pontalba
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Posts posted by pontalba
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The only thing I'm really (re)watching at the moment is Fringe season 2. I've just about given up on all the DC shows. They all seem to have jumped the shark now - too many characters with new ones who aren't very good. Arrow's the prime culprit. I really, really hate what they've done with Wells in The Flash. Even Supergirl has taken a nosedive and I used to be able to rely on that for a few laughs, at least.
Really must catch up on Agents of SHIELD, though - I'm about four episodes behind at the moment
We loved Fringe!
We've watched Crownies, and now we are re-watching Janet King. Good stuff.
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The Smiley books are great! Can't wait till the new one comes out!!
Thanks so much for posting!
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Small changes like that can be the key. I know it's more difficult when you have to go out to work every day and want to grab something quickly.
Soft drinks (rootbeer, colas) are the hardest for me, but I've managed to almost cut them out entirely since last November. I've only had a few, and that's when we're out. I don't buy them for the house. Haven't had any cake, and only a few cookies and an occasional small piece of chocolate. We've both lost 13 pounds since the end of November. So, that's around a pound a week, and I'm satisfied with that.
Just smaller meals, but we have what we want.....just not a plateful.
This is the type of diet that can be kept, there are no real forbidden foods. Just the sensible no cake rule. hah. /sigh/ I had to give up a lot of sweets anyhow, as I'm just on the border of diabetes. Bleegh! -
We watched a new series that's just come out on Amazon Prime, Patriots.
It's an interesting take on the culture of the spy story. Spy's are not "James Bond", they sometimes have families, some of whom are in the business. They can be inept, guilt ridden and actually hate what they do. Their covers may not be perfect, and have myriad holes. Holes that they are continually attempting to plug, with varying results.
We loved it.
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The Perseid Collapse and Event Horizon, both by Steven Konkoly 3/5
The first two of a trilogy, they cover the first 70-odd hours after an event that is still uncertain. Both the characters and the reader are not sure exactly what the heck happened. It is certain that there was an *EMP event, but there seems to be more than that happening. In any case, a tidal wave is involved along with all electronics being ruined, and no electricity. No one seems to be in charge and all the crazies have come out to play.
The focus family has just dropped their oldest, a son, at college in Boston so the Father is working to retrieve the young man. The entire book(s) are one big struggle to survive. There is a military aspect, and the acronyms are dropped throughout, making it somewhat cumbersome, imo. The action is detailed and can be gruesome.
Not sure if I will follow up on the third book, it's on my kindle though so I expect I will sooner or later.
*EMP-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse electromagnetic pulse
I've also finished Watchman by Ian Rankin 4/5, actually more a 3.75/5
A different sort of spy story, Miles Flint is a watcher of spies. Its hard to tell anything much about this as almost anything could be a spoiler, but suffice it to say there are slippery characters, murders, and traitors. Interestingly done, a nicely paced story.
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Finished Hawaii by Michener, 5/5.
I'll probably continue either the Rankin or Persaid. Not sure yet.......
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It was also interesting seeing the names in this book, since it's written by someone who lives in Belgium, the names are more Belgian / Flemish compared with the Dutch names I see in books written by Dutch authors. I realise this might not mean much to someone who reads only English but maybe some names are more prevalent in ie. England vs. US or vs. Australia or something like that? I personally find it hard to distinguish between American and English and Australian names, to me a lot of them are similar (ie. I feel both countries have people named certain names, James, Peter, Stephen to name some common names. One might have originated in one country but then spread to another), but maybe when you live in one of the countries you have a better feel for these things.
You're right, it is difficult to tell which English speaking country a name comes from. Unless the author gives a location, or names a particular characteristic of the place it can be a little confusing. (Or as I'd say discombobulating).
It throws me off until I can place the location.
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Oh, glad to see you like the Dresden books so much!
I've read and enjoyed several of the Dresden File books, have some more on the shelf.
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Sorry Kate, I thought I had wished you a happy reading year but seems I haven't
Happy Reading in 2017! Looks like it's going reasonably well .. you've read a great deal of 4/5 5/5s 
. Thanks, lol, I can't remember who I have or not either! If I haven't........consider it wighed for you too! Yup, so far, so good.
Ooh, hurray for new books ! I`ll be interested in how you like Aurora ; it`s a book I`ve pondered over getting.
Thanks!
I hope you enjoy all of your new books
.I've only read the Red Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson (though this was ages ago and I'm unsure if I read the third book or not; I plan to re-read the trilogy in English some time). I don't really know much about any other books the author has written (I think it's a he?). I looked it up and the novels sound interesting, Aurora in particular .'''Tis a he.....I've only read the first of the Mars Trilogy so far. Charles has read all, afaik.
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Finished the monumental Hawaii by James Michener. 5/5
From the very creation of the islands, to the histories of her peoples ending just prior to Statehood, Michener weaves a magical blend of the personalities that shaped the islands. Panoramic, generational and gorgeously written, this tale of Hawaii is never mundane, never boring.
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I hope you got your library card while there. It will be your most important item once you start downloading the kindle books from the library.
The sale wasn't at the actual library. I'm actually searching the house for my card. Changing wallets caused it to be put away "safely".
we know that it's safe....... /sigh/. If I can't find it, I'll have to go to the library and see the procedure for obtaining a new one. -
Ok, the ten books we bought at the Library Sale are:
The Falls and The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin
Aurora and Galileo's Dream by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Scarecrow and The Burning Room by Michael Connelly
The Information Specialist's Guide to Searching and Researching the Internet by Ernest Ackermann
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
Name to a Face by Robert Goddard
Find a Victim: A Lew Archer Novel by Ross Macdonald
All for 7.00 USD, 6 of them are hardbacks which we prefer.
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What a shame you couldn't get into the last part
.I'm glad you re-read an enjoyable book though and enjoyed it
.Thanks, Gaia.
You tell `em !
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What a coincidence
. Will you be posting a list in your thread? I hope you enjoy all of them .I hope you enjoy this one
. I really liked it.Thanks.
Good idea!
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Just the 10...
Hah, must be contagious!
We went to the monthly Library Sale today for the first time in ages......bought 10 books. In spite of having three on the go, I have begun, about a hundred odd pages in, Hawaii by James Michener. Yummy!
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Whoops! Almost forgot to mention that I finished (finally!) Margaret Atwood's The Heart Goes Last. I have to rate it 3/5, perhaps not entirely fair as I read the first 4 parts (of 5) quite a while back and only got around to reading the last part in hardback a week or so ago.
I just couldn't get into the last part and found myself skimming, hoping to hurry up the process. In fairness I should go back and reread the thing in it's entirety. Ain't gonna happen.
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In spite of starting 3 other books, I've reread The Edge by Dick Francis. Definitely a 5/5!
It's good everything, an evil villain, a staunch hero, a lovely and believable woman and an interesting train trip across the Canadian landscape. Not to mention a most satisfying ending. Francis was certainly at his height for this one.
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Earlier this week we watched Still Life, no, not the mystery, but an absolutely beautiful small film starring Eddie Marsan. https://tribecafilm.com/tribecafilm/f...
Free with Amazon Prime.
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Please investigate the library for e-books (especially kindle). The money savings is incredible. Also, it is a quick and easy way to obtain books for reading. Sometimes if the book is recent and on the top 10 list you may have to wait for a book but that doesn't bother me. I just put it on hold and when it is available I read it. Frequently our library will carry many copies of popular books. Example, The Whistler by John Grisham is in demand and I am # 235 on the hold list. However, the library has 26 copies of the book so in essence it means I am #9.
I will, as soon as I find my Library Card! -
Whoops, forgot to mention that I'm also rereading Dick Francis's The Edge.
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No worries! I definitely love them. I read a couple of Linwood Barclays, I think, on your recommendation, and really enjoyed them.
I finished Coffin Road by Peter May, and though I know others on here thought it was good but not amazing, I loved it! Absolutely loved it. Not quite five star, but definitely one I'd buy in hardcopy and read again in the future so I gave it four stars. I've bought The Blackhouse, the first in his Lewis trilogy which people seem to prefer, and am super excited to read it!
I also *really* need to finish The Trees. Thankfully it's an easy book to remember the details of, I'm just more in the mood for thrillers at the moment so even though The Trees is really great, it got put aside. I *will* finish it this week.
I really liked The Blackhouse Trilogy, and have, I think, Coffin Road here on the shelf.
I've started several books, The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George, Assignment: Amazon Queen by Edward S. Aarons, and Watchman by Ian Rankin. I'm thinking of digging up my copy of Hawaii and rereading it. Some remarks over on GoodReads have inspired me.
The Aarons mentioned above is part of an "Assignment:" series that I read when I was a teenager. Reading it now I'd have to say it's a bit.....overblown, but nostalgia is a powerful thing.
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Your reading year is interesting so far! Hope it continues.
A couple looked similar.
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I currently have quite a few books on hold at the library so I will have to wait a bit before adding it to my list. At least 90% of my reading comes from books downloaded from the library. Are you going to put on a list all the books you have read so far this year?
I have to investigate the library loan stuff around here.
I keep a list at the beginning of this thread, muggle. I just updated it.
pontalba's 2017 reading list
in Past Book Logs
Posted
Yeah, that's a good part of why I'm not continuing the series.
I've finished Peter May's Extraordinary People. Definitely a 4/5.
We've bought a few books,
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The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
Insomniac City by Bill Hayes
Caliban's War by James S. A. Corey (its second in a trilogy, I had # 1 and 3)
And, I've pre-ordered the new LeCarre, thanks to ChesilBeach.
But it isn't coming out till September. 