>>>>>>>>>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 ?
Have it. Haven't read it 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 )
Have it. haven't read it yet. After Gravity's Rainbow, V, Crying of Lot 49, and Vineland, and Mason & Dixon (in that order), I just don't know if I can handle another one. Although, I have to admit that even though I have no idea what Gravity's Rainbow is really all about (and I actually read it twice), I sure enjoyed every single phrase, line and image in the book. Well, maybe there was an image or two that I didn't enjoy so much. But Byron was my hero for a long time. In fact, I imagine he's still out there somewhere leading the grid a merry chase.
And by God man, read The Sot Weed Factor (John Barth). Unless you already have, of course, in which case, read it again.
>
>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=1-1I've picked up and put down the Kerr books many times in the bookstore. Maybe I'll actually buy a couple and see. I'll check out the others too.
