Searching for a 'Honey' sequel as we speak ...

Finished

This one is a fun ride. Recommended.

Just started The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger

Looks super interesting

Finished:

The Godfather by Mario Puzo. We've all seen the movie.

The movie followed the book pretty closely, although a couple of subplots were cut. The book tells us what happened to the bridesmaid that Sonny was banging against the door before his sister's wedding (she becomes his mistress, and the family takes care of her after he dies), and what happens to singer Johnny Fontaine (he gets his Oscar, and he starts a production company with seed money from the family).

The book is more crass than the movie. We're told when we first see him that Sonny has a big dick. After Michael shoots the guys in the restaurant, he says, "I saw their brains."

It was exciting and drew me in, even though I knew what was going to happen next.

Finished a couple of horror books in October:

Lost Man's Lane by Scott Carson. I know someone here highly recommended this a few months ago ... and it's very good. Quite Stephen King-esqe in that it takes the time to build up strong characters while the horror elements develop slowly. Though I don't like how it makes me feel old to be reading a nostalgic period piece ... set in the late 90's


The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates. Nothing groundbreaking but it's a short easy-to-read novel that's about as "cozy" as horror can be, while still remaining horror.

I needed something big and escapist to get my mind off the real world. So just started this:

The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams. The first in his new "Osten Ard" series (that should have the 4th and final book coming out soon). Slow going so far, but Williams does that. Plus I've been struggling to focus due to anxiety. But I hope that can be better now that at least I'm not being bombarded with texts, calls, mail, and ads at every possible turn.

Jim Butcher - Cold Days (Dresden Files #14). Harry Dresden has had another level-up. He's been dead and returned from the dead. He is saving the world from destruction again.

Once again, I preferred the character interactions to the battle scenes. Mrs Danger is frustrated that Dresden is fighting cosmic evil instead of being a wizard/detective and is done with the series. There is something to her feelings: in the next book, Harry Dresden invades Hell. He used to fight FBI agents and infanticidal ghosts.

Just finished this brick, Stephen King’s Needful Things.



It’s the quintessential Stephen King! Well written with solid character development. It also has a late 80s/early 90s time capsule feel to it. And suffers from his inability to write a solid ending. Overall it was a fun read.

I love Needful Things.

Finished this one:

Finished The Light Eaters. Indeed super interesting, and maybe a vital read if you care about things like life on earth, or are just interested!

Next up is Wuthering Heights, which will be my last 'classic' for the year, I think.

It's been awhile since I posted my progress with The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series, and I have finally completed this massive undertaking!. I am SO ready for something lighter! And shorter!!

Just finished Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson.



It was a clever idea for a book and I trust Crichton would have made a fun adventure novel if he had been alive to write it. Patterson didn’t really do the story, Crichton left him, justice though. I rolled my eyes numerous times while reading it and felt it was mostly clichéd drivel. It’s the first Patterson book I’ve read and I’m not likely to go back for more.

I miss Michael Crichton.

I might be in the mood for a chunky fantasy series. Worth it?

Overall, yes. If you read the first two series, then you would have an idea of what to expect. Although there were a few sections where I think tighter editing could've helped, Donaldson made it clear he was in no hurry with the story. All together, it's 2200+ pages, so expect to spend a bit if time with it.

I feel like I read some of that stuff back when I was a teenager, so maybe I shouldn't venture, or perhaps started at the beginning!

My last fantasy series was the realm of the elderlings by Robin Hobb, which consisted of 16 books

Anybody read Freida McFadden's books? I just started reading hers this past August since I've had to make multiple train trips to take care of my mom. I'm probably not the target market for her books since all the main protagonists in her stories are female, but I've enjoyed the ones I've read so far.

I think I mentioned that I reread the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and then the 2nd Chronicles, which led me to this. I really enjoyed the rereadings (after 40 years) and would recommend them. I doubt I'll live long enough to do these again!

Finished


Wih this and Boys in the Valley, Fracassi is entering must read territory for me.

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years -- Sarah Delany and Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth. 1993.

The Delany Sisters were both over a hundred years old when they were interviewed. They're absurdly competent and accomplished. Their father was born a slave and became a bishop. One sister was the first Black woman who was a home economics teacher in a white school in New York State, the other was the second Black woman to be a licensed dentist in New York State. Their brother was one of the first Black judges in NYC. The whole family was important in the fight for civil rights in the first half of the 20th century, and the sisters knew all the leading figures. This book is their stories in their own words. Entertaining and worth reading.

Finished Wuthering Heights. Dang! Who knew, except those who have read it. I had no idea other than thinking it was a dusty old doomed romance novel that is considered a classic. Pure fire.

My classics tally for the year: War and Peace, Pride and Prejudice, Cannery Row, Crime and Punishment, Wuthering Heights. - Not bad for a guy who used to only read True Crime, Stephen King, Rock Star Bios or books about Horror Movies.

Not sure what's next. I have probably 20 books in my to be read pile.

Finished

Finished

I got on a classics kick over the past few years. We have similar tastes apparently. Read Anna Karenina by Tolstoy last year and finished Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice earlier this year. Wuthering Heights was...odd. Didn't like it but didn't hate it. Most of the characters were awful though.