What are you reading?

[Leigha]

Well, I’ve finally finished The Night Circus and it was worth the meandering, somewhat sluggish first half. I’m thinking that sometimes, authors need to prepare their readers for something extraordinary so they build layers upon layers of character development and backstories that seem meaningless at first, but then they all come together at the peak of the storyline.

So, I’m grateful that I didn’t give up too soon, it was worth the read. Erin Morganstern has a way with words that leave you thinking about her work long after you’ve finished it. The worlds that she creates really draw you in and you have no problem at all, suspending disbelief because she makes you want to believe that such worlds are possible.

In truth, it wasn’t all the book’s fault for why it took me a while to finish. I’ve been busy with work and travel, etc…so reading sometimes takes a backseat.

[Leigha]

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare and The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks

Kind of going between both, depending on my mood. Chain of Gold is more fantasy/sci-fi and The Wife Between Us falls into the drama genre. I'm actually enjoying books these days, that dabble in parallel/alternate universes with unusual characters. It's easier to ''suspend my disbelief'' in that genre, than to read a very ordinary story that goes off the rails and becomes utterly far-fetched. The book ''You,'' (made for Netflix as a series) is a good illustration of that.

[Leigha]

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

Just started this book and it has Stephen King vibes, which I wasn't expecting. But, I'm fine with that, as long as it doesn't border on horror. It's a novel about a couple who is experiencing marriage problems, and decide to plan a remote retreat to hopefully salvage their relationship. I love how it's being narrated, and as the plot rolls along, you feel nervous that something nefarious is going to happen. I predict someone is going to be murdered, but could be way off base.

Definitely a mind bending, riveting story so far and hopefully will continue to keep me guessing until the end.

[Leigha]

Finished this ^^ book recently and wow, it proved to be twisty, creepy …even scary, at times. Great writing overall! I’d give it 4.5 stars as there were a few subtle plot-holes that bothered me.

CC - I think you’d like this one.

[C C]

Finished this ^^ book recently and wow, it proved to be twisty, creepy …even scary, at times. Great writing overall! I’d give it 4.5 stars as there were a few subtle plot-holes that bothered me.

CC - I think you’d like this one.

Thanks, Leigha. I appreciate the items in this thread because they keep me updated on a world that I'm pretty much missing out on these days (elaboration on that further down).

Checking out an opening page excerpt (preview), I see her husband has face blindness, which might or might not become a contributing factor in the "psychological thriller" aspect somewhere.

I like the first-person narrative of "Rock Paper Scissors".[1]

Netflix apparently planned to adapt it to a mini-series a couple of years ago (announcement a few months prior to actual publication). Don't know what happened with that.

I didn't know Sarah Michelle Gellar was an Alice Feeney fan.

I once read a lot of fiction (albeit mostly science fiction and fantasy). If only it was back then, I'd have something (maybe much) to post to this topic. Thanks again for this vicarious route to what's going on.

- - - footnote - - -

[1] Rather belatedly realized over a couple of years that THAT and second-person is what I need to dabble in more of rather than overly formal 3rd-person. When possible, it just works better in tight spaces with only a few lines, paragraphs, or stanzas -- and when "intoxicating ambience" is all one has to work with as metaphor for scenarios that are overly complicated. Allows quirkiness and eccentric remarks, too.