Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion
Miscellaneous Book Talk
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Got any book/reading thoughts to share?
Sally/Aymster54 wrote: "I want to eye-read Harlan's new book, but I'm sure there are others I can try.
I totally understand the need to visually read some authors. You have a treat in store for you with Long Lost. I think it is one of Harlan's best.
Melodie wrote: "I'm currently reading EVERNIGHT by Claudia Gray which is another YA book somewhat in the TWILIGHT vein. It has vampires and a special school, but it is much better than P.C. & Kristin Cast's House..."Melodie I haven't heard of Claudie Gray and Evernight. I do like the Cast's series of books so if you think Gray is better I am going to check her out.
Gail/Ladyvolz wrote: "Melodie wrote: "I'm currently reading EVERNIGHT by Claudia Gray which is another YA book somewhat in the TWILIGHT vein. It has vampires and a special school, but it is much better than P.C. & Kris..."I didn't like Cast's books because of some undertones I picked up. Maybe it was just me and they weren't really there. I only read MARKED so maybe it lessens, but I was so turned off by that one that I sold books 2 & 3 on eBay.
Melodie
Gail/Ladyvolz wrote: "Melodie I haven't heard of Claudie Gray and Evernight. I do like the Cast's series of books so if you think Gray is better I am going to check her out..."Have you read Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampire books? I really love them! They're YA, too. I'm anxiously awaiting #6 which comes out in June.
Melodie
The next Jack Reacher book Gone Tomorrow is due in the US next week. He has a younger brother Andrew Grant (Lee's real name is Jim Grant) who has a debut novel called Even. It has gotten pretty good reviews.This article was in a recent nytimes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/boo...
Cheryl wrote: "The next Jack Reacher book Gone Tomorrow is due in the US next week. He has a younger brother Andrew Grant (Lee's real name is Jim Grant) who has a debut novel called Even. It has gotten pretty good reviews.This article was in a recent nytimes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/books/...
..."
Ooh, Cheryl, thanks. This article contains some treats and surprises.
Carol, off to request Even, (which doesn't have a bookjacket or link in the GR system yet) from the local library.
I found one with a bookcover for Even, it is on my to read shelf. teresa
Teresa wrote: "I found one with a bookcover for Even, it is on my to read shelf. teresa"Even
oh, here it is. don't know what happened earlier. thanks!
from a thread started about Absent Friends, we have discussed when you can't keep the characters straight in a book without a score card...A pet peeve of mine too, I hate to not be able to keep characters straight as I read, and may refer back to a previous introduction page. That is especially difficult with an audio book where your brain simply has to scramble to figure out who the "new" character is.
My current audio book, Set in Darkness An Inspector Rebus Novel, has way too many secondary and less important characters whose name begins with a 'C'. It makes for some brain scrambling as I listen! (to make sure that they are not less important characters as well as keep up with the change in POV!)
I understand that pet peeve, in my mind if I find them unnecessary I tend to tune them out, which makes for much brain scrambling if they become an important character. I think I would email the author and ask him what he was thinking?
Ann wrote: "A pet peeve of mine too, I hate to not be able to keep characters straight as I read, and may refer back to a previous introduction page. That is especially difficult with an audio book where your brain simply has to scramble to figure out who the "new" character is...."In one of the recent books I read, can't remember which, oh yes I can, it was [image error] , I finally gave up and made a list of each new character from the beginning. With all the family members, past and present, being introduced, even with the family tree at the beginning it was mind-boggling. Best thing I ever did, I used that list! Now I do it whenever I think of it, problem is I don't think of it until too late for most books.
It is harder to do this with an audio book, because I'm usually doing something (driving, gardening) so to stop and write down a name is impractical. This was a problem with Great Expectations. I found a web site, SparkNotes, that was helpful, it not only summarized chapters but had links for all the names that explained who they were. Unfortunately, in their enthusiasm they gave away major plot twists in their explanations of who the characters were (what were they thinking?) so that web site had a short life span for me, at least while I was reading the book.
I was referred on Facebook (Dana Stabenow) to a link to a rather long but most interesting article on the decline of reading by Ursula K. Le Guin at Harpers online. "Staying awake: Notes on the alleged decline of reading" has a lot of commentary topical to recent discussions here on e-reading devices and books vs. other media.
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/0...
I particularly liked Le Guin's comments on the physicality of books close to the mid-point of the piece:
"... If a book told you something when you were fifteen, it will tell it to you again when you’re fifty, though you may understand it so differently that it seems you’re reading a whole new book.
This is crucial, the fact that a book is a thing, physically there, durable, indefinitely reusable, an object of value."
Indeed.
Ann wrote: "I was referred on Facebook (Dana Stabenow) to a link to a rather long but most interesting article on the decline of reading by Ursula K. Le Guin at Harpers online. "Ann,
I haven't read the article (and can't take the time to follow the link right now) but I heard LeGuin interviewed on an NPR show today--not sure which one. I liked the things she had to say and thought about our discussions here as she talked about book love. She was also a delightful interviewee, funny and charming.
Jan O'Cat
Jan O'Cat:I am sorry I missed the NPR interview! In a nut shell (and probablt paraphrasing poorly) her opinion was regarding the alleged decline of reading based on the number of people polled who have not even read a single book in the past year -- she stated - was there ever a time when a majority of the population was literate and read books? She shared her opinion that the "golden age" of books was 1850 to 1950 and that the people running publishing houses these days don't understand readers at all.
JanOMalleycat wrote: "I haven't read the article (and can't take the time to follow the link right now) but I heard LeGuin interviewed on an NPR show today--not sure which one. I liked the things she had to say and thought about our discussions here as she talked about book love. She was also a delightful interviewee, funny and charming. "
Ann wrote: "Jan O'Cat:I am sorry I missed the NPR interview! In a nut shell (and probablt paraphrasing poorly) her opinion was regarding the alleged decline of reading based on the number of people polled wh..."
Ann, I bet there is a podcast available but it will be tricky to find without the name of the program.
I'm just finished reading House Harkonnen, part of the prequel series of the Dune Cycle. It is enlightening to discover so much of the back story to the main series. Now I have more reasons to hate Baron Harkonnen. Talk about bad to the bone! As an attorney, I have great appreciation for the Bene Gesserit genealogy that was supposed to lead to the true Kwisatz Hadarach.
Antoine:Nice to hear from you. My most recent reading of Dune books were the first two Machine Crusade prequel books by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson, Dune: The Butlerian Jihadand The Machine Crusade. I have the audio of Dune: The Battle of Corrin to listen to someday too.
Antoine wrote: "I'm just finished reading House Harkonnen, part of the prequel series of the Dune Cycle. It is enlightening to discover so much of the back story to the main series. Now I have more reasons to hateBaron Harkonnen. ..."
I'm reading The Machine Crusade now, then I'll go back to House Corrino. I've already read House Atreides.
I've liked the Kevin Anderson and Brian Herbert Dune novels that I've read, and I have read almost all of them. I haven't gotten to Sandworms of Duneyet.
You're way ahead of me, but I hope to catch up!
I went shopping again!! I just keep adding to my tbr pile that just keeps growing.This time I ordered from the Edward Hamilton, Bookseller catologue. They carry remainders for a cheap price, no sales tax and $3.50 shipping, no matter how large the order. Always enjoy bio's and true life adventures.
These are from the July 23 catalogue:
Pg. 85 The White Headhunter
Shanghaied in San Francisco in 1868, Jack Renton, a teenage Scots sailor, escaped and floated 2,000 miles across the Pacific. He became a trusted warrior to a group of headhunters on the Solomon Islands,and his tale of survival is explored here. 12 pages of photos. 331 pages
Pg, 99 A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog
by Dean Koontz
The author thought he had everything he needed. Then along came Trixie, a service dog with Canine Companions for Independence. She retired at three to become an assistance dog of another kind, teaching Koontz to trust his instincts.
I'm a Koontz fan and Trixie was very special to Koontz. When this book first came out, it was very expensive and it never came out in pb. Snagged this one for $5.95
pg. 39
The Day the Earth Caved In: an American Mining Tragedy
Offers a riveting account of the nation's worst mine fire, beginning on Valentine's Day, 1981, when 12 year old Tom Domboski plunged through the earth in his grandmother's back yard in Centralia, PA. Photos, 237 pgs.
pg. 40
Wreck of the Carl D: A true story of loss, survival and rescue at sea
Chronicles in dramatic detail the tragic accident of November 18,1958 when a 623 foot limestone carrier snapped in two and sank in less than five minutes in Lake Michigan. Photos, 245 pgs.
pg. 111
No! I don't want to join a book club
Marie Sharp may be a little creaky in the bones as she heads towards the big 6-0, but she is fine with it. She wants to "start doing old things" but her friends keep pestering her with activities.
Since I'll be turning 60 this November, I thought I would enjoy this one and also it sounds like a fun summertime read.
I also ordered a dvd
Pg. 21
Roy Orbison: Greatest Hits
I always liked his singing with his incredible range.
Brakedrum wrote: "I went shopping again!! I just keep adding to my tbr pile that just keeps growing.This time I ordered from the Edward Hamilton, Bookseller catologue. They carry remainders for a cheap price, no..."
I love Roy Orbison, too! CRYING is incredible, and even more so when it's the duet with k.d. lang!
Brakedrum wrote: "This time I ordered from the Edward Hamilton, Bookseller catologue. They carry remainders for a cheap price, ..."Lorraine,
I love Ed Hamilton! I've been ordering from them for years. Enjoy your haul!
Lorraine:The Koontz book about his dog, Trixie is a find! Great sounding books!!
Brakedrum wrote: "I went shopping again!! I just keep adding to my tbr pile that just keeps growing.
This time I ordered from the Edward Hamilton, Bookseller catologue. They carry remainders for a cheap price, ...Pg, 99 A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog
by Dean Koontz
The author thought he had everything he needed. Then along came Trixie, a service dog with Canine Companions for Independence. She retired at three to become an assistance dog of another kind, teaching Koontz to trust his instincts.
I'm a Koontz fan and Trixie was very special to Koontz. When this book first came out, it was very expensive and it never came out in pb. Snagged this one for $5.95 "
Laura Lippman's new psychological thriller, "I'd Know You Anywhere," us a powerful and superbly-written story. Maybe her finest book yet.
If anybody wants to read a good book, read Half A Doctor. You can get it on the Kindle. Parts of it are hilarious. The man that wrote it lives in my development and the things that happened to him, really happened.
Today I saw Carl Hiaasen on Book TV, talking about his latest, Star Island. With a protagonist named Cherry Pye it promises to be as whacky as his previous ones so I've put the HC and the audio on request.Not that I don't have enough to read...
I'm reading Star Island now and enjoying it.
I have Star Island from the library but need to finish Live to Tell. They're both due on the 19th...no laundry done again!
The book I just finished, Lay the Favorite: a Memoir of Gambling is a really unusual one. It's a chick book, but the chick is an aid to a couple big sports bookies and bettors - one of whom eventually opens an Internet betting site in the Carribean. This is kind of a Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas with gambling replacing the drugs, but at the same time the story of a young girl moving through some unusual territory. The author, Beth Raymer, won a Fulbright scholarship that allowed her to write this book.If you're looking for a pretty wild ride in 228 pages, give this one a try.
Daniel wrote: "The book I just finished, Lay the Favorite: a Memoir of Gambling is a really unusual one. It's a chick book, but the chick is an aid to a couple big sports bookies and bettors - one of whom eventu..."This sounds interesting, Dan-O (I've seen too many commercials for the "new" Hawaii Five-O, and every time I see it Dan-O is what I think of!). Have to check it out!
Melodie wrote: "This sounds interesting, Dan-O (I've seen too many commercials for the "new" Hawaii Five-O, and every time I see it Dan-O is what I think of!). Have to check it out! ..."
Book 'em, Dan-O! I will have to watch one episode, if only to feat my eyes on Daniel Dae Kim, and hear him speak perfect English for a change!
This sounds interesting, Dan-O (I've seen too many commercials for the "new" Hawaii Five-O, and every time I see it Dan-O is what I think of!). Have to check it out!Thought you might be one who would be interested, Melodie.
Book 'em, Dan-O! I will have to watch one episode, if only to feast my eyes on Daniel Dae Kim, and hear him speak perfect English for a change!I could just send you my picture and save you the time of looking for a new hunk.
Daniel wrote: "Book 'em, Dan-O! I will have to watch one episode, if only to feast my eyes on Daniel Dae Kim, and hear him speak perfect English for a change!I could just send you my picture and save you the time of looking for a new hunk. ..."
That's true. But only if it shows your legendary washboard abs.
This isn't my "Just Finished" "Now Reading" list - it is my library hold list and I am starting to plot how many of them I will get before the end of the year. It happens later in the holiday season, but books often free up quickly when people jettison their holds closer to Christmas. Then I get a pile of books just in time for vacation! ;) (but all due at once) ;(
Maybe this time / Jennifer Crusie 3 of 16 holds
Moonlight Mile / Dennis Lehane 5 of 7 holds
Full Dark, No Stars / Stephen King 40 of 57 holds
Late, late at night : a memoir / Rick Springfield 19 of 28 holds
Faithful Place [sound recording] : a novel / Tana French 6 of 7 holds
Worth dying for : a Reacher novel / Lee Child 46 of 102 holds
Of Love and Evil: The Songs of the Seraphim, a Novel / Anne Rice 5 of 5 holds
The reversal [sound recording] / Michael Connelly 4 of 6 holds
What the Night Knows / Dean Koontz 20 of 22 holds
Ann wrote: "This isn't my "Just Finished" "Now Reading" list - it is my library hold list and I am starting to plot how many of them I will get before the end of the year. It happens later in the holiday seas..."
My copies of MOONLIGHT MILE and Rick Springfield's bio are on the way. Looking forward to both!
I almost went a few weeks ago to met Rick Springfield but didn't.
Ann wrote: "This isn't my "Just Finished" "Now Reading" list - it is my library hold list and I am starting to plot how many of them I will get before the end of the year. It happens later in the holiday seas..."
I didn't know Rick Springfield had a book....I need to go check my library!
DonnaJo and Susie:Rick Springfield had a couple of local appearances here a couple of weeks ago too and I entertained the thought of going but it was a ticketed event for the one closest to me and I wouldn't get there in time to get a good number so didn't go. I look forward to reading his book!
Donnajo wrote: "I almost went a few weeks ago to met Rick Springfield but didn't."
Susie in KS wrote: "I didn't know Rick Springfield had a book....I need to go check my library! "
Here was here on a wednesday I think. And all I thought was the drive there and back plus standing on line. He was on a talk show a few weeks back talking about it. I remember when he went on General hospital the first time. Loved his music back then. I might try and get the book from the library.
I picked up another 3 or 4 this morning but don't ask what they were. I think 2 are mysteries and 2 might be romance. Never heard the author's or names of books before. Amethyst by Sharon Barrett, A lifetime of Vengeance by Pete PJ Shift by Lilith Saintcrow. All free. another thing they are doing on B&N is picking a certain author each week I believe or and some of their books will be largely discounted I forgot who is is for the first one (it might also be the whole month not sure) but some of the books were something like 99 cents. I still didn't pick up any.
Thanks, Lorraine - I saw this one, but think I will pass though tempted. This is good example of a book that I would find easier to read in print format as I don't know that I would go cover to cover. It is harder to get a sense of the scope of a book on the Kindle. Brakedrum wrote: "I snagged this freebie:
amazon.com/Angel-Death-Row-Penalty-ebook -- Angel of Death Row: My Life as a Death Penalty Defense Lawyer [Kindle Edition]
Andrea D Lyon (Author)"
Jan 17, 2012 is the release date of Nevada Barr's next book: The RopeIt's set in the Glen Canyon National Recreatonal Area.
Looking forward to another of hers.
I love the Anna Pigeon books. Thanks for the news!Brakedrum wrote: "Jan 17, 2012 is the release date of Nevada Barr's next book: The Rope
It's set in the Glen Canyon National Recreatonal Area.
Looking forward to another of hers."
I found this article in today's paper very interesting."In the second decade of the 21st century, some of the most compelling contemporary crime-fiction novels are either set in or coming from Africa. Much as Scandinavia became associated with the genre a few years back -- thanks in large part to Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy -- Africa may become a new capital of literary crime."
Here is the whole article:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/...
thanks Lorraine! Interesting! I just requested a sample of Kindle title Dust DevilsBrakedrum wrote: "I found this article in today's paper very interesting.
"In the second decade of the 21st century, some of the most compelling contemporary crime-fiction novels are either set in or coming from Af..."
Ann wrote: "thanks Lorraine! Interesting! I just requested a sample of Kindle title Dust DevilsAnn, I decided to buy the book for 3.99. It had good reviews and it's only available on the kindle.
I checked my library website, there were a few African mystery writers available:
Cole, Sam : Cape Greed
Meyer, Deon: Blood Safari
Smith, Roger: Mixed Blood and Wake up Dead
Check your library, some may be avaiable.
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Sally,
I have to second An..."
Marcy - what a good deal that is! When I catch my breath, I'm going to check it out. I want to eye-read Harlan's new book, but I'm sure there are others I can try.