What Fiction are you reading this week, February 8, 2026?

[hermetic]

This discussion thread is pinned.

Last edited Sun Feb 8, 2026, 12:21 PM - Edit history (1)

I listened to Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs. Good story, held my interest.

Listening now to The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis. "A delightful novel about alien invasions, conspiracies, and the incredibly silly things people are willing to believe -- some of which may actually be true - and a delightful, intergalactic twist on the romantic comedy." This is SO funny. I could't "put it down." Blew off doing outside chores so I could stay inside and keep listening all day. And it was warm outside.

Still reading A Question of Blood by Ian Rankin. Rebus has his hands full with even more dead bodies and threats against him and his co-workers.

What books are you loving this week?

Thanks for the hearts, my dears!

[NoRethugFriends]

1. James

(Huck Finn's Jim)

[hermetic]

2. That is

a great book!

[cbabe]

4. I also highly recommend My Jim by Nancy Rawles.

Perfect telling by left behind Sadie, Jim’s wife.

https://www.supersummary.com/my-jim/summary/

My Jim (2005), an historical novel for young adults by award-winning American author Nancy Rawles, is an account of Sadie Watson, who survives the horrors of slavery and the upheaval of Reconstruction. At the same time, it is a love story revolving on Sadie's relationship with Jim, who himself is something of a literary icon. He is the same Jim from Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, a runaway slave who rafts with Huck down the Mississippi River. Since Twain's novel doesn't elaborate on Jim's backstory, My Jim gives the character a rich history that highlights the barbarity of slavery, the beauty of first love, and the sacrifices one makes out of family responsibility.

The novel is told in three parts. In the first, titled "Marianne Libre," it is 1884, and Sadie Watson's granddaughter Marianne must choose whether to stay in Louisiana or move away to marry. Her grandfather, Papa Duban, is dead, but Marianne, close to her grandmother, does not want to leave Shreveport. Marianne's predicament compels Sadie to talk about Jim and her children Lizbeth and Jonnie.

The second section of My Jim, "Sadie Watson," is a series of stories highlighting the connections between several objects and formative events in Sadie's life. She tells Marianne the stories behind each object. The first is a knife, which Sadie got from her own mother, who had used it to perform medical treatments and healing work at a plantation where she was enslaved.

… more …

[hermetic]

6. That does sound good

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Jack Higgins - The Eagle Has Landed

Re-reading for style and technique. Higgins is wordy yet he captures the reader's mind. Violates all the rules of who-what-situation in the first page, yet his words create unease, expectation, so you keep going. I don't know if he'd get a first read from publishers today.

[hermetic]

8. From 1975

Sounds kind of interesting..."Threatened on all sides, a desperate Adolph Hitler lashes out with an impossible order: kidnap Winston Churchill - or kill him." Then, "On November 6, 1943, Berlin gets the coded message: 'The Eagle Has Landed!'" Hmmm...

[Goonch]

5. Not exactly fiction, I'm listening to Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari

"Homo Deus (from Latin "Homo" meaning man or human and "Deus" meaning God) deals more with the abilities acquired by humans (Homo sapiens) throughout their existence, and their evolution as the dominant species in the world. The book describes mankind's current abilities and achievements and attempts to paint an image of the future. Many philosophical issues are discussed, such as humanism, individualism, transhumanism, and mortality.

The book sets out to examine possibilities of the future of Homo sapiens. The premise outlines that during the 21st century, humanity is likely to make a significant attempt to gain happiness, immortality, and God-like powers. Throughout the book, Harari openly speculates various ways that this ambition might be realised in the future based on the past and present. The book focuses as well on humanism, religion and capitalism and compares the two throughout the book."

[Bayard]

7. Finished, "A Calamity of Souls", by David Balducci

Its a wowzer. Recommend. "Set in the tumultuous year of 1968 in southern Virginia, a racially charged murder case sets a duo of white and Black lawyers against a deeply unfair system as they work to defend their wrongfully accused Black defendants in this courtroom drama."

Reading, "Thief Of Time," by Tony Hillerman. Leaphorn and Chee investigating an anthropologist's disappearance in Anasazi ruins.

"Road to Roswell," sounds like fun. Will look for it.

[hermetic]

9. Just got on the waiting list for

A Calamity of Souls

[cbabe]

10. Comfort re-reading a stack of Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Enjoying the depth and detail.

[Number9Dream]

11. Finished re-reading "Lords of the North" by Bernard Cornwell.

Its Saxon-English vs Danish Vikings in the time of Alfred the Great. Lord Uhtred is a Saxon raised by Danes, who is sworn to Alfred. Interesting characters and plenty of action in these page-turners by Mr. Cornwell.

Haven't been online much because I'm recovering from cancer surgery, but I have more time to read. Also, it is -11 wind chill outside, and not much to do outside.

Hermetic - We put a heated double bowl for water and food in the new barn for the three transplanted cats. It is working well, keeping their water from freezing. It only uses 25 watts of power when on. Now, we can go the rest of the winter with the peace of mind knowing they have drinking water 24/7.

[hermetic]

12. Hi!!

Great to see you! I'm so pleased to hear the cats are still being cared for, especially in this brutal winter. I have one of those heated water bowls and it keeps several cats alive. Bless you for doing that.

Didn't know you'd had surgery but I do hope you are recovering and will be okay. A little extra reading time is a good thing.

Take care, stay warm, and get better soon.

[duckworth969]

13. The Director- Daniel Kehlmann

Historical fiction about German filmmaker G.W. Pabst. Very entertaining read, never lags. Helps to be somewhat versed in 1919-1945 German history.

[hermetic]

14. This is brand new

Not out a year yet. "Nothing short of brilliant.” -- The Wall Street Journal

"A visionary novel inspired by the life of film director G.W. Pabst, who fled to Hollywood to resist the Nazis only to return to his homeland to create propaganda films for the German Reich."

An artist's life, a pact with the devil, and the dangerous illusions of the silver screen.

Sounds awesome. I hope some here give it a look. Thanks so much for sharing!