What are you currently reading?

[dannyboy121070]

Almost finished with Max Brooks' DEVOLUTION, which is just phenomenal....I can't read it fast enough, and I hate to put it down. This needs to be made into a movie, ASAP. (The movie would probably stink, and have CGI monsters.....) I need more Bigfoot fiction, but I know nothing would come close to this. Any suggestions on worthwhile Bigfoot books?

[paulag]

The Man who Cycled the World" by Mark Beaumont. Beaumont spent 194 days riding just over 18,000 miles around the world, smashing the previous works record for the fast circumnavigation by bicycle. The book I'm reading right now is his retelling of his journey.
https://printsbery.com/planner-templ...eekly-schedule

[brlesh]

Finished The Deep by Alma Katsu.

I found the middle of the novel to be too slow & ponderous. At times it felt like I was reading a mainstream historical novel, not a supernatural one.

A muddled ending didn't help things either.

All in all, a disappointment, especially after The Hunger, which I liked a lot.

Started Phantom Limbs, a short story collection by Margo Lanagan.

I liked the first couple of stories. The last few, not so much.

Still have 3 stories to go, so the jury is still out on this collection.

B

[RonClinton]

Just finished "Big Lizard" by Joe & Keith Lansdale. I am a huge fan of Joe Lansdale and have almost everything that he has published; however, I found this story to be very underwhelming. I did love his previous absurdist books such as The Drive-In & the Ned Seal trilogy; however, I just couldn't connect with this one. Not sure if it is because it was co-authored or not; however, at no point did I feel invested in the characters, the setting, or the story itself, which was a bummer as the premise sounded very cool and gave me high hopes going into it. I think this one would have worked better as a comic rather than a novel, IMO.

i got those vibes early on — just too “graphic novel” for my taste — so it was the first new Lansdale that I skipped in as long as I can remember. Good to hear my suspicions were correct, but sorry you didn’t enjoy it.

[sholloman81]

Just finished "Big Lizard" by Joe & Keith Lansdale. I am a huge fan of Joe Lansdale and have almost everything that he has published; however, I found this story to be very underwhelming. I did love his previous absurdist books such as The Drive-In & the Ned Seal trilogy; however, I just couldn't connect with this one. Not sure if it is because it was co-authored or not; however, at no point did I feel invested in the characters, the setting, or the story itself, which was a bummer as the premise sounded very cool and gave me high hopes going into it. I think this one would have worked better as a comic rather than a novel, IMO.

[sholloman81]

Just finished "Westlake Soul" by Rio Youers. First time reading this novel and was completely blown away. A masterclass in storytelling and characterization. Don't remember ever feeling so emotional while reading a book before. There were times where I literally had to will myself not to cry. I know that this book wasn't for everyone on the forum, but for me, this novel was perfection. Definitely a book I will be recommending to everyone who asks for an amazing read.

[brlesh]

Finished up Ghostly, an anthology of ghost stories edited by Audrey Niffenegger, last night. Some hits. Some misses.

Started The Deep by Alma Katsu right after.

75 pages in and while a little slower paced than The Hunger (which I liked a lot), still enjoying it so far.

B

[brlesh]

"I sure wish Flynn would come back from screenwriting and pen more prose fiction, or figure out a way to juggle the two...she's an astounding talent."

I always wondered about her minimal output.

Didn't know she was screenwriting.

I always just figured as a writer she was closer to the Thomas Harris end of the writing spectrum rather than the Stephen King end.

B

[RonClinton]

Finished Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn's first novel last night.

Great book. Dark story about one seriously screwed up family.

So much better than Girl Gone, IMO.

Have a few more stories to read in Ghostly, a anthology of ghost stories edited Audrey Niffenegger.

Not bad. Some hits, some misses.

B

I sure wish Flynn would come back from screenwriting and pen more prose fiction, or figure out a way to juggle the two...she's an astounding talent.

Current read: a Ronald Malfi short-story collection. I've liked just about everything (novels and novellas) that I've read of Malfi's, but this collection is just leaving me kinda cold. Not sure if it's the work or me, but I may throw in the towel shortly if this chill doesn't melt.

[brlesh]

Finished Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn's first novel last night.

Great book. Dark story about one seriously screwed up family.

So much better than Girl Gone, IMO.

Have a few more stories to read in Ghostly, a anthology of ghost stories edited Audrey Niffenegger.

Not bad. Some hits, some misses.

B

[mhatchett]

I like the Murderbot series!

[TacomaDiver]

Currently about a third of the way through the first full length Murderbot novel from Martha Wells - Network Effect..

The other book I've read (that didn't have pictures) was the first Rivers of London novel - coincidentally called Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch. I saw something about how fun these novels were, so I ended up getting ALL of them from Book Depository (I liked the UK covers better, plus they were quite a bit cheaper than Amazon's pricing for the US versions.) Took me longer to get through the first one that I expected, and now I'm kind of having buyer's remorse. I wasn't hooked like I thought I would be. Maybe they get better later in the series.

The other 2021 books I have read - this time with pictures - was the Sweet Tooth comic series from Jeff Lemire. I've really enjoyed Black Hammer, and wanted to try some of this other work. Sweet Tooth was really good, but also awful at the same time. Not that the work was awful, but what happened in the work. There were some truly cruel and evil characters present.

[Parviz]

Just finished Live Girls by Garton. First time I've read him. Starting 1Q84 by haruki murakami. Middle of The Silence by Lebbon..

[RonClinton]

Starting THE FAMILY MAN by T. J. Lebbon, Tim Lebbon's "pseudonym" for the couple of tpb-only suspense thrillers he wrote a short while back.

[c marvel]

I finished reading Stories To Be Whispered: The Collected Short Fiction of Cornell Woolrich Volume Two. I had trouble following Murder, Obliquely. I finished reading Murder in the Blackout by J. Russell Warren. Now I am reading The Fair Grounds by Tobias Seamon and a Dollar Double sleaze consisting of The Sherwood Scandal by March Hastings/Oh, Sweet And Gentle Harlot by Nancy Dean as told to Jack Powers. Since I finished Stories To Be Whispered tonight that makes seven books I've read since we shut down here again. It's not a sure thing yet, we are scheduled to go back to work on Feb. 5.


Cap