What Fiction are you reading this week, Dec. 6, 2020?

[hermetic]

Deja vu. Ever get that feeling you've been here before?

I started listening to Virgil Wander and realized I'd already read it! I really need to keep my Already-Read list up to date. But, it was such a great story I went ahead and played it again. I think I will buy this book and read it again and again. Enger writes so beautifully.

Now I'm listening to The Chessmen, also beautifully written by Peter May. A murder mystery set on the Isle of Lewis, the most remote, harshly beautiful place in Scotland, It's narrated by Peter Forbes, a famous actor from Scotland. It is a real treat to listen to, for me anyway. Love that Scottish brogue.

Reading Cat Seeing Double, by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, the 8th Joe Grey mystery. Quite enjoyable.

What are you reading, or re-reading this week?

[rzemanfl]

1. Just about done with

Wolf Hall. Then I will move on to the second book in the trilogy. Thank goodness for Kindle's dictionary link. The archaic food and clothing words are giving it a workout.

[hermetic]

2. That's gotta be really helpful

I just finished that in regular book form. It was sometimes a real challenge. I did love it, though. I will wait a bit before taking on the next one.

[rzemanfl]

3. I know, your post here was how I heard about it.

So thanks.

[hermetic]

4. Cool

They were a pretty randy bunch back then, don't ya think?

[rzemanfl]

6. Remarkable considering they seldom washed. n/t

[Cousin Dupree]

5. I'm reading Wolf Hall too right now! Decided to finally read the trilogy.

It’s kind of difficult getting used to the way Mantel uses pronouns and doesn’t always identify the speaker.

[rzemanfl]

8. My Kindle says I have read 96% of it. I thought I would finish it last night but was too sleepy. n/t

[hermetic]

10. There's a key for that.

I found it on Goodreads. Whenever someone speaks and it doesn't indicate who, it's Cromwell. I was a good halfway through when I learned that. It does help to know that.

[Cousin Dupree]

19. Thank you! I probably never would have figured that out. You just made reading easier.

Can’t tell you how many times I’ve reread a passage to try to figure out who was speaking.

[Ponietz]

7. I'm immersed in Patrick O'Brian's world, again

Read a half-dozen of the Aubrey-Maturin tales about 20 years ago. Now, rereading The Truelove. Besides his keen insight into human nature, his vocabulary is astounding: idoneous, valetudinarian, thaumaturge, hecatomb — also, the nautical jargon, many Latin and French turns of phrase, citations to period music, drama, literature and science. Feels like being in school again.

I’m an infernal lubber from the mountains but once toured HMS Warrior in Portsmouth harbor, and am curious about sailing schools now.

[hermetic]

12. Adventures on the high seas

He wrote a bunch! Twenty novels in that one series alone. Happy sailing.

[bottomofthehill]

9. I am reading all of the Trump Excuses for his loss

And all the made up shit in his law suits. Total work of fiction.

[birdographer]

11. The Invention of Wings

by Sue Monk Kidd. I'm about 1/4 through it and enjoying it. Takes place in the South circa 1805, relationship between a young black slave girl and her young mistress.

[hermetic]

14. Sounds lovely

"This exquisitely written novel is a triumph of storytelling that looks with unswerving eyes at a devastating wound in American history, through women whose struggles for liberation, empowerment, and expression will leave no reader unmoved."

[The King of Prussia]

13. Death of a Hussy by MC Beaton

I've decided to have December with all my favourite authors, so I started the month with "House of Eyes" by Kate Ellis and then a Perry Mason.

The country is out of lockdown (too early of course) but we here are in the highest tier of restrictions. I reckon it'll be summer before normality returns. Fed up with it.

[hermetic]

15. I've decided the same

This month it will be only authors I already really love.

I just saw where the UK will be getting the vaccine starting Tuesday, with the elderly and care home workers first in line for the jab. So there's reason for hope.

When it's available here it will be the wealthy who are first in line while all of us little people will have to wait another year or so.

[The King of Prussia]

29. The vaccine arrives in our district on 14th December

They've sorted the population into 10 bands. I'm in Band 6 which means I'll probably get it before my wife who is in Band 8.

[Runningdawg]

16. Recursion by Blake Crouch

WOW hard to describe this plot! Kind of like trying to explain Inception to someone. An inventor creates a chair that can map memories and replay them, designed for those with Alzheimer's, brain trauma and amnesia. Enter the villain who finds a way to use it as a time machine. I just found out Netflix will be doing the film. Yeah, even after reading the book, I bet I have to watch it twice (at least).

FYI - IMDB says there was a short film named Recursion that was released in 2014, its even about time travel, but the plot is NOT this book, which was written in 2019.

[hermetic]

17. That sounds terrific

Must read.

[AmyStrange]

18. AmyStrange & the Criminal Series...

Last edited Sun Dec 6, 2020, 08:11 PM - Edit history (1)

-

THE AmyStrange & the Criminal SERIES:

An unbelievable crime-fighting team, led by a talking Cat, that's on a mission to find missing persons and serial killers. Read the horrifying beginnings here (for FREE):

http://www.atomadness.com/

-

the AmyStrange & the Criminal Series:

PART 1: THE ESCAPE
The Criminal, his fiancée, and secret friends help AmyStrange, the talking Cat, escape from her captors.

PART 2: THE DISAPPEARANCE
The Criminal's pretend arch-enemy disappears, and it's up to AmyStrange to find her.

PART 3: THE ROAD TRIP
The gang heads to Seattle to rescue two of AmyStrange's cat buddies.

-

COMING SOON!

PART 4: THE WEDDING (due out in approximately 1 week)
The gang runs around the country finding missing persons, ending with The Wedding of Beth and the Criminal.

PART 5: THE KILLINGS (2021)
Someone’s killing black cats, starting from the West Coast, and it looks like they’re headed straight for AmyStrange.

PART 6: THE CORPORATION (2022)
Beth and the Criminal are enjoying their upcoming parenthood, but what’s left of The Corporation wants them dead.
=========

[Number9Dream]

20. Finished "Murder Past Due" by Miranda James; Reading "Lords of the North" by Bernard Cornwell

Thanks for the thread, hermetic.

Finished "Murder Past Due" (A cat in the stacks mystery) by Miranda James. Charlie Harris is a good-natured librarian with a rescued Main coon cat named Diesel. This is a light murder mystery with an endearing detective duo.

About 2/3 through "Lords of the North" by Bernard Cornwell. This is the third book in the Saxon series. Set in 9th century England, with Saxons, Danish Vikings, and others. A very good, albeit violent, page-turner.

[hermetic]

21. Hi!

Great to see you hanging out with the kitties. I haven't gotten around to that particular series yet but it's on my list. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods,

[pscot]

22. Just finished Cursed by Thomas Enger

If anyone has read it, maybe they could explain the ending to me; the very last page puts a spin on things that left me baffled. This evening I'm starting Blond Faith by Walter Moseley, who I'm generally able to read without help.

[hermetic]

23. Never read that one

Tomorrow I'll put on my deerstalker cap and see if I can sniff out any clues for you.

[hermetic]

25. This one has certainly piqued my interest

This is book 4 of a series about Henning Juul, an investigative reporter. According to reviews, it works okay as a stand alone and plenty of backstory is provided. One reviewer sums up previous events here,
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1923867288?utm_campaign=reviews&utm_medium=widget.
She then goes on to say: “Mr. Enger, if I can have a word with you regarding the last page….WHAT?! All I can say is book #5 better be coming out PDQ.”

Another reviewer says, "That last page!! *gasp*. I'm sure if you've read any other reviews surrounding this book you'll realize there is a huge WOW moment in the last few sentences. The hype for once is worthy; the ending shocked me to the point I actually gasped out loud."

I was hoping to find this book through my library’s digital collection so I could either read or listen to that last page, but alas, nobody’s got it. So, I just have to say that you are not alone in your confusion. That and you have convinced at least one person to go out and buy the book now.

[pscot]

28. And here I thought it was just me

Thanks Hermetic. You're the best.

[cilla4progress]

24. I reread The Little Prince

over the weekend. Lovely writing.

Looking for answers.

[hermetic]

26. So very lovely

Here's a review that's almost as lovely as the book:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/101065949?utm_campaign=reviews&utm_medium=widget

I sure don't have any (answers) but I can give you this:

&ab_channel=FigureSkating

Ahhh, 2014.

[cilla4progress]

27. Thank you so much -

the review was very insightful!

Alas, however, I was unable to view the video clip. IOC licensing...