Just a quick note. I’m reading Everybody Had A Gun by Richard Prather, for the coming FFB. Also read were the two Roy Thomas books I got at Christmas, Superman the War Years and Batman the War Years. Quick, fun period comics reading. There are a ton of other things I can hardly wait to get to, and I will get to them, as soon as all these football distractions cease. At least we’ve gotten the weather back into the 40s, which is a relief.
Barbara finished Splinter the Silence by Val McDermid, which – no surprise – she liked a lot. Neither of us is sure what we’ll read next.
How about you? What have you been reading?
Tip the Wink 
Still not a huge amount. But I’ve been thinking about Florida and I’ve had a cold for a week, which is annoying. I did finish a couple of books this week, Lou Berney’s fine THE LONG AND FARAWAY GONE (mentioned last week) being the first of them, borrowed and downloaded to the Kindle from the library. I’d definitely recommend it, though I’m not sure I believed the end.
The second was the latest from Crippen & Landru, Marilyn Todd’s SWORDS, SANDALS and SIRENS. As the title might clue you in, these are set largely in Ancient Rome and most feature her main series character, Claudia Seferius. The setting and characters may be Roman, but if you are a purist about anachronistic language in a book set 2,000 years ago you might want to give this a miss. It is unapologetic in its use of 21st Century slang and usage. I don’t read many books set in this period and found it fun for the most part, but your mileage may vary.
I also got a “war with the aliens” book (that sounds something like the TV series FALLING SKIES) from Amazon, Brendan DuBois’ DARK VICTORY. It will go to Florida with me.
I’m nearly done with ANDY & DON: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show, by Daniel de Vise, who was Don Knotts’s brother-in-law and covers his long friendship with Andy Griffith. And, of course, I’m reading short stories.
I’m reading some short stories too, about one per day, but then it’s only the 11th. I have some collections and anthologies partly read that I’m continuing to work on, including a couple of the fat ones edited by Penzler. I’ll get through them eventually, I’m sure. I think you mentioned both of those first listed books last time. When it comes to mysteries set in Rome and environs, I’ll take Steven Saylor.
I watched the Andy Griffith Show occasionally, but Knotts drove me nuts. I never liked his character at all. Too much silliness.
I’m still stead Big Fat Books this week. I’m back in the classroom next week. Then it’s back to short stories and essay collections until Summer. Who do you like in tonight’s game? I’m going with Alabama!
George, I probably won’t bother with it, I’m not a fan of either team and I just spent a lot of time watching 4 pro games over the weekend. I think ‘Bama will win, but I’d be rooting for Clemson just because I like the personality of their coach. Instead, I’ll probably finish the Prather book today/tonight so I can write up my post tomorrow.
Barbara wanted to watch the game, so it’s on. Terrible signal from Comcast, but through the snow and choppy sound it looks to be tied in the second period.
Nice to see a real defensive battle, right? I have no interest in college football and only turned it on briefly to see the score.
I watched some of the first half and the last quarter. It was enough. I was hoping Clemson would win, but Alabama is such a machine. Clemson lost on big plays, I guess.
Another quiet week, Richard. I finished Martin Edwards’ THE GOLDEN AGE OF MURDER (a slow read, but I enjoyed it greatly) and Ed McBain’s ALICE IN JEOPARDY (a non-87th Precinct thriller), as well as two graphic novels, Eric Shanower’s DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ and Max Allan Collins’ BATMAN: SECOND CHANCES. I’ve also been taking up a story-a-day challenge for 2016.
Currently working on a Richard S. Prather for this Friday and Stuart Neille’s latest novel.
I’ve been busy tearing up the wall-to-wall carpet in our living room (a nastier carpet you’ve never seen) and scaping off the glue used to hold down the carpet pad — a job that does wonders for the back, knees, and ankles. We haven’t decided what to replace the carpet with but I’m sure it will require more creaking joints. Hope your week has been even more pleasant.
I had the same experience with Martin Edwards’ book. Slow but interesting. Not one I’d keep and read again or use for reference, so I’m glad I got it from the library. Pulling up that carpet sounds like a real drag, and then what did you do with it? Land fill? In spite of the seemingly universal desire for hard wood floors (we have them here, my first time) I’d either put down new pad and carpet or laminate. The latter is very good looking these days, easier to clean and maintain, cheaper, more sturdy. Or you could always put in checkers tiles and wear your clown suit. If you go that route, don’t forget the bicycle horn.
We finally took up the rugs in the bedroom and den and it was the best move we ever made. We should have done it years ago. We have beautiful finished hardwood floors now and it is so much cleaner and better for allergies.
I assume you mean you took up carpeting… or did you have rugs, as you said? We have hardwood floors in much of our house, but we have area rugs. We have carpet in the bedrooms, we prefer it’s softness and warmth.
I’d forgotten you have allergies.
Sorry for the mistaken impression given. We did carpet the two rooms when we moved in here. After so many years it was pretty raggedy-looking. We had the nice floors underneath and were happy to reveal them. We do have an area rug in the living room and small ones by the computers.
Reading YOU WILL KNOW ME, which is Megan’s forthcoming book. I know I am prejudiced but both Phil and I think this is her best book yet. It’s about a gymnast’s family and how having a prodigy can completely dictate family life. She does a great job of capturing the gymnastic community. And yes, there’s a crime. Told from the mother’s POV. Also read some of the stories in Larry Watson’s JUSTICE. What a knockout.
Ooooh, a new Megan book. Sounds great. I haven’t read any Larry Watson, but have read/heard good things so maybe I’ll add him to “the list”.
Read MONTANA 1948 if you are going to read one. it is short and profound.
I did read his MONTANA 48 but it was a little downbeat to read more of him too soon.
The stories in here are not quite that downbeat.
I read and reviewed Jim Harrison’s new poetry book, Dead Man’s Float. Working my way through Rick Bass’s forthcoming new story collection, <For a Little While. About to crack into some Charles Bowden from my back catalog as well.
Chris, you are always reading interesting things. I’ll check out that new Harrison, I need to read more poetry!
Thanks. His poetry is better than his fiction, and I love his fiction.