What are you reading now?

[becke_davis]

I have a stack of new releases to read, as well as some not-so-recent releases I haven't worked my way to yet.

The authors in my pile include Mary Kay Andrews, Nancy Atherton, Rhys Bowen, Charles Todd, Deborah Crombie, Robert S. Parker, Alexander McCall Smith and so on.

What are you reading?

[Luanne]

Hi Becke,

I am glad you are trying the Deborah Crombie.  I have read where you say you have 'offbeat' tastes (I think that was the word you used), but I think her series has interesting characters and is well written with pretty good mysteries.  I hope to hear how you like her work.

I am reading three at the moment - the third Gaslight Mystery - Murder at Gramercy Park.  I like Victoria Thompsons characters, Sarah Brandt and Frank Malloy, but I may not be able to tolerate an unfulfilled relationship between them over the course of seven or eight books.  I am sticking with a C J Box book, about a Wyoming state game warden, slow starting, but getting better (sorry I forgot the name, but it is the first in his series) and a very early (but my first) David Baldacci novel, Total Control.  It is keeping me interested, a page-turner, but what I would describe as beach-reading.

Please let us know how you like the Rhys Bowen book - it is on my list to get around to soon.

Luanne

[becke_davis]

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Luanne wrote:

Hi Becke,

I am glad you are trying the Deborah Crombie.  I have read where you say you have 'offbeat' tastes (I think that was the word you used), but I think her series has interesting characters and is well written with pretty good mysteries.  I hope to hear how you like her work.

I am reading three at the moment - the third Gaslight Mystery - Murder at Gramercy Park.  I like Victoria Thompsons characters, Sarah Brandt and Frank Malloy, but I may not be able to tolerate an unfulfilled relationship between them over the course of seven or eight books.  I am sticking with a C J Box book, about a Wyoming state game warden, slow starting, but getting better (sorry I forgot the name, but it is the first in his series) and a very early (but my first) David Baldacci novel, Total Control.  It is keeping me interested, a page-turner, but what I would describe as beach-reading.

Please let us know how you like the Rhys Bowen book - it is on my list to get around to soon.

Luanne

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I should have clarified -- I've read all of Deborah Crombie's books except the most recent one, which is still in my "waiting to be read" pile.  I love her books!

[becke_davis]

I've read all of the Welsh mysteries by Rhys Bowen but the one I just received is called Her Royal Spyness -- the first in a new series.

[dulcinea3]

I have so many "TBR"!!!  I thought I was going to try Jane Austen's 'minor works', but I'm not sure.  In the mystery genre, I have one of Martha Grimes' non-Jury books that's been waiting a while (Belle Ruin; I'm currently trying to resist buying Dakota, but I did like Biting the Moon, which it seems to be in a series with), and one of the 'unfinished' Wimseys that was completed by Jill Paton Walsh (A Presumption of Death), as well as several others.  Then, I also have The Other Boleyn Girl, which the release of the movie is making me think I should get around to, as well as various other historical novels and actual biographies (Henry VII, Cervantes, etc.).  I also have some omnibus volumes: one of George Eliot novels, some of which I haven't read yet, and another of all of Charlotte and Emily Bronte's novels (don't know what they had against Anne!), and haven't yet read a few of Charlotte's.  That's just a small sample of my backlog!  Decisions, decisions!  Of course, if a new Richard Jury, Amelia Peabody, Death on Demand, Henrie O.,  or The Cat Who... mystery comes out, all bets are off!

[becke_davis]

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dulcinea3 wrote:

I have so many "TBR"!!!  I thought I was going to try Jane Austen's 'minor works', but I'm not sure.  In the mystery genre, I have one of Martha Grimes' non-Jury books that's been waiting a while (Belle Ruin; I'm currently trying to resist buying Dakota, but I did like Biting the Moon, which it seems to be in a series with), and one of the 'unfinished' Wimseys that was completed by Jill Paton Walsh (A Presumption of Death), as well as several others.  Then, I also have The Other Boleyn Girl, which the release of the movie is making me think I should get around to, as well as various other historical novels and actual biographies (Henry VII, Cervantes, etc.).  I also have some omnibus volumes: one of George Eliot novels, some of which I haven't read yet, and another of all of Charlotte and Emily Bronte's novels (don't know what they had against Anne!), and haven't yet read a few of Charlotte's.  That's just a small sample of my backlog!  Decisions, decisions!  Of course, if a new Richard Jury, Amelia Peabody, Death on Demand, Henrie O.,  or The Cat Who... mystery comes out, all bets are off!

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I love the Henrie O books!  There is a discussion about The Other Boleyn Girl on the Romance Book Club board.

[dulcinea3]

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becke_davis wrote:

 There is a discussion about The Other Boleyn Girl on the Romance Book Club board.

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Yes, I know!  I think I may even have said something in that thread, but I don't remember.

[Everyman]

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dulcinea3 wrote:

I have so many "TBR"!!! I thought I was going to try Jane Austen's 'minor works', but I'm not sure.

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I don't know what "minor works" you're referring to -- can you enlighten me?

[dulcinea3]

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Everyman wrote:

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dulcinea3 wrote:

I have so many "TBR"!!! I thought I was going to try Jane Austen's 'minor works', but I'm not sure.

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I don't know what "minor works" you're referring to -- can you enlighten me?

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I have the Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen, and the sixth volume (the six novels are in five volumes, as Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are in one) is titled "Minor Works".  I don't have it here with me (I'm at work), and attempts to search for it on the Web are not giving me full details, but it contains things like Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon, and I believe there may be some poetry and juvenile works.

[Everyman]

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dulcinea3 wrote:

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Everyman wrote:

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dulcinea3 wrote:

I have so many "TBR"!!! I thought I was going to try Jane Austen's 'minor works', but I'm not sure.

---

I don't know what "minor works" you're referring to -- can you enlighten me?

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I have the Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen, and the sixth volume (the six novels are in five volumes, as Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are in one) is titled "Minor Works". I don't have it here with me (I'm at work), and attempts to search for it on the Web are not giving me full details, but it contains things like Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon, and I believe there may be some poetry and juvenile works.

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Ah. Thanks.

[dulcinea3]

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Everyman wrote:

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dulcinea3 wrote:

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Everyman wrote:

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dulcinea3 wrote:

I have so many "TBR"!!! I thought I was going to try Jane Austen's 'minor works', but I'm not sure.

---

I don't know what "minor works" you're referring to -- can you enlighten me?

---

I have the Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen, and the sixth volume (the six novels are in five volumes, as Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are in one) is titled "Minor Works". I don't have it here with me (I'm at work), and attempts to search for it on the Web are not giving me full details, but it contains things like Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon, and I believe there may be some poetry and juvenile works.

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Ah. Thanks.

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I've started reading the 'Juvinilia' (from three manuscript notebooks of the stories she would write and read to her family).  Some of them are inconsequential, but a number of them are really quite witty.  The first one I read, "Frederic and Elfrida" had me laughing out loud several times.

Aside from what I mentioned before, there are also a "Plan of a Novel", word-of-mouth opinions on Mansfield Park and Emma that she collected and transcribed, mostly from friends and family, and some prayers.

[RosemaryH]

Last week I read Walter Mosley's Blonde Faith and the debut mystery from Bill Floyd called The Killer's Wife. Enjoyed them both (I was away and had lots of reading time...I don't usually have that luxury!) I'm lucky enough to be meeting both of those talented writers soon. Mosley at the Virginia Festival of the Book this weekend, and Floyd when we participate in a library event in Cary, North Carolina on April 10. Right now I'm rereading Rebecca for my flesh and blood reading group. I'd forgotten how good it was..although it is impossible not to visualize Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine while I'm reading!

Rosemary Harris

Pushing Up Daisies

St Martins Minotaur

ww.rosemaryharris.com

[becke_davis]

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RosemaryH wrote:

Last week I read Walter Mosley's Blonde Faith and the debut mystery from Bill Floyd called The Killer's Wife. Enjoyed them both (I was away and had lots of reading time...I don't usually have that luxury!) I'm lucky enough to be meeting both of those talented writers soon. Mosley at the Virginia Festival of the Book this weekend, and Floyd when we participate in a library event in Cary, North Carolina on April 10. Right now I'm rereading Rebecca for my flesh and blood reading group. I'd forgotten how good it was..although it is impossible not to visualize Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine while I'm reading!

Rosemary Harris

Pushing Up Daisies

St Martins Minotaur

ww.rosemaryharris.com

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It's funny how that happens, even when we don't want it to.  I can't read Harry Potter anymore without visualizing Daniel Radcliff and crew.  It's kind of sad, really.

[Bonnie824]

Since it's still "MC Beaton" month and I have a beach trip coming up, I picked up another HB- CD book for the trip. It sounds like fun, and I can't wait to hear about Hamish trying to avoid his gossipy "won" maid.

[dasz]

I just finished "Betrayal" by John Lescroart. I'm one of his bigtime "Dismas Hardy fans" and today while visiting his website, read that he has begun working on a new book in which Dismas, Abe, Wes Farrell, et al will all be present and active - hooray!  In another month he said he should have a title.

"Betrayal" was good and very well written. Dismas and Abe appear at the beginning and then don't reappear until the last few chapters.I sent him an email through his website telling him we need more Diz!

[becke_davis]

I just got a stack of new mysteries in the mail, plus I just started our featured book for April, which we will start talking about next week.  I'll post more on it once I've read it.  I posted a thread about it earlier in the top part of the board.

[dhaupt]

Just finished The Murder of Roger Akroyd by Agatha Christie for my library book club.
Never figured out who did it until the very end.

[becke_davis]

Roger Ackroyd was a featured book on this board several months ago.  The discussion posts should still be accessible if you want to read them or add more comments.  Look at the bottom of this page and where it says SEARCH just type in the title of the book.

[dulcinea3]

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dhaupt wrote:
Just finished The Murder of Roger Akroyd by Agatha Christie for my library book club.
Never figured out who did it until the very end.

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I'm glad you were surprised by the ending!  Did you feel cheated afterwards?  It's a very controversial book.  I like it; it shows creativity to break the mold like that.  Some people love it, and it makes others angry.  I'm trying to say this without giving anything away, in case others here have never read it.

[dhaupt]

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dulcinea3 wrote:

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dhaupt wrote:
Just finished The Murder of Roger Akroyd by Agatha Christie for my library book club.
Never figured out who did it until the very end.

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I'm glad you were surprised by the ending!  Did you feel cheated afterwards?  It's a very controversial book.  I like it; it shows creativity to break the mold like that.  Some people love it, and it makes others angry.  I'm trying to say this without giving anything away, in case others here have never read it.

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No I didn't feel cheated with this book I would have felt cheated had I been able to discover the culprit. The book challenged me and I still missed the clues I think I was too comfy with Mr. P's choices. It was very good and I would recommend it.
Someone on Book Explorers suggested I read Pierre Bayard's Who Killed Roger Ackroyd it's a follow up to the Christie book. Have you heard of that?