It’s the same story as last week, only less so. Reading here and there. I’m still gnawing away at In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan. I’m enjoying it, but not racing through it, it’s somewhat slow going, but then I’ve had a lot of interruptions. I’m usually a read-one-book-at-a-time guy, but I can’t seem to settle on anything lately.
I read through two back issues of Illustration magazine, and since it’s a thick magazine with detailed biographical information and insightful comments in each article, each issue uses up an evening or two of reading time.
I finished Jay Allan’s Shadow of Empire which is the first book in The Far Stars Trilogy, but won’t continue with the other books; while it’s good, the protagonist simply has too much angst which interferes with what should be an old fashioned space opera. Speaking of which, I’ve started Edmund Hamilton’s Captain Future yarn, in Quest Beyond The Stars in The Collected Captain Future Volume Three from Altus Press. Pure pulp.
Barbara finished reading Kill Devil Falls by Brian Klingborg. She liked the main character, U.S. Marshall Helen Morrissey, and the situation the author put her in was promising, but there were times when the odds against her were stacked a little too high to be credible, even with the willing suspension of disbelief. Still, the book was quite well-written, and she will read another book by the author when it appears.
Next she started reading Extreme Prey by John Sandford, until she realized, about the third of the way in, that she’d read it about a year ago! So now she’ll start Good To the Last Kiss by Ronald Tierney.
So how about you?
What have you been reading?
Tip the Wink 
Read The Thirst by Jo Nesbo, his new Harry Hole book. I liked it a lot. Read The Violated by Bill Pronzini and The Lioness is the Hunter by Loren Esltleman. Found both to be weaker efforts from these authors. Read a music book called The Decibel Diaries, also just a average read. Right now I am halfway through Crime Song by David Swinson. Liked his previous novel The Second Girl. This features the same main character. A Washington DC P.I. With so many library books coming in I have had to put some books I bought on the back burner, such as Bornes by Jeff Vandermeer, Nearly Nero by Loren Estleman and The Moon and the Other by John Kessel.
Steve, thanks for mentioning the Nesbo, Barbara really likes his books and will want to read that one. It seems we all have more books than time now. Seems like you have some interesting things lined up.
I’m still having the same problem, with a pile of books, many of which interest me, more on the way, others on my radar, and not being able to easily settle down and read one thing straight through.
I finished CAN’T AND WON’T, the Lydia Davis collection of stories, and read LAST NIGHT, A SUPERHERO SAVED MY LIFE, which George Kelley recommended a few weeks ago. The latter was quite interesting, mostly from authors I wasn’t previously familiar with.
Currently reading CRIME PLUS MUSIC: Twenty Stories of Music-Themed Noir, edited by Jim Fusilli. Authors include Reed Farrel Coleman, Brendan DuBois, Craig Johnson, and Val McDermid, but so far my favorite is the darkly funny “Played to Death” by Bill Fitzhugh.
I’m about halfway through SIX WAKES by Mur Lafferty, but my interest is bogging down rather than accelerating, and I’m not sure I will finished it if it doesn’t pick up soon, as there are just too many other books on my radar. Also, we’ve been (coincidentally) going to the theater once a week the last few weeks (and will be the next two weekends too), which takes more time.
Jackie is reading books by Patricia Briggs and Heather Graham (the latter on Kindle).
I wasn’t tempted by SUPERHERO SAVED MY LIFE as you apparently were, so I didn’t check to see if the library had it. I read CRIME PLUS MUSIC last Fall or maybe early this year. I thought it uneven and even skipped some stories after a page or three. I did like McDermid’s story, I think.
I found SIX WAKES kept my interest, trying to find who killed the Captain and who would survive the events once the computer… well, saying more would be a spoiler. But it just may not be for you.
I’ve decided to drop all of the novels I’ve been trying and just read short stories this coming week. Hopefully that will give me a spark. I’m back to the big Jo Gar collection by Whitfield, and reading one of he stories last night perked me up.
it’s been a slow week for me too, Richard. THE TIME TUNNEL by Murray Leinster (my FFB) was a TV tie-in novel and a far better book than the series deserved. The only other novel i read this week was BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE by Lee Child. This time someone is targeting the members of Reacher’s old army unit…big mistake.
I also read two recent graphic novels, one from Marvel and one from DC. SPIDER-GWEN takes place in an alternate universe and GREEN LANTERN doesn’t. Other than that, meh.
I’m slowly pecking away at Seabury Quinn’s Jules de Grandin stories with only fifteen left. After that, it’s on to about a dozen August Derleth stories I found on-line that I haven’t yet read.
Enjoy your week, my friend.
That’s a varied set of reading items, Jerry. I read your FFB (and commented) so I know that one. I’m pretty sure Barbara has read the Reacher., I think she’s caught up on the series. As for Green Lantern, I’ll take Green Hornet any time.
I’ve been trying to get out and take those promised garden pictures, but have been foiled by the rain. This week it should happen. Hope your week is splendiferous.
Slow weeks for the rest of you would be a fast one for me. I am reading something on my kindle which I bought on book bub but I can’t remember the title. It’s about a woman who has a child that she comes to believe is the reincarnation of someone evil. Maybe Jackie will know the title. Too soon to tell if she will pull it off. I will go look at my amazon purchases and be back.
THE FORGETTING TIME. Also still reading the Letterman book.
I have to admit that reincarnation of evil isn’t a plot I’d find appealing, but hopefully it’s well written. I’ll bet you’re enjoying the Letterman.
I am rereading a Jill McGown book, Murder… Now and Then.
Finished Murder in Jerusalem by Batya Gur. The last book she wrote and not my favorite, but the fact that it is set in Israel is interesting. After that I read Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely. That book has been on my TBR pile for 11 years and I finally read it.
Tracy, like you, I let things sit on (in?) my TBR pile/stack/area for years. Sometimes I recognize the truth: most of the books in the house are TBR.
I’ve read one Jill McGown, can’t recall the title, but think I enjoyed it. Neely, I’m not so sure about, but think not. I’m sure you’ve read Laurie King’s O Jerusalem (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes) but if not, it’s a must for you.
McGown died too young. I really liked the Lloyd and Hill series.
Yes, that’s what I read, the first in that series.
Just read over on Patti’s blog that tomorrow you’ll be 40 for 40. I hope the good news keeps pouring in.
Thanks, Jerry. I haven’t wanted to say much about it, but it did seem a thing for her “Things That Make Me Happy” Monday blog post. It’s tough to hope, so I’ll just wait.
I still like the old fashioned space opera myself.
Me too.
We’re visiting GOOGLE LAND so reading time is short. Good thing I knew the way to San Jose! I like the cover on SHADOW OF EMPIRE but not enough to buy it if the hero has a lot of angst. Old fashioned space opera can be a lot of fun.
Hoping for a trip report after you return.
A Rio Kid yarn penned by Brett Halliday/Davis Dresser.
I downloaded a free ebook of one of those, DEATH RIDES THE PECOS, but haven’t read it yet.