Estarriol's 2009 Challenge

Ready for this year's challenge!

In 2009 I plan to read 100 Fiction, a modest 24 Non-Fiction (I missed my goal of thirty last year) and I plan to write at least a couple real reviews.

I have gotten off to a great start (albeit a late one for recording) with four books thus far! I love vacation!

Whoops, here's those four books:

1F.) Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon

A friend gave me this whole series when I went home to San Diego for a visit last summer. She must deeply dislike me. This was undoubtedly the worst fantasy novel I have ever read.
The premise of the novel was great; three strangers of diverse backgrounds and talents are thrown together by fate. They travel through the center of the world on a mysterious mission, only to emerge someplace totally unexpected. The worlds that Haydon created are detailed and interesting, with plausible political histories and folklore.
The problem? The main character is the worst Mary-Sue I have ever encountered. She is perfect in every way imaginable. She is talented at everything from languages to cooking; she is also kind, courageous, and so beautiful that people are struck dumb in her radiant presence. It was excruciating. I am interested to know what happens to the world that the title character inhabits, but Rhapsody herself was so annoying I will probably never read the second book to find out.
Awful. Oh, and the main antagonist's name was "Tsoltan", which made me think of the movie "Dude, Where's My Car," which made me utterly fail to take him seriously.

2F.) Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
How did I miss reading this book before? Neverwhere is an excellent urban fantasy about an ordinary man in an ordinary city encountering a shadow world and its very extraordinary citizens. Fast paced, full of twists and fantastic creatures, this book was so totally my thing. The details of the characters, the world of "London Below", and the various objects in the book were fascinating.
Some themes and even some lines were definitely recycled from other Gaiman books. For example, the line "I am as old as my tongue and older than my teeth" has definitely come up before, I think in the Sandman, but none of the recognizable stuff was diminished by the repetition. Overall excellent.

3F.) Predator by Patricia Cornwell

I stopped reading these a few years ago, but I just received the latest (Scarpetta) as a gift, so I need to catch up on the last couple books.

Predator was pretty exciting. The killer was a surprise, and the forensic stuff was fascinating. I have come to realize, though, that the main character, Kay Scarpetta, is not that compelling in these books. I found the secondary characters much more fascinating.

4F.) The Awakening by Kate Chopin

I cannot believe this book was written in the nineteenth century.

A novella about an artistic young woman who is tortured by ennui and dissatisfaction with her sheltered life, The Awakening seemed very modern to me. Edna is married to a kind man, has money, friends, and wonderful children, but she yearns for change, for freedom, for something intangible that is missing from her life.
An excellent novel of rebellion and love and personality. I read it all in one sitting this morning!

5F.) The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham

An early twentieth century mystery of the "Clue" persuasion. A house party with mysterious guests, crime syndicates, games gone awry, and car chases with speeds up to 60 mph! Overall a great mystery, and although I had my suspicions as to the culprit, it wasn't totally obvious- I wasn't quite sure whodunit.
good stuff!
I received the second in the series as a gift recently, so I should get to it soon!

6F.) Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Definitely a Sci-Fi classic. A young boy, Ender, is chosen to be trained to lead Earth's armies against alien invasion. As the story progresses, it becomes more an more clear that he is the only hope for success.
Ender learns not just war and strategy, but also the truth of war and the difficulty of bridging cultures. An amazing story.

7F.) Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore

I was reluctant to try Moore again after my disappointment in A Dirty Job, but his books kept popping up in recommendations, so I gave this one a try.

An unsuspecting victim accidentally summons a demon. It is underestimated and semi-contained, and somehow hilarity ensues. Overall this was a pretty good book, witty and fast-paced. Not my new favorite thing, but worth the read.

5- You didn't like A Dirty Job? I'm sorry to hear that. Although come to think of it, I couldn't stand Fluke by Christopher Moore either. My absolute favorite of his is The Stupidest Angel. If you don't want to read another Moore, do yourself a favor and track down the audio version of this read by Tony Roberts. It'll have you rolling in the aisles.

Hi Hairballsrus! I plan to try The Stupidest Angel next... my husband borrowed the audiobook from someone and said I have to read it, too! Overall, practical demonkeeping was pretty good, so he must be doing something right!

Glad you enjoyed Neverwhere and I am really looking forward to reading your reviews. I am going to buy my husband Ender's Game and I am looking forward to reading Lamb by Moore this year which looks really fun.

Rhinoa, he will love Ender's Game! There are at least two sequels, too, that I haven't gotten to yet!

8F.) The Toyminator by Robert Rankin

The second Eddie Bear, Private Detective book. I love Eddie Bear. In this sequel, Eddie and Jack must save Toy City from what may or may not be an alien invasion. Their adventure takes them to new places and even new worlds, all the time exchanging their ridiculously witty dialogue.
Sometimes the jokes get a bit stale, but the Eddie/Jack dynamic never stops being fun. I only wish there was a third book!
Oh, and beware the chickens.

1NF.) Caffeine Blues by Stephen Cherniske

Caffeine Blues is a little out of date now; articles are occasionally in the news these days about caffeine consumption being bad for us. The basic information is current, but the alleged "cover up" is not.
I agreed with 90% of what I read in this book. One of my New Year's resolutions this year is to STAY off caffeine (I have quit repeatedly, only to drift back) and what I read here served to reinforce what I already knew. What I didn't like about this book was the recommended supplements to help your brain and body function better. It just seemed...excessive to my non-sciency eye. Can we REALLY need 100's of supplemental pills and powders to keep our bodies running?

Overall, a great book for anyone that runs on coffee, suffers from basic common problems like insomnia, or is just curious about caffeine's effect on the body. Or, like me, just wants to remind oneself why not to be lured by the siren song of yummy coffee!

9F.) Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

The bastard son of a king-in-waiting is abandoned to a marginal life at the royal court. He makes a few friends and more enemies, but the sponsorship of a few people in power allows him to become both useful and dangerous to members of the royal family. Meanwhile, the nation is under threat by vicious raids from foreign lands.

So good! I never saw half of the "twists" coming...in fact, it kept me up last night after I finished the book, trying to reconstruct events and see if I should have foreseen the end! I will definitely be reading the next book in the series!

And I somehow seem to have forgotten about...

10F.) Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees

I actually finished this a couple weeks ago, but I don't seem to have recorded it.
Lud-in-the-Mist is that best kind of fantasy, that which combines the everyday with faerie. The people of Lud-in-the-Mist shun all things from the Faerie kingdom on the other side of the mountains, but the fairy influence keeps creeping into their well-ordered kingdom.
Excellent! One of the best fantasy books I have ever read, no kidding. I believe the book is out of print, as I had a heck of a time finding a copy, but it was SO worth it. Highly recommended to anyone that loves fantasy and the more sinister kind of faerie!

11F.) The Silent Gondoliers by William Goldman

A cute little fable about gondoliers in Venice, why they sang, and why they are now silent. Nicely done.

I'm glad you liked it! Weren't the illustrations fun?

They were awesome...I love the way that he showed Luigi's "gooney" smile!
Great recommendation!

I read the Assassin's series and didn't really like it sadly. I aim to read the Fool's series at some point and see if it makes more of an impression on me. I really want to read Lud-in-the -Mist this year though, I have heard so many great things about it!

Rhinoa, we'll see if I still like the series after the second book; often I am super excited about the first book, and the sequels disappoint.
Definitely read Lud-in-the-Mist!

12F.) The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

More classic Sci-Fi; a scholar builds a time machine and travels far into the future, where he encounters the twin societies of the simple Eloi and the horrible Morlocks.
Yeah, it turns out I had read this before! Actually already had it in my library and everything...oops! Anyway, it was a good, quick read (only ~100 pgs.) and it really is a classic. The back cover of this edition intimated a shocking twist, so I read carefully to see what I had missed before, but I never did figure out what that amazing plot point was. Ah well!

Lesson: check library before going into bargain bookstore, as brain is likely to turn off and betray you into carelessly buying a book you already own and have read!

I have done that, too! That is one of the nice things about the LT catalog. Even though I can't get internet on my phone, just inputting the date should help. (Of course, I am behind on that!)
--BJ

>14 estarriol:- I loved the drawing of Luigi's pregnant bride at the end! :)

I've got another short novel to recommend for you: The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil.

Billiejean...Yeah, I think it has been long enough now since I logged my library in that I am starting to forget what's there! Glad to know that I am not the only one!
Hairballsrus- I will check out the above--It looks great!

and...

13F.) The Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell

Page-turner, but I really don't have much to say about it. So, I won't! Next book...

2NF.) A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel

This was an excellent book of essays on...well, the history of reading. Lots of ancient and medieval history, as well as mentions of some twentieth century poets and authors. By far the best book about books I have read yet. Manguel "gets" the obsession with books; not only the words, but also the idea of books. Highly recommended.

I need to make more time for reading. Had to give back two library books that I never even cracked-I just didn't have time for them, even after two renewals. Ah well.

14F.) Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

A YA tale about a girl and her father, who has the power to read books into life. Pretty good, full of adventure and evil and the love of books. I believe there are a couple of sequels I should check out!

3NF.) The Imagined Underworld: Sex, Crime, and Vice in Porfirian Mexico City by James Garza

Great book, six headline cases from Mexico City during the Porfiriato. Am currently in the middle of writing a five page review, so that's about all I will say here.

#21 I think there might be a movie of this book coming out. My daughter recommended this book to me, so it's in my tbr.
--BJ

I can't weait ot read Inkheart. I loved the film and am so excited about reading the series. Apparently they get better and better after Inkheart and the translation from German improves. Note to self, must finally read The Time Machine...

There's a film! and Rhinoa has seen it already! Off to check movie listings!

Oh, and...
15F.) Watchmen by Alan Moore

Now, this one I know has a movie coming out, which is why I hurried up to finally get and read it; my brother has been begging me to read this for ten years. And boy, was it worth the wait. The final sentence in the graphic novel really underscores the meaning of the title, and...and...it is emotional, frightening, heroic, and, well, all a graphic novel should be.
Catching my breath; This book captures the rise and fall of "masked adventurers" in a parallel history. It talks of war, and brinksmanship, and the role of heroes and villains on a larger scale.
This was epic. I am NOT into superhero comics--hence the ten year gap between recommendation and reading--but this was amazing.

Apparently the Inkheart movie was released in January and I just never noticed! I must have been too obsessed with catching Coraline in the theaters...ah well. There's always netflix~

16F.) Fables Volume 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers by Bill Willingham

In this volume, we get to know more about some fables--Little Boy Blue and Pinnochio. Fabletown is under threat from an outside menace, and Pronce Charming tries to gain the mayorship of Fabletown from Old King Cole.

Watchmen is another book recommended by my daughter. So many books, so little time! Your review makes it sound must read! :)
--BJ

I have Watchmen to read on my list this year. Glad you are still enjoying Fables, I think volume 4 has been my favourite so far. I really must read more of them this year as well. Get the Inkheart dvd!

17F.) Fables Volume 5: The Mean Seasons by Bill Willingham

Fabletown seems to be falling apart; some fables are missing, and a new character arrives.

Rhinoa- Watchmen really was excellent. I have recommended it to a few people (in the week since I read it!) and have assured them all that you don't have to enjoy caped superhero stuff to love it!

And Fables really does keep getting better...I may break down and go buy volume 6 this weekend.

4NF.) Female Citizens, Patriarchs, and the Law in Venezuela, 1786-1904 by Arlene J. Diaz

A book for school. I already wrote a lot about it, so I am over it at this point. However, it really was well done, containing lots of great written and statistical information. The time periods were well-chosen and explicated nicely according to political change.

5NF.) Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss

I may have a new favorite author. This was an outstanding little book about punctuation. Of course, I am hardly one of the sticklers for excellent punctuation she describes in her book, as I make hundreds of punctuation errors myself.
Truss described countless incidents of grammatical errors in daily life, many hilarious, some outright depressing. Of course, this is a UK book, and the punctuation here is quite different. Truss very kindly pointed out differences in American and British usage throughout the book, and I was surprised by how much I learned! Who would have thought that American punctuation is actually more standardized???? (I know, non-standard use of the question mark.) I plan to make a nuisance out of myself pointing out grammatical and punctuational differences for a long time!

I must acquire Truss's next book, Talk to the Hand!

*edited for millions of typos

18F.) Fables Volume Six: Homelands by Bill Willingham

Aahhhhhhh. Volume Six moves away from Bigby and Snow, concentrating on Boy Blue, Pinocchio, and of course, the slippery Jack.

One disappointment (and a small one, at that): Why does Beauty, who has been deputy mayor for several issues now, seem to have no personality or character development whatsoever? I would like to get to know more about her in this series.

This was supposed to be my reward for eight hour writing days over spring break, but I just couldn't resist any longer!

Glad to find someone else who enjoyed Eats Shoots and Leaves. OK I have to catch up on Fables as everyone is ahead of me now including you! I'm doing a 24 hour readathon next weekend so may read a few then fingers crossed.

Rhinoa, I cannot stop reading these comics. I love them almost as much as I love the sandman books! I think that he has come out with at least 11 now...
I can't wait to hear what you think! I will try to keep this spoiler-free-

19F.) Fables Volume Seven: Arabian Nights (and Days)by Bill Willingham

A shorter volume this time...I got the feeling this is kind of a lull between major story developments. We again get to meet some new characters, and the final story in this is excellent: starts out heartwarming, ends with a chilling twist.

Thanks for keeping the spoilers to a minimum. I still haven't had my Fables weekend, but I will soon so I am up to date. Have you read any of the spin off Jack of Fables series? I have only read the first one so far which was quite fun as I do like Jack. I still need to finish The Sandman as well. That's another weekends reading!

okay. Not as much as there should be, but such is life. I just finished finals yesterday, so I should add a few in the next couple weeks before my study abroad/summer schools starts!

20F.) White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison. I actually read this a week or two ago.

Rachel Morgan continues her witchy shennanigans, and the several plot threads continue to get more complicated. A couple of blasts from the past show up, and we get to spend some time with her family as well.

This one started s-l-o-w. I was so irritated by the repetitive word use and over-emotional actions of the characters in the first 50 pages that I actually almost put this down. Almost. It really picked up after that, and went on to be a perfectly decent addition to the series. I don't know that I like where this series is heading, but I am still hanging in there.

6NF.) Diamonds, Gold, and War by Martin Meredith
This was for my History of Africa class, and I really enjoyed it. Through concentrating on Cecil Rhodes and a couple of other larger-than-life figures in the British/Boer occupation of South AFrica, Meredith traces the history of the region from the early 19th century to the Union of South Africa in 1910. Really well done, and an engaging read.
For an extra star for the author, an informal survey of my classmates indicated that most of them actually read this book, and a few all 526 pages!

7NF.) Crime and Punishment in Latin America edited by Ricardo D. Salvatore

For another class, and also enjoyable. This book is a collection of chapters dealing with various parts of Latin America and their history. Crime was the main theme, obviously, but it ranged from the criminalization of syphilis in Porfirian Mexico to litigation in the Brazilian sugar industry.

Congrats on finishing your finals! They are just starting for my girls. Where will you study abroad this summer?
--BJ

Thank you! It doesn't matter how well prepared I am, finals are always nerve-wracking!

I'm off to Costa Rica this summer! It's a short trip, but all I can really manage with a decrepit old kitty at home. We will be all over though, visiting the wildlife preserves, wandering through the jungle, rummaging around (figuratively!) in the archives, etc. I am beyond excited! I am nearly thirty years old and have only been to two countries outside the U.S., so this is a big deal for me, even though it's not a full semester event!

I have never been there, but I have heard that Costa Rica is a wonderful place both to visit and to live. I know you will have a great time there. :)
--BJ

Thanks!

21F.) Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Mercy faces trouble with wolves, vampires, ghosts, and the fae.
A really great installment in the Mercy Thompson series! I sat down to read the first few chapters this morning and, well, I'm done!

I love, love, love the way Briggs writes about the fae. I don't know if it's pure creativity or if she has some very old, awesome sources, but I am thrilled with her depictions.

22F.) Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie and Diesel chase down some bad guys, and Carl the monkey helps.
The best Plum novel I have read in a while. I always enjoy these, but this one was actually pretty well laid out, with a solid plot, consistent action, and some hilarious one-liners!

23F.) Death of a Witch by M.C. Beaton

The latest Hamish Macbeth mystery. The Scottish village of Lochdub hosts mystery and mayhem, and Hamish continues to try to choose amongst his many female admirers.

Just a note to say what I REALLY want to be reading is Dead and Gone, but it is (obviously) permanently checked out from the library! Argh!

24F.) The Stupidest Angel by Christopher moore

Definitely the best Moore I have read so far! The author has a deep understanding of the minds of dogs and stoners....although he missed the mark on Californians a bit (or maybe I'm in denial of our true nature)!

Anyway, this is the story of what happens when a Christmas wish is deeply misunderstood. Christmas miracles do happen, even when they really, really shouldn't! This story had everything missing from the traditional tales: "B" movie warrior queens, lasagna, bats, and the hungry undead.

25F.) Storm Front by Jim Butcher

A private investigator helps find a missing person, tangles with the mob, and aids teh police in a grisly murder investigation. He also happens to be a wizard.
Not a bad first book- I bought the first three, so I will keep going with teh series!

26F.) Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

Minor Gods try to gain power, Major Gods lose power, and holy wars and intrigues are constantly occurring.
This book felt more like a "real" book than most stuff I have read by Pratchett in teh past.

OK you have read some great books recently! Must read more Rachel Morgan books and finally start the Sookie Stackhouse series. I loved Bone Crossed as well, I can't wait for the next one. I must read Christopher Moore, I have Lamb on my list for this year and think he is just my kind of read. I loved Storm Front as well and like you will definitely be continuing with the series. I am so gutted that the tv show was cancelled after the first series as it was excellent and one of my favourite around.

And yay for finishing your finals, I hope you get the results you need :)

I know, the Briggs books are fast emerging as my favorite of teh genre! Moore is growing on me; I went from not liking him, to thinking his stuff is okay...maybe I will love Lamb! Thanks for the warm fuzzies for finals..I am heading into my final year now, hurray!

and...
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher even better than Storm Front! Dresden faces a whole lotta foes, some of them four-legged, some of them two-legged; all of them have hidden agendas, and our favorite wizard is kept on his toes throughout!

I am going to check out the (only) season of teh show!

28F.) Grave Peril by Jim Butcher

Yet another installment in teh Dresden Files; Harry has some trouble from the fae, restless spirits, and worst of all...vampires.

29F.) Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Hurray! For finally getting a hold of this book!

Sookie is still figuring out her complicated love life, but darker things are afoot. The Fairies are making their presence known in Sookie's life, and she needs all the supernatural help she can get!

An excellent addition to the series. I actually think there is more polish to the later novels in the series; this seems to contradict what I have seen in other "urban fantasy" series. I found the sex scenes in this particular book both laughable and mildly irritating, but there weren't too many of those. Best of all, I still luuuuuurve Eric, and he is in this installment quite a bit!

30F.) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

The future holds radioactive fallout and androids; our hero must do his best to ignore the fallout and hunt the rogue androids.
An excellent take on the future of humanity and what it means to make shadows of ourselves. These are not Harlan Ellison's or Isaac Asimov's sympathetic androids; they lack the basic kindnesses of human beings--a lack that the author shows in a million small, disturbing ways. I can't believe I never read any of his stuff before! Now I must rent Blade Runner and see how many differences I can spot...

31F.) House of Mystery: Room and Boredom by Bill Willingham

A new-ish graphic novel I had never heard of...it was sitting all lonesome on the shelf at the bookstore today when I went to look for Fables: Vol. 8.

Intriguing characters keeping house as virtual slaves in an unusual sort of tavern find their permanent waitstaff increased by one, an architect on the run from some world or another. Stories are told and adventures are had.

This graphic novel riffs off of the "Inn at World's End" in the Sandman series: we also see Cain and Abel, other Sandman characters. There may have been nods to other series as well, but the Sandman bits were most apparent to me. An interesting beginning, with fun characters and phenomenol artwork.
I will probably grab book two, if I see it...recommended.

32F.) Fables Vol. 8: Wolves by Bill Willingham

The next volume of Fables, in which wonderful things happen. Mostly a feel-good issue, with some secrets and espionage thrown in. Lots of awesome Mowgli in this issue!

8NF.) The Company They Kept by Lara Putnam

An excellent look at the world of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in teh mid-nineteenth through late-twentieth century. I particularly recommend the chapter on "Facety Women;" the insults described in the lawsuits would set a sailor's ears on fire!

9NF.) The History of Costa Rica by Ivan Molina and Steven Palmer

An overview of Costa Rica from before the encounter period through the modern day. This little volume manages to cover all the bases and even provides a fair amount of detail in less than two hundred pages!

33F.) Fables Vol 9: Sons of Empire by Bill Willingham

The next Fables installment...lots of "mini stories" in this one. Some were good, some okay. The main story line, of course, keeps getting better.

And on a side note, I was really looking forward to seeing Bill Willingham at comic con, only to discover tickets are sold out already!!! I carefully planned my summer trip home to San Diego to coincide with the event, and couldn't believe no more tix were available..bah!

I remember buying tickets at the door as recently as 2005! I guess it's good for comic lovers that this thing has gotten so big...I will certainly buy early next year!

34F.) Fables Vol 10: The Good Prince by Bill Willingham

I am really flying through these now!
the best installment I have read in a long time! I am racing through now so I can read the "crossover" mini-series!

35F.) Fables Vol 11: War and Pieces by Bill Willingham

The war that has been building and building; some unexpected losses; some even more unexpected heroes.

36f.) City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Fifteen year old Clary begins to see things no-one else can see, and soon realizes that most of her life has been an elaborate lie. She gets caught up with some gifted young warriors called Shadowhunters, and soon finds that she can't recapture her old life.

A YA urban fantasy...pretty well done, if not intensely original. Definitely a pageturner, I will be reading the rest of the series!

Yeah! You're reading my favorite YA series! The author is supposed to have made her mark orginally as a Harry Potter fanfiction writer, but I haven't figured out what her story was called. She definitely is a page turner.

I've read the second book as well and have the third...I actually started it....but I didn't want it to end too quickly so I stopped reading..dumb huh? Now I'm afraid to pick the book up again because it's the last book for these characters. She intends to write more in that universe, but not with Jace and Co. I think the only character that's going to reappear is the warlock.

Hi hairballsrus! Yeah, these are pretty darn good...I have just finished the 2nd book and seriously can't wait to read the third. I will definitely find her other books, I love the world that she has created and the variety she gives to teh characters!

so..

37F.) City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

The young shadowhunters face their powerful foe, and the Clave is still at war with itself. Jace, Clary, and Simon all struggle to define their identities and their reationships amidst constant danger.

I love the fact that the author gives distinct personalities to all the characters, regardless of their supernatural status. Meaning all the werewolves are not exactly the same person, etc.
This book was even better than the first!!!

38F.) Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa is a young fighter that has been 'Graced;" that is, she was born with a special ability to fight. In her kingdom, the Graced--"Gracelings"--are servants of the king and are made obvious to others by their bi-colored eyes. Katsa chafes against her status, and with the help of some unlikely friends, finds her life--and the lives of everyone in the seven kingdoms--changed forever.

Another great YA novel!

39F.) Fool by Christopher Moore

A bawdy novel, loosely based on Shakespeare's King Lear. The protaganist is the king's Fool, and he takes it upon himself to save the kingdom. Or possibly destroy it. Although this book may be a bit over the top for some, I thought it was hilarious.
Oh boy, and bawdy, bawdy, bawdy.

The first Moore novel that I unreservedly love! I should add the caveat that I am entirely unfamiliar with Shakespeare's original, but the author states in the afterword that the homage is so slight that knowledge of Lear is unnecessary.

Some pretty funny footnotes, too, Terry Pratchett style...recommended!

Oooh boy. My love for Red Dwarf has been rekindled with the release of Back to Earth on region one DVD (coming in October)!

This led to the discovery that there is all kinds of Red Dwarf stuff out there I had never heard of--like, the novels. So:

40F.) Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor

The first half is a lot like the beginning of the show, but with some greater detail and a different introduction. The last thirty pages or so are TOTALLY different, taking a different look at the immersive video games that poppped up from time to time in the show. Overall: super! It was pretty good up until that last section, but I am now so hooked I have already started book two!

Wow! You've read Graceling as well... And you like Moore.... I've got an audio version of Fool, but haven't listened to it yet. It's been ages since I read Red Dwarf. Right now I'm taking a trip down memory lane with Harry Potter.

Yeah, I liked Graceling! Are there sequals? I assume there are, and that I just haven't found them yet. Also, Fool was great! Def. his best work!

So...
41F.) Better Than Life by Grant Naylor

The second book in teh Red Dwarf series. This one is just as good as teh first, can't wait to read books three and four!
I love that the books focus on Rimmer as much as Lister!

42F.) House of Mystery Book Two: Love Stories for Dead People by Various

The second graphic novel in the new series. A bit on the story arc, plus a couple short pieces. Pretty good, but a bit of a sputter after the first volume.

43F.) Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

I had to! Love Staphanie Plum. This one was pretty good. Less sexy than the last couple have been, but Lula, Stephanie, and Grandma Mazur are in fine form, barbecuing ribs and fighting bad guys.

44F.) City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

The third book in this series. Loose ends are tied up, fates are accepted, and yes, there are a couple of deaths, keeping it from being too neat.
Definitely recommend.

62> I think there are sequels in the works and I think there's a prequel out or soon to be out. As for Moore, I keep listening to my audio version of Stupidest Angel. Tony Roberts is a great narrator. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this man, this reprobate, this-if I may-clump-filled-cat-box-of-a-man, struck a defenseless woman-" Snort. :)

OK you have been reading some excellent stuff in my absence... Yay for getting up to date with Fables. I only just finished Homelands, but I did finally find out who the Adversary is. I have read the first 2 Dresden books and plan on reading the 3rd this weekend. The series is excellent, I am so sad it was cancelled :( I hope to read the Cassandra Clare books soon as they have had amazing reviews everywhere including yours of course. Red Dwarf is awesome, I have met all of the cast now and love Chris Barrie who plays Rimmer. I read the books years ago, must get them out and have a re-read at some point. I really want to read Graceling and Fool too. I'm glad Moore is growing on you.

Hi Rhinoa! I was so excited to see someone else likes Red Dwarf...two someones! you and hairballsrus both know what I am talking about!
And I am so jealous you got to meet the cast...particularly Chris Barrie! I want to check out his other series he did around the same time, the Brittas Empire, but I have had no luck finding it out here :(
On a similar note, I told my husband that I wanted to go to the Dimension Jump (Red Dwarf) convention coming up in Birmingham...he initially thought I meant Birmingham, Alabama, and was all about it until I set him straight that it's a BIT further away..!

And on to the books....
45F.) Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

Lots and lots of Faerie in this one; non-stop action!

46F.) Death Masks by Jim Butcher

I know, I'm in a Dresden rut, but these really just keep getting better. This one is quite a bit darker than the last couple, with some really interesting takes on religious imagery.

47F.) Blood Rites by Jim Butcher

Dresden's world is changing fast in this next installment of the Dresden Files. Harry learns a bit more about his long-lost family, and it seems like everybody has a dark secret. This series continues to be great!

48F.) Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

Zombies!

10NF.) We Thought You Would be Prettier: Tales of the Dorkiest Girl Alive by Laurie Notaro

A pretty funny collection of essays by author Laurie Notaro. Some of them had me laughing out loud, others fell a bit flat.

11NF.) The Life of Charlemagne by Einhard

12NF.) Charlemagne by Notker the Stammerer

49F.) Song of Roland

All pretty good...I arbitrarily decided that Einhard and Notker are history and the Song of Roland is historical fiction. Off to write eight pages to that effect.

Wish I wasn't up against a deadline, all three of these were engaging and deserved perusal

13NF.) I, Rigoberta Menchu by Rigoberta Menchu

A disturbing memoir of Guatemala's violence against and exploitation of indigenous peoples. An upsetting book overall. I know that this account has been challenged by historians, but I haven't read any of the rebuttals, so I can't really opine about that.

The flow of the narrative is a bit weird; this version was translated from Spanish into English, and Spanish is not Menchu's first language, so the way the stories are told comes off a little strange.

14NF.) The Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis Borges

I read something! One page at a time before bed each night, but still...
A neat-o, 1-2 pages per creature overview of, well, imaginary beings. I love that Borges included East Asian mythology along with the mythology of many other cultures.

15NF.) One Palestine, Complete by Tom Segev

One of those history books that drags for the first hundred and last hundred pages. The middle 300 pages were superb! An in-depth of the Mandate period in Palestine.

50F.) Backwards by Rob Grant

Book three of the Red Dwarf books...pretty good, though not quite so great as the first two, collaborative books. Off to read Last Human

51F.) Last Human by Doug Naylor

A bit darker than the others. I think I finally know which half of the partnership found Rimmer's character redeemable, though--I liked the way he was portrayed in this one.

52F.) Grimm Fairy Tales by Ralph Tedesco

The first graphic novel in the Grimm Fairy Tales series. It's okay; a bit juvenile, with only a thread connecting the many story lines. Most of it is kinda the same old thing, but the Sleeping Beauty story was AWESOME; not like any sleeping beauty story I had read before. Again, really geared towards teens, but an okay effort. I'll check out the next one, I think.

53F.) The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith

Ah, the forbidden game. I first read this when I was a teenager. The usual, achingly handsome, pure evil demon creature loves boring teenage girl.
Not as good as I remember, unfortunately.

I keep forgetting to write the books I read for school...

16NF.)Massacre at El Mozote: A Parable of the Cold War by Mark Danner

Journalist Mark Danner detailed a few events surrounding the murder of several hundred civilians during El Salvador's civil war, paying careful attention to U.S. involvement.

17NF.) A History of the Middle Ages:300-1500 by John M. Riddle

A book for school...finally finished it today, mere hours ahead of the final exam. A weighty but readable tome that covers mostly Europe but includes Southwest Asian medieval development.

54F.) The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle

Another book for school...issues dear to my heart (immigration, environment, etc.) but I just couldn't stand Boyle's extreme satire. No subtlety. Also, he is writing about my home (L.A. instead of San Diego, but close enough) and I think he's got it all wrong.

Oh, and

18NF.) Born in Blood and Fire: A History of Latin America by John Charles Chasteen

Actually, I finished this weeks ago, but I don't see it listed here. A great mini-history of the entirety of Latin America for the last five hundred years or so. Obviously,a bit simplistic, but super readable if you can stand all the typos.

55F.) Soulless by Gail Carriger

hmm. I liked several things about this book: the mythology surrounding the supernatural world was innovative and consistent, a couple of characters were really awesome and likable (Floote the Butler springs to mind), and the alternate history thing was pretty good. I got kinda irritated with the amount of pages that sex and romance took up, though. I like a little romance in my fantasy rather than a little fantasy with my romance, and I found myself getting annoyed with the pages and pages of luvvy stuff by the end. I also really hated the depiction of Queen Victoria. I found myself wishing, like Rose in the first season of Dr.Who, that she would just say "we are not amused" and get it over with.

Clearly I am ambivalent about this novel. Not sure yet if I will try book two. I can say that it was well written with an original story and good characters.

56F.) ROsemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

Holy cow I adored this book. Fairies, realistic* heroine, urban setting, and a healthy respect for the amazing powers of cats. Light on the private detecting, heavy on the rules of the Fay and curses and lots of other goodies. I could not put this down; thank goodness I'm done, I have papers to write!

*As these things go.

57F.) A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

A really great book. A little funny and a lot sad...it really was everything I had been told it was.

Maybe a bit too depressing, at that.

58F.) Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

Another excellent installment in the Dresden Files. I swear the main character just keeps getting more complex, kind of an oddity in this type of novels. Butcher has really sustained the level of writing here, and I adore these books. I have about three different books going right now, but I can pretty much guarantee that my next completed one will be another Butcher novel!

59F.) White Knight by Jim Butcher

Hmmm also pretty good. Lots more..."battling", I guess, than most of the previous books.

60F.) A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller

Excellent dystopian fiction...like lots of sci-fi coming out around that time, Miller focused on nuclear war and its terrible legacies. Definitely a book for historians; as the novel follows a particular monastic order over the centuries, there are some truly hilarious moments when history is badly misinterpreted.

61F.) And Another Thing by Eoin Cofer

My first book read on the "Nook" I got for Christmas...a good choice, as Cofer interspersed lots of "Hitchhiker's Guide" entries among the chapters; somehow, reading it on the e-reader gave it an authentic feel!

As to the novel...it was okay. I tried hard to give it a chance, and I think I did; Cofer was true to Adams' unique writing style, but some of the characters lost their panache. I think Cofer had Trillian all wrong, for example. But overall, the story was fun and engaging and, while it is not my favorite of the long-running "Hitchhiker's Guide" story arc, it was a nice story on its own. Definitely fun enough to keep you reading. More "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" than "The Phantom Menace," if you will: i.e. a nice tribute, but far from canon (rather than the spit in the eye that the Phantom Menace was!)

62F.) Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Seriously and surprisingly excellent. Cool system of magic, cool enemy; kind of the opposite of the quest-driven fantasy genre. good stuff.

19NF.) How to Write a Lot by Paul J. Silvia

A pretty good stop-procrastinating-and-get-off-your-duff program. A bit out of my league, as I am a lowly undergrad and this is for academics, but I developed a new and exciting procrastination problem last semester that seriously impeded my progress. Don't want a repeat of that! My only complaint with this book is that it is written primarily for psychologists, something not mentioned in the book's on-line overview. D'oh! Should have read the reviews, most of them mentioned it :)

20F.) The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

MMMm. Got this to get a jump-start on my financial goals for next year; not quite sure what I think right now. I actually really believe that his advice is sound, but his presentation methods and the "real-life anecdotes" make me feel a bit condescended to, like he's trying to give me a bum deal on a used car. However, while I dislike the evangelical tone, I do like the advice; I'll give it a go, anyway!

Gah. 42 books short; 4 non-fiction and...eeep...38 fiction. Well, better next year...