It’s time for another couple of questions for our readership. Summer starts today (as I am writing this) which traditionally (if not necessarily accurately) signals an upsurge in reading. I accordingly am curious as to what YOU are reading, right now (yeah, I know, you’re reading me. I mean when you’re done here). I of late (the past several months) have found that I can read more quickly if I juggle several different books at once: fifty pages or so at a gulp, and then on to another, and so on. I mention this because I am currently reading six books at once, which works out roughly to one for each of my personalities (none of us like to share). I review books for bookreporterdotcom; five those books are for review, and the sixth is one that I picked from my reading bucket list. Here’s what we’re reading this week:
SECOND HONEYMOON — James Patterson & Howard Roughan
THE SILENT WIFE — A.S.A. Harrison
EVIL AND THE MASK — Fuminori Nakamura; translated by Satoko Izumo
NORWEGIAN BY NIGHT — Derek B. Miller.
EYE FOR AN EYE — Ben Coes
and from the bucket list: MAIGRET’S RIVAL by Georges Simenon
Your turn. What are you reading now? And do you read one book at a time, or a couple, or several?
I’ve only just begun Game of Thrones today. I need to see what all the Hub-bub is about. In the first two pages I can tell I am not going to be disappointed!! Just finished PJ Parrish’s Dead of Winter this morning. Couldn’t put that down until I found out what happened with Louis. Loved it. Before that it was James Scott Bell’s Writing Fiction For All Your Worth. That book is now ruined for all others it’s so marked up with notes and highlights. Tried reading Dean Koontz’ Shadowfires. Unfortunately it lost my interest half way through the book. And I’m always at some part of Stephen King’s The Stand. That is a forever read to me. Does Writers Digest count?? Lol. One of these days I really hope to Master the Lord of the Rings because I love the stories but could never get passed the language barrier, him being from Middle Earth and all. The Silent Wife sounds interesting! I’ll have to look into that.
I was just talking with a young lady who graduated from high school, Jeanette, and she had read all of the GAME OF THRONES books this school year and loved them all. Martin early on wrote short stories almost exclusively and if you get a chance you should read “Sandkings,” which is still considered one of his One question: who is that James Scott Bell guy?
I’m finding Martin’s writing extremely enticing! I will have to look into “Sandkings,” for sure! Thank you. And as far as James Scott Bell is concerned some say his tutelage of the craft ranks as some of the best. I have to agree! 😉
Since the beginning of June I’ve read 8 books for pleasure/research, (well okay…five were audiobooks read via the ear canals)…and two for work (creating audiobooks).
Fun group:
Non-fiction
The Only Thing Worth Dying For by Eric Blehm
Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown by Eric Blehm
Fiction
The Liberty Bell Series, books 1-3 (of 7) by Gilbert Morris
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Gone For Good by Harlan Coben
The Wheel of Darkness by Lincoln Child
For Narration Work(but still fun)
2BR02B My own complete retelling of a classic tale by Kurt Vonnegut (live now in ebook & any day now in audiobook)
High Treason by John Gilstrap (due for release July 30th)…goooood story…
All in all it’s been a good start. With July promising a ten day Scout Camp, a four day salmon fishing trip, and a couple plan trips, I think there will be a bunch of good titles about to be consumed. James Lincoln Collier, Lincoln Child, Chuck Black, Ben Bova, and Poul Anderson are among authors in the queue. Not to mention Basil Sands, whom I am lead to understand is writing his own next novel at the same time.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful saturday…or whatever -urday- you are having where you are having your urdays these days.
God Bless!!
I may have mentioned before that I want to be Basil Sands when I grow up. Have a great summmer, Basil!
My stack includes The Black Box by Michael Connelly, Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson, Suspect by Robert Crais, Jinx by Sage Blackwood, Kiss and Spell by Shanna Swendson, and I’m going to check out the series by Eliane Viets (the post a couple of days ago got me interested). I’m a fast reader, so this should take two weeks, if that. Then I’ll need a new stack from the library.
That’s an impressive stack, Sonja, I like the variety as well as you using the library. Does this ever happen to you: you go to the library for one book, and come out with six? Kinda like going to the liquor store! When I went to the liquor store!
Yes, the local librarians love to see me come in. I check out 8-10 books per week, and usually stop to peruse the front racks. Something always catches my eye.
Just finished Stephen King’s JOYLAND and Dan Brown’s INFERNO. Plan to do a comparison next week for my blog.
Because Kathryn compared me to Janet Evanovich I picked up one of her books at a library sale, FOUR TO SCORE. Almost done it. Quite funny.
That was books. Ebooks I’ve downloaded and will start this week are: BAD MONKEY by Carl Hiaasen, DOUBLE WHAMMY by Gretchen Archer and THE BUSINESS OF WRITING by Jennifer Lyons.
I will also try to remember to do the stuff that interferes with my reading. Like eating. And sleeping. Bothersome stuff.
Amanda — I’m curious to know what you think of Double Whammy. If you think of it, send me a note and let me know if you liked it.
Will do, Diane.
Amanda, I’ve read both and I’m really looking forward to that blog next week!
Good question, Joe. Aren’t most of us happy to answer questions like these (along with “Tell me about your kids….”)?
I have three in process. I’m halfway into BROKEN HARBOR by Tana French, but after going to a book signing event with Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, I’ve started THE HEIST (very excited). And a writer friend just sent me a craft book, TELL, DON’T SHOW.
In the to-read stack are MR. PENUMBRA’S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE and OLIVE KITTERIDGE.
I’m enjoying the lists here.
Thanks, Diane. I like the variety in your list. I love Tana French generally and BROKEN HARBOR specifically. It’s so well-plotted. Hope you enjoy it, if that’s the right emotion for one of the saddest books I’ve ever read.
I have so many books going it’s almost comical. I have a couple writing craft books going including, “Creative Nonfiction”, “Writing Down the Bones”, “One Year to a Writing Life” and just downloaded a Carl Hiaasen book and a David Baldacci book and have about 12 on hold. Augh. So many books…
Amen, Julie. I figured out that I read about 150 books last year and had almost 150 more that I wanted to read but didn’t. I keep saying “someday” but I’m going to be out of running room for that sooner rather than later. Hope you do better!
I just started The Trinity Game by Sean Chercover. Just finished Carl Hiassen’s Star Island. Before that it was In the Woods by Tana French,(I think) A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick, and on. I figure I average about a book per week, depending upon the length of the book. It is not unusual for me to read magazines for a day or two between books if I’m not sure what I’m in the mood for next. I like a bit of variety in what I read vis a vis genre, tone, locale, etc. I rarely read multiple books simultaneously. I’ve done it, but it’s not really my style.
If my house was on fire, catfriend, I would grab my collection of Philip K. Dick books, which include several of the Ace Double paperbacks. The only thing I haven’t read by him is EXEGESIS which is a bit daunting. He was really under-appreciated during his lifetime. I’m still waiting for the film version of UBIK, but I’ve been waiting for forty years.
Joe, in between moving to the other end of the state, working on ThrillerFest VIII, and writing my next thriller, I’m reading THE TRINITY GAME by Sean Chercover. Terrific story.
I’ve got THE TRINITY GAME to read, Joe, and between you and catfriend recommending it maybe it’s time to bump it to the top of the pile. Good luck with the move and thank you for not asking me to help!
I’m reading
• THE FREEDOM LINE by Peter Eisner. (It’s about the men and women who saved Allied airmen from the Nazis during WW2 by smuggling them through the Basque country.)
• WRITING FICTION FOR ALL YOU’RE WORTH by James Scott Bell
Just finished
• THE FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer Nielsen
That James Scott Bell guy keeps popping up here…that name rings a…I bet it’ll come to me tomorrow morning…
I hear, Beth, that THE FALSE PRINCE is being adapted for film. I’ll need to check that trilogy out. Thanks!
Joe –
I share your inclination and opportunity to read lots of books (we’re damn lucky – imagine being one of those poor folks that do not enjoy reading – ouch!). I’m not sure if I’m an insomniac or simply one who can’t quit a good tale.
I just completed William Kent Krueger’s “Ordinary Grace”. I felt it was truly brilliant.
I know you share my James Lee Burke appreciation and I think we are in the same ball park agewise (Old enough to know better because we’ve already effed it up when younger). I would bet the farm that you will LOVE this book. Please read it!
Tom, you are spot on regarding ORDINARY GRACE, and with respect to LIGHT OF THE WORLD by James Lee Burke…it’s one of those rare books that you wish would never end. And what a wonderful ending.
I’m 61 and closing in on 62 with a vengeance, though most days I feel like I’m in my 20s. That, alas, is not always a good thing. And if we’re in the same ballpark agewise, I’m sure you know what I mean. Thanks, Tom!
I recently finished “The Lewis Man” — the second of Peter May’s Lewis Trilogy. It was a stunning book and I am looking forward to the final installment: “The Chessmen.”
Just finished Pater James’ “Dead Man’s Grip” – one of his detective Roy Grace novels – and I am soon to start the next in the series (9 so far) titled “Not Dead Yet” (Yes, all the Roy Grace novels have the word “Dead” in the title).
Otherwise I am ploughing my way through “All Hell Let Loose,” Max Hastings definitive history of WWII. It’s heavy reading (the book weights a ton) but it is captivating and I am eager to get to the end to see how it turns out.
I had the pleasure, Michael, of meeting Peter James in Cleveland at Bouchercon last year. He’s a sweetheart of a guy, incredibly modest and sincere for a guy who is simply bursting with talent. As good as the Grace series is, I have the feeling that his best work is yet to come. He just keeps topping himself.
I’ll confess that one reason I posed the question I did is to get more book recommendations, and I’ll be adding THE LEWIS MAN to the list. Thanks!
I am reading a light paranormal romance and a historical mystery. I juggle two or three books at the same time and read whichever one suits my mood at the moment.