The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi

The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi

by Carol2 Comments
I loved The Consuming Fire! It's the middle book in a trilogy and do read #1 first. Galactic travel through the Flow is breaking down and human civilization is in grave danger. The Emperox of the Interdependency is convinced, but she’s surrounded by a lot of wealthy, powerful people who are actively conspiring against her. Grayland II is a tough lady. She's convinced her empire is in danger -and it totally is. She's doing everything she can to figure out how to save as many people as possible, but as always there are others who are in denial or simply trying to spin things so they come out on top. There's politics and adventure and even a sweet romance that doesn't take away from the story as a whole. The Interdependency is full of strong women, royalty, religious women, heads of merchant families, assassins, and everyday women whose common sense and unrestrained-ness make them just as valuable. I like that for the...
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A Taste of Murder by Helen Marchmont

A Taste of Murder by Helen Marchmont

by Carol4 Comments
“A Taste of Murder” is the third in the Bunburry series. I guess it could stand alone, but I’d suggest reading the first two. They're short anyway, around 100 pages, so it’s not a huge commitment, and that way you’ll be introduced to the town and Alfie and have more background going on this one. Alfie is settling into village life. He has friends and a favorite restaurant, even though his friend, Oscar, is still trying to lure him back to London with food and Oscar Wilde quotes. And of course we have another murder in quiet little Bunburry. Just after Alfie's friend, Betty, learns that a local farmer is no longer treating his cows humanely, the farmer ends up dead. The incompetent and mean sheriff of course jumps to the conclusion that the killer must have been Betty and Alfie's ready to jump to her defense. I always wish the Bunburry books were a little longer. I really like the characters and the charming town....
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Murder Lo Mein by Vivien Chien

Murder Lo Mein by Vivien Chien

by Carol7 Comments
This is the third installment in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. Lana Lee is now managing her family's restaurant in the Asia Village plaza, but of course nothing's ever quiet in her life. There's a noodle competition taking place and Peter, the chef at Ho-Lee Noodle House is one of the competitors. Then one of the judges is killed and Lana and Megan decide they need to investigate, after all they have experience now. The mystery was well-done. The first victim had several enemies, he was a bit of a jerk. But when a second judge is killed, it becomes more confusing. Lana's questioning at times becomes a bit pushy in this one, and I got a little tired of everyone telling her she should keep out of it, as if she didn't know it already. Amateur detectives know they should leave it up to the cops, but just can't. And she has a bad habit of getting caught alone...
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Sunday Salon

Sunday Salon

by Carol11 Comments
Thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon. Stop over there or at the Facebook Group to participate. Week’s Highlight: We did a lot of yardwork this week, trimming and planting and weeding. And David hung up my hammock chair. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx_EKstAr5t/ Reading: It's Sci-Fi June and COYER Summer Hunt. I don't read a lot of sci-fi generally, but I do tend to save those on my list for this time of year. Last week’s posts: We by Yevgeny ZamyatinThe Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea CamilleriAccessory to War by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang Watching: We watched the first few episodes of Blood and Treasure. It's not good, but it is fun. Looking forward to: Next weekend we've got a couple of graduation parties to go to. Then, Sunday, I have to head up to Lakeside for the annual meeting for work. I'm not really looking forward to it, but the evenings should be relaxing....
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We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

by Carol6 Comments
To be honest, I had never heard of We by Yevgany Zamyatin, but I was looking for a classic in translation and Sci Fi June was on my mind, which led me to We. I found it on a list of 23 Best Non-English Science Fiction Books at Best Sci Fi Books.com. We was first published in 1921 and is one of the grandfathers of the satirical futuristic dystopia genre. Zamyatin, born in 1884, was heavily influenced by the turn-of-the-century Russian revolutions and push for industrialization. His is a history of controversial and critical writings, leading to a series of arrests and exiles: first by the Tsarists in 1905, 1911, and 1914; then by the Soviets in 1919 and 1922; and ultimately in 1931 through a self-imposed retreat from Bolshevik censorship. While We does not directly criticize the Soviets, it was unsurprisingly denied publication in Russia and received the dubious honor of being the first book to be banned by...
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Sci-Fi Summer Readathon

Sci-Fi Summer Readathon

by Carol3 Comments
The Sci-Fi Summer Readathon starts today. Thanks, Michelle, for hosting again this year. From Season of Reading: Read-a-Thon dates: Saturday, June 1 at 12:00am CDT until Friday, June 14 at 11:59pm CDT. Since science fiction is a very specific genre, this will be strictly reading science fiction during the event. However, since fantasy is so closely related to the genre (often grouped together), if you feel more comfortable reading fantasy, that is also fine. To check in on social media, we’ll use our new hashtag #SciFiJune As usual, you do not have to have a blog to participate…feel free to link up and check in from Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I’m going to try to keep my updates below, but I’m also on Twitter and Instagram. I'm starting the readathon with The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi on audio and The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas on my Kindle. Saturday, June 1: Listened to about 20 minutes of The Consuming Fire. I had to finish the end of the audio...
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