Topic: Books for 2011 - Discussion Thread

[pandamonium]

Just read a book on the Stockholm syndrome. I didn't like it at first, but by the end I loved it.

Did you read it just so that you'd be able to make that joke?

[pandamonium]

I just started reading Delusions of Gender. THANKS MEG.

[David E.]

I just finished Let Me In.   Terrific Vampire story.  The end was a bit too abrupt though.  I would have liked a little more of their escape after the Pool.  This is definitely a book that will be on my re-read for pleasure list.   

[pandamonium]

I keep meaning to ask, what's a good modern pulp fiction-type story? I know someone has mentioned some writer somewhere, but I can't for the life of me remember the name of the author. I keep thinking it's Jim Butcher, but that doesn't seem right.

[David E.]

I keep meaning to ask, what's a good modern pulp fiction-type story? I know someone has mentioned some writer somewhere, but I can't for the life of me remember the name of the author. I keep thinking it's Jim Butcher, but that doesn't seem right.

You could try Dennis Lehane's Kenzie & Genarro Novels.  Fairly Modern Pulp PI. Novels set mostly in Boston.  The characters are terrific.  They should be read in order.     

A Drink Before the War

Darkness Take My Hand  (very good serial killer novel)

Sacred

Gone Baby Gone. (better than the movie, but a real downer of a book.)

Prayer For Rain.

[pandamonium]

Thanks bunches.

[Grimner]

Just to throw in a misunderstood book (at least by me); The Terror by Dan Simmons.

It is about the Franklin-expedition of which the HMS Terror was one half and which was lost trying to find the Northwest-passage back in 1845.
My misunderstanding was that this was one more historical tome about Brits dying in the Arctic. It is, but with a good dose of fiction and myth thrown in to make it a good and bloody read with what I think is some good insights into the time and mindsets.

It includes handy cooking tips for the last meat source, tells you what to wear when you want to freeze and details how to pack your sleigh when completely off your rocks.
Apart from one conversation that seems a bit unlikely at that particular moment and a mythology that does feel a bit bolted on (for good reason), it is a pretty darn good book.

You might want to wait until through this book to read the Wiki on the expedition. And get a good map of the area.

[David E.]

I just downloaded from Audible Songs on Bronze: The Greek Myths Made Real, by Nigel Spivey. 

[pandamonium]

I just downloaded from Audible Songs on Bronze: The Greek Myths Made Real, by Nigel Spivey.

We're so very happy for you.

It does sound interesting. What's it about.

[David E.]

I just downloaded from Audible Songs on Bronze: The Greek Myths Made Real, by Nigel Spivey.

We're so very happy for you.

It does sound interesting. What's it about.

Oh you and your witty sarcasm.  It's a novelization of many Greek Myths.  It was a whim, the book sounded interesting so I posted it.  Forgot to link to a synopsis though.  oops.   

[pandamonium]

I just downloaded from Audible Songs on Bronze: The Greek Myths Made Real, by Nigel Spivey.

We're so very happy for you.

It does sound interesting. What's it about.

Oh you and your witty sarcasm.  It's a novelization of many Greek Myths.  It was a whim, the book sounded interesting so I posted it.  Forgot to link to a synopsis though.  oops.

Well, Google is broken right now, so there's absolutely no way for me to track down this title you have told me about.

[David E.]

So far it is very good, the chapters are:

Prelude: Orpheus in Love

I. AN EARLY CHILDHOOD OF THE WORLD
Out of Chaos
Prometheus and Pandora
Demeter and Persephone

II. HEROES IN THE MAKING
Herakles
Theseus
Perseus
Jason and the Argonauts

III. WAR ABOUT TROY
The Judgment of Paris
The Wrath of Achilles
Troy Taken

IV. A HERO'S COMING HOME
The Travels of Odysseus

V. THE STUFF OF TRAGEDY
The House of Atreus
Oedipus

Unending: Orpheus in the Underworld

[pandamonium]

Excellent. I'll have to check that out when I get my next credit. I like things like that.

[David E.]

Excellent. I'll have to check that out when I get my next credit. I like things like that.

The reader takes a bit of getting used to.  His voice is not great.

[pandamonium]

Excellent. I'll have to check that out when I get my next credit. I like things like that.

The reader takes a bit of getting used to.  His voice is not great.

Maybe not then. I find that my enjoyment of a book is greatly impacted by a voice actor's reading. I might just see if I can find an ebook version (although I have a glut of ebooks at the moment - thanks to the internet).