July 2016: What Have You Been Reading?

After finishing This Side of Paradise, which was a very mixed bag, sometimes leaving straight narrative for poetry and plays, very episodic, but an interesting, introspective portrait of a "romantic egotist" -- clearly based on the author himself -- as he grows up, goes to Princeton and drops out, has his heart broken by three women, and eventually becomes a "personage," I am taking a break from the F. Scott Fitzgerald books I picked up. I have just started Al Jaffee's Mad Life (2010) by Mary-Lou Weisman, a biography of the cartoonist, who began his career in the 1940's and who is still active today. His early life seems to have been extraordinary. Born in the USA of immigrant parents, he was taken to Lithuania by his mother as a young child.
 
After finishing Cherryh's 'Well of Shiuan', I'm reading a bit of Rumpole for light entertainment before I return to the rather dark and sombre worlds of Morgaine. Specifically, I'm reading the late collection, Rumpole and the Primrose Path - by John Mortimer, of course. I've not read much Mortimer but he's good, and if you like Wodehouse or perhaps K. Amis, you should like him.
 
Wruter said:
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Never been much of a post-apocalyptic fan but this is superb.
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I read that one too, recently. Loved the beginning in particular, but some of it seemed to unravel for me a little bit towards the end. Still, a great read.
 
Right now I'm re-reading The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov, but it's kind of work, since I'm using it as source material for my second Kindle book.

For fun, I'm thinking of going for some Ursula Andress, maybe The Lathe of Heaven.
 
ratsy said:
I finished Guns of the Dawn and I really liked it, and found it a simple story but one I am glad I found. Actually inspired me as an author, so that's good.

I picked up Legends and Liars from my bedstand, and realized I hadn't finished it! When did that happen? I have a few chapters to go, and got back into it last night. Can't wait to read the third of this trilogy.

Other than that, I'm waiting for my library to get the latest Stephen King book...because I really want to read it.
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Oh yeah...that was the other one I'm starting...Firestarter. I have to be careful with Stephen King though - I have to have time to get sucked into the story and then not sleep for awhile...cause I just don't when I read his books. :)
 
DZara said:
Oh yeah...that was the other one I'm starting...Firestarter. I have to be careful with Stephen King though - I have to have time to get sucked into the story and then not sleep for awhile...cause I just don't when I read his books. :)
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Firestarter Isn't like that ,- it's one of my fav books by him
 
I'm just about to finish Another Fine Myth by Robert Lynn Asprin, which I like, but don't find particularly impressive and Vanished Kingdoms by Norman Davies, which caught my attention even though I'm not much of a history buff. So far it's really interesting.
 
@Tracy I remember reading a few of those Myth books when I was a teenager. They were fun.

I finished the audio of Armada and was underwhelmed. I've moved on to Inferno by Dan Brown, because I've been wanting to read it and never seem to get to it. Already there was a prologue that had no characters from the book, it starts with a dream sequence, and Langdon is in a hospital bed, forgetting how he got there but his POV is interested in noting the Doctor's lithe, althletic build even with unflattering scrubs on....oh and she is beautiful even without make up..like a guy in a hospital bed with brain issues has nothing better to think about. ARG!
 
@ratsy Yeah, the first one's definitely fun, just not outrageously funny or exceptionally good. Worth the time though, especially if you're in the mood for something lighter.
 
Jo Zebedee said:
Firestarter Isn't like that ,- it's one of my fav books by him
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I'm glad someone else likes Firestarter - it's one of my favourites, too, along with The Dead Zone and Cujo :)


I'm currently reading the first of Michael Connelly's 'Bosch' novels, The Black Echo. I've been watching the tv show so thought I'd give it a go, plus I fancied a complete change of pace. It's good so far.
 
Just finished A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. It's a huge long series of books, but if they are anything like the first book, they are great light reading. Even when you know what is coming, the characters are still compelling enough to pull you forward. I'm very fond of mysteries, though I know they aren't for everyone.
 
daniel silva the black widow; and evan currie warrior king
 
Read London's Glory, by Christopher Fowler, a short story collection of Bryant and May crime stories, and Revenge in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope.
 

Touch and go at first but after the first 25 pages started to perk up. Though the kookiness kept coming it got pretty exciting and I'm eager to see what happens next.
 
Just finished the excellent Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan. Review Here

Next up will be Biblia Longcrofta by Simon Marshall-Jones (After a small pile of comics that need looking at)
 
I finished End of Watch by Stephen King. It wasn't his best work, but it was a solid conclusion to the series. Probably my least favorite of the 3.

Moved on to The Loose Ends List by Carrie Firestone. It's not my normal cup of tea, but it has @Juliana in the acknowledgements, so that's cool. I'm only 30 pages in, but I like the voice so far.

I gave up on the audiobook of Inferno after an hour, and moved to The Ocean at the End of the Lane which sounds great so far. Looking forward to this one.
 
Currently about halfway through Cornwell's Sharpe's Trafalgar. I must admit, I wasn't expecting to like this one - thought it would be contrived (what would Sharpe be doing at Trafalgar, after all?). But I'm thoroughly enjoying it :)
 
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