What Fiction are you reading this week, February 25, 2024?

[hermetic]

St. Paul, MN Public Library built 1917

Still reading The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter. No cozy, this is 600 pages of intrigue, murders, globetrotting, and an evil prophecy.

Listening to Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass, the first Bookmobile Cat Mystery. Mrrrr. Fun stuff.

What fiction will you leap into this week?

[maptap22]

1. The Women

By Kristin Hannah

About female nurses in Vietnam

[mentalsolstice]

3. Finished it last week, best so far this year! nt

[hermetic]

4. Everybody loves this book

This work is dedicated to the women who served their country both militarily and as civilian women stationed in Vietnam – heroines who need to be remembered, praised, and admired.

You are advised to have tissues close at hand while reading.

[llmart]

31. That's next on my list to read.

My sister served in Nam, so it's a must read for me.

[Traildogbob]

2. Main stream Media reports.

[cbabe]

5. The Final Cut thanks to your previous post. Library

wait list for The Women. I think it’s going to be a looong wait.

Reflected in the series China Beach?

Also, off topic non fiction: Greta Thunberg:The Climate Book. Not for bedtime reading.

[hermetic]

6. Hope you enjoy it.

Do let us know. I'm curious about Greta's book, too.

[cbabe]

8. The weird thing about Greta's book is alternating

pages in cream and dark grey. Difficult to read so doing a lot of skimming.

Not sure what this design choice has to do with science.

But Greta is one smart cookie!

Final Cut: disconcerting to have mysticism inserted into spy thriller. I’m ok if I know going in and it’s part of the fun.

[yellowdogintexas]

7. The Key To Justice A Mark Kadella Legal mystery. #1 in series (out of 16)

I scored this 3 volume set on Amazon for 99 cents. I read the sample and it had my heart pounding so I figured it would be a good read. It is.

Financially embarrassed, getting a divorce, living in a shabby apartment, and distinctly short of clients, Marc Kadella’s beginning to question why he ever went into the law when a friend brings him the case all Minneapolis is watching--defending an accused serial killer. If he wins, it could turn his life around— if he blows it, he better go into sales.

It's a classic David-and Goliath setup, and the author’s got some pretty fancy twists in store as Kadella unravels a complicated plot to set his client up, and Maddy battles demons that just keep coming at her. Fans of John Grisham, Richard North Patterson, and of course the most beloved lawyer sleuth of all time, Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason, will gobble up this one and go back for the rest of the series.

Last week I finished Waking Up In Vegas Kat Parker #5
This volume filled in a lot of missing information about Kat and her supernatural abilities.
This is a really fun series; the lead character is appealing and funny. The plot is twisted enough to keep you wondering what's next.

[japple]

9. Thank you for the weekly thread, hermetic! Still re-reading MARCH by

Geraldine Brooks. I must say that I don't love this book as much as have her other books, esp. Horse.

[RSherman]

10. Garmus and Hoffman

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman. Just finished The Dictionary of Lost Words, American Dirt, and This Tender Land.

Funny you posted a photo of a library. My friend and I are going to visit the Troy Public Library (NY). It has Tiffany windows. There is also a Tiffany backdrop behind the circulation desk and the librarians will turn on the lights if asked.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Public_Library

My friend is a retired investigative reporter who has recently begun podcasting. I was a guest on her "books" podcast. So fun!

[hermetic]

13. Libraries can be gorgeous

Many in Europe are jaw-droppingly stunning. I like to occasionally post the more spectacular ones. The one in Troy sounds well worth a visit. I adore stained glass. Have a Tiffany lamp in front of me right now. I used to work across the park from that St. Paul Library. Loved going there.

Way to go with that podcast thing. Share it, if you like.

[mentalsolstice]

11. Busy reading week for me.

I finished Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. It was very good and thought provoking about “good Germans”, a POW, and a Jewish escapee trying to get out of Germany before the Russian invasion.

Up next was a Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards. An entertaining book for a road trip.

Just started Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash, about a British girl sent to live in the U.S. during WWII. So far the character development is spot on.

Thank you always hermetic for hosting this wonderful forum.

[hermetic]

15. Thank you

I just grabbed Beyond That.. from Overdrive, the audio book.

[mentalsolstice]

16. I hope you enjoy as much as I am! nt

[Paper Roses]

12. Mad River by John Sandford. JUst started it.

Just finished "Broken Prey" by Sandford and"The Hit by Baldacci. All good reads!

[hermetic]

14. Nice

Those are all on my to-be-read list.

[txwhitedove]

17. Finished reading Ariel Lawhon's historical fiction based on WW2 spy Nancy Wake,

Code Name Helene. Absolutely 5 stars, great, very moving, and best book this year so far.

Now reading cozy Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn, 2nd in series. Chet the dog, with PI partner human Bernie, is awesome and real laugh fest. Book #3 already ordered.

[hermetic]

20. You all sure are coming up

with lots of great books to read.

[txwhitedove]

25. Yes, i am #2 on library waiting list for a book they just ordered. I read about Jonna Mendez today

on Yahoo. CIA veteran and coauthor of The Moscow Rules and Argo, her new book is In True Face on her career as Chief of Disguise. I am excited to read this one.

[Jilly_in_VA]

18. Just finished

My Mother's Son, by Sally Jameson Bond, sequel to My Mother's Friend, which I finished last week. It was okay and a nice conclusion, I guess, to the first book, but not nearly as good as the first. The first one had me hauling out my hanky and bawling at the end. The second had me sniffling just a bit in one part but not really as much. Now I've started The Nanny's Secret, by S. L. Harker, which is a whole different kind of story, one of those psychological thrillers. I'm trying to clean out my Kindle Unlimited list.

[brer cat]

19. I'm reading The Judge's List by John Grisham.

It's good so far and unlikely to disappoint.

[hermetic]

21. Oh wow

"The Judge's List is by any measure John Grisham's most surprising, chilling novel yet."

Must read.

[joshdawg]

22. Still reading Fourteen Days.

Some great stories in this book.

[hermetic]

23. So happy to hear that

I was wondering since I bought it, too, but it will be a while before I can read it. I've got several library books that are on waiting lists so I want to get through them while I can.

[Number9Dream]

24. Half-way through "Dead Wake: the last voyage of the Lusitania" by Erik Larson

Thanks for the thread, hermetic.

Though this is non-fiction, it's what I'm reading, and most regulars here don't mind. This is a piece of history I was not that familiar with. So far, it seems that this tragedy was very preventable by the important entities involved. Very interesting.

[happybird]

26. Desperation by Stephen King

I’ve been listening to a podcast series called Kingslingers where two guys, one who has read the Dark Tower series and one who is reading it for the first time, discuss the books. The word “can-tah” came up and it made me think of Desperation. I kept thinking about it so finally went digging through the boxes in the attic and found it. A big ol’ hardback copy so, for the next week, I’ll be able to brain any prowlers who might break into the house. It’s a good one, glad I picked it up. Saw my copy of The Regulators in the box, too, so will probably hit that next.

[pansypoo53219]

27. i gave up fiction after i started reading a 1903 encyclopedia britannia i got free at an estate sale.

tho, i loved the decameron i got at a sale.

[RSherman]

28. I'm noticing a pattern

I have been accidentally reading books with similar themes.

1. "This Tender Land" by William Kent Krueger and "American Dirt". In both cases, innocent people are on the run through no fault of their own. On their journeys the characters encounter people who perhaps have even less than they do, but are kind and generous. And, of course, come across horrible people who are looking to exploit them.


2. Dust Bowl, Great Depression, "Hoovervilles":

This Tender Land, The Boys in the Boat, The Four Winds (Kristin Hannah)

3. Should be read together:

American Dirt (fiction, well researched)
Everyone Who is Gone is Here (non fiction), Jonathan Blitzer

[hermetic]

33. Good choices

I often detect patterns in my reading, too.

[hotellanai1986]

29. Tina Beattie's "The Good Priest", A Gripping Tale with Depth

Tina Beattie's "The Good Priest" isn't your average whodunit. Sure, there's a creepy mystery at the center, with a priest, Father John, caught in the middle. But this book digs deeper, exploring the darkness that can hide beneath the surface of everyday life, even within the walls of a church.

Beattie paints a believable picture of life in a Catholic parish, from the familiar rituals to the hidden struggles. Then she throws a curveball – a mysterious visitor in the confessional sets off a chain of events that throws Father John's life into turmoil. He's not just dealing with a murder; he's forced to confront his own past and the complexities of faith in a world that's far from black and white.

Here's the thing, this book isn't just a quick thriller. It takes its time, letting you ponder and explore the characters and themes. Some folks might find it slow, but it allows you to really get under the skin of the story. And speaking of themes, "The Good Priest" dives into some heavy stuff – think abuse, prejudice, and the weight of guilt. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's honest and thought-provoking.

So, who should read it? If you're up for a suspenseful story with some real depth and you're not afraid to delve into some religious themes, "The Good Priest" is worth checking out. Just be prepared to slow down and get ready for a wild ride.

[hotellanai1986]

30. A Thoughtful Examination of "Husbands and Lovers" by Beatriz Williams

A Thoughtful Examination of "Husbands and Lovers" by Beatriz Williams
Beatriz Williams' "Husbands and Lovers" rises above the conventional landscape of historical romance. Interweaving intricate storylines spanning continents and decades, the book provides a poignant exploration of female agency, the intricate dynamics of desire and love, and the lasting impact of history. Against the backdrop of mid-century Egypt and present-day New England, Williams' expert prose creates a rich tapestry of human emotions, societal constraints, and moral uncertainty.

The narrative unfolds in 1951 Cairo, where Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian refugee, grapples with the facade of an ideal life as the wife of a wealthy British diplomat. Williams skillfully evokes the vibrant atmosphere of the city, its underlying political tensions, and the subtle echoes of colonialism in society. Despite the apparent fulfillment, Hannah yearns for something beyond societal expectations. Her illicit affair with Omar, the enigmatic hotel manager, challenges the limitations imposed on women by a patriarchal society, prompting reflection on duty and desire.

Decades later in contemporary New England, Mallory Kipling navigates a troubled marriage and unravels the shadows of her past. Through a dual-timeline narrative, Williams reveals the profound parallels between Hannah and Mallory's lives, underscoring the cyclical nature of history and the enduring impact of family legacy.

"Husbands and Lovers" excels in its portrayal of nuanced characters. Hannah emerges as a woman seeking self-determination, while Mallory embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Even peripheral characters like the stoic Omar and judgmental Mrs. Van der Meer are imbued with depth, enriching the overall narrative.

While the novel adopts the trappings of historical romance, Williams surpasses them through her exploration of moral quandaries. The narrative delves into societal expectations, the repercussions of choices, and the enduring force of love, even when it challenges societal norms. The novel embraces the complexities of human nature and the messy realities of love, loss, and the pursuit of fulfillment.

In conclusion, "Husbands and Lovers" transcends mere entertainment. With its compelling narrative, nuanced characters, and profound exploration of weighty themes, it emerges as a significant contribution to contemporary historical fiction. The novel invites readers to critically engage with issues of societal constraints, personal desires, and the lasting influence of the past on our present and future.

[hermetic]

32. Welcome to our little reading room

Your recent readings sound really good and your detailed descriptions are most appreciated. No doubt some have put those on their to-be-read lists.

[hotellanai1986]

34. Thank you!

I have some downtime and I am catching up on my reading todo list.

[NanaCat]

35. Hard by a Great Forest

By Leo Vardiashvili. Recent release that's half about the immigrant experience for Georgians (the country) in the UK, and half a thriller/adventure about a son's search for his father after he returns to the old country. Dad runs into some of the trouble that had the family leaving to begin with, and so we get to deal with the ghosts of the past. Plus, lots of great local geography lessons.

Everyone Knows You Go Home by Natalia Sylvester. Hispanic family saga set in McAllen, Texas. Another book that has a lot to say about the immigrant experience, from a much different perspective.