"Swordmage: Blades of the Moonsea Book One" by Richard Baker

It's very cool that you took me up on my suggestion. Can you see why aspects of your situation reminded me of that book?

Take care of yourself my friend.

Oh shit yes. I am afraid to sleep at night. I'm thinking of going down to the mall and trying to buy...

Have just started Luck in the Shadows.
Made me grin because I am now trying to work out which character is gay (am I really that transparent?)

Reminded me of From Ducsk Til Dawn - I knew there were wampyrs in it, but that was all. Sat down in cinema and thought, "Oh, vampires run an off-licence, cool!" Then "Bank robbers are vampires, cool!" Then "Kidnapped women is actually a vampire, cool!" and finally "Oh okay, family in camper van. They must be vampires, right? "Shut the fucking door!................. Please.""

So I half expect the bender is yet to arrive.
Loving it already though.

A Hologram for the King - by Dave Eggers.

Interesting glimpses into a world both familiar and foreign. Brings back memories of my time there and marriage to a Saudi. Very well written book.

Just started listening to the audio book of Pandora's Star, by Peter F. Hamilton. Really loving it. Very deep and detailed.

trying again with Tolle's A New Earth.

it's slow going.

I read Gone Girl while I was off and out (off work but 'out' of the bin.) They had two copies at my library, and there were 11 hold requests. But then I remembered I got a $20 gift certificate for a local bookstore for christmas, and I got the hardcover for 2 dollars!

It was really good. I always love a good "wait...seriously?" That woman was something else. (avoiding spoilers)

But did anyone notice all the hobo references? Dead hobos, killing hobos...I swear I think people do get ideas from reading the Cellar. I remember one part where someone said that the killing hobos thing didn't really take off until...some year I can't remember. So, like many fad phrases, it could be that we invented it, or it could be that one of us just heard it somewhere. I prefer to think we invented it. Which means I need to be very careful or there will be nothing left for my book. ;)

Thanks for the suggestion, all you who suggested it.

Read Gone Girl too on Cellar ref.
Loved it. Twists and turns and from me, verbal expressions of surprise and disbelief. Had to stop reading it after the 'rents went to bed because a nocturnal ejaculation of "WHAT?!" wouldn't be appreciated.
Great suggest, I agree.

And yes, got the hobo refs but wondered which came first - have we just been tapping into the zeitgeist?

Now reading Anno Dracula by Kim Newman.
Loving it. So many sly refs I'm sure I'm missing some. I think I have most of the literary characters nailed, just not sure about all the real people. I admit to thinking I might make up a reference list as the cast is large and the names are so venerable.

This makes it sound more complex than it is, but I do like things ordered. And inhabiting a world so skillfully written is a pleasure. I want to wring every last drop. I've thought this about various books - and even the Cellar when I was a noob - but honestly? Never actually got round to it. I'll just read again. And maybe just Google it ;)

The further into this I get the more I am loving it. Really nicely paced and balanced between several separate but interconnected story strands. Proper space opera.

I've given in: reading Gone, Girl via Kindle.

dammmit!! my kindle won't hold a charge! Luckily I have performance protection plan but it'll take till Sat. to get my new supercharger and charger and I wanted to read Gone Girl NOW!

waaaaaahhhhhh! First world problems....what a pita.

read it on your desktop/laptop whichever you use. There's a Kindle for windows app that can be downloaded for free and all the stuff from your kindle is accessible through that.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

I liked Gone Girl so much I bought Sharp Objects and Dark Places.

I like how her characters are flawed. Even the good guys. In ways you don't think of until the character lets us in on it...usually later.

I read one book some time ago where the supposed 'heroine' had no flaws, and no character. She was boring as fuck and I know the author meant to portray her as just a normal gal who got into a sticky situation...but I wanted to kill the character myself, just for having NO layers, no particular personality, not even a bad one... nothing.

I finished the book to see how many more stupid things she'd do (but in that Eeyore kind of way "Oh well, I suppose I'll let this guy in on everything because since I just met him and we talked for a few minutes I'm SURE he's on my side...ho hum.")

Not Ms Flynn's characters. They got some shit going on! ;)

Reading Human Croquet by Kate Atkinson.

I remember discussing Kate Atkinson with Bri. We were hoping for a real life Jackson Brodie, if I reckon correctly. This isn't a Jackson book, and somehow had slipped through my radar...because KA is a wonderful writer. Witty. Even with intense subject matter this book is witty. It's hard to explain why I like that so much.

She has a new book coming out Life After Life, due out in the beginning of April. I can't wait.