Laurie R. King Virtual Book Club discussion
What Are You Reading Today? -(v2.0)
John wrote: "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!"It's been six years, so a long wait indeed.
I, too, am a huge fan of Julia Spencer-Fleming.
You will love it, and it releases very soon. I won an ARC and have posted my review. <3
As I’m spending a lot more time in the kitchen, I’m listening to the audiobook version of The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It’s the perfect sort of book for a fast reader like me, one full of beautiful prose that I might miss if I were reading it. It’s definitely not light bedtime reading. For that I just recently finished the latest #1 Ladies Detective Agency book, The Land of Long Lost Friends. It’s not as good as others in the series but still A gentle amusing read before bed.
Erin - I can recommend Trevor Noah's book, Born a Crime, as both really, really funny and makes you think. I listened to it - he narrates it - and would listen as I walked the dog and would find myself stopping because I was laughing so hard at times. I don't know if you've read any Lois McMaster Bujold, but her book, A Civil Campaign, is pretty funny. I'm not sure if you need to have read the earlier books in the saga first, though, since I read it in order.
Diana wrote: "As I’m spending a lot more time in the kitchen, I’m listening to the audiobook version of The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It’s the perfect sort of book for a fast reader like me, one full of ..."You make an excellent point about varying the speed of reading different books. When I taught speed-reading and study skills, we emphasized making a conscious choice about the appropriate speed, accounting for purpose and type of material. Slowing down for poetry, directions, and tests was as important as learning to speed up to get through blocks of material. One said she wouldn't have managed GREAT EXPECTATIONS without the white card method. (Card held above the page, descending at your chosen speed to make you stay focused and keep going. I've used it many times since, on less-enjoyable but necessary reading).
The Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews. I am prejudiced as she is a close friend but I loved her books before I knew her.
Erin wrote: "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 recommendation..."
I noticed that Ben Aaronovitch has out a new novella that, while it concerns magical policing, takes place in Germany, The October Man , and a new Peter Grant Rivers of London book, False Value. I haven't gotten to either yet, but he is reliably entertaining.
I agree the Trevor Noah autobiography is outstanding. It's funny and eye opening at the same time.
I am reading the seventh book in Nicci French's Frieda Klein series, Sunday Silence.I am listening to Murder in Thrall by Anne Cleeland. The reader, Marcella Riordan, is excellent.
Heidi wrote: "I am reading the seventh book in Nicci French's Frieda Klein series, Sunday Silence.I am listening to Murder in Thrall by Anne Cleeland. The reader, Marcella Riordan, is excellent."
I am a fan of Frieda Klein also. I need to read Saturday before I finish the series with the Sunday book. On my list of books to read.
Virginia wrote: "I, too, am a huge fan of Julia Spencer-Fleming."Virginia, I don't know if others who are fans of Julia's Clare and Russ series feel this way, but I actually get a calmness from reading Julia's writing. That doesn't mean that it's not exciting or thrilling or suspenseful, because it is all of those things. It's just that I feel that even when the story has a seemingly out-of-control situation, I feel there is a control of a larger force (maybe Clare's God), and that's rather reassuring in today's world.
Virginia wrote: "Heidi wrote: "I am reading the seventh book in Nicci French's Frieda Klein series, Sunday Silence.I am listening to Murder in Thrall by Anne Cleeland. The reader, Marcella Riordan, is excellent."..."
I so love Anne's Doyle and Acton series, Virginia. Have you read any of her romantic adventure books that she serializes, with links on her FB page and web page?
Kathy wrote: "Virginia wrote: "I, too, am a huge fan of Julia Spencer-Fleming."Virginia, I don't know if others who are fans of Julia's Clare and Russ series feel this way, but I actually get a calmness from r..."
I have never thought of that, but I do agree that there is a sense of serenity in her writing.
Virginia wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Virginia wrote: "I, too, am a huge fan of Julia Spencer-Fleming."Virginia, I don't know if others who are fans of Julia's Clare and Russ series feel this way, but I actually get a c..."
Yes, serenity. That's the word I was looking for. Thanks, Virginia.
I sometimes need a book that I call quiet. Miranda James' Charlie Harris/Diesel books do that for me.
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I had a NetGalley ARC of October Man last fall and it was a good read. Definitely missed Peter and Co, though so definitely looking forwared to False Value. I'm currently listening to Lies Sleeping so I remember how the story left off before reading the new one.
Mary wrote: "Diana wrote: "As I’m spending a lot more time in the kitchen, I’m listening to the audiobook version of The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It’s the perfect sort of book for a fast reader like me..."Mary, I think I must be an auditory learner, maybe from being read to as a child.
Diana wrote: "Mary wrote: "Diana wrote: "As I’m spending a lot more time in the kitchen, I’m listening to the audiobook version of The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It’s the perfect sort of book for a fast r..."Auditory learning is as valid as any other kind . . . in fact, it was surely THE way long before written language developed. <3
I am re-reading my odd collection of Ursula Le Guin. Today it is Four Ways to Forgiveness. I am seeing connections ... with cats! Do you know her children's books about the Catwings tribe? In an early short story she had a winged cat which carried a rider ... I wonder if any academic has done "The Cat in the works of Ursula LeGuin."I am also noticing descriptions of colors based on their appearance in nature (the color of a kingfisher, or a primrose, or shadows on snow late in the day). So perhaps with search engines turned loose on literature one could study "kingfisher blue" in English language literature.
Linda wrote: "I am re-reading my odd collection of Ursula Le Guin. Today it is Four Ways to Forgiveness. I am seeing connections ... with cats! Do you know her children's books about the Catwings tribe? In an ea..."Those are lovely books! I like the analysis topics, too. I once did a paper on Langston Hughes' use of dreams, like a recurring jazz theme. Just this morning I read in CRIME TRAVEL Anna Castle's "The Sneeze" in which the protagonist is researching Elizabethan drama -- time travel would be so helpful. ;-)
I'm reading The Long Earth, which I'm really enjoying - people had been recommending Terry Pratchett to me for years, but my little dip into Discworld just didn't do much for me - but this one is great, and I'm glad it's a series so I can keep going!
Mary wrote: "...Just this morning I read in CRIME TRAVEL Anna Castle's "The Sneeze" in which the protagonist is researching Elizabethan drama -- time travel would be so helpful. ;-) ..."If you're in the mood for historians who time travel, I highly recommend Connie Willis! If you want funny time travel, To Say Nothing of the Dog. If you want hopeful time travel, her two-book series on WWII, Blackout and All Clear. There is also her short story of London during the blitz, "Fire Watch," which can be downloaded here: https://epdf.pub/fire-watche7e83dbb58... And finally, if coronavirus has not gotten you too down on epidemic fiction, her absolutely masterful Doomsday Book, a fabulous meditation on the powers of community and empathy in a time of total disaster. (And if you want to listen to Doomsday Book, it is read by the awesome Jenny Sterlin, who reads the Russell/Holmes books.)
Lenore wrote: "Mary wrote: "...Just this morning I read in CRIME TRAVEL Anna Castle's "The Sneeze" in which the protagonist is researching Elizabethan drama -- time travel would be so helpful. ;-) ..."If you're..."
Lenore, I couldn't agree with you more about Connie Willis's historical time travelers. These are some of my favorite reads ever! Doomsday Book is easily in my top five reads, and that's saying a lot. I'm so glad to meet up with another fan of these books. They are definitely ones I'd choose to have with me if I had to pick only a certain number of books to keep.
Linda wrote: "I am re-reading my odd collection of Ursula Le Guin. Today it is Four Ways to Forgiveness. I am seeing connections ... with cats! Do you know her children's books about the Catwings tribe? In an ea..."Linda, I adore Ursula Le Guin's Catwings series. I have two sets of the four book series. I fell in love with these wonderful winged cats and would recommend them to adults and children.
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I read them aloud to the kids at the elementary school where I worked and made template drawings of the cats which they could color and cut out and hang as mobiles. One of the better projects the library lady came up with, if I do say so myself! Kind hands ... what a wonderful lesson.My Norwegian Forest Cat Sweet Purr is staring at me as I type (and purring) what beaut she would make as a flyer ... she is already a superb jumper!
Erin wrote: "Doomsday Book is an amazing book. But yeah....maybe a little too depressing for just this moment, imo. There are very few books that make me cry and that was one of them."I agree, Erin. I might not recommend to read right now, and I teared up over it, too.
Lenore wrote: "Erin wrote: "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 r..."
I read both the Aaronovitch books multiple times to make sure I got all the nuances ... and there are always things in them which make me realize that I missed things in previous books. And I read them with google maps showing the settings. My knowledge of London geography improves i
with every book.
I'm reading No One Is Coming to Save Us at the moment - it's not my usual thing (relationship/family drama), but it's so well-written that I'm really engaged halfway through!
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I realized I picked the book up just because the author's name was familiar, but that I actually have never read anything from her, LOL. I think she writes paranormal romance normally? Which actually isn't my thing, but I always get ads for since I do like urban fantasy and the ad people thing those are the same. But this is her non-paranormal thriller.
What are you reading this week?
Red Bones by Anne Cleeve. Have enjoyed all of her “Jimmy Perez” series and a bit sad that there aren’t more I haven’t read.
I've been reading through several of the Miss Silver mysteries by Patricia Wentsworth, which I bought as ebooks a while ago but never read. They are so classically Golden Age mysteries and so removed from the here and now that I'm finding them a real pleasure to read.
Last Friday a friend gave me The Sixth Man by David Baldacci and I barely left my reading chair all weekend! Certainly a thriller and took me out of myself for the entire weekend ... I haven't read anything by him before and explained to my boyfriend "girl with guns" :-) Maybe not the most intellectually challenging read, but in these times escapism has it's merits ...
I finished two lovely children’s books about Frida Kahlo and Pablo Neruda. Both are available in English and Spanish language formats. The artwork is brilliant and the history of two amazing artists is so enlightening for younger students learning literature, history, and art! Highly recommend!
The author of both books is Monica Brown. Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos and Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People.
I'm reading Across the Universe, which started off strangely, but is starting to get interesting about 1/3 of the way in.
I'm reading aA Curious Beginning by by Deanna Raybourn. Delightful, sort of Miss Fisher-ish.
I'm reading "A Letter of Mary" (I'm rereading the series) and thru the free Audible books for children "My Antonia" by Willa Cather. And I just got the audiobook for the May book club book. If you haven't heard - Audible is allowing free children and teen audiobooks right now.
I've been making a lot of masks and quilts and I like an audiobook while I sew
Laura wrote: “And I just got the audiobook for the May book club book. If you haven't heard - Audible is allowing free children and teen audiobooks right now.”So My Sister is available on Audible for free?
I apologize. I probably misled everyone. The new book for this month is not free on Audible. I got it from my library on OverDrive or Libby.Some Classics like "My Antonia" are free through the children's section of Audible.
Sorry for the confusion. My socially isolated brain didn't Make all the connections.
I'm re-reading (actually, listening to) A.S. Byatt's Possession, which I read and liked shortly after it came out, but I failed to recognize then how brilliant it is. It won the Booker Prize, which it surely deserved. It is simultaneously a romance within a romance, a parody of university politics, and in part, and a perfect imitation of Victorian literature -- poems, parts of stories, and letters -- and it references a whole host of thinkers and writers, all in a perfectly natural and readable/listenable manner. It is a mystery of sorts, although not a murder mystery, unraveling a hitherto unknown portion of the lives of two Victorian poets. I am blown away.
You know I was looking at my A.S. Byatts books recently ... thank you for the reminder
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Love that series!
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And re-listening to Sabriel by Garth Nix. Tim Curry (yes, THAT Tim Curry!) does the audio and it is perfect; if anyone needed a new audiobook recommendation. It's YA fantasy.
Listening to two audio books- coincidentally both histories- I listen as my holds on Overdrive become available.1- The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians by (interviewed by) David M. Rubenstein.
While I appreciate Rubenstein's philanthropic donations to our national monuments, etc., I find his interviewing style somewhat off-putting. That said, I'm learning or remembering some very interesting things about major historical figures.
2- A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. While it is a historical novel, it seems to me likely a personal family story.
I'm reading The Majesties at the request of a friend who wants to discuss it. It's interesting - one of those where the crime is at the beginning, then the rest of the book is a character reconstructing how things got to that point. So even though I technically know how it ends, I'm still not exactly sure how we're going to get there. :)
Reading my way through P. D. James' Insp. Adam Dalgliesh series and loving every plot and a variety of characters.
Laurie R. King Virtual Book Club
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Does anyone have any recommendation..."
My brain has slowed down & one book that made me laugh is probably out of print & my search for the title came to naught. But I've enjoyed books by Calvin Trillin (funny, light, food-centric - at least the ones I read).