Currently Reading? Just Finished? Showing 2,401-2,450 of 10,166

[Rachel]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "But he didn't. This was intended to be 10-book series."

Ten? Goodness!

[aprilla]

Bryan wrote: "Just finished Birdman by Mo Hayder. I could not get into it at all. After 200 pages, I started skimming. I had no problem with the gore/horror, it was the "boring-ness"..."

Yikes Bryan you are sounding like I feel... Spooky!
Still Missing looks good, I might try it... and have you tried Gillian Flynn? You might enjoy hers, either, both are good :)

[Diane S ☔]

I am reading The Body in the Gazebo by Katherine Hall Page. Three different storylines going but not confusing at all.

[James]

I just finished re-reading The Creed of Violence and liked it even better the second time around.

[Jmm]

I've really been enjoying the Joe Farraday series by Graham Hurley. I've read the first two ("Turnstone" & "The Take") and they are excellent police procedurals with a great central character & very good plotting. A very nice change from serial killers. Also enjoying "Old City Hall" by Robert Rotenberg for the same reasons.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Over the weekend I finished an interesting book, City of Silver: A Mystery by Annamaria Alfieri. Set in 1650 Petosi Peru, the richest city in the Western Hemisphere at the time and the source of most of the silver for the Spanish monarchy, there is plenty of action and intrigue with the Crown, the Church, and the Inquisition all vying for power and the murder of a young girl at the center of the story.

[Bryan]

aprilla wrote: "Bryan wrote: "Just finished Birdman by Mo Hayder. I could not get into it at all. After 200 pages, I started skimming. I had no problem with the gore/horror, it was the..."

No, but I have heard of her and I have her first two books on my to-read list!

[Elli]

Started Tin Ticket. Rather like a literary documentary so far, but I haven't gotten very far yet. Discussing the about 100 year transport of women convicts from Great Britain to Tasmania and is documenting lives and conditions, attitudes, etc. Interesting so far, not fascinating, but that could change as the pages go by. The author uses the term, "social engineering" which I find very interesting...sort of ties it into all sorts of unsuccessful projects that don't exactly shine over historical span ... from theocratic leadership decisions to change the world, to those of genocide by political leadership, or resettling and conquering by other leaders. At best, records leave very checkered pictures for future interested people. Will be anxious to see further; the author really did some really complete research on this including going so far as to getting to know descendants and using their records and stories, also relatives and other materials back in home countries including Ireland from which a huge number of ladies were sent. She refers to the resourcefulness of women in really undesirable situations from which escape is almost impossible, even today. A really intersting food-for-thought attitude!

[[deleted user]]

Finished Death at La Fenice. A good start to a series I think I will really enjoy. It was fun being in Venice, although I wanted more descriptions of the city. I guess I'll just have to read the next one ;-)

[[deleted user]]

Stephan wrote: "...in spite of his loathing of tourists. "

I can't say as I blame him. The tourist season is in full swing here in Rome and it is very difficult to deal with the massive double-decker tourist buses that get stuck in the small streets, double park in impossible places to offload sightseers, leave their engines running for hours (for the a/c) in front of important monuments. *sigh* I wish there were a better way to ferry the tourists around.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Hayes wrote: "Stephan wrote: "...in spite of his loathing of tourists. "

I can't say as I blame him. The tourist season is in full swing here in Rome and it is very difficult to deal with the massive double-dec..."

Just what I was thinking, Hayes. Thursdays we have 6 cruise ships in - an extra 15k or so people in our town of 10k.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

I lived near Gettysburg, PA for a few years and I remember having to find alternate routes to the grocery store to avoid the crowds of tourists in the middle of the summer. It's not that you don't want others to enjoy these wonderful places but it does become a headache for locals.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Donna wrote: "I lived near Gettysburg, PA for a few years and I remember having to find alternate routes to the grocery store to avoid the crowds of tourists in the middle of the summer. It's not that you don't ..."

Yes, Donna, that's it exactly! Tourism is the way most people make a living here, and I'm glad those people have the opportunity to see what I consider the most beautiful place in the world. But for those of us who aren't involved in the industry, getting around town is more of a challenge May-October.

[[deleted user]]

Donna wrote: "It's not that you don't want others to enjoy these wonderful places but it does become a headache for locals. "

Yes, that's what I meant too. In Venice the situation is even worse as it is a very small town, and the "streets" (if you can call them that) are often so narrow that one or two people only can walk at a time. Tourist groups can be as large as 60 or 70 people.

[Michael]

I am in the process of reading all of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee novels in order. I am currently reading "A Deadly Shade of Gold" which is number 5 in the series. I'm enjoying it very much; in fact, it's my favorite of the 5 thus far.

[James]

This is a series that I really liked when I first read it. I'll be interested to hear your opinion of it when you've finished all the books.

[Michael]

James wrote: "This is a series that I really liked when I first read it. I'll be interested to hear your opinion of it when you've finished all the books."

James, I read all of the books 30 years ago, but not in any particular order. This time I'll have a better sense of the character's development. The only comment to make now is that it has taken MacDonald 5 books to find McGee's "voice", but this fifth book really captures the personality and spirit of the Travis McGee I remember from my first readings.

[Esther]

Hayes wrote: "Donna wrote: "It's not that you don't want others to enjoy these wonderful places but it does become a headache for locals. "

Yes, that's what I meant too. In Venice the situation is even worse as..."
I used to live near Oxford . We would have great fun baiting the tourists who asked for directions to 'The University' (there is no university building as Oxford is a collection of colleges) but the most annoying were the enormous herds of language school students who would jam up the centre of town while the rest of us were struggling to get to work or do some shopping.

[Joe]

I've just started reading Hold Tight by Harlan Coben and I'm not really sure if I like it yet. I'll keep going but has any one read it and liked it?

[Jason]

I just finished Tabloid City: A Novel and have to say that it was amazing!
Easily a best book of 2011 for me.

The story has something for everyone - it's somber, exciting, fast paced, and a great read.

I think what won me over on this book was Hamill's characters. They stayed with me long after I put the book down.

You're welcome to read my review here: http://wp.me/TRJE

[Elli]

Finished the Tin Ticket and really liked it. Now I am going to squeeze in Alan Furst's The World at Night.

[Colette]

Elli wrote: "Finished the Tin Ticket and really liked it. Now I am going to squeeze in Alan Furst's The World at Night."

Hi Elli,

I have just finished "The World At Night" by Alan Furst and I have to say it didn't live up to my expectations of what I thought was going to be a WW11 espionage thriller - I am curious to see what you think of it. For me it only really picked up the pace and tension in the last 50 or so pages (too little too late for me!). Looking forward to your thoughts on this book!

[Diane S ☔]

Tabloid City is next on my to read list, glad to hear it is so good. Presently I am reading Prophecy by S. J. Parris and the new Prey novel by Sandford.

[Elli]

the World at Night by Alan Furst. I'm being introduced to the protagonist, a Frenchman somewhat successful movie producer...introduced to his private life as well...right at the time when everything looks to be upended by the sudden arrival of the German troops... I'm not that far into the book, but already something has been set.

[[deleted user]]

Just started the first Ian Rutledge mystery, A Test of Wills. Great beginning. I think this is going to be a new favorite of mine!

[Jan C]

Hayes wrote: "Just started the first Ian Rutledge mystery, A Test of Wills. Great beginning. I think this is going to be a new favorite of mine!"

I'm a big fan of the Ian Rutledge stories.

[Steve]

It's not technically mystery, but it apparently has elements of it by the end: Cooking with Fernet Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson. A comically pompous British expat in Tuscany and his Eastern European expat neighbor get mixed up in various hijinks. It's funny and awkward and hard to pull off as a writer, with dueling first persons. Some of you might enjoy it.

[Elli]

Another nice big read, then break for real life activity although this one is something is really meaningful for me, so don't resent the time taken and will get back to The World at Night later this eve. For the most part, the protagonists friends work it out so that they lose as little lifestyle as possible one way or another, some even gain. Somehow protagonist doesn't feel totally that way and when his call for duty comes up, he goes ahead and goes along with it feeling that plenty of things are no longer what they once were and he somehow feels more comfortable with himself this way. The journey is filled with reflections. So much is expressed in place and description. And it becomes more and more unpleasantly clear that France has lost the war. Now what? And how?

[Yvonne]

I finished reading The Moonlit Earth by Christopher Rice, which was quite good especially when it focused on the action, including a possible terrorist attack in Hong Kong, and a little less so when the focus is on the dysfunctional family of the narrator, Megan Reynolds. It's still a good read.

Currently reading The Sentry by Robert Crais.

[James]

Joe wrote: "I've just started reading Hold Tight by Harlan Coben and I'm not really sure if I like it yet. I'll keep going but has any one read it and liked it?"

I don't think it's one of his best books, but I enjoyed it.

[Martina]

Hayes wrote: "Just started the first Ian Rutledge mystery, A Test of Wills. Great beginning. I think this is going to be a new favorite of mine!"

I, too, really like this series. Lots of books ahead of you to read.. Lucky you.

[Dorie]

Just starting Heads You Lose, which looks like a fun book.

[Judy]

I, too, have read all the Charles Todd books about Ian Rutledge...it is a wonderful series that I have really enjoyed. Very interesting character development from book to book, especially the relationship between Rutledge and his superior. Enjoy!

[Michael]

Mike wrote: "I am in the process of reading all of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee novels in order. I am currently reading "A Deadly Shade of Gold" which is number 5 in the series. I'm enjoying it very much;..."

Finished the book over the weekend. Really terrific novel! Best of the series so far. McGee really finds his "Voice" in this one along with plenty of action, bodies (living and dead) and a fairly complicated plot. I loved it! Great book to read even if you aren't interested in the whole series.

[Bob]

Susan wrote: "Bob wrote: "Susan
I am putting that book on my to read list. Thanks for mentioning it. Frank Bender was one of the three personalities prominently featured in The Murder Room. He led a very inte..."

Susan wrote: "Bob wrote: "Susan
I am putting that book on my to read list. Thanks for mentioning it. Frank Bender was one of the three personalities prominently featured in The Murder Room. He led a very inte..."

Susan
There was a report on yesterday's local Channel 3 (CBS) evening news about Frank Bender. He was profiled by Walt Hunter. Pretty interesting. You can probably find it on line. It did say he had terminal cancer and thus would not be completing any more crime projects. Bob

[Elli]

Bob wrote: "Susan wrote: "Bob wrote: "Susan
I am putting that book on my to read list. Thanks for mentioning it. Frank Bender was one of the three personalities prominently featured in The Murder Room. He ..."

And that's a crime in itself. Hope the damned cancer reverses it self. It has been known to do that although such is not a regular occurence.

[Elli]

I think it's Dark Voyage I've just started in my quest to read every inch of everything Alan Furst has written. Although...not without other things in between. Gosh there is so much, so very much I want to read....

[T]

Just started John Sandford's Buried Prey this morning, after detouring to a non-fiction The Hustle: One Team and Ten Lives in Black and White for a break.

Sucked right in by a Lucas Davenport story....

[Jen]

I just finished Trust No One and loved it. Now I have a few books waiting in the wings - trying to decide between Eightball Boogie, The Summoner, and a Kindle $.99 read that looks interesting - Twenty-Five Years Ago Today. Any recommendations?

[Linda]

Started by James Patterson, I know he is not a fan favorite - but I still enjoy his books and haven't read one in a while.

[Elli]

Donna wrote: "Over the weekend I finished an interesting book, City of Silver: A Mystery by Annamaria Alfieri. Set in 1650 Petosi Peru, the richest city in the Western Hemisphere ..."

Got that one home from the library and am going to stick it in next between all the Alan Furst's I'm covering. Looking forward to it!

[Elli]

Guess I'm totally stuck on Alan Furst right now. And now it's Dark Voyage and it's a real bang so far. The protagonist a naval officer of long standing on a merchant ship wants to patriotically sign up war-wise...all things constant, Alan Furst, means world war II and the what all that led to it. And this happens at sort of an out-of-the-way questionable place, with sort of an odd mission that the protagonists is finding out about...along with lots of Furst's discreet and dry humor that I just love. Seems the ship is going incognito since the diplomatic channels really haven't been established yet. I'm going to have a terrible time putting this down and doing what else I need to do!!

[Gatorman]

Currently reading Think of a Number. So far, so good.

[Elli]

And yes, my nose just can't seem to stay very far from the book. This part really should be called "The Happening" because it's really happening. The boat is being made incognito, mainly by officers and crew. The Axis powers people are really into making sure that part of the globe remains safe and obedient to their objectives, no one else welcome or allowed to live to tell the tale if possible. As a merchant vessel cum Spanish kind of tanker, among the crew is a quasi captain picked up en route who was part of a crew that was the victim of this. And his Spanish sort of convinces the Mussolini submarine, The Leonardo DiVinci of who and what they were, but being drunk and nearly falling of ship, sent all the tough guys and their advanced ammunition smiling back down their hatch. And when someone yelled "Man Overboard" while painting and redoing, an even louder voice yelled, "send that SOB back up here!" And Alan Furst uses mustaches and their descriptions to set tone similar to how Dorothy Sayers uses written dialectical speech in interactgion to tell an incident...equally effective, and sometimes, hilarious. Yes, I am really enjoying Dark Voyage.

[Bill]

Elli wrote: "Guess I'm totally stuck on Alan Furst right now. And now it's Dark Voyage and it's a real bang so far. The protagonist a naval officer of long standing on a merchant ship wants to patriotically s..."

I will have to read something by Alan Furst. I do have one of his books on my TBR list; Spies of the Balkans. Is that one you've read, Elli?

[Elli]

Bill wrote: "Elli wrote: "Guess I'm totally stuck on Alan Furst right now. And now it's Dark Voyage and it's a real bang so far. The protagonist a naval officer of long standing on a merchant ship wants to pa..."

Yes, it was the first one I read. And I loved it!

[Elli]

And I finished Dark Voyage. I didn't mean to read it this fast, but I just couldn't put it down, not for long anyway. For me, a real 5 stars! All the elements; suspense, humor, a tightrope and kaleidescope of happenings. Must get my review ready and on to the next one!

[Kim]

I'd never heard of Alan Furst until I read the last few posts in this discussion. He's now on my TBR list. Thank you Elli and other fellow group members!

[Elli]

I never heard of him either until recently. Isn't it great to hear about books you find you like through the reviews and discussions!

[Kim]

Elli wrote: "I never heard of him either until recently. Isn't it great to hear about books you find you like through the reviews and discussions!"

It certainly is. One of the books I'm reading at the moment is something that I never would have come across but for this discussion group.