Lucy (Sibyx) Reads in September and Perhaps Longer

October photograph



Find September Reading Stats at >112 sibylline:

Reading in October

♬

✔Crystal Rain Tobias Buckell fantasy
♬(reread) Gravity's Rainbow Thomas Pynchon contemp fic
loan My Struggle: Book One Karl Ove Knausgaard contemp fic
new What Makes This Book So Great? essays
Ongoing
Murdoch Marathon: See you in 2015! IM readers group is HERE
Virago Soon?
Reading the New Yorker 2014 Read my reviews here: HERE
Now reading The New Yorker 2015 February 2015

Reading in October
116. new The Belly of the Wolf (Lens of the World-Bk3) R.A. MacAvoy fantasy ***1/2
117. The New Yorker - April
118. new The Faulkes Chronicle David Huddle contemp fic ****
119. ♬ Dark Fire C.J. Sansom mys ****
120. ✔ Blue Remembered Earth Alastair Reynolds sf ***3/4
121. new The Polish Boxer Eduardo Halfon contemp fic ****
122. ✔ Journey to Aprilioth Eileen Kernaghan fantasy ***
123. ♬ Sovereign C.J. Sansom mys ****
124. ✔ A Madness of Angels Kate Griffinurban fantasy ***1/2

Guide to symbols
new=year or less on shelf
♬ = audio
✔ = Year plus on shelf

JULY books read
81. new Dead Water Ann Cleeves mys (5) ****1/2
82. new The Man in the Wooden Hat Jane Gardam contemp fic *****
83. new Necessity's Child Sharon Lee Steve Miller sp/op ****1/2
84. new Dragon in Exile Sharon Lee Steve Miller sp/op ****
85. ♬ As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust Alan Bradley ***1/2
86. ✔ Vera: Mrs Vladimir Nabokov Stacy Schiff bio ***1/2
87. ♬ The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches Alan Bradley
88. ✔ Doc Mary Doria Russell contemp fic

AUGUST books read
89. ♬Caveat Emptor Ruth Downie mys ****
90. The New Yorker - January
91. new Ravens and Black Rain Elizabeth Sutherland nf, folklore *** 1/2
92. new A Liaden Universe Constellation Vol 2 Sharon Lee Steve Miller sf/ss ****
93. ✔A Double Affair Angela Thirkell contemp fic ***1/2
94. new Bright of the Sky (Bk 1) Kay Kenyon sf ***3/4
95. new A World Too Near Kay Kenyon sf ****
96. new at freddie's Penelope Fitzgerald contemp fic ****1/2
97. new City Without End Kay Kenyon sf *** 3/4
98. ♬Dissolution C.J. Sansom mys ***1/2
99. new Let Me Be Frank With You Richard Ford contemp fic ****
100!!!!!! ♬ Equal Rites Terry Pratchett fantasy
****
101. new Prince of Storms Kay Kenyon fantasy ****

July and August Reflections
Well what to say? I'm combining the two months because they feel of a piece, with a skew towards genre fiction, especially with several long drives and the discovery that I very much like listening to historical mysteries while on the road. There is also a slight skew towards women, in both genre writing and contemporary fiction, although not badly and it more than balances out other months when I go the other way, but this is partly because I've been reading a couple of series on the genre side of things. And also picked up books by women authors I know I like, Fitzgerald and Gardam, because this was not really a time for adventure. Ditto with reading, just now, the fourth of Richard Ford's books following the life of Frank Bascombe. Possibly the most original of the fiction was Maria Doria Russell's portrait of Doc Holliday. In the non-fiction arena I persevered through the biography of Vera Nabokov, never really quite sure what had driven Schiff to write it, and never able to summon a great deal of enthusiasm. The only nonfiction book in August was about the history of second sight in Scotland and was surprisingly well written--a serious study of the subject. I am not, despite valiant efforts, reading enough New Yorkers. I'm slowly losing ground in that department.

July Reading Stats
Total: 8
Men: 2
Combined: 2
Women: 4
Non-fiction: 1
Fiction: 2
SF/F (inc. Sp/op): 2
Mystery: 3
YA or J: 0
Poetry:0
New author: 1
Months of NYers: 0
*Housekeeping*
*In: 4 2015 Total=23
Out: 8 2015 Total=23
From library or borrowed: 2
Audio: 2
New: 4
Off Shelf: 2
Read it or Get Rid of It: 1 (returned an audiobook)

August Reading Stats
Total: 12
Men: 2
Women: 6
Combined: 1
Non-fiction: 1
Fiction: 3
SF/F (inc. Sp/op): 6
Mystery: 2
YA or J: 0
Poetry: 0
New author: 3
Months of NYers: 1
*Housekeeping*
From library or borrowed: 2 (both audio)
Audio: 3
New: 7
Off Shelf: 1
Read it or Get Rid of It: 0

Books In* PHYSICAL BOOKS ONLY!!!!
July
24. A Liaden Universe Constellation 2 Sharon Lee Steve Miller
25. Ravens and Black Rain Elizabeth Sutherland

August
26. A Liaden Universe Constellation 3 Sharon Lee Steve Miller
27. H is For Hawk Helen Macdonald

In/Out Totals: PHYSICAL BOOKS ONLY!
*In: 5 2015 Total=27
Out: 6 2015 Total=24

Audio Purchases: 4

ENOUGH ALREADY! I QUIT! 2015
1. ✔The Club Dumas Arturo Perez-Reverte mys (March)
2. ✔ In the American Grain William Carlos Williams essays/Am hist (April)
3. gift/new Archaeology in Romania Andrew Mackenzie nf (April)
4. ✔ In Sunlight and In Shadow Mark Helprin contemp fic (May)
5. ♬ The Life and Times of Chaucer John Gardner returned audiobook

Series Tally 2015

Started in 2015
Blue Remembered Earth Alastair Reynolds (1 of 3) NEXT UP: On the Steel Breeze
Discworld (2 of 35) NEXT UP: Mort
Matthew Shardlake C.J. Sansom (3 of 6) NEXT UP: Bk 4 Revelation
Shetland Ann Cleeves (5 of 6): NEXT UP: (6) Thin Air
Lady Trent's Memoirs (1 of 3) NEXT UP : The Tropic of Serpents (2)

Continuing in 2015
Chronicles of St. Mary's (2 of 5 ) NEXT UP: A Second Chance (3)
Culture Iain Banks (10) NEXT UP: Inversions (5th of 10)
Walk to Constantinople Patrick Leigh Fermor (2 of 3) Next Up: The Broken Road
Liaden Universe Starting Over! 2 of 19. Not sure what's next! Maybe Theo.

Completed or caught up with in 2015
Lens of the World (3 of 3)
The Entire and the Rose Kay Kenyon (4 of 4)
Flavia de Luce Alan Bradley (7 of 7)
Medicus Ruth Downie mys (6 of 6)
The High Lord Trudi Canavan (3 of 3)
Cormoran Strike (2 of 2)
Pegasus 1 of 1 (more forthcoming.....)
Serrano Legacy Elizabeth Moon(3 of 3)
The Old Kingdom Garth Nix(4 of 4)
Imperial Radch (2of 2) Next Up - 3 coming out in Nov 15.
Chronicles of Josan (3 of 3)

To be continued? (from 2013 or earlier)
1. The Seven Kingdoms Kristin Cashore (2 of 3) Next up: Bitterblue
2. Liaden Universe Sharon Lee Steve Miller Let's say I've read 11 of 19!
3. KingKiller Chronicles Patrick Rothfuss 2 of 3. Doors of Stone forthcoming (undeclared)
4. Rivers of London Ben Aaronovitch (3 of 6) Next up Broken Homes

Read book one in 2015 but not likely to continue
Kevin Hearne Hexed etcetera
Eileen Kernaghan Journey to Aprilioth

I'm posting this list as an aide-memoire as I've decided to stop hoarding the Culture series. I think I have them all except #4.
1. Consider Phlebas -READ Reread? Barely remember it.
2. Player of Games READ ages ago, but I remember it quite vividly.
3. Use of Weapons READ
4. The State of the Art (stories) PROLLY WILL SKIP
5. Excession READ
6. Inversions NEXT UP
7. Look to Windward (did I read this?)
8. Matter
9. Surface Detail
10. The Hydrogen Sonata READ

Happy New Thread, Lucy. I guess you'll find a nice photo.

Ooooh, shiny new thread!

Happy New Thread Lucy! Now to catch up with your last one...

New thread! I'll have to remember to come back to the topper to see what you went with in the end...

Glad I had the new thread to work on. I found dropping off the LD just as hard as last year, maybe a little worse as I was here with the spousal unit last time and we kept each other buoyed up. Of course I went immediately to the nearest bookstore for some solace. . . bought a couple: H is for Hawk and Seveneves which I will try out. It might be too much book for me in my current mood. If it is I'll sneak it into the book bag that is collecting books for Christmas!

Happy new thread! Anyone else see a T-Rex head in the first photo?

Hellooooooo

I'll wait to see what you think of Seveneves. It looks intriguing, but what a chunkster. And not quite my comfort zone.

Smooches to Miss Po! We'll be out in Chatham again in two weeks or so, for a week, if you guys are out that way...

>10 Copperskye: Now that you mentioned it... :)

Happy new thread, Lucy!

>10 Copperskye: How intriguing! I think I see something that could be t-rex, but I'll have to keep an eye on it.

>11 Chatterbox: No, not your sort of book at all, I expect. Oh how I wish I was going to be back on the Cape! I'm so happy you've discovered how wonderfully nearby and just plain enchanting it is then! You''ll love September there.

Very nice new thread, Lucy! Glad to see the love for Doc here. It was amazing.

>10 Copperskye: I thought I saw an alligator head for a moment...

Sending you a virtual hug as you say farewell to the LD. Is there a family weekend in October? That always bucks me up.

Lovely new thread, Lucy! I think you asked over on my new thread if I had read LeGuin as part of the AAC. I haven't yet... I kind of took a break from some of my challenges and have be playing catch up. I might read a LeGuin later this year, out of AAC sequence but I am pretty sure that is okay. ;-)

Happy new thread, Lucy!

102. ♬

This would seem to be an earlier Discworld book than the first one I listened to as it predates women being admitted to Unseen University. Be that as it may, we follow the adventures of the failed Wizard Rincewind when he becomes the point of convergence and the only one who can save his world, except, um, it turns out he does more than that. It's all very silly, but entertaining. I didn't love this reader. He did accents well enough and all, but he had a headlong way of speaking that was slightly annoying. Glad it wasn't all that long. ***1/2

The Colour of Magic is the earliest book, with The Light Fantastic following. These two were satiric parodies of specific fantasies and science fiction classics, and it was only in the following books that a coherent Discworld starts to emerge. I'd say it really starts to take hold with Wyrd Sisters, his sixth Discworld book. Equal Rites (the third book), which you evidently listened to, is really an outlier and he never develops it, although Eskarina does show up again in a very late book.

For unknown reasons, Roni, the first book The Colour of Magic is not available on audio. I think I won't worry about it until I get to the end and feel that 'completist' urge come over me! I did detect a lot of references in this one and enjoyed them hugely (esp Cohen the Barbarian). Being me, I am going to otherwise be as orderly as possible, but I look forward to Book Six!

Somehow I got the order mixed up and listened to 3 before 2, I was so sure I was paying attention! But apparently not! In a way, starting with Book 3 was good as having Esk as the protagonist was pleasing.
Too bad her story doesn't continued as I really liked Eskarina. I wonder why he let her fall to the wayside?

#20 Hi Lucy!

I completely agree with you re Esk - I've been reading Terry Pratchett since I was a teenager (*mumble mumble mid '90s mumble mumble*) and every single new Discworld book that came out, I hoped I'd find out that he was going to follow up on Esk. He never did - worse, there's absolutely no mention of her, or, indeed, any other female wizards, even in any of the later books focusing around the Unseen University. I found it very frustrating (and may possibly have mentioned it at a book signing...). She does, however, finally crop up again in I Shall Wear Midnight (which will be a long way down the line for you if you're working your way through them) and you do get a bit of an explanation...

Oh, I do hope you enjoy Mort - it was always one of my favourites.

I'll be interested in your thoughts on Seveneves - I very much enjoyed his early books, but never quite managed to make it through Quicksilver - it was just too dense and it put me off him somewhat.

I finally caught on to Pratchett in the last few years; like the Guards books best (read them first) and have not liked the Witches much at all (I know; I know...) Have had fun with some of the others, although in some places the attempts to riff off contemporary culture is just a bit too painful.

I mostly like Pratchett very much. I'm fond of Rincewind. Perhaps all those years of teaching helped me preserve the less, shall we say, mature part of my sense of humor. I'm finding that sometimes people don't see the same level of funny in things as I do.

I can't really imagine sitting there reading a Pratchett -- listening, however! I'll have to be careful not to overdo it, so I'm going to listen to the 2nd Sansom next.

Belated congratulations on a handsome new thread! (I think I see a moose.)
I'm interested in what you are thinking about *God in Ruins* --- I started History of the Rain instead, and it's just a love of a book.
I'm sure I've tried the less good Pratchetts - #s 1 & 2 to be exact - but I still don't think I'd find the rest funny. I'll try someday. (I can see what he thinks is funny; I just don't particularly agree. Poor me!)

I also like the City Watch books best, followed by the Death books (the ones with Susan in them--I love Susan) and the Tiffany Aching quintet. I have come to appreciate the witches, but it took a while. And the Unseen University has its ups and downs.

Hi Lucy, trying to catch up a bit (again). I've had such a busy summer I can't believe it's already time from returning children to school. It must be fun to have LD at your alma mater. I'm sure you two have a lot to share and compare when you're together...probably always have had but now there's a new topic. We're heading for FL later this week. I'll think of you in Sarasota.

Happy new thread, Lucy. I had to look at the topper again after all the comments. It does kind of look like a dinosaur head!

103 nat hist ****
Among Whales Roger Payne

Roger Payne is the fellow who "discovered" that the humpback whale sings. I put "discovered" in parentheses as there is a long tradition in Irish music of songs that fishermen "heard" while at sea, came home and played on instruments. Of course, they didn't know they were listening to whales. From the moment he saw his first whale breach he knew his life was no longer fully his own, that he would dedicate himself to studying and protecting whales to the end. Which he has done. Among Whales is an uneven and unusual book for a scientist because more even than some of the books I've read recently about turtles and deer and other wild creatures, he writes about the effects that having some knowledge of and relationship with wild animals, whether in person or through the media, has on human sanity and health--and in return an increased valuing of protecting animals and their habitats for non-visible-commodity reasons. The first section of the book is about the time he spent in Patagonia studying Right whales, living far from civilization with his whole family. The middle section is directly about different kinds of whales and what is known about their habits and their present condition (as of the late 90's) from the humpback to the smaller porpoises. The last sections are about humans and whales, in particular, whaling, fishing with large nets, and the effects of pollution and are not pleasant reading. Hunting whales has become pointless--nothing they have to offer can't be replicated by other means. Not a single thing. Unlike, say, deer, there is no population issue either, in fact, quite the opposite, all kinds are endangered except the smallest, Minke. He hopes that through using the media and such activities as whale watching that consciousness about these magnificent animals will lead to a start in curbing both hunting, use of nets and ocean pollution. As of the time of the writing , Norway, Iceland, Japan and Russia were stubbornly hanging on to the whale hunt as a necessary part of their economies. Since the book was written nearly twenty years ago I am sure much has changed, whether for better or worse I do not know.

Why now? I started this while I was on the Cape. My spousal unit, btw, got to see a whale breach right off the beach in Truro!

Thanks for the review, Lucy! Wow to SU's seeing a whale breach!
You have made me want to go back to Moby-Dick. It's time. I'm about to wind up the decade in which I should have reread it.

>29 sibylline: BB...
>30 LizzieD: Moby-Dick
I've never read it. I downloaded the e-book in expectation of getting to it this year, but now I'm in catch-up mode, which is incompatible with its length. Maybe next year.

104. sf ****

So the moon gets blown up by an "agent"--that is codespeak for a tiny singularity--into a few big chunksters (you could throw this book into orbit with them and it would fit right in). At first everything seems like it'll be ok, as in, so the moon is in pieces, but business as usual. But then the pieces start banging into one another and breaking up and sending more bolides down and one of the main characters, Doc Dubois, does the math and realizes that in two years it will be curtains for life-as-we-know-it. First White Sky as the break up hits critical mass and then the Hard Rain, as much of it starts smashing down, creating a giant firestorm that will go on for millenia. (In fact, until the survivors in space can do something to hasten the remainder forming a satellite ring.) So the scramble begins. A great many things start happening, some you know about, some that gradually reveal themselves to be either more or less than they appeared to be at first. The major attempt is to make over the ISS into a place where people could live a long long time, perhaps indefinitely if the power of ice comets and high metal content meteors can be captured and used. A mining family in Canada is also busy digging in, and there are hints of some sort of idea of hiding in the deepest crevasses of the sea. The book is called Seveneves and if you stop to think about what that implies you might wonder where things are headed. The majority of the book, around two-thirds is about the survival of the first generation in space. The last third of the book is set 5000 years later, and I can say no more about that without spoiling. I will say that Stephenson's best energy goes into the science, the problem-solving aspect (which sf purists more or less consider the core thing about sf with some justification although also with a reduction in what makes a howling good read), so characters are secondary, although a noble and often successful attempt is made to make them round, not flat. I liked many of the characters and they were distinct people. A few were failures, Julia being one of them (not every narcissist is also a depressive kook). Aida also feels lifted right out of .... uh.... an opera plot or worse. A soap. That aspect struck me as kind of silly, sort of Cain and Abelish, and also a kind of slap in the face for less "sciency" (eg rational) oriented people. That's just silly too. They even end up with names "red" for the dramatic ones, "blue" for the rational ones, that annoyed me no end. It had the 'lets make things more interesting' feel to it, inauthentic. Also, in the last section suddenly this mysterious Purpose rears up. Hunh? Not enough prep. I did love the character Ty Lake, however, and could have read a whole book with him as the main character. And the Neoanders! Fabulous! In fact. I should say something too about the way men and women interact in the first part of the book--that was well done--and it felt completely right--they all worked together as a team to make sure humans would survive. Did some editor tell Stephenson to kick it up a notch?? Oh well, never mind, it was still a good read. ****

Why now? Impulsive purchase for solace the day I dropped off the LD at school!

May I confess here that I am a bit bogged down in A God in Ruins? This has never happened to me with an Atkinson novel. I appreciate it, I see merit, but I'm not enthralled.

Also, apologies to Roni, but there will be a slight delay to getting to The Crystal Variations while I read The Murdstone Trilogy. It jumped off the shelf yesterday afternoon while I was walking by. We have a 'Christmas shelf' in the living room where most of our books we give each other at Christmas get stashed and we are trying very hard now to get it cleared out! It was stuffed full and overflowing and is now at least 2/3rds open, very exciting!

I've been reading HUGE books for some reason so it will also be a relief to read something shorter as I do need to finish up A God in Ruins. It does certainly fit into her earlier pattern of stories about a father and daughter who simply do not connect at all.

Interesting and intriguing review of Seveneves, Lucy. I've got that on kindle, awaiting the right mood.

Good work on the Christmas shelves!! I'd like to clear a few shelves around here, but the books seem to be reproducing at an alarming rate.

>34 Matke: Thanks - I've already edited it several times. I seem to have to "publish" it before I notice all my errors.

Other books sneak in to the house, but they go right onto the TBR shelves. A humorous note: I informed the spousal unit that from now on (as it is September) any book he decides to get for me he should put away for Christmas and we should try to clear things out a bit. Well, had given me a single Kay Kenyon book the other day and said he wanted to take it back!!! "You've already given it to me!" sez I, "I know, but you won't read it for ages." "But I know about it." "No you don't, not really, you haven't read it yet." He gave up when I told him it was material for a Dave Barry column.

>29 sibylline: I think I need to read this. I always see lots of whales when we are on Kauai, and I saw a whale breaching several times on our recent visit to Cape Cod. It was during a dune tour at the end of the cape, off Provincetown, and the whale was in the distance but so very distinctive. HUGE splashes! I adore whales and seeing them is one of life's greatest treats.

Next time I visit the Cape, I'd like to see if I can manage a meet-up with you.

>35 sibylline: Ha. This made me smile, thank you. Am currently trying to wrest books off shelves and to the charity shops, but it is so tricky!

OOOOoooo! I can't wait for Seveneves! I wish it were on my Kindle now instead of A God in Ruins. Oh wait..... I don't really wish that. I wish it were on my Kindle now with *God/Ruins*. Great review as usual!!!!
Your SU was going to take a book away from you????? Unfair! Unfair! I'm glad you were able to change his mind, and I'm snorting at the Dave Barry column.

Liked your review for Seveneves, I'd noticed the book on the scifi shelves in the local bookshop but as I already have a couple of his to read I hadn't been tempted. Have you come across Iain Pear's latest, Arcadia, I've just picked it up from the library and it looks intriguing.

Oh, Iain Pears. Must go have a look.

Great review of Seveneves. It first came to my attention when you had it at the top of your thread as "currently reading". I checked it out, and the topic appealed, but I didn't want to spend any $ at the time. I did, however, have an audible credit, so I downloaded it on audible. I am currently listening to it as I sew during the daytime, and I am getting sooooooo much sewing done--I am liking it so much I don't want to stop listening. I am currently where Dinah and Marcus, et. al. are skipping off the Earth's atmosphere as they try to bring the ice "shard" back to ISSY. This is the first book by Stephenson I've read--can you recommend any others?

My night time book, which I read rather than listen to, is The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell--a very nice companion to Seveneves. I've had it on the shelf since LT offered it as an ER book, but have been "saving" it for--I don't know what--a special reading occasion?? Then I saw Mitchell has a new book coming out in October, so thought I better get to it. :)

>41 arubabookwoman: Thankyou. I bet it does make a good listen! I would hazard that Cryptonomicon might be considered his best work, but . . . I have only read a few of them! We have Reamde somewhere around the house and I haven't gotten to it.

Haven't tackled The Bone Clocks yet either and I've liked every Mitchell I've read (most recently Black Swan Green.

Mostly here to say that I've FINALLY finished up the February 2015 New Yorkers, which count as book 105. I keep falling further and further behind.

Tonight I'm focussed on finishing up A God in Ruins! I read most of The Murdstone Trilogy (a very quick read, not at all demanding) yesterday, but decided to give it a rest, but I am sure I will finish that up tomorrow.

>42 sibylline: I stopped reading magazines in March, and hope for catching up by the end of the year is fading.

Oh, March, yoicks. I've really been plugging away at the NYers, I just never seem to get anywhere! A year or two ago I was valiantly almost caught up, but then I slacked off, just a little bit and whammo. Oh where or where is a very very long article about opera when you need it!

Stopping by to say hi. Yes , you may confess that you feel bogged down by A God In Ruins. Even worse is me. I purchased it before it was even released and it is still sitting in a TBR pile. Like you, I have loved all of Kate Atkinson books (okay, maybe there were a few I did not try).

106. contemp fic *** 3/4
A God in Ruins Kate Atkinson

It feels like a betrayal to be critical of a book by a writer whose every novel so far you have liked or even loved and who writes so much better than many--or even most--but it is all relative. Something was intermittently missing (for me anyway) in A God in Ruins that is present in all Atkinson's other work, a kind of fizz. Atkinson returns to the Todds of Life After Life to the youngest son Teddy. He's a person who would have been happier as a yeoman farmer in another age, he loves physical work and being outdoors, he's steady, handsome, kind--like a good guy in a Hardy novel--and he falls in love with neighbor Nancy Shawcross as a boy. That world, already teetering, falls to pieces in the second war and Teddy ends up an RAF pilot, an amazingly good one, or not so amazingly, since we know what he is like. He loves flying and is relieved he doesn't have to sit in an office and, in the moments he has to spare, can't really imagine his future without feeling uneasy. But he does live and he marries his sweetheart and they have a daughter and are living contentedly in a big old farmhouse in Yorkshire, but then bit by bit it all goes wrong. The most lively characters are Teddy's aunt Izzy who makes a fortune writing children's books about a boy named Augustus who is inspired by Teddy and later, his daughter Viola (who reminded me forcefully of Elizabeth Taylor'sAngel). Whenever they were about on the page I was riveted. There are echoes of other novels that deal with the war, Mary Wesley's work comes immediately to mind, but I know there are others. The flying scenes are, I have no doubt, carefully researched and accurate, and have some energy to them--Teddy's competence as a pilot and then Wing Commander is convincing. And in the context of one of the points Atkinson is making-- that the demands of piloting made these men (and some women) unfit for anything that came after-- is vividly made. Themes from previous novels, bad father-daughter relations, for one,(and it is undeniable that Viola witnesses something her father does that a child could never ever understand) and the more subtle concern that Atkinson has (along with Henry James and many others) that you can sometimes feel your alternate lives extending in other directions, as if you have stepped through the trajectory of one, and catch a glimpse of yourself living an entirely different life. I adored Viola at the last, struggling so valiantly to find peace within herself and with others. Noteworthy also are several moments where Atkinson seems to be making fun of herself - Viola wants to write a serious novel about the war, she's a popular novelist and doesn't like not being considered a literary novelist (the success with Jackson Brodie, PI?). It is worth reading, I think, for what it strives to do. It's not quite a true four star read, but a *** 3/4 as I think it just fails to properly hold together. But I could change my mind.

Why now? Clearing out the Christmas shelf, getting ready for December's onslaught!

Fabulous review of A God in Ruins, Lucy. I enjoyed Life After Life, but didn't love it, so this is one I will probably pass on. Love that clearing off the Christmas shelf, just in time for the next onslaught!

Gorgeous photo of the shale creek bed. I've used natural shale here, but off a mountainside, to create a short forest path to a fire pit (different home: my ex-husband and I lived on a beautiful mountain acreage). Love shale!

107. fantasy satire ***
The Murdstone Trilogy Mal Peet

Undeniably, yes, a silly book but a slightly mean-spirited one too. Harvard Lampoon with nails extended to draw real blood. My daughter read about half of it and then had a fit, threw the book across the room, and stated she was mortally offended. Would.not.explain. Not, I think so much because she didn't want to ruin it for us but because we, like Mal Peet are fossils and wouldn't get it. I add this because while I read along, amused mostly, I had a section of my mind focussed on what could have so offended her? No idea of any specific thing. The story: One underselling worthy author of serious YA lit, is approached by his agent (on whom he has a crush) if he wouldn't consider writing a fantasy trilogy. She gives him a primer on how to do it: must be a trilogy, must take place in a realm, must have a jewel or some item that sides good and bad want badly etcetera. Shades of Faust -- the desperate writer, with nary a shred of an idea -- makes a deal with a Greme, a creature he meets in what he assumes is a dream. He will get the jewel, a pendant, which has been hidden on Earth in return for help with the story. Problem is, only book one gets done and the hapless writer doesn't want to give the pendant back yet. So it is a gag book, with lots of silly names and situations, but there is a surprising amount of pathos too, I felt sorry for the git at the end, as one does, for not getting that the stakes were high. If you read a lot of fantasy and don't mind being chaffed for it, you might think it funny. It took me only a two or three hours to read and I can't really say if I wasted my time or not. I'm not sure I can say whether Peet should have spent the time he did on it, but if he enjoyed himself then I am glad for him. I did laugh, snort, and chuckle a fair amount, but I also think Peet doesn't, ultimately, 'get' fantasy. He gets everything all around it, everything cerebral and formal but not the heart of it. ***

Why now Christmas shelf.

Not putting in official review - If I would have been offended anywhere it was at a point when there was a discussion whether unfinished trilogies might not be best left unfinished! But I thought it was funny and I had thought some of those same thoughts, even while working on book 3 of Hiero's Journey. In case any of you wonder --- it languishes yet at the agency that offered to read it.

>47 lit_chick: Thank you so much for the thumbs up.

I love that photograph! What an amazing place to live that must have been.

>48 sibylline: And i WAS wondering!

108. sp/op ****1/2
Crystal Soldier Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

EVEN BETTER the second time around. I know what is going on, for one thing! Lee & Miller are masters of "inclueing" as it is called (and however it is spelled too)--that is-- the delightful art of plunging a reader into a story and NOT offering a lot in the way of background. Here, although the book was written later, is the story of how and why the Liaden adventure began: with M Jela the soldier and Cantra 'yos Phelium, dark trader. Here is how you learn what Tree and Dragon really means, and how the tree came to be in the Clan. I am stepping up to four and a half stars, because I enjoyed it even more this time around.

Why now Really getting started in the Liaden Year read now.

109. sp/op ****1/2

Truly, the first time around it was all about figuring what the heck was going on, not that I wasn't doing some of that this time either, but I was also savouring Cantra and Jela's personalities and relationship and the slow and steady development of love and trust between them, so well done. The back story of the dramliza was also easier to follow, the Constellation stories being particularly useful even though I'm still not quite sure how Moonhawk and Lute fit into things, but I have faith they do, somehow or other. There is a good deal of tension throughout in this story, but never feels that it is being dragged out, the steps that must be taken to get them into the place they need to be at the right time, being what they are. Anyhow, also bumping my rating up a notch. ****1/2

I've plunged right into Balance of Trade since I am reading the these chronologically and I have the first three in one book. I head to Florida for a week on Saturday and can't possibly carry that heavy book with. Book 4 is hardcover so it will have to wait for my return. I AM going to take Jhereg - it's the only one in the series I have so far in my possession, so I am testing it out!

Happy weekend, Lucy.

Found you! Now to go back to the top and work down slowly.

ETA: caught up. Not sure I'm going to try Mal Peet's book, however.

No, I don't think I'd bother.

sf ****
Balance of Trade Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

Jethri Gobelyn, the youngest of his clan, and definitely not his mother's favourite, is threatened with a long apprenticeship on an ore trading ship while the family ship is being refitted. He finds his own berth, inadvertently, finds himself the first Terran apprentice to a Liaden Master Trader. Lots going on here, enough so that once or twice things threatened to get out of hand, but the Lee-Miller team kept all the balls in the air right to the end. ****

I'll be taking a little break now from Liaden and the other two books I was reading, as the Walton was just too big to bring and the Huddle, which is quite good, is a surprisingly dense and heavy (in both ways) book and I decided not to pack it either.

Oh, right, that is, I'm taking the break in Florida, visiting my auntly person - for the first time in four years not pressured with writing Hiero's Answer (can't wait til I can put those brackets around it!). Just a week.

Right now I'm zipping through Jhereg which I am liking ok but not loving. I don't care much for these first person narratives. Too many of them get this sort of peppy tone that actually begins to bother me after awhile. A few work but most don't. Seems like one ends up with too much action and too little character development. I'm not hating it, but it just doesn't measure up, so I probably won't go on. We may have to take a trip to the library or a bookstore, I'm thinking!

*waves cast*

>58 sibylline: Ah, the issue here is that the character development takes place across the series, as does the world-building. By the time you get into Teckla, the whole persona starts to shift. I love this series, so would hate to see you give up on it already. You might try The Phoenix Guard next, if you want to get away from Vlad for the nonce. Er, you DO like Dumas, don't you?

Woot! Only another week until you can put brackets around Hiero's Answer … that's awesome!

>60 lit_chick: Oh, dear, I just reread what I wrote and can see cause for confusion, Nancy - I mean that I'll be home in a week! Heaven only knows how long it will be before I can use the brackets. I promise to keep everyone posted, no matter if negative outcomes; being a writer is a constant process of being humiliated and crushed and then dusting off and bashing your head against the wall again.

>59 ronincats: Roni - I will do as I am ordered! I will avail myself of The Phoenix Guards and give Brust another go. I do know that the first book or two (assuming that Jhereg is a very early Brust) can be much less accomplished than the later books. One gets to see the writer mature as well as the work.

Meanwhile, I'm tickled that you may be forced to visit a bookstore. Have a great time!

>48 sibylline: I'm a Mal Peet fan and didn't get more than a few pages into The Murdstone trilogy. I've read all his other work and love his Keeper trilogy which has elements of magical realism.

>63 avatiakh: He can really write, no doubt about that, but something was definitely 'off' with the Murdstone.

111. fantasy ***

I wish I could rate this higher, but I can't. A ridiculously involved plot, no character development, nothing but the tedious dialogue that is, frankly, worse than "telling." First person can really backfire when a story becomes all action and no reflection. I don't like these stories where the plot and action just subsume all else. Nor was I all that taken with the dying and reviving thing either, and the magic seemed . . . I don't know . . . too convenient? Too much? I like Loiosh (who wouldn't) and I'm not rating it any lower because it was full of energy and there were a few brief moments when I was engaged or almost amused. Brust can write. I am told these get better, so I will try to be patient and open-minded. ***

Why now? Off the tbr shelf. Small and convenient to carry while traveling!

>65 sibylline:: I completely agree.

I've picked up Lens of the World now -- also a first person narrator, but it is already proving to be a much better story. I did have a moment of "oh no!" when I opened it and saw it was first person!

I must find a good entry point into sf some day, seeing all those great ratings here. It never tempted me, but whenever I visit your thread I feel like I'm missing out on something really enjoyable.

edit: the Shapiro book just arrived from amazon.it together with a new yoga mat and meditation cushion :)

Think of it as a gold mine you haven't even entered yet!

Hi Lucy! Just catching up with what you've been up to whilst I've been immersed in babyland. Not sure my brain is up to making a contribution to match all your thoughts but just to let you know I have stopped by!

I am beyond thrilled that you made time for me!

Meanwhile this Florida trip is not really turning out to be much of one for reading -- just a bit too much going on. Today, however, we are all "socialled" out and it will be a quiet one, thank goodness.

While waiting for some news from the agency about Hiero's Answer I've gone back to work on other projects of my own, one of them editing a novella I wrote as a blog a couple of years ago--trying to turn it into a real novella now, a very interesting process! It was written in first person - for the immediacy and energy that can bring, but it doesn't suit the tale that emerged. There was also a frame, or a scaffolding, around the story, which I am removing. I expect it will be a LOT shorter by the time I am through with it. A terrible length, in fact, too short for a novel, too long for even a long short story. So be it! One has to do what one has to do. I have another regular length novel after this to edit and I am also working on some new things. So my plate is full!

Wow, Lucy, I am so impressed by your writing projects. Wishing you much success with them all.

Hope you survive the heat and humidity in FL. I felt like I was under a blanket every time I went outside while we were there. We're having warmer than usual weather here (although not as hot as the day we got back) but at least the air doesn't weigh 10 pounds.

It's still like that, hasn't changed at all. I'm finding it almost unnerving. Do almost all my time outside first thing in the a.m. and hide inside the rest of the day.

That's the way to handle heat and humidity if you can get away with it! I hope that the rest of your time turns into something restful and pleasant!

You are an expert!!! It's the heat that just lingers on in this hot wet blanket even well into the night that I find especially unnerving. All that granite in Vermont just cools things when the sun goes down.

*waves cast*

So I absolutely have to finish reading at least two books before tomorrow afternoon as it is my plan to leave them here in Florida, and I'd like to finish three, not sure it is possible! I am "most" of the way through all of them, (under 100p to go) but . . . . Just went and added 'em up: 237. Unlikely!!! But I'm going to give it my best. I think I can do two of them which would be about 150.

Sounds like you're going to need some serious reading time. Hope you enjoy!

112. paleontology *****
Synapsida John McLoughlin

OK, history quiz, folks! Who did mammals evolve from? How and why? The answer is the Synapsida line which gave rise to the Therapsids which, during the reign of the dinosaurs were reduced to tiny creatures that snuffled in the jungle muck in the dark--and from these little beings all mammals arose. The period during which these pre-mammals were in hiding was crucial to developing every aspect of the mammalian survival strategy--from integrating hearing inside the brain, in space and time, if you will, so as to more efficiently track their own prey, caring for young in order to pass on information, nursing for the advantage of good nutrition, the list is endless and fascinating. McLoughlin lays out the progression simply and humorously and above all readably in this short, well-illustrated book--the drawings by McLoughlin himself. It was published in 1980, and that is 35 years ago, but I am guessing that while a few gaps may have been filled in in the meantime and perhaps a few things reconsidered the essential information is probably sound. *****

Why now? I'm back to cataloging Sterling Lanier's legacy library and this was on the shelf and irresistible!

113. contemp f *****
The Summer Book Tove Jansson

Perfection of an indescribable variety. It simply has to be read. Grandmother and son and grand-daughter Sophia (six) spend their summers on a tiny island off the coast of Finland. The mother has died, but this is nowhere overtly stated, it is simply implicit, in Sophia's moodiness, in the grandmother's heroic attempts to entertain and comfort the child--not with hugs but with wit and indirection, and the father's utter absorption in the work at his desk or outside gardening and fishing. He is there and not there. Each "chapter" covers an event or an aspect of island life, a new house, ambitious gardening, a bad storm. But don't be fooled, near the end Sophia dictates a book to her grandmother entitled "A Study of Angleworms That Have Come Apart." The book slants toward grandmother's point of view, she treasures the island summers and knows few are left to her, she loves this child, her legs hurt, she gets tired too easily . . . This is one of those pieces of writing that isn't like any other piece of writing you've ever encountered, the language is that of a light-filled Finnish summer by the sea, limpid, still, hot and clear but, everyone knows, only a temporary state of affairs that will change. But then return. It's going on my top ten novels by women. And I will read and reread it. *****

Later today I fly home - and I will experience a drastic temperature change! From nighttime temps never going lower than 70 to low 40's!

But I did achieve two out of three of my reading goals! VERY pleased with myself.

The one thing I didn't do was take a photo of my first LFL sighting -- nearby in the this neighborhood. And I wanted to take a book to put in it. Next time!

>79 sibylline: Synapsida sounds intriguing.

>79 sibylline: Oh this one looks fun. Added to the WL, though the only other LT review says it's "outdated in many respects" w/o elaboration.

>80 sibylline: I have this on the TBR pile, thanks for the reminder. Must get to it, it sounds lovely.

>84 qebo: While I am sure it is somewhat outdated, I am assuming a reader who knows zilch about Synapsida - how successful they were in the era before the dinosaurs, etc. will learn a lot and accurately enough. And McC's basic exegesis of the evolution of mammals seems solid enough. I expect the progress is in the details - and maybe one or two major breakthroughs - discoveries of links and so on. And, of course, there are always surprises. He doesn't sound like one of those people wedded to his own theory, but as a good explainer of general, known fact and theory and he is careful here and there to say "from what is known" in various ways. That same lone reviewer makes it clear that this is still the ONLY book on the topic of Synapsida that goes into any depth AND SEL, who is very very critical and studied paleontology, has no criticisms, merely advises one to read the glossary first. He hadn't scribbled any corrections either, which he would have had he found any! Or maybe he knew nothing about it either! Dinosaurs do seem to get all the air-time!

Good for you for knocking off those two books and enjoying your time even with damp heat.
Be safe! We look forward to seeing you home!
ETA: The Summer Book firmly on my wish list! Thank you!!

Happy Sunday, Lucy.

114. fantasy ****
Lens of the World Bk 1 R.A. MaCavoy

Here is an example of a fully realized world and a rich first person voice. Nazhuret belongs to no one, sent early to Velonya's premier militiary school in Sordaling that is his home until he is eighteen when, to avoid being drafted into the guard of a duke he dislikes, he runs away and becomes the pupil of the mysterious Powl. In an ordinary fantasy, Nazhuret (known to some as Zhurrie) would be a handsome lad and Powl would be a clever magician. In fact Nazhuret is handsome, but he is clearly a "half-breed" - part child of Velonya's worst enemies and he is very short. Nor is Powl a magician. He considers himself a man of scientific methods and teaches Nazhuret how to observe, how to be still, how to fight, and how to grind lenses to make a living. Zhurrie thinks of himself as an optician and corrects people if they say he has magical abilities. In fact, there is no magic, only skills and knowledge acquired through hard work. This is a fully realized world, brings to mind the topography of eastern Europe, Hungary, Romania, (known to me only from reading and looking at pictures, mind you!). Life is hard and the beauty is often one that you appreciate because it is your homeland and it is familiar and thus lovable. I'm hooked, but not on fantastic surprises and weirdness, I'm hooked on Nazhuret and his quest to find his place in the world, and also his partner Arlin (lots of wonderful ambiguity there) and I like the king too, a good deal more rounded than kings often are. It's not a "fast" read. The four stars are leaving room to go higher. ****

I finished the above on the plane ride home from Florida, and now I'm back. Tonight we pop across the lake to a place just an hour and a half away to try out a place that might work next year for the big family gathering that is in the works. In a couple of weeks we'll spend a night further into the Adirondacks. Many of the kind of "campy" places we like close at this time of year, so that might be the extent of our trials. Tonight is the "blood moon" - I think it is as close as it gets, so the tide will be high too and the reddishness is for some other reason . . . but we hope to enjoy watching it come up over our own Green Mountains from the other side

Yesterday morning I took a walk in 73 degrees before breakfast, this morning it's 43! But up into the seventies. I have on a turtleneck for now and a sweater and wore my fingerless mitts outside!

Welcome home! (I'd take your Vermont weather any time -- we're still in the 80's here). What's an "LFL"?

Little Free Library! It had some decent titles in it too!

>80 sibylline:: I have had this on my wishlist forever now. Must do something about that.

>89 sibylline:: one of the many SFs I gave away. You are making me wish I hadn't.

Having just visited the Adirondacks myself, I will be interested in your findings. It was our first trip and we felt we barely scratched the surface.

>80 sibylline: Oh, I am so pleased to read your comments about The Summer Book. I absolutely loved that short novel when I read it a couple of years ago. I totally agree -- "perfection of an indescribable variety." I kept my copy and perhaps I'll give it a reread, too.

Welcome home!
I don't need another fantasy series, but you may convince me that I need this one. *sigh* Thanks a lot!

*waves cast--one more week!*

the MacAvoy series--in my library, read many yrs ago.

The Summer Book should be more famous! I only rated with 4 stars, but I also enjoyed it so much. The author is more popular for the Moomins, are they known in the US?

Your writing projects are so fascinating, thanks for sharing with us.

I saw two corgies yesterday at the horse racecourse, but when I finally found my camera in my handbag they had already disappeared in the crowd with their most elegant holders. Might have been my first RL corgie sighting, they are extremely rare here. Which is good in a country where people prefer buying overbred "fashion dogs".

Corgis are definitely hobbit dogs, and I doubt they will ever appeal to fashionable sleek elvish people . . . . you also have to have a good sense of humor to have a corgi and willing to hear endless stupid jokes from other people about their short legs. They have a special sense of self-importance (I think that is the herding piece) mixed with playfulness that makes them especially amusing to be with.

Yes The Summer Book should be wayyyy more famous than it is. Moomins are not widely known in the US (although I think they have a steady fandom) but both my spousal unit and myself grew up with them, so too did the little darling. On a trip to Finland the spousal unit's mother bought these which I treasure!

Duh, it was a blood moon because it was the final eclipse in a set of four that have been ongoing the last couple of years. The last set of four was thirtyish years ago and I remember seeing at least one of those.

So anyway, we took sleeping bags and lay out on the "beach" on the western side of Lake Champlain for a couple of hours to watch the whole affair. Very very fun, although I went to bed so late I'm kind of a zombie today!

I have serious Moomin envy here.

We were able to see it clearly through our living room windows. It was really cool!!

Moomin envy here too! Love them!

115. fantasy ****
King of the Dead Bk 2 R.A. MacAvoy

The nice thing about a second book in a series that you like, is that you know what's what--and it's all about development and expansion of the themes and situations suggested in the first book, but no need to start drawing in and resolving things yet, so there's a kind of freedom to it. For the reader, too, there is the security of knowing there is more. That's a general statement, of course, and true of most fantasy trilogies, I suspect it is WHY the trilogy is so appealing, make fun of it as some will. Book 2 of this series is a classic example of those riches as Nazhuret and Arlin get dragged into trying to prevent a war between the traditional enemies (both of whom Nazhuret is related to). The present situation is resolved and I think the 3rd book is concerned with later, although possibly somehow related, events . . . or it is more dipping into the big moments of Nazhuret's life. There was a little "magic" in this one, mainly prophetic dreams, and Nazhuret is not at all happy about it, again done well and enjoyable. I can't emphasize enough the strong descriptive writing. ****

Aw - Moomin envy. I couldn't believe it when my mil gave these to us after the little darling came along! I had no idea she had them.

I watched the moon for two hours, perfect view from my balcony and for once no clouds like the last times. I could just as well have stayed inside, but I felt like sitting in the cold with woolen cap, gloves, blanket and hot tea. :)

I should make a Moomin book my #75 this year.

>106 Deern: I predict you will be captivated!

I remember reading about the Moomintrolls back when I was kid. I read quite a few books by Tove Jansson. But I must say that your Moomins are just darling! So cute! I've never seen them before!

*waves cast--6 more days*

I confess that I don't know Moomins except for the love among the 75ers. I see that she wrote the first book when I was 1. I would have been a prime audience, but they didn't make it to RobCo during my childhood as far as I know.

*waves cast--only 5 more days!*

Read in September
102. ♬ The Light Fantastic Terry Pratchett fantasy, audio ***1/2
103. ✔ Among Whales Roger Payne nf, natural history ****
104. new Seveneves Neal Stephenson sf ***3/4
105. The New Yorker 2015 February
106. new A God in Ruins Kate Atkinson contemp fic ***3/4
107. new The Murdstone Trilogy Mal Peet fantasy ***
108. Liaden Yr reread #1 Crystal Soldier (from Crystal Variations Sharon Lee & Steve Miller sp/op **** 1/2!!
109. Liaden Year #2 Crystal Dragon (from Crystal Variations Sharon Lee & Steve Miller ****1/2
110. Liaden Year #3 Balance of Trade Sharon Lee & Steve Miller ****
111. ✔ Jhereg Steven Brust fantasy ***
112. SEL library: Synapsida John C. McLoughlin paleontology *****
113. ✔The Summer Book Tove Jansson contemp fic *****
114. new Lens of the World R.A. MacAvoy fantasy ****
115. new King of the Dead bk 2 R.A. MacAvoy fantasy ****

Reflections Fourteen books! My goodness! That seems like a lot until you look more closely and see they were all either fast reads or rather slender tomes, in part chosen on purpose as there was a good bit of traveling going on. The skew this month is a little toward male writers and a heavily toward F and SF. Once again no Iris Murdoch, but I am getting the itch to tackle another one. Counting the NYers as non-fiction, which they are mostly, I managed three this month, one about whales, one of the great marvels of the planet, and one about our precursors, the Synapsids, the latter was amazingly well written. The WOW book of the month was Tove Jansson's The Summer Book. the most fun, of course, was revisiting Liaden! I was a bit disappointed by Jhereg but have been urged to keep on. Very disappointed by the Atkinson and also by The Murdstone Trilogy. I did finish them all, but I considered not doing so. An all over the place sort of reading month.

On managing my libraryOne thing I'm realizing is how slippery the stats can be. For example, the reason why I want to list Books In and Out is to keep track of how I'm doing uncluttering the house, given the limitations of shelving. It's nice to know, too, of course, what I've kept and what I've jettisoned. But that leaves the issue of audiobooks--which being "invisible" could get lost in the shuffle and, I'm learning, it is all too easy to go on a binge, so maybe it's good to keep track! What it reveals to me is the tension (!) between aims that I have here on LT, am I listing my physical library or am I listing what I read? As much as I can manage of both, I think, but it makes for odd lapses and inconsistencies that drive me slightly batty!

Reading Stats
Total: 14
Men: 6
Women: 4
Both: 3
Non-fiction: 3
Fiction: 11
SF/F: 9
Mystery: 0
YA or J: 0
Poetry: 0
New author: 4
Months of NYers: 1
Off shelf: 3
From library or borrowed: 1
Audio: 1

Housekeeping In and Out pertains to PHYSICAL BOOKS only!
In this month: 1 2015 Total=28
Out this month: 8 2015 Total= 32
New: 1
Used or Gift: 1

Audio Purchases: 1

Read it or Get Rid of It: 0

Titles of Books In (This does include audio books)
My Life in Middlemarch Rebecca Mead
(Audio) Dark Fire C.J. Sansom

ENOUGH ALREADY! I QUIT! 2015 TOTAL
1. ✔The Club Dumas Arturo Perez-Reverte mys (March)
2. ✔ In the American Grain William Carlos Williams essays/Am hist (April)
3. gift/new Archaeology in Romania Andrew Mackenzie nf (April)
4. ✔ In Sunlight and In Shadow Mark Helprin contemp fic (May)
5. ♬ The Life and Times of Chaucer John Gardner returned audiobook (June)

*waves cast --4 more days!*

Thought of you--
http://www.harrybliss.com/store/cartoon-of-the-day/

Another "hi" from San Diego!! That's a MOST impressive list for September, even if they were slim.

>113 ronincats: LOVE IT!

>80 sibylline: Five Stars and on your top ten novels by women! I definitely got hit by a book bullet and will be looking for a copy of The Summer Book. I may check it out from the library first before I buy it because it sounds too good to put off for long. Lovely review, Lucy.

>99 sibylline: Love the Moomin collection! They are adorable. I have a few of the board books which my grandchildren and I have loved. Time to move up to the books for older kids and adults.

"... is to keep track of how I'm doing uncluttering the house, given the limitations of shelving..."

I recently looked at the piles of books around the house, thought about the fact that I'd like to downsize when I retire, and realized that massive book de-acquisitioning will have to go on over the next couple years.

I think, once I get past Julie's 50th birthday party in a few weeks (can't cope with much more than that and work at the moment), I'm setting a goal of dumping 500+ books into book recycling by Christmas. If I can do that at least once a year for a few years, I should be okay by the time we move.

Gulp! That's a lot of books to unload!

And it is so nice to have a visit from you!

Hey, 14 books is kinda a big deal. :) I finished 5, I believe. I've been really busy lately and so that seems like a huge accomplishment to me, though it doesn't get me anywhere near the 75 goal.

116. fantasy****
The Belly of the Wolf Bk 3 Lens R.A. MacAvoy

This final book in the series takes place many years later. King Rudof, Nazhuret's old friend, has died in mysterious-seeming circumstances and civil war appears to be breaking out in Velonya. Nazhuret, accompanied by his daughter, Nahvah, comes out of his semi-retirement as a professor in a small country nearby to return to Velonya to see if he can sort things out. Convinced that Rudof's son may have murdered his father, he seeks to murder him, but then things aren't quite what they seem. Nazhuret has been widowed seven years, and during the journey homeward, a romance brews up in an unlikely quarter. Overall I have to say this third book lacked the drive or coherence of the first two, but many features of it were pleasing, among them the way MacAvoy just plunges you in, a new country here, different customs there. She's very good too at the characteristics of people in different locales. They are a solid read, better than many, could be rated at 3 3/4, but overall four stars is fine.

*waves cast--ONE more day!*

>117 TadAD:: it can be done, Tad. I dumped 2,000 SF when a friend opened a used bookshop. Mind you, I have occasionally regretted being so cavalier, especially when Lucy raves about one and I know it's gone.

>121 ronincats: One more day!!

118. contemp fic ****
The Faulkes Chronicle David Huddle

What makes this book unusual and interesting is the narrative mode. Huddle uses the collective "we," the voice of the impossible number of children whose mother is dying of cancer to tell the story of her last few months. It read sometimes like a fantasy of a "good death," sometimes like a paean to the sturdy yeomanry -- which the Faulkes represent--good solid hard-working, no-nonsense people of no interest to anyone but themselves. The point is the ONLY thing about them that isn't ordinary is that there are so many of them and, except that now their mother is dying and has become somehow unordinary, beautiful, transcendent and not just in their eyes, but by everyone who sees her. The "we" works I think, the individuality of the children coming through as the "we" shifts to describing and recording individual dialogue and specific descriptions or stories about a particular kid or incident. The writing is smooth and the book flows along, not confusing or hard to read at all. I was tempted to write down all the names of the kids and their ages to see if I could figure out if the "we" voice was a particular one of them and that I could puzzle it out. . . but I let it be. ****

Why now? This was published by Tupelo, a small press that specializes in poetry and interesting fiction/non-fiction on whose board I've been serving (lamely) for many years. One of the first writing workshops I attended was at the University of Vermont where David was teaching and, for better or worse, he strongly encouraged me to keep going! His poetry is excellent, by the way.

*waves*

With two hands, right, both out of casts?

YES!!!!

YAY!

Finally got something written up above >124 sibylline:

>124 sibylline:: that sounds really interesting.

Thanks Tui, I reread it and, as is always the case with a new review, found multiple errors, now fixed. I can never see them until either someone else has read the thing or it's been a few days.

For those of you who were friends with JanetinLondon, her daughter has started a blog about her adventures teaching English in France, but is ALSO embarked on a lovely project reading the books that her mother loved, using LT as her source. She writes on the MEMORIAL THREAD and this is the blog address: BLOG

>132 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy, I'll be checking out Janet's Memorial Thread. I still have some books with post-it notes saying things like "janet rec". She was quite the reader and could write reviews that made me go out and buy some books.

ETA: I will be following Kate's blog. What an exciting project!

Following Kate's blog now as well, love the project.

What an impressive september list. And I should also do better stats again next year. And move out some books... *sigh* :)

Happy weekend, Lucy.

Dropping in to say hi!

118. ♬ mys ****
Dark Fire C.J. Sansom

Loved this one, I'm hooked! The details of city life at the time feel authentic. I love Shardlake's new partner, Jack Barak! No need to say more, eh?

Ohhh I've read all of the Shardlakes. They are so good!!

Right you are! Read on, my friend, read on!

I've got #3 all loaded up and ready to roll when I leave on my next trip (down to visit the LD and then to an Irish music weekend in the Catskills).

What is going on Irish in the Catskills this coming weekend? Some friends went up for this past week for the Catskills Irish Arts Week. I haven't heard a report but I bet they had a blast.

Saw this in my FB feed and thought of you :)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/samimain/corgicon-fall-2015#.leEZQLdJXB

>141 TadAD: This weekend is the Piper's Gathering called the Northeast Tionol - I always go, actually, with my sister (fiddle). The Big Official Irish Arts week is in July, but there are many smaller festivals focussing on one or two instruments instead of the full spectrum. So probably there was something a couple of weeks ago . . . October is a huge Irish music month! Anyway, there's no concertina instruction, but I have various friends who go and we hang about and play music together, and my sister and I mainly hang about and play music. The instruction is mainly Uillean pipes but some fiddle too. And talks and extraneous bits and pieces which I sometimes attend. And sessions late into the night, of course. I head out Wednesday and will spend that evening and the next day with the Little Darling down near NYC (I think we'll be coat and boot shopping in White Plains, sigh, but really I am happy just to be with her.) Then Friday up to East Durham!

>142 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie!!!

120. sf ***3/4
Blue Remembered Earth Alastair Reynolds

Reynolds's obsessions, intelligent machines and an alien presence millions of years old, are here, but muted instead of being given full rein. Here, humans, about 150 years from now, have achieved stability--with the help of 'the Mechanism' which prevents them from their worst aggressive impulses-- and by carefully applying themselves to restoring the Earth. But space flight is too slow to imagine settling much further than Jupiter and there doesn't seem to be much hope for change in that regard, and many humans don't even think it's a good idea. But. Eunice Akinya, matriarch of the Akinya clan which has a monopoly on mining asteroids and other such goodies, discovered something sixty years early that may have changed everything . . . Apparently there are two more books in this series--it took me so long to get it off the tbr shelfthat Reynolds has written more!--and I am looking forward to them. I'm waffling at rating it a 4 star, there was a bit too much of a "treasure hunt" plot and some digressions, relationships, and even ideas, that never quite gelled for me (Geoffrey and his elephants, for example). Geoffrey is an annoyingly immature person, his cousins are flat characters. His sister Sunday is a strong character from the start, but often it was the secondary characters or the "constructs" that had more character! It got better as it went along, so I will be seeking out the next one at least. ***3/4

121. contemp fic ****
The Polish Boxer Eduardo Halfon

I'm in two, or maybe even several, minds about The Polish Boxer. On the one hand it is very clever, for another the writing, mostly, is better than good and sometimes better than excellent, yet, it is also, a bit too clever about this idea of the interface, overlapping or what-have-you of reality and fiction. In the beginning I felt bombarded with the message: "there's more to this book than meets the eye" later, I felt it was something of an excuse for cramming in related ideas (say, Halfon's quest to understand his own roots sublimated into the quest for his Gypsy (maybe) friend) and in the end bludgeoned by the whole idea that we make up our past as it recedes. And yet. Just when I felt fed up along came this paragraph (Halfon is snowed inside in Belgrade while on his quest for his friend): "I spent the rest of the day shut inside, smoking and eating the supplies I'd bought and reading a bit and listening to a few pieces by Melodious {his nickname for Thelonius} and watching Venezuelan soaps dubbed into Serbian, and Russian films dubbed into Serbian, and American cartoons dubbed into Serbian, and taking short naps without dreaming or at least dreaming very little, and it was one day less, one day lost, one day further from everything and close to nothing, while the hours didn't pass so much as suddenly become one single hour, one single static hour like a bedsheet with no creases, one goddamn shitty and unbelievably eternal hour, so dark and so lonely and tasting of dead birds." Whatever its flaws, or what I think might be flaws, it is well worth reading. ****

>145 sibylline: I really liked that book.

Yes, a lot of people did. I'm far more exacting (understatement) about contemp fiction than I am about sf or fantasy. I read the former as a reader, but also as a writer. As a writer I was less impressed by aspects of the structure. As a reader, I was periodically blown away -- by details and so on. Although even there I was occasionally irritated, Lia's drawings, for example, even if some woman somewhere does that, it still just felt contrived. On the other hand the postcards were great.

122. fantasy ***
✔Journey to Aprilioth Eileen Kernaghan

Kernaghan can write. This is a case of a book that was a pleasure to read and yet . . . didn't have enough substance. After killing the Chief's brother trying to protect a barrow of the "Old Gods" a young man, a priest in training named Nhiall, is sent away by the elder priests from 'the Westlands' (British Isles) on a quest that takes him into the steppe and then southward through the Caucasus into the Mesopotamia region, and finally after many trials and tribulations across the desert to Lebanon where he catches a boat to "Aprilioth" presumably the island (name is evading me for the moment) that was blown up by a volcano and that some like to think might be where the legend of Atlantis originated . . . but never mind that, Nhiall has a crystal that he wears as a pendant and he is to go to that island where the priests who live there can teach him what he needs to know. Whenever Kernaghan is a little at a loss the language shifts into "high formal" and gets very vague . . . And yet I read the book happily, much more happily that I read a lot of fantasy because from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph things moved along smoothly and sensibly. Because of its historical aspects, men get to have all the adventures, only a few very strong women, usually priestesses or somehow associated with someone of power who lets them do as they please, and I have to admit, is one reason I'm not all that keen on historical novels generally. This one is neither fish nor fowl, but well-imagined. Here and there it had a Clan of the Cave Bear feeling - that Nhiall is an extraordinarily capable person who both learns and adapts and invents easily. Probably this book doesn't deserve this long a review, but I am surprised by how pleasant a read it was, and so am trhing to ferret our the merit, so to speak. There are two more books in the series, but, well, I admit I don't plan to rush out and find them. If they fell into my hands I would likely read them fast as I did this one. *** 1/3

I'm not sure how this book came into my hands, might have been a library freebie. The map appears to have been drawn by one T. Windling, a fact I find interesting indeed.

So how was your Irish weekend, shopping with the LD, and are you back home yet?

Thanks for checking in, Roni. It has been a roller coaster ride. A lovely visit down south with the LD, followed by an exhausting but blissful weekend of music.

However, I arrived home to find that Simon the cat, who has been very up and down the last few months had deteriorated over the five days I was gone -- stopped eating, was only drinking water and milk and clearly getting ready to go. We had a serious cold snap and it's as if that decided things for him. Within twenty-four hours of my returning home he went downhill so much that we called the LD yesterday (wed) am and she got on a train and I picked her up in Albany. (6 hrs. round trip, ugh). The vet came to our house this morning and did a beautiful peaceful job. He was so happy to spend one last night with the LD - when he heard her voice he actually got up and came out of where he'd mostly been curled up under a bureau.

So now the LD is on her way back to NY. We're very sad, but he was sixteen, a good age. And he was really very happy and was enjoying himself hugely until a week ago - even to accompanying me and Posey part of the way on our walks as if he was a dog! (He would wait for us to come back in his special spot). I am both surprised and not surprised that this happened so fast. If it had to happen, this was the best way.

Not much reading has been going on, as you might imagine.

>150 sibylline: Oh, I'm sorry, but quickly, at home, with family, is indeed the best way.

Oh, so sorry to hear about Simon, Lucy! It sounds like it was the best of all possible passings, but it hurts to lose our furpeople regardless. Hugs to you and yours.

I'm so sorry to hear about your Simon, Lucy. I lost Willie almost a year ago; I know how heart breaking it can be. I'm glad he was able to go at home with his loving family around him.

Aw, poor sweet Simon. 16 is a good long kitty life. I love that the LD was able to dash home and that it made a difference to Simon.

Aw, I'm sorry to hear about Simon, too, Lucy. But so glad that LD was able to get home to spend a last night with him. What a wonderful life he had with your family on your beautiful property, loved to the moon and back, and following you and Posey walking. I agree if he had to go, this was the best way.

Oh, so sorry about the loss of Simon, Lucy. Always a heartbreaking choice to make, but as Nancy says, he was loved so much and 16 is a good long age for cats - though it is never enough , is it? So wonderful that Simon could go in your own home. We had to make that decision with our dog , Daisy , just about 2 years ago. Was very difficult. I do sympathize very much. I was so heartbroken , we ended up getting our rescue puppy only three days later. One dog cannot ever replace another, nor a cat, but we could simply not go one without a little one to love.

This is sad news, but as everyone said it was probably the best possible way. It's a good thing that vets come to the homes nowadays, so it can happen in familiar surroundings with far less stress. And how lovely for him that LD got home for his last night.

So sorry for your loss. What comes through your message is how much he was loved. How wonderful that you could all be there together to say goodbye.

Thank you so much everyone! It is heartwarming to come here and find all your messages.

The LD was safely back at school by 10 pm - the train was a bit delayed or it would have been more like 8:15. That train (NY side of Lake Champlain) comes from Montreal and sometimes the border is very slow, I hear. Then there was some other problem further south. I can hardly believe she was here and gone, but it's also very reassuring she can get home so quickly. The train on the NY side gives us a lot more options --and we'd forgotten all about it!

It's very strange around here, kind of hollow and echoing. I don't quite know how 8 1/2 pounds of kitty could take up so much bandwidth, but he did. I realized too that now I can put rugs back on the floors (he had a little problem the last year or so--just in some areas) and many other little things I've just gotten used to. But no hurry.

I'm sure we'll get a new kitty, but we will wait until summertime when our daughter is home and can choose and participate. Even if she is not around a lot from now on, I think it is worth having her be part of it. We do have Ernie, the tuxedo cat, and so we are not entirely bereft although I expect if we had no cat at all we wouldn't wait long.

For the next couple of days I'm off to a nearby archaeology conference ( stone work in the northeast, both native am. and colonial). It's so nearby I can almost (but not quite) commute, and I wouldn't go except it is so close that if I am too tired or unhappy I can come home. The archaeo people are nowhere near as much fun as the Irish music people or as darling as LT people, believe me. Some are academic popinjays, some are kooks. Many, of course, are very nice! But these things aren't as much fun socially.

So sorry about the kitty but, you're right, a blessing that it was quick and extra nice that LD got to come home and the vet did a house call. The best possible version of a sad event.

So sorry to hear about the loss of Simon, Lucy. thinking of you.

Lucy have a nice weekend and don't fret too much for your dear departed kitty.

I was listening to Luke Kelly today and you came into my mind for some reason. xx

>137 sibylline:: I am so glad that you are loving the Shardlake. I am so eager for another one, having read the lot of them.

>150 sibylline:: I am so sorry to read this, Lucy. I can relate to this very much at the moment, as my beloved old standard poodle is slowly losing herself to cancer. Sixteen is a good, ripe age and how touching that her person came all the way home to be with him. It sounds as though little Simon "made a good end of it", as they say in these parts.

Greetings to everyone who has been by in my absence. All of you from >151 qebo: to here.

>162 PaulCranswick: Ah Luke Kelly! Sublime! And that amazing face - so transformed when singing.

I'm home again, exhausted from the archaeo thing, but wow was it ever cool! I had to skip the field trip today, too pooped. And I have a harp student I had to get home for. It was hard to "miss out" but it had to be.

LibraryThing isn't letting me load up a picture from the conference - will try again later.

>163 tiffin: - Finished Shardlake #3 on this trip! Have to wait a few days for my monthly chit for Audible before acquiring #4!

123. ♬ mys ****
Sovereign C.J. Sansom

An intriguing smear on the Tudor family tree. Shardlake and Barak (sp?) in trouble as usual. Barak in love. Loved it!!!!

Welcome home, Lucy. Sovereign remains my favorite by just a little.

Sorry to hear about Simon, Lucy. I lost my Sally a few months ago so know how hard it can be to loose a pet which has become part of your life.

I'm sorry about Simon, Lucy. I had three cats and...despite discovering I'm quite allergic...I kept them until they passed away and was quite sorry when they did. It's dogs now (the eyes, nose and skin are happier) but the sentiment is the same.

>166 LizzieD: This one is pretty fabulous, I mean "the Moldwarp" what a concept! And she does make ole 'Enery deliciously despicable. I spent some delightful hours reading all about him, I have to admit!

Thank you >167 Familyhistorian: and >168 TadAD:. We've had a bit of warm sunny weather and in late afternoon I've taken tea or something a bit stronger out to where he is buried with dear Hank, and sit and watch the sun set and spend a little time with him. It feels very strange yet.

I totally sympathize Tad, I suspect I am slightly allergic, but I really don't care I enjoy them so much. I do try to keep my nose out of their fur and I often wash my hands after a big petting/playing time.

So I was testing it out but I think I'm hooked and will be listening for the next eon, to Gravity's Rainbow. I'll never love a reader as much as I do Donal Donnelly reading Ulysses but this fellow (name has escaped me, I'll get it, he's a very well-known voice, American, of course) is more than adequate. I'm forty minutes in to forty hours! I think a lot of sewing and knitting projects might actually get somewhere while this goes on. It will also prevent me from racing through the C.J Sansom ouevre. I "only" have three left now! It is likely I will have to take breaks but still.

Gravity's Rainbow 1. In this first listen, Pirate, an American officer in some sort of geek special ops, based in London, WW2, wakes up from a very nasty dream (helpless refugees being moved about) in his lodgings, a big very old place (it has a minstrel's gallery) filled with his slumbering chums and colleagues, climbs up to the roof where he grows bananas in profusion. While there he sees the con-trail of a freshly launched V-2 rocket, Germany's fiendish new weapon, and watches it as it climbs until the boosters shut off and the con-trail disappears . . . he knows, because he is a geek, when it will reach its apex and start coming back down. Somewhere in London. Resigned, wondering if you feel or know anything when something like that hits, he trudges back down to his kitchen to cook up a Pynchonesque feast of banana-based dishes. Then everyone is up and going off to work, including himself. Already, in forty minutes, there have been three lists. A description of the contents of this house, of the banana dishes (at least twenty I think!) and of a messy work desk (so much like my spousal unit's I started laughing).

I should add I was brought immediately to mind of Stephen Dedalus waking and climbing to the top of the tower (another old and eccentric building)in Ulysses and looking out, though at what I can't quite remember, certainly not a V-2! The sea? Then back down to breakfast, clearly a crucial meal in the day of a poor and busy young man. Then it was off to work for him.

>170 sibylline: Wow! Gravity's Rainbow. I sort of read that in my early 20s soon after it came out, but I don't think I ever finished it. In any case, I have no memory of it. Good for you, and listening to it seems a good way to go since I can picture it and it's a TOME! I still have it on my shelves.

I read that so long ago, Lucy, that I can't remember the story line.

>171 rebeccanyc: >172 tiffin: I'm in the same boat. I barely remember anything. So it will be all new!

As it turns out I am fairly hard-core Pynchon fan - loved Mason & Dixon, Against the Day, and Vineland and the more recent ones. But I read GR and V. so long ago (along with The Crying of Lot 49) that they hardly count anymore as having ever been read.

It also appears that as well as having a taste for listening to historical mysteries on audio, if my adventure last year with Ulysses is anything to go by, I might have a taste for listening to these immense tomes too. In fact, I'm becoming convinced that when I listen I conjure up stronger images and my brain works harder to hang onto the story. For thousands of years people most listened to stories . . .. so I wonder.

So we saw The Martian last night and even though as I read it I thought, 'what a movie' I confess that the movie really couldn't capture the incredible pressure Watney was under to solve a lot of different problems. It tried and perhaps for those who hadn't read the book it would succeed. I did enjoy the Elrond moment, Sean Bean sitting there stone-faced! Was that in the book?

It's interesting that several recent big SF movies have been very, uh, down to earth, very reality-based (well, maybe "very" is an exaggeration. The attempt is being made to imagine space exploration into the very near future which is great. The one kind of sf that no one tries to make movies of are the more sociological ones, say The Left Hand of Darkness. Much more fun to make Dyst-epics and so on, I guess, than wrestle with some of the really tough stuff.

>173 sibylline: following your post #170 I ordered the sample, it reminded me he has 4 (so far unread by me) books on the 1,001 list. I admit he scares me. So maybe I'll slowly follow along reading while you're listening.

124. urban fantasy ***1/2
A Madness of Angels Kate Griffin

Matthew Swift was a sorcerer's apprentice in London. His mentor, Mr. Bakker has, after a stroke, gone to the dark side . . . or so it appears. In this magical 'verse there are different practitioners, magicians use spells, there are bikers who can find the places in-between and move swiftly from place to place (shades of Hagrid!), sorcerers use the magic in whatever surrounds them, in this case, the urban environment. Matthew has a special affinity with 'the electric blue angels' the life in the phone wires, the echoes and remains of all the conversations people have had (computers too?). Matthew wakes up two years after he died, in a body that resembles his in all but one thing: electric blue eyes. He is sharing it with the electric blue angels, who have brought him back. The plot, such as it is, consists of catching up to Bakker and finding out what really is going on! It was a lot of fun and I ended up enjoying it. I gather there are sequels and quite likely I will read them. ***1/2

Hmmm looking ahead I can see that I might need to be thoughtful in my choices of books if I am to reach 150 by Dec 31. No vast tomes! Having taken on Gravity's Rainbow will slow me down. The Knausgaard is not a 'fast' read either and I can only read a few of the essays in the Jo Walton at a time. I also am desperately falling behind in NYers, so maybe that could be a bit of a focus? Every now and then I hit an article I feel I "should" read and then get entirely bogged down for weeks!

I finally managed to load a photo from last weekend's conference about Pre-Contact Native stonework in the Northeast. LT wouldn't load my photos for several days:



Exquisite, isn't it?

Exquisite, indeed! Wonder what was up with LT not allowing you to load photos?

Sort of like the way the Touchstones sometimes are? Just. Not. Working.

>173 sibylline: Martian
I saw it a week ago, had pretty much the same reaction. The book is so much more detailed, a constant bombardment of problems.

>176 sibylline: I also am desperately falling behind in NYers
I'm thinking of devoting a month to magazines so they aren't hanging over me next year. Also since my rule for counting magazines is to read as much as I feel like, maybe they're an efficient route to 75, which is otherwise looking iffy.

>177 sibylline: Exquisite
Oh, it is!

WOWZER!
You have maybe refired my interest in those Blue Angels and certainly in Pyncheon. When I get to him, I'll be reading rather than listening, and I think it may be Mason & Dixon.
Hmmm. I also just received a copy of Bright of the Sky from PBS and came over to see what you actually said about it!

Books, conferences, movies -- and a 40-hour audio book. You're going to be busy this fall :)

Just haunting some of my oft-visited threads today, Lucy: