Hopefully this isn’t the only thing I post today, but I’m having trouble wording, y’know?
This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.
The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
Easy enough, right?
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading (and frequently enjoying) Alexandra Petri’s US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) by Alexandra Petri and the ARC for Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire. I’m also listening to Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane, Jonathan Davis (Narrator) on audiobook.
What did you recently finish reading?
I just finished Ausma Zehanat Khan’s Blood Betrayal—a very solid sequel—and Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire, Emily Bauer (Narrator) on audio. I liked it more the second time around.
What do you think you’ll read next?
On the advice of some of you, my next book should be Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett. I think I’ll try Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English by Valerie Fridland, narrated by the author and several others as my next audiobook.
What’s grabbing your attention now?
Bob Germaux
I’m currently reading “Making It So,” Patrick Stewart’s memoir. As a long-time Trekkie, of course, I was inclined to like anything by “Jean-Luc Picard,” captain of the Enterprise, but this book (so far) has exceeded my expectations, primarily for two reasons. First, Stewart fills it with lots of entertaining tidbits about the many people he’s known in his career, both on stage and in films and TV. Second, this book is so well-written, something that, as a writer myself, I especially appreciate.
I recently finished “The Rise,” a short story by Ian Rankin. While I enjoyed it, I’m not sure I would have stayed with it had it been a full-length novel. I think the problem (mine) is that the book takes place in England, and there are many references to places and events that were pretty much lost on me. Again, my problem, not Rankin’s. The guy is a good writer who has apparently sold a ton of books, so good on him.
Next up will probably be “Broken Trust,” Mike Lupica’s debut Spenser novel, unless I can hold off and save it for over the holidays. We’ll see.
HCNewton
Making It So is on my list…but I guess I need to move it up on the schedule.
So, you’ve never read Rankin apart from The Rise? If you can handle the Edinburgh-ness of it, I can assure you that you’d dig his Rebus series.
Looking forward to what you have to think about Broken Trust. And to hear if you have the strength to hold off.
Allyson Johnson
I’m still moving slowly through Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”. Napoleon’s troops are on Russian territory and heading for Moscow. Nikolai and Natasha’s young brother Petya (only 15) is hoping to enlist. Pierre’s Masonic oath keeps him from enlisting, and he decides he needs to stay away from Natasha, as his love can do her no good as long as his wife lives. I’m also reading Daphne duMaurier’s “Jamaica Inn”, a very dark book set on the Cornish moors and involving smuggling.
And I read the first story in Adam Johnson’s collection “Fortune Smiles . If you have never read anything by Adam Johnson (he won a Pulitzer for “The Orphan Master’s Son” and “Fortune Smiles” won a National Book Award) stop whatever trivial crap you are reading and find one of his books. The first story had me crying and laughing alternately; I’ve got to recover a bit before I read the second. HIs first collection “Emporium” has stories that held me up during a dark period and still stick with me. Adam Johnson is the real thing.
I finished Marie Baldwin’s “Her Hidden Genius” and had to admire how Baldwin made the prickly, inflexible personality of Rosalind Franklin come alive, even though I found it hard to like her. And I read a completely worthless Jane Austen ripofff “Mr. Darcy’s Diary”, to my great shame.
Back to Adam Johnson* as soon as I work up my nerve.
no relation
HCNewton
I just placed a hold on Fortune Smiles at my Library.
I figure if you’re still working through Tolstoy, you can let yourself indulge in a worthless book or two. (also, trying something called “Mr. Darcy’s Diary” is an act of bravery)
allyson johnson
OK, you never commented on the blog about my last enthusiastic recommendation, Julian Barnes’ “Sense of an Ending”, so I really hope you will say something about “Fortune Smiles.” We must have a few grains of literary taste in common beyond Jack Reacher and Narnia.
HCNewton
I did post about the Barnes’ book. I don’t precisely remember what I said, but from what I recall, the writing was fantastic, the story…less so. But I remember more of it than many other books from 2022.