What Fiction are you reading this week, Oct. 4, 2020?

[hermetic]

So much good news these days!!

After a long wait I finally got Westwind by Ian Rankin. This was originally published in 1990 and was mostly overlooked. His fans convinced him to give it a slight rewrite and put it out again. I'm so glad because it's an exciting space and spy thriller. Not a Rebus story but a standalone. I'm loving it. As Lee Child says on the cover, "Ian Rankin is a genius."

And look at this! I just found it. https://goldenaudiobooks.com/ FREE online audiobooks. Best sellers. You don't even have to sign up. Just pick a book, hit play, and away you go. What a concept! Right now I'm listening to The Innocent by David Baldacci, another fast-paced thriller. I'm really enjoying that there are a male and female narrator, and there are sound effects. I find this makes listening to books more interesting.

What good things are you reading this week? You know, besides doctor reports...

[SergeStorms]

1. I've been too busy...

Watching the fiction unfold from the White House and Walter Reed hospital. One day I'm sure there will be countless novels written about this train wreck though.

[grumpyduck]

3. Darn, you beat me to it!

[hermetic]

8. No doubt

I'm sure there are some in the works right now. There is that whole truth is stranger than fiction thing, though. We may have to come up with an entirely new genre to cover these.

[TexasProgresive]

2. Will be reading "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" for a while.

It is 850 pages long. I am liking it but get distracted by the news and watching British police procedurals like "New Tricks," riding my bike and other stuff.

[hermetic]

10. "New Tricks"

Alrighty then. That's on my list.

I think you will want to read this Rankin book sometime. It's a quick read at 250 pages and there are some mighty mysterious goings on right off the bat.

[TexasProgresive]

21. That Rankin book has really mixed reviews

Either they hate it or love it. Perhaps some were disappointed it wasn’t a Rebus novel. I will read it soon.

[hermetic]

23. I noticed that, too

I think some people couldn't get into the fact that it was written back in the 1980s. I had no trouble with that, though. Things were different then. I can still remember having to look for a phone booth sometimes.

[hermetic]

19. Woo hoo, more good news

My audible copy of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell just became available. It's over 32 hours long so I guess I'll be listening to that for a while.

[Midnight Writer]

33. Just started watching "New Tricks" a couple of weeks ago. Now watching one episode a day.

Love the character driven humor.

[TexasProgresive]

36. The 4 main characters are a perfect mix

Jack is often the calming influence who can be very strong, Memory Brian is a hoot and Gerry comes off rough but has a very sensitive side. And then There's Sandra who rides rein over them best she can.

[Kali]

4. White House "communications"

doctor press conferences, that sort of thing.

[Jirel]

5. Other than White House statements?

The latest installment of the Harry Dresden series.

[tirebiter]

6. "7 Years in Tibet"by Heinrich Harrer

I lost this book 45 years ago. Was reading it while on the road in South America. Due to circumstances I‘ve had to move twice in the past couple tears and am going through everything. I can finally finish it.

[hermetic]

12. Did you see the movie?

Sounds pretty good.

[tirebiter]

38. Nope

Wanted finish the book first. If it ain’t one thing it’s another holding that up

[beachbumbob]

7. I was reading latest trump health report

sorry could not resist

[hermetic]

13. That's okay

I pretty sure we all are...

[Srkdqltr]

9. I read Ken Follett's The Evening and the Morning.

I enjoyed it. This is the first one of his I read. Will I like Pillers of the Earth? I think l will try it.
Currently reading Harlan Coben Drop Shot. OK so far.

[hermetic]

15. Oh, that's a new one by Follett

Sounds pretty good. A thriller about the dark ages. A prequel to Pillers of the Earth.

[Staph]

34. I loved The Pillars of the Earth.

It is probably in my top ten list of favorite books.

The fourth in the series of Kingsbridge books, The Evening and The Morning, was released in September. It's fourth in the series but it is apparently a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth. There are approximately a bazillion folks waiting for the library e-book, so I'm reading the third book, A Column of Fire, while I wait.

[cilla4progress]

37. I'm reading this rn!

We saw the Bayeux tapestry and spent some time in and around Normandy / Brittany in 2018.

Hadn't read Follett before. It's not high lit, but its well researched and very readable! Hope the rest of the series is!

[Wellstone ruled]

11. Just checked the on line

Las Vegas Review Journal,same shit just another Sunday addition. Adelson sounds scared about his Pal being in the Hospital by reading the Editorial page..


Battleborn News=Rightwing Propaganda on Roids.

[hermetic]

28. Maybe you should switch

to The Sun. That looks like a decent paper. I hate that Adelson creep.

[Wellstone ruled]

31. Yup,I do read it first

as well as the Independent. The Sun is the middle section of the Review Journal,comes out of the same Press via a distribution agreement between Brian Greenspun and Adelson.

[The King of Prussia]

14. "A Word After Dying" by Ann Granger

A murder mystery set in the Cotswolds - so very much in "Agatha Raisin" territory.
It's been a busy week here - for reading anyway. Two books by authors that are new to me and that I can highly recommend:
"Fortune Favours the Dead" by Simon Spotswood. Set in 1946 and featuring a pair of female private eyes - but there's more than a hint of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin about it.
"Sleeping Beauties" - a serial killer operating in Ireland. Very accomplished writing by Jo Spain.

In real life, Johnson has totally lost the plot. I live in hope that people will realise that electing a bunch of workshy morons into office -because of their "populist" religious & racial bigotry - is actually a bad idea.

Is DU like Twitter? Do I get banned if I express my hopes for Trump?

[hermetic]

16. No, you're safe here

Sure, some people might jump in with "Take the high road" and "We're better than that." But I also know that many here have had enough of being mistreated by current governments and would like to see that end. I read DU every day and opinions do vary widely. Just keep it to opinions only.

Thanks for the tips on the books. Will add to the list.

You take care over there. We are hoping for a brighter future for you, as well.

[dweller]

17. been reading a bunch of Nero Wolfe

PBs that i've had forever, fun throwback to NY detective series

✌🏼

[hermetic]

18. Oh yes

Fun stuff for sure.

[yellowdogintexas]

20. "Let Me In" by John Ajvide Lindqvist

This was filmed as "Let The Right One In" in Swedish and American versions.

It is very very creepy but if you like different takes on vampire fiction, this one is quite unusual.

I am enjoying it.

[hermetic]

22. It does sound pretty good

"Sweeping top honors at film festivals all over the globe, director Tomas Alfredsson's film of Let the Right One In has received the same kind of spectacular raves that have been lavished on the book. American readers of vampire fiction will be thrilled!"

[SheltieLover]

24. Handbook for Homicide

2020 Lorna Barrett release. It is good.

Ty for link to audio book site!

[hermetic]

26. You are most welcome.

Your book sounds like fun. Love the Haven't Got A Clue Bookshop.

[murielm99]

25. I am still reading

The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. It is the third book in the Cromwell trilogy. The books have been made into a popular television series in Britain, called "Wolf Hall."

Mantel won the Man Booker prize for each of the first two books. I can understand why she did not win for the third volume. I am at the last hundred pages, and finding it tough to finish. There are too many characters and too many plots. She did so well with the first two volumes that she should have found a way to simplify things for the reader.

I will finish the book, even though I know how it ends for Cromwell, Henry VIII and the others.

[hermetic]

27. I salute your perseverance

Hopefully I'll remember this when/if I ever get to the third book.

[japple]

29. Southernmost by Silas House

from amazon.com:

In the aftermath of a flood that washes away much of a small Tennessee town, evangelical preacher Asher Sharp offers shelter to two gay men. In doing so, he starts to see his life anew—and risks losing everything: his wife, locked into her religious prejudices; his congregation, which shuns Asher after he delivers a passionate sermon in defense of tolerance; and his young son, Justin, caught in the middle of what turns into a bitter custody battle.

With no way out but ahead, Asher takes Justin and flees to Key West, where he hopes to find his brother, Luke, whom he’d turned against years ago after Luke came out. And it is there, at the southernmost point of the country, that Asher and Justin discover a new way of thinking about the world, and a new way of understanding love.
In this stunning literary page-turner about judgment, courage, heartbreak, and change, bestselling author Silas House wrestles with the limits of belief, and with love and its consequences.

I love this book. His writing is a like a good dream.

[hermetic]

30. This sounds REALLY good

Thanks!

[dhill926]

32. may have to check this out...thx...

[matt819]

35. A few

Taking a short break from listening to The uncut version of The Stand, by Stephen King. A global pandemic in which billions die and the survivors have to confront, it seems, one last stand to determine whether some form of a civilized life will resume or whether it all falls apart. Typical Stephen king elements, which never really disappoint even after 40 years of reading them.

As I’m listening to the book, I can’t help but think about many of King‘s tweets in recent months about the real life horrors of our own pandemic. I would say it’s a tossup on which pandemic is worse, hours or the one in the novel.

Now listening to The End of October, by Lawrence Wright. Talk about timing. About a global coronavirus pandemic, published in April of this year.

I think I’m about halfway through and it really is quite remarkable. I thought the “history lessons” we’re going to be boring, but he doesn’t dwell on previous pandemics but rather describes him very succinctly and drink intelligently. I’m just getting to the political part, so I don’t know how that’s gonna play out, but I’ve enjoyed it so far so I don’t think I will change my tune.

I’m reading number five in the Erlendur mysteries by Arnaldur indridason from Iceland. A mostly depressing lot, those Icelanders. And Swedes. And Norwegians. But the mysteries are irresistible.

Just started number 7 in the Tony Hill/Carol Jordan series by Val McDermid. She is a fantastic writer. The characters are very well developed and the stories just pull you in. I think I might have missed one along the way but that’s okay. I know who everyone is, And like almost every good writer of a series, she gently reminds you as you read what happened previously. She doesn’t dump it on you, she doesn’t ignore it but just incorporates the histories into the story very intelligently.

There’s others on the bedside table but I haven’t opened them yet.

[hermetic]

39. Always happy to hear from you

You do such a great job with your write ups. And you always make my must-read list a little longer...