Sick Days Reading

Roary Sniffs a Good Book

This last week, I was pretty sick, but not too sick to read.  However, since longer material seemed a bit demanding, I started off with a lot of short fiction.

And, apparently, an interest in titles with the number three in them…

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading.  Two of the series I’m trying right now are due to FF reader mentions.

Completed:

Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh.  The first of her books set in New Zealand.  It’s hard to imagine now, but she had to fight to use and “exotic” setting, even though it was her homeland.

Nine From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riodan.  Audiobook.  Short stories set in his “Magnus Chase” series.  Definitely requires familiarity with the series, but light fun within that context.

Captured Within Waking Moments by Alan Allinger.  Short story collection.  Contemporary mythic fantasy.  Mostly very gentle, without being pablum.

DreamForge Anvil, magazine, volume six.  I waited to read this because it has the last published story by our good friend, John Jos. Miller.  It’s a good story, my favorite out of a good collection.

Three Witnesses by Rex Stout.  Nero Wolfe short stories.

Three Men Out by Rex Stout.  Nero Wolfe short stories.

Three Days to Never by Tim Powers.  Re-read, but it’s been a long while.  More akin to Declare than Last Call, with a spy thriller feel.

Wild Robert by Diana Wynne Jones.  Illustrated very short novel.  Although having its own story arc, it could also have been the opening to a novel.

In Progress:

The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint.  Re-read, but since I haven’t read it since soon after its original release, it’s the best of old and new.

All About Me! by Mel Brooks.  A memoir.  Upbeat.  Bonus.  Read by the author.  He even sings some of his lyrics.

Twilight of the Gods by Richard Wagner, translated and annotated by Frederick Paul Walter.  Ragnarök was too serious for while I was feeling cruddy, so I’m starting again now.

Also:

Two heavily illustrated volumes: David Bowie: A photographic memoir.  Through the lens of Terry O’Neill.  Also, David Bowie Icon, a collection of visual images with short pieces by the artists.  I guess this is the grown-up version of sitting in bed with a picture book when you’re sick.