Bozimus Posted May 18, 2011 Report Share Posted May 18, 2011 This is a companion thread to the other "What Science Fiction/Fantasy Book...." thread but focused on fiction that doesn't fit into those other two categories. The purpose of this thread is to give opinions on recently finished fiction books so that readers can investigate those books posters like and possibly save money/time/frustration by avoiding books posters don't like. However, beauty (or ugliness) is in the eye of the beholder. One poster's "all-time-favorite" book may be another poster's "piece of wretched crap". So please keep in mind the subjective nature of the topic. Also, please use the [ spoiler ] [ /spoiler] tags as a courtesy to potential readers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozimus Posted May 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis I recently finished "The Pale Horseman" by Bernard Cornwell. This is the second book in his "Saxon Tales" series. The first book, "The Last Kingdom" begins the tale of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a saxon boy adopted by Danes during the time of Alfred the Great. These books are the first Bernard Cornwell books I have read...they will not be the last. The author is a natural storyteller and these books are compulsively readable. The action (of which there is plenty) alternates nicely with the characterization. Rarely was I bored and never did I feel like I was trudging through pointless blather to get to the juicy parts. The protagonist is well-rounded, with flaws and far from perfect. Uhtred is a believable character. I have always been fascinated by the Viking culture and these books shed some light on their beliefs and motivations. My goal was to be entertained while learning some of the history of early England. My goal was fully accomplished. Now if I can force myself not to pick up the next book... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death tribble Posted May 18, 2011 Report Share Posted May 18, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis Just recently finished Michael Dibden's Aurelio Zen detective books (the first three). This was recently filmed by the BBC. It's down at heel and politicised by the corruption of officials in Italy and infighting between all branches of the police. The TV series was a lot lighter. Two of the books are Vendetta and Cabal which were the first two filmed by the BBC. Zen was involved in the Aldo Moro kidnap which was removed from the back story as the BBC brought the TV series up to date. Not bad if you like your heroes careworn and suffering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted May 18, 2011 Report Share Posted May 18, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis Not sure Patton Oswalt's Zombie Spaceship Wasteland qualifies. Chapters alternate between things like an autobiographical tale of being a theater usher to a chapter that's written as if it were "notes" from a studio on how a project should be changed to be more mainstream. It's a strange read, but I think that's why I like it. His stand-up is funnier though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corven_Ren Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis I just recently read my father-in-law's e-book "The Continuing (Mis)-Adventures of Vapid Fendermonger". It is absolutley hilarious. If you have a nook, kindle or the app version of them, I strongley reccomend it. You can check out my father-in-law's website here http://www.pdqcampbell.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csyphrett Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis The only things that I am reading right now that are not out of the science fiction/fantasy chart is Lee Child's Jack Reacher books, and several books about Bob Lee Swagger from Stephen Hunter. They are action adventure stories about one man fighting conspiracies and depraved villains. CES Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinKitty Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis I bought a bunch of romance novels many years ago and this year read two of them. I like Paranormal Romance so the books are about vampires and an Incubus, respectively. They are not great literature, they are meant to be novels you relax and escape with. In this way they fulfilled their purpose well enough. For novels that were not meant to be serious literature they had good plots. The vampire one is the first in a series of now about ten books (not Sookie Stackhouse although I have also read two of those). I wouldn't recommend them to men but lady posters might like them. The Incubus book is probably out of print but the series, by Kerrelyn Sparks can be ordered on Amazon. The first book is called "How to marry a Millionaire Vampire", the second, which I haven't read yet is "Vamps and the City". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Shadow Posted May 21, 2011 Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis Just finished Douglas Reeman's Winged Escort From the cover: She was not beautiful. She was a bastard ship - the hull of a worn-out freighter with a wooden flight-deck tacked on by afterthought. But the escort carrier Growler was all that stood between the Allied convoy and the swarming U-boats that fed on ships and men. Rowan flew the lead Seafire off Growler's pitching deck. This was his first command, and perhaps his last - a handful of fliers, men too young in planes too old, locked in mortal combat with two deadly enemies... The Germans. And the North Atlantic. An excellant read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozimus Posted May 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis Just finished Douglas Reeman's Winged Escort From the cover: She was not beautiful. She was a bastard ship - the hull of a worn-out freighter with a wooden flight-deck tacked on by afterthought. But the escort carrier Growler was all that stood between the Allied convoy and the swarming U-boats that fed on ships and men. Rowan flew the lead Seafire off Growler's pitching deck. This was his first command, and perhaps his last - a handful of fliers, men too young in planes too old, locked in mortal combat with two deadly enemies... The Germans. And the North Atlantic. An excellant read. Is this historical fiction or fiction set during WW2 not based on actual events/people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Shadow Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis The later mostly, but Reeman was an RNVR officer during WWII so it's quite authentic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozimus Posted May 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis Sounds like a fun book... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler. I'm treating this as a fiction book because I really hope it is for the author's sake. Another of Ms. Handler's bestsellers, it's very similar in tone, concept, and shortness to Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, though it focuses more on the author's... romantic... encounters. While a fun and lightweight read, I think it falls short of its successor simply because of its focus on the bedroom; the extremely sarcastic writing style is hilarious when describing everyday events but somehow seems too crass for the liaisons themselves. Still there are several laugh-out-loud moments as well as plenty of entertaining writing, and I recommend the book on that basis, especially if you need a book that you can finish in five hours or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csyphrett Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis Finished Sixkill by Robert Parker. Spenser takes a younger man under his wing as he investigates a mysterious death. The mystery itself reminds me of the Fatty Arbuckle case in circumstances. CES Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKJAM! Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis "The Complete Alex Raymond Rip Kirby", volumes 1-3 (volume 4 not yet out.) Reprints of Alex "Flash Gordon" Raymond's other great comic strip, featuring a hip, modern (for 1946) private eye. It's good stuff. Likable main characters, sharp art, lovely ladies, action-packed storylines. It does verge into technothriller territory with a story about a new biological weapon, but otherwise stays planted firmly in the realistic but unlikely category. While the strip ran for 53 years, only the first ten were by Mr. Raymond before his death. Oh, I should mention I have a Goodreads page for those who want to see my book reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
"V" Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis "Black Ajax" by George MacDonald Fraser - a novelised account of the career of a real historical figure, still much respected in the appropriate circles, nearly 200 years after his death: Tom Molyneux who was freed from slavery in Virginia and travelled to England with the sole intent of defeating the current bare-knuckle prize-fighting champion Tom Cribb. Told as a series of recollections by the people in his life - his backer, trainer, opponents and so on, and with GMF's usual attentive eye to historical accuracy and fact-checking this is a massively entertaining and informative story, and the various narrative voices are perfectly rendered to draw the reader into the period. Can't recommend it highly enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKJAM! Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis Frank Merriwell Down South: Part of the long-running and once-famous Frank Merriwell series, it's four loosely-connected stories of our intrepid hero exploring locales south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Exciting stuff, but the first story is ruined by antiquated and racist stereotypes of Mexicans and a particularly weak ending. More at my LJ here: http://skjam.livejournal.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csyphrett Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis The Vigilantes by Web Griffith and Kent Butterworth. The crimes and criminals are horrific and rendered in dry exposition. The book wraps up with a major coincidence. CES Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clonus Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 First Kill All the Lawyers by Patricia Clark Bad guy starts eliminating every lawyer associated with a scam of his but his craziness spins out of control. Not great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis Leviathan. I love those living weapons http://scottwesterfeld.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/LeviathanGrandMapBIG.jpg I've heard of those books. I keep meaning to try them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. It's not the first time I've read it of course, though this is the first copy that I've actually owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burrito Boy Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. It's not the first time I've read it of course' date=' though this is the first copy that I've actually owned.[/quote'] The first copy you've owned? Wow. I have at least three copies myself. I buy them every time I find a copy at the thrift store. Sometimes to give them away. It's one of the best books ever written. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis And I thought people only felt that way about Catcher In The Rye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis The first copy you've owned? Wow. I have at least three copies myself. I buy them every time I find a copy at the thrift store. Sometimes to give them away. It's one of the best books ever written. I agree wholeheartedly. Usually I check it out from the library whenever I feel like reading it but I happened to see a reasonably priced copy at the bookstore (along with equally reasonably priced copies of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights) and I had to pick it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csyphrett Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis Finished Devil Red by Joe Lansdale. Hap and Leonard are hired to find out what really happened to a couple on a jogging trail. With some help from a smooth hired gun, they try to figure out who is Devil Red. CES Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Hawk Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Re: What Fiction Book (other than Science Fiction or Fantasy) have you recently finis I've been reading a series of YA books by Ally Carter set in "The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women", and cribbing from it for a secret superhero school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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