What (non-comic) Books Are You Reading?

I thought we had a thread like this (maybe I just can't find it), but for anybody reading books outside of comic books / graphic novels, what are you reading these days?

I had to take my Mom to an appointment this morning, so while I was waiting for her I started reading

The Case of the Lazy Lover by Erle Stanley Gardner <a Perry Mason mystery>,
originally :copyright: 1947.

These days, I'm currently reading

Dead Evidence: The Complete Black Mask Cases of Harrigan by Ed Lybeck,  which is a collection of four pulp-era stories originally published in issues of Black Mask magazine in the early 1930s.

MajorHoy wrote:I thought we had a thread like this (maybe I just can't find it), but for anybody reading books outside of comic books / graphic novels, what are you reading these days?

I had to take my Mom to an appointment this morning, so while I was waiting for her I started reading

The Case of the Lazy Lover by Erle Stanley Gardner <a Perry Mason mystery>,
originally :copyright: 1947.

Perry Mason has been always popular, for decades also here, its name is still pratically sinonimous of "lawyer" thanks to that seminal Tv series (or how it was called those days) and then the Tv movies of the Eighties; Raymond Burr has been very popular, also for Ironside which has been aired by local television channel for decades.
So it is curious for me that they had to put the label "Now an HBO Series" on the cover of this novel for the "new" generations to learn..

Barry_Allen wrote:Perry Mason has been always popular, for decades also here, its name is still pratically sinonimous of "lawyer" thanks to that seminal Tv series (or how it was called those days) and then the Tv movies of the Eighties; Raymond Burr has been very popular, also for Ironside which has been aired by local television channel for decades.
So it is curious for me that they had to put the label "Now an HBO Series" on the cover of this novel for the "new" generations to learn..

Well, the books were being released (reissued) to coincide with a new version of Perry Mason (VERY different from traditional Perry Mason, though I haven't watched any of the episodes since I don't have HBO) that was being broadcast on HBO at that time, so it makes sense to tie them in directly with that.
(Besides, how many copies may be more likely to get people's attention with that "HBO" symbol in the red circle?  If people stop to see what it is based strictly on the HBO logo, then it's a good move for the publisher.)

The first time I read a Perry Mason novel was about two years ago when I found an old paperback on a shelf of books that were originally my father's.

The Case of the Dangerous Dowager by Erle Stanley Gardner
< "A Perry Mason Mystery" >
(William Morrow edition published April, 1937 / Pocket Book edition July, 1953 - 14th printing)
By the way, cover image was found on the internet, but that's the way the copy I read / now own looks.

Currently alternating between

Shake-Down: The Complete Cases of MacBride and Kennedy, Vol. 2 (1930-33) by Frederick Nebel

and

The Continental Op by Dashiell Hammett

Both books are collections of stories originally published in Black Mask magazine in the 1920s-30s.

Had to take the car in for a delayed service appointment earlier this week, so while I was waiting for the car I started reading

The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom by Erle Stanley Gardner
<a Perry Mason mystery>,
originally :copyright: 1949.

Currently reading:

Black Money by Ross Macdonald
<A Lew Archer Novel>
(:copyright: 1965 by Ross Macdonald; May 1996 Vintage Crime / Black Lizard)

Just started reading False Value, the latest book in the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. Absolutely brilliant series.

Recently started reading

The Complete Casebook of Sgt. Brinkhaus by Frederick Nebel

Started reading

Ice by Ed McBain
(originally released in 1983)

Just finished The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, a witty, intriguing, nicely convoluted murder mystery about a group of amateur sleuths in a retirement community. Highly recommended.

Yesterday I started reading

The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister
by Erle Stanley Gardner
<A Perry Mason Mystery>
originally :copyright: 1953.

I've just finished The Man Who Died Twice, the follow up to The Thursday Murder Club. If anything, better than the first book! I really recommend these.

Started reading

The Case of the Terrified Typist
by Erle Stanley Gardner
<A Perry Mason Mystery>
originally :copyright: 1956.

Planning to read (again) this one, this new edition has been just re/published here, sold at newssstands too, 570 pages for Euros 7.99!



New cover by great illustrator Franco Brambilla, who is the author of all of the covers of this Anniversary (70th!) series!

Just finished The Sheerglam Conspiracy, a not entirely serious book about the rivalry between two British comics publishers which ends in chaos and carnage. It's very, very funny. The author is former 2000 AD editor Steve MacManus.

From the description sounds very funny, is it inspired by a true story?!?
And the book has 233 pages, as written on Amzn?

It does, though the last section is a fictionalised script breakdown for the proposed new comic that's a big part of the plot. Hopefully it's not based on a true story, since it revolves around some frankly insane characters, one of whom is running a cult inspired by Adolf Hitler, and ends in multiple deaths. But it does take inspiration from the decades long rivalry between British comics publishers DC Thomson of Dundee (here reinvented as "Tartan Editions") and IPC (who've become"Goodenough Publications").

Just bought (and plan to read as soon as I finish Hyperion) at newsstands this new edition of Neuromancer! Great cover by Franco Brambilla, artist of all the covers of Urania 70th Anniversary series and also most of the other Urania series, regular, Collezione (Classic), Jumbo, Millemondi (1000 worlds)!

Just finished Elmsworld, an autobiography by Steve MacManus about his formative years at a boarding school.

I guess you are interested into all things about Steve MacManus biography these weeks, Tony!

I enjoyed The Sheerglam Conspiracy, so that prompted me to buy Elmsworld. I'd already read his previous book about his time at 2000AD. He's really got quite an engaging style of writing, and he's had a fascinating life.

Currently reading

The Great Hotel Murder by Vincent Starrett
<American Mystery Classics>
(First published in 1934 as Recipe for Murder /
Penzler Publishers - 2020)

Just finished reading

Headed for a Hearse by Jonathan Latimer
<American Mystery Classics>
(:copyright: 1935 / published in 2022 by Penzler Publishers)

Will probably next go with

The Case of the Borrowed Brunette <A Perry Mason Mystery> by Erle Stanley Gardner
(originally copyright 1946 / published by Penzler Publishers 2021)

Currently reading

Eight Faces at Three by Craig Rice
(born "Georgiana Ann Randolph Craig")
<American Mystery Classics>
(Copyright :copyright: 1939 / Penzler Publishers - 2021)

tony ingram wrote:I enjoyed The Sheerglam Conspiracy, so that prompted me to buy Elmsworld. I'd already read his previous book about his time at 2000AD. He's really got quite an engaging style of writing, and he's had a fascinating life.

Do you have also read David Bishop book about his tenure as EIC at 2000AD? I loved his column in Comics International Mag, to which I have been a subscriber, until when it was published, included the infamous last period with the always (very) late Mike Conroy...

Barry_Allen wrote:

tony ingram wrote:I enjoyed The Sheerglam Conspiracy, so that prompted me to buy Elmsworld. I'd already read his previous book about his time at 2000AD. He's really got quite an engaging style of writing, and he's had a fascinating life.

Do you have also read David Bishop book about his tenure as EIC at 2000AD? I loved his column in Comics International Mag, to which I have been a subscriber, until when it was published, included the infamous last period with the always (very) late Mike Conroy...

I have indeed, a very illuminating read. I also remember Comics International very well; in fact, I used to write reviews for them!

In fact Comics International is where I first heard about your historical fanzines too bad Conroy took CI out of business and then created Multiverse Magazine which lasted only a few months, skipping numeration too..
I remember also that three issues of Multiverse Magazine vol. 2 were solicited by the infamous (for being always late too) Ardden Entertainment, annonced as edited by Richard Emms which should be a comic retailer, maybe you know about him too..

MajorHoy wrote:
Will probably next go with

The Case of the Borrowed Brunette <A Perry Mason Mystery> by Erle Stanley Gardner
(originally copyright 1946 / published by Penzler Publishers 2021)

Btw, in Italy popular channel Rai 4 just started airing for free this "new" Perry Mason series, I didn't have yet a chance to watch it, but is it worth watching in your opinion?

Barry_Allen wrote:Btw, in Italy popular channel Rai 4 just started airing for free this "new" Perry Mason series, I didn't have yet a chance to watch it, but is it worth watching in your opinion?

I have not seen the HBO series, partly because I'm not paying to get HBO.

I'd be curious to watch it and see if it's any good, but I would not consider it "Perry Mason" based on the classic version(s) that originated with Erle Stanley Gardner.
From what I've read, it takes the names of the characters but then makes major changes to them based on how they were originally conceived (way back in the 1930s).

Currently reading

Lightning by Ed McBain <87th Precinct series>
(originally released in 1984)

Currently reading

The Real Cool Killers by Chester Himes <Harlem Detectives series>
(:copyright: 1959 / First Vintage Books Edition, December 1988)

Now reading

The Case of the Gilded Lily
by Erle Stanley Gardner
<A Perry Mason Mystery>
originally :copyright: 1956

Current reading

The Complete Cases of The Blue Barrel, Volume 1
(The Dime Detective Library) by William E. Barrett
(published by Steeger Books)

Currently reading

The Corpse Steps Out by Craig Rice
<John J. Malone Mysteries #2>
(originally 1940 / published by Rue Morgue Press 2012)

Currently reading:

Playback by Raymond Chandler
<Philip Marlowe>
( 1958 by Raymond Chandler;
First Vintage Books Edition, August 1988)

MajorHoy wrote:Currently reading:

I gotta say, your taste in books and music is pretty cool, I think. I enjoy seeing what you're taking in.

Mbast1 wrote:

MajorHoy wrote:Currently reading:

I gotta say, your taste in books and music is pretty cool, I think. I enjoy seeing what you're taking in.

Well, thank you.

I'm an old guy who enjoys even older stuff.

Latest book I started reading this weekend is:

The Case of the Counterfeit Eye by Erle Stanley Gardner
<Perry Mason series>
(orig. :copyright: 1935 / Pocket Books edition December 1973)

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe - Steven Novella

The Mysterium - David Bramwell & Jo Tinsley

God Is Not Great - Christopher Hitchens

The October Man by Ben Aaronovitch.

The Sure Thing - Nick Townsend

Love All the People - Bill Hicks

I should stilll have a Bill Hicks Cd which were given away at time with a subscription (when renewing it) to the Comics Journal!
Otherwise he is virtually unknown in Italy, if the fact that a very famous comedian here, called Daniele Luttazzi, was accused some years ago to have copied phrases from Bill Hicks but basically it was not true, it was a political attack to him.

What Just Happened?! - Marina Hyde

It surely has a curious caption on the cover!

Currently reading



The Complete Cases of Max Latin
by Norbert Davis
The Dime Detective Library.

Stories were originally published 1941-1943.

Currently reading

The Wrong Murder by Craig Rice
<A John J. Malone Mystery #3>
( 1940 / published by Rue Morgue Press 2013)

The Secret Political Adviser - Michael Spicer