You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Discuss whichever book in a series you decide to read this month here!!

I'm thinking I will take this month to get either (or both!) series started:


The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Maisie Dobbs

One has been on my radar for a while and I saw it on the library shelf the other day and snagged it, the other has been sitting on my real shelf for some time.

I read The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency recently. It was a fun read, and I might read the next book in the series at some point, but I'm in no hurry.

That's the impression I get of that one. People enjoy it but it's not a rush-out-to-read the next one. Glad to hear it was a fun read though.

Tasha wrote: "That's the impression I get of that one. People enjoy it but it's not a rush-out-to-read the next one. Glad to hear it was a fun read though."

I am somewhat in the middle of this series. I think of it as a light feel good read.

I am taking this opportunity to read The Warded Man. It has been on my TBR for a while.

I agree Esther. It's a good series to read in between more difficult books, when you're looking for something light.

sounds perfect then. :)

Tasha - I'd definitely tell you to read Maisie Dobbs right away. Don't waste another minute! That series is SO well done I can just about guarantee you'll want to read the next one and the next one. It's not light and frothy - but books I want to savor and take my time with.

(Didn't enjoy Ladies Detective Agency at all though.....)

HAHA, now I have to make a serious choice. ;) Thanks for your rec, Diane. I know Dawn will agree with you as well. I found out about Maisie Dobbs through her. the good thing is they are both pretty short so I can probably manage both...but I think I may have been persuaded to start maisie first now...hmmm.

I added Maisie Dobbs to my TBR. I never heard of it before but it sounds interesting! I like that it's set in the 20s.

I love reading The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, but I was influenced by seeing the BBC/HBO television series first, which was excellent.

Consequently I can picture the wonderful actors and the Botswana landscape in my head as I read.

Although most of the stories were produced, the TV production took some liberties that are not in the books. Because I witnessed it before reading, I favor the television version. If you have a chance, brew a pot of tea and rent the six episodes, you'll fall in love with the characters.

I watched that series too. Too bad they didn't continue it. Just when you really start to get into something, they pull the plug. Usually it's every series I like.

Roz wrote: "I watched that series too. Too bad they didn't continue it. Just when you really start to get into something, they pull the plug. Usually it's every series I like."

I know!☺

Apparently the fans created quite a stink about the cancellation, and there were "promises" of bringing it back, but it never happened.

Definitely go for Maisie Dobbs!! I love this series. I am a huge fan of the interwar period and I think the author does a stellar job of creating the feeling and emotion of the period after the war and, as the series progresses, the beginning of the next war.

There are a few mystical bits to the story that I've never really been a fan of but I like the stories too much to really quibble about it that much. :)

I took a rather longer pause this morning. I started The Warded Man. Just a quick peek, and I would go back to my other book. right. Well, 200 pages later, i think it is safe to say I really like it.

Esther wrote: "Well, 200 pages later, i think it is safe to say I really like it. "

I thought you might!

Almeta, thanks for the tip about the series! I'll defintely have to see if I can get to it.

Dawn, I knew you would say that. ;)

It's settled then, I'll read both of them! haha

Tasha wrote: "HAHA, now I have to make a serious choice. ;) Thanks for your rec, Diane. I know Dawn will agree with you as well. I found out about Maisie Dobbs through her. the good thing is they are both prett..."

Hope you like it as much as I did! I can't wait for the next one to come out!

I forgot to mention it in here. A few of us are reading Hounded for our book within the theme. Please feel free to join us https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Well, shoot. I wasn't thinking I would participate in this challenge but I have Maisie Dobbs on my TBR as well as Storm Front which is borrowed from a friend. NPR reviewed Maisie Dobbs for its 10th anniversary edition recently: http://www.npr.org/2014/07/10/3295686...

Sigh. So many books.

Melissa,
Thanks for posting the link!

So, I read half of this article just now, and I have put Annihilation on my TBR. I only read half the article because, spoilers: http://www.npr.org/2014/09/02/3431775...

Dang it, NPR. I'm supposed to be working.

That's a great link, Melissa. thanks for sharing it.

I'm really excited now to get moving on that one but I focused on reading my buddy chosen read first.

Melissa wrote: "So, I read half of this article just now, and I have put Annihilation on my TBR. I only read half the article because, spoilers: http://www.npr.org/2014/09/02/3431775......"

I read Annihilation in the last team toppler and thought it was good enough to continue with the series. I just won the third one which is mentioned in the article link you posted but I still need to buy book 2 before I get to that one! I stopped reading the article at where he says he's about to spoil!

The first 2 books I read this month both are a #1 of a series. The first I started in August, so doesn't really count (To Die Once, #1 Child of Grace - series by Miranda A. Uyeh - for my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...).
The second I read, was chosen by my buddy Lara for the september challenge: Blue Violet, #1 of the Svatura Series by Abigail Owen - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
I really liked both of them.

I just finished Crocodile on the Sandbank.
I am so glad I finally got around to starting this series; it has been on my TBR for a long time, and I've known about it for whate seems like forever.
Amelia Peabody is a hoot! I was totally in to her character.
Usually I'm not a big fan of audiobooks, because I find myself not concentrating much on the story, but I listened to this one on my drive to and from work and thoroughly enjoyed the narrator's voice. At some point, I'm definitely going to continue with the series.

I was just looking at that book on my shelf Liz. Glad you enjoyed it!

I started The Shape of Water today. It's the first in the Italian Inspector Montalbano series.

Feels kind of like a first date some how. Getting introduced to his whole cast of characters. Finding out about their personalities and histories.

The plot is interesting, too. Wouldn't recommend this for any one offended by the use of naughty words, especially the f-word.

Liz wrote: "I just finished Crocodile on the Sandbank.
I am so glad I finally got around to starting this series; it has been on my TBR for a long time, and I've known about it for whate seems ..."

I really enjoyed the bantering between Amelia and Emerson. They had me laughing several times.

Janice- Their relationship is definitely chuckle worthy. I got a kick out of them, too.

Liz wrote: "I just finished Crocodile on the Sandbank.
I am so glad I finally got around to starting this series; it has been on my TBR for a long time, and I've known about it for whate seems ..."

Glad you enjoyed that one, Liz. I listened to it a while back (never marked it for some reason on my read-list) and enjoyed it too.

I'm reading on kindle for my first in a series book. Have the second ready to go too. It's a good urban fantasy fae series.

Welcome Bonnie! That book looks interesting. I may have to add it to my wishlist. How are you enjoying it?

Good enough that I put the second one on hold. She's a strong character. The world is kind of dark, but not overwhelming.

Its a good series. Or at least the first book I enjoyed it and recommend it Janice.

I can't remember I you've read Feed but its the same woman different pseudonym as Rosemary and Rue so while the stories are different writing styles are the same

I had no idea, thanks Travis.

And welcome Bonnie :)

Actually, I think the writing style is rather different when this author, Seanan Maguire, is writing under her own name and when she is writing as Mira Grant. The books are rather different in tone. I like them both, though. If anyone is looking for a good ghost story for Halloween, I recommend Seanan's latest, Sparrow Hill Road.

Travis of NNY wrote: "Its a good series. Or at least the first book I enjoyed it and recommend it Janice."

Added. :)

I haven't read Feed yet, but I got it from one of Audible's sales.

I got really drawn into the Inspector Montalbano book. Except for reading a few pages at breakfast and lunch, I had to wait until "bedtime" to dive all the way in and finish it off. I liked it. A very satisfying police detective mystery. I also love it that the author, Andrea Camilleri, is a chain-smoking, 88-year-old-guy, who has no plans to retire. He was 69 when he got around to writing this book, The Shape of Water. Now, 20 books later (I think that's the number), he's still going strong.

I finished Hounded, my discussion of the book is in the buddy read thread :)

Well i read The 39 Steps. I had never realised this was a series but read it in The Complete Richard Hannay.

I really enjoyed it, I have seen it at the theatre and i think that helped as sometimes the writing is a little old fashioned. Richard Hannay turns out to be a jolly good sort always willing to put himself out for his friends and his country. I have finished all 5 books now - was not keen on Greenmantle but the others were all around 3 stars

I'm currently reading Heroes Die this is hard to explain it is sci fi and fantasy. It takes place on earth with a unique caste system. People also have a unique entertainment system of reality TV. This is the SCU fi side. Actors are basically teleported to another world but on earth people can use a special machine to view the actors at any time. Now while we are in this other world it is fantasy. Dark fantasy since the better an actor is at killing the higher the ratings. The other world is real. If you die your dead. Thus isn't just a game for the actors and the world has permanent inhabitants besides the earth actors. There's kings Fae ogres and trolls. Magic and prostitutes. All your common fantasy types. While it takes a while to wrap your head around this world of multiple worlds once you get it the book is quite good . About 25% in and enjoying it more all the time as my understanding grows. Kind of a blend of Ready Player One, The Running man, total Recall, and gritty dark vulgar fantasy.
Like I said its rather hard to explain

I am going to have to add that book to my wishlist Travis - you sell it well! I loved Running Man and Total Recall, yet to read Ready Player One.

Added to the Lexx list. Thanks Travis. Sounds really interesting. I may check it out myself too.

I also finished Hounded

If you enjoy Joe Abercrombie or GRRM you'll probably enjoy this one. But the audio sucks I'll switch to print after this one. B

Travis of NNY wrote: "I'm currently reading Heroes Die this is hard to explain it is sci fi and fantasy. It takes place on earth with a unique caste system. People also have a unique entertainment syst..."

Thanks for the inside. I had it added to my TBR list in the "could read" shelf, but the descriptions in GR didn't says much. Sounds interesting.

I'm currently reading:
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, Book #1 of The Stormlight Archive. Book #2, Words of Radiance was published this year, and 10 books are planned for the series.
Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence, the second of his two Brangwen Family books.

Other series plans for September include:
Sodom and Gomorrah by Marcel Proust, book #4 of 7 in his In Search of Lost Time series.
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan, book #10 of 14 in his Wheel of Time series.

I took this opportunity to re-read one of my favorite mystery/thriller series. I read Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris. Lily Bard is such a complex character. I often wonder how much research Harris made into the recovery process of violent crime victims. The character of Lily Bard is certainly well thought out. I think this series is Harris' best work so far.

I finished Hounded with the buddy read group. It was a lot of fun!

I am ready to read the next one. :)