What are you reading this week of January 21, 2018?

[hermetic]

I've got John Sandford's Deadline, a Virgil Flowers suspense thriller taking place in southeast Minnesota's picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River. Lovely area with ample hiding spots for meth labs, stolen dogs, and dead bodies. All in the first 2 chapters, along with lots of amusing banter. Quite enjoyable.



What are you reading now?

[Atticus]

1. Besides "Fire and Fury"? nt

[hermetic]

3. Still plugging through

that one, eh?

[Atticus]

9. Only received it 2 days ago. My nearest small town has no bookstore. But, also

am rereading "Justice" by Michael J. Sandel.

[hermetic]

11. I was just funning you

about that. A couple of weeks ago it was like the only thing everyone was reading.

Justice, though, sounds like something I should read. Political philosophy, the basis for one of the most popular and influential courses at Harvard. Interesting.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. I am seriously trudging through it. Very difficult

To read imho. Don't think Wolff's writing flows well

[dawg day]

2. John le Carre

But you know, I bet if someone had come to the great spy novelist 10 years ago and said, "Write a novel where Russia gets one of their dupes elected US President. And, oh, btw, it's Donald Trump," he would have scoffed and said, "Come on, no one will believe that."

[hermetic]

4. Yeah, really

So what is the title on that one? Sounds interesting.

[dawg day]

22. The most "apt" le Carre novel might be Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

That's the one where Smiley the retired and discredited spy (the one who suspects the flashy/trashy new spymasters) is secretly brought back to track down a mole in the highest reaches of the MI-6 (which he calls "the Circus"- it's really "The Service"-- Her Majesty's Secret Service).
This is supposedly loosely based on the Kim Philby treasons (Le Carre was a spy there around that time), but also might be an oblique reference to the constant rumors about the CIA's upper echelon in the 60s, especially James Jesus Angleton, who himself was supposed to by "the molehunter."

There are 4 novels in the sequence, but TTSS is the most important one. It's very moody and dark about the future of Britain, and rather scathing about the "cousins" (the US and CIA) which are presented as successful opportunists.

The "Soviet Union" is the enemy, but it doesn't seem that much different from Putin's Russia. Interesting, that the "Russian" aspect ended up so much more important than "communism,' which fell away and still left that dark KGB influence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Smiley

There is also a very good TV mini-series with Alec Guinness as George Smiley. It's one of his greatest roles-- fits him like a glove. There's a 2011 film (on Netflix) with Gary Oldman, which is good, but too compressed for the complicated plot. The TV series (7 episodes) is better.

[cilla4progress]

5. Louise Erdrich

Last edited Sun Jan 21, 2018, 06:57 PM - Edit history (1)

The Future Home of The Living God. Wow.

And listening to Fire and Fury.

[hermetic]

7. I listened to

The Future Home of The Living God a few weeks ago. Wow indeed. I look forward to hearing what you thought of it after you've finished. Opinions vary.

[murielm99]

10. I hated that book.

I am a fan of Erdrich's books, but this one did not work.

It did not follow through on any themes. It just kept throwing ideas out there. It never got off the ground for me.

I read plenty of dystopian novels, and by comparison, this one sucked.

[hermetic]

12. Tell it, sister

Yeah, I'm interested in hearing people's opinion on this one.

[cilla4progress]

42. Hmmm, so, finished it last night.

I was hoping for some sort of happy ending. Many of her books are ultimately redemptive. If it had ended on the rez, even without know the fate of her baby, I could have lived with that, but, Cedar's arrest at the end, and the non-resolution of her relationship with Sera was less than satisfying.

There were shades of Handmaid's Tale, of course, and obviously this book is a response to the regressiveness and horror of trump, and I am sympathetic to this. I didnt find her usual lyricism, though it was eminently readable.

While there were themes and strands I responded to, I felt it either went on too long or wasn't quite finished, for my wholehearted endorsement, though I'm sure I didn "get" all the layers. Perhaps this genre is not a great fit.

She is still my favorite author, and always will be!

[hermetic]

43. Yeah, I agree

Not gonna let one book change my overall opinion of her greatness. I just found Tales of Burning Love at a local thrift store that is closing down so got it for $1. Pretty happy about that.

[cilla4progress]

45. Yeah,

I think the only book of hers I've not read is Four Souls, which is on my Kindle to read. Then I may start over!

Been reading reviews. Possible there will be a sequel!

[PoorMonger]

6. The Fourth Monkey by JD Barker

Se7en meets The Silence of the Lambs in this dark and twisting novel from the author Jeffery Deaver called, “A talented writer with a delightfully devious mind.”

For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive.

As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own.

With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.

[hermetic]

8. Ooooh

That sounds like a good one. Let me know later if it was worth your time spent. I see there will be a sequel coming out later this year.

[PoorMonger]

18. Im willing to say early

That it’s gonna be good! I’ve just started and it’s really moving fast and keeping me on the edge of my seat. It’s one of those with very short chapters so even when it looks big it just flies from moment to moment.

About to get snowed in over here and I’m actually kinda happy about it for the first time since I was a in high school. Ha. We got an alert early this morn that the university will be closed tomorrow.

[hermetic]

19. I saw it is

400+ pages so I am pleased to hear that.

Where are you? Not specifically but general area-wise that will be getting enough snow to shut down a university?

[PoorMonger]

24. Middle of Nebraska.

Hasn’t even started snowing yet though, supposed to dump on us overnight. Still kinda shocked they are canceling this early. Usually they wait till about 10PM the night before to call a snow day

[hermetic]

33. Oh my

Nebraska is in LBN right now as the storm is so awful. Looks like closing was a good call. Hope you stay safe and warm.

[shenmue]

13. Just finished "The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun," by Tolkien

[hermetic]

15. Sounds like an opera...

In scenes of dramatic intensity, of confusion of identity, thwarted passion, jealousy, and bitter strife, the tragedy of Sigurd and Brynhild, of Gunnar the Niflung and Gudrún his sister, mounts to its end in the murder of Sigurd at the hands of his blood-brothers, the suicide of Brynhild, and the despair of Gudrún.

[shenmue]

16. Yeah

[TexasProgresive]

14. Just beginning Michael Connelly's "The Poet"

Last edited Sun Jan 21, 2018, 03:47 PM - Edit history (1)

This is a stand alone novel. I has forward by none other than Stephen King. About it he writes; "The first thing you need to know about this novel is it's a marvelous and sustained piece of story telling,..."
The second thing you need to know about The Poet is that it is genuinely terrifying."

It starts out normal enough for a mystery/thriller but isn't that the way of King's books. The 1st chapter is so so normal but hidden there is a little twist that grows into a horror. We'll see if it is as Mr King wrote.

[hermetic]

17. Oh, do tell

Oh, Connelly. Connery is some lawyer dude who wrote Youth to Power. No worries.

It's got to be great. Everything Connelly writes is super, IMO. For sure putting it on my list.

[TexasProgresive]

20. Good catch fixed it.

[TexasProgresive]

21. King says to keep all the lights on. 💀

[Cuthbert Allgood]

23. Going to finish up a couple reads

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead and Wrinkle in Time.

Then we'll see what's on hold at the library to see what I start next.

[hermetic]

29. I have heard

that those are both wonderful books. You think so, too?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

46. Underground Railroad is fantastic.

Totally worthy of the Pulitzer. It's an interesting take on what the railroad is which creates a fantastic allegory.

Wrinkle in Time is what it is. It's a good young adult intro to time travel literature. Pretty heavy handed, but good.

[Ohiya]

26. Briefing for a Descent into Hell by Doris Lessing

I finally finished The Dark Tide Rises by Margaret Drabble, (I received "The New York Times - Will Shortz Presents A Year of Crosswords - 365 Puzzles to Keep You Sharp" for Christmas, which has seriously cut into my reading time!), Anyway, I became intrigued by Margaret Dabble and found that her sister is A. S. Byatt, Author of the Booker prize winning "Possession", and also that Drabble was a big fan of Doris Lessing. So now I'm on this Drabble, Byatt, Lessing kick. The "Descent into Hell" is one of the strangest books I've read, but I think it may turn out to be great.

[hermetic]

30. I've not read it

But others who have say Briefing is a challenging read that will give you much to think about regarding reality.

Loves me some Shortz! Been a crossword puzzle enthusiast for so many years. I buy the Dell "Sunday" puzzle books and work on one every morning with my coffee. Always great to meet a fellow fan!

[Ohiya]

35. Have you seen "Word Play"?

It's a documentary about Will Shortz. It's great! I've seen it twice, and now that I am reminded of it I think I'm going to see it for the third time!

[hermetic]

38. No, I haven't

But would sure like to. I will look for it. Thanks

[Ohiya]

40. To whet your appetite...

[hermetic]

44. Oh, more fun!

Just discovered my current puzzle book has the 8 puzzles from the 2016 American Crossword Puzzle Championships. The first one seems pretty easy. I would never try to do one in 15 minutes or less, though. I don't work well under pressure and that would take the fun out of it.

I am so excited to see that movie.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

27. "I Am Pilgrim" by Terry Hayes.

A thriller about the hunt for a Muslim fanatic who wants to destroy the West. A man formerly in a super-duper secret spy agency is recalled to service to find this guy. Pretty interesting, although it's marred by too many sentences saying things like "If only I'd known this clue was a dead end" or "I should have realized that so and so's lack of interest meant something." Foreshadowing that shouldn't be there, and I'm sorry the editor kept all them in.

But I'm nearly done, should finish later today.

Oh, and I don't think labs can do DNA testing within a day or two. Although since only figuring out if the two people in question were related, I believe that is a fast test.

[hermetic]

31. Sounds pretty scary

Perhaps the foreshadowing and stuff keeps it from being too intense. I regret reading The Kite Runner a few years ago. The horrifying events in that novel stay with me still and sound kind of similar to the things in your book. I would prefer to never subject myself to that sort of reading again. But, that's just me.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

34. It's not all that scary, at least not to me.

There are some torture scenes, which are unpleasant but we've all read those before.

The foreshadowing is clumsy, in my opinion. If it weren't a library book I might have started highlighting the foreshadowing sentences. I did try rereading a paragraph to myself without that sentence, and it was better.

I have never read The Kite Runner nor have I seen that movie. That's a book that for me comes under the heading, So many books, So little time, so it's one that's just not high on my personal reading list.

[gopiscrap]

28. Robert Kennedy and His Times by Schlessinger

[hermetic]

32. Ahh,

the good old days. For some of us, anyway. Especially compared to now. Hell, compared to now, the Depression Years look good.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

36. Now I'm reading "The Lost Ones"

by Sheena Kamal.

A young woman learns that the daughter she gave up for adoption some fifteen years earlier has run away from home. She, Nora, is not the most stable of people. She grew up in foster homes, is a loner, holds a steady job but lives in the basement of the building her employers own. She's a barely recovered alcoholic.

I'm not halfway through and it's very good so far.

[hermetic]

37. Will have to look for that one.

Takes place in Canada, a big plus for me. The main character described as heartbreakingly troubled, emotionally complex, and irresistibly compelling as Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander. And you're enjoying it, so that cinches it.

There are quite a few books out there with that same title.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

39. Same titles can be a problem.

One book I love to recommend to people is Lost Girls by Andrew Pyper, and if I simply look for that book online without his name, I get what seems like 60 other books with that title, or with The in front of Lost Girls.

That's another book that takes place in Canada. You'll like that one also.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

41. Now reading The Berlin Project

by Gregory Benford.

From the inside flap:

Karl P. Cohen, a chemist and a mathematician who is a junior partner of the Manhattan Project has discovered an alternate solution for creating the first atomic bomb, but his plan is shot down as other more autust personages -- household names even then -- preferred another method. But time has shown us that this chemist was right.

What would have happened if the atom bomb was ready in time to be used as the Allies invaded on D-day?

And here's the kicker. Karl Cohen (1913-2012) was Benford's father-in-law.

I'm about thirty pages in, and I've already called my son the astronomer/physicist and suggested he read the book.