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[Werner]

For his 11th birthday this past fall, my wife and I gave our grandson Philip a copy of a book he'd seen at his school library and wanted to own, E. L. Konigsburg's Newbery Award-winning . He likes it quite a bit, and recently loaned it to me with his recommendation, as he did last year with John Gardner's Stone Fox. Since I take his recommendations seriously, I promised him I'd give it priority after I finished the book I was currently reading. So, I've started in it today!

[Werner]

My author friend Andrew Seddon always generously gives me a copy of each anthology where one of his many excellent short stories appears, and I always treat these as review copies --although in truth, he'd share these with me out of kindness, whether I reviewed them or not! Since late last year, I've been sitting on two of these, and been trying as much as possible to prioritize them. Last night, I finally got a start on the shorter one, . It's published by the small press WolfSinger Publications, which has turned out quality anthologies before.

[MichelleCH]

Would love to get your thoughts on Mein Kampf. Iam currently reading a complete page-turner 11/22/63. I really didn't expect to like it as much as I do.

[MichelleCH]

I totally agree with you Charlie. It is rather eerie how closely our modern times are mimicking the past. I am looking forward to your quotes. I worry about the climate both in terms of ecology and our country :)

This is my first King novel and I have always been in your camp - as I get older, I am less of a fan of horror. I placed the book on hold about three months ago and when it was available I was almost dreading it. So far it has been a fascinating alternative history narrative. And I hear you for sure, last year I stopped adding books to my TBR list (although I added a few more this month). I have also revisited my list I have to see if I still have interest. I am sure it can be culled even more.

[Werner]

Over the weekend, I started two new reads. One is a paper book, . This is another short story anthology, and again a gift (which I choose to treat as a review copy) from my friend Andrew Seddon, who has a story included. The cover is a disturbing and depressing image, but it fits the collection's theme: these are stories particularly aimed at giving voice to the concerns of the marginalized and oppressed.

On my Kindle app, I'm reading a short e-story (though, at 64 pages, it's at the longer side of the "short' story range), by Guido Henkel. The author is a member of one of my other groups, and one of my Goodreads friends gave the story a very favorable review a few years ago. It's an introduction to the author's Jason Dark series, Jason being a protagonist in the "psychic detective" tradition. You can download it free for Kindle, as a teaser for the series.

[Reggia]

Hi everyone! Still working through The Golem and the Jinni... it was slow going the first 100 pages but now I'm finding myself stealing time for a few pages before getting up each day.

Soon, I'll be starting Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I've never read this in completion as a child. As a mother of young children, I detested the Golden Book variety of these adventures and even hid them from the kids so they couldn't ask me to read them! LOL, but I didn't mind if they read it on their own. Go figure, right?

I never was able to watch any of the movies, either... until the 2010 movie, which I saw at the $2 theater with my then-teen daughters. I was surprisingly intrigued. So now, I will read the book with fresh eyes.

[Werner]

Laurel June Thompson is a local independent author here in the Bluefields; she's an acquaintance of my wife, who gave me a copy of the lady's debut novel, Falling Rain, last Christmas. Because of the personal connection, I've been wanting to prioritize that read as much as possible; but I decided to put one book ahead of it.

Thompson bases much of the plot of her novel on , an ancient Jewish writing composed between the Old and New Testaments (it wasn't actually written by the antediluvian patriarch Enoch). That book is a significant primary source for Jewish religious thought in that era, so it provides background for the study of both Testaments; it's actually been on my to-read list for years for that reason. The fact that it would also provide important background for Thompson's book gave me the push I needed to read it now, so I started on it this afternoon.

[MichelleCH]

Reggia wrote: "Hi everyone! Still working through The Golem and the Jinni... it was slow going the first 100 pages but now I'm finding myself stealing time for a few pages before getting up each ..."
Loved the Golem and the Jinni! Enjoy!

[Reggia]

Loved it, Michelle! Just finished yesterday...

Now I'm going to finish Cry the Beloved Country which I had started a few months ago.

[Werner]

Earlier today, I started reading the novel I mentioned in my previous post, .

[Reggia]

I trust you'll find it more enjoyable reading than the previous book relating to Enoch.

I'm making good progress with Cry.

[Werner]

I thought Cry, the Beloved Country was on my to-read shelf (I'd certainly always meant for it to be there!), but I just discovered that it actually wasn't. I've now remedied that omission!

[Reggia]

I'm so glad I returned to this book [Cry] to finish the "good read"! The narrative style (not the usual structure of quotations when someone is speaking) in the beginning was a little difficult, but I got beyond that eventually. Post-reading, it would've been a loss to not have it on my mental and spiritual bookshelf of which the heart and mind share.

[Reggia]

It was one of those books that makes it difficult to start another. One feels it would somehow be disrespectful to pick up another fictional read too soon.

I just watch the 1995 movie... As is usual the case for me, it's doubtful I would've been able to follow the story if I had not read the book first.

While reading the book, I often wondered if Alexander McCall Smith was inspired by this novel in writing his #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Although McCall Smith's series of little stories can't be compared to the seriousness of Cry, I see the same love for each author's African country, and their seeming desire to share the goodness (read: gentleness, respect, manners) of the people.

With that in mind, I did a search and came across this website listing many author's Top 10 Favorite Books: Top 10 Author List

[Werner]

Reggia, for some reason, that link doesn't seem to work (at least, it didn't for me just now).

[Reggia]

I fixed the link, Werner... thanks for letting me know!

[Werner]

Yes, Reggia, it works now! Thanks for sharing it.

[Werner]

This month, another group I belong to is doing a common read of , the opening novel of Norah Lofts' House trilogy. I'd read this back in 1963 or thereabouts, and I rarely reread books. But I'd gotten a copy by interlibrary loan to refer to for the discussion, and intended to review the book before returning it. As the discussion proceeded, I became aware of how many details I'd forgotten, and realized that a proper review will demand a re-reading. So, I started my second read of the book this morning, though I'm joining the common read late!

[Matt]

I'm jumping from the 1915-1935 range (France and Lewis) to something more modern with AWOL on the Appalachian Trail and The Grand Design

[Christine]

I've just finished Silence Fallen, by Patricia Briggs, tenth in the Mercy Thompson series. Do we have any other urban fantasy fans here? : )

I was both thrilled to get my hands on the newest book in the series, and a little disappointed with the plot. It may be that I read the entire book in one day, while recovering from a serious migraine the day before. Perhaps I wasn't as focused as I normally am. I haven't written a review yet, but plan to soon.

[Christine]

Werner, The Townhouse sounds interesting! I'll have to add it. It reminds me of a BBC series I watched this past winter, called "The Village." Have you seen that? It was superbly acted.

[Werner]

Christine wrote: "I've just finished Silence Fallen, by Patricia Briggs, tenth in the Mercy Thompson series. Do we have any other urban fantasy fans here? : )

Yes, Christine, I like urban fantasy (when it's well written, of course!), though I haven't read a lot of it so far. My first introduction to it was in the work of Charles de Lint (Yarrow, and Dreams Underfoot. I've read and really liked the first Mercy Thompson book, but decided not to pursue the series in order to concentrate more on the Dresden Files, though as yet I've only read Storm Front. (Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series was another one I intended to follow, but I was disappointed with the second book.) I can also recommend the anthology Dark and Stormy Knights.

Since you like historical fiction, I'd definitely recommend The Town House, and the whole House trilogy, which was my first introduction to Lofts' work. There are some other novels by her that I've liked as well or even better; and in general I'd recommend all of her work that I've read, with the exception of Colin Lowrie, one of her very early works (before she got her stride), which I didn't finish. (It's sometimes published under the title Out of This Nettle.)

No, I haven't heard of The Village. (For the past decade or more, I haven't had much time to watch TV at all, what with one thing and another; and even before that, my evening work schedule during the school year played havoc with TV watching.) Thanks for putting it on my radar; I'll have to keep an eye open for it on DVD!

[Christine]

Hi Werner! Thanks for the recommendations. I hope to start The Townhouse this spring or summer.

I'm also a Charles de Lint fan; his books were my introduction to urban fantasy. I was privileged to meet him at a Faerie Festival in Maryland, six or seven years ago. He was so interesting to talk with, and a true gentleman.

I keep going back and forth about the Jane Yellowrock series. I hear both good and not-so-good opinions. Mercy Thompson is a huge favorite for me.

I understand about having no time for tv viewing... especially because I prefer to read. I avoid regular television: we actually got rid of our cable three years ago. With news online, and a dvd player, I'm set to watch only what I'm willing to spend time on. I did enjoy "The Village" series, though. BBC generally has good programming, and this was historical fiction that was heavy on the historical. It is out on dvd: I borrowed Seasons 1 & 2 from the library.

[Werner]

Hope you like The Town House, Christine. (And it's cool that you got to meet de Lint in person! I can imagine that he'd be fascinating to talk to.)

I've liked a lot of the BBC programs that find their way to PBS. But like you, I tend to get my news online (or from print sources) nowadays, not from TV; and since we have a VHS/DVD player, if I do turn on the TV, I'm apt to use the former instead of watching the network programming.

Faith Hunter is an enormously gifted writer; the first Jane Yellowrock novel, Skinwalker, got five stars from me, and the second book, Blood Cross, still got four. The reason I decided to stop following the series has to do with my personal sensibilities, not any lack of writing ability on the author's part. You might not have the same issue with it that I did. Mine might be said to be somewhat "spoilerish" (though I didn't use spoiler tags in my review). If you're interested, here are the links to my reviews of both books: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[MichelleCH]

Charly wrote: "Just finished Women in Love, continuing extended read of Mein Kampf, and starting Gone Girl."
Gone Girl is definitely a page-turner. Enjoy!

[Reggia]

Just started The Forgotten Garden

[Linda]

"Olive Kitteridge"

[Werner]

I've just started reading the story collection , by (of course) one of my favorite authors, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Most of the stories are ones I haven't read elsewhere, even though I'm a Holmes fan; and I'm particularly interested in one, "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire." That one was dramatized years ago, in the PBS adaptations of the Holmes canon starring Jeremy Brett, as "The Last Vampire" (which I taped on VHS), and I've wanted to read it ever since. (First published in 1927, the collection will also count towards our group's ongoing 250 classics challenge.)

Meanwhile (despite the unattractive cover) I'm also reading the short e-story , the second installment in Guido Henkel's Jason Dark story series, on my Kindle app. (I expect that to be a short read, however).

[Werner]

I've read and greatly liked the late Michael Crichton's novels Jurassic Park and Timeline, and I've been intrigued by the descriptions and some of the reviews of his last novel, . When I found a copy of the latter at a thrift store a few years ago, I snapped it up. This morning, I finished the book I was reading sooner than I'd expected, and before checking out the library book I'd intended to follow it with; so I needed a substitute from the TBR piles here at home, and the Crichton book was the one that called to me. :-)

[Matt]

I have never read a Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two Cities, so I thought it might be a good time to do so. When I have free time with an actual book, I am finishing up The Grand Design.

Edit, that reads odd... Tale of Two Cities I am reading as an e-book.

[Reggia]

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts when you're finished, Matt.

I'm still plugging away with The Forgotten Garden.

[Reggia]

I finished the 2nd half of The Shack after having read only the first half a year ago. I'm now completing a few more books that I had previously left unfinished, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the nonfiction Marie Antoinette: The Journey.

[Matt]

Currently reading A Tale of Two Cities and about to start Anansi Boys

[Matt]

Reggia wrote: "I'll be interested to hear your thoughts when you're finished, Matt.

I'm still plugging away with The Forgotten Garden."

Reggia, which book were you referring? I'm still working on a A Tale of Two Cities, as I try to read it during free time at work. I'm about 64% of the way complete with it. It takes some time to get used to the characters and the writing style, but the story is an interesting one so far. I couldn't imagine understanding it well in high school, so I am glad I am reading it now (late 30s).

[Linda]

Charly wrote: "Linda, glad you put this up because I thought I had read it and i went to see what I had rated it and I had not read it yet."

I'm still reading the book. There are times when I can't put the book down and other times when I say I hope this gets better.
(Olive Kitteridge)

[Christine]

I'm enjoying The Movement of Stars, by Amy Brill. I recently finished a story anthology, Echoes of Sherlock Holmes (ed. by King & Klinger). As a lifelong Holmes aficionado, I was unable to put that one down.

[Werner]

Being a college library, the library where I work doesn't spend a lot of money on contemporary fiction; but we like to have some, to encourage students to get into reading for pleasure rather than only when they have to. In some of my groups, I've encouraged members who are authors to consider donating copies of their books to us. One who took me up on that invitation, earlier this year, is Tom Holzel, author of the action-SF novel .

Though it was published about a year ago, Tom's book still hasn't garnered any reviews on Goodreads except the author's (though it does have four ratings, counting his, averaging four stars, and a few positive reviews elsewhere). It's been on my to-read shelf for awhile; I've been waiting for it to be cataloged and processed for the shelf here, but I finally resolved not to make the author wait for that unpredictable event. So I borrowed it from the processing cart, and started reading it yesterday.

[Werner]

In electronic format, I've started reading a PDF review copy of my Goodreads friend Shane Joseph's soon-to-be-published story collection, . Since I've greatly enjoyed both of the books by Shane that I've read before, I have high expectations for this one.

[Matt]

I just started reading Leviathan, which I expect will take me some time to get through, and The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women.

[Linda]

Starting "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier Clay" by Michael Chabon. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize.


Library book club selection - very small print and 678 pages.

[Christine]

My first buddy-read: Illuminae: The Illuminae Files_01, with my Goodreads friend, Maria.

[Yvonne]

Starting my first Bernard Cornwell book Stonehenge. A lovely recommendation from a friend.

[Werner]

One of my Goodreads friends, author Lance Charnes, recently donated his latest novel, , the opener for a projected series, to the Bluefield College library. It's a crime/mystery thriller, set in the world of high-priced art collecting (and sometimes of swindling and stealing), a milieu Lance has done a lot of research in. Since I really liked his debut novel, , I've just started on this new one. And I'm really hoping to read his , which is in one of my many TBR piles, early next year.

[Werner]

When I started my latest e-book read, I expected it to take about six weeks (I usually don't read very quickly in that format). To my great surprise, when I actually got started on it, I finished it in six days! So, I've gone on to start the next PDF in the queue, a review copy of by medical doctor Ibrahim Masoodi. It's a memoir/travelog (the author was, I believe, born in Kashmir), presented along with life lessons and health tips. (This type of nonfiction isn't really my thing, but I agreed to review it anyway.)

[Reggia]

Werner, it sounds like my type of book!

In my reading pile, I'm back to a biography of Marie Antoinette: The Journey, after a year or more hiatus.

[Reggia]

Wow! you are flying through some books lately.

[Reggia]

I'm slipping some shorter reads in as well with {book: The Alchemist}.

Your golf course job, eh?

[Christine]

I'm still working on the 600 page Illuminae. Slow reading these past few weeks, as my son has been in and out of the hospital.

I'm also dipping into Studies in Sherlock, a story anthology (edited by Laurie R. King & Leslie Klinger). Very entertaining, though my favorites are always too short!

Has anyone read Ms King's Mary Russell series? I find the series to be a wonderful extension of the Holmes tales, in his "later years." Looking forward to her next book, though it may be awhile.

[Christine]

Charly, I had meant to ask you: how are you finding Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore? I really enjoyed it.

[Werner]

Christine, I hope your son will soon be feeling top-notch, and out of the hospital to stay!

I've read the series opener for the Mary Russell series, The Beekeeper's Apprentice, and it got five stars from me. my review is here, if you're interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... .