Book Report Time!
Cathy
--
--Cathy.
"Wear the old coat and buy the new book." --Austin Phelps.
http://www.cathyskye.com
Spuddie
frippery, "Cathy" <the_boilerm...@gofc.com> threw caution and
a dead chicken to the wind and chanted:
>Another month has bitten the dust. Read any good books lately?
I almost hesitate to even bother with this, since very few other peole
have in past months. But it's just a copy/paste from my book journal
so no problem--hopefully someone will be at least a little interested
in something I've read and it'll spark a conversation. I know there's
other readers out there...c'mon people, what are you reading?
1.ASSASSIN'S QUEST by Robin Hobb. Third in the Farseer Trilogy
centering around FitzChivalry the bastard prince and his quest to
destroy the self-proclaimed King Regal (the Usurper) and restore King
Verity to the throne. Excellent book. 750 pages of teeny tiny print
but it flew by. A+.
2.FELLOWSHIP OF FEAR by Aaron Elkins. First Gideon Oliver, forensic
anthropologist book-the book's quite old, published in 1982 before
this field became so popular. Enjoyed it a lot-like the main character
and it read smooth and easy with quite an intriguing mystery to boot.
Lookin' forward to more! A.
3.DEAD UNTIL DARK by Charlaine Harris. First Sookie Stackhouse
paranormal vamp mystery. Enjoyable read, mostly lighthearted look at
small-town Louisiana from the perspective of a mind-reading barmaid
with a vampire boyfriend. B+
4.THE INNAMORATI by Midori Snyder. Fantasy set in Renaissance Italy
about a maze in Labirinto that is supposed to remove curses and bring
anyone who enters their heart's desire-once they figure out what that
is. Story told from the perspective of several different pilgrims to
the maze. Well-written, enjoyable, ribald romp with mystical and
mythical references. Loved it…will probably make my top ten of the
year list! A+.
5.FORTUNE LIKE THE MOON by Alys Clare. First Hawkenlye Abbey book
featuring Abbess Helewise and Josse D'Acquin, knight to King Richard
in 1188 near Tonbridge, England. Josse is sent to investigate the
brutal murder of one of the abbey's nuns but only discovers the truth
with Abbess Helewise's help. A.
6.TRACK OF THE CAT by Nevada Barr. First Anna Pigeon, national park
ranger, mystery. This one is in the Guadalupe Mtn Park in Texas. I
like Anna and loved the writing that brought the setting alive for me.
The mystery was sort of weak-I picked the bad guy out by gut instinct
and later by clues-but still enjoyed it. A-.
7.GRAVE PERIL by Jim Butcher. Third Harry Dresden, wizard in Chicago
series. Seems like poor Harry can't just dispatch a demon, he's got to
kill it again. Or banish its' ghost, or something. Harry's uncertain
just what it is that's tickling the borders between our world and the
Nevernever, but Chicago's ghosts and creatures are all shook up about
something, and it's up to Harry to figure out what before anyone he
loves gets hurt. A.
8.THE TITIAN COMMITTEE by Iain Pears. Second Jonathan Argyll, art
dealer, mystery. This one's set in Venice where Flavia, the art theft
investigator from Rome, is sent to nominally investigate an
art-related murder and then teams up with Jonathan when some paintings
go missing and more dead bodies float into the scene. Very enjoyable!
A.
9.MURDER ON A GIRLS' NIGHT OUT by Anne George. First "Southern
Sisters" mystery. I absolutely loved this one, much to my surprise.
(No offense, but most things labeled "southern" set my teeth on edge.)
Felt like I knew the characters well from the first chapter onward.
Realistic dialogue, interesting folks and even a decently constructed
mystery. A.
10.THE GOLDEN COMPASS (apa NORTHERN LIGHTS) by Philip Pullman. First
of the "His Dark Materials" fantasy trilogy taking place in a parallel
universe near Oxford (and other places) populated with humans, but
with different species and slightly different laws of nature--enough
to be decidedly interesting. Fast-paced, well-written and with
excellent characterizations. A+
11.A PERFECT MATCH by Jill McGown. First British police procedural
featuring DI Lloyd and DS Judy Hill. A woman's body is found strangled
in the bushes near a boathouse, and all the evidence points to a man
who supposedly gave her a lift home. Or does it? Excellent whodunit,
well-written and considering the publish date (1983) not at all dated.
A
12.COP HATER by Ed McBain. The first 87th Precinct detective novel,
published in 1956, two years before I was born. This one, by contrast,
is decidedly dated. Still well-written and a good story, but I
chuckled at things that weren't supposed to be funny so it did detract
from the story somewhat. (The 50's slang, for one thing!) B+
13.THE GREAT MORTALITY by John Kelly. Nonfiction about the Plague of
1340's Asia/Europe/UK. The writing style was rather dry and there was
a fair bit of information I was familiar with already. Still, a fairly
comprehensive book and I learned a few new things. I admit to skimming
the last half, though, as it dragged more from mid-book onward. B-.
14.MORALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL WOMEN by Alexander McCall Smith. Third in
the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series in Botswana featuring
Precious Ramotswe. Whimsical and enjoyable, light reading with not
much mystery but good stories and great characters. A.
15.DISSOLUTION by C.J. Sansom. First Matthew Shardlake mystery, set in
1537 England, deals with Lord Cromwell's "reforms" and the persecution
ot the Catholic papists. The murder of one of Cromwell's commissioners
in a monastery leads him to send Shardlake, a hunchbacked lawyer,
there to investigate. Excellent! A+
16. THE SILENT WORLD OF NICHOLAS QUINN. Third Inspector Morse mystery,
set in Oxford, England. A deaf man who worked with the agency
responsible for formulation of the O and A level exams for foreigners
is found poisoned in his home. A
17.THE DEVIL'S DOOR by Sharan Newman. Second in the Catherine
LeVandeur mysteries set in 1140 France. I enjoyed this one even more
than the first one; I thought it was less preachy, even with the
(necessarily) heavy religious emphasis. I like Catherine and the story
was an interesting one. A.
18.THE FLOWER MASTER by Sujata Massey. Third in the Rei Shimura
series; Rei is a half-Japanese, half American young woman living in
Tokyo and working as an antiques dealer. In this book, Rei and her
aunt become involved in a murder case at their flower arranging
school. Great read as always! A.
19.AMERICAN GODS by Neil Gaiman. WOWZA! I loved this book, a blend of
sci-fi, fantasy, horror, mystery and who knows what else. Will likely
make my top ten of the year list. You would never know it was almost
600 pages long, it flew by very quickly! Somehow the book manages to
be irreverent and spiritual, serious and funny, and cynical and
hopeful all at the same time. A+.
20. A TASTE FOR MURDER by Claudia Bishop. First in the Hemlock Falls
Inn mystery series featuring Sarah and Meg Quilliam. Mediocre book,
very obvious mystery and side plots, and a sort of unbelievable
amateur sleuth. It wasn't bad til she donned the black clothes to do a
break-in (along with a friend of hers with an APB out for him) to look
for evidence, even though her boyfriend is the Sheriff. At that point,
my eyes glazed over and I skimmed til the end. C+.
21.THE WITCHES OF CHISWICK by Robert Rankin. OMG, this guy is
hilarious! I'd call him a murky hybrid of Terry Pratchett, Jasper
Fforde and Monty Python. Sci-fi/fantasy novel chock-full of irreverent
humor, loosely about a cabal of witches in Victorian London who strive
to change history and construct an alternative future and a young man
from the twenty-third century who tries to stop them. Time travel
meets vegetables! A.
22. MURDER ON ASTOR PLACE by Victoria Thompson. First in the
"Gaslight" mystery series set in New York City circa 1900 and
featuring Sarah Brandt, a widow and midwife, and Frank Malloy, a
Detective Sergeant with the NY police force as they investigate the
strangling of a young high-society girl. Enjoyable, easy reading and
good characterizations, although I had the mystery figured out very
early on. B+.
23.THE COLD BLUE BLOOD by David Handler. First Mitch Berger, film
critic, and Desiree Mitry, State Police mystery. I really enjoyed this
book! Mitch rents a cottage on an exclusive island populated with
snooty "blue bloods" and ends up embroiled in a murder investigation
when he digs up a body that had been "planted" in his vegetable
garden. But on the up side, he does meet Des Mitry in the process. A.
24.PRELUDES AND NOCTURNES by Neil Gaiman. First anthology in the
Sandman graphic novel series, included the first 8 episodes. This was
the first graphic novel I've read since I used to read "comic books"
when I was a kid. Spooky stuff! It's been awhile since something I
read left me looking under the bed, and this was it! A.
Books I started but just couldn't finish...there's a lot this month
for some reason!
QUITE UGLY ONE MORNING by Christopher Brookmyre. My mind kept
wandering while reading (not a good sign!) and the story just seemed
rather uninteresting. Also, the attempts at humor seemed to be forced
to me and not actually very funny.
O'ARTFUL DEATH by Sarah Stewart Taylor. The premise sounded very
interesting (the main character was a professor and studied funerary
art), but I gave it 40 pages and found it just incredibly BLAH. I
couldn't get interested at all.
DEAD ANGLER by Victoria Houston. First of the Loon Lake, WI mysteries
featuring Sheriff Llewellyn Ferris. It didn't take even 20 pages to
realize it wasn't something I was enjoying. Wandering prose, stilted
dialogue, stiff writing style.
A CLUE FOR THE PUZZLE LADY by Parnell Hall. I read 46 pages in. The
author has an annoying habit of being unable to use pronouns.
Aaaagh!!!!
KILLING FLOOR by Lee Child. First Jack Reacher book. I was very
interested in the story. The main character was interesting too.
Writing style gave me a headache. Staccato. Lots of phrases. Dressed
up like sentences. I couldn't get beyond the fourth chapter.
Sorry. I just couldn't. <g>
Cheryl
~~~ If you tried to phone hell from here, it'd be a local call.~~~
(From "Bébé's Kids")
Cathy
> have in past months.
>
I know what you mean, Cheryl. I think this is the last month I'm going to
bother making the post.
--
--Cathy.
"She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain." --Louisa May
Alcott.
http://www.cathyskye.com
Cathy
remodel and having fun with the best kind of house guest. But there were
still some very good reads.
1) Title: Face Down in the Marrow-Bone Pie
Author: Kathy Lynn Emerson
Protagonist: Lady Susanna Appleton
Setting: 16th century England
Lady Susanna Appleton's husband is one of Queen Elizabeth I's diplomats.
He's had an interesting career trying to stay out of trouble with the
changing of the royals on the throne of England. He is a man of his
times--religiously and politically expedient--who firmly believes that women
should stay at home, run the house, have babies, and leave all the thinking
to their husbands. He may believe that, but his wife is the exact opposite
of his desires and beliefs.
Lady Susanna is learned, opinionated, and organized. Having had a sister who
died from eating a poisonous plant, she is in the midst of writing an herbal
to educate people on toxic and non-toxic plants. A letter arrives from
Appleton Manor in faraway Lancashire. Lord Appleton's steward has died under
rather suspicious circumstances. Lord Appleton wants nothing to do with the
matter, no matter how much Lady Susanna differs. So...when he is sent away
on the Queen's business to France, she packs up and travels to Lancashire to
see what's going on for herself.
Although whodunit was rather simple to decipher, the setting and the
characters more than made up for it. And the ending was a winner! (A)
2) Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Protagonist: Harry Potter
Setting: "present-day" England
I love this series. I'd heard about Rowling's books and had seen them flying
out the doors at Target, but I really didn't start paying attention to them
until Jeanie and Cheryl said they'd read and loved them. Now that got me
interested! This book sets up the last one beautifully, I think. Yes,
there is a betrayer and yes, someone dies. (I was wrong about the first and
right about the second.) All I can say is...I think a few more publishing
records will be broken when the seventh book comes out! WOW! (A+)
3) Title: Pardonable Lies
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Protagonist: Maisie Dobbs
Setting: 1930s London
Pardonable Lies is the third installment of the Maisie Dobbs mystery series,
and it's the strongest one yet. Maisie, former nurse during WWI, is set up
in practice in London as a psychologist and private investigator. A wealthy
man asks her to help him carry out his dead wife's last wish. Their son was
listed as killed in action in France. His wife had never believed it and
insisted that their son was still alive. The man asks Maisie to prove or
disprove it for the final time. Maisie is reluctant to take on the case
because it will involve traveling to France--the one place she has avoided
since the war ended.
The late 1920s and early 1930s is not everyone's favorite time period. The
strong emphasis on World War I and its aftermath isn't to everyone's taste
either. Maisie is a rather odd character. Still fragile from her own war
experiences, she seems to keep an emotional and physical distance between
herself and everyone else. To me, the strength of Winspear's books is the
depiction of how war twists and mangles people--changing how they think and
behave even years down the road. The world had never had to deal with
carnage on this scale before, and Maisie shows how it affected us all...one
small piece at a time. When I've finished reading one of these books, I
have to mentally shake myself out of the time period. Good stuff! (A)
4) Title: Sleepy Head
Author: Mark Billingham
Protagonist: DI Thomas Thorne
Setting: present-day London
Sleepy Head is the first DI Thomas Thorne mystery set in London. Thorne is
completely self-absorbed in himself and in his work. A killer is completely
absorbed in his work, but one survived. Or at least that's what everyone
thinks until a coroner finds tiny clues that had previously been overlooked.
I had been deliberately avoiding this book because I'd watched an episode of
CSI: New York that used the exact same premise. I couldn't stand it any
longer and picked it up. I'm glad I did. The original is always better than
a copy. Or at least 99% of the time! Thorne is not the most likable
character in the world. Self-absorbed people seldom are. He thinks he knows
who the murderer is and does his best to make the clues fit. That's bad
police work. Worse than bad. My favorite character in the book was Alison,
the survivor. In very unusual and tragic circumstances, Billingham made this
character speak louder than any other. This one's a page-turner! (A)
5) Title: The Food Detective
Author: Judith Cutler
Protagonist: Josie Welford
Setting: present-day England
When Josie Welford settles in an idyllic West Country village she honestly
believes she can bury her past. She becomes the owner of the local pub, and
becomes a thriving and welcome member of the community. That is until
Inspector Nick Thomas, the man who put her husband in jail appears on the
scene. But Nick has a new agenda and is no longer after Josie. In his new
position as inspector for the Food Standards Agency, he convinces Josie to
change her local suppliers, a far from popular move in the close-knit
community. Almost immediately she finds herself ostracized. When the village
vet disappears without a trace, Josie begins to wonder what the village and
its erstwhile friendly occupants are hiding? Reluctantly, she finds herself
having to turn to Nick in order to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Fifty-something Brummie Josie is a hoot. I loved her. Funny, down to earth,
warm-hearted, practical, she's got a different spin on life. Well, if I'd
been the child bride of a well-known Birmingham gangster who spent the last
twenty-five years of our thirty-year marriage behind bars, I'd probably have
a different spin on life, too. <G> The mystery was a bit too easy to
solve, but the ride was more than worth it. I hope Cutler continues with
this character. Josie has a lot more to say! (A)
6) Title: The Serpent in the Garden
Author: Janet Gleeson
Protagonist: Joshua Pope
Setting: 18th century England
In 1765, Joshua Pope is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of
wealthy Herbert Bentnick and his fiancée, Sabine Mercier. While he stays at
Astley to carry out his commission, the body of a man is found in the pinery
(a hothouse where pineapples are cultivated). Soon thereafter, Sabine's
necklace is stolen and Pope finds himself accused of the theft.
Told as a very long flashback, I almost immediately found myself in the time
period. I'm familiar with the art of that era, and I could "see" Pope mixing
his paints and standing at the easel. Pope himself was very well drawn. A
man of particular tastes and prone to dressing in high fashion, he even
sacrifices his best coat in pursuit of the truth. <G> Landscaping of the
period (as well as art) plays an important role, with Lancelot "Capability"
Brown having an important part in the solution of the crimes. I enjoyed this
one and will be looking for other books by Gleeson. (A)
7) Title: The Widow of the South
Author: Robert Hicks
Protagonist: Carrie McGavock
Setting: Franklin, Tennessee in late 1864
Hicks's novel is based on a real Civil War occurrence. Go to
http://www.carnton.org/index.html if you'd like more information.
In late 1864, the Civil War slammed into small, sleepy Franklin, Tennessee.
Five hours later, more than 10,000 soldiers were dead. Carrie McGavock,
mistress of Carnton Plantation, found her home commandeered by General
Nathan Bedford Forrest as a hospital. By the time the fighting was over, her
house was filled to capacity as well as the grounds surrounding it. There
were the bodies of four Confederate generals laid out on her porch.
Anyone who knew Carrie McGavock before the Battle of Franklin would never
have guessed her reaction to this. She had suffered depression for years
over the deaths of two of her children. What would hundreds of wounded and
dying soldiers do to her?
She buckled down and got to work. She helped the surgeons. She bathed and
fed the wounded. She read to them. She wrote letters to loved ones for them.
She buried them. And she answered hundreds of letters from people whose
loved ones had seemingly vanished from the face of the earth. When she found
out that thousands of soldiers were buried in the trenches where they fell,
she had their bodies moved to her plantation where they were buried in
proper graves with markers, the cemetery in time bordered by a wrought iron
fence. She honored the dead of the Battle of Franklin and became the Widow
of the South.
The story is told through various characters: Carrie herself, one of the
wounded she tended to in her home, the slave woman who grew up with her and
moved with her from Louisiana. This method is uneven at best. The heart, and
strongest part, of the book is the battle itself. Scenes still stand out in
my memory. They make the hair rise on the back of my neck and make my
stomach churn. But, as I've said, the book is uneven. (B)
8) Title: Third Person Singular
Author: K.J. Erickson
Protagonist: Detective Marshall Bahr
Setting: present-day Minneapolis, Minnesota
Third Person Singular is the first Detective Marshall Bahr mystery set in
the Minneapolis area. Mary Pat Fitzgerald, a rich kid from Edina who had
everything going for her, is found murdered at the Father Hennepin Bluffs, a
rather seedy section of Minneapolis. Mars (yes, folks call him Mars Bahr as
well as the Candy Man) and his partner, Nettie Frisch, are assigned to the
case.
This book is a bit different from the usual police procedural. The chief of
police is one smart man--taking the time to discover which people on his
force know what they're doing and giving them what they need to get the job
done. Even the mayor (although still a political creature) is written as a
basically good person. Mars himself purposely has almost all his income
diverted to his ex-wife and eight-year-old son, Chris, for alimony and child
support. His relationship with his son is portrayed realistically and is one
of the many highlights of the book. (He'd rather pay Dayton prices for his
son's clothing than have his ex-wife shop garage sales as she wants to do.)
Bahr has a limited life--basically his son, his work, and a few friends--but
he has one, and it works.
Third Person Singular is a page-turner. As I closed the book on the last
page, I could only say, "Wow! This is a good book!" (A+)
9) Title: Whiskey Sour
Author: J.A. Konrath
Protagonist: Lt. Jack Daniels
Setting: present-day Chicago, Illinois
Whiskey Sour is the first mystery featuring Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels of
the Chicago Police Department. Jack finds herself up against a devious
serial killer called the Gingerbread Man, who likes to spend hours torturing
and killing his victims. I won't tell you what his "signature" is because
I'm still getting strong sympathy pains (and that was the only really gross
bit in the book). Problem is, the Gingerbread Man is looking longingly at
Jack, so she'd better find out who he is PDQ.
This book is fast-paced and attention-grabbing. Jack is a well-drawn
likeable character as is her partner, Herb. The Gingerbread Man is in the
upper echelons of serial killers, too. I will be on the lookout for the next
mystery featuring Jack Daniels (although I think it's called Bloody Mary
<G>). (A)
zymtstern
>>Another month has bitten the dust. Read any good books lately?
>
>I almost hesitate to even bother with this, since very few other peole
>have in past months. But it's just a copy/paste from my book journal
>so no problem--hopefully someone will be at least a little interested
>in something I've read and it'll spark a conversation. I know there's
>other readers out there...c'mon people, what are you reading?
<snip>
Well, Cheryl, I guess not everyone's able to read *a book a day* :)
Undfortunately I didn't read anything else than my own stuff, because
whenever I write - I simple can't read any book. *They* won't let me
:(
But I'm going to receive a couple of books as birthday gifts, like The
Time traveller's Wife and a complete edition of Oscar Wilde
(hopefully). Oh boy, do I look forward to cuddling up in my comfy
chair, cat on my lap, dog at my feet, huge pot of coffee or tea at my
side, a lit fire place, outside there's going to be rain and wind...
and then I'll dive into the new books, travel into foreign lives - ah,
that will be a great autumn for me :)
(And, of course, *then* I'll be able to report!)
zymtstern
--
reply addy doesn't work
eva at pigasus-publishing dot de
Angela Lamb
<spu...@93xrocks.com> writes
>Books I started but just couldn't finish...there's a lot this month
>for some reason!
>
>QUITE UGLY ONE MORNING by Christopher Brookmyre. My mind kept
>wandering while reading (not a good sign!) and the story just seemed
>rather uninteresting. Also, the attempts at humor seemed to be forced
>to me and not actually very funny.
Well! - I am really surprised. As you know, I loved this book.
I've only read one book that I can report - whilst I was off last month.
(I usually only read when I am on holiday from work)
"Behind the Scenes at the Museum" by Kate Atkinson.
A story set in the late 19th Century which is written from the
perspective of the daughter in the family, from the day she is conceived
to her middle age. They lived above a pet shop in York and it is quite
entertaining learning about all the extended family characters and
hilarious lives. (B+)
Angela.
Buff
> On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 21:27:04 -0700 after donning thaumaturgic
> frippery, "Cathy" <the_boilerm...@gofc.com> threw caution and
> a dead chicken to the wind and chanted:
>
>> Another month has bitten the dust. Read any good books lately?
>
> I almost hesitate to even bother with this, since very few other peole
> have in past months. But it's just a copy/paste from my book journal
> so no problem--hopefully someone will be at least a little interested
> in something I've read and it'll spark a conversation. I know there's
> other readers out there...c'mon people, what are you reading?
>
One of the reasons I don't respond much to this, although I *do* read all
your responses, is the fact that there are soooo many of them and me with my
one or two makes me seem like a real drongo. I literally don't ever seem
to have time to read that many books!
I've reverted to Clive Cussler again at the moment ... his two newest ones
"Polar Shift" and "Dark Wind". They had both books on Special for $30, so
I bought them. Usual Dirk Pitt or Kurt wotsisname, usual save the world
and blow up the bad guys, usual light read. And then what DVD does Ærchie
arrive with but "Sahara" ... badly cast, but the usual save the world and
blow up the bad guys, usual light watching.
I also read one which fascinated me ... John Misto's "The Devil's
Companions". On Christmas Eve, three-year-old Anna Brennan disappears from
a crowded church during midnight mass. She is kidnapped, believed murdered.
Twenty years later, in the process of a burglary investigation, a startling
piece of evidence accidentally comes to light. Could Anna still be alive?
If so, who abducted her, and why? Detective Constable Greg Raine is
assigned the task of solving the case and reuniting Anna with her parents.
But a nightmare of treachery and murder lies ahead. In a shattering
climax, the detective unearths the secret behind Anna's disappearance . and
it's a discovery that comes at a terrifying price. Australian, released in
May 2005.
--
Buff
Spuddie
frippery, Angela Lamb <ang...@langley19.demon.co.uk> threw caution and
a dead chicken to the wind and chanted:
>>Books I started but just couldn't finish...there's a lot this month
>>for some reason!
>>
>>QUITE UGLY ONE MORNING by Christopher Brookmyre. My mind kept
>>wandering while reading (not a good sign!) and the story just seemed
>>rather uninteresting. Also, the attempts at humor seemed to be forced
>>to me and not actually very funny.
>
>Well! - I am really surprised. As you know, I loved this book.
I know! It was on your recommendation I got it. But what can you say?
Even people who agree about what's good most of the time sometimes
differ in opinion.
>I've only read one book that I can report - whilst I was off last month.
>(I usually only read when I am on holiday from work)
>
>"Behind the Scenes at the Museum" by Kate Atkinson.
>A story set in the late 19th Century which is written from the
>perspective of the daughter in the family, from the day she is conceived
>to her middle age. They lived above a pet shop in York and it is quite
>entertaining learning about all the extended family characters and
>hilarious lives. (B+)
>
>Angela.
I've heard Kate Atkinson's name mentioned on a couple of my book
groups, and I like historical fiction, so this might be one I would
give a try. I'll add it to my list and see how long it takes to roll
my way. :)
Cheryl
~~~The last thing we need is a biotech panic about chickens!~~~
(From "Carnosaur")
Spuddie
frippery, zymtstern <nos...@pigasus-publishing.de> threw caution and a
dead chicken to the wind and chanted:
>>I almost hesitate to even bother with this, since very few other peole
>>have in past months. But it's just a copy/paste from my book journal
>>so no problem--hopefully someone will be at least a little interested
>>in something I've read and it'll spark a conversation. I know there's
>>other readers out there...c'mon people, what are you reading?
>
>
><snip>
>
>Well, Cheryl, I guess not everyone's able to read *a book a day* :)
Well, what's that got to do with anything? It's not a competition, for
heaven's sake! Even if someone has read one book in the month's time,
I would be interested in hearing about it. I don't read professional
book reviews or pay much attention to blurbs on the back of
books--most of the books I read, I've chosen because someone I know
has liked it.
>But I'm going to receive a couple of books as birthday gifts, like The
>Time traveller's Wife
I hope you enjoy that one; I really loved it. It's different than
anything I've ever read. It sat on my TBR shelf for ages because I can
sometimes be obstinate when it comes to trying what "the crowd" likes,
and this was quite a popular book...in this case the popularity was
well-justified, I thought.
Cheryl
~~~Now if you'll excuse me, I have a beam of light to catch.~~~
(from "K-Pax")
Spuddie
frippery, "Buff" <bu...@westnet.com.au> threw caution and a dead
chicken to the wind and chanted:
>One of the reasons I don't respond much to this, although I *do* read all
>your responses, is the fact that there are soooo many of them and me with my
>one or two makes me seem like a real drongo. I literally don't ever seem
>to have time to read that many books!
But that's no reason not to post the ones you've read! I certainly
don't mean for my list to be intimidating, and if it is, I'd happily
NOT post it if it meant others would post theirs instead. It's just
supposed to be a conversation starter is all.
>I've reverted to Clive Cussler again at the moment ... his two newest ones
>"Polar Shift" and "Dark Wind". They had both books on Special for $30, so
>I bought them. Usual Dirk Pitt or Kurt wotsisname, usual save the world
>and blow up the bad guys, usual light read. And then what DVD does Ærchie
>arrive with but "Sahara" ... badly cast, but the usual save the world and
>blow up the bad guys, usual light watching.
I have never read a Clive Cussler book; I see them everywhere, but
they just have that look of something that wouldn't appeal to me very
much. Are they the action-packed macho stuff the covers would have you
believe they are? I like a good spy thriller, but prefer the ones with
intrigue, not just guns roaring and blowing things up. :)
>I also read one which fascinated me ... John Misto's "The Devil's
>Companions". On Christmas Eve, three-year-old Anna Brennan disappears from
>a crowded church during midnight mass. She is kidnapped, believed murdered.
>Twenty years later, in the process of a burglary investigation, a startling
>piece of evidence accidentally comes to light. Could Anna still be alive?
Now THAT one sounds interesting! I love stories where old, cold cases
are investigated. It's often difficult to find Australian authors over
here unless they're *really big* but I'm going to put that one on my
'want' list.
Cheryl
~~~Mom, I'm worried about Antonia. Did you know that she put on her
mouse ears and drives around town, all liquored up, NAKED?~~~
(From "Practical Magic")
Spuddie
frippery, "Cathy" <the_boilerm...@gofc.com> threw caution and
a dead chicken to the wind and chanted:
>> I almost hesitate to even bother with this, since very few other peole
>> have in past months.
>>
>> Cheryl
>
>I know what you mean, Cheryl. I think this is the last month I'm going to
>bother making the post.
Well, maybe instead of a formal post, we can just make it a point to
post occasionally about particular books that we really like or really
hate? Maybe that will instigate more conversation than a list? I
dunno.
Cheryl
~~~Even in a time of intergalactic crisis, people still want
to roll them bones.~~~ (from "Mars Attacks")
Spuddie
frippery, "Cathy" <the_boilerm...@gofc.com> threw caution and
a dead chicken to the wind and chanted:
>1) Title: Face Down in the Marrow-Bone Pie
> Author: Kathy Lynn Emerson
>
>2) Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
> Author: J.K. Rowling
>4) Title: Sleepy Head
> Author: Mark Billingham
Those are three of my favorite series, too. I've got the fourth book
in the "Face Down" series here from the library right now, and I'm
thinking I might pick it up next. With the first three, they've
gotten progressively better.
Cheryl
~~~What are your names, Neil and Bob, or is that like what you do?~~~
(From "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane")
Angela Lamb
<spu...@93xrocks.com> writes
>I know! It was on your recommendation I got it. But what can you say?
>Even people who agree about what's good most of the time sometimes
>differ in opinion.
:)
>I've heard Kate Atkinson's name mentioned on a couple of my book
>groups, and I like historical fiction, so this might be one I would
>give a try. I'll add it to my list and see how long it takes to roll
>my way. :)
I only hope this recommendation works out more of a success!
Angela.
Cathy
>> Well, Cheryl, I guess not everyone's able to read *a book a day* :)
>
> Well, what's that got to do with anything? It's not a competition, for
> heaven's sake!
Exactly. If it were a competition, I wouldn't post mine because I never win.
<sniff> <boo hoo> ;-)
> Even if someone has read one book in the month's time,
> I would be interested in hearing about it. I don't read professional
> book reviews or pay much attention to blurbs on the back of
> books--most of the books I read, I've chosen because someone I know
> has liked it.
I can't say that I don't pay any attention to professional book reviews
because I do a bit, but word-of-mouth from friends means a lot more to me. I
also like info about books that are published outside the US. Yes, it can
make obtaining them a bit tricky--but not impossible! <G>
Cathy
> I've reverted to Clive Cussler again at the moment ... his two newest
> ones "Polar Shift" and "Dark Wind". They had both books on Special
> for $30, so I bought them. Usual Dirk Pitt or Kurt wotsisname,
> usual save the world and blow up the bad guys, usual light read.
I read Cussler for years--starting with Raise the Titanic. I only stopped a
few years ago because he started writing himself in as a character and it
annoyed the stuffin' outta me. <G>
> I also read one which fascinated me ... John Misto's "The Devil's
> Companions".
This one sounds good, Buff. Like Cheryl, I tend to like books about "cold
cases". Thanks for sharing!
Cathy
> I have never read a Clive Cussler book; I see them everywhere, but
> they just have that look of something that wouldn't appeal to me very
> much. Are they the action-packed macho stuff the covers would have you
> believe they are? I like a good spy thriller, but prefer the ones with
> intrigue, not just guns roaring and blowing things up. :)
Cussler tends towards action-packed and macho. Sort of a James Bond on the
seven seas. <G> Like Buff said, they're quick, light, fun reads, but not
to everyone's taste.
Cathy
>>> QUITE UGLY ONE MORNING by Christopher Brookmyre. My mind kept
>>> wandering while reading (not a good sign!) and the story just seemed
>>> rather uninteresting. Also, the attempts at humor seemed to be
>>> forced to me and not actually very funny.
>>
>> Well! - I am really surprised. As you know, I loved this book.
>
> I know! It was on your recommendation I got it. But what can you say?
> Even people who agree about what's good most of the time sometimes
> differ in opinion.
Angela, I read this book and enjoyed it very much. Cheryl and I read several
of the same books, and I think our agreement rate hovers somewhere around
50%. <G>
Cathy
> month. (I usually only read when I am on holiday from work)
>
> "Behind the Scenes at the Museum" by Kate Atkinson.
> A story set in the late 19th Century which is written from the
> perspective of the daughter in the family, from the day she is
> conceived to her middle age. They lived above a pet shop in York and
> it is quite entertaining learning about all the extended family
> characters and hilarious lives. (B+)
>
> Angela.
This one sounds very promising. It's being added to my list. Thanks, Angela!
(And of course, I'm going to be compiling a list of UK authors to take with
me on our trip next month...perhaps I should take along an extra suitcase?)
Cathy
> post occasionally about particular books that we really like or really
> hate? Maybe that will instigate more conversation than a list? I
> dunno.
>
> Cheryl
Sounds like that may be the better plan. It appears that the number of books
we read is a tad intimidating (although it shouldn't be since you and I both
know of people who read a lot more than we do). There are also probably a
couple of thousand people who think the two of us do nothing but sit on our
butts all day reading! LOL
Cathy
> right now, and I'm thinking I might pick it up next. With the first
> three, they've gotten
> progressively better.
>
> Cheryl
I laughed out loud at the ending of Marrow-Bone. Loved what Lady Susanna did
to her husband. ;-) I picked up books three and four at the Poisoned Pen
while Jeanie was here. I'm going to have to track down book two. Gotta read
'em in order, ya know!
zymtstern
>>But I'm going to receive a couple of books as birthday gifts, like The
>>Time traveller's Wife
>
>I hope you enjoy that one; I really loved it. It's different than
>anything I've ever read. It sat on my TBR shelf for ages because I can
>sometimes be obstinate when it comes to trying what "the crowd" likes,
>and this was quite a popular book...in this case the popularity was
>well-justified, I thought.
>
I fully understand - I usually don't touch any book that is said to be
"must read" :) But in this case my daughter, my mother, a friend of my
daughter which I know pretty well said it's a wonderful book, so I
guess I should like it.
Btw - have you ever read anything by Haruki Murakami? He's Japanese
and he's the one who translates John Irving's books into Japanese. So
far I read four or five of his books and really enjoyed each single
page.
And I'm definitely in for the thousands of Terry Pratchett books
sometime soon. My daughter owns nearly all of his books and sometimes
tells me about them. Disc World must be a weired place! :-D
>Cheryl
>~~~Now if you'll excuse me, I have a beam of light to catch.~~~
> (from "K-Pax")
K-Pax... I saw the movie, was it a novel first?
Spuddie
frippery, "Cathy" <the_boilerm...@gofc.com> threw caution and
a dead chicken to the wind and chanted:
>> Well, maybe instead of a formal post, we can just make it a point to
>> post occasionally about particular books that we really like or really
>> hate? Maybe that will instigate more conversation than a list? I
>> dunno.
>>
>> Cheryl
>
>Sounds like that may be the better plan. It appears that the number of books
>we read is a tad intimidating (although it shouldn't be since you and I both
>know of people who read a lot more than we do). There are also probably a
>couple of thousand people who think the two of us do nothing but sit on our
>butts all day reading! LOL
I wish! LOL I watch almost no TV and my house is far from spotless,
but I still have plenty of other stuff to occupy my time, between
work, family, soap stuff and the odd knees up here and there. But
reading *is* a priority for me, no doubt about that.
Cheryl
~~~This is Tommy. He tells people he's named after a gun, but I know
he's named after a famous 19th century ballet dancer.~~~
(from "Snatch")
Spuddie
frippery, zymtstern <nos...@pigasus-publishing.de> threw caution and a
dead chicken to the wind and chanted:
>Btw - have you ever read anything by Haruki Murakami? He's Japanese
>and he's the one who translates John Irving's books into Japanese. So
>far I read four or five of his books and really enjoyed each single
>page.
I haven't, but I seem to be reading quite a few books set in Japan
lately. Some are historicals, some are mysteries, some are both! I've
really never been too terribly interested in Eastern culture, but my
daughter is crazy about all things Japanese and she seems to have
sparked my interest a bit. Which of his books would you recommend? My
library has a few of his in stock, so maybe will give him a try.
>And I'm definitely in for the thousands of Terry Pratchett books
>sometime soon. My daughter owns nearly all of his books and sometimes
>tells me about them. Disc World must be a weired place! :-D
>
Oh it is...very weird! And very funny! I've started re-reading the
series over from the beginning, but even at the rate of one a month it
will take me over 2 years to finish it!
>>~~~Now if you'll excuse me, I have a beam of light to catch.~~~
>> (from "K-Pax")
>
>K-Pax... I saw the movie, was it a novel first?
>
>
>zymtstern
I don't know, to be honest. It wouldn't matter if it were. Once I see
a movie, I have much difficulty reading the book because I know how it
ends! (Or how it's supposed to, anyway.) A good example of this is
Michael Crichton's Eaters of the Dead. I had no clue when I saw the
movie "The 13th Warrior" that it was based on this book. It's become
one of my favorite movies, but now that I've seen it so many times, I
have absolutely no interest in reading the book
Now, if I read a book first, I sometimes will see the movies, but
usually they just don't compare to the book. There are a few that work
out okay, but most fall flat in my estimation.
Cheryl
~~~Always look on the bright side of life....~~~ (from "Life of Brian")
Spuddie
frippery, "Cathy" <the_boilerm...@gofc.com> threw caution and
a dead chicken to the wind and chanted:
>> I've got the fourth book in the "Face Down" series here from the library
>> right now, and I'm thinking I might pick it up next. With the first
>> three, they've gotten
>> progressively better.
>>
>> Cheryl
>
>I laughed out loud at the ending of Marrow-Bone. Loved what Lady Susanna did
>to her husband. ;-) I picked up books three and four at the Poisoned Pen
>while Jeanie was here. I'm going to have to track down book two. Gotta read
>'em in order, ya know!
Yes, I know what you mean--I do TRY to read series in order. With some
series, it seems to make much more of a difference than others. Some
authors are good at creating books that could be stand-alones and yet
each one adds to the series too. Others are so steeped in the series
mentality that if you read the fifth one, say, you have no idea what
half the book is about because so much of it is based on knowledge
gleaned in the first four books. I hate that!
The ending to the third Face Down book is just as good...better,
actually, although not in quite such a laugh out loud way. :)
Cheryl
~~~Last year, he forgot my birthday so I rearranged his bookmarks.~~~
(From "Aspects of Love")
Angela Lamb
t...@gofc.com> writes
>Angela, I read this book and enjoyed it very much. Cheryl and I read several
>of the same books, and I think our agreement rate hovers somewhere around
>50%. <G>
Have you read "Boiling a Frog" - the next one? I liked that very much
too. It links back to some of the details in "Quite Ugly one Morning"
Angela.
Angela Lamb
>>>Time traveller's Wife
>I fully understand - I usually don't touch any book that is said to be
>"must read" :) But in this case my daughter, my mother, a friend of my
>daughter which I know pretty well said it's a wonderful book, so I
>guess I should like it.
And me...... I loved it. :)
Angela.
Cathy
> too. It links back to some of the details in "Quite Ugly one Morning"
>
> Angela.
I haven't run across a copy yet. I think Brookmyre's just finding his way
over here. Might be one of those books that I find next month. ;-)
Ærchie
any sense had already left town. Yet zymtstern was standin' in the
doorway saying:
>And I'm definitely in for the thousands of Terry Pratchett books
>sometime soon. My daughter owns nearly all of his books and sometimes
>tells me about them. Disc World must be a weired place! :-D
>zymtstern
I don't report on the Terry Pratchett books I read - Terry simply reports
on what actually happens in Disc World. Disc World is REAL!
They have swamp dragons and stuff.
Buff
<snip>
And then what DVD does Ærchie arrive with but "Sahara"
>> ... badly cast, but the usual save the world and blow up the bad
>> guys, usual light watching.
>
> I have never read a Clive Cussler book; I see them everywhere, but
> they just have that look of something that wouldn't appeal to me very
> much. Are they the action-packed macho stuff the covers would have you
> believe they are? I like a good spy thriller, but prefer the ones with
> intrigue, not just guns roaring and blowing things up. :)
Macho, blowing things up, guns roaring, saving the world, beautiful women
who go to bed with the macho guys the first time they meet them, bad guys,
totally unbelievable plots ... you want it, you got it! LOL
--
Buff
zymtstern
>
Haruki Murakami
>
>I haven't, but I seem to be reading quite a few books set in Japan
>lately. Some are historicals, some are mysteries, some are both! I've
>really never been too terribly interested in Eastern culture, but my
>daughter is crazy about all things Japanese and she seems to have
>sparked my interest a bit. Which of his books would you recommend? My
>library has a few of his in stock, so maybe will give him a try.
The storys all take place in 'our' time. I'm not sure which one might
be the best or the most interesting. I think I liked the one called
"Kafka At The Beach" best - not sure about its English title, though.
Murakami has a beautiful way with words and his stories are... hm...
strange. :) The Kafka-one has a murder and a rain of fish in it :)
Terry Pratchett books
>
>Oh it is...very weird! And very funny! I've started re-reading the
>series over from the beginning, but even at the rate of one a month it
>will take me over 2 years to finish it!
That is the reason why I haven't started yet. I know that most
probably I won't stop before I've read them all...
>
>
>Now, if I read a book first, I sometimes will see the movies, but
>usually they just don't compare to the book. There are a few that work
>out okay, but most fall flat in my estimation.
I agree with you. Most of the time I resist watching a movie when I
enjoyed the book.
But sometimes when I like a movie I think: That should be much better
to read. Then I buy the book. Usually its far better :)
zymtstern
Right - I remember you said: You're in for a treat! I really look
forward to it!
zymtstern
>
>I don't report on the Terry Pratchett books I read - Terry simply reports
>on what actually happens in Disc World. Disc World is REAL!
>
>They have swamp dragons and stuff.
And from what I've heard - I think I'll really like Death :)
Buff
>> I don't report on the Terry Pratchett books I read - Terry simply
>> reports on what actually happens in Disc World. Disc World is REAL!
>>
>> They have swamp dragons and stuff.
>
> And from what I've heard - I think I'll really like Death :)
>
> zymtstern
Ohhhh, no!!! Eva, his name isn't Death ... it's DEATH! And he rides a
white horse called Binky.
--
Buff
zymtstern
>> And from what I've heard - I think I'll really like Death :)
>>
>> zymtstern
>
>Ohhhh, no!!! Eva, his name isn't Death ... it's DEATH! And he rides a
>white horse called Binky.
Oops - I'm sorry :) He likes cats, that much I know...
Cybe R. Wizard
"Buff" <bu...@westnet.com.au> wrote:
> beautiful women
> who go to bed with the macho guys the first time they meet them,
That stuff happens to me so much it's boring.
Cybe R. Wizard - ;-]
--
Unofficial "Wizard of Odds," A.H.P.
Original PORG "Water Wizard," R.P.
"Wize(ned) Wizard," A.P.F-P-Y.
Barely Tolerated Wizard, A.J.L & A.A.L
Cybe R. Wizard
zymtstern <nos...@pigasus-publishing.de> wrote:
> I think I'll really like Death :)
>
> zymtstern
Be vewy, vewy caweful with statements like that.
Cybe R. Wizard
Cybe R. Wizard
zymtstern <nos...@pigasus-publishing.de> wrote:
> Am Mon, 3 Oct 2005 18:36:34 +0800 schrieb Buff :
>
> >> And from what I've heard - I think I'll really like Death :)
> >>
> >> zymtstern
> >
> >Ohhhh, no!!! Eva, his name isn't Death ... it's DEATH! And he
> >rides a white horse called Binky.
>
>
> Oops - I'm sorry :) He likes cats, that much I know...
>
>
> zymtstern
Boiled, broiled, or in a stew?
Jeanie
> Another month has bitten the dust. Read any good books lately?
I read a few nonfiction books this month, a couple of cookbooks, a book
on kachinas, a book on plain speaking (those last two at Cathy's -- it's
impossible to pass her bookshelves and not browse!) but only managed to
finish one fiction book.
Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen. This is about the fourth or fifth Hiaasen
book I've read. They aren't in any kind of series or anything, but they
sometimes have a recurring character or two. These are funny and evilly
delicious tales of environmental espionage for the most part, the heroes
and heroines usually out to thwart corporate sprawl and island
development. This one is just as good as the others, including a
dognapping, a wifenapping, a couple of Russian Barbies, some rhino horn,
a sleazy lobbyist, a crazy ex-governor, and a mission that ties them all
together. I really liked it.
Jeanie
Cybe R. Wizard
"Cathy" <the_boilerm...@gofc.com> wrote:
> Another month has bitten the dust. Read any good books lately?
On my desk at the moment are:
The Sayings Of Confucius, James R. Ware
Bruce Tegner's Complete Book of Jujitsu, Bruce Tegner
Aikido And The Dynamic Sphere, A. Wetbrook, O. Ratti
Linux In A Nutshell, O'Reilly
Time Enough For Love, Bob Heinlein
The Winds of Altair, Ben Bova
The Fantastic Inventions of Nikola Tesla, Ol' Nik, himself
Gordon McColmb's Gadgeteer's Goldmine (55 space-age projects)
Starship, Brian Aldiss
Amateur Astronomy, An Owner's Guide to the Night Sky, David J. Eicher
Magic For Dummies, David Pogue
Cybe R. Wizard -around half through with all of 'em
Spuddie
enough, zymtstern <nos...@pigasus-publishing.de> whistled for mugwump
transport and galloped off into the sunset, shouting:
>The storys all take place in 'our' time. I'm not sure which one might
>be the best or the most interesting. I think I liked the one called
>"Kafka At The Beach" best - not sure about its English title, though.
>Murakami has a beautiful way with words and his stories are... hm...
>strange. :) The Kafka-one has a murder and a rain of fish in it :)
My library has that one and I put a request in, but it looks like
there are a few people waiting in line ahead of me, so it might be
awhile. Thanks for the suggestion.
Cheryl
~~~There's more to life than a little money, ya know. Don'tcha know
that? And here ya are. And it's a beautiful day. Well.
I just don't understand it.~~~ (from "Fargo")
Spuddie
enough, "Cybe R. Wizard" <Cybe_R_Wizard@WizardsTower> whistled for
mugwump transport and galloped off into the sunset, shouting:
>Magic For Dummies, David Pogue
Well! My confidence in your wizardly abilities has just dropped a bit,
I must say!
>Cybe R. Wizard -around half through with all of 'em
Are you the one who has talked about Spider Robinson's Callahan books?
I know it was someone here, and I think it was you. I have the first
one (I think it's the first one) Callahan's Con, here from the library
and am debating whether I should read it next or not. Should I?
Cheryl
~~~Barb, honey... we're dead. I don't think we have very much
to worry about anymore.~~~ (from "Beetlejuice")
Cybe R. Wizard
Spuddie <spu...@93xrocks.com> wrote:
> >Magic For Dummies, David Pogue
>
> Well! My confidence in your wizardly abilities has just dropped a bit,
> I must say!
Before you judge hear my reasoning; know your enemy.
>
> >Cybe R. Wizard -around half through with all of 'em
>
> Are you the one who has talked about Spider Robinson's Callahan books?
> I know it was someone here, and I think it was you. I have the first
> one (I think it's the first one) Callahan's Con, here from the library
> and am debating whether I should read it next or not. Should I?
>
> Cheryl
Oh, doG, NO! That's the last one. Although they do stand alone
they would really be missing some continuity for you and you'd not
'get' two thirds of what happens.
They progress thusly:
Callahan's Crosstime Saloon
Time Travelers Strictly Cash
Callahan's Secret
Callahan and Company (omnibus)
Callahan's Lady
Lady Slings the Booze
The Callahan Touch
Off the Wall at Callahan's
Callahan's Legacy
The Callahan Chronicals (omnibus)
Callahan's Key
Callahan's Con
IIRC, "Callahan's Lady" has the PP picture on the cover.
Cybe R. Wizard -you can see he's a punny fellow
zymtstern
>> >Ohhhh, no!!! Eva, his name isn't Death ... it's DEATH! And he
>> >rides a white horse called Binky.
>>
>>
>> Oops - I'm sorry :) He likes cats, that much I know...
>>
>>
>
>Boiled, broiled, or in a stew?
>
Alive - so I am told...
zymtstern
>On Mon, 03 Oct 2005 10:42:41 +0200
>zymtstern <nos...@pigasus-publishing.de> wrote:
>
>> I think I'll really like Death :)
>>
>> zymtstern
>
>Be vewy, vewy caweful with statements like that.
But this is the name - I only misspelled it. I was talking about the
/book-DEATH/ not the one in real life... err.. death... er whatsoever
;)
Spuddie
enough, "Cybe R. Wizard" <Cybe_R_Wizard@WizardsTower> whistled for
mugwump transport and galloped off into the sunset, shouting:
> >Callahan's Con, here from the library
>> and am debating whether I should read it next or not. Should I?
>>
>> Cheryl
>
>Oh, doG, NO! That's the last one. Although they do stand alone
>they would really be missing some continuity for you and you'd not
>'get' two thirds of what happens.
Oh crap! I just checked again at Fantastic Fiction
(http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ )and you're totally and completely
right. How the hell did I screw that up?? I know I went there to look
at year of publication when I ordered the book in the first place.
Ah well...I just requested Callahan's Crosstime Saloon from the
library...I'll send this one back unread til I get to it.
Cheryl
~~~Were they sent to hell?
Worse. Wisconsin. For the entire span of human history.~~~
(From "Dogma")
Cybe R. Wizard
Spuddie <spu...@93xrocks.com> wrote:
> I just checked again at Fantastic Fiction
> (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ )and you're totally and completely
> right.
<to the praise folder with that post!>
Cybe R. Wizard -loves being right (every once in a while)
Cybe R. Wizard
"Cybe R. Wizard" <Cybe_R_Wizard@WizardsTower> wrote:
> Gordon McColmb's Gadgeteer's Goldmine (55 space-age projects)
I beg your pardon, it is just, "McComb."
Cybe R. Wizard
Helen Edith Stephenson
t...@gofc.com> writes
>Another month has bitten the dust. Read any good books lately?
Belva Plain - After the Fire
Having read what was written on the dust jacket before starting to read
the book, I found that nearly a third of the book was taken up in
getting to the point which the dust jacket mentioned as the event which
changed the lives of so many of the characters. It was probably needed
background, but maybe I would have liked to be able to plough through it
a bit faster.
Anyway Hyacinth, the main character in the story, is assumed by her
husband to have done something terrible, and he uses it as a reason to
divorce her and deny her custody of her children.
The rest of the book is taken up with the story of how Hyacinth makes a
success of her life despite what's hanging over her head, and we come up
with a surprising ending. Or maybe it wasn't all that surprising. I had
my suspicions that one of the other characters might not be quite as
good as he appeared to be!
This is the second book of Belva Plain's that I have read. I didn't find
it to be of the stature of "Harvest", which I read earlier this year,
but I will still go back for more of her books.
Charlotte Lamb - Deep and Silent Waters
I expected this to be a novel of romantic suspense, and indeed it was,
but it was a lot more than that: it was also a historical novel.
The story is told partly in the present (1997 and 1998 when the book was
published) but with numerous flashbacks to World War II and its
aftermath in Italy.
We follow Laura, a model turned actress; and we follow Sebastian, a film
director with a past rooted in Venice and a more recent past involving
his wife, who had fallen to her death from a window. It seems that death
and Sebastian are never far apart.
In flashback, we follow Vittoria, daughter of the owner of a
pharmaceutical factory in Milan and his second wife; Canfield, the
Englishman who was tutor to Vittoria's older half-brothers; Gina,
daughter of a Venetian grocer, and Olivia, daughter of one of the noble
houses of Venice. Vittoria is sent to her aunt in Venice for safety
during the war, where she meets Gina and Olivia, and also Olivia's older
brother, whom she eventually marries.
This is a story of layer upon layer of treachery, which all come to a
head when Sebastian returns to Venice to make a film of a book written
by Canfield, and brings together the characters from the past and the
present, eventually solving an old murder, but not without raking up the
past and precipitating more deaths.
Charlotte Lamb was definitely wasted as a romance writer. This book has
substance, and she's found her niche. I will be looking out for more of
her books in this genre.
Elizabeth Moon - Oath of Gold
This is the third and final book in the Deed of Paksenarrion series. I
did wonder how Elizabeth Moon was going to get Paks out the state she
finished up in at the end of Book 2, but a local holy man provided the
answer and healed Paks of what ailed her.
Paks came into her powers as a paladin when the Kuakgan healed her, but
as she came into those powers by herself rather than while in training,
she has to find out exactly what she can do by herself.
Her paladin's mount, the Red Horse appears one day, and together they
set off on Paks' first and best remembered quest, in which she must
restore a half-elven king to his rightful throne.
I have yet to find a book by Elizabeth Moon which wasn't a page-turner,
and this one was no exception. I'm now moving on to the "Legacy of Gird"
prequels.
Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough - Acorna's Triumph
This, I suspect, is the final Acorna book.
Aari, Acorna's lifemate reappears from his time travels early in the
book, but he's much-changed and Acorna just can't feel the same about
him.
Grimalkin, the shape-shifting "friend" who accompanied Aari on his
travels through time also pops up. In fact, Grimalkin turns out to do a
lot of popping up at all sorts of points in time, and at one stage
Acorna does some time travelling of her own, and encounters the deadly
Kleevi, who are extinct in her own time-line.
This, like just about any book by Anne McCaffrey, was a thoroughly good
yarn, and I can hope that maybe she'll want to explore a new generation
of Linyaari and of Makahomian Temple Cats, but the ending of this book
does seem to read like an ending.
Helen
Helen Edith Stephenson <helen at baronmoss dot demon dot co dot uk>
--
(I'm sure you can figure out what I mean!)
http://www.baronmoss.demon.co.uk
Helen Edith Stephenson
Wizard <Cybe_R_Wizard@WizardsTower.?> writes
>On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 21:27:04 -0700
>"Cathy" <the_boilerm...@gofc.com> wrote:
>
>> Another month has bitten the dust. Read any good books lately?
>
>On my desk at the moment are:
>
>The Winds of Altair, Ben Bova
>
>Cybe R. Wizard -around half through with all of 'em
I haven't come across this one. I'm partway through his "Grand Tour"
series at the moment and the library went and sold off their last
remaining copy of "Return to Mars" before I could borrow it:-(
Ærchie
saying:
>On Mon, 03 Oct 2005 14:58:24 GMT having sat in that tree quite long
>enough, "Cybe R. Wizard" <Cybe_R_Wizard@WizardsTower> whistled for
>mugwump transport and galloped off into the sunset, shouting:
>
>>Magic For Dummies, David Pogue
>
>Well! My confidence in your wizardly abilities has just dropped a bit,
>I must say!
>
>>Cybe R. Wizard -around half through with all of 'em
>
>Are you the one who has talked about Spider Robinson's Callahan books?
>I know it was someone here, and I think it was you. I have the first
>one (I think it's the first one) Callahan's Con, here from the library
>and am debating whether I should read it next or not. Should I?
>
>Cheryl
YES!!!!
It was Cybe who mentioned Callahan but I have also read him as well and
thoroughly enjoyed the books.
Ærchie
Buff
> Am Mon, 3 Oct 2005 18:36:34 +0800 schrieb Buff :
>
>>> And from what I've heard - I think I'll really like Death :)
>>>
>>> zymtstern
>>
>> Ohhhh, no!!! Eva, his name isn't Death ... it's DEATH! And he
>> rides a white horse called Binky.
>
> Oops - I'm sorry :) He likes cats, that much I know...
>
> zymtstern
That's OK ... I know you haven't read them yet, so you're excused. <g>
--
Buff
Buff
> On Mon, 3 Oct 2005 10:59:20 +0800
> "Buff" <bu...@westnet.com.au> wrote:
>
>> beautiful women
>> who go to bed with the macho guys the first time they meet them,
>
> That stuff happens to me so much it's boring.
>
> Cybe R. Wizard - ;-]
Oh, dear! :-| I say /nothing/!!!
--
Buff
Buff
Yes ... so did I, and that dog is just priceless!
--
Buff
Cybe R. Wizard
Helen Edith Stephenson <he...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> >The Winds of Altair, Ben Bova
> [snip]
> >
> >Cybe R. Wizard -around half through with all of 'em
>
> I haven't come across this one. I'm partway through his "Grand Tour"
> series at the moment and the library went and sold off their last
> remaining copy of "Return to Mars" before I could borrow it:-(
>
> Helen
It's an oldie from my basement stacks from 1983.
Cybe R. Wizard
zymtstern
>>>
>>> Ohhhh, no!!! Eva, his name isn't Death ... it's DEATH! And he
>>> rides a white horse called Binky.
>>
>> Oops - I'm sorry :) He likes cats, that much I know...
>>
>> zymtstern
>
>That's OK ... I know you haven't read them yet, so you're excused. <g>
Hmmmmm???? Well, The Timetraveller and Oscar Wilde (the complete
works!) will be first on my list - but then...! :)
Buff
> Am Tue, 4 Oct 2005 09:46:10 +0800 schrieb Buff :
>
>>>>
>>>> Ohhhh, no!!! Eva, his name isn't Death ... it's DEATH! And he
>>>> rides a white horse called Binky.
>>>
>>> Oops - I'm sorry :) He likes cats, that much I know...
>>>
>>> zymtstern
>>
>> That's OK ... I know you haven't read them yet, so you're excused.
>> <g>
>
> Hmmmmm???? Well, The Timetraveller and Oscar Wilde (the complete
> works!) will be first on my list - but then...! :)
>
> zymtstern
Be prepared ... you'll never look at turtles and elephants the same way
again! :-D Or luggage, for that matter!
--
Buff
Marty
> Another month has bitten the dust. Read any good books lately?
Yes! I just don't have time to tell y'all about them right now. I'll
have to do better next month.
Marty
Marty
>>I almost hesitate to even bother with this, since very few other peole
>>have in past months.
>>
>>Cheryl
>
>
> I know what you mean, Cheryl. I think this is the last month I'm going to
> bother making the post.
That's because you guys do such great reports. When all I've got to say
about the books I read is something along the lines of "I liked it" I'm
too intimidated to post. :pppp So there.
Marty
Marty
> they just have that look of something that wouldn't appeal to me very
> much. Are they the action-packed macho stuff the covers would have you
> believe they are? I like a good spy thriller, but prefer the ones with
> intrigue, not just guns roaring and blowing things up. :)
>
> Cheryl
>
I don't think it is fair to characterize Cussler as "just guns roaring
and blowing things up" -- though there's some of that, too. Dirk Pitt
(his original charater) and Kurt Austin (the new guy) are likable,
indestructible characters. You know, shoot 'em, stab 'em, drag 'em
behind a car, clonk 'em on the head -- but they gonna getchya in the
end. Cussler sets up the stories using at least two historical events
which eventually are all tied together. The characters work for NUMA
(the National Underwater and Marine Agency) so most of the books involve
underwater salvage or diving for treasure (be it historical or
monitary). Cussler actually runs a company called NUMA that does
underwater salvage. Anyway, I really like his books. They are
entertaining and great escapes -- which is what I really want from a
book. If you're looking for a "think" book, these are not the ones you want.
Marty
Marty
> I read Cussler for years--starting with Raise the Titanic. I only stopped a
> few years ago because he started writing himself in as a character and it
> annoyed the stuffin' outta me. <G>
Ahhh, but they are only little tiny bits; a few paragraphs! I think it's
pretty funny -- ya gotta get your immortality some way!
Marty
Marty
> I don't report on the Terry Pratchett books I read - Terry simply reports
> on what actually happens in Disc World. Disc World is REAL!
>
> They have swamp dragons and stuff.
Oh, boy. I'm in trouble. I tried reading "Disk World" which I assumed
must be the first book. I couldn't manage it. Just couldn't get
interested and didn't care about any of the charac...er...real people
and thingies in it.
Marty
Spuddie
Bobbity Boo, ,Marty <mle...@missionx.com> slipped in something
unpleasant and whispered:
>Ærchie wrote:
>> I don't report on the Terry Pratchett books I read - Terry simply reports
>> on what actually happens in Disc World. Disc World is REAL!
>>
>> They have swamp dragons and stuff.
>
>Oh, boy. I'm in trouble. I tried reading "Disk World" which I assumed
>must be the first book.
Um...no. Maybe an impostor? I don't believe there's any of them called
Disk World. The first one is The Colour of Magic, then The Light
Fantastic followed by Equal Rites, and...more.
> I couldn't manage it. Just couldn't get
>interested and didn't care about any of the charac...er...real people
>and thingies in it.
>
>Marty
Not enough blowing stuff up? Dang. There's some pretty cool lightning
and thunder. A bit of banana eating. Trotting luggage. No? Sorry. :-|
Cheryl
~~~The English language is the result of Norman soldiers trying to
set up dates with Saxon barmaids~~~ (Anon)
Spuddie
Bobbity Boo, ,Helen Edith Stephenson <he...@nospam.demon.co.uk>
slipped in something unpleasant and whispered:
>Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough - Acorna's Triumph
>
>This, I suspect, is the final Acorna book.
And I've got the first one, Acorna The Unicorn Girl, sitting here
waiting for me to pick it up. Sounds as though I've got a few treats
ahead in this series, eh?
Cheryl
~~~One thing that I must agree with...You got to step outside
the picture just to see it...~~~ (Tantric, "Before")
Buff
<snip>
>> I couldn't manage it. Just couldn't get
>> interested and didn't care about any of the charac...er...real people
>> and thingies in it.
>>
>> Marty
>
> Not enough blowing stuff up? Dang. There's some pretty cool lightning
> and thunder. A bit of banana eating. Trotting luggage. No? Sorry. :-|
>
> Cheryl
I *love* the luggage!!! The luggage is ... unique!
--
Buff
Ærchie
saying:
>Cathy wrote:
Hitchcock used to make an appearance in his films :)
Ærchie
any sense had already left town. Yet Marty was standin' in the doorway
saying:
>Ærchie wrote:
See if'n you can find "Weird Sisters" or "Mort" to begin with.
Marty
Nope, not an imposter, it's that Pratchett person. I guess I couldn't
even get interested enough to remember the title. Maybe I'll have to
pull it out and give it another try one of these days.
marty
Marty
>>Cathy wrote:
>>
>>>I read Cussler for years--starting with Raise the Titanic. I only stopped a
>>>few years ago because he started writing himself in as a character and it
>>>annoyed the stuffin' outta me. <G>
>>
>>Ahhh, but they are only little tiny bits; a few paragraphs! I think it's
>>pretty funny -- ya gotta get your immortality some way!
>>
>>Marty
>
>
> Hitchcock used to make an appearance in his films :)
>
>
Marty
Marty
want to. Do I? Maybe when I run out of Weber and Flint and Bujold and
Moon and Ringo.
Marty
Marty
Cybe R. Wizard
Marty <mle...@missionx.com> wrote:
...
>
> Nope, not an imposter, it's that Pratchett person. I guess I couldn't
>
> even get interested enough to remember the title. Maybe I'll have to
> pull it out and give it another try one of these days.
>
> marty
I'm with ya, marty. I couldn't read his stuff, either.
Ærchie
any sense had already left town. Yet Marty was standin' in the doorway
saying:
Yeah - lets stop giving him the birds - - -
Ærchie
Marty
Besides, looking down on him could give ya vertigo!
Marty
Buff
>
> Besides, looking down on him could give ya vertigo!
>
> Marty
That's OK ... as long as you stay out of motel showers, isn't it? Although
I have heard that excessive vertigo can drive you psycho ...
--
Buff
Cybe R. Wizard
"Buff" <bu...@westnet.com.au> wrote:
> Although
> I have heard that excessive vertigo can drive you psycho ...
>
> --
> Buff
That's a mistake I won't make. /NO/ one drives /my/ psycho but me!
Ærchie
Keep on bating me and you'll send me psycho!
Ærchie
Marty
Then I'll have to get you into a 39 Steps program.
Marty
Marty
> On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 14:58:14 +0800
> "Buff" <bu...@westnet.com.au> wrote:
>
>
>>Although
>>I have heard that excessive vertigo can drive you psycho ...
>>
>>--
>>Buff
>
>
> That's a mistake I won't make. /NO/ one drives /my/ psycho but me!
>
> Cybe R. Wizard
I only care if it's infernal engine powered -- I'm the only one that
gets to drive my motorpsycho.
Marty
Ærchie
any sense had already left town. Yet Marty was standin' in the doorway
saying:
>>>>>>>>I read Cussler for years--starting with Raise the Titanic. I only stopped a
>>>>>>>>few years ago because he started writing himself in as a character and it
>>>>>>>>annoyed the stuffin' outta me. <G>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Ahhh, but they are only little tiny bits; a few paragraphs! I think it's
>>>>>>>pretty funny -- ya gotta get your immortality some way!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Marty
>>>>>>Hitchcock used to make an appearance in his films :)
>>>>>Well, then, there ya go. Cussler is following a good tradition. ;)
>>>>>
>>>>>Marty
>>>>Yeah - lets stop giving him the birds - - -
>>>>
>>>>Ærchie
>>>
>>>Besides, looking down on him could give ya vertigo!
>>>
>>>Marty
>>
>>
>> Keep on bating me and you'll send me psycho!
>>
>> Ærchie
>
>Then I'll have to get you into a 39 Steps program.
>
>Marty
Sounds like a bit of a family plot.
Ærchie
Buff
> On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 14:58:14 +0800
> "Buff" <bu...@westnet.com.au> wrote:
>
>> Although
>> I have heard that excessive vertigo can drive you psycho ...
>>
>> --
>> Buff
>
> That's a mistake I won't make. /NO/ one drives /my/ psycho but me!
>
> Cybe R. Wizard
Should I warn Suzie to be vewwy, vewwy careful in the shower???
--
Buff
Buff
> Ćrchie wrote:
>> The curfew had been lifted and the gamblin' wheel shut down, Anyone
>> with
>> any sense had already left town. Yet Marty was standin' in the
>> doorway saying:
>>
>>
>>>>> Ćrchie wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Cathy wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I read Cussler for years--starting with Raise the Titanic. I
>>>>>>>> only stopped a few years ago because he started writing
>>>>>>>> himself in as a character and it annoyed the stuffin' outta
>>>>>>>> me. <G>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ahhh, but they are only little tiny bits; a few paragraphs! I
>>>>>>> think it's pretty funny -- ya gotta get your immortality some
>>>>>>> way!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Marty
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hitchcock used to make an appearance in his films :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Well, then, there ya go. Cussler is following a good tradition.
>>>>> ;)
>>>>>
>>>>> Marty
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yeah - lets stop giving him the birds - - -
>>>>
>>>
>>> Besides, looking down on him could give ya vertigo!
>>>
>>> Marty
>>
>>
>> Keep on bating me and you'll send me psycho!
>>
>
> Then I'll have to get you into a 39 Steps program.
>
> Marty
Can we watch him from the rear window?
--
Buff
Cybe R. Wizard
Yes, I'm hunting wawe bits!
Buff
> On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 15:27:52 +0800
> "Buff" <bu...@westnet.com.au> wrote:
>
>> Cybe R. Wizard wrote:
>>> On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 14:58:14 +0800
>>> "Buff" <bu...@westnet.com.au> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Although
>>>> I have heard that excessive vertigo can drive you psycho ...
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Buff
>>>
>>> That's a mistake I won't make. /NO/ one drives /my/ psycho but me!
>>>
>>> Cybe R. Wizard
>>
>> Should I warn Suzie to be vewwy, vewwy careful in the shower???
>>
>> --
>> Buff
>>
> Yes, I'm hunting wawe bits!
>
> Cybe R. Wizard
LOL Reminds me of a wicket-keeper we had in our cricket team ... he had
everyone in stitches when he commented, just as the bowler was coming in to
bowl, "Ssshhhhh! Be vewwy, vewwy quiet! We're hunting wabbits!". The
batsman laughed so hard he got out! A dud batsman is usually known as a
"rabbit".
--
Buff
Cybe R. Wizard
"Buff" <bu...@westnet.com.au> wrote:
Hey! No puns from you! I hear you hate 'em.
(good un, though!)
Was that wicket-keeper known to us? It sounds suspiciously like
something 'someone' would say and at the correct moment.
Buff
No. The person known to you was the bowler ... this was a fellow by the
name of Shane Smith (no relation!) and he had a quick wit! The bowler,
btw, was also laughing ...
--
Buff