June Reading Thread

[Dave Vicks]

Randy M, Richard Matheson is a very, very good writer.

 

[Vertigo]

I've finished this now, has anyone else?
I'm a bit confused over a part of the story and I need a different viewpoint in case I misinterpreted it

I don't want to elaborate here in case I spoil the book for future readers

I've not read this one, but the two Harkaways I have read would certainly be easy to get confused!

 

[Hugh]

Larry Niven: “Tales of Known Space”
A collection of thirteen stories first published 1964 -1975. There’s also a four page introduction by the author, three pages of his afterthoughts, and a very helpful twelve pages of bibliography explaining dates of publication, specific series of stories etc.
I’ve read relatively little Larry Niven, and had only come across two of these stories before and I thought this was a good collection. The stories may not be the greatest, but they held my attention.
(This is the 1980 Futura/Orbit paperback published in the UK).

 

[Danny McG]

The Fence by CG Buswell, it's blurb said "post apocalypse", but it's beginning to look like yet another zombie book, I might give up on this one

 

[Elentarri]

The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel

I could blather on how this is a surreal novel in three parts, across decades, that are vaguely connected... about love, loss, grief, loneliness, and finding solace in some obscure village in the Mountains of Portugal... about the man who walks backwards and his turbulent (if vaguely amusing) journey by car to find a relic... the strange autopsy by a pathologist who has a very interesting wife... the Canadian politician who rescues a chimpanzee and ends up in Portugal. I could mention all these things and it would tell you very little of what the novel is actually about. I'm not entirely sure how to describe this strangely compelling, beautifully written, yet quirky, story. I enjoyed the novel and it will be something to think about for some time. Oh, and did I mention the fabled Iberian rhinoceros?​

Below by Laurel Hightower

This is a thrilling, fast-paced, atmospheric, creature-feature, horror novella that could potentially be turned into a movie without mucking up the story. Recently divorced Addy's solo road trip to a convention with friends turns into a nightmare when she decides to help a truck driver whose rig has just gone through the guard rails and down a ravine. Between her ex-husbands derogatory mental comments and the mental-shenanigans of the monsters, Addy has to figure out how to come out of this situation alive. I love the character development in this story.​

Medusa by Rosie Hewlett

This is a first person narration - Medusa is telling the reader about her life. The story is alright, if you like simplistic, modernized, feminized retellings of ancient myths with snarky protagonists. The description of scenery is sparse, while focusing on Medusa's thoughts and actions. I'm not convinced her reactions to her life events (rape, pregnancy, relationship with Perseus) work for me - they don't feel realistic. I also found the novel lacked passion! After all the terrible things happening to her, Medusa is rather bland in her feelings towards the events.​

Time of Contempt (The Witcher #2) by Andrzej Sapkowski

This novel is a direct continuation of Blood of Elves. Ciri is on the run, mages and kings are plotting and scheming and Geralt is caught in the middle. This installment has a bit more action and politics than the last. I'm beginning to find Ciri annoying. Apparently the girl doesn't seem to understand that if people are trying to find you, and you don't want them to, the last thing you should do is draw attention to yourself.​

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

I'm just finishing reading Blood Knots, by Luke Jennings. This is an autobiography of Luke Jennings as a boy learning fishing, from basic to fly fishing. It's a lovely book.

My next read is: Moving Pictures, by Terry Pratchett.

 

[AE35Unit]

Yes the one on the right! But I don't remember it being a second book!

 

[Danny McG]

Yes the one on the right! But I don't remember it being a second book!

I've downloaded both of these today and I'm a few stories in with the first book now. I think I've read one of them by Arthur C Clarke somewhere else!

 

[Elentarri]

Christendom Destroyed: Europe 1517-1648 by Mark Greengrass
Christendom Destroyed covers the religious and political turmoil in Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. This is a very broad overview of the time-period. Approximately half the book provides a broad survey of thematic topics such as peoples' socio-economic place in the world, the Church, religious observance (and dissent), fiscal matters, trade, taxes, living arrangements, the discovery of the Americas and global trade, the development of science and medicine, as well as the development of the printing press, correspondence, postal service and literacy. The remainder of the book has a more familiar (and messy) political-military structure that tends to jump around between the various regions in Europe. This section is particularly dense and concise (no long winded battle plans here!). The development and spread of the Protestant Reformation, Counter-Reformation, and the consequences thereof, gets much page space, and is clearly described. Maps and genealogical tables are provided where relevant. An interesting history book that provides a broad, dense overview of what was going on in Europe between 1517 and 1648 in a concise manner.

 

[HareBrain]

Christendom Destroyed: Europe 1517-1648 by Mark Greengrass
Christendom Destroyed covers the religious and political turmoil in Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. This is a very broad overview of the time-period. Approximately half the book provides a broad survey of thematic topics such as peoples' socio-economic place in the world, the Church, religious observance (and dissent), fiscal matters, trade, taxes, living arrangements, the discovery of the Americas and global trade, the development of science and medicine, as well as the development of the printing press, correspondence, postal service and literacy. The remainder of the book has a more familiar (and messy) political-military structure that tends to jump around between the various regions in Europe. This section is particularly dense and concise (no long winded battle plans here!). The development and spread of the Protestant Reformation, Counter-Reformation, and the consequences thereof, gets much page space, and is clearly described. Maps and genealogical tables are provided where relevant. An interesting history book that provides a broad, dense overview of what was going on in Europe between 1517 and 1648 in a concise manner.

I've read the next one in the Penguin History of Europe (1648-1815) and it's extremely good. The following one (1815-1914) didn't impress me quite so much.

As for me, I read British Art Ancient Landscapes by Sam Smiles, a companion to a Salisbury Museum exhibition.

 

[Elentarri]

I've read the next one in the Penguin History of Europe (1648-1815) and it's extremely good. The following one (1815-1914) didn't impress me quite so much.

I've read the ones before, but not the following ones. I was waiting for the Renaissance volume, but that doesn't seem to be happening? I'm glad the next one is extremely good. I might bump it up the list.

 

[Parson]

I've not been keeping up with this as faithfully as before. Summer has brought the double joys of grandkids around a lot, and opportunities to preach a lot too. So I'm going to say I've been busy. --- (Not a real excuse, but the best one I have.)

I finished Last Resort by Scott Pratt this is book 10 in the Joe Dillard series. I've read some? a lot? of these. Not all I'm sure. They are pretty formulaic in that there is some crime and Joe becomes involved, either as the lawyer he is, or (as in this case) because he or his family is the target of criminal action. As in all of these there's a lot of vigilante justice (why is this so popular?) and a little torture to gain information, but there is also a lot of introspection and the character of Joe Dillard actually grows up a bit in this story.

*These books all work pretty well as stand-alones. I don't think you'd feel out of the loop even if you hadn't read any of them and picked this one up.

Avoid --- Not Recommended --- Flawed --- Okay --- Good --- Recommended --- Shouldn’t be Missed

 

[Dave Vicks]

Eric Idle Autobiography. ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE. 2018.

 

[Vince W]

Bob Shaw’s first novel Night Walk.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

I am about to start How Long 'Til Black Future Month? (2018) by N. K. Jemisin, a collection of her stories.

 

[cyprus7]

Half-way through William Gibson's The Peripheral; took a hundred fifty plus pages to get with the cast of characters and 'connect' tp Gibson's style. He's a master at dropping in just enough details without needing to info-dump. Chapters are five pages or less. Now enjoying the ride. Have Gibson's Agency lined up as my next novel length read.

 

[Danny McG]

Re-read of the Deathstalker series starting today

 

[Elentarri]

Re-read of the Deathstalker series starting today

Sounds familiar...

 

[Elentarri]

Just finished:
The Battle of Maldon; together with The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth by J.R.R. Tolkien (and edited by Peter Grybauskas)

This compilation includes J.R.R. Tolkien's prose translation of the 10th century, 325-line fragment of the Old English poem "The Battle of Maldon", Tolkien's dramatic verse-dialogue "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son", along with accompanying commentary, notes and essays, such as "The Tradition of Versification in Old English".

"The Battle of Maldon" describes the 991 A.D Viking assault on the coastal settlement of Maldon in Essex, and the subsequent heroic (but ultimately futile) defense by the Anglo-Saxons led by Beorhtnoth. The Vikings convince Beorhtoth to to let them cross the causeway from Northey Island over the Blackwater river to the mainland, so that the fight between them would be fair. Beorhtnoth's chivalry is misplaced and this action proves to be a fatal and tragic mistake. "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son" is an imaginative, but contemplative, dialogue between two of Beorhthnoth's retainers that have been sent by the local Bishop to retrieve their lord's corpse (or what's left of it) the night after the battle.

Both these tales make for compelling reading, and provide a window into the 10th century Anglo-Saxon warrior culture. Tolkien was no slouch when it came to translation and writing poetry. "The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son" also has a contemplative vibe and would make a pretty good stage performance. The sundry commentary and essays would be interesting for those that like that sort of thing - some of it went over my head, but I still found it interesting.​

 

[Bick]

Inspired by Foxbat, I’ve also now started a re-read of The Many-Coloured Land, by Julian May. It’s 37 years since I first read it I think.