A Saturday Reading Update

We've had a mix of weather today. When I took the dogs out this morning, it was pouring rain. Then at lunch the sun was shining brightly... and at the moment the clouds have disappeared and it's nice and bright again. I spent the morning finishing a book and watching the Premiere league, then some curling and then Jo and I watched the Canadian National Figure Skating championships; women's and pairs finals. The men's and dance finals are on a bit later. I dropped off a few books at my local book store when I went out to get a few groceries and even though I almost broke, avoided buying any books. I've still got the shakes a bit. lol

Anyway for today's post I'm just going to update my current reading. In my next post I'll get back to my look at the Mystery genre.

Just Finished

1. Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan.

"How do you describe Trout Fishing In America by Richard Brautigan? I have previously read his The Hawkline Monster which was a cross between a western and a horror story. Trout Fishing is probably mostly non-fiction, each chapter consisting of little vignettes of Brautigan's early life.

At least I assume it's non-fiction, even if some of the chapters are quite surreal. Take for example the chapter where he visits The Cleveland Wrecking Yard and discovers that they have a creek and waterfalls for sale. Yes, the creek is stacked in lengths for sale and the waterfalls the same. This is a '60s sort of story I guess, abstract, strange but interesting. Brautigan lived from 1935 - 1984 and ended it by committing suicide. I'm not saying this story indicates any such action. It was Brautigan's earliest work, published second but written first.

You have to sort of open your mind to the story. Trout Fishing in America does apply to actually fishing but it is also peoples' name or a hotel, etc. I kind of just relaxed and fell into the story. Each chapter was a neat little story in itself and the story wandered around his life as a child in the Pacific Northwest, to a trip he took with his wife to Idaho and other places in the mid-west and his adult life in San Francisco. Ultimately, it was a different story. It didn't blow me away but I liked its quirkiness and strangeness. (3 stars)"

2. Sharpe's Company by Bernard Cornwell (Sharpe #13).












"It's been a couple of years since I last enjoyed following Capt Sharpe's adventures. Sharpe's Company is the 13th story in the life of Richard Sharpe by Bernard Cornwell. As per most of the other books I've enjoyed so far, it is filled with action, intrigue and full-blown battles.

In Sharpe's Company, General Wellington needs to destroy the two major fortresses on the Spanish / Portuguese border, Ciudad Rodrigo and Ciudad Badajoz. He needs this if he is to be able to invade Spain finally and throw out Napoleon's armies. Capt Sharpe still commands his loyal band of Rifles along with capable Sgt Harper. His rank stands in jeopardy as he has failed to procure the rank while back in England.

After helping break the siege at Ciudad Rodrigo, there are many losses in the ranks of the South Essex. This means a new Colonel who brings his own officers and Sharpe now finds himself reverted in rank to Lieutenant and no longer in command of his rifles. To make matters even worth, arch enemy Sgt Hakeswill is back and sowing discord in the regiment as he tries to destroy both Sharpe and Harper. Compounding this, Sharpe's lady, Teresa, is in Ciudad Badajoz and Hakeswill has evil plans on her as well.

These stories take place within Wellington's plan to break through the walls of the fortress at Badajoz and to throw out the French. As always, Cornwell presents these events in great detail and with much intensity and excitement. The last half of the story dealing with the siege and attempts to break in to the fortress are exciting and breath-taking and gruesome. Hold your breath as your in for action - plus. Highly entertaining story from a historical perspective and from a dramatic perspective. What will happen with Sharpe and his men, with the evil Hakeswill and with Sharpe's love, Teresa? You have to read. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading
I've started the next two books.

1. Iceberg by Clive Cussler (Dirk Pitt #3).

"Frozen inside a million-ton mass of ice-- the charred remains of a long-missing luxury yacht, vanished en route to a secret White House rendezvous. The only clues to the ships priceless-- and missing-- cargo: nine ornately carved rings and the horribly burned bodies of its crew. Dirk Pitt, intrepid hero of Clive Cussler's smash bestsellers Dragon, Sahara, and Inca Gold, confronts the most lethal network of intrigue and murder in his war against international crime. Only his strength, skill and daring can thwart a supercharged scheme that could blow every fuse on earth!"

2. DeKok and the Dead Harlequin by A.C. Baantjer (Inspector DeKok #6).












"This latest Baantjer mystery delves into a grotesque double murder in a well-known Amsterdam hotel. Inspector DeKok must unravel clues from two unexpected characters: a six-year-old girl who has trouble sleeping and a respected accountant who seeks DeKok's advice on committing the perfect crime. In a surprising twist, DeKok meets with the murderer and tries everything possible to prevent the man from giving himself up to the police. Risking the anger of his superiors, DeKok goes so far as to disappear in order to prevent the perpetrator from being found." 

I've completed six books so far in 2019 and have enjoyed what I've read so far. We'll see how the rest of the month progresses.