Sleuth Home - Message Boards - The Gumshoe Lounge

Jul-27-2006 03:15

I know we already have the Sleuths Bookshelf, but people there talk about their general tastes, what books they liked in childhood etc. I'd like all of us to share with others what we are reading now, do we like it or not and to recommend the books we like. Possibly we could have a similar thread for movies.

Jul-27-2006 03:19

At the moment I'm reading "The Mummy Case" by Elizabeth Peters, a book from Amelia Peabody series highly recommended to me by a fellow sleuth. It's interesting and funny. As I have a (bad) habit of reading at least two books at the time, I'm also reading "The Madness of Kings" by Vivian Green. It starts with crazy Roman emperors and ends with Hitler and Mussolini.
For animal lovers, I've just finished James Herriot's "Dog Stories. They are great!

Jul-27-2006 04:33

I am reading "Straight Into Darkness" by Faye Kellerman. More of a historical novel which I don't completely love, but her Decker series is awesome, I've read them all and she's a great writer

Jul-27-2006 05:19

Mmm I'm a multiple offender too:
Edward Radzinksky's 'Rasputin - The Last Word'. (It's taking forever, but it's very interesting.)
Charles DeLint's 'Moonheart'. (It's a re-read for the umpteenth time. It's my backpack book. He's Canadian. Writes Urban fantasy. All time fave author.)
Josephine Tey's 'Daughter of Time'. Started this a while ago, but it was 'borrowed' by a friend who couldn't put it down... you know how it is :)

Jul-27-2006 05:59

At the moment I've started reading the Discworld Series by Terry Prachett.
I've nearly finished the second one. I've only got one book on the go which is highly unusual for me as I usually have several... however living in a country where I don't speak the language makes things like reading a little difficult.. I've probably bought more books in the last three years than I have in my entire life!

The annoying thing is that I read really quickly.. one book in a day (hence having several on the go... makes them last longer) so I like reading series or trilogies...

I'm currently waiting for Ptolemy's Gate .. the third in 'The Bartimaeus Trilogy ' (Jonathan Stroud) which are actually kids book. But hey, so is Harry Potter.

Both authors are laugh out loud funny and I like them because not only are they basically fairy tales for grown-ups but the authors don't write in a conventional way.. utilising footnotes, changing character perspective and a less than traditional linear form.

Terry Prachett is also extremly clever and witty and I love his satire on Modern Society and things like insurance.

Jul-27-2006 06:18

I am reading 4 books at the moment, plus the wall street journal, and sleuth. Good thing I have no life. Wait a minute! lol. Seriously, I switch back and forth between books (bad habbit picked up in college.)
Shambala (sacred path of the warrior) by Chogyam Trungpa.- Bhuddist
philosophy/religion -shangri-la anyone???
Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly- Nautical History-All about Pirates!
French for Dummies by several people-Guess what thats about. lol
*****The Dinosaur Heresies by Robert T Bakker-Watershed Dino Book *****

yes i gave the last book 10 stars. if you have any interest at all in science or any interest in paleontology, say your kids like it. Dr. Bakker spells it out for you in terms you can understand, he's the guy that made Jurassic Park what it was. And this book changed the way we look at dinosaurs, evolution, and birds. This book pretty literally rocked the scientific world and it hasn't settled down since. Very cool book, easy to read! I highly highly highly recommend it.

And just for the record I wasn't a science guy in school. I was in humanities. I studied government and economics and am going back for social work. So if I can dig it, so can you. Ooh bad pun not intended. dig dinosaur bones. ouch! lol ok I'll stop now. :0)

Jul-27-2006 11:24

One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Mythical, lyrical, very very powerful. I highly recommend it.

Jul-27-2006 15:57

I am rereading The Da Vinchi Code and The Holy Bible. Strange mix isn't it?

Jul-28-2006 01:58

'Everything is Illuminated', by Jonathan Safran Foer. It's my second attempt at this book. I have committment issues.

Jul-28-2006 02:56

crunchpatty - i, too, have commitment issues! "everything is illuminated" sounds good...if you ever finish it, let me know how it was.
i've started about 50 books this year and only finished 3. isn't that sad, i can actually remember how many books i've read over 7 months.

i read "in cold blood" by truman capote, since i saw the film.
"the hero with a thousand faces" by joseph campbell.
"the cat who played post office" by lilian jackson braun. i love a book about cats who have a sophisticated palate. i used to read this series when i was younger. it's good beach reading, with a can of sapporo and some tai sushi ; )

Jul-28-2006 17:12

I am reading Dr. Phil's weight loss book.

Please shoot me. (It's not hard to miss.)