mathgirl40's 2013 category challenge -- part 2

Here is part 2 of my challenge. Part 1 can be found here.

I’ll try for a minimum of 8 books in each category. It’ll also be a priority for me to read books already owned or borrowed as of Dec. 31, 2012, so I’ll be keeping track of that here as well.

1. Short-story anthologies
2. Graphic novels
3. BookCrossing books
4. Dust Collectors
5. 1001 Books / Classics
6. Non-fiction
7. Around the World
8. Next in the series
9. 2013 award nominees
10. Mystery
11. SFF
12. Young adult
13. Everything else

Category 1: Short-story anthologies

1. Steampunk! edited by Kelly Link (Mar. 20)
2. The View from the Stars by Walter M. Miller, Jr. (Apr. 30)
3. Hugo nominees: short stories and novelettes (June 27)
4. One Good Story, That One by Thomas King (June 30)
5. The Regatta Mystery by Agatha Christie (Sept. 6)

Category 2: Graphic novels

1. The Sandman, Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman (Jan. 20)
2. The Sandman, Volume 2: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman (Feb. 15)
3. Digger, Volume 1 by Ursula Vernon (Feb. 28)
4. The Sandman, Volume 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman (Mar. 4)
5. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller (Apr. 10)
6. Asterix and Cleopatra by Goscinny and Uderzo (April 11)
7. The Sandman, Volume 4: Season of Mists (April 30)
8. The Sandman, Volume 5: A Game of You (May 26)
9. Digger, Vol. 2 by Ursula Vernon (June 6)
10. The Sandman, Volume 6: Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman (June 11)
11. Grandville Bete Noire by Bryan Talbot (July 8)
12. Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (July 10)
13. Locke and Key, Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (July 16)
14. Saucer Country Vol. 1: Run by Paul Cornell and Ryan Kelly (July 21)
15. Locke and Key, Volume 2: Head Games by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (July 31)
16. Locke and Key, Volume 3: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (Aug. 21)

Category 3: BookCrossing books

1. Hyperion by Dan Simmons (Jan. 9)
2. Borkmann's Point by Håkan Nesser (Jan. 11)
3. The Postman by David Brin (Jan. 28)
4. Dust by Martha Grimes (Mar. 31)
5. Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay (Apr. 25)
6. Once was Lost by Sara Zarr (Aug. 20)

Category 4: Dust collectors

1. The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies (Mar. 6)
2. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Mar. 28)
3. The Giver by Lois Lowry (Apr. 16)
4. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History (May 23)
5. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began (May 24)
6. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey (June 3)
7. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry (June 7)

Category 5: Classics and books from the 1001 list

1. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Feb. 23)
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (Apr. 27)
3. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (May 8)
4. An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro (May 11)
5. Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare (May 30)
6. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (July 17)
7. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (August 2)
8. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin (Sept. 11)

Category 6: Non-fiction

1. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (Mar. 29)
2. Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill (Apr. 17)
3. The Influencing Machine by Brooke Gladstone (Apr. 27)
4. Chicks Dig Comics (July 4)
5. Thunderstruck by Erik Larson (Aug. 30)

Category 7: Around the World

1. Sidetracked by Henning Mankell (Jan. 13) -- Sweden
2. Death of a Celebrity by M. C. Beaton (Feb. 27) -- Scotland
3. Winter of the Lions by Jan Costin Wagner (Mar. 3) -- Finland
4. The Secret River by Kate Grenville (Mar. 12) -- Australia
5. Letters to a Young Gymnast by Nadia Comaneci (Apr. 8) -- Romania
6. Twilight is not Good for Maidens by Lou Allin (May 14) -- Canada
7. Tango in Madeira by Jim Williams (June 24) -- Madeira
8. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (July 9) -- U.S.A.
9. We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo (Aug. 13) -- Zimbabwe
10. Belshazzar's Daughter by Barbara Nadel (Aug. 18) -- Turkey
11. Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw (Sept. 3) -- Singapore/Malaysia/China
12. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Sept. 20) -- Russia

Category 8: Next in the series

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth (Feb. 6)
2. The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö (Apr. 3)
3. A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold (Apr. 6)
4. Messenger by Lois Lowry (June 8)
5. Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston (June 19)
6. Scrivener's Moon by Philip Reeve (Sept. 14)

Category 9: 2013 award nominees

1. Away by Jane Urquhart (Feb. 10)
2. Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese (Apr. 3)
3. Blackout by Mira Grant (June 17)
4. San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (June 28)
5. Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold (July 12)
6. 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson (July 22)
7. Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed (July 26)
8. The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson (July 27)
9. On a Red Station, Drifting by Aliette de Bodard (July 28)
10. After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress (July 29)
11. The Stars do not Lie by Jay Lake (July 31)
12. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki (Aug. 9)
13. Up and Down by Terry Fallis (Aug. 13)
14. Tell it to the Trees by Anita Rau Badami (Aug. 22)
15. Harvest by Jim Crace (Aug. 29)
16. The Little Shadows by Marina Endicott (Sept. 17)

Category 10: Mystery

1. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (Jan. 26)
2. The Gallows Bird by Camilla Läckberg (Jan. 31)
3. The Fifth Woman by Henning Mankell (Feb. 18)
4. Police at the Funeral by Margery Allingham (Apr. 22)
5. The Fire Engine that Disappeared by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (Apr. 24)
6. The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie (May 2)
7. Murder on Ice by Alina Adams (May 21)
8. One Step Behind by Henning Mankell (July 5)
9. Murder at the Savoy by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (Sept. 13)

Category 11: Science fiction, fantasy and other speculative fiction

1. Aurorarama by Jean-Christophe Valtat (Jan. 23)
2. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes (Feb. 22)
3. Eastern Standard Tribe by Cory Doctorow (Mar. 22)
4. Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold (Apr. 12)
5. Feed by Mira Grant (May 4)
6. vN by Madeline Ashby (May 22)
7. Neuromancer by William Gibson (June 4)
8. Son by Lois Lowry (June 9)
9. Deadline by Mira Grant (June 13)
10. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (June 22)
11. Dreadnought by Cherie Priest (June 24)
12. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (Aug. 31)
13. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (Sept. 22)

Category 12: Young-adult books

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth (Jan. 4)
2. Son of Interflux by Gordon Korman (Feb. 13)
3. The Geomancer's Compass by Melissa Hardy (Feb. 26)
4. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (Mar. 19)
5. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (Apr. 13)
6. Type by Alicia Hendley (Aug. 3)

Category 13: Everything else

1. A Mercy by Toni Morrison (Jan. 30)
2. Winterfair Gifts by Lois McMaster Bujold (Apr. 7)
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (May 17)
4. Farthing by Jo Walton (June 29)

50. The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie (3.5 stars)
Category: Mystery

This was a good solid Miss Marple mystery in which a young dancer's body is found in the library of a respectable English couple. Most of the action takes place at a seaside resort where the dancer had worked, and Miss Marple's keen observation skills and intuition help her uncover the chain of events that led to the girl's death. I watched a film adaptation recently and was surprised by a notable difference in the ending. I don't want to say more, in case I spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't read this book yet.

51. Feed by Mira Grant (4.5 stars)
Category: Science Fiction and Fantasy

Feed is the first of Grant's Newsflesh trilogy, and all three books had received nominations for Hugo awards. Indeed, Mira Grant, who is in reality Seanan McGuire, has an incredible five Hugo nominations this year for various works, including some short fiction. She is one prolific and popular author!

Feed follows the trail of three bloggers reporting on a presidential campaign. They live in a futuristic United States plagued by a virus that results in zombie outbreaks. When I read the description of this book, I’d expected something light, fun and over-the-top. What surprised me was how utterly compelling this book was. I loved the characters, the relationships and the humour. I'm eager to read the next in the series, but I'm going to save it for June's women-in-SFF group read.

Glad you enjoyed Feed as it's still a contender for my own challenge this year and I might actually read it next month. Congrats on the new thread too!

Hello new thread! Left a comment on the old one by accident. May keep Feed in mind for the bf, who has been known to read the odd zombie book.

The Body in the Library is one of my favorite Miss Marple novels. It's coming up soon in my re-read of Christie's works in publication order.

Stopping by to check out the shiny new thread and I see you are making nice progress with your challenge!

I've just watched The Body in the Library and it's made me want to read all of the Marple books even more than before. (So far I've only read one or two Poirots.) Woo hoo, look at you with 51 read so far - way to go!

One of these days I'll re-read most of Christie.

I too would like to re-read Christie some day.

Thanks, everyone, for stopping by the new thread!

@17, 18: I really did enjoy Feed and I'd be interested to hear what others think of it.

@19, 21, 22, 23: I decided a few years ago that I would reread all of Christie's works in publication order, but I didn't give myself a timeline. I'm about halfway through, and I haven't been following a strict order, as I've skipped a few and occasionally jumped ahead, depending on which books happened to be available. I've always enjoyed Christie's books and I'll be sad to get to the end of the list. However, I'll console myself by moving on to Ngaio Marsh or Margery Allingham, or one of many other possibilities! I'm also partway through my Dorothy Sayers re-reads right now.

52. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (4 stars)
Category: Classics and 1001 Books
Challenges: Alpha CAT

This isn’t among my favourite Shakespearean tragedies. As characters, Romeo and Juliet don’t have the depth of Macbeth, Hamlet or Othello. Their downfall is brought about as much by external circumstances as by their own actions. However, there’s no denying the legacy of this play, including the often used quotations that have permeated into our language and the many derivative works such as West Side Story.

I had reread this play mainly in preparation for a recent visit to the Stratford Festival of Canada. I took my 14-year-old daughter, who had studied the play in school, and she enjoyed it enough that she wants to go see another Shakespearean play at the festival later in the summer. Seeing one of Shakespeare’s plays live is a completely different and much more rewarding experience than just reading it on paper. I have mixed feelings about whether (or how much) Shakespeare should be taught in high school. I’m pleased that my daughter seems interested, but I do feel for the many kids who hate having to study his plays in English class. I did not hate Shakespeare in high school, but I was much, much older before I developed an appreciation for it.

The Stratford Festival frequently sets Shakespeare’s plays in more modern settings, with mixed success, but the production of R&J I saw used traditional costumes. Indeed, director Tim Carroll wanted to replicate the experience of an afternoon performance at an Elizabethan playhouse. The lights simulated natural sunlight and were not dimmed for evening scenes.

I saw Loves Labour's Lost there years ago and loved it (it was traditional not modern). I haven't seen a modern version yet but probably wouldn't enjoy it as much. Did you get to the Book Vault on the main drag? It is my favourite bookstore so I am there once a month or so getting my fix (and the three chocolate stores surrounding it are nice too!)

We had commitments before the show so I didn't have time to do any shopping this time, but I frequently stop in at my favourite shops (the Book Vault, Rheo Thompson Chocolates and Watsons) when I'm in Stratford.

53. An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro (4 stars)
Category: Classics / 1001 Books

An Artist of the Floating World is set in post-WWII Japan. In this novel, an aging painter recalls choices he had made before the war and the consequences that may have arisen from these.

This novel didn't have the same impact on me as Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, the other Ishiguro novels I'd read. Still, there are many similarities: the slow revelation of events as told by a narrator with an imperfect memory, the quiet tension that builds throughout the novel, and most of all, Ishiguro's exquisite writing.

Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go are the two of his books that I've read too. Although I own a few others, I haven't been particularly motivated in picking them up. Maybe this summer.

I have mixed feelings about whether (or how much) Shakespeare should be taught in high school. I’m pleased that my daughter seems interested, but I do feel for the many kids who hate having to study his plays in English class. I did not hate Shakespeare in high school, but I was much, much older before I developed an appreciation for it.

Hmmm, yes. Interesting point. I went to Canadian public school in the 70s, and we did Julius Ceasar and I was completely lost. My 16 year old goes to a private school with more of an academic slant, and they do Shakespeare every year starting in grade 9 (Midsummer Night's Dream, then Romeo and Juliet, now Macbeth, and next year Hamlet). Macbeth is one that I didn't study in university and wanted to, so I'm currently reading it with her. She never seems to mind Shakespeare, but she doesn't seem to particularly like it either. They don't read novels. The whole thing sort of makes me scratch my head and say "hmmm." This year (grade 11) she did a unit on 16 & 17th century poets--a lot of John Donne. Having met this for the first time at university, and as a mature student, I don't see much purpose in teenagers studying 16 c poetry. I think there are many more useful and more interesting things for them to read. So yes, I have mixed feelings too.

edited to add: I've often complained on LT that I never encountered CanLit in my Canadian education--well, neither have my kids!

May I respectfully suggest that you take this to the School Board. This is a legitimate complaint and should be voiced. Find others with the same concern so you may present it as a block of voices. Maybe try to get a petition going. The chances that anyone from your school board being here to read this is slim. Take it to them in person. I'll back you all the way (from my school library in California).

>29 Nickelini:: It was interesting for me to read about your experiences, Joyce. I wonder how much difference there is between the BC and Ontario education systems. My older daughter also did Shakespeare in every year of high school, but she also studied plenty of novels. These included classics but also some modern novels, like Fifth Business (CanLit!) and The Poisonwood Bible. I grew up in Quebec and don't recall doing any English CanLit, but we studied plenty of Quebec literature in French class. (I was at an English school, and we had an hour of French class each day.)

>30 mamzel:: Yes, good point, mamzel. Too often we complain about school curriculum without voicing those complaints to the people who have the authority to change things. Here in Canada, there is curriculum set at the provincial level, and I'm not sure how much flexibility each school board or individual teacher has. I try to encourage my kids to read as much as they can for their own pleasure, but I know there are lots of kids who will read only what is assigned to them in school, so we hope that the administrators will make good choices!

54. Twilight is not Good for Maidens by Lou Allin (3.5 stars)
Category: Around the World (Canada)

Is it cheating to include a novel set in my home country in the "Around the World" category? At least this one is set in British Columbia, which is quite a long distance from my home in Ontario.

The mystery element in this police procedural was rather weak and there was not much in terms of suspense. However, I did like the setting and the characters. The book reminded me in some ways of Inger Ash Wolfe’s Inspector Micallef series, in that it features a strong but solitary female officer, living with a single elderly parent in a rural part of Canada. It has some ways to go before matching the quality of the excellent Micallef series, though. I found myself more interested in the subplots involving the relationships among the police officers of the remote detachment than in the identity of the murderer. However, for that reason alone, I will likely read more in this series.

Here in Canada, there is curriculum set at the provincial level, and I'm not sure how much flexibility each school board or individual teacher has

Yes, there is definitely a curriculum, but from what I see from my kid's experience, there is flexibility. It's all available online if I was motivated to check ;-)

Is it cheating to include a novel set in my home country in the "Around the World" category? At least this one is set in British Columbia, which is quite a long distance from my home in Ontario.

I can vouch for that! You could cross Europe quicker!

Is it cheating to include a novel set in my home country in the "Around the World" category? At least this one is set in British Columbia, which is quite a long distance from my home in Ontario.

LOL, I don't think that counts a cheating for your category.... the book is an actual location on the planet. It might be more of a stretch if the book was a fantasy set in a place that doesn't exist in our world.....;-)

Interesting discussion around the literature we read in school. I attended public high school in Alberta and, like Paulina's daughter, we read a Shakespeare play each year, along with Dickens and a smattering of poetry. I don't remember reading any Can Lit, but my memory for some of the books read is a bit spotty after all this time.

I went to high school in both B.C. and Ontario and definitely remember both Dickens and Shakespeare. Dickens, I loved, but unfortunately I was left not liking Shakespeare at all. I think the teacher I had for English when we were doing Shakespeare in Grade 11 wasn't very good. I remember she was afraid to turn her back in class so she would write on the blackboard over her head while facing us. Unfortunately at that age we could sense a weakness there and exploited it.

My intro to Canlit was Stone Angel by Laurence in grade 10. It wasn't I took a Canlit class in fourth year uni that I discovered all the other hidden gems. Sad really...

It's quite interesting to me to hear all these views from different parts of Canada! It seems that the common thread is lack of CanLit during our high-school years. I too, discovered Atwood, Davies, Findley and other great Canadian writers after I got to university. I think that the situation has improved. Apart from Fifth Business, my older daughter also studied Who Has Seen the Wind this year. The Handmaid's Tale and The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz were also on a recommended reading list. At my younger daughter's school, they've had visits by Canadian authors like Shane Peacock and Susin Nielsen. The Ontario Library Assocation runs an annual awards program that is like a gigantic province-wide book-club, and that's been very successful in introducing current Canadian authors to school kids.

As for Shakespeare, I think you make a good point, Judy. The way it's received depends greatly on how the teacher presents it. When I was in high school, we just read the text and memorized long soliloquies. I think my daughter was able to enjoy Romeo and Juliet so much because her class acted out the play, and the kids were allowed to make small modifications to modernize it, which they found highly amusing.

55. The Rising by Kelley Armstrong (4 stars)
Category: Next in the Series
Challenges: Alpha CAT

The Rising is the final book in Kelley Armstrong's young-adult Darkness Rising series, about a group of teenagers with paranormal powers fleeing from the adults that want to control them. This isn't a good standalone book, but it successfully resolved all the conflicts and questions (including the inevitable love triangle) introduced in the first two books. If you're new to the series, I'd actually suggest starting with Armstrong's Darkest Powers trilogy before moving on to this one. Indeed, the best part of the book for me was how it tied the two series together and provided a satisfactory conclusion to that first trilogy as well.

Love your comments on An Artist of the Floating World. I've never read Ishiguro, but know I should some day.

I stand corrected. We also read Who Has Seen the Wind by Mitchell. Forgot about that one !

56. The Night Circus (4.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous
Challenges: Alpha CAT, Random CAT, Awards CAT

There have been mixed reviews for this book among members of this group. However, I have to say that I enjoyed every moment reading it. There were so many things I loved about this book: the concept of the dueling magicians, the suspense, the wonderful characters, but most of all, the beautiful writing that truly evoked the feel of a magical circus. I found the writing, like the circus Morgenstern describes, to be mesmerizing. I have only minor complaints that prevent this from being a 5-star read for me. I found a few scenes somewhat confusing, and I didn’t warm up to the two main characters. However, all the fascinating secondary characters, many of which could have been the subjects of entire novels of their own, made up for the weaknesses. This was a very impressive debut novel for Erin Morgenstern and I hope to read more of her work.

>39 cammykitty:: Thanks, Katie. I love Ishiguro's writing, and Never Let Me Go is my favourite, though it does not seem to be the one that others like best. It was a recent choice for one of the book clubs that I attend, and there were mixed reactions.

>40 Yells:: I have to confess that I've never read Who Has Seen the Wind myself, though it is a Canadian classic. Now I have no excuse, since I have my daughter's copy in the house.

57. Murder on Ice by Alina Adams (3 stars)
Category: Mystery

This was a light and entertaining novel, a good weekend or vacation read. The plot and characters were nothing special, but if you're a figure skating fan like I am, you'll probably enjoy the setting and the way Alina Adams pokes fun at the controversies surrounding figure-skating judging. The novel was written over a decade ago, when the 6.0 judging system was in place and there were some high-profile scandals. Now, there seem to be fewer scandals but no lack of conspiracy theories regarding the judging! If you're not an avid figure-skating fan, I'd recommend giving this series a pass.

The only Canadian novel I remember studying in high school English was Barney's Version, by Mordecai Richler, and that's because *I* chose it for my Independent Study Unit (basically, glorified book report) in Grade 12. I think we read some Canadian short stories as a class over the years but not a full novel.

>29 Nickelini:: I studied those same Shakespeare plays in high school, in the same order too! :)

Mesmerizing is a good way to describe the effect The Night Circus had on me when I read it last year! Glad to see it was good read for you!

Came across the following article in Literary Review of Canada today and it immediately made me think about the CanLit during our high-school years discussion that has been going on here:

http://reviewcanada.ca/essays/2013/05/01/what-s-happened-to-canlit/

>44 rabbitprincess:: Sheesh, another confirmation of the sorry state of CanLit in high school! At least you made a good choice for your ISU. :)

>46 lkernagh:: Wow, that's an interesting article, and a depressing one if those impediments really do exist. Some of the arguments put forth by those opposed to more CanLit are really laughable. Mordecai Richler too spicy? What about all the bawdy jokes in Shakespeare? Given the kind of content most teens see on the Web, I really don't worry about anything my teenage daughters might read in "literary" novels.

On that note, I have to share an anecdote. When my younger daughter was 12, she was fascinated by the Tudor period. I'd received an ER book, Elizabeth I by Margaret George, and she wanted to read it. Not being familiar with George's work, I said, "You'd better wait until I finish reading it first, so I can see if there's anything inappropriate in it." My daughter's reply was, "Don't worry, Mom. If I find anything inappropriate, I'll let you know." Well, she did finish this book of almost 700 pages before I did, and after that, I decided that I wouldn't bother vetting books for her anymore!

58. vN by Madeline Ashby (3.5 stars)
Category: Science fiction and fantasy

This novel about a humanoid robot is a good debut for Madeline Ashby. There were certainly weaknesses. The plot meandered and got tiresome in places. Some parts were just plain confusing. (It's not just me; that was the consensus among most of our sci-fi book club members, who had chosen this book as this month's read.) However, on the plus side, I really liked the world that Ashby had built, and there were some excellent characters, especially Portia, the granny-from-hell.

Ashby explores a number of interesting ideas, such as the technical issues related to iterating and improving on previous robot models, the idea of the family unit within such a society, and the ethical issues related to the use of robots (e.g. to satisfy the needs of pedophiles).

Given our ongoing discussion of CanLit, I was pleased to find out that Ashby, an American, now lives in Canada!

   

59. and 60. Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History and Maus II: A Survivor’s Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman (5 stars)
Category: Dust Collector

This had been sitting on my bookshelves for years. My daughter had read it earlier and had been urging me to read it since, and I really don’t know why I’d waited so long. It’s probably because I was under the mistaken impression (now corrected, since I’ve been reading the Sandman series) that graphic novels were not as deep or complex as "real" novels.

Maus was a wonderful read, not heart-wrenching or melodramatic as some Holocaust novels can be. Instead, it was compelling, informative, disturbing, moving and even witty at times. The parallel narratives were done extremely well; the exploration of the author’s relationship with his father was as interesting as his father’s story of the Holocaust. This novel, along with the Sandman series, has really shown me how much a graphic novel can offer that can’t be easily conveyed by a conventional novel.

As we’ve been on the topic of high-school curricula, I’d think that Maus would be a terrific choice. I wonder if it is being studied in any schools in my area.

61. Sandman, Volume 5: A Game of You by Neil Gaiman (5 stars)
Category: Graphic novels

I was very surprised to read in Hy Bender's The Sandman Companion that many readers consider volume 5 to be their least liked. I thought it was superb myself, possibly my favourite of the five volumes I've read so far.

I found the collection to be very cohesive, more like a novel than any of the first four. The characters were great, and perhaps I had an easier time warming up to them because many were already somewhat familiar. I particularly liked the juxtaposition of Barbie's fantasy world with the elements of horror, and I loved all the nods to Superman and Wizard of Oz. I also liked all of Gaiman's takes on the themes of naming and identity throughout the volume.

Wanda’s story is simply touching. I loved how Gaiman manipulated me into seeing Wanda first as a typical woman, then as a transsexual, then ultimately as a real, complex, caring person who just happens to be transsexual. By the way, this story made me recall one of my favourite documentaries, "You Don't Know Dick", about six men who were originally women. Not only does this documentary have the cleverest title I've ever come across, it is a very sensitive and thought-provoking film about gender identity.

I find it fascinating how everyone has different favorites. A Game of You is one of my top Sandmans along with Vol 2: A Doll's House, but as you say, some people list this one as their least favorite.

Great review of the Maus books and for reminding me that they are on my GN list of books to read!

I agree with you and Judy, different readers have different favorites in the Sandman series. Gaiman did a really good job of creating such diverse stories and hitting a broader spectrum of readers. I guess when the series first came out in serial form, it was really only read by comic/GN readers at the time which was probably a more uniform thinking group of readers. I would never had read Sandman if it hadn't been for the group read!

As far as Maus being studied in high schools, I couldn't say, but it's a fair bet you could find it in most of their libraries!

Back from vacation and finally making my rounds - nice new shiny thread!

->41 mathgirl40:
She does keep the characters rather remote, but I too found it very mesmerizing - expecting that this'll be made into a movie at some point.

->47 mathgirl40:
"If I find anything inappropriate, I'll let you know."
That's adorable!

->49 mathgirl40:
Maus is the one I recommend when someone wants to read their first graphic novel - it does really show how far comics have come. Plus, if they end up not liking the format, they've read one of the greatest ones!

I keep saying that I need to read Maus, and it seems that today is no different - I really must get round to it soon!

I really like Sandman number 5 (not my favourite this re-read but one of the top 3 I think) - it's entirely possible that to understand why people didn't like it you need to think about the time it came out, AIDS was a big deal, there was some backlash against LBG folks and even now there is a lot of negative press for transgender people, add to the fact that it takes a more "fantasy" turn from the previous 4 more "horror" volumes and that may explain it?

>51 DeltaQueen50:: I also liked The Doll House very much. I suspect that, by the end of the group read, I will find it very difficult deciding on a favourite.

>52 lkernagh:: I agree that the group read is fantastic. I would not have discovered this series otherwise, and it has surprised me how much I like it.

>53 mamzel:: One of my daughter's friends said that her teacher had introduced it to her class in Grade 3! It would not have occurred to me to give it to children that young, but I suppose Maus is one of those books you can read and re-read at different ages, and get something different out of it each time.

>54 -Eva-:: A movie of Night Circus would be wonderful ... provided it was done well, of course. :) I've been recommending Maus to friends who have never tried graphic novels before, but I do fear that other graphic novels may prove disappointing after reading one of the best!

>55 psutto:: Your theory about volume 5's reception is plausible, Pete. As for negative views about transgender people at that time, I have a note about that in my next review. :)

62. Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare (4 stars)
Category: Classic/1001 books

Measure for Measure is not among Shakespeare’s more popular plays and does not get performed often. However, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing it at the Stratford Festival of Canada twice now. I went to see the 2013 production yesterday, and as is my custom, I reread the play beforehand. This production was reimagined in post-WWII Vienna. The first time I’d seen the play in Stratford was in 1985, when it had been set in modern times and featured transvestites (dressed in a Rocky Horror style) roaming around the aisles interacting with audience members. It seemed to me mildly amusing at the time, but I recall my bed-and-breakfast host telling me afterward that another couple staying with them had walked out of the show, as they were so offended by that aspect of the play!

I mention these productions to point out that, while some Shakespearean plays don’t work so well in alternate settings, Measure for Measure seems to be relevant in any time period. After all, political corruption, sex scandals, and uneven handling of justice are with us all the time. Indeed, as I was reading this play, the big stories in the Canadian newspapers were about a senator misusing public funds and the Toronto mayor accused of using crack cocaine. This early 1600’s play seemed to hit way too close to home! Measure for Measure doesn’t have the memorable lines or lasting impression of Shakespeare’s more popular plays, but it is a timeless and very thought-provoking work.

May is done! Here are the stats:

Books read: 13 from 9 categories (62 for the year)
Books off the shelf: 4 (25 for the year)
Favourite read: Maus (volumes 1 and 2)
Least favourite read: Murder on Ice
Challenges done: Alpha CAT, Random CAT, Award CAT

63. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey (3.5 stars)
Category: Dust Collector
Challenges: Women in SFF month

I started the "women in SFF" challenge with a real dust-collector, one that's been sitting on my shelves for 30 years! This is considered a classic of fantasy, though it also has strong science-fiction elements, and I can see how it might have been influential. However, it felt dated to me, and a few passages sounded as if they could have come from Harlequin romances of the 70's. Still, I enjoyed the story and the characters and am intrigued enough by the world that McCaffrey had built to continue reading this series. I also love Michael Whelan's cover art for this book, with the red star in the background.

Michael Whelan's cover art usually is something special. I never read Dragonflight although I read, and still do read, a lot of sf & f. I think your Harlequin romance of the '70s, scared me off! Too bad its feeling dated. See you more in the challenge.

>60 cammykitty:: I hope I haven't scared you off completely, as Dragonflight is still a worthwhile read. It's mainly the relationship between F'lar and Lessa, along with a few passages describing their interactions, that made me think of the Harlequins, and that's only one aspect of the book. When I was a teen, my cousin would give me boxes of her discarded books, mostly Harlequin-type romance novels. Dragonflight was one of the few fantasy novels I found in there, which perhaps cemented that association in my mind. :)

64. Neuromancer by William Gibson (3.5 stars)
Category: Science Fiction and Fantasy

I realize this is a seminal work and an extremely popular one too (#14 on NPR top-100 SFF, for what that’s worth), but I did not enjoy it as much as I’d hoped. Cyberpunk is not a subgenre of science-fiction that I particularly care for, and I found the jargon difficult to follow.

I was also disappointed by The Difference Engine, another Gibson novel I'd read earlier, which he co-wrote with Bruce Sterling. In both books, the world-building is superb and there is an abundance of interesting ideas. However, I didn't find myself caring about any of the characters. I don't want to take away from Gibson's tremendous contributions to the cyberpunk and steampunk genres. He is clearly a gifted and innovative writer in many respects. I just find it difficult to get through his stories.

65. Digger, Volume 2 by Ursula Vernon (4.5 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels
Challenges: Women in SFF month

How can anyone not like the brave and pragmatic wombat Digger? Volume 2 of this collection of Web comics is a continuation of Digger's adventures in the fantasy land where she finds herself trapped. I love the black-and-white artwork, which combines scary fantastical creatures with some truly adorable characters, as well as all the snappy comments from Digger. This is a wombat with personality!

The bit about the vampire squash (what squash turns into when left in the garden too long) is just brilliant! Vernon must have had the same gardening experiences with monster zucchini that I've had.

Both Neuromancer and The Difference Engine are on my future steampunk/cyberpunk reading list, but I have to admit i haven't been overly driven to get around to reading those books. Difficult jargon to follow is a definite downside to enjoying the story!

I'm under the impression that Neuromancer must very much be read with its time in mind - I have both it and Mona Lisa Overdrive on Mt. TBR, but they're still unread because of that.

>64 lkernagh:: The difficult jargon was a problem with Neuromancer, not with The Difference Engine. There are some glossaries and "study guides" for Neuromancer on-line, which helped somewhat. The Difference Engine wasn't difficult to read; the characters just didn't appeal to me. Despite the less-than-enjoyable reading experiences, I was still glad I had read them, because they're such important books in their genres, and I'd urge any serious fan of SFF to read them.

>65 -Eva-:: When I was reading Neuromancer, I couldn't help thinking of Blade Runner, a film I definitely associate with that time period. The settings are very similar.

66. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry (4 stars)
Category: Dust Collector
Challenges: Women in SFF Month, Random CAT

This second book in the Giver series is set in the same dystopian world but features different characters living in a society with different rules and norms. The main character, Kira, is considered flawed as she has a twisted leg that prevents her from walking normally, but she has a special gift that is expressed through her needlework.

Gathering Blue doesn't quite live up to the brilliant Giver but is a very good story all the same. It is a thought-provoking read and explores the treatment of people with disabilities and the roles of artists in communities. I particularly like how Lowry manages to build tension and suspense without the continuous fast-paced action that so many other YA dystopian novels rely upon.

Hehe - Dragonflight in the discarded Harlequins! You haven't scared me off them, but I've never been pulled to them. I like your comments on Neuromancer. I felt like I read it 20 years too late. I'd read more up-to-date cyberpunk before I got around to Neuromancer. And yes, it isn't the most compelling of SF genres for me either.

>68 cammykitty:: I did like Snow Crash, though, and that's also cyberpunk, but maybe it's just that Stephenson is such a terrific writer. I probably should give more cyberpunk a try.

67. Messenger by Lois Lowry (4 stars)
Category: Next in the Series
Challenges: Women in SFF Month

Messenger is the third book in the Giver series and continues a few years after Gathering Blue leaves off. In this story, the central character is Matty, a boy who discovers his own unique gift that helps him in fighting the evil that has permeated his village and its surroundings. Part of the pleasure in reading this third book is the reappearance of some of the characters from the first book, and we also find out the fate of Kira, the main character of the second book. The story is a cautionary tale about the consequences of selfishness, materialism, and insularity, and it works fine as a standalone book, but it is particularly effective as a bridge between The Giver and Gathering Blue.

Hmmm, you're making me curious about the rest of The Giver series.

On the cyberpunk, maybe. I wouldn't seek it out, but I wouldn't rule anything out if it's cyberpunk. Now that we are so wired, it should become a more relevant genre.

68. Son by Lois Lowry (4.5 stars)
Category: Science Fiction and Fantasy
Challenges: Women in SFF Month, Alpha CAT

I've been finding Lois Lowry's The Giver series so compelling that I had to immediately pick up this fourth book after finishing the second and third. This book tells the story of Claire, who comes from the dystopian society introduced in the first book, and her search for the son that was taken from her.

The characters and plot are strong enough that this would make a fine standalone book. It is an even more satisfying read for those who have read the first three books, as it brings the three storylines together and resolves many of the unanswered questions.

Having now finished the four books, I'd have to say that this is one series I would not hesitate to recommend to any child or adult. Like the very best dystopian novels, these books make us think about the issues plaguing our own societies and the various choices that are open to us. Furthermore, they are written in a style that's accessible to children but with enough depth that adults would enjoy them as well.

>71 cammykitty:: I guess you can tell I'm a big fan of The Giver series. :) Unfortunately, the first book was so good that it's really hard for the sequels to live up to it, but they are still well worth reading.

69. Sandman, Volume 6: Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman (4 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels

I found this volume to be a mixed bag. Some of the stories were outstanding and some were merely good. (I doubt I’ll ever find a Gaiman story that I would call "bad".) My favourite stories were "Orpheus" and "Ramadan". I adored the artwork in Ramadan, especially the gorgeous vibrant colours, but at the same time, I also appreciated how the expanses of white were used in "August".

70. Deadline by Mira Grant (4.5 stars)
Category: Science-fiction and Fantasy
Group Reads: Women in SFF Month

This is the second book in the Newsflesh trilogy, and it has all the aspects I liked about the first: humour, suspense, fast-paced action and terrific characters. My only complaint is the startling cliffhanger ending, which I generally dislike in books belong to a series. Fortunately, I had the next book, Blackout, at hand when I finished this one.

The first book was narrated by Georgia, and though it seemed strange at first, I ended up enjoying greatly the switch in narrator to Shaun, as well as the continued development of all the secondary characters. Grant is quite skilled at producing characters with distinct personalities. I definitely recommend this series, but do start with the first book, Feed.

71. Blackout by Mira Grant (4.5 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominee
Group Reads: Women in SFF Month

A nominee for the 2013 Hugo award, Blackout is a terrific conclusion to the excellent Newsflesh trilogy. In this volume, we see the return of Georgia, the narrator of the first book, and answers to all the conspiracy theories raised in the first two books. Amidst the viral outbreaks, zombie attacks and shootouts, there are genuinely moving moments that our heroes and their friends go through. These stories are as much about relationships as about the apocalypse.

At the risk of getting too political, I wonder whether Grant meant to make a commentary on the paranoia in certain segments of the population. I recently visited relatives who live in a gated community and whose children go to a fenced-in school with security guards at the door. I don’t mean to belittle people who choose these options; I assume they have good reasons for doing so. It just makes me wonder if zombie plagues are really necessary to drive a country’s citizens into a paranoid state?

72. Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston (3 stars)
Category: Next in Series
Group Read: Women in SFF Month

Tempestuous is the final book in Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange series. Why is it that there are so many potentially great characters in this book, but the two main ones have to be so boring? I liked the antics of the faerie folk, as well as the connection between the modern-day Shakespearean theatre troupe and the fantasy world. Like the two earlier novels, there were plenty of references to Shakespeare’s works, and to The Tempest in particular. Otherwise, this is a rather run-of-the-mill predictable young-adult fantasy. I think teens would enjoy it (my daughter did) and appreciate the Shakespeare references if they’re studying his works in school, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this series to adults unless they are particularly fond of YA fantasy of this type. Livingstone, being an amateur actress herself, does quite a good job in narrating the audiobook.

73. A Discovery of Witches (2.5 stars)\
Category: Science-fiction and Fantasy
Group Read: Women in SFF Month

A witch discovers her true powers after she falls in love with a vampire. This was a somewhat entertaining story with a few moments of suspense, but it was about 300 pages too long and contained too much romance, not to mention chatter about wine and yoga, for my tastes. I really couldn’t understand how the main character, an incredibly powerful super-witch in her 30's with a Ph.D. in history, could be so needy and pathetic. Very few characters appealed to me; indeed, the most interesting and believable character, if one could call it that, was the temperamental haunted house. Yet, I did like the combination of history, alchemy and the supernatural. With the intriguing set-up of a mysterious bewitched manuscript hidden in the archives of the Bodleian library, I kept reading, thinking there’s something really good to come. It’s too bad that the story fizzled out after the initial chapters.

Glad you enjoyed the rest of the Newsflesh trilogy. I have the first still waiting on the tbr shelves for me to get to at some point.

"about 300 pages too long and contained too much romance"
The cover is so darn pretty, but that'll definitely take it off the wishlist!

You are making me rethink my decision not to continue with the Newsflesh trilogy. I did like Shaun and it might be interesting to read from his point of view. Of course if I do decide to continue, it sounds like I better have both books ready to go.

I was planning on reading A Discovery of Witches this month as well but not sure if I am going to be able to fit it in, actually it now sounds like it's a book I wouldn't mind putting off a bit.

Great batch of reviews Paulina. I had high hopes for A Discovery of Witches but when you mentioned that it was about 300 pages too long and contained too much romance, not to mention chatter about wine and yoga, for my tastes I decided it can wait a tthe end of the line behind other books clamoring ofr my attention!

Looks like the June group read has yielded some interesting discoveries for you! I guess not A Discovery of Witches though ;) How much zombie action is there in the Newsflesh trilogy? My BF has taken to post-apocalyptic survival stories, so he's read The Walking Dead and World War Z (and right now he's reading The Road), but he's more interested in the survival/ethical decisions aspect than the zombie/monster aspect.

>79 AHS-Wolfy:: Dave, I'd be quite interested in hearing what you think of the Newsflesh trilogy!

>80 -Eva-:: I agree. The cover is lovely. The book had so much promise. Sigh ....

>81 DeltaQueen50:: I actually liked Shaun's narration more than Georgia's, which surprised me. If you get back to reading the trilogy, I'd love to hear what you think of it.

>82 lkernagh:: Lori (and others considering A Discovery of Witches: I don’t necessarily want to dissuade anyone from reading this book, as many seem to like it, but it’s definitely not my thing. It was particularly disappointing because I had such high hopes. One of my friends had recommended it, there was a lot of hype in the media, and the combination of science and history seemed appealing. My biggest complaint is the depiction of Diana. I know a large number of female professors through my work. Most of them are confident, decisive, and outspoken. They’d find ludicrous the idea that a woman who spent so much time worrying about her clothes and yoga classes and who would let a man make all her decisions for her could attain tenure anywhere, much less at Yale. That Harkness, a historian and professor herself, would create such a character seems a little bit like a betrayal. On the other hand, maybe Diana attained her position by bewitching the tenure committee.

>83 rabbitprincess:: There is a fair amount of zombie action in the Newsflesh trilogy, but there is also much related to the survival/ethical decisions, more than I initially expected. It was really this aspect of the trilogy that led me to give the series such a high rating. However, the philosophical issues are not presented in a "literary" or "lofty" way (as in Margaret Atwood's books or David Brin's The Postman, for example). Rather, they are couched in the words and thoughts of young, idealistic, action-seeking bloggers, but often they are moving and thought-provoking none the less. I also felt the books made for excellent satire of journalism, the political process and paranoia in America, though I'm not sure everyone sees them in this way.

74. Dreadnought by Cherie Priest (4 stars)
Category: Science-fiction and Fantasy
Group Read: Women in SFF Month

In Dreadnought, set during the time of the American Civil War, Priest takes liberty with historical events and adds zombies to the mix. This is a good steampunk adventure story, rich in atmospheric detail, with appealing characters. The plot is not particularly complex and the novel not a deep or thought-provoking read, but it is highly entertaining. However, there are hints that there is much more to come in the next book. This is mostly a standalone story, but the connection to Boneshaker, the first book in the series, is explained more fully at the end, and characters from that novel make a brief reappearance.

75. Tango in Madeira by Jim Williams (3.5 stars)
Category: Around the World (Madeira)

I'm not quite sure what to make of this novel, which I'd received as part of the Early Reviewers program.
It's ostensibly a mystery but it's mostly an exploration of a character in a particular period of time. In this case, the setting is post-WWI Madeira which the author describes wonderfully. The protagonist is a likable fellow despite his many faults. He comes across as a scoundrel, not above lying to and cheating his friends, but he is also humble and cares for those close to him, in his way. Fictionalized versions of well-known personalities, such as George Bernard Shaw and Agatha Christie, play significant roles in the story.

76. Hugo nominees: short stories and novelettes
Category: Short Stories
Group Reads: Women in SFF Month

I'd bought the Hugo Voter Packet and have been reading a selection of items from it to prepare for voting at the end of the month. I decided to include the 3 short stories and 5 novelettes as an entry for my "Short Story" category. I'm also including this collection in my Women-in-SFF group read because 5 of the 7 authors are women. Even better, I was familiar with McGuire's work only, so this gave me the opportunity to acquaint myself with 4 new female SFF writers!

The three short stories are:
Immersion by Aliette de Bodard
Mantis Wives by Kij Johnson
Mono No Aware by Ken Liu

The five novelettes are:
The Boy Who Cast No Shadow by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Fade to White by Catherynne M. Valente
The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Sushi by Pat Cadigan
In Sea-Salt Tears by Seanan McGuire
Rat-Catcher by Seanan McGuire

From the three short stories, the clear favourite for me is Mono No Aware by Ken Liu. Liu had won a Hugo last year for his short story The Paper Menagerie and is a gifted writer. I hear that he is working on a first novel and I look forward to its publication.

My favourite of the novelettes is In Sea-Salt Tears by McGuire, though her story Rat-Catcher was a close second. These are part of the October Daye series, and to McGuire's credit, I enjoyed them tremendously as stand-alone works even though I've read nothing else from that series. I loved McGuire's Feed series, which she wrote under the name Mira Grant, and am impressed by her versatility as an author.

Of the authors from this list that are new to me, I was most impressed by Aliette de Bodard and plan to seek out more of her work.

Boneshaker was a bit of a problem for me - too many annoying moments when characters would knowingly go where they shouldn't and engage dialogues at the most inopportune moments - but if Dreadnought reads more as a stand alone novel, I may consider giving Priest's Clockwork Century series another go.

Lori: I had liked Boneshaker myself, but I felt that Dreadnought was a better novel, so maybe it would be worth a try if Boneshaker had not turned you off completely from the series. :)

Speaking of Boneshaker, it's part of the new pay-what-you-want Humble e-Book Bundle 2 (http://www.humblebundle.com/) that's available for another 9 days. I realize Boneshaker has had mixed reviews here, but that might be a good reason for those who are considering it to go for the bundle. You can pay a small amount to try it out. Personally speaking, I think Spin by Robert Charles Wilson is the real prize in this package. It's one of my very favourite SFF novels. I've bought the bundle three times now, even though I've already read 3 of the 6 books. I bought one for myself, one for my daughter and a third for a friend. I love the pay-what-you-want concept!

77. San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (4 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominee
Group Read: Women-in-SFF Month

This prequel to Grant's Newsflesh trilogy is a nominee for a 2013 Hugo award in the novella category. It explains the origins of the Rising which led to the zombie-plagued world of the trilogy. I particularly enjoyed Grant's portrayal of the Comic-Con environment and attendees. This is a satisfying read, though not an essential one, for those who are already familiar with the Newsflesh series.

Dreadnought goes on the wishlist, I had a soft spot for Boneshaker but had no inclination to continue!

>91 clfisha:: I hope you enjoy Dreadnought. I liked it enough that I picked up Ganymede, the next book in the series, but it might be some time before I get to it.

78. Farthing by Jo Walton (3.5 stars)
Category: Miscellaneous
Group Read: Women-in-SFF Month

This was a well-written novel set in an alternate version of post-WWII England. Though it was laid out as a traditional British-style mystery, with an inspector and an old English country house, the mystery element took a backseat to the political and social issues of the world that Walton had created. I didn't enjoy this novel quite as much as I did Walton's Hugo-winning Among Others but I liked it enough that I'll seek out the next book in the series.

79. One Good Story, That One by Thomas King (4 stars)
Category: Short Stories

I have fond memories of reading Thomas King’s novels many, many years ago. At that time, I had little experience with literature by or even about Canada’s First Nations people, and his novels were eye-opening. This small collection of short stories is a good introduction to King’s wit and insights. They are funny and easy to read but there is much depth to each story.

This is rather late, but I've finally finished my reviews of my June books, and here is the summary.

Books read: 17 books, from 8 categories (79 for the year)
Books of my shelf: 7 books (32 for the year)
Best reads: the remaining books in Lois Lowry's excellent The Giver series
Worst read: A Discovery of Witches, no contest
Challenges: Random CAT, Alpha CAT
Group Reads: Women in SFF

It was a good reading month, and I'm particularly pleased that I got through 7 dust-collectors off my shelves. I also had a great time participating in the Women-in-SFF month, with 10 novels, 1 novella and 5 short stories. Some new-to-me authors I discovered during this group read are: Anne McCaffrey, Pat Cadigan, Kij Johnson, Aliette de Bodard, Deborah Harkness.

80. Chicks Dig Comics (4.5 stars)
Category: Non-fiction
Group Read: Women-in-SFF Month

Why did I end up rating this volume so highly? It’s not because the essays in themselves are particularly well-written or interesting, though a few are certainly excellent. It’s more that the collection as a whole describes wonderfully a subculture seen (mostly) through the eyes of women who were and still are a minority in that field. When I was a kid, I was the only girl I knew who read Flash and Green Lantern comics faithfully, so I could relate to the stories of women who had the same interests in their youth and I felt quite nostalgic reading their essays. After many years of not reading comics, I am just starting to rediscover them.

This collection of essays has made me want to reread my favourites from my youth, fill the gaps in my comics knowledge by reading the significant ones I’d missed, and seek out the exciting new crop of comics being produced these days. After finishing Chicks Dig Comics, I went to my local library and spent an hour browsing the graphic novels shelves with much pleasure. I’m also excited about going to my first sci-fi convention in August and checking out the comics displays and merchandise. I guess that’s why I gave this volume such a high rating. A book that makes you want to immediately go out and seek out more books is something special!

I love books like that, that make you want to go read more! My (female) cousin works in a comic book store so Chicks Dig Comics sounds like something she would be interested in if she hasn't read it already. And enjoy the convention :)

Thanks, rabbitprincess! I envy your cousin. It must be so much fun working at a comic book store.

81. One Step Behind by Henning Mankell (4 stars)
Category: Mystery

This was another very good Inspector Wallander mystery. It is not my favourite but definitely one of the better ones I’ve read so far. In this novel, Wallander investigates several possibly related murders, including one in which a police colleague is a victim. The book reminded me of The Laughing Policeman by Sjöwall and Wahlöö, whose work must have influenced Mankell’s in a significant way. Both series of novels reveal the authors’ concerns with social issues afflicting Sweden and the rest of the world. Mankell’s characters are much more interesting and well-rounded, but he also tends to be extremely verbose.

I do wonder if Sweden really is becoming the "lawless state" that Wallander constantly complains about in One Step Behind. My perception has always been that Sweden is a very safe country where people generally have a high standard of living. However, one wouldn’t think so, reading the Wallander and Martin Beck mysteries, where the authors go on at length about the social ills plaguing Sweden! (The Martin Beck mysteries were written in the 60’s and 70’s, and perhaps the situation was different then.) Maybe the Swedish LT members can shed some light on this for me.

82. Grandville Bete Noire by Bryan Talbot (4 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels
Challenges: Alpha CAT

This third volume in the Grandville graphic novel series was nominated for this year’s Hugo award and was included in my Hugo Voter Packet. I did not read the earlier volumes but had no trouble following the story, which is a steampunk mystery in the style of Sherlock Holmes with anthropomorphic characters. The plot and characters are not particularly exciting, but what really makes this book stand out is the gorgeous artwork. Some of the full-page panels are stunning, and I wonder if they'd be even more so if I were to see them in the hardcover book instead of in the e-book edition on my computer. I appreciated very much the atmosphere Talbot created and the historical details, some invented, as this is an alternate-history/fantasy graphic novel, but many based on factual events as described by the author in the afterword.

In regards to the version of Sweden given in crime novels; I think it's like how in US mystery novels, certain small towns and rural areas have an astronomical murder rate.

Not to mention Midsomer where I think more have died than there are people who live there. :) Seriously, though, I think both is right - our crime rate has gone up astronomically, but only because we started at such a low level. We are a whiny people, though, who don't really appreciate how good we have it. :)

>101 RidgewayGirl: and 102: Yes, Midsomer is a good example, as well as the Oxford of Inspector Morse. The difference is that, in those novels, the detectives don't bemoan the country's decline but just accept in a matter-of-fact way that murders occur left, right and centre where they live. :)

83. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (4 stars)
Category: Around the World (USA)
Challenges: Alpha CAT

This is a sweet and humorous coming-of-age story about a teenager who loves anagramming and is trying to live up to his earlier child-prodigy reputation. Colin has a weakness for girls named Katherine, and after being dumped by the 19th of that name, he decides to go on a road trip with his best friend Hassan, ending up in rural Tennessee. There, both he and Hassan discover some truths about themselves.

John Green’s characters are wonderful, especially the funny, politically incorrect and outspoken Hassan. I can see why Green has such a huge following among teenagers, though I suppose much of this can be attributed to his involvement in the VlogBrothers and Nerdfighters movement. I’d recommend this book to older teens and adults but would avoid suggesting it to younger children because of the language and more "mature" material.

True. :) Well, Sjöwall and Wahlöö were very much trying to write socially aware novels and Mankell himself is highly political, so it makes sense that the criticism is there.

84. Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (3.5 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels

This volume is another of the e-books I received through my Hugo Voter Packet and it is nominated for this year’s graphic novel award. Saga is a space opera featuring two refugees from warring worlds and their newborn infant. The story and the setting are both interesting, with loads of over-the-top characters and situations, but maybe a little too much for my tastes. Some of the sex and violence seemed gratuitous. I wasn’t enamoured of this particular story but still, I wouldn’t mind finding out what happens next. This first volume does seem to offer a lot of potential, and I may continue with the series.

85. Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold (4 stars)
Category: Science Fiction and Fantasy

This nominee for this year’s Hugo novel award is not Bujold’s best but it is still a solid installment in the Vorkosigan saga. The novel is part space opera and part romance, and it features Ivan Vorpatril and Byerly Vorrutyer, minor characters from the earlier books. Romance is not a genre I particularly care for, but when it’s done so well, in the context of far-away worlds with a variety of interesting alien species, I enjoy it very much. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that a story centred around Ivan can be as engaging as one featuring Miles, the usual hero of the Vorkosigan books. This book seems to work better as a standalone book than the others I’ve read and would be a decent choice for someone wanting to try the series but not eager to start at the beginning of the 15-book saga.

>105 -Eva-:: Actually, I quite like that aspect of the two series. The exploration of the social issues makes the novels seem more than just plain old police procedurals. I was just surprised by the fact that my image of Sweden as a very safe country didn't seem to jive with the "lawless" place that Wallander and his colleagues describe.

I have worked my way through a large chunk of the Hugo Voter Packet! I still have one more novel and a few novellas that I'd like to finish before the end of the month. After that, I'll need to take a break from SFF for a while!

Everything is relative. :) It's an extremely safe country compared to the one I now live in, but that also means that any and all violent crimes are noticed and it takes relatively little to become "lawless." For example, we have very strict gun laws, so anytime any crime is committed using a gun, it'll make the news.

@102/103 What you don't realise is the police inspector (Barnaby?) is really a serial killer, a bit like Miss Marple :)

->110 clfisha:
Well, he is the common link in all the murders... :)

>110 clfisha:&111 - Angela Lansbury is one of the most prolific serial killers. Murder she wrote made some 200+ episodes!

Ah, but in Midsomer, they drop like flies - the death count is close to 300 for less than 100 episodes - Barnaby is more of a spree killer, apparently. :)

> 110 - 113: I love the Angela Lansbury body count over time but the Midsomers are great for the little town death count so I think Midsomer wins this one, IMO ..... and now I have an irresistible urge for a Midsomer Murder marathon watch, and its a Monday night - darn it all! ;-)

I'd have to agree that Midsomer wins the prize for body count! Ah, a Midsomer marathon sounds wonderful. I'd love to go back and rewatch the early episodes, as I liked very much the character of Sergeant Troy.

As we're on the topic of favourite mystery series, I saw this article today about David Suchet and the final Poirot episodes. I don't think I'll ever be able to envision anyone else as Poirot.

Really looking forward to the last batch of Poirots, especially the episodes with Japp, Hastings and Miss Lemon :) Curtain will probably be difficult to watch, though. Getting a bit misty-eyed just thinking about it.

And don't forget, in Murder She Wrote, Jessica Fletcher always managed to frame the most famous guest star for her crimes ;)

Yes, I'll be sad too, and I also love Japp, Hastings and Miss Lemon. They're all such memorable characters played by very skillful actors.

86. Locke and Key, Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill (4.5 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels

Volume 5 of this series came in my Hugo Voter Packet, but I'd decided to start with Volume 1. This graphic novel is about a family consisting of three children whose father had been brutally murdered. After the death, they and their mother go to live at Keyhouse, their uncle’s very strange house in Lovecraft.

This was a real page-turning story, set in a suitably mysterious and spooky haunted house. The characters are particularly appealing and show depth, along with hints of interesting back stories. Rodriguez's artwork is another big plus. My only complaint is the excessive gore. I guess I’m still not used to graphic novels that are so very graphic. Otherwise, I loved this volume and immediately wanted to pick up the next one on finishing it.

87. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (3.5 stars)
Category: Classics and 1001 Books

This classic story, about a scientist who builds a time machine and gets a glimpse of a future civilization, is not particularly remarkable, but taken in the context of its time, it’s an impressive achievement. This is the book that had influenced and inspired so many other time-travel stories. The ideas, both the scientific speculation and Wells's social/political commentary, are the most interesting aspects of the book. The plot is straightforward and the characters are rather flat, but the novel is definitely worth reading if you are interested in the development of the science-fiction genre.

88. Saucer Country: Run by Paul Cornell and Ryan Kelly (3.5 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels

This graphic novel, nominated for a Hugo award this year, is about a presidential candidate who believes she had been abducted and subsequently released by aliens. This volume reads like a graphic novel version of the X-Files, and there are some references to that series. The artwork is good but not particularly memorable. This wasn't among my favourites of the Hugo nominees, but I wouldn't mind finding out what happens in the second and final volume. Unfortunately, the series of comics had been discontinued, but there is talk that it may be resurrected.

89. 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson (4 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominees

Winner of the Nebula award earlier this year, 2312 is also one of the Hugo best-novel nominees. Much of this novel is concerned with portraying Robinson’s vision of our solar system three centuries from now. The plot and characters almost seem to be an afterthought, though there is enough of a story to keep the book moving along.

Robinson’s views of the future are fascinating, more so because they are completely plausible. I don’t mean they’re plausible in the way The Lord of the Rings is believable, where the author’s world seems vivid and complete in one’s imagination. Instead, when I read 2312, I can envision this sort of future, with the technologies described, actually taking place. Robinson’s ideas are based on hard science, and the "extracts" that he intersperses within the main story often read like non-fiction. If you like hard science fiction, then this novel is definitely worth a read; otherwise, I suggest you give this book a miss. I enjoyed it and can even see myself rereading it at a later time, but it has received mixed reviews.

Locke and Key is on my future reading list so very happy to see your positive review of it. I have never read Wells classic The Time Machine but I have watched and enjoyed both movie adaptations, preferring the original 1960 adaptation.

Same with me for Locke and Key. It's not on my tbr shelves yet but it is on my wishlist.

I have Locke and Key on Mt. TBR (thanks to @clfisha, who else?) and since I have no problem with gore, I'm really looking forward to getting around to it!

I was at a SF&F con this weekend and a lot of people were mentioning 2312 as an example of someone who did fill in the subject we were talking about right. WL! I should read more SF anyway. It feels like fantasy has taken over the genre lately.

Lori, Dave and Eva: I do think you'll enjoy Locke and Key. I've just finished the second book (but am way behind on my reviews) and found it completely engrossing, like the first. I'll be interested in hearing what you all think of it.

Katie, the reactions you observed at the con seem consistent with what I've seen in reviews and what I felt in reading 2312. Of the five novels nominated for the Hugo, 2312 wasn't the one that I enjoyed reading the most, but I ended up voting for it because I felt it was the one most worthy of a major SF award.

I am nervously waiting for the end last of Locke & Key.. will it managed to be a satisfying series?!

>127 clfisha:: I certainly hope so, as the start is so promising!

90. Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed (3.5 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominee

With this book, I wrapped up my reading of the nominees for the Hugo Best Novel award. I enjoyed the world that the author had created, which was based on Middle Eastern myths, and I found the well-paced story quite readable. However, there were a number of weaknesses, including some awkward dialogue and too many predictable moments. The novel read very much like a young-adult novel though it was not marketed as such. This novel seemed weaker than the other Hugo nominees; yet, I’m glad it was nominated, as the series shows promise and I wouldn’t be averse to reading the sequel.

91. The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson (4 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominee

This is a fascinating story in an East Asian setting about a “forger” who is given the task of recreating the soul of the emperor. I was impressed by Sanderson’s imagining of the forger’s abilities and role. The characters had depth and the story was suspenseful, and I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. I liked this story best of the five nominees for the Hugo Best Novella award.

92. On a Red Station, Drifting (3.5 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominee

This novella, nominated for a 2013 Hugo, explores the relationship between two Vietnamese cousins on a space station that is controlled by an artificial mind based on the family’s ancestors. This story has a lot going for it: a complex plot, interesting characters, the examination of a number of themes including ancestor worship (an important part of my own Chinese heritage as well) and family bonds. Perhaps there is too much going on in the novella, as at times, it did not seem totally coherent to me. I suspect it would work better as a full-length novel, with all of the characters and ideas fleshed out fully.

93. After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress (4 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominee

This novella had won a Nebula award and is also nominated for a Hugo this year. I enjoyed the ideas and characters in this post-apocalyptic story very much. Even though the theme is somewhat overdone, there were some new twists here and I found the story very readable.

94. The Stars Do Not Lie by Jay Lake (3 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominee

This novella, one of this year’s Hugo nominees, is set in a distant world where there is a battle between science and religion over the origins of humanity. There were some interesting steampunk elements, but it seemed to me there was an awful lot of world building for relatively little plot.

95. Locke and Key, Volume 2: Head Games by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (4.5 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels

This second book in the Locke and Key series was just as suspenseful, absorbing and enjoyable as its predecessor, Welcome to Lovecraft. Here, we learn much more about the secret keys found at Keyhouse and watch the relationships among the characters develop with fascination and dread. It was an excellent read and I also love Rodriguez’s mind-boggling artwork!

I am way behind and have just finished reviewing all my July reads! For what it’s worth, here is the July summary:

Books read: 16 from 6 categories (95 for the year)
Books off my shelf: 0 (32 for the year)
Favourite books: the first two volumes from the Locke and Key graphic novel series
Least favourite book: the novella, The Stars do not Lie
Group read: Women-in-SFF

16 books seems like a lot for a month, but several were graphic novels or novellas. I did quite well with the continuing women-in-SFF group read, having finished a book of essays, a novel and two novellas in this category. One sad thing is that, with all the reading from my recently acquired Hugo Voter Packet, I didn't read any books off my shelf this past month. I will have to make a better effort to attack those long-standing TBRs!

Happy to see volume two of Locke and Key is just as good as the first one! My August reading has completely bottomed out, as has my ROOTS/TBR reading.... at this rate I will be lucky if I finish two books this month! ;-)

>136 lkernagh:: I just finished the third Locke and Key volume and it keeps getting better! August is going off the rails for me too. I want to read books off my shelf, but I've been tempted by the Booker list and other new books.

96. The Forsyte Saga (5 stars)
Category: Classics and 1001 Books

It took me a good long time to finish The Forsyte Saga, as it actually consists of three novels and two novellas. I listened to all 42 hours on audiobook, and at first, I feared I wouldn't be able to get through it, as the story started off slowly and Fred Williams's voice is somewhat soporific. However, it wasn't long before I became totally immersed in the story and with time, Williams's narration grew on me.

This saga is like a very literate soap opera, evolving at a slow pace, but with a steady build-up of tension. Galsworthy's development of the characters, especially Soames, is superb. He manipulates the reader into understanding and sympathizing with a man possessing frankly detestable characteristics.

Among the major themes of this saga are aging and the passage of time, which I thought Galsworthy handled beautifully. My favourite scenes in the book included Soames's interactions with his elderly uncle Timothy, in which he ponders the imminent end of a beloved relation with both sentimentality and practicality.

This saga continues with several more books, and I do plan to read them eventually. I've also heard that the film adaptation is quite good, even if it's not totally faithful to the books.

I am hoping to read The Forsyte Saga next year - I keep wanting to add an 'h' to Forsyte and then wonder why it can't find the book - so I am very happy to see the 5 star rating. I do love a well written soap opera style book and this one sounds quite divine.

I'd like to see the minseries of The Forsyte Saga with Rupert Graves! Have to find time to read the book first though.

Happy Fan Expo! :)

I have The Forsyte Saga on Mt. TBR, but it looks sooo long and slow. I might donate the book and get me some DVDs instead. :)

>139 lkernagh:: Yes, I keep adding the 'H' unintentionally too!

>140 rabbitprincess:: Ooh, I hadn't realized that Rupert Graves was in the mini-series. Well, that pushes it higher on the priority list. Yes, I'm excited about FanExpo tomorrow
! Will post a report later on.

>141 -Eva-:: Well, Eva, it really is long and slow ... but still totally worthwhile. Maybe you can watch the DVDs first and then see if you get the urge to read the books.

97. Type by Alicia Hendley (3.5 stars)
Category: Young adult

This new young-adult dystopian novel has an intriguing premise: children are slotted into schools and careers based on their Myers Briggs type indicator. The world developed by Hendley has many similarities with that of Veronica Roth’s popular Divergent series, but it is more plausible as it has its basis in real-life academic theories and does not rely on futuristic science-fiction elements.

There are weaknesses in the novel, particularly in the characters. The main character’s thoughts and actions seem to be that of a child much older than 12. Almost all the other characters are one-dimensional, some seeming to be caricatures of their personality types. Parts of the plot were predictable, and the weak resolution at the end was disappointing but no doubt was done that way to set up a sequel. Despite these problems, I did find the novel an enjoyable and suspenseful read.

I find I have a hard time reviewing YA novels. I read them from my non-YA perspective and then try to be forgiving if something doesn't work for me using the assumption that I am not the 12 year old the book is probably geared towards. ;-) It is good to know that Type has a number of similarities to Roth's series, which I haven't read yet, even though I keep seeing them mentioned here on LT.

Lori, I know what you mean. I usually check with my 14-year-old and often there are books that one of us likes and the other doesn't, or we both like them for different reasons.

I was away for a few days and have some catching up to do. Last Friday, I attended FanExpo, a big convention covering sci-fi, comics, anime and more, in Toronto. It was great fun but rather overwhelming. Apparently, over a hundred thousand people attended over the 4 days.

Seeing fans in costume was the best part, and it wasn't just in the convention centre. It seemed that a large part of downtown Toronto was being invaded by superheros, pirates, wizards and the like. I saw tons of comics, graphic novels, and artwork I would have liked to take home with me, but I restrained myself and bought just a couple of souvenirs for my daughter who was at camp.

I attended a session run by DC comics that gave a preview of their fall line-up and another featuring a panel of women in the comics industry. That was quite interesting and the comments were consistent with what I'd read in the Chicks Dig Comics essay collection that I'd read last month.

The one disappointing part of FanExpo was that it mainly caters to fans of comics, movies and games, and not so much to fans of SFF writers. It had relatively few well-known author guests. I really enjoyed the day but I might try the Ad Astra convention in Toronto next year, as that one seems to have more of a literary bent.

98. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki (4 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominees

This novel, which is on the 2013 Booker Prize longlist, follows the lives of a teenaged Japanese girl and the woman who finds the girl's diary washed up on the Western coast of Canada. The novel isn't perfect but it is definitely an absorbing read with many layers. It's both charming and moving at the same time.

My main complaint is that the author tries to cover too much ground. The themes of suicide, bullying, and WWII and the parallel narratives are complex enough without needing the additional quantum-physics thread that's woven throughout.

I'd listened to the audiobook version, which was narrated by Ozeki herself. She did a great job of depicting the youthful naivete of Nao as well as her underlying sadness.

FanExpo sounds like a lot of fun!

A Tale for the Time Being has the best cover of all the Booker nominees.

Glad you enjoyed your con! Your willpower must be of superhuman strength managing to restrain yourself in the face of so much temptation.

>147 lkernagh:: It was fun, Lori, and an interesting new experience!

>148 RidgewayGirl:: I agree. I love the cover!

>149 AHS-Wolfy:: One reason I was able to resist was that I found the choice of comics and graphic novels totally overwhelming. If the vendors had been selling novels, then I would have been in trouble, as I have a huge wishlist of specific books I'd like to get. However, I am just starting this year to discover/rediscover comics and graphic novels and finding there is so much great work out there. I must say that this interest is largely inspired by the group reads and reviews on LibraryThing and this group in particular! Anyhow, I need some time to explore this area and figure out what I like best, and then perhaps I will go to next year's FanExpo with a big wishlist. :)

You have a much better plan than I do - when I get overwhelmed like that at a con, I just buy all of it just to make sure I don't miss something essential. :) To be honest, though, I have gotten A LOT better in the last few years, but I used to be a right terror with my wallet. :)

Glad you had a great time at the con! One of my friends went and it was fun looking through her Facebook pictures at all of the costumes. Did you see the Lego booth where they made a Lego Superman, Lego Hobbit, Lego Serenity (from Firefly)? That looked amazing.

>151 -Eva-:: Well, it was very tempting to do exactly that, Eva! :)

>152 rabbitprincess:: I loved the Lego displays, especially the hobbit house. Here's one of my favourite photos from the con: Gandalf with Lego Gandalf.

99. We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo (3.5 stars)
Category: Around the World (Zimbabwe)

This novel, which made it onto the Booker longlist, is a hard-hitting, often funny but also depressing account of the immigrant experience as told by Darling, a native of Zimbabwe who moves to America. Having read many such books by Asian and European authors, I enjoyed reading one by an African writer. My main complaint is that the novel felt somewhat disjointed. It read like a series of short stories, though there is a linear plot involving the main character throughout the novel. Still, it is a very impressive first novel for this author.

100. Up and Down by Terry Fallis (4 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominees

Up and Down follows the trials of a clever but self-deprecating member of a PR firm who sells his bosses and NASA on holding a random draw to find the next astronaut. The story is frequently predictable and cliched, but I still enjoyed it immensely. It's a fun, humourous and heartwarming story with great characters, and it features everything I love about being Canadian. It's not a deep story but it's a great weekend read.

>155 mathgirl40: That sounds like a fun book!

I really enjoyed Up and Down as well. It was a great bus book because it moved along so quickly.

>156 cbl_tn:, 157: Yes, Up and Down is definitely a fun read. I plan to read Fallis's earlier books, but others have warned me that he tends to follow a formula and the books have a lot of similarities.

101. Belzhassar’s Daughter (3 stars)
Category: Around the World (Turkey)

I'd read River of the Dead, the 11th book in the Cetin Ikman series, last year, and liked it very much. However, Belzhassar's Daughter, the first in the series, was somewhat disappointing, featuring a group of unlikable characters and an unbelievable plot. Still, I'm glad I'd read this first volume, if only to get the backstory of main characters Ikmen and Suleyman.

102. Once Was Lost (4.5 stars)
Category: BookCrossing Books

There is a lot going on in this short book, about a pastor's daughter who is trying to cope with her mother's alcoholism and the kidnapping of an acquaintance, but the author weaves all the themes deftly. This is a rather sad book, but one with moments of joy and hope. I was reluctant to read it at first, because I thought there would be overtly religious themes. To my surprise, I enjoyed it a great deal. The author explores faith and religion within a Christian community but does not proselytize or give judgement.

I have the first three or four of Barbara Nadel's series on my TBR and they have been there for quite some time. I keep picking them up and putting them back, I may have left these books on the shelf too long and now have lost interest. I am going to try to slot one in to next years challenge.

>161 DeltaQueen50:: As mentioned, I did like a later book in Nadel's series much better than the first, and because of that, I'll probably read more of her books. If I'd started off by reading the series from the beginning, I'm not so sure I would have continued. Anyhow, if you do pick them up at some point, I'd be interested in seeing what you think of them.

103. Locke and Key: Crown of Shadows (4 stars)
Category: Graphic Novels

In this third volume of the Locke and Key graphic novel series, we are introduced to more of the keys and their unusual powers. There is further development of the main characters and their relationships to one another. This feels very much like a middle book in a series, but as with the first two, it features excellent artwork, suspenseful plotlines and complex characters.

104. Tell it to the Trees by Anita Rau Badami (3.5 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominees

This nominee for the Ontario Library Association's 2013 Evergreen Award follows an East Indian family living in a small Canadian town and explores how the children and stepmother cope with the consequences of domestic violence. The novel has a number of weaknesses, including some awkward dialogue and one-dimensional characters but it is also suspenseful and disturbing.

105. Harvest by Jim Crace (4.5 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominees

This novel is considered by some as a favourite to win the Booker prize this year. It is set in a small pre-industrial English village and narrated by one of the inhabitants. As the story unfolds, we see the sudden and disastrous effects that the intrusion of outsiders have on the village and its people.

Crace’s writing is gorgeous. I found myself reading the novel slowly just to savour each sentence. There is a great deal that happens in this relatively short book. My initial impression was that this novel is not quite as good as The Garden of Evening Mists and Bring Up the Bodies from last year’s Booker list. My opinion is starting to change, though, as I reflect upon the novel. I believe the story and characters will stay with me for some time yet.

106. Thunderstruck by Erik Larson (3.5 stars)
Category: Non-fiction

Thunderstruck interweaves two stories from the early 1900’s: Dr. Crippen’s murder of his wife and Marconi’s development of wireless telegraphy. Having a math/science background, I found the detailed descriptions of Marconi’s experiments interesting, but some passages were so lengthy that I wondered if the average reader would find them terribly tedious. Crippen’s story had some of the suspense that permeated The Devil in the White City, but unlike that book, this earlier one felt very much like two separate stories put together in a rather awkward way. It was still entertaining and informative, if not as page-turning as The Devil in the White City.

Crace’s writing is gorgeous.

That statement alone sells me on the book. I really should get around to reading the Crace book I already have sitting on my TBR bookcase, Quarantine, but always happy to add another book to the future reading list. ;-)

It's time for me to read something by Jim Crace.

>167 lkernagh:, 168: I'm ashamed to say that I had not heard of Jim Crace before I saw his name on the list of Booker nominees. I guess that's why I follow these awards lists more closely these days. I discover a lot of good authors that way.

Yesterday, I attended Kitchener's Word on the Street literary Festival, which suffered from a deluge of rain the entire morning. I felt terrible for all the vendors and presenters that were set up outdoors, but being from this part of Canada, they were likely prepared for any kind of weather in September, and there was still a decent turnout. I couldn't spend much time there but I did stay long enough to see Linwood Barclay (who was fortunately speaking indoors) and picked up his novel Trust Your Eyes. He is an extremely entertaining speaker and seems to be quite humble despite his success these days. If you like thrillers, especially ones featuring very ordinary people in seemingly ordinary circumstances, I highly recommend Barclay's books. They're terrific page turners.

107. A Game of Thrones by G.R.R. Martin (4.5 stars)
Category: Science Fiction and Fantasy

Despite recommendations from many people, I'd waited a long time before attempting the first volume of this epic saga. Given that there are five volumes in print, each one a doorstopper on its own, and Martin isn't even done with the story yet, it seemed a huge commitment. However, I discovered Leigh Butler's read-a-long on Tor's Web site, which broke the novels down into seemingly manageable parts, so I thought I'd go for it. I actually listened to the audiobook version narrated by Roy Dotrice. He does a great job for the most part, considering how many voices he must cover, but a few of the young female characters end up sounding like old crones to me and I wish he'd just use his normal voice for their dialogue.

I now understand why so many people love the series. The story is totally compelling, though I find the brutality and violence a bit much. It was a challenge at first to keep track of all the characters and their feuds/alliances, but Butler's summaries and commentary on Tor's site have been extremely helpful, not to mention entertaining. I love the fact that all the main characters are well-rounded, with as many weaknesses and faults as they have strengths. The storylines are anything but predictable.

My friends have urged me to watch the TV series, but I would like to hold off until I finish the books. I'm enjoying creating my own mental images of all the characters, though it's difficult as I keep stumbling across images of the TV series on the Net.

Ooh, you saw Linwood Barclay! Very cool. Hope you enjoy Trust Your Eyes!

->170 mathgirl40:
It is remarkably engaging, isn't it. I did see the TV version before starting the books, but since they're so very much plot-driven (and well cast) it hasn't bothered me enormously. Plus, there is such a huge number of characters that, for some at least, I've forgotten which actor played that particular character. :)

I'm glad you enjoyed your first GoT experience. Everyone involved has done a great job in adapting the books to TV. Obviously they can't put everything in the books on the screen but they've very much kept the essence of GRRM's vision. Well worth watching if/when you get around to it.

Sounds like the festival was a success, if with the rain! I am still waffling on starting Martin's GoT series, mainly because I only own book 1 in the series and I am afraid I will get sucked in and never want to leave until I have read all of the books in the series. Maybe I should just wait until Martin has finished writing the series... ;-)

I hit WOTS Toronto this weekend and the rain threatened but didn't actually fall. It was on at the same time as the Victoria used book sale so killed two birds.

Oddly enough, I went on my first date with my now husband to WOTS Kitchener and it rained then too!

Lori, if it's any help, you can always find used copies of the series at the Friend of the Library book sales...

> 176 - Good point!

>171 rabbitprincess:: Yes, this was actually the second time I've seen Linwood Barclay. He had been invited by our local bookstore a few years ago.

>172 -Eva-:, 173: Everybody tells me that the Game of Thrones TV series is excellent, so I'm glad I have that to look forward to later on.

>174 lkernagh:: At the rate Martin is going, it may be some time before he finishes the 6th and 7th books, so you might not want to wait that long! :)

>175 Yells:: I'm glad you had good weather at the Toronto WOTS. I shouldn't complain too much about the Kitchener weather, as it has been good for previous WOTS events, though I guess not for the one you'd attended. Still, it sounds like that first date there was a success despite the rain! (How can you not like a guy who attends a book festival with you on a first date?)

>176 mamzel:: I also love library book sales. Our library has a shelf dedicated to an ongoing sale of withdrawn or donated used books, and I check it at least once a week. My latest big find was a trade paperback copy of The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies in excellent condition, for 25 cents. I've already read this book but just had to buy it for that price. Maybe I will register it on BookCrossing and pass it along to another reader.

Well, I'm finally caught up with reviews for my August books, so I'll add my August summary here, even though September is mostly over.

Books read: 12 from 8 categories (107 for the year)
Books off my shelf: 2 (34 for the year)
Favourite book: The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
Least favourite book: Belshazzar's Daughter by Barbara Nadel

Very happy to see The Forsyte Saga was your favorite book for the month. I am thinking of reading it as part of my 2014 challenge as it would fit my doorstopper category and it is one I already have on my 'virtual' TBR pile. ;-)

Oh, I've been gone long enough to miss at least a hundred posts! So, I'll start back in the summer. It looks like your Hugo packet treated you really well! I'm regretting heartily forgetting to join up this year. Can I ask what you really wanted to win?

After reading your Locke and Key reviews, those are going on my list. So is 2312.

>180 lkernagh:: I really loved The Forsyte Saga. I might try to continue with the next books in the series for the 2014 challenge.

>181 pammab:: I don't mind telling you what I really wanted to win, but most of the works I'd voted for didn't end up winning! I'm glad Sanderson's novella and Liu's short story won, because I thought those were excellent. I voted for 2312 as best novel but am not too surprised by Redshirts winning. I enjoyed all five novels but didn't find any to be truly outstanding. However, 2312 is the one that I'll most likely want to reread in the future. I was disappointed that neither of Seanan McGuire's novelettes won, as I liked both of them very much.

Overall, I'm really glad I'd bought the Hugo packet, particularly for the graphic novels as these are harder to find in my library. If you end up getting the packet in 2014, maybe we can do a read-along! :)

That's too bad! I had the impression that Redshirts in particular was rather fanservice-y -- not bad, but definitely not particularly literary. I suppose I'm not surprised a fan-oriented award would select it either..

But now I'm going to look for your other finds -- it seems The Emperor's Soul is at the library and Mono no aware is online, so perhaps I'll be checking those out too!

108. Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw (4 stars)
Category: Around the World (Singapore/Malaysia/China)
Challenges: Award CAT

This novel from the 2013 Booker longlist follows the intersecting lives of five people in Shanghai. Although the complicated web of relationships seemed unrealistic, I liked this book very much and found myself caring about the characters and wanting to see how their stories would unfold. Aw explores the contrast between each character's public side and private side. All the main characters were "fakes" in different ways, and what I enjoyed greatly was seeing whether and how the characters were able to come to terms with their true selves. Aw also conveys a truly vivid portrayal of Shanghai, an exciting, fast-paced city where dreams can easily come true or lives can end up in ruins.

I visited Shanghai for a couple of days while vacationing in China a few years ago, and I remember being both fascinated and overwhelmed. I would love to go back someday for a longer visit.

109. The Regatta Mystery by Agatha Christie (3 stars)
Category: Short Stories

This is not a bad collection, but it's really not comparable to Agatha Christie's novels. The short stories lack the complexity in the plots and the suspense found in most of her full-length novels. There is a good variety in the stories and characters, though, and her most memorable characters all make an appearance. In one of the stories, Miss Marple tells the story in a first-person narration, and that was quite interesting, as I don't recall reading any other Miss Marple story told this way.

>183 pammab:: You're right that Redshirts is not particularly literary, but it is a very fun read. I've stopped thinking of the Hugos as awards for the "best" SFF works, as I used to consider them, but instead as awards for the works that readers enjoy the most. Of course, I also have to keep in mind that "readers" refers to a fairly specific group, those who buy membership to WorldCon.

Do look for Ken Liu's story. I really liked it, as I did his Hugo-winning story from the year before, The Paper Menagerie. I hear he is working on a novel, which is exciting news.

Nice to hear some good comments about Five Star Billionaire. I've read only "meh" reviews, and it's not the type of book I'm normally drawn to, but I browsed through it at the book store and thought it was quite tempting. On my wishlist still, but I'll wait for the paperback to come out. Thanks!

>187 Nickelini:: I'd also seen mixed reviews of Five Star Billionaire and certainly the novel has some weaknesses, but overall, I really enjoyed the story. I didn't buy the hardcover either; instead, I borrowed it from the library.

110. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin (3.5 stars)
Category: Classics and 1001 Books

A classic sci-fi novel on the 1001 list, We is worth reading for its historical significance. This work had influenced a large number of well-known and important novels that came later, including Orwell's 1984. I found We a challenge to read, though, because of the writing style and the abstract way in which the ideas are conveyed through mathematical concepts. For me, this was not a particularly memorable read, but I could imagine that, at the time of its publication, it had a huge impact.

111. The Murder at the Savoy by (3.5 stars)
Category: Mystery

This 6th installment in the Martin Beck series is a true police procedural, following the actions and strategies of the police as they investigate the murder of a wealthy and important businessman. Martin Beck himself has a relatively small role for much of the novel, as the authors concentrate on his colleagues, but there are some developments in his personal life. Even though I feel this novel is well worth reading if you’re a fan of the series, I was somewhat disappointed as it was not particularly suspenseful, unlike earlier books in the series.

I studied We as part of a dystopian fiction class in university and recall being blown away by it. I'm due for a reread!

>191 rabbitprincess:: I wasn't blown away by We, but now that I've had more time to think about the book, I do think I should reread it at some point.

112. Scrivener’s Moon by Phillip Reeve (4 stars)
Category: Next in the Series

I found this third volume to be a satisfying conclusion to the Fever Crumb series. The novel had a somewhat slow start, as we see Fever in her new life, back with her father and mother, and we are introduced to a new significant character, Cluny Morvish. However, there is plenty of action in the second half of the story. The second book of the series, Web of Air, worked as a standalone novel, but this one relies on the reader understanding the events of the first novel. The tone of this book is definitely more serious, not as lighthearted and humorous as the first, but I enjoyed reading it as much as the other books.

I’m still debating whether to read the Mortal Engines series, of which this series is a prequel. I’ve heard mixed reviews of that one.

113. Little Shadows by Marina Endicott (3 stars)
Category: 2013 Award Nominees

I didn't really care for Good to a Fault, Endicott’s earlier book, but I thought I'd give her another try, as this book is on the 2013 Ontario Library Association’s Evergreen list. Endicott definitely succeeds in evoking the feel of the historical period and exploring the world of vaudeville, but she gave way more detail than I needed or wanted. I found the book too long and too chatty, though I did find the characters interesting. Eventually, I managed to immerse myself completely into the story, but that wasn't until I'd gotten through the first 250 pages. I quite enjoyed the last 200 pages and was glad I hadn’t abandoned the book, but I had been close to doing so.

@193, I've enjoyed reading the first two books in the Mortal Engines series and depending on how the series ends (another two books to go) I will probably be picking up Fever Crumb at some point.

>195 AHS-Wolfy:: Glad to know that you enjoyed the Mortal Engines series. I do like Reeve's writing style so am leaning towards going for it.

114. The Master and Margarita (4 stars)
Category: Around the World (Russia)

I found this novel quite readable and the characters memorable, but throughout, I kept wondering what I missed. I had a chat with a Russian friend and she explained to me why this is one of her favourite books. I concluded that having enough social/political context likely makes a huge difference in one’s enjoyment of the novel. For example, I found the scenes involving the struggles to get Berlioz’s apartment to be amusing, but for my friend, who had experienced such struggles first-hand, they were downright hilarious. I'm convinced that I'll have to reread this book in the future, perhaps more than once, to fully appreciate it.

115. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (4.5 stars)
Category: Science Fiction and Fantasy

This was a reread for me, as it had been chosen for a book club of which I’m a member. It surprised me that some of the others did not like the book and have no interest in the sequel. I liked this novel very much the first time I'd read it, and even more on rereading. I especially appreciated Russell’s examination of faith -- how Emilio’s is tested and how his understanding of God changes as the novel progresses, in both storylines.

On my first read a few years back, the main storyline, about the travellers to the distant planet and their experiences there, was the one that gripped me. On this second read, since I already knew what would unfold, I found myself concentrating more on the other storyline, the one set in the novel’s present, where the Jesuit priests try to extract Emilio's story from him. The development of the relationships between Emilio and the other men, those interrogating him as well as those trying to heal him, is both interesting and moving.

116. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (4 stars)
Category: Young adult

This novel, about a young girl who seeks the help of a flamboyant wizard to reverse an aging spell that had been cast on her by an evil witch, was chosen for our local bookstore’s Steampunk book club. However, we all concluded afterward that the steampunk element was quite minor, if present at all. I believe the movie based on the novel does have steampunk elements, and perhaps that’s why the book had been mistakenly chosen. Still, I don’t regret reading as I found it very enjoyable. The plot is somewhat chaotic, but great fun. There are terrific colourful characters, but there’s an awful lot of switching of identities, so that aspect was a little confusing too. I’d think that children in the middle-school years would probably like this novel very much.

I am one of those readers that finds The Master and Margarita rather daunting to pick up. Very happy to see you found it readable and making a mental note about the social/political context, which I know absolutely nothing about.... my Russian history pretty much starts with Czar Nicholas II and ends with snippets about Stalin and Lenin and the whole cold war business.

I keep seeing these amazing reviews for The Sparrow, but I am not much of a Science Fiction/Fantasy fan so no book bullet there. ;-)

There are a few online resources for annotations of The Master and Margarita that weren't around when I first read it, but which I will absolutely use for my next reread. Such a fantastic story, though!

Yes, it's the Howl's movie that is somewhat steampunk, I don't remember the book having any.

Fortunately, I read an annotated copy of The Master and Margarita earlier this year which really helped explain some things. Will probably reread it someday as I really enjoyed it but felt I didn't completely understand it.

>200 lkernagh:: Lori, The Sparrow is one of those books I would not hesitate to recommend to people who don't usually read science-fiction. Another is Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. To me, both these books are more about the characters' journeys than the sci-fi concepts, and both authors are very good writers. I can understand if sci-fi and fantasy is not your thing, but if you ever want to try more in that genre, I'd recommend these two books.

>201 -Eva-:, 202: I did browse a few on-line resources and they were indeed helpful. Even so, I still found that some passages seemed to go right over my head. I will probably do more preparation before I attempt a reread!