I’m still coming down from getting the new “Breaking the Wall” e-books out. If you missed my WW post, I hope you’ll take a look. They’re a lot of fun and now you can get the entire series for less than the price of one novel. Even better, I think you’ll like them!
For those of you new to this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines. The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.
And I really enjoy hearing about what you’re reading!
Recently Completed:
Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones. A fun romp.
Stiff by Mary Roach. Audiobook. Enjoyable. Made me think a lot about medical donation of cadavers.
In Progress:
Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher (aka Ursula Vernon). Set in the same world as her “Clocktaur Wars” (which despite the title aren’t steampunk, more sword and sorcery) and Swordheart. So far, enjoyable.
Double Sin and Other Stories by Agatha Christie. So far two Poriot, one Miss Marple. I’m familiar with these, but still enjoying.
Also:
Some research reading. Right now. Poisons. I may need a good source on hallucinogens, too.
February 21, 2020 at 5:44 am |
You have an interesting mix of reading material this week – from donating cadavers to making one.
I finally finished Fortune’s Fool by David Blixt. I enjoyed it and this installment clarified some mysteries and got rid of some bad guys. I am looking forward to the next book. It may be a while since my library doesn’t have it and I will need to buy it.
I am in the middle of A Beautiful Friendship by David Weber. I am at the point in the story when I really dislike the human species, even if there are a sprinkling of good ones.
Next I will start The Marco Effect (Department Q #5). These books are police/murder mysteries set in Denmark. I have liked the characters in the prior books.
February 21, 2020 at 8:48 am |
I looked to see if my library had the Blixt as audiobooks, because I have more room in my audio TBR queue. No luck. I’m reluctant to buy until I can sample. May try print when there’s an opening in the queue. I DO buy books (Paladin’s Grace was a purchase) but these days I sample a new to me writer first.
I loved your opening line. I wish I’d thought of it!
February 21, 2020 at 7:42 am |
I went to pick up the books I requested from the library and found another to add to my pile.
I just started “Hitting A Straight Lick With A Crooked Stick” by Zora Neale Hurston. This is a new compilation of her stories with four ‘found’ stories added. I’ve read her work before and enjoyed it, so I’m looking forward to the re-read.
Next up TBR will be “The Toll” by Neal Shusterman. This is the third of his Scythe books.
February 21, 2020 at 8:49 am |
Glad to see you’re finding reading time!!
February 21, 2020 at 10:12 am |
You are an eclectic reader so you must be able to “fit things in” to any storyline you write. I think it’s always good to read from different genre’s since a person can learn something from each one. I haven’t been doing much reading but I did finish several books by T. T. Flynn. Decent Westerns.
My wife and I have been watching or listening to the political debates. Makes me think of David Weber’s series about Honor Harrington. I think he has done an excellent job of predicting the future. Many science fiction or fantasy writers have predicted events or things which will occur. An early predictor was Jules Verne.
Keep on writing and reading; it will be interesting to see what you develop for us to think about.
February 22, 2020 at 8:49 am |
There’s predicting and there’s also inspiring. I think Verne did a lot of that. He made future tech look fascinating, so people wanted to create it.