What Fiction are you reading this week, June 14, 2020?

[hermetic]

I’m reading Shakespeare for Squirrels by Christopher Moore, a comedic take on A Midsummer Night's Dream. It’s a tale of magic, madness, and murder. Also, lots of “frolicking.” Most enjoyable.

Listening to Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell. Really good story; quite suspenseful.

My library was told to reopen tomorrow by the governor and not everyone who works there is really happy about it. The public meeting rooms won’t be opened yet and patrons are being “encouraged” to wear masks and limit their time there. Good luck with that. Happily, I have until the following week before I have to return anything.

What will you be reading this week?

Hope we all survive these grand re-openings.

[Zoonart]

1. Re-reading Steel Beach by John Varley

One of my fave Sci-Fi novels, but Shakespeare for Squirrels sounds like fun. Chris Moore is always a fun read.

[hermetic]

3. Oh yeah

He's right up there with this one. If language offends thee, don't go there. He certainly does come up with some clever euphemisms, though.

Your book sounds quite interesting, too.

[Ohiya]

21. Ages ago I read "The Barbie Murders" by John Varley,

for my "Introduction to Science Fiction" course, and "The Ophiuchi Hotline" remains one of my all time favorite science fiction novels. I'll have to give Steel Beach read, if our libraries ever open back up!

.

[Ninga]

2. Daughters of Erie town by Connie Schultz. A very good read that captures the essence

of the 1940s and 50s.

[hermetic]

4. That sounds good

A powerful first novel by the popular Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist.
“A moving, unforgettable story about time, progress, and how the mistakes of one generation get repeated or repaired by the next."

[Ohiogal]

5. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

[hermetic]

6. Timely

A gripping moral dilemma that will lead readers to question everything they know about privilege, power, and race.

Reading the description, oh yeah! I read that one. Great story.

[The King of Prussia]

7. "Murder at The Brightwell" by Ashley Weaver

A whodunnit set in England between the wars, but written by a lady from Louisiana. I've not made my mind up about it yet.

Earlier this week I read "The Burning Girl" by Mark Billingham - a gangland thriller set in London - pretty good. Part of a series so I'll probably read more.
Next up was "Mrs, Presumed Dead" a who dunnit by Simon Brett. I think he was trying to channel Miss Marple. It was OK.
Lastly I moved away from thriller/whodunnits to "The Captain's Table" by Richard Gordon - the tale of a liner travelling from England to Australia in the fifties. Very light and amusing.

Next up, possibly some non-fiction. I have biography of Count Basie that I've been saving.

Not a lot happens here. Locally cases are up a little, but the numbers are so low it's hard to draw any conclusions. Probably the best indicator is that our local hospital has had no covid deaths for 8 days. The restrictions are being relaxed further tomorrow, so we'll see what happens. In our house we are entering our fourth month of lockdown today, and since we don't need to go out & mingle, we won't.

Please stay safe everyone.

[hermetic]

9. Thanks

I am always interested in what's happening in your area with this. So, always happy to see you, and what you're reading.

[northoftheborder]

8. Best fiction I've read lately: What Once Was True by Jean Grainger

and sequel Return to Robinswood. WWII era; Ireland and Britain; family, class, and racial issues during that time. Good story told over about 8 years.

[hermetic]

10. Sounds good

"From the leafy grounds of an Irish stately home, to the bombed out streets of London in the Blitz, allow yourself to be swept away in Jean Grainger’s latest bestselling historical saga."

[SouthernIrish]

11. I just finished that series.

I am now reading her "The Tour" series. I love her writing and description of Irish scenery and political structure.

[SheltieLover]

12. Rereading The Cat Who.... Series

Cozy mysteries. Currently on The Cat Who Sniffed Glue.

These are about a psychic Siamese & a newspaper reporter. Great eaay reading. 👍

[hermetic]

15. I have read

a bunch of those. Just love them. Haven't read all of them, as there are SOOO many, going back to the 60's. I wouldn't mind finding a few of those really old ones, though.

[SheltieLover]

18. They are a great distraction

Delightful stories, very well written.

I like David Rosenfelt's books, too. Loads of them. They always involve a dog. 😊

[TexasProgresive]

13. "Speaker of Mandarin" by Ruth Rendell

Last edited Sun Jun 14, 2020, 03:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Her writing style is different to me.

[hermetic]

16. There you are

Hi. Sorry, I went for a wee nap. Back now. Yeah, I think Ruth takes a little getting used to. She does write some good ones, though. She's won quite a few awards, like The Edgar.

Edit to add: That one goes back to 1984. I think you might enjoy some of the newer ones more.

[TexasProgresive]

17. I had to edit seaker to speaker

Not spell check but hunting and pecking on an iPad. I do much better when I touch type

[soothsayer]

14. Drumpf's tweets

[japple]

19. Alice Hoffman's latest, The World that we Knew. Set in

Berlin & Paris in 1941. Here's a blurb from amazon.

In Berlin, at the time when the world changed, Hanni Kohn knows she must send her twelve-year-old daughter away to save her from the Nazi regime. She finds her way to a renowned rabbi, but it’s his daughter, Ettie, who offers hope of salvation when she creates a mystical Jewish creature, a rare and unusual golem, who is sworn to protect Lea. Once Ava is brought to life, she and Lea and Ettie become eternally entwined, their paths fated to cross, their fortunes linked.

Lea and Ava travel from Paris, where Lea meets her soulmate, to a convent in western France known for its silver roses; from a school in a mountaintop village where three thousand Jews were saved. Meanwhile, Ettie is in hiding, waiting to become the fighter she’s destined to be.

[hermetic]

20. That sounds lovely

And my list just keeps on growing.

[yellowdogintexas]

22. In the third volume of a very silly paranormal series "Riddler's Edge"

Author is A A Albright. It is indeed a silly bit of fluff; a great deal of what I read these days is silly fluff

Likeable characters, neat little setting, a few wizards, a few witches, a few vampires .... just fun.

[hermetic]

23. Yeah, I know what you mean

Reality these days is just so painfully bizarre; wizards, witches and vampires are a pleasant change of pace. Hang in there! We will persevere.