Novel reading ennui has struck me. Nothing seems to strike my fancy, and though I have some things coming from the library, and a house full of books, it seems there’s not a novel I feel like reading just now.
So the obvious solution is to read short stories. I have many collections and anthologies on hand, and I’m dipping into some of those.
However, since I haven’t finished any of them, I have nothing specific to say other than to list some titles:
The Best of Manhunt edited by Jeff Vorzimmer – 39 stories which appeared in the magazine between 1953 and 1957. Update: about half way through, good so far.
Deep Wate
rs edited by Martin Edwards – a variety of older stories all set on oceans or lakes. British Classic Crime Library. Update: have only read one story so far.
City of Weird edited by Gigi Little – 30 stories set in and around Portland, Oregon. I started this one more than a year ago, then it got set aside for other things. Time to read more of it. Update: finished it, and found it disappointing. It went in the donate box.
See the Updates above.
Also: I read The Curse of Capistrano in the last few days, the first Zorro novel, and two short stories in that volume.
So, what are you reading?
Tip the Wink 
Finished The Lonely Witness by William Boyle. Liked it well enough but the stupid decisions made by the main character I found off putting. Song For the Unraveling World by Brian Evenson- a fine collection of strange stories. Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell-I also enjoyed this. The Whisper Man by Alex North-okay enough but overhyped. And now half way through The Institute by Stephen King-so far so good. Also started The Life of Lou Reed by Howard Sounes. The later palate cleaning after having to set through a documentary on the band Chicago-ugh.
Tried reading the first Zorro book as a teenager and found it dreadfully dated. Have the Best of Manhunt but haven’t started it yet.
My gosh you read a lot of books! I went to a concert in L.A. with Love opening for CTA, Chicago’s original name. I really liked that first album, but lost interest as the albums continued.
Two books there that I will definitely read: I’ve read all the Martin Edwards British Library collections and will read this one once the library gets it, which they haven’t as yet. And as a big fan of Manhunt, that one is a must. As a matter of fact, I just bought the Kindle edition.
I have been reading but, like you, not really enjoying much of late. AND FIRE CAME DOWN was the second of Emma Viskic’s books about deaf Melbourne area PI Caleb Bezic, and as with the first I found it frustrating. Caleb shows little common sense, doesn’t wear his hearing aids when he is out on a run alone, despite knowing people are after him, and he is reluctant to tell people he is deaf and can’t hear them. Also, he gets beat up frequently and puts his loved ones in jeopardy due to his actions. I think this is the last I’ll read.
I read an interesting sounding review of Seth Fried’s first novel, but it didn’t grab me. In the meantime, I had picked up his aptly named collection, THE GREAT FRUSTRATION, from the library. I read it but can’t say any of the stories thrilled me. I’m currently reading another O. Henry collection, WAIFS AND STRAYS.
I liked Caz Frear’s first book about London cop Cat Kinsella and I’m halfway through the second, STONE COLD HEART, but I’m struggling with it. The characters and plot are OK, but Kinsella’s first person narration is a little unusual for a police procedural, and her personal issues, while less intrusive than in the first book, are not interesting. A young woman comes from Australia to London to get over a broken romance, and is found murdered, but the back and forth with the various suspects is getting tedious.
I want a book that grabs me and pulls me through it by sheer momentum, but I haven’t been finding any lately.
A deaf (or from your description, legally deaf, or else hearing aids wouldn’t help) P.I. sounds like too much of a gimmick to me, and your comments add to my initial thumbs-down reaction. I agree, I want a book that pulls me through as well. I have 4 coming from the library, maybe one of them? They are all SF.
I have THE BEST OF MANHUNT, too. I hope to get to it in a week or so. Meanwhile, I’m busy reading non-fiction books from the Library. Friend of mine who love Stephen King’s works are very excited about his newest book, THE INSTITUTE. Some reviews are calling it King’s best book. I’m tempted…
I’m not a King reader, but Barbara is, and I’m sure she’ll be getting that one from the library.
Ennui can relate to that (and thanks for guving me a chance to use that pun), but not this week, Rick.
Novels read this week were Kurt Siodmak’s FP 1 DOES NOT REPLY, a 1931 German SF novel and my FFB this week, Richard Matheson’s SHADOW OF TH SUN, a wondeful weird western, and ANTIQUES FATE by Max Allan Collins and Barbara Collins under their “Barbara Allan” pen name, another of their witty and fun Trash ‘n’ Treasure mysteries. The Matheson and the “Barbara Allan” are definitely worthwhile and the Siodmak only moderately so, depending on your tastes.
Also, one short story collection — ROBOTS AND MAGIC, one of two retropective Lester del Rey collections from NESFA Press. Del Rey appears to be verging on Forgotten Writer territory lately and that’s a shame. The one anthology I finished this week was Forrest J. Ackerman’s SCIENCE FICTION CLASSICS: THE STORIES THAT WORPHED INTO MOVIES, which is just what the title suggests. Since it’s Ackerman, the stories (and the resultant films) tend to be creaky, but I enjoyed the stories; I haven’t seen all the movies bsed on these tales, but those I’ve seen tend to range from good to meh.
I pick up a bunch of YA graphic novels from the library to read with my grandson while he spent the night with us. One was a complete bust: Eric Burnham’s GHOST BUSTERS, VOLUME ONE: THE MAN IN THE MIRROR, PART 4. Two were pretty good: Brandon Montclaire & Amy Reeder’s MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR: COSMIC COOTIES and Christos Gage’s CIVIL WAR II: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. And one was charming and pun-filled: Margaret Atwood’s (yes, THAT Margaret Atwood) ANGEL CATBIRD, VOLUME 2: TO CASTLE CATULA.
I have been fortunate that none of my granddaughters were the right age when Ann M. Martin’s YA Baby Sitters Club books began to come out — there’s now about 85,000 of them and I missed them all. But when I came across Raina Telegmeier’s graphic novel adaptation of Martin’s THE TROUBLE WITH STACY, I couldn’t resist buying it because, well, Raina Telegmeier is fast becoming one of my favorite GN artists. I really liked this one; the story fitted well with Telegmeier’s sensibilities and artwork. I don’t know how close the graphic novel sticks to the original book, and I am really not interested enough to findout, but the GN is a winner.
We’re far enough away from Humberto to be affected by the storm except for heavy breaking waves and zephyr winds that made our beach time yesterday so wonderful. I hope all is well with you ennui (Hah! See what I just did? Another chance to slip in that bad pun!) hope your upcoming week is great.
What’s with all the titles with a : in them in those GNs??? Not familiar with Raina Telegmeier.
Night Rounds, Helene Tursten. Coming back from DC , one book reader, everyone on iPhone.
I commented to Barbara yesterday that I wonder how many books don’t get read because of those infernal devices. Hope you had a good trip.