What I'm reading today
Need to get my mind off of the shit that's happening in real life, so I thought I'd be bold and not wait for the What are you reading this week post.
Reading Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky. Before the start of the book he acknowledges his debt to Stephen King. For good reason. This is definitely a Stephen King-style novel. Not a criticism of the actual author, but if you didn't know who wrote it you would have guessed Stephen King. I'm pretty sure there will some horror at some point. Right now, just under half way through the 700-plus pages, it's pretty creepy. Enjoying it and can recommend it without reservation. And I'll assume it continues in the same vein - creepy, moving on to horror, with the good guys (mostly kids) prevailing and the bad guys (kids and grownups) getting their comeuppance. I'm a big fan of comeuppance.
Listening to delta-v by Daniel Suarez. Another high-tech thriller, which I would think is a pretty annoying characterization if you're the author. I read Daemon (also, yes, a high-tech thriller) and one other (though I can't remember which one). Well, the stories are based in high-tech environments, and they are thrillers. This one is set in 2032 (which sounds ages into the future but really isn't) and involves what he calls "new space," essentially purely commercial, non-government, operations in space, e.g., going to Mars, asteroid mining, money laundering, deception, and so much more. It's a good read, lots of fun, thrills, and more.
Just started reading Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. Just a few pages in. Set in the mid-1950s, opens with Atticus, an African-American driving from Florida to his family home in Chicago, using The Negro Travel Guide to make sure he steers clear of the places he needs to steer clear of. Turns out his uncle is the writer and publisher of the guide, though not sure of the significance yet. In any case, he and his uncle are bibliophiles. Atticus's father seems to have gone missing, and that's where I am right now. I think it's off to a good start.