1RBeffa
Jasper keeps watch
This is the continuation of my reading, which for 2023 can be found here, which includes a summary of my favorite reads in 2023. https://www.librarything.com/topic/347292#
For 2024, books off the shelf will be my prime motive. I have some topics and authors I want to focus on. I have been enjoying Elly Griffiths novels a lot and will be reading some more by her. I also want to read more by Ann Patchett and also hope to pick back up some series I have partially read by authors such as Alan Furst, Ian Rankin, and Martin Walker, for example. Other possibles include Western novels and short stories by a variety of authors and non-fiction and fiction on the topic of War through the ages, influenced by Paul Cranswick.
When I'm not reading I spend a lot of time with our cats. I also volunteer with the friends of our local library for the past couple years, something that I find very rewarding.
This is the continuation of my reading, which for 2023 can be found here, which includes a summary of my favorite reads in 2023. https://www.librarything.com/topic/347292#
For 2024, books off the shelf will be my prime motive. I have some topics and authors I want to focus on. I have been enjoying Elly Griffiths novels a lot and will be reading some more by her. I also want to read more by Ann Patchett and also hope to pick back up some series I have partially read by authors such as Alan Furst, Ian Rankin, and Martin Walker, for example. Other possibles include Western novels and short stories by a variety of authors and non-fiction and fiction on the topic of War through the ages, influenced by Paul Cranswick.
When I'm not reading I spend a lot of time with our cats. I also volunteer with the friends of our local library for the past couple years, something that I find very rewarding.
4FAMeulstee
Happy reading in 2024, Ron!
5RBeffa
>2 drneutron: >3 ronincats: >4 FAMeulstee: Thank you Jim, Roni and Anita. I hope we all have healthy and enjoyable years with good reading adventures. I'll be watching your own reading threads.
6PaulCranswick
Happy new year Ron.
I have dropped my star and will keep you company as much as I am able in 2024, my friend.
I have dropped my star and will keep you company as much as I am able in 2024, my friend.
7RBeffa
>6 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul. I've spent more time on Facebook this past year, and less here. Can't always keep up as I would prefer to. Been a busy few months and the deaths of family and close friends have weighed heavy on my spirit. But we keep on keeping on, don't we. And there is always great music. If you check my Facebook feed for the last several months you can listen to some of my music box. Happy New Year to you buddy.
9RBeffa
>8 karspeak: Thanks Karen. I'll check for your thread in Club Read when you get it going.
11RBeffa
>10 Tess_W: Thanks for dropping by Tess. I dropped a star on your thread which I enjoyed reading. We grow a lot of our own fruit - apples, pears, plums, peaches and apricots and cherries. A lot gets shared with the birds and critters but we make heavy use of the apples and plums. I have only made plum jam - the rest of the fruit we use fresh in season with the exception of frozen applesauce some years. I had to cut back on my gardening with the California drought. If we get back to "normal" i hope to grow more than just tomatoes.
13Whisper1
>1 RBeffa: Ron, What an incredibly beautiful cat!
14RBeffa
>12 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul.
>13 Whisper1: Thanks for dropping by and admiring my kittiy Linda. I have featured him over the years esp on Facebook and I usually call him Foo - we have had him about 12 years since he was a tiny kitten. Love him dearly.
>13 Whisper1: Thanks for dropping by and admiring my kittiy Linda. I have featured him over the years esp on Facebook and I usually call him Foo - we have had him about 12 years since he was a tiny kitten. Love him dearly.
15RBeffa
Two good books have started 2024 off and finish a series read for me (Ruth Galloway series)
1. The Night Hawks (Ruth Galloway Mysteries Book 13) by Elly Griffiths, finished January 4, 2024 3 1/2 - 4 stars
2. The locked room by Elly Griffiths, finished January 8, 2024 4+ stars
I had read The Last Remains in April 2023 and it was the 15th and and final mystery novel in the Ruth Galloway series. I now have filled in the 13th and 14th books in the series. I think I will reread the final book again before too long.
I read these two book one right after the other, literally setting one story down and starting the next. As a result they have sort of melded together in a way. In other ways not, because I really like what the author did with The Locked Room. The author explains in an afterword that she wrote and set 'The Locked Room' in the pandemic because she had been doing a book a year and saw no reason to skip this time in history. She had kept a diary and incorporated the events into her story. It starts just as the world was becoming aware of covid and gives the reader a good perspective of life in Norfolk and surrounds during this era. I really got captured by this because even though I am in California the novel reawakened memories I had put in the back of my mind of how bad the fear and shutdowns were, in particular at the beginning when you had to queue up to enter stores a few at a time. Ruth Galloway's college is shut down as well and she has to do teaching by zoom as well as address her daughter's schooling. It just really made this story real for me and will be one of my favorites books in the series. The mystery itself and resolution were kind of screwy and not my favorite part of the book. The realism of the pandemic on all the characters is what really made the book for me.
I am very glad I read this set of books the last few years.
1. The Night Hawks (Ruth Galloway Mysteries Book 13) by Elly Griffiths, finished January 4, 2024 3 1/2 - 4 stars
2. The locked room by Elly Griffiths, finished January 8, 2024 4+ stars
I had read The Last Remains in April 2023 and it was the 15th and and final mystery novel in the Ruth Galloway series. I now have filled in the 13th and 14th books in the series. I think I will reread the final book again before too long.
I read these two book one right after the other, literally setting one story down and starting the next. As a result they have sort of melded together in a way. In other ways not, because I really like what the author did with The Locked Room. The author explains in an afterword that she wrote and set 'The Locked Room' in the pandemic because she had been doing a book a year and saw no reason to skip this time in history. She had kept a diary and incorporated the events into her story. It starts just as the world was becoming aware of covid and gives the reader a good perspective of life in Norfolk and surrounds during this era. I really got captured by this because even though I am in California the novel reawakened memories I had put in the back of my mind of how bad the fear and shutdowns were, in particular at the beginning when you had to queue up to enter stores a few at a time. Ruth Galloway's college is shut down as well and she has to do teaching by zoom as well as address her daughter's schooling. It just really made this story real for me and will be one of my favorites books in the series. The mystery itself and resolution were kind of screwy and not my favorite part of the book. The realism of the pandemic on all the characters is what really made the book for me.
I am very glad I read this set of books the last few years.
16RBeffa
3. Dancing on Air by Nancy Kress, finished January 9, 2024, 3 stars
Dancing on Air was nominated in the novella category for the Hugo and Nebula awards. Kress generally excels at novella length stories but I found myself somewhat disappointed with this one. The subject the story is built on is bioenhancement, and here it applies to ballerinas and canines. The story starts from the viewpoint of a Doberman who can speak and has been enhanced to about a 5 year old human level and then bounces back and forth to the viewpoint of the mother/journalist of one of the ballerinas. The dog, Angel, is assigned to protect a ballerina, who is clearly a snotty prima donna. The story jumps around too much for my taste and made it a bit hard to keep track of who is who. It just didn't appeal to me despite a promising start. It did win the Asimov's Readers poll for best novella of 1993.
Dancing on Air was nominated in the novella category for the Hugo and Nebula awards. Kress generally excels at novella length stories but I found myself somewhat disappointed with this one. The subject the story is built on is bioenhancement, and here it applies to ballerinas and canines. The story starts from the viewpoint of a Doberman who can speak and has been enhanced to about a 5 year old human level and then bounces back and forth to the viewpoint of the mother/journalist of one of the ballerinas. The dog, Angel, is assigned to protect a ballerina, who is clearly a snotty prima donna. The story jumps around too much for my taste and made it a bit hard to keep track of who is who. It just didn't appeal to me despite a promising start. It did win the Asimov's Readers poll for best novella of 1993.
17RBeffa
A few years ago I was keeping track of the jigsaw puzzles I was making during the year along with the books read. I stopped taking pics for no good reason. I do about one a month and think I will do at least that this year and will try and take pics. This was a nice recent (2022) Ravensburger puzzle (300 large size pieces) called Santorini Sunset. I enjoyed doing it last night and this morning.
I've been reorganizing my bookshelves a bit and have portioned out some of my planned and potential reads for the year.
I've been reorganizing my bookshelves a bit and have portioned out some of my planned and potential reads for the year.
18RBeffa
I can tell I am in a persnickety reading mood. I started and stopped at least 5 books including two from the library, not getting more than 50 pages into them, more like 30. If it wasn't clicking I put them down. A strange mood. Finally told myself I was going to read this next one, like it or hate it.
4. Coyote Frontier Book 3 in the Coyote series by Allen Steele, finished January 16, 2024, 3 stars
In 2012 I read the first two books in Steele's Coyote trilogy (which later was expanded). I liked/really liked them but never started the third despite owning it. About 3 years ago I read a novella in this series, The River Horses, which was written after the original trilogy but fills in some material in between books 2 and 3 on a character I really liked. Still didn't start the third book until now, 14 years after purchase.
The author does a very good job at the opening of the book to bring a reader up to speed from the prior books, and all the names and events are a little overwhelming, but it worked in getting me back into the series after such a long hiatus. The author was always more than a little heavy handed with the politics which detracted from the series in my opinion. It is still a major part of the novel here.
What I liked in this book was seeing a bit of what the earth that was left behind was like. Large parts of the Coyote books originally appeared as novellas and short stories in Asimov's science fiction magazine. The books are basically stories within stories and I don't think this one was any different. It was a style that worked, but not always well. There are parts I like and parts I could do without. For me this was the least interesting of the Coyote trilogy and is rapidly fading from my memory.
The story of interstellar colonization is really way too complex to convey in a short review.
4. Coyote Frontier Book 3 in the Coyote series by Allen Steele, finished January 16, 2024, 3 stars
In 2012 I read the first two books in Steele's Coyote trilogy (which later was expanded). I liked/really liked them but never started the third despite owning it. About 3 years ago I read a novella in this series, The River Horses, which was written after the original trilogy but fills in some material in between books 2 and 3 on a character I really liked. Still didn't start the third book until now, 14 years after purchase.
The author does a very good job at the opening of the book to bring a reader up to speed from the prior books, and all the names and events are a little overwhelming, but it worked in getting me back into the series after such a long hiatus. The author was always more than a little heavy handed with the politics which detracted from the series in my opinion. It is still a major part of the novel here.
What I liked in this book was seeing a bit of what the earth that was left behind was like. Large parts of the Coyote books originally appeared as novellas and short stories in Asimov's science fiction magazine. The books are basically stories within stories and I don't think this one was any different. It was a style that worked, but not always well. There are parts I like and parts I could do without. For me this was the least interesting of the Coyote trilogy and is rapidly fading from my memory.
The story of interstellar colonization is really way too complex to convey in a short review.
19RBeffa
5. Silvertip's Chase by Max Brand, finished January 19, 2024, 3+ stars
This story has a copyright date of 1933 so it is 90 years old as I read it. It is also the 7th book in a series featuring Jim Silver. I have not read any of the prior books in the series so I may have been at a slight disadvantage in understanding who Jim Silver and his stallion Parade are. Here he has been on the trail of two outlaws for a very long time. However the story begins before we meet Jim Silver, as it opens with a timberwolf who is a giant of his kind and is notorious in the area he lives. He has a $2000 bounty on his head and feeds at will on the ranch livestock in the valley below the mountain range he frequents. He has a very large reputation and has been named Frosty. A trapper has come a thousand miles to trap him and after six months he has failed to get him. The story begins with Frosty more or less telling us about things. Then we switch to the trapper, Bill Gary, who has laid a careful set of traps for Frosty. And it works. And in the words of Bill Gary, he got Frosty and Frosty got him.
There are many parts to the story that are quickly laid out with this beginning and the rest of the novel deals with some nasty bad guys, and a couple good guys. I got a kick out of the parts of the story told by Frosty. One chapter opens like this: "She was tall. She was beautiful. She moved with a light and delicate grace. There was bright humor and good nature in her eyes. And Frosty loved her the moment he set eyes on her in the moonlight of that glade." So begins the part of the story where Frosty finds his mate.
There are good descriptions of the people and the land in this western and I found it to be a good read.
This story has a copyright date of 1933 so it is 90 years old as I read it. It is also the 7th book in a series featuring Jim Silver. I have not read any of the prior books in the series so I may have been at a slight disadvantage in understanding who Jim Silver and his stallion Parade are. Here he has been on the trail of two outlaws for a very long time. However the story begins before we meet Jim Silver, as it opens with a timberwolf who is a giant of his kind and is notorious in the area he lives. He has a $2000 bounty on his head and feeds at will on the ranch livestock in the valley below the mountain range he frequents. He has a very large reputation and has been named Frosty. A trapper has come a thousand miles to trap him and after six months he has failed to get him. The story begins with Frosty more or less telling us about things. Then we switch to the trapper, Bill Gary, who has laid a careful set of traps for Frosty. And it works. And in the words of Bill Gary, he got Frosty and Frosty got him.
There are many parts to the story that are quickly laid out with this beginning and the rest of the novel deals with some nasty bad guys, and a couple good guys. I got a kick out of the parts of the story told by Frosty. One chapter opens like this: "She was tall. She was beautiful. She moved with a light and delicate grace. There was bright humor and good nature in her eyes. And Frosty loved her the moment he set eyes on her in the moonlight of that glade." So begins the part of the story where Frosty finds his mate.
There are good descriptions of the people and the land in this western and I found it to be a good read.
20RBeffa
During the year I plan to mix in some science fiction/fantasy digests with my reading, as I have been doing in past years.
6. Asimov's Science Fiction: Vol. 18, No. 9 August 1994 edited by Gardner Dozois, finished January 25, 2024, 3 stars
Six stories in this issue, a novella, two novelettes and 3 short stories. Plus poems, illustrations, and essays. Nothing dreadful in this issue, but there are two noteworthy stories. The opening novella Cilia-of-Gold by Stephen Baxter concerns the exploration of Venus and the exploration and discovery of life. The story alternates between the sentient lifeforms who are unaware of humans on the surface, and the less interesting story of the explorers on the surface. The two parts intersect at the end. This is apparently part of Baxter's Xeelee series.
The other notable story is by Gregory Benford, a novella that takes up a large portion of the magazine, called "Soon Comes the Night". The intro to the story states it is part of what became Benford's Galactic Center series that began with In the ocean of night. The events in the story link the first two books in the series with a sixth volume being written (which became Sailing Bright Eternity). So this story should be noteworthy to fans of that series. I have read Benford's short stories over the years but not his novels, so I can't judge how it fit in. I am not a big fan of Benford's writing style but I still appreciated this story.
from isfdb:
4 • Reflections • essay by Robert Silverberg
10 • Cilia-of-Gold • Xeelee • novelette by Stephen Baxter
10 • Cilia-of-Gold • interior artwork by Ron Chironna
38 • Soft Rain • short story by Valerie J. Freireich
38 • Soft Rain • interior artwork by Christopher Bing
52 • Crescent Moon • poem by Lawrence Schimel
54 • Dead Men Rise Up Never • short story by Rob Chilson
54 • Dead Men Rise Up Never • interior artwork by Steve Cavallo
64 • Bernie • novelette by Ian McDowell
64 • Bernie • interior artwork by Gary Freeman
80 • Moon Canoes • poem by Wendy Rathbone
82 • Living It • short story by Steven Utley
82 • Living It • interior artwork by Gina Mohr LoParo
92 • Soon Comes Night • novella by Gregory Benford
92 • Soon Comes Night • interior artwork by Bob Eggleton
158 • The Vampire Sings • poem by William John Watkins
160 • On Books: State of the Art • essay by Norman Spinrad
160 • Review: The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction by John Clute and Peter Nicholls • review by Norman Spinrad
164 • Review: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler • review by Norman Spinrad
166 • Review: Beautiful Soup: A Novel for the 21st Century by Harvey Jacobs • review by Norman Spinrad
167 • Review: Sandman, Sleep by Herbert Lieberman • review by Norman Spinrad
169 • Review: Virtual Light by William Gibson • review by Norman Spinrad
171 • Review: Hard Landing by Algis Budrys • review by Norman Spinrad
6. Asimov's Science Fiction: Vol. 18, No. 9 August 1994 edited by Gardner Dozois, finished January 25, 2024, 3 stars
Six stories in this issue, a novella, two novelettes and 3 short stories. Plus poems, illustrations, and essays. Nothing dreadful in this issue, but there are two noteworthy stories. The opening novella Cilia-of-Gold by Stephen Baxter concerns the exploration of Venus and the exploration and discovery of life. The story alternates between the sentient lifeforms who are unaware of humans on the surface, and the less interesting story of the explorers on the surface. The two parts intersect at the end. This is apparently part of Baxter's Xeelee series.
The other notable story is by Gregory Benford, a novella that takes up a large portion of the magazine, called "Soon Comes the Night". The intro to the story states it is part of what became Benford's Galactic Center series that began with In the ocean of night. The events in the story link the first two books in the series with a sixth volume being written (which became Sailing Bright Eternity). So this story should be noteworthy to fans of that series. I have read Benford's short stories over the years but not his novels, so I can't judge how it fit in. I am not a big fan of Benford's writing style but I still appreciated this story.
from isfdb:
4 • Reflections • essay by Robert Silverberg
10 • Cilia-of-Gold • Xeelee • novelette by Stephen Baxter
10 • Cilia-of-Gold • interior artwork by Ron Chironna
38 • Soft Rain • short story by Valerie J. Freireich
38 • Soft Rain • interior artwork by Christopher Bing
52 • Crescent Moon • poem by Lawrence Schimel
54 • Dead Men Rise Up Never • short story by Rob Chilson
54 • Dead Men Rise Up Never • interior artwork by Steve Cavallo
64 • Bernie • novelette by Ian McDowell
64 • Bernie • interior artwork by Gary Freeman
80 • Moon Canoes • poem by Wendy Rathbone
82 • Living It • short story by Steven Utley
82 • Living It • interior artwork by Gina Mohr LoParo
92 • Soon Comes Night • novella by Gregory Benford
92 • Soon Comes Night • interior artwork by Bob Eggleton
158 • The Vampire Sings • poem by William John Watkins
160 • On Books: State of the Art • essay by Norman Spinrad
160 • Review: The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction by John Clute and Peter Nicholls • review by Norman Spinrad
164 • Review: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler • review by Norman Spinrad
166 • Review: Beautiful Soup: A Novel for the 21st Century by Harvey Jacobs • review by Norman Spinrad
167 • Review: Sandman, Sleep by Herbert Lieberman • review by Norman Spinrad
169 • Review: Virtual Light by William Gibson • review by Norman Spinrad
171 • Review: Hard Landing by Algis Budrys • review by Norman Spinrad
21RBeffa
7. The Searchers by Alan Le May, finished February 4, 2024, 4 - 4 1/2 stars
There are a number of slow parts in this novel, which is not a short book. It is however one of the best westerns I have read. Not in the class of a Lonesome Dove, but way above the usual. I had to read it slowly because it is rather nightmare inducing at the beginning. Several chapters a day worked best for me. This story really tears at you. I have not re-watched the film yet but I intend to. I may add a few comments later. The story in the film is a bit different than the book. The end of the book and film are different. From memory I thought the film end was better, although there is some character switching. The end was unexpected here. Reading this was a rather immersive experience.
I picked up a couple Elmore Leonards to read this year, Hombre and The Bounty Hunters. Two good westerns have whet my appetite for more.
ETA: Watched about two thirds of the movie (skipping a chunk of the middle). The book is much better than the film, to me. Knowing what story was in the book I could fill in things that provide background that were omitted in the film.
There are a number of slow parts in this novel, which is not a short book. It is however one of the best westerns I have read. Not in the class of a Lonesome Dove, but way above the usual. I had to read it slowly because it is rather nightmare inducing at the beginning. Several chapters a day worked best for me. This story really tears at you. I have not re-watched the film yet but I intend to. I may add a few comments later. The story in the film is a bit different than the book. The end of the book and film are different. From memory I thought the film end was better, although there is some character switching. The end was unexpected here. Reading this was a rather immersive experience.
I picked up a couple Elmore Leonards to read this year, Hombre and The Bounty Hunters. Two good westerns have whet my appetite for more.
ETA: Watched about two thirds of the movie (skipping a chunk of the middle). The book is much better than the film, to me. Knowing what story was in the book I could fill in things that provide background that were omitted in the film.
22RBeffa
8. The Outer Reaches anthology edited by August Derlath, finished February 12, 2024, 3 stars
A friend gifted this old anthology from 1958 to me recently. It happens to be one I looked for years ago but never acquired. There are three versions of this - the original hardcover was published in 1951 with 17 stories. The American paperback that I have was a selection of 10 stories from the original. A later British edition had a mostly different selection of stories, but all three books carried the same title.
The theme here is "Favorite science-fiction tales chosen by their authors". The stories in my edition date from 1934 to 1951, the original publication year. So this is a time machine to what science fiction short stories people were reading long ago.
5 • Co-Operate - Or Else! • Rull • (1942) • novelette by A. E. van Vogt
41 • Good Night, Mr. James • (1951) • short story by Clifford D. Simak
65 • The Critters • (1945) • short story by Frank Belknap Long
82 • Death Sentence • (1943) • short story by Isaac Asimov
106 • This Is the Land • (1951) • short story by Nelson Bond
116 • Ylla • The Martian Chronicles • (1950) • short story by Ray Bradbury
132 • The Green Cat • (1951) • short story by Cleve Cartmill
138 • Pardon My Mistake • (1946) • short story by Fletcher Pratt
144 • The Plutonian Drug • (1934) • short story by Clark Ashton Smith
158 • Farewell to Eden • (1949) • short story by Theodore Sturgeon
Of these 10 stories I think I had only read two before - The Simak story decades ago, although I could scarcely remember it, and the most memorable one by Ray Bradbury that was included in The Martian Chronicles. These stories, mindful of when they were written, range from bland OK to excellent. For short stories these can be a bit wordy ... taking an idea and throwing a lot of words around it. The story "The Critters" for example (probably the weakest story here) delighted in throwing 3 paragraphs where 2 sentences would have sufficed. Also, Asimov's story set 15,000 years in the future is a pre planet of the apes sort but with lots of cigars and cigarettes. Really? ugh.
Bit of horror in here which seems to have been fairly common with early science fiction stories. I Didn't try to rush through these stories. Read one or two at a time. The Farewell to Eden story by Sturgeon was a good choice to finish this with.
A friend gifted this old anthology from 1958 to me recently. It happens to be one I looked for years ago but never acquired. There are three versions of this - the original hardcover was published in 1951 with 17 stories. The American paperback that I have was a selection of 10 stories from the original. A later British edition had a mostly different selection of stories, but all three books carried the same title.
The theme here is "Favorite science-fiction tales chosen by their authors". The stories in my edition date from 1934 to 1951, the original publication year. So this is a time machine to what science fiction short stories people were reading long ago.
5 • Co-Operate - Or Else! • Rull • (1942) • novelette by A. E. van Vogt
41 • Good Night, Mr. James • (1951) • short story by Clifford D. Simak
65 • The Critters • (1945) • short story by Frank Belknap Long
82 • Death Sentence • (1943) • short story by Isaac Asimov
106 • This Is the Land • (1951) • short story by Nelson Bond
116 • Ylla • The Martian Chronicles • (1950) • short story by Ray Bradbury
132 • The Green Cat • (1951) • short story by Cleve Cartmill
138 • Pardon My Mistake • (1946) • short story by Fletcher Pratt
144 • The Plutonian Drug • (1934) • short story by Clark Ashton Smith
158 • Farewell to Eden • (1949) • short story by Theodore Sturgeon
Of these 10 stories I think I had only read two before - The Simak story decades ago, although I could scarcely remember it, and the most memorable one by Ray Bradbury that was included in The Martian Chronicles. These stories, mindful of when they were written, range from bland OK to excellent. For short stories these can be a bit wordy ... taking an idea and throwing a lot of words around it. The story "The Critters" for example (probably the weakest story here) delighted in throwing 3 paragraphs where 2 sentences would have sufficed. Also, Asimov's story set 15,000 years in the future is a pre planet of the apes sort but with lots of cigars and cigarettes. Really? ugh.
Bit of horror in here which seems to have been fairly common with early science fiction stories. I Didn't try to rush through these stories. Read one or two at a time. The Farewell to Eden story by Sturgeon was a good choice to finish this with.
23RBeffa
9. Blind Descent by Nevada Barr, finished February 16, 2024, about 3 stars
If the potential reader of this book is claustrophobic I might suggest skipping this one. A very large portion of it is set deep underground in caves. I used to enjoy some cave exploring when I was younger so that didn't exactly freak me out, but the author goes to great lengths to creep the reader out. I'm not sure this was successful as a mystery story. Towards the end I was going "huh?" but not in a good way. Maybe I slept through a scene. This just didn't work for me but I'm going to re-read some parts. On the plus side there are some good maps on the inside covers of the book that I referred to over and over to try and figure out where the cavers were.
If the potential reader of this book is claustrophobic I might suggest skipping this one. A very large portion of it is set deep underground in caves. I used to enjoy some cave exploring when I was younger so that didn't exactly freak me out, but the author goes to great lengths to creep the reader out. I'm not sure this was successful as a mystery story. Towards the end I was going "huh?" but not in a good way. Maybe I slept through a scene. This just didn't work for me but I'm going to re-read some parts. On the plus side there are some good maps on the inside covers of the book that I referred to over and over to try and figure out where the cavers were.
24RBeffa
Reviews suggest that the next book in the Anna Pigeon series after Blind Descent was the best one yet. Nevada Barr clearly put a lot of work into Blind Descent but for me there were some bothers. I'll move onto Liberty Falling and see how it goes. I do hope the possible romance angle for Anna Pigeon with friend Curtis that developed in Blind Descent goes somewhere.
25RBeffa
Joined
Feb 27, 2009
That makes today my 15 year thingaversary. Tradition would be to buy a bunch of books to reward myself but I am not going to do that. I think I will treat myself to something soon, but I am going to try and hold the line and just work on the multitude of unread books I already have.
I am currently reading a book that I am sure is aimed at younger readers. It is the sort of book I would have read when I was about ten. However I am really enjoying it and taking my time with it. I have noticed that I enjoy reading a lot slower now. When I race through some books I'm glad to get to the finish but I think I miss out on some of the fun. I will be reading a lot slower this year. 40-50 books will be my target.
Feb 27, 2009
That makes today my 15 year thingaversary. Tradition would be to buy a bunch of books to reward myself but I am not going to do that. I think I will treat myself to something soon, but I am going to try and hold the line and just work on the multitude of unread books I already have.
I am currently reading a book that I am sure is aimed at younger readers. It is the sort of book I would have read when I was about ten. However I am really enjoying it and taking my time with it. I have noticed that I enjoy reading a lot slower now. When I race through some books I'm glad to get to the finish but I think I miss out on some of the fun. I will be reading a lot slower this year. 40-50 books will be my target.
27RBeffa
>26 ronincats: Thank you Roni!
10. The Hotel Under the Sand by Kage Baker, finished February 29, 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
I'm not sure how to describe this book. I enjoyed it a lot. I purchased it new not long after it was published and shortly before the author's untimely death. I didn't realize it was a children's book because the author had been writing fantasy and science fiction for adults. I set is aside not intending to wait 14 years before reading it!
I'd guess this is written with a ten year old audience in mind, but I certainly enjoyed it as an aging adult and think it is one of the sweetest children's books I have read in a very long while. An adventure story with a treasure hunt, and very memorable characters. It has many pen and ink drawings which took me a while to appreciate. Nice short chapters that let me read this easily at my leisure. Recommended
10. The Hotel Under the Sand by Kage Baker, finished February 29, 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
I'm not sure how to describe this book. I enjoyed it a lot. I purchased it new not long after it was published and shortly before the author's untimely death. I didn't realize it was a children's book because the author had been writing fantasy and science fiction for adults. I set is aside not intending to wait 14 years before reading it!
I'd guess this is written with a ten year old audience in mind, but I certainly enjoyed it as an aging adult and think it is one of the sweetest children's books I have read in a very long while. An adventure story with a treasure hunt, and very memorable characters. It has many pen and ink drawings which took me a while to appreciate. Nice short chapters that let me read this easily at my leisure. Recommended
28RBeffa
NN. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick, DNF
I have given this novel two tries and it isn't working for me. I'd maybe rate it 2 stars. Time to purge. The book was the basis for the film Blade Runner (which was a rather scary avant garde film in 1982). As the story begins we find ourselves in the dark future of January 3, 2021. This was published in 1968.
When I was a teenager devouring books and record albums at our local library branch I remember when this book appeared on the shelf of the science fiction section which I checked on every visit. I do not know why but I was very creeped out by the cover and the first pages of the book. It was not something I wanted to read. It was many years later before I picked up the book at a library sale. Dick is a rather renowned author and I have liked some of his other stories a lot, such as the Man in the High Castle. But this one still creeps me, so off it goes.
I have given this novel two tries and it isn't working for me. I'd maybe rate it 2 stars. Time to purge. The book was the basis for the film Blade Runner (which was a rather scary avant garde film in 1982). As the story begins we find ourselves in the dark future of January 3, 2021. This was published in 1968.
When I was a teenager devouring books and record albums at our local library branch I remember when this book appeared on the shelf of the science fiction section which I checked on every visit. I do not know why but I was very creeped out by the cover and the first pages of the book. It was not something I wanted to read. It was many years later before I picked up the book at a library sale. Dick is a rather renowned author and I have liked some of his other stories a lot, such as the Man in the High Castle. But this one still creeps me, so off it goes.
29RBeffa
12. Liberty Falling by Nevada Barr, finished March 3, 2024, 3 stars
I think I am done with Nevada Barr, at least for the forseeable future. Her descriptions of parks and places is superb. I felt like I had been given a personal inside tour of the statue of liberty and Ellis Island at the start of the novel. All of Barr's books that I have read are greatly detailed with respect to the park and place they are set. What I am unhappy with over and over are her characters and what she does with them.
I skimmed some of this and was unhappy with the ending.
I think I am done with Nevada Barr, at least for the forseeable future. Her descriptions of parks and places is superb. I felt like I had been given a personal inside tour of the statue of liberty and Ellis Island at the start of the novel. All of Barr's books that I have read are greatly detailed with respect to the park and place they are set. What I am unhappy with over and over are her characters and what she does with them.
I skimmed some of this and was unhappy with the ending.
30m.belljackson
Track of the Cat still ranks as my favorite Nevada Barr and I've read them all.
31RBeffa
>30 m.belljackson: I've read 8 since I've been keeping track on LT. I probably read one other in the years before. Track of the Cat was one of the best of them. Blind Descent bothered me and Liberty Falling didn't hook me back in. We have others on the shelf here if I ever want to give her a try again.
32RBeffa
NN. short story The Age of Innocence by Brian Stableford, finished March 5, 2024, 1/2 star
Steve (Swynn) posted about the death of British science fiction author Brian Stableford (25 July 1948 – 24 February 2024). He was a very prolific author but one I never connected with such that I wanted to seek out his stories. Nevertheless I have quite few of his stories included in collections and magazines. I told myself I would read the first one I came across and on the second thing I pulled out to look at, there was his name.
This short story was published in a collection of his stories and first appeared where I just read it in the June 1995 issue of Asimov's magazine. He was a frequent contributor to the magazine over the years. The story was dreadful. If it had any redeeming qualities I missed them. I can't believe it was published.
Steve (Swynn) posted about the death of British science fiction author Brian Stableford (25 July 1948 – 24 February 2024). He was a very prolific author but one I never connected with such that I wanted to seek out his stories. Nevertheless I have quite few of his stories included in collections and magazines. I told myself I would read the first one I came across and on the second thing I pulled out to look at, there was his name.
This short story was published in a collection of his stories and first appeared where I just read it in the June 1995 issue of Asimov's magazine. He was a frequent contributor to the magazine over the years. The story was dreadful. If it had any redeeming qualities I missed them. I can't believe it was published.
33RBeffa
13. Blood Moon by Garry Disher, finished March 9, 2024, 4 stars
Australian crime fiction. This one is the 5th in a series (of 7 books). I didn't feel like I was missing much back story because the author does a very good job of dropping memories and references to past events while focusing on the current crimes. The Australian setting was different from my usual reads. I noted a couple references to Ti trees which gave me a small kick as I have raised 2 Hawaiian Ti plants for 50 years.
I never had any doubts about the guilty party in the murder investigation part of the story although I wondered how the author was going to play it. He played it pretty well. There are other things going on to keep one interested along the way. Very well drawn characters and I hope to meet them again in other novels by this author. Recommended
eta: I kept thinking about this story and how much I enjoyed the author's style and setting that I found myself re-reading parts of the book. I decided a better idea was to move on in the series. Rather than go back and start with #1 I picked up the book that follows Blood Moon, Whispering Death. Will start very soon.
Australian crime fiction. This one is the 5th in a series (of 7 books). I didn't feel like I was missing much back story because the author does a very good job of dropping memories and references to past events while focusing on the current crimes. The Australian setting was different from my usual reads. I noted a couple references to Ti trees which gave me a small kick as I have raised 2 Hawaiian Ti plants for 50 years.
I never had any doubts about the guilty party in the murder investigation part of the story although I wondered how the author was going to play it. He played it pretty well. There are other things going on to keep one interested along the way. Very well drawn characters and I hope to meet them again in other novels by this author. Recommended
eta: I kept thinking about this story and how much I enjoyed the author's style and setting that I found myself re-reading parts of the book. I decided a better idea was to move on in the series. Rather than go back and start with #1 I picked up the book that follows Blood Moon, Whispering Death. Will start very soon.
34RBeffa
14. Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman, finished March 19, 2024, 4 - 4 1/2 stars
A book friend handed this book to me several days ago. "You should read this. You'll like it a lot. Your wife might like it even more". I look at the cover. Anne Fadiman. "The wife of Clifton?" I ask. "Daughter" is the reply.
If one happens to have been born on the same day in the same year as the author, does that make one more likely to be simpatico? Maybe.
This is clearly a book for those who love books and words. I was delighted from the start. Published in 1998 it might not resonate with young readers. The first chapter about "Marrying your libraries" I thought would be about those of us who love our books so much we are married to them. But it is actually about if a couple move in together, get married, have children .. do you each retain your own personal libraries at opposite ends of the house? Do you never merge them "Marrying" or do you do it slowly? What about duplicates? Does one cull them? I thought of myself and my wife. After 45 years we both still have distinct and separate collections. We both retained books we loved throughout life. We did merge some things, and whoever liked the author more took them under their wing. It was something to think about.
The author writes of her own experiences very well. This relatively small book has 18 essays and I enjoyed this a lot. It is a quick read.
A book friend handed this book to me several days ago. "You should read this. You'll like it a lot. Your wife might like it even more". I look at the cover. Anne Fadiman. "The wife of Clifton?" I ask. "Daughter" is the reply.
If one happens to have been born on the same day in the same year as the author, does that make one more likely to be simpatico? Maybe.
This is clearly a book for those who love books and words. I was delighted from the start. Published in 1998 it might not resonate with young readers. The first chapter about "Marrying your libraries" I thought would be about those of us who love our books so much we are married to them. But it is actually about if a couple move in together, get married, have children .. do you each retain your own personal libraries at opposite ends of the house? Do you never merge them "Marrying" or do you do it slowly? What about duplicates? Does one cull them? I thought of myself and my wife. After 45 years we both still have distinct and separate collections. We both retained books we loved throughout life. We did merge some things, and whoever liked the author more took them under their wing. It was something to think about.
The author writes of her own experiences very well. This relatively small book has 18 essays and I enjoyed this a lot. It is a quick read.
35RBeffa
15. Nick and the Glimmung by Philip K. Dick, finished March 25, 2024, 2 - 2 1/2 stars
The flyleaf describes this as the only surviving juvenile by P K Dick. Does that mean he burned all the rest? Were there any others? Well, considering that I think this story was rather poorly constructed I am glad there is only the one.
I feel generous in marking this as almost 2 1/2 stars. There were a few interesting bits in the story but overall this was a bore to get through. It is a handsome book, and has several full page color illustrations. But this story? bleah.
The flyleaf describes this as the only surviving juvenile by P K Dick. Does that mean he burned all the rest? Were there any others? Well, considering that I think this story was rather poorly constructed I am glad there is only the one.
I feel generous in marking this as almost 2 1/2 stars. There were a few interesting bits in the story but overall this was a bore to get through. It is a handsome book, and has several full page color illustrations. But this story? bleah.
36laytonwoman3rd
>29 RBeffa: I think I'm of a like mind about the Anna Pigeon series. I really enjoyed the first couple I read. Then I had a rough time with A Superior Death, because of the underwater stuff. I decided to skip Blind Descent, because it sounded like more claustrophobic peril, and I just didn't want to go into caves with Anna (who takes way too many chances for me). I did think I'd give Liberty Falling a chance...now I'm wondering if I should. But the setting does call to me, so maybe I'll "take the tour", like you, and put the rest of the series on hiatus.
37RBeffa
>36 laytonwoman3rd: Take the tour. The books build on each other but I have gotten weary over how much bouncing about Anna does, usually with zero or little explanation. Liberty Falling was very different than the others I read and it too is a bit creepy claustrophobic to give one the shivers. Her sister Molly is also knocking on heaven's door here. Not a spoiler since it is right there at the start.
16. Wildflowers of California by Larry Ulrich and Susan Lamb, finished March 26, 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
This book is thirty years old but such a high quality printing that it is as fresh and bright as the Spring outside my door. I used to take lots of California wildflower photos for decades so this large size primarily pictorial book had a lot of appeal to me. If you follow my Facebook page you know I still can't resist flower photos. A few of the photos at first glimpse I'd know almost exactly where it was and what it was. Many of these were new to me, especially some from out of the way locations. Every photo didn't work for me. I know the appeal of the close-up but in this book I preferred the landscape one like on the cover. Most of these were close-up shots which are beautiful but as I said I liked the flowers in their setting better.
The majority of these photos were taken in the Spring of 1992 through 1994, when California was emerging from a hard drought of 6 or 7 years. We've had a number of these droughts before and after but the flora is continually reborn (although with casualties) when the rains do return.
A very enjoyable book for light reading. There is some interesting and informative text by Susan Lamb.
16. Wildflowers of California by Larry Ulrich and Susan Lamb, finished March 26, 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
This book is thirty years old but such a high quality printing that it is as fresh and bright as the Spring outside my door. I used to take lots of California wildflower photos for decades so this large size primarily pictorial book had a lot of appeal to me. If you follow my Facebook page you know I still can't resist flower photos. A few of the photos at first glimpse I'd know almost exactly where it was and what it was. Many of these were new to me, especially some from out of the way locations. Every photo didn't work for me. I know the appeal of the close-up but in this book I preferred the landscape one like on the cover. Most of these were close-up shots which are beautiful but as I said I liked the flowers in their setting better.
The majority of these photos were taken in the Spring of 1992 through 1994, when California was emerging from a hard drought of 6 or 7 years. We've had a number of these droughts before and after but the flora is continually reborn (although with casualties) when the rains do return.
A very enjoyable book for light reading. There is some interesting and informative text by Susan Lamb.
38RBeffa
17. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary, finished March 28, 2024, 4 stars
I don't know why I never read this book when the kids were young but I pulled it out of our children's book box and had a quick but very enjoyable read. I need to do that a little more often.
I don't know why I never read this book when the kids were young but I pulled it out of our children's book box and had a quick but very enjoyable read. I need to do that a little more often.
39annus_sanctus
>17 RBeffa: IN the Netherlands we have "Puzzlebanks" now. You bring a puzzle, and you take home as many as you like. Only the very popular Jan van Haasteren and Was Gij? are 1 on 1 exchange. Puzzles from 4 to 9000 pieces including puzzles that contain mystery books to read, to actually solve what image you have to puzzle together! Like Hitchcok, Doyle and others. Reading and making puzzles... a nice combination!
40RBeffa
>39 annus_sanctus: Shortly after the start of the pandemic I discovered a local business had started a free puzzle exchange. They were puzzlers themselves. Their library over time grew very large as more puzzles were dropped off than taken. I went there a couple times a month to trade puzzles. I didn't discover any mystery book puzzles however! I have not been there in a year or so but I would hope that the exchange is still active. I still have not done more than the one puzzle this year although I have a nice stack waiting for me. Glad you have a puzzlebank. Thanks for dropping by here Angela.
41RBeffa
The first quarter is about over and I won't complain about 17 stories finished. I DNF and purged several books not mentioned above. I guess I was a little hard to please. I don't have a book in progress, just nibbling on a couple for the moment. Might be time for a short story collection.
Here is my summary for year to date
-----------------------------
Favorite book of 2024 (so far) is ... Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
Top Ten Fiction novels or novellas for 2024 roughly in order (excluding re-reads):
1. The Searchers by Alan Le May
2. Blood Moon by Garry Disher
3. Silvertip's Chase by Max Brand
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Favorite Reads that are part of a series, and not listed elsewhere:
1. The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths
2. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths
3.
4.
5.
Top Non-Fiction for 2024
1. Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
2. Wildflowers of California by Larry Ulrich and Susan Lamb
Favorite Young Adult or Children's reads in 2024:
1. The Hotel Under the Sand by Kage Baker
2. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Here is my summary for year to date
-----------------------------
Favorite book of 2024 (so far) is ... Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
Top Ten Fiction novels or novellas for 2024 roughly in order (excluding re-reads):
1. The Searchers by Alan Le May
2. Blood Moon by Garry Disher
3. Silvertip's Chase by Max Brand
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Favorite Reads that are part of a series, and not listed elsewhere:
1. The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths
2. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths
3.
4.
5.
Top Non-Fiction for 2024
1. Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
2. Wildflowers of California by Larry Ulrich and Susan Lamb
Favorite Young Adult or Children's reads in 2024:
1. The Hotel Under the Sand by Kage Baker
2. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
42RBeffa
I am slowly reading Marion's Wall by Jack Finney and enjoying it a lot. I have yet to read a bad Finney novel. Wish he had written more. This one is written so well. It is a supernatural ghost story.
44RBeffa
>43 Tess_W: Tess, I hope you enjoy it as much as i did.
45RBeffa
>42 RBeffa: I have briefly interrupted my reading of the Finney novel to read a novella about a most uncommon reader, Queen Elizabeth. This was recommended to me because of my enjoyment of the Fadiman book at >34 RBeffa:.
-----------------------------
18. The uncommon reader by Alan Bennett, finished April 8, 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
Another book on books, but more specifically a book on a reader of books. I suspect every single reader on LT would enjoy this book, seeing themselves in it, and ... no I take that back. There will always be a few who will get bent out of shape over something. For all the rest of you I suggest reading some of the reviews here on LT or elsewhere.
This book is something of a satire, a funny jab, but an imaginary tale of the Queen being turned on to the actual enjoyment of books by a kitchen boy. It is a short book, a novella, but about the perfect length for what it is. I kept smiling as I read it. You will too.
-----------------------------
18. The uncommon reader by Alan Bennett, finished April 8, 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
Another book on books, but more specifically a book on a reader of books. I suspect every single reader on LT would enjoy this book, seeing themselves in it, and ... no I take that back. There will always be a few who will get bent out of shape over something. For all the rest of you I suggest reading some of the reviews here on LT or elsewhere.
This book is something of a satire, a funny jab, but an imaginary tale of the Queen being turned on to the actual enjoyment of books by a kitchen boy. It is a short book, a novella, but about the perfect length for what it is. I kept smiling as I read it. You will too.
46RBeffa
19. Marion's Wall by Jack Finney, finished April 9, 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
I have enjoyed and appreciated every Jack Finney novel that I have read, and this one is no exception. A supernatural ghost story is not something I would normally go for, but I trusted the author and he did not disappoint. It is a story of possession of a young couple by two silent screen actors of the 1920's who died too young. One of them is Rudolph Valentino and the other is the Marion of the title. This story was published in 1973 and I think it was set in 1985, in San Francisco and Marin county initially. What won me over from the start is the descriptive writing by Finney that sent me back in time to a place I knew in 1973. The latter part of the book takes place in the Los Angeles area that I am unfamiliar with but I suspect it too would ring true to people who were there.
A good read. This was made into a movie, "Maxie" which I never saw as far as I know.
I have enjoyed and appreciated every Jack Finney novel that I have read, and this one is no exception. A supernatural ghost story is not something I would normally go for, but I trusted the author and he did not disappoint. It is a story of possession of a young couple by two silent screen actors of the 1920's who died too young. One of them is Rudolph Valentino and the other is the Marion of the title. This story was published in 1973 and I think it was set in 1985, in San Francisco and Marin county initially. What won me over from the start is the descriptive writing by Finney that sent me back in time to a place I knew in 1973. The latter part of the book takes place in the Los Angeles area that I am unfamiliar with but I suspect it too would ring true to people who were there.
A good read. This was made into a movie, "Maxie" which I never saw as far as I know.
47RBeffa
I read the August 1994 issue in January and now did the July 1994 issue. As I said earlier, I plan to mix in some science fiction/fantasy digests with my reading, as I have been doing in past years.
20. Asimov's Science Fiction: Vol. 18, No. 8 July 1994 edited by Gardner Dozois, finished April 12, 2024, 2 1/2 stars
• Reflections • essay by Robert Silverberg
• The Playroom • poem by Wendy Rathbone
• The Narcissus Plague • short story by Lisa Goldstein (Nominated for Nebula 1996)
• The Doll House • poem by Wendy Rathbone
• The Scream • novelette by Brian Stableford
• Out of the Quiet Years • novelette by G. David Nordley
• Future Past: An Exercise in Horror • poem by Bruce Boston
• Mrs. Lincoln's China • short story by M. Shayne Bell
• The Clown Doll • poem by Wendy Rathbone
• The Man in the Dinosaur Coat • novelette by John Alfred Taylor
• On Wanderer's Day • poem by William John Watkins
• Windrider • short story by Jack McDevitt
• Drink • short story by Mark W. Tiedemann
• The Lovers • Hwarhath • novelette by Eleanor Arnason
• On Books • essay by Paul Di Filippo
Eight stories in this issue, four novelettes and four short stories. Plus poems, illustrations, and essays. Mostly weak or uninteresting stories with some good to excellent ones.
This issue was the first to carry Robert Silverberg's Reflections column in Asimov's and it continues to this day. Thirty years on top of the sixteen or so years preceding in which it had been published in various forms in Galileo and Amazing Stories. A very long run and the columns are invariably very good.
Highlights for me:
The Narcissus Plague was not a bad story but I forgot details from it within a day. You can read it online, however. http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/narc.htm
At the beginning of March I read a short story by Brian Stableford, who had just died, and I thought it dreadful. His novelette here, "The Scream" was much better and I did not see the twist at the end coming. A twist on the Frankenstein story. Glad I read it. There is an in-depth analysis of the story, completely spoilery but interesting, here: https://marzaat.com/2023/06/17/biotech-revolution-the-scream/
This was near the start of G. David Nordley's short story writing career. He's highly regarded but I didn't have an opinion of what to expect when I read this other than his good reputation. I've read a couple of his stories before. Nordley is a hard science fiction writer, and the story caught my interest very quickly. "Out of the Quiet Years" is an exciting rescue set around Jupiter with some surprising twists. I am looking forward to finding more stories by Nordley.
After this, the stories lost my interest and varied from mainstream fiction scifi to fantasy and somewhat didactic and pretentious at that.
The book essay by Di Filippo was very good.
48RBeffa
21. The Planet of Peril by Otis Adelbert Kline, finished April 14, 2024, 1 1/2 stars
This short novel dates to 1929 and I can only describe it as imitation Edgar Rice Burroughs. The whole beginning really put me off. I will admit that there are some sections that I enjoyed but I never got caught up in this.
This short novel dates to 1929 and I can only describe it as imitation Edgar Rice Burroughs. The whole beginning really put me off. I will admit that there are some sections that I enjoyed but I never got caught up in this.
50ReneeMarie
>49 PaulCranswick: Some of my favorite movies are B movies!
51RBeffa
>49 PaulCranswick: >50 ReneeMarie: There are plenty of sword fights and swashbuckling through the jungles of Venus fighting every kind of monster you couldn't even imagine. Plus underground lost cities. A lot of it is fun. But the beginning and end were pretty unbelievable, even though this is pure fantasy, and marred my enjoyment. I called it a short novel but it really wasn't. And some really preposterous things that go way beyond a suspension of disbelief. It was originally a serial over 6 issues in Argosy magazine in 1929. There were two follow-up novels that a friend gave me but I'm not going to follow-up ...
52RBeffa
I've decided this is a good time for me to start on a few war related books. I have a number of WWII books, fiction and non-fiction, that I would like to read this year. I have started with a favorite author, Nevil Shute, and I'm about 50 pages into Pied Piper. This isn't exactly Paul C's war room challenge, but a nod to it. Even though I have some possible choices, most ancient history wars don't have a lot of appeal to me, especially after browsing a couple books. There are always exceptions of course. For now though I'll address some of my WWII TBR's.
53RBeffa
22. Pied Piper by Nevil Shute, finished April 24, 2024, 4 stars
I read my first edition of this 1942 novel. This is regarded as one of Shute's best books. Now I know why. It is a sad, sweet story of an older Englishman, John Howard, (about 70 years old) who rather unwisely takes a fishing holiday to the Jura mountains of France near the French-Swiss border in the Spring of 1940. He tells this story to a friend so we know he survives but it is easy to forget while reading the book. Shortly after his arrival the Germans invade France and the bulk of the book is the story of his traveling across France to try to get to the coast to sail for England. There are some surprises in the story that are quite touching. I took my time reading this story and enjoyed it a lot. The ending was a surprise, one of several. Shute does a very good job with the children that John Howard "collects" as tries to get to England.
I read my first edition of this 1942 novel. This is regarded as one of Shute's best books. Now I know why. It is a sad, sweet story of an older Englishman, John Howard, (about 70 years old) who rather unwisely takes a fishing holiday to the Jura mountains of France near the French-Swiss border in the Spring of 1940. He tells this story to a friend so we know he survives but it is easy to forget while reading the book. Shortly after his arrival the Germans invade France and the bulk of the book is the story of his traveling across France to try to get to the coast to sail for England. There are some surprises in the story that are quite touching. I took my time reading this story and enjoyed it a lot. The ending was a surprise, one of several. Shute does a very good job with the children that John Howard "collects" as tries to get to England.
54laytonwoman3rd
>53 RBeffa: Noting that one...I haven't read much of Shute's work, and it seems I should.
55RBeffa
>54 laytonwoman3rd: It is a very good book. I also note that it was made into a movie twice, the 2nd one being a TV movie with Peter O'Toole in 1989 or 1990. I should have mentioned that the friend the story is told to, although fictitious, seemed to me to be the author. Shute has injected himself as a minor character in another book I read. I left a lot out in my description because I don't want to spoil the story.
I plan to read at least one more Shute novel before too long.
I plan to read at least one more Shute novel before too long.
56RBeffa
I've picked up David Pringle's 1985 book which is titled Science Fiction The 100 Best Novels, An English language Selection 1949-1984. I've heard about this list for a long time but this is the first time I have seen the book which includes essays on each of the selections. I have already read at least a third of the stories. You can see the list here on LT: https://www.librarything.com/award/171/David-Pringles-Best-100-Science-Fiction-N....
So I am giving myself a sort of multi year challenge to read through this book and have a go at reading most of the stories. No list will make everyone happy and there are some novels in the list that I only gave 2 stars at best and a few I really don't think I want to re-read those. There are several novels and authors that seem to be omitted from any list I would make, but there are plenty of novels in this book/list that I heartily approve of.
I'll make a list to keep track at some point, but the first book I will have a stab at is #18 on the list, The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett from 1955. For now I plan to read the essay first for each book before reading (or re-reading) the novel. I don't need convincing to read this particular book as I like the author quite a bit. If I find the essays too spoilery than I may change my strategy. I own or have access to a great % of the books in the list
I will be reading my usual stuff along the way.
57elorin
>56 RBeffa: That sounds like good stuff! I would enjoy that book.
58RBeffa
These are the first 25 books on Pringle's list. There are 7, maybe 8 that I don't remember ever reading. I don't plan on re-reading ones I have read in the last 12 years or so. I am marking those off below. I will be reading all the essays in Pringle's book as I go along, and will certainly read the ones for the books I don't plan to re-read.
1 1984 (1949) by George Orwell, re-read in 2024, 5 stars
2 Earth Abides (1949) by George R. Stewart re-read in 2024, 4 stars
3 The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2015 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
4 The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein, DNF in 2024, 2 stars
5 The Day of the Triffids (1951) by John Wyndham. re-read in 2014, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
6 Limbo (1952) by Bernard Wolfe
7 The Demolished Man (1952) by Alfred Bester
8 Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2023, 4 stars, review on LT
9 Childhood's End (1954) by Arthur C. Clarke Read in 2015, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
10 The Paradox Men (1953) by Charles L. Harness
11 Bring the Jubilee (1953) by Ward Moore. Read in 2012, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
12 The Space Merchants (1953) by Frederik Pohl
13 Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak, read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
14 More Than Human (1953) by Theodore Sturgeon
15 Mission of Gravity (1953) by Hal Clement read in 2015, 4 stars, review on LT
16 Mirror for Observers (1954) by Edgar Pangborn
17 The End of Eternity (1955) by Isaac Asimov
18 The Long Tomorrow (1955) by Leigh Brackett, read in 2024, 4 stars
19 The Inheritors (1955) by William Golding, read in 2011, 2 stars, review on LT
20 The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester
21 The Death of Grass (1956) by John Christopher (thought I read this one about 10 years ago but can't verify so will re-read)
22 The City and the Stars (1956) by Arthur C. Clarke
23 The Door into Summer (1956) by Robert A. Heinlein, read in 2014, 2 stars, review on LT
24 The Midwich Cuckoos (1957) by John Wyndham
25 Non-Stop (1958) by Brian Aldiss
1 1984 (1949) by George Orwell, re-read in 2024, 5 stars
2 Earth Abides (1949) by George R. Stewart re-read in 2024, 4 stars
3 The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2015 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
4 The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein, DNF in 2024, 2 stars
5 The Day of the Triffids (1951) by John Wyndham. re-read in 2014, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
6 Limbo (1952) by Bernard Wolfe
7 The Demolished Man (1952) by Alfred Bester
8 Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2023, 4 stars, review on LT
9 Childhood's End (1954) by Arthur C. Clarke Read in 2015, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
10 The Paradox Men (1953) by Charles L. Harness
11 Bring the Jubilee (1953) by Ward Moore. Read in 2012, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
12 The Space Merchants (1953) by Frederik Pohl
13 Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak, read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
14 More Than Human (1953) by Theodore Sturgeon
15 Mission of Gravity (1953) by Hal Clement read in 2015, 4 stars, review on LT
16 Mirror for Observers (1954) by Edgar Pangborn
17 The End of Eternity (1955) by Isaac Asimov
18 The Long Tomorrow (1955) by Leigh Brackett, read in 2024, 4 stars
19 The Inheritors (1955) by William Golding, read in 2011, 2 stars, review on LT
20 The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester
21 The Death of Grass (1956) by John Christopher (thought I read this one about 10 years ago but can't verify so will re-read)
22 The City and the Stars (1956) by Arthur C. Clarke
23 The Door into Summer (1956) by Robert A. Heinlein, read in 2014, 2 stars, review on LT
24 The Midwich Cuckoos (1957) by John Wyndham
25 Non-Stop (1958) by Brian Aldiss
59RBeffa
>57 elorin: The more I browsed the book the more interested I got in tackling some of these classics. There is also a follow-up book that seems thorough but is going to have to wait for another day ...
60elorin
>59 RBeffa: I have read three or four of them, but I love recommendations for good sci-fi.
61m.belljackson
>58 RBeffa: The Midwich Cuckoos is on my save shelf; love the cover.
62RBeffa
>61 m.belljackson: I think Midwich is the only major work by Wyndham that I haven't read. I'm really surprised that I do not have it catalogued.
63RBeffa
>58 RBeffa: I am about half way through The Long Tomorrow. There are quite a few very good reviews here on LT. Pringle's essay was encouraging. I am of two minds. On the positive side I'd classify the novel as literature. The quality of the writing is remarkable and impressive. The story however is very slow moving (so far anyway) and fits into a small group of post atomic war stories where society rejects progress or has no choice in the matter. Here we have the New Mennonites "flat hats" in Ohio, with various similar sects living off the land without electricity etc etc. They are very repressive in their beliefs. There is a public stoning, to death, of a man suspected of being pro-technology. This happens near the start of the book and leads to what follows in the story when two children witness it. This is kind of a young adult coming of age novel but as I said at the start the quality of the writing is remarkable.
64RBeffa
23. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett, finished May 6, 2024, 4 stars
This book from 1955 is on a par with the dystopian tales from Margaret Atwood and I am really surprised it is not better known. I read this at a slow pace which worked well for me, as the book goes at a slow pace. It describes a life in Ohio about 75 years after an atomic war that destroyed the cities. What survives is a society who could live off the land, the New Mennonites, and similar sects. But there is also a secret place, rumored anyways, where the old technology knowledge is kept alive. This is almost a young adult novel with the issues it addresses but it is really a finely written piece of literature.
The novel is divided into three books and I think the final book, for me, and maybe the characters themselves, was a bit of a letdown. The novel as a whole is still deserving of 4 stars, and recommended to anyone who reads dystopian fiction.
--
I will continue with my reading of these 100 classic science fiction novels. The Long Tomorrow was number 18 on the list at >58 RBeffa:. The next one I will go for is the first one, 1984 by George Orwell. That will be a re-read (I am pretty sure I have read it twice before, first as a teen and again shortly after the actual 1984.) I will read one or two other novels first.
This book from 1955 is on a par with the dystopian tales from Margaret Atwood and I am really surprised it is not better known. I read this at a slow pace which worked well for me, as the book goes at a slow pace. It describes a life in Ohio about 75 years after an atomic war that destroyed the cities. What survives is a society who could live off the land, the New Mennonites, and similar sects. But there is also a secret place, rumored anyways, where the old technology knowledge is kept alive. This is almost a young adult novel with the issues it addresses but it is really a finely written piece of literature.
The novel is divided into three books and I think the final book, for me, and maybe the characters themselves, was a bit of a letdown. The novel as a whole is still deserving of 4 stars, and recommended to anyone who reads dystopian fiction.
--
I will continue with my reading of these 100 classic science fiction novels. The Long Tomorrow was number 18 on the list at >58 RBeffa:. The next one I will go for is the first one, 1984 by George Orwell. That will be a re-read (I am pretty sure I have read it twice before, first as a teen and again shortly after the actual 1984.) I will read one or two other novels first.
65RBeffa
>56 RBeffa: I am concurrently reading some of the essays in Pringle's book to give me some ideas of what to read this year, plus they are interesting. Pringle is from the UK so he has a slightly different slant to things vs an American perspective, but he is an insightful and enthusiastic reader and writer. The introduction from Michael Moorcock was rather underwhelming but his observation that if you agree with 50% of the selections that is good I went hmmm. I read a lot of Moorcock in my younger years but he always struck me as a fantasy writer, primarily, though he did write some excellent science fiction stories. I think I will agree with at least 50% of the selections, but I do note there are some excellent picks in this book and just a small handful of stories come to mind that I would put in the list that are missing. I do note several books I DNF and at least a few of the selections are actually trilogies where I have already read one or two of the selections.
I have started on a western novel that I am really enjoying. I said to myself this is prime movie material and then realized it had been made into a TV movie long ago.
I have started on a western novel that I am really enjoying. I said to myself this is prime movie material and then realized it had been made into a TV movie long ago.
66RBeffa
24. Conagher by Louis L'Amour, finished May 9, 2024, 4 stars
I think this must be one of Louis L'Amour's best novels. I finished it yesterday but then re-read about a third of it today. There was a familiarity to the story so it is possible that I read it many many years ago, but there is also common themes and situations that occur in L'Amour's westerns, and I think that is what it was. There was a lot of lonesome in the book and I was happy to see that my hope for a happy ending was realized. I just wish we could have spent a little more time with the happy part at the end.
Recommended for western fans and those open to the idea. This is more than a western.
---
Started on George Orwell's 1984, #1 on the Pringle list of classic science fiction. And it is surely a classic.
I think this must be one of Louis L'Amour's best novels. I finished it yesterday but then re-read about a third of it today. There was a familiarity to the story so it is possible that I read it many many years ago, but there is also common themes and situations that occur in L'Amour's westerns, and I think that is what it was. There was a lot of lonesome in the book and I was happy to see that my hope for a happy ending was realized. I just wish we could have spent a little more time with the happy part at the end.
Recommended for western fans and those open to the idea. This is more than a western.
---
Started on George Orwell's 1984, #1 on the Pringle list of classic science fiction. And it is surely a classic.
67lycomayflower
>66 RBeffa: Ooo, I have just recently decided to try some Louis L'Amour. I'm going to add this one to my list. (He has SO MANY that I've been on the lookout for ones that people mark out as particularly good or as favorites. Though I also keep coming across the sentiment online that it's hard to go wrong with him, so.)
68laytonwoman3rd
>66 RBeffa: That title is familiar to me...I think it may have been on one of my family bookshelves many long years ago. You may want to check that touchstone, though...I don't think it goes where you want it to go!
69RBeffa
>68 laytonwoman3rd: What a bizarre touchstone! I misspelled Conagher with 2 n's and away we went! Fixing the spelling fixed the touchstone.
>67 lycomayflower: L'Amour imo can be hit or miss. He is very rarely poor however. My favorite short story collections of his are Yondering, and the Chick Bowdrie story collection that my library had as an ebook. Favorite other novel was Sackett but that is #8 in the Sackett series. Conagher was really good though.
>67 lycomayflower: L'Amour imo can be hit or miss. He is very rarely poor however. My favorite short story collections of his are Yondering, and the Chick Bowdrie story collection that my library had as an ebook. Favorite other novel was Sackett but that is #8 in the Sackett series. Conagher was really good though.
70RBeffa
25. 1984 by George Orwell, finished May 18, 2024, 5 stars
1984 is #1 on the Pringle list of 100 classic science fiction novels. As much as I can recall this is the third time I read the novel, with the last time being about 1984 or 1985. Forty years ago. Few books ever have had the impact on my thinking the way this one did when I was young. It continues to impress me with how well it was done and I can't give it less than the full 5 stars.
There are more than a thousand reviews of it here on LT and I doubt there is anything I could add to the acclaim for this novel. I will say that this novel is as relevant and important now as it ever was. Orwell wrote it in 1949 about a future state. The future is now.
-----------------
Not sure what I will read next, although the next book on Pringle's list is Earth Abides which like 1984 was published in 1949, and I have read it before in the 1980's and sits in my head as one of the best. I will read that one very soon, if not next.
1984 is #1 on the Pringle list of 100 classic science fiction novels. As much as I can recall this is the third time I read the novel, with the last time being about 1984 or 1985. Forty years ago. Few books ever have had the impact on my thinking the way this one did when I was young. It continues to impress me with how well it was done and I can't give it less than the full 5 stars.
There are more than a thousand reviews of it here on LT and I doubt there is anything I could add to the acclaim for this novel. I will say that this novel is as relevant and important now as it ever was. Orwell wrote it in 1949 about a future state. The future is now.
-----------------
Not sure what I will read next, although the next book on Pringle's list is Earth Abides which like 1984 was published in 1949, and I have read it before in the 1980's and sits in my head as one of the best. I will read that one very soon, if not next.
71RBeffa
26. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck, finished May 20, 2024, 3 1/2 stars
I pulled this out of our kids book box. We bought it from Scholastic about 20 years ago and I don't thnk it was ever read although I eyeballed it more than once. I am very glad I finally read the book. It won the Newberry medal in 2001 which is probably why we bought it. I would say this was aimed at a middle school level. Humorous for the most part and a fairly quick read.
I pulled this out of our kids book box. We bought it from Scholastic about 20 years ago and I don't thnk it was ever read although I eyeballed it more than once. I am very glad I finally read the book. It won the Newberry medal in 2001 which is probably why we bought it. I would say this was aimed at a middle school level. Humorous for the most part and a fairly quick read.
72RBeffa
27. Asimov's Science Fiction: Vol. 21, No. 1 January 1997 edited by Gardner Dozois with various authors, finished May 22, 2024, 1 star
Most stories in here were interesting and good to OK. About a 3 star average. However one story in this collection so offended me I can barely give this one star. The story in question was about a near future reality show, a thrill kill maim thing that celebrated violence with criminals wearing cameras and besides being too graphic had no redeeming qualities. It should not have been published in Asimov's. Or anywhere for that matter.
Most stories in here were interesting and good to OK. About a 3 star average. However one story in this collection so offended me I can barely give this one star. The story in question was about a near future reality show, a thrill kill maim thing that celebrated violence with criminals wearing cameras and besides being too graphic had no redeeming qualities. It should not have been published in Asimov's. Or anywhere for that matter.
73RBeffa
28. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, translated by Eric Ozawa, finished May 25, 2024, 3 - 3 1/2 stars
I picked this newish book up because I seem to be in the mood for books about books. I had few expectations, but I enjoyed it a little more than I thought I would. I liked how quotes from several Japanese novels, short stories and poems were dropped in once in a while as well as the names of Japanese authors. Although the youngest character in the book is about 25 this feels like a book aimed at teen readers.
The story is mostly set in Jimbocho, which is Tokyo's booktown which has about 200 bookstores of all sorts. I think I could spend time at the coffeehouse and bookstores if I found myself stranded in Tokyo. Read a few of the reviews here on LT to get a better idea of the story.
I picked this newish book up because I seem to be in the mood for books about books. I had few expectations, but I enjoyed it a little more than I thought I would. I liked how quotes from several Japanese novels, short stories and poems were dropped in once in a while as well as the names of Japanese authors. Although the youngest character in the book is about 25 this feels like a book aimed at teen readers.
The story is mostly set in Jimbocho, which is Tokyo's booktown which has about 200 bookstores of all sorts. I think I could spend time at the coffeehouse and bookstores if I found myself stranded in Tokyo. Read a few of the reviews here on LT to get a better idea of the story.
74RBeffa
The death of author Caleb Carr has prompted me to get an audio book from the library of his final book, a memoir, very recently released, called My Beloved Monster Masha . The key for me is that Caleb's cat Masha bears an uncanny resemblance to my cat who I posted a photo of at the first post of this thread. My cat who i nicknamed Bunny Foo as a very young kitten is 12 years old today. I am enjoying the book so far, although it is pretty unusual. The author decided he had been a cat in a past life when he was 5 years old.
75RBeffa
Men go and come, but earth abides
>58 RBeffa: I have started on book 2, Earth Abides by George R. Stewart. This will be a re-read - I read it first in the mid 80's and again about the late 90's. It is one of my favorite books of my life. The novel from 1949 is amazing (and lets you know what the coronavirus could have been.)
I am also slowly working my way through Caleb Carr's memoir. After reading about his abusive father I can't believe his Angel of Darkness novel that I have on hand is dedicated "To My mother and father". I feel this must be a sad joke.
eta: I just noticed that MGM is making a 6 part miniseries of Earth Abides! https://deadline.com/2024/03/earth-abides-mgm-greenlights-limited-series-adaptat...
>58 RBeffa: I have started on book 2, Earth Abides by George R. Stewart. This will be a re-read - I read it first in the mid 80's and again about the late 90's. It is one of my favorite books of my life. The novel from 1949 is amazing (and lets you know what the coronavirus could have been.)
I am also slowly working my way through Caleb Carr's memoir. After reading about his abusive father I can't believe his Angel of Darkness novel that I have on hand is dedicated "To My mother and father". I feel this must be a sad joke.
eta: I just noticed that MGM is making a 6 part miniseries of Earth Abides! https://deadline.com/2024/03/earth-abides-mgm-greenlights-limited-series-adaptat...
76RBeffa
Working still on Earth Abides. About half done.
29. My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me audiobook by Caleb Carr, narrated by James Lurie, finished June 5, 2024, 4+ stars
I listened to this as an audiobook, and it is a long one, about 14 hours. The narrator does an outstanding job. However I have to digest audiobooks in small doses - it is a me thing - so it was not a fast trip through the book. I would have been able to read the book quicker.
This is a most unusual book. I suggest prospective readers google for a NPR interview done with the author when this book came out earlier this year, not long before the author died. It is short and it tells you what the book is about. I could almost rate this book 5 stars and I could lean towards 3 stars, but not really. Here is the NPR page, an 8 minute listen and very much worth it. https://www.npr.org/2024/04/13/1244583143/caleb-carrs-new-book-is-a-memoir-about...
I love cats a lot. The author clearly does a lot more. It is a remarkable thing he did writing this memoir, a love letter of sorts to a most remarkable cat. It gets a bit over the top and there are a few parts of the book that are hard to digest. I wondered a time or two if the author was a bit crazy. But a reader will hopefully understand when you read or listen to this and see the remarkable bond the author had with his cat. This is a remarkable portrait of a relationship. You might get a few tears.
I recommend it but there is violence in here so a trigger warning of some sort.
29. My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me audiobook by Caleb Carr, narrated by James Lurie, finished June 5, 2024, 4+ stars
I listened to this as an audiobook, and it is a long one, about 14 hours. The narrator does an outstanding job. However I have to digest audiobooks in small doses - it is a me thing - so it was not a fast trip through the book. I would have been able to read the book quicker.
This is a most unusual book. I suggest prospective readers google for a NPR interview done with the author when this book came out earlier this year, not long before the author died. It is short and it tells you what the book is about. I could almost rate this book 5 stars and I could lean towards 3 stars, but not really. Here is the NPR page, an 8 minute listen and very much worth it. https://www.npr.org/2024/04/13/1244583143/caleb-carrs-new-book-is-a-memoir-about...
I love cats a lot. The author clearly does a lot more. It is a remarkable thing he did writing this memoir, a love letter of sorts to a most remarkable cat. It gets a bit over the top and there are a few parts of the book that are hard to digest. I wondered a time or two if the author was a bit crazy. But a reader will hopefully understand when you read or listen to this and see the remarkable bond the author had with his cat. This is a remarkable portrait of a relationship. You might get a few tears.
I recommend it but there is violence in here so a trigger warning of some sort.
77RBeffa
30. Earth Abides by George R Stewart, finished June 6, 2024, 4 + stars
>58 RBeffa:
Earth Abides is #2 on the Pringle list of 100 classic science fiction novels. This is the second, probably third time I have read the novel, with the first time being about 1984 or 1985 when a friend gifted me several books that were his favorites. Forty years ago. The book was soon one of my favorites. Oddly Pringle's summation of the book is off. Among other things, the story is not set in San Francisco as Pringle thinks, but across the bay and bridges in the Berkeley hills where the author lived in real life. Pringle does give the book high praise and cites poet Carl Sandburg as a fan of the book.
Reading it now I was most comfortable treating it as a piece of historical fiction set in 1949. Except of course the plague part and the subsequent collapse of civilization. This is a thoughtful and emotional story. Philosophical discursions throughout the novel. A sort of melancholy affected me as I was reading through the second half of the novel as hopes get dashed with deaths and things continue to fall apart. I think the end is pretty sad. I will still consider it one of my very favorite books. I recognize the importance of it. George Stewart created a timeless classic.
Men go and come, but earth abides.
---------
The third book on Pringle's list is The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. I have read it several times over the years, most recently in 2015. Therefor I won't be reading it again. The next book would be The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein which I don't think I have read. I will read some other books before I tackle that one. I have one in mind to start today.
>58 RBeffa:
Earth Abides is #2 on the Pringle list of 100 classic science fiction novels. This is the second, probably third time I have read the novel, with the first time being about 1984 or 1985 when a friend gifted me several books that were his favorites. Forty years ago. The book was soon one of my favorites. Oddly Pringle's summation of the book is off. Among other things, the story is not set in San Francisco as Pringle thinks, but across the bay and bridges in the Berkeley hills where the author lived in real life. Pringle does give the book high praise and cites poet Carl Sandburg as a fan of the book.
Reading it now I was most comfortable treating it as a piece of historical fiction set in 1949. Except of course the plague part and the subsequent collapse of civilization. This is a thoughtful and emotional story. Philosophical discursions throughout the novel. A sort of melancholy affected me as I was reading through the second half of the novel as hopes get dashed with deaths and things continue to fall apart. I think the end is pretty sad. I will still consider it one of my very favorite books. I recognize the importance of it. George Stewart created a timeless classic.
Men go and come, but earth abides.
---------
The third book on Pringle's list is The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. I have read it several times over the years, most recently in 2015. Therefor I won't be reading it again. The next book would be The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein which I don't think I have read. I will read some other books before I tackle that one. I have one in mind to start today.
78RBeffa
On the sixth of June I began reading The Sixth of June by Lionel Shapiro. It seemed an appropriate way to remember DDay. There is a small story behind this book which I will relate later. I have a lot of magazines and newspapers to catch up with so I will be having a short book reading pause.
79RBeffa
>77 RBeffa: without planning to I have ended up rereading almost all of Earth Abides. I found the latter half of the book quite sad and I needed to revisit it for some reason. I have about 20 pages to go and then I will go back to the sixth of June.
80RBeffa
31. The Sixth of June by Lionel Shapiro, finished June 18, 2024, re-read finished Nov 5, 2024, 4 stars
I have a soft spot, I think, for war romances. Whether it is a Nevil Shute story, or Fair Blows the Wind for France, or Herman Wouk or Ernest Hemingway and so on. Well, this is war romance. Sort of took me some time to get pulled into the characters and elements of the story, but by the end, which killed me, I was hooked.
A bonus for me is that this book was originally purchased by a WWII vet from the book of the month club. $4.04. The BOTM flyer and mailing slip were still inside the front cover of the book when I purchased it about 5 years ago. The flyer and summary really set me up well for this novel. Some stories have a story of their own. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/telegram/name/howard-peterson-obituary?id=1...
eta: Nov 6, 2024 This book has stayed in my head and I ended up pulling it back off the shelf and re-read it. The book is broken into four parts. I skipped the first part of 60 or so pages and started with part two for the re-read of the subsequent 300 pages. The second part is the best part for me, but all three of these last chapters take you from 1942 in London to D-Day and the bloody hell of Overlord. This is really a very good book and will be one of my favorites of the year. And the very end still kills me.
Not sure of my next read. I could go for another war romance ... but I also want to do my science fiction challenge and maybe try Caleb Carr's Alienist once more.
I have a soft spot, I think, for war romances. Whether it is a Nevil Shute story, or Fair Blows the Wind for France, or Herman Wouk or Ernest Hemingway and so on. Well, this is war romance. Sort of took me some time to get pulled into the characters and elements of the story, but by the end, which killed me, I was hooked.
A bonus for me is that this book was originally purchased by a WWII vet from the book of the month club. $4.04. The BOTM flyer and mailing slip were still inside the front cover of the book when I purchased it about 5 years ago. The flyer and summary really set me up well for this novel. Some stories have a story of their own. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/telegram/name/howard-peterson-obituary?id=1...
eta: Nov 6, 2024 This book has stayed in my head and I ended up pulling it back off the shelf and re-read it. The book is broken into four parts. I skipped the first part of 60 or so pages and started with part two for the re-read of the subsequent 300 pages. The second part is the best part for me, but all three of these last chapters take you from 1942 in London to D-Day and the bloody hell of Overlord. This is really a very good book and will be one of my favorites of the year. And the very end still kills me.
Not sure of my next read. I could go for another war romance ... but I also want to do my science fiction challenge and maybe try Caleb Carr's Alienist once more.
81RBeffa
DNF. The Puppet Masters by Robert A Heinlein, DNF June 21, 2024, maybe 2 stars
I am going to try a few more pages of this tonight and then set it aside. I might give it a try later this year sometime. I don't count a book unless I have read more than half, so this is just a DNF despite 3 days of trying. I skimmed ahead a bit. It is #4 on the list of 100 best science fiction novels noted above at >58 RBeffa:
David Pringle had his reasons for picking this book but they didn't sway me, although it was enough of a nudge to give it a try. I also now think that I may have read this in the late 70s-early 80's from the library. I did not have a copy of the novel until recently. Heinlein can be a bit of a whack job with his stories and this certainly is strange. A mashup of 1951 science fiction and a hard boiled detective feel from the 1940's. More than a bit of 1950's paranoia. I lost count how many times the "curtain" was mentioned. The characters in here managed to repel me for the most part.
I am going to try a few more pages of this tonight and then set it aside. I might give it a try later this year sometime. I don't count a book unless I have read more than half, so this is just a DNF despite 3 days of trying. I skimmed ahead a bit. It is #4 on the list of 100 best science fiction novels noted above at >58 RBeffa:
David Pringle had his reasons for picking this book but they didn't sway me, although it was enough of a nudge to give it a try. I also now think that I may have read this in the late 70s-early 80's from the library. I did not have a copy of the novel until recently. Heinlein can be a bit of a whack job with his stories and this certainly is strange. A mashup of 1951 science fiction and a hard boiled detective feel from the 1940's. More than a bit of 1950's paranoia. I lost count how many times the "curtain" was mentioned. The characters in here managed to repel me for the most part.
82RBeffa
>4 FAMeulstee: I am going to miss your warm welcoming prescence here on LT Anita.
As reported elsewhere on LT, Anita passed away from a heart attack on June 15.
As reported elsewhere on LT, Anita passed away from a heart attack on June 15.
83elorin
>81 RBeffa: I am probably a die hard Heinlein fan, but I liked the Puppet Masters when I have read it. The premise towards the end of a justified nudist society amused me, too. But if you don't like it, definitely don't finish it - no need to waste your time no matter what list it's on.
84RBeffa
>83 elorin: I think I will get back to it after a bit. Heinlein hasn't aged well with me on re-reads but I like visiting 1950s science fiction.
85RBeffa
This read was for Anita
32. Pippi Goes on Board by Astrid Lindgren, finished June 23, 2024, 2 1/2 - 3 stars
When I was about ten years old I know I read and enjoyed several Pippi Longstocking books, and mostly the first one. If I read this one I do not recall it. It is a little too over the top outrageous for me to say I really liked this. This was headed for a sub-par 2 star rating until the last chapter (9 of 9) where Pippi redeemed herself in my eyes by really putting her friendship for next door neighbors Tommy and Annika ahead of her wild side.
I will probably read one more Pippi book, a later one that I know I never read, but maybe also Pippi in the South Seas which I recall I liked 60 years ago.
32. Pippi Goes on Board by Astrid Lindgren, finished June 23, 2024, 2 1/2 - 3 stars
When I was about ten years old I know I read and enjoyed several Pippi Longstocking books, and mostly the first one. If I read this one I do not recall it. It is a little too over the top outrageous for me to say I really liked this. This was headed for a sub-par 2 star rating until the last chapter (9 of 9) where Pippi redeemed herself in my eyes by really putting her friendship for next door neighbors Tommy and Annika ahead of her wild side.
I will probably read one more Pippi book, a later one that I know I never read, but maybe also Pippi in the South Seas which I recall I liked 60 years ago.
86RBeffa
This read was for Anita
33. Pippi On The Run by Astrid Lindgren, finished June 24, 2024, 3+ stars
This short Pippi book (about half the length of the others) came out much later than the 3 original Pippi Longstocking books. Nevertheless I enjoyed it quite a bit, more than Pippi Goes on Board. It recycles a bit from the earlier material but was still original and fun and unique. Pippi and her friends go on an adventure running away from home. After finishing I discovered that this was the companion to a 1970 film.
33. Pippi On The Run by Astrid Lindgren, finished June 24, 2024, 3+ stars
This short Pippi book (about half the length of the others) came out much later than the 3 original Pippi Longstocking books. Nevertheless I enjoyed it quite a bit, more than Pippi Goes on Board. It recycles a bit from the earlier material but was still original and fun and unique. Pippi and her friends go on an adventure running away from home. After finishing I discovered that this was the companion to a 1970 film.
87RBeffa
Started Faulks Charlotte Gray which fits in well with my WW2 reading this year.
88RBeffa
I'm updating my working list of David Pringle's 100 Best Novels from >58 RBeffa:.
This will be the first 50 novels on the list and will be a multi-year project for me. I don't plan on re-reading ones I have read in the last 15 years, and also a few I read long ago I don't think I need to re-read. I am marking those off below. I will be reading all the essays in Pringle's book as I go along, and will certainly read the ones for the books I don't plan to re-read.
1 1984 (1949) by George Orwell, re-read in 2024, 5 stars
2 Earth Abides (1949) by George R. Stewart re-read in 2024, 4 stars
3 The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2015 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
4 The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein, DNF in 2024, 2 stars
5 The Day of the Triffids (1951) by John Wyndham. re-read in 2014, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
6 Limbo (1952) by Bernard Wolfe
7 The Demolished Man (1952) by Alfred Bester
8 Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2023, 4 stars, review on LT
9 Childhood's End (1954) by Arthur C. Clarke Read in 2015, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
10 The Paradox Men (1953) by Charles L. Harness
11 Bring the Jubilee (1953) by Ward Moore. Read in 2012, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
12 The Space Merchants (1953) by Frederik Pohl, read in 1971, plan to reread.
13 Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak, read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
14 More Than Human (1953) by Theodore Sturgeon, read in 1970s, plan to reread
15 Mission of Gravity (1953) by Hal Clement read in 2015, 4 stars, review on LT
16 Mirror for Observers (1954) by Edgar Pangborn
17 The End of Eternity (1955) by Isaac Asimov
18 The Long Tomorrow (1955) by Leigh Brackett, read in 2024, 4 stars
19 The Inheritors (1955) by William Golding, read in 2011, 2 stars, review on LT
20 The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester, read in 70s, plan to reread.
21 The Death of Grass (1956) by John Christopher (thought I read this one about 10 years ago but can't verify so will re-read)
22 The City and the Stars (1956) by Arthur C. Clarke, read in 70s, plan to reread.
23 The Door into Summer (1956) by Robert A. Heinlein, read in 2014, 2 stars, review on LT
24 The Midwich Cuckoos (1957) by John Wyndham
25 Non-Stop (1958) by Brian Aldiss
26 A Case of Conscience (1958) by James Blish
27 Have Spacesuit - Will Travel (1958) by Robert A Heinlein, read in 2014, 3 stars, reviewed on LT
28 Time Out of Joint (1959) by Philip K Dick
29 Alas, Babylon (1959) by Pat Frank read in 2010, review on LT, 4 stars
30 A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959) by Walter M Miller re-read in 2010, 2 stars
31 The Sirens of Titan (1959) by Kurt Vonnegut, read in 80s, plan to reread
32 Rogue Moon by (1960) Algis Budrys
33 Venus Plus X (1960) by Theodore Sturgeon, read in 80s, probably will reread
34 Hothouse (1962) by Brian W Aldiss
35 The Drowned World (1962) by J G Ballard audiobook in 2017, 3 stars
36 A Clockwork Orange (1962) by Anthony Burgess, read in 70s or 80s.
37 The Man In the High Castle (1962) by Philip K Dick, re-read in 2018, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
38 Journey Beyond Tomorrow (1963) by Robert Sheckley
39 Way Station by (1963) Clifford D Simak, re-read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
40 Cat's Cradle (1963) by Kurt Vonnegut, read in 80s, plan to reread
41 Greybeard (1964) by Brian Aldiss, read and plan to reread
42 Nova Express (1964) by WIlliam S Burroughs
43 Martian Time Slip (1964) by Philip K Dick
44 The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1964) by Philip K Dick
45 The Wanderer (1964) by Fritz Leiber
46 Norstrilia (1964-68) by Cordwainer Smith, partially read, plan to read
47 Dr Bloodmoney (1965) by Philip K Dick
48 Dune (1965) by Frank Herbert, read in 1974, don't plan to re-read, about 4+ stars
49 The Crystal World (1966) by J G Ballard
50 Make Room! Make Room (1966) by Harry Harrison , read in early 70s, plan to reread
This will be the first 50 novels on the list and will be a multi-year project for me. I don't plan on re-reading ones I have read in the last 15 years, and also a few I read long ago I don't think I need to re-read. I am marking those off below. I will be reading all the essays in Pringle's book as I go along, and will certainly read the ones for the books I don't plan to re-read.
1 1984 (1949) by George Orwell, re-read in 2024, 5 stars
2 Earth Abides (1949) by George R. Stewart re-read in 2024, 4 stars
3 The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2015 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
4 The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein, DNF in 2024, 2 stars
5 The Day of the Triffids (1951) by John Wyndham. re-read in 2014, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
6 Limbo (1952) by Bernard Wolfe
7 The Demolished Man (1952) by Alfred Bester
8 Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2023, 4 stars, review on LT
9 Childhood's End (1954) by Arthur C. Clarke Read in 2015, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
10 The Paradox Men (1953) by Charles L. Harness
11 Bring the Jubilee (1953) by Ward Moore. Read in 2012, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
12 The Space Merchants (1953) by Frederik Pohl, read in 1971, plan to reread.
13 Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak, read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
14 More Than Human (1953) by Theodore Sturgeon, read in 1970s, plan to reread
15 Mission of Gravity (1953) by Hal Clement read in 2015, 4 stars, review on LT
16 Mirror for Observers (1954) by Edgar Pangborn
17 The End of Eternity (1955) by Isaac Asimov
18 The Long Tomorrow (1955) by Leigh Brackett, read in 2024, 4 stars
19 The Inheritors (1955) by William Golding, read in 2011, 2 stars, review on LT
20 The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester, read in 70s, plan to reread.
21 The Death of Grass (1956) by John Christopher (thought I read this one about 10 years ago but can't verify so will re-read)
22 The City and the Stars (1956) by Arthur C. Clarke, read in 70s, plan to reread.
23 The Door into Summer (1956) by Robert A. Heinlein, read in 2014, 2 stars, review on LT
24 The Midwich Cuckoos (1957) by John Wyndham
25 Non-Stop (1958) by Brian Aldiss
26 A Case of Conscience (1958) by James Blish
27 Have Spacesuit - Will Travel (1958) by Robert A Heinlein, read in 2014, 3 stars, reviewed on LT
28 Time Out of Joint (1959) by Philip K Dick
29 Alas, Babylon (1959) by Pat Frank read in 2010, review on LT, 4 stars
30 A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959) by Walter M Miller re-read in 2010, 2 stars
31 The Sirens of Titan (1959) by Kurt Vonnegut, read in 80s, plan to reread
32 Rogue Moon by (1960) Algis Budrys
33 Venus Plus X (1960) by Theodore Sturgeon, read in 80s, probably will reread
34 Hothouse (1962) by Brian W Aldiss
35 The Drowned World (1962) by J G Ballard audiobook in 2017, 3 stars
36 A Clockwork Orange (1962) by Anthony Burgess, read in 70s or 80s.
37 The Man In the High Castle (1962) by Philip K Dick, re-read in 2018, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
38 Journey Beyond Tomorrow (1963) by Robert Sheckley
39 Way Station by (1963) Clifford D Simak, re-read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
40 Cat's Cradle (1963) by Kurt Vonnegut, read in 80s, plan to reread
41 Greybeard (1964) by Brian Aldiss, read and plan to reread
42 Nova Express (1964) by WIlliam S Burroughs
43 Martian Time Slip (1964) by Philip K Dick
44 The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1964) by Philip K Dick
45 The Wanderer (1964) by Fritz Leiber
46 Norstrilia (1964-68) by Cordwainer Smith, partially read, plan to read
47 Dr Bloodmoney (1965) by Philip K Dick
48 Dune (1965) by Frank Herbert, read in 1974, don't plan to re-read, about 4+ stars
49 The Crystal World (1966) by J G Ballard
50 Make Room! Make Room (1966) by Harry Harrison , read in early 70s, plan to reread
89RBeffa
Time for my favorite books for the first half of 2024. I haven't quite finished Sebastian Faulks Charlotte Gray but it clearly is going to be one of my favorite books of the year. I have added it to my list below.
Favorite book of 2024 (so far) is ...
Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
Top Ten Fiction novels or novellas for 2024 roughly in order (excluding re-reads):
1. The Searchers by Alan Le May
2. Blood Moon by Garry Disher
3. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
4. Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
5. Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks
6. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett
7. Connagher by Louis L'Amour
8. Silvertip's Chase by Max Brand
9. Marion's Wall by Jack Finney
10. The Sixth of June by Lionel Shapiro
Honorable mention:
Favorite Reads that are part of a series, and not listed elsewhere:
1. The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths
2. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths
Top Non-Fiction for 2024
1. Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
2. My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me audiobook by Caleb Carr, narrated by James Lurie
3. Wildflowers of California by Larry Ulrich and Susan Lamb
Best fiction re-reads in 2024:
1/2. 1984 by George Orwell
1/2. Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Favorite Young Adult or Children's reads in 2024:
1. The Hotel Under the Sand by Kage Baker
2. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
3. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
Favorite book of 2024 (so far) is ...
Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
Top Ten Fiction novels or novellas for 2024 roughly in order (excluding re-reads):
1. The Searchers by Alan Le May
2. Blood Moon by Garry Disher
3. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
4. Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
5. Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks
6. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett
7. Connagher by Louis L'Amour
8. Silvertip's Chase by Max Brand
9. Marion's Wall by Jack Finney
10. The Sixth of June by Lionel Shapiro
Honorable mention:
Favorite Reads that are part of a series, and not listed elsewhere:
1. The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths
2. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths
Top Non-Fiction for 2024
1. Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
2. My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me audiobook by Caleb Carr, narrated by James Lurie
3. Wildflowers of California by Larry Ulrich and Susan Lamb
Best fiction re-reads in 2024:
1/2. 1984 by George Orwell
1/2. Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Favorite Young Adult or Children's reads in 2024:
1. The Hotel Under the Sand by Kage Baker
2. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
3. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
90RBeffa
Have no idea what I will read next. Several days of 107 degree heat are frying my brain.
34. Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks, finished July 3, 2024, 4 stars
I wanted another war romance. I got one. Reading Sebastian Faulks I feel my vocabulary rising. lugubrious. Yeah I've seen that before, but what does it mean? and so it goes.
This will be one of my favorite reads for the year and encourages me to tackle and finish Birdsong. I like Faulks writing. Except. There are two things here, well, at least two things, but these two bugged me. There are some eyerolling sexcapades near the beginning of the novel which unsurprising to me earned this book an award "Bad Sex in Fiction Award (Winner – 1998)". The other bigger bother comes at the end and I won't try to describe it but it is supposed to reveal to the reader as well as Charlotte Gray why she gets depression and why she feels there is something vacant or something in her childhood - like she missed it. Whatever it was it didn't work for me and I just think there had to be a better way to convey what happened. Overall, tho, this is a great book about WWII and the romance of two souls who had a love at first sight and then we see inside France during the resistance. This is a story about trying to save yourself and others, and not always managing it, but getting through it. Quite a few characters, some not well drawn enough for me, but most done quite well.
There was a movie done shortly after the book which somehow I never saw.
eta: I should probably talk more about some of the content in the book. The book is broken into 4 distinct parts. Part One introduces us to Charlotte Gray who is a Scottish woman in wartime England. I don't recall if a date was given but this is perhaps early 1942 and she comes to London to work. A chance encounter on the train going there results in a contact who later introduces her to government agents who train people to be put into Vichy France to help drive the resistance against the Germans. Charlotte is a good catch for them since she is a good French speaker, having spent a year or so in France when she was younger. But stepping back a moment shortly after Charlotte arrives in London she meets an RAF pilot at a social gathering and the two of them are intensely drawn to each other. The pilot, Peter Gregory, is a survivor of the Battle of Britain and he has lost almost all of his fellow pilot friends. Both Charlotte and Peter have internal voids of some sort from their experiences which somehow is part of the magnetism they feel for each other. Peter has started flying clandestine nighttime missions over France. He has come to think of himself as invincible as a pilot. Well, he doesn't come back and Charlotte eventually finds out a few bits and this propels her to be very serious about her training. This becomes rather emotional for the reader because we have come to care about these two people. At the end of Part One with her training nearly done we are with Charlotte looking at her future. "She closed her eyes and felt her lips come inward in a narrow line. She saw his face. Don't worry, my love, don't worry. I'm coming to get you."
Part Two starts in the summer of '42 in occupied France in a village called Lavaurette. It is a real place, and the population of men there and in much of France was decimated by World War I, the Great War. Petain has assumed power in Vichy France and we are almost immediately introduced to the anti-jewish sentiment of many French people. We follow a young boy on some errands for his mother and when he returns home later his family is disappeared, the house locked and a yellow star from fresh paint is on the door. I think I'll stop here. We do soon reconnect with Charlotte in England who is preparing still and is soon sent to France. And not surprisingly, after a time Charlotte arrives in Lavaurette, in disguise with a new name, and connects with the people at the beginning of the second part.
All of this felt very real in my mind which I consider a testament to the author's skill.
34. Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks, finished July 3, 2024, 4 stars
I wanted another war romance. I got one. Reading Sebastian Faulks I feel my vocabulary rising. lugubrious. Yeah I've seen that before, but what does it mean? and so it goes.
This will be one of my favorite reads for the year and encourages me to tackle and finish Birdsong. I like Faulks writing. Except. There are two things here, well, at least two things, but these two bugged me. There are some eyerolling sexcapades near the beginning of the novel which unsurprising to me earned this book an award "Bad Sex in Fiction Award (Winner – 1998)". The other bigger bother comes at the end and I won't try to describe it but it is supposed to reveal to the reader as well as Charlotte Gray why she gets depression and why she feels there is something vacant or something in her childhood - like she missed it. Whatever it was it didn't work for me and I just think there had to be a better way to convey what happened. Overall, tho, this is a great book about WWII and the romance of two souls who had a love at first sight and then we see inside France during the resistance. This is a story about trying to save yourself and others, and not always managing it, but getting through it. Quite a few characters, some not well drawn enough for me, but most done quite well.
There was a movie done shortly after the book which somehow I never saw.
eta: I should probably talk more about some of the content in the book. The book is broken into 4 distinct parts. Part One introduces us to Charlotte Gray who is a Scottish woman in wartime England. I don't recall if a date was given but this is perhaps early 1942 and she comes to London to work. A chance encounter on the train going there results in a contact who later introduces her to government agents who train people to be put into Vichy France to help drive the resistance against the Germans. Charlotte is a good catch for them since she is a good French speaker, having spent a year or so in France when she was younger. But stepping back a moment shortly after Charlotte arrives in London she meets an RAF pilot at a social gathering and the two of them are intensely drawn to each other. The pilot, Peter Gregory, is a survivor of the Battle of Britain and he has lost almost all of his fellow pilot friends. Both Charlotte and Peter have internal voids of some sort from their experiences which somehow is part of the magnetism they feel for each other. Peter has started flying clandestine nighttime missions over France. He has come to think of himself as invincible as a pilot. Well, he doesn't come back and Charlotte eventually finds out a few bits and this propels her to be very serious about her training. This becomes rather emotional for the reader because we have come to care about these two people. At the end of Part One with her training nearly done we are with Charlotte looking at her future. "She closed her eyes and felt her lips come inward in a narrow line. She saw his face. Don't worry, my love, don't worry. I'm coming to get you."
Part Two starts in the summer of '42 in occupied France in a village called Lavaurette. It is a real place, and the population of men there and in much of France was decimated by World War I, the Great War. Petain has assumed power in Vichy France and we are almost immediately introduced to the anti-jewish sentiment of many French people. We follow a young boy on some errands for his mother and when he returns home later his family is disappeared, the house locked and a yellow star from fresh paint is on the door. I think I'll stop here. We do soon reconnect with Charlotte in England who is preparing still and is soon sent to France. And not surprisingly, after a time Charlotte arrives in Lavaurette, in disguise with a new name, and connects with the people at the beginning of the second part.
All of this felt very real in my mind which I consider a testament to the author's skill.
91RBeffa
35. The Truth Against the World by David Corbett, finished July 18, 2024, 3 1/2 stars
A friend gave me this recent (2023) novel and thought I would really like it. Very unusual near future dystopian thriller. How near? Could be very near. It supposes that the country fractures into many different factions pretty much mirroring every fringe and real group and theory you can find in the news.
The story was a little hard to start because of the dialogue heavy text at the start of the novel. It was mildly interesting but wasn't pulling me in. I don't want to give too much away and even after finishing I am a bit unsure of some things. I am glad I read this. The weird part of the story is that it is essentially told by a man, Shane Riordan, who is an eternal soldier out of Irish mythology and he is reborn or reincarnated or something lifetime after lifetime until he learns something and then he can be reunited with his beloved. Or possibly Shane is batshit crazy like the young woman he protects in the present day who wrote a book that was absconded by a teacher and which has more or less been the driver of the near future civil war. Honestly there is enough stuff not in here, such as the actual mysterious book which we are told about, to leave much in doubt.
The couple, Shane and the author of the book, Georgie, take a cross country journey to find the plagiarist who apparently has become obscenely rich amidst the chaos from Georgie's book. Along the way we meet some interesting characters. We also take some deep dives into Shane's past lives. We also get a bit of fantasy supernatural stuff with ghosts.
What I really liked was all the quotations scattered before the large number of chapters (70!). Every chapter doesn't get one but they are very good and repeatedly sent me off looking for some of the more obscure sources.
"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another." - Lucretius, On the Nature of Things
eta:
I somehow left off my final paragraph in my review, that comes after the Lucretius quote ... here it is.
Ultimately I was dissatisfied with how the story is wrapped up. This is an ambitious novel but I didn't buy the explanation nor the resolution with the two main characters.
A friend gave me this recent (2023) novel and thought I would really like it. Very unusual near future dystopian thriller. How near? Could be very near. It supposes that the country fractures into many different factions pretty much mirroring every fringe and real group and theory you can find in the news.
The story was a little hard to start because of the dialogue heavy text at the start of the novel. It was mildly interesting but wasn't pulling me in. I don't want to give too much away and even after finishing I am a bit unsure of some things. I am glad I read this. The weird part of the story is that it is essentially told by a man, Shane Riordan, who is an eternal soldier out of Irish mythology and he is reborn or reincarnated or something lifetime after lifetime until he learns something and then he can be reunited with his beloved. Or possibly Shane is batshit crazy like the young woman he protects in the present day who wrote a book that was absconded by a teacher and which has more or less been the driver of the near future civil war. Honestly there is enough stuff not in here, such as the actual mysterious book which we are told about, to leave much in doubt.
The couple, Shane and the author of the book, Georgie, take a cross country journey to find the plagiarist who apparently has become obscenely rich amidst the chaos from Georgie's book. Along the way we meet some interesting characters. We also take some deep dives into Shane's past lives. We also get a bit of fantasy supernatural stuff with ghosts.
What I really liked was all the quotations scattered before the large number of chapters (70!). Every chapter doesn't get one but they are very good and repeatedly sent me off looking for some of the more obscure sources.
"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another." - Lucretius, On the Nature of Things
eta:
I somehow left off my final paragraph in my review, that comes after the Lucretius quote ... here it is.
Ultimately I was dissatisfied with how the story is wrapped up. This is an ambitious novel but I didn't buy the explanation nor the resolution with the two main characters.
92RBeffa
and it's 1, 2, 3, what're we fighting for?
don't ask me, I don't give a damn
next stop is Vietnam
The next book I shall attempt to read is Kristin Hannah's The Women.
eta: DNF. deleted from library. Didn't get very far but far enough to know it is not for me.
don't ask me, I don't give a damn
next stop is Vietnam
The next book I shall attempt to read is Kristin Hannah's The Women.
eta: DNF. deleted from library. Didn't get very far but far enough to know it is not for me.
93RBeffa
36. Foster by Claire Keegan, finished July 24, 2024, 4 stars
This is a short book that could be read in one sitting. The author is highly regarded for her skill in short fiction. I am not entirely sure what happens in the end. It may or may not lead to a happy ending, new beginning. The style of the author is to not spell out everything. That said this is a sad and touching book that I will not soon forget. A young girl from an impoverished home spends a short summer break with her mother's sister and her husband, who very quickly grow to love her. We learn that they have recently lost their only child to a drowning. I don't think the child is ever named in the book.
This is a short book that could be read in one sitting. The author is highly regarded for her skill in short fiction. I am not entirely sure what happens in the end. It may or may not lead to a happy ending, new beginning. The style of the author is to not spell out everything. That said this is a sad and touching book that I will not soon forget. A young girl from an impoverished home spends a short summer break with her mother's sister and her husband, who very quickly grow to love her. We learn that they have recently lost their only child to a drowning. I don't think the child is ever named in the book.
94RBeffa
37. Hombre by Elmore Leonard, finished July 25, 2024, 4 - 4 1/2 stars
What a great story. I had planned to read this 1961 novel earlier this year after "The Searchers" and the other excellent westerns I have been reading. Well, I pulled it off the shelf and dove into a very good story. There are plenty of reviews that more or less outline the story but it is the writing skill here by Leonard that really elevates this novel.
Recommended
What a great story. I had planned to read this 1961 novel earlier this year after "The Searchers" and the other excellent westerns I have been reading. Well, I pulled it off the shelf and dove into a very good story. There are plenty of reviews that more or less outline the story but it is the writing skill here by Leonard that really elevates this novel.
Recommended
95RBeffa
38. The World At Night by Alan Furst, finished July 29, 2024, 4 stars
Another excellent novel from Alan Furst. This one is the 4th in his night soldiers novels. These novels are so atmospheric, you feel like you are living in wartime Paris. The main character here, Jean-Claude Casson is someone to root for, a character to love and sympathize with. I found myself holding my breath at times, or realizing that my heart was racing a bit.
This book fits in perfectly with the other WWII books I am reading this year. I am looking forward to reading another Furst novel, 'Red Gold', soon. It appears to continue the story of Casson who we left in imminent peril at the end of this fine novel.
8/4/24 eta: I started to read the follow-up novel "Red Gold" and was disappointed. About a dozen pages into the book we are told what happened to Jean Casson at the end of this novel, The World At Night. Fonzie jumped the shark. Just too impossible for me to believe and it immediately spoiled this book for me, which seemed to be a direct continuation. Not reading further ...
Another excellent novel from Alan Furst. This one is the 4th in his night soldiers novels. These novels are so atmospheric, you feel like you are living in wartime Paris. The main character here, Jean-Claude Casson is someone to root for, a character to love and sympathize with. I found myself holding my breath at times, or realizing that my heart was racing a bit.
This book fits in perfectly with the other WWII books I am reading this year. I am looking forward to reading another Furst novel, 'Red Gold', soon. It appears to continue the story of Casson who we left in imminent peril at the end of this fine novel.
8/4/24 eta: I started to read the follow-up novel "Red Gold" and was disappointed. About a dozen pages into the book we are told what happened to Jean Casson at the end of this novel, The World At Night. Fonzie jumped the shark. Just too impossible for me to believe and it immediately spoiled this book for me, which seemed to be a direct continuation. Not reading further ...
96ronincats
My problem with your lists, latest in >88 RBeffa:, is that the majority of them I read 50 to 60 years ago as a teenager, when I was reading everything I could lay hands on, and so while there are many I KNOW I read, there are any number that I COULD have read but forgotten. Still, the for sure reads include:
1 1984 (1949) by George Orwell
2 Earth Abides (1949) by George R. Stewart
3 The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury
4 The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein
5 The Day of the Triffids (1951) by John Wyndham
7 The Demolished Man (1952) by Alfred Bester
8 Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury
9 Childhood's End (1954) by Arthur C. Clarke
10 The Paradox Men (1953) by Charles L. Harness
12 The Space Merchants (1953) by Frederik Pohl
13 Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak
14 More Than Human (1953) by Theodore Sturgeon
15 Mission of Gravity (1953) by Hal Clement
17 The End of Eternity (1955) by Isaac Asimov
18 The Long Tomorrow (1955) by Leigh Brackett
20 The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester
21 The Death of Grass (1956) by John Christopher
22 The City and the Stars (1956) by Arthur C. Clarke
23 The Door into Summer (1956) by Robert A. Heinlein
26 A Case of Conscience (1958) by James Blish
27 Have Spacesuit - Will Travel (1958) by Robert A Heinlein
29 Alas, Babylon (1959) by Pat Frank
30 A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959) by Walter M Miller
31 The Sirens of Titan (1959) by Kurt Vonnegut
32 Rogue Moon by (1960) Algis Budrys
33 Venus Plus X (1960) by Theodore Sturgeon
35 The Drowned World (1962) by J G Ballard
37 The Man In the High Castle (1962) by Philip K Dick
39 Way Station by (1963) Clifford D Simak
40 Cat's Cradle (1963) by Kurt Vonnegut
44 The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1964) by Philip K Dick
45 The Wanderer (1964) by Fritz Leiber
46 Norstrilia (1964-68) by Cordwainer Smith
48 Dune (1965) by Frank Herbert
49 The Crystal World (1966) by J G Ballard
50 Make Room! Make Room (1966) by Harry Harrison
So, 36 of them. Still in my library, the Clement, Bradburys, Clarkes, Blish, Miller, Herbert, Sturgeon, Smith, Way Station and 4 other Simaks but not Ring Around the Sun. I thought I still had Earth Abides but I must have culled it during the move--I remember liking it a lot.
ETA: Incidentally, I loved Door into Summer, especially the cat, and while in the modern mindset and as an older woman, yes, there ARE issues--well, I still love it for the cat.
1 1984 (1949) by George Orwell
2 Earth Abides (1949) by George R. Stewart
3 The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury
4 The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein
5 The Day of the Triffids (1951) by John Wyndham
7 The Demolished Man (1952) by Alfred Bester
8 Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury
9 Childhood's End (1954) by Arthur C. Clarke
10 The Paradox Men (1953) by Charles L. Harness
12 The Space Merchants (1953) by Frederik Pohl
13 Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak
14 More Than Human (1953) by Theodore Sturgeon
15 Mission of Gravity (1953) by Hal Clement
17 The End of Eternity (1955) by Isaac Asimov
18 The Long Tomorrow (1955) by Leigh Brackett
20 The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester
21 The Death of Grass (1956) by John Christopher
22 The City and the Stars (1956) by Arthur C. Clarke
23 The Door into Summer (1956) by Robert A. Heinlein
26 A Case of Conscience (1958) by James Blish
27 Have Spacesuit - Will Travel (1958) by Robert A Heinlein
29 Alas, Babylon (1959) by Pat Frank
30 A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959) by Walter M Miller
31 The Sirens of Titan (1959) by Kurt Vonnegut
32 Rogue Moon by (1960) Algis Budrys
33 Venus Plus X (1960) by Theodore Sturgeon
35 The Drowned World (1962) by J G Ballard
37 The Man In the High Castle (1962) by Philip K Dick
39 Way Station by (1963) Clifford D Simak
40 Cat's Cradle (1963) by Kurt Vonnegut
44 The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1964) by Philip K Dick
45 The Wanderer (1964) by Fritz Leiber
46 Norstrilia (1964-68) by Cordwainer Smith
48 Dune (1965) by Frank Herbert
49 The Crystal World (1966) by J G Ballard
50 Make Room! Make Room (1966) by Harry Harrison
So, 36 of them. Still in my library, the Clement, Bradburys, Clarkes, Blish, Miller, Herbert, Sturgeon, Smith, Way Station and 4 other Simaks but not Ring Around the Sun. I thought I still had Earth Abides but I must have culled it during the move--I remember liking it a lot.
ETA: Incidentally, I loved Door into Summer, especially the cat, and while in the modern mindset and as an older woman, yes, there ARE issues--well, I still love it for the cat.
97RBeffa
>96 ronincats: that is pretty impressive. I do not think I have already read that many, but certainly at least 30 of them as a teenager and early 20s. I have been working on finding copies of the ones I want to read or reread.
98PaulCranswick
>96 ronincats: & >88 RBeffa:
Not surprisingly my numbers are not that impressive having read just 14% (7/50 of the books listed).
I do however have a further 13 of the books on my shelves and will get to some of them soon.
Nice to see that you enjoyed Charlotte Gray and Foster, Ron. I liked those too.
Not surprisingly my numbers are not that impressive having read just 14% (7/50 of the books listed).
I do however have a further 13 of the books on my shelves and will get to some of them soon.
Nice to see that you enjoyed Charlotte Gray and Foster, Ron. I liked those too.
99RBeffa
>98 PaulCranswick: Thanks for stopping by here Paul. There are quite a few books that I am unsure of having read or not. Looking over the list closely my best guess is I read 30 of them. I am really enjoying my WWII reading focus, esp the occupied France. That interferes a bit with working on the science fiction list.
100RBeffa
I'm updating my working list of David Pringle's 100 Best Novels from >88 RBeffa: RBeffa:.
This will be the first 65 novels on the list and will be a multi-year project for me. I don't plan on re-reading ones I have read in the last 15 years, and also many that I read long ago I don't think I need to re-read. I am marking those off below. I will be reading all the essays in Pringle's book as I go along, and will certainly read the ones for the books I don't plan to re-read. Overall I am finding that many of the books I never read as well as some I did have not held up well. So I may sample some of these and decide not to read them.
1 1984 (1949) by George Orwell, re-read in 2024, 5 stars
2 Earth Abides (1949) by George R. Stewart re-read in 2024, 4+ stars, review on LT
3 The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2015 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
4 The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein, DNF in 2024, 2 stars
5 The Day of the Triffids (1951) by John Wyndham. re-read in 2014, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
6 Limbo (1952) by Bernard Wolfe
7 The Demolished Man (1952) by Alfred Bester
8 Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2023, 4 stars, review on LT
9 Childhood's End (1954) by Arthur C. Clarke Read in 2015, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
10 The Paradox Men (1953) by Charles L. Harness
11 Bring the Jubilee (1953) by Ward Moore. Read in 2012, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
12 The Space Merchants (1953) by Frederik Pohl, read in 1971, plan to reread.
13 Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak, read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
14 More Than Human (1953) by Theodore Sturgeon, read in 1970s, plan to reread
15 Mission of Gravity (1953) by Hal Clement read in 2015, 4 stars, review on LT
16 Mirror for Observers (1954) by Edgar Pangborn
17 The End of Eternity (1955) by Isaac Asimov
18 The Long Tomorrow (1955) by Leigh Brackett, read in 2024, 4 stars, review on LT
19 The Inheritors (1955) by William Golding, read in 2011, 2 stars, review on LT
20 The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester, read in 70s, remember liking it then, but don't plan to re-read.
21 The Death of Grass (1956) by John Christopher (thought I read this one about 10 years ago but can't verify so will re-read)
22 The City and the Stars (1956) by Arthur C. Clarke, read in 70s, plan to reread.
23 The Door into Summer (1956) by Robert A. Heinlein, read in 2014, 2 stars, review on LT
24 The Midwich Cuckoos (1957) by John Wyndham
25 Non-Stop (1958) by Brian Aldiss
26 A Case of Conscience (1958) by James Blish, this is considered a Hugo award winning classic but it did not appeal to me. I tried.
27 Have Spacesuit - Will Travel (1958) by Robert A Heinlein, read in 2014, 3 stars, reviewed on LT
28 Time Out of Joint (1959) by Philip K Dick
29 Alas, Babylon (1959) by Pat Frank read in 2010, review on LT, 4 stars
30 A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959) by Walter M Miller re-read in 2010, 2 stars
31 The Sirens of Titan (1959) by Kurt Vonnegut, read in 80s, plan to reread
32 Rogue Moon by (1960) Algis Budrys
33 Venus Plus X (1960) by Theodore Sturgeon, read in 80s
34 Hothouse (1962) by Brian W Aldiss
35 The Drowned World (1962) by J G Ballard audiobook in 2017, 3 stars
36 A Clockwork Orange (1962) by Anthony Burgess, read in 70s or 80s, do not plan to re-read.
37 The Man In the High Castle (1962) by Philip K Dick, re-read in 2018, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
38 Journey Beyond Tomorrow (1963) by Robert Sheckley
39 Way Station by (1963) Clifford D Simak, re-read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
40 Cat's Cradle (1963) by Kurt Vonnegut, read in 80s, plan to reread
41 Greybeard (1964) by Brian Aldiss, read and plan to reread
42 Nova Express (1964) by WIlliam S Burroughs
43 Martian Time Slip (1964) by Philip K Dick
44 The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1964) by Philip K Dick, DNF 2024
45 The Wanderer (1964) by Fritz Leiber
46 Norstrilia (1964-68) by Cordwainer Smith, partially read, plan to read
47 Dr Bloodmoney (1965) by Philip K Dick
48 Dune (1965) by Frank Herbert, read in 1974, don't plan to re-read, about 4+ stars
49 The Crystal World (1966) by J G Ballard
50 Make Room! Make Room (1966) by Harry Harrison , read in early 70s, might re-read
51 Flowers for Algernon (1966) by Daniel Keyes, first read about 1968, re-read years later and plan to re-read.
52 The Dream Master (1966) by Roger Zelazny, Pringle's essay praises this novel for the uniqueness of Zelazny's style at the time, at the forefront of the "New Wave". All these years later I found it very dated, and since I am not a Zelazny fan in the first place do not plan to dive into this one.
53 Stand on Zanzibar (1968) by John Brunner, read at least part in the 70s, might re-read
54 Nova (1968) by Samuel R. Delany, read at least part in the 70s, might re-read
55 Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968) by Philip K. Dick, read in 2024 and DNF, may try again
56 Camp Concentration (1968) by Thomas M. Disch
57 The Final Programme (1968) by Michael Moorcock, read this in the late 70s, don't recall liking this one so probably no re-read.
58 Pavane (1968) by Keith Roberts, read in 2019, 4 1/2 stars, excellent novel and my review is on LT
59 Heroes and Villains (1969) by Angela Carter
60 The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) by Ursula K. Le Guin, read in the 80's, don't think I will re-read
61 The Palace of Eternity (1969) by Bob Shaw
62 Bug Jack Barron (1969) by Norman Spinrad, probably read in the 70s, undecided on a re-read
63 Tau Zero (1970) by Poul Anderson
64 Downward to the Earth (1969) by Robert Silverberg, read this in the early 70's, plan to re-read
65 The Year of the Quiet Sun (1970) by Wilson Tucker
I'm still trying to find paper copies of many of these books that I do not already own. Not sure which I will read next.
This will be the first 65 novels on the list and will be a multi-year project for me. I don't plan on re-reading ones I have read in the last 15 years, and also many that I read long ago I don't think I need to re-read. I am marking those off below. I will be reading all the essays in Pringle's book as I go along, and will certainly read the ones for the books I don't plan to re-read. Overall I am finding that many of the books I never read as well as some I did have not held up well. So I may sample some of these and decide not to read them.
1 1984 (1949) by George Orwell, re-read in 2024, 5 stars
2 Earth Abides (1949) by George R. Stewart re-read in 2024, 4+ stars, review on LT
3 The Martian Chronicles (1950) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2015 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
4 The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein, DNF in 2024, 2 stars
5 The Day of the Triffids (1951) by John Wyndham. re-read in 2014, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
6 Limbo (1952) by Bernard Wolfe
7 The Demolished Man (1952) by Alfred Bester
8 Fahrenheit 451 (1953) by Ray Bradbury. re-read in 2023, 4 stars, review on LT
9 Childhood's End (1954) by Arthur C. Clarke Read in 2015, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
10 The Paradox Men (1953) by Charles L. Harness
11 Bring the Jubilee (1953) by Ward Moore. Read in 2012, 3 1/2 stars, review on LT
12 The Space Merchants (1953) by Frederik Pohl, read in 1971, plan to reread.
13 Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak, read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
14 More Than Human (1953) by Theodore Sturgeon, read in 1970s, plan to reread
15 Mission of Gravity (1953) by Hal Clement read in 2015, 4 stars, review on LT
16 Mirror for Observers (1954) by Edgar Pangborn
17 The End of Eternity (1955) by Isaac Asimov
18 The Long Tomorrow (1955) by Leigh Brackett, read in 2024, 4 stars, review on LT
19 The Inheritors (1955) by William Golding, read in 2011, 2 stars, review on LT
20 The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester, read in 70s, remember liking it then, but don't plan to re-read.
21 The Death of Grass (1956) by John Christopher (thought I read this one about 10 years ago but can't verify so will re-read)
22 The City and the Stars (1956) by Arthur C. Clarke, read in 70s, plan to reread.
23 The Door into Summer (1956) by Robert A. Heinlein, read in 2014, 2 stars, review on LT
24 The Midwich Cuckoos (1957) by John Wyndham
25 Non-Stop (1958) by Brian Aldiss
26 A Case of Conscience (1958) by James Blish, this is considered a Hugo award winning classic but it did not appeal to me. I tried.
27 Have Spacesuit - Will Travel (1958) by Robert A Heinlein, read in 2014, 3 stars, reviewed on LT
28 Time Out of Joint (1959) by Philip K Dick
29 Alas, Babylon (1959) by Pat Frank read in 2010, review on LT, 4 stars
30 A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959) by Walter M Miller re-read in 2010, 2 stars
31 The Sirens of Titan (1959) by Kurt Vonnegut, read in 80s, plan to reread
32 Rogue Moon by (1960) Algis Budrys
33 Venus Plus X (1960) by Theodore Sturgeon, read in 80s
34 Hothouse (1962) by Brian W Aldiss
35 The Drowned World (1962) by J G Ballard audiobook in 2017, 3 stars
36 A Clockwork Orange (1962) by Anthony Burgess, read in 70s or 80s, do not plan to re-read.
37 The Man In the High Castle (1962) by Philip K Dick, re-read in 2018, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
38 Journey Beyond Tomorrow (1963) by Robert Sheckley
39 Way Station by (1963) Clifford D Simak, re-read in 2011, 3 1/2 stars, reviewed on LT
40 Cat's Cradle (1963) by Kurt Vonnegut, read in 80s, plan to reread
41 Greybeard (1964) by Brian Aldiss, read and plan to reread
42 Nova Express (1964) by WIlliam S Burroughs
43 Martian Time Slip (1964) by Philip K Dick
44 The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1964) by Philip K Dick, DNF 2024
45 The Wanderer (1964) by Fritz Leiber
46 Norstrilia (1964-68) by Cordwainer Smith, partially read, plan to read
47 Dr Bloodmoney (1965) by Philip K Dick
48 Dune (1965) by Frank Herbert, read in 1974, don't plan to re-read, about 4+ stars
49 The Crystal World (1966) by J G Ballard
50 Make Room! Make Room (1966) by Harry Harrison , read in early 70s, might re-read
51 Flowers for Algernon (1966) by Daniel Keyes, first read about 1968, re-read years later and plan to re-read.
52 The Dream Master (1966) by Roger Zelazny, Pringle's essay praises this novel for the uniqueness of Zelazny's style at the time, at the forefront of the "New Wave". All these years later I found it very dated, and since I am not a Zelazny fan in the first place do not plan to dive into this one.
53 Stand on Zanzibar (1968) by John Brunner, read at least part in the 70s, might re-read
54 Nova (1968) by Samuel R. Delany, read at least part in the 70s, might re-read
55 Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968) by Philip K. Dick, read in 2024 and DNF, may try again
56 Camp Concentration (1968) by Thomas M. Disch
57 The Final Programme (1968) by Michael Moorcock, read this in the late 70s, don't recall liking this one so probably no re-read.
58 Pavane (1968) by Keith Roberts, read in 2019, 4 1/2 stars, excellent novel and my review is on LT
59 Heroes and Villains (1969) by Angela Carter
60 The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) by Ursula K. Le Guin, read in the 80's, don't think I will re-read
61 The Palace of Eternity (1969) by Bob Shaw
62 Bug Jack Barron (1969) by Norman Spinrad, probably read in the 70s, undecided on a re-read
63 Tau Zero (1970) by Poul Anderson
64 Downward to the Earth (1969) by Robert Silverberg, read this in the early 70's, plan to re-read
65 The Year of the Quiet Sun (1970) by Wilson Tucker
I'm still trying to find paper copies of many of these books that I do not already own. Not sure which I will read next.
101RBeffa
Started on The Circle by Dave Eggers. I have avoided it for years but was handed a copy a week ago and told I should really read it. So I am having a go at it.
102RBeffa
NN. The Circle by Dave Eggers, DNF Aug 4, 2024
I forced my way through 30some pages, then hopped skipped and jumped through several pages later in the book, flipped to the end and read the last page.
Not for me
I forced my way through 30some pages, then hopped skipped and jumped through several pages later in the book, flipped to the end and read the last page.
Not for me
103RBeffa
I have picked up a couple collections of Matheson stories recently. I figured I would read one.
39. Nightmare at 20,000 Feet by Richard Matheson, finished August 6, 2024, 3+ stars
contents from isfdb:
11 • Introduction • essay by Stephen King
13 • Nightmare at 20,000 Feet • (1962) • short story
35 • Dress of White Silk • (1951) • short story
41 • Blood Son • (1951) • short story (variant of "Drink My Red Blood ...")
51 • Through Channels • (1951) • short story
59 • Witch War • (1951) • short story
67 • Mad House • (1953) • novelette
107 • Disappearing Act • (1953) • short story
127 • Legion of Plotters • (1953) • short story
139 • Long Distance Call • (1953) • short story (variant of Sorry, Right Number)
155 • Slaughter House • (1953) • novelette
197 • Wet Straw • (1953) • short story
207 • Dance of the Dead • (1955) • short story
227 • The Children of Noah • (1957) • short story
249 • The Holiday Man • (1957) • short story
255 • Old Haunts • (1957) • short story
267 • The Distributor • non-genre • (1958) • short story
289 • Crickets • (1960) • short story
299 • First Anniversary • (1960) • short story
309 • The Likeness of Julie • (1962) • short story by Richard Matheson as by Logan Swanson
321 • Prey • (1969) • short story
The introduction by Stephen King is almost embarrassing. This 2002 collection has stories that were originally published in the 50's and 60's. I've read several of these stories over the years and also recognize some from TV and movie adaptations. There are some very good stories here as well as plenty of OK ones. Some I'd call suspense or thrillers, some horror of a sort. There are a lot of creepy people in these stories as well as a rather offensive date rape story "The Likeness of Julie" that has a twist ending but doesn't redeem the repulsive feeling of being inside the head of a rapist.
To generalize, the one word I would use to describe these stories is 'creepy'.
Horror fans will probably enjoy this collection
39. Nightmare at 20,000 Feet by Richard Matheson, finished August 6, 2024, 3+ stars
contents from isfdb:
11 • Introduction • essay by Stephen King
13 • Nightmare at 20,000 Feet • (1962) • short story
35 • Dress of White Silk • (1951) • short story
41 • Blood Son • (1951) • short story (variant of "Drink My Red Blood ...")
51 • Through Channels • (1951) • short story
59 • Witch War • (1951) • short story
67 • Mad House • (1953) • novelette
107 • Disappearing Act • (1953) • short story
127 • Legion of Plotters • (1953) • short story
139 • Long Distance Call • (1953) • short story (variant of Sorry, Right Number)
155 • Slaughter House • (1953) • novelette
197 • Wet Straw • (1953) • short story
207 • Dance of the Dead • (1955) • short story
227 • The Children of Noah • (1957) • short story
249 • The Holiday Man • (1957) • short story
255 • Old Haunts • (1957) • short story
267 • The Distributor • non-genre • (1958) • short story
289 • Crickets • (1960) • short story
299 • First Anniversary • (1960) • short story
309 • The Likeness of Julie • (1962) • short story by Richard Matheson as by Logan Swanson
321 • Prey • (1969) • short story
The introduction by Stephen King is almost embarrassing. This 2002 collection has stories that were originally published in the 50's and 60's. I've read several of these stories over the years and also recognize some from TV and movie adaptations. There are some very good stories here as well as plenty of OK ones. Some I'd call suspense or thrillers, some horror of a sort. There are a lot of creepy people in these stories as well as a rather offensive date rape story "The Likeness of Julie" that has a twist ending but doesn't redeem the repulsive feeling of being inside the head of a rapist.
To generalize, the one word I would use to describe these stories is 'creepy'.
Horror fans will probably enjoy this collection
105RBeffa
>104 ronincats: Thanks Roni!
106RBeffa
And now for something completely different
40. The Girls of Slender Means by Murial Spark, finished August 10, 2024, 3 1/2 stars
I don't believe I have read anything from Muriel Spark before, but I chose this short novel because it is primarily set in London in July 1945 after VE day and concerns the activities of the women in a hostel, the "May of Teck club", who had moved there for the war years. It also concerns people who interact with their lives, one young man in particular, a poet perhaps, or perhaps not. It is told from the present time of the novel, early 1960's looking back at 1945.
Sparks writing is quite different from what I usually read, quirky, clever, a bit precious, but it was nice for a change of pace. I think I will read a bit more of her once in a while.
40. The Girls of Slender Means by Murial Spark, finished August 10, 2024, 3 1/2 stars
I don't believe I have read anything from Muriel Spark before, but I chose this short novel because it is primarily set in London in July 1945 after VE day and concerns the activities of the women in a hostel, the "May of Teck club", who had moved there for the war years. It also concerns people who interact with their lives, one young man in particular, a poet perhaps, or perhaps not. It is told from the present time of the novel, early 1960's looking back at 1945.
Sparks writing is quite different from what I usually read, quirky, clever, a bit precious, but it was nice for a change of pace. I think I will read a bit more of her once in a while.
107RBeffa
NN. I have read about 20% of Robert Harris' Act of Oblivion and I would be hard pressed to be less interested in the subject and story. I have never set aside a novel by Robert Harris before. The writing and explanations in here are fine, I just have no interest in the material. I have it out from the library and might look at it again but I doubt it. I will confess that I have a rather dim view of the Puritans.
By contrast I picked up this audiobook almost at random and it was a hit.
41. Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew by Alex Kershaw (Author), Richard Poe (Narrator), finished August 15, 2024, 4 stars
I've been reading about WWII in Europe but have spent less time on the Pacific War. I listened to this book as an audiobook and the reader, Richard Poe, was really excellent. The title says what the story is about. The submarine is the USS Tang and she was the deadliest sub in the war. In a bizarre turn of events when she fired her final torpedo it circled and struck the Tang itself 20 seconds later.
Good history here. What I liked most was the way the author introduced us to many of the sailors on the Tang and let us see parts of their lives and eventual deaths, whether in the submarine or later in life. They weren't all happy stories (losing your only child is not one of them) but you could admire every one of the men and their families. The USS Tang was built at the Mare Island Shipyard in Vallejo (where I live) during WWII. Some of the crewmembers were from Vallejo and nearby cities.
By contrast I picked up this audiobook almost at random and it was a hit.
41. Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew by Alex Kershaw (Author), Richard Poe (Narrator), finished August 15, 2024, 4 stars
I've been reading about WWII in Europe but have spent less time on the Pacific War. I listened to this book as an audiobook and the reader, Richard Poe, was really excellent. The title says what the story is about. The submarine is the USS Tang and she was the deadliest sub in the war. In a bizarre turn of events when she fired her final torpedo it circled and struck the Tang itself 20 seconds later.
Good history here. What I liked most was the way the author introduced us to many of the sailors on the Tang and let us see parts of their lives and eventual deaths, whether in the submarine or later in life. They weren't all happy stories (losing your only child is not one of them) but you could admire every one of the men and their families. The USS Tang was built at the Mare Island Shipyard in Vallejo (where I live) during WWII. Some of the crewmembers were from Vallejo and nearby cities.
108RBeffa
42. Run Silent, Run Deep by Edward L. Beach, finished August 20, 2024, 3 1/2 stars
After finishing Alex Kershaw's exciting book on the USS Tang I figured it was a perfect time to read this WWII classic. Well, not so much. This isn't a bad book. The beginning threw me off a little with the non-linear storytelling but after a couple chapters I went back and re-read the first chapter to put things in chronological order in my mind. There was the potential for a good romance (I like war romances) but the story focused on the minute details of submarines. There is some surprising no-holds barred stuff in here.
If I run across the sequel I might pick it up and hope it starts where I was left dangling at the end of this.
eta: In hindsight I think I am a little harsh with giving this an average 3 star rating so I am revising it upwards to 3 1/2 stars.
After finishing Alex Kershaw's exciting book on the USS Tang I figured it was a perfect time to read this WWII classic. Well, not so much. This isn't a bad book. The beginning threw me off a little with the non-linear storytelling but after a couple chapters I went back and re-read the first chapter to put things in chronological order in my mind. There was the potential for a good romance (I like war romances) but the story focused on the minute details of submarines. There is some surprising no-holds barred stuff in here.
If I run across the sequel I might pick it up and hope it starts where I was left dangling at the end of this.
eta: In hindsight I think I am a little harsh with giving this an average 3 star rating so I am revising it upwards to 3 1/2 stars.
109RBeffa
Working lightly on an audio book and also nibbling on a big fat paperback "thriller", Riptide by Preston & Child. This one is a standalone and it isn't grabbing me like it should.
110RBeffa
I have not read a Preston and Child story in a while
43. Riptide by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, finished September 1, 2024, 2 1/2 stars
This is rather a fat paperback. The prologue of the story was quite intriguing. The storytelling started bugging me almost from the start and it was a very long ways into the book until I encountered one character that I began to like. There are some good bits in here about the search and finding of lost treasure but I wouldn't recommend this. I skimmed a few parts to get this over with.
43. Riptide by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, finished September 1, 2024, 2 1/2 stars
This is rather a fat paperback. The prologue of the story was quite intriguing. The storytelling started bugging me almost from the start and it was a very long ways into the book until I encountered one character that I began to like. There are some good bits in here about the search and finding of lost treasure but I wouldn't recommend this. I skimmed a few parts to get this over with.
111RBeffa
44. Science fiction : the 101 best novels, 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo, finished September 15, 2024, 1 - 1/2 stars
I haven't double checked it but the LT version of the books listed within this book are here: https://www.librarything.com/list/11204/Broderick-and-Di-Filippos-Science-Fictio...
Despite its title, this book isn’t exactly a comprehensive guide to the “101 Best Science Fiction Novels from 1985 to 2010", as one might expect.
I was struck by how many of the featured books were unfamiliar to me. I think this is slightly due to my choice in reading material during those years as I focused on short stories and novellas. In addition, the book includes not only science fiction but also fantasy, slipstream, fantastika as the writers are prone to expound, and alternative history novels, and I think the authors are pushing for a broader view of what science fiction is. I mean, putting dragons in the Napoleonic wars is not science fiction, even though the authors here say it is, and I enjoyed some of Naomi Novak's novels as fantasy.
One notable omission that I found particularly surprising was Dan Simmons Hyperion books. Additionally, this book seems to only feature only one work per author, and then discusses many other works by the author within the one choice. So Alastair Reynolds and Iain Banks get one book.
The book’s approach and the authors style of evaluating the books just didn't resonate with me. I got tired of the word fantastika and the endless comparisons and references to great literature. It is just way overdone. This should be about science fiction novels but the two reviewers spin off everywhere. My personal reading preferences probably lean towards more pedestrian mainstream choices. It also occurs to me that this might be a rather weak period for science fiction novels while Fantasy was thriving.
I found the Pringle book that preceded this much much better. This is quite a disappointment.
I haven't double checked it but the LT version of the books listed within this book are here: https://www.librarything.com/list/11204/Broderick-and-Di-Filippos-Science-Fictio...
Despite its title, this book isn’t exactly a comprehensive guide to the “101 Best Science Fiction Novels from 1985 to 2010", as one might expect.
I was struck by how many of the featured books were unfamiliar to me. I think this is slightly due to my choice in reading material during those years as I focused on short stories and novellas. In addition, the book includes not only science fiction but also fantasy, slipstream, fantastika as the writers are prone to expound, and alternative history novels, and I think the authors are pushing for a broader view of what science fiction is. I mean, putting dragons in the Napoleonic wars is not science fiction, even though the authors here say it is, and I enjoyed some of Naomi Novak's novels as fantasy.
One notable omission that I found particularly surprising was Dan Simmons Hyperion books. Additionally, this book seems to only feature only one work per author, and then discusses many other works by the author within the one choice. So Alastair Reynolds and Iain Banks get one book.
The book’s approach and the authors style of evaluating the books just didn't resonate with me. I got tired of the word fantastika and the endless comparisons and references to great literature. It is just way overdone. This should be about science fiction novels but the two reviewers spin off everywhere. My personal reading preferences probably lean towards more pedestrian mainstream choices. It also occurs to me that this might be a rather weak period for science fiction novels while Fantasy was thriving.
I found the Pringle book that preceded this much much better. This is quite a disappointment.
112RBeffa
45. Time travelers : from Isaac Asimov's science fiction magazine edited by Gardner Dozois, various authors, finished September 23, 2024, 3 1/2 stars
In the 1970's I read science fiction novels but I grew away from science fiction of that era. I was enjoying some of the fantasy of the time such as Watership Down and other Richard Adams stories and Michael Moorcock's Elric stories, a lot of Moorcock frankly, but the new wave of science fiction had left me adrift. Most of my reading became mainstream novels, Once an Eagle, Rich Man Poor Man, blockbuster types like Shogun, Winds of War, etc. I also dabbled in some older science fiction but not much. I did read some short fiction in anthologies and year's best collections from the library. At our county library I encountered Asimov's science fiction magazine, probably about 1982 or 1983. I was initially rather dismissive until I rather randomly read a back issue with Barry Longyear's "Enemy Mine" which was made into an excellent film, and several other very good stories in the magazines. By the time 1984 arrived I was avidly reading the magazine of fantasy and science fiction and more and more of the Asimov's magazine issues, having subscribed to both.
So I come to this book which I just finished. It is a 1989 anthology of some stories from Asimov's magazine from 1977 to 1986 and each one has a time travel element. I have read several of these stories in the past, but long enough in the past that the stories were just fine for a revisit. Of the 11 stories there are just two such as "The Comedian" that didn't charm me. The other story I didn't care for was "The Pure Product" by John Kessel. If Quentin Tarantino had been writing science fiction in the mid 80's it would look like this I think. Overall the stories here are good and some I really liked such as Lewis Shiner's "Twilight Time".
I have read Silverberg's award winning novella "Sailing to Byzantium" several times before, including when it was originally published in 1985. Parts of this story such as the visit to the Lighthouse of ancient Alexandria still dazzle me a little and make me smile. I recall being somewhat stunned by the story the first time I read it. Now, after all these years I can still appreciate what an imaginative creation it was. Lucius Shepard was one of my favorite short story writers in the 1980's. "Aymara" is pretty good and was nominated for a Nebula award. Pretty good is an understatement. This one feels like one of Shepard's best, at the peak of his powers, and it is very moving. Shepard would win the nebula for another of his stories in 1986 but this story deserved an award too.
My interest in recent science fiction has been really fading so I was glad to be reminded of stories and authors I like in the field. The included stories are:
1 • Air Raid • (1977) • short story by John Varley
17 • The Small Stones of Tu Fu • (1978) • short story by Brian W. Aldiss
29 • Time and Hagakure • (1977) • short story by Steven Utley
39 • The Comedian • (1982) • short story by Tim Sullivan
61 • Twilight Time • (1984) • novelette by Lewis Shiner
85 • Sailing to Byzantium • (1985) • novella by Robert Silverberg
155 • Ghost Lecturer • (1984) • short story by Ian Watson
175 • Hauntings • (1985) • short story by Kim Antieau
189 • Klein's Machine • (1985) • short story by Andrew Weiner
207 • The Pure Product • (1986) • novelette by John Kessel
231 • Aymara • (1986) • novelette by Lucius Shepard\
ETA: This collection of stories put me in the mood for more time travel stories. Each one of the stories had a time travel element of one sort or another. So last night I started on The Time Travelers Wife. I had this book for many years and never got around to it so I donated it away a few years ago. Then a couple months ago I decided that was one I should not have discarded so I picked up a nice copy, 'just in case'. Well I am glad I did. This book was included in the 101 Best at >111 RBeffa:
In the 1970's I read science fiction novels but I grew away from science fiction of that era. I was enjoying some of the fantasy of the time such as Watership Down and other Richard Adams stories and Michael Moorcock's Elric stories, a lot of Moorcock frankly, but the new wave of science fiction had left me adrift. Most of my reading became mainstream novels, Once an Eagle, Rich Man Poor Man, blockbuster types like Shogun, Winds of War, etc. I also dabbled in some older science fiction but not much. I did read some short fiction in anthologies and year's best collections from the library. At our county library I encountered Asimov's science fiction magazine, probably about 1982 or 1983. I was initially rather dismissive until I rather randomly read a back issue with Barry Longyear's "Enemy Mine" which was made into an excellent film, and several other very good stories in the magazines. By the time 1984 arrived I was avidly reading the magazine of fantasy and science fiction and more and more of the Asimov's magazine issues, having subscribed to both.
So I come to this book which I just finished. It is a 1989 anthology of some stories from Asimov's magazine from 1977 to 1986 and each one has a time travel element. I have read several of these stories in the past, but long enough in the past that the stories were just fine for a revisit. Of the 11 stories there are just two such as "The Comedian" that didn't charm me. The other story I didn't care for was "The Pure Product" by John Kessel. If Quentin Tarantino had been writing science fiction in the mid 80's it would look like this I think. Overall the stories here are good and some I really liked such as Lewis Shiner's "Twilight Time".
I have read Silverberg's award winning novella "Sailing to Byzantium" several times before, including when it was originally published in 1985. Parts of this story such as the visit to the Lighthouse of ancient Alexandria still dazzle me a little and make me smile. I recall being somewhat stunned by the story the first time I read it. Now, after all these years I can still appreciate what an imaginative creation it was. Lucius Shepard was one of my favorite short story writers in the 1980's. "Aymara" is pretty good and was nominated for a Nebula award. Pretty good is an understatement. This one feels like one of Shepard's best, at the peak of his powers, and it is very moving. Shepard would win the nebula for another of his stories in 1986 but this story deserved an award too.
My interest in recent science fiction has been really fading so I was glad to be reminded of stories and authors I like in the field. The included stories are:
1 • Air Raid • (1977) • short story by John Varley
17 • The Small Stones of Tu Fu • (1978) • short story by Brian W. Aldiss
29 • Time and Hagakure • (1977) • short story by Steven Utley
39 • The Comedian • (1982) • short story by Tim Sullivan
61 • Twilight Time • (1984) • novelette by Lewis Shiner
85 • Sailing to Byzantium • (1985) • novella by Robert Silverberg
155 • Ghost Lecturer • (1984) • short story by Ian Watson
175 • Hauntings • (1985) • short story by Kim Antieau
189 • Klein's Machine • (1985) • short story by Andrew Weiner
207 • The Pure Product • (1986) • novelette by John Kessel
231 • Aymara • (1986) • novelette by Lucius Shepard\
ETA: This collection of stories put me in the mood for more time travel stories. Each one of the stories had a time travel element of one sort or another. So last night I started on The Time Travelers Wife. I had this book for many years and never got around to it so I donated it away a few years ago. Then a couple months ago I decided that was one I should not have discarded so I picked up a nice copy, 'just in case'. Well I am glad I did. This book was included in the 101 Best at >111 RBeffa:
113RBeffa
It is only September but this book deserves my worst book read this year award. It was included in the book of 101 Best Novels I reviewed at >111 RBeffa: No wonder I disrespected that collection.
46. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, finished September 26, 2024, 1 1/2 stars
I only need one word to review this literal automobile wreck of a novel. Ick. A friend told me she hated it with every fiber of her being. whoa.
It has a few good moments and a touching romantic finish. It has an unbearable number of creepy scenes.
46. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, finished September 26, 2024, 1 1/2 stars
I only need one word to review this literal automobile wreck of a novel. Ick. A friend told me she hated it with every fiber of her being. whoa.
It has a few good moments and a touching romantic finish. It has an unbearable number of creepy scenes.
114laytonwoman3rd
>113 RBeffa: Good to know I haven't missed anything by neglecting that one all these years. I sort of trashed another one of her efforts, The Night Bookmobile, a while back.
115RBeffa
>114 laytonwoman3rd: The main male character is a violent sociopath with few morals. It really got to me.
----------
I didn't pick this next book up to read/re-read because it is a famous banned book. That seems to be the thing to do these days. I could read The Story of Ferdinand, a favorite children's book. After all, it was banned by the fascists.
47. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, finished September 29, 2024, 2 1/2 - 3 stars
This novel is considered a beloved children/young adult book. It was published in 1962 and was promptly awarded a Newberry medal. I purchased the original trilogy many many years ago and only read the first book. I didn't read all 3 which is odd for me, but I held on to these books. They are favorites of my wife who had a set of her own. I thought it might be a good time to revisit the book(s).
Not unexpectedly when I started reading I remembered the book and I truly enjoy the first several chapters of the novel. But then the book sort of turns to mush for many many pages. Things do pick up and there are some interesting events but I do not think, once again, that I will continue this series. I will always remember Charles Wallace however.
----------
I didn't pick this next book up to read/re-read because it is a famous banned book. That seems to be the thing to do these days. I could read The Story of Ferdinand, a favorite children's book. After all, it was banned by the fascists.
47. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, finished September 29, 2024, 2 1/2 - 3 stars
This novel is considered a beloved children/young adult book. It was published in 1962 and was promptly awarded a Newberry medal. I purchased the original trilogy many many years ago and only read the first book. I didn't read all 3 which is odd for me, but I held on to these books. They are favorites of my wife who had a set of her own. I thought it might be a good time to revisit the book(s).
Not unexpectedly when I started reading I remembered the book and I truly enjoy the first several chapters of the novel. But then the book sort of turns to mush for many many pages. Things do pick up and there are some interesting events but I do not think, once again, that I will continue this series. I will always remember Charles Wallace however.
116RBeffa
Third quarter summation of the year ...
Favorite book of 2024 (so far) is ... Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
Most disappointing book of the year is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Top Ten Fiction novels or novellas for 2024 roughly in order (excluding re-reads):
1. The Searchers by Alan Le May
2. The Uncommon Reader a novella by Alan Bennett
3. Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
4. Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks
5. Hombre by Elmore Leonard
6. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett
7. Connagher by Louis L'Amour
8. Silvertip's Chase by Max Brand
9. Marion's Wall by Jack Finney
10. Foster by Claire Keegan
Honorable mentions:
The Girls of Slender Means by Murial Spark
The Sixth of June by Lionel Shapiro
Favorite Reads that are part of a series, and not listed elsewhere:
1. The World At Night by Alan Furst
2. The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths
3. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths
4. Blood Moon by Garry Disher
Top Non-Fiction for 2024
1. Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
2. Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew audiobook by Alex Kershaw (Author), Richard Poe (Narrator)
3. My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me audiobook by Caleb Carr, narrated by James Lurie
4. Wildflowers of California by Larry Ulrich and Susan Lamb
Favorite anthologies/ short story collections for 2024:
1. Time travelers : from Isaac Asimov's science fiction magazine edited by Gardner Dozois, various authors
Best fiction re-reads in 2024:
1/2. 1984 by George Orwell
1/2. Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Favorite Young Adult or Children's reads in 2024:
1. The Hotel Under the Sand by Kage Baker
2. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
3. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
Favorite book of 2024 (so far) is ... Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
Most disappointing book of the year is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Top Ten Fiction novels or novellas for 2024 roughly in order (excluding re-reads):
1. The Searchers by Alan Le May
2. The Uncommon Reader a novella by Alan Bennett
3. Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
4. Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks
5. Hombre by Elmore Leonard
6. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett
7. Connagher by Louis L'Amour
8. Silvertip's Chase by Max Brand
9. Marion's Wall by Jack Finney
10. Foster by Claire Keegan
Honorable mentions:
The Girls of Slender Means by Murial Spark
The Sixth of June by Lionel Shapiro
Favorite Reads that are part of a series, and not listed elsewhere:
1. The World At Night by Alan Furst
2. The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths
3. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths
4. Blood Moon by Garry Disher
Top Non-Fiction for 2024
1. Ex libris : confessions of a common reader by Anne Fadiman
2. Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew audiobook by Alex Kershaw (Author), Richard Poe (Narrator)
3. My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me audiobook by Caleb Carr, narrated by James Lurie
4. Wildflowers of California by Larry Ulrich and Susan Lamb
Favorite anthologies/ short story collections for 2024:
1. Time travelers : from Isaac Asimov's science fiction magazine edited by Gardner Dozois, various authors
Best fiction re-reads in 2024:
1/2. 1984 by George Orwell
1/2. Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Favorite Young Adult or Children's reads in 2024:
1. The Hotel Under the Sand by Kage Baker
2. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
3. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
117RBeffa
I have chosen a bunch of books and set them on a shelf to inspire me to read them by years' end. I don't think there is a chance to get to 75 but I hope/plan to get to 60. It will be a mix of things. Some of the books are really big so I will need to mix in some smaller ones, like Ferdinand.
118RBeffa
48. The Father of Stones by Lucius Shepard, finished October 1, 2024, 3 - 3 1/2 stars
This novella from 1989 was the third story (of an eventual six) by Shepard written about and around "The Dragon Griaule". Shepard writes dark fantasy, in fact almost all the fiction of his that I have read in several genres has been dark. This can be read as a standalone but I have to think that despite the skillful writing one should read The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule and The Scalehunter's Beautiful Daughter first if possible. This story is a murder mystery, a bit darkly erotic. There is a trial when the leader of a dragon cult that has sprung up is murdered. This is so twisty that the last part of the story was a complete surprise to me.
I will read another story in this series next
This novella from 1989 was the third story (of an eventual six) by Shepard written about and around "The Dragon Griaule". Shepard writes dark fantasy, in fact almost all the fiction of his that I have read in several genres has been dark. This can be read as a standalone but I have to think that despite the skillful writing one should read The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule and The Scalehunter's Beautiful Daughter first if possible. This story is a murder mystery, a bit darkly erotic. There is a trial when the leader of a dragon cult that has sprung up is murdered. This is so twisty that the last part of the story was a complete surprise to me.
I will read another story in this series next
119RBeffa
49. The Taborin Scale by Lucius Shepard, finished October 3, 2024, 4 stars
I have jumped ahead to the 5th novella written about and around "The Dragon Griaule". Shepard stays with the dark mildly erotic fantasy, but this story from 2010 completely surprised me and I enjoyed it much more than The Father of Stones. I cannot be spoilery here but I am very glad I read this. I am going to try and find where I hid my copies of the first two books, so I can reread them.
The Taborin scale is a scale from the dragon that has rather magical powers, to say the least. The end of the story felt a bit abrupt and I would have been happy to see a bit more there, but thankful for what we got.
The book itself was a lovely special edition that was a pleasure to read. It reminds me that I need to touch back with some of my favorite authors.
I have jumped ahead to the 5th novella written about and around "The Dragon Griaule". Shepard stays with the dark mildly erotic fantasy, but this story from 2010 completely surprised me and I enjoyed it much more than The Father of Stones. I cannot be spoilery here but I am very glad I read this. I am going to try and find where I hid my copies of the first two books, so I can reread them.
The Taborin scale is a scale from the dragon that has rather magical powers, to say the least. The end of the story felt a bit abrupt and I would have been happy to see a bit more there, but thankful for what we got.
The book itself was a lovely special edition that was a pleasure to read. It reminds me that I need to touch back with some of my favorite authors.
120RBeffa
50. This is the story of a happy marriage by Ann Patchett, finished October 21, 2024, unrated
I picked up a used copy of this collection of twentysome essays about 6 months ago. I have loved two of Patchett's novels and did not connect with a third one. This used copy was annotated by the original owner with comments here and there. I thought to myself, why did the prior owner give this away despite obviously liking it a lot. I don't know. What I do know is that I didn't like it a lot. I was sort of warned away from the book by a fellow Patchett fan reader. Confessional navel gazing is not for everyone and not for me but some of the other material was interesting.
Meanwhile I'm working my way through a behemoth of a novel
I picked up a used copy of this collection of twentysome essays about 6 months ago. I have loved two of Patchett's novels and did not connect with a third one. This used copy was annotated by the original owner with comments here and there. I thought to myself, why did the prior owner give this away despite obviously liking it a lot. I don't know. What I do know is that I didn't like it a lot. I was sort of warned away from the book by a fellow Patchett fan reader. Confessional navel gazing is not for everyone and not for me but some of the other material was interesting.
Meanwhile I'm working my way through a behemoth of a novel
121RBeffa
Each October I try to read or re-read a Ray Bradbury book. Last year I pretty much ran out of books with my final reads, except for one collection that I have been unable to find amongst my books, The Machineries of Joy. I'm still hopeful. I do have a humongous collection of 100 of his shorter works, nearly 900 small print pages, and if worst comes to worst I will read some of them. Hmmm maybe I can reconstruct my hidden Machineries book from the stories in that one? Bradbury Stories is on standby.
123RBeffa
I neglected to include a book I finished around the end of August but discussed here.
51. Science fiction : the 100 best novels : an English-language selection, 1949-1984 by David Pringle, finished August 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
I have discussed this book beginning the end of April at >56 RBeffa: and following months. It has inspired me to have a go at some classic science fiction that I missed and maybe revisit a few novels I read, but the results have been hit AND miss. I really liked the author's discussion of the novels he chose and why. There are some I would never include as would be expected with anyone's list, but this is an intelligent guide to books over a 35 year period. I plan to refer to it in the future when selecting a few more books.
51. Science fiction : the 100 best novels : an English-language selection, 1949-1984 by David Pringle, finished August 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
I have discussed this book beginning the end of April at >56 RBeffa: and following months. It has inspired me to have a go at some classic science fiction that I missed and maybe revisit a few novels I read, but the results have been hit AND miss. I really liked the author's discussion of the novels he chose and why. There are some I would never include as would be expected with anyone's list, but this is an intelligent guide to books over a 35 year period. I plan to refer to it in the future when selecting a few more books.
124RBeffa
52. The English Major by Jim Harrison, finished October 26, 2024, 1 1/2 stars
I have really liked some of Jim Harrison's stories and I was saving this one. This novel started off so well. It threw all kinds of hooks into me with the first page and the first line... "It used to be Cliff and Vivian and now it isn't." I'm not sure when this story started to stink. It was not very far into it. Maybe 25-30 pages. This looked like it was going to be a good road trip novel. It wasn't. It suffers from a very bad case of penile dementia.
If I didn't already have a choice for most disappointing book of the year this would be a serious contender. 1 1/2 stars is generous.
I have really liked some of Jim Harrison's stories and I was saving this one. This novel started off so well. It threw all kinds of hooks into me with the first page and the first line... "It used to be Cliff and Vivian and now it isn't." I'm not sure when this story started to stink. It was not very far into it. Maybe 25-30 pages. This looked like it was going to be a good road trip novel. It wasn't. It suffers from a very bad case of penile dementia.
If I didn't already have a choice for most disappointing book of the year this would be a serious contender. 1 1/2 stars is generous.
125laytonwoman3rd
>124 RBeffa: I have yet to try Harrison, although I have several of his books on the shelf. Guess I'm glad this isn't one of them.
126RBeffa
>125 laytonwoman3rd: Reading reviews of some of Harrison's books he seems to hit many people the same way as me - some very good and some not. He mostly does novella length stories which "The English Major" is an exception. Legends of the Fall I recall as being pretty good. I think I am done with more Harrison though. Too much else sitting here waiting for me.
127RBeffa
53. The Machineries of Joy by Ray Bradbury, finished October 29, 2024, 3 and 1 1/2 stars
I had a little fun. For my annual Bradbury October read I chose the 1964 anthology 'The Machineries of Joy'. It collects stories published from 1960 to 1964 in a variety of publications, particularly Playboy and the Saturday Evening Post. A few of these are famous and I recognized several. One of those was "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" which I recall as one of several Bradbury stories contained in my daughter's middle school English class textbook about 20 years ago. I recall being pleasantly surprised by that which led to my daughter and I sharing Bradbury stories and listening to a few audiobooks for a time. These stories are from a variety of genres, mainstream, spooky, mild fantasy, Bradbury's theme of television is a problem, just a bit of everything.
Here are the stories:
1 • The Machineries of Joy • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
14 • The One Who Waits • (1949) • short story by Ray Bradbury
21 • Tyrannosaurus Rex • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
34 • The Vacation • (1963) • short story by Ray Bradbury
41 • The Drummer Boy of Shiloh • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
47 • Boys! Raise Giant Mushrooms in Your Cellar! • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
63 • Almost the End of the World • (1957) • short story by Ray Bradbury
71 • Perhaps We Are Going Away • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
75 • And the Sailor, Home from the Sea • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
83 • El Dia de Muerte • (1947) • short story by Ray Bradbury
93 • The Illustrated Woman • (1961) • short story by Ray Bradbury
104 • Some Live Like Lazarus • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
115 • A Miracle of Rare Device • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
129 • And So Died Riabouchinska • (1953) • short story by Ray Bradbury
142 • The Beggar on O'Connell Bridge • The Irish Stories • (1961) • short story by Ray Bradbury
157 • Death and the Maiden • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
165 • A Flight of Ravens • (1952) • short story by Ray Bradbury
176 • The Best of All Possible Worlds • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
183 • The Lifework of Juan Díaz • short story by Ray Bradbury (variant of The Life Work of Juan Diaz 1963)
193 • To the Chicago Abyss • (1963) • short story by Ray Bradbury
203 • The Anthem Sprinters • non-genre • (1963) • short story by Ray Bradbury
Then I had a bit of fun and tried chatGPT after reading an article. I said to it: write a review in the style of ray bradbury of the anthology Machineries of joy from 1964. This clever review is how it answered, almost immediately:
Review of Machineries of Joy
In the dim, flickering glow of imagination, where shadows dance with the whispers of unspoken dreams, Ray Bradbury invites us into the sprawling landscapes of Machineries of Joy. This anthology, a rich tapestry woven with threads of the fantastical and the profoundly human, serves as a testament to the unfathomable depths of our desires and fears.
Each story within this collection pulses with life, echoing the mechanized heartbeat of a world teetering on the brink of wondrous discovery and bleak desolation. Bradbury’s prose, akin to a gentle summer breeze rustling through the pages of time, captures the essence of humanity’s eternal struggle: the quest for joy amidst the clanking gears of existence. Here, in these tales, machines are not merely cold, metallic forms but reflections of our own hearts, longing to connect, to create, and ultimately, to understand.
In one tale, the intricate dance of technology and the human spirit unfolds—a poignant reminder that joy is not a destination but a journey, fraught with the glimmering shards of hope and despair. As we traverse the imagined streets of the future, we encounter characters who, despite the relentless march of progress, grapple with the same timeless questions that have haunted humanity since its dawn. What does it mean to truly live? To feel? To love in a world where machinery often eclipses the warmth of the human touch?
I had a little fun. For my annual Bradbury October read I chose the 1964 anthology 'The Machineries of Joy'. It collects stories published from 1960 to 1964 in a variety of publications, particularly Playboy and the Saturday Evening Post. A few of these are famous and I recognized several. One of those was "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" which I recall as one of several Bradbury stories contained in my daughter's middle school English class textbook about 20 years ago. I recall being pleasantly surprised by that which led to my daughter and I sharing Bradbury stories and listening to a few audiobooks for a time. These stories are from a variety of genres, mainstream, spooky, mild fantasy, Bradbury's theme of television is a problem, just a bit of everything.
Here are the stories:
1 • The Machineries of Joy • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
14 • The One Who Waits • (1949) • short story by Ray Bradbury
21 • Tyrannosaurus Rex • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
34 • The Vacation • (1963) • short story by Ray Bradbury
41 • The Drummer Boy of Shiloh • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
47 • Boys! Raise Giant Mushrooms in Your Cellar! • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
63 • Almost the End of the World • (1957) • short story by Ray Bradbury
71 • Perhaps We Are Going Away • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
75 • And the Sailor, Home from the Sea • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
83 • El Dia de Muerte • (1947) • short story by Ray Bradbury
93 • The Illustrated Woman • (1961) • short story by Ray Bradbury
104 • Some Live Like Lazarus • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
115 • A Miracle of Rare Device • (1962) • short story by Ray Bradbury
129 • And So Died Riabouchinska • (1953) • short story by Ray Bradbury
142 • The Beggar on O'Connell Bridge • The Irish Stories • (1961) • short story by Ray Bradbury
157 • Death and the Maiden • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
165 • A Flight of Ravens • (1952) • short story by Ray Bradbury
176 • The Best of All Possible Worlds • (1960) • short story by Ray Bradbury
183 • The Lifework of Juan Díaz • short story by Ray Bradbury (variant of The Life Work of Juan Diaz 1963)
193 • To the Chicago Abyss • (1963) • short story by Ray Bradbury
203 • The Anthem Sprinters • non-genre • (1963) • short story by Ray Bradbury
Then I had a bit of fun and tried chatGPT after reading an article. I said to it: write a review in the style of ray bradbury of the anthology Machineries of joy from 1964. This clever review is how it answered, almost immediately:
Review of Machineries of Joy
In the dim, flickering glow of imagination, where shadows dance with the whispers of unspoken dreams, Ray Bradbury invites us into the sprawling landscapes of Machineries of Joy. This anthology, a rich tapestry woven with threads of the fantastical and the profoundly human, serves as a testament to the unfathomable depths of our desires and fears.
Each story within this collection pulses with life, echoing the mechanized heartbeat of a world teetering on the brink of wondrous discovery and bleak desolation. Bradbury’s prose, akin to a gentle summer breeze rustling through the pages of time, captures the essence of humanity’s eternal struggle: the quest for joy amidst the clanking gears of existence. Here, in these tales, machines are not merely cold, metallic forms but reflections of our own hearts, longing to connect, to create, and ultimately, to understand.
In one tale, the intricate dance of technology and the human spirit unfolds—a poignant reminder that joy is not a destination but a journey, fraught with the glimmering shards of hope and despair. As we traverse the imagined streets of the future, we encounter characters who, despite the relentless march of progress, grapple with the same timeless questions that have haunted humanity since its dawn. What does it mean to truly live? To feel? To love in a world where machinery often eclipses the warmth of the human touch?
128RBeffa
I have not been to a $5 bag of books sale in a very long time but our local friends of the library was having one yesterday. I took my sister in law and truthfully I only planned on getting one or two books and putting them in her bag but I wanted to look at the history section. Of course I started dropping things in my bag and what do you know, I almost filled it. I wanted a WWI book for Paul's November challenge and more WWII books which I have enjoyed this year. The first book I saw was the Alex Kershaw D Day book and then I got carried away. I added a few cds (Peter Paul and Mary, Natalie Merchant and Toad the Wet Sprocket and picked up a western on the way to the exit. I could easily have added two or three more books and more CDs but restrained myself, just slightly. The Mary Stewart set was a nice bonus. I was very pleased to find the book on Shackelton's Antarctic expedition. I read Alfred Lansing's book on Endurance decades ago and was thrilled by it so I am looking forward to this one.
129laytonwoman3rd
Looks like a very nice haul! I think I gave my Dad that book about Shackleton many years ago.
130m.belljackson
>128 RBeffa: Hi - I looked up Jack Holroyd's WWII book on Thrift - almost $27.00 = you got a bargain!
131RBeffa
>130 m.belljackson: I know Marianne. Except for a slight bump on the edge of the cover the book is in brand new condition.
>129 laytonwoman3rd: I had kind of forgotten how much fun it is to go to a bag sale. It was super crowded with happy (and polite!) people. I have another Shackleton book somewhere as well as Elspeth Huxley's book on Scott of the Antarctic. I suspect I should read them together.
>129 laytonwoman3rd: I had kind of forgotten how much fun it is to go to a bag sale. It was super crowded with happy (and polite!) people. I have another Shackleton book somewhere as well as Elspeth Huxley's book on Scott of the Antarctic. I suspect I should read them together.
132PaulCranswick
>128 RBeffa: Some great stuff there, Ron.
133RBeffa
>132 PaulCranswick: Paul, I actually realized after the photo that I left two out - a dvd of the film Goodfellas, and a non-fiction book Rising from the plains by John McPhee. I was also pleased to find a book I had looked for for a long time, and it will be good for your December challenge, Spain in Our Hearts by Adam Hochschild. It was missing the paper cover on the hardback but beggars can't be choosers, as the saying goes. I have it standing up in the middle of the photo. I am a bit out of the reading mood it seems. I started on one of the new books but then went and picked up Charlotte Gray for a re-read of most of it, even though I finished it at the start of July. I seem to like the book more than the average reader. Maybe I will get to 60 books by years end if I finish some of the several I have partly read!
134RBeffa
NN. Run by Blake Crouch, DNF
A bloodthirsty horror story that I am in no mood for. Abandoning. Got it from the library thinking it was a new 2024 book from an author I have appreciated in the past. Instead it is a reissue of the author's first novel from 2011.
A bloodthirsty horror story that I am in no mood for. Abandoning. Got it from the library thinking it was a new 2024 book from an author I have appreciated in the past. Instead it is a reissue of the author's first novel from 2011.
135RBeffa
After bouncing around a few too many books I am thinking the state of the world is doing a number on me, at least a bit. I've settled into The High and the Mighty. I thought I might like it a lot but the story is 70 plus years back, as was the film. I've learned a bit about early aviation (Nevil Shute is good for that as well). This novel may be the granddaddy of disaster books and movies that proliferated in the 70's. I'll get through this as I wait for Murakami's new novel from the library.
136RBeffa
Still reading (and enjoying) The High and the Mighty. Should be done in a day or three. Meanwhile, a library book:
54. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan, finished November 28, 2024, 1 1/2 stars
This book is salvaged a bit by the lovely illustrations done by the author but the narrative is incredibly boring, and more.
54. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan, finished November 28, 2024, 1 1/2 stars
This book is salvaged a bit by the lovely illustrations done by the author but the narrative is incredibly boring, and more.
137PaulCranswick
Wishng you a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, Ron. Thanks for always being my friend in the group.
138RBeffa
>137 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul. All the best to you and your family.
-----------------------------
55. The High and The Mighty by Ernest K. Gann, finished November 29, 2024, 3 stars
I gave chatgpt an outline of my feelings and sense of my latest read and with some adds and edits this is what she wrote ... I like it! However, this review is really over the top so read it with that in mind for a chuckle. In truth the story is very dated but gives one a picture of life in 1953, A-bomb fears and all.
Ernest K. Gann’s The High and the Mighty (1953) is a good example of old-fashioned storytelling that transports readers to the early days of civil aviation, where the tension between human vulnerability and technological achievement is palpable. As a reader, I was following in the footsteps of my maternal grandparents who were fans of his novels, particularly Fate is the Hunter.
The story has a slow start as we are introduced to each of the passengers as they check in at the small airport in Honolulu. Almost too slow and there are about 25 characters between personnel and passengers to start keeping track of. Most of the story is set aboard a transcontinental flight from Hawaii to California, The High and the Mighty intertwines the lives of a diverse group of passengers and crew as they face a crisis in the skies. The novel is defined by its multi-layered characterizations, giving us not only a glimpse into the personalities of the flight crew and passengers, but also an insight into their fears, hopes, and complex backstories. These characters are far from one-dimensional. From the seasoned co-pilot Dan Roman, who struggles with his own internal demons, to the passengers who bring their personal burdens and unresolved conflicts onboard, Gann paints a vivid portrait of a world where personal and professional lives intersect under the pressure of imminent danger.
Gann’s writing style, rooted in the era of mid-20th-century American literature, offers a certain nostalgia. His prose is rich and detailed, with a pacing that might feel slower compared to modern thrillers, but this also feels like a prelude to the disaster novels that would come in the 70's. The author’s focus on human drama, relationships, and the psychological toll of flight adds depth to what might otherwise be a simple action story.
One of the novel's strengths lies in its portrayal of the era’s civil aviation—a time when flying was still a relatively new, awe-inspiring experience. Gann, having worked as a pilot himself, is able to infuse the story with a sense of realism and authenticity that makes the reader feel the weight of each mechanical sound in the cockpit, the frailty of human life, and the sophistication of the machines that carry passengers through the skies. It’s a love letter to aviation, capturing both the romance and the peril that accompany flight in its early days.
The high level of character development in The High and the Mighty can be both an asset and a challenge. Some readers may find the deep dives into each passenger’s story a bit old-fashioned or slow-paced by today’s standards, but there’s no denying the emotional richness that Gann achieves. By the time the crisis hits, readers are invested in these characters, feeling their fear and hope in equal measure.
As someone coming to Gann’s novels with an appreciation for older storytelling traditions, The High and the Mighty offers a timeless reading experience. It's a blend of adventure, human drama, and a profound exploration of courage and survival. Gann’s ability to capture the emotional nuances of aviation and human interaction amidst danger is part of what makes this novel intriguing
In sum, if you enjoy novels with a strong sense of place, well-rounded characters, and a mix of tension and reflection, The High and the Mighty will resonate. It’s a captivating journey through the skies and through the hearts of those who take flight—an excellent choice for anyone intrigued by the early days of civil aviation or those simply seeking a deep, thoughtful read from an era of more traditional, immersive storytelling.
I'm glad I read this one which has sat on my shelf for far too many years.
-----------------------------
55. The High and The Mighty by Ernest K. Gann, finished November 29, 2024, 3 stars
I gave chatgpt an outline of my feelings and sense of my latest read and with some adds and edits this is what she wrote ... I like it! However, this review is really over the top so read it with that in mind for a chuckle. In truth the story is very dated but gives one a picture of life in 1953, A-bomb fears and all.
Ernest K. Gann’s The High and the Mighty (1953) is a good example of old-fashioned storytelling that transports readers to the early days of civil aviation, where the tension between human vulnerability and technological achievement is palpable. As a reader, I was following in the footsteps of my maternal grandparents who were fans of his novels, particularly Fate is the Hunter.
The story has a slow start as we are introduced to each of the passengers as they check in at the small airport in Honolulu. Almost too slow and there are about 25 characters between personnel and passengers to start keeping track of. Most of the story is set aboard a transcontinental flight from Hawaii to California, The High and the Mighty intertwines the lives of a diverse group of passengers and crew as they face a crisis in the skies. The novel is defined by its multi-layered characterizations, giving us not only a glimpse into the personalities of the flight crew and passengers, but also an insight into their fears, hopes, and complex backstories. These characters are far from one-dimensional. From the seasoned co-pilot Dan Roman, who struggles with his own internal demons, to the passengers who bring their personal burdens and unresolved conflicts onboard, Gann paints a vivid portrait of a world where personal and professional lives intersect under the pressure of imminent danger.
Gann’s writing style, rooted in the era of mid-20th-century American literature, offers a certain nostalgia. His prose is rich and detailed, with a pacing that might feel slower compared to modern thrillers, but this also feels like a prelude to the disaster novels that would come in the 70's. The author’s focus on human drama, relationships, and the psychological toll of flight adds depth to what might otherwise be a simple action story.
One of the novel's strengths lies in its portrayal of the era’s civil aviation—a time when flying was still a relatively new, awe-inspiring experience. Gann, having worked as a pilot himself, is able to infuse the story with a sense of realism and authenticity that makes the reader feel the weight of each mechanical sound in the cockpit, the frailty of human life, and the sophistication of the machines that carry passengers through the skies. It’s a love letter to aviation, capturing both the romance and the peril that accompany flight in its early days.
The high level of character development in The High and the Mighty can be both an asset and a challenge. Some readers may find the deep dives into each passenger’s story a bit old-fashioned or slow-paced by today’s standards, but there’s no denying the emotional richness that Gann achieves. By the time the crisis hits, readers are invested in these characters, feeling their fear and hope in equal measure.
As someone coming to Gann’s novels with an appreciation for older storytelling traditions, The High and the Mighty offers a timeless reading experience. It's a blend of adventure, human drama, and a profound exploration of courage and survival. Gann’s ability to capture the emotional nuances of aviation and human interaction amidst danger is part of what makes this novel intriguing
In sum, if you enjoy novels with a strong sense of place, well-rounded characters, and a mix of tension and reflection, The High and the Mighty will resonate. It’s a captivating journey through the skies and through the hearts of those who take flight—an excellent choice for anyone intrigued by the early days of civil aviation or those simply seeking a deep, thoughtful read from an era of more traditional, immersive storytelling.
I'm glad I read this one which has sat on my shelf for far too many years.
139RBeffa
I don't count a book unless I have read at least half of it, and that did not happen with this longish book.
The City and Its Uncertain Walls: A Novel by Haruki Murakami, about 2 stars Dec 2, 2024, DNF
Waited for this new release from the library. Intriguing at first and then it was boring. I'm not sure what this is ...
I had very high expectations, I will admit. I might have another go at it before I return this to the library.
The City and Its Uncertain Walls: A Novel by Haruki Murakami, about 2 stars Dec 2, 2024, DNF
Waited for this new release from the library. Intriguing at first and then it was boring. I'm not sure what this is ...
I had very high expectations, I will admit. I might have another go at it before I return this to the library.
140RBeffa
Sometimes it is me, sometimes the book
56. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, finished December 4, 2024, 2 stars
Not my cuppa
I've certainly had a run recently of books not working for me. Several I have just deleted and moved on, some I have listed above. I had picked up this recent book from the library and when I started reading it, on the first page no less, I immediately took a dislike to the author's writing style. I read several chapters and couldn't shake that reaction, but I persevered. Complaints? too many characters and viewpoints, story drawn out much too much, meandering ... at some point I realized that I didn't care about anyone in this book. I started speed reading, skimming, and then set it aside. I nibbled and read a few other books.
Many days went by. Should I have a go again or just take it back to the library? I picked it back up, read on, and then I jumped to near the end of the book. Was there some big payoff? No. I feel 2 stars is almost two generous for me. Back to the library this is going.
56. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, finished December 4, 2024, 2 stars
Not my cuppa
I've certainly had a run recently of books not working for me. Several I have just deleted and moved on, some I have listed above. I had picked up this recent book from the library and when I started reading it, on the first page no less, I immediately took a dislike to the author's writing style. I read several chapters and couldn't shake that reaction, but I persevered. Complaints? too many characters and viewpoints, story drawn out much too much, meandering ... at some point I realized that I didn't care about anyone in this book. I started speed reading, skimming, and then set it aside. I nibbled and read a few other books.
Many days went by. Should I have a go again or just take it back to the library? I picked it back up, read on, and then I jumped to near the end of the book. Was there some big payoff? No. I feel 2 stars is almost two generous for me. Back to the library this is going.
141laytonwoman3rd
You have had a run of disappointments, Ron. Best turn to an old favorite (author or re-read) when that happens.
142RBeffa
>141 laytonwoman3rd: I have a couple of holds on promising books from the library so I am looking forward, hoping for a little luck. Meanwhile maybe a short book break is needed. I am in the middle of an Ian Fleming book which I am liking more than I expected. Never read one before.
143RBeffa
Midway through Ian Fleming's Casino Royale but I moved to another book from the library. This story kept me reading and I stayed up very late trying to figure out the mystery here. Finished this off this morning, and this was a good read.
57. My Real Children by Jo Walton, finished December 6, 2024, 3 1/2+ stars
Welsh-Canadian novelist Jo Walton’s 'My Real Children' is an exploration of memory, identity, and the complex threads of our lives, and how societies' norms impact people. Unlike some of my recent reads, the warm style of the author pulled me in from the start. The year is 2015 when we meet Patricia (Patty, Pat, Tricia, Trish). Patty tells us she is "very confused". So does her medical chart. She is near the end of life with severe dementia. Does she have two lives, two identities, two distinct families, two similar but not the same rooms and staff in a nursing home? She has two distinct memories of her life. We then jump back in time to Patty in 1933 where there is one distinct life. We follow her forward with jumps in time through the war years and her acceptance and attendance at Oxford.
The novel centers on Patty’s journey through her two contrasting lives, both of which unfold in parallel timelines. In one timeline, she marries a man named Mark, and although she was smitten with his intellect you just know there is something wrong when he requests they be engaged on the evening they meet. 50 pages in I had become quite fond of Patty and then we soon have this marriage more or less forced upon her (it was a now or never proposal) for no discernable reason. We get a chapter that begins with a now answer. Her marriage and wedding night make one want to cry. This line has Patty leading a somewhat conventional life in mid-20th-century England with a piece of shit husband. It made me sad throughout the telling. In the following chapter she answers never, she travels to Italy and is in a sense reborn, awakened to food, beauty and life. Eventually she is with a woman named Bee, living a life that feels more liberated and authentic to her personal desires, a life of discovery and travel. Both timelines produce children and neither timeline is without tragedy. The book tells this story in chapters back and forth between the two lives.
I appreciated the journey but I was left with questions. I should also note that details dropped at the start and along the way show the reader that both of the timelines we read here are not our timeline (Miami and Kiev nuked, Castro assassinated, Kennedy blown up with a bomb, RFK a president, things on the moon ... ). The middle of the book felt a little slow. And my usual complaint about too many characters to keep track of reared its head, although the main ones are very well defined and remembered. I've probably said too much and I won't say much more about this story other than I think it is very good and makes one think about life, love, memory, and I needed an ending that I could understand. I am at an age where many people from my life live on only in my memory and a book like this resonates in certain ways and gets one to thinking.
57. My Real Children by Jo Walton, finished December 6, 2024, 3 1/2+ stars
Welsh-Canadian novelist Jo Walton’s 'My Real Children' is an exploration of memory, identity, and the complex threads of our lives, and how societies' norms impact people. Unlike some of my recent reads, the warm style of the author pulled me in from the start. The year is 2015 when we meet Patricia (Patty, Pat, Tricia, Trish). Patty tells us she is "very confused". So does her medical chart. She is near the end of life with severe dementia. Does she have two lives, two identities, two distinct families, two similar but not the same rooms and staff in a nursing home? She has two distinct memories of her life. We then jump back in time to Patty in 1933 where there is one distinct life. We follow her forward with jumps in time through the war years and her acceptance and attendance at Oxford.
The novel centers on Patty’s journey through her two contrasting lives, both of which unfold in parallel timelines. In one timeline, she marries a man named Mark, and although she was smitten with his intellect you just know there is something wrong when he requests they be engaged on the evening they meet. 50 pages in I had become quite fond of Patty and then we soon have this marriage more or less forced upon her (it was a now or never proposal) for no discernable reason. We get a chapter that begins with a now answer. Her marriage and wedding night make one want to cry. This line has Patty leading a somewhat conventional life in mid-20th-century England with a piece of shit husband. It made me sad throughout the telling. In the following chapter she answers never, she travels to Italy and is in a sense reborn, awakened to food, beauty and life. Eventually she is with a woman named Bee, living a life that feels more liberated and authentic to her personal desires, a life of discovery and travel. Both timelines produce children and neither timeline is without tragedy. The book tells this story in chapters back and forth between the two lives.
I appreciated the journey but I was left with questions. I should also note that details dropped at the start and along the way show the reader that both of the timelines we read here are not our timeline (Miami and Kiev nuked, Castro assassinated, Kennedy blown up with a bomb, RFK a president, things on the moon ... ). The middle of the book felt a little slow. And my usual complaint about too many characters to keep track of reared its head, although the main ones are very well defined and remembered. I've probably said too much and I won't say much more about this story other than I think it is very good and makes one think about life, love, memory, and I needed an ending that I could understand. I am at an age where many people from my life live on only in my memory and a book like this resonates in certain ways and gets one to thinking.
144Whisper1
Hi Ron, It's been awhile since I visited here. Next year I hope to be more diligent.
I added The Machineries of Joy to my tbr list.
I will always remember the professor in college who introduced me to Rad Bradbury. One assignment was to read there Will Come Soft Rains. It has stayed with me all these years.
I added The Machineries of Joy to my tbr list.
I will always remember the professor in college who introduced me to Rad Bradbury. One assignment was to read there Will Come Soft Rains. It has stayed with me all these years.
145RBeffa
>144 Whisper1: thanks for stopping by Linda. I have been very negligent this year myself. I keep my own book thread up to date but rarely visit others. Bradbury very rarely disappoints so I hope you enjoy this collection someday. I am going to try and be a little more attentive when the new year comes.
146elorin
>143 RBeffa: That Sounds like an interesting story. Onto the wishlist it goes!
147RBeffa
>146 elorin: Robyn, I had not read Jo Walton before, other than an article here and there on Tor website years ago. I hope you enjoy the book one day
-------------------
Like the High and the Mighty (from 2 weeks ago) this book dates to 1953. I read it for the December British author challenge of books acquired in 2024.
58. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, finished December 11, 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
I picked this paperback up early this year when I was sorting books for the friends of the library sales. I had never read a Bond book before even though I have seen them over the years. My sense from friends years ago was that they weren't worth my time. A book for my grandpa's generation perhaps. So 1953, a book as old as me.
I'll confess to liking this much more than I expected. I saw James Bond here as a completely different person than the Sean Connery Bond films of my youth. I did not realize until I started reading this that it was the very first Bond book. I thought to myself as I was reading, what kind of game is chemin-de-fer and baccarat? I hadn't a clue and thought it was going to give me trouble but the book explains it. thank goodness. I really enjoyed Fleming's descriptions of people and place. Very vivid, good and bad. Readers bothered by the way things were towards women in the 1950s in books and films should probably avoid this. I had a buddy who really loved all the Bond films with their gadgets and high tech (for the times) stuff. That Bond isn't here although there is a car here that he treasures .. a Bentley ... not an Aston Martin.
In the past I would look at an Ian Fleming novel and go ewww. Don't kill me please but I actually liked the way this book was written. Reminded me of some of the classic crime novels I have read like The Postman Always Rings Twice, etc. A novel of the times.
I picked up the dvd of the 2006 film with Daniel Craig from the library. I have very low expectations.
-------------------
Like the High and the Mighty (from 2 weeks ago) this book dates to 1953. I read it for the December British author challenge of books acquired in 2024.
58. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, finished December 11, 2024, 3 1/2 - 4 stars
I picked this paperback up early this year when I was sorting books for the friends of the library sales. I had never read a Bond book before even though I have seen them over the years. My sense from friends years ago was that they weren't worth my time. A book for my grandpa's generation perhaps. So 1953, a book as old as me.
I'll confess to liking this much more than I expected. I saw James Bond here as a completely different person than the Sean Connery Bond films of my youth. I did not realize until I started reading this that it was the very first Bond book. I thought to myself as I was reading, what kind of game is chemin-de-fer and baccarat? I hadn't a clue and thought it was going to give me trouble but the book explains it. thank goodness. I really enjoyed Fleming's descriptions of people and place. Very vivid, good and bad. Readers bothered by the way things were towards women in the 1950s in books and films should probably avoid this. I had a buddy who really loved all the Bond films with their gadgets and high tech (for the times) stuff. That Bond isn't here although there is a car here that he treasures .. a Bentley ... not an Aston Martin.
In the past I would look at an Ian Fleming novel and go ewww. Don't kill me please but I actually liked the way this book was written. Reminded me of some of the classic crime novels I have read like The Postman Always Rings Twice, etc. A novel of the times.
I picked up the dvd of the 2006 film with Daniel Craig from the library. I have very low expectations.
148RBeffa
59. Remarkably bright creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, finished December 13, 2 stars
This story was a waste of my brain cells
This story was a waste of my brain cells
149RBeffa
60. Regeneration by Pat Barker, finished December 19, 2024, 3 stars
I have mixed reactions with this book and will balance those reactions with 3 stars. It is a historical fiction novel about the treatment of shell shock victims in WWI at a Scottish hospital. I have some quibbles with the writing style but read the book with some enthusiasm and more than my usual attention was required. I did not realize at first that most of the characters in the book were real people, fictionalized. My interest began to flag at some point and I am going to have to think about it for a while.
I have mixed reactions with this book and will balance those reactions with 3 stars. It is a historical fiction novel about the treatment of shell shock victims in WWI at a Scottish hospital. I have some quibbles with the writing style but read the book with some enthusiasm and more than my usual attention was required. I did not realize at first that most of the characters in the book were real people, fictionalized. My interest began to flag at some point and I am going to have to think about it for a while.
150PaulCranswick
Thinking of you at this time, Ron.
151RBeffa
Already thinking about what I am going to read next year. Books on the overflowing shelves!
I plan to have one more book after this finished by the end of the year and it is looking like it will be one of my favorite reads. Meanwhile I stepped outside of my box again.
61. Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee, finished December 26, 2024, 2+ stars
I got this short fantasy novel from the library. It is a coming of age story probably aimed at teens and even if I am many years past my teens these sorts of stories have been among my favorites over the years. However ... even though this was nominated for a nebula award it did not appeal to me. One can find an uncountable number of reviews online of people falling all over themselves gushing praise on this book. So I am an outlier in the land of influencers. I was so impressed with this sentence in the first chapter when our young woman watches her family eaten by a manticore: "Piss warmed the insides of my legs and between my toes, but I was frozen, frozen like a rabbit in an eagle's shadow, frozen as the breath before death."
Honestly I never cared for this story at all.
I plan to have one more book after this finished by the end of the year and it is looking like it will be one of my favorite reads. Meanwhile I stepped outside of my box again.
61. Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee, finished December 26, 2024, 2+ stars
I got this short fantasy novel from the library. It is a coming of age story probably aimed at teens and even if I am many years past my teens these sorts of stories have been among my favorites over the years. However ... even though this was nominated for a nebula award it did not appeal to me. One can find an uncountable number of reviews online of people falling all over themselves gushing praise on this book. So I am an outlier in the land of influencers. I was so impressed with this sentence in the first chapter when our young woman watches her family eaten by a manticore: "Piss warmed the insides of my legs and between my toes, but I was frozen, frozen like a rabbit in an eagle's shadow, frozen as the breath before death."
Honestly I never cared for this story at all.
