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#Post#: 335131--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: Tryp_OR Date: July 14, 2025, 5:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I usually go for mystery/thriller or science fiction. For the
past couple of months I have been on a mystery binge. Except
for the first, this list is all award winners.
The Collector (Daniel Silva) Most recent of a pretty long
running series about a former Israeli spy. A decent plane read,
the author seems to be just cranking things out. I'd call it
somewhat breezy, in the sense that the hero seems to have access
to lots of money, speaks multiple languages fluently, etc.
Don't think about it too hard.
Flags on the Bayou (James Lee Burke) Set near the end of the
Civil War. I read a claim by the author that this is his best
work. It's definitely an interesting read, not a standard
mystery. The speech and behavior of the characters kept me from
suspending disbelief (though for all I know they might be
typical of the time and place).
One Good Deed (David Baldacci) Start of a new series, set in the
1940's West. I'm not sure if the somewhat simple prose is
supposed to evoke thoughts of a straightforward-thinking man in
a simpler time, or if Baldacci normally writes this way. A few
plot points seemed contrived.
Good Girl, Bad Girl (Michael Robotham) Also a start of a new
series, set in present day Nottingham. Some of the violence is
pretty graphically described, but I thought the writing was good
quality.
Stranger Diaries (Elly Griffiths) A mystery of the Gothic genre,
set in modern day England. Different enough from the usual that
I consider this the most worthwhile of this set.
Time for some science fiction.
#Post#: 335134--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: MidwestmikkiJ Date: July 14, 2025, 6:03 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Tryp_OR link=topic=68.msg335131#msg335131
date=1752532899]
I usually go for mystery/thriller or science fiction. For the
past couple of months I have been on a mystery binge. Except
for the first, this list is all award winners.
The Collector (Daniel Silva) Most recent of a pretty long
running series about a former Israeli spy. A decent plane read,
the author seems to be just cranking things out. I'd call it
somewhat breezy, in the sense that the hero seems to have access
to lots of money, speaks multiple languages fluently, etc.
Don't think about it too hard.
Flags on the Bayou (James Lee Burke) Set near the end of the
Civil War. I read a claim by the author that this is his best
work. It's definitely an interesting read, not a standard
mystery. The speech and behavior of the characters kept me from
suspending disbelief (though for all I know they might be
typical of the time and place).
One Good Deed (David Baldacci) Start of a new series, set in the
1940's West. I'm not sure if the somewhat simple prose is
supposed to evoke thoughts of a straightforward-thinking man in
a simpler time, or if Baldacci normally writes this way. A few
plot points seemed contrived.
Good Girl, Bad Girl (Michael Robotham) Also a start of a new
series, set in present day Nottingham. Some of the violence is
pretty graphically described, but I thought the writing was good
quality.
Stranger Diaries (Elly Griffiths) A mystery of the Gothic genre,
set in modern day England. Different enough from the usual that
I consider this the most worthwhile of this set.
Time for some science fiction.
[/quote]
Have you read other James Lee Burke? I've read some of two of
his series with mixed feelings. His writing style is the most
distinct of anyone I can recall. There's an almost stiltedness
about it that wouldn't work for most authors but in the those
two series he creaated such a strong sense of place that it
worked. At least it worked until I just plain got tired of it.
He also injects what I can only describe as mysticism into the
books to a greater or lesser degree depending on the story. It's
not unlike Gabriel García Márquez or Salman Rushdie if they were
writing in the mystery genre.
#Post#: 335138--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: Tryp_OR Date: July 14, 2025, 6:45 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=MidwestmikkiJ link=topic=68.msg335134#msg335134
date=1752534200]
[quote author=Tryp_OR link=topic=68.msg335131#msg335131
date=1752532899]
I usually go for mystery/thriller or science fiction. For the
past couple of months I have been on a mystery binge. Except
for the first, this list is all award winners.
The Collector (Daniel Silva) Most recent of a pretty long
running series about a former Israeli spy. A decent plane read,
the author seems to be just cranking things out. I'd call it
somewhat breezy, in the sense that the hero seems to have access
to lots of money, speaks multiple languages fluently, etc.
Don't think about it too hard.
Flags on the Bayou (James Lee Burke) Set near the end of the
Civil War. I read a claim by the author that this is his best
work. It's definitely an interesting read, not a standard
mystery. The speech and behavior of the characters kept me from
suspending disbelief (though for all I know they might be
typical of the time and place).
One Good Deed (David Baldacci) Start of a new series, set in the
1940's West. I'm not sure if the somewhat simple prose is
supposed to evoke thoughts of a straightforward-thinking man in
a simpler time, or if Baldacci normally writes this way. A few
plot points seemed contrived.
Good Girl, Bad Girl (Michael Robotham) Also a start of a new
series, set in present day Nottingham. Some of the violence is
pretty graphically described, but I thought the writing was good
quality.
Stranger Diaries (Elly Griffiths) A mystery of the Gothic genre,
set in modern day England. Different enough from the usual that
I consider this the most worthwhile of this set.
Time for some science fiction.
[/quote]
Have you read other James Lee Burke? I've read some of two of
his series with mixed feelings. His writing style is the most
distinct of anyone I can recall. There's an almost stiltedness
about it that wouldn't work for most authors but in the those
two series he creaated such a strong sense of place that it
worked. At least it worked until I just plain got tired of it.
He also injects what I can only describe as mysticism into the
books to a greater or lesser degree depending on the story. It's
not unlike Gabriel García Márquez or Salman Rushdie if they were
writing in the mystery genre.
[/quote]
Yes there is mysticism in this current book that I was not
especially enamored of. I had read one of the Robicheaux books
many years ago and did not recall that aspect, but with a name
like In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead perhaps I should
have. Maybe I interpreted it as drug/alcohol-induced delirium?
(I don't know why I read a book late in that series rather than
the first, maybe someone loaned it to me?)
#Post#: 335139--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: MidwestmikkiJ Date: July 14, 2025, 6:49 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Tryp_OR link=topic=68.msg335138#msg335138
date=1752536701]
[quote author=MidwestmikkiJ link=topic=68.msg335134#msg335134
date=1752534200]
[quote author=Tryp_OR link=topic=68.msg335131#msg335131
date=1752532899]
I usually go for mystery/thriller or science fiction. For the
past couple of months I have been on a mystery binge. Except
for the first, this list is all award winners.
The Collector (Daniel Silva) Most recent of a pretty long
running series about a former Israeli spy. A decent plane read,
the author seems to be just cranking things out. I'd call it
somewhat breezy, in the sense that the hero seems to have access
to lots of money, speaks multiple languages fluently, etc.
Don't think about it too hard.
Flags on the Bayou (James Lee Burke) Set near the end of the
Civil War. I read a claim by the author that this is his best
work. It's definitely an interesting read, not a standard
mystery. The speech and behavior of the characters kept me from
suspending disbelief (though for all I know they might be
typical of the time and place).
One Good Deed (David Baldacci) Start of a new series, set in the
1940's West. I'm not sure if the somewhat simple prose is
supposed to evoke thoughts of a straightforward-thinking man in
a simpler time, or if Baldacci normally writes this way. A few
plot points seemed contrived.
Good Girl, Bad Girl (Michael Robotham) Also a start of a new
series, set in present day Nottingham. Some of the violence is
pretty graphically described, but I thought the writing was good
quality.
Stranger Diaries (Elly Griffiths) A mystery of the Gothic genre,
set in modern day England. Different enough from the usual that
I consider this the most worthwhile of this set.
Time for some science fiction.
[/quote]
Have you read other James Lee Burke? I've read some of two of
his series with mixed feelings. His writing style is the most
distinct of anyone I can recall. There's an almost stiltedness
about it that wouldn't work for most authors but in the those
two series he creaated such a strong sense of place that it
worked. At least it worked until I just plain got tired of it.
He also injects what I can only describe as mysticism into the
books to a greater or lesser degree depending on the story. It's
not unlike Gabriel García Márquez or Salman Rushdie if they were
writing in the mystery genre.
[/quote]
Yes there is mysticism in this current book that I was not
especially enamored of. I had read one of the Robicheaux books
many years ago and did not recall that aspect, but with a name
like In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead perhaps I should
have. Maybe I interpreted it as drug/alcohol-induced delirium?
(I don't know why I read a book late in that series rather than
the first, maybe someone loaned it to me?)
[/quote]
That’s the one I started with too b3cause of a friend’s
recommendation. I think in that one he is talking about alcohol
induced delirium. But he has some of the same in another series
with a different protagonist.
I think the man is a truly gifted writer but I found the plots
repetitive and overly violent after a while.
#Post#: 349412--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: Tryp_OR Date: September 29, 2025, 1:10 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Just finished my science fiction binge.
Murderbot by Martha Wells First in a series about a security
cyborg who gains free will. A not overly complex plot with some
wry humor to it, and I found it enjoyable.
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers I
believe this is also the start of a series, about a small
space-tunneling vessel with a multi-species crew. The author is
well regarded, I didn't quite buy into the fairly cushy life on
the vessel nor the interactions of the crew (almost everyone is
having sex with someone of a different species).
Pushing Ice by Alistair Reynolds A comet-mining ship is ordered
to follow an alien vessel as it leaves the solar system and the
crew have many technical challenges as they try to survive.
This falls under the category of hard SF, as does other of the
author's work. The primary characters are two strong-willed
women with conflicting views about the goals.
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville This is an author who
I find to be very creative, and this book is recommended again
and again by readers. Steampunk-tinged fantasy set in a very
grungy city on a multi-species world. I did enjoy reading it,
but it's not exactly upbeat. He's written a couple other books
set in this world, which I'll get to eventually.
The Engines of God by Jack McDevitt Archeologists exploring
several planets trying to understand the ancient species that
left monuments across the galaxy. I was not convinced about the
archeologists assuming the aliens thought so similarly to
humans, but I enjoyed it. I have seen comments that the sequels
are essentially the same story with minor variations, so I
probably won't rush right over to them.
La Belle Sauvage by Phillip Pullman Start of a trilogy related
to The Golden Compass. A journey of high adventure after a
flood; I was wondering if there was an intentional mimicking of
The Odyssey or some similar adventure. This book was a prequel,
but I think the next one will jump ahead to Lyra's early
adulthood after the events of the prior trilogy.
#Post#: 349454--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: Chicagogirl22 Date: September 29, 2025, 9:22 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I just finished A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner.
Full disclosure: I am not into true crime. So I knew nothing
about the real life events this was based on, The Preppy Murder,
in 1986 in Central Park. It reads as a blend of historical
fiction and memoir. Those genres tend to hit or miss for me so I
was surprised at how much I liked them combined.
I think there is a difference between historical fiction that is
based in a lot of research and historical fiction based on a
time period people actually lived.
#Post#: 349482--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: MidwestmikkiJ Date: September 29, 2025, 10:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Last night I finished another book in a mystery series I like
(Collateral Damage by JA Jance). This series involves a high
tech, cybersecurity team that has a human like AI they use but
also worry about. Anyway near the end the AI almost as a throw
away reports that there is a 97.6 chance that due to this COVID
virus international travel will be curtailed at some point.
The whole mystery took place in the first week of January 2020.
I read a lot of series and I’ve been interested in if and how
they handle the pandemic. I’ll have to see with the next books
if there is further mention.
#Post#: 349987--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: NoLongerAubergine Date: October 1, 2025, 12:15 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[member=117]Wookinpanub[/member] shared a memory tangential to
Pat Conroy. That triggered a memory of my own.
My sister and I were going to a movie, and she really wanted to
see Prince of Tides. I had no interest. Zero. But I conceded.
Turned out that I liked it a lot. Enough, in fact, that I bought
the book. Which, as is often the case, was even better. So now
I'm wondering why I never read another of his.
Conroy wrote a gajillion books. My question is do any of you
have one to recommend?
#Post#: 349995--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: ShirtOfBlue Date: October 1, 2025, 12:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Just finished The Vinyl Detective by Andrew Cartmel. Slightly
far fetched murder mystery which relies on information scratched
in the “dead wax” of LPs.
Started The Black Swan Mystery by Tetsuya Ayukawa (it’s a
Japanese translation, originally from the 60s I think.)
#Post#: 349999--------------------------------------------------
Re: What are you reading?
By: MidwestmikkiJ Date: October 1, 2025, 12:57 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=NoLongerAubergine
link=topic=68.msg349987#msg349987 date=1759338914]
[member=117]Wookinpanub[/member] shared a memory tangential to
Pat Conroy. That triggered a memory of my own.
My sister and I were going to a movie, and she really wanted to
see Prince of Tides. I had no interest. Zero. But I conceded.
Turned out that I liked it a lot. Enough, in fact, that I bought
the book. Which, as is often the case, was even better. So now
I'm wondering why I never read another of his.
Conroy wrote a gajillion books. My question is do any of you
have one to recommend?
[/quote]
Hmmm. I had exactly the same feeling about Prince of Tides when
it was a big thing. Maybe I should watch/read.
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