Suspense for Sensitive Readers discussion

What's on your nightstand currently? How far in are you and how are you liking it?

Hi JP - Jenya here. I'm 500 pages into Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (I think it's about 800 long). It's about magicians in England in the early 1800s. It's well-written, witty (not LOL funny, but more New Yorker catoon - heh). It has a lot of footnotes which could be real documentation, but sound more made-up because they're odd and mildly humorous. The theme is that there are a lot of theoretical magicians in England, but there haven't been any practicing magicians since the Raven King left taking many men and faries with him. So, Mr. Norrel and Jonathan Strange are the 2 men that are bringing magic back to England.
So, we'll see how it all pans out. :)

Hey Jenya, thanks for sharing this. It sounds good and I love witty books, so that makes me even more interested in reading it. :) Is this your first novel by this author?

I'm reading The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva. This was for a new-to-me book club at our library but I got the date wrong and am only 1/4 of the way through (meeting was today!). I'm hoping to finish it though--it's confusing (tons of characters and different time periods!) but the story is good enough to keep me coming back.

Here's a link to The Unlikely Spy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

I'm also reading The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams by Lawrence Block. It's funny! This is only my second novel by this author but sometimes I need a little humor since most of what I read is serious/dark. Here's a link to that one:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Those sound good! This is my first time reading Susanna Clark - I think it's her first book. I guess it is also being turned into a 7 part miniseries on BBC. So that should be fun.

Jenya wrote: "Those sound good! This is my first time reading Susanna Clark - I think it's her first book. I guess it is also being turned into a 7 part miniseries on BBC. So that should be fun."

Oooh, cool! I like watching the shows based on books . . . although as we all know, sometimes that can be a big disappointment! Has it already come out, do you know?

Did you finish the Susanna Clark book, Jenya? What was your opinion of it?

What are you all reading this week?

I just started "Dear Daughter" by Elizabeth Little. This is actually a read for a book club here on Goodreads. I'm only on Chapter Three I think, and am really drawn in. I also bought a couple other used books at a Harvest Festival but haven't delved in yet.

What do you think--is there a better/favorite time of the year for reading? And if so, what is it for you?

I am also about to start "Dear Daughter", we must be in the same book club. This is my first time being in a book club because it freaks me out having to read on a time schedule. My life is a little crazy and I don't get a lot of time to just sit and read!

Layna wrote: "I am also about to start "Dear Daughter", we must be in the same book club. This is my first time being in a book club because it freaks me out having to read on a time schedule. My life is a littl..."

Ah haaaa haaa! I know what you mean. This is the first time I've been in a book club in years for that reason. Have you started DD yet? It's very good so far--fast reading. Did you mean it's the first time you have EVER been in a book club, or just via Goodreads?

I love how you have your books all mapped out, DianeAlice! Do you do that purposely, or did it just work out that way? I like first-person, present tense for writing but it does take a little time to get into as a reader. But once you're "in" it's not so bad. I haven't heard of Broadchurch or Birdbox but will check both out--thanks for the recommendations!

Yes this is my first book club EVER! I'm doing okay. I'm about a third of the way thru Dear Daughter, which I am trying to read while on the treadmill!

Layna wrote: "Yes this is my first book club EVER! I'm doing okay. I'm about a third of the way thru Dear Daughter, which I am trying to read while on the treadmill!"

Oh wow! That's dedication (and a good example of true multitasking). How are you liking it? I'm about 1/2 way in ...

DianeAlice wrote: "I don't usually map my books out this way J.P., it just happened that way this month. I'm in a bit of a lull at the moment, for various reasons not reading so much. I'm still on Broadchurch! That..."

I haven't heard of Birdbox but will check it out--the name alone is intriguing. It's slow going for me as well as I've been doing more reading for business than pleasure (and reading time is limited at present anyway). Was it only the reviews that gave you second thoughts about Dear Daughter? I haven't read any of them but am not a big "review" person.

I haven't updated my reading status here at Goodreads for a while, but have been happily reading away. For fiction right now I'm reading, "Distant Hours" by Kate Morton. And nonfiction--Business for Authors by Joanna Penn. Both are excellent, just wish I had more time to luxuriate in words!

What are you reading this week?

Just to clarify, Dianealice--is the Rosie Project the one with gruesome parts, or the Linda Castillo book?

Just finished a book by Kate Morton called, "The House at Riverton." Good! But tragic ending.

I don't know why but this time of the year I'm overly sensitive to melancholy so it probably wasn't the best book to choose. Next on my list: Louise Penny's "A Trick of the Light."

How about you?

Just finished reading Lady Justice in the Eye of the Storm. This is one that I think is not only timely and well-written, but a good selection for reading in a book club format as it should generate lots of discussion. And I think it might even be appropriate for high school age readers in a classroom setting.

Kay Compton wrote: "Just finished reading Lady Justice in the Eye of the Storm. This is one that I think is not only timely and well-written, but a good selection for reading in a book club format as ..."

Great, thanks for the link, Kay. Would it work out well for a future book club here on Suspense for Sensitive Readers? Have you read others by the same author?

Right now I am reading

and enjoying it pretty well.

Oh, that looks like a good one. I can't remember if I've read it or not. Have you read any of his others?

Actually,I ended up not finishing Airframe.I didn't finish Timeline by him either,but did like Jurassic Park.

So now I'm reading~Cell by Robin Cook.Almost finished. I love medical-suspense/thrillers.There was one scene that was at least PG-13 for gore.

I liked Timeline but haven't read Jurassic Park (though I enjoyed the movies). Please post about Cell when you finish. I got to hear Mr. Cook speak at a writer's conference a couple of years ago and I think that book was just being released. I'd like to hear what you think of it.

My review of "Cell"~Cell by Robin Cook.In these days of Obamacare,this book is very timely and terrifying!

Gripping read that would have been a one-sitting read.... unputdownable if my teen granddaughter wasn't visiting and keeping me busy.

Goes on my list of favorite 5-star reads!

Could have done without the scattered "F" bombs, and bedroom scenes, though thankfully, no details.

One pretty gruesome scene.PG-13

Great writing makes the nanotechnology understandable,and the character development is done very well.

Highly recommended for those who love suspense-thrillers!

I am now reading an Amish mystery~ I read the Pleasant Valley series by her and loved it.
Since I live very near the world's largest Amish/Mennonite community,I find their culture fascinating,and have read many nonfiction and fiction books about them.Have visited Amish Country several times and the Amish auction one town has every Thursday.

Thanks for the review of "Cell," Chris and for sharing your current read. I visited Amish country as a kid and really enjoyed parts of it very much. I think our modern culture can learn a lot from the Amish.

Yes, especially those who are interested in living "off-the-grid". The Amish have it right, but they have a whole community of support.

Still one can sure get a lot of nifty items to help live without utilities at their amazing Country store~

https://www.lehmans.com/

I could spend all day just in the huge section of beautiful kerosene lamps in every color you can imagine!

BTW just finished 'Murder In Plain Sight', and it was a 5-star PG read for me. Now I'm reading the second book in the series' Vanish In Plain Sight'

Sounds good, Chris, thanks for the recommendation!

I just finished (and highly recommend) "Mrs. Poe." It was a book club read for our local library and I absolutely loved it. A little mystery, a little tragic love story, and the author did such a great job with the characters and historical information. A pleasure to read!