What Are You Reading?

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not_nadine

not_nadine

Comfortably Roont
Nov 19, 2011
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Dana Jean said:
A Long December by Richard Chizmar.

I am really gobsmacked by these stories. Honestly just sitting here thinking, "i never knew this guy could write!" I mean, I am familiar with him as owner and editor of Cemetery Dance, Inc., and I have dealt with the company for years and years. Cemetery Dance has been very good to me over those years. Good people. But, I honestly wasn't aware of Richard's story telling ability. These are really good stories. This is the best book I have read in 2 years, and I AM including Stephen King books in that.

The stories are short, well written, wickedly subtle and smack you upside the head. This is the first book in 2 years that I didn't want to put down to go to bed. I would read a story, look ahead and see how long the next story was and think, "I'll read ONE more." Before I knew it, I was 100 pages into this thing, and it's good-sized book and I have plenty more delicious stories to read.

Looking forward to seeing what else is in store for me. I highly recommend this book if you can get your hands on it.

I have ALWAYS loved an author's short story compilations more than novels. Always. I have said this a bazillion times, but it is still true, a writer has to write wicked tight to pull you in, develop the characters, situations and ideas, and leave you satisfied in the end. Richard does every one of these. I really can't praise it enough. Love love love this book.
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Just ordered the book as well. Thank you. Needed a good one.

I downloaded a free one - 'Awakening' - Tracy Higley, couldn't do it. Sorry if anyone liked it. It is Twilight-like nonsense reading to me.
I had heard of a movie with that title. Hope it was not based on this.

So between myself and danie, you are up to 'bout 25 bucks, I figure. :)

Looking forward to it. Thankya.
 
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Dana Jean

Dana Jean

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not_nadine said:
Just ordered the book as well. Thank you. Needed a good one.

I downloaded a free one - 'Awakening' - Tracy Higley, couldn't do it. Sorry if anyone liked it. It is Twilight-like nonsense reading to me.
I had heard of a movie with that title. Hope it was not based on this.

So between myself and danie, you are up to 'bout 25 bucks, I figure. :)

Looking forward to it. Thankya.
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I hope you enjoy it. Again, some stories better than others, as it is with any anthology, but so far, I've really appreciated all of them for one reason or another.
 
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skimom2

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
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Read Ready Player One. From the reviews and recs from friends I expected a stunner, but it was just okay for me. Reminded me of an Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators story (lol). Maybe you have to be a gamer to love it, I don't know. Well-written, but meh for me.

Now I'm reading The Girl On The Train. I'm just about a dozen pages in, so I don't have much of an opinion yet :)

I've been thinking about Station Eleven again--regretting that I passed that book on. I wish I'd kept it for a reread.
 
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morgan

morgan

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Jul 11, 2010
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Forgot to add that I read The Black Box by Michael Connelly. It was only the second book of his I've read. Not my favorite genre, but a decent read. I'm almost done with my It reread (think I'm right around 900 pages). Feels as if I've really been slogging through this time around. Can't decide if I should read The Poet by Connelly next (picked it up at the last library used book sale because SK wrote an intro :) ), or try to get to the library to seek out another Kelly Braffett book. Last Seen Leaving was sensational!
 
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Dana Jean

Dana Jean

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morgan said:
Forgot to add that I read The Black Box by Michael Connelly. It was only the second book of his I've read. Not my favorite genre, but a decent read. I'm almost done with my It reread (think I'm right around 900 pages). Feels as if I've really been slogging through this time around. Can't decide if I should read The Poet by Connelly next (picked it up at the last library used book sale because SK wrote an intro :) ), or try to get to the library to seek out another Kelly Braffett book. Last Seen Leaving was sensational!
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I like Kelly Braffett.
 
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SusanNorton

SusanNorton

Beatle Groupie
Jul 12, 2006
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Neesy said:
Sounds good - I should check out that third book, since I love the Beatles so much
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You should! The same author, Philip Norman, wrote a book called "Shout" back in the '80s, and I really liked that one. He also did a bio of John, which I haven't read yet. Anyway, Paul gave his friends/family permission to cooperate, and also filled in some blanks for the author. I really like his writing style.
 
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skimom2

skimom2

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Finished TGOTT. Gotta say, I didn't love it. It was definitely well written, and I didn't see the end coming until the writer was ready (I was sure it was someone else), but there wasn't a single person to root for in this book. They were pretty much all horrible. I have a hard time being enthusiastic about books that do this. It reminded me of the movie Closer, not in the situations but in that everyone was awful.
 
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Doc Creed

Doc Creed

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skimom2 said:
Finished TGOTT. Gotta say, I didn't love it. It was definitely well written, and I didn't see the end coming until the writer was ready (I was sure it was someone else), but there wasn't a single person to root for in this book. They were pretty much all horrible. I have a hard time being enthusiastic about books that do this. It reminded me of the movie Closer, not in the situations but in that everyone was awful.
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I felt that way about Gone Girl.
 
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skimom2

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
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Doc Creed said:
I felt that way about Gone Girl.
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Yeah. Gone Girl was a problematic book for me: the first third was astoundingly good, the second third was damn good, and the third act was a big ole mess. All of her books are like that for me. I think TGOTT will inevitably draw comparison, but it's miles ahead of Gone Girl, if just by virtue of it not falling apart at the end.
 
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