What Fiction are you reading this week, September 12, 2021?

[hermetic]

Something for everyone at Armchair Books, Edinburgh

I am still enjoying The Feast. It's not a long book, I'm just short on time right now.

Listening to Artificial Condition, the next issue of the Murderbot Diaries, by Martha Wells. Teaming up with ART, a Research Transport vessel, Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue and killed a bunch of people. What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks. Getting pretty funny. I do know an ART, or two.

What somethings are you enjoying reading this week?

[The King of Prussia]

1. "The Judas Sheep" by Stuart Pawson

Thriller set (partly) here in Yorkshire. Not reallly got my reading mojo back - current events seem pretty grim at the moment.

Keep smiling (if at all possible).

[hermetic]

4. Keeps getting harder

to keep up a cheerful front. Future's not looking too bright anywhere. But, for you, a smile.

Your book sounds engrossing. Drug smuggling and brutal murder. How's it holding up, from 1996? (seems a lifetime ago.) With The Feast being from 1950, I find things I have no clue what they are referring to. I should make a list and look them up.

[The King of Prussia]

7. It's holding up pretty well

And there are no mobile phones in it - I think they are disastrous for plot.

It's probably a transatlantic cultural thing - I think I got all the references in "The Feast". One of the recommendations on the cover of my copy reads "'The miniature charm of a Baby Austen.' - The Observer". Unless you're my age or older, and British, you probably have no chance of realising that this is a terrific pun.

[hermetic]

9. That one's lost on me

Never a big Austen reader.

One question: what's a Boot? I know it's a car part but in the story we have several references to that as some sort of occupation, I think. The husband also sleeps in a room they call the boot. I was wondering if that was like what we call a mud room, a place where you leave off your wet shoes before coming into the house.

Also, I don't think there is a saint called Sody. Googled it and got nothing. That's no big deal, of course, but it did make me curious.

[IbogaProject]

12. boot is the car trunk

Boot is English word for what is the American car trunk.

[hermetic]

14. Thanks, yes, I know

This book I'm reading, The Feast, written in 1950, refers to a character as a Boot and talks about another character as the same. Plus there is a boot room in a hotel. So I'm wondering exactly what that refers to. My friend, the King..., there is British so I figured he would have a better idea as to what that was.

[The King of Prussia]

17. I lived in Cornwall for 18 years

It's actually where "The King of Prussia" name comes from. There are a LOT of obscure Cornish saints. I suspect St. Sody isn't real but I'm not sure. A boot was also a low level servant. And yes, I imagined it to be a boot room. I have to say I wanted to give that husband a slap.

[hermetic]

18. Thanks for the reply!

There are a couple of people in this story I would like to give a slap. On the other hand, it is amusing to watch them carry on as though it will have any real meaning, in the end.

I found Sody spelled Sodii, in my research. I was thinking maybe she didn't want to offend any actual people with this story. 1950, after all, wasn't terribly woman author-friendly. One had to tread lightly. And she's about to bury a bunch of them. Yes, I really am enjoying this story.

[hermetic]

21. You have certainly lived

in places with SO MUCH history. I just did some reading about Cornwall and had no idea it had inspired so many books and films, from Daphne du Maurier to John le Carre, whose real name is David Cornwell, of all things. I am in awe.

So, I hope you don't mind if I call you 'my friend, the King.' If that's too heady I can just say 'my friend, the Prussian.' Whichever, I am just pleased to call you 'my friend.'

[The King of Prussia]

24. Compared to the US

England is a compact country with a longer written history. So it's difficult to be that far away from something historical. And I've lived in 9 different counties. But I reckon this'll impress you: I lived in a Palace for 3 years!

I'm very pleased to call you my friend too

[bif]

2. "Fifty Words for Rain" by Asha Lemmie

Beautiful, sweeping novel that takes place in post WWII Japan. One of those "can't put down" books.

[hermetic]

5. That sounds lovely

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

3. I've been re-reading the Foundation series by Asimov

Last edited Sun Sep 12, 2021, 07:04 PM - Edit history (1)

I read the five books back in the eighties. I recently bought the complete series. Now there are additional prequels.

Good stuff.

[hermetic]

6. Good stuff, indeed

I didn't know about the prequels. So, thanks.

[Polly Hennessey]

8. Just started, The Stolen Angel

by Sara Blaedel, published on 2018. Will let you know next week how it is going.

[hermetic]

10. Please do

It sounds kind of creepy to me so I'd like to hear what you think.

[Number9Dream]

11. "Warriors of the Storm" by Bernard Cornwell

Half-way through the ninth book in the Saxon series. These remain good right from page one.

Thanks for the thread, hermetic.

[hermetic]

13. That's A LOT of reading

Sixteen years of writing for Cornwell, to write all 13 books. Read on, my friend.

[japple]

15. After hearing an interview with Honoree Fannone Jeffers on a Georgia Public

Broadcasting station, I just had to download The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois. I started reading it last night and was immediately drawn into the story of the early (TRUE--not text book) history of Georgia from the indigenous people, the early Scots settlers and the enslaved people whose lives and bloodlines are intertwined. The writing is rich in poetry and history as well as memorable characters. I am thrilled to find this writer. This book will be my home for 800+ pages.

Thank you for the weekly thread, hermetic. Hope everything is well with you.

[hermetic]

16. Good enough, thanks

I've got a few issues, but hey, don't we all? So much to do, so little time....

That book sounds marvelous. Could be some of my Scottish ancestors in there. I will definitely put that on my list.

Always happy to hear from you. Hope you are doing well, too.

[LearnedHand]

19. "A Master of Djinn" by P Djeli Clark

Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.

So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world forty years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage.

This steampunk fantasy has it all: Fantasy creatures, magic, a magic Ministry whose building has a djinn-built clockwork brain, alternate history, Egyptian hermeticism, and a gorgeously diverse cast of characters. Clark’s fantasy and alternate history storytelling is phenomenal! Earlier this year I read his novella “Ring Shout,” which was dark and intense. It has been optioned for a streaming TV series.

[hermetic]

22. Wow, so much fun

packed into 400 pages. Sound like quite a trip. One I might just take...

And Ring Shout--whoa. We surely do need a real life Maryse Boudreaux now.

[LearnedHand]

27. The ku kluxes is bustin' out all over

[LearnedHand]

20. I'm reliving Murderbot as you read the series, Hermetic

I *loved* ART.

[hermetic]

23. Cool

Wanna kick back and watch a couple episodes of Sanctuary Moon?

[LearnedHand]

26. Obvs

[CrispyQ]

25. Yesterday I finished "An Ambush of Widows" by Jeff Abbott.

Two men are murdered & their widows try to find the killer. This was a respectable mystery. Definitely a plot-driven story that moves fast. I had to re-read parts of the ending because so much happens so quickly.

One of my favorite scenes was the hacker hotel—a totally cool concept that I'll bet exists in the real world. In this book, an old motel was refashioned with extra walls creating a sort of fortress of halls, so clients could have ultimate privacy. And of course private internet connections. It was cool.

I'd check out another one of Abbott's books.

Next up is "Velvet was the Night" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE • From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a “delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir”* about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they’re both desperate to find.

Man, would I love to go to that bookstore in your photo! Go early & spend the day.

[Paladin]

28. Just finished "Billy Summers," Stephen King's latest.

Adequate, but he's done better. Starts out with promise, but then a character is introduced who kidnaps the plot. Best part: Descriptions of the main character's time as a Marine in Afghanistan.