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hermetic

(8,338 posts)
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 01:19 PM Dec 2023

What Fiction are you reading this week, December 10, 2023?




Reading A Dark Matter by Peter Straub, an electric, chilling, and unpredictable novel that proves Straub to be "a master of modern horror.'" It's sure holding my attention.

I am also reading, online, Solitude Creek by Jeffery Deaver. This is about a police investigation into a horrible incident and is quite good. Plenty of suspense and surprises. You can read it for free on your computer here: https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/jeffery-deaver/32688-solitude_creek_read.html

Listening to Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and read by Meryl Streep. A meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. A lovely story about an aspiring actress, and who better to read it than Streep. An absolute delight.

What books are delighting you this week?
24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What Fiction are you reading this week, December 10, 2023? (Original Post) hermetic Dec 2023 OP
Ask Not! by Tom Avitabile EverHopeful Dec 2023 #1
That does sound interesting hermetic Dec 2023 #5
Just finished Wuthering Heights no_hypocrisy Dec 2023 #2
Isn't that always the way? hermetic Dec 2023 #6
My favorite book. Far better than movie. Polly Hennessey Dec 2023 #8
I didn't really like Wuthering Heights, and I really struggled getting yellowdogintexas Dec 2023 #23
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. brer cat Dec 2023 #3
Thanks for the thread, hermetic. It looks like the kitty in the OP is sitting atop a stack japple Dec 2023 #4
Thanks. hermetic Dec 2023 #7
I will have to look for those 2 books Bayard Dec 2023 #9
I'm half way through, "Sleeping Beauties" Bayard Dec 2023 #10
Following two authors: cbabe Dec 2023 #11
I searched for that ornament online. Lots of txwhitedove Dec 2023 #12
Try this hermetic Dec 2023 #13
I have my 50-State challenge to finish ExWhoDoesntCare Dec 2023 #14
It's the cat 🐈 ornament's fault.... mentalsolstice Dec 2023 #15
Congratulations! hermetic Dec 2023 #17
Two. qwlauren35 Dec 2023 #16
Safe travels and hermetic Dec 2023 #18
I love Guy Gabriel Kay's books. yellowdogintexas Dec 2023 #19
Yup qwlauren35 Dec 2023 #21
The Granite Key (Arkana Archaeology Series Vol 1) N.S. Wikarkski yellowdogintexas Dec 2023 #20
That sounds SO good hermetic Dec 2023 #22
Is there a Half Price Books near you? yellowdogintexas Dec 2023 #24

EverHopeful

(192 posts)
1. Ask Not! by Tom Avitabile
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 01:32 PM
Dec 2023

Not loving it as much as his other work but it's hard to put down so obviously I'm enjoying it. Author says he had no idea how pervasive JFK conspiracies were before beginning his research for a screenplay and he's woven a real page-turner of a conspiracy story for us here.

hermetic

(8,338 posts)
5. That does sound interesting
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 02:11 PM
Dec 2023

As far as I can tell it's only on Kindle now and has just come out. His other books do sound intriguing, as well, so I have put them on my list. Thanks.

yellowdogintexas

(22,292 posts)
23. I didn't really like Wuthering Heights, and I really struggled getting
Tue Dec 12, 2023, 03:52 PM
Dec 2023

through it

On the other hand, I think I have read Jane Eyre about 5 times; the first time I was 13

brer cat

(24,673 posts)
3. Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby.
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 01:49 PM
Dec 2023

I picked it up after reading this thread last week. It is good, but not great imo.

japple

(9,850 posts)
4. Thanks for the thread, hermetic. It looks like the kitty in the OP is sitting atop a stack
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 02:00 PM
Dec 2023

of banned books! Great ornament.

Still (slowly) reading Tananarieve Due's book, The Reformatory.

Tom Lake is on my list of books to read. Love Ann Patchett.

hermetic

(8,338 posts)
7. Thanks.
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 02:15 PM
Dec 2023

Yeah, I do love that ornament, too.

Edit to add that Tom Lake came in 4th in the 2023 Best Books Award from Goodreads.

Bayard

(22,250 posts)
10. I'm half way through, "Sleeping Beauties"
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 02:34 PM
Dec 2023

Stephen King and Owen King. It started kind of slowly but quickly gets rolling. Recommend.

cbabe

(3,562 posts)
11. Following two authors:
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 02:39 PM
Dec 2023

Peter Heller/The River

Felt like a warm up for his ‘The last ranger’. (Also characters’ backstory.) Two college friends canoe a great northern river. Vast wilderness. Fishing. Bears. Moose. Wildfire. Encounter vicious men. Suspenseful. Dark ending.

I think it’s hard to write such a set piece. His characters engaged my empathy and the suspense is a page turner.

S. A. Cosby/Blacktop Wasteland

Southern poverty. What would do to survive and care for your family?

Oxy, drag racing, deep in the heart of rural black America.

Literary noir. Fast moving suspense.

Next up: Cosby’s Razorblade Tears

txwhitedove

(3,934 posts)
12. I searched for that ornament online. Lots of
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 03:33 PM
Dec 2023

others but not that one.

Read Cat Sitter's Pajamas by Clement as palette cleanser. Again, silly title but more serious content. Loved ending "some loyalties are almost sacred. Some secrets are best left undisturbed."

Now reading Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram Kendi. The definitive history of racist ideas in America, that started long before America. Hurts my head and heart so I've put several of your wonderful suggestions on my library list.

hermetic

(8,338 posts)
13. Try this
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 04:00 PM
Dec 2023
https://bookswares.com/collections/ornament

Lots of nifty stuff there.

That Clement book sounds like fun. "..what started as a simple cat-sitting job has turned into a mess that only Dixie can solve." Must read.

 

ExWhoDoesntCare

(4,741 posts)
14. I have my 50-State challenge to finish
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 04:10 PM
Dec 2023

Yes, I've been reading a book set in each state + DC, and these are the last books on that list:

Edna Ferber – Cimarron
Mary Keliikoa – Derailed
Owen Wister – The Virginian. Not so long ago, I had no use for Westerns. My mum loves them, so I asked her what the appeal was. 'I'd think you'd like them, since most of them are mysteries. They just have horses, rather than police cars.' Ever since I gave one a try with that in mind, I was like--'Yep. Mystery with horses.' I've developed an appreciation for them since then.

I'll probably squeeze in Rudyard Kipling's Kim as well. Short, so it won't take long.

mentalsolstice

(4,463 posts)
15. It's the cat 🐈 ornament's fault....
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 04:42 PM
Dec 2023

I’m still reading The Last Flight. I haven’t read as much this week because we adopted an orange cat 🐱. We have several feral cats in our tiny neighborhood. However, a young orange male has been following my husband and our small dog on their walks for the last several weeks. Sometimes he would come inside for a short visit afterwards. So this week we bit the bullet and took him to the vet. Had him checked, chipped and neutered. He’s estimated to be around one years old. We named him Sweet. He has turned into a total lap cat. He’s used his litter box and I don’t think he’s been outside even once today.

So in a roundabout way I blame your cute ornament for not getting as much reading done.

hermetic

(8,338 posts)
17. Congratulations!
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 04:56 PM
Dec 2023

I hope you and your new family member have a long and happy relationship. Also, thank you for taking Sweet in. Glad I could help.

qwlauren35

(6,154 posts)
16. Two.
Sun Dec 10, 2023, 04:50 PM
Dec 2023

Guy Gavriel Kay's Children of Earth and Sky
Peter Hamilton's Reality Disfunction.

I'm doing a lot of traveling so thick and juicy is key.

yellowdogintexas

(22,292 posts)
20. The Granite Key (Arkana Archaeology Series Vol 1) N.S. Wikarkski
Tue Dec 12, 2023, 12:41 AM
Dec 2023

During the untold millennia before patriarchy was conceived, the world was a very different place…
Series Finale Award Nominated as Best Mystery of the Month
For Fans of Archaeology Adventure, Historical Thrillers, and Treasure Hunt Mysteries

THE ARKANA SERIES
A myth-shattering treasure hunt that spans continents, centuries, and lost civilizations, pitting a secret society against a ruthless fundamentalist cult. The prize is a cache of hidden artifacts that could rewrite history or end it completely. With the world hanging in the balance, only one faction can win. More importantly, only one can survive.

Volume 1 - The Granite Key
In THE GRANITE KEY, an antique dealer is murdered for a mysterious cipher stone that reveals the location of a collection of ancient artifacts. The victim's sister Cassie is stunned when she learns about her sibling's double life as an Arkana agent. She's even more stunned to discover the role she's about to play in helping the Arkana recover the cache. Along with two field agents, she travels to Crete to hunt for clues, unaware that ruthless foes are only steps behind. Cassie and her new team have only hours to find what they seek before a Minoan crypt buries them along with their quest.

This is going to be a fun series. My favorite sub-genre: Archaeological Adventure


I finished City of Spirits, and enjoyed it very much
I do like this author and I love fiction set in New Orleans.

hermetic

(8,338 posts)
22. That sounds SO good
Tue Dec 12, 2023, 09:40 AM
Dec 2023

Bummer: my library doesn't have any of her books. One critic says of her, There’s a 52% chance that the next Dan Brown will be a woman … or should we just make that 100% now?"
Perhaps if I keep putting her name in their search engine, they'll get a clue.

yellowdogintexas

(22,292 posts)
24. Is there a Half Price Books near you?
Tue Dec 12, 2023, 04:01 PM
Dec 2023

You might find it there, although HPB is like garage & estate sales or thrift shops. You never know what will be there
However, they do have genre sections and everything is alpha by author so it is fairly easy to check for an author's work.

Can you do interlibrary loan on e=books at your library?

A friend told me at our Liberal Ladies Book Group that the New York Public Library will lend ebooks anywhere in the country. We were all intrigued by that

I hope you can find a copy (I am still annoyed with Amazon for doing away with our ability to lend books to other Prime members

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