Books: What have you been reading?

[The Darknight Detective]

Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville

'I would prefer not to' is my new mantra.

I haven't read it yet myself, though I remember my brother spouting that line for months after he read it decades ago.

[The Darknight Detective]

I'll begin The Dream Master by Roger Zelazny tomorrow, while taking on the Flying Too High (the second Phryne Fisher novel) by Kerry Greenwood.

[Deathstroke]

A couple more of my book reviews are now online:

The Switch by Joseph Finder

The Vinyl Detective - The Run-Out Groove by Andrew Cartmel

[DebkoX]

Imperial Bedrooms - Brett Easton Ellis

[The Darknight Detective]

Started Four Past Midnight by Stephen King today.

[Malvolio]

Started Four Past Midnight by Stephen King today.

That's a real good one. Two of the four stories have been made into films.

[The Darknight Detective]

That's a real good one. Two of the four stories have been made into films.

I have seen both of them, too. BTW, I believe it's the only King book from the last century that I haven't read before (just remembered - I haven't read Thinner, either, but saw the film).

[Tugger]

I'm sure this will have been mentioned here but the Peter Grant Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch is very good.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Grant_(book_series)

[Ragdoll]

I just finished George R R Martin's Dreamsongs: A RRetrospective. All his short stories and novellas spanning his career, from high school to present day. I had no clue how versatile he was and always saw him as a fantasy guy. Turns out he made his name in sci-fi and horror, and was amazing in both genres. I always enjoyed his work but now see him as way more talented than I did in the past. This volume was MASSIVE, about the same size as Infinite Jest, so it took a while to finish. I also finished Infinite Jest recently btw.

One last thing, sorry if this is spam and a mod can edit it from my post if it is, but this morning I released my 2nd novel (horror/comedy) and I am really proud of it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073YG26QK.

I have seen both of them, too. BTW, I believe it's the only King book from the last century that I haven't read before (just remembered - I haven't read Thinner, either, but saw the film).

At this point, I can count the King books I haven't read on one hand: Eye Of The Dragon, Running Man, Pet Sematary, Four Past Midnight, Desperation. Going to be sad when all I have left are his yearly new releases.

[The Darknight Detective]

At this point, I can count the King books I haven't read on one hand: Eye Of The Dragon, Running Man, Pet Sematary, Four Past Midnight, Desperation. Going to be sad when all I have left are his yearly new releases.

I read the first three decades ago, but haven't read Desperation yet. 11/22/63 is in my pile of books and will be read sometime this year. Agreed regarding your last sentence, too.

[Timothy Hunter]

I'm currently reading a book collection many of Oscar Wilde's plays, the one I'm currently reading is The Importance of Being Earnest, which starts off the collection, it's so far pretty good.

[The Darknight Detective]

I'm currently reading a book collection many of Oscar Wilde's plays, the one I'm currently reading is The Importance of Being Earnest, which starts off the collection, it's so far pretty good.

Haven't read the play, but I have seen and enjoyed the film starring Michael Redgrave.

Wilde stuff I have read are The Gentle Giant (as a kid), The Canterville Ghost, and a few other short stories and poems, FWIW.

[Timothy Hunter]

Haven't read the play, but I have seen and enjoyed the film starring Michael Redgrave.

I never knew there was a film, from what I've read so far, it seems like it would work more on a stage than as a major motion picture.

[The Darknight Detective]

I never knew there was a film, from what I've read so far, it seems like it would work more on a stage than as a major motion picture.

There have been a few movies over the years. In fact, there was another one only 15 years ago starring Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, and Reese Witherspoon which was pretty good, too.

[kgaard]

Lovecraft fans might be interested in a novel that just came out: Paul La Farge's The Night Ocean. It's a (semi-?)fictionalized story about Lovecraft's life and the thin edge separating truth from fiction. Or at least it seems to be to me--I'm about a third of the way through, and I don't know enough details about Lovecraft and his friends and hangers-on to assess how much is true and how much invented (though clearly a great deal is invented; I just don't know exactly which parts). Anyway, it's fascinating on multiple levels and references emphera that should particularly appeal to the nerds among us.

Anyway, I ended up liking this a lot, though I'd say it's probably not for all tastes. It's a story about stories--a nesting doll structure that is occasionally challenging to follow but worth the effort. The book isn't so much about Lovecraft himself, but there is a dark, Lovecraftian undercurrent muddying the waters of reality and fiction. In many ways, it is very much a book for our times.