What Are You Reading Today? -(v2.0)

[Sara]

I enjoyed this book so much. However, as much as I have adored the Little House books since I was a child, Prairie Fires did take some of the shine off Laura Ingalls Wilder. She was definitely a human being with her own collection of foibles. It was also eye-opening to read about her daughter. Talk about a piece of work!!!!!

[Reggie]

I liked Prairie Fires so much I bought a copy so I could take my time reading it when I didn’t finish my library copy. Still working through the information jam packed history.

[Norah]

I think that was one of the charms of the book, that you see the real people. I still love the LH books and think they are valuable, but the family dynamics made this book very interesting. There were hints of it in some of the later LH books: "Lousey Liza Jane", Laura's mother's comment when Laura becomes pregnant, the threat of Liza Jane and the mother planning a big wedding, etc. But the toil and grief and true bitterness of their lives was eye opening. Would love to talk more.🤓🤓

[Kim]

Norah wrote: "I have just finished PRAIRIE FIRES: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is an amazing piece of research, fascinating, sobering, and with a touch of tragedy. The psychological drama th..."

Thanks for letting me know about this, Norah! Have just reserved a copy at my library. :) Should -hopefully- get it either by the end of the week or the beginning of next week. Thanks again for the rec! :)

[Erin]

Seems like there are several of you who have read Prairie Fires and would like to chat about it. Feel free to start a new thread for the discussion if you'd like!

[Norah]

How?

[Erin]

Norah wrote: "How?"

From the main group screen where you can see all the threads on the dashboard, at the top of the list of discussions on the right (above where it shows the last updated date for each thread) it says "topics: all/new/unread," click on the "new" in the middle.

But no worries; I'm happy to start one up for you :-)

[Erin]

Resurrecting an old thread. What are you reading today?

I'm rereading Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak series and I'm up to book #12 (A Fine And Bitter Snow). And I've got Hollywood Homicide by Kellye Garrett out from the library.

[Dina]

Erin, I am a big fan and for various and sundry reasons, A Fine and Bitter Snow is a particular favorite.

She also has two other series which I recommend. The Liam Campbell is another mystery series set in Alaska and the Star Svensdotter which is set in space.

[Erin]

Dana: oh yeah, I'm a major Stabenow fan. I've read all of her books except Death of an Eye, which is still on my TBR pile. Just the new one came out this month and I realized I haven't read the earlier books in like ten years. A good time for a reread!

[Dayna]

Just started Alas, Babylon, which I picked up from the free pile at school, partly in a panic because there was nothing on the TBR stack at home. It’s a reprint from 2007 with a foreword by David Brim. The genre (after the fall of civilization) is a fav of mine, so I’m not sure why I haven’t read it already. The foreword draws parallels between the late 50s when the book was written and circa 2007, some of which still resonates today. Brim brings in some other classics in the genre, like On the Beach, which I have read, and some that I haven’t but will definitely check out, since I’ve already read Crossing Places for March.

[Sara]

I am listening to "The Rise of Magicks" by Nora Roberts and have "To the land of long lost friends" by Alexander McCall Smith on the bedside table.

[Paula]

I am reading the start of new series by Anne Perry. I am reading the actual hard cover book! It's set in the early 1930s as Hitler's Germany begins to be a problem in Europe and the attitudes by those who say 'never again' after the War to end all wars is proving that it did not. Powerful ideas and well written.

[Sabrina]

I've been loving Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. That, and his Stormlight Archive. Really good fantasy books! Only problem is they're 1000 pages a piece. But on the plus side I have them in audiobook and I listen to them while running... so that's a lot of miles.

[Mary]

I just got Elaine Viets' A STAR IS DEAD. That should keep me out of trouble for a day or so.

[Lenore]

Having finished The Crossing Places, I took a fiction break, and listened to Educated, and am now listening to My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel. But all the publicity about the coronavirus has me (perversely) wanting to read more epidemic fiction. Having already read the fabulous Doomsday Book, Station Eleven, and World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, I have put myself on the library waiting list for The Years of Rice and Salt.

[Dayna]

Lenore—one non-fiction book I would recommend is Pale Rider by Laura Spiney. The news on Covid-19 has be thinking about the Spanish Flu epidemic.

[Rosie]

I’m finishing up the second of The Agency Series. After the first one being a little bumpy I wanted to see if the second in the series would smooth out a bit. Well for me it seems that the two main characters did mature somewhat. But still a challenge for me to piece all the elements of the story together. Also I’d like to share I recently finished The House Girl by Tara Conklin, a good read. It’s her debut novel and follows the life of a woman who is slave and a modern day woman, and their connection. I really loved it. Now on to The Crossings. And thank you all for this VBC. I’ve been a member for awhile but never posted.

[Lenore]

Dayna wrote: "Lenore—one non-fiction book I would recommend is Pale Rider by Laura Spiney. The news on Covid-19 has be thinking about the Spanish Flu epidemic."

Oh, yay! My library has it in audio format! Thanks, Dayna!

[Cynthia]

I am reading Gertrude Bell's diaries from Syria, "The Desert and the Sown", and am now understanding better some of Ms. King's background material for "O Jerusalem." Really fascinating.

[Cynthia]

Ovidia wrote: "Kathy B. wrote: "Erin wrote: "Louise wrote: "Do any of the others know the extreme frustration of reading a series from the library and having to just give up and read it out of order? "

More ofte..."

Most libraries are happy to accept donations

[Megan]

I'm currently reading Just One Day, which is hardly the most original premise, but is starting to draw me in. I'm also listening to Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving, which is wonderful. So no mysteries right at the moment, but I'll get back to those soon!

[Dena]

Re-reading Bill of Wrongs by the late, great & heart-breakingly missed Molly Ivins & co-author Lou Dubose. It was published in 2007 & is all too relevant today. I went back to this after seeing the documentary "Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins."

[Megan]

I'm now reading Enter a Murderer, after having read my first Ngaio Marsh with my book club last year and falling in love with her dialogue writing. I can't believe Inspector Alleyn hasn't been remade/rebooted like every other show from 30 years ago lately!

[Kris]

Today I just finished Chuck Wendig's The Wanderers and am so full of the joy of having read it. As many of you know, I love big books and I cannot tell a lie. I had to keep setting it aside and read something else so as to have room to process each part. Excellent sci-fi. Now I'm too happy to sleep!

[Kris]

Megan wrote: "I'm now reading Enter a Murderer, after having read my first Ngaio Marsh with my book club last year and falling in love with her dialogue writing. I can't believe Insp..."

Dena wrote: "Re-reading Bill of Wrongs by the late, great & heart-breakingly missed Molly Ivins & co-author Lou Dubose. It was published in 2007 & is all too relevant today. I went back to this after seeing the..."

[Kris]

Megan wrote: "I'm now reading Enter a Murderer, after having read my first Ngaio Marsh with my book club last year and falling in love with her dialogue writing. I can't believe Insp..."

I think Ngaio Marsh's name should always appear when speaking of Josephine Tey, Margery Allingham, or Agatha Christie.

[Megan]

Kris wrote: "Megan wrote: "I'm now reading Enter a Murderer, after having read my first Ngaio Marsh with my book club last year and falling in love with her dialogue writing. I can'..."

Yes! Apparently her books fell out of print for quite a while - I don't know why, but I'm sure someone here does...I'm sure it was something to do with rights or the publisher's finances or something else unrelated to the quality or content of the writing.

[Diane]

I’m reading The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley. It contains characters and connections to The Shadowy Horses and The Winter Sea.

[Lenore]

I just finished The Dry and thought it was the best murder mystery I've read in a long time. Outback Australia is itself a character in this book, and the human characters are as well drawn. I think it should be on our group reading list, with the caveat that some will be put off by the fact that it begins with the murder of a family, including a little boy, and reflects back on the death of a teenager 20 years earlier. And it's kind of gritty, with a lot of threats of violence and other hostile behavior. But it was a great listen.

[John]

I agree, The Dry is terrific and Jane Harper is a wonderful writer (and lovely in person!)

[Sabrina]

Lenore wrote: "I just finished The Dry and thought it was the best murder mystery I've read in a long time. Outback Australia is itself a character in this book, and the human characters are as we..."

I've had that book beside my bed waiting to read for a year now... I really need to get to it.

[Kathy]

Lenore, The Dry is a favorite read of mine, too. I've loved all three of her books, so I hope you will read Force of Nature and The Lost Man, too. After reading The Lost Man, I thought it was definitely my favorite, and it probably is, but when I think about the other two, I was thrilled with them as well.

Sabrina, I definitely think you'd enjoy Jane Harper's books. And, lucky John has met the author. Of course, he's met almost every author, right John? Hahaha!

[Sara]

I highly recommend The Curse of Chalion and the Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. She is a first-rate writer!

[KarenB]

I highly recommend The Curse of Chalion and the Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. She is a first-rate writer!

I adore her books! Paladin of Souls was the first I read - the title intrigued me at the library - and I just devoured all of hers. Paladin of Souls and A Civil Campaign are probably my favorites, although for very different reasons!

[Sabrina]

Sara wrote: "I highly recommend The Curse of Chalion and the Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. She is a first-rate writer!"

I read The Curse of Chalion and it was probably the most unique fantasy I've come across. I really like it, but it took a bit for me to get used to her writing style. I always meant to read Paladin of Souls after.

[John]

I concur! I am a long-time fan of Lois McMaster Bujold, and have enjoyed all of her books. Highly recommended!

[Erin]

Super excited to be reading the latest Mercy Thompson book from Patricia Briggs, Smoke Bitten!

[KarenB]

Super excited to be reading the latest Mercy Thompson book from Patricia Briggs, Smoke Bitten!
I thought it was really good! Enjoy!

Just saw that N. J. Jemisin's new book, The City We Became, just landed in my kindle. I know what I'll be doing for the next couple of days.

[John]

I was supposed to see her on the 31st, but of course cancelled. Maybe another time.

[Dina]

The Mercy series is one of my favorites. And Smoke Bitten was great!

[Megan]

I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle for my IRL book club - I didn't realize until now how much I'm not interested in dog breeding. Like, not even the tiniest bit. But I've certainly suggested plenty of books that were not other members' things, so I will press on!

[Laura]

I just saw that the "Widows of Malibar Hill" that we read a few months ago, is available on US Kindle for $1.99 today.
I didn't finish it so I'm looking forward to finishing it during virus isolation.

[Jessica C.]

Just read Get a Life, Chloe Brown By Talia Hibbert and am going to move to the ARC of the next book in the series.

[Dayna]

Just started _The Chemist_ by Stephenie Meyer. I read the Twilight sagas but enjoyed _The Host_ more. So far, I’m not drawn in to Chemist, but I’ll give it a fair go. Anyone here read it and would encourage me to keep reading?

[Kathy]

I'm reading Julia Spencer-Fleming's latest Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne book, Hid from Our Eyes. It will be out April 7th. Any more fans of this wonderful series here?

[Lenore]

Megan wrote: "I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle for my IRL book club - I didn't realize until now how much I'm not interested in dog breeding. Like, not even the tiniest bit. But I've certai..."

That's why I never read this book! I read some sort of description when it came out and decided it was not for me.

[John]

Kathy, I have been a fan of Julia’s books for years and I am quite looking forward to the new book in the series; it has been a bit of a wait!

[Megan]

Lenore wrote: "Megan wrote: "I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle for my IRL book club - I didn't realize until now how much I'm not interested in dog breeding. Like, not even the tiniest bit. B..."

You made the right choice - it's painful. I feel like I've been reading it forever and it will never end!

[Erin]

I feel like I need something funny to read right now so I'm re-listening to Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson.

Does anyone have any recommendations for funny books?