The Folly Irregulars discussion

Hello & Welcome Ladies & Gentlemen,

As a first time reader of the Rivers of London series I wanted to invite one and all to join me for a buddy read.
As my RL schedule is very hectic, I wanted to give myself time to finish each novel.

We will be reading the books in two-week intervals, starting with Rivers of London / Midnight Riot from January 1st through January 14th, then Moon Over Soho from January 15th trough January 28th. This schedule will repeat in this manner every month until we have completed the series to date.

Readers are encouraged to use the 29th through the 30th or 31st of each month for whatever works best for them, whether it is to catch up, catch their breath, read one of the graphic novels, write a review, etc.

I will also be reading the graphic novels in chronological order per Ben Aaronovitch's suggestion on his site: here, however, I will not be scheduling them to be read on any specific dates.

Please place all spoilers behind a spoiler tag, especially if this is a reread, or you are choosing to read ahead of schedule.

Thank you.

I look forward to discovering the Rivers of London with you.

Sounds good! My January is already looking busy, so having the dates for each book is helpful--thanks!

Sounds good to me. Hopefully I will finish Moon over Soho this time and read on.

Thank you. I'm so happy that you will both be joining. :)

I'm looking forward to starting our buddy read in 2 weeks! :)

The OCDish geek in me is tickled that the first day of the new year is also the first day of a new week (Sunday)!

Nyssa wrote: "I'm looking forward to starting our buddy read in 2 weeks! :)

The OCDish geek in me is tickled that the first day of the new year is also the first day of a new week (Sunday)!"

My OCDish self is appreciating the above fact.

I'm looking forward to starting, too. Haven't decided which version I'm going to read though. I have books one and two as paperbacks and one through five as Kindle ebooks.

Normally I have no problems with reading books as ebook versions. They're just the same books to me but every once in a while there are books that are so special to me I need to have them in my hands physically, if you know what I mean (Like "Lord of the Rings". There is no way in hell I'm ever going to read that one other than as a real book). Rivers of London really was a great read when I tried it the first time so I'm a bit unsure now.

How about you? What versions do you own/plan to read?

I love my Kindle Paperwhite, so the majority of my reading material is now in ebook format.
I still buy paper books, but those are usually series that I've already started (I hate changing formats mid-series) or it was one of the few times where the paper edition was less expensive than the electronic edition.

I'm getting so excited!

Rivers of London (the Midnight Riot version) and Moon Over Soho are both queued up on my Kindle, plus Rivers of London just won the BotM poll in one of my book clubs! Yay!

I've got Midnight Riot in ebook and paperback (bought the paperback for my husband, telling him he HAD to read it!) but the others will be from the library in either audio or ebook form.

I'm getting really exited, too. Ever since we decides to do this buddy read I thought "Well, you can't start Rivers of London just yet. It's still december." whenever I had to decide what to read next.

I think I'll go for the ebooks, backing them up with the audio books so I can "read" while I walk to work. I tried Moon over Soho once. It was so great.

If I finish Kindred between today and tomorrow afternoon, I might start Rivers of London on New Year's Eve, while I'm waiting for 2016 to fade into memory and for 2017 to awaken. I haven't decided yet. It feels a bit cheaty. :)

I'm only half way through The Burning Page and since that's the last book to finish my 2016 Challenge I don't think I'll be picking up Rivers of London before January 1st.

And the 2017 Peter Grant / Rivers of London has now begun! Yay!! :)

I figure we can discuss our progress here, but add our thoughts to the discussion threads already started for each book.

It is now 12:36 A.M. EST so I'm going to see if I can get a few pages in before I fall asleep. :)

May you all have a Happy & Healthy New Year!!

Happy and Healthy New Year to all as well.

I'll follow along, though I've already read them... a number of times. ;)

Yay! Welcome. :)

I'm in.

Stephen wrote: "I'm in."

Cool! Welcome aboard!! :)

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I've been futzing around Goodreads and FB all day long so I've only read a few chapters, but I have loved every bit of what I've read so far.

I'm enjoying all of the pop culture references, and am looking forward to how Peter does in his lessons.

The only quibble I've had so far is the sudden change between scenes on occasion. I think there are supposed to be separators (like I did above) but they were somehow missed in editing. I did see the break employed once, right before he started his lessons, though.

Since public transportation broke down this morning when I was on my way to work due to a bit of snow I had two hours to listen to the audio book. I have to admit, right now am thinking not ton read the book at all, but mere listen to the audio books. They're wonderfully read.
Or maybe I'll do it parallel, thanks to Wispersync for Voice.

I'm mid chapter 3 now and I'm astonished how much I have forgotten.

I'm sorry transportation broke down, but I'm glad you were able to get some reading in.

I was aiming for approximately 100 pages yesterday (through the end of chapter 5) but fell short. I realized this when I jerked awake and found myself on page 95 but had no idea what I had just read. So, I will reread chapter 5 today, and sneak in reading breaks where I can.

I had that experience yesterday with the audio book. I think I skipped back five times before giving up because I kept dozing of.

I did it! Just finished Rivers of London. I mostly listened to the audio book which is just brilliant.

Miriam wrote: "I did it! Just finished Rivers of London. I mostly listened to the audio book which is just brilliant."

Congratulations! I'm hoping to finish Midnight Riot today.
(I think I will forever feel bitter about that darn title/cover!)

'ello Ladies & Gents! I hope you are all enjoying Good Reads this evening. :)
I finished Midnight Riot, and read The Home Crowd Advantage last night. I then decided to give myself a headstart with Moon Over Soho this morning, but did not get very far.
I received my course outline for one of my two classes this afternoon. Based on that alone, I am going to be one busy woman! So, my goal right now is to.read at least one chapter a day, which is in keeping with the book every two weeks time frame.

Carol, are all of the books 14 chapters long like RoL and MOS?

My hubby started reading Midnight Riot the other night, and said to me that the book was really good. I patted myself on my back for picking a good present for him.

Finished last night. Loved it though disappointed Leslie got mangled.
A few threads that were left unresolved for me:
1. Early on Peter and Leslie question where the very large bat (from Punch and Judy) used in the murder of Skirmish and later in the bike courier fight came from. Said to be almost as tall as a person. They seem to magically appear and disappear (not carried to the attacks nor found after) yet nothing in the books suggest that Hyde can conjure something from out of nothing. So where did they come from/go.
2. Peter is compelled to visit Tyburn. How? Nothing in the book suggests that the "Rivers" can compel at a distance, Peter neither ate or drank anything from Ty (another way to compel). Unlikely that Beverly compels Peter to see Ty since she doesn't like Ty.
3. What exactly is Molly? She seems more that a vampire. I assume this answered in later books.
4. From the vampire segment early on (which reads as a strange drop in in the overall narrative), we learn that vampires suck not only the magic (life force) from people but also from things like electronics. Wouldn't Peter feel Molly drawing on the magic in the Folly if she is a vampire?

Ad 1: Well now that you are saying it, you are right here. It is never resolved.

Ad 2: There is not much said about the powers of the river gods. But since it is never said that Ty couldn't compell Peter I think we just have to accept it and wait and see what will be shown or explained in the following books. In MoS there is a scene that suggests the river gods might be related to the fae.

Ad 3 and 4: Without wanting to spoil: Molly is not a vampire. There are two scenes in MoS when Nightingale explains more about her background.

Oh, and even the vampire scene becomes a bit less disjointed when you've read MoS.

I'm hooked. On to the next book!

I'm running behind; I'm only about halfway through book 1; enjoying it immensely. Since I'm reading it instead of listening to hit, I'm getting a chance to highlight all the bits that made me laugh out loud while driving/shopping.

Hmm, somehow I missed this thread.

Regarding the missing bat, I just assumed it was part of the matter of the occupying spirit, although now that you mention it, there is that 'something from something' premise. Now that I think about it, the spirit re-arranged the bones, etc, and drew upon that person's brainpower. Hmm.

Regarding Tyburn--good catch. Maybe because it was a wish to visit him, and the actual attempt to compel comes when he is at her place?

Sometimes I get the feeling Aaronovitch is still working some of these things out as he goes along. I will say that I feel he really falls into a much better stride as they progress.

Hi, Carol! *Waves*

So, I ended up not being able to get a head start after all. My fears concerning my syllabuses were true - both of my classes are work intensive. Thank goodness I had the presence of mind to build in extra reading time, or I would already be far behind during my own Buddy Read (and that's just not right)!

Re Ty, he's clearly compelled by her when he gets there, but goes there for no real reason and buys her flowers on he way. As I read the story he wasn't clear until he got there who he was visiting.

I also "get the feeling Aaronovitch is still working some of these things out as he goes along."

I had wondered about that scene with Ty, too. Previously, Peter had felt the compelling

Stupid mouse!
I was trying to say: previously, Peter seemed to need proximity to one of the spirits to be compelled. Here, he walks a distance, not knowing where he's going until he gets to Ty's.

Maybe that speaks to Ty's strength?

By the way it is told I think Peter did feel it. He said something about a strange urge or so an d that it had nothing to do with him. So I guess he knew he was being compelled. But maybe he didn't really knew by whom or if he knew maybe he was curious what she wanted so he allowed himself to follow.
I mean, he is a curious and easyly distractable person and does not always do the sensible thing.

Nyssa--
Moon Over--14 chapters
Whispers--29 chapters
Broken Homes--20 chapters
Foxglove--16
Hanging Tree--16

They're all roughly 350-380 pages in hardcover, in the same formatting, except for Whispers, which is closer to 430.

Wow! Thank you so much for the stats! I really appreciate your taking the time!!

I liked the chance to --ahem--handle them. So pleasing. Except Moon Over Soho. Do you know that copies of it in hardcover are over $100? I bought a used copy for $40 that was supposed to be in 'very good/excellent condition' and it wasn't. Very disappointing. I kept it, though, because I couldn't bear an incomplete set.

Wow! Why is it this expensive? I just looked up on Amazon.de. I could get it for 19EUR tops, delivery included. Codition good or very good... and from sellers I know to be trustworthy.

Wow, that sucks about the condition!!

I rarely buy hardcover editions (I think the Potter series was my last hardcover purchase for myself). I'm usually much more comfortable reading paperbacks, and I prefer ebooks even more unless there are illustrations.

I'm guessing because they didn't print as much first run through... Would you believe this series was one of my first ridiculous book splurges (buying over published price). Hmm, Miriam, we might have to talk. Abe books in the US has a brand new signed hardcover for $115 I think. The other used I see sound a little worn, in the 'very good' realm which is less predictable.

Hi all,
School and work have had me running around like a chickenless head, so I have unfortunately fallen behind on my reading. I'm only about 1/2 way through Moon Over Soho at the moment. I have to dedicate this weekend to my studies in preparation for an upcoming test, but I'm still hoping to finish MoS by the end of the month.

So sorry to hear that, Nyssa. Don't forget study breaks!

Thanks!
Taking a study break now as I wait while my eldest participates in an JROTC, community service event.
That should give me at least an hour. :)

Good luck with the test, and Peter will be waiting for you, whenever you can get to him.

I finally completed book two!!! And I see book 3, Whispers, will be the longest of the bunch, to date. So, I'm going to assume that it is going to take me the whole month to complete seeing as my schedule will only be more demanding going forward. Yay! (/slight sarcasm).

Congrats!

Don't worry about it Nyssa. I have enough going on that I probably won't be done Whispers till the end of the month, too.

Well, feel free to pop into the main threads any time. I'm sure Miriam and I will be happy to discuss :D