What Fiction are you reading this week, September 15, 2019?

[hermetic]

Reasons to read


Atwood’s The Heart Goes Last, which I only just started because I came across a gripping tale last Monday while I was waiting for someone at the library. The Good Guy by Dean Koontz was lying there on a table so I figured I’d read a little; see what it was about. Three pages in and I was hooked. Truly a “pulse-pounding thriller” that I devoured over a few days. In spite of being written over 10 years ago, it has a lot of timely ideas. My jaw actually dropped when he made reference to evil in the form of a certain business man with weird hair. Yeah, terrific book.

I was listening to A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson. This is quite a story and listening to it was not my best choice. It gets rather complicated but it’s so well-written that I decided to get the book and read it instead. It’s a story of the 20th Century as seen through the eyes of a would-be poet, heroic pilot, husband, father, and grandfather as he navigates the perils and progress of a rapidly changing world. “An ingenious and moving exploration of one ordinary man's path through extraordinary times.”

So, yesterday I switched to listening to The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield which is a story about books and writing. And reading. You might guess that I am loving this one.

And you?

[RobertDevereaux]

1. The audiobook of Richard Matheson's I AM LEGEND.

Superb!

[hermetic]

2. Pretty famous story

I should give that a listen.

Did you see the movie?

[Runningdawg]

3. Which one? There have been three. Last Man On Earth, Omega Man and the one with Will Smith.

[hermetic]

8. I noticed that

when I was looking this up. I did see The Omega Man long ago but missed the Will Smith one.

[RobertDevereaux]

13. I've long been aware of them...

But haven't seen a one.

Any recommendations? Maybe ALL of them!

[Runningdawg]

15. Omega Man

None are completely true to the book, but this version, at least for me, captures the loneliness and desperation more so than the other 2.

[mainstreetonce]

4. I am halfway through The Thirteenth Tale

Can't to hear what you think of it.

I chose it after reading Once Upon a River by the same author.
I like the Thirteenth Tale ,but it doesn't match how much I liked the River story.

[hermetic]

7. Thanks

I will definitely look for the River one later. I'm only a few chapters in on The 13th Tale.

[Runningdawg]

5. A Matter of Days by Amber Kizer

A pandemic has killed off 98% of the world's population. 2 children who are survivors drive cross country from WA to reach an Uncle, they hope is still alive in FL. It's TWD - without zombies. Not as dark as The Road, but just as good.

[hermetic]

10. Ah, The Walking Dead

Had to look it up. I never did see that. Your books sounds pretty exciting, though.

[ginnyinWI]

6. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.

Ghana, 18th c. Story of two half sisters, the slave trade, and their descendants through American (and Ghanian) history.

Her first book, and has been lauded by the NYT, WaPo, Sf Chronicle, Mother Jones, etc, etc. You will love it!

[hermetic]

9. Cool!

That sounds great.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. Kill Zone by Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason.

Things go horribly wrong in a spent nuclear waste storage facility.

Anderson and Beason have written several books together, including The Trinity Paradox which centers on the development of the nuclear bomb at Los Alamos in WWII.

Beason is a nuclear physicist and worked for a time at Los Alamos. Anderson is a prolific writer and all-around good guy, who once defended my honor at a writing conference. The details are unimportant, but I'm understandably fond of him.

[hermetic]

17. That does sound like

an interesting story. At least a lovely memory. I can see why you would want to read his books.

Ever been to Los Alamos? Lovely area, nice little town. Back in the 70s, anyway. A high school friend got a job there managing a jewelry store so I went there a couple of times to visit.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

21. I live in Santa Fe, lucky me.

I moved here eleven years ago after a divorce. I'm a science fiction geek and I've gotten to know any number of the wonderful s-f writers who live in NM and Colorado.

I have a son in a PhD program in astronomy on the east coast. I am really hoping he gets a job in this part of the country (NM, CO, or AZ) when he's done, so he won't be so far away.

Anderson and Beason also wrote The Trinity Paradox, in which an anti-nuclear activist gets bounced back to northern New Mexico and the year 1943. She manages to get a job in Los Alamos. It's very good. I keep on intending to reread it, but haven't yet. It came out in 1991, and I first read it around then. I suspect a reread would find it somewhat dated. But I still hope to get to it someday.

[Runningdawg]

23. Both of those sound good, I added them to my reading list

[murielm99]

12. Fiction,

but actually memoirs based on real experiences.

I am reading "The Berlin Stories," by Christopher Isherwood. These stories are about Isherwood's time in Berlin during the Weimar Republic, just before the Nazis took over. Of course, most people are familiar with these stories through "I am a Camera," and "Cabaret."

It can happen here.

[hermetic]

18. Yeah,

and it already is. I just hope we will prevail without major loss of life this time.

[The King of Prussia]

14. Unquiet Souls by Liz Mistry

We went to talk by a number of crime authors at a local library, and Liz Mistry was one of them so I started this in preparation. It's OK, and has added interest for me because it's set near where I live. But other than the location, nothing really marks it out from a lot of similar series - perverted killers and a focus on the lives and loves of the detectives. Not sure what's next for me.

[hermetic]

20. That sounds fun

Seeing a bunch of crime authors.

[Midnight Writer]

16. A Head Full Of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay.

A now 23 year old recalls the events in her home from when she was 8 years old. Interesting point of view, very well done.

[hermetic]

19. Oh, that one's going on my list

"A Head Full of Ghosts is a terrifying tale told with inventive literary flair and unrelenting suspense that craftily, cannily, and inexorably builds to a truly shocking ending."

Mr. Tremblay has quite a long list of interesting sounding books.

[Bayard]

22. Love Dean Koontz

Haven't read that one though, will have to look for it.

I picked up Steven King's, "The Sun Dog", for free. That's where I'm at at the moment.

[Glorfindel]

27. "The Sun Dog" scared the bejeezus out of me

I first read it when it appeared in King's "Four Past Midnight" in the early 90's. I found it terrifying. I had a Polaroid Sun camera at that time. Gave it away and never bought another one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Bayard]

35. THAT's where I read it before!

Years ago. I knew there was some familiarity. I like the references to Cujo, and other Castle Rock characters.

[bif]

24. "How to Set a Fire and Why"

Interesting story told through the eyes of a young, smart outcast high school girl.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

25. The Institute by Stephen King

Just finished it this morning. It was great. Very focused. It's like Firestarter good.

[Docreed2003]

26. Have it on my nightstand and plan to start reading it today!

[Cuthbert Allgood]

28. I started it Wednesday night.

Was just going to read for 20 minutes or so. 275 pages later I figured I better get to bed if I wanted to not suck at teaching in the morning.

[peacefreak2.0]

32. Just finished it.

I'm tempted to go back to page one and do it again. One of his best ones.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

33. Absolutely agree.

Engaging. Great characters. Nice competing narratives. This quickly went to near the top of the list of my favorite books from King (I put Dark Tower as one book, but this was better than several from that series...well, a couple anyway).

[Bayard]

36. It's on my list of WANTS

[Firestorm49]

29. The Whole Truth - David Baldacci

[KPN]

30. "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green.

I am surprisingly finding it quite enjoyable and a fun read despite its darker side (a sort of study of life with mental illness). The plot is excellent and John Green's writing, especially his mastery of personas, is exceptional. A great read all around ... and I'm only half way through it!

[hermetic]

31. I read that last year

I really enjoyed it, too.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

34. Loved that book.

Thought it was a fantastic protagonist for those dealing with OCD and mental illness. Plus he's just a solid writer.