>>>>>>>>He peeked out for the hockey gold medal game <g>. We'll see....
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I am still enjoying the Robert Altman book a lot. Just finished reading the long chapter on "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" on the train this morning. Don't miss this one.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I remember McCabe and Mrs. Miller. It was a lot of fun. It's one of those movies I was sure I was not going to enjoy, but...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I just finished two books by T. Jefferson Parker. I read "Silent Joe" a long time ago, and I'd forgotten just how good a writer he is. The two books are "L.A. Outlaws" and "The Renegades". The 2nd is a sequel to the 1st, and I can't imagine how he could possibly leave it there. There will be at the very least, a third book.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>There already is a third Charlie Hood book, a new one, and in fact I just read it a couple of weeks ago. I have read most of Parker's books, going all the way back to "Laguna Heat.". After reading "Iron River" (the new one) I picked up "The Renegades" from the library. I did not like that one nearly as much and gave up on it last night about 100 pages in. Maybe I should have given it longer. The reading backlog is huge so I am not nearly as reluctant to put a book down as I used to be.
>>>>>
>>>>>I should have realised there'd be a third one out since I read the first two in paperback. I thought the first one (L.A. Outlaws) was better than The Renegades, but Renegades was ok. The writing is very good. The story could have been a bit better.
>>>>>
>>>>>If I recall, you hadn't read any of the Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde. You really should. I'm sure Charles would agree that you'd enjoy the hell out of them. A word of warning, they MUST be read in order.
>>>>>
>>>>>The Eyre Affair
>>>>>Lost in a Good Book
>>>>>The Well of Lost Plots
>>>>>Something Rotten
>>>>>First Among Sequels
>>>>>
>>>>>His DCI Jack Spratt books are a lot of fun too, but the Thursday Next books are brilliant.
>>>>>
>>>>>Alan
>>>>
>>>>I LOVE Fforde ! How can one not be entranced by a dodo named Pickwick. Indeed a treat.
>>>
>>>And Miss Haversham? Who'd have guessed?!
>>>
>>>>
>>>>Tamar you would really like these if you don't already know them. (I'd begin with Eyre Affair )
>>>
>>>Absolutely, and just to reiterate, they MUST be read in order. They wouldn't make any nonsense otherwise.
>>
>>BTW, the CD version is terrific. i've become a big audiobook fan and usually have one plugged in while I'm out. Fforde's book are really good on audiobook - the accent of the reader is terrific and adds a lot to the story.
>>
>> I also find John LeCarre novels particularly good in this format and - the star of the show - the James Lee Burke books read by Will Patton.
>
>Can't say I've ever been much for spy thrillers, but maybe I'll take a shot at one. I like a good mystery and I like a good comedy and when the two are mixed, I'm a happy camper.
>
>Of course, then there is Stephenson. BTW, I assume you read Anathem? I can't imagine where that guy's head is at, but I hope he keeps it there.

Yeah, did read Anathem. I'm still not sure how I feel about it (that said, I'm saying in comparison to his other stuff, not writing by ordinary mortals.)

Get into Gibson's Spook Country yet ?

Oh and if you want something delightfully weird, Thomas Pynchon is back, for crying out Lot49. He's got a 60s detective yarn called Inherent Vice that for some reason reminds me of The Big Lebowski. (at least the protagonist is Jeff Bridges in my head )

In the genre of spy with humor, how about some Eric Ambler - Dirty Story (1967)

And of course my guy - Ross Thomas

The Eighth Dwarf
Missionary Stew
The Fools in Town are on Our Side
Chinaman's Chance
Out on the Rim
and absolutely ever other word he ever wrote both under his own name and as Oliver Bleek.

And the original Alan Furst - before he got really serious in period spy stuff.

Your Day in the Barrel won the Edgar in 77 or so and was the impetus that finally got me kick started in writing.

All his other stuff isn't funny but is very very good.

And Phillip Kerr with the adventures of a Berlin cop from about 1929 - 1950

http://www.amazon.com/Berlin-Noir-Violets-Criminal-Requiem/dp/0140231706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267667098&sr=1-1