Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 11:24 AM Jun 2020

What Fiction are you reading this week, June 14, 2020?



I’m reading Shakespeare for Squirrels by Christopher Moore, a comedic take on A Midsummer Night's Dream. It’s a tale of magic, madness, and murder. Also, lots of “frolicking.” Most enjoyable.

Listening to Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell. Really good story; quite suspenseful.

My library was told to reopen tomorrow by the governor and not everyone who works there is really happy about it. The public meeting rooms won’t be opened yet and patrons are being “encouraged” to wear masks and limit their time there. Good luck with that. Happily, I have until the following week before I have to return anything.

What will you be reading this week?

Hope we all survive these grand re-openings.

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What Fiction are you reading this week, June 14, 2020? (Original Post) hermetic Jun 2020 OP
Re-reading Steel Beach by John Varley Zoonart Jun 2020 #1
Oh yeah hermetic Jun 2020 #3
Ages ago I read "The Barbie Murders" by John Varley, Ohiya Jun 2020 #21
Daughters of Erie town by Connie Schultz. A very good read that captures the essence Ninga Jun 2020 #2
That sounds good hermetic Jun 2020 #4
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult Ohiogal Jun 2020 #5
Timely hermetic Jun 2020 #6
"Murder at The Brightwell" by Ashley Weaver The King of Prussia Jun 2020 #7
Thanks hermetic Jun 2020 #9
Best fiction I've read lately: What Once Was True by Jean Grainger northoftheborder Jun 2020 #8
Sounds good hermetic Jun 2020 #10
I just finished that series. SouthernIrish Jun 2020 #11
Rereading The Cat Who.... Series SheltieLover Jun 2020 #12
I have read hermetic Jun 2020 #15
They are a great distraction SheltieLover Jun 2020 #18
"Speaker of Mandarin" by Ruth Rendell TexasProgresive Jun 2020 #13
There you are hermetic Jun 2020 #16
I had to edit seaker to speaker TexasProgresive Jun 2020 #17
Drumpf's tweets soothsayer Jun 2020 #14
Alice Hoffman's latest, The World that we Knew. Set in japple Jun 2020 #19
That sounds lovely hermetic Jun 2020 #20
In the third volume of a very silly paranormal series "Riddler's Edge" yellowdogintexas Jun 2020 #22
Yeah, I know what you mean hermetic Jun 2020 #23

Zoonart

(12,712 posts)
1. Re-reading Steel Beach by John Varley
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 11:27 AM
Jun 2020

One of my fave Sci-Fi novels, but Shakespeare for Squirrels sounds like fun. Chris Moore is always a fun read.

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
3. Oh yeah
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 11:35 AM
Jun 2020

He's right up there with this one. If language offends thee, don't go there. He certainly does come up with some clever euphemisms, though.

Your book sounds quite interesting, too.

Ohiya

(2,412 posts)
21. Ages ago I read "The Barbie Murders" by John Varley,
Tue Jun 16, 2020, 07:50 AM
Jun 2020

for my "Introduction to Science Fiction" course, and "The Ophiuchi Hotline" remains one of my all time favorite science fiction novels. I'll have to give Steel Beach read, if our libraries ever open back up!

.

Ninga

(8,566 posts)
2. Daughters of Erie town by Connie Schultz. A very good read that captures the essence
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 11:35 AM
Jun 2020

of the 1940s and 50s.

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
4. That sounds good
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 11:41 AM
Jun 2020

A powerful first novel by the popular Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist.
“A moving, unforgettable story about time, progress, and how the mistakes of one generation get repeated or repaired by the next."

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
6. Timely
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 11:51 AM
Jun 2020

A gripping moral dilemma that will lead readers to question everything they know about privilege, power, and race.

Reading the description, oh yeah! I read that one. Great story.

7. "Murder at The Brightwell" by Ashley Weaver
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 12:21 PM
Jun 2020

A whodunnit set in England between the wars, but written by a lady from Louisiana. I've not made my mind up about it yet.

Earlier this week I read "The Burning Girl" by Mark Billingham - a gangland thriller set in London - pretty good. Part of a series so I'll probably read more.
Next up was "Mrs, Presumed Dead" a who dunnit by Simon Brett. I think he was trying to channel Miss Marple. It was OK.
Lastly I moved away from thriller/whodunnits to "The Captain's Table" by Richard Gordon - the tale of a liner travelling from England to Australia in the fifties. Very light and amusing.

Next up, possibly some non-fiction. I have biography of Count Basie that I've been saving.

Not a lot happens here. Locally cases are up a little, but the numbers are so low it's hard to draw any conclusions. Probably the best indicator is that our local hospital has had no covid deaths for 8 days. The restrictions are being relaxed further tomorrow, so we'll see what happens. In our house we are entering our fourth month of lockdown today, and since we don't need to go out & mingle, we won't.

Please stay safe everyone.


hermetic

(8,604 posts)
9. Thanks
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 12:29 PM
Jun 2020

I am always interested in what's happening in your area with this. So, always happy to see you, and what you're reading.

northoftheborder

(7,606 posts)
8. Best fiction I've read lately: What Once Was True by Jean Grainger
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 12:27 PM
Jun 2020

and sequel Return to Robinswood. WWII era; Ireland and Britain; family, class, and racial issues during that time. Good story told over about 8 years.

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
10. Sounds good
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 12:32 PM
Jun 2020

"From the leafy grounds of an Irish stately home, to the bombed out streets of London in the Blitz, allow yourself to be swept away in Jean Grainger’s latest bestselling historical saga."

SouthernIrish

(531 posts)
11. I just finished that series.
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 12:58 PM
Jun 2020

I am now reading her "The Tour" series. I love her writing and description of Irish scenery and political structure.

SheltieLover

(59,449 posts)
12. Rereading The Cat Who.... Series
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 01:16 PM
Jun 2020

Cozy mysteries. Currently on The Cat Who Sniffed Glue.

These are about a psychic Siamese & a newspaper reporter. Great eaay reading. 👍

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
15. I have read
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 02:37 PM
Jun 2020

a bunch of those. Just love them. Haven't read all of them, as there are SOOO many, going back to the 60's. I wouldn't mind finding a few of those really old ones, though.

SheltieLover

(59,449 posts)
18. They are a great distraction
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 03:51 PM
Jun 2020

Delightful stories, very well written.

I like David Rosenfelt's books, too. Loads of them. They always involve a dog. 😊

TexasProgresive

(12,275 posts)
13. "Speaker of Mandarin" by Ruth Rendell
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 01:46 PM
Jun 2020

Last edited Sun Jun 14, 2020, 02:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Her writing style is different to me.

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
16. There you are
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 02:42 PM
Jun 2020

Hi. Sorry, I went for a wee nap. Back now. Yeah, I think Ruth takes a little getting used to. She does write some good ones, though. She's won quite a few awards, like The Edgar.

Edit to add: That one goes back to 1984. I think you might enjoy some of the newer ones more.

TexasProgresive

(12,275 posts)
17. I had to edit seaker to speaker
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 02:56 PM
Jun 2020

Not spell check but hunting and pecking on an iPad. I do much better when I touch type

japple

(10,292 posts)
19. Alice Hoffman's latest, The World that we Knew. Set in
Mon Jun 15, 2020, 08:48 AM
Jun 2020

Berlin & Paris in 1941. Here's a blurb from amazon.

In Berlin, at the time when the world changed, Hanni Kohn knows she must send her twelve-year-old daughter away to save her from the Nazi regime. She finds her way to a renowned rabbi, but it’s his daughter, Ettie, who offers hope of salvation when she creates a mystical Jewish creature, a rare and unusual golem, who is sworn to protect Lea. Once Ava is brought to life, she and Lea and Ettie become eternally entwined, their paths fated to cross, their fortunes linked.

Lea and Ava travel from Paris, where Lea meets her soulmate, to a convent in western France known for its silver roses; from a school in a mountaintop village where three thousand Jews were saved. Meanwhile, Ettie is in hiding, waiting to become the fighter she’s destined to be.

yellowdogintexas

(22,650 posts)
22. In the third volume of a very silly paranormal series "Riddler's Edge"
Mon Jun 22, 2020, 07:28 PM
Jun 2020

Author is A A Albright. It is indeed a silly bit of fluff; a great deal of what I read these days is silly fluff

Likeable characters, neat little setting, a few wizards, a few witches, a few vampires .... just fun.

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
23. Yeah, I know what you mean
Tue Jun 23, 2020, 05:35 PM
Jun 2020

Reality these days is just so painfully bizarre; wizards, witches and vampires are a pleasant change of pace. Hang in there! We will persevere.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Fiction»What Fiction are you read...