Tuesday Book Club
This was a happy book week for me. I took the time to read three books, and that’s A LOT by my standards, although I know Little Willow and Jen Robinson and BJ and others can easily go through six or more a week.
But we all do what we can.
First was an advance copy of The Aremac Project by Gerald M. Weinberg, who normally applies his prodigious science-oriented brain cells to writing non-fiction, but this time has written a science fiction/techological thriller that was not only entertaining, but also taught me some of the cool technology that’s either possible right now or should be. At parties I’m going to talk about it as if it already exists.
Then I read a book I needed as background for the screenplay I’m working on right now. Can’t tell you what that book or the screenplay is about. It’s a secret for the moment.
Finally, I read The Revenge of the Shadow King by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis, a fun and suspenseful middle grade novel (first in a series) which builds on my favorite legend of all time, King Arthur and the Round Table. Makes me want to go back and reread The Once and Future King.
There you have it. And you?
Technorati Tags: Reading, Books, Reading Clubs, Book Clubs, Tuesday Book Club, Book Recommendations, Book Reviews, The Aremac Project, Gerald M. Weinberg, Revenge of the Shadow King, Derek Benz, J.S. Lewis
April 17th, 2007 at 7:00 am
I’ve got to pick up the Aremac Project. Jerry’s a blast!
Well, you may recall that last week I said I wasn’t reading anything this week. I lied. A very important book came my way, so I had to read it.
I can’t tell you here. It’s such an important book, that it can only be revealed correctly on my blog.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Over the weekend,I finished up Season of the Witch by Nastasha Mostert(reviewed at my blog) and yesterday,The Road(which has just won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)by Cormac McCarthy. Still reading a couple of other titles but have started on two new books: Afternoons with Emily by Rose MacMurray and Throne of Jade by Naomi Novak. I also have another Mostert book that I’m holding off on for the moment(WindWalker),so that I can truly savor it,not gorge myself on her prose. That’s especially important,since most of her work are still only in the UK.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Patrick, you’re right–that book does deserve its own post on your blog. Love the photo, man. And really love the sweater.
Lady T, I love your eclectic taste in books. I always see all these titles and authors I’d never otherwise hear of. Thank you, as usual, for expanding my horizon!
April 17th, 2007 at 8:09 am
I finished David Weber’s Hellsgate and just finished Earth Abides by George R. Stewart.
Earth Abides was first published in 1949. The post-apocalyptic novel opens with the main character Ish, recovering from a snake bite in a cabin located in the remote mountains outside of San Fransico. As he is struggling to survive, a plague wipes out 95 percent of humanity. All other species are uneffected. What is interesting about this novel is there no great struggle between good and evil or struggle to survive. There is enough stuff laying around so a small group could go on quiet nicely for many years. What happens as no effort is made to retain knowledge or educate the next generation.
I have started Judas Unchained by Peter Hamilton.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Ooh, I just realized I don’t think I finished anything this week. We had an out-of-town guest this weekend, and before that I was cleaning in preparation for said guest. But I’ve been reading Endymion Spring, which is good so far, and re-reading Something Rising (Light and Swift) which is very good indeed.
Robin, I’d seen the awesome cover for Revenge of the Shadow King, but I didn’t realize it has an Arthur tie-in. I must read that next, I’m an Arthur-freak too! Did you read Kevin Crossley-Holland’s Seeing Stone trilogy?
April 17th, 2007 at 8:45 am
Herb, nice to see you again! Earth Abides sounds cool. Did you read The Road yet? Seems like some similar themes.
Eisha, who could blame you? House guests take priority. I read Endymion Spring last year. It actually has a lot in common with Revenge of the Shadow King. I’ll be interested hearing what you think.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Hi Robin,
I replied late to last week’s book club, which means that I haven’t finished many books since then. Over the weekend I read “Maximum Ride: School’s Out Forever” by James Patterson. It’s escapist, best-seller stuff for kids, but was perfect for a day when I was lying on the couch with a headache, with limited ability to concentrate. I’m also reading an adult mystery called “Find Me” by Carol O’Connell. This is the latest entry in one of my favorite series, about a copy named Mallory.
I did read six books last week, and loved doing it, but I must admit that I don’t always get to that many. It depends on my travel and work schedules. Airplane time helps, of course. But as you say, we all do what we can. Hope you’re having a good week.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Yeah, Jen, I agree that airports and planes are perfect for getting your reading fix. It makes all the waiting around not only bearable, but worthwhile.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:10 am
I am having a lot of difficulty accessing your site since the 4/8 message about site work-either I can’t get on at all or I get only the 4/8 message. Yesteray morning I got on, but couldn’t the rest of the day. Had a lot of trouble this morning. What gives?
I did read yesterday’s postings and WHAT DO YOU MEAN LASSIE IS NOT REAL??!!?? If I believed that, I would have to question Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny and Flicka and Flipper and…and…and I just can’t go there.
The only books I touched this week were the ones I packed into boxes for an upcoming house change. I did manage a couple of Newsweeks
April 17th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Deborah, thanks for letting me know about problems with my site. Grrrr. I have zero tech skills myself, so I’ll check with BJ about that.
Forget what I said about Lassie. I must have hit my head yesterday or something.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Hi Robin and all the Readers!
I’m having a fractured reading week–meaning I’m all over the place.
I’m reading: The Inheritance of Loss, simply cause it was an “important” book and I didn’t get to it in 2006. It’s okay so far.
I’m also reading a Swedish mystery for fun
The Blood Split, by Asa Larsson.
I’m reading far too many kids books to count at the moment and I’m listening to the John Banville mystery, which is good, but not nearly as good as “The Sea” was.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I finished Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, and I’m reading Ruth White’s new one, and I just picked up Jon McGregor’s new one. Good reading. Life is good.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Wow, Kelly, how’s your brain taking all that? I’m with you on the catching up with “important” books thing. There are all those books everyone talks about, and I feel like I should read them–but what about all those other ones I want to read, too? Aarrgg! Need more time!
Jules, love the line, Good reading. Life is good. That needs to be a t-shirt.
April 17th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Cape, Robin! It’s not a sweater, it’s a CAPE!
April 17th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Jen wrote:
It’s escapist, best-seller stuff for kids
What do you mean by “bestseller stuff?” Is there a quality present in bestselling books not present in other books, other than the fact that more copies have sold?
April 17th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Some weeks my brain is just fragmented, Robin. I find it’s better to just go with it than to impose order on myself.
April 17th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Is there a quality present in bestselling books not present in other books, other than the fact that more copies have sold?
Sometimes…
April 17th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
I READ AN ADVANCE OF EVOLUTION, ME, AND OTHER FREAKS OF NATURE AND IT’S SOOOOOOO GOOD OMG EEEEEEE!!!
I read it in two sittings because it’s just THAT awesome. I seriously cannot wait until August!!!
I also read a bunch of reports on Medicare reimbursements, but that was for work and far less entertaining.
GO ROBIN!!!
April 17th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Thank you, Lizzie! I’m so glad you liked it. I secretly modeled one of the characters after you, so I’m glad you approved of the story.
April 17th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Robin, we are going to have to discus the concept of ’secret’.
Blogs - not so secret…
April 17th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Huh? Seriously, Patrick? You think people are reading this?
April 17th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
hehe, yea, no secret to me, as I kept reading through going Hey, I always say that!!!
It’s incredibly flattering, you have no idea!