Finished The Postmortal today. I enjoyed it, although it was a downer overall. I mean, if humanity did find a way to prolong life, this is probably just how we would screw it up.
Thank you – hadn’t known about that one. The library lists it as “On order”, so I put a hold on it.
Almost finished with The Case of the Spellbound Child, by Mercedes Lackey, so I’ll have to hit the library this afternoon.
This morning I finished The Case of the Spellbound Child. It’s the 14th book in her Elemental Masters series, and the fourth to feature Holmes and the Watsons.
Took that and my other library books back, and checked out a few new ones (though I couldn’t get the ones I was looking for 
). First up will be America Before: The Key to Earth’s Lost Civilization, by Graham Hancock. He apparently thinks that the Americas were populated 130,000 years ago, but their civilization was destroyed by the ice age. Not sure if this should be called psaudoscience or pseudohistory…
I’m a big fan of Crais’ Cole/Pike novels - they are all compulsively readable, funny and action-packed.
I believe it’s charitably called bullshit.
That works. I’m not sure I’ll be able to read 500+ pages of it.
I’ve resumed reading George R.R. Martin’s masterful sf environmental satire Tuf Voyaging with one of my teenage sons. Overpopulation, a cloned T-Rex, a huge ancient warship, a telepathic cat, mushroom wine, sea monsters, absolute power, deadpan sarcasm - what’s not to like?
Finished LA Requiem, by Robert Crais. His eighth Elvis Cole / Joe Pike Los Angeles noir. In this one, the focus is more on Joe Pike, and we learn some of his background and what makes him tick. An old girlfriend of Pike’s is found murdered, and Cole and Pike are on the job. Very good. I thoroughly enjoy Crais. In a previous novel, someone mentions that Cole vaguely resembles Mel Gibson, but for some reason I always picture him as Billy Bob Thornton while I’m reading.
Next up is The Guardians, by John Grisham, which I have started and am just over halfway through.
Because I finished The Enforcer Enigma by Gail Carriger, I had to go back and read the first two books of the series, The Sumage Solution & The Omega Objection.
Now I am going to finish:
Rising Wolf by Theda Black, another m/m werewolf story. (I’m on a roll this month, this will be the fifth one)
The Hand Hand of the Necromancer the first Johnny Dixon book written by Brad Strickland after John Bellairs death. He’s doing a good job of sticking to the tone of the prior books. And this one has a girl as one of the main characters, she’s a “tomboy” in the mid 1950, so another duck out of water like Johnny.
I just finished the Mary Trump book about her completely fucked up family. It’s no wonder Donny is like he is, and it’s terrifying to think he may get reelected.
Next up is The Peasant Prince, by Alex Storozynski. It’s a history of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, who most Americans have never heard of. A Polish engineer, he basically saved America’s ass in the Revolutionary War, was admired greatly by Washington and Jefferson, and fought for equal rights for ALL peoples, including slaves and indigenous people. In fact, he surrendered his pay for participating in the war, on the condition that it be used to purchase freedom for as many slaves as possible, purchase land for them and provide the tools and livestock needed to prosper. After his death, the money was largely embezzled, but he tried. He also designed West Point, where there is a statue of him.
I’m waiting for the sequel, The Foot Foot of the Necromancer.
snort I even proofread that…
Started today on David Mitchell’s newest, Utopia Avenue, about a British rock band in the late sixties. A sheer pleasure so far.
Finished Cyteen, by C. J. Cherryh, which I thought was tedious, despite its excellent reviews.
Now I’m reading Going Into Town: A Love Letter to New York, by Roz Chast.
Finished Going Into Town: A Love Letter to New York , by Roz Chast. It was charming, and surprisingly educational.
Now I’m reading The House of Daniel, by Harry Turtledove. It’s a fantasy novel.
“George Eliot” is among 25 female writers now being republished using their real names: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/george-eliot-reclaim-her-name-intl-hnk-scli/index.html
Just finished it - terrific as ever.
Next up to read aloud with my son: Old Man’s War by John Scalzi, one of my favorite military sf novels.
George Eliot” is among 25 female writers now being republished using their real names: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/george-eliot-reclaim-her-name-intl-hnk-scli/index.html
Ironic that it ends with J.K. Rowling whining about her gender being erased. My trans child would LOVE to give her an earful…
My son gave me “Case Histories” by Kate Atkinson for Father’s Day, and I finally finished it. A combination thriller/detective story/more “serious” novel. Enjoyed it mostly, although I didn;t think much of the ending. I thought it was very reminiscent of the Gregor Demarkian books by “Jane Haddam”–sort of a British version of the Demarkian series, with lots of interior thoughts from various characters, an emphasis on human psychology, and a rather dark vision of the world when you come right down to it.
Now I’m working on the sequel, “One Good Turn.” Fine so far.
Didn’t all realize this was a monthly thread until now. Nonetheless, here’s what I’ve been reading:
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Zadie Smith’s On Beauty – Hard to believe this was published in 2005, because it still feels extremely contemporary. Especially since it deals with the inclusive university, and the concessions and compromises it has to endure to foster inclusivity. Inclusive universities have for long been regarded as purifiers and life-blood of the public sphere, yet inclusivity has remained a rabidly fought out concept. In other words, even though we’ve been hearing plenty from pro- and anti-inclusivists, we mostly don’t get more than soundbytes and catch phrases, thereby enabling many to say that the inclusive university is a failed project. Because it hasn’t really enlivened the public sphere, one of its alleged goals. Interestingly enough, Smith teaches at NYU.
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John J. Macionis’ Society: The Basics (14th Ed) – I’m reading the first section now, and it focuses on the tensions between individual and community rights. Does ensuring the former put the latter in jeopardy and vice versa? It doesn’t so far mention Kwame Appiah or Charles Taylor, but if you’re interested, both of them argue that indefinite preservation of cultures is not possible, and that these efforts, if anything, only stunt individual growth. Interesting stuff.
I just finished Peace Talks, the new Harry Dresden novel.
My wife asked me, “How’s the new Dresden book?” I answered, “How’s that Snickers Bar?”
The feature and bug of the Dresden novels are their consistency: you know what you’re getting. There’s gonna be wry Raymond Chandler humor. There’s gonna be whiz-bang magic action. There’s gonna be plotting and betrayal. There’s gonna be basically the same cast of characters as in the previous 500 books in the series.
This book neither surprised nor disappointed. It satisfied.