Umberto Eco was a great author, and I really enjoyed several of his books. In particular, The Name of the Rose and Foucalt's Pendulum are top notch stuff. He passed away today. RIP.http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/02/20/world/europe/ap

2/3/16
Dropped Blackbirds about halfway through. I just didn't care for it. Too graphic at times, and the protagonist is not likable at all.

Next up is Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matt Crawford. It is about how making stuff with your own hands is actually really good for your soul/ego, and how the modern West has largely abandoned this field ( Read more... )

Recently finished Eyes Like Leaves by Charles de Lint. It is a fantasy novel with a strong Celtic flavor (druids, etc.). I liked it.

Now reading Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig. It's pretty interesting so far. Urban fantasy where the main character can see a person's death if she makes skin contact with them, and at least at first, isn't trying to save ( Read more... )

I finished up Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll. It was a pretty good urban fantasy book, though the ending was kind of meh. Not sure what I'm going to read next.

Now reading Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll. It's an urban fantasy story set in NYC. Just started, but so far, it seems pretty decent.

I finished up Deadeye. It's ok. The book had some interesting ideas, but overall, was just kind of average. Not sure what I'm going to read next.

Watched The Purge: Anarchy. It was a pretty interesting show. One night every year, all crime is legal in America (with caveats that high level politicians are exempt, and no bombs allowed. Guns, knives, baseball bats, etc, are all perfectly fine though ( Read more... )

I finished Toujours Provence. It was pretty good. Some funny stories and an interesting look into life in rural France.

Next up is Deadeye by William C. Dietz. It's a scifi police book, set after a terrorist unleashes a biological agent on the world that kills a huge chunk of the population and also mutated some survivors. The main character is a ( Read more... )

I'm now reading Toujours Provence by Peter Mayle. It's presented as a series of anecdotes and stories, each a chapter long. I really enjoyed his first book (A Year in Provence), and so far, this book is also really good. Mayle has a very conversational style, and his stories are informative and humorous.

I just finished Blood and Bone by Ian Esslemont. It is very good, and if you like the Malazan setting, definitely a must-read.