<p>Just started Virtual Light by William Gibson.</p>
<p>Mathmom–Have you read any J.D. Robb (specifically, her In Death series with Detective Eve Dallas)? I haven’t read these, but people who like sci fi and mysteries really seem to enjoy them. Mystery people catalog these books as science fiction police procedurals.</p>
<p>Haven’t picked up a real book in years, since the eyes have gone bad.</p>
<p>But I am currently reading THE HELP, and loving it. I was so thrilled when the power went out the other day, as I immediately ran upstairs, opened the windows, and grabbed my book.</p>
<p>I saw the movie even though I hadn’t finished the book, because I did not want to miss it. Still enjoying the book, even after seeing the film.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t know if Mathmom reads the J.D. Robb In Death series, but I do. My family understands by now that I am unavailable for a day or two after the release of a J.D. Robb book. I felt ambivalent toward the series after the first one or two but got hooked by about number four or five. The series now has thirty books or so: I’ve thoroughly enjoyed most … occasionally hit one and think “just okay” … but then will love the next one. I’ve already pre-ordered New York to Dallas - on sale in six days. ;)</p>
<p>BTW … the books really need to be read in order from the first one.</p>
<p>What are the J.D. Robb books like, ignatius? 30 books is a lot… the longest series I’ve read is Sue Grafton’s alphabet mysteries. She’s up to about “U” now.</p>
<p>^^ Actually, “V is for Vengeance” comes out in November!!</p>
<p>The J.D. Robb books are written by Nora Roberts. Boy, talk about a prolific author! I’ve only read a couple of her books but I work in a library and the circulation of her books is amazing.</p>
<p>I’m also still in the summer reading mode and am enjoying books by Kristin Hannah. Right now it’s “Home Again”. Her books often feature families with teenagers in High School. Easy, enjoyable reads.</p>
<p>The other day I finished and really enjoyed “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand”. Struggling thru “Anna Karinina” for my book club, which meets in 2 days. Only on page 375 (out of almost 1,000). May have to resort to streaming the 4 hour Masterpiece Theater version I found on Netflix yesterday!</p>
<p>Haven’t read J.D. Robb, but I’ll look for them. I need some new light reading! (Currently I am working my way through the Dresden File books.)</p>
<p>War and Peace. Am finding it pretty excruciating. My kids have been hounding me to read it for years. Sigh. They think I’m kind of illiterate.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Futuristic suspense/police procedural.</p>
<p>I started reading the In Death series about the time the fourth book came out, so - at that time - beginning with the first one Naked in Death and continuing didn’t involve much effort on my part. If interested at all, you really really need to start with the first book and continue onward … and, yes, I realize that’s #1 of 30 or so books.</p>
<p>(I never would have thought that I’d even like books described as futuristic suspense/police procedurals.)</p>
<p>Mysteries? Did someone say mysteries?</p>
<p>Kate Atkinson is very good (I liked her first - “Case Histories” - the best, but they’re all good.) Robert Crais. George Dawes Green (“The Cavemen’s Valentine” and “The Juror” and “Ravens.”) Simon Lelic and “A Thousand Cuts.” Belinda Bauer and “Blacklands.” Steve Hamilton and “The Lock Artist.”</p>
<p>I am currently reading “The Poaher’s Son” by Paul Doiron. It’s no “Case Histories,” but it’s good.</p>
<p>sophie hannah writes a good mystery–along with lisa unger and laura lippman</p>
<p>I just finished The devil In The White City by Erik Larson. I enjoyed the chapters about the architects especially the tidbits about Frank LLoyd Wright and Frederick Law Olmsted.</p>
<p>^^^ read Devil in the White City, then watched via amazon streaming the Magic in the White City- you will feel as though you actually visited that amazing place!!!</p>
<p>Devil in the White City…I tried to read that two or three times and the last time I got abut three quarters of the way through it before losing interest again. I had to force myself through the architecture parts. And I’m an artist! I found it painful.</p>
<p>I did read another book this summer called Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie. I liked it until I got to the end, at which point the author never reveals the murderer! I should have thrown that one against the wall.</p>
<p>I am about halfway through Devil in the White City, and enjoying it. The last book I read was In the Garden of Beasts, Erik Larson’s most recent book. I didn’t love Garden of Beasts, but I enjoyed it enough to try Devil in the White City. No regrets so far!</p>
<p>Thanks, SouthJerseyChessMom, for the post about Magic in the White City – I will definitely watch that!</p>
<p>Read “the Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls recently and loved it.</p>
<p>Am currently reading “Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt (I’m not really on a disfunctional family theme, someone gave me a copy) but am not enjoying it. Pulitzer Prize winner, but I just can’t get into his style of writing.</p>
<p>Arrival City by Doug Saunders. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in putting immigration to the US in global perspective.</p>
<p>Finished “Still Alice” several days ago but I’m still thinking about it and it’s keeping me up nights. It’s a novel about early onset Alzheimers. Beautifully written and thought provoking.</p>