Our first “What Are You Reading?” of the new year! Did you have time to read over the holidays? I hope you had time to spend with loved ones, and a little time to yourself for a book or several.
I have two books to talk about today. One is a novel, and I’ll review it next week. Jess Montgomery’s The Widows is a fascinating debut, set in Ohio. She based her characters on the stories of two actual women. One was Ohio’s first female sheriff. The other was the woman who organized miners, and became known as Mother Jones. It’s set in Appalachia, in mining country. I like Montgomery’s voice and her two characters.
The other book is nonfiction, and, even though I’ve already read a couple entries it will be a while until there’s an actual review. Maria Popova and Claudia Bedrick edited a collection called A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader. There are letters from contributors such as Ursula K. LeGuin, Neil Gaiman, Jane Goodall, Yo-You Ma, Mary Oliver, Jacqueline Woodson. All the authors wrote letters to young people saying why they should read, what they can discover in books. It’s not just authors who wrote. The book has pieces by a Holocaust surviver, scientists, philosophers. Then, artists illustrated each letter. It’s a beautiful book, but while I slowly read through it, it will reside on my pile of coffee table books that I dive into now and then.
That’s what I’m reading right now. What about you? Let’s start the new year by sharing what we’re reading.
I am halfway through ONCE UPON A RIVER by Diane Setterfield. It is very good and I am anxious to see how it ends.
Happy Reading.
Not really much time yet. Went to the city to the hospital for my followup appointment yesterday, which took about half the day what with there and back. The good news is, still no surgery (though it is not out of the question totally). I have to start physical therapy (for movement of the shoulder only, NOT strengthening for another month), then return in four weeks to see how it's going, when he will add the strength element. So, Florida is OUT this year.
Reading? I've (barely) started several books. First, a couple of short story collections on the Kindle, Arthur Train's collection of legal mysteries about Ephraim Tutt, TUTT AND MR. TUTT, and the next O. Henry collection, ROADS OF DESTINY.
I started (an ARC I got at Bouchercon) Lou Berney's NOVEMBER ROAD. SO far, so good. And yesterday I picked up a couple of library books and started one, BROWSE: The World in Bookshops, 15 writers talking about favorite bookshop experiences. Unfortunately for time management, the library also had THREE of the ebooks I had on hold come in, one after another, so we'll see how that goes.
Had a long list that I listed last week
I didn’t finished any books during the week
I am so thrilled that I read 106 books in 2018. I haven’t ever read that many in a year before.
I am still reading:
An Aegean April (book 9) by Jeffrey Siger
Pacific Homicide by Patricia Smiley
Our New Years Day plans were cancelled due to a sick grandchild so I had some time to read this week.
I read two paranormal romances; COURTING THE CAT WHISPERER by Wynter Daniels and TOUCHED BY HIS VAMPIRE CHARM by Kira Nyte.
A so so vampire story, ONE NIGHT’S STAY by C.B. Collins
LONE WOLF by Sara Driscoll which is the first book in her FBI K-9 search and rescue series. They are dealing with a bomber who sets off bombs in DC and several surrounding states. I enjoyed this one and have the second book on hold at the library.
Right now I’m partway through MURDER ON CAPE COD by Maddie Day. I like the idea of a cozy mystery book club getting to try and solve a real murder.
I really love this feature and hearing about what everyone is reading each week. I had noticed The Widows, Lesa, and wondered about it. Will watch for your thoughts.
We had our first mystery group meeting of the year last night and even though the weather was mega-rainy and cold, a bunch showed up. We discussed Kate Quinn's book, THE ALICE NETWORK. Very good discussion. I'm looking forward to Quinn's next book that comes out in February, THE HUNTRESS. It's another historical told in two time periods – about Nazi hunters and an evil woman.
I've been listening on and on and on and also doing a bit of reading of Herman Wouk's second book in his mega-WWII saga – WAR AND REMEMBRANCE. The first book is THE WINDS OF WAR. Both are very long and I read them many years ago – like in the '80's. Herman Wouk is the author theme for the afternoon book group that I attend and I'm moderating the discussion. I'm loving these books again, but Wouk's books are very, very long. He's still alive – 103, I believe. His last book was published not all that long ago and is a set of essays – SAILOR AND FIDDLER: REFLECTIONS OF A 100-YEAR-OLD AUTHOR. I suspect many will not have finished any of the books. We'll see.
I only managed to finish one book this week, but it was a good one, THIRTEEN by Steve Cavanagh. I can't remember where I heard about it, but it's the fourth in Irish lawyer/writer Cavanagh's legal thrillers starring New York con man-turned-defense-attorney Eddie Flynn. It has the tag line: The serial killer isn't on trial, he's on the jury. And Michael Connelly calls it "ingenious." I heartily agree. I love a good legal thriller, and this one has an audacious villain with unusual talents, more than enough twists and turns to keep the reader satisfied, electrifying courtroom scenes, and some ultra-exciting action. I have already put Cavanagh's THE LIAR on reserve at the library.
I read Dead Man Running by Steve Hamilton – I new author for me and I liked the main character very much. There are around 10 other books with the same character -love to find books with continuing characters and am looking forward to reading more of them. I just started Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) – this is her fourth book and I do love them. I am not a big Harry Potter fan so am very impressed that she could write other things than fantasy. Her detective is great – if you haven't read any of these they are really good read.
Nothing like kicking off the new year with a good book, Sharon.
Well, darn, Jeff. I'm sorry that Florida is out for this year. I'm glad you started November Road, but I know how those other books can steal attention.
Charlotte,
I saw your long list last week. I'm impressed. I also have the feeling you're hanging on to the Jeffrey Siger book since the new one isn't due out until March or April. (I think April.)
Sandy, I'm sorry about the sick grandchild, but I'm never unhappy when I discover extra reading time! I have the Maddie Day, but haven't had a chance to get to it yet.
Kay, You have Jeff to thank for this ongoing feature. I enjoy it, too. He's the one who originally suggested it, and he's good about keeping it going when I'm not around. I'm looking forward to The Huntress as well. I'm on hold at the library!
Oh, good, Margie! I'm glad Thirteen was compelling. I love how everyone's taste is different. I don't read many legal thrillers. Even when I watched Law & Order, I liked the cop part better than the legal part. Probably why I like police procedurals.
Donna, Those books are on my someday list because everyone says they're very good.
Should be finishing A Literal Mess by JC Kenney today and starting Saturn Night Fever by Diane Vallere.
After all the reading that I reported on last week (that was 2 weeks worth) all I've done is finish SUNDAY SILENCE (French) which I had started. Too much football I guess. I've now started THE MUSIC SHOP (Joyce) and think I will like it. Sunday Silence was just as dark as I expected but this series is compelling which is why I keep reading them.
I read:
Minutes to Burn by Gregg Hurwitz; Boring, shallow PC techno-thriller. Come on, man, do some research before you write.
Whirlwind by Joseph Garber; Spy Jinks by somebody who was a big Doonesbury fan.
Hunt The Wolf; A SEAL Team 6 novel, about stopping human traffickers, doing all kinds of stuff to rescue a Norwegian girl, which is all well and good, but I thought the SEALs were part of the US Navy.
A Treasure Deep by Alden Gansky; The body of Mary Magdalene is found in a SoCal. Somebody wants to quash the discovery forno good reason.
Two Minute Mysteries by Donald J. Sobol; By the creator of Encyclopedia Brown, sort of an adult version, without Bugs Meaney.
Still Life With Crows by Preston and Childs; Pendergast goes to Kansas. Lots of Children of the Corn type stuff. A look back at when Goths were supposed to be interesting, rather than potential school shooters, and the usual underground menace.
Saturn Night Fever. I like the title, Mark.
Oh, I agree, Sally. Too much football, here, too. Someday, I need to start the Tana French series.
Glen, A sort of grown-up Encyclopedia Brown without Bugs Meaney. (snicker)
I'm reading Cathy Ace's The Wrong Boy due out next Wednesday. After that, I'll be reading Aimee Hix's Dark Streets, Cold Suburbs due out next Tuesday.
I am reading "Once Upon a River" by Diane Setterfield, and am really eager to know the end of this. Then I will be reading Cathy's Ace.
Aimee Hix is guest blogger on my blog tomorrow, Kathy! You'll have to stop back.
Second appearance for both Once Upon a River and Cathy Ace's The Wrong Boy. Thanks for mentioning them, "Unknown".
Lesa, Sunday Silence is by Nicci French, not Tana. I didn't even think that I should have used the first name. Nicci French is a husband and wife team. The series began with Blue Monday and there's been a new book for each weekday and I think the next one has already been published. I believe it's called The Day of the Dead. The protagonist is Frieda Klein. I've read a few of Tana French's books also but not recently.