What Are You Reading?

[carrie's younger brother]

I started Emma Donahue's Slammerkin over the weekend. I'm very much enjoying it but I feel so dirty every time I put it down. It deals with prostitutes in 18th century London. Between the squalid living conditions, back-alley sex and social diseases, it should come with a prescription for penicillin. It's a "fun" read though and pretty well written, though having just finished Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood it takes a bit to get used to a more straight-forward style. I enjoyed Room and The Wonder by Donahue and I'm finding her to be a solid choice for a quick, good read.

 

[Haunted]

The Nix was my favorite novel of 2016. Certainly in my top 5 favorite books of all-time.

I had originally started a copy I got from my library along with some other books. Few pages in I knew I had to have my own copy to read without pressure.

 

[danie]

I started Emma Donahue's Slammerkin over the weekend. I'm very much enjoying it but I feel so dirty every time I put it down. It deals with prostitutes in 18th century London. Between the squalid living conditions, back-alley sex and social diseases, it should come with a prescription for penicillin. It's a "fun" read though and pretty well written, though having just finished Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood it takes a bit to get used to a more straight-forward style. I enjoyed Room and The Wonder by Donahue and I'm finding her to be a solid choice for a quick, good read.

You might like The Crimson Petal and the White, which has a similar theme and time period. Very well-written by Michael Faber.

 

[Haunted]

After I pick up Faye Kellerman's latest at the library and finish her husband's Heartbreak Hotel I am swearing off of the library and have forwarded my reserves until August. The TBR is out of sight and I must get to it! I need to finish Dracula vs. Hitler and Freedom of the Mask. Then I have Mr. King's Hearts in Suspension, The Nix, The Shroud Conspiracy and Mississippi Blood.

Of course in the projected time frame I will have to put whatever story aside to read Mr. King and Mr. Chizmar's tale which I am so very much looking forward to owning.

 

[grin willard]

I was looking at my big honkin' first edition of the Warren Commission Report that I've basically never touched, and it made me want to maybe read a few JFK conspiracy books. Anyone have any faves? I was thinking 'Profiles in Cowardice', or 'Conspiracy A Go-Go' might be a good start. If I get garroted in my car, that means I got too close to the truth. Tell my story!

 

[Dana Jean]

Okay,

I was looking at my big honkin' first edition of the Warren Commission Report that I've basically never touched, and it made me want to maybe read a few JFK conspiracy books. Anyone have any faves? I was thinking 'Profiles in Cowardice', or 'Conspiracy A Go-Go' might be a good start. If I get garroted in my car, that means I got too close to the truth. Tell my story!

kay brown could probably give you some ideas.

 

[80sFan]

Just finished Things We Wish Were True. I forget who wrote it. It was good, for "women's fiction" (not really my thing).

Now reading Stepford Wives by Ira Levin. It was cheap and short.

 

[RichardX]

I was looking at my big honkin' first edition of the Warren Commission Report that I've basically never touched, and it made me want to maybe read a few JFK conspiracy books. Anyone have any faves? I was thinking 'Profiles in Cowardice', or 'Conspiracy A Go-Go' might be a good start. If I get garroted in my car, that means I got too close to the truth. Tell my story!

The UFO and Bigfoot books are generally more entertaining and better written than JFK conspiracy books. It actually hurts my head to read the long debunked and convoluted JFK nonsense repeated over and over again. The best recent JFK assassination book is "Four Days in November" by Vincent Bugliosi (who is also known as the spawn of satan to conspiracy theorists). A condensed version of his massive 1500 page tome "Reclaiming History." He demonlishes every JFK conspiracy theory (and they are legion) to the point that you almost feel sorry for the conspiracy theorists. It is like watching a small, defenseless animal get beaten with a club. Brutal.

 

[grin willard]

The UFO and Bigfoot books are generally more entertaining and better written than JFK conspiracy books. It actually hurts my head to read the long debunked and convoluted JFK nonsense repeated over and over again. The best recent JFK assassination book is "Four Days in November" by Vincent Bugliosi (who is also known as the spawn of satan to conspiracy theorists). A condensed version of his massive 1500 page tome "Reclaiming History." He demonlishes every JFK conspiracy theory (and they are legion) to the point that you almost feel sorry for the conspiracy theorists. It is like watching a small, defenseless animal get beaten with a club. Brutal.

Richard X, I'm not ruling out bigfoots (plural? bigfeet?), UFO's, or Vincent Bugliosi being a part of the conspiracy to kill Kennedy, but you are getting in a bit deep for me! I just can't wrap my head around all that. My favorite Kennedy conspiracy is the one where he's in the grassy knoll and assassinates himself. Hey, calm down!! It's a feasible theory. He's a short video representation that follows that particular thread. I tell myself I won't, but I almost always cry at the end.

 

[RichardX]

You might like The Crimson Petal and the White, which has a similar theme and time period. Very well-written by Michael Faber.

That's a good one. I really like Faber. "Under the Skin" is a great sci-fi book. Unfortunate that he has apparently stopped writing after his wife passed away. Hopefully he comes back.

 

[ghost19]

I was looking at my big honkin' first edition of the Warren Commission Report that I've basically never touched, and it made me want to maybe read a few JFK conspiracy books. Anyone have any faves? I was thinking 'Profiles in Cowardice', or 'Conspiracy A Go-Go' might be a good start. If I get garroted in my car, that means I got too close to the truth. Tell my story!

I've read a bunch of these, on both sides of the lone shooter theory. I started with Jim Garrison's "On the Trail of the Assassins". I then read Gerald Posner's "Case Closed".

"Mortal Error" by Bonar Menninger is a very interesting read and backs a theory that JFK was accidentally shot by a secret service agent in the chase car with an AR15 rifle. As far as straight up ballistic data, his case is presented very scientifically.

"Reclaiming History" by Vincent Bugliosi is a slog fest as far as trying to get thru the book without the author reminding you ever few pages that you're stupid if you don't agree with him. A very long book that seemed more of a "look how smart I am" novel rather than an examination of the facts around the assassination.

"JFK: The Dead Witnesses" by Craig Roberts and John Armstrong. Now this one is just pure reading entertainment. I'm not sure if their claims are bulletproof, so to speak, but it's a fun read no matter what you think. This is from the inside cover.

"In the years following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, more than one hundred witnesses, investigators, and other people linked to the ambush in Dealey Plaza have died. The majority have met their fate under extremely suspicious circumstances. The authors present the results of their investigation into the deaths of each of the victims."

There's a bunch of books out there, some are fringe type books, but most I've read have been pretty entertaining if nothing else.

 

[carrie's younger brother]

You might like The Crimson Petal and the White, which has a similar theme and time period. Very well-written by Michael Faber.

I remember when that book came out and always wondered about it. I just looked at it on Amazon and see it takes place during the Victorian era (19th century), which I love. The book I am reading takes place in the mid 1700s which is also fascinating me. Lots of descriptions of daily life (which sound horrid) and also the fashions of the times. It's a very good read.

 

[danie]

I remember when that book came out and always wondered about it. I just looked at it on Amazon and see it takes place during the Victorian era (19th century), which I love. The book I am reading takes place in the mid 1700s which is also fascinating me. Lots of descriptions of daily life (which sound horrid) and also the fashions of the times. It's a very good read.

Oops, not the same time period, but they both are in the past.

I think you'd like the book. It's one of those huge reads with great characterization. Sugar is one of my favorite characters in literature.

 

[Philzilla]

 

[grin willard]

I've read a bunch of these, on both sides of the lone shooter theory. I started with Jim Garrison's "On the Trail of the Assassins". I then read Gerald Posner's "Case Closed".

"Mortal Error" by Bonar Menninger is a very interesting read and backs a theory that JFK was accidentally shot by a secret service agent in the chase car with an AR15 rifle. As far as straight up ballistic data, his case is presented very scientifically.

"Reclaiming History" by Vincent Bugliosi is a slog fest as far as trying to get thru the book without the author reminding you ever few pages that you're stupid if you don't agree with him. A very long book that seemed more of a "look how smart I am" novel rather than an examination of the facts around the assassination.

"JFK: The Dead Witnesses" by Craig Roberts and John Armstrong. Now this one is just pure reading entertainment. I'm not sure if their claims are bulletproof, so to speak, but it's a fun read no matter what you think. This is from the inside cover.

"In the years following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, more than one hundred witnesses, investigators, and other people linked to the ambush in Dealey Plaza have died. The majority have met their fate under extremely suspicious circumstances. The authors present the results of their investigation into the deaths of each of the victims."

There's a bunch of books out there, some are fringe type books, but most I've read have been pretty entertaining if nothing else.

Thank you for that ghost19. Even from the small amount of Manson stuff I've seen, Bugliosi comes off as a bit of a spotlight whore. I think you might be my new hero!

 

[morgan]

Dweller - Jeff Strand

If Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper collaborated on a story, you might get something like Dweller. A boy discovers a monster in the woods behind his house and the two become lifelong friends. Problem is that the monster has a taste for humans. Twisted and hilarious (and at times, kind of touching ).

Hey fljoe0 ! Been meaning to ask how much you liked Fender Lizards (I think was the title)? I looked at the library, but they don't have it. Was wondering if it's good enough for me to try to track it down elsewhere.

 

[morgan]

Finished The Handmaid's Tale a few days ago. So good, yet extremely troubling and sad. Excellent book.

Started a reread of Gerald's Game (about 100 pages in). Really didn't remember much about the book. Was eating popcorn last night when I reached a particularly gruesome part. It almost didn't stay down.

 

[ghost19]

Thank you for that ghost19. Even from the small amount of Manson stuff I've seen, Bugliosi comes off as a bit of a spotlight whore. I think you might be my new hero!

Nah, you should probably just get out more sir....lol, but you're more than welcome for the book references. The JFK assassination is very interesting to me, if you ever want to kick some info back and forth, feel free to pm me sir. Stay safe. Have a good one.

 

[ghost19]

Thank you for that ghost19. Even from the small amount of Manson stuff I've seen, Bugliosi comes off as a bit of a spotlight whore. I think you might be my new hero!

Let me check my book shelves when I get home this evening. I've got a few recommendations I'll send your way. There's one written by an ex-USMC scout/sniper who went to Dealey Plaza and spent months walking off the distances, angles, terrain and tries to come at it from a tactical shooter's standpoint. I can't remember his name, but about a quarter way thru the book, he just goes nuts on the most outlandish theories about the assassination I've ever heard and really doesn't come back to the original tactical book he tried to write. I had to go back a few times and try to figure out what the hell he was trying to write about he started jumping around all through the book. It made for a fun read, but no real substance to it.

 

[fljoe0]

Hey fljoe0 ! Been meaning to ask how much you liked Fender Lizards (I think was the title)? I looked at the library, but they don't have it. Was wondering if it's good enough for me to try to track it down elsewhere.

I think it's worth tracking down and I think you would like it.