What are you reading now?: September 28, 2024.

Having finished up Atlas of AI, the tail-end of the month will be devoted to The Tragedy of Empire and A Flame in the North. The start of October will see me working on Strangling the Axis and Dreadful.

Currently reading We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

Kindle library books checked out and waiting to be read:
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
All the Broken Places by John Boyne
Great Circle: A Novel by Maggie Shipstead

Lots of reading going on over at my house!

I'm still reading my Early Reviewer Broke Heart Blues by Joyce Carol Oates, and rereading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: The Illustrated Edition by J. K. Rowling for Banned Books Week.
Broke Heart Blues is feeling like getting into a conversation where a group of people who all know each other are reminiscing about people they all know and you don't so you're politely laughing along and acting interested even though you don't have a clue what they're talking about. I'm less than 100 pages into it so hopefully the plot will get going soon.
Happy Banned Books Week!

You Never Know: A Memoir
Tom Selleck
4/5 stars
This is his second autobiography, that I have read on him and his writing is very good. He talks about his life and his career. This also covers his time on Magnum PI. I wonder if he will write another book since this does not cover Blue Bloods (my husband's favorite show). A Dozen Film and TV Books

I am on the second chapter of David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, and I'm intimidated, not by the contents, but by the sheer size of the book. I'm not 100% certain I'm going to read it now or if I'm going to put it back on the shelf in exchange for something smaller.

Addendum: have decided not to read Infinite Jest at the moment. I've got a pile of books here that I'm trying to decide betweeen - one of them will be my next book. I'm leaning towards The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu

Having just finished Star Trek Psychology and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, I'm not quite sure what new books I will pick up for this month. Will look through the various CATS and Kits and Reading Challenges. Still reading The White Ship by Charles Spencer and about to start the section on the events after the sinking of the ship.

started this audio via Libby ~

Birding with Benefits: A Novel
by Sarah T. Dubb

Sincerely Sicily – Tamika Burgess
3.5***

Sicily Jordan has looked forward to middle school, when she and her besties – they call themselves the Tether Squad, since they met playing tetherball – will coordinate their outfits and compare teachers as they move from classroom to classroom for various subjects. But just a week or so before school starts she gets an email informing her that she will be enrolled in the new Shirley Chisholm Middle School. Now she’ll have no friends and won’t know any of the teachers! To make matters worse, the new school has a uniform, so all the cute outfits she’s planned will be staying in her closet.

I thought this was really delightful. Sicily’s troubles range from “new school” blues to bullying to navigating a first crush to family drama around her chosen hairstyle to racism (both overt and more subtle). She frequently feels alone and without a support system, though, in reality, she does have friends and family who care about her, want to support her, and encourage her to follow her dreams.

I like the way Burgess dealt with Sicily’s conflicts with her grandmother, as well as the way she portrayed the girl’s awakening to her family’s background and culture as Black Panamanians.

I’m going to recommend this to a couple of young ladies I know.

I finished up Strategic Bombing by the United States in World War II: The Myths and the Facts. I found it very difficult due to the author's general attitude. He made strong points about the ineffectiveness of the Allied strategic bombing campaign in World War II. But then he would make unsupported statements that didn't agree with the facts he reported. I'm glad to be done with this book.

Next up is Richard Power's new novel, Playground.

I've just finished Dear Mrs. Bird, an historical novel about a young woman trying to make her way professionally and romantically in London during the blitz. My longer review is up on my 50-Book Challenge thread.

I've now returned to The Guermantes Way by Proust, which I'm reading in quarters. I'm about a third of the way through the second (150-page) quarter.

All Systems Red – Martha Wells
Digital audiobook performed by Kevin R Free
4****

Book one in the Murderbot Diaries series. Our narrator is an AI-android who calls itself Murderbot (because of “that incident” in its past).

As the story opens, a scientific team is exploring an alien planet when a team member is attacked by a giant creature. The robotic security unit (known as SEC Unit) saves her. It seems the SEC unit has hacked its own governing system so that it can operate on its own without relying (or obeying) commands from the humans who believe they are in charge. Of course, Murderbot doesn’t let on and the humans still think they are in control. But this bot really just prefers to be left alone with the soap operas it has downloaded to watch during downtime, and from which it has “learned” about human behavior.

I really love this Murderbot! Probably my favorite non-human since I “met” Rocky in Project Hail Mary. It is often self-deprecating in its humor, and I loved the occasionally snarky remark. This is one loveable rogue! And I enjoyed watching the friendship develop between the Murderbot and the human Dr Mensah. I think I will have to continue the series.

Kevin R Free does a great job of performing the audiobook. His pacing is good, his diction clear and I really like the way he interprets Murderbot.

Our Missing Hearts – Celeste Ng
Book on CD narrated by Lucy Liu
4****

From the book jacket: Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. Bird knows to not ask too many questions, stand out too much, or stray too far. His mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet left the family when he was nine years old. Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is pulled into a quest to find her.

My reaction
This was uncomfortably plausible. Ng holds a magnifying glass to current and past events and predicts the likely outcome, especially if the silent majority remains silent and complacent when “it doesn’t effect US.”

Bird is a wonderful character. He’s smart and observant. The political climate in which he lives has resulted in a kind of maturity beyond his years. My heart bleeds for his father, who, to protect his child, must hold everything he knows inside – never sharing, never discussing, never searching for answers.

I loved the network of librarians who were used to thwart the “powers that be.” The story lost a little momentum in the second part, when Ng explored Margaret’s story, but it picked up again in part three. There were times when my heart was in my throat. I can hardly wait for my book club meeting to discuss!

The audiobook is narrated by Lucy Liu, who does a fine job of it. She sets a good pace and I was never confused about who was speaking.

From the library: A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman
New and 5th installment in "A Lily Adler Mystery" series

A Death In Door County – Annelise Ryan
3***

First in the Monster Hunter Mystery series featuring Morgan Carter, bookstore owner and cryptozoologist. Several bodies are found washed up on the beaches of Washington Island in Lake Michigan, all bearing unusual injuries that look like bites from a giant, unknown animal. Police Chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help in identifying the creature that may be responsible.

I loved the setting in Wisconsin’s Door County, an area I have often visited, including going to Washington Island. Of course, I’ve never come across any kind of store remotely like Odds and Ends, and I think I would find the mummified corpse too creepy and off-putting to spend any time in such a store. Whatever.

Morgan seems capable and certainly intelligent and a keen observer. The background story of her parents’ murder helped explain her issues with trusting others, especially men who might show any sort of romantic interest. And I do love her dog, Newt. What a champion!

My fellow book club members pointed out many inconsistencies in how the police chief behaved, as well as the implausibility of the final solution. But most agreed it was a fast and entertaining read, with the added interest in cryptozoology, and especially being set in our home state.

I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series, though I might just to spend more time with Newt.

What Dreams May Come
Richard Matheson
4/5 stars
This the story of Chris and his wife Annie. When Chris is killed from an accident, he discovers that life hasn't ended but he is now in Heaven. Annie has lost all hope without her husband and he will try to stop her horror of despair. Horror

Carrot Cake Murder – Joanne Fluke
2**

Book number 10 in the Hannah Swensen cozy mystery series, set in Lake Eden, Minnesota.

In this episode a family reunion is spoiled when a prodigal son returns, only to be murdered. Hannah and her sisters must, of course, get involved with solving the case. This time, the police actually ask for their help!

I read these mostly when I need something to fit a particular challenge. The book is a fast read and has some tasty recipes included. But I am over the love triangle between Hannah, Norman and Mike.

The new thread is up over here.