What are you currently reading?

[brlesh]

Finished Jaws. Definitely liked it more today than the first time I read it 40 years ago, though I can easily see why my pre-teen self didn’t like the book.

There’s a lot more going on in the book, and the decision (either Spielberg’s or the producers) to cut out the melodrama, make the characters likable, and focus on the shark we’re the right ones for the movie.

After Jaws, picked up Monsters, a three story anthology of novella length stories dealing with monsters. This is the second book in the Dark Tide series from CLP that I’ve read, and I haven’t cared for either one. Actually didn’t even finish the third story in this one.

After Monsters, I started The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

100 pages in and the story is a little slow at this point.

I really liked SMG’s Mexican Gothic and am a big fan of the original story by Wells, so hoping this one picks up soon.

B

[brlesh]

Finished Jaws.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Suntup AGE of Balke Crouch's "Dark Matter". This was a first time read and it blew my mind. It was exactly the book I needed as the last few reads have been duds for me. Not this one! Had previously read Crouch's Pines trilogy and enjoyed it, but this book feels extra special. It kept me surprised throughout and had tons of thought provoking scenes and ideas. Also enjoyed pretty much every character, and they all felt fleshed out and real. For me, this was sci-fi/adventure done right! I hope one day that we get to find out what may have happened to the main characters travel companion Amanda, as there might be a story to tell. I would give this book an A grade for sure.

Am now reading Joyce Carol Oates' "Zombie", another first time read for me. Have only read a few of her short stories in random anthologies.

[TacomaDiver]

I'm about 3/4 of the way through Winterset Hollow by Johnathan Edward Durham. I hadn't ever heard of this book before, but someone mentioned here that it might be one of Suntup's next releases (debut novel, a book about a book, etc.)

So far I'm really enjoying it. The twist that occurred in the beginning really through me for a loop and I can't wait to see where it goes.

My next book may be the new Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel that just came today - Silver Nitrate. I really enjoyed Mexican Gothic and this one sounds really good.

[TacomaDiver]

I'm glad your shark wasn't feeling hungry, TD!

Luckily this species (six-gill shark) isn't known to be aggressive.

The BEST part is immediately after not being dead, I was able to get three pictures of a shark pup. At the time, I was the only known diver to have seen a shark pup, AND I had photographs to prove it too.

[JeremyM]

Just wrapped up 'Roadside Picnic' - the new FS version illustrated by Dave McKean. I really enjoyed it, though the ending felt a little abrupt. It reminded me a little of Gibson's short story 'The Hinterlands', which is also an alien encounter story without the aliens. Was surprised to learn that AMC had commissioned a TV series based on the novel that got as far as a pilot but failed to go to full production - trailer for the pilot can be found on the internet. Arguably 'Tales from the Loop' also owes a bit to 'Roadside Picnic' as well, though that certainly has a more optimistic worldview to go along with the uncertainty of discovery.

[sholloman81]

Feel like I am on a string of bad luck with my recent reads.  I tried completing my Suntup AGE of Patrick McCabe's "The Butcher Boy" but could not do it.  Just could not connect to the story or characters no matter how much I tried.  This is the first book that I have DNF'd in forever and I feel like crap for doing it.  Luckily, this was a random buy during one of Suntup's dinged sales so I didn't pay full-price.  

After this one, I decided to read my Suntup AGE of David Seltzer's "The Omen".  This was a first time read for me.  I found it to be very underwhelming.  Not a bad book by any means, but nothing really special either.  I just could not connect to the main characters, especially the husband Jermey Thorn, which I think took a lot of the air out of the story for me.  I also think it took way too long for the scary bits to kick-in.  Once they finally did, in the last quarter of the book, I had pretty much checked-out which is too bad as there were some genuinely scary parts by that point, especially the dog attack in the cemetery.  As a side note, I have never seen the movie and wonder if I would have more affinity for this book if I had.  Overall, I would give this a D+ to C- rating.

I am now reading my Suntup AGE of Blake Crouch's "Dark Matter".  This is a first time read for me as well and I have very high hopes as I loved his Pines trilogy!     

[dannyboy121070]

That's terrifying. If that happened to me, I think that would be the last time I ever went near a body of water!

That DID happen to me, and that WAS the last time I went in any non-pool body of water, lol.

I'm glad your shark wasn't feeling hungry, TD!

[jeffingoff]

That's terrifying. If that happened to me, I think that would be the last time I ever went near a body of water!

[TacomaDiver]

I lost the video over the years which is a bummer - it was a great video in the style of Blair Witch - shaky cam, darkness, flashlight flashing, and a SHARK!

This isn't the one that knocked me over, but it was the one I saw right before I saw the one that knocked me over.

IMAG0010.jpg

This is the one did knock me over:
IMAG0015.jpg
(I always thought that these pics were of different sharks - I may have been mistake by looking at them now, regardless of what my notes may say.)

[jeffingoff]

I once had a 14-foot shark run into me and knock me over underwater - they're not easily avoided.

Well, maybe if you avoid the water? I still think she was out to get me.

AHHHHH that's terrifying! Of course sharks are only easily avoided once you are out of the water. You're never going to bump into one at the movie theater, for example. hahahahaha but if your lifestyle includes lots of splashing it's a threat.

[TacomaDiver]

I loved Jaws. Lots of themes and things to unpack from that story. Seems everyone (including the shark) is out of place. And that discord brings violence. I'm in a very small minority on this, but I never. understood what was so special about the movie. A shark is an easily avoidable danger. At least in the book, there are compelling reasons the shark remains a threat. It actually highlights how bad countless decisions and human drama feed that shark.

I once had a 14-foot shark run into me and knock me over underwater - they're not easily avoided.

Well, maybe if you avoid the water? I still think she was out to get me.

[jeffingoff]

Finished up On the Hierophant Road by James Chambers. Â An OK read.
Started Jaws by Peter Benchley. Â It’s probably been 45 years since I first read Jaws. Â
At the time I didn’t care for the book. Â Loved the he movie, and was probably too young to appreciate the novel. Â
Right now I’m 130 pages in and it is the most compelling & readable thing I’ve read in months.
Easy to see why Jaws was a best seller nearly 50 years ago.
Maybe this is the book that breaks me out of my months long reading slump.
B

I loved Jaws. Lots of themes and things to unpack from that story. Seems everyone (including the shark) is out of place. And that discord brings violence. I'm in a very small minority on this, but I never. understood what was so special about the movie. A shark is an easily avoidable danger. At least in the book, there are compelling reasons the shark remains a threat. It actually highlights how bad countless decisions and human drama feed that shark.

[brlesh]

Finished up On the Hierophant Road by James Chambers.  An OK read.
Started Jaws by Peter Benchley.  It’s probably been 45 years since I first read Jaws.  
At the time I didn’t care for the book.  Loved the he movie, and was probably too young to appreciate the novel.  
Right now I’m 130 pages in and it is the most compelling & readable thing I’ve read in months.
Easy to see why Jaws was a best seller nearly 50 years ago.
Maybe this is the book that breaks me out of my months long reading slump.
B

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Suntup AGE of Thomas Harris' "Hannibal Rising", a first time read. Had always avoided this novel as I had heard nothing but bad things. Am glad I finally got around to it as it is much better than the reviews would lead you to believe. I think most people were just hung up on the plot and wanting a continuation of the Lecter/Starling story. Instead, the author chose to look back at Lecter's youth and at how his monster was made. I didn't mind that at all. The book does have its flaws as you can tell the author didn't quite give it his all as he did in the previous books, but it's pretty understandable once you learn some of the background as to how and why the book was written in the first place. Most of the issues are small for the most part and easily overlooked. You can also tell that the author had a lot of fun bringing elements from some of his favorite books into this one. Overall, I would give this book a solid C average (and may have rated it higher if it wasn't part of a superior series).


Reading the Suntup AGE of Patrick McCabe's "The Butcher Boy" next, another first time read. No idea what to expect. Am trying to get through my pending stack of Suntup AGEs.