What are you reading the week of April 20, 2014?

[Enthusiast]

I started this thread because it wouldn't start by itself.

I'm reading A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton. This was Steve's first book. It is an entertaining book. I do recommend it. I plan to read Steve's other books.

[libodem]

1. Something pretty dumb

And kind of a waste of time . I've been fairly lucky to have had books given to me from time to time. I had Poisonwood Bible, Cane River, The Help, and a Dean Koontz, called, One Door Away From Heaven, about bioethics.

My current is a horror story by RLStine (she has been a kids author) called Superstitions. It's violent and scary, but I feel like I need to finish it. It reads a little like a romance novel. Can't wait until I finish it. You know some books you hate to leave because you are drawn into another world and make friends with the characters. None of these are particularly likable. Meh.

[Enthusiast]

3. I read that, One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz.

I checked it out on Fantastic Fiction. But I cannot remember that particular story. I've read almost all of the books by Dean Koontz. I've found them to be entertaining for the most part.

[libodem]

11. I was drawn to these characters

And cared about what happened to all of them except the "bad guy", who was an absolute villian. He was a former professor who got a kick out of murdering people with mental or physical defects. His step daughter is brilliant but has a leg brace. The mother is a wackadoodle. The neighbor lady goes on a quest to rescue the kid. And some aliens are thrown in for good measure.

Superstitious had a decent ending that made sense in a horror Sci Fi manner. That is just not my cup of tea. Yuck.


I'm going to start possibly my last free extra book I have sitting around. It's called Spook by Mary Roach. The cover says science tackles the afterlife. This has to be fiction? Right? We'll see?

[Enthusiast]

12. When I read those earlier Koontz

books I told myself, "These would be worth reading again."

Since I have forgotten the story line, I could start re-reading them now. I have some but many were from the library.

[libodem]

2. Oops

I got the title wrong: Superstitious.

[scarletwoman]

4. Thanks for starting this thread, and thanks for the Steve Hamilton reference.

I looked him up on the Fantastic Fiction site, and I must say, his Alex McKnight series definitely sounds worth checking into. Maybe once I leave Scandinavia, I'll check it out.

For now, I'm still working my way through Swedish author Liza Marklund's Annika Bengtzon series, on book #6, Last Will. I complained about the protagonist in an earlier thread here, but since I had already gotten all the books of the series from the library, I decided to keep on with it. And it has, thankfully, gotten better. I have just two more to go (one out of order) before I reach the end of what I can get from the library.

In the meantime (since the last "What are you reading?" thread), I also read Jo Nesbø's Cockroaches, which was the second book of his Harry Hole series, but only made available in the U.S. last year. It was quite good, and a great deal more of a pleasant read than most of his more recent Harry Hole books. I also read his stand-alone novel, Headhunters, which I also enjoyed.

Just today, I picked up Donna Leon's latest, By its Cover - which I'm very much looking forward to reading. I've read her entire Guido Brunetti series, and this is the newest. These are all wonderful stories, with an absolutely delightful protagonist, a Commissario of Police in Venice, Italy. (I do manage to branch out from Scandinavia now and again. )

Thanks again for the thread!

[Enthusiast]

5. Thank you for the recommendations.

The only Scandinavia novels I have read are the three made popular by Stieg Larsson. I was thoroughly captivated by the Lizbeth Salander character.

[scarletwoman]

7. It was Larsson's Millenium Trilogy that got me started on my Scandi-crime novel kick.

I went from Larsson to Nesbø (Norway), to Arnaldur Indriðason (Iceland) - whom I love, love, LOVE! - and on through one series after another by dozens of great authors from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and even Finland. It's been great fun traipsing through Scandinavia for the past several years in the company of all kinds of fascinating fictional detectives, lawyers, journalists, etc.

I don't have time this morning, but one of these days I'll post a thread listing them all.

[shenmue]

6. Peter Turnbull, 'Denial of Murder'

An English mystery.

[TexasProgresive]

8. I'm in a slow reading mode.

I received a fine Jazz guitar for my birthday ("When I get older, losing my hair[oh1 done deal]). I haven't really played in 30 years and been spending a good part of my reading time practicing and learning a new skill, to sight read at least simple music notation. Gotta keep those remaining brain cell humming.

Anyway "By Valour and Arms" is nearing the end. I know that the final battle of Vicksburg is on the horizon. The fictional characters are lining up for some personal conflict and struggle.

When I finish this book I will probable start a children's book by Paul Galico (he wrote the Poseidon Adventure) called The Abandoned. And this summer I will jump right into the 3rd book of the Last Policeman. Maia is coming AIIIIAAAIIIII!!!!

[YankeyMCC]

9. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

Pretty good Space Opera stuff

[pscot]

10. Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa

Musashi is an iconic figure in Japan, sort of like Robin Hood, except ruthless, bloodthirsty and on the side of the Shogun. By his own count he was the victor in some 60 sword duels, mostly to the death. In his famous war against the Yoshioka dojo he killed off the entire Yoshioka male line and many of their adherents. He was 23 at the time. Nevertheless, his quest is essentially spiritual, as he seeks perfection by way of the sword. He's also famous as a poet, an artist and a calligrapher. Such drawings of his as survive today are highly prized. There's a love interest, of a uniquely Japanese sort, and an old woman who hounds him from one end of the country to the other seeking revenge for imagined injuries. For those who think they might find a thousand pages of this stuff a bit daunting, there is a graphic version of the story in 35 thick volumes, which I found incomprehensible.

[lovuian]

13. Keys of Life Trilogy series

http://www.amazon.com/Keys-Life-Justice-Carolyn-Schield-ebook/dp/B00JHV5TEK

It's new but it has great potential

[llmart]

14. He's a wonderful author.

I met him at a library program when I still worked in a public library. He's a Michigan author.

[Enthusiast]

16. Thanks, llmart.

[Paladin]

15. Going to the library to pick up Elizabeth Crook's "Monday, Monday."

It centers around Charles Manson's 1966 shootings in Austin. I'm interested in reading it, since I was in Austin that day and I know a number of people involved.