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 May 29, 2016, 01:01 PM May 2016

What are you reading this week of May 29, 2016?

I'm reading The Last Policeman by Ben Winters. This has been on my must-read list since it came out in 2012.

... a fascinating portrait of a pre-apocalyptic United States. What’s the point in solving murders if we’re all going to die soon, anyway? Detective Palace has faced this question ever since asteroid 2011GV1 hovered into view. There’s no chance left. No hope. Just six precious months until impact.


My library didn't have it so I was thrilled when I found it on ThriftBooks. What I didn't realize was that it was the first of a 3-part series so now I'll have to seek out the remaining 2.

I'm listening to Maddadam by Margaret Atwood. The Year of the Flood was a bit of a slog-through but this one is much more enjoyable. "Please, no more singing."

I tell ya, Atwood in the afternoon then Winters at night could make a person despondent. But then I get up and read the news in the morning and an impending collision with an asteroid or a plague that wipes out most of civilization doesn't seem like such a bad thing at all.

Gloom and doom aside, I hope you all have a pleasant Memorial Day. Spare a thought for all those who served with honor.

And remember to tell us all what you're reading this week.
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What are you reading this week of May 29, 2016? (Original Post) hermetic May 2016 OP
American Gods--Neil Gaiman randr May 2016 #1
One of my alltime favorites hermetic May 2016 #2
That sounds like a good one. Thank you, randr. Enthusiast May 2016 #5
Oh Enthus, hermetic May 2016 #8
Cool! I have a used copy on the way. Enthusiast May 2016 #12
American Gods is a wonderful book. I loved it! japple May 2016 #9
I saw Margaret Atwood speak at BSU libodem May 2016 #3
Hello everyone! Thank you for the thread, hermetic! Enthusiast May 2016 #4
Starting the 3 volume in John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" series- "The Last Colony" TexasProgresive May 2016 #6
To be honest, hermetic May 2016 #7
I feel the same, I like good character development that tells a good story. Enthusiast May 2016 #13
Thanks for the thread, hermetic. I am reading japple May 2016 #10
I'm 'into' WWII so I think I would like that one. Enthusiast May 2016 #14
Yes, I even find myself getting sentimental about those days when japple May 2016 #16
Thanks, japple. We spoke of the James McBride book, Miracle at Santa Anna. Enthusiast May 2016 #18
We did? I can't even remember what I had for dinner yesterday. Oh wait, japple May 2016 #19
My memory is compromised a bit too. Enthusiast May 2016 #20
A Moveable Feast by Hemingway pscot May 2016 #11
Thanks, pscot. Enthusiast May 2016 #15
Try it, you'll like it pscot May 2016 #17
"Looking For Rachel Wallace" by Robert B. Parker Number9Dream May 2016 #21
That sounds good! hermetic Jun 2016 #22

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
2. One of my alltime favorites
Sun May 29, 2016, 01:19 PM
May 2016

I think they're making a movie now. I don't keep up with the movie industry but that's sure one I would like to see.

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
8. Oh Enthus,
Sun May 29, 2016, 05:29 PM
May 2016

If you've not read Gaiman yet, I highly recommend you get thee to the library, or something. He has the most amazing way of writing about our beliefs. It's almost impossible to describe, you have to see for yourself. I believe him to be one of the greatest writers of all time. He's like Socrates meets Voltaire meets S. King.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
12. Cool! I have a used copy on the way.
Sun May 29, 2016, 10:14 PM
May 2016

I really appreciate your recommendations.

We are having a fun evening.

japple

(10,292 posts)
9. American Gods is a wonderful book. I loved it!
Sun May 29, 2016, 07:33 PM
May 2016

Also Good Omens with Gaiman & Terry Pratchett. What a riot!

libodem

(19,288 posts)
3. I saw Margaret Atwood speak at BSU
Sun May 29, 2016, 02:16 PM
May 2016

And have read "Year of the Flood". Pretty dark.

I'd like to read the reat but just have not been reading much lately.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
4. Hello everyone! Thank you for the thread, hermetic!
Sun May 29, 2016, 02:49 PM
May 2016

I am still reading When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman. I like this very much but it is a long book.

Speaking of long books Mrs. Enthusiast is still reading The Stand by Stephen King. She is really enjoying The Stand. I think she is going to become a true Stephen King fan after this.

TexasProgresive

(12,275 posts)
6. Starting the 3 volume in John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" series- "The Last Colony"
Sun May 29, 2016, 04:52 PM
May 2016

I really enjoyed Tim Krabbé's The Rider. I'm not sure anyone who is not a cyclist would get this book. There are vignettes of past races and towards the end some get quite fanciful as the extreme exertion begins to affect the mind of the rider. It is a novel but told in the 1st person by a racer named Tim Krabbé.

About Scalzi's The Ghost Brigades I liked it much better than the 1st Old Man's War. The main character is someone who starts out without a real personality and has another persons brain pattern also in his brain. The characterization is much more developed in this novel. That's what I like in a novel; good character development that tells a good story.

I was a big fan of Elizabeth George's Inspector Lindley series. I liked the interplay of the inspector and his often unconventional sergeant. When Lindley's wife is murdered it seemed like Ms. George jumped the shark. How was A Traitor to Memory?

hermetic

(8,604 posts)
7. To be honest,
Sun May 29, 2016, 05:18 PM
May 2016

I didn't finish it. At 700+ pages in a large hardbound, it was just too much. Every minuscule item of each character was way more than I needed to know. I should go back some day and read the end, just to see who done it. But I just stopped caring. I am sure I will read her again, some more recent works as my library has them all.

I do enjoy the Lindley and Havers characters but they were not in this book much after reading 500 pages. Ah well, Ms George is a prolific writer so I haven't given up on her entirely.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
13. I feel the same, I like good character development that tells a good story.
Sun May 29, 2016, 10:31 PM
May 2016

I think every book I have ever really enjoyed shares those characteristics. With a very few possible exceptions.

Nice to see you, TexasProgresive. I wish you would tell us about the goats too. I watch every silly video of the baby goats then I show them to Mrs. Enthusiast. I know, we're crazy. It's like they have a spring that is wound too tight.

japple

(10,292 posts)
10. Thanks for the thread, hermetic. I am reading
Sun May 29, 2016, 07:43 PM
May 2016
Peace by Richard Bausch. It is very well written and the first of his work that I've read. Not easy to read about this topic--December 1944 in the mountains of Northern Italy with the allies closing in on the Germans. It was very hard on even the toughest, most well-prepared soldiers.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
14. I'm 'into' WWII so I think I would like that one.
Sun May 29, 2016, 10:50 PM
May 2016

I worked with an old guy that was in the thick of it in Italy. And my FIL was an MP in Italy. I believe that is where Bob Dole was wounded. Wouldn't we love all of today's Republicans to be like Bob Dole. Oh, for the days of the moderate Republican.

japple

(10,292 posts)
16. Yes, I even find myself getting sentimental about those days when
Mon May 30, 2016, 07:08 AM
May 2016

there was such a thing as a moderate Republican. Even though we disagreed with them politically, we didn't live in fear and dread of them winning an election--until Tricky Dick came along and even he did some things I approved of.

My Dad was in the thick of it in northern Italy. His best friend who was a childhood schoolmate, was taken prisoner at Anzio and killed by the Germans.

You might enjoy reading James McBride's book, Miracle at Santa Anna (which was also made into a movie) and Mary Doria Russell's book, A Thread of Grace.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
18. Thanks, japple. We spoke of the James McBride book, Miracle at Santa Anna.
Mon May 30, 2016, 10:14 AM
May 2016

We got Miracle at Santa Anna from the library. We both liked it, very unusual.

japple

(10,292 posts)
19. We did? I can't even remember what I had for dinner yesterday. Oh wait,
Mon May 30, 2016, 02:03 PM
May 2016

I can go check the Cooking & Baking group and find out!!!

Glad that you and the Mrs. enjoyed Miracle at Santa Anna. I am crazy about James McBride.



pscot

(21,031 posts)
11. A Moveable Feast by Hemingway
Sun May 29, 2016, 09:17 PM
May 2016

and I'm about a third of the through The Brothers Karamazov. I finished The Water Knife which began well, but lost focus, I thought, as it went on.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
15. Thanks, pscot.
Sun May 29, 2016, 10:55 PM
May 2016

I wonder about A Moveable Feast. I have read several by Hemingway. I have yet to read A Moveable Feast.

pscot

(21,031 posts)
17. Try it, you'll like it
Mon May 30, 2016, 08:53 AM
May 2016

Seriously. It's a quick read and it has the feel of his short stories, which are also pretty wonderful. I highly recommend the short stories, if you haven't read them. He was an absolute master of the form.

Number9Dream

(1,639 posts)
21. "Looking For Rachel Wallace" by Robert B. Parker
Tue May 31, 2016, 07:00 AM
May 2016

It's an older entry in the Spenser series, which I'd never read. Being a long time Spenser fan, I enjoyed this book too. Mystery with a sense of humor, good dialogue, and a page-turner. Spenser is hired to bodyguard a controversial lesbian author. After she fires Spenser, she is kidnapped. Spenser feels obliged to find her.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Fiction»What are you reading this...