What Fiction are you reading this week, July 2, 2023?

[hermetic]

Munich, 114-yrs-old

What is the tallest building in the world? The library: it has the most stories.

I'm reading Date With Death by Julia Chapman. A fun little cozy about two feuding neighbors in rural England who soon realize that they need to work together to solve some recent mysterious deaths.

Listening to Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. This "whimsical plot serves up unforgettable insights into the human condition and is a gentle reminder to be compassionate to all the anxious people we encounter every day." This is so funny, and sometimes poignant, from the author of A Man Called Ove. It's not easy taking hostages when all the people are jerks.

Any fun books on your reading list this week?

Have a safe and happy 4th.

[FalloutShelter]

1. Dessert With Buddha

I’ve already read Breakfast,Lunch, and Dinner.
love this series. Gentle, funny, and wise.

[hermetic]

2. Those sound marvelous.

Two sort-of Buddhists travel around the U.S. meeting all sorts of interesting characters. Author Roland Merullo says, "I wanted this one to be a testament to the kind of generosity I grew up with, a full-souled selflessness, an antidote to greed. Dessert with Buddha enhances the series the way a delicious dish of ice cream or slice of homemade pie enhances a great meal."

I am quite interested in reading those now. Thanks.

[FalloutShelter]

9. So welcome.

I think you will love them.

[mike_c]

3. The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu

I have the series. This was the first book I tried to read on my tablet, like ten-ish years ago. I discovered that I don't enjoy reading from a device as much as real books, and I didn't make much progress. This time I'm enjoying it more, so far.

[Runningdawg]

4. Not an easy read, but worth it.

[hermetic]

8. Awesome

A multiple award winning phenomenon from China's most beloved science fiction author, Liu Cixin. A science fiction masterpiece of enormous scope and vision.

[Jeebo]

5. "Sea of Tranquility" by Emily St. John Mandel

Just finished "Ice" by Anna Kavan. It reminds me a lot of "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Leguin, but "The Left Hand of Darkness" is much better, I've read it three times and it's one of my all-time favorites.

I just started "Sea of Tranquility" and I'm already almost half through it, it's pretty hard to put down. I didn't realize that it's a science fiction novel until about a fourth of the way through it. It's about future moon colonies and time travel. I read her "Station Eleven" twice some years back and it's really hard to put down too. I'd also categorize it as science fiction, but of the dystopian survivors-of-a-global-catastrophe-wandering-through-the-rubble-of-a-ruined-civilization subgenre.

-- Ron

[hermetic]

10. I love Mandel's books

Looking forward to reading this one:
"A virtuoso performance that is as human and tender as it is intellectually playful, Sea of Tranquility is a novel of time travel and metaphysics that precisely captures the reality of our current moment."

[japple]

21. I really liked Station Eleven a lot, but I had to make myself finish

The Glass Hotel. It was too dark and creepy for my taste. Will check out Sea of Tranquility

[Runningdawg]

6. Alice (Chronicles of Alice Series, Book One) by Christina Henry

Very-dark twist on the original with the opening set in a post-apocalyptic mental institution. It's a page turner. Most definitely not for the squeamish, but I am loving the characters.

[hermetic]

11. Oooo, this looks like fun

Good, creepy fun.

[RobertDevereaux]

7. The audiobook of Blood Meridian.

Attended to Chapter 4 yesterday, and oh my what a triumph it is.

[hermetic]

12. Ah, Cormac McCarthy

Brilliant, of course.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. The Archers Story by Martin Archer (set in Crusader times)

I've been trying to clear out my Prime Reading books, some of which I have had for ages! I've had this one since 2018. So far I am in Volume 1 in which the main characters have managed to escape the Holy Land by sea and docked in to Cyprus for supplies and some land time. They begin a ferry service shipping supplies back to Palestine and bringing refugees hoping to get back to Europe. The main characters are engaging and have already had a couple of interesting adventures. (I am about half way through the first book.) I will probably be working on this one for long while.

Arrows fly, swords clash, nobles and church men are gulled out of their coins, and the French and Venetians are successfully blamed for things they did not do. This is a collection of the entire first six books in Martin Archer's exciting and action-packed saga of Cornwall's Company of Archers at the dawn of Britain’s military supremacy and the beginning of its great merchant companies. It is an enjoyable and sometimes witty read that sticks pins into the church and nobility along the way.

The on-going saga of the Company of Archers is set in dangerous and gritty feudal England during a time when there was great upheaval in Britain as the barons rose against the king, the Saracens were lashing out against the Christians for breaking a truce, and Islamic pirates from the Barbary Coast were fighting for control of the Mediterranean. This is British and English historical fiction at its action-packed best. It will appeal to the fans of books such as The Game of Thrones and authors such as Bernard Cornwell, Jeffrey Archer, C.S. Forester, Griff Hosker, Peter Darman, and Jerry Auteri.

[hermetic]

14. That sounds like a good series

to get into. Smart but entertaining. Thanks.

[The King of Prussia]

15. I'm not!

We went to see a talk with Richard Thompson at the literary Festival in Bradford, so I am reading his autobiography ""Beeswing."

Julia Chapman is local to us - as you know. I hope you're enjoying it. If you want to see what "Bruncliffe" looks like, it's actually a town called Settle.

Have a great week.

[hermetic]

16. Oh I do

I always enjoy looking up pictures from the towns in my books. But I know they're not always true names, so thank you. Of course I've seen Yorkshire. So lovely.

You have a great week, too. Give Russo a little scritch for me.

[Basic LA]

17. The High Window, 1942, by Raymond Chandler

Featuring private detective Philip Marlowe. (Audiobook) Great L.A. noir.

[hermetic]

20. Can't beat

the oldies but goodies.

[japple]

18. I'm still reading Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea and it is one of the

best books I've read in a long time. The writing is outstanding. He is a master of dialogue, history, and the interchange of relationships. The story is roughly based on his mother's service in the Red Cross during WWII. I will have to seek out other works by Urrea. It's one of those books that you think about all day and can't wait to get back to at night.

Gotta post this quick as there is a strong storm coming in. Happy 4th to you all.

[hermetic]

19. Oh, goodness

Stay safe. Do check in tomorrow.

[mentalsolstice]

24. Put it on my TBR list.

Sounds like something right up my alley. Thank you! Stay safe!

[japple]

25. The storm was a doozy, with walls of rain pounding on our skylights and

lights going on and off, but no damage except for a few branches down.

[hermetic]

26. Whew, glad to hear

I checked the news first thing this morning for any serious storms and could only find Chicago which got totally flooded from rain. Storms are clearly getting worse. We all need to be prepared for emergencies. i.e., keep lots of cat food in the pantry.

[mentalsolstice]

22. The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

I just finished “Those Who Save Us” by Jenna Blum. It was about “good Germans” during WWII, going back and forth between a mother and daughter, 1940s to 1997. I was immersed in the story. But at the end, I’d have to give something between 3 to 4 stars out of 5.

I have to say I’m enjoying Lager Queen, off to a good start. My husband and I love to visit small independent breweries! A lot of family drama is involved. So we’ll see where this romping story takes us.

Happy July 4th, avoid the fireworks, cuddle up with your pets and read a great book!

[hermetic]

27. I'll have to read that one

Sounds like fun. I lived many years in MN and am quite fond of independent breweries, as well. "Drink lots, it's Blotz."

[cbabe]

23. More comfort reading:

Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn/Chee series for the second time.

First reading was years ago. Much better than I remembered.

[hermetic]

28. Indeed

I quite enjoy Hillerman's stories.

[Jilly_in_VA]

29. Smack in the middle of

Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson. Slow going, but definitely engrossing, this alternate history (my favorite genre!) is full of physics and other sciences as they might have been discovered had all the Europeans been completely wiped out by the Black Death and civilization been advanced by the Chinese and Muslims. I'm loving it, but I'm going to need some light reading when I'm done! A LOT of light reading.

[Paper Roses]

30. I'm struggling with this book. Have you read "Dogtown" by Elyssa East?

I always try to finish a book I have started. Most have merit. Two or 3 books a week. I exchange books with friends and all of us initial the books. When the 3 of us post out initials(in pencil) the last one to read brings the book to our Little Free Library.

I'm having trouble with this one. Four days and I'm only 91 pages in. There may be others that enjoy this book but I'm about ready to give up. The reviews are good. I guess it is just me but this one does not interest me. It is based fairly locally so I thought I would be interested. Too much excess dialog, tiny print, long drawn out story.

[hermetic]

31. No, never heard of it

When I looked it up I learned it is nonfiction and there is a group for that, if you are looking for other thoughts on it you might find some there.
I will say that I was curious about Dogtown and looked at photos and read a bit about its history. Fascinating place, and lovely. Plus interesting history: pirates, witches, murders.

[txwhitedove]

32. A Munich library, beautiful. Just finished The Book Thief by

Markus Kusak. This historical fiction was a lyrical, poetic, funny, sad, jewel of a book. I buy books used at thrift shops and on Amazon, so not always reading current titles.

[hermetic]

33. That is a great book