fellow police, a younger sister and the dead and soon to be dead.

It may seem to be too depressing but Hank's persistence in continuing to do his job won me over.

[pscot]

8. There's a satiric feel to the 1st one

and parts of it are very funny. There's a lot going on. It's a deceptively easy read.

[scarletwoman]

2. The Headhunters, by Jo Nesbo - a short book, I'm almost done.

This is a stand-alone, not part of his Harry Hole series.

It's interesting, and not too heavy or bloody. The protagonist is pretty much an asshole, although he's a rather self-aware asshole. And the plot unfolds in unexpected twists and turns.

I've read the entire Harry Hole series to date, and while I generally enjoyed the earlier books of the series, it seemed to me that from The Snowman on, his stories just kept getting more and more bloody and sadistic. After reading his most recent book, Police I decided I was fed up with reading about serial killers and graphic descriptions of torture and depravity. Yuk.

However, The Headhunters predates The Snowman, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm also on my library's waiting list for Cockroaches, which is actually the 2nd book in the Harry Hole series, but only newly translated into English. There's also one other Nesbo stand-alone, The Son, which I've also put on order - it was originally published in Norway some years ago, but will only be available in English translation this May.

There's no doubt that Nesbo is a kickass writer, I just don't care for the ever-increasing sadism of his past four Harry Hole novels.

I enjoy police procedurals and certain types of crime novels, but I've come to a point where I'm thoroughly sick of serial killers. I think the serial killer plot device is a cop-out - totally made-up psychopatic killers committing horrific crimes - it's just cheap blood-soaked thrills, it's not skillful plotting.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese

Just started it. It is borrowed from a friend who insisted that I must read it, and so far, it is very interesting.

[pscot]

4. Finishing Killing Rain by Eisler

This is the best one yet. There's a mad sex scene between Rain and Israeli agent Delilah. Like pitbulls mating. It's any essential plot element so just get your mind out of the gutter. Next is Silence of the grave by Arnaldur Indriðason.

On edit:sp

[scarletwoman]

13. Arnaldur Indriðason! I'm delighted to meet another Indriðason reader!

I'm a huge fan - he's my favorite Scandinavian police procedural author. I've read everything he's written, up to Strange Shores which isn't available from my library yet.

Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts about Silence of the Grave after you've finished - and any other Indriðason book you've read.

[TexasProgresive]

5. Well I'm finished with The Last Policeman II

Started a reread of James H. Street's By Valor and Arms. This novel is takes place during the navel battles on the Mississippi and if memory serves me right the battle of Vicksburg. I just realized that the title is the motto of the state of Mississippi, Virtute et armis.

Concurrently I am reading Brother Petroc's Return by S.M.C.. A novel novel with an early renaissance monk emerging from suspended animation to life in the 20th century.

[pscot]

9. I'm curious to hear your take

on Sr. Mary Catherine's book.

[TexasProgresive]

10. OK

1st- I don't know if non-Catholics would get a lot of the nuances. It is written as though to someone who has some knowledge of the history of the Catholic church and some of the strange thinking of neo-pietists and others.

2nd- it is fascinating the way Sr. Mary Catherine is able to have Petroc thinking as an early renaissance man- that is he is part of the renaissance but like a fish in water is unaware of it, The contrast with that of people post renaissance and certainly affected by the age of reason is very interesting.

It is an easy read that seems to impart an understanding of why we are like we are. Even though it is quite old, written around the time of the 2nd Vatican council much can be extrapolated into the present.

Have you read it? This is my 2nd reading. The first was at least 20 years ago in and old Penguin paperback that I lost. I just got this new reprint from Amazon.

[pscot]

11. I have not,

and my library doesn't have it. I didn't realize it was that old. I'll find it used rather than pay Amazon's price. Thanks.

[TexasProgresive]

12. Perhaps your library can get it on inter-library loan

Mine does and has gotten me some really obscure books.
Librarians are your friend.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

14. The Chinese in Amerca - Iris Chang

[SheilaT]

15. The Martian by andy Weir.

An astronaut gets left behind on Mars, quite by accident.

I'm 57 pages into it and OMG! is it good!

I just hope the ending is as satisfying as the beginning.

[libodem]

16. One Door Away from Heaven

By Dean Koontz. I finished The Help and really enjoyed it. I liked it better than the movie but now I want to see the movie again now that I know the characters better.

[SheilaT]

17. Finished "The Martian".

It is very good. I'm sure they'll make a movie out of it.