Duke said:Just started James Byrne's The Gatekeeper. First of a series about a character named Dez Limerick, who is supposed to be something like Jack Reacher but with a sense of humor.
In the first 3 pages he electrocutes somebody with a bunch car batteries. So... I'm not too hopeful.
Has Bryne written anything else except those books? I couldn't find anything in a quick search...
In reply to ClearWaterMS :
I don't know. I actually found the second book in the series on the library's "New Titles" table, then when back in the stacks to find this one, the first.
I'm about halfway through and it is entertaining enough. It goes quickly and his chapters tend to be very short, so it's good for bed time reading.
Though in addition to the battery thing above, he also referred to modern MINIs as "reliable cars", so clearly automotive technical details are not his strong suit.
The best book I have read since the expanse series. I am normally not a fan of fantasy-ish stuff. But this felt like sci-fi as if the world is actually another world far from our solar system.
Haven't reread many books since I was young but this is one.
Still very much enjoying Geddy’s book, “My Effin’ Life.” It’s a trip through the history of Rush but keeps coming back to two constants: family and faith. Lots of talk last night about Jewish food. Made me hungry.
Lotta drugs, too. Didn’t realize they did that much coke. Looking back, guess that explains a few things. He’s very candid about it all.
I just read "the bouncer" series by David Gordon. It was pretty good; fast moving vigilante crime series with a bit of humor mixed in.
I'm in process of reading all 7 Tony Horowitz's books. So far I have a far better understanding of Austrailia, the whole Middle East area, and the American South. I'm now sailing with Captain James Cook. Enjoying the trips.
Just started Remarkably Bright Creatures, which is partially narrated by an octopus. Seems good so far.
just finished Lone Rider:The First British Woman to Motorcycle Around the World by Elspeth Beard.
I thought it was really cool that she did it on a BMW R60/6. The trip from America through SE Asia sounded like a good adventure, but India through the Middle East was horrible.
It's a real shame she never wrote about it until a few years ago because her family and friends didn't care when she returned home.
The first woman who did it was French and 10 years earlier in 1973. I thought it would have happened in the 1950s or before.
I'm trying (life interruptions) to get through "When Money Dies" by Adam Fergusson. It's about Weimar hyperinflation and it's scary.
Almost through "The Chrysalids"
The Men Who United the States; pretty good arcane information about the people who helped westward expansion. I read it a few years ago and had forgotten a lot of what he wrote.
Just started "Starter Villian" by John Scalzi. So far, it's really good.
Duke said:Just started James Byrne's The Gatekeeper. First of a series about a character named Dez Limerick, who is supposed to be something like Jack Reacher but with a sense of humor.
In the first 3 pages he electrocutes somebody with a bunch car batteries. So... I'm not too hopeful.
Finished this over the weekend.
Solid light action-adventure reading. Much like Lee Childs, Byrne doesn't always get the technical details just right. But overall the book doesn't take itself that seriously, so I'm willing to give him a pass.
I probably won't dive directly into the sequel, but I will definitely read it sometime when I'm looking for easy fun.
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Currently reading Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca. Written in 1938 and pretty much never been out of print since then. I saw the excellent 1940 Hitchcock adaptation probably 40 years ago and recently watched the 2019-ish Netflix version. The new movie version is serviceable, but lacks the atmosphere of the Hitchcock effort.
Only about 2 chapters in, but the book version has atmosphere in spades so far.
Into Africa by Martin Dugard. The story of "Dr. Livingstone, I presume." Very engaging story!
I finished Geddy’s “My Effin Life” and really enjoyed it. Not sure what I expected, but this wasn’t it–and I loved it. It blends his story and Rush’s history with a personal look at himself: This is who I am and why.
Well written (hard to turn off the editor, even when off duty) with a very distinctive voice. TBH, more than I expected about growing up Jewish and what it means to be a member of the tribe–yummy food talk, too–so I could relate.
Would very much recommend. Will likely reread one day, too.
Over the last two or so years, I have read a lot of SF–mostly Arthur C. Clarke, which I truly enjoy.
But I have broken it up with some autobiographies from musicians I dig: Marky Ramone, Keith Morris and Jay Jay French. (French’s book, but the way, covers business lessons learned via his Twisted Sister experience–good info and good reading.)
Lately I picked up that theme with books by Alex Skolnick and Geddy.
The other day I started this: “What Does This Button Do?” by Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson.
I’m about halfway into it. It started as the basic memoir: initially being raised by his grandparents, going to boarding school, becoming a singer, etc.
Now it’s starting to look more inward as his passion has turned fencing. He’s fronting one of the biggest bands in the world–it’s the mid ’80s–yet is constantly improving his skills by working with the best.
I’m eager to see if this follow Geddy’s book with the look more inside the person.
Last night I got to the part in the story where Bruce Dickinson decides to leave Iron Maiden. (I knew it was coming.) Things had just gotten too stagnant, he says, while he found a new love: flying.
Last night I also read about the trip that his solo project took to Sarajevo. In 1994. Yes, then.
How did I not know this bit of Maiden history?
His bassist recounts the trip here: Scream for Me, Sarajevo. (Maybe don’t read it just before going to bed.)
A documentary was recently made about the trip, too. (Again, how did I not know about this?)
chandler said:eastpark said:I retired last year and have since read all the Jack Reacher (Lee + Andrew Child) and all the Elvis Cole (Robert Crais) novels. So I need some help in finding another series that is in the same vein.
John D McDonald is similar although it's a little easier to read. He's king deceased so they are pretty old books
This is funny because I posted earlier about finishing the Travis McGee series (By John D) and the Crais stuff (downloaded but not started yet) was recommended to me.
I tried a Koontz book for now. It's good, but it lacks the complexity of character that makes the John D stuff soooooo good. There are so many flaws in every character, and everyone is a real believable figure. I adore them as a reflection of real life, no heros and no demons.
Just wanted to note that this thread is now more than 9 years old.
Finished the Bruce Dickinson book. I enjoyed it–the second half more than the first as that part got more into the fencing, the flying, the returning to Maiden and the cancer.
What to read next?
1,291 pages, but once I started reading I couldn't put it down.
Just got the wife turned on to Tom Wolfes The Electric Kool-aid Acid Test.
Here are my current selections:
Re-reading "All Creatures Great and Small" -James Herriot. Nice light, pleasant reading.
Ashley Bell, by Dean Kootz.
Would not recommend. Too crazy and fuzzy. Not real mystery, just new invented ways of being mysterious.
Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright.
Very interesting to read a book about epidemics and pandemics written before 2020.
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