What Are you Reading, Watching, Listening To? > Likes and Comments
Love it! I'm finally making my way through Master of Restless Shadows: Book One! I've got the eBook for this, which did open, unlike the last book in this series that refused to open on my Kindle for some reason.
I'm also making my way through Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance, for my library book group.
And, I'm listening to the audiobook for The Other Black Girl for the library staff quarterly book group.
I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the What We're Watching Front, I've been really disappointed in Acorn's mystery offerings this year, HOWEVER Recipes for Love and Murder is absolutely fantastic.
It takes place in a small South African town and the characters are so well done. It's funny and sad and smart and I can't say enough good things about it.
Also, don't watch it when you're hungry! ;-D
Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the What We're Watching Front, I..."
Also I believe the series is based on a book by Sally Andrew
I just finished watching the first season of Hillstreet Blues for the first time. Recommended by the cops at the Writer's Police Academy when I did that many years ago and I'm just now getting into it. I enjoyed it. IT's oddly progressive for it's time, and yet the over-the-top racist dude isn't all that funny for me the way he's supposed to be. There are a couple of odd characters, but over all, I really like it.
Tonight, or sometime soon I'll be watching Forbidden Planet which was recommended to me also several years ago by a coworker. I've only got it for the week, so we'll see when I get to it.
Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the What We're Watching Front, I..."
Here's our BOM discussion from 2018 on Enemies of the State: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I gave it four stars, but remember I had some issues with it, I think.
Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the What We're Watc..."
Oops. Wellllll, I admit I've been pretty bad about looking in on the BOM discussions. :-0
I have to confess I'm not a fan of books where one of the protags is POTUS. I'd blame it on political burnout, but I think the combination of romance and politics has always been a turn off for me.
It probably comes from too much political activism in my preteens.
Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the What We're Watc..."
I tried to watch Hillstreet Blues about a month ago with the SO, and it felt REALLY dated. But not to the SO, so maybe that was just me.
We also watched some of the earlier Rockford Files and those have held up really well.
Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the What We're Watc..."
I ordered
and
I guess it's a sad commentary that I'd rather read about serial killers than the prez. :-D
Very nice covers and presentation!
Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the ..."
I've never been a fan of politics/politicians, so it doesn't always work for me in fiction. POTUS does give it an interesting twist though.
Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the ..."
It's interesting because I was just thinking about that last night and I thought it had held up pretty well. Not the hairstyles though. lol. One of the characters says she's in her 30s and to me she looks like she's in her 40s, probably because of the big hair. lol
Jordan wrote: "I just finished watching the first season of Hillstreet Blues for the first time. Recommended by the cops at the Writer's Police Academy when I did that many years ago and I'm just now getting into..."I remember FORBIDDEN PLANET was one of the films in one of my college film study courses. I seem to recall it wasn't so much about its special effects as the psychological and sexual themes.
Mostly I remember thinking that Robby the Robot was definitely the inspiration for the Robot on Lost in Space. ;-D
Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the ..."
Murder Between Us is on my TBR list! You'll have to let us know what you think.
Josh, Tal Bauer is hit or miss for me. The first book in the Enemies of the State series was the best, for me, though each had their high points. Always an author on my tbr because when the story works, it's awesome.I am currently watching Designated Survivor. I started the series when it first started, but never finished. About half way through season 2.
I am listening to an interesting book by a new to me author about a group of men reading romance novels in order to fix their marriage. The first book in the series focuses on a baseball player and it's going well. Audio is well done. If this keeps the same level of talent throughout I'll make my way through the series. The Bromance Book Club
I'm reading C.S. Poe short story and Monday on my commute to work will also read book 3 in Aimee Nicole Walker's Curl Up and Dye series.
Melissa wrote: "Josh, Tal Bauer is hit or miss for me. The first book in the Enemies of the State series was the best, for me, though each had their high points. Always an author on my tbr because when the story w..."I want to steal that title: The Bromance Book Club! :-D
Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh..."
Jordan, i hope you enjoy them. Book 1 was not for me. 🤞
I've just finished Prince of Flowers by Nazri NoorSo much fun. Magic, a sexy fae himbo, a quest. Loving it.
Pam wrote: "I just started A Taste of Gold and Iron. Too early to tell if I'm going to like it yet, though :)"That's on my TBR too!
Pam wrote: "I just started A Taste of Gold and Iron. Too early to tell if I'm going to like it yet, though :)"Oh! That sounds intriguing.
Speaking of spec fiction releases, I'm looking forward to
upcoming release with Blind Eye Books.
I did recently finish the audiobook for Better Than People, which was pretty good! My first Roan Parrish book. Normally I like more to the plot than just romance, but I liked it. The dogs helped. ;-) And the cats.ETA... I'm still tired from Covid and working day six of seven and I forgot this was our BOM. OMG. I need another vacation. LOL. Please don't mind me.
Lillian wrote: "I've just finished Prince of Flowers by Nazri NoorSo much fun. Magic, a sexy fae himbo, a quest. Loving it."
That sounds fun!
Josh wrote: "I want to steal that title: The Bromance Book Club! :-D"I'll admit that helped me want to read this. :D
We stumbled upon Entrapped (Netflix) during a weekend in southwestern New Mexico with extended family. This was a short season 3 to the Icelandic noir series Trapped we watched some months ago. Release was delayed by COVID and the season cut to 6 episodes from 8. Kind of bummed by the ending, although it was appropriate. Start with Trapped seasons 1 and 2 if you're interested. It's all very noir and the scenery is fabulous. Our SIL is of Norwegian heritage and enjoyed understanding (in her words) "every few words in a hundred." :)Trapped on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Trapped-Season...
Entrapped on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81304572
https://readysteadycut.com/2022/09/02...
Lillian wrote: "I've just finished Prince of Flowers by Nazri NoorSo much fun. Magic, a sexy fae himbo, a quest. Loving it."
I see that it comes out on September 30th. I'll preorder. I'm strangely drawn to these kind of cover illustrations, the ones that look like they're from some lushly illustrated video game. :)
Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the What We're Watching Front, I..."
I’ve read a few of his books. Two from the Executive Office series and “The Murder between Us”. I think the latter is my favourite so far. His stories are well plotted and paced. It’s mainly the writing style that I am not 100% sure.
I tend to view his books like m/m Harlan Coben books - i like them but they don’t go on my ‘keeper’ list.
Two five star reads recently.I just finished Tell No One and it was spectacular! Dark and intense, amazing suspense!
And before that I loved Face Blind - what a beautiful story.
Trio wrote: "Two five star reads recently.I just finished Tell No One and it was spectacular! Dark and intense, amazing suspense!
And before that I loved Face Blind - what a bea..."
Those both sound great. Especially Tell No One--that's right up my alley.
Eve wrote: "Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these?
Oh! And on the What We're Watc..."
Ah. Well, he can definitely write.
What I'm running into--and this is not me saying that men, let alone male characters, can't legitimately be super emotional to the point that they can't think straight--but it's a trait that I personally have trouble relating to. In real life and in fiction. And whether it be from women or men.
So we'll see. He knows his stuff, for sure.
Karen wrote: "Lillian wrote: "I've just finished Prince of Flowers by Nazri NoorSo much fun. Magic, a sexy fae himbo, a quest. Loving it."
I see that it comes out on September..."
Me too! I love the art in really well done video games. I think it works beautifully as book illustrations.
I actually took the afternoons off this weekend, and chose to spend that precious free time watching documentaries--mostly true crime.The Martha Mitchell Effect
Web of Make Believe
John of God The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer
I just Killed My Dad
The Art Mysteries
The Mothman of Point Pleasant
Hokusai: Old Man Crazy to Pain
All very interesting, but the SO and I watched The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith and THAT was the one we couldn't stop talking (ranting) about.
It's set in Canada, which is why I could lure the SO into watching with me.
Anyway, I won't spoil it. I'll just say, it's probably the first time ever I was so angry at the police tactics used to "solve" a cold case homicide that I ended up wanting the cops to be fired and jailed. Just appallingly stupid behavior on the part of law enforcement--from the beginning to the end.
https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/20...
Also resumed reading
which I'm hugely enjoying.
Josh wrote: "I ordered The Grave Between Us (A Noah & Cole Thriller, #2) by Tal Bauer and The Murder Between Us by Tal BauerI guess it's a sad commentary that I'd rather read about serial killers than the prez. :-D
Very nice covers and presentation.."
I've picked up both of these when they were on sale, but I also haven't gotten to them yet. I've been reading more fluff lately, and I think these will require a bit more serious mindset.
Melissa wrote: "I am listening to an interesting book by a new to me author about a group of men reading romance novels in order to fix their marriage. The first book in the series focuses on a baseball player and it's going well. Audio is well done. If this keeps the same level of talent throughout I'll make my way through the series. The Bromance Book Club..."This looks to be a lot of fun! I'm going to have to try the first one at least.
Marge wrote: "Josh wrote: "I ordered The Grave Between Us (A Noah & Cole Thriller, #2) by Tal Bauer and The Murder Between Us by Tal BauerI guess it's a sad commentary that I'd rather read about serial killers..."
I have mixed feelings about serial killer fiction. On the one hand, I think it's natural to be fascinated as well as horrified and repelled by their actions. But those actions are also harder to understand and more surreal.
Typically, the true crime stories I'm least interested in are the serial killers. For one thing, they tend to be SO gruesome. But also they're weirdly impersonal.
My favorite part of any real life (or fictional) crime story is why? What drove someone to do that terrible, unforgiveable thing? WHY?
And with serial killers, either real or fictional, you usually don't get that. The motive is insanity and, frankly, that's kind of boring. But occasionally, somebody writes something really gripping and not distractingly gruesome--which is what I'm always hoping for.
Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these? "
I enjoyed the mystery and romance in Hush but I had factual issues (view spoiler).
I'm "reading" Never Stay Gone on Audible right now and I like it a lot (despite John Solo's rather over-the-top performance. It fits the characters somehow. I can't imagine it being read in, for example, JP Handler's computer-narration).
Melissa wrote: "...I'm reading C.S. Poe short story and Monday on my commute to work will also read book 3 in Aimee Nicole Walker's Curl Up and Dye series."I read the Curl Up and Dye books (1-5) a few years ago and decided to give them another look after reading Ground Zero earlier this year. I bought Welcome to Blissville - Volume One and Welcome to Blissville - Volume Two, which include Curl Up and Dye 1-6.5 and Welcome to Blissville 1-7 (the spin-off contemporary romance books set in the same town), plus some extras. I got to Blissville 8 and kind of stalled out just as the villainous homophobes were plotting to keep the kids from putting on their school play. I'll get back to it...
What do you think about the Curl Up and Die books?
SamSpayedPI wrote: "Josh wrote: "I picked up a couple of Tal Bauer FBI books. I've been meaning to give him a try for a while now. Anyone reading Tal Bauer? Am I going to like these? "
I enjoyed the mystery and rom..."
I think I have that one too. I bought a slew of print books about a month ago. I'm DETERMINED to do more reading and for some reason print seems more accessible right now.
Marge wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I am listening to an interesting book by a new to me author about a group of men reading romance novels in order to fix their marriage. The first book in the series focuses on a bas..."Marge, I'm almost done and still enjoying it. I need to look up book 2.
Karen wrote: "Melissa wrote: "...I'm reading C.S. Poe short story and Monday on my commute to work will also read book 3 in Aimee Nicole Walker's Curl Up and Dye series."I read the Curl Up and Dye books (1-5) ..."
The prequel and book 1 are my favs of the series. Book 2 is still good, but saw the drama coming. Book 3, when i tried this series the first time, is where i stopped because it was just too much drama and a lot sappy between Josh and Gabe. I am going to keep going no matter what.
We watched CONFESS, FLETCH last night and I highly recommend. It has that classic 70s/80s caper film feel (it's contemporary and not a caper film, though) and sharp, funny writing. Really entertaining.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12718300/
SO much better than the old Chevy Chase movies (though those have nostalgic charm, I guess)
Finally finished THE WALL by Mary Roberts Rinhart and I have to admit it flagged a bit at the end. The last eighth of the book was mostly telling--and telling at what felt like a removed (both physically and emotionally) distance. Also the most godawful dull detailing of What it All Meant. I mean, I know some readers need it all spelled out, but this was exhaustive and exhausting. For heaven's sake. Surely some things could and SHOULD be inferred? Nope. Every single thing was explained and REexplained.
WE GET IT ALREADY!
That said, I really did enjoy the book overall, and some leeway has to be given to the literary conventions of the day. It's one of Rinehart's last novels and its glimpse into that genteel 1930s upperclass world is really wonderful. There's a great overall vibe of mysterious doings and sinister circumstances beneath the placid surface of privilege and money.
Rinehart herself is a very interesting character
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ro...
My grandmother had most of her novels, and I used to read them in my teens during the summers we spent at Lake Isabella. I think I've still got three or four of her mystery novels to go.
She was hailed as the American Agatha Christie and sold over ten million copies in her lifetime.
Josh wrote: "We watched CONFESS, FLETCH last night and I highly recommend. It has that classic 70s/80s caper film feel (it's contemporary and not a caper film, though) and sharp, funny writing. Really enterta..."
Hmmmmm....maybe I need to reconsider this one then?? I was excited when I heard Jon Hamm was doing a revival, but the trailer I saw was pretty blah. (I feel like they've completely lost the art of trailers, though. It's so hard to judge anything from them now.)
I'm not sure I've seen the Chevy Chase movies as an adult, but they were some of my dad's favorites back in the day, and I liked them much better than some of the other stuff he watched at the time :)
Jordan wrote: "Pam wrote: "I just started A Taste of Gold and Iron. Too early to tell if I'm going to like it yet, though :)"That's on my TBR too!"
It's getting 3.5 stars rounded up! There was one major storyline that needed some tweaks, but it had me fully hooked about a quarter of the way in, and very few things have managed to do that this year. Great characterization, especially some of the secondary characters. I fully disliked the love interest at the beginning, to the point I wasn't sure I was going to be able to care about the romance, but the author pulled it off. (Beware: Detailed descriptions of INTENSE anxiety for the first 25% or so)
I started Ninefox Gambit last night and I'm already in love with the world-building, so fingers crossed!
Pam wrote: "Josh wrote: "We watched CONFESS, FLETCH last night and I highly recommend. It has that classic 70s/80s caper film feel (it's contemporary and not a caper film, though) and sharp, funny writing. R..."
We really enjoyed it. I don't think the trailer gives an actual sense of the plot (and there really is one) :-D
Pam wrote: "...(I feel like they've completely lost the art of trailers, though. It's so hard to judge anything from them now.)..."
I agree. With a few exceptions, if I watch a trailer I feel as though I've already watched the film. And so many of the snippets of scenes seem like spoilers. If the film is an adaptation of a book I've already read I don't mind watching the trailer to have an idea of how it's been interpreted. Otherwise it's kind of TMI. :)
Josh wrote: "SO much better than the old Chevy Chase movies (though those have nostalgic charm, I guess) "My favorite part of that movie was Fletch's '72 Riviera — I loved that car! (I had one myself, briefly, in the late 1980's, but it was not reliable).
Karen wrote: "Pam wrote: "...(I feel like they've completely lost the art of trailers, though. It's so hard to judge anything from them now.)..."
I agree. With a few exceptions, if I watch a trailer I feel as ..."
Yes! I suppose it's tricky to convey all the drama and excitement but not give too much away.
SamSpayedPI wrote: "Josh wrote: "SO much better than the old Chevy Chase movies (though those have nostalgic charm, I guess) "My favorite part of that movie was Fletch's '72 Riviera — I loved that car! (I had one my..."
Ah! That's a commentary on style right there. :-D
The old What Are You Reading? thread (started by Calathea in 2016 and tottering at 16,536 posts !) had grown A BIT unwieldly, so we've archived the old messages and started a new thread that combines What Are You Reading with What are You Watching and What are You Listening To.
Basically, we want to know what you're up to at all times! ;-D