My son, Josh, carving a pumpkin and holding his kid the way he does everything. With great dedication.
Although I have knocked off books by a few writers new to me lately (Temple, Pelecanos) I have been meaning to read Ann Cleves for a long time now. What about you? Who haven't you gotten to yet?
41 comments:
Gene Kerrigan. I've had to dust off my copy of MIDNIGHT CHOIR so often that I'm surprised the book isn't worn to a nub. I swear I'm going to read it. Someday.
Oh, boy, me too, Naomi. I have taken that one out of the library at least three times.
Believe it or not, it's Pelecanos. I know...
I have to say that HARD REVOLUTION at the same time I am reading THE HELP is sort of throat slitting reading. Are all his books this depressing? I know-you haven't read him.
Yes, Patti, most of Pelecanos' books are grim. I've tried reading Proust twice. I have all his books and I'm willing to make another attempt, but his work doesn't connect with me.
Even though there are exceptions, like Peter Robinson and Ian Rankin, I tend to pick up new (to me) writers either on their first or second novel. That's because when I discover somebody I like I want to read all their stuff. This has kept me away from writers I'd really like to try--Sue Grafton, for instance. Yes, I know this is silly.
As for Pelecanos, most of his books are pretty grim. But he's writing about the pretty grim world of Washington DC.
Yeah, it's a problem for me too. I only want to read one book by a writer, yet which one. The standalones work better.
Hey, George. Phil read Trollope-his shortest book THE WARDEN. See what an influence you are.
Patti - Oh, there are so many authors whose works I have wanted to read! Right now, I'm angry at myself that I haven't read any Malla Nunn yet. I will; the reviews I've read of her novels are terrific.
Franzen ... a second try
I am one of 88 at my library so I am going to pick it up tonight.
Another writer sitting in my TBR pile, Margot. I got it in Canada this summer and there she sits.
Wow, gonna have to give that some thought. Probably more than one for sure.
A couple of weeks ago, I'd have said Raymond Chandler, but I've rectified that now. The man's a genius. Taking Chandler's place in the shameful waste of my life is James A Cain. Christmas is coming and my list to Santa is getting longer.
THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE is my favorite.
Don Winslow has been on my list for a long time - I’m about half way through my first one by him, The Winter of Frankie Machine, and loving it!
Kind regards
I really like THE DAWN PATROL.
All the good crime fiction writers out there I haven´t read yet.
Stop laughing, I plan to turn into a *very* old, well-read woman!
Alan--you are in for a treat if you're just starting to read Winslow. I like "Dawn Patrol" too, as well as "California Fire and Life." Did you know Winslow was born on Halloween?
I am about to crack open Ekaterina Sedia's book "The Secret History of Moscow." Can't wait.
A completely new title. Have to look it up.
Old is what we hope for--until we spend a lot of time around old and then not so much.
I suggest Phil try one of my favorite Trollope books, BARCHESTER TOWERS, the sequel to THE WARDEN. Plenty of laughs! George the Tempter strikes again!
Funny you mentioning Ann Cleeves as I just got one of hers from the library (but haven;t read it yet).
I have to agree with George here, however. Definitely Proust. I've tried several times.
I know it got mixed reviews but I really liked Winslow's CALIFORNIA FIRE AND LIGHT.
Jeff M.
Sounds like his new one Savages is terrific. Like minds...
Tom Piccirilli. I've had THE COLD SPOT and THE COLDEST MILE for a good while now, always meaning to read them, but something else jumps in the way.
Chris Ewan. I KNOW that I'll like his stuff.I like laughing, I really do.
Cold Spot sits on my shelf too. Chris Ewan-yes.
I've only just now begun to read Robert Randisi. I read the novel Full Contact and I'm mostly through a story he did for BTAP.
Actually, BTAP is a publisher I've been meaning to read for a while. So I finally logged on last night and started the Randisi short.
Dan Luft
Randy (and Patti): do read the Piccirilli books - THE COLD SPOT (especially) and THE COLDEST MILE are excellent.
Jeff M.
It's among the 500 or so books waiting for me. And damn, the library is having a book sale this weekend.
It's usually for me not who I haven't read at all, but who I'd like to read more of, having sampled them one way or another. That's a LONG list...closest to the top of Been Meaning To/Real Soon Now is probably Sara Gruen.
Or even, whose work (rather than who or whom).
I guarantee my list and my TBR pile is bigger than yours. I tried LIKE WATER FOR ELEPHANTS but I am not a fan of circus life.
I did like LIKE WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. Good period detail.
Jeff M.
I've also been trying to catch up on various science fiction writers I didn't read when I was younger.
Things about circuses that scare me: clowns, the circus personnel, big animals, freaks, people on high wires, sexually ambiguous people, women with beards, people on trapezes, men with whips, dogs doing tricks. See what I mean. What's left?
I've been meaning to read Anthony Trollope since a friend sent me a couple of his books a few years ago and still, I can't seem to get started though I have a suspicion I'm going to like them.
Also been meaning to read Henry James. Also the many, MANY mystery writers from the 20's and 30's I've just lately found out I seem to have overlooked.
My favorite Don Winslow: WHILE DROWNING IN THE DESERT. One of the funniest books I've EVER read.
I'm not a Pelecanos fan. Can't get into Ian Rankin either or any of the Scottish Noir guys. Not for me.
Too grim and dark.
James Ellroy. I've read some of short fiction but none of his novels yet.
I love circus books. Jim Tully wrote a great one (non-fiction) called CIRCUS PARADE, I think. I liked Gruen's circus book but haven't read anything else by her. Her new one about apes looks interesting.
I have read only one Ellroy--and not a novel MY DARK PLACES. I just can't seem to permeate the novels.
Thanks to all for the comments regarding Don Winslow – very much appreciated and taken onboard.
I read the comment regarding Robert J. Randisi and decided to have a read of his story, Shut Up and Kill Me, over at the excellent BTAP. It was a terrific story that flowed so easily and, needless to say, I was very impressed; he is now another author added to my list!
And, what a terrific blog post, Patti that has generated so many interesting comments.
Kind regards.
Can't go wrong with Randisi, Alan.
Yvette-too much dark is not a good thing. Even the news is too dark for me.
Yep, the ape book and the fact that I've had a copy of ELEPHANTS contribute to my thinking of Gruen...but so many of today's FFBs remind me of stuff I should've gotten back to.
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