What are you currently reading?

[MortSahlFan]

Not that long ago I was diagnosed with ADHD. What you're describing ... sounds familiar.

I think part of it is having so much choice... In the very beginning of music, I could only afford one album per month (unless I went to a garage sale) and now I can access so many, and I think, "OK, I listened to a little bit of that. It's in my YouTube history. Let me listen to more", but I'm sure if something really grabbed me, I'd finish, although I do enjoy what I have been reading.

Ironically, I think I was much worse as a boy, with all that energy... Maybe went away for a while, but now with the laptop connected to the TV - everything is connected, so it's easy to minimize one video and onto something else.

[Lopez]

Reading a schlocky but well-written horror novel by Richard Laymon from 1980 called The Cellar. Frequently touted on the Facebook Books of Horror group, which is a fun group!

Love Laymon! Unlike other horror writers I like, with Laymon, the mayhem starts early. In Midnight's Lair, things went to hell by page 5.

[JKL2000]

Love Laymon! Unlike other horror writers I like, with Laymon, the mayhem starts early. In Midnight's Lair, things went to hell by page 5.

I had a feeling you’d be familiar with him! I have one more book of his called “Savage,” from the 90s, about Jack the Ripper. That one comes pretty highly recommended, and that’ll probably be the next of his I read.

[SteveSly]

Currently reading "Hero Of Two Worlds - The Marquis De Lafayette In The Age Of Revolution" by Mike Duncan. This is a relatively recent book that looks at the life of Lafayette and his participation in both the American and French revolution. So far I am finding it very interesting.

[interbellum]

The first book looks interesting.

Bombastisch, Ondansbaar en Weergaloos was reviewed in the latest edition of prog-magazine iO Pages (don't know if you're still reading that one). The nice thing about the book is that the two autors write about some of their favorite albums, released between (about) 1970 and 1985. Although they grey up with traditional progressive rock, they also love the progressive movements that came after punk, Krautrock and R.I.O. So not just recollections on The Yes Album, Meddle, The Rotters' Club and Nursery Cryme, but also stories on how they discovered albums by The Peter Peter Ivers Band, Wire, Pere Ubu, Tuxedemoon and Kalahari Surfers. Because of their personal story this isn't just a book on progressive music, but also on how they became fan of a lot of this music in their youth.

[Lopez]

I had a feeling you’d be familiar with him! I have one more book of his called “Savage,” from the 90s, about Jack the Ripper. That one comes pretty highly recommended, and that’ll probably be the next of his I read.

Not familiar with Savage, but I'll put it on the list. Thanks for the notice, Jed.

[Lou]

Love Laymon! Unlike other horror writers I like, with Laymon, the mayhem starts early. In Midnight's Lair, things went to hell by page 5.

You can't go wrong with anything by Laymon. I probably have 20 of his books and have never been disappointed.

[Rarebird]

Bombastisch, Ondansbaar en Weergaloos was reviewed in the latest edition of prog-magazine iO Pages (don't know if you're still reading that one). The nice thing about the book is that the two autors write about some of their favorite albums, released between (about) 1970 and 1985. Although they grey up with traditional progressive rock, they also love the progressive movements that came after punk, Krautrock and R.I.O. So not just recollections on The Yes Album, Meddle, The Rotters' Club and Nursery Cryme, but also stories on how they discovered albums by The Peter Peter Ivers Band, Wire, Pere Ubu, Tuxedemoon and Kalahari Surfers. Because of their personal story this isn't just a book on progressive music, but also on how they became fan of a lot of this music in their youth.

Haven't read that for a long time. When I was fired and they stopped sending it to me, I stopped reading.

[Scott Bails]

Now I need to add Richard Laymon to the never-ending list.

[Rajaz]

I am not an avid reader either but I can't wait for the third season of "His Dark Materials", so I'm reading the Phillip Pullman book three that is very enjoyable. The title is "The Amber Spyglass".

In the past I have heard that it is better to read the book version before going to see the film because you use your own mind and imagination to create the spaces and characters, it is very true.

That reminds me of the movie comedy "Back to school" where Rodney Dangerfield always answers back to Sally Kellerman that he has seen all the movie versions but never read any books and she softly gives him the wise advice to READ the books :-)

[JKL2000]

Finished that Laymon (it was short, very sick, and good!).
Now reading “A Meeting with Medusa” by Arthur C. Clarke.

[rapidfirerob]

Just finished Live At The Fillmore by Amalie R. Rothschild. All shows listed at the end of the book. Next up is Live At The Fillmore East and West by John Glatt.


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[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

About to reread Tim Powers's masterpiece Declare. But first I have to do some research on Kim Philby and particularly his time in Istanbul and Beirut. (The novel proposes some supernatural explanations for some of Philby's behavior, and especially in those two places.)

[JKL2000]

About to reread Tim Powers's masterpiece Declare. But first I have to do some research on Kim Philby and particularly his time in Istanbul and Beirut. (The novel proposes some supernatural explanations for some of Philby's behavior, and especially in those two places.)

I’ve read most of Powers’ books, at least through the ‘90s. But I haven’t heard of this one? When’s it from?
I loved “The Stress of her Regard!”

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

Declare is from 2001.

You might also be interested to know that, in 2012 Tim released a sequel to Stress, called Hide Me Among the Graves.

[JKL2000]

^ Wow, I should have kept up! These are both new to me. How'd you like the sequel to Stress?

[MudShark22]

Only ever read The Anubis Gates then Last Call and Expiration Date. I should at least finish that triilogy.

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[JKL2000]

I actually haven’t read Last Call or the trilogy. How did you like Last Call? I have a big-ass hardcover around here somewhere!

[Lopez]

I actually haven’t read Last Call or the trilogy. How did you like Last Call? I have a big-ass hardcover around here somewhere!

Is that the Charnel House edition? It's quite the work of the bookmaker's art.

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

All Tim, all the time!

I think Hide Me is better than Stress, but I find the latter to be one of his weaker books (which is to say, I think it's pretty good). But then, I like pretty much everything I've read by him except for the one Laser book (does anybody here remember Laser Books? I remember Elwood. What a bloody schnook....) I own.

The "Fault Lilnes" trilogy that begins with Last Call may be his finest hour.

Last Call is about playing poker, on Lake Mead, with Tarot cards, for souls, and why Bugsy Siegel built a palace in the Wasteland (i.e., the Flamingo Casino).

Expiration Date is about people who inhale ghosts in Los Angeles.

Earthquake Weather ... well, it brings characters from the first two together in the Bay Area, and other than that kind of defies explanation without spoilers.

The whole trilogy is about the Fisher-King, which is also true of The Drawing of the Dark, which I rather imagine you've read.

I would also highly recommend his short story collection The BIble Repairman.

[MudShark22]

I found Timmy as I wanted to make my way through all the PKD award winning novels - so hence Anubis which I really enjoyed.

Will restart Last Call and work my way thru.

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[JKL2000]

All Tim, all the time!

I think Hide Me is better than Stress, but I find the latter to be one of his weaker books (which is to say, I think it's pretty good). But then, I like pretty much everything I've read by him except for the one Laser book (does anybody here remember Laser Books? I remember Elwood. What a bloody schnook....) I own.

The "Fault Lilnes" trilogy that begins with Last Call may be his finest hour.

Last Call is about playing poker, on Lake Mead, with Tarot cards, for souls, and why Bugsy Siegel built a palace in the Wasteland (i.e., the Flamingo Casino).

Expiration Date is about people who inhale ghosts in Los Angeles.

Earthquake Weather ... well, it brings characters from the first two together in the Bay Area, and other than that kind of defies explanation without spoilers.

The whole trilogy is about the Fisher-King, which is also true of The Drawing of the Dark, which I rather imagine you've read.

I would also highly recommend his short story collection The BIble Repairman.

Agree that Stress didn't have much in the way of suspenseful pacing, but since I was studying the British Romantic poets at the time, it was of interest. And there was also the Keats/Lamb Lies Down connection too! And a lot of cool settings and imagery. I'll never forget that glass eye filled with garlic!

I actually enjoyed the Laser Book (something with Rust in the title). Yes, I joined Laser Books only to receive my introductory 5 books for $1 along with a note that they were shutting down. Sadly, I got rid of them when I was still very young.

Yep, I did read The Drawing of the Dark. I really enjoyed the pirate one too, and was a bit annoyed it somehow got Disney-fied of all things!

Oh, Lopez, my copy of Last Call is just the regular first edition.

[Lopez]

But then, I like pretty much everything I've read by him except for the one Laser book (does anybody here remember Laser Books? I remember Elwood. What a bloody schnook....) I own.

I sure do remember Laser Books. Took me a few years, but I've amassed the entire set from number 0 to 57. "Timothy" Powers had written two of them, numbers 28 and 47. Haven't read either of them. The last three Lasers were tough to find as they were only available in Canada. Funny thing was that Laser was an imprint of Harlequin Romance.

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

I really enjoyed the pirate one too, and was a bit annoyed it somehow got Disney-fied of all things!

It didn't, really. If you haven't seen it, all they really took from it (my memory, having seen the movie once, and that was years after reading the book...maybe I should read it again, it was one of my favorite Powers...) was the idea of Blackbeard looking for the Fountain of Youth.

[nisijavio]

I finally started Dune.

Just finished first book and will purchase the next one today.