What are you currently reading?

**WeDealInLead** · 02-23-2018 07:08 AM

Just finished Strange Highways by Koontz. Some really good stories in this collection, and some are Christian fiction through and through. I've said this before -- possibly worded differently but the idea was the same -- Koontz comes across as someone who barely leaves his McMansion while constantly judging others' ambitions and their "failings" at modesty. I've never seen anyone misjudge people at such a degree; his idea of what people are like couldn't be any further from my experience. It's like this: King makes poverty and blue collar Joes believable; Koontz writes them as if he did research on them, you know? The suffering doesn't seem legit.

Still, good stories and I guess that's what matters. If you ever feel like King's bleeding heart is too much, try this collection to wash out the copper taste of liberalism.

**Ben Mears** · 02-23-2018 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by WeDealInLead

If you ever feel like King's bleeding heart is too much, try this collection to wash out the copper taste of liberalism.

I've never read anything by Koontz but your statement, which made me laugh, has inspired me to give him a try.

**Brian861** · 02-23-2018 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by WeDealInLead

Just finished Strange Highways by Koontz. Some really good stories in this collection, and some are Christian fiction through and through. I've said this before -- possibly worded differently but the idea was the same -- Koontz comes across as someone who barely leaves his McMansion while constantly judging others' ambitions and their "failings" at modesty. I've never seen anyone misjudge people at such a degree; his idea of what people are like couldn't be any further from my experience. It's like this: King makes poverty and blue collar Joes believable; Koontz writes them as if he did research on them, you know? The suffering doesn't seem legit.

Still, good stories and I guess that's what matters. If you ever feel like King's bleeding heart is too much, try this collection to wash out the copper taste of liberalism.

Have never read Koontz either so not sure of his background. King makes if believable because at one time, he was one of those Joes.

**Ricky** · 02-23-2018 07:47 PM

I've read some Koontz (Tick Tock, 77 Shadow Street, Lightning, Phantoms, and a couple I might be forgetting) and generally like him, but kind of feel like he's Stephen King lite. It's been a few years since I've read him, but I seem to remember feeling like he's characters weren't completely three-dimensional.

Finished up Bird Box and just started Strange Weather last night.

**Brian861** · 02-23-2018 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Ricky

I've read some Koontz (Tick Tock, 77 Shadow Street, Lightning, Phantoms, and a couple I might be forgetting) and generally like him, but kind of feel like he's Stephen King lite. It's been a few years since I've read him, but I seem to remember feeling like he's characters weren't completely three-dimensional.

Finished up Bird Box and just started Strange Weather last night.

I loved the first two stories in SW, the third was a complete miss for me, and the last one was so-so but I started to like it more towards the end. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts once you're done.

**Joe315** · 02-23-2018 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by St. Troy

Originally Posted by Joe315

Originally Posted by St. Troy

Just started J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy.

As with many others out there, this is the first non-Potter thing of hers I've read.

So far (65 pages in), it's what I was told to expect: a decent and enjoyable read that is neither excellent nor noteworthy in any way.

I’m surprised you got that far.

That rough, eh?

Did you try the Cormoran Strike series? I've heard that is much better than TCV.

Those I like. Read the first two.

**craigobau** · 02-24-2018 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by Brian861

Originally Posted by Ricky

I've read some Koontz (Tick Tock, 77 Shadow Street, Lightning, Phantoms, and a couple I might be forgetting) and generally like him, but kind of feel like he's Stephen King lite. It's been a few years since I've read him, but I seem to remember feeling like he's characters weren't completely three-dimensional.

Finished up Bird Box and just started Strange Weather last night.

I loved the first two stories in SW, the third was a complete miss for me, and the last one was so-so but I started to like it more towards the end. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts once you're done.

I also enjoyed the first two stories in SW more than the latter two which i thought had good underlying concepts, but the end result didn't really fulfil the concept.

Other than 20th Century Ghosts, I think Joe's stories have been "good, but not great".

Locke & Key, on the other hand, is outstanding and I really hope he revisits the story in the future.

**Brian861** · 02-24-2018 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by craigobau

I also enjoyed the first two stories in SW more than the latter two which i thought had good underlying concepts, but the end result didn't really fulfil the concept.

Other than 20th Century Ghosts, I think Joe's stories have been "good, but not great".

Locke & Key, on the other hand, is outstanding and I really hope he revisits the story in the future.

IMO, Snapshot and Loaded are two of his best stories to date. Completely agree about Locke & Key although I'm not sure how I feel about a revisit. I think it's near perfect as it sits.

**WeDealInLead** · 03-01-2018 08:28 PM

Just finished Jupiter Project by Gregory Benford in a single day. I needed a quick 200-pager after three door stoppers last month.

Currently reading The Iron Tactician by Alastair Reynolds.

**peripheral** · 03-03-2018 01:42 PM