What are you currently reading?

[dannyboy121070]

Using my endless free time to alternate between three books:

ANANSI BOYS, by Neil Gaiman, PREDATOR: IF IT BLEEDS, and WHERE BIGFOOT WALKS: CROSSING THE DARK DIVIDE, with an occasional comic or graphic novel thrown into the mix.

The Gaiman, a follow-up to AMERICAN GODS, is a lot of fun, basically a buddy comedy. The Predator anthology is surprisingly good...Nine stories in, and there were only two that bored me, one of which I just skimmed. I'm not really interested in the "Colonial Marines find a Predator on a derelict spaceship", trope, which describes those two stories to a tee. The rest have featured Predators fighting Stonewall Jackson, vikings, Buffalo Soldiers...Predators throughout history really hit my sweet spot, lol. The Bigfoot book was a bit of false advertising...It's not about Bigfoot at all, but about a conservationist hiking through what is described as a Bigfoot hotspot. The endless descriptions of every tree, plant, and animal he sees are beautifully written, but I'm losing patience. But ever time I say I'm going to DNF it, something makes me keep going.

[sholloman81]

FYI. I saw he has a new book called Homewreckers coming out. The limited has some multimedia elements. It sounds interesting. I'm to damn old and don't like using my phone for media but the majority (by a lot) may enjoy this.

https://www.abhorror.com/product/hom...rdcover-bundle

Yeah, I noticed that one as well. May pick it up later, but am trying to be good at the moment with the holidays around the corner. We shall see how well I can hold out!

[Ben Staad]

FYI. I saw he has a new book called Homewreckers coming out. The limited has some multimedia elements. It sounds interesting. I'm to damn old and don't like using my phone for media but the majority (by a lot) may enjoy this.

https://www.abhorror.com/product/hom...rdcover-bundle

I enjoyed Playground but actually thought the sequel, Playground: Child of Divorce was better. If you get a chance, you should give it a go. The author has gotten better as a writer, and it shows between both books.

[brlesh]

Finished up Ringworld by Larry Niven, which was another science fiction classic that fell flat for me.

Up next, probably finish up Dark Carnival by Ray Bradbury.

B

[RonClinton]

I remember you posting about it, and that's what prompted me to pick up a copy when Valancourt had a sale on the e-book. Thanks so much for recommending this underrated gem!

Excellent, another planted seed blooms. Really glad you enjoyed it!

[dannyboy121070]

I could not agree more. I happened to stumble upon an original pb copy of Harry Kressing's THE COOK many years ago, and crowed about it over at the old Horror Drive-In forum, and it was a year or two later that the Valancourt reprint was published. James at Valancourt was a HD-I member at the time, so who knows, maybe I planted the seed that created that reprint (which remains in print: bonus points!), but if so, I couldn't be happier to have done so. I upgraded my pb with a hardcover 1st a good while back, and I love that I have it in my collection. It's a fable in the best and most horrific way, and it's one that everyone should read...I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this one. I sent a copy to Jerad at Centipede a while back to read and consider for a deluxe HC reprint, and while there hasn't been any progress in that regard, I haven't given up hope.

I remember you posting about it, and that's what prompted me to pick up a copy when Valancourt had a sale on the e-book. Thanks so much for recommending this underrated gem!

[RonClinton]

Finished THE COOK last night, which I read in record time. I absolutely loved this insidious little book, and highly recommend it. A book that totally defies any attempt to classify it to a genre....the less you know about it going in, the better.

I could not agree more. I happened to stumble upon an original pb copy of Harry Kressing's THE COOK many years ago, and crowed about it over at the old Horror Drive-In forum, and it was a year or two later that the Valancourt reprint was published. James at Valancourt was a HD-I member at the time, so who knows, maybe I planted the seed that created that reprint (which remains in print: bonus points!), but if so, I couldn't be happier to have done so. I upgraded my pb with a hardcover 1st a good while back, and I love that I have it in my collection. It's a fable in the best and most horrific way, and it's one that everyone should read...I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this one. I sent a copy to Jerad at Centipede a while back to read and consider for a deluxe HC reprint, and while there hasn't been any progress in that regard, I haven't given up hope.

[dannyboy121070]

Finished THE COOK last night, which I read in record time. I absolutely loved this insidious little book, and highly recommend it. A book that totally defies any attempt to classify it to a genre....the less you know about it going in, the better.

[brlesh]

Sweet! One of my all-time favorite reads. You'll have to post a review for the movie once you go see it. Will be interested to see/hear how they changed the ending.

Well, The Running Man did not have a good opening weekend, and most of the reviews have been less than favorable.

I’m still hoping on catching an after work show either this week or next.

Don’t think this will be in the local theater for too long,

B

[brlesh]

Finished up the Gothic Horror Stories anthology, which was an OK
read. The stories I was already familiar with were the best in the book.

Up next, I’m currently half way through Grey by Ian Rogers, which has been an absolute blast up to this point.

B

Finished up Grey, which was a quick and enjoyable read.

Can’t remember the last time I laughed so much reading a story.

Up next, starting Ringworld by Larry Niven.

B

[brlesh]

Finished up the Gothic Horror Stories anthology, which was an OK
read. The stories I was already familiar with were the best in the book.

Up next, I’m currently half way through Grey by Ian Rogers, which has been an absolute blast up to this point.

B

[brlesh]

Sweet! One of my all-time favorite reads. You'll have to post a review for the movie once you go see it. Will be interested to see/hear how they changed the ending.

Finished The Running Man, my first time reading this in nearly 40 years, and damn, I had forgotten just how dark this book was, especially the ending.

It’ll be interesting to see how the remake goes, as there’s no way they can keep the movie as dark as King’s original story.

Next up, back to Bradbury’s Dark Carnival.

B

[dannyboy121070]

I've been on a Valancourt tear lately...Just finished THE AUCTIONEER and THE VALANCOURT BOOK OF HORROR STORIES, VOLUME THREE, both of which I loved, and started THE COOK, which has me hooked already.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Lividian LE of Robert McCammon's "Leviathan". What a bittersweet feeling! This is one of my favorite authors and has been one of my favorite series of books for the last quarter century. Was Leviathan the best book in the series, no, but it was an extremely good read and a very fitting end to the series. As always, McCammon's writing is top-notch, and pretty much everything worked for me within the story. Also, I truly loved the ending. McCammon found a way to make it both bittersweet and also very fun and unexpected. I know it will probably never happen due to the author wanting to retire in the near future, but boy would I like to see where he could go if he were to continue on with the ending of this book. Truly going to miss this series of books as I feel like I could read Matthew Corbett stories forever.

Am now reading the Cemetery Dance Deluxe Special Edition of "The Stand". Finally time to get this off of the TBR pile! Haven't read the story in years and figure it will be a nice Holiday re-read!

[brlesh]

Sweet! One of my all-time favorite reads. You'll have to post a review for the movie once you go see it. Will be interested to see/hear how they changed the ending.

Damn, I forgot about the ending to the book!

Yeah, they’ll have to change it. No way you could film that ending today.

B