What are you reading the week of March 16th?

[scarletwoman]

2. *sigh* I wish I knew. I just finished Ian Rankin's latest Rebus book,

Last edited Tue Mar 18, 2014, 10:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Saints of the Shadow Bible, and the library isn't open until Tuesday.

I don't know how "hot" Saints of the Shadow Bible would be considered at this point. I'm always several months behind getting my hands on new releases, since I get all my books through my local public library, and there's usually several months of delay before there are copies available in the system.

I've read Rankin's entire Rebus series from start to finish now, as well as his two Matthew Fox books (meh). So if Rankin is currently working on yet another new Rebus book, it will be at least another year before I'll be able to get it.

As for SotSB, I must admit I found it mildly disappointing. All the usual ingredients were there, and I love the Rebus character no matter what, but the story just didn't particularly sparkle and whiz the way most of the earlier Rebus stories did, it just seemed a bit flat. I couldn't work up much interest in the events or the persons involved in the events, and the story as a whole felt sort of rushed to me - as though Rankin just wanted to get the pieces assembled and be done with it.

Like Arthur Conan Doyle with Sherlock Holmes, Rankin tried to retire John Rebus and move on, but the legions of Rebus fans would have none of it. Saints is basically the 2nd book featuring Rebus since he was resurrected from retirement. Reading this latest, I found myself wondering if Rankin's heart is really in it.

As for what I'll read next, I have a list I'll be bringing to the library on Tuesday and in the meantime I'll have to make do with randomly picking out a few books from the shelves. Maybe if I'm lucky some of the other books I've had on order for months will finally show up.

Still anxiously waiting for Strange Shores by Arnaldur Indridason, Cockroaches by Jo Nebso, and a couple other titles that I got on the waiting list for so many months ago I can't remember what they were. Which is fine, it's always fun to get a notice that my book is in when it's a total surprise!

(explanation of late edit - in case anyone cares - I had to change the Jo Nesbo title from The Bat to Cockroaches. I already read The Bat, which was actually Nesbo's first Harry Hole book. Cockroaches is the second Harry Hole book, but only the latest to finally be translated in English.)