BeSerene in 2012: A Very Good Year (for Books)

I am starting this year optimistically. 2012 will be a Very Good Year for me, in life and in books. In life, I am teaching a new class at a new university and finding a new home to live in (hopefully soon) and those are just the changes with which the year begins. Who knows what other Very Good things might happen? In books, I am returning to the classic goal of 75 books read and intend to read Very Good Books in my Very Good Year. In fact, if a book is not good, I fully intend to put it down this year instead of wasting my time trying to slog through; this is a big step for me, as I am one of those readers who feels obligated to finish what she started, but I think it will be a positive change.

I love recommendations and look forward to hearing about Very Good Books from everyone in this group and beyond.

If for some strange reason you wish to revisit the abysmal year that was 2011, the threads are here:
BeSerene's Reads of 2011: the Beginning
BeSerene's Reads of 2011: the Next Chapter

To see my masterlist from 2010, in which I read considerably more books, visit my second 2010 thread:
BeSerene's Reads 2010, Part Two.

2012 reading goal: 75

I am not yet committing to any challenges or group reads because I over-committed at the beginning of last year and would like to learn from the experience. I will, however, keep a master list here, organized into these categories:

Reads of 2012: 19/75

Fantasy
-- #1: High Wizardry by Diane Duane (YA)
-- #2: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (YA)
-- #3: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (YA)
-- #4: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (YA)
-- #6: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (YA)
-- #7: Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits by R. McKinley & P. Dickinson (YA; short stories)
-- #10: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
-- #11: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (YA)
-- #12: Timeless by Gail Carriger
-- #17: On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
-- #18: The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers

Science Fiction
-- #13: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (YA)
-- #14: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (YA)
-- #15: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (YA)
-- #16: Kindred by Octavia Butler

Mystery

Historical Fiction
-- #8: The Technologists by Matthew Pearl

Literary Fiction
-- #9: The Thorn and The Blossom by Theodora Goss

Biography/Memoir

Non-fiction

Graphic Novels
-- #19: Soulless The Manga Vol. 1 by Gail Carriger

Miscellaneous
-- #5: Lunatics by D. Barry and A. Zweibel (contemporary fiction/humor)

hi Sarah
Last year I did not keep up with you, but I have better hopes for 2012 ;-)

Happy Readings in 2012!!!

Welcome back!

I am all about having a Very Good Year...

>2 FAMeulstee:: Anita, no worries -- I didn't keep up myself last year. But out with the old and in with the new! Cheers for 2012!

>3 drneutron:: Thanks, Doc. And thanks also for setting up this great group every year. :)

>4 lalbro:: My dear, you are in the right place. I am glad to see a like mind. :)

Dropping in to wish you a Happy New Year, Sarah!

Thanks, Roni! And the very same to you! :)

Sounds like 2012 is going to be a year of change for both of us, Sarah! Best of luck to you!

Hear, hear, to a Very Good Year! And to putting down crappy books. I started learning how to do that last year, and while it's hard to do, it ultimately does free up time for the Very Good Books.

Putting down bad books is definitely a worthy goal! And I skill that I haven't yet managed to acquire....

Hello, Sarah, I hope it is indeed a Very Good reading year for you, and in other ways too!

>8 alcottacre:: Stasia, very good luck to you as well. Change is a positive thing. I keep telling myself that. :)

>9 dk_phoenix: & 10: We shall all have to support each other in learning and continuing to set the crap aside so that the Very Good gets more of our time. I think this mantra applies to more than just books. :)

>11 gennyt:: Hello and thank you for the good wishes -- right back at ya. I hope this is a Very Good Year for everyone. :)

No books to report so far -- but High Wizardry is sitting on my cabinet, making eyes at me.

Oh, I hate when my books start making eyes at me!

Happy New Year, Sarah! I trust that it will be. I think I don't have any problem putting down really crappy books. It's the ones that I can see some form of worthiness in even though I don't like them that give me heartburn and headache. So I think, "Come on. Maybe it picks up in ten more pages," and so I find myself finishing stuff that I wish I hadn't. Or I make myself read something that's meaningful to a friend but that doesn't hit me. Oh well.
Making eyes is O.K. It's when they start screaming that does me in.

Found your thread, Sarah. Starred you so I find you more easily. This group has an alarming way of exploding with new threads daily.

>14 alcottacre:: I know, right? It's so disarming. :D

>15 LizzieD:: Lizzie, I know exactly the type of book you mean, and I do exactly the same thing -- I am eternally hoping for it to get better in those cases -- but I think my guideline is really going to be whether I find the book interesting, enjoyable, or challenging in some thoughtful way. If it ain't one of those, I need to stop hoping and move on. Of course, I say this, but we shall see what happens when the first mediocre book lands in front of me.

>16 cameling:: Truer words were never spoken! On some other (heaven knows which!) thread, someone said this group was extremely social, like "book monkeys". I found that to be both hilarious and appropriate, even though I (and I said so on the thread) am more of a book panda. You know, friendly and bulky and willing to hang out with others, but also slow and chill and not at all good at keeping up with fast-moving things like monkeys. Also, eating much of the time. That's me. :)

Happy New Year Sarah - I hope 2012 is a Very Good Year for you. I like the idea of being a book panda :-)

You should be pleased. At least, being a book panda, you don't have to pick fleas and lice out of other readers' hair.

Hooray for book pandas all around, I'd say. :)

I am definitely on the book panda side myself!

>17 beserene:: Haha, that happened in my thread... I think I'm a combination of both, but perhaps more of a book squirrel... I can't remember how I worded it, but something about hoarding (books), screeching at passers-by who bother me (while reading, in this case), and randomly jumping from one place to another (seeing as how I'm usually reading several things at one)... LOL.

That's right -- it was yours! :)

Luckily, I think all we book monkeys, book pandas, and book squirrels can coexist. If we had any book lions, though, we might be in trouble. :D

PS: I have not read any books yet, but I already bought some. And so, within four days, have already failed at the Read More Than You Buy challenge.

In my defense, all four books were purchased with store credit from the return of two duplicate books and the sale of a small bag of used books. No actual money changed hands.

I got:

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (used, $6)
The Children's Book by AS Byatt (used, $8.50)
The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder (used, $8)
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (new, $18)

And I ended up with credit left over. Normally, that would never happen, but the ex-BBF gave me a discount in a fit of unexpected yet welcome kindness. Such a nice guy. I hope his new girlfriend appreciates him. :)

Nice haul, Sarah! I will be interested in seeing what you think of The Scorpio Races. Eris has been praising the book on her thread.

Sarah, I'm pretty sure that if you don't pay real money, it doesn't count! :)

book panda

LOL ... love that, Sarah. I'm pretty much a book panda rather than a monkey myself.

Good haul on the books. I've got The Children's Book in my TBR Tower, but haven't managed to get to it yet. I'll be interested to see what you think of it and decide if I should bump it up a rung or two.

>25 alcottacre:: Thanks Stasia. I wasn't really interested in The Scorpio Races, not being a fan of her other series books, but then I read a really good review of it online which intrigued me. I hope for good things.

>26 rosalita:: I like the way you think. :)

>27 cameling:: Book pandas unite! Slowly! And with snacks! Also, I hate to say this, but it may be a while before I get to the Byatt novel. I want to read it, but at the rate I am going, you may get to it first. :)

Book pandas are generally happy pandas! And yay for new books! I'm trying really hard to stick to my rule, but of course it looks like I've failed already too. 2 books that I had forgotten that I ordered last year have been shipped out. BUT, they were paid for in 2011, so they don't really count in 2012, right? Right?

#30: How did you come across that picture of me, Jenny?

I have my ways *sinister chuckle* ;)

#32: Well, I guess it is better to have a picture up than having boots thrown at me :)

AAAAAH! It's a book panda! That is EXCELLENT! Now I know what I look like. :)

First book of the year is finished:

#1


High Wizardry by Diane Duane
This third installment in Duane's Young Wizards series was, I have to say, not quite as enjoyable for me as the first two. I think that a lot of what distanced from me from the novel is that, for the first time, this one felt dated. The story was, I am sure, cutting edge for the early 1990s and is chock-full of pop culture and computer/technology references... and that is the problem. Instead of being absorbed into universal themes as in the previous books, the reader is frequently jarred by the outmoded computer details. Not enough time has passed to make such details quaint or "period", so the effect isn't great.

In addition, instead of focusing on Nita and Kit, our two young magical heroes from the first books, this volume adds Nita's younger sister Dairine in a major way. Dairine is a little more difficult to relate to, and becomes even more so as the book progresses, but I don't wish to give anything away, so I will skip the details.

Even with these issues, this is still a fun novel and one that is definitely worth reading to the end; it is in the last quarter of the book that Duane's usual rich, universal themes finally come into play in a major way and some interesting things happen in that eternal battle between... well, you know.

So, while not the best of the series, in my opinion, High Wizardry is still a pleasant read.

I am now out of Diane Duane books, because I only bought the first three in that series, so I'll have to read something else until I can find the remaining volumes. I definitely want to read more of Nita and Kit. And Dairine too, I guess.

I have only read one of Duane's books. I need to return to the series. Thanks for the reminder, Sarah.

Although I absolutely adore High Wizardry - it was the first book in the series that I came across, back in the mid-90s - I can definitely see how it could be lose some of that charm these days due to being so dated. Interestingly, because she's written the series over such a long period of time (the most recent book came out last year) the technology in the YW world advances light-years faster than it did in real life (within a year or two of the events in High Wizardry, there are ipods, for example).

hi there! i'm doing the 75 challenge for the first time this year (i've done others in past years), and i thought i'd drop in and say i was following your thread. i think we might have similar reading tastes, so it should be fun. happy reading!

Ooh, I picked up The Strange Affair of the Spring-Heeled Jack in December, and I'm really looking forward to it. That cover is incredibly striking, isn't it? I have to admit... while the description intrigued me, the appearance of the book is what sold it... haha.

>39 dk_phoenix: Faith, I had the same thought when I picked up Spring-Heeled Jack as well. The book description intrigued me, but I HAD to have that book on my shelves. In fact, I've picked up the second book, The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man just so I can have the matched set on my shelf. I'll eventually get around to reading them... lol

Huh, I was just about to jump in and say how much I agreed about the cover for Spring-Heeled Jack until I clicked on the touchstone and realized you were talking about a completely different book! The one I was thinking of is Spring-Heeled Jack by Philip Pullman.

>36 alcottacre:: You are entirely welcome, Stasia. Any time. :)

>37 bluesalamanders:: Blue, I do get the sense that I am reading these books too late. I love them, don't get me wrong, but I wish I had read them as they came out, when I was a kid and a teen, because I would have LOVED them then. I am curious to see how the series unfolds, though, now that you have mentioned the development of technology in that world. Must get the rest of these.

>38 leahbird: & 41: Welcome! Yeah, The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack is a very different book, but I am delighted to know about the Philip Pullman book also -- I love Philip Pullman and had not seen that one before. Cool! :)

>39 dk_phoenix: & 40: It's funny -- I think striking is just the word for that cover -- because I'm not sure that I really like it, but it definitely draws my attention and holds it. I hope the book is just as riveting. :) And, David, my dear, I am SO glad to know that you have the sequel in case, you know, I need it. If yours goes missing, I have NO idea where it is.

PS: Been busy getting the semester started this week (and I am teaching at the local university this semester as well as my local CC, so it's been an especially busy start) so no further reading to report at the moment. I kind of think I'm going to read The Girl of Fire and Thorns next, but I'm not quite sure. Either way, it will have to wait for the weekend. Too much to do!

Well, the next book in the Young Wizards series (A Wizard Abroad) is all Nita!

I know! And she goes to IRELAND! I LOVE Ireland! But I do not have that book yet, so I cannot read it. I'm keeping an eye out for a copy at the used book store, where I got the others. You never know. :)

I decided to give myself the day off, from everything... and look at that, I read two books. Voila.

#2 & #3


The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
I have already reviewed the first of this Riordan series on LT, so this blurb focuses on the second, but I wanted to reread from the beginning, so I read both today.

I am incredibly fond of Rick Riordan's YA fantasy novels, for many reasons. First, because Riordan does a magnificent job of not only incorporating ancient Greek -- and now Roman -- myth, but also following the rules and details of those myths. He doesn't pick and choose, but uses the quirks and characters of the old stories in a remarkably consistent way. He also has a habit of bringing out some of the more obscure but interesting mythic figures, which I think is a great way to interest young readers in exploring myth further.

In addition to that, however, Riordan spins a heck of a story. Obviously, he uses the quest format every time, but his characters are so engaging and their paths are so intriguing, one doesn't mind the formula. At first, reading The Son of Neptune, which is the second in Riordan's follow-up series about Percy Jackson and the other classical demigods, I felt a little awkward encountering Percy in a new environment; the first part of the novel has that sense of "getting to know you" that can sometimes slow a book down. But, as is typical, Riordan quickly picks up the pace and soon enough I was caught up in a breakneck, cinematic adventure that was fun and familiar.

This is a middle book, and Riordan writes books that you must read in order, so there is less closure and more cliff-hanger here than many readers can stand, but even though the next volume isn't due for months, I'm glad I read (and reread) these two now. There is something about Riordan's Greek/Roman novels that puts one in a cheerful, adventuresome frame of mind. Recommended all the way around.

#46 *Reminds self to read Percy Jackson series*

Son of Neptune might be my next read... I bought it and expected to read it right away, but more pressing books fell into my lap and I got sidetracked. Glad your review reminded me.

> 46: a very well spend day!
So in these books Rick Riordan does explore the Roman Gods?

And if memory serves me well he wrote some books with Egyptian Gods too...

>47 souloftherose:: Yes, yes, do! Those two books above are actually the first two in the second Percy Jackson series, so you must read the first Percy Jackson series first, then move into the second series, which is about more than just Percy -- in fact, it's shaping up to have several main characters. But all the books, so far, are well worth reading -- very fast and fun.

>48 leahbird:: I did a similar thing -- I've actually had the book for ages, intending to read it since I love the author, but kept leaving it on the shelf. Glad I read it, finally. I hope you get to yours soon!

>49 FAMeulstee:: Thanks, Anita, I agree! And, yes, in this second series Riordan gives us the Roman aspects of the gods and other Roman mythic figures. I won't give away why -- though you will probably figure it out quite quickly once you start reading.

And there is an Egyptian series, The Kane Chronicles -- I've read the first two books of that too, which is all that's out at the moment -- but I'm not as fond of that one. It's the darkest of the three, for sure, but it also has this first-person narration from two perspectives that can be very distracting. Also, I am not as familiar with Egyptian mythology, so I can't get all the inside jokes. Still, I will pick up all the volumes in the series, because they are definitely enjoyable, if not my favorites.

#blinkblink Maybe at some point I can borrow the new Percy Jackson books? =)

#50 Yes, I have a lot of Percy Jackson catching up to do and I have his Kane Chronicles series wishlisted too :-)

> 51: Maaaaaaybe. If you are very nice to me. And win some tickets to the Met CinemaCast.

Okay, you don't HAVE to win the tickets. That would just be an extra bonus. But you know I will lend you the books anyway. Because you are too fabulous to refuse. Also, terribly cute when you #blinkblink. :)

>50 beserene:: Well, you know my vote would be to read all the PJ stuff and let the Kane Chronicles wait. Not that they are bad -- not at all -- but I just don't think they're as good. Right. That made sense. Carry on. :)

PS: I read another book! Yay for 2012 not sucking so far!

I'm not sure what I have to say about it yet, so I'll have to post later, but in general I very much enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I thought the main character was spectacularly relatable and some of the author's choices were very bold. There are some, more subtle pieces of the story that I am still thinking about, though, so more later.

Got around to Son of Neptune yesterday and today. It was great! Can't wait for The Mark of Athena in the fall. Here's to hoping Annabeth gets her say!

I'm very excited for Mark of Athena... all told, I think I may be enjoying this series more than the first Percy Jackson books. Riordan has a way of grabbing your attention and keeping it, and then throwing something new and unexpected in the pot at just the right time. So much fun.

that's exactly what i said in my review, that this series was actually better than the first. i can't quite decide why, though.

I think you both might be right about that, and it may have to do with the fact that Riordan has more free space this time around. David and I both noticed, in the early books of the first PJ series, that everything moved REALLY REALLY FAST. I suspect that's because, like a lot of authors (JK Rowling, anyone?), Riordan was told by his editors that he had to trim everything down, that "kids these days" aren't going to pick up a fat book. Fast forward to the second series -- now that the books have all gone gangbusters, I bet Riordan has a lot more freedom to produce the length he wants, so this series has richer details and a more moderated (though still cinematically swift, by nature) pace.

That's my theory and I am sticking to it.

#4


The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
I've lived with this book behind my mind for a few days now; I like it, very much, but there are parts of it that have snagged my thoughts, in good ways and bad, and made it more difficult to articulate why I like it. That's a perfectly acceptable problem to have with a book; thought-provoking is always a good determination to make. And it is quite true -- Rae Carson's novel provokes a lot of thought.

Thought the first: Carson has created a wonderful main character in Elisa. Elisa is a princess from birth, soft and coddled when we meet her. She is also overweight. That trait in and of itself is unusual enough in YA literature to be laudable -- when was the last time you met with a book in which the main character was overweight and pretty and intelligent and a princess? Yeah, that's what I thought -- but the intimacy with which Elisa's relationship to her own body is described resonates with the reader in such a genuine way, it deserves more than just kudos for uniqueness. Particularly in the first half of the novel, Elisa is so lost in her own shape, she cannot see herself in any other context; her perspective is so flawed, yet so real, that the reader -- especially any reader who has ever had body issues -- instantly and completely relates. The way that Elisa interprets -- often wrongly -- the expressions of others to fit within her skewed context also resonates as genuine, a coping structure that many readers will recognize. But weight and self-esteem problems are not all there is to consider in Elisa. The balance of the character defies "type"; she is pampered and unintentionally self-absorbed, certainly, yet also good-intentioned, bright and open. In other words, even among the trappings of royalty, in a fantasy novel, with a supernatural jewel plugged into her belly, Elisa is Everygirl.

That superb humanity and relatability brings me to thought the second: Flaws make for great, incredibly human characters all around. The vast majority of the characters, including but not limited to Elisa, are complex and beautifully flawed here. Carson plays with common expectation around every turn: look, there's the handsome prince -- oh, wait, he's not perfect. Look, there's the prettier-than-thou maidservant -- oh, wait, she is seriously complicated. Look, there's the enemy -- oh, wait... maybe not. That happens time and time again, and each time the story twists a stereotype or subverts an expectation, it makes things even more compelling.

Compelling reading is, in fact, the stuff this novel was made of. Yes, that's thought the third. The plot of the novel -- which involves spiritual destiny, arranged marriage, kidnapping, faith lost and found, love found and lost, guerilla warfare, palace intrigue, and (can we fit anything else in here?) treasonous plots -- is brimful of adventure and moves along at a brisk pace. While there is plenty of introspection throughout Elisa's experience, the novel doesn't get bogged down in her melancholy, even when there is plenty of opportunity to do so, and her reasonably heroic transformation isn't forced, but for the most part naturally meshes with the plot points. (I wish I could discuss some of those plot points in more detail, because some of Carson's choices are wicked awesome, but that would be entirely too spoilerriffic.)

In fact, given that this unusual YA novel is mostly about a young woman's self-esteem -- you know, with plot -- it's pretty amazing that it manages to avoid preachiness for as long as it does. Which is almost to the end. And thought the fifth is that one word... almost. At the end of the novel, there is one point where I, the reader, suddenly felt like I had been McGuffined into an after-school special. That feeling of overemphasized "lesson" may have been because the novel lost some balance there at the end, with an almost too-swift climax being swamped by extra introspection needed for our characters' closure, or it might simply have been that it is incredibly difficult to wrap up a novel that has as many facets (yep) as this one does -- or, it might just have been me. Regardless, an otherwise strong story wobbled a bit there. Even so, given that each of the "lesson" moments -- the subtle ones as well as that not-so-subtle one -- delivers an idea that is deeply positive, and very different from the messages most modern media aims at teens, a bit of wobbling can be easily forgiven. While I do have to say **SLIGHT SPOILER COMING! ** that it would be nice, someday, to read a story where the overweight girl can realize her self-worth before she loses weight, that might be asking too much of humanity there, not just novelists. Also, that might be me being bitter. Given that those are the biggest issues this novel has, in my opinion, it's pretty darn good.

Final thoughts: This is not your average teen girl fantasy novel, and that is a very good thing. Certainly, there are some parts of the novel that are flawed or that may bother readers, for one reason or another -- there is even one amazing, major change, which I will not reveal here, in the second half of the novel that will make some readers rage aloud momentarily -- , but Carson has made bold choices and taken the road less traveled, and that has made a positive difference (thanks, Frost). I think you should read this. It is, in fact, a Very Good Book.

OH, highly excellent review, Sarah! Very nice! It really resonates with my own experience of the book.

Thanks, Roni. I was glad to have read the book -- I think it is one of the best recent YA reads I've met with -- and I am equally glad that I am not alone in my enjoyment.

So, can we have a spoilerriffic conversation yet? Because how outstanding were some of those twists?! I had to stop and go back and reread when -------- got ------ and then, again, at the end... who was expecting that? I think it worked, even just as a way to totally subvert the standard YA romance/fantasy paradigm. Also, I was just kind of glad there at the end that she didn't have to ----- ---. Even before that, though, when she gets all "I am the ------ of ---------" -- that is some empowerment. I loved those moments. Also, loved all these amazing female characters -- such a nice change from the "------ one" being surrounded by males.

Lots of things to like. Trying not to give stuff away for those who have not read it is a bit painful.

I hope you people appreciate what I go through for you. :D

OK, since there seem to be SPOILERS in that review, I'm skipping reading it, but I'm assuming that I should probably be looking to get that one. And any word on Rae Carson yet...?

I'm skipping the review too, in case there are spoilers... I really, really want to read that one, so I'll have to come back to the work page for the review once I've finished it!

Hey, I put a lot of effort into not revealing anything, people! Well, except for that little one there toward the end. Yeesh. No appreciation.

;)

Sarah, The Girl of Fire and Thorns would not be my usual reading choice but your insightful review makes it almost appealing to me.

High praise, Paul. I thank you, and hope that you do enjoy the book if you choose to make it one of your unusual reading choices. :)

I agree. And when XXXX _____ed, and instead of a multiplicity there was a dearth.

Exactly. I was wowed.

I've been reading Lunatics these last couple of days; it is not Very Good, but I owe an ER review on it, and I've needed some cheering up.

At the end of this week, I learned that a former professor and great friend of mine had unexpectedly died. I had not seen him in many months, but kept intending to call, etc. I never did and now it is too late. I spoke to his partner today, and shared a few tears, trying to express how sorry I was, not just that he was gone, but that I had not been there, had not been as good a friend in his last months as I always should have been.

We butted heads over the years; sometimes he drove me crazy -- especially those times when he was my boss -- but I always learned something from him. And he was always generous with his praise and not shy about sharing it with others. He was the reason I was able to spend so much time in Ireland.

Had I never met this man, the path of my academic career -- indeed, the shape of my life -- would have been unrecognizable. But now I can only hope that he knew how important he was to me, without me having to say it.

Sarah - condolences on the passing of your mentor. Sometimes we put off making a move to straighten out differences and put our relationships on the footing we would like them to be. That said I'm quite sure that your friend deep down realised your appreciation of his role in your life and certainly his family will clearly do so. We keep those we esteem in our hearts and we will be in theirs. Take care. x

#69: I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Sarah. I am still reeling from the news of Janet's death, so I can only imagine how you feel about the loss of someone who meant so much to you. ((Hugs))

#69 Adding my condolences and hugs Sarah. As Stasia said, I'm still finding it difficult to take in Janet's death so I can only imagine how you feel.

#59 And a thankyou for making a book that seems almost completely unavailable in the UK sound so appealing to me ;-)

Thanks for the kind messages, all. This weekend was very sad and strange, but getting back to work today was good. Took my mind off sadness. The world does tend to carry on.

I also tried to cheer myself up with a book... but it turned out to be not such a great idea...

#5


Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel
This was not a Very Good book.

In all fairness, I went into this book somewhat blind. All I know about Dave Barry is that he is supposed to be funny -- I think I've read a couple of columns and one children's book by him -- and the sum total of my experience was not sufficient to prepare me for this novel. I received this copy from an Early Reviewers bonus batch here on LT and, since I felt the need for something funny, thought I would give it a try.

At first, its vulgar satire and extreme stereotypes were funny. Toward the early middle of the novel, even within the context of violence-as-hilarity, the book actually did make me laugh out loud. Our two narrators are at opposite ends of the American stereotype spectrum: both white Jewish males from New Jersey, but one is the goody-two-shoes-sunny-side-up environmentally conscious, politically correct perfectionist priss while the other is the foul-mouthed, slur-slinging, unhygienic and ignorant bigot. In other words, neither of them is likable, and they aren't supposed to be. The two have a typically suburban conflict over a children's soccer game that escalates in the first part of the novel into a massive case of overblown violence and mistaken identity. In this case, our two characters are mistaken for international terrorists on the lam and things get a bit worse from there. Also, there is a lemur.

Obviously, a send-up of the most extreme ends of our cultural personality spectrum in this country has been done before to good effect and so, despite the fact that one instantly feels the urge to slap both narrators across the face, the potential for amusement at the beginning of the book is good. Also, there is a lemur. What could go wrong? Plenty does go wrong inside the plot, which makes for some solid laughs, but the book as a whole goes a bit wrong too.

Unfortunately, after the first few mistaken-identity political plays, the novel settles into a repetitive pattern of slapstick that quickly tires out. There are only so many times that one can read about a man crapping his pants and still find it funny. Also, the descriptions of violence amp up -- at one point there is a reference to a man's head exploding like a watermelon in a woodchipper, for example -- to the point that a reader like me gets squeamish.

And perhaps that's really the problem: this book was not written for a reader like me. I hate to carry on stereotypes, but I think perhaps this is a book for the straight male of a certain age and personality type. Certainly I can see the appeal to a high-testosterone demographic : violence, slapstick, political/cultural satire, fart and poop jokes, and female characters that largely stand around to act as convenient objects, foils, or bitches. If that sounds like fun to you, you'll probably find a lot to love in this book.

Even so, and I say this as someone who occasionally enjoys a good fart joke, I can't imagine that anyone widely read, of either gender, would be able to enjoy the sheer redundancy of the pattern, specifically in the second half of the novel. Had the novel been shorter -- or, you know, more varied in its "abduction -- screw up -- crap pants --sissy fight -- mistaken identity -- abduction" structure -- I think I might have enjoyed it more. As it was, I ran out of laughs (and lemurs) long before I ran out of pages.

While I did like how it ended -- I thought that it had the perfect wrap-up for what it was -- I don't think I'll be picking up anything else by Dave Barry and co. any time soon.

*Edited to fix stuff.

Apparently, given that all the other reviews were very positive, I should have had clearer (and lower) expectations for this book. I'm sure I'm going to get some crap for being too critical of the fluff. Remind me to google stuff before I read it.

Wow, that's a good review and a good heads up. I like Dave Barry's column and have found him funny. So I would have assumed Lunatics would have been enjoyable. I think I'll just add Girl of Fire and Thorns to my obese wish list instead and share it later with one of my nieces and a goddaughter, both of whom have just officially become teenagers and appear to have adopted teenage angst overnight.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns sounds fascinating. Onto the wishlist it goes!

I think The Girl of Fire and Thorns will be a more satisfying choice for both of you. It certainly was for me. :)

It's hard to believe that January is almost over. This first month of the year has been the beginning of some changes for me, a new job among them, but it's already looking like a better year than last year. I'm still seeking a new place to live in my town, and that is stressful, but I don't feel overwhelmed and trapped the way I did a year ago. That's a good thing.

I mention this not necessarily because you all had a wild desire to know, but because I want to acknowledge how positive a thing this LT group is. So many folks here offered such wonderful encouragement last year -- and I know that I am not the only one who received that benefit -- so I thought I would offer that little update and, more importantly, my thanks. This is a great thing we have here; a place on the internet that is not about snark, or one-upmanship, or mindlessness, but rather about community, kindness, engagement with a variety of perspectives, and -- of course -- sharing the great intellectual passion of our lives: books.

I am glad to be a part of this group.

That's all.

:)

Sarah, that is really good to hear! I am so glad you have been able to move (mentally and emotionally if not physically) into a better place. And thank you for sharing it.

Argh! I can't find my CueCat! I've been looking for the darn thing for weeks, wanting to scan my picture books before I pack them, and I can't find it. How many places in one small house can a CueCat hide? Honestly?! I even had to call my mother to see if she'd seen it when she visited at New Years. Try explaining what a CueCat is to a 60 year old woman who doesn't even understand why anyone owns books.

Actually, if I weren't so frustrated, that entire exchange would have been hilarious. I think I called it a "cat-shaped computer-cord scanning thingy" and blew her mind right then and there. She may have me committed. But that is quite beside the point.

No CueCat.

So annoying.

Oh, and thank you, Roni. Still in a good place. Just really, really annoyed right now.

In my experience, the best way to make it turn up would be to order a new one. You'd almost certainly find it the very next day. Sigh.

I've been seriously considering it. I just catalogued a dozen acquisitions from the holidays... by hand. Typing in numbers sucks.

This, of course, is obviously a first world problem. :)

Ha, it is such a first world problem :D

#77 :-)

#77 - I totally agree. It's a wonderful place.

>77 beserene: I'm glad you're feeling better about life, Sarah! I feel the same way about this group that you do, though I often find it hard to put into words.

>83 souloftherose:, 84, 85: :)

On a different note, I was just thinking about The Book Thief because of someone else's thread, which got me thinking about World Book Night, because The Book Thief is the book I volunteered to distribute, which then got me wondering if other LTers are also distributing (or at least have applied, since no one knows for sure yet).

So, are you?

If not, there is still one day to apply as a volunteer book giver (deadline is Feb. 1):
http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/ (that's the US link, but you can get to other countries' sites from there, I believe)

So glad you shared that link since I'd not heard of this before. I signed up to give The Hunger Games, The Book Thief, or The Poisonwood Bible. Hope I get chosen!

I've signed up! =)

Is it weird that I *love* typing in the numbers? Reminds me of my receiving days at the bookstore. I loved that part of the job... opening the boxes, seeing the books first, being the first one to touch their shiny covers and smell their pages... heck, my brother even bought me a CueCat for my birthday five years ago, but I've never opened it. I have no idea where it is anymore...

Faith, maybe your CueCat eloped with Sarah's?

It's probably true -- our CueCats are hanging out somewhere exotic and tropical; having thrown off the manacles of servitude, they are toasting freedom with elaborately hued cocktails and using the tiny umbrellas to shade their pale, tender plastic ears. Also, laughing. I'm pretty sure they are laughing.

I'm never going to find that thing.

Hmmm. Now you two have got me wondering — just where is my CueCat these days? I haven't seen it for a few months...

/wanders off to look through drawers

Mine stays curled up (with the cord wrapped around it) in a bowl on one of my bookshelves. I'm glad it's not as adventurous as yours are!

>91 beserene:: *grumble grumble jealous of CueCats grumble grumble tropical paradise grumble grumble*

Hmm. If that's the life a CueCat leads, I'd like to elope with one please.

So, CueCats and their exotic escapes aside, I've been reading Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits, which is one of the short story collections by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson, and it occurred to me that I only ever think of Peter Dickinson as "Mr. McKinley", though I know he has written books of his own to some acclaim. I've never read any of his stuff, other than the short stories/novellettes that he contributes to these YA collections. Some of his pieces are wonderful, though I don't like him as consistently as I do McKinley. Still, I feel like his books should be on my radar. Have any of you read anything by him? Recommendations?

And you may now return to your regularly scheduled program, "Where's My CueCat?"

Rosa: I hope yours turns up!

Blue: So sensible of you. Mine was on the end table here in the living room for months, but I moved it for a Christmas party and haven't seen it since. I can't imagine what I did with it. Unless one of the wee visitors spirited it away. But I would think that any parent would notice a child playing with a not-a-toy relatively quickly.

As for the theoretical tropical paradise into which our CueCats may have strayed -- yeah, I wish I was there too. It's cold out tonight! :)

For recommendations by Peter Dickinson:

Tulku was a teenage favourite of mine and has stood up well to adult reading. Its about a young boy whose father is a missionary in China: when the Boxer Rebellion happens, he is forced to flee into Tibet, and meets up with other intriguing people. It's a very atmospheric book.

A Bone From a Dry Sea looks at the beginnings of modern day humans - a girl goes to visit her father, who is an archaeologist working in Africa, looking for signs of human evolution etc. Concurrent with that story, the tale of said early humans is told.

And Eva is a almost dystopian vision of the future. The daughter of a primate researcher is involved in a car crash and she is 'implanted' into a chimpanzee's body. It isn't as weird as it sounds! But the book is utterly compelling, as not only the obvious problems are dealt with, but there are outside, bigger forces at work.

I don't think his works are for everyone, and I haven't read them all, but those are three of my favourites, and ones I have read again and again. He approaches situations in a wonderful way.

I think I've only read two books by Peter Dickinson but he's an author who I would like to read more of. I read Eva a long, long time ago and don't remember much about it but I read The Blue Hawk last year and thought it was superb. It's what I think of as an historical fantasy, set in a culture very, very similar to Ancient Egypt but where the gods are real. I thought it raised a lot of interesting questions about faith and belief.

#96 I only ever think of Peter Dickinson as "Mr. McKinley" Whereas I think of Robin McKinley as Mrs Dickinson! I was reading Peter Dickinson for many years (and indeed met and became good friends with his son John, also now a writer) before I learned that he had remarried a fantasy writer I'd never heard of! I've read one or two of hers, but most of his and am hoping to get to the rest.

I'd second the recommendation for Eva - a very powerful book.
Older ones that I greatly enjoyed in childhood include The Blue Hawk which Heather has just mentioned, and The Dancing Bear, another historical setting, though not with any fantasy elements as I recall it. Set in Byzantium in about the 6th century.

Then there is the Changes Trilogy: The Weathermonger, Heartsease and The Devil's Children - set in then contemporary (1970s) Britain but a kind of alternate reality in which everyone regards all forms of technology as witchcraft. And The Gift which is quite a dark YA story about a boy with second sight.

He doesn't do much straight fantasy, but a fairly recent exception is The Ropemaker and its sequel - which I enjoyed very much.

And for something very different again, a quartet of short books aimed at relatively young children called The Kin, with an African setting exploring our very earliest ancestors.

I hope you enjoying following up one or two of these many options!

Looks like everyone has been pretty thorough. I quite enjoyed the straight fantasies, The Ropemaker and Angel Isle, as well as The Blue Hawk and the Changes trilogy. I don't think you can go wrong there.

Thanks for all the great recommendations. I think I have a copy of Eva here somewhere, picked up used because I recognized Dickinson's name, so now that you all have reminded me of it, I think I'll start there. I'll also be on the lookout for these others. I had no idea his genres were so diverse and the Egyptian and African books sound like something different from the usual fare as well. I'm looking forward to reading more of him.

Been sick the last week or so, thus how long it took me to respond, BTW. Sorry 'bout that. Living on the bathroom floor is not conducive to hanging out on the internets. Feeling better now though!

Hope you are feeling much better, Sarah!

Ohhh poor Sarah, you had it too, had my share last week and am on the mend.
kudos

Living on the bathroom floor is not conducive to hanging out on the internets. Feeling better now though!

Smiling whilst trying to be sympathetic Sarah - glad you are feeling better and hope you enjoy your weekend.

Eek. I hope you're feeling much better now. Hanging out on the bathroom floor is never fun, although over the years I've been amazed at how the cold, hard floor can make me feel better! Especially at a certain time of the month. Curling up in bed=worse; lying on my back on the bathroom floor=better. Very odd.

Thanks, all, for the sympathetic vibes. I'm awfully glad to be off the floor now. Still tired -- I had quite a busy day yesterday, then ended up sleeping away most of today, which I really did not want to do, but it was one of those things... nap attacks just keep happening.

I put the McKinley/Dickinson short story collection on hold to start The Scorpio Races, which thus far is not that well written, but the story is inventive, so I want to know what happens.

Back to work tomorrow for a full (long) day -- let's hope I can stay awake!

107 beserene - The Scorpio Races gets interesting about halfway through, in my opinion. And I didn't think about it at the time, but I agree with a friend of mine who mentioned being appalled at the body count when he was reading it...

#6


The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
There are quite a few things I could complain about with this book -- and I will, because I am not one to mince words on that sort of thing -- but I think I should start by saying that I really enjoyed the story. There are quite a few reasons for that as well: the novel uses an obscure Celto-Gallic myth, and I'm a sucker for those kinds of allusions; the setting and characters push all the right cultural buttons; the atmospheric elements -- horses, the sea, crags and cliffs -- are all things with which I have positive associations, etc.

My enjoyment, however, does not make this a Very Good Book; I must recognize that not everyone is going to respond to the ingredients of this mildly magic potion in the same way I do. Essentially, Stiefvater has written yet another teen romance with mytho-supernatural ingredients. There are certain plot moments that feel as stiff as yesterday's zombies... but those are also balanced by fresher additions. The appropriation of the "water horse" myth from the British Isles is, in my opinion, a nice change from the usual paranormal fare. I also think that, in maintaining the cultural context for the myth (a fictional Scots-Irish island), Stiefvater has worked with an already-atmospheric environment to some success. I liked the feeling of Thisby, the island, and its battle with the sea's spirits.

Unfortunately, the novel's descriptions did not always do that atmosphere and imaginative content justice. Stiefvater's writing isn't the best -- the book rings with clunky passages and intentional repetitions that, though apparently intended to intensify the first-person narration, simply fall flat. The pace is also inconsistent, with some insignificant moments crawling forward while other, more interesting happenings zip by with few details.

Perhaps these are simply the hallmarks of an author who has not yet hit her stride. I don't say this out of any mere charity, but because there are some genuinely brilliant moments in the novel. The storm passage, during which one of our pair of young heroes experiences the quiet, dangerous stalk of a newly-landed water horse, is perfectly timed and genuinely chilling. Similarly, there are a couple of subtle scenes between the two heroes -- who are also *not really a spoiler* love interests -- in which the emotional interchange rings true. These moments elevate the novel from being bogged down in the "oh, another one of those" category, into which we might throw any number of hastily constructed YA romances.

My wish here is that the brilliant moments came more often. There is a lot of potential in this novel. The climax is romantically predictable, but certain of its details shine -- I shan't give them away here, but I did very much like that the book shifted its focus back to the mythic rather than just the romantic at the very end, and reminded the reader that it was the *other* relationship that was more significant, in many ways (people who read horse books will connect with the details to which I'm referring). There are enjoyable characters, some complex and some not, whose roles exceed their lines (to mix my media metaphors), but other figures are inexplicably wise or over-convenient. Essentially, the whole package suffers from a case of inconsistency across the board.

Even so, the fact that I still enjoyed reading it, that I was caught up in the story and the atmosphere and the lives of the characters -- that says something. Maggie Stiefvater might not be the best writer, but what she lacks in craft, she seems to make up for in emotion and imagination. That is no small thing. I am not yet a fan, but I will be on the look-out for her next effort.

PS: Blue noted above that the novel has a high body-count -- and it definitely does. This is solidly YA -- not a children's book -- and fits alongside Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games in its constant dance with violence. In fairness, however, it is based upon a myth about a sea-borne horse spirit that grabs people and kills them. So, death sort of came with the package. Even so, best avoid this if you are squeamish about people's throats being bitten out, etc.

#7


Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson
I love Robin McKinley. I have for years. So my biggest disappointment with this collection of stories by her and her husband, writer Peter Dickinson, is that it contains only two pieces from McKinley. I gather, however (thanks for the enlightenment, all) that Dickinson has earned the right to the majority through his own experience, so I suppose I can't begrudge him the extra story.

Like most collections, there is a spectrum of quality here. The stories -- of which there are only five -- are sizable, with the final work reaching novella proportions. In fact, it is that last piece -- "First Flight" -- that I enjoyed the most. McKinley's story of a young man who conceives of himself as "the dim little brother" offers a wonderfully expressed coming-of-age. The first person narration is full of genuine voice and the reader understands the "little brother" more with each passing phrase. Also, it has dragons. Dragons make every story better, right? :)

The other piece by McKinley frustrated me because I actually wanted it to be longer. "Hellhound" centers on a young woman who adopts a strange dog, and ends up very glad she did when strange events occur. It didn't hurt that this story had horses in it -- horses, like dragons, make everything better, obviously -- but I also appreciated how authentic the human-animal relationships felt here. The moments that frustrated me were when the supernatural climax occurs -- it felt like there simply wasn't enough room in the story for a complete conflict and its resolution; consequently, I felt rushed and confused about some of the context details.

My favorite of Dickinson's contributions was "Phoenix", a short story that played (obviously) on the legend of the singular firebird, but also managed to reflect on the nature of love, ideas of identity and dedication, and even environmental stewardship. This story rang with melancholy and nostalgia, but not in an irritating way -- I like the feel of it very much.

There wasn't anything wrong with the other two stories by Dickinson -- they just weren't all that memorable.

Overall, this was a pleasant collection filled with solid writing and entertaining, often thought-provoking ideas. What more can you ask from stories?

109>beserene!

ha-ha-ha! Brilliant review --really it was-- and I LOVE this line: There are certain plot moments that feel as stiff as yesterday's zombies...

Thanks for the chuckle :)

Why, thank you, Pam. I do endeavor to give satisfaction. :)

Started The Technologists last night, which is an overdue ER book. So far I am enjoying the scientific mystery parts, but find the historical tone a little awkward. I have not read much of Matthew Pearl's work, but his writing makes me miss Louis Bayard, whose historical fiction is so rich and elegant I feel like I'm eating something deliciously buttery as I read.

But still, the story is pretty good, so one can't complain. Carrying on!

beserene - Validation! We liked and disliked (or didn't care for, at any rate) the same stories in Fire :D And I thought the climax of Hellhound was unsatisfying, too, which is just too bad because so much of that story was so great.

The difference, to me, between the death toll in The Hunger Games and that in The Scorpio Races is that in The Hunger Games, it's horrifying, you get that it's horrifying, every time someone is maimed or killed, even the people you don't like, it's a big deal. In The Scorpio Races, for the most part it's so matter-of-fact and just, you know, not really an issue. It's a bigger issue when the horse dies than the people.

I can see your point regarding the human deaths in The Scorpio Races, Blue, but to me that somewhat nonchalant perspective on human death felt very much in line with the source material. Much of Irish mythology (and other Celtic-origin mythologies) takes a solidly pragmatic attitude toward death -- it is an everyday occurrence. It frequently happens when people mess with things they don't understand, or things that are more powerful than themselves, and I think that is a thematic thread that shows up in the novel too.

I'm not saying that the perspective is perfect, or even right, but I don't think it is in the novel by accident. Unless I am giving Maggie Stiefvater too much credit -- but I don't think I am, because according to her afterword, she did immerse herself pretty seriously in the myths, so it would make sense that she would reproduce perspective as well as character in the novel.

But, even with all this, I can certainly understand being uncomfortable with death and the way it is treated in the story. Sometimes, when I teach Irish mythology, I get similar feedback from students, and in those cases I think it is because in our modern culture death is usually treated as a tragedy -- that is what we are used to.

Isn't it interesting, though -- this makes me think of recent discussions about desensitization regarding violence. In many ways, we are both more and less sensitive than our ancestors. Fascinating stuff.

Omigosh, after I posted that last one, I was thinking about our comparison of the two novels and it struck me -- what a great conference paper idea! Representing cultural perspectives on death in contemporary YA literature!

So, want to co-author an academic paper anytime soon? ;)

It's been a long time since I've written an academic paper, but I'd love to hear your conclusions! :D

Great discussion, gals!

>117 ronincats:: Thanks, Roni. :)

>116 bluesalamanders:: Blue, as soon as I have some, I'll let you know. But I think it would be an interesting comparison -- to begin with, say, The Hunger Games and The Scorpio Races and look at their precedents and cultural allusions to see if the treatment of death is related to the source material from which the author drew. Of course, Stiefvater is very directly drawing from folklore, whereas Collins is indirectly pulling from SFF traditions, so perhaps it would be too much like apples and oranges, but interesting to explore, particularly given recent interest in the level of violence in YA literature. Perhaps it would be better to stick to books that pull directly from folktale... Sisters Red comes to mind. I haven't read it yet... perhaps I should get on that.

And that's about as far as I've gotten on our invisible paper. :)

118 beserene - I can't think of any other YA books with as high of body counts (Graceling? Redwall? Though that's not really recent...) but I have read a lot of fairy tale retellings recently, as well as a few books dealing with death from other angles (Elsewhere, for example, though I didn't think much of it, and The Fault In Our Stars, though that isn't f/sf).

#8


The Technologists by Matthew Pearl
I must confess that it took me a little time to settle into the formal dialogue and early pacing in this novel. Perhaps that is the nature of true historical fiction -- the beginning is quite full of scene-setting and historically-toned language and therefore doesn't go anywhere much. Fortunately, once I did settle in, I very much enjoyed the rest of the novel.

Pearl's fictionalization of the early days of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology opens with a dramatic disaster sequence and, though it does slow down for a few chapters to give the reader plenty of contact with the historical context -- Boston in the late 1860's, in this case -- it continues to build a solid mystery with each subsequent tragedy. The novel pulls together a team of MIT students -- some fictional and others, according to Pearl's afterword, drawn from fact -- who are bent on discovering, through scientific means, the culprit behind Boston's recent horrors. These students are entertaining and appealing, if not all as complex as they might have been. The mystery with which they are struggling makes up for some of the thinner characterizations, however, by providing plenty of interesting twists. There were several points during my reading that I thought I had figured out the villain, only to find my error a few pages later. That is great fun.

The pacing speeds up as the plot progresses, as is typical, so much so in this case that some of the climactic points feel like they could use more explanation -- or more logic -- but one does not think of that whilst reading, only after. That hindsight phenomenon in itself is a good recommendation -- I was definitely engaged with the story.

While the ending did not thrill me as much as some of the intermediary events -- and I actually did not like who the villain turned out to be, though I expect that was part of the meta-commentary of the novel itself, which reflects quite broadly on the psychological trauma of conflict -- it did wrap up the story well. Certain things turned out as they ought, which is always satisfying. I'm trying not to say too much here, because the best parts of this book are the surprises.

So, overall, this was rather a good book, perhaps even on the cusp of Very Good. Pearl may not be the equal in eloquence to historical fiction writers like Louis Bayard or Maria Doria Russell, but he knows how to spin a mystery from history's tangled threads. Recommended for those who enjoy real (as in fully researched) historical fiction and a bit of a thrill as well.

>119 bluesalamanders:: Hmmm, it looks like we'll just have to do some more reading. Twist my arm, why don't you? :)

I thought of Sisters Red (and also Tender Morsels, just now) because it got some flak for sexual violence last year, but I haven't read it yet, so I'm not sure if it demonstrates any particular cultural attitude toward death, let alone one that is reflective of its source material. But I'll be interested to find out. Graceling is also on my TBRSRTL stack, since it was in my SantaThing box this past year, so I'll check that out. While this may not turn into a paper, it is an interesting idea to ponder anyway.

Also, it occurs to me to ask my students if they have read any recent high body-count books, but I think they may take that the wrong way. :)

#9


The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss
This was a lovely modern fairy tale, a love story that manages to evoke Anglo-Celtic myth -- it draws directly from Arthurian legend -- and create a sweet, lyrical atmosphere, while at the same time immersing itself in contemporary culture, or at least contemporary academic culture.

In a way, this is a fairy tale that is tailor made for the twenty-first century English professor. It is a swift read, taking barely more than an hour, which seems a balm to attention spans that have suffered under too much reading at either extreme. It offers up two bookish, academic characters who fall into love parallel to a myth and over a book (literally as well as figuratively), with the requisite complications and separations. It pulls together settings of Oxford, Cornwall, and a small southern liberal arts college, all of which are powerful tropes within the literary tribe.

And, lastly but perhaps most importantly, Goss' book is itself a representation of how remarkable a physical book can be. Its dual-sided, accordion-fold binding allows the reader to observe the story from two distinct perspectives: read Evelyn's story by starting at one end, then flip the book over to read Brendan's, or vice versa. The feel of the book in one's hand -- light, but sturdy -- and the temptation to draw up the covers and observe the folds of the pages make this a reading experience rooted in physicality. Even drawing the book out of its charming slipcover, and then placing it back in at the close, is a satisfying act.

With its old-fashioned tone and literary consciousness, as well as with its tangible design, this book reminds the reader of what a real book ought to be. For that alone, I think it is worth picking up. For me, however, since it represents all the dreams of my professional tribe in one slim volume, it is worth much more. Recommended, especially for people who are a lot like me. :)

>120 beserene:. That sounds interesting. Especially since I'm in the Boston area and love historical novels where I actually know the place! Despite your misgivings (what there were), sounds like this is one for me!

Okay, I had read a few reviews of this, but yours is the first that makes me want to go out and get it!

>124 scvlad:: I think those who live or have lived in Boston would enjoy Matthew Pearl's novel immensely. It is set during an early expansion of the city -- the filling in of the Back Bay marshes, etc. -- and refers to quite a few specific locations even beyond the first MIT campus. It isn't a perfect book, of course -- but there aren't that many of those -- even so, I would be willing to bet that you will have a great time reading it. :)

>125 ronincats:: Yay for book bullets! Of course, Roni, your comment also makes me wonder if everyone else disliked the book. Hmmm. Maybe I'm just some sort of English major freak. :)

Oh, and I also have some purchases to confess. Yesterday I went to a bookstore. And stuff happened that involved buying books.

I know this is terribly shocking.

I spent the last of my credit on magnets for the metal bookshelves in my office, so I did spend real money on these books.

I know I should feel ashamed of myself...

But look at the cool stuff I got!

The Tale of the Firebird by Gennady Spirin (children's picturebook; used; $6)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Helen Oxbury (used; $7)
-- this edition features modern children's illustrations that depict Alice as a child of today, which is an interesting change.
A Wizard Abroad by Diane Duane (used; $2.75)
Wizard's Holiday by Diane Duane (used; $3.50)
-- I'm slowly adding to my Duane series -- these are #4 and #7 -- and am eager to pick it up again. The copy of #4 is quite battered, so much so that I thought about buying it new instead, but then fiscal responsibility caught up with me and I decided to go with the shabby used copy. I hope it was well loved to get to this shape.

:)

No, no, Sarah, THEY liked the book, but their reviews didn't make ME want to have the book.

Oh, good purchases! I'm glad you are building up your So YOu Want to Be a Wizard series.

I agree, Duane's Young Wizards series is one of (are some of?) my favorite rereads!

>123 beserene: That cover is swoon-worthy

>128 ronincats: & 129: I have really enjoyed the series so far -- I can't wait to read #4, but I feel like I need to wait until I at least have #5, because I know I'll want to jump into the next one right away. You know, I just have a feeling. :)

>130 norabelle414:: That slipcover is wonderful. The whole physical package of that book is just really cool. Even if you aren't in the market for it, get your hands on one just to look. Best thing Quirk books has ever done.

By the by, I am almost done with The Night Circus. Yep, you all talked me into reading it with your lovey-gushy-oh-my-goodness-this-book-is-made-of-awesome comments.

Aaaand you were right.

It is that good.

Must go read it now. Toodles!

Oh, and I bought a book tonight. But it wasn't my fault -- I lay the blame entirely on our own dear David. He practically forced me to purchase a signed copy of Wicked Lovely. Twisted my arm and everything.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

PS: We were at a reading/talk by Eleanor Brown, who wrote The Weird Sisters. It was quite wonderful. I like her book even more now, because she is all kinds of awesome.

Glad you are enjoying The Night Circus!!

Glad you're enjoying The Night Circus! It's turning into quite the runaway hit :-)

>133 beserene: *blinks as innocently as possible* I have /no/ idea what you're talking about. I had no part in it. Whatsoever. I was dead at the time.

Nobody believes you.

:)

#10


The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
If you have had any doubts about this wonderful book, if you thought all those positive reviews and recommendations were mere hype, put those thoughts aside and read it. Erin Morgenstern's debut is one of the best fantasies I have read in a very long time.

The novel ushers you into the world of Le Cirque du Reves -- the Circus of Dreams -- with a complex narrative line which first addresses the reader, then moves her around to two different timelines. Not every reader will appreciate the complexity -- it even took me a minute to settle into enjoying the pattern when I began reading -- but the lines build toward each other in an elegant progression that enhances the sense of wonder pervading the whole story.

There is never a moment in the novel where one feels completely comfortable or fully informed, and that insecurity is actually part of the charm, believe it or not. This is a novel built of magic and tension. Each complex character who parades into view is something of a mystery -- and several are not at all what they seem. Though sometimes the revelation of a character's true nature can be frustrating -- I disliked the change in one particular character at the end -- it all feels quite necessary.

For a novel of such lush detail, it's impressive that nothing here seems superfluous. Part of that comes from the intricacy of the ideas and images being presented. The circus is connected to two competing magicians, each of whom has a hand (in different ways) in building both the circus attractions and the pieces of the plot. Each section of the novel describes fantastical tents containing the magnificent wishes of imagination come to literary truth. Richness of detail is entirely necessary in such moments, and Morgenstern delivers, while not taking it too far over the top. Of course, this is a circus book, so over the top is relative.

The other half of that lack of superfluity is the poetic shape of the whole novel. Coming full circle, in the literary sense, has been done since the ancient epics of Greece, so it isn't innovative -- but it is done well here. There is something beautiful and satisfying about that kind of completeness. It seems, throughout as well as at that finely constructed end, that Morgenstern is very conscious of the story as a whole -- a complete entity with its own shape. That may seem like a strange thing to point out, but how many novels have we read that peter out at the end, rather than building to a strong and balanced finish? Such details as this distinguish the skilled writer from the amateur.

Morgenstern's craftsmanship is readily apparent on every page, but that isn't necessarily why you should read this book. You should read it because it creates elaborate, magical visions that you will wish existed. You should read it because it contains characters who are beautiful, charming, disturbing, careless, thoughtful, and, yes, complicated. You should read it because it will make you fall in love, with a circus or a person or both at once. You should read it because it is more than a Very Good book -- it is a marvel.

Okay, okay, I'll read it eventually.... ;)

Yes, yes, yes! You got it and you were able to express it wonderfully.

>139 _Zoe_:: No pressure or anything. ;)

>140 ronincats:: Thanks, Roni. It was, well, wonderful. :)

And in other news, I did read another book before the last week of February got eaten by stacks of grading, so I suppose I should post about it...

#11


Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
I read this book largely because of some controversy last year or the year before -- folks were talking about depictions of violence, sex, etc. in books for young people because this and several other YA novels were banned from some school library somewhere and it all ballooned from there. (My favorite part about the expressions of righteous concern, or sometimes outrage, in these sorts of situations is that they often serve to promote the book, which is rather the opposite of what was intended.)

But all this is simply to tell you that I went into this book expecting to be shocked by sex and violence, or perhaps sexual violence, or whatever the heck people had their panties in a twist about.

And I wasn't.

Now, don't get me wrong, there is plenty of violence here, and some of it is symbolically sexual -- this is based on the Red Riding Hood fairy tale, after all -- but the novel does not "push the boundaries" (whoever invented those?) any more (or less) than any other recent YA fantasy-horror-romance. In fact, the thing that I found most disturbing was the casually treated romantic relationship between a 16 year old and a 21 year old. By the end of the book, though, I understood why the ages were set that way -- and there is a reason -- so my concerns were assuaged.

In fact, for a book that is about two girls who fight werewolves while wearing red cloaks, 'Sisters Red' was significantly more subdued than it might have been. Dismemberings happen delicately off-stage, for example.

As for the story and the book itself, I can't say that I recommend it for everyone -- this is not simply related to the violence, but also because the perspective of the book is a little bleak, the messages heavy-handed, and the quality of writing merely sufficient -- but for those who are interested in how fairy tales are being reimagined in/for the modern era, it is worth the time.

What I found most interesting was the way Pearce characterizes the two sisters, who seem to represent two outcomes of the same trauma -- as we begin the novel, one is sheltered and naive, the other is hardened and vengeful. The novel is structured specifically to present these two characters as anti-princesses; no saving is necessary, we are shown (and told) time and again -- these girls carry axes. The not-remotely-subtle message is a direct response to the more ingrained "girls, don't ask for it!" social warning of the original fairy tale; thoroughly feminist, the novel shouts back: "you didn't ask for it, girls, but it may happen anyway, so sharpen your weapons and fight back".

The novel also acknowledges, through the older sister, who is attacked by a werewolf in the first part of the book, that traumatic damage doesn't go away. There are visible and invisible scars here, and they are dealt with in different ways, which provides the emotional context of the story. (Oh, and also there is romance. But you knew that, because when isn't there a romance in this kind of book?)

The actual plot of the novel seems thin, but interesting none the less. Though the sisters have previously hunted them out of town, werewolves seem to be showing up in Small Southern Town (I forget the names) again, and our young huntresses must figure out why they have returned, what they are looking for, and how to get kissed by that handsome young man they grew up with, all without being dismembered and eaten in the meantime.

Reading this, you can tell that Pearce has given a lot of thought to the meaning of the original fairy tale and is clearly trying to update or perhaps even subvert its gender messages; that intent sometimes makes this novel awkwardly self-conscious. Even with such a clear agenda, however, I quite enjoyed reading it. It had a fast pace, some interesting action, and occasionally clever descriptions. You might like it too, if you go into it with modest expectations.

One final note: I can see why some parents, and not just in the panty-twisting crowd, would be concerned about their kids reading this book. Like many that I read, this is solidly YA and not children's -- not only its level of violence, but also its relatively casual attitude toward school drop-outs, its glorification of unsupervised minors (not in a funny way), and its calm presentation of what many would consider a mildly inappropriate relationship are all things that may need context and discussion for less mature readers.

Sarah, I don't know if I'll read the book or not, but I LOVE your review!

Thanks, Roni. You're so nice. :)

PS: Roni, are you a member over at the Green Dragon? I keep seeing interesting things going on there, but that's another intimidating group. How the heck does one even get started.

On another note, I have more books aquisitions to confess. "Forgive me, LTers, for I have purchased..."

-- Timeless by Gail Carriger (which made me do the happy book dance)
-- Eyes Like Leaves by Charles De Lint

Those purchases were a result of a casual trip to our local Barnes & Noble, but then this afternoon we went up to Flint to see Christopher Paul Curtis read and talk at the Barnes & Noble there, and as a result...

-- The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963
-- Elijah of Buxton
-- Bud, Not Buddy
-- The Mighty Miss Malone

...all by Christopher Paul Curtis, of course, and all signed.

Curtis was incredibly witty and obviously has spent a lot of time speaking to kids, so it was great fun not only to see him but to witness his wise and funny interactions with the large group, made up generally of families and/or teachers (as well as a few people who had apparently known him back in his days on the factory line -- that was neat). Such a great experience.

beserene - Aw, there's no need to be intimidated by the Green Dragon! We're nice, I swear! Just find an interesting thread and jump in :)

Some superb reviews Sarah. You've made me reconsider Sisters Red. There also seems to be a sequel, Sweetly; do you think you'll read that?

#145 And hooray for Timeless! I read it in a day (I had a long train journey) and really enjoyed it; it was a good ending to the series and exactly what I was in the mood for. It also made me want to reread the entire series again which is a good sign.

142>> Brilliant review. Truly.

I am a group member, Sarah, but not really active in it. Occasionally I see a thread I'm interested in.

Some great acquisitions. I read Elijah of Buxton last year and have Bud, Not Buddy here in the tbr pile. Sounds like he was a really fun author to hear.

>146 bluesalamanders:: Blue, I may just do that. Seems like a fun group. Since I don't yet see any particular place to introduce myself, perhaps I will lurk a little while until I have something worthwhile to contribute. :)

>147 souloftherose:: Thanks very much, both for the compliment and for telling me about Sweetly -- I had quite forgotten that there was another Pearce book out there. My understanding is that it's not a direct sequel, but I think I will read it, simply because I am interested to see what she does with another fairy tale. On another note, I too breezed through Timeless -- just finished it this afternoon -- and found it quite satisfying. More on that when I have thought about it enough to write a coherent blurb. :)

>148 PamFamilyLibrary:: Thanks. I hope it is helpful to those who were unsure of the book after it's somewhat untoward reputation.

>149 ronincats:: Curtis was really great. And it was awesome to see him in his hometown, which of course is also a setting for many of his books. I don't get up to Flint that often, but I was very glad we went.

#12


Timeless by Gail Carriger
This, the fifth and final book in the Parasol Protectorate series, brought all things to a satisfying close. Though the novel did not grab me as much as the strongest books in the series had, neither did it frustrate me in the way of the series' weakest books. "Satisfying" is really the word for it.

There were several laugh-aloud moments here. If you are not yet familiar with the series, you may not have any idea what I am talking about here, but some of our reader favorites shine at their ridiculous best in this novel. Our dear Biffy comes into his own, so to speak, and there is just enough Lord Akeldama to keep things quite fashionable. On the flip side, some of my favorite moments here come from the interaction between Alexia and Prudence -- their "conversations" are often perfectly timed and exactly what one might expect from that particular relationship.

While there are certain climactic moments that stretch the bounds of credulity -- I mean, did any of us really think he was gone? -- this is not a series that has ever been concerned with realism or with boundaries. Seriously. And that's just the way I like it.

(If you are, at this point, utterly confused, it probably means that you have not been introduced to the sheer deliciousness that is Carriger's Parasol Protectorate. If you like a certain kind of British humor, vampires, frippery, scandalously unclad werewolves, bustles, slightly steampunkish inventions, loud hats, and/or tea, do yourself a favor and pick up the first volume, Soulless. You won't regret it.)

#13, #14, & #15


The Hunger Games, Catching Fire & Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
I have read the first two of this trilogy before, but this was my first time reading the final installment, and given the fact that the movie is impending, I decided to read the entire trilogy all at once. In one day. I stayed up until four o'clock this morning finishing it. I mention this because it may color some of my impressions -- another reader enjoying the novels at a longer stretch might not have as intense an experience.

The Hunger Games astounds the reader with its sheer power of story. The writing isn't immaculate, the craftsmanship isn't perfect, but the fever pitch of this plot, as it tumbles along gaining speed with every chapter, simply carries everything else along with it. For those who don't know (and I wonder if perhaps you've been under a rock if you don't), the novel presents a dystopian post-American future, in which North America has become the nation of Panem, ruled ruthlessly from the shallow and luxurious Capital. The Districts surrounding the Capital offer lives that range from comfortable slavery to abject and cruelly enforced poverty, but the cruelest cut of all is the annual Hunger Games, into which each District must send two of its children to kill or be killed. Katniss Everdeen, the complicated hero of the series, debuts here with an emotionally powerful reason to enter the games; her participation changes her life and her world.

For those who find the premise either familiar ("The Running Man", etc.) or entirely too far-fetched: you should. Collins is working with ideas from our own culture to create a dystopic exaggeration of our social priorities. The exaggeration isn't stretched all that far, however; we can still recognize elements of ourselves as Katniss encounters Capital citizens and is repulsed by their shallow carelessness and thoughtless fascination with the games. The violence of this first volume is shocking, intentionally so, as we are reminded continuously of the youth of those participating in it. As Katniss struggles, we are right there with her through the first person narration, which makes the shock even more raw. But there is also an element of unreliability in Katniss; as a character, she is confident in her actions, but as a narrator, we see how confused she often is about more intangible things like emotion and motivation. Katniss' complex mix of capability and vulnerability, as well as the building intensity of the story itself, make this a necessary read for just about anyone.

Catching Fire, the second book in the 'Hunger Games' trilogy, may actually be better than the first. It's hard to say. Once again, the reader is carried along by the power of Collins' story, and the fact that we are quite attached to our primary characters right from the beginning only adds to the intensity. Granted, some readers will be a bit frustrated by Katniss' waffling regarding her feelings (and the way those feelings are expressed in the novel, especially in the internal monologue, is perhaps the weakest part of Collins' writing), but we must particularly remember that she is still a teenage girl. Amidst the violence and turmoil of the novel's plot, it is strangely easy in this volume to forget the youth of Katniss and Peeta, in particular.

But Collins maintains the dystopic vision of her corrupt society, as well as increasing our sympathy for the young people who are caught in it. Tangled in things she cannot understand, Katniss rebels against everything and simply tries to survive. The astute reader is frequently ahead of our young narrator in terms of comprehension and that adds to the emotional pitch; we see some of the threads that Katniss fights and recognize them for what they are, which adds an element of frustration to enhance the fear, pity, love, and other vivid emotions that roll into us from this book.

This middle installment ends with an even more severe cliffhanger than the first. You will want to read this, and then you will want to read more.

Mockingjay is the final volume of the trilogy, and seems to have garnered even more controversy than the first. I have had many friends encouraging me not to read it -- to let the first two pieces stand alone -- because, they said, the third book "ruined" it.

I find, after reading all three in one long sweep of a day, that I must respectfully disagree.

It isn't a perfect book -- the writing is still flawed, the pacing still hectic -- but, in terms of story, there was no other way for this trilogy to end. Given all that Collins set up in the first two books -- the violent dystopic society, the trauma visited upon the District children, the complex and mysterious movement to end the slavery of that existence -- the conclusion had to end up in war and tragedy. And it does -- a war that is both repellently violent and intensely psychological, in which manipulations on both sides reach a pitch that revolts the reader and, eventually, the narrator herself. I will not reveal the details here, but Katniss' situation throughout this novel is not the cheerful reward that many readers would have been rooting for, so I understand why many were disappointed. This is a hard vision of a potential future, and as such, it does not fall back on easy definitions of good and evil the way many science fiction and fantasy books -- especially YA -- do.

In fact, the way Collins has built the complexity of this situation is truly remarkable. Looking back from this vantage point makes the first book seem downright simple. The second volume caused our feet to fly out from under us. But it is in this third and final book that we are shown exactly how complicated things are, both for the fictional world we read and for our own. Make no mistake -- this entire series, and especially this book, is an indictment of the horrors of humanity, especially the inhumanity of developed nations (and yes, Collins means the United States in particular). Our own callous indifference to the suffering that allows us to lead lives of luxury, the willingness of our bureaucracies to change any rule to benefit themselves (ourselves), the atrocities that we will commit in the name of country in order to preserve our own power and security -- all these things are laid bare by the novel's representations of society, war, and in the specific characterizations of key figures that surround Katniss.

The personal tragedies that result from all this _targeted chaos are wholly wrenching. They should be. Katniss and her loved ones are participants in this drama but they, like many individuals in the real world, are also victims of it. Every reader wishes that our favorites could simply ride off into a happily ever after -- but that isn't how it works. Not really. Not with all that has happened. And so we are given examples of what war does to individuals, to families -- reminders that such violent upheavals always have fallout, that consequences are often dire.

And we weep. As we must. There is a moment near the end of this novel, in particular, that made me sob like a child. It will live in my memory alongside a few similar moments of literary catharsis: the red fern, Dumbledore's funeral, and now, Buttercup the cat. These are not moments remarkable for their descriptive skill or their writerly craftsmanship, but rather for their pure emotional power. That passage will remain in my mind until age begins to erase who I am, and each time I think of it, I will remember the message of this series. I will think about the tragedy that humanity could be. And I will be warned.

Oh Sarah! I'm waiting for The Hunger Games trilogy to come into the library and the flippin' bookshop is taking ages to deliver.

And now I've read this, I don't want to get caught up in anything else just in case they appear!

What's a girl supposed to do?

Sarah, that is a MARVELOUS review! Not to mention that I agree with you completely. A tour-de-force, my dear! Many thumbs up.

Great review(s), Sarah!

I agree, wonderful reviews of the series.

That was a GREAT review of the series. And I'm totally with you about the last one. I never understood why people thought it was such a disappointment. There were things- mostly stylistic- that bothered me, but the conclusion felt exactly true to the world Collins created. I thought it was mind blowing. CAN'T WAIT for the movie. 17 days to go!

>153 JenMacPen:: Jen, I totally understand your frustration. I would lend my copies to you, but alas, my friend Stephanie has already laid claim to borrowing them next. In this case, I feel that you should first apply a liberal serving of cookies -- because cookies seem to make everything more endurable -- and then check with your local used bookshop, if you have such a thing, just in case some crazy person sold their copies of the series. You never know. If all else fails, just eat more cookies. And maybe read something short. (By the way, that's pretty much my plan for the apocalypse: eat cookies and read something short.) :)

>154 ronincats:, 155 & 156: Thanks, all, for your kind compliments. I did feel pretty good about that review. It's definitely better than the first one I was composing in my head -- I almost clambered out of bed at 4:00 in the morning to post a review immediately after I had finished, with tears still streaming down my cheeks, but then it occurred to me that it would probably come out like something written by the mayor of Crazytown, so I slept on it. Sleep is almost always a good idea. Unless there are zombies at the door or something.

>157 leahbird:: Thanks, again. I'm glad to find others who connected with the last book the way I did -- it wasn't the result of the late hour! And I am in total agreement that the biggest issues here were stylistic, or related to pacing -- but that story just sweeps the rest of it away. Mind-blowing is the word. I lay there in bed for an hour thinking about all the dynamics of the ending, the reflections on trauma... the emotions of the whole series just stick with you.

I have such high hopes for the movie! I keep watching trailers and clips and thinking "ahh, this looks awesome -- don't f**k it up!!!" -- because, of course, one is always nervous about literary adaptations that look shiny, since they can so easily go really, really wrong. I do already find it interesting that the triad of main characters all look a lot more alike than they are supposed to, but I suppose that's Hollywood thing. Even so, I think the girl playing Katniss seems great. So much better than that single-expression Twilight Girl, who is like some female Keanu Reeves that we will now never be free from. (Not that those books had anything to spoil -- but now I'm just getting snarky, so I'll stop.)

Yay movies! Yay books! Yay cookies! That pretty much wraps up what I have to say. :)

My sister tells me that Kristen Stewart (I think is Twilight Girl's name) is actually a pretty good actor; she was directed to act like an emotionless zombie in Twilight. I've seen it before. Hayden Christensen was horrible in the Star Wars prequels but good in some other movies.

So I generally don't watch movies made from books I love, but I've seen a couple clips and they look ok...and then I saw this video of Cinna, which made me cry because Cinna was my favorite character in the whole damn series and...yeah, I'm torn.

Ugh, Hayden Christensen was horrible there, but I had seen him in not-horrible roles before too. Good point. Though, really, that entire chunk of Star Wars should have been left in the dustbin. Sometimes I want to smack George Lucas.

Moving along.

I agree, Cinna is a great character. I hadn't seen that clip before... hmmm. I must go see the movie, though. It's not a debate, it's a compulsion. And if it sucks, I will be so sad. Like when I went to see the Percy Jackson movie and it was JUST SO HORRIBLE and then I wanted to cry -- because how could they have messed up such a cinematic book? It practically WAS a movie. Such a tragedy.

So, I'm crossing my fingers. Tell you what, since I am going to see it either way, I'll let you know how it is so that you can decide whether or not to brave it.

Yeah, these moments always make me so antsy. I HAVE to see the movies, but I know there is a good chance they will be bad... it's just hard to make good books into good movies. But that clip was interesting. I had pictured Cinna as a little more classy than edgy, but I can roll with it.

Found this and HAD to share.

Fantastic reviews of all of the Hunger Games books, Sarah!

>161 leahbird:: Wow, that is just awesome and all kinds of perfect wrong. Thanks for sharing it! :)

BTW, I am even more nervous about the movie now. SF writer Lucius Shepard saw it in preview and called it Hollywood BS, lamenting that someone as good as Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) would now be caught up in the Hollywood machine for the duration of the trilogy.

I'm trying to remind myself that Lucius is a cranky old man who rarely likes popular things, but... cross your fingers!

>162 norabelle414:: Thanks, Nora! Glad to see you!

Oh, I almost forgot to confess!

David and I attended a reading last night by Michigan author Saladin Ahmed, and of course I bought his new book, Throne of the Crescent Moon. The cover is awful, but from what he read I suspect this is going to be a humorous but dark fantasy. It also incorporates elements of Arabic folklore, which interests me very much. I'm looking forward to it.

Woohoo! I have a hot review. Thanks for the thumbs, y'all. Fun! :)

Congrats!

Ooh, Throne of the Crescent Moon sounds like fun. Added to the wishlist.

Congratulations on the hot review!

>166 jnwelch:-7: Thanks ever so. :)

Major book confessions tonight, since I went to the bookstore with our David and his friend Gail -- so I was with my book enabler and his friend the book pusher, just to be clear. Thus, the purchases:

The Autobiography of Mark Twain, vol. 1
Smarter By Sunday (a weekly intellectual devotional type of book)
Bloodshot by Cherie Priest
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris (David put this one in my stack -- I had nothing to do with it. Except, you know, buying it.)

Entirely too much money was spent, since even the used copies in this pile were pricey -- that Mark Twain is a high price-point kind of guy, you know -- but I had a lovely time, so at least it was well spent. :)

Also, I read a book today. More about that anon...

Oh, I think you'll enjoy Rosemary and Rue, I do like that series!

#16


Kindred by Octavia Butler
Octavia Butler was one of the most extraordinary speculative fiction writers of the twentieth century. Virtually every book she wrote is powerful, poetic, rich in detail and elegant in craftsmanship. None more so, however, than this one. Kindred may, in fact, be her most mainstream book. Its speculative element is an unexplained time travel pattern, one that is simply there, not rationalized or categorized or mechanized. And that allows the reader to focus on what this novel really is -- a neo-slave narrative, an eloquent perspective on African American history, and an incredibly personal reflection on how experiences -- especially traumatic experiences -- shape us as individuals and as a culture.

The main character in the novel, Dana, is a modern black woman in 1976 (the novel was published originally in 1979) who is "called" back to the early 1800s by a distant ancestor, a white southern plantation owner, in order to save his life. In the process of doing so, Dana is subject to the horrors of slavery in the antebellum South. Thus, in this first person narrative, the reader is also faced with those horrors. It is not an easy thing to face, but the most remarkable thing about this novel is its unflinching attention, which draws the reader into this world without making her feel obligated, or (remarkably) preached at. The extraordinary experiences offered up to the reader are quietly internalized; the message is taken in without conscious consideration.

It is only in the pauses, or after one has finished, that the reflection inspired by the novel begins. Whilst reading, I could not stop to think -- I felt, I absorbed, I wondered... I had to know what would happen to Dana, to her husband, to her world. But when I was done, I really started to think. I considered how different such an experience would be for me. I thought about the historical and linguistic patterns that Butler points out in the novel. I reflected on how far we have come, and how far we haven't. And therein is the pure intellectual beauty that is an Octavia Butler novel -- never once have I finished a work of hers without something to think seriously about. Butler is not the one you choose when you are looking for a little light reading, but she is absolutely the first place to go when one wants to take a new look at an old conflict, when one wants to consider culture in a different way, when one wants to think and be challenged.

I don't think there is any better recommendation for her work than that. Read it.

>169 ronincats:: Thanks Roni! I actually had bought the first book for a friend of mine as a gift several months ago, just because it looked fun, but then I decided I ought to try it for myself. Glad to have your recommendation!

Hi There

I'm so darn behind on all threads. It looks like you are zipping along reading some great books.

Hugs

Hi Linda!

So good to see you here! And I have been zipping along lately -- thanks to Spring Break, I've gotten a chance to really read. Alas, after this weekend I am back at work, so will probably slow down again, but it's been fun while it lasted! :)

It is entirely true what Sarah says, I did just put the book in her pile. But, in my defense, she was just wandering around the stacks, mumbling something about wanting, no, NEEDING to but one more book, so I felt justified in adding another book to her pile. I resisted stealthily adding a book for me to the pile, however. I do have to thank her, however, for finding a used copy of Emma Donoghue's Kissing the Witch for me last night. I've been wanting this book forever, and she was kind enough to point it out to me last night, even after I "forced" books on her. She's a good friend. =)

You are entirely welcome. And you are also a good friend, even when you put books in my stack. If the book is very good, I'll think even better of you. Which hardly seems possible.

Ok, done with love-fest. Moving along...

I bought a book today. It was not the book that I should have bought. Our David and I attended a launch party for A Touch Morbid; Leah Clifford and a gaggle of other less-known YA authors from the area/nearish Midwest were there, as were about fifty other folk, many of whom were in steam-goth-Alice-punk costume, since the theme of the event was InsaniTEA party. It was fun -- I dressed for the occasion, which I rarely do, and enjoyed the general silliness.

But I did not buy Leah Clifford's book.

I feel a twinge of guilt about this. I know I should support authors when they come to town and I usually do. But Leah's books, given what I have heard from a couple of sources and from what was read at the party, seem... well... a bit... intellectually challenged? Can I say that? While she seems to have some clever ideas, I don't think she yet has the skill set -- practice, polish, craft, whatever -- of a developed author, despite the fact that she is technically a professional (getting paid for it) at this very moment.

What she does have is hella skills (perhaps I should have spelled that with a "z") in self-promotion. And she throws rather a good party, internets and all (apparently we were live on BlogTV). So, god bless her and good for her and all those sorts of things.

But still, I bought A Stranger in Mayfair instead.

One more book purchase confession -- my, I have been a book fiend of late! As a last bookish act whilst David's friend Gail was in town, we went to Curious Books, one of the used book shops in East Lansing, and I bought:

Wizards at War by Diane Duane (hardcover, even though all the rest of the series is PB, because I couldn't resist)
Soul Music by Terry Pratchett (slowly collecting all the Discworld books)

I thought I was being quite reasonable in keeping it down to two. But then again, I've bought a lot of books in the last week, including a small Amazon purchase, which arrived earlier. Did I not confess that? I guess not. Here you go:

Quiver by Stephanie Spinner (used)
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu (new)
Ophelia by Lisa Klein (used)

That order came about because I forgot to buy a calendar this year, and by the time I remembered, Amazon was the only place to get a decent one. That's my excuse.

Tomorrow I am going to another bookstore. Heaven help me. :)

Doesn't our Sarah look dapper in her outfit for the InsaniTEA Party?

Fabulous outfit!

#154 "Sarah, that is a MARVELOUS review! Not to mention that I agree with you completely. A tour-de-force, my dear! Many thumbs up." - Agreed :-) All three reviews thumbed.

#170 I need to read Octavia Butler.

#177 Very dapper!

>177 tapestry100:: My outfit, thrown together at the last minute from stuff I had in the house plus a borrowed hat (my ribbon) and brolly, was inspired by Gail Carriger's character, Mme. Lefoux (who never would have thrown an outfit together at the last minute in the first place). Technically, the party was supposed to be a bit more goth than neo-victorian, but I am much to jolly for goth. :D

>178 bluesalamanders:: Why, thank you!

>179 souloftherose:: Thank you very much; yes, you really should read Butler, she is just so good; and thank you again. :)

Would you believe I have another book purchase to confess? This really must stop. And to think I started the year on the "Read More Than You Buy" challenge... FAIL.

Last night, more book frolicking with our David produced the following:

A Wizard Alone by Diane Duane (almost have them all, now!)
The Native Star by MK Hobson
The Immortal Fire by Anne Ursu (the end of the trilogy -- yay!)
A Thousand Cuts by Simon Lelic
The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch (I have 1-4 solid in this series now)
The Discovery of Chocolate by James Runcie (another put in my pile by David -- not my fault!)

All together, I spent about $28, because these were all used copies. Not bad, but it will have to be my last book haul for a while.

...but it will have to be my last book haul for a while.

*titters*

Ahem.

*titters some more*

Shush, you.

And to think I started the year on the "Read More Than You Buy" challenge... FAIL.

*shuffles over to your corner, head drooping*

...yeah... o_O ...

*eyes the weekend's 5 book purchase nervously*

You are quite welcome in my corner, dear. We can start our own challenge.

Um...

Well, really, it would be the BUY ALL THE BOOKS challenge, wouldn't it? :D

Just coming by to even the playing field and see if I get hit by any book bullets here--heehee!

Alas, Roni, I think you have already read what I've been reading lately...

#17


On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
I love Tim Powers. Tim Powers was, in fact, the first writer I ever wanted to marry. Not that I'd met the man, I'd just read his work, but that's how it is. (Tim Powers was eventually supplanted in my affections by Neil Gaiman, but now that Neil has fallen from his perch, I'm open to reuniting.) I'm not saying that simply to gush -- I am notifying you folks that I have a bias toward this man. I pretty much love everything he writes.

And, yes, I loved this book. I am not claiming that it is perfect. In fact, Tim Powers does not write perfect books, but that always seems to be part of the charm. Sometimes he leaves you breathless with the pace of action, sometimes puzzled because a piece seems to be missing, until of course you stumble across it in the next chapter and realize that the book was just taunting you... but here's the key: you are always engaged.

This particular novel engages the reader in piracy, in fact. Interestingly enough, though the novel "suggested" the most recent installment of the tired "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, it is not at all the bloodless, artless affair the film depicts. In fact, by "suggested" apparently the Disney folks mean that the book and the film have exactly one character and one plot point in common. Never judge a book by its loosely-affiliated movie. The book is much more interesting, much more adventurous. All that is exactly as it should be, because this is a Tim Powers book.

Naturally, our protagonist, the unintentionally piratical Jack Shandy, roams all over the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico encountering not only pirates, but also vodun/voodoo and the sometimes awful and sometimes miraculous magic that it produces. Jack's multiple antagonists are, in fact, almost all practitioners of this mysterious art, which makes things tough for a former puppeteer. Yes, you read that correctly. Jack was raised as a traveling puppeteer. Not the sort of background one sees every day, even in a fictional character, but that is another wonderful element of a Tim Powers novel -- they are all deeply odd, in one way or another.

With the pirates -- some of whom are the stuff of legend, like Blackbeard, and some of whom are purely invented creatures -- Powers has the room to play broadly with peculiarity. The result is a novel that artfully balances authentic emotion and sometimes disturbing violence, including some gruesome death and reanimation sequences, with a wry humor that never carries one too far over the top. Powers also has a talent for descriptions that -- with similar balance -- create a rich, real visual but don't distract from the movement of the story.

There is a genuine pleasure in a book like this, one that offers so much, stitched together so well. The stitches may show in places, but this is the sort of book that becomes an old friend -- the kind of friend who wears old clothes comfortably and walks around in scuffed shoes, but always takes you on the best adventures.

You look ever so lovely in the photo David posted.

Why, thank you! I was inspired to literary fashion that day. Normally I'm lucky if I can put both socks on. :)

I hope you are feeling better today, Linda, and that all is well.

You are right, I've already got that book! But I got the new Powers book through the Early Reviewers, and as soon as I finish my library books, I'm heading in that direction!

I'm so jealous! I was entirely focused on the Naomi Novik book, so much so that I didn't even realize there was a Tim Powers book in the batch. Alas! But excellent for you! I think I may read The Stress of Her Regard next, so we will be coordinating, at least. :)

>185 beserene:: Yes. Yes it would. And I wholeheartedly approve... just don't tell my husband, m'kay? o_O

...and in some small measure of irony, On Stranger Tides is one of the books I bought this weekend. Whaddaya know! Great minds think alike, and all that. :D

Huh, I didn't notice the Tim Powers ER book either.

Peggy and I both won the Powers book. I thought about maybe rereading The Stress of Her Regard again first, but will probably go straight into Hide Me Among the Graves after I finish my library books (God's Philosophers, Among others, and A Discovery of Witches), and then double back to it if I feel so inclined. I've read tSohR several times but not at all recently.

>192 dk_phoenix:: Hey, nice! Great minds, indeed. And, see, that was a good purchase. Destiny, if you will. Totally justified and a reasonable addition. Especially to the BUY ALL THE BOOKS challenge. :)

>193 _Zoe_:: I think the other were hiding it from us. It was cloaked. The ER books have cloaking technology now. It couldn't possibly be a lack of observation on our part. Obviously. :)

>194 ronincats:: I am thoroughly enjoying The Stress of Her Regard right now, but I think it is one of his most challenging books. Were I in your position, having read it multiple times, I'm not sure I'd reread either. But I hope the new one lives up to it. Oh, wait, who am I kidding? It's Tim Powers! It'll be excellent.

So, also, Jane Yolen.

I met Jane Yolen this evening. And she was a little bit cranky (which makes so much sense, given the crappy day she'd had -- I was amazed that she was there) and completely wicked awesome at the same time. And I kind of had a major fan girl moment, which I don't usually do with authors, because I have been reading the woman's books since I was a teenager, and I basically want to be just like her, and there she was.

I almost cried.

And then she signed 11 of my books. 11!

Jane Yolen is a rock star. And my hero. And I just wanted to share that with you all.

That's awesome!

I met Jane Yolen many years ago, when the 3rd Pit Dragon book came out. She did a book signing at The White Rabbit, a children's bookstore in La Jolla, now sadly defunct, and I took my most favorite book by her, Cards of Grief, a science fiction story that just blew me away. She was very gracious, and shared that it was written after her father's death. So glad you got to meet her.

>196 beserene:: I can't believe she signed 11 books for you!!! Wow! Did you get them all personalized too?

>197 leahbird:: Yes. EXACTLY. I'm so glad you understand. :)

>198 ronincats:: That is so cool, Roni, especially since Cards of Grief (an old bookclub edition) was one of my 11 books. Sometimes I am amazed at the range of things Yolen writes.

>199 dk_phoenix:: She personalized every one of them, even after I said that she certainly didn't need too, since it was the end of a long day, etc. She wrote a little message in every single one. Wow is precisely the word. Quite an extraordinary evening for me all the way around.

On another note, I bought more books today. Hey, it's been almost a whole week since I bought one -- obviously, going a week without buying a book is unacceptable. Also, they were ON SALE, 50% off clearance prices, therefore they had to be bought. So, here they are:

-- Keats: Selected Poems and Prose -- a slim paperback volume that appealed to me because I'm still reading The Stress of Her Regard (almost done) and I miss Keats.
-- Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris -- a copy for me and one for David too, since his birthday is coming soon!
-- Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon
-- Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel -- a graphic novel/memoir that I remember something about, even though I can't remember exactly what the something was. But it was something. So it counts.

In other news, I am applying for a full time faculty position at my college. Wish me luck. It might be nice to have real health insurance. :)

Good luck!

Look forward to hearing how Gentlemen of the Road is. Sometimes I LOVE his books and sometimes I end up scratching my head.

Gentlemen of the Road was the first book by Michael Chabon I read and I liked it very much :-)

>201 _Zoe_:: Thanks!

>202 leahbird:: I have a great love of Chabon, but for no good reason, since I have read very little of his work. But I like his ideas. So, naturally, I want all of his books. (Yeah, I'm like that.)

>203 FAMeulstee:: Yay! I'm glad to hear that. I was reading the first page the other day and it made me want to jump right in. I think I'm going to get to it sooner rather than later. :)

In other news, I did finish book #18, Tim Powers' The Stress of Her Regard, and found it to be AMAZING, but I have not yet mustered the energy to write a review worthy of it. Forthcoming, I promise.

Glad you liked the Powers--it is definitely powerful!

>205 ronincats:: Powerful is the word. :)

Still can't decided what to write about it for a review, though. It's a complex book. And I need to be awake for such things, so now is not a good moment.

So instead, I will confess further book purchases. I swore up and down (quietly, to myself) that I wasn't going to buy more books this week... FAIL. I went to Barnes & Noble to pick up another gift for our David's birthday (really, truly) and ended up buying more for myself than I did for him. (This, by the way, is also my method for Christmas shopping.)

Can't tell you what I got him, because I'm making him wait until Sunday for presents (this is a weekend-long birthday situation) but for ME, I got...

Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik (I've already read it, but I want to reread the series, so I am starting to get my own copies)
Last Call by Tim Powers (Been on a Tim Powers kick lately; don't see any reason to quit)
Soulless by Gail Carriger (the manga series -- excited to check this out!)

Okay, me, no more book buying. Unless I go to the library shop tomorrow. And except for the Brandon Mull reading tomorrow night. And except for the antiquarian book show on Sunday. And... oh dear. I see some flaws in my plan.

Well, I did not go to the library shop today, and it's a darn good thing, because Brandon Mull was so randomly hilarious at his reading tonight that I bought four of his books:

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes
Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion
Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star (used)
Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague (used)

Thank heaven for used copies! Even so, that was more than I intended to spend. But, seriously, the dude was the most inappropriate Mormon I have ever met. I totally HAD to support him, so that he would come back and crack us up again.

#18


The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers
I have already indicated my love for Tim Powers on numerous occasions across LibraryThing, but if I had not loved him before, if my life had by some ungodly circumstance been empty of Tim Powers up to this point, this book would make me love him. (And, by "him", I of course mean his work. Sort of.)

This is an intense literary-historical fantasy that challenges the reader with a wealth of allusions and deeply conceived and constructed ideas. The premise--which explains some of the odd behavior and fascinations of nineteenth century Romantic poets Byron, Shelley and Keats by positing the notion that they were all interacting, to some degree, with vampiric supernatural beings spun out of European fable and myth--is complex enough. Add to that a protagonist embroiled in a murder plot, early obstetrics, and his own tragic past, as well as a complicated woman who is so much more than a love interest, and you have a rich loam of story into which the reader's mind roots and grows.

There is not a moment in this book where the reader stops thinking. While Powers constructs a plot with the ups and downs of a roller coaster, at no point are we simply "along for the ride". Every page engages one's rational faculties, philosophical perspective, or emotional core. I, for one, found myself fascinated even by the epigraphs that began each chapter, which alluded both to the novel's themes and to the historical personages Powers machinated into the book.

Powers has said that he writes inside the spaces of history -- according to WikiPedia, he states "I made it an ironclad rule that I could not change or disregard any of the recorded facts, nor rearrange any days of the calendar – and then I tried to figure out what momentous but unrecorded fact could explain them all." Rather than taking liberties with the record, he looks for the patterns and the mysterious moments in the lives of particular figures, then speculates what fantastical images or events could inhabit that space. In this novel, one is especially conscious of that method -- the extracts from letters, poetic epigraphs, and precise dates are all reminders, but so is the realism of the characters and their environments. Even though I have read and taught Romantic poetry, I had not previously thought of the poets in such a human way as I did while reading their fictional endeavors. Perhaps that seems strange, but Powers' rich renderings make even the most exotically mythic encounters seem possible.

The novel is not an easy read, by any measure; it is a book that asks you to take your time and read with consideration. It also, as is typical of Powers, contains much more than one expects; there were multiple moments, while reading, that I thought the climax had come and gone, only to find that there were 200 or 100 or 50 pages yet to go and the most intense moment was just around the corner. There were even, again, as often happens with Powers, moments where I asked aloud, "what else can he possibly fit into this book?!" While that rarely felt overdone, in the big picture, it can be exhausting for an unprepared reader. When I began this novel, I did not anticipate how epic in scope it would be; by the end, I felt I had read a lifetime, not just a book.

The novel closes with one of the most elegant last lines I have ever read -- which I will not spoil here -- but there are few books that offer such satisfyingly subtle, melancholic, yet somehow sweet endings. Lines like that resonate long after the book is closed, and Powers is full of them. For sheer craft and style alone, this book is worth reading, but it is also so much more than that. An absolutely necessary read, especially for fans of thought-provoking fantasy, historical fiction with a supernatural twist, or even that fan of serious literary fiction who doesn't think fantasy can do it right.

#19


Soulless: The Manga Vol. 1 by Gail Carriger
My previous read was, as you might have gathered, a little intense, so it was refreshing to turn to something quick and light with this manga adaptation of the well-beloved (at least here in the 75ers group) manner-steam-para-punk-romance novel, Soulless. If you have read that novel, I hardly need detail the plot here. (If you haven't read that novel, why the heck not? It's jolly good fun.) The manga adds sleek, attractive illustration to the mix, resulting in visualized characters (looking much younger than one might expect) that "show" what the novel previously had to tell. The fashions, whether loosely limned in black and white or richly illustrated in the few color pages at the front, were particularly delightful to see.

The greatest fun of this adaptation, however, is the expression on the characters' faces and through their bodies during particular interactions. Mutterings, eyebrow-raisings, flirtations, are all rendered in clean lines alongside the quirky dialogue. Alexia's substantial bosom has never been so readily apparent, for example... and Lord Maccon's observations of that endowment have never been so hilarious. Though the interpretation of the characters delivers audience appeal over descriptive accuracy, I found the images to be a fine fit and a pleasant way to expand the novel's demographic. That said, I don't think this is a substitute for the novel; its purpose seems to be to collect teens into the growing coterie of Carriger's readers, and just in time for the soon-to-be-released YA series she's been working on. For the rest of us, this is a worthy diversion that offers an hour's entertainment and some actual LOLing. What more could one ask?

stopping by and waving hello!

Hello! Delightful to see you, as always! :)

I hadn't actually considered reading the Soulless manga because I've never been a fan of graphic novels, but your review makes me think that maybe I should pick it up after all.

A worthy review of the Powers book, Sarah--thumbs up!!

>212 _Zoe_:: Zoe, you might like this one. It's goofy, but it's a great kind of goofy. I LOLed. :)

>213 ronincats:: Thank you very much indeed, Roni. I've started Hide Me Among the Graves now (David and I swapped Powers copies since I had The Stress of Her Regard and he had Hide Me Among the Graves... though he may never get his back... I'm already quite attached to it.) Only a little ways in, but I'm enjoying it so far.

Last weekend, at the Antiquarian Book Show here in Lansing, I found two early 20th century copies of Louisa May Alcott works -- one of which -- 'Work' -- I only had a lame Penguin paperback of, so I was delighted to get that, and the second of which -- Spinning Wheel Stories -- I had no copy of AT ALL. Overall, super exciting. I did, of course, see just a few other books that I would have liked to purchase, but Alcott trumps everybody else in my world, so I got those two and the rest will simply have to be there again at the next show.

But, of course, this book buying did not stop me from further book buying... but I shall add that confession a little later.

I ended up requesting the Soulless manga from the library, so now it just remains to be seen whether I'll actually manage to read it when it comes in ;)

It's very quick -- takes perhaps an hour -- so I bet you can fit it in somewhere. :)

So, now that I have sorted through the bags, I have rather a major book confession. This evening I was quite abandoned by our usual cadre of Friday night friends, so... you know... I had to console myself. With books. I went to the library bookshop, which happened to be open just in my hour of need, and promptly came home with about 27 volumes. Not all of which I intend to keep! Well, okay, I will probably keep about 21 of them. Anyway. Moving along. Here are the ones I'm keeping, in no particular order:

The Margarets by Sheri Tepper (mass market in great shape -- and I do enjoy Tepper, though it's been rather a while since I read her)
I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron
The Sharing Knife: Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold (I adore her writing and hope for good things from this series)
Nebula Awards 32 edited by Jack Dann
The Wild Wood by Charles de Lint (not only do I love De Lint's work, but this is one of the Froud Faerieland books, so has beautiful color illustrations -- awesome!)
Sly Mongoose by Tobias Buckell (I know this author, and while his self-promotion skills sometimes make him annoying, he can write a decent SF adventure story)
Waiting for Anya by Michael Morpurgo (the same guy who wrote War Horse, so I'm making a point of checking out some of his stuff)
Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh
Snow by Orhan Pamuk
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore (my sister tells me I should read more of him)
Diary of a Bad Year by JM Coetzee
The Archivist by Martha Cooley
Little Bee by Chris Cleave (been seeing this everywhere for ages, so I thought it might be worth $1.50)
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich
Irish Tales of Terror edited by Peter Haining (exactly what it says on the tin, except "terror" might be too strong a word -- unless you really are afraid of James Joyce)
Irish Folk Tales edited by Henry Glassie (I already have a copy of this, but it's part of the Pantheon library and the cover is better than the one I have, so now comes the debate of which to keep, or both. First world problems.)
Dickens Fur Coat and Charlotte's Unanswered Letters by Daniel Pool
With Lawrence in Arabia by Lowell Thomas (this is a neat 1924 edition, from the Lowell adventure library, with photos in)
Once on a Time by AA Milne (super geeked, as I didn't even know this existed, and here it is in an odd 1962 illustrated edition -- yay!)
Literary Essays by Thomas Babington Macaulay

That last one, the volume of Lord Macaulay's essays, is a book that reminds me why I love books. It's an old hand-sized Nelsons Classics volume, sold for a shilling back in the day, with tissue-y pages and tiny type. It's one of those books that people who sit under trees in European parks have in their pockets. I love those. Possibly because, if I could, I would spend my entire life under a tree in a park in Europe, reading a book. :)

I was (literally) humming a happy tune as I leafed through all of my treasures this evening. Book therapy!

Great haul, Sarah, and Once on a Time is absolutely delightful and hilarious--probably my favorite Milne! I only have a 1966 little paperback, although it does have the illustrations.

I'm so delighted to hear that you have enjoyed that one, Roni. I mean, I knew it would be good, because Milne is good, but "delightful and hilarious", combined with what I read of the quirky preface, makes it sound like just my cup of tea. Excellent.

Want to know what else is excellent? Don't hate me, but I got all 27 books for a grand total of $38.25. They were each $1.50 or less. And all are in good condition, many in practically new condition. This is why I don't understand why more people don't shop at library bookstores, especially ours. It's wonderful.

Of course, the days when I bring home 27 books in one shot are the days when I know I have an addiction. A lovely, wonderful addiction, but there it is. :)

I COULD hate you for that...but I won't. What a great deal!

Oh I really hope you love Lamb! It's my favorite of Moore's books and is really spectacular (in my humble opinion). Of course, it's bawdy as all get out in MANY places, but I actually found myself feeling more connected to the Christ story after reading it- which is a big accomplishment since I'm not a Christian. Having such oddball, irreverent friends made Jesus seem so much more human and the sacrifice that much more touching. I cried, quite a bit. Sometimes from laughing but also from being genuinely moved.

I should stop blathering now and wait till you read it...

ETA: Vile Bodies is also my favorite Waugh book.

Well, it has proven quite obvious that you can't be left to your own devices. What happened to you and me talking about trying to read more than we buy this year? And, here I'm not going to be around the next 2 Fridays either. I'm going to have to tell Brad to keep you on a short leash.

Oh, and *ahem* - I expect to be seeing a certain Tim Powers book back in my library when you're finished with it. Just saying.

>220 ronincats:: You are too magnanimous. :)

>221 leahbird:: I am rather looking forward to Lamb. I've had a couple of Christopher Moore books on my shelves for absolute ages, but have resisted them largely because my sister told me I HAD to read them and I am a natural contrarian. So, since this is one I picked up on my own, I actually want to read it. :)

>222 tapestry100:: What Tim Powers book? I don't know what you are talking about. ;)

Oh, Sarah, it's impossible for me to catch up! I'll just say that I have been devoted to Sheri S. Tepper, but I've never bought a copy of The Margarets although I read most of it. AND I got Hide Me Among the Graves from ER, and am enjoying it right now. FINE review of *Stress* - one of my favorites. (My next favorites are the Fisher King trilogy: Last Call, Expiration Date, and Earthquake Weather!) Keep up the good reading!

#223 by beserene> I just took a peek at your library to see which Moore books you had. Coyote Blue was the first one I read of his. It's been years since I read it and I remember liking it but his later books blew it away for me. Fluke I read shortly after Coyote Blue (with a stop off at Practical Demonkeeping along the way) and I mostly remember it being weird and funny. I hope you enjoy them all.

If you decide to delve further into Moore, I HIGHLY suggest Bloodsucking Fiends and The Stupidest Angel. I'm currently reading his newest, Sacre Bleu, and will post my review on my thread if you are interested.

>224 LizzieD:: My dear, don't even worry about catching up! No pressure here -- I can't even catch up on my grading, let alone stuff like other people's threads. I'm just glad you stopped by. AND that you are also currently enjoying the lovely new Tim Powers book, which I wish I could read more of, except that the grading I mentioned keeps building up on the table, looming over my existence.

Tis the season for the end of semester blues.

>225 leahbird:: Isn't it fun to peek into other people's libraries? I love that. And it is so convenient -- here on LT, I don't have to go wandering in people's houses wondering where all the books are.

Not that I go wandering through other people's houses looking for books on a regular basis. Perhaps occasionally. :)

And thank you for the further recommendations on Christopher Moore. We shall see if he holds up to all this high praise.

#226 by beserene> Seeing as I don't know many real hardcore book lovers in real life (not even my cousin who teaches English... she reads maybe 10 books a year) I almost NEVER get to wander through people's houses looking at books. Which is a total disappointment.

I get my fill, though, about twice a year. I know the people who own Biltmore Estate and they GRACIOUSLY let me explore the library after hours when I visit. Of course, I can't actually TOUCH anything, but I do get to peer longingly at the shelves from mere inches rather than staying in the roped off area where you can see about 10 books titles. (What's behind the picture below is an entire wall of books that are next to the roped off area and covered in plexi glass but you can't get close enough to really see them.) I've even been up on the second floor twice! Now, if they'd only agree to my request to be allowed to catalog the library on LT....

Click here for a totally overwhelming picture.

OMG. I so want that library. If they ever let you catalog it, let me know -- I will come and help. I'll even bring my own white gloves. Seriously.

Wow! That is a gorgeous library.

Oh my gosh... that library is incredible!

That set of library steps is amazing! And the standing globe reminds me of the one described by Rex Stout in his Nero Wolfe mysteries. Want!

I have stood behind the ropes and drooled on them a couple of times. Then, in the hall to the gentleman's parlor/smoking room, I came upon a complete set of Henry James at floor level behind glass. I drooled again, especially since I know that James was there in that very space; the smoking room was one of the only places he could find by himself. So, ALitW, I am envious beyond saying that you get into the place after hours even if you can't touch!

#232 by LizzieD> Yeah, it's interesting to hunt books all over the house. Years ago they used to be everywhere: the den was almost as full as the library. But most of the books from the other rooms have been moved to climate controlled storage. Sad, but at least they are protected. That's the scariest thing about the library: it has no climate control and many of the second floor books are humidity damaged... It's a hard thing to manage in a house that age and size and with a total collection somewhere around 23,000 books.

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that the books are not as healthy as they ought to be... though it must be tough to avoid humidity in such a house in the south. This is, in fact, one of the reasons I will not move to the south -- all my books would get moldy. Too much moisture entirely for me and my pages. :)

Yeah, the humidity is a killer around here. I decidedly DON'T love it.

The Biltmore picture inspires me to share my own library...



Hmmm... somehow it just doesn't have the same grandeur. Weird. :)

And, yes, I sure did add to that library o' mine today. Our district library shop had a "Name Your Own Price" sale on selected books (mostly fiction). So, of course, I went. The results:

The Boggart by Susan Cooper
Goldengrove by Francine Prose
Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis (looks never-read -- I was amazed)
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (I was amazed that I didn't have this already)
Children of Tomorrow by AE Van Vogt
Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata
Lord Byron's Novel: The Evening Land by John Crowley (I was so excited when I saw this -- a TPB in great shape -- because it's been on my wish list for ages)
Great Story-Poems compiled by Theodore Jones (weirdest collection of poetry I've ever seen -- it's supposed to be for children, judging from the cartoon cover and interior illustrations, but contains things like Noyes' "The Highwayman" and John Henry Titus' "The Face on the Barroom Floor" alongside classics from Longfellow, Carroll, etc. I could not leave it behind, it was so odd.)
The Trouble with Magic by Ruth Chew
and a little paperback Troll Edition of the fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red, to add to the collection in case I ever teach children's literature again.

Grand total: $5.50 (which was all the cash I had on me)

I would've paid twice that just for the Crowley novel. I LOVE my library bookshop. (Though I know that I should really stop shopping there.)

What a haul! But--WHERE are you going to put them?

I'm sure I can find a patch of floor in there somewhere. At the moment, they are all stacked up on a chair in the livingroom. That chair has become the "holding" zone for acquisitions until I find a place where they won't a) fall over, b) overload and break a shelf, or c) squish things in the library. It's tricky. I need a bigger library and some sturdier shelves, for sure.

Or I need to stop buying books. But that's just crazy talk. :)

You just need a little more space to put a few bookshelves :-)
Stop buying books, well to some that might look like an option, but we all know that is no realistic option.

I'm assuming you've seen this already, but I'm posting it here, just in case. More Harry Potter - sort of!!

>241 tapestry100:: Saw something about this. I am idly curious, and you know I will buy it, but surprisingly not excited. Perhaps I'm in a mood. Maybe I'll be geeked tomorrow.

>240 FAMeulstee:: So true. :)

Hi Sarah. Just doing a long overdue catch-up on your thread. Loved the Powers' reviews. Quite a few of his books haven't been published in the UK but we got On Stranger Tides and Declare last year and it looks like his new book is being published in the UK so hopefully the publishers will also do The Stress of Her Regard.

#217 Oh, wow!

#237 Double wow!

*waving* at Sarah

>243 souloftherose:: Glad you liked the reviews. It's funny that you get On Stranger Tides, which was really obscure and out of regular print just a couple of years ago, but not some of the others that have been more steady. I suppose we have the movie to thank for that. My copy of OST is actually a print-on-demand that I had to special order back before the movie came out -- but of course after that the book was everywhere, never mind the slim-to-nil connections between the two. I suppose we should thank Disney -- their lame movie brought a really cool book back into print! :)

>244 alcottacre:: *waving* back -- lovely to see you, Stasia!

Hush your mouth with that crazy not buying any more books talk! You know you don't mean it! My only problem with your library is that the picture's not big enough for me to read the spines.
I've never heard of Lord Byron's Novel...what an interesting idea! Thanks for the new info yet again.

Glad you enjoyed the Powers books. I kind of wish now that I had reread The Stress of Her Regard again before reading Hide Me Among the Graves, but just didn't have the time.

>247 ronincats:: I think it's okay, Roni, because having read The Stress of Her Regard so recently does make Hide Me Among the Graves feel almost too familiar, at least in the early parts. I'm going through it very slowly, partly because I don't have the compulsion of the first one. Of course, it might also have to do with the fact that it's the end of the semester and I am drowning in grading. Maybe.

>246 LizzieD:: Ah, an enabler! I love the way you think! And you are so right -- I don't mean it.

But I did walk out of a bookstore today without having made a purchase. Okay, since I was carrying boxes of World Book Night giveaway books, that doesn't really count, but there it is.

David and I and some of our bookstore friends hung out and had lovely conversations during the World Book Night pick-up this evening. We also pooled some of the extras, so instead of having 20 of one title to give out on Monday, I have 50, a mix of four titles (The Book Thief -- which was my original choice -- as well as Kindred, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. Plus one spare copy of The Hunger Games if I can find someone who hasn't read it). Super excited to give books away on Monday!

Wish I'd gotten picked to do World Book Night... damn rural address.

Our initial stack of books. We ended up adding one more book to the stack by the end of the night. =)

Since we hit 250 posts, I think it was past time for a new thread. It can be found here: BeSerene in 2012: A Very Good Year (for Books), part 2