What are you reading the week of July 27, 2014?

[Enthusiast]

I'm reading North of Nowhere by Steve Hamilton. I will be reading all of these.

[japple]

1. Just started reading James McBride's

The Good Lord Bird

McBride is one of my favorite authors and this book promises a wild ride. The beginning has certainly started out that way.

[pscot]

2. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey

This is the only one I haven't read. I wish there were more. I just finished The White Company by Conan Doyle on the e-reader. Huckleberry Finn is next, I think.

[scarletwoman]

3. I'm reading an odd book by an author I never heard of.

The Venetian Bargain by Marina Fiorato. I picked it up from my local library's "New Releases" shelf because it was classified as a "mystery" - but as far as I can tell (not quite halfway through), it's not really a mystery at all, just an historic fiction novel.

It's okay, not something I would have gone out of my way to get my hands on, though. Takes place in the 16th century, starting in Ottoman Constantinople and moving to Venice early on. Female protagonist, Black Plague, a bit of conflict between the Church and Science (but too subdued for my taste), war, Venetian history, Renaissance medicine and architecture - interesting enough, just not something I would rave about and recommend.

It's a stop-gap book for me - I'm waiting on the books I've placed on order, so I sort of randomly picked this one off the shelf in order to have something to read while I wait. I'll finish it, though, it's interesting enough for that.

[TexasProgresive]

4. As of an hour ago, I am bookless, oh my!

Just finished Elizabeth George's In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner. As I have posted in the past I love novels which have mystery that is told through complex characters. This book has it all. Mysteries abound and nearly every character is caught up in an emotional storm. It does have a bitter sweet end. All in all I would recommend this book to anyone.

Now to find something to fill the void.

[TexasProgresive]

5. Stopped in the library

and picked up another George mystery Playing for the Ashes. The title is in reference for when England and Australia face each other in cricket. Maybe I'll learn something about cricket.

[getting old in mke]

6. As I remember

that one also has Barbara Havers as the primary protagonist and fills in a lot of her history, as opposed to the Tommy & Simon histories.

Then again, I might hallucinating...

[TexasProgresive]

7. Having flashbacks?

I remember the day.

Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin' high and mighty trapped
Countless fire and flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
"We'll meet on edges, soon," said I
Proud 'neath heated brow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth
"Rip down all hate," I screamed
Lies that life is black and white
Spoke from my skull. I dreamed
Romantic flights of musketeers
Foundationed deep, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand
At the mongrel dogs who teach
Fearing not I'd become my enemy
In the instant that I preached
Existence fled by confusion boats
Mutiny from stern to bow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

My guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

[getting old in mke]

8. Lovely reminder

Thanks!

Getting younger and younger all the time...