watchya readin'?

[VintageJoe70]

Steven King...Foxtrot by Bill Amend...Reminisce magazine....

[MRP]

Since I am currently out of work, I have some more time to read lately in between working on some home-improvement projects that had been waiting for me to have time to get to them (and I have nothing but time right now).

I've been altering between prose and graphic novels, mostly sci-fi and crime/detective fiction. I've also spent more time on Goodreads reviewing some of what I've been plowing through (if anyone is on Goodreads and wants to check the reviews out, hit me up and well connect up).

as for prose, I just finished the first Foundation book by Isaac Asimov, something I hadn't read since my freshman year in high school. Before that I read the first two Spenser books by Robert Parker (Godwulf Manuscript & God Save the Child), another of the Ace Conan volumes (Conan the Buccaneers one of the all deCamp/Carter pastiche volumes), one of the Phantom novels (Slave Market of Murcar), Anno Dracula by Kim Newman, the Hand of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer (the 3rd Fu Manchu book) and a little Mickey Spillane (The Death Dealers).

for graphic novels, I reread the first three Richard Stark's Parker adaptations by Darwyn Cooke and finally got to the fourth one. I revisted all three volumes of Injection by Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey, the adaptation of Ace Atkins Last Fair Deal Gone Down, a Nick Travers story, Essex County by Jeff Lemire, Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion, Ascender by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Ngyuen (the sequel to Descender which was amazing), The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini by Cyntha Von Buhler (a Hard Case Crime comic), the first 2 volumes of Black Magick by Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott, the first four volumes of Lazarus by Rucka and Michael Lark, and the first six volumes of The Woods by James Tynion, and the first volume of Dragonlance Classics (collecting the early issues of the DC Dragonlance comic from the late 80s).

I've also been slowly catching up on the pile of new comics that have accumulated that I picked up from my lcs just before the shelter in place orders went into affect, mostly making my way through the DC giants.

i am currently making my way through Shop Talk, a series of interviews with some legendary comic creators conducted by Will Eisner himself, and the next volume of Lazarus. I just finished Asimov's Foundation earlier tonight, and I'm not sure what novel I will dive into next, there are a few possibilities sitting on my desk.

-M

[Wee67]

Murakami — I thought Kafka on the Shore was great. Any suggestions on what I should try next?

I haven't read The Yiddish Policeman's Union yet but it is on my pile!

Try A Wild Sheep Chase. It was the first Murakami I read and what drew me to him. The Wind Up Bird Chronicle is another good one. Kafka on the Shore, BTW, is my favorite. I really get the impression, though, Murakami readers tend to love the whichever book they read first or second. He's just that type of author.

I really enjoyed IQ84 but it's 12-hundred pages long. It might be better to read another, shorter novel to make sure he's worth that investment for you.

[Brazoo]

Murakami — I thought Kafka on the Shore was great. Any suggestions on what I should try next?

I haven't read The Yiddish Policeman's Union yet but it is on my pile!

[PNGwynne]

Has anyone read Chabon's The Yiddish Policeman's Union? I was considering that one.

[Wee67]

I'm about 1/3rd of the way through Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon. Not loving it so far. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay was fantastic.

and thank you. I was considering this based on how much I loved Kavalier & Clay. I was debating because I found Summerland to be just OK. Maybe I'll pick up another Murakami book instead.

[palitoy]

Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman- A book that changed lives apparently, it was ok. I expected something less fantasy based i guess, I still like Millman's workouts.

Atomic Habits by James Cleary- Frank and interesting guide to encouraging habits good and discouraging your bad ones. I liked it, nothing terribly earth shattering just some decent understanding of how our brains work.

Marvel Star Trek Omnibus- I like the first 18 Marvel Star Trek comics from the late 1970s, really liked them as a kid so i bought a big volume of them. They hold up!

[Brazoo]

Also on the music front, I'm about 40 pages into "Please Kill Me Now: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk" and so far, its pretty interesting if you're a fan. The book is just quotes from the people on the scene. It starts back in the mid-60's with the Velvets, MC5 and the Stooges. I was heavily involved in the underground music scene back in the 80's and its really driven my tastes ever since. It's cool to read more from these proto and punk artists perspectives.

Thanks — God knows how long I've had that book but now I'm moving it to the top of my pile! For some reason books I really want to get to sometimes end up getting lost in the shuffle for new books. It's weird.

[Brazoo]

I'm about 1/3rd of the way through Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon. Not loving it so far. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay was fantastic.

[Wee67]

Also on the music front, I'm about 40 pages into "Please Kill Me Now: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk" and so far, its pretty interesting if you're a fan. The book is just quotes from the people on the scene. It starts back in the mid-60's with the Velvets, MC5 and the Stooges. I was heavily involved in the underground music scene back in the 80's and its really driven my tastes ever since. It's cool to read more from these proto and punk artists perspectives.

[J.B.]

This cat has lived some wild life and I'm barely into the book. I may be able to answer a question I asked the group earlier regarding a Red Hot Chili Peppers performance where Kiedis exchanged words & handshake with Magic Johnson, when I get further in the book (I hope; it's still driving me crazy).

[pmwasson]

I’m about 20hrs into the audiobook of Neal Stephenson Fall.
Pretty good.

I finished that a little while ago. It was quite enjoyable.

[justzeg18]

I’m about 20hrs into the audiobook of Neal Stephenson Fall.
Pretty good.

[MRP]

I sometimes read multiple things at once, as is the case now, usually one novel, one short story collection, something comic related, and sometimes something non-fiction.

I just finished the first volume Star Trek episode adaptations by James Blish.

I am about halfway through the second Fu Manchu novel, The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu (alternate title-The Devil Doctor)

I am also reading through the fifth volume of the Ace Conan books, Conan the Adventurer.

And lastly, I am reading through Don Rosa's The Lives and Times of Scrooge McDuck.

-M

[PNGwynne]

Rereading Larry Tye's Superman

Art Baltazar's Gillbert

1970's Shazam vol. 1