Goodreads Ireland discussion

I did get it but my reality is such that I didn't get to it yet. I have three books to read and review and my two inperson book club selections (Flight Behavior and Zero) that I must read and pass on. I am getting frustrated that I can't read what I want when I want. I will get to it, I promise.

Memphis BBQ cozy mystery. Delicious and Suspicious

Deb wrote: "Memphis BBQ cozy mystery. Delicious and Suspicious"

Cute title. I bet Susan will love it; her son is a BBQ champion :)

I just finished Orphan Train last night, I really enjoyed it, four stars, if you like historical fiction, you'll enjoy this one

I've added that, Noeleen. When I read the blurb I saw that another member really enjoyed it too. I'll give this a chance.

Noeleen wrote: "I just finished Orphan Train last night, I really enjoyed it, four stars, if you like historical fiction, you'll enjoy this one"

I like it too.

Yeah were the other member I was referring to, Susan. I've really come to trust your views so it got added.

I think it's a little mushy for you, Declan. Much more Kirk than Picard if you follow by drift.

Mushy isn't a word I'd use for Kirk, Susan.

My God Jim! I'm a Dr. not a mush layer! "

Chef! I doff my hat to you. Lol!

I had to do it !

That;s the very reason I'm still awake, Allan. It's the stuff of nightmares.

What! You have nightmares with my hero Kirk. Shame on you two. What I meant by it being more Kirk is that I would like it better than you would. I just can't picture you reading mushy, Declan. And by the way, is that some sort of penis he's holding?

It's a stalactite with a rather unfortunate shape. You'd think someone on set would have raised an eyebrow.

How mushy is it, exactly?

Well, it's not romance book mushy but still... The father from Ireland is quite a drinker. What a surprise and I think that might bother you. Still the exploitation of the children was quite eye opening. I had never heard of the railroad children so that was quite interesting. I don't think mushy is quite the right word. It just really pulls at your heart what people do to children and what they do to survive. Now that I think about it, you might like it. You are a sensitive person except for buying a porn following. :)

Susan, there'll be a lot if people who'll read that comment with no understanding of its context.

That typo is really going to haunt me.

That's alright, Declan. A little mystery is good for everyone.

Even if that mystery is "is he or isn't he a deviant?"

Sure, I suppose I have you to vouch for my good character. Lol!

Has anyone here read any books by China Mieville? I had never heard of him until a few months ago, and now it seems like his name keeps popping up, all in positive, glowing terms. I can't get a sense of his writing, so I'm just curious if anyone here has read him and, if so, what you thought.

@Cathleen I have never heard of him but looking him up on Goodreads, it didn't seem like he would appeal to me.

Susan wrote: "@Cathleen I have never heard of him but looking him up on Goodreads, it didn't seem like he would appeal to me."

I know. I thought he might not appeal to me, either. It seemed like it might be too dystopian/futuristic but, then again, "podcast" people, like Nancy Pearl, have really enjoyed his writing.

I wondered if he were geared toward sci-fi, not a genre I know well at all.

@Cathleen, Declan is our resident science fiction specialist. Maybe he can enlighten us.

Susan wrote: "@Cathleen, Declan is our resident science fiction specialist. Maybe he can enlighten us."

Well, if he does, then it will give the two of you more reason to post pics of Star Trek. They were very funny.

He tends more to the fantasy side, but he's won the Hugo and the Nebula awards. He's fairly well known, so I'm sure someone in the group must have read his work.

Ooo I really like China Miéville, but he has a particular writing style that is definitely not for everyone. Much of his work is science fiction, but not all of it.

A good place to start may be either The City and the City (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...) or one of his young adult works (which I have not read but have heard good things about and which may be less complicated stylistically). I would describe the City and the City as a noir mystery with science fiction flavoring.


I only scanned it, but this interview with him looks to be a good one.

I had a feeling you'd be able to help, Sara.

Declan wrote: "I had a feeling you'd be able to help, Sara."

I think between the two of us and Allan we probably have read at least 75% of the scifi authors out there.

Sara wrote: "Ooo I really like China Miéville, but he has a particular writing style that is definitely not for everyone. Much of his work is science fiction, but not all of it.

A good place to start may be e..."

Thanks, Sara! I'll read the interview.Coincidentally, the book I've heard about most often is The City and the City. I saw my town library has a copy, so maybe I'll give it a try.

@Sara. I think you're right. At least 75% of classic authors.

I think I'm going to add The City ad the City, by the way, guys.

Declan wrote: "@Sara. I think you're right. At least 75% of classic authors.

I think I'm going to add The City ad the City, by the way, guys."

I think I will, too. It's a library book, so easy enough to try. Time to expand my reading horizons and venture into "noir mystery with a science fiction flavoring." :)

Sounds delicious(?) :/

I've had a bit of a rough day and have picked up a "comfort" book. It's my favorite classic star trek called. "Uhura's Song" written by Janet Kagan. It's about a planet of catlike beings hit with a deadly plague and the way to save them may be hidden in a song. Now, got my cat next to me and ready to put my feet up and get lost for awhile.

Chef wrote: "I've had a bit of a rough day and have picked up a "comfort" book. It's my favorite classic star trek called. "Uhura's Song" written by Janet Kagan. It's about a planet of catlike beings hit with a..."

Good for you chef! No better escape than a good book! I like the idea of cat people.

Thanks Jamielynn. I am a huge animal lover, but definitely fond of cats. This book has great kitty characters with names like Brightspot, Rushlight, Sunfall and Tailkinker

Chef wrote: "Thanks Jamielynn. I am a huge animal lover, but definitely fond of cats. This book has great kitty characters with names like Brightspot, Rushlight, Sunfall and Tailkinker"

Excellent!

It sounds like it has a kind of 'Watership Down' quality to it. Am I right in thinking that?

Yes Declan! I hadn't made that connection but yes you're correct that there are similarities.

I've gone ahead and added it, Chef. For all of the sci-fi I've read I've never read anything from the Star Trek universe, but I've seen most of the TV episodes from all its incarnations.

Same here with the tv shows. I have read almost all of the classic books. Some of the next generation but I really prefer the original. Diane Duane is my fave S.T. author, the way she presents the characters are so realistic.

Would you consider yourself a Trekkie (or Trekker)? I love the shows and most of the movies, but I could never describe myself by one of those names. There a certain level of geekdom to be lived up to, and I'm not interested in that.

although I will admit to having a uniform, I don't consider myself a Trekkie. I really loved the premise of Infinite Diversity Infinite Combination.

It was a fantastic venue for raising issues while stripping them of their baggage. Roddenberry was a bit of a master of the morality tale.

and being able to see a woman in space, was amazing to me as a kid. Great interview with Nichelle: http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelve...

I love the story about MLK. He's so lionized that it's hard to imagine him watching ST let alone having a fancrush on one of its stars.

Yeah, Uhura was great. I've often heard people lamenting her lack of action, but then again Sulu and Chekov also had very little.

I take it you've watched Enterprise, Chef? I like how they highlighted the importance of the communications officers to Star Fleet. I always though it was either undervalued or taken for granted in TOS.

Yes, the bit about MLK really surprised me. Its like finding out your 3rd grade teacher shops at the market and watches TV in his drawers, eating pork rinds.

I never did watch Enterprise. I'm not sure why I didn't because I like Scott Bakula. loved him in the show Quantum Leap.

My whole family loved Quantum Leap. Most people I know used yo watch it.

You might have enjoyed Enterprise. It filled in a lot of gaps, including why the coms officer never moved and how tge Klingons lost their ridges.

Declan we used to watch Quantum Leap too. I haven't thought about that show for years! It was fun.

@Chef, if you like Scott Bakula did you catch him in the Liberace movie with Michael Douglas? He did an awesome job.

Declan I will keep an eye out for it. Its like I Love Lucy, there's always a ST episode.

Yes Susan I did see that. Scott was adorable all scruffy. Great casting, great movie. Liberace was quote a showman.