Book Snails Book Group discussion

This is a space for Currently Reading updates and Book Reviews! StarMan started a thread for 2020 Book Reviews so you can post there as well if you prefer; I've still got to sort out our boards ;-)

The Mammoth Book of Mind Blowing SF. 2.51 stars. Some slightly mind-stretching stories; nothing mind-blowing. Mostly 2-3 stars. Worst = 1 star, best= 4.1.

Heartbreak Hotel by Jonathan Kellerman. 2.2 stars. Fairly interesting beginning (99 yr old lady murdered; WHY?), then molasses-slow till the end. Not a thriller.

The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda (author of best-seller All the Missing Girls). 3.75 stars in spite of idiot protagonist. 20-word review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Drinking Midnight Wine by Simon Green. Under 2 stars. ~Gaiman+Rowling+Grossman magic/fantasy stuff, but SILLY. 19 word review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Currently reading The Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint . I'm only 70 pages in to it (I read at a snails pace) , It's science fiction , interesting story line , believeable , some humor, well writen. 396 pages. Also reading Cape Cod by William Martin. It's historical fiction. the story line focuses on the Mayflower pilgrims, and their modern day descendants. 650pages. What about you guys?

Fred wrote: "Currently reading The Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint . I'm only 70 pages in to it (I read at a snails pace) , It's science fiction , interesting story line , believeable , some humor, wel..."

Memoirs of an Invisible Man looks like something I'm gonna have to read!

Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "Currently reading The Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint . I'm only 70 pages in to it (I read at a snails pace) , It's science fiction , interesting story line , believeable , so..."
The book Memoirs of an Invisible Man was written in 1987, and is the author's only book. I'm not an author but it might be interesting to see if idea could be updated in a different setting..... old west, middle ages etc . Food for thought.

Fred wrote: "Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "Currently reading The Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint . I'm only 70 pages in to it (I read at a snails pace) , It's science fiction , interesting story line , ..."

The reviews are outstanding and there are lots of them. Always a good sign. I’ve ordered a used, signed edition - 11 bucks through Amazon and it should be here in a few days. Not that I’m big on signed editions, but it was 9 vs 11 for the signed one, so what the heck. The subject matter is intriguing. Hope you’re still enjoying it.

Candace; you sound like you have a pretty thorough methology for checking out a book . I am enjoying the book very much....it's just what I need for these rainey evenings. The author has a way of injecting humor into some interesting situations. I am also reading Cape Cod by William Martin. It's historical fiction, and I have a To Be Read stack, but they deal with The Great Plague, or the Highland Clearances. Are you enjoying Duncton Found?

Ooh! The Highland Clearances. I'm still furious about that! LOL. I got interested in it from the depiction of the battle of Culloden when reading the Outlander books. I even wrote a little paper about it for a history group at the senior center. I'm enjoying this third book of the Duncton trilogy, but not as much as the second book. It's a sort of Watership Down book, only about moles instead of rabbits. LOL All best to you with your TBR stack. I'll never finish all of mine, but it's fun trying.

Candace wrote: "Ooh! The Highland Clearances. I'm still furious about that! LOL. I got interested in it from the depiction of the battle of Culloden when reading the Outlander books. I even wrote a little paper ab..."

I was stationed in Germany and while there I did some geneology.My neighbor's father was visiting from Scotland and I shared my ( PROFOUNDLY IGNORANT ) opinion that it must have been very difficult for a Scotsman to take up arms against his English countrymen . The man's face got red and the veins swelled out on his face and neck.........and I received my first lesson in Scottish history. The Outlander series is wonderful !

Bwahahahahaaaa! Great story. Speaking of, yes Outlander is the best. Are you also watching the series? Our long droughtlander will be over on Feb. 16th!

Candace wrote: "Bwahahahahaaaa! Great story. Speaking of, yes Outlander is the best. Are you also watching the series? Our long droughtlander will be over on Feb. 16th!"
Yes we watch the series. It seems to hold pretty well with the book. Do the characters appear as you imagined them when you were reading the book? I pictured Jamie as taller and more wirey and less "pretty" ....photogenic might be a better word , same with Clair , less photogenic , but then it is a visual presentation after all . I try to imagine what my Scottish ancestors were like, beset with bouts of illnesses, internal and external parasites , malnutrition and I doubt they were half so "photogenic " What do you think?

Just finished the third book in the Duncton Chronicles trilogy, Duncton Found. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Fred wrote: "Candace wrote: "Bwahahahahaaaa! Great story. Speaking of, yes Outlander is the best. Are you also watching the series? Our long droughtlander will be over on Feb. 16th!"
Yes we watch the series. It..."

I agree about the prettiness, but I'm not complaining! LOL I think the casting is superb and I can hardly wait for the new season to begin.

For Feb I'm hoping to read In the Woods, The Pilgrims, Between the World and Me, The Labours of Hercules, The Death of Bees and The Taiga Syndrome. Plus, start The Goldfinch and finish The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt.
That's my plan though it tends to get thwarted by challenges. 🙄

And now I've been reminded of the Outlander series, which I keep meaning to go back to. Maybe I can squeeze #2 in over the month?

Keli wrote: "For Feb I'm hoping to read In the Woods, The Pilgrims, Between the World and Me, The Labours of Hercules, [book:The Death of Bees|1581833..."

Wow. Impressive!

Keli wrote: "And now I've been reminded of the Outlander series, which I keep meaning to go back to. Maybe I can squeeze #2 in over the month?"

Are you watching the series?

Candace wrote: "Keli wrote: "And now I've been reminded of the Outlander series, which I keep meaning to go back to. Maybe I can squeeze #2 in over the month?"

Are you watching the series?"

No, I'm not sure if it airs in England. Also, I don't watch much tv. I mostly spend my time reading. Hence, my ridiculous monthly reading lists.

Keli wrote: "For Feb I'm hoping to read In the Woods, The Pilgrims, Between the World and Me, The Labours of Hercules, [book:The Death of Bees|1581833..."
Thats quite a reading list Keli , I am going to add The Woman Who Would Be King to my reading list. I don't often reread books, although I did reread Silas Marner, and Mill on the Floss. I think I still have book reports due from highschool English! Happy reading !

A series I've enjoyed so far, starring an FBI investigator who used to be a magician:

Jessica Blackwood series, by Andrew Mayne: https://www.goodreads.com/series/1395...

The first 3 books have been 3+ or 4 stars for me (and averaged over 4 stars by all GR reviewers).

And don't the titles sound fun?
1. Angel Killer
2. Name of the Devil
3. Black Fall

Just finished Sand by Hugh Howey, interesting story idea, just picked up News of the World by Paulette Jiles. I wanted to get a jump on something others might read for March....I love the storey line, and her writing. Thanks Candace for nominating this book, whether it is selected or not ,L am enjoying it. I'm half way through Memoirs of the Invisible Man and still enjoying it.

Fred wrote: "Just finished Sand by Hugh Howey, interesting story idea, just picked up News of the World by Paulette Jiles. I wanted to get a jump on something others might read for March....I love the storey li..."

I liked Sand, but liked the Wool series better. News of the World astonished me, and I wish Tom Hanks would hurry up with the movie! I'm halfway through Memoirs of an Invisible Man and enjoying it - a good read.

Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "Just finished Sand by Hugh Howey, interesting story idea, just picked up News of the World by Paulette Jiles. I wanted to get a jump on something others might read for March....I love ..."
I'm about falfway through the Invisible Man also, we allow ourselves an hour of t.v. then we read to each other. My wife is reading The Widow's Season by Laura Brodie, a well written story. Did you watch Outlander on Sunday night? We don't subscribe to Starz so we didn't watch it.

Fred wrote: "Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "Just finished Sand by Hugh Howey, interesting story idea, just picked up News of the World by Paulette Jiles. I wanted to get a jump on something others might read for ..."

Did I watch Outlander Sunday night?? This is a trick question, isn't it. Haha Last night on the show, Jamie dressed in full Highland regalia to rally the clans to fight *with* the English, but really for *him* against Britain later on because he knows America will become an independent country. So he gets the Scotsmen to swear fealty to him (in front of the British, mind you) while he's lit the Fiery Cross of battle. My husband pointed out that Jamie was wearing the plaid in defiance of the Clearances, which I'd not picked up on. But what could the Brits do to him, since he could command so many men? Our Jamie is a braw laddie! Starz is five bucks a month for three months, man, just so people can watch this season!

We read to each other, too! We don't have a book going right now, but we always enjoy when we do.

I've just read The Traitor's Niche. I originally checked it out from the library back in October 2018. I can't believe that it took me that long to read but it was worth the wait. Well written, engrossing and slightly Orwellian, I highly recommend this book. It looks at the lives of ordinary folks in varying positions of authority and power in the late Ottoman Empire. Though it is fiction it is very much based on historical fact and reality. I honestly didn't know much about the Ottoman Empire, growing up in Texas, we weren't greatly affected by it. I took a comparative slavery course at university and we did look at Ottoman slavery. This, until recently, was my only knowledge about this 800 years long empire. Thanks to this book and two others I've recently read relating to the Ottoman Empire, I now know sooo much more. Anyway, this book looks at the psyche of those under a totalitarian state; the fear, the mind control, the ways in which one is forced to assimilate and the myriad ways a person and indeed a whole culture can become nonexistent in every sense of the word. Great little read.

I've been on a reading jag, but haven't written any reviews yet, just gave stars. Might review some at a later time.

Circe Fabulous book about the goddess Circe, daughter of Helios, her banishment to a remote island, her affair with Odysseus, etc. Quite entertaining.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea This is for a buddy read in June.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek Loved this! About Eleanor Roosevelt's program for "book women" to bring donated library books to Appalachian people via horse, mule, or foot, and particularly about the "blue people" who lived there (blue skin due to a genetic mutation.)

Mr. Rochester HIGHLY recommend this to Jane Eyre fans! It's his autobiography (which Jane encouraged him to write) beginning with his childhood at Thornhill, his education, then on to Jamaica, back home to Thornhill, meeting Jane, etc.

There were a couple more books, but I didn't finish them because they weren't as interesting as I hoped they'd be.

Happy reading, everyone!

Oh, I forgot to add Life by Yu Lao (couldn't find it in the add books feature.) Very interesting book about the period in China when people were transitioning from farm life to modern city life. It's said to be still widely read in China, with a national argument going on about whether the MC should have acted the way he did. I really enjoyed it. It's supposed to be his second best book. His masterpiece hasn't been translated yet, but I'll be watching for it.

Fred wrote: "Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "Currently reading The Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint . I'm only 70 pages in to it (I read at a snails pace) , It's science fiction , interesting story line , ..."

I forgot to follow up - I did read Memoirs of an Invisible Man and gave a short review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks very much for the recommendation!

Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "Currently reading The Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint . I'm only 70 pages in to it (I read at a snails pace) , It's science fiction , interesting ..."
Hi Candace : the pleasure is mine , I have read several of the books you've recommended and I have enjoyed each of them them ! :-)
I received The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek , and I'm going to read it to my wife in the evening when I'm finished with "Land of the Burnt Thigh " by Edith Eudora Kohl .

Fred wrote: "Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "Currently reading The Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint . I'm only 70 pages in to it (I read at a snails pace) , It's science fictio..."

I'm sure both of you will thoroughly enjoy Book Woman!

Fred wrote: "Currently reading The Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint . I'm only 70 pages in to it (I read at a snails pace) , It's science fiction , interesting story line , believeable , some humor, wel..."

Sci-Fi Snail says READ FASTER! (kidding)

StarMan wrote: "Fred wrote: "Currently reading The Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F.Saint . I'm only 70 pages in to it (I read at a snails pace) , It's science fiction , interesting story line , believeable , so..."

Yikes! LOL

I believe there has been a quantum time shift in the snailosphere ! I finished the book toward the end of March and I thought I had logged it in that way..29 March. But sometimes I have bad days; that may have been the day I realized I forgot to check my fuel gauge as my plane was catapaulted from the aircraftcarrier. PS Those oxygen masks we wear aren't waterproof either! :-)

Fred wrote: "I believe there has been a quantum time shift in the snailosphere ! I finished the book toward the end of March and I thought I had logged it in that way..29 March. But sometimes I have bad days; t..."

Omg, Fred, did that actually happen?!

Candace wrote: "Fred wrote: "I believe there has been a quantum time shift in the snailosphere ! I finished the book toward the end of March and I thought I had logged it in that way..29 March. But sometimes I hav..."
Not to me Candace, but I was on an aircraft carrier years ago and we used to wonder why some planes never quite made it into the air when we launched them ! This is just more of my bad writing .

Yeah... I hate being catapulted from the airplane carrier too...

Pien wrote: "Yeah... I hate being catapulted from the airplane carrier too..."

LOL!

Catching up on some recent book reviews...

Here's my review of The Fourth Rising

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here's my review of Starbuck Nantucket Redemption

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here's my review of Every Grain of Sand

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...