readafew's few reads for 2016

I really seem to be absent lately. (months and months) and I apologize. I'm still 'moving' to the new house (haven't sold the old house yet and it's causing me all sorts of issues).

But I'm going to try again to catalog all my books I'm reading this year. We'll see if I get farther than last year!

The first one I just finished last night was Dune, which has been on my list for years and years. I got it this year from SantaThing and zipped through it. I enjoyed it, but the first few chapters had some glaringly obvious and 'unbelievable' exposition, but it settled down after that.

Scary thing is how relevant some of the underlying story is to today's politics.

*strapping on bullet-proof vest, helmet and shin guards* OK, I'm ready >1 readafew: . Give it your best shot!

OK MrsLee, you asked for it. Puffin of Death I read in Dec. I thought it was a very nice Cozy Mystery and the main character reminded me a bit of Kinsey Milhone from Sue Grafton's series.

And a nice YA that I was pleasantly surprised about was Fog Diver. An intelligent and wonderful story. I have reviews up for both of these. Oh and have you read Sanderson's The Righmatist yet? Finally got to that in Dec too and I really hope he gets to the sequel soon. Very impressive YA.

I did add Bruno to my list that you suggested for SantaThing as well.

Readafew, I loved The Rithmatist and have been waiting for the sequel. In the meantime I read Steelheart, and I liked it but not enough to read theFirefight. Have you read that series? I believe there is also at least one short story, too.

Happy new year! I hope that your house sale woes are solved soon and that you can enjoy a year of great reading. Dune is a good start!

>3 readafew: Hmm, Puffin of Death touchstone is "The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales" by Jacob Grimm. Ha! Misfire!

I haven't read The Rithmatist or Steelheart yet, but have them on my TBR.

>4 aviddiva: I've read the short story and have Steelheart on my shelf to read. The short story inspired me to push Steelheart up my TBR list.

>5 Sakerfalcon: Thanks! I'm getting close to just giving it back to the bank.

>6 MrsLee: I fixed the Puffin of Death link. How can that not spark your interest with just the title alone!?

Who knew there was more than one puffin-related cozy mystery? Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews

>8 tottman: at least they are cozies. Puffins shouldn't be related to gruesomeness

Oh sure, >8 tottman: , gang up with >7 readafew: and make me put two books on my wishlist!

>10 MrsLee: Read them both and tell us which you like better. That'll teach us!

Finished The Aleppo Code last week. Wasn't bad, I have a review up so won't reiterate it here. Started The Forgotten Soldier and it's going down a different path than the last two books. Not sure if I'll like it yet or not. But my next book will be a Charles Todd book No Shred of Evidence I always like these. English cozy mysteries.

I did finish The Forgotten Soldier and I did like it. near the beginning I feared where it was going to go, but it didn't go super dark. Lots of action and once again a bit of A-Team extreme not getting caught at outrageous things.

started No Shred of Evidence and it looks to be another good one.

>13 readafew: - Dude, where did you go?

>14 clamairy: Wow. Life, I guess. I can't believe it's been over 4 months since my last post. LOTS of things been going on throwing my life into a whirlwind.

Though I THINK things are finally starting to settle down a little now. We are moved, all the other houses are sold, my wife and I are living together again (because we only have one house!) My job is going good, wife is looking for a new job, I've healed up from my accidents last fall, and other medical issues are now in the past.

So I might just get some time to come back and play a little bit. I came back to tell MrsLee about The Cracked Spine. I think it's an excellent cozy mystery and the main character gets a job working at a book store specializing in rare books. I have to skip over the other ~20 books I've read since but maybe I'll get around to them. They all do have some kind of a review though!

Well, that's all good news then. I'm glad things are settling down for you.
:o)

>15 readafew: Good to see you again, and glad things are settling down for you in a positive way. I am sitting here feeling very honored that you checked in to hit me with a book bullet! :D

Thanks Clam and MrsLee. Things seem to be the most settled they've been in several years.

MrsLee I thought that the Cracked Spine needed to be shared and you are the one person I know who would most likely appreciate it!

Not sure if anyone knows, but a board game based on Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire is currently on Kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/craftygames/mistborn-house-war/description

>19 readafew: Nice. Will have to share this with my daughter.