xicanti's 2008 reading list

Every year I try to read just a little bit more than I did last year. In 2007 I read 245 books and 78,188 pages, so I'll aim for either 246 books or 78,189 pages in 2008.

This year I hope to whittle my TBR list down to one hundred volumes or less. I also want to reread some old favourites. I'm participating in the 888 Challenge, so I think I'll probably start the year with many of the books I chose for it.

I plan to manage this list a little bit differently than last year's. I'll post general comments for every book I keep, with full reviews available on the work pages. I'll post full reviews for any books I borrow from the library, read in electronic form or decide to part with.

The notations after each book have the following meanings:

keeper - a book I admitted to my personal collection
seller - a book I decided to part with. Most of these books are posted on BookMooch or donated to charity shops, not sold.
library - a book I borrowed from the library
loaner - a book I borrowed from a private individual
electronic - an e-book or manuscript

Finally: comments/questions/general musings are most welcome.

1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - keeper

This was a reread. I didn't find it as compelling as I did the first time around, but I still got a kick out of it. It's a fun read, plain and simple. I spent some more time thinking about how it's structured, this time around, and I came to a few conclusions about why it works so well.

Full review here.

xicanti, I'm impressed with that amount. Oh how I wish I could read fast enough to get to even 100 books, but alas I am a very slow reader. Good luck for 2008!

Thanks, mommom248! The same to you!

2. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer - keeper

Another reread. I actually enjoyed this one more this time through. I read it more slowly this time, and I really liked what Meyer did with the friendship between Bella and Jacob. It felt real and organic in a way that Bella's romance with Edward rarely does. The pacing was also very good; I felt like she upped the stakes in all the right places.

Full review here.

3. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer - keeper

I was really looking forward to this, but I just didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the other two. I felt that Meyer did more telling than showing, and I found the tension utterly lacking. Where's the conflict here? Was I really supposed to believe that Bella would chuck off Edward for Jacob? Gah! Oh well. You win some, you lose some, and I guess I lost this one. I wish I'd borrowed this from the library instead of buying it in hardcover. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't nearly as good as the other two.

Full review here.

4. The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Nineteenth Annual Collection, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Kelly Link & Gavin J. Grant - library

I'd seen these mammoth anthologies around, but until very recently I hadn't had much interest in short fiction. I read the odd piece here and there, (mostly when my favourite authors released collections), but I'd never really considered myself a short fiction fan.

Then last November, I read a couple of very good collections outside my normal range of experience. "Hey!" I said to myself. "That was actually really good!" I read a little more... then a little more... then decided to take the plunge and invest in some nice, big anthologies chock full of short stories. I couldn't initially find any of the books in this series at my favourite bookstores, so I took this one out of the library and tucked in.

I'm very, very glad I did. I didn't enjoy everything, but I came quite close. Each and every one of these stories is thoughtful and well-written. The stories are a lot of fun, but at the same time the reader feels like she's reading something with definite literary merit. The authors have explored some very interesting themes; they've played with older source material and broken new ground in equal measures. The fantasies range from contemporary, urban stories to full-on high fantasy. The horror selections are mostly of the sort that provide the reader with a pleasurable thrill of terror, but there are also a couple of stories that remind us of the horrors humankind is capable of and at least one selection that relies completely on shock value. All in all, it's a good mix of literate, enjoyable stories.

I found the fantasy summations very interesting and useful, but the horror section was very difficult to wade through. It mostly consists of dense, lengthy lists of books and stories. I mostly skimmed, looking for authors and titles I was already familiar with.

Overall: excellent stuff, and highly recommended. Be forewarned, however, that it's not a quick read; the pages are formatted to contain about twice as much text as those of a regular book, so be prepared to spend about the same amount of time with this as you would with a 1200 page novel. (4.5 stars)

5. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey - keeper

This wasn't as good as I was expecting, given all the hype, but it was still a very entertaining book. I'm glad I read it. I wish the magical stuff had been revealed a bit more gradually, though. If I were Lackey, I'd have stuck with Rose's POV exclusively, at least until the point where she realizes what's really going on with Jason. As it was, there wasn't enough suspense. Oh well.

Full review here.

6. The Watcher's Guide by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder - keeper

This was evidently aimed at younger Buffy fans, but I still got a kick out of it. Most of the segments relied too much on summary and quotations, but the behind the scenes stuff really made it for me. All the interviews with the crew were fascinating.

Full review here.

7. Dune by Frank Herbert - keeper

I wasn't sure at first whether I'd keep this or pass it along, but I think I'll leave it on my shelf for at least one more reading. I doubt that'll happen anytime soon, but maybe in another ten years or so... Anyways, this was a reread for me. I first read it when I was fourteen, and remembered very little other than that I absolutely loved it until the end, when I felt it fell apart. I didn't quite love it this time, but I did enjoy it quite a bit. It's an interesting, idea-based novel that examines how a particular situation might play out. Good stuff. The ending really didn't measure up, though; it felt choppy and disconnected, and I didn't care for how flat and inhuman the characters turned out. Hmm.

Full review here.

8. Tithe by Holly Black - library; personal copy later purchased.

I'd heard good things about Holly Black's work, and this book did not disappoint. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and will certainly read whatever else she comes out with.

Full review here.

9. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner - seller keeper

I originally designated this book as a seller, but have had to change my mind now that I've read the next two books in the series. While The Thief's ending was excellent, I didn't feel that it quite made up for the slow beginning. It was good enough that I went on to read the next two, though, and they completely won me over. Once this story gets going, it's definitely high quality, completely worthwhile children's lit. I highly recommend the series as a whole. Slog on through that slow beginning; it's worth it in the end.

Full review here.

10. The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan - library; personal copy later acquired

This book was a wonderful surprise! I'd heard good things about the series here on LibraryThing, but I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to take the plunge and buy the first one. I borrowed it from the library and found myself rolling my eyes. Not another smart-kids-triumph-over-evil-lord story!

Actually, it isn't. I mean, it sort of is, but it's a hell of a lot more than that, too.

I got a huge kick out of it, and have started acquiring my own personal copies of the books. Too bad there are only four currently out in North America!

Full review here.

11. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler - seller

Five women and one man come together to read the complete works of Jane Austen.

Initially, I liked this book very much. Fowler uses a different sort of structure for the novel, and it works quite well. The pacing is good, and she presents some lovely character studies as she moves through the months, (and the Jane Austen novels), with these individuals. There are some good parallels between these peoples' lives and Austen's novels, too. It was a very interesting premise.

As the book progressed, though, I found my interest wane. Each character receives very little attention after her or his chapter is over. There's little to no further growth. The parallels waned somewhat, too, and the Jane Austen discussion faded into the background. I found it rather unsatisfying.

In the end, this was a mildly entertaining book, but certainly nothing special. I feel okay about passing it along to someone else. (3 stars)

12. The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan - library; personal copy later acquired

Oh, how I've enjoyed these books! Once I passed the first hundred pages, I read this one in a single sitting. It was a whole lot of fun.

Full review here.

13. The Icebound Land by John Flanagan - library; personal copy later purchased

I've had a great time with this series! This book moved things in a rather different direction, and took the story to a much darker place. It's not as action-packed as the first two, but in no way do I consider this a negative. I greedily devoured it and found myself hungry for more. I wish Flanagan's North American publishers would get these out faster!

Full review here.

xicanti,

I am also really enjoying the Ranger's Apprentice series. You're completely right, it's always nice to find great children's lit (sometimes I think they get better stories than we do)! Although the Icebound Land might be a bit of a placeholder volume (much like HP and the Half-Blood Prince), it has a lot of character development that I enjoyed. I loved Horace and Halt teaming up - very interesting twist there. I also can't wait for the next one...Flanagan has a great way of leaving you wanting more. I did a little research and already 7 books have been released in Australia, so at least we know there many more coming!

Also, I read all three of the Megan Whalen Turner books, The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, and The King of Attolia. I just finished the last one yesterday. I really enjoyed them. She has a unique way of drawing out the story in ways that you certainly wouldn't expect. The end of the second one was definitely a surprise and a bit of a role reversal, and the entirety of the last book was unpredictable. I hope that you'll keep reading. I also hope that she keeps writing because I feel that there is much more to tell.

Lastly, since you look for good children's lit, I was wondering if you've ever read any of the Tamora Pierce books, especially the Tortall series. They are a series of quartets (and one duology), fast reads, interesting fantasy, with strong female protagonists, and wonderful stories. I reread them all at least once a year. If you decide to read them, start with the first one Alanna. If you've already read them I would love to hear your thoughts. (Unless you think they suck ;-p)

I'm definitely going to keep an eye on your posts and I hope to find some great recommendations here, since we obviously have some similar tastes.

Hah, I'm now counting the days until the next Ranger's Apprentice book is released in North America! Lucky Australians, getting them right off the bat!

I've only read one of Tamora Pierce's so far. It was the first volume of her Circle of Magic books, and I found it interesting but not really engaging. She's definitely on my list of Authors To Read More By, though; I've heard so many good things about her that I'm not ready to give up without a fight!

I've got plans to borrow The Queen of Attolia from the library soon, so I think I'll probably be reading it sometime over the next week. I really enjoyed the end of The Thief and thought the setting was interesting, so I'm hoping the series turns into something really good with the next couple of volumes.

14. Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith - keeper

This was another good entry in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I continue to enjoy McCall Smith's portrayal of Botswana and its people. It's clear that he has a real love for the country. On the downside, though, this felt remarkably similar to the first volume. I would've liked to see some more development all around. It does look as though the characters are now in a place where they can really grow, though, so hopefully there'll be some big changes coming in future volumes. Full review here.

I had the exact same reaction to Fowler's Jane Austen Book Club, and I'm still pretty shocked that they made it into a movie...

Oddly enough, I enjoyed the movie. It's one of those rare cases where I liked the film more than the book it was based on!

15. The Book of Werewolves by Sabine Baring-Gould - keeper

This was quite interesting. I really appreciated Baring-Gould's take on the werewolf; he adopted an anthropological approach that examined the cultural and psychological reasons behind the myths. I found it somewhat surprising that he spent so much time on violent criminals, though; while most of them had psychological conditions that tied them into the subject matter, there were a couple that seemed unrelated. His scholarship is also rather dated in places; this book is very much a product of the 1860's. It was enjoyable overall, though, and definitely something I'll keep around to refer to. Full review here.

16. Valiant by Holly Black - library

When seventeen-year-old Val runs away to the city, she becomes entangled with a community of faeries in exile.

It took me a little while to warm up to this book. It was instantly readable, but I initially felt it to be too dark and distanced. It read like Francesca Lia Block with all of the horror and very little of the beauty. I had trouble sinking into the world.

The book got much better as it progressed, though. It remains dark throughout, but Black manages to capture the beauty as well as the horror. She seems interested in exploring the darker side of faerie mythology, and it makes for some good reading. Things are rough, gritty and difficult, but there's also some gorgeous imagery and some wonderful moments between the characters. I really liked the love story, too, though I wish it had been built up a bit more.

Overall: an enjoyable read, though not an entirely comfortable one. There's very little overlap with Tithe, so you don't have to have read that one to enjoy this one. (3.5 stars)

17. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - keeper

Another wonderful book from Austen's pen! I just love the way she writes. Her prose goes in and out and all around in the most complex ways, but at the end of the sentence she's said something delightfully simple. This does make her books go a little slower, but it's worth it.

I especially liked how she dealt with the restrictions of polite society in this novel. So often, people are put at odds to one another, but no one can actually come out and snap at anyone else because of the social rules they all live by. Austen does some wonderful and often hilarious things with the conversations here. It's great stuff. Full review here.

18. Firefly: The Official Companion, vol. 1 - keeper

Another great guide to the Firefly universe. This one didn't have quite as much in it as the Serenity companion, but that's okay. What it does have is very good. There are some great insights here. I'm looking forward to watching the series again, armed with this new knowledge, and I plan on diving straight into Volume 2. Full review here.

#23: Cool! This book is *definitely* going on my wishlist!

January In Review

Books Read:

1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - keeper
2. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer - keeper
3. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer - keeper
4. The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Nineteenth Annual Collection, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Kelly Link & Gavin J. Grant - library
5. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey - keeper
6. The Watcher's Guide by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder - keeper
7. Dune by Frank Herbert - keeper
8. Tithe by Holly Black - library
9. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner - seller
10. The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan - library
11. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler - seller
12. The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan - library
13. The Icebound Land by John Flanagan - library
14. Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith - keeper
15. The Book of Werewolves by Sabine Baring-Gould - keeper
16. Valiant by Holly Black - library
17. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - keeper
18. Firefly: The Official Companion, vol. 1

Pages so far: 6,827

I had a slightly slower reading month. I normally spend no more than 2-3 days with a book, at the absolute most; this month, I had several books that took me 4-5 days. Oh well.

I also had a less impressive month than I would've liked, but it did have some gems. The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Nineteenth Annual Collection was a real treat. The stories were very enjoyable, yet they felt literary as well. I got a lot out of them.

John Flanagan's Rangers Apprentice books were probably the best things I read this month. They were a ton of fun. Here's hoping his North American publishers get the rest of the books out quickly!

The Jane Austen Book Club was probably the worst thing I read. It wasn't bad, though, so much as laclustre. I also expected more from The Fire Rose and The Thief.

#24 - yes, definitely check out both Firefly guides and the Serenity guide! They're really well put together.

19. Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh - seller

The only human allowed into an alien society is thrust into a situation that challenges all his preconceptions.

Intellectually, this book has a lot going for it. The society is carefully constructed, and the book is structured in such a way that the reader is fully immersed in it. The main character is reasonably easy to relate to. The style mirrors his thoughts in an effective way as he reacts to everything happening around him. There's tons of food for thought as Cherryh explores the differences between atevi and human hardwiring.

I wish I could say I'd enjoyed it, but it just didn't work for me. I can see why I should have liked it. It's exactly the sort of thing that I normally like very much. And yet, it fell almost completely flat for me. There were two short segments when my attention was fully engaged, but for the most part I just didn't care. I couldn't get involved with Bren or his predicament. I was pretty bloody glad when I finally finished it.

This is one of those rare books that I think I would have gotten more out of had it been pared down to only its most essential elements. I didn't want all the little details of atevi society. They're different. I get it. I didn't need to be told so over and over and over again. It often felt like Cherryh was giving the reader the same example of their differences over and over again, in slightly different ways each time. It just got to be too much for me.

But I think the style was the biggest sticking point. I believe that we, as readers, react to different styles in very individual ways. What works for one person just doesn't work for another, and it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly why. I think I would have liked Cherryh's style very much had this been a short story, but it just didn't jive for me as a novel. I sometimes felt like I was decoding the book as I sifted through Bren's realistically recorded thoughts. Sigh.

And finally, I guessed what was going on almost instantly and became increasingly annoyed with Bren as he failed to see what was happening.

So no, this most definitely wasn't a winner. I may read the next book eventually, just in case the series gets better, but it's far from a priority. And I'll definitely be borrowing it from the library instead of buying it. (2.5 stars)

I've experience the same problem reading anything by C.J. Cherryh, xicanti. Occasionally, I go back and try to read them again but it falls flat for me everytime.

The experience is reliable enough that I only get Cherryh's books from the library, I don't even buy them used.

I already own one more of her books, (a short story collection; I'm hoping I'll enjoy her more in a more compact format), but I really doubt I'll be buying any others. It's the library from here on in.

20. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner - library; personal copy quickly purchased

What a wonderful follow-up book to The Thief! I enjoyed this one right from the beginning to the end, and was so impressed that I promptly went out and bought it. I think Turner was wise to switch from first person to third; the reader gets a wider view of the world and its inhabitants. I found it very satisfying overall. Full review here.

21. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - keeper

I had a wonderful time with this book! It's largely a commentary on the popular literature of Austen's time, and she does some great things with it. With this book, she set out to turn every convention on its head, and I think she suceeded in a way that's both insightful and entertaining. It's definitely my favourite of Austen's novels. Full review here.

22. Astonishing X-Men: Gifted by Joss Whedon et al. - library

The X-Men must deal with a recently-developed mutant "cure" that threatens their way of life.

I used to be a big X-Men fan, but I've been away from the series for a long, long time now. I don't think this was the right place to jump back in. It's the start of a new series, true, but it's pretty clear that a lot has happened since I've been gone. (I stopped reading shortly after the whole thing with the Legacy Virus; interestingly enough, that cropped up again here).

Therefore, I don't think I'm the best person to judge this book as a continuation of the recent X-Men storyline. I still enjoyed the art and the one-liners, but I'll need a little more time to sink back into it before I can comment on how it fits into the mythos as a whole. Time to seek out volume two. (3 stars)

23. The Tale of the Four Dervishes and Other Sufi Tales by Amina Shah - keeper

This one was a reread, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time through. It's an entertaining collection of folktales, some of which have deeper meanings and some of which are pure escapism.

This time through, I spent some more time thinking about the ways the stories are structured. The first segment, in particular, led me to some interesting conclusions about interconnected stories and the ways that different tales fit together. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The second segment was also interesting, though the looser structure didn't yield as much food for thought.

Full review here.

24. Ironside by Holly Black - library

Kaye declares herself to Roiben, her Unseelie lover, and must complete an impossible quest before she can become his consort.

This was yet another wonderful read in Holly Black's Modern Tales of Faerie series. Once again, I found myself sucked into the dark, seductive world she's created. The characters are great, the plot twists are clever, and the book just flies by.

But despite all its good points, I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first two. It wasn't quite as dark, and I wished that some things had been fleshed out a bit more. There are three main stories here, (Kaye's quest, Roiben's struggle to deal with what the Unseelie court has made him, and Corny's.. well, spiritual journey, I guess), and they sometimes feel a little rushed. I think each storyline could have benefited from just a little more attention. They work, as written, but I would have liked to see Black spend more time on each one.

All in all, though, this is a good book that's certainly worth your time. There's quite a bit of overlap with both Tithe and Valiant, though, so read those first. (3.5 stars)

Ooooh. Regarding Ironside; is that a modern fantasy series? If so, how modern and how fantasy?

It's the third book in a contemporary YA dark urban fantasy series. (Wow, enough adjectives?!) There's a strong emphasis on the realms of faerie, but there are also a lot of gritty modern elements. Personally, I think Holly Black does a great job of blending faerie and the modern world. I've really enjoyed all three books.

xicanti: Excellent, thanks! I just downloaded a sample of Valiant, and will check it out. Are there any other urban fantasy series that you'd recommend?

Oooh, after reading your comments, I think I'm going to check out the Holly Black books as well--thanks for the recommendation xicanti.

I'm glad to hear you're both giving Holly Black a try! I hope you enjoy her books as much as I did.

BrentNewhall, I don't have a whole lot of experience with urban fantasy, but I'd definitely recommend both Tanya Huff and Neil Gaiman. Huff has a good urban fantasy/mystery/horror series called the Blood Books, while Gaiman has written three urban fantasies: Neverwhere, American Gods and Anansi Boys. His Sandman series is also worth checking out, if you like graphic novels. It's a mix of horror, urban fantasy and high fantasy.

I haven't read any of his work yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about Charles de Lint, too. He's credited with inventing the urban fantasy genre.

25. At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie - keeper

This definitely wasn't Dame Agatha's best work. It was a decent enough story, but I had trouble staying engaged with it. It's one of those wider-reaching tales in which she brings a whole bunch of disparate pieces together, and I never enjoy those as much. I really prefer her smaller, more personal crimes. Oh well. Full review here.

Thanks for the recommendations, xicanti! I must admit that I can't really get into Neil Gaiman's books, other than Sandman. I tried both Neverwhere and American Gods and just wasn't interested. Sandman's brilliant, though.

I've just sent a sample chapter of Tanya Huff's Smoke and Shadows to my Kindle.

Fair enough. I hope you like Huff! I haven't read Smoke and Shadows and the accompanying series yet; they're chronologically after the Blood Books, and I'm still trying to track all those down.

26. The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner - library; personal copy later purchased

WOW. I remain very, very impressed with Turner's work. This is quality children's lit: it delivers a great story and memorable characters while giving its young readers full credit for being able to understand what's going on. Turner doesn't write down to her audience, making this series enjoyable for people of all ages. Full review here.

Glad you liked it!

Just thought of a new series you would probably like. I highly recommend you check out James A. Owen. He just recently wrote two YA novels that I completely fell in love with - Here, There Be Dragons and Search for the Red Dragon. Absolutely fantastic.

The YAs are definitely getting better books than we are!

P.S. Did you read the Rick Riordan Percy Jackson books? Easy reads, that I enjoyed - great premise.

I really enjoyed the first Percy Jackson book, but I haven't gotten around to the others yet. They're on my library list! I'll definitely be checking out Here, There Be Dragons, too; it sounds really good!

Oh, my poor TBR list...

27. What Was Always Hers by Uma Parameswaran - seller

A collection of five stories about the Indo-Canadian experience.

I really, really wanted to like this book. In theory, it seems like just the sort of thing I'd enjoy very much. Parameswaran examines a segment of society that I have some personal experience with but haven't read a great deal about. The stories mainly focus on women, with some attention paid to a male character in "Darkest Before Dawn." Several of the stories are obviously set in my home city, despite a transparent name change, and I usually find it fun to read about places I see every day. Some of the dialogue is nicely set out, and Parameswaran gives the reader a good feel for how each character speaks.

But as much as I wanted to, I just couldn't enjoy this. It consistently fell flat for me. The stories frequently demand that the reader make intuitive leaps that are not properly set up beforehand. The first two offerings are overlong, with many unnecessary details that add nothing to the final payout and contribute little to the character development. The three shorter stories are opaque; it seems clear that Parameswaran means to say important things about life here, but I can't tell what they are and I'm not really motivated to dig deep enough to find out.

So I really can't recommend this. The stories show promise, but they just aren't tight enough. (2 stars)

28. The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Sixteenth Annual Collection, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Terry Windling - keeper

Finally, something else to add to my list! After I finished What Was Always Hers, I really felt like I needed some proof that people are doing good work in the short story medium. This collection was just the thing to restore my faith in short fiction. It was fun, literary, absorbing and utterly enjoyable.

Unfortunately, it did take me forever to read. I find that large books take me ages simply because of how heavy they are. They're difficult for me to hold and lug around. When you consider that this anthology series is also formatted to hold about twice as much text per page as a regular book, you've got a 1400-page doorstop to get through. Yeah. It was worth it, though I definitely won't be reading the series back to back.

My very favourite story was definitely "A Pool in the Desert" by Robin McKinley. I wept so, so hard while I was reading it. Close runners-up were "Mermaid Song" by Peter Dickinson, "The Coventry Boy" by Graham Joyce and "Seven Pairs of Iron Shoes" by Tracina Jackson-Adams, but I wouldn't discount any of the stories herein. They were uniformly excellent. Just glancing back over the table of contents, about ten more titles jumped out at me. Out of nearly fifty entries, the only one that did very little for me was "The Prospect Cards" by Don Tumasonis.

So yes. I highly recommend this. Full, more carefully considered review here.

29. Back to the Stone Age by Edgar Rice Burroughs - keeper

If anyone else had written this, I'd be passing it along. It was entertaining enough, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as some of his others. The whole thing just sort of fell flat for me. But still, it was nice to return to Burroughs's imagination. I just hope I have better luck next time. Full review here.

30. Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson - library

A collection of six stories that focus on the element of water. Each author contributes three stories.

I came to this collection through the sixteenth edition of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, which reprinted two of the stories. Those two, ("A Pool in the Desert" and "Mermaid Song"), were definitely the best this book has to offer, but I enjoyed almost all the others, too. The only piece I found tedious was "Sea Serpent," which throws the reader right into the centre of things without much of an introduction and with few telling details until later on. It just didn't work for me.

Dickinson's stories all felt a bit more abstract to me. He's working with some larger, less concrete themes. He doesn't give the reader any handouts; she has to work for the payoff. This approach works very well with "Mermaid Song" and "Kraken," but as I've already mentioned I just didn't care for "Sea Serpent." McKinley, in contrast, provides three stories with firm roots in the realm of the emotional. Her tales draw the reader in and tug at the heartstrings in a way that I found impossible to resist. I enjoyed all three stories very much.

Overall, this was a good, quick read. I definitely recommend it. (4 stars)

xicanti, I think we're on the same wavelength or something. I just put this book on my list to get out of the library! Though I came across it through McKinley's website.
Glad to hear that it was good (for the most part)! Sometimes I'm just not into short stories - not enough depth. But I look forward to checking these out.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Reading McKinley's short fiction has definitely revived my interest in her work.

31. A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie - keeper

This may be fluff, as such books good, but it's bloody good fluff! I had a fantastic time with this little mystery. As I mentioned above, I prefer Dame Agatha's smaller, more personal crimes, and this one fit the bill. I think her body of work makes it clear that family murders really interested her. Almost all her best stories come about when her pool of suspects fall within the same family and/or household. Full review here.

32. Firefly: The Official Companion, volume 2 - keeper

This was just as good as volume one! More great discussions with the cast, more great behind-the-scenes stuff, more great annotated scripts... just a whole bundle of greatness, really. I think I'd launch right into a rewatch of the whole series if I weren't currently engrossed in Buffy and Angel. Full review here.

February In Review:

Books Read:

19. Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh - seller
20. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner - library; personal copy later purchased
21. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - keeper
22. The Tale of the Four Dervishes and Other Sufi Tales by Amina Shah - keeper
23. Ironside by Holly Black - library
24. At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie - keeper
25. Astonishing X-Men: Gifted by Joss Whedon - library
26. The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner - library; personal copy later purchased
27. What Was Always Hers by Uma Parameswaran - seller
28. The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Sixteenth Annual Collection, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling - keeper
29. Back to the Stone Age by Edgar Rice Burroughs - keeper
30. Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson - library
31. A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie - keeper
32. Firefly: The Official Companion, volume 2 - keeper

Pages so far: 10,950

February was another slightly disappointing month. I read some good stuff, but very little of it really jumped out at me. I continue to be very impressed with The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror series, and the sixteenth edition received the highest star rating I handed out this month. I think The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia did the most for me on the novel front. I enjoyed both books so much that I trundled off to my local bookstore and bought myself personal copies. I also rescued The Thief from the seller pile so I'd have the complete series.

What Was Always Hers was definitely the least enjoyable book I read. The more I think about it, the less I like it. Too bad; I was really eager to like it, but I just couldn't. Foreigner was also very disappointing.

According to my fancy-dancy reading graph thingy, my total pages is about equal with the number I'd read by this time last year. My total books, however, is WAY down. I'd read nearly fifty by the beginning of March in 2007, compared to only 32 in 2008.

I am intrigued by your monthly wrap-up - I like this idea and may borrow the concept myself.

Some of this is from a while back, but I felt like commenting - I'm glad you like Water, I like (some of) the stories in that book as well and it's always interesting to read someone else's perspective on them.

And I look forward to your take on Tanya Huff's Blood Books - I found them recently, because of the tv series Blood Ties, which is based on them (were you one of the people I told about that?), and I really like both the books and the show.

I actually read the first three Blood Books last year, after someone, (maybe you? I'm afraid I can't remember who it was exactly), told me they were surprised I didn't have anything by Tanya Huff listed in my library. I really enjoyed them and have been on the hunt for the fourth book ever since. I've had really rotten luck with it; none of my usual used bookstores ever seem to get it in, and I really don't like the new photo covers they recently issued. Sigh. I haven't seen the TV show yet; I tend to be leery of visual adaptations of books I've really enjoyed.

33. Etiquette For Women by Irene Davison - keeper

A teeny, tiny little book packed full of everything the upper class 1920's housewife needed to know to "make life a pleasanter, more smoothly running affair for everybody." I found it fascinating. The information is set out in a clear and concise manner, but there's so much of it that it's just mindboggling. So many rules! So many little things you must never, ever do! I think it'll make an excellent reference for any work I do in this period. Full review here.

I can understand that, I tend to be wary of the same. It's why I'm glad I saw the show first and then read the books. They are different enough - and similar enough - that it may well have bothered me otherwise. And as it was, actually, there were one or two things in the latter episodes - the ones that came out after I'd read the books - that I wished were done differently at the time. But overall, it is a very good show (even the author likes it!).

Good luck finding the other books.

I really liked the books and then the adaptations of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. I thought each had it's own unique elements that made it work well and be highly entertaining.

Too bad, the Scifi Channel canceled it! I just can't understand why they leave on crap like "So you want to be superhero" (Stan Lee really sold out on that one) and WWE Wrestling (what had that to do with scifi anyway?!), and they cancel great shows like the Dresden Files!!

*stepping off my soapbox now*

Anyway, if you haven't already, I suggest you check out both versions of it.

I've read the first two books in the Dresden Files. I enjoyed them, but they didn't blow me out of the water. I've heard that the series gets better as it goes along, though, so I've got the next few on my library list.

34. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prattchet - keeper

This was the third time I'd read this book, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected it to. The first time, I found it funny. When I read it again a year later, it was tedious. Now, after about a five year gap, I found it clever and entertaining. There were some good one-liners and some fun situations. I still don't think it's mindblowingly hilarious, but it's certainly worth a read. Full review here.

Did you find the end of Good Omens to be a little anticlimatic? Of course, that's sort of classic Prattchet, in my opinion.

I guess it sort of was, but I also found it pretty fitting. It worked with what had come before.

35. The Brown Fairy Book by Andrew Lang - keeper

I found this one a little disappointing. It was entertaining enough, and the illustrations really capture the feel of the period, but I thought it was just too colonial. The stories come from all over the world, yet they all used the same British children's story voice. I often couldn't tell where each story had originated until I got to the notation at the end. Sigh. Oh well; it was still an interesting read, and a nostalgic one. Full review here.

36. The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley - library, thank goodness
An interpretation of the Robin Hood myth.

I love Robin Hood. Like, seriously, love him. When I was smaller, I read all the Robin Hood stories I could get my hands on. I dreamed of becoming an archer. I'd absolutely love to go to Sherwood someday. So, being such a fan of both Robin Hood and Robin McKinley, I was really looking forward to this book.

It's not entirely devoid of good points. I thought her characterizations were pretty good. I had no problem with her interpretation of Robin and his band. I found it kind of fun to read some of the same stories I'd grown up with from a slightly different viewpoint.

But in the end, the book just plain bored me. It did absolutely nothing for me. I had to force myself to finish it. I skimmed as much as I possibly could. The writing didn't add anything to the tale; in fact, it often detracted from it as I found myself rereading passages in an attempt to decode them. The plot was episodic, as one might expect, and it just wasn't strong enough to survive without spectacular writing.

I really can't recommend this. I'm sure it'd knock someone's socks off, but it sure didn't do anything with mine. (a very regretful 1.5 stars)

37. The Fake McCoy by Mindi Scott - electronic

No review on this one as it's an unpublished manuscript. I do recommend that y'all keep an eye out for it in the YA section, though. I really, really enjoyed it and am now trying to get my thoughts in order for the author.

38. The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White - seller

King Arthur's boyhood takes an interesting turn when Merlyn becomes his tutor.

I think I am either too old or too young to have read this book for the first time. I know I'd have adored it if I'd read it when I was eight. I'd have shrieked with delight at all the Wart's adventures. I'd have longed to try everything for myself. Hell, I'd probably even have instituted my own personal eddicational system based on this book!

(I did stuff like that when I was little. It was rarely successful, but it was a hell of a lot of fun).

Were I a little older than I am now, I suspect I'd have been drawn in by the oh-so-British prose. It just begs you to do the voices in your head as you read! There's a real sense of delight behind the words, and it seems to me that White's approach owes more than a little to such children's authors as E. Nesbit. I'd probably have viewed the book as a welcome return to childhood dreams.

As it currently stands, though, I got tired of this pretty quickly. It's very much a boy's school story, (albeit with King Arthur as the boy in question), and as a result is quite episodic. There's also a great deal of educational material packed in here, both seriously and as satire, and it all got to be just a bit too much for me. Were this a treasured childhood read, I'm sure I'd have loved revisiting it with a clear idea of just what everything means... but, having come to it for the first time at twenty-four, I just found it tedious. I didn't particularly want a cleverly educational book. I didn't want a fine example of fun-yet-informative children's lit. I wanted a good story, and this just didn't deliver on that level.

Recommended to youngsters, oldsters, and those who've already read and loved it. Others, think about what you really want from the book before launching in. You, like me, may find that you're at the wrong point in your life for this tale. (2.5 stars)

39. Beyond This Dark House by Guy Gavriel Kay - keeper

This was a reread chosen for me over at the Go Review That Book! group. I was a little leery of returning to it so soon, but I'm glad I did. Kay's poetry works on the same level as his stories; that is, it takes something very personal and illuminates it in such a way that the reader is completely drawn in. I love it. Back when I first read it, this collection convinced me to give contemporary poetry another try. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten very far with that yet, but this second reading has encouraged me to give it another go. Contemporary poetry, here I come! Anyone have any suggestions?

Full review here.

No suggestions, but you've convinced me to give Beyond this Dark House a try. It's the one Kay book I haven't tried. I'm not big on poetry but I really do like GGK's other works.

I'd say that if you liked the bits of poetry in The Lions of Al-Rassan, you'll probably like Beyond This Dark House. That's what convinced me to give this collection a try.

40. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - loaner

An Irish man looks back on the first nineteen years of his life.

I wasn't sure about this book at first. It's very, very raw. McCourt's style is very stream-of-consciousness; he eschews quotation marks, tones down his punctuation and sticks mostly to the present tense. The narrative feels like it came straight out of someone's head. We get an unfiltered account of McCourt's life. We see things from his perspective only, with no extra frills. We live each event right along with him.

Slowly but surely, the book grew on me. I found myself becoming absorbed. I was eager to read onwards. The content is more than a little depressing, but McCourt tells his story with enough warmth and humor that I never felt overwhelmed by his family's difficulties.

I doubt I'll ever read this again, but I'm glad I read it once. It was a very slow read, but definitely a worthwhile one. (3.5 stars)

41. Tales of the Slayers by Joss Whedon et al - library

A graphic novel containing eight stories of past and future Slayers.

This was a reread for me. I originally read it a couple of years ago, when the library had very few graphic novels on hand and I was experimenting with new things. I wasn't a Buffy fan back then; I'd seen maybe three or four episodes from the first few seasons, and I didn't know anything about the show's mythology.

I definitely enjoyed the book more this time, armed with my (ridiculously detailed) new knowledge, but it was still just a quick, fun read. Nothing particularly special or memorable, though there are a couple of things that tie in with the series in interesting ways. My favourite story was "Presumption" by Jane Espenson and P. Craig Russell. They managed to pull off a tight little tale with a great twist.

If you're a Buffy fan and your library has this one, it's worth reading. (3 stars)

42. Voyage to Venus by C.S. Lewis - seller

In the second volume of Lewis's Space Trilogy, Dr. Ransom travels to Venus to play his part in the foundation of a new world.

This little book has a lot going for it. It's written in an elegant and simple style that works well with the subject matter. Perelandra, (Venus), is nicely realized and described. The book presents a thorough exploration of its topic, examining the issues at hand from several different angles. And yet, I just couldn't get into it. I think it's because it, unlike Out of the Silent Planet, is very Christian in its outlook. While the first volume was more universal in its outlook, this one demands that the reader know a fair amount about the Christian creation myth. I found the allegory almost overwhelming. This isn't a novel so much as a vehicle for the author's ideas about spiritual development.

Of course, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's just not what I felt like right now. (3 stars)

43. The Best of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, ed. by Kelly Link & Gavin J. Grant - library

A collection of short fiction and poetry that first appeared in the "tiny but celebrated" zine.

I really got a lot out of this book. The selections do an excellent job of pushing the envelope and exploring the interstices between genres. While there's a definite focus on the speculative, it's clear that these offerings owe more than a little to mainstream literary traditions. There's a definite challenge behind each piece. The authors refuse to be labeled or to work within the traditional confines of literature. They're breaking new ground in an exciting, thought-provoking and sometimes difficult way. The result is an excellent collection that demands that the reader really consider what she's reading as art as well as entertainment.

Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in innovative short fiction. (4 stars)

***WARNING: SOME SPOILERS BELOW***

44. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - seller

When an astronomer discovers intelligent life in space, the Jesuits launch a mission to make first contact.

I've abandoned a lot of books in my time. Usually, it's because they bore me. The plot doesn't engage me. I don't feel anything for the characters. The writing doesn't pull me in. The setting leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

This one was different. The premise was interesting. The plot was nicely developed through a series of flashbacks. I wasn't quite invested in the characters, but I could see myself getting there eventually. The writing was lovely. There were some fascinating things going on with the whole idea of goodness and faith. I'm sure that, had I finished it, I'd have given it at least four stars.

But I just couldn't. This is the very first book I've had to put down not because I didn't like it but because it disturbed the hell out of me.

Because the book is told in flashbacks, we quickly learn just how the main character ends up. His hands are mutilated, he's forced into prostitution and he loses his faith. I honestly could not see myself reading forward to see how it all came about. Strange as it sounds, I didn't have nearly enough invested in him to watch him go through that. If I'm going to read about a character who goes through hell, I have to really, really care about them. I have to hope against hope that things will be better for them, someday. I couldn't care about Emilio like that. I didn't want to subject myself to any more, regardless of how good the book was overall or how small a part the mutilation played in the bulk of the story. I abandoned it a little over two hundred pages in.

xicanti: I agree that The Sparrow is very very disturbing, but also exceedingly beautiful. I did manage to finish it, and it's one of my all-time favorite reads. Maybe someday you'll feel like giving it another shot. I'm not promising that it gets better at the end, but it never loses its beauty.

Oh, how could you not care about Emilio? It really is a very beautiful book, for all that it is very depressing. I am reading Children of God now, which is the sequel. It is even better, more nuanced and broad in scope. I know what you mean, though. It's hard to read a book where terrible things happen, so you have to be pretty invested in the characters to do it. If you aren't, you just aren't, you can't make yourself care just because other people say it is beautiful.

It was really the hands that did me in. The mutilation just cut too close to home. I felt like I was going to pass out when he was telling other priest about it.

I might go back to the book someday, but right now I really doubt it.

45. Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland - library

A fictionalized account of the life of Louise de le Valliere, Louis XIV's first mistress.

This book showcases the author's ability to incorporate historical detail into a carefully layered plot. Each piece works with all the others to present a rich, beautifully researched portrait of noble life in the time of the Sun King. Fans of the time period should appreciate the careful research that's gone into the novel.

Unfortunately, the character development isn't nearly as good here as it was in Gulland's wonderful Josephine B. Trilogy. As someone who reads for character, above all else, I was disappointed. I felt immersed in Petite's world, but I never really felt that I came to know her. Because I lacked this essential connection with the main character, the book fell flat for me. It was reasonably enjoyable, but not engaging. (3 stars)

46. TV Classics: Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Anne Billson - library

A critical reading of the television series.

This was my first foray into the prolific world of Buffy criticism, and I'm quite impressed. Billson's tiny book makes for a good survey text. She explains where she's coming from as a viewer, places Buffy within the context of similar TV shows and movies, and launches into some good, (if brief), analysis of the show's themes and events. Each chapter begins with a concise summary of a season, followed by some deeper discussion of the issues that arise therein. The result is a readable, engaging take on the show that manages to cover some good, scholarly ground without ever becoming dry and boring.

Billson structures her arguments well, backing up each of her conclusions with solid evidence from the show. Not all her stances are positive, either; she's got strong opinions on certain matters, including the overall quality of season four and the efficacy of certain characters. I felt that she made a good case for each of her complaints; even when I didn't agree with her, I could see where she was coming from.

I definitely recommend this to Buffy fans, especially those who've just started exploring the media crit surrounding the show. (As it is a survey text, I'm not sure how much seasoned Buffy Studies veterans would get out of it). Also, be forewarned that there are some brief but major Angel spoilers. (4 stars)

March In Review

Books Read:

33. Etiquette For Women by Irene Davison - keeper
34. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett - keeper
35. The Brown Fairy Book, ed. by Andrew Lang - keeper
36. The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley - library
37. The Fake McCoy by Mindi Scott - electronic
38. The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White - seller
39. Beyond This Dark House by Guy Gavriel Kay - keeper
40. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - loaner
41. Tales of the Slayers by Joss Whedon et al - library
42. Voyage to Venus by C.S. Lewis - seller
43. The Best of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, ed. by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant - library
44. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - seller
45. Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland - library
46. TV Classics: Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Anne Billson - library

Pages so far: 14,606

It's been a long time since I had such a dismal reading month. About half the books I read were disappointing. Almost all the rest were good but not spectacular.

My favourite book for March was, without a doubt, TV Classics: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I just finished watching the series, and felt that this little book provided me with an excellent springboard for more critical thinking re: the show. I'm looking forward to reading more in the same vein.

My favourite piece of fiction was The Fake McCoy, an excellent YA novel that hasn't yet been published.

My least favourite book, now... well, I guess The Outlaws of Sherwood wins, as it was the only one I actively disliked. I was also quite disappointed with The Brown Fairy Book, The Sword in the Stone, Voyage to Venus and Mistress of the Sun. They weren't bad books, but I was expecting them to engage me much more than they did.

47. Bangkok 8 by John Burdett - seller

A Thai detective seeks vengeance after his soul brother dies in the line of duty.

I found this to be a good book but not a spectacular one. The characters were interesting, but I never really engaged with them. Some the character dynamics also felt like they could have been fleshed out a bit more. I got some sense of how these people related to one another, but I never really felt it.

The plot, however, is nice and complex, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, (or too confused for words; it could go either way), and I found that the mystery was set out in such a way that I could see it unfold just as Sonchai did: intuitively rather than factually. It made for a different sort of mystery, and a pretty good one at that.

But what really sets this book apart is the focus on the Thai mindset. The story is steeped in Thai culture. Burdett paints a vivid picture of a society completely unlike anything westerners are used to. The justice system operates under different rules. The morality is complex and often surprising. And, most importantly, the boundaries between the living and the dead are much less rigid. There's a lot of emphasis here on Buddhist ideas, especially those regarding reincarnation. It makes for fascinating reading.

Overall, I found this book quite enjoyable, but it's nothing I'll need to read again. I feel okay about passing it along. I will, however, keep an eye out for the sequels. (3.5 stars)

48. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan - keeper

I wasn't sure about this book at first. I enjoyed it from the word go, and I absolutely loved McEwan's style, but I figured it was a seller because I didn't think I'd ever need to reread it. (I only keep books I plan to return to at least once more). Now that I've spent some time thinking about it, though, I'm not sure I can let this book go. I doubt it'll survive more than two readings, but I'm almost positive that I want to read it again. It really was a fascinating little book that provided me with an excellent introduction to McEwan. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work. Full review here.

49. A Canticle For Leibowitz by Water M. Miller Jr. - seller

The story of humanity's rise and fall after a nuclear disaster changes the face of the world.

Like the best classic science fiction, this book is about ideas. Miller thrusts us into one hell of a "what if" scenario and runs with it. I must say, I was quite impressed with the end product. It's broken into three parts, each of which takes place about six hundred years after the previous segment. This doesn't give the reader much of a chance to get to know the characters, but it does give Miller an effective platform from which to develop his themes. He does so very, very well.

On a technical level, the prose is readable and occasionally quite funny. The world is realistically delineated, and the characterization is really quite good given how little time we spend with each of these people. I found it easy to sink into the book. This was never a struggle to read. It was often quite a pleasure.

I did feel that the last segment, in which Miller takes a decidedly more science fictiony approach, was a bit weak compared to the previous two. This is likely just my own bias coming through, though; I'm not terribly big on sci fi, as a general rule.

I'm glad I gave the book a try, though. It was certainly worth it. I doubt I'll ever feel the need to revisit it, but I'm happy to have read it. Recommended. (four stars)

50. Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay - keeper

This was my second time through this book, and I am SO GLAD I reread it right now. I enjoyed it even more than the first time. Armed with the knowledge of how everything turns out, I found myself blown straight out of the water by Kay's careful plotting and intricate worldbuilding. I strongly urge you to read both this and its sequel, which together make one long book. They're more than worth it. Full review here.

51. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus, vol.1 - library

A graphic novel collection of Year One stories based on the television series.

I'm always a little leery of anything that explores one of my interests in some other media than that in which it was originally created, but I was pretty curious about the Buffy comics. The town library happened to have this one, though, so I figured I'd give it a go. I'm glad, (and, truth be told, a little surprised), to say that I quite enjoyed it. It took me a little while to sink into the whole Buffy-as-comic-book thing, but once I was there I got a big kick out of it. The pacing's good, particularly in the final stories, and the panelling is used to great effect. But, seeing who wrote it, I'm not so surprised after all. I really enjoyed Fabian Nicieza's work on Gambit, (I think; I'm about four thousand miles away from my comic collection right now!), and was glad to stumble across something else of his.

Recommended for Buffy fans. These stories all take place before the start of the show, too, so people with a mild interest in it might also enjoy this. (3.5 stars)

52. Midnight Days by Neil Gaiman - library

A collection of some of Gaiman's early stories for DC.

I've been a fan of Gaiman's for quite a while now, and I almost always find his work interesting and engaging. These stories proved no exception, though I do think I'd have enjoyed the Swamp Thing tales a whole lot more if I knew even a little bit about that particular series. As it stands, I could appreciate the storytelling but found myself a little lost in the stories themselves.

The other offerings, however, were both very enjoyable. I wouldn't say that you need to have read much, (or any), Hellblazer to appreciate the John Constantine story, and the semi-Sandman story is far enough distanced from both the modern series and the original that I don't think it would present many problems for first-timers.

If you do find yourself a bit lost, just do what I did: focus on the pacing, the use of the panels and the grasp of just what the comics medium can do. These are Gaiman's strengths, and the book shows them off to good effect. (3.5 stars)

53. Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay - keeper

The first time I read this book, I had to enlarge my Top 3 list to a Top 4. I found, upon finishing it, that I was sobbing wretchedly. It was all so very, very perfect. And I missed it, now that it was done. I wanted to dive straight back into the world.

My second reading was much the same. DAMN, but I love this book! Kay has this amazing ability to take a big, sweeping epic and turn it into something profoundly personal. It blows me straight out of the water. Full review here.

54. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus, vol. 2 - library

A graphic novel collection of stories based on the television show.

I didn't enjoy this quite so much as the first volume, and I think it's all down to pacing. The first two stories, (which were also the last two to be written), were very good. They drew me in and held me. The rest didn't use the medium to best effect, and it kind of put me off.

Unfortunately, I don't have much more to say than that. This hasn't really stayed with me. (2.5 stars)

55. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - keeper

I'm actually a bit surprised that I've kept this one. It was very good, but I spent most of it thinking I'd be able to get quite a good price for it at the used bookstore. It entertained me, but it never quite grabbed me.

There's a good twist near the end, though, and it's made me eager to reread this one armed with full knowledge of how it plays out. Full review here.

56. Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin - seller, I think

The first book in the long-running Baby-Sitters Club series.

I absolutely devoured these books when I was eight or nine, so I figured I'd reread some of them for a laugh. I actually quite enjoyed this first installment! It's very much a children's book, but it was a lot of fun. Aside from the nostalgia trip, I found myself thinking critically about how the book - and the series as a whole - works as children's lit. Martin does a lot of interesting things with her stories; there are some good lessons, and I like that the girls deal with real issues alongside the entertaining situations they find themselves in. I'm eager to reread some more of these! (3.5 stars)

#53 - Kay has this amazing ability to take a big, sweeping epic and turn it into something profoundly personal.

You put that wonderfully xicanti. I agree completely.

57. Claudia and the Phantom Caller by Ann M. Martin - seller

The Baby-Sitters Club #2.

Another nostalgia pick, and another one I'm glad I reread! This is a fairly standard "boys who pick you on like you!" story, but it's enjoyably handled. It flies by, and all the clues are there for young readers who want to guess along with Claudia. I got a kick out of it, but unfortunately it's not the sort of story that really lends itself to many other thoughts. (3 stars)

58. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay - KEEPER

I wasn't expecting much from this when I decided to tackle it last year. I'd enjoyed all Kay's other books, (especially The Sarantine Mosaic), but I found that there were often stretches where my attention lagged in a pretty big way. This is his longest offering, so I was expecting quite a bit of that here.

I couldn't have been more wrong. I absolutely loved it. It emerged as my favourite book of all time, and it's still firm in its placing after this second reading.

I have so may thoughts about the story that I don't even know where to start. I wrote a reasonably coherent review after I finished it for the first time, last June, so I guess I'll just refer interested parties to that. It's here.

59. The Truth About Stacey by Ann M. Martin - seller

The Truth About Stacey by Ann M. Martin - seller

The Baby-Sitters Club faces some stiff competition from the newly-opened Baby-Sitters Agency.

Man, am I ever having fun with these books! Once again, I found myself thinking about how the book really worked as children's lit. You've got girls standing up for themselves and solving problems. You have medical issues handled sensibly. There are lessons and morals. And there's a fun, entertaining story packed in there as well. It's good stuff. (3.5 stars)

60. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray - library

I wouldn't normally abandon the third book in a trilogy, but I just couldn't see myself reading any more of this. I made it through the first three hundred pages and that was plenty.

I read the first two books sometime in late 2006, having hearing about them on LiveJournal. I found the first installment somewhat interesting, but I wasn't really invested in it. The second one really grabbed me, but I still lacked that involvement with the characters that is, to me, so essential in any longer work. I tried very, very hard to like this third one, but it just didn't happen.

Honestly, I found it a bit silly. Bray still didn't seem too sure of how her magical system works, and the characters continued to bother me. I couldn't really believe in their friendship, and so this book with its strong themes of friendship and sisterhood failed for me.

Oh well.

61. Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin - seller

When the baby-sitters get into a huge fight, Mary Ann must deal with a new friendship and sick child all on her own.

I'd forgotten how much I like Mary Ann! I was also a shy girl with rather strict parents, (though mine, thankfully, were not as strict as her father), so I could relate to her. I'm quite far past those days now, but I still enjoyed checking in with her again.

As far as children's lit goes, this is a great example of a younger girl proving herself and discovering what she's capable of. It sends a great message, (though, to be honest, the trappings are somewhat dated), and it's very entertaining. I got a big kick out of it when I was little, and I still enjoyed it as an adult. (3.5 stars)

April In Review

Books Read:

47. Bangkok 8 by John Burdett - seller
48. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan - keeper
49. A Canticle For Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. - seller
50. Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay - KEEPER
51. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus, vol. 1 - library
52. Midnight Days by Neil Gaiman - library
53. Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay - KEEPER
54. Buffy the Vampier Slayer Omnibus, vol. 2 - library
55. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - keeper
56. Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin - seller
57. Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M. Martin - seller
58. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay - KEEPER
59. The Truth About Stacey by Ann M. Martin - seller
60. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray - library
61. Mary Ann Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin - seller

Pages so far: 19,555

I don't count rereads when I'm tabulating my monthly, (and yearly), bests, so I think I'll go with The Thirteenth Tale as my best book for April.

My worst book... well, I was quite disappointed with the second Buffy the Vampire Slayer omnibus. The Sweet Far Thing was also far less engaging than I'd hoped.

62. The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson - library, dammit; personal copy later purchased

This is absolutely the best new book I've read so far this year. It's utterly gorgeous; Ibbotson's language lies in the realm of magical realism, while her story is firmly rooted in the believable. It's absolutely beautiful.

Full review here.

I really enjoy hearing about your re-reads of the Babysitter's Club books. I loved them when I was younger, and have often wondered how they would hold up over time, but haven't actually gotten around to digging them out of storage, so I enjoy your reading your thoughts.

You should definitely dig them out! They're a lot of fun. I enjoyed the first few so much that I went out and bought about forty more!

63. Dawn and the Impossible Three by Ann M. Martin - seller

As the newest member of the Baby-Sitters Club, Dawn must deal with Kristy's jealousy and a difficult situation with a charge's parent.

Another great Baby-Sitters club book! This time around, I was really struck by how many practical babysitting tips there were. Dawn finds ways to engage the kids she sits for while still giving them something useful to do. I was too young to babysit when I first read these books, and I imagine most others were in the same boat, but I remember tucking these ideas away for the day when I, too, would be able to look after small children all by myself. They provided a great training ground for dealing with kid-based problems and difficulties with adults outside my own family. (3.5 stars)

64. Kristy's Big Day by Ann M. Martin - seller

When her mother's wedding date gets bumped up, Kristy and the rest of the Baby-Sitters Club are called in at the last minute to look after fourteen small children.

I didn't find this one quite as entertaining as the first five. There were the usual practical babysitting tips, but the story didn't engage me as much as the others. I think, perhaps, that the situation was just a little unrealistic this time around. Oh well. It was still a fun nostalgia trip. (3 stars)

65. Atonement by Ian McEwan - seller

A young girl makes an accusation with far-reaching consequences.

I must say, I'm rather... underwhelmed. McEwan writes beautifully and displays a stunning command of language, but I felt that the storytelling here left much to be desired. This is a psychological novel, above all else, and he's set out to show us what a large impact our perceptions and choices can have on our lives and the lives of those around us. He does so by layering event after event, observation after observation. Tiny occurrences are given the same weight as life-shattering moments. In many cases, the very pointlessness of it all is, in and of itself, the point. I don't deny that this is clever, and that it gives McEwan a perfect area in which to toy with these pretty, pretty words of his, but I could never help hoping that something would happen, for god's sakes! Every time the story seemed to be on the cusp of something, the author backtracked and indulged in more of his (admittedly gorgeous) descriptions. It bothered me.

Things did improve somewhat after Part I. I found that McEwan's approach captured wartime events much better than country life. The book began to engage me, at long last. I really sank into it. I found myself trudging through France with Robbie, working in the hospital with Briony. I particularly enjoyed the rejection letter she received, which seemed to be a commentary on Atonement itself. I started to think this might be a book worth keeping around for another rereading.

Then the ending killed it for me.

I won't say more than that. I don't want to ruin it for the rest of you. I find, though, that endings are almost more important to me than everything that came before. The ending can cast the entire book, (or film, or television show, or whatever), in a whole new light. It can elevate certain prior events, downplay others, make the reader rethink everything that's come before. Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes it... well, isn't.

I'm sure there are plenty of readers who found Atonement's ending fantastic. I'm really, really not one of them.

But, despite my own issues, I do recommend this. If you enjoy beautiful language and elegant writing, you'll love this. I give it top marks on that front, and cannot justify giving it fewer than four stars overall. (4 stars)

I haven't read Atonement yet, but I can't agree with you more regarding how important the ending to a book, film, etc is! I can't tell you how many times I have been watching a movie or reading a book and I just KNOW that everything will hinge on how the writer packages things at the end. Many a time I have been sorely disappointed.

I agree with most of what you said on Atonement, though I've got a feeling I liked it a lot less--for me, the great writing didn't justify near four stars, or the time spent reading it truthfully. And yes, someone who has written as many boks as him should know better than to give it an ending like that. Good to know I'm not the only one who doesn't love that one...

I think it would have been a stronger book overall if he'd shortened it considerably. I read Amsterdam at the end of last month and found it to be both concise and elegantly written. Not a word was wasted. Atonement, in contrast, seemed self-indulgent most of the time; it was like he wanted to write a description of a particular thing, so he threw it in there regardless of how much it delayed the action. I've heard others describe the book as "tightly written," but personally I think it would have had a much stronger emotional impact if McEwan had exercised some more restraint. It's possible to craft an effective psychological novel without going off on so many tangents.

66. My Own Kind of Freedom by Steven Brust - electronic

A novel-length Firefly fanfic.

I thought my fanfiction days were far behind me. I distrust the stuff. I don't want to see characters I love contorted into strange parodies of themselves, especially since they often seem to be involved in weird sexual pairings. (Jayne/Book? Oh god...) I mostly just ignore the whole fanfiction scene, unless someone directs me to a particularly bad one for a laugh.

I heard about this book on LibraryThing, though, and I figured I didn't have much to lose. I wanted some more Firefly pretty bad. (If you've read the rest of my reading list, you'll already know that I'm a big fan). It was free. The author had street cred. If it bugged me, I could always just stop.

So I downloaded it, and actually found it very entertaining. The characters were true to life, (er, show?), the story was cleverly plotted and the whole thing came together very well. I especially liked how Brust dealt with the good vs. bad issues that Firefly seems tailor-made to explore. He introduced some interesting elements and did an excellent job of poking away at the implications of their role in the story.

Good stuff. I'll certainly be seeking out more of Brust's work. If you're a Firefly fan and would like to give this a try, you can download it here. (3.5 stars)

67. Judaikitsch by Jennifer Traig and Victoria Traig - loaner

A craft/lifestyle book about kitsching up Judaism.

This was hilarious! The authors have a great sense of humour. I laughed aloud more than a little - not something I do too often while I'm reading! The projects are fun, the descriptions are great and the book itself is laid out in a very kitschy fashion. I loved it!

I haven't tried anything yet, (the book wandered into my life just a few hours ago, demanding that I read it cover-to-cover; craft books always seem to do that to me), but the instructions look easy to follow and are thorough without being overwhelming. Many of the projects do require specialist equipment, though; there are a number of clay pieces that you need a kiln to complete. Still, there are some fun ideas in here. I want to make my dog a yarmulke! (3.5 stars)

I've heard Atonement described by others as self-indulgent also. I've got Amsterdam on my TBR pile though, so I'm not giving up on him :)

I'd say Amsterdam is definitely worth reading. I enjoyed it much more than Atonement.

68. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson - library

When Alcatraz Smedry receives a bag of sand for this thirteenth birthday, he finds himself thrust into a word of evil Librarians and noble Oculators.

This was a lot of fun. The story moves quickly, dragging the reader along as Alcatraz meets his grandfather, learns what his bag of sand is good for, and launches an epic rescue mission straight into the heart of the Librarian stronghold. The whole thing is bizarre enough to keep any young reader entertained/confused/exasperated/wanting more. It's certainly not a nice book, (as Alcatraz frequently reminds us), but it should appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket, Jonathan Stroud and others who've crafted entertaining stories about horrible occurrences and less than admirable characters.

There's a fair amount of postmodernism here, too. Alcatraz frequently comments on storytelling as he relates his own strange tale. As a result, I think this would be most suitable for young readers who've already got a fairly good grasp of how books work and are familiar with some literary conventions. Newer readers probably wouldn't get as much out of this simply because they won't know what it's parodying. They may, however, find the humour enough to carry them through.

Definitely recommended. And read some of Brandon's adult stuff while you're at it! (3.5 stars)

Okay, I think Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians will have to be the next read-aloud I do with my 10 year old! We have been without a book for a while, so I want to do this one.

Of course, that means I have to go to the bookstore (so dangerous!).

I really enjoyed Alcatraz, I hope he gets a sequel! Though unless it's already written it will probably be awhile, since Sanderson is working on the last Wheel of Time book.

updated to say: I should do research before making assumptions. Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones is set to come out this year, according to Fantasticfiction.co.uk. And the author's site says he working on number 3. Woohoo!

That's great news, Ilythia! The more I think about this book, the more I like it.

sussabmax, you might have a bit of a fight on your hands! I read in another thread that bookstores are having trouble keeping copies on their shelves.

Ack, that means I have to go to the store! What if it goes out of print?!? (My somewhat paranoid justification for many book purchases, despite Mount TBR)

69. Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde - keeper

I swear this book had illustrations when I first flipped through it. So did The Well of Lost Plots. Now it looks like Something Rotten is the first illustrated Thursday Next novel.

Hmm.

I found this peculiar before I'd even read the book. Now that I've greedily devoured it, I'm a mite bit more suspicious.

Proper(ish) review here.

70. Claudia and Mean Janine by Ann M. Martin - seller

Claudia's summer changes dramatically when Mimi, her beloved grandmother, suffers a stroke.

With this book, the focus shifts somewhat from babysitting to family. There are still babysitting-related issues, of course, but Claudia's main concern here is her family. She's got to deal with both her grandmother's recovery and with some ongoing issues with her sister. I thought the book did a great job with both issues. We see how difficult the stroke is on Mimi as well as how it affects Claudia; younger readers can use the scenes to envision how they would react in a similar situation. Likewise, readers can see Claudia's sibling issues reflected in the children she babysits for even before Claudia recognizes them herself. There's some good stuff going on. I got a big kick out of it. (3.5 stars)

71. Magic Under Glass by Jackie Dolamore - electronic

Another unpublished manuscript for critique. I'd read two previous versions of the book, and this latest is by far my favourite. I teared up at several points and finished with a smile on my face. I'll try to gather my thoughts together tonight, then get them off to the author on the morrow.

72. Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice - library

The second volume in Anne Rice's trilogy about the life of Jesus Christ.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had a greater knowledge of the source material. I'm an art historian, so I know a fair amount about Christian iconography, but my speciality is the Nativity Cycle. I have an excellent grasp on the events surrounding Christ's birth and I know a decent amount about the Passion, but I'm pretty sketchy on everything in between.

That being the case, I didn't get a whole lot out of this because I didn't know what Rice was building off of. I couldn't read through the book and recognize key events or particular theological debates, as I did with the first volume. I did enjoy the writing, to a certain extent, but the book failed to captivate me because I simply didn't have the background for it.

Recommended to Christians and those with a good working knowlege of Christ's life. Others may have some difficulty. (I'm wavering back and forth between 2.5 and 3 stars)

73. Boy-Crazy Stacey by Ann M. Martin - seller

Stacey thinks she's fallen in love with an older lifeguard.

I found this book rather frustrating. As always, it's filled with useful babysitting tips and lots of life experience. The characters go through the sorts of things that their target audience would also be going through. But in the end, Stacey hasn't grown all that much. As works of children's lit, I think these books are a good way of showing readers how we change and grow, and how we can learn from our mistakes. Stacey never really realizes that Scott was just using her. Maybe this is in character, but I would've appreciated the book more if it had highlighted this. (2.5 stars)

74. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde - keeper

Another fun Thursday Next book! I did feel like the plot got a bit lost amidst all the crazy goings-on, but it didn't take away from my reading experience. Good stuff. Lots of fun, very clever and extremely entertaining. Full review here.

75. The Ghost at Dawn's House by Ann M. Martin - seller

Dawn begins to suspect that her two hundred year-old house is haunted.

The babysitters tackle the supernatural this time around, and it makes for an entertaining change. Some of the stuff that comes up was a lot creepier when I was much, much younger, but I still found that Martin did a good job of capturing the suspense the girls would've felt as they explored the secret passageway and tried to unravel the mystery. Even though they solve it in the end, there are still enough unanswered questions that the supernatural is still a possibility. (3 stars)

76. The Pink Fairy Book, ed. by Andrew Lang - keeper

As was the case with The Brown Fairy Book, I found these retellings very British. It didn't throw me off quite so much this time, though; maybe because most of the stories still belonged to the European tradition? I'm not sure. Either way, it was an enjoyable and nostalgic read with lovely illustrations. Full review here.

77. Amy Unbounded: Belondweg Blossoming by Rachel Hartman - keeper

Do I ever wish I could get my hands on some more of Rachel Hartman's work! This was a fantastic read that does some great things with its subject matter. Unfortunately, none of Amy's other adventures have been collected, and the ongoing series seems to be defunct. Sadness. Full review here.

78. Logan Likes Mary Anne! by Ann M. Martin - seller

Mary Anne grows close to the new boy at school... who also happens to be a babysitter.

I like how Martin handled the romance with this one. There's instant attraction, but nothing's really forced. She gives Mary Anne and Logan time to get to know one another, and they do so in a way that fits with Mary Anne's character. There's also some good character development along the way as Mary Anne adjusts to these new feelings and faces some challenges to the ways she normally relates to people. I enjoyed it. (3.5 stars)

79. The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Twentieth Annual Collection, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Kelly Link & Gavin J. Grant - library

A collection of the best fantasy and horror short fiction published in 2006.

I always enjoy these anthologies, and this one was no exception. The stories are both literary and entertaining, and there's a good mix of styles. As is usually the case, however, I found that the fantasy selections were strongly weighted in favour of contemporary and/or urban stories, with a few historical pieces thrown in. Are there really so few authors doing good work with traditional fantasy? The few traditional selections were not, to my mind, all that they could have been. They mostly employed dense, difficult language that forced me out of the story and I decoded the author's meaning.

While I found most of the stories enjoyable and thought-provoking while I was reading them, very few jumped out at me this time around. The sole exception was "The Lineaments of Gratified Desire" by Ysabeau S. Wilce. Oddly enough, the story uses the dense, difficult language I mentioned above, but the author makes it work for her. Instead of shunting me out of the story, it forced me further in and kept me involved. The story itself is rather gruesome and cruel, filled as it is with characters who navigate via a very different sort of moral compass, but I found myself utterly entranced by the worldbuilding. I absolutely loved it, and intend to seek out more of Wilce's work.

I definitely recommend the collection as a whole to those who like short fiction. I didn't feel that it was as strong as previous entries in the series, but it was still most definitely worthwhile. (4 stars)

80. I can't be good all the time by Anne Taintor - keeper

I found it really interesting to go back over this book now, as a qualified art historian. I've seen Taintor's work all over the place, of course, and I'd read this before, but I noticed all sorts of different things this time through. I'm thinking of writing something a bit more in-depth about it; I didn't feel like my review was really the right place to closely examine particular pieces in an attempt to deconstruct what Taintor's done. Full review, (minus deep discussion), here.

81. Time Bandit by Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand, with Malcolm MacPherson - seller

My very first Early Reviewers book! It didn't blow me out of the water, but I did enjoy it. It had good atmosphere, and I feel like I learned a lot about commercial fishing. Full review here.

82. Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips - library, unfortunately

The Greek gods, living in London and down on their luck, find their world turned topsy-turvy when a cleaning woman enters their lives.

What an entertaining book! I absolutely loved Phillips's vision of the Greek pantheon living in squalor in London. It mostly fit with my own knowledge of Greek mythology, (which is admittedly a little sketchy these days, outside of Dionysiac imagery), and it was presented in an absolutely hilarious fashion. I laughed aloud more than once as the lot of them struggled with their fading powers and their inability to understand how mortals view the world. I think Phillips did a particularly good job of finding the humour in the differences between divine and mortal opinions of appropriate behavior.

The book whizzed on by and made for some extremely enjoyable reading. It may not have been very deep, but it was a hell of a lot of fun! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a laugh, but I think those with some prior knowledge of the Greek myths will get the most out of it. (4.5 stars)

83. Kristy and the Snobs by Ann M. Martin - seller

Kristy clashes with some people in her new neighborhood.

This was my favourite Baby-sittesrs Club book yet. In addition to her war with the Snobs, Kristy also has to deal with her collie Louie's illness. I think Martin handled it really, really well; she did a good job of showing what Kristy and her family went through. I teared up a couple of times, and really felt for both Kristy and Louie. (3.5 stars)

84. Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde - keeper

Yet another entertaining Thursday Next adventure! I'm very glad I decided to go on with the series; I've gotten a big kick out of them. The endings are, perhaps, a little abrupt, but there's enough zaniness in between that I don't really mind. Unfortunately, I don't own the next book; I'll have to look for it at the library. Full review here.

Oh, I have yet to finish Ironside. I started reading it in a bookstore. It's always checked out of the local libraries, and I haven't the funds to spend 20+ dollars on it in hardback. Also, I'm waiting for it to come out in paperback, so it can match the rest of my set. I loved Tithe and Valiant. Holly Black's dark and modern take on the world of Faerie is awesome. My university library has it though (been getting a lot of modern and popular fiction lately), and now that I'm living close by, I'm definitely going to have to check it out. Your review just reminded me of that.

I was really disappointed to read that Holly Black doesn't plan to write any more books with the characters from Tithe. Hopefully she'll change her mind; I don't want Ironside to be the last one!

85. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella - library

A woman loses three years of her memory after a car crash and must reconcile who she once was with the live she is now living.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my guilty pleasures. I find her books really cute, and they usually make me giggle and tear up in equal measures. This one was no exception. I laughed aloud quite a bit - not a common thing with me - and I sniffled my way through the last chunk. I thought Kinsella did a great job of balancing the humor of Lexi's situation with the fear and confusion that would also be a natural part of it. The romance was also nicely done, and the imbalance of their feelings made for an interesting situation.

All in all, this was another solid read from Kinsella. If you need some meat to your books, you'd be better off reading something else, but if you enjoy fluffy, fun reads from time to time I definitely recommend this. (4 stars)

86. The Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block - keeper

I'd planned to hunker down with some trashy fantasy today, but this book started calling out to me. "Reread me!" it wailed. "I'm short! I'm quick! I'll make you cry! You know you want to reread me!"

So I gave in, and the little thing delivered 100%.

Having reread this, I'm thinking I'll dip into a big more FLB over the next little while. Her books are very quick reads and they pack a huge emotional punch. I find them very satisfying.

Full review for this one here.

87. Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus

The Rose and the Beast didn't even come close to satisfying my FLB cravings. It's been a few years now since I last read the Weetzie Bat series, so I figured it was about time I delved back into them.

This one was far better than I remembered. This was my fourth reading, and I enjoyed it as much now as I did the first time. Block is a daring, unconventional author who manages to evoke a wonderful sense of feel and place by layering scenes. The story unfolds in a series of short bursts, each of which builds upon all the others to tell this beautiful, if somewhat disjointed, tale.

I highly recommend this, but it's definitely not for everyone. Block's writing is disjointed, and it can be difficult to get a sense of the story's chronology. She also disregards many technical rules in order to create particular effects. Those with an interest in surreal stories and magical realism are most likely to enjoy this. People who prefer their books a bit more linear and grounded probably won't like it. (4 stars)

88. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher - seller, I think

Harry Dresden goes up against a particularly vicious ghost and a whole slew of other nasties.

I really, really want to like this series, but it's kind of an uphill battle. The books aren't bad, but they don't exactly blow me out of the water. The plots are decent, the magical system is rather interesting, and the books read fairly quickly. There's just no spark. I can't really get involved with the stories.

When I reviewed Storm Front a few months back, I mentioned that I didn't feel there was enough tension. Butcher constantly tells us how much danger Harry's in, but I could never quite feel it. It was much the same here. There were a few exciting parts, (including some large magical fight scenes), but at no point was I fully engrossed. The action wasn't really enough for me.

Butcher does try to tug at the heartstrings this time around, but even that didn't work too well. There's a lot here that hinges on Harry's relationship with Susan, which I never felt. I couldn't invest anything in their romance because it didn't feel like they themselves were really invested in it.

On the plus side, I did like the faith-based magic Butcher introduced this time around, and the book was fun in places. It's just not at all what I was expecting, given all the hype surrounding this series.

I'm not sure yet whether or not I'll give the fourth one a go. Three books seems like enough, but I might give it one more shot. (3 stars)

If you like Butcher's writing, but can't quite get into his Dresden Files, maybe you should try his newer fantasy series. It starts with The Furies of Calderon. I just finished that first book, and liked it better than Dresden. I've reviewed it in my library if you're interested.

I think it's more the writing than the stories that are putting me off. The plots are decent, but I don't find that Butcher really draws me in. I'll probably try his high fantasy stuff eventually, though, and I haven't completely ruled out the Dresden books.

89. The Adventuress by Audrey Niffenegger - loaner

I found this adult picture book absolutely fascinating. It's strange and dreamlike, and demands a lot of involvement from the reader. I found it a very personal book in which I was constantly invited to place myself in the Adventuress's place. Niffenegger's text provides a certain amount of guidance, but the story is so sparse that it's really up to the individual to imbue it with meaning. The images and captions are like little jolts, inspiring the reader/viewer to look at what's going on and determine its effect. I loved it, and definitely recommend that you check it out if you have any interest in visual storytelling and the narrative possibilities of art. (4 stars)

90. Witch Baby by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus

I'd read this book twice before, and while I found it interesting enough it never really spoke to me. It did this time through, and in a big way. I think I'm finally in the perfect place to really understand Witch Baby.

Block does a wonderful job of fleshing out this misunderstood soul who feels like an outsider within her own family. Witch Baby's situation came alive for me. I could feel the tension between her and the others, and I could see what drove her to act as she did. The book was a beautiful portrait not only of this one character but of unconventional family life as a whole. I found it deeply affecting.

It affected me on such a personal level, in fact, that I'm not sure I can write a proper review for it. Suffice it to say that it meant a lot to me. The book finally clicked. (4 stars)

91. Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce - library, dammit; personal copy quickly purchased.

I think I'm addicted to Ysabeau S. Wilce. I discovered her through the twentieth edition of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror and instantly knew I'd have to read absolutely everything she'd ever written. There's still one short story I haven't been able to track down, but I think I've got the rest of it. Now I'm just waiting on tenterhooks until her next book is out in September!

Full review here.

92. Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus

I didn't feel quite ready for a new read, so I figured I'd continue on with my Weetzie Bat rereads.

While I enjoyed Witch Baby quite a bit more the third time through, Cherokee still didn't really do it for me. The book is much more linear than the previous two; there are clearly defined scenes that flow into one another with a definite sense of chronology, compared to the fragmentary approach Block used in the first books. There's quite a lot of buildup, and the metaphors are more obvious. It made for an enjoyable read, but not a truly affecting one. My favourite thing about Block is the way that she layers events and lets the reader determine what they mean to her. I didn't feel as though this book allowed me to become as involved as I did with Weetzie Bat or Witch Baby, and my enjoyment suffered because of it.

I sound like I didn't enjoy it. I did. It just suffers in comparison to the rest of the series. (3.5 stars)

May In Review

Books Read:

62. The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson - library, dammit
63. Dawn and the Impossible Three by Ann M. Martin - seller
64. Kristy's Big Day by Ann M. Martin - seller
65. Atonement by Ian McEwan - seller
66. My Own Kind of Freedom by Steven Brust - electronic
67. Judaikitsch by Jennifer Traig and Victoria Traig - loaner
68. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson - library
69. Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde - keeper
70. Claudia and Mean Janine by Ann M. Martin - seller
71. Magic Under Glass by Jackie Dolamore - electronic
72. Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice - library
73. Boy-Crazy Stacey by Ann M. Martin - seller
74. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde - keeper
75. The Ghost at Dawn's House by Ann M. Martin - seller
76. The Pink Fairy Book, ed. by Andrew Lang - keeper
77. Amy Unbounded: Belondweg Blossoming by Rachel Hartman - keeper
78. Logan Likes Mary Anne! by Ann M. Martin - seller
79. The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Twentieth Annual Collection, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Kelly Link & Gavin J. Grant - library
80. I can't be good all the time by Anne Taintor - keeper
81. Time Bandit by Andy and Jonathan Hillstrand, with Malcom MacPherson - seller
82. Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips - library, unfortunately
83. Kristy and the Snobs by Ann M. Martin - seller
84. Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde - keeper
85. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella - library
86. The Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block - keeper
87. Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus
88. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher - seller
89. The Adventuress by Audrey Niffenegger - loaner
90. Witch Baby by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus
91. Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce - library, dammit
92. Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus

Pages so far: 27,288

The Secret Countess was the best book I read in May. It's the best new book I've read this year, period, and the first to earn a full five stars from me. However, it was far from the only wonderful book I read this month. Flora Segunda comes in a close second, with Gods Behaving Badly only a few paces behind.

When it comes to the worst book... y'all know I don't count rereads in these summations, so I think The Road to Cana and Time Bandit are tied. Neither was bad, but they didn't engage me as much as some of the other things I read. Despite the high star rating I gave it, I was also pretty disappointed with Atonement. It has my very least favourite kind of ending, and that's always a negative.

If I did count rereads in these things, Boy-Crazy Stacey would be a shoe-in for Worst Book of May. I felt that it sent a really bad message to young readers. It may have been a realistic representation of Stacey's mindset, but I think that authors writing specifically for children have a unique responsibility to their readers. I mean, I know it might boil down to a difference of opinion, but I cannot agree with a book that treats Scott's behavior towards Stacey as all right. The guy uses her, and she never realizes that this isn't all right. Even if Stacey isn't the sort of person who would recognize this, I think Mary Anne certainly is. Martin could have used her to highlight how inappropriate this was. /end rant.

93. Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce - seller

A young girl with the ability to speak to animals comes to Tortall.

I can see why Tamora Pierce's books have gained a strong readership. They deal with many themes that I usually enjoy very much. Daine, this book's central character, feels like an outsider. Throughout the course of the book, she comes to realize that she's found a home for herself, despite an unusual talent that has caused problems for her in the past. It's a solid scenario that a lot of readers, (especially young people), can really relate to.

Unfortunately, I found it impossible not to compare Pierce to Mercedes Lackey, an author who I feel has done a much better job with the whole outsider-finding-acceptance theme. It's all a matter of taste, I know, but I found Pierce's narrative just a little too simplistic for my tastes. Despite the strong themes she'd working with, nothing goes very deep. I know this is a children's novel, but I don't think that's really an excuse. I wouldn't exactly say that Pierce has written down to her readers, but there's definitely room for more than she's giving.

I can see why others have really enjoyed the Tortall books, but this one just didn't click for me. I might try the rest of the series at a later date, but it's not a priority. (3 stars)

Interesting. I definitely agree that there are flaws, but in general I think Pierce's writing is better than Lackey's. I can't read Lackey's books anymore, the style makes me want to throw them across the room.

I think it really just boils down to a matter of taste. I agree that Lackey's writing isn't brilliant, from a technical standpoint, but I feel like she does more with her characters' emotional lives. There were moments when I could glimpse something deeper with the characters in Wild Magic, but I never really got there.

Have you read the rest of the Tortall books? They really start with the Alanna quartet. They all have strong female characters (with great male supporting roles) and I find them quite enjoyable. I reread them once a year or more. Try the Protector of the Small series, with Kel, they might have the depth you're seeking. And to be honest, out of all the leads, Daine was my least favorite.

This was my first foray into Tortall. I picked it up from the library sale since I'd heard so many good things about Pierce's books. I'd read the first in her Circle of Magic series and wasn't too impressed, but I figured I'd give her another shot. I usually give authors three or four books before I give up, (unless I find them completely unreadable), so she'll get a couple more tries from me before I decide I'm not keen on her.

94. Saving the World: A Guide to Heroes by Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and Hillary Robson - library

A critical response to the first season of the popular TV show.

I'm on the fence with this book. Some of the essays are very good. The authors have chosen particular topics, (such Hiro's progress throughout the season), and examined them in-depth, citing concrete examples from the show and bringing in ideas from other critical forums and television series. These chapters are thorough and enjoyable, and I feel like they've given me a good groundwork on which to base my own critical response to the show.

Other essays, however, are kind of all over the place. They introduce sketchy ideas, discuss them in brief, then move on to something else that may or may not be directly related to what came before. Most of these ideas would have provided enough material for an essay of their own. This brief treatment, which is mostly confined to the surveyish chapters that examine the show as a whole, doesn't really do these ideas justice or add much to the criticism surrounding the series.

I think the authors would have done better to publish a book of deeper, more involved essays on particular themes, rather than attempt to do a survey so early on in the series. This show provides plenty of food for thought, but it was only one season in when this book was written. I hesitate to say that it was too early for any sort of a guide book, but I do think it could have been handled better.

Recommended for Heroes fans, but take it out of the library instead of buying it. (3 stars)

95. Through A Brazen Mirror by Delia Sherman - keeper

I waffled back and forth on whether or not I wanted to keep this, but I decided to hold onto it for at least one more read. It didn't affect me emotionally, but the writing was lovely and I found that Sherman did an excellent job of dealing with queer issues in a medieval setting.

I did find it interesting that the hook on the back cover of my copy, (a first printing from 1989), made no mention whatsoever of the queer themes, whereas future printings seem to focus on them to the exclusion of all else.

Full review here.

96. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce - library

A young girl disguises herself as a boy so she can train as a knight.

I guess the third time's the charm. I'd read two of Pierce's books prior to this one, and I can't say as I was very impressed. This one has changed my opinion. I had a lot of fun with it! It's most definitely a children's book, so far as style goes, but this never detracted from my enjoyment of it.

I really liked how Pierce drew out Alanna's training. I'd heard that these books were hardcore Mary Sue territory, and expected Alanna to be instantly amazing at everything she tried. This is far from the case. While she does do very well, Piece makes it clear that her accomplishments are the result of hard work and dedication. I really appreciate heroes who rise to the top by labour rather than luck.

The plot is somewhat episodic, and there are a few areas that I would have liked to have seen fleshed out a bit more. Alanna's instant hatred of Roger could've done with a little more detail; perhaps that's coming in later books? Her friendships were nicely delineated, but I still felt Pierce could've gone a bit deeper with them by providing a few more telling moments. All in all, though, the book was a fun, quick read. I'll certainly be getting the rest of the series from the library. (3.5 stars)

97. The Fair Folk, ed. by Marvin Kaye - keeper

I sought out this book specifically for the Megan Lindholm story. I've really enjoyed all her work as Robin Hobb, and was eager to try something under her other pseudonym. I wasn't disappointed; the story was readable and engaging. It flew by.

The rest of the anthology was also quite good, with the exception of two stories that just didn't work for me. Full review here.

98. Westmark by Lloyd Alexander - library

A young man gets caught up in his country's political situation after soldiers destroy his livelihood.

Why had I never read this before? Why had I never even considered reading it? I've been a big fan of Lloyd Alexander's for almost fifteen years. I've loved everything I've ever read of his. And yet, I somehow missed out on most of his bibliography. Huh.

I wish I'd read this fifteen years ago, but I'm not sure I would have appreciated it then. Alexander does some fantastic things with this story. He packs in tons of commentary on right and wrong, justifiable and inexcusable. Each of these characters has differing views on what is and is not appropriate, both on a personal level and on a political level, and it's difficult to say who's really right. Everyone gets plenty of opportunities to explain where they're coming from, and everyone has valid points. The book really challenges the reader to think about where these people are coming from and how s/he would act in their place.

And on top of that, it's just a good story. The plot is a bit unconventional, but I didn't find that it took away from it at all. Rather, it enhanced the issues Theo dealt with and helped make his choices clearer. The twists and turns were also set up very nicely; unfortunately, I had the final surprise spoiled for me by some ill-considered blurb reading, but I still found it interesting to see how Alexander laid out all the clues.

The book is teeny-tiny, (184 pages in the hardcover edition), but I found that it had the same impact as something much longer. I highly recommend it to those who like their children's literature with a bit more of a punch. (4 stars)

xicanti,

I'm glad you finally found a Pierce book you liked! I agree that there was much in Alanna that could have been fleshed out. I think that she was writing in a time (at least 20 years ago) when they didn't really give kids as much credit for being able to understand complex plot points. Her later books due flesh out her characters better.

Also I remember reading on the hardcover dust jacket of Trickster's Choice her writing a little dedication to J.K. Rowling for proving that children would read longer books - that's when her quinessential quartets became longer duologies. I thought that was interesting. I probably quite true, YA books are getting longer than they used to be - and kids are reading them! Woohoo!

I plan to pick up In the Hand of the Goddess at the library tonight. :)

There were a few authors back in the old days who gave kids full credit, but there sure weren't very many of them! I'm glad to see that things have changed. And yes, it's wonderful that J.K. Rowling has paved the way for longer offerings in the children's/YA market. They're getting tons of great stuff these days, and the books are all complex enough that adults can enjoy them without ever feeling written down to!

99. The Kestrel by Lloyd Alexander - keeper

And here's a perfect example. This and the others in the trilogy may be quite short, especially by today's standards, but they deal with a lot of heady themes in such a way that the reader's understanding is presupposed. I loved it, even though it wasn't an entirely comfortable read. Alexander does a lot with the material here, and he never writes down to his readers.

Full review here.

100. The Beggar Queen by Lloyd Alexander - keeper

I wasn't sure I wanted to read this right after The Kestrel. While I got a lot out of the previous book, I found it pretty draining and wasn't sure I was up for another such read right off the bat. Every time I tried to put it aside, though, I felt like I was making the wrong decision. So I launched in, and am very glad I did so.

This was excellent. Of the three books, it was definitely my favourite. I found it utterly absorbing, and really appreciated how Alexander drew on the French Revolution. And I loveloveloved the ending. I really think an ending can make or break a story, and this one was exactly what I'd hoped for for these characters and their country.

Full review here.

101. Eclipse One, ed. by Johnathan Strahan - library

A collection of fifteen original short stories.

I sought out this collection soley for the Ysabeau S. Wilce story, but figured I might as well read the rest while I had the book. I love short fiction, and I've found it to be a good way of discovering new authors.

And some of the stories were very good. I enjoyed the Wilce piece very much; I continue to find her style just delightful, and her worldbuilding is tops. Maureen F. McHugh's "The Lost Boy: A Reporter at Large" was very interesting in its journalistic approach to fiction. "Toother" by Terry Dowling was suitably creepy. "Electric Rains" by Kathleen Ann Goonan was engaging, drawing me into this twisted world and giving me all the information I needed to understand it without ever going overboard. "Larissa Miusov" by Lucius Shepard reminded me very much of Neil Gaiman's work, so far as style and tone go; I found it very readable.

I did enjoy Peter S. Beagle's "The Last and Only or, Mr. Moscowitz Becomes French" for the elegance of the language, but it's already fading. I doubt it'll stay with me for long.

I was pretty indifferent to the rest of the stories. The writing was decent, in most cases, but they never grabbed me. I found some of them a bit silly; they were evidently written in the vintage mode, designed to convey a particular effect right near the end. This can be very effective if done right, but I felt that it fell flat in most of these cases. I'll admit, also, that I skimmed a couple. They instantly put me off, and I just couldn't get into them.

So as a whole, I'd say this is far from essential reading. I doubt I'll seek out any future volumes of the series, and I'll be leery of anything else Strahan has edited/selected. His tastes and my own just don't jive. (2.5 stars)

102. Melusine by Sarah Monette - keeper

I bought this book back in January because I found it for a good price, then held off for ages because I didn't have the rest of the series on hand. (I'm trying to whittle down the TBR pile here, not add to it at a moment's notice). I finally caved a few days back, though, and I'm glad I did. This was absolutely fantastic. It took me a little while to decide whether I loved it or just rather liked it, but I'm no longer in any doubt. I've got plans to buy the rest of the series after work tomorrow. There goes the pile again.

Full, properish review here.

you know, I keep walking past Melusine in the library and being curious. I'll have to pick it up next time. Thank you for the review!

You should most definitely check it out! I'm about 3/4 of the way through the second book in the series now, and it's just as good.

103. In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce - library

Alanna continues to study as a knight while also exploring the feminine side of her nature.

I'm afraid this book got kind of a rum deal. I read it because it was short and I needed something to tide me over until I could get my hands on the sequel to Melusine, not because I particularly wanted to right now. It wasn't at all what I felt like, and my enjoyment of the book suffered for it.

I also find that I don't have a great deal to say about it. I suppose it moves the story forward well enough. Alanna tackles all sorts of new challenges, including her first battle, her emerging sexuality and her Ordeal of Knighthood. The story remains rather episodic, and the timeline still seems a little quick. Pierce does move the action forward smoothly despite large jumps in time, but it still felt a little off to me. And I continue to wish she'd delved deeper into certain things. There's some good subtext, but most of it is still surface.

So yeah. Decent, but not terribly memorable. I probably should've waited until I was actually in the mood for it. (3 stars)

104. The Virtu by Sarah Monette - keeper

Now this was more like it!

I had high hopes going in, and the book did not disappoint. I couldn't read it quickly enough. I forced myself to take breaks because I thought I should get some other stuff done, but I didn't really want to. I could've read this cover to cover. I lost sleep to it, and I can guarantee that it's gonna stay with me for a hell of a long time.

Full review here.

105. The Mirador by Sarah Monette - library, unfortunately

I enjoyed this a hell of a lot. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Monette excels at character, voice, and setting, and The Mirador has all three in abundance. I found this a readable, engaging book that I was always eager to dive into... but I don't think it was really on the same level as the first two.

Monette has shifted her focus, to a certain extent; the plot is politically driven this time around, with less emphasis on character. That's not to say that they're are no longer nicely delineated; they most certainly are. Monette's understanding of these characters remains very strong. I would have liked to see some further development from them, though; Felix, in particular, seems to backslide, while others remain static or move forward very slowly. They're all in a pretty dark place. I wasn't quite sure whether I found it heartwrenching or frustrating. I'm still not, though I'm leaning towards the former.

Mehitabel's debut as a POV character threw me off at first, too. It makes sense for her to share the limelight with the other two, though; her role as a spy gives her high stakes in the game, and her perspective allows the reader some deeper insight into the intrigues brewing throughout the novel. Her segments move the political stuff along at a fairly decent clip.

Everything does come together very nicely as the book progresses. Hints and clues pay off in a big way, and Monette ties up a few more loose ends from the first two books. There's a decent amount of tension, and I was pleased with the ending. I may not have loved it as much as Melusine and The Virtu, but I still had a hell of a good time with it. I recommend this series very highly, and you can bet I'll be buying the next book in hardcover as soon as it's released. (4 stars)

And now I seem to be in withdrawal. Brilliant.

I'm sorry; I know what that's like. Nothing seems good. Maybe try reading something as opposite from the series as you can? Or if you want to try similar stuff, maybe grab The Lies of Locke Lamora from the library; I just started Mesuline on your recommendation (thank you, by the way! It's very interesting so far), and it's reminding me a little bit of Locke Lamora. A lot of world-building and a distinctive voice (although I suspect, based on your reviews and the couple dozen pages I've read so far, Mesuline probably does it a bit better). Locke Lamora is a thief type, which might help with Mildmay withdrawal. Of course, you might not want to read books that are sort-of-but-not-really-like the books you loved!

ETA: Whoops! I really should have checked your library *before* I made the recommendation; now I see that you've read both The Lies of Locke Lamora and its sequel. Sorry! If I think of something else along that line, I'll let you know.

The Lies of Locke Lamora was one of the best books I read in 2007; I loved it from the first word to the last, and I plan to buy the third one as soon as it's out. :) And I agree, if I hadn't already read it it would be the perfect place to go from here!

I decided on Interview With the Vampire for my next read, mainly because of the style and characterization. It's a reread, (rererererererereread, actually), and its very special to me, so I knew I wouldn't give it a rum deal. I still find, however, that it's not quite what I feel like right now. Oh well. I'm still glad to have returned to it.

I loved Sebastian and Belladonna by Anne Bishop. I thought her world building was fabulous with a most intriguing premise.

I'll keep a lookout for those, too!

106. Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice - keeper

This book is very, very special to me. When I first discovered it, I was quite set in my reading ways. I didn't read much outside my comfort zone, and I wasn't really open to trying new things. I purchased Interview because a friend hounded me to read it. I figured I'd read just enough of it that I could tell her I tried.

Didn't work. I fell absolutely in love with it. It blew me straight out of the water and convinced me that I ought to give more things a fair chance. My eclectic reading tastes date from that day.

I've read it eight times now, and I'm sorry to say it didn't have quite the same sparkle this time. I think it's time to give it a rest for a while. It reread very well for many, many years, but I really need to give myself some time to forget it. I know it too well. I have passages memorized. It will always mean a great deal to me, but it didn't move me this time through. I want it to move me again someday, so I figure I'll put it back on the shelf for a while.

Full review here.

June In Review

Books Read:

93. Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce - seller
94. Saving the World: A Guide to Heroes by Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and Hillary Robson - library
95. Through A Brazen Mirror by Delia Sherman - keeper
96. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce - library
97. The Fair Folk, ed. by Marvin Kaye - keeper
98. Westmark by Lloyd Alexander - library
99. The Kestrel by Lloyd Alexander - keeper
100. The Beggar Queen by Lloyd Alexander - keeper
101. Eclipse One, ed. by Johnathan Strahan - library
102. Melusine by Sarah Monette - keeper
103. In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce - libary
104. The Virtu by Sarah Monette - keeper
105. The Mirador by Sarah Monette - library, unfortunately
106. Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice - keeper

Pages so far: 31,430

The three by Sarah Monette were absolutely the best things I read in June. They're among the best things I've read so far this year, and I don't see any way that they won't be on my 2008 Top 5 list. It's just a matter of whether I decide to cheat and count them as a series or just place The Virtu on the list as a representative sample. (It was my favourite of the three, by a hairsbreadth). I just can't get 'em out of my head.

Eclipse One was the worst thing I read this month. I really enjoyed several of the stories, but they made up a very small proportion. I was indifferent to or disliked about 2/3 of the collection.

107. The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon et al - keeper

This didn't blow me out of the water, but it's certainly got me doing the happy dance and chanting, "NEW Buffy NEW Buffy new NEW new Buffy!" in my head. I'm really looking forward to seeing where things go from here.

Full review here.

108. The Battle For Skandia by John Flanagan - library

Will and Evanlyn reunite with Halt and Horace just as Skandia comes under attack.

I really, really wish I'd been able to read this one straight on the heels of The Icebound Land. I enjoyed it now, but I think I'd have absolutely loved it had I been ride through it on the momentum from the first three. As things were, it took me a little while to ease back into the world and become reacquainted with the characters, and that took me out of the story just enough to impact my enjoyment.

But make no mistake, it was good. This time around, the characters have to deal with a full-scale war, even as their relationships begin to shift and change. Flanagan deals with the situations with his characteristic flair, keeping both the tension and excitement running strong. Once I was in, I had a great time with it. I'm really looking forward to the next one; let's hope his North American publishers release it soon! (3.5 stars)

109. Astonishing X-Men: Dangerous by Joss Whedon et al - library

The X-Men confront an internal threat.

I still don't feel qualified to comment on this series within the wider X-Men canon, but I will say that I love what Whedon has done with these characters. They're nicely humanized, (is that an appropriate term here?), and the one-liners continue to delight me. And even as the action heats up, the plot thickens and more pieces of the puzzle fall into place. There's some good stuff going on here, both on the surface and deeper down. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

But unfortunately, I haven't much else to say about it. The characters are good. The story is good. The art is good. It's just a whole pile of goodness that I'm ill-qualified to judge on any fandomy level. Let's just say I liked it and am looking forward to Volume 3. (3.5 stars)

110. No Future For You by Brian K. Vaughan et al - keeper

Again with the happy dance and freaky chanting. This was damned good.

Actual review here.

111. Astonishing X-Men: Torn by Joss Whedon et al - library

Emma Frost makes her move against the team.

Another good entry in the series. This time, though, the backstory really impacts things, and I often found myself lost in the shuffle. Joss does a good job of making the story accessible even to those with no prior knowledge of what these characters have been through, but it still doesn't quite work. Neither the Hellfire Club or Emma Frost entered into things during my previous stint with the X-Men, so I just didn't get a lot of what happened.

There are some great moments, though. There's lots of poignant stuff, and the creative team have a real flair for panelling. The way the story is broken down pushes the action forward while still allowing the reader to reflect on what the characters are going through. I'm still not over the moon about the series, but I'm looking forward to the next volume. (3 stars)

112. This Gaming Life by Jim Rossignol - seller

My second Early Reviewers book! I was actually selected for this one a month before Time Bandit, but it took the publisher forever to mail the review copies out. I received it just a couple of weeks ago.

I really enjoyed it. I'm not any sort of a gamer, (well, unless you could stuff like Neopets, which I quite liked for a while), but I find the culture interesting and was glad I had a chance to delve deeper into it. Rossingnol writes with passion and clarity. He's made me want to rush out and find a good game to play!

Full review here.

113. Blood Pact by Tanya Huff - keeper

This is a hard book to find used. I finally tracked it down just a couple of weeks ago.

It was very good, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous entry in the series. I thought the tension was kind of lacking, and there were a lot of places where I could guess exactly what would happen next. I'm still glad I read it, though, and I'm looking forward to the last book.

Full review here.

114. Seven Seasons of Buffy, ed. by Glenn Yeffeth - keeper

I love media criticism. I love Buffy. Was I all over this book? Hell yeah.

Proper review here.

115. Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori - library

Instructions for making plush toys from socks and gloves.

I'm addicted to craft books. I love just about anything that gives me ideas for cute and/or kitschy stuff I could make. Give me a craft book and I'm a happy, happy girl.

I'm particularly fond of anything to do with toymaking, so this book was right up my alley. The animals are adorable. The instructions are nice and simple, with plenty of diagrams to show you exactly where to cut the socks and gloves. I'm all afire to find some cast off wearables and get sewing!

I do wish, however, that the book had had a bit more substance to it. It's quite short, as craft books go, and doesn't really have anything to say about the art of toymaking. It's strictly photos and instructions. This isn't necessarily bad, but my favourite craft books are always those that comment on the projects or say something about the place of craft in society. That's probably too much to ask for your average craft book, though. (3 stars)

116. The Host by Stephenie Meyer - library

My third abandoned book of the year.

I've enjoyed the Twilight series, (with the exception of Eclipse, which I found disappointing), but I'm definitely not willing to buy Meyer's books in hardcover anymore. I borrowed this one from the library, and I am bloody glad I did.

When it comes to storytelling, there are three things I value above all else: character, setting and style. This book scores 0/3. There is almost no character development. Even though Meyer uses the first person, Wanderer's voice is so bland that I found it impossible to get to know her. I might have come to empathize with her had Meyer included a few telling details and scenes that illuminated her place in this strange world, but I never got a good feel for where she stood. She didn't come across as someone who had lived a long and varied life on many planets. She didn't come across as anything, really, and her love story was pitiful. Meyer doesn't show us how Wanderer feels, she tells us. And it bombs.

The setting was just... well, just earth, really, with shuttles instead of planes. Wow, exciting! I couldn't get a feel for the places Wanderer inhabited. The cities were bland; like Wanderer herself, they had no character. The cave systems were a bit better, but they didn't exactly leap off the page. Huh.

And the style? Bland as blancmange. No frills, no delight in the language, no sense of voice. It seems as though Meyer has a slight interest in replicating peoples' speech patterns, but it never quite develops into anything. Like most of the book, the style falls flat.

It wasn't exactly a bad book, but it wasn't a good one either. I read the first two hundred and fifty pages, only to find that I didn't care enough to wade through another three hundred and seventy. I think Meyer needed a more stringent editor to keep her on track and make sure both her characters and her story were moving forward in such a way that the reader was always involved and absorbed. Maybe it gets really good in those last three hundred and seventy pages, but I can't say as I'm willing to take the time to find out.

117. Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman et al - library

My eighth reading of IWtV didn't go so well. My eighth reading of Preludes and Nocturnes was almost as good as my first.

I lovelovelovelovelove this series. There's so much to it. Every single time I read it, I notice new things and make new connections. This time was no exception. Gaiman and his artistic collaborators have created something truly special in this magnificent story. I never get tired of returning to it.

Full review here.

118. Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters: And Seymour - An Introduction by J.D. Salinger - keeper

I'm glad I left this one for last. It was simply gorgeous, but I doubt I would've gotten as much out of it had I read it before Nine Stories and Franny and Zooey. It belongs at the end, a fitting finish to our knowledge of the Glass family.

(But so help me, do I ever hope Salinger's sitting on about six million more words that'll be published after his death! I'm a bad person).

Full review here. It's quite a bit longer than I intended to make it, but I really don't know what I'd cut out. I found that these two stories gave me a lot to think about.

119. The Bone Key by Sarah Monette - library

A collection of ten interconnected short stories featuring a socially awkward archivist who finds himself unwillingly drawn into a wide variety of supernatural mysteries.

Elegant writing, deft characterization and some truly creepy goings-on conspired to draw me straight in. The stories belong to an older, more psychologically-based horror tradition than the one most prevalent today. There's little in the way of gore, and nothing is played for shock value. Instead, Monette carefully builds up the tension, inviting us to place ourselves in Booth's shoes as he does his best to avoid the spirits that plague him.

In many cases, she also avoids telling us exactly what's gone down. I do feel that this added to the collection's overall feel, and it certainly operated on the old maxim that nothing the author can tell us is as horrifying as what we can imagine ourselves, but I did sometimes find it frustrating. I recognize, however, that this is very much a personal preference; I'm the kind of reader who likes to see my theories confirmed or denied.

Overall, I enjoyed the collection very much. I was sorry to see it end, and wished it had been at least twice as long. I most definitely recommend it. (3.5 stars)

120. Blood Debt by Tanya Huff - keeper

I've gotta say, I think the Blood Books peaked with the third book. I found them, in order of publication: good, very good, excellent, very good, and back again to good with this final installment. It just didn't do it for me. I mean, I still found it entertaining, but it was nothing special. If it weren't part of a larger series, I'd pass it along to someone else.

Full review here.

121. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - library

The Queen of England becomes a voracious reader after discovering a traveling library in the garden of Windsor Palace.

I'm a book addict. (Actually, I'm a story addict, which isn't quite the same thing, but I get most of my story fixes through books). I love finding books that celebrate a love of reading, and this delightful novella certainly did that. Throughout the course of the story, the Queen discovers that books can open her eyes to all sorts of different ideas. She learns to consider things critically and to pay more attention to the world around her. My favourite line in the entire book is one the Queen jots down in her journal. "You don't put your life into your books," she writes. "You find it there."

Bennett does a beautiful job of chronicling her spiritual awakening. The novella occasionally very touching, and I found it suffused with a very appealing type of humor. I'm very glad I read it, but I'm also glad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it. Lovely as this was, I doubt it'll stay with me for very long, and I feel no desire to reread it.

Definitely recommended, but to library-goers more than to buyers. (4 stars)

122. The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

I think this may be my favourite SANDMAN collection. I love the way we begin to get a feel for how all the mortals in the series are connected. It also adds to the "injury to the eye" motif that plays such a large role in the series as a whole. I love it.

Full review here.

123. Dream Country by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

I love both short fiction and SANDMAN. You squeeze the two together and I'm a happy girl indeed.

Full review here.

124. Reading Angel, ed. by Stacey Abbott - keeper

I've read some Buffy criticism since I finished the show, but this was my first foray into Angel studies. I feel like I got a lot out of it, though it wasn't always enjoyable or engaging. It's a fairly dry book; I'm hoping my next dip in the pool provides me with more material wherein the contributers are actually excited about what they're discussing. These essayists were not, thankfully, of the type who feel they need to disparage their source material in order to produce something of scholarly merit, but they were still a bit too disinterested for my tastes.

Full review here.

125. Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

This volume ranks pretty high among my favourites. It's a good story, and it's got sentimental value because it's the book that finally clue me in to what my name should be. (I changed my name when I was eighteen. I'd flirted with more traditional names prior to this point, but it wasn't until Sandman got me thinking about abstract concepts as names that I realized I was Memory).

Full review here.

126. A Companion to Wolves by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear - library, unfortunately; personal copy quickly purchased

I wasn't too sure about this at first. Much as I hate to admit it, the names really threw me off. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get past them. I was worried they'd lift me out of the story.

But while I was busy worrying, I sank so far into the thing the names became a minor impediment. Once I got to know the characters, they weren't a problem at all. I had a tough time putting this down, and was sorry to see it end.

Unfortunately, I've now read all Sarah Monette's longer published works, but I'm looking forward to delving further into Elizabeth Bear's bibliography.

Full review here.

127. A Game of You by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

My Sandman preferences shift and change with each rereading. This time, I think this volume has emerged mighty close to the top. I just love it. I found myself crying as it ended.

Full review here.

128. Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

God, I love these books. Don't even get me started; I'll just ramble on and on and on and on and on until LibraryThing tells me I can't have any more space for my post. (Does LT ever do that? LiveJournal does...)

Review here.

129. Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

See above post. I'm even worse when it comes to this particular volume. If you asked me to choose my favourite of the Endless, I'm not sure I could pick between Death, Delirium and Destruction. I adore all three of them, for very different reasons.

Actual review(ish thing) here.

130. Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby? by Allyson Beatrice - library

A collection of essays about fandom.

I'm never too sure how I feel about fandom. I have a few things I'm particularly interested in (Buffy and Angel among them), but I don't think I'm really comfortable engaging in any hardcore fandomy things related to them.

I am interested in what others do, though, and on that level I found this book just fascinating. Allyson has hardly a word to say about Buffy itself; instead, she focuses on the friendships and connections she's made through her fandom. This isn't a book about the shows themselves. It's about the people who connected over them, and who have formed lasting bonds because of a shared interest.

The essays are quick and entertaining; I found it easy to whip on through 'em. Even though I've never really been involved in fandom, I have been involved in a few different internet communities. (Y'all might have heard of one of them? LibraryThing?) I found that I could relate as Allyson discussed forum liars, random acts of PayPal, and the stigma attached to "internet crazies." It made for an enjoyable read. (3.5 stars)

131. The Word of Mouth Manual, Volume II by Dave Balter - electronic

An in-depth look at word of mouth marketing techniques.

I was invited to download this book for free as a member of BzzAgent, a word of mouth marketing company. BzzAgent is sort of like Early Reviewers, only with all sorts of products. I've mostly stuck to their book-related campaigns in the years I've been a member, but I've also discovered some other interesting products through the site.

The book is pretty interesting. It's evidently a sort of extended add for BzzAgent and for the marketing concepts Balter has developed, but I didn't find that that took too much away from the reading experience. Balter backs up his ideas with concrete examples of word of mouth marketing that's worked. Most of these are pretty modern, (ie, the iPhone and the hoopla that surrounded its release), but there are also a few older examples, (ie, the Grateful Dead). As is often the case with books that discuss marketing phenomena, I can see it reading as somewhat dated in a couple of years, but right now I found it very effective. I also found many of the stories pretty entertaining. I can see myself bringing up some of these examples in conversation.

The book is nicely organized. Balter begins by discussing some basic marketing concepts, then moves into a deeper discussion of word of mouth. He talks about its strengths, its weaknesses, and the ways companies can make it work for them. As a private individual, I do find it rather disconcerting to read about the ways companies try to manipulate consumers, but I don't think there was much, if any, emphasis on bilking people here. Balter emphasizes that word of mouth needs to be true. People can and should talk about what they liked about products, but they should also tell each other what they disliked. It's an interesting approach, and according to the author companies can benefit just as much from negative publicity as from positive endorsements. As long as people are talking, it's all good.

All in all, I found this worth reading. I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in admin studies or marketing techniques. You can download it for free from this website. (3.5 stars)

132. World's End by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

I didn't enjoy this one quite so much the sixth time through, but it was still damned good. I love this series. I really, really do.

Full review here.

133. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - seller

Daniel, a bookseller's son, becomes involved in a gothic mystery of epic proportions after he stumbles across a rare book.

I wanted to love this. I really, really did.

It was good. I want to get that out in the open, right off the bat. I enjoyed (most of) it. I found the story engaging. I really liked some of the characters. (Fermin!) I liked the focus on books and stories. I thought that Zafon distributed his clues pretty well, allowing me to guess along as Daniel pieced together the mystery of Julian Carax.

The trouble was, I couldn't really sink into the book. I spent most of the first hundred pages floating on the surface. Somewhere around page 130, I started to sink. I stayed under until about page 300 or so, when I popped back up and actually found myself hovering above it. I drifted further and further away from the meat of it, until I was finally just waiting for the bloody thing to be over so I could go on to my next read.

I think it rested on two factors: the plot vs. the characters and the nature of the Big Reveal.

I like character-driven stories. I like to become so wrapped up in these fictional people that I'm not too sure where they end and I begin. And I want the characters to drive the plot. I want every scene, every tidbit to be fully in character. I want things to happen because the characters have made them happen. I've gotta believe it, people. I've gotta believe that the characters are actually influencing their book.

I couldn't believe it here. It seemed to me like the plot was driving the characters. Daniel did things not because they were what Daniel would naturally do but because they were what the plot required. I mean, it's not like he's a cardboard cutout or anything, but he's not really there. It bugged me. It bugged me a lot.

But I might've been willing to overlooked that, given the wonderful clues Zafon handed out, had the Big Reveal not been a complete and utter disappointment.

I'm the sort of reader who likes to guess along, and I like to see my theories confirmed or denied. That said, I don't need to hear a full and complete breakdown of everything, chock full of details and little "See! See!" moments. I'm perfectly capable of figuring it all out for myself, thanks. In fact, I actually like it when I'm allowed to keep a few little mysteries to puzzle over. I sometimes like it when the Big Reveal is a bit vague, when there's room for further speculation. And, strange as it sounds, I like it when I'm wrong. I like it when the author has thrown me for a loop and yet is still able to make me believe in the "true" version of events, when it finally comes out into the open.

I don't like it when the Big Reveal just tells me everything I already knew, in very plain language. I like it even less when the Big Reveal rambles on for nearly a hundred pages.

Yeah. It killed the book for me.

There was one detail that made me sit up and say, "Holy f**k!" One detail I hadn't seen coming. I guessed the rest of it early on. I was disappointed. I wanted to be surprised. I wanted to be wrong on at least a couple of things.

So me = disappointed. It was a decent read, and I really did enjoy the first 2/3 or so, but I feel fine passing this along to someone else. I hope they enjoy it more than I did. (3.5 stars)

xicanti,

I always love reading your decriptions/reviews. They're very honest and well-thought out. I wish I had the time to write reviews like that - I try and sometimes I succeed, other times I fail miserably to even write an "I liked it". Perhaps someday I'll get around to it....

Anyway, keep up the great reading and writing! I look forward to much more ;-p

I'm glad you've enjoyed them! This year, I really wanted to start reviewing everything I read, regardless of whether or not I kept/owned it. (I used to review only the books I added to my library). I've had a lot of fun putting my thoughts in order, even though it's sometimes kind of frustrating to pinpoint exactly why I liked or disliked something.

134. The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

This was the perfect follow-up read.

It's basically a great big pile of tantalization. There's so much going on, so many twists and turns and ins and outs, so many little pieces strung together to make a whole. And despite the epic sweep of it all, there's not a Big Reveal in sight.

But y'all know I do like to see at least some of my theories confirmed. Even though he never actually comes out and says, "Listen, readers, this is who Puck and Loki are working for. This is why they kidnapped Daniel. This is what actually went down," he's provided us with all the clues we need to piece it together for ourselves. I had my suspicions right from the first reading, but a couple of readings ago I noticed two particular lines - one from Puck in this volume, one from Lucien in the next - that I feel serve just as well as a Big Reveal. Puck's, in particularly, is bloodyf**kingbrilliant. It's this teeny, tiny, throw-away thing that you don't even particularly notice, what with the uniform lettering and all, but it just works beautifully. I love it.

So much depth. So much mystery. And while I love how Gaiman never concretely tells us what went down with the story as a whole, I'll confess that it kind of bugs me that we still don't know why Rose Walker doesn't age. I mean, I've got my theories, but that's one thing I've never spotted any concrete proof for.

Full review here.

xicanti: Ah, I love Neil and his Sandman stuff too. In particular, I love how he uses classical (along with all other kinds) of mythology and doesn't bother so much to explain it to you - if you want to know the background for it, you have to look it up (being a classicist, I sort of already know the classical references, and he's very good at using them correctly. For instance, I'm so happy that he uses the title The Kindly Ones and, as I recall (it's been awhile since I've read these), he doesn't explain why they're called that). You've really made me want to reread all these again!

I agree, his use of mythology is excellent! He does some wonderful things with the Norse stuff, too. I particularly like how he's incorporated the injury to the eye motif through the Corinthian.

He's also got some great literary references. There are so many things packed into the books; I've reread the first few eight times now, and I still pick up on new allusions every time I read them!

July in Review

Books Read:

107. The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon et al - keeper
108. The Battle For Skandia by John Flanagan - library
109. Astonishing X-Men: Dangerous by Joss Whedon - library
110. No Future For You by Brian K. Vaughan et al - keeper
111. Astonishing X-Men: Torn by Joss Whedon et al - library
112. This Gaming Life by Jim Rossignol - seller
113. Blood Pact by Tanya Huff - keeper
114. Seven Seasons of Buffy, ed. by Glenn Yeffeth - keeper
115. Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori - library
116. The Host by Stephenie Meyer - library, thank god
117. Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
118. Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters: and Seymour, An Introduction by J.D. Salinger - keeper
119. The Bone Key by Sarah Monette - library
120. Blood Debt by Tanya Huff - keeper
121. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - library
122. The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
123. Dream Country by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
124. Reading Angel, ed. by Stacey Abbot - keeper
125. Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
126. A Companion to Wolves by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear - library, unfortunately; personal copy quickly purchased
127. A Game of You by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
128. Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
129. Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
130. Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby? by Allyson Beatrice - library
131. The Word of Mouth Manual, Volume II by Dave Balter - electronic
132. World's End by Neil Gaiman - keeper
133. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - seller
134. The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

Pages so far: 37,655

It wasn't quite a book-a-day month, but it came close.

A Companion to Wolves was the best new thing I read this month. I enjoyed it quite a lot, and promptly bought myself a personal copy. Brief Lives was the best thing I reread.

The Host was definitely the worst thing I read this month. I just couldn't see my way through to finishing it. It fell completely flat for me, and has upheld my decision not to buy Stephenie Meyer in hardcover anymore.

135. The Wake by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

I came to Sandman a little bit backwards. I'd heard about the series through some reading I'd done on the history of the comic book. I later stumbled across a website full of Sandman quotes, many of which really struck a chord with me. I found that I wanted to give the series a try, but this was back before graphic novels were such a big deal. I couldn't get the books from my library, and my favourite local bookstores didn't have them in stock. My comic book store had a couple of the later ones, but they were really, really expensive. (I guess they still are; I didn't pay full price for many of them, thanks to Amazon.ca).

I was on a trip down to Fargo, ND. I went into the Barnes & Noble there, and was overjoyed to see that they stocked graphic novels! And they had some Sandman... but only the last volume. Which I sat there and read, and quite enjoyed, even though I didn't know what the hell was going on.

A few months later, I found Preludes and Nocturnes online for wicked cheap. I snatched it up and never looked back. Even though I was armed with about six million spoilers, (including some damned big ones), I didn't find that they really impacted my enjoyment of the series.

I've read this seven times now, and I still love it. The last two stories have lost some of their sparkle, but there are a couple of little moments that make it all worthwhile. I could live off this stuff. I really, really could. I mean, the part where Dream tells Shakespeare that he has no story? Those of us who've just spent the last two thousand pages reading his story would beg to differ!

Love it. Full review here.

136. Death: The High Cost of Living by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

I always find those, "What fictional character would you like to meet?" questions kind of troublesome. To be honest, there really aren't a lot of fictional people I'd like to meet. Ditto for famous people. We might have sixty zillion things in common, but I'd have such a hard time actually starting the conversation that we'd never really get to them.

I figure it'd go something like this:

Me: you're awesome!
Fictional/Famous Person: thanks. I appreciate your support.
Me: you rock!
Fictional/Famous Person: ... thanks again.
*awkward pause*
Me: uh... bye, then.
Fictional/Famous Person: see ya.

I really suck at conversing with strangers. It just gets awkward and embarrassing and difficult for everyone involved.

Therefore, Death is the only fictional character I'd definitely want to meet, since I could absolutely guarantee that things wouldn't be awkward between us. She starts more conversations than anyone else in the entire world, so she'd take care of that part. I'm sure we'd have a lovely time enjoying the world, or heading off to the great beyond, or whatever.

I just don't want to meet her for a long, long time, thanks.

Actual review of the book here.

137. Sunshine by Robin McKinley - keeper

I thought this was a seller, but as soon as I'd closed it I found that I would be sorry never to return to this strange and wonderful world. I'll keep it around for another reading, at least, but I doubt it'll survive much more than that.

Full review here.

138. Death: The Time of Your Life by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper

Hazel and Foxglove are two of my favourite characters in the Sandman mythos. I was glad to see them take centre stage in this collection, and I was very pleased with how Gaiman handled their story. This is good stuff.

Full review here.

139. Russia by Andrew Moore - keeper

I found this book by accident, and am I ever glad I did! Moore does remarkable work; each and every one of the photographs in this collection captures the beauty of this country. I drank it all in.

Full review here.

xicanti

I enjoyed your review of Sunshine - it's one of my favorite books, and I'm always interested in other people's takes (especially when they like it ;). Yours may be the only review I've read that doesn't mention chocolate somewhere in it, though.

Thanks! You know, I always think of you when I pick up one of her books or stories. Your posts about her inspired me to reread The Hero and the Crown about a year ago. :)

140. Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman - keeper

Y'all know I love Sandman. I snapped this book up the second it was available, and didn't regret it one bit. The stories are engaging and the art is just gorgeous. I always have a good time with it.

Full review here.

141. Elfquest: The Grand Quest, vol. 6 by Wendy and Richard Pini - keeper

Last July, I set out to reread Elfquest... and got distracted by something else. (I think it was that Harry Potter thing, maybe?) I'm sorry it's taken me this long to return to my reread; I really do love these books. I think the Pinis have done a wonderful job of creating something that's both entertaining and a little bit deeper. I can't wait until I get to the Kings of the Broken Wheel stuff!

Full review here.

xicanti,

I am always happy to spread the McKinley love! :)

142. The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Fifteenth Annual Collection, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling - keeper

My love for these anthologies runs deep and strong. I acquired a sudden and desperate craving for short fiction following a brush with J.D. Salinger last November, and these books have helped me satisfy my desire for good genre fiction. The stories are just as entertaining as you'd expect from genre fiction, but they're also very literary. I likes me some literary leanings.

Full review here.

Just wanted to say I enjoyed your reviews of the Sandman. I've re-read bits and pieces over the years but have always wanted to do a straight read through. You almost had me break down and do it now, but I managed to hold off and settle for a vicarious version for now.

I've also started to read a lot of genre short fiction. If you're look for some others I'd recommend The Oxford Book of Fantasy Stories and the podcastle podcast

If you do decide to read through 'em all again, I really recommend doing so with The Sandman Companion in hand. I usually like to read the books in conjunction with the guide; as soon as I finish one, I'll read the chapter relating to it. I omitted that step this time, but in the past I've found that it really enhanced the experience. It's like having someone to discuss each book with as soon as you've finished it!

And oooooh!!! to the podcast site! That's gone straight into my bookmarks.

143. The Penguin Book of Summer Stories, ed. by Alberto Manguel - seller

I have some misgivings about abandoning short story collections, particularly anthologies with multiple contributors. I worry that I'll miss out on something special later on, something that might redeem the entire collection.

But after spending four days with this collection, during which time I read a mere seven stories, I've decided to throw in the towel. Manguel's tastes just aren't mine. I can't muster up any enthusiasm for the rest of the stories.

This disappointing collection has made me wonder: why do I read short fiction? Why do I enjoy it, and what puts me off?

I love stories. Absolutely love 'em. And as much as I enjoy a good, absorbing novel that I can sink straight into, I sometimes want something that provides me with a bit more instant gratification. Short fiction does that. I get something enjoyable and fully contained, something I can usually read in one relatively short sitting. Since I usually read collections instead of bits and pieces that I find here and there, I also have the promise of more to come. I like that.

I want any story, be it a novel or a shorter work, to engage me. I want to become absorbed in what's happening. I want the story to speak to me. But, above all else, I want it to be entertaining. I want to enjoy myself while I'm reading it. This doesn't necessarily mean that the story has to be nice; in fact, I find myself drawn to horror of late. But I've gotta get something out of it. It's gotta speak to me.

None of these stories did. I think style was a major factor; I felt that each author's style kept me hovering above the action, unable to really sink into the tale. The subject matter also put me off, to a certain extent. Most of the stories contained some speculative elements, despite their categorization as general fiction, but they were so bland about it. Ordinary people do ordinary things in ordinary ways. Something metaphorical happens. Then the story ends.

No thanks.

This collection has reminded me why I'm so leery of general fiction. There's some damned good stuff out there, but over the past twenty years or so there's been this real tendency towards the plain. People seem to feel that things must be utterly normal in order to be literary. There must be nothing extraordinary. There must be nothing cheerful. Things must be dull and plain. The only flavour must be sour.

It's getting better. I've read some really good stuff in the past eight or nine years. But every once in a while I'll read something that conforms to that narrow view of general fiction, and it just ruins the whole thing for me.

Yeah. I think I'll be steering clear of short general fiction for the next little bit. I recognize how important it is and how carefully the authors have constructed their stories, but I'm not reading for self-improvement or as some great survey of literature. I'm reading because I want good stories. I'm not interested in anything that doesn't deliver.

(I mean, maybe I'm being too harsh. The stories weren't bad. They just weren't to my liking. But I get so caught up in the whole idea of stories, and I get so disappointed when I dislike them, that I can't help but rant a little).

144. Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint - keeper

I've been wanting to try some of de Lint's work for years and years, so I snatched this up when I saw it on BookMooch. I'm glad I did; it was a very enjoyable collection, and much more to my liking than the last short fiction anthology I read. I grew to love Newford as I came to know it through the stories, and I found many of the recurring characters fascinating. I'm looking forward to reading more!

Full review here.

145. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse - library

A tragic accident robs a girl of both her mother and her musical dreams.

I often trade book recommendations with a friend and former coworker, who cited this as one of her favourite children's books. I was surprised to see that it was, in fact, a series of interconnected free verse poems that tell Billie Jo's story.

Unconventional as this approach is, it really works. Hesse layers poem upon poem, showing us snippets of Billy Jo's life in such a way that the reader can't help but sink straight in. She shows us happiness and tragedy, hope and heartache, using as few words as possible. Since the poems are sparse and often require us to make intuitive leaps, we become intimately involved in Billy Jo's story. We live it along with her, as though we're riding around in her head. The experience is almost stream-of-consciousness, only much sparser. It's very effective.

I definitely recommend this. It's a fine example of children's literature that pushes the boundaries and gives its target audience full credit. Y'all know how much I appreciate that. (3.5 stars)

146. Ruby by Francesca Lia Block and Carmen Staton - keeper

I've gotta say, I'm disappointed. I usually find Block's work very emotional, but this one just didn't cut it for me. Sigh. If anyone else had written it, I'd be passing it along, but I figure I'll see if it's any better the second time through.

Full review here.

147. Kalifax by Duncan Thornton - library

A young boy joins a northern expedition.

This came to me as a recommendation from the same friend who suggested I read Out of the Dust. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much. Thornton's style owes a great deal to traditional fairy tales; there are some lovely turns of phrase and some entertaining scenes, but the heart just ain't there.

I think my main problem with the book was that I never had a chance to get to know Tom. Thornton throws us straight into the story; we see these people decide to try for a northwest passage, but we get little to no idea of who they actually are. There are few details, and none of them really show us anything about these people. We do get a bit more information as the story progresses, but I never found it enough.

On the plus side, Thornton does make some stylistic choices designed to draw younger readers in and keep them engaged with the text. I felt that the scenes in which each member of the crew offers suggestions on the situation at hand were particularly well done; they were handled in such a way that children were practically invited to throw their own ideas out there.

I think this would have worked very well as short fiction. I might have engaged with the story itself over a shorter stretch, but the lack of character development made it hard for me to stay interested in it in the long term. The book clocks in at only 168 pages, but I'd say that was at least 130 pages too many.

To be fair, plenty of others have enjoyed this, and there are a couple of sequels/interrelated stories. Personally, though, I prefer children's lit that does a bit more with its characters and their world. (2 stars)

148. The Queen in Winter by Claire Delacroix, Lynn Kurland, Sharon Shinn and Sarah Monette - keeper

I bought this soley for the Sarah Monette story, which did not disappoint. I'm really, really glad I stumbled across it at the thrift shop! Sharon Shinn's story was also good, but the others just didn't do much for me.

Full review here.

149. Softies by Theres Laskey - library, unfortunately

Instructions for making twenty-five plush toys.

I love craft books. Absolutely love 'em. You give me a nice craft book stuffed full of fun ideas and I am a happy girl indeed.

This book sent me straight over the moon.

The projects are adorable. The photography highlights the best points of each piece. The commentary is readable and engaging. The designer bios give the crafter a good impression of the person who created each project. The full-size patterns are included. And, best of all, the instructions are clear and straightforward. Whee!

I'm looking forward to making some of the projects in this book. I think I might need my own copy, too; I'm already dreading the day when I've got to return it to the library so someone else can have their turn. (4 stars)

150. Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb - keeper

I saved this book for ages and ages. I wanted to read it at exactly the right time, when I could devote myself to the entire trilogy. I find that I don't really want breaks between Hobb's books. I want to read as many of them in a row as I possibly can.

So I acquired a copy of this book and sat on it. I tracked down a used copy of Forest Mage, the next in the series. I bought Renegade's Magic as soon as it was out, more so I could support the author than out of any devotion to a series I hadn't yet read. (I've bought or acquired used copies of all her other books. I figured I owed her royalties). I didn't expect to wait seven months before diving in, but the time was never quite right. Things got in the way. I had other reading commitments.

Then I decided, to hell with all that. I wanted some Hobb, dammit, and I was gonna read me some come hell or high water!

And I enjoyed the book, I really did, but I had some trouble with it. I found Nevare really, really frustrating in his refusal to see anything outside the narrow worldview his society imposed on him. Believe it or not, I sometimes find that this can be a good thing. I'm desperate to see these characters change and find a more balanced way of seeing things, so I become very involved with them. That wasn't the case here. I found Nevare's decisions just maddening, and not in a good way. Blah.

Still, I've got hope. It's Hobb, after all. I think of how much I hated Malta at the beginning of the Liveship Traders books. By the time the series ended, she was one of my favourite characters. Perhaps my frustration with Nevare will eventually turn into pride.

(If you've read the trilogy, please don't tell me if my hope is misplaced. I want to find out for myself!)

And despite how long I've rambled on here, this isn't my review. That's located here.

151. Thieves & Kings, volume one by Mark Oakley - keeper

I've decided to reread this series in preparation for the newest volume, which I'm wicked eager to sink into. I discovered the books through an LJ friend who mentioned them in passing. Shortly after seeing her post about them, I came across this volume in Half Price Books. It was $5, so I figured I didn't have too much to lose. I bought it, greedily devoured it, and began searching for the next one. It was even better. I ended up buying the third, fourth and fifth volumes directly from IBox Publishing, and ranked them as among the best books I read last year. (They were in the Top 5 for most of the year, but dropped down to the Top 10 after I read some amazing stuff in the last quarter).

But to get back to the topic at hand... I love this series, and it only gets better with multiple readings. I've read this first volume three times now, and each time I like it just a little bit more. I can't wait to dig into the rest of the books!

Full review here.

152. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik - keeper

I hummed and hawed over whether or not to count this, as I mostly listened to it as an audio book. I've never counted audio books before, but I did review it and I do plan to reread the rest of the series now as well. (Assuming, of course, that I have time before Victory of Eagles comes in for me at the library).

I enjoyed it just as much the second time through. Temeraire is such a delightful character! I love his mix of intelligence and naivety. (And seriously, y'all have gotta check out this blog post, in which Novik shows off a Temeraire action figure a fan made her! Squee!!!)

Full review here.

153. Forest Mage by Robin Hobb - keeper, I guess

My mother once told me that every writer, no matter how beloved, is allowed at least one bad book.

Ladies and gents, I give you: Robin Hobb's one bad book.

That's not to say that it's bad as far as epic fantasy goes. It's perfectly decent. But when you get right down to it, this baby can't hold a candle to anything else she's written. It flat-out failed to engage me. I had to rein myself in as I wrote my review, as there were so very, very many things about it that disappointed me.

I'm not at all eager to read the next one, now. I've heard it's as good as the first, which I really did enjoy, but this one has kind of sapped my enthusiasm for Hobb's work, at least for the short term. I think I might need to read something else in between, just to distance myself from the disappointment.

Full review here.

154. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - keeper

The morning after I finished Forest Mage, I woke up and realized that of all the books in the world, I currently wanted to read Catcher the most. So I did.

I enjoyed it just as much at twenty-five as I did at fifteen. This book certainly has its critics, but I ain't one of 'em.

I made a spur-of-the-moment decision and used it to launch Stella Matutina, my new book blog, late last night. There's a long, rambly review up there, or you can read my shorter LT review here.

155. Thieves & Kings: The Green Book by Mark Oakley - keeper

I love this series! The story is a ton of fun, and the art is just gorgeous.

LT review here. Long, rambly review at Stella Matutina.

August in Review

Books read:

135. The Wake by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
136. Death: The High Cost of Living by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
137. Sunshine by Robin McKinley - keeper
138. Death: The Time of Your Life by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
139. Russia by Andrew Moore - keeper
140. Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman et al - keeper
141. Elfquest: The Grand Quest, vol. 6 by Wendy and Richard Pini - keeper
142. The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Fifteenth Annual Collection, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling - keeper
143. The Penguin Book of Summer Stories, ed. by Alberto Manguel - seller
144. Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint - keeper
145. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse - library
146. Ruby by Francesca Lia Block and Carmen Staton - keeper, I guess
147. Kalifax by Duncan Thornton - library, thank goodness
148. The Queen in Winter by Claire Delacroix, Lynn Kurland, Sharon Shinn and Sarah Monette - keeper
149. Softies by Therese Laskey - library, unfortunately
150. Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb - keeper
151. Thieves & Kings, vol. 1 by Mark Oakley - keeper
152. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik - keeper
153. Forest Mage by Robin Hobb - keeper, I guess
154. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - keeper
155. Thieves & Kings, vol. 2 by Mark Oakley - keeper

Sarah Monette's contribution to The Queen in Winter was the best thing I read this month. (No surprises there, really). Her story more than made up for the two iffy novellas. No novel-length reads really stood out for me, but if you pressed me I'd probably choose The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Fifteenth Annual Collection. I adore this anthology series; it takes me ages to work my way through each of these mammoth tomes, but I never regret the time I spend with them.

The Penguin Book of Summer Stories was my least favourite book in August. Alberto Manguel's selections did almost nothing for me. I had to force myself to settle down with the book, and I found myself making excuses not to read. ("The bathroom's looking a bit dirty. I really ought to clean it...") I also had two disappointing reads from authors I normally admire very much. Blah.

156. Missing Angel Juan by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus

Witch Baby follows Angel Juan to New York, where he's gone to search for a new life for himself.

The story has a wonderful immediacy. Block uses first person present tense, which draws the reader straight into Witch Baby’s head and lets her live the story alongside the protagonist. There’s some gorgeous imagery as Witch Baby wanders the streets of New York, following Angel Juan’s trial and hobnobbing with her ghostly almost-grandfather. I couldn’t put it down the first time through. I felt everything Witch Baby felt. I went everywhere she went. Her search became my own.

I still gloried in the imagery this time through, but I found it difficult to sink all the way in. I’d be hard into the story, then a stray idea would shove me right back out again. Block gets rather abstract at times; when you’re involved with the story, it’s easy to glide right over these bits, but when you’re hovering slightly above the action they come across as much more vague and distanced.

Perhaps this is the sort of story that means more when you don’t know how it ends. Since I already knew where Witch Baby’s quest would lead here, I didn’t have that desperate need to see my worst fears confirmed or denied. Or perhaps I’ve reread it at the wrong time. Either way, it didn’t mean as much to me this time through. I could appreciate Witch Baby’s journey in an intellectual sense, but she didn’t speak to me as she once did. (3.5 stars)

(This is a portion of a longer, rambly review on Stella Matutina. I also discussed my initial views on YA lit over there).

157. Baby Be-Bop by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus

This is still my favourite Weetzie Bat book.

It's just gorgeous. Block's very best books illuminate her characters' inner lives in such a way that the reader can instantly relate to them, and I think this might be the best one of all.

There's so much to love. Dirk is an easy character to relate to; while not every reader will have dealt with the same issues he tackles here, I doubt there are many people who couldn't relate to his desire to find acceptance and love. Block handles these themes beautifully, and she dresses the whole package up in some of the nicest imagery around. Her vision of Los Angeles is a treat, as always, and some does some amazing things with Dirk's family stories.

I can't recommend it highly enough. And since it's a prequel, you don't have to have read the rest of the series in order to get something out of it. (4.5 stars)

(Longer review on Stella Matutina).

158. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer - loaner, thank god.

I was about five hundred pages in when I finally admitted to myself that I didn't give a damn about anything that was happening or anyone it was happening to.

Yeah.

I want to say something nicer than "this book is basically just a big ol' literary catastrophe," but that'd be lying.

All the fun is gone. All the characters I used to get a kick out of have been replaced by people who have the same names but act in completely different ways. The world has shifted to accommodate strange plot twists and more easy solutions than you can shake a stick at.

Meyer tells us what's happening. She doesn't show us. The writing is bland and distanced; neither Bella nor Jacob has a very strong voice. The tension rushes out through holes large enough for the biggest werewolf you can imagine. The characters never seem to be in legitimate physical or emotional danger. Sure, Meyer tells us they are, but I never believed it. I knew there'd be an easy out somewhere down the line.

And sure enough, there was.

To be fair, I can see why the diehards love this book. Meyer has clearly written straight to her fans. My problem is, I didn't really want her to. I wanted something that'd rip my heart straight out of my chest so it could stomp on it. Baring that, I was hoping for a fun, guilty-pleasure-style read. I struck out on both counts.

After Eclipse, I decided Stephenie Meyer would have to impress the hell out of me before I'd buy her in hardcover again. Now I think I might be done reading her altogether. (2.5 stars)

Longer review on Stella Matutina.

159. Nymph by Francesca Lia Block - keeper

When Block is on, she's on. Books like this one are the reason she's earned a place on my Favourite Authors List. I've gotta say, I wasn't expecting much going in, but she delivered the goods.

LT review here. I wouldn't normally do so, but I just copied and pasted it from my review at Stella Matutina.

160. Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block - keeper

Add this to my List of Weetzie Bat Books I Enjoyed Even More This Time Through... which I think is all of them, really, other than Missing Angel Juan. I was pretty sick today, so I spent a lot of time lying in bed with it. I adored it, and teared up at certain parts. It was exactly what I felt like.

I'm so glad I decided to reread the series. I just wish I'd managed to read 'em all back-to-back, instead of spreading them out over several months.

LT review here. Slightly longer review on Stella Matutina.

161. Jack of Hearts by Bill Willingham et al - library

The second collection featuring Jack of Fables.

This continues to be an entertaining series, but I still wouldn't say it's anything special. It's fun, and certainly worth borrowing from your library if you enjoy the core Fables series, but it's not must-read stuff.

The best thing about this book is the little postmoderny bits where Jack shows us that he knows he's smack dab in the middle of a story. My favourites were the little blurbs at the end of each individual issue.

Pathetic review, huh? Sorry. I wrote a longer one at Stella Matutina this morning that basically says the same thing with more padding and a fancy little summary, and it's sucked out my enthusiasm for writing a shorter, concise, still helpful review.

162. The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black - seller

Three children discover that they share their new home with a creature who is determined to make them feel unwelcome.

I think I should have enjoyed this book far more than I did. I mean, it's all about faeries - and the creepy kind of faeries, at that! There are family issues, which I always appreciate. The presentation is lovely. And yet, it failed to grab me.

Part of the problem is that this feels like the very first chapter of a much larger work. It's not quite pared down enough to be a short story, but neither is it meaty enough to feel like a novel. I know I can't really expect children's fiction to conform to adult storytelling standards, but I was expecting a lot more depth from it. The authors do a pretty good job of showing us how the children discover the creatures they share their world with, and I liked how the familial issues were incorporated into the story, but everything is over and done with so quickly! And for a book about faeries, the creatures seem in short supply.

I might read the next book or two, just to see whether the series picks up, but it's not a priority right now. I didn't get much out of this at all, and I can't really recommend it. (I'm hovering between 2.5 and 3 stars here).

Longer review on Stella Matutina.

Hi xicanti. My son and I read the Spiderwick books earlier this year and really enjoyed them. It was creepy enough for him but not too scarey and we bothed loved the illustrations. The 5 individual hardcovers were also a nice size for him to hold onto. I hope you give the next books a try. They should really be treated as one book. Actually, I saw just that in the bookstores at Christmas time last year; all five books in one volume. Think of the book you just read as part 1, rather than book 1 in a series, with nothing being resolved until book 5. The movie also covers all 5 books.

I'm actually kind of ashamed that I didn't enjoy it more. I mean, I knew going in that it was a five-part thing, and a five-part children's thing at that. But even when I look at it as the first chapter in a longer work, I still don't find that it's done enough for me. I thought the same about the first book in A Series of Unfortunate Events, though, and I ended up enjoying that series very much, so I'll probably give the next one a try eventually.

163. The New Weird, ed. by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer - library

An anthology of stories that examine New Weird ideas and motifs, with some literary criticism thrown in.

Back in the day, I read nothing but epic/heroic fantasy because that's what my junior high library offered. As I grew older, I moved away from fantasy and started reading large amounts of historical and general fiction. I still reread my old fantasy favourites, but I wasn't reading much in the way of new material.

Over the past couple of years, though, I've started seeking out and reading more literary fantasy. I'm interested in what the genre's capable of. And I've come across some good stuff. I've discovered some great, character-based work, much of which reexamines epic fantasy tropes. I've read some historically-informed fantasy. I've fallen over-the-moon in love with fantasy of manners.

Up until now, though, I hadn't read a whole lot that could be classified as New Weird. I mean, I gave Perdido Street Station a go around this time last year, but I've got to admit that I couldn't finish it. I actively disliked each and every one of the main characters, and I really didn't give a damn what happened to any of them. I've recently become enamored of short fiction, though, so I figured this anthology might be just the thing to help me experience this sort of work.

And you know, it was.

I enjoyed it quite a bit. I can't say I liked all the stories, but many of them really worked for me. And even when I didn't particularly enjoy them, I still found myself thinking about how the authors had dealt with the shared preoccupations the anthology highlighted. I also appreciated how the criticism gave me a chance to compare my own thoughts to those of New Weird writers and editors.

I do wish, however, that there had been some commentary on each individual story. I would have liked to read where and when each story was first published, at the very least, and the editors' ideas on how each piece fit into the New Weird would also have been much appreciated.

But still, this was very good. It wasn't an entirely comfortable read, but it was certainly a thought-provoking one. (3.5 stars)

Longer, more detailed review at Stella Matutina.

164. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf - seller

I had a lovely time with this book! It was my first Woolf, but it certainly won't be my last. I sometimes had a tough time sinking into the narrative, but once I was in I was hooked. I loved the way she shifted perspective, and I thought her characterization was great. I got a real feel not only for how each character viewed herself but also for how others viewed her. It made for some good reading.

Longer, more detailed review at Stella Matutina.

165. Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie - keeper

I really did enjoy this... but when it came time to review it, I found that I had almost nothing to say. It's a fun book, but it's neither thought-provoking or groundbreaking. Dame Agatha isn't doing anything new.

Y'all can read what I did come up with either here at LT or on Stella Matutina.

166. Pretty In Punk by Alyce Benevides and Jacqueline Milles - library, unfortunately

I want a mohawk hat. I want a mohawk hat bad. Guess what I'm buying the wool for this weekend!

Actual review on Stella Matutina.

167. After the Funeral by Agatha Christie - keeper

I had a great time with this one! I love a mystery with a large, well-managed suspect pool. Any one of these people could've done it, and that makes it all the more enjoyable to read.

Reviews here on LT or at Stella Matutina.

168. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury - seller

I thought I was going to love this book. Instead, I found myself counting the pages until it was over.

It just didn't engage me. I recognized what the characters went through, but I couldn't feel it. I hovered above the action, unable to sink in.

Blah. I'm disappointed. And I'll tell you, I'm not in any hurry to read more Bradbury.

Full review at Stella Matutina.

169. Thieves & Kings: The Blue Book by Mark Oakley - keeper

I've been having a dismal reading week. I really didn't enjoy my last book. I'd probably abandon my current read if it were much longer. The Agatha Christies were fun, but they're nothing particularly memorable. Blah.

I figured I needed a pick-me-up. So: back to T&K, which I knew I'd have a blast with.

I just love this series! It's one of those stories that just combines about fifty million different things into one. It's funny and sad and epic and personal and just really, really wonderful.

LT review here. Blog review here.

170. The Gypsy by Steven Brust and Megan Lindholm - seller

I've enjoyed work by both these authors, so I had high hopes going into this one. Unfortunately, I can't say as they were fulfilled. It was a decent book, but I didn't feel a thing for any of the characters and I felt like I was out of the loop where the mythology was concerned.

Blah.

Full review up at Stella Matutina.

171. The Wizard in the Tree by Lloyd Alexander - keeper

Now this was more like it!

I still can't believe how much Alexander I missed out on when I was a youngster. I read The Chronicles of Prydain and the one about the guy who goes to another world via a bucket. That was it. I'm slowly but surely making up for that terrible oversight, and it's been an utter delight.

I love this guy's style. I love the way he tells you a damned good story with lots of stuff going on beneath the surface. I love how he gives children full credit for being able to understand mature concepts. I just plain love him.

LT review here. Blog review here.

172. Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey - keeper

I cried my eyes out.

I cried for sorrow. I cried for joy. I cried because certain ideas affected me so deeply that I felt I had to let it out of me somehow. It wasn't a perfect book, but I sure had an emotional time with it. I'm so glad I decided to stick with Jacqueline Carey.

LT review here. Blog review here.

September In Review

Books Read:

156. Missing Angel Juan by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus
157. Baby Be-Bop by Francesca Lia Block - keeper, in omnibus
158. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer - loaner, thank god
159. Nymph by Francesca Lia Block - keeper
160. Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block - keeper
161. Jack of Hearts by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges et al. - library
162. The Field Guide by Toni DiTerlizzi and Holly Black - seller
163. The New Weird, ed. by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer - library
164. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf - seller
165. Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie - keeper
166. Pretty In Punk by Alyce Benevides and Jaqueline Milles - library
167. After the Funeral by Agatha Christie - keeper
168. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury - seller
169. Thieves & Kings: The Blue Book by Mark Oakley - keeper
170. The Gypsy by Steven Brust and Megan Lindholm - seller
171. The Wizard in the Tree by Lloyd Alexander - keeper
172. Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey

It wasn't exactly a stellar reading month. I had some good rereads, but very few new books jumped out at me. I found myself reading very, very slowly. I feel like I barely got through anything. Blah.

I had three new 4-star books. I'm having a tough time deciding which of them I'd rank as the Best Book of September, but I think I'd go with THE WIZARD IN THE TREE. It's such a simple little book that I feel strange choosing it over NYMPH and KUSHIEL'S AVATAR, but I had so much fun with it!

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES was the worst book I read in September. BREAKING DAWN was the most disappointing.

173. Flora's Dare by Ysabeau S. Wilce - keeper

I had an absolute blast with this! I'd been looking forward to it ever since I finished the first volume, (Flora Segunda), back in May. I'd planned to buy my copy the moment it was available... but she's not a big author yet, and my favourite bookstore hadn't order any in. Blah! Luckily, they were willing to special order me one, but I still ended up getting it about a month late.

And it was worth the wait.

I kind of wish I'd read it a bit more slowly, but I don't see how I possibly could have. This is the sort of book that demands you whip through it. You can't really read slowly because you're so desperate to see what happens next. You get caught up in it. You can't put it down.

And then you finish it lickety-split and miss it like hell and kind of wish you hadn't discovered Ysabeau S. Wilce until she'd written about twenty books so you could launch straight into the next one.

LT review here. Blog review here.

(And by the way, I'm holding my first blog contest right now! Go check it out!)

174. High Spirits by Robertson Davies - seller

To be honest, this was a bit of a let-down. I found Davies's prose as addictive as always, but the stories themselves quickly became a bit too insiderish for me. I'm sure they'd be absolutely hilarious if I knew the people and places involved, but since I don't... Well, I feel all right about passing this on. I'm glad I read it, but I won't need to do so again.

Longer review on Stella Matutina.

175. Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman - library

I love me some Neil Gaiman. This time around, I listened to many of the stories as audio versions, and I got an even bigger kick out of them that way. Gaiman reads them himself, and his voice work adds a whole new dimension to things.

Complete review on Stella Matutina.

176. The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - seller

I had fun with these stories, but I don't think I need to keep them around. They were enjoyable, but not the sort of thing I'll want to return to.

Full review on Stella Matutina.

177. Thieves & Kings: The Shadow Book by Mark Oakley - keeper

I've been oh-so-slowly working my way through T&K. I'd intended to reread the whole thing in a single weekend in preparation for the latest volume, but I've found that I'm really enjoying just picking away at it. I read little bits here and there, and only when I really, really want to. I'll save the binge reading for the newest book, which I should get to by this weekend. :)

LT review here. Blog review here.

I, too, loves me some Neil Gaiman. I read Fragile Things for the first time a few weeks ago, and I'm hooked. I loved the story told by the months of the year ("October in the Chair"), and the one about the writer whose real life was very Gothic Novel and whose "fantasy" was all Wall Street. Now I want to hear the stories told by the man himself!

Quick question: do I need to read American Gods to understand Anansi Boys?

I love your list, by the way. I'm both getting new ideas and remembering old favorites.

No, you do not need to read American Gods at all to grasp Anansi Boys, and the latter is by far the better book, IMHO. In fact, it is up in my top tier. I love books that are not only good stories, but you get even more out of them when you reread them, stuff you missed the first time. Layered books. Good! And if you haven't, be sure to read Good Omens, which is even higher in my top tier list.

As ronincats says, American Gods and Anansi Boys aren't codependant. They share one character, but the stories don't overlap at all. I really enjoyed both of them, but for different reasons. In my opinion, Anansi Boys is a lot more fun than American Gods.

178. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr - library

This was a fun book, but it didn't do a whole lot for me. I had a good time with it. I whipped on through it fast as anything. I thought the cover was very pretty. And, uh, that's about it.

I did find some other, more thoughful things to say when I reviewed it on my blog, but I'm afraid I still didn't make a very good showing with it. It's one of those books that you read, enjoy, and promptly forget all about.

179. Thieves & Kings: The Winter Book by Mark Oakley - keeper

I find myself somewhat incoherent about these books. I had enough trouble working up review for the LT reviews section and my blog, so I'll just leave you with those.

LT review here. Blog review here.

180. Thieves & Kings: Apprentices, Part One by Mark Oakley - keeper

Same thing here. Check out my LT review or my blog review for thoughtful comments.

181. The Night Watch by Sarah Waters - seller

I'm rather surprised that I'm not keeping this. I enjoyed the hell out of both Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet. And I liked The Night Watch, I really did, but it didn't blow me out of the water. I'm glad I read it. I just don't feel the need to return to it ever again.

Full review on my blog, Stella Matutina.

182. The Vampyre by Tom Holland - library

I had high hopes going into this one. It didn't entirely live up to them, but I'm still quite pleased. This was a very readable book; I had a great time with it!

Full review on Stella Matutina.

183. The Faerie Door by B.E. Maxwell - seller

There are a whole host of reasons that I feel badly for not liking this. It was my first ARC review, and I wished I could've given a more positive response to something the publishers were kind enough to send me. It's a children's book, and I always feel a bit badly when I dislike children's books. And it seems to have been written with a lot of love.

But I just didn't enjoy it. I couldn't connect with the characters. The tension was lacking. It was overlong.

Sigh. At least the other review copies have all been good to great thus far!

LT review here. Blog review here.

184. Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez - seller

Case in point: this book.

It wasn't anything of great consequence, true, but I got a kick out of it. It was a fun, quick read with lots of good family stuff going on. I love me some familial themes.

LT review here. Blog review here.

185. Oddest of All by Bruce Coville - keeper

I'm sorry I waited so long to give Coville a try. I always got the impression that his books would be pretty silly. There was one story here that suffered from an excess of silliness, but the rest were all really good! I had a blast with the book.

LT review here. Blog review here.

186. Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett - library

I added this one to my library list mainly because Ellen Kushner gave it a blurb, and I'm very glad I did so. I really, really enjoyed it. It's a quieter sort of book, as these things go; definitely more in the fantasy of manners vein, despite all the hoopla about the metal dragons. And it works; the characters are nicely developed and feel very real.

And that's the most important thing, as far as I'm concerned. I can't claim any of them are candidates for my list of favourite literary characters, but I miss them now that the book's over! I found it easy to slip inside their heads and get lost in their stories. I had a great time with them, and am looking forward to reading more from these authors.

Considerably longer review on my blog, Stella Matutina.

187. Graceling by Kristin Cashore - keeper

I really, really enjoyed this one. I'd heard tons of good things about it, and was thrilled when the publisher sent me a copy to review. It's just as good as everyone says it is.

LT review here. Blog review here.

188. The Bad Prince by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges et a. - library

I found the first two Jack of Fables collections good but not great. They were fun, but they didn't really hook me. This one did. I had a great time with it, and am looking forward to the next one!

Full review here.

189. Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik - library

Novik's past few books have been mixed bags. The good parts are very good, but there are segments that lag in a big way. This one is no exception. Still, it was a good read overall, and it's got me very excited for the next installment!

Full review here.

190. Asterix and the Soothsayer by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo - library

I discovered the Asterix books about ten years ago, and am sorry I haven't reread them sooner! This was a ton of fun, and it's got me eager to dive into the rest of the series.

Full review here.

191. The Unnameables by Ellen Booraem - keeper

I really enjoyed this one! I had no expectations going in, so it made for a very nice surprise. I got a big kick out of it, and as soon as I finished it I got that warm, squishy feeling that comes from finishing something you've had a really good time with.

LT review here. Blog review here.

October In Review:

173. Flora's Dare by Ysabeau S. Wilce - KEEPER
174. High Spirits by Robertson Davies - seller
175. Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman - library
176. The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - seller
177. Thieves & Kings: The Shadow Book by Mark Oakley - keeper
178. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr - library
179. Thieves & Kings: The Winter Book by Mark Oakley - keeper
180. Thieves & Kings: Apprentices, Book One by Mark Oakley - keeper
181. The Night Watch by Sarah Waters - seller
182. The Vampyre by Tom Holland - library
183. The Faerie Door by B.E. Maxwell - seller
184. Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez - seller
185. Oddest of All by Bruce Coville - keeper
186. Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett - library
187. Graceling by Kristin Cashore – keeper
188. The Bad Prince by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges – library
189. Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik - library
190. Asterix and the Soothsayer by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo - library
191. The Unnameables by Ellen Booraem - keeper

Flora's Dare was the best thing I read in October. No surprises there; it's one of the best things I've read all year! It's mucked up my Top 5 list a little bit, but I'll deal with that in a couple of months. I also got a big kick out of Havemercy, Graceling and The Unnameables.

The Faerie Door was the worst thing I read last month. I feel badly, given that it was my first ARC, but it just didn't fly for me.

192. The Letter Writer by Ann Rinaldi - seller

I was expecting a lot more from this one. It was decent, but it just didn't do it for me. I think I may have been the wrong audience; going in, I had little knowledge of the historical event that forms the backbone of the story, and I think that worked against me.

LT review here. Blog review here.

193. Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar - seller

Lonely Werewolf Girl came very highly recommended, and I expecting it to blow me straight out of the water. It... didn't. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it wasn't spectacular. I was expecting something really emotional, but I mostly reacted to it on an intellectual level. I thought Millar structured the story well, and I was impressed with his style. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I don't need to return to it ever again.

Full review here.

I've become extraordinarily bad at updating this thing. La blog has sucked up all my love.

194. The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess et al. - keeper

I've read this twice now, and I've tried very, very hard to love it, but I can't quite get there. The artwork is lovely, and some of the pieces achieve the seamless melding of prose and illustration that makes for a great graphic novel... but most of them don't. I've decided to hold onto it for the art and for a couple of stories I particularly like, but I remain fairly disappointed with the connection as a whole.

LT review here. Blog review here.

195. Morality For Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith - seller

This was another quick, charming read from Alexander McCall Smith. I continue to appreciate his transparent love of Africa and her people, but I do wish he did a bit more with his characters. None of the storylines in this particular volume get quite enough attention, and some situations with the potential for character development just fall flat. (I'm thinking in particular of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's predicament. McCall Smith hardly does anything with it). It was enjoyable. I'll read the next books as the mood strikes me. But they won't be joining my permanent collection.

Full review here.

196. The Phoenix Endangered by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory - library

This was good overall, but it suffered from a sllllllooooooowwwww beginning. There's travel... and some more travel... and a bit more travel. Things happen amidst all this travel, of course, but the travel tends to overwhelm the action in a pretty big way. I had trouble sinking into it.

Once the story got going, though, I enjoyed this more than the first book in the series. There's more character development, and I thought Lackey and Mallory dealt with their protagonists's situations very well.

Full review here.

197. Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear - seller

I really, really, really wanted to love this book. I thought the premise sounded fantastic. I adored A Companion to Wolves. (See post #181 above). And yet, I just couldn't click with this one.

It's not a bad book by any means, but it wasn't really my thing. It's very much a plot-based read, and I prefer character-based novels. Since I couldn't click with any of the characters, I had trouble caring about the plot. As a result, I found it a bit of a slog. I can appreciate Bear's command of her craft, and I found the book intellectually appealing, but I'm afraid I can't say as I got much out of it on an emotional level. And my dears, I've gotta connect with my books on an emotional level or they just don't do it for me.

(Mostly. There are a few rare exceptions).

Still, there was enough good stuff herein that I won't give up on her yet. I've got a couple more of her books in my TBR.

A full review of this one is available on my blog.

198. Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland - seller

Maybe I'd have liked this more if I were a paranormal romance fan. As it stands, it read like a cheap Buffy rip-off.

LT review here. Blog review here. They're exactly the same this time around, so take your pick.

Damn, am I ever behind on this. Blah.

199. Serenity: Better Days by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews and Will Conrad - keeper

This was another enjoyable addition to the Serenifly universe. I had a lot of fun with it, and am looking forward to whatever Whedon churns out next.

LT review here. Blog review here.

200. Angel: After the Fall by Brian Lynch, Joss Whedon and Francu Urru - keeper

Finally, I reach two hundred! Damn my slow reading year!

And what a great way to reach two hundred this was. The more I think about this book, the more I like it. I'm eager to dive into the next volume. I just wish the (admittedly gorgeous) hardcovers IDW publishes weren't so durned expensive!

LT review here. Blog review here. Both contain spoilers for the TV series.

201. Sodomy and the Pirate Tradition by B.R. Burg - library

I'd wanted to read this book for upwards of five years. I'm glad I finally made time for it; it was very interesting, and has given me a lot to think about.

Full review here.

202. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong - keeper

I must say, I was surprised to see this in October's Early Reviewers batch. I read it years and years ago. I figured it was due a reread, though, so I put in a request and managed to snag a copy. It arrived far more quickly than any of my other ER books have; I don't think it was more than two weeks before I had it in my hands. I dug in, and enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time.

LT review here. Blog review here.

203. Wolves at the Gate by Drew Goddard, Georges Jeanty and Joss Whedon - keeper

Season Eight just keeps getting better and better! This volume was absolutely hilarious; I lost track of the number of times I laughed aloud. It delighted the hell out of me, and has me VERY eager for the fourth book!

LT review here. Blog review here.

204. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, with Jeffrey Zaslow - loaner

I don't read many inspirational books, but I quite enjoyed this one. Pausch truly is an inspiring man.

Full review here.

205. First Night by Brian Lynch and Joss Whedon et al - keeper

This was a bit disappointing alongside the first volume, but it was still good. I got an especially big kick out of Lynch's commentary in the special features section.

LT review here. Blog review here.

206. Anatomy of Keys by Steven Price - seller

I was expecting this one to deliver more in an emotional sense. It worked for me on an intellectual level, but it was far less personal than I'd hoped it would be.

Full review here.

207. New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear - library, dammit

Y'all may remember that I was pretty disappointed with Blood and Iron, (see post #270), but this one more than made up for it. I absolutely loved it! Seriously, people, you gotta rush out and get yourselves a copy. Turn off the computer, go to your bookstore or library, and refuse to leave until you have this in your grubby little hands. (Or until you've ordered it; whichever is most feasible).

Full review here

208. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling - keeper

I'd planned to wait and see if I got this for Christmas, but I gave in and bought myself a copy. I'm very glad I did; it was a lovely little book, and made for a welcome return to this world.

LT review here. Blog review here.

209. Unstoppable by Joss Whedon et al - library

I did enjoy Joss's run on Astonishing X-Men, but I wish I'd been able to read the whole thing back to back. Stretching it out was definitely not the way to go.

Full review here.

210. The Pirates' Pact by Douglass R. Burgess, Jr. - keeper

This was a very interesting book, but it was nowhere near as engaging as I'd hoped it would be. As a narrative, it fell rather flat. Oh well. I still learned a lot.

Full review here.

211. The Pirate King by R.A. Salvatore - library

Alas, I didn't think this was really as good as past installments in the series. It was entertaining enough, but Drizzt felt kind of extraneous to the plot. I prefer those books where he and his friends have a definite stake in the game.

Full review here.

212. Arvore by Memory Remarque - electronic

My own manuscript, which I'm counting because I'm a low-down dirty reading list CHEATER.

My own feeling is that it's coming together but still has a ways to go. I found that I enjoyed reading back over individual scenes, but I think my pacing is way off. I've got to make sure I'm distributing the weight equally between Plot Stuff and Character Stuff. Right now, I tend to lean on the Character Stuff, and the flow suffers for it.

But I'm so close to the manuscript that it's tough for me to pinpoint all its faults. To that end, I'm looking for test readers. You can learn a bit more about the book and read the first few pages here.

213. Children of the Night by Mercedes Lackey - keeper, in omnibus

This was fun, but I don't find that I have much to say about it. It's one of those books that you read, enjoy, and promptly forget about.

I did force myself to say a few more pertinent things on la blog, though. You can read a properish review here.

214. Collected Ghost Stories by M.R. James - keeper

M.R. James just keeps coming up this year. I first heard him mentioned waaay back in January, when I read an excellent short story by Adam L.G. Nevill. Sarah Monette and Robertson Davies both cited him as influences in the introductions to their own collections of ghost stories. I figured I needed to get my hands on some of his work, and I'm glad I did.

LT review available here. Blog review available here

215. Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi - library

Y'all gave me Scalzi cravings. (bluesalamanders, I'm looking at you in particular!) LibraryThing had so many good things to say about this guy that I just had to pick up some of his work. I was a little worried that Zoe's Tale wouldn't be as stand-alone as everyone said, but my fears were unfounded. I didn't have any trouble following the story, and I enjoyed the book very much. I'm looking forward to reading some more Scalzi in 2009.

Full review here.