What are you currently reading?

[njhorror]

I just finished reading American Psyco. This book is supposed to be a modern classic? I thought it was a horrible horrible book. One of the worst books I have read. Did mine the violence aspect as I felt it was way tamer then any Edward Lee book. It just didn't click for me.

The first time I read it I threw the book against the wall halfway through cursing the day I spent good money on it.
The second time I tried to like it, but it came across as sadist porn and I haaaaaaaaated it.
Someone over at Shocklines said to give it another try. I did.

I read it cover to cover, howling with laughter, and tried to figure out how I had missed the genius in that book. I loved it.

For what it's worth.

[bookworm 1]

The first time I read it I threw the book against the wall halfway through cursing the day I spent good money on it.
The second time I tried to like it, but it came across as sadist porn and I haaaaaaaaated it.
Someone over at Shocklines said to give it another try. I did.

I read it cover to cover, howling with laughter, and tried to figure out how I had missed the genius in that book. I loved it.

For what it's worth.

Maine day I'll give it another go

[dannyboy121070]

The first time I read it I threw the book against the wall halfway through cursing the day I spent good money on it.
The second time I tried to like it, but it came across as sadist porn and I haaaaaaaaated it.
Someone over at Shocklines said to give it another try. I did.

I read it cover to cover, howling with laughter, and tried to figure out how I had missed the genius in that book. I loved it.

For what it's worth.

I read AMERICAN PSYCHO the week that it was released (1990...?, and I had a different perspective on it than you guys probably had. I was working in Manhattan, and I had a LOOOONG bus/subway commute from The Bronx. I spent hours every day crammed into subway cars with real-life Patrick Batemans, in their tailored suits and with their massive "mobile phones" and pagers, hearing them loudly talk about their massive stock deals, their expensive vacations, their love for the latest MTV sensation. Reading the book was like watching a documentary to me. The first time I read it, I was shocked by the violence, but subsequent readings revealed the book as a brilliant black comedy. Populated by the assholes that I rode the subway with and dealt with at work.

[mhatchett]

Just finished Dan Fesperman's The Arms Maker of Berlin. It was a nice understated academic thriller. next up, a fantasy novel, Snakewood by Adrian Selby.

[sholloman81]

Just finished Don Winslow's "The Border". I did like it but thought that the first two books in the trilogy, "Power of the Dog" & "The Cartel", were better. Also could have been shorter than its 700 plus pages. Overall, these three books have been great reads. This trilogy reminded me of watching the tv show "The Wire" with its interconnectivity of plots/characters. Am interested to see how FX turns these books into a tv series. Am now beginning Joe Lansdale's new Hap & Leonard novel "The Elephant of Surprise". While Lansdale's writing is always highly enjoyable, I have my fingers crossed with this one as I feel his last few Hap & Leonard books were a tad more formulaic/weaker than usual.

[jeffingoff]

Currently reading Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Kortya and really liking it!

[Martin]

Currently reading Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Kortya and really liking it!

That was a very satisfying read for me. Loved it from start to finish. I need to read more from Michael Koryta. I have The Prophet but have never read it.

[sholloman81]

Just finished Joe Lansdale's new Hap & Leonard novel "The Elephant of Surprise". I liked it, but didn't love it. Plowed through it in a day. Could see every twist & turn before they happened. Will always be a Hap & Leonard fan, but, if I'm being honest, the last few in the series have been a bit stale. Am hoping this series will get back to its earlier form. Am now beginning a mini Malerman marathon and will be reading "Birdbox", "Inspection", & "On This, the Day of the Pig".

[RonClinton]

Just finished Joe Lansdale's new Hap & Leonard novel "The Elephant of Surprise". I liked it, but didn't love it. Plowed through it in a day. Could see every twist & turn before they happened. Will always be a Hap & Leonard fan, but, if I'm being honest, the last few in the series have been a bit stale. Am hoping this series will get back to its earlier form.

I got burnt on the series after the last few seemed, as you say, a bit stale and all-too familiar, and the dialogue and attitudes among characters too uniform, and so ended up selling my entire collection of signed 1st HCs of the series. Probably an overreaction, and one I now kinda regret. But I'm not really a series guy, so burnout had to happen eventually, I suppose. Still love Lansdale's work and will continue to pick up just about everything else, but I am done with the H&L series.

[Martin]

I got burnt on the series after the last few seemed, as you say, a bit stale and all-too familiar, and the dialogue and attitudes among characters too uniform, and so ended up selling my entire collection of signed 1st HCs of the series. Probably an overreaction, and one I now kinda regret. But I'm not really a series guy, so burnout had to happen eventually, I suppose. Still love Lansdale's work and will continue to pick up just about everything else, but I am done with the H&L series.

Being only three in I hope it is a while before I burnout. I am enjoying it at the moment.

[mhatchett]

Series burnout is definitely a thing. My two examples Robert Parker's Spencer and Lee Child's Jack Reacher. I totally gave up on Parker, Early Autumn is my favorite of the series. I stopped buying Child after # ten, but I do hopefully read the new ones as they come out from the Library. James Lee Burke also walks the burnout line.

[RonClinton]

Series burnout is definitely a thing. My two examples Robert Parker's Spencer and Lee Child's Jack Reacher. I totally gave up on Parker, Early Autumn is my favorite of the series. I stopped buying Child after # ten, but I do hopefully read the new ones as they come out from the Library. James Lee Burke also walks the burnout line.

I read James Lee Burke's Robicheaux series until BURNING ANGEL, which is the eighth volume. Again, just burnout, nothing to do w/ the quality of the series, per se.

I've tried Child twice, since it kind of seems like the type of David Morrell-like thriller series I'd enjoy, but I just cannot get into this roaming, hulking giant of a man (Reacher) with hands the size of dinner plates who manages to blend in those backwater towns and has McGyver-like skills to save the day among a series of unlikely coincidences, nor past the often painfully bad writing that Child offers.

Never did read the Spencer series, though I hear the early volumes are pretty good.

[dannyboy121070]

I'm reading UNBROKEN, which is a great book, but has been dragging a bit for me as I near the home stretch.....it is an endless catalog of misery. Louie Zamperini had one hell of a series of misfortunes plague his life.
Also reading MODERN MASTERS: MIKE PLOOG, about one of my favorite comic-book/storyboard artists, and the new JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK, VOL. 1.

[TacomaDiver]

While I’m not currently reading this, I still wanted to ask a question - has any one here read the Errant Gods series from Erik Henry Vick?

I ask because I see the first book constantly in various ads which blurbs like “if you love Stephen King or The Dark Tower.” The reviews on Amazon are fairly favorable for what that’s worth. Plus the books are like $3 a piece so not much investment.

[Martin]

While I’m not currently reading this, I still wanted to ask a question - has any one here read the Errant Gods series from Erik Henry Vick?

I ask because I see the first book constantly in various ads which blurbs like “if you love Stephen King or The Dark Tower.” The reviews on Amazon are fairly favorable for what that’s worth. Plus the books are like $3 a piece so not much investment.

I am not familiar with it.