Ronincats is back in 2010

My reading resolutions for this year are in Message 13.

My Previous Threads:
(to be added when I am feeling ambitious)







Books read in 2010 (touchstones will be in the messages containing the reviews, * signifies a re-read, # indicates an Off The Shelf book):

January
1. The Riddle-Master of Hed* by Patricia A. McKillip (222 pp.)
2. Heir of Sea and Fire* by Patricia A. McKillip (207 pp.)
3. Harpist in the Wind* by Patricia A. McKillip (257 pp.)
4. Triplanetary* by E. E. "Doc" Smith (240 pp.)
5. The Book of Three* by Lloyd Alexander (129 pp.)
6. Iorich by Steven Brust (319 pp.)
7. The Phantom Lover by Elizabeth Mansfield (250 pp.)
8. The Book of Dragons# by Edith Nesbit (153 pp.)
9. Three Cups of Tea# by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
10. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (388 pp.)
11. The Sorceress of Karres by Eric Flint and Dave Greer (307 pp.)

February
12. My Father's Dragon# by Ruth Stiles Gannett (87 pp.)
13. Elmer and the Dragon# by Ruth Stiles Gannett (87 pp.)
14. The Dragons of Blueland# by Ruth Stiles Gannett (88 pp.)
15. Precious Dragon# by Liz Williams (351 pp.)
16. First Lensman* by E. E. "Doc" Smith (252 pp.)
17. The Black Cauldron*# by Lloyd Alexander (127 pp.)
18. HaveMercy# by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett (431 pp.)
19. The Anubis Gates* by Tim Powers (pp.387)
20. The Phantom Tollbooth* by Norton Juster (pp. 256)
21. Soulless by Gail Carriger (357 pp.)
22. The Lost Fleet: Dauntless# by Jack Campbell (293 pp.)

March
23. Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford (299 pp.)
24. Galactic Patrol* by E. E. (Doc) Smith (237 pp.)
25. The Castle of Llyr* by Lloyd Alexander (111 pp.)
26. Cold Comfort Farm# by Stella Gibbons (233 pp.)
27. The Accidental Sorcerer by K. E. Mills (535 pp.)
28. Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (253 pp.)
29. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (197 pp.)
30. Superior Saturday by Garth Nix (278 pp.)
31. Lord Sunday by Garth Nix (317 pp.)

Books entering my house (adopted):
January
1. Iorich by Steven Brust (Borders, 33% off coupon) READ
2. Powers by Ursula LeGuin (Borders, $3.99/hardback)
3. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (Amazon) READ
4. The Sorceress of Karres by Eric Flint and Dave Greer (Amazon) READ
5. The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia (Amazon)
6. The Phantom Lover by Elizabeth Mansfield (BookMooch) READ
7. The Healing Powers of Chocolate by Cal Orey (ER book)
February
8. Blackout by Connie Willis (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore)
9. Except the Queen by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore)
10. Soulless by Gail Carriger (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore) READ
11. Lamentation by Ken Scholes (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore)
12. The Accidental Sorcerer by K. E. Mills (Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore) READ
13. The Domino Men by Jonathan Barnes (BookMooch)
14. Murder of a Real Bad Boy by Denise Swanson (PaperBackSwap)
15. Murder of a Botoxed Blonde by Denise Swanson (PaperBackSwap)
16. Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford (Borders 25% off coupon) READ
March
17. Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (ER) READ
18. Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon (Amazon)
19. Superior Saturday by Garth Nix (Amazon) READ
20. Lord Sunday by Garth Nix (Amazon)
21. Bound in Blood by P. C. Hodgell (Amazon)

Glad to see you back, Roni. Keep the recommendations for science fiction and fantasy coming for me!

Welcome back!

Hallo!

Hey Roni! Let me be the first to give you a recommendation for 2010 - I'm currently reading the newly published last work of Lucy Maud Montgomery, The Blythes are Quoted. It is great so far, a group of short stories, sketches, and poems, and a must for L.M.M. fans :)

Great! I didn't even know it existed. I shall certainly look for it to add to my L. M. Montgomery collection! I'm putting it on my wishlist right now. Thanks!

*waving at Roni*

*waving right back*

Hey, Roni... and OMG, Cait, The Blythes are Quoted???? Onto the wishlist it goes, immediately!

Oh, here you are. Good. *check*

found you ;-)

Hi, ronincats,
Looking forward to your reads in 2010.

Okay, it is New Year's Eve, and time to consider my new thread and my resolutions for this year's reading.

First of all, like so many, I resolve to make a dent in my TBR pile.
1. The first step, and part one of the resolution, is to go ahead and input them into my LT catalog. I have always waited until I read a book to put it in, but now with our categories, there is no need to wait.
2. I will aim to make every 5th book at least one that I already own, unread--making 20% of my reading from my TBR pile.

3. I resolve to track pages read as well as books this year.

4. I also resolve to track and record books acquired during the year, another thing I have never done.

I didn't come close to my 150 goal last year, after making it the year before. I may well come closer next year but, hey, no pressure. I'll set 100 as a very reasonable goal for me. This means I will expect to read 20 books from my TBR pile.

5. Finally, I resolve to thoroughly enjoy my reading this year, as well as my interaction with my wonderful LT family here on our thread.

Great resolutions. I am very glad to see you back again!

Happy reading!

Those are good resolutions! I haven't ever tracked pages read before either - maybe this is the year!

*starred*
Happy 2010, Roni.

Ooh, 20% of your TBR pile is soooo sensible: achievable yet still significant. (I'm picking my reading goal related to TBR as the One Most Likely to Fail Miserably this year as I have been a wee bit more ambitious than that.) Happy New Year!

#1 for 2010 The Riddlemaster of Hed* by Patricia A. McKillip

First read slightly more that 30 years ago, reread probably twice since then, and probably not in the last 20 years, although it has been on my shelf for all that time. McKillip is one of those authors I automatically buy. Review to follow.

ETA 222 pages.

Hi There!

I'm ever so glad to see your thread! It just would not be the same without you!

Hi Roni - I am hoping to read some McKillip this year. I read a short story of hers in Dark Alchemy and really liked it, so have collected a few of her books this past year in anticipation. Is this a good one to start with?

>21 avatiakh: I love this trilogy. It's diff from her other works (as each is diff from the others), but I'd say it's an excellent place to start. It was my first McKillip and served me well :)

I LOVE the Riddle-Master of Hed trilogy. When I lived in Costa Rica, these were the only books I brought with me, along with Startide Rising and The Uplift War by David Brin. They bear rereading quite well, never losing their charm and poetry.

ah Startide Rising -- now there's a book :) I love it too (even if I have no patience for the second trilogy ;-> )

ETA a "y" -- typo !

Hey, Roni! Great resolutions. And you're rereading of The Riddlemaster of Hed has made me want to reread that trilogy, as well!

Good choice for a first book! I am partial to McKillip's The Sorceress and the Cygnet.

#2 Heir of Sea and Fire by Patricia A. McKillip

I'm waiting to review these until Carolyn and Stasia finish their first ever reads of it, but they catch me up into the flow of the language and the plot like 30 years ago! I'm half-way through the third book now--it's been so long, there is SO much I didn't remember, it is wonderful to experience it again.

Kerry, this trilogy and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, two of her earliest, are also two of my three favorites, although I own and have read all of her work. I was fortunate enough to find her right after she wrote the first book of this trilogy, when she only had four other books in her oeuvre. My personal favorite of her later work is Od Magic written in 2005. It is a singleton, so might be easier to start with. Also, the trilogy is high fantasy, very much a quest story. It was done relatively early, it was done very, very well, but there have been so many since then that the trope has become a turn-off for some.

Ah, Chris, that's a great set of books to have with you. Those two are Brin's best work, and The Uplift War is one of my favorite all-time books. I love the humor in it, and I love the political structure of Brin's universe. So sad that he completely wimped out in the second trilogy, IMHO (I'm with you there, Susan).

Come on in, Marcia--the water is great! Ren, that is another one I haven't read for ages.

Gosh, if my resolutions were to re-read books off my shelves instead of new ones, I'd be in wonderful shape!

I just recently read The Riddlemaster of Hed as well, but unfortunately the majority of it flew over my head. Maybe I'll try reading it again in a couple of years and see if I understand it better then...

Brin's stuff always appealed to me. I even liked Earth a whole lot. I haven't read it in nigh on 20 years, but I really loved it then...also, The Uplift War completely ensorcelled me. The Gubru, with their tripartite expansive verb structure, have left an indelible mark on me...I still, to this good day, say that I "loathe, despise, detest" something.

McKillip is too girly-woopsy-poo for me.

Ah, Richard, I encompass them both. But then you like some genres that are too violent for me. Give thanks that we overlap generously.

#3 Harpist in the Wind by Patricia A. McKillip (257 pp.)

Book three of the trilogy. McKillip's language sings through me like a harp. A marvelous exemplar of high fantasy. Thank you, Carolyn and Stasia, for inspiring me to read it again after all these years.

Sundiver, The Practice Effect, and Startide Rising are my Brin favorites.

#29 Too much fairy glitter in the McKillip, Richard? :)

Simply stopping by to say hi.

#27 Thanks, I'll give the trilogy a go, I haven't read much fantasy lately and don't mind the idea of a quest. I'm determined to have some fun with my reading this year.

>31 jadebird: LOL yeah, that's it, too fairy! *snort* Sundiver was a really fun read. The Practice Effect left me so disgruntled that my 1982 Cutlass wasn't turning into a 1966 Jaguar XK-E that I had to stop reading it.

>30 ronincats: Yep, Roni, it's a dull thing to like *all* the same things. I'm a guy, so I like guy stuff; a gay guy, so some girly creeps in; and a curious guy, so anything at all has a shot (except rap music).

Hi Roni. Thought I would drop by and star you.

I like both Brin's trilogies, though got bogged down in the second. Didn't like McKillip's trilogy or another book of hers that I read. But I hope you enjoy.

#34 Yeah, I wish I could "practice" my blackberry into a genuine Star Trek transporter!

You've already read three books *sigh*. I should banish you or keep away from LT and just have done with it. Not being here for a couple of months certainly make a difference to the growth of my wishlist, although I missed you all a lot.

Yeah, but Jenny, they are 3-200 page books, not the monsters they publish these days, and it's a holiday weekend, with lots of reading time. Plus I have these three, plus two more, all for group reads this week, so I had to put some serious time in reading. Trust me, I won't be able to keep up at this rate, nor would I want to.

>34 richardderus: and dickens...

ETA Group read? of Hed?

Well, it was a private read by two people new to Hed and I just invited myself in, Susan. So there's not a thread for it. But if there is enough interest, we could always do one later in the year. Or earlier...

#4 Triplanetary by E. E. "Doc" Smith

This is for the group read, so I shan't review it yet.

Did you finish Triplanetary already? I'd better hurry up!

You have until Friday to do so, so 45 pages a day will do it. I wanted to get it out of the way so I could read The Book of Three for the other group read, which starts discussion on Sunday.

LOL np. But seeing you read it and hearing about MM getting into made me think about reading it again... but my last re-read was fairly recent (2009). :)

ETA: thx for the reminder on the book of 3 -- guess that's up next for me then as well. a bientot

#5 The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Also for group read, discussion starts Sunday on the spoiler thread (see on group page).

Also, I said this year I would keep track of books acquired for the year. Here's what came into my house today:
1. Iorich by Steven Brust (Borders, 33% off coupon)
2. Powers by Ursula LeGuin (Borders, $3.99/hardback)
3. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (Amazon)
4. The Sorceress of Karres by Eric Flint and Dave Greer (Amazon)
5. The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia (Amazon)

I honestly don't know where to start--this is an embarrassment of riches. Iorich will probably win out over Shades of Grey.

*waves* I heard Shades of Grey was amazing.

I know, but I can't really immerse myself totally in two books at the same time. It will come right after Iorich, I promise!

I for one am completely jealous that you have Shades of Grey already. AND, just now when I added it to my Amazon wishlist (I am on buying restriction at the moment, so that is as close to shopping as I get), I just saw that a new Connie Willis book is shortly to come out. Holy cow! Now all I need is a new McKillip book to make my 2010 complete!

Speaking of McKillip, have I mentioned how much I love her books? So delighted that I am not alone in automatically buying anything she writes. My absolute favorite is In the Forests of Serre, though I also adored Od Magic. I have not read any of her few Science Fiction novels, though. And have you read Something Rich and Strange? I have not yet gotten a hold of that one.

Oh, and Richard, dear fellow, (>29 richardderus:), I think "girly-woopsy-poo" is a tad belittling for so fine a writer as McKillip. Perhaps let's revise that to "exceptionally expressive of folkloric tropes of the feminine and the richly emotive life of women", shall we? ;)

Postscript: Hi! Cool thread! :)

>48 beserene: Oh, and Richard, dear fellow, (>29 richardderus:), I think "girly-woopsy-poo" is a tad belittling for so fine a writer as McKillip. I think we needs must ATD re: fineness of writing...and belittling was in fact the point! So I succeeded! Go me! Perhaps let's revise that to "exceptionally expressive of folkloric tropes of the feminine and the richly emotive life of women", shall we? ;) You sure can! What a ten-dollar way of saying "girly-woopsy-poo", though.

Hey Roni, what's the haps?

>49 beserene: Thanks! Hope to see you here often. I've already got Soulless on my wish list from your thread!

>50 richardderus: Hey, Richard, I'm enjoying my last week off before heading back to work. Puttering around the house is my idea of heaven! We took the Christmas tree down today and are putting the decor up in the attic. How about you? I do hope the gout pain has decreased.

Nope. Still kickin' my lily-white one.

I can't bear to think of taking down our tree! It's so lovely. *sigh*

If Richard means by "girly-woopsy-poo" boring as hell then I am with him. Tried reading The Beasts of Eld last fall and I nearly died of ennui. I classify this kind of book as girly fantasy and I try to avoid it when I can.

I nearly died of ennui

PreCISEly! It's actually that boring. And the whole Hed series, which I had to read because...well, the reason's not the point, but I read about four trillion pages of that stuff and felt myself actually growing a uterus. NOT a good feeling for an exuberantly gay man.

> 48 Connie Willis has a new book coming out?!!!

I love Jasper Fforde as well. Looking forward to your thoughts on Shades of Grey when you read it.

felt myself actually growing a uterus. NOT a good feeling for an exuberantly gay man.

I'm a little bit in love with you.

>57 London_StJ: Awww, Luxx, aren't you lucky a) you live several states away and b) you're a girl? Otherwise I'd be on your doorstep, gardenia corsage in hand.

I'll pine for you across LT ...

;)

> 58
But you have to look at it the other way around Richard!
If you grew an uterus... you could fall in love with a girl LOL

>60 FAMeulstee: ROFLMAO

That was PRICEless, Anita, and don't you ever say your English isn't among the best again!

LOL

#6 Iorich by Steven Brust 319 pp.

Book 12 in the Vlad Taltos saga brings us back to the present day. Vlad is back in Adrilankha because of politics. Once again an Easterner with two Jhereg appears to be the only one who can unravel a complex plot in order to help a friend, while the Jhereg are still trying to shine him every time he steps out of the Imperial Wing. Another snappy Vlad book, very enjoyable.

#59: Join the club, Luxx :)

#64 - At least I'm in good company

*peers fearfully over shoulder*

OH! Goodness, ladies, I uh ummm thought this was RONI's thread. Sorry to disturb your disturbing colloquy, I'll just aaah errrmmm slide off over the hill....

*mad dash*

Nonsense, you are always welcome to digress on my thread! Always welcome to have a cup of tea or glass of port or zin or chardonnay--oh, wait, the latter aggravate the gout, don't they? Shall we say the beverage of your choice then? Or just if you want a warm place to spend a few--we were at 75 degrees here at the house in San Diego today--shorts and t-shirt weather!

>66 richardderus:: Don't worry, dear, tapestry100 will save you from the rampaging Bacchantes -- he has no uterus and has been fending off my adoration for years -- well-practiced at this point. :)

#7 The Phantom Lover by Elizabeth Mansfield 250 pp.

Recommended by justchris, this Regency is better than average, if not at the level of that nonpareil, Georgette Heyer. The initial premise is somewhat fantastical, but the main characters are well-drawn and the settings and societal mores are well done. The secondary characters are fairly two-dimensional, without the touches of humor and individuality that Heyer is so good with, but despite their stereotypical nature, still advance the story. Recommended for Regency lovers.

Now Roni! One must never bring La Heyer into colloquy about others' Regencies! It's simply not The Thing, dash it! Must accept, m'girl, that there are indeed superlatives, and Heyer is one.

Now, Richard, did I not explicitly state above that Heyer is a nonpareil?

LOL :)

The Phantom Lover will get you to the correct book. Roni, your touchstone took me to a book I KNEW couldn't have been a Regency--especially when a review mentioned palm trees! :-)

I think I recognized the Name Elizabeth Mansfield--did she write regencies as early as the 1980s? After I discovered Georgette Heyer I tried some other Regency authors and as I recall Mansfield was the only one that I enjoyed. I read several of hers (if this is the one I'm thinking of.)

Grrr! Touchstones! I changed it to the correct touchstone before I posted originally, and it STILL messed it up, and not even CLOSE! Thanks for pointing it out, Carolyn.

#8 The Book of Dragons by Edith Nesbit 153 pp.

I had picked this up at a library sale, and brought it to put in my school library. Realizing that this was a Nesbit I hadn't read, I took a little time to do so. Each of the 8 "chapters" in this book is a short story with a dragon in it. It is similar in theme and level to Kenneth Grahame's The Reluctant Dragon, both designed, I think, for elementary school level, grades 3-5. The stories were quite original and charming. I think my favorite was "The Island of the Nine Whirlpools", but all were entertaining. A quick read, but also qualifies for my Off the Shelf challenge, as it's been sitting around for a while.

I found a copy of The Eyre Affair!

>76 jadebird: Woo hoo!! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

#9 Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

I think everyone but me has already read this. Relin did a wonderful job of pulling in all the information, giving it a context, and really presenting an engrossing and very readable account of the work of Dr. Greg. What a great story!

Nope, I haven't read it yet. But I do own a copy and it's on the list for this year....

me neither.

Hi Roni, thank you for posting on my thread. I have been lurking on yours for a while and thought I should say hello! I finished The Novice a couple of days ago and thought it was good but it's very similar to The Magician's Guild so may not be worth trying for you.

I really like Edith Nesbit too although I haven't read The Book of Dragons but I shall look out for that one and Three Cups of Tea (which i haven't read!)

#78 Or me, but it is on the wishlist...

Just stopping by to wave hi.

I haven't read it either, Roni, but I saw something about it the other day and had the same thought: "I'm probably the only person in the world who hasn't read this."

*tentative hand-raise* I haven't read it...

Hehehe, I love that you are all no longer alone in believing that you are the only person who hasn't read it. I feel that way about so many books, especially here!

I'm in the haven't read it club, too. There's just a lot of books out there... Isn't that a happy thought? :)

I'm also a member of the haven't-read-it club. I haven't even heard of either Edith Nesbit or Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I have, however, heard of Jasper Fforde, though I haven't managed to read any of his books yet.

Sorry I've been absent lately. Life's been complicated. Sigh. So 2009 remains unwrapped and 2010 languishes for me.

Glad you got to read Three Cups of Tea and enjoyed it so. I have the follow up book in my TBR stack now. Everyone who's already read it likes it better for Mortenson's sole authorship.

Just stopping by to say hi! I have The Riddle Master of Hed trilogy in my TBR pile, so hopefully I'll get to them this year. It will be a first time read for me, so hopefully I'll like them. I can't wait to hear about the Jasper Fforde book. I really want to read it but I have put myself on a strict book buying ban this year so it will probably be a while before I get a chance to read it :(

I'm progressing slowly, not because of the book but due to other things taking up my time. I'm hoping to give it some quality time this weekend! I hope you do get to the Riddle-Master trilogy this year, Kitty--I think you'll like it.

Just stopping by to say "hi!" I also loved Three Cups of Tea when we read it last year at our library "community read" group. I have Stones into Schools on my list for this year--also on my shelf! I bought it at Costco as soon as it came out.

#11 Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

In many ways, this is a tour-de-force. Given the age of the protagonist, it would qualify as a YA dystopia, but the book will reward adult readers as well. The world-building is superb and very original. The characters are well-developed and well-differentiated. The humor here is much more subtle than in the other two series by Fforde, and more biting and satirical as well.

That said, I had two problems in my reading. The first is the constant allusion to the current situation of the protagonist during the narration of the events leading up to it. It kept shaking me out of the story. YMMV, of course.

The second is the very structure of this new world and its basis in color perception. It is SO different and novel that it was hard to wrap my brain around it and accept it as it is revealed in the story. I could not read this straight through and be immersed in the story. I had to read a few chapters and then let it settle in before reading on.
I still do not understand what is going on on an intuitive basis. The book reveals the rules and the social order gradually through the narration and action, which is fine and appropriate, but I keep feeling in the dark about what is going on why at certain junctures in the book. Of course, so is our protagonist, but his puzzles are different from the ones I'm struggling with, which are entirely familiar and accepted by him. In one sense, I am struggling to figure out his world view, while throughout the book, this very world view is being challenged bit by bit.

So, a challenging book, but very worthwhile.

I can't wait to try my Fforde. I'm working on Keyes' A Calculus oif Angels right now, but soon...

Great review, roni.

Dadgummit, I want to talk about your second point there, but it's going to involve spoilers if I'm not careful...

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!

I think one of the things Fforde was intentionally trying to do was to create that sense of "things don't add up" where the reader's figuring out how the world works while Eddy's finding out that his world in fact, doesn't add up. I kept scratching my head over things - like why the animals outside the protected community have bar codes - until the very end when Eddy's realization and my suspicions that all is not as it seems finally came together. For me, this was a pretty effective technique.

Anyway, I agree it was a very worthwhile book.

>93 ronincats: I comment only with a repeat of what I said on Jim's thread: "The 'YA' ghetto needs some walls tearing down."

Excellent review!

Great review, Roni. I haven't read Fforde for several years and this looks like a place to start back again. Do you think there will be a sequel where some of your questions might be answered?

I didn't read Jim's spoiler--and what a great idea to put the lines through it so nothing caught my eye! Thanks!

>97 MusicMom41: Oh, yes, Carolyn, there are two more books scheduled. Their titles are at the end of this book. There are definitely plot lines to be continued.

>95 drneutron: Yes, I agree that this was intentional, but it was extreme enough that it kept shaking me out to analyze the story rather than keeping me engrossed in the action.

>96 richardderus: Thank you, Richard Dear!

>94 jadebird: I haven't read the Keyes book yet; I'll be interested in your opinion of it.

I'll jump in for Roni - there will definitely be a sequel, barring something unfortunate happening. Wikipedia claims there will be two, in fact, titled Shades of Grey 2: Painting by Numbers and Shades of Grey 3: The Gordini Protocols.

#98 - Fair enough. Like spicy food, sometimes what's just right for one is too much for another! 8^}

>95 drneutron:: I agree with drneutron. (No spoilers -- don't worry.) Like Roni, I was puzzled most of the way through the book, but that was one of the things that kept me coming back. I am still thinking about that world, and (me too) still don't have it all figured out, but that puzzle sure is going to push me to grab that sequel as soon as it hits the sales floor. :)

> 93 Very well-done review! I am a Fforde fan, so I'll stay on the lookout for everyone's comments regarding this new series.

#93: I have that one on hold at the local library already. It will be interesting to see how my views mesh with yours, Roni.

Book #11 The Sorceress of Karress by Eric Flint and Dave Freer.

One of my favorite classic science fiction authors wrote The Witches of Karres as a novelette in 1949 originally, and expanded it into a novel in 1966. In a lighter vein than most of his work, it has become something of a cult classic over the years. The plot summary, from Wikipedia, goes like this:

"Captain Pausert, a well-intentioned, but inexperienced merchant from the planet Nikkeldepain, liberates three young witches (Maleen, Goth, and The Leewit) from slavery on the Imperial planet of Porlumma. The sisters were captured in a raid by Imperial Slavers while visiting a planet on a jaunt of their own.
After returning the witch sisters to their homeworld, Karres, Captain Pausert attempts to return to his own planet, but is stopped before he can obtain permission to land. The Captain is informed that he faces several legal charges, many relating to his encounter with the witches and his brief stay on Karres. He escapes the Nikkeldepain Police ship with the help of the middle witch sister, Goth, who had stowed away on the ship. From that point, he and Goth find themselves becoming more and more embroiled in wild adventures involving interdimensional alien invaders, space pirates, many more of the Karres witches, and assorted other villains."

It is a fun romp with great characters. Mercedes Lackey and the two authors of this book produced the first sequel in 2004, which did a good job of catching the flavor of the original, and this book has just been published in hardback.

Far-fetched plots are de rigueur for the genre, and this book is no different. Again the authors do a pretty good job of maintaining the original tone of the book, while furthering Captain Pausert's relationship with Goth and letting us see more of each of them growing up. Recommended, but go read the original first!

Summary for January:

11 books read, 2313 pages.

7 fantasy
2 science fiction
1 nonfiction
1 regency

2.2 Off The Shelf
4 re-reads, all for group readings
3 brand new, just published.

7 books came in, but I sent out 3 via bookmooch and paperbackswap.

My plans for February (I don't usually do this, but I have a bunch of shared reads that I need to plan for)

by Feb. 8, First Lensman by E. E. "Doc" Smith
by Feb. 10, The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander
by Feb. 16, HaveMercy by Jaida Jones for discussion group
by Feb. 22, The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers for our new Steampunk group

I'm still working on The Case for God by Karen Armstrong as my chapter-at-a-time nonfiction in progress.

Nice summary--and so January is finished for you. I have 50 pages to read and then 2 reviews to write before I can summarize January. Which probably means I'm already behind for February! LOL

#104: I will look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Roni.

Thanks to jadebird, who just read the first of these, I realized I had these three on my shelf, given to me by a friend 6 or 7 years ago, and never read. So I did.

12. My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (87 pp.)
13. Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (87 pp.)
14. The Dragons of Blueland by Ruth Stiles Gannett (88 pp.)

Charming children's books, short and sweet, fantasy about a boy and the dragon he rescues. Primary level, first and second grade for listening, second and third for independent reading. Perhaps 'tis cheating a bit, but these have been on my shelf for a long time, and they ARE three books. I can live with it!

If it is between covers, it counts :)

Great art, too, in the Gannett books, right?

Yes, and i was looking at the blurbs--the illustrator appears to be Ruth's sister-in-law, also a Ruth, Ruth Chrisman Gannett.

15. Precious Dragon by Liz Williams (351 pp.)

The Inspector Chen universe is a well-deserved gold-mine for the author. I had read some of her earlier books, such as The Poison Master and they were quite decent fantasy, but this series resonates in a special way and so far is just getting better with each book. Over the first two books, Inspector Chen has evolved into the human liaison officer between Singapore III and Heaven and Hell. He starts out this book acting in this official capacity, and then all Hell breaks loose. And then Heaven does too.

Think of these books as a more gritty, updated version of Bridge of Birds combined with Tea with the Black Dragon. The use of elements of Chinese mythology combine with a near-future dystopia, and the roles and relationships power the actions. I have enjoyed the first two, Snake Agent and The Demon and the City, quite a bit, but think I liked this one even more. Although I sometimes am put off by multi-viewpoint stories, the three POVs in this book are handled very well and contribute greatly to the telling of the story.

Because this has been sitting on my shelf since I bought it early last year, it also qualifies for my Off the Shelf challenge. The good part of that, although I don't know WHY I waited so long, is that the next book is due out in paperback at the end of this month (The Shadow Pavilion). The first 6 chapters are in the back of this book (but I did NOT count them in the pages read for this book) and now I can look forward to reading the new one in a few weeks.

Hmmm..........me thinks I would like these books. Which is the first that I should look out for?

Snake Agent is the first per the series listing from the author page. Now on the wishlist...

The Inspector Chen books sound good - I'm adding them to the wishlist. Thanks for the review Roni.

Oh, my goodness! Just what I need--another series to start! Yikes! On the wishlist goes Snake Agent.

Bridge of Birds is sitting on my desk (from the library) to be read this month.
Guess I'll look at the Liz Williams series for this year too!

Laura, I'll be looking forward to your response to Bridge of Birds.

Well, I've been spending all my time at a conference here in town the last three days, so went by my favorite indie afterwards on the way home, Mysterious Galaxy. And, having kept the number of books coming into the house so far this year to 7, promptly expanded it to 12.

New books in February:
Blackout by Connie Willis
Except the Queen by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder
Lamentations by Ken Scholes
The Accidental Sorcerer by K. E. Mills
and finally, due to popular acclaim on LT,
Soulless by Gail Carriger

This is not going to help my Off the Shelf challenge one bit!

#117: I love Bridge of Birds!

I'm about half-way through Bridge of Birds now and enjoying it a lot. It is very funny!

I am glad you are liking it, Laura.

Book # 16 First Lensman by E. E. "Doc" Smith

This re-read is for the group read of the Lensman series. Discussion will be on that thread.

Book 17 The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander (127 pp.)

Book 2 of the Prydain Chronicles, this book continues the saga of Taran, Assistant Pig Keeper. The cadre is reassembled, adventures are had, wisdom is gained, all things are relative. We are ready for book 3.

The Prydain Chronicles were some of childhood favorites. I can't remember how old I was when I first read them, probably not long after The Hobbit, so maybe 7 or 8.

@120: I loved Bridge of Birds. I managed to find a copy of Eight Skilled Gentleman, but have not yet managed to acquire The Story of the Stone.

Book #18 HaveMercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett

I have to admit, first person isn't my favorite POV in books. Unless it is done well. This book is told in four distinct first-person POVs. It took a while for me to sink into it, to distinguish the characters, but once I did, the story took over.

It is hard to believe that two twenty-year-old females on different sides of the North American continent wrote this book via the internet. All the POVs are male, with few females appearing and most of those negative in affect. Two of the prime characters are immersed in a heavy-duty male fighting cadre, and the relationships are handled extraordinarily well. These are the details that make this a better than average book.

The bare bones are not original. Two apparently medieval stage countries fight each other in endless war, using magicians and foot soldiers. "Our" side's advantage is that it has an airforce made up of dragons and the men who ride them.

What is original is that the dragons are mechanical and powered by magic. That and the way the relationships between the men are developed and how they lead to the resolution. Although this will be a series, I felt that the book ended at a perfect stopping point.

The story has been called steampunk, but the only steampunk elements are the mechanical dragons, and they are the only evidence of any kind of mechanization of the society. There are no firearms, no horseless carriages, no other evidence of sophisticated metal working in the society. So I don't think it really meets the criteria for steampunk.

Although I get to know more about the characters and their desires than I ever wanted to know, I think this is an excellent story overall, and surprisingly good for a debut novel.

#125: Nice review, Roni. I will have to see if I can find a copy. Thanks for the recommendation!

I'm reading the Nils stories, Roni. Great stuff. Thank you for suggesting them.

I'm so glad you are enjoying them, Ren. It's been so long since I read them (although I re-read them frequently when I was young)--I really should make the time to go back and enjoy them again. Even though...I won't finish that statement until you've finished the book.

Book # 19 The Anubis Gates* by Tim Powers

The book that invented steampunk before steampunk was invented! Powers is a favorite author of mine. His fantasy is so amazingly inventive. The Stress of Her Regard is as eerie a tale as I've ever read, set in the same time period and featuring Shelley and Keats. Last Call is set in the modern period and is awesome. I hear that his On Stranger Tides will be the basis of the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film--which should upgrade the quality of that series tremendously! I have Declare sitting in my TBR pile and need to get to it one of these days. No review yet--I have to wait until the group read opens up in one week. But it is no spoiler to say I enjoyed my reread tremendously.

#129: I have On Stranger Tides sitting on my nightstand ready for me to read some day. Looks as though I better get to it soon.

I am doing a re-read of The Anubis Gates for the group read, too. I will have to look for the other titles you mentioned, Roni.

Looking forward to seeing your comments on The Anubis Gates, Stasia!

#131: Well thus far, I have read the prologue, lol. I did read the book for the first time in 2008, but I have read a lot more fantasy and science fiction in the mean time, so I am curious to see whether that has changed my perspective on The Anubis Gates.

I can't wait to get back to The Anubis Gates! I'm even more geeked now. :)

Book # 20 The Phantom Tollbooth* by Norton Juster (256 pp.)

Inspired by the discussion of this book going on over on Carolyn's thread (MusicMom), I pulled this out of the school library yesterday. Actually, the school librarian, bless her, tracked it down on the computer and then found the box of library books in the sixth grade classroom left there while the sixth graders are at a week of camp and abducted it for me from the 6th grader who had it checked out. Bless our librarians!

I first read this book in the spring on 1969 for a course on children's literature at the University of Kansas. I was 19, and my faint recollection was that I found it amusing but not enthralling. BTW, I also found Carol Kendall's The Gammage Cup in that class, which I found to be both.

Reading it again this time, I again found it clever and amusing. It reminded me of Roald Dahl's work in some ways. And I can see why comparisons have been made to The Pilgrim's Progress ( the naming conventions if nothing else). I think I appreciated it more this time. But I still didn't love it. I'm glad to hear that other people have children who did, and I think this may have been one of those books I would have had to encountered at age 10 or 11 to feel that way about it. I think the overtness of the plot gives it a didactic feel that prevents me from becoming immersed in the story. Instead, I am an observer being amused at the clever contrivances. But that's just me--I see that many people feel differently.

The school edition has a forward by Maurice Sendak, which is neat. And I had forgotten the illustrations were by Jules Feiffer. I really enjoy Feiffer. I used to have a delightful little book, The Man in the Ceiling, by him, but gave it to a student who had an interest in cartooning many years ago.

Good review of Phantom. I agree with you that the story isn't as compelling for adults--it was the word play that thrilled me. I am always a sucker for that. Although the story was a tad didactic, I think it is even truer today than when it was written that many children just aren't motivated to think and learn. I thought Sendak's introduction was one of the bet things about the book!

I've added The Gammage Cup to my wish list. I notice that it is the 2nd in a series. Do I need to read the first one before I get the 2nd?

Actually, The Gammage Cup is first. The Whisper of Glocken is the sequel. TGC was a Newbery Honor Book in 1960, so it falls into one of your favorite criteria too! The Firelings, which occurs earlier chronologically, was actually written 20 years later, and I see they are labeling it as Book 1 of the series at Amazon, but no, there is no need to read it first.

ETA and yes, Carolyn, I totally agree with you that the condition of Milo is even more common today than then! If I could believe those same kids would read this, see themselves, and change, I'd praise this book to the rafters and above.

I know what you mean about children's books not having quite the same impact if you read them as an adult. I read The Phantom Tolbooth when I was younger so I think I will always love it for that reason.

I'm reading A Wrinkle in Time at the moment which is good but I am actually feeling rather sad that I didn't read it when I was younger as I think if I had read it then it would have become one of my most loved books rather than 'just' being a good book.

The Gammage Cup is added to my wishlist too!

I have to agree, Heather. I did read A Wrinkle in Time at that critical time, and re-read it many times over with much love. But when I went back and read it two years ago for the first time in a number of years, the story was much thinner in parts than I ever realized before. I need to reread the entire series, because I suspect now that I would appreciate the later books more as simply being more complete story telling.

>137 souloftherose:: Actually, I think that there are three levels of enjoyment. Some I read as a kid and remember them extremely fondly. Some that were targeted at kids I read later and didn't enjoy as much as I might have earlier in my life. However, there's that third category, books I loved as a kid and still love, even with an adult re-reading.

It's not an automatic thing. For example (just to use two mentioned here), I don't really enjoy re-reads of The Phantom Tollbooth that much, even though I liked it when I first read it. On the other hand, I re-read The Gammage Cup last year and still love it immensely.

I think one of the things that make J. K. Rowling a billionaire is that, at least in her first book, she managed to bridge that divide and write a book that had very close to the same impact on many adults as it had on children.

>135 MusicMom41:: Carolyn, read The Gammage Cup first...my two cents.

I remember reading The Phantom Tollbooth in grade-school, and back then, I couldn't understand why children wouldn't want to think or learn. That was all I wanted to do! I may have to reread it now to compare.

Well, I got two more books from PaperBackSwap yesterday (see message 1 for list of both read books and adopted books), which brings me to 20 books read for the year and 15 books acquired for the year. This does not auger well for clearing my shelves.

Howdy Ronin!

I admire your ability to do re-reads. I'd like to do some of that this year, but I've got so much new stuff I haven't read! And the library keeps beckoning....

I've never read anything but the Hed series. Didn't know she wrote other stuff. Sigh. More things to add to the Wishlist.

I'm still thinking about reading Anubis, but I just picked up The Magicans by Lev Grossman from the library and then there's this Mercedes Lackey book that's yapping at me. Not to mention I need to finish Sunshine by Robin McKinley. I actually hate the book so I apologize if I'm mentioning something you adore.

Thanks to beserene and, I think, tapestry 100 for making Soulless THE in book for January on LT. And of course drneutron and Zoe and all the others who also read it. I picked it up a little after the hoopla (always a day late, even if not a dollar short) and started it last night for my "relax" book of the weekend.

Book # 21 Soulless by Gail Carriger

This was fun. Georgette Heyer meets Harlequin Romance via the paranormal route. Great writing? No. I would have cringed at some of the obvious romance tropes were I not convinced the author was deliberately using them as part of her campy humor. Highlighting the ridiculous is well-handled as part of the fun. Carriger cites Austen as one of her influences, but I see her work as much closer to Heyer's style in works such as The Grand Sophy or Sylvester. And then she throws in the supernaturals. Light, frothy, campy, and well-done in the genre, this stands out from the usual paranormal romances because of its humor.

It's already on my wish list--guess I'll have to make more of an effort to track it down now. Great review!

Hi, Carolyn. Have you been busy? I've missed you!

>143 ronincats:: And book #2, Changeless, is out in March... I don't know the exact date, but I know I'll be picking up a copy as soon as I see it! The author has mentioned it's going to be a bit more in the spirit of the old-style mysteries, so I'm very excited for it :D

I'm glad you liked Soulless. I've actually been thinking that I should try some Georgette Heyer; it seems like her name keeps coming up.

Unfortunately I don't think Changeless is coming out until the very end of March--I've been looking forward to it too!

I'll definitely check it out, Faith. I hope she can keep up the quality!

I've had "rocky" month health-wise in February so have only been on LT sporadically and mainly trying to keep up with my thread and doing some lurking on good days. I missed 2 weeks of teaching which will have to be made up at the end of May--bummer! On the upside--I have read A LOT of books (for me, anyway) this month--although mostly fun and comfort reads.

I'm glad today is a good day, and hope you will have many more following this! Looking forward to your reviews. I'm going on a reading marathon when I retire in June!!

(Would a reading marathon consist of 26 books? In what amount of time?)

Oops, you must have been posting while I was responding to Faith, Zoe. I almost missed your comment. If you enjoyed Soulless, as I know you did, you would probably enjoy the antics in the two Heyers I mentioned. I love almost all of her romances--her characters are just so well drawn. And that is something I enjoyed in Soulless as well.

(Would a reading marathon consist of 26 books? In what amount of time?)

I think a marathon is supposed to take something like four hours? ;)

I will definitely have to read those Heyers eventually. I'm still vaguely telling myself that I'm not a romance reader, partially because I have so many books to read already that I don't know how I could handle a whole new genre. But they just sound more and more tempting....

Well, really it will only add about 35 books to your list. I have to say that the mysteries and historicals simply don't grab me like the Georgian and Regency romances do, and the fact of the matter is that Heyer's books pretty much ruin you for all the multitudes of imitators that make up the Regency romance genre. Ah, to have 35 new Heyers stretching out in front of me over the next few years--heaven!

Well, I guess 35 books isn't too unreasonable (she says, having read only one single book for the Off the Shelf challenge this year!). But I'm really curious as to why my mother doesn't seem to have any Heyers in her massive romance collection; it looks like I'll have to find them myself.

Book #22 The Lost Fleet: Dauntless by Jack Campbell

This is pretty standard military space opera, a la Honor Harrington and Kylara Vatta, Kris Longknife and Huff's Confederation series. Heck, the tradition of large fleets battling in space started in Smith's Lensman series! But the main character is well-drawn, the premises although stock are reasonable. I like the way that having the main character being 100 years out of sync with the culture creates interesting conflicts. A quick entertaining read

#155: I have read the first two in the series and own the next three. I really need to complete the series. Thanks for the reminder, Roni!

>156 alcottacre:: I really need to complete the series...

You can't, yet. ;-D

New one, Victorious, due in a couple months, I believe. I'm not as enamored of these as I was at first. I'm going to have to think long and hard about whether I devote time to continuing it or spend it on other stuff. I'm thinking the latter.

#157: Well, I at least need to complete the three unread ones that I already have, lol. I guess I can decide about Victorious after I do that.

May I say that you would have my undying respect if you read 36 books in 4 hours ;)

#155 Sounds interesting, Roni, I'll look out for that one.

@143: Soulless sounds like fun. I wouldn't mind some camp. I've dabbled with a second Amanda Quick romance, and I don't know whether I want to try a third. I've shied away from paranormal romance because just the sound of it seems so silly, though I don't mind fantasy with romantic elements. Maybe I'm just too hung up on labels?

I would say that most of paranormal romance is not very good. Unless you like regular romance, perhaps. A lot of it is not very original or well done, and in series there is a tendency to start in an interesting manner and then to devolve. However, this one is funny--it mocks itself to some extent.

I haven't tried any paranormal romance yet, so this has been an interesting discussion. Did a quick search on Amanda Quick and she seems to have quite a number of books. Any suggestions for one to start with?

Just waving... looking forward to hearing your thoughts on The Anubis Gates when the group read concludes and the embargo is dropped!

I agree that Soulless did a great job of not taking itself too seriously, very nice balance of tongue-in-cheek and actual plot. As to paranormal romance, there is a ton of junk in the field--@ justchris, if you're willing to give it a go I'd highly recommend Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. It's werewolf-y, and the first in a series which isn't always stellar--but Bitten is excellent as a stand-alone too. Also, anything by Patricia Briggs. She's the queen of well-written paranormal, as far as I'm concerned!

@163: I am not the person to ask for recommendations for Amanda Quick novels. I am in the Heyer camp and find most modern Regency romances to be inane at best and very often not particularly true to the period in terms of characterizations. Cauterize would be a better person to ask, since she is fond of Quick's novels.

@165: I am very fond of the books by Patricia Briggs. I've had friends recommend Kelley Armstrong rather strongly. I must admit the covers (both front and back) made the Women of the Underworld series look really stupid, but maybe I'll try Bitten. I am fond of werewolves, though I've never gotten into the whole vampire craze.

I am sure I am going to be sorry about this, but I went to Borders with a 25% off coupon and ended up with a book called Jane Bites Back. Cover blurb: " It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is still alive today...as a vampire." It sounds like chicklit, is written by a man (????), and will possibly be terrible, but what can I say--it's Jane!

Summary for February:

Just like January, 11 books read.
2716 pages

5 are children's fantasy
4 are fantasy
2 are science fiction

6 are off my shelves first reads.
4 were rereads, although none had been read in the last 10 years.

In January, 7 books came into my house and I read four of them.
In February, 9 books have come into my house, and I have read one of them. 5 fantasy, 2 SF, 2 mystery. 5 from our independent bookstore Mysterious Galaxy, 1 from BookMooch, 2 from PaperBackSwap, one from Borders with a 25% off coupon.

I traded away 4 books on PaperBackSwap this month, also 4 books last month, 3 on BookMooch and 1 via PBS.

All specifics except the last are in the first message in this thread.

Nice summary, Roni! I'm off to do mine.

I noticed you bought the new Connie Willis book. I want to get than one--it looks like it will be another "winner" like Doomsday Book and to Say Nothing of the Dog--both on my all-time favorites list.

Yes, but I'm going to wait to read it until October when the second book comes out so I can read the whole story at once. I'm looking forward to it as well.

Oh, shoot! That means I will have to buy 2 books! October is my birthday month--maybe I can hint I want that for my birthday present. :-)

@169: What's the new Connie Willis book? While I greatly enjoyed To Say Nothing of the Dog and thought Doomsday Book was fine (both read as part of my Hugo quest), I think Bellwether is my favorite.

ETF touchstone

It sounds like chicklit, is written by a man (????), and will possibly be terrible

Thank you for the laugh! :D

Chris, Bellwether is possibly my favorite as well, although to Say Nothing of the Dog is neck and neck with it. The new one, Blackout is the first of two in the story arc and in the same setting as her story Fire Watch, our time travellers in London during WW2. The second book is due out in October.

You're welcome, Zoe. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but the LT rating average is 4 stars, so I'm hopeful.

I'm waiting on the edge of my seat to hear about Jane Bites Back! Whether it's great or terrible, I have no doubt it'll give you some interesting material to review... haha...

I started it last night, Faith--just a little ways in before bedtime, so will have your review in a day or two.

I'd seen Jane Bites Back at the store and was curious, but so far have restrained myself from buying it (yet). I can't wait for your thoughts about it :)

New Connie Willis book? Eek, that's a must buy and I have no money. Rubbish. Perhaps I'll have to wait for the second book as well. Although I'm even less likely to have any money then. *sigh*

Book #23 Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford

I am not a reader of chicklit. I have been lured into it upon occasion, often by an association with Austen. I really enjoyed Shannon Hale's Austenland, for example. It was cute and funny.

Jane Bites Back is chicklit. The premise is that Jane made a liaison near the end of her recorded life, which resulted in her being "turned" into a vampire. We pick up the story a hundred ninety some years later, where Jane is going by the name of Jane Fairfax, the owner of a bookstore in a small town in upstate New York. She has been trying to get the same novel published for the last 100 and some years, and has just received her 116th rejection.

There are some funny scenes, some real sleepers--but for me, it it is too cutesy. Jane hasn't developed at all as a person in 190 years. For the astute observer she was in her first 35 years, how can she be so one-dimensional? This is a modern chicklit heroine shoehorned into Jane's body.

Someone more into the genre will enjoy the interviews and romance convention more than I, and asides such as:
"She was trying, and failing, to make her way through Barbara Pym's The Sweet Dove Died. 'She isn't a bit like me,' Jane thought as she finished a page. 'I can't imagine why anyone thinks we're similar. She's all tea and garden parties and ladies' hats'."

This book had potential, a number of small vignettes that are fun, but it was too fragmented, too inchoate, and Jane was too not-Jane. Just so-so IMHO.

#179: Skipping that one!

Aw, that's too bad! I hate it when a good idea goes bad in novel form... sigh... guess I'll skip that one too.

@180: I'm conflicted at best by modern authors who latch onto favorite historical or fictional figures (excluding well done historical fiction, which has to revolve around real people to various degrees) and do interesting things to them, particularly if they use them to create their own series. Your review tends to reinforce my prejudice. I've been afraid to explore fanfic for just such reasons. And Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? Shudder (though it may have potential as a one-off spoof). Or that mystery series that takes the Darcies and their newly imagined offspring as protagonists...I'm blanking on titles and authors.

I do like Stephanie Barron's mystery series featuring Jane Austen as the protagonist: Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor, Jane and the Man of the Cloth, Jane and the Wandering Eye, and so on--I think there are six now. Barron works hard to fit her episodes within the framework of what we know of Jane's life and to be true both to her depiction of the era and of Jane's character. Austenland succeeded, I think, because it was dealing not with Jane or any of her characters directly, but with a protagonist who was hung up on Colin Firth as Darcy in the A&E production of P&P. And probably succeeded with me because I love that production and Firth equally! I have not picked up any of the so-called sequels or Mr. Darcy take-offs, simply because I hate to have my favorite characters "polluted" by other's extrapolations of their lives. That said, I do intend to try Pride and Prejudice and Zombies simply to see how they insert the new material into the text of P&P. Not sure I'll follow up with any of those sequels either, though.

#182 - I agree. The very fact that these titles are sometimes tempting reveals why I prefer to avoid them. People are taking the best of out of copyright characters and using them to advance their own fiction. Fiction which would presumably remain rightly unread if they did not contain a better writer's characters.

I know it is not the case that the best books are the ones that rise to prominence - but I still feel that using someone else's success to kick start your own story is akin to cheating.

Yes the spoof value may be worthwhile. I think Bored of the Rings had mileage. The movie "Hook" was a case of a fun story which nevertheless did violence to the original concept of "The boy who never grew up". So following Roni's review I will continue to avoid these kinds of books unless and until something so exceptional comes along that I am forced to reconsider.

I tend not even to find the titles tempting, to be honest. I want to see people attempt their own characters, not rewrite someone elses, and I especially dislike to see real people "mucked with". It sets off my But-that's-Wrong-o-Meter.
But I understand that other people think it's cool, and so I usually just quietly go away when such things are being discussed instead of revealing my own grumpy take. And I have to confess to having read the Peter and the Starcatchers series, which is a "prequel" to Peter Pan, and actually liking them better than the original, because, well, it's a "harder" fantasy, and I prefer harder fantasies.

I think I'm a weirdo for disliking Peter Pan...makes me itch, and always has. As a kid, I hated all things Disney, so perhaps that's where it started.

I am no big fan of Austen's, but seems to me that her characters are seen as too good to waste by her followers. I don't get why that's a bad thing...?

I never yet came across a Jane Austen spinoff/fan fic/whatever that captured the characters or the period or the tone of the originals particularly well. I gave up on those long before the current crop - but somehow I don't think the current proliferation is likely to have given rise to lots of good stuff.

#186 Richard, I think you're right about the characters being seen as too good to waste. Personally, I think they're too good to be mucked about with by people who don't understand them and their milieu like Austen did.

>187 Eat_Read_Knit: Hmmm...I guess that, since I don't much mind, I'd be best off not worrying about the whole thing. And Caty... I don't think the current proliferation is likely to have given rise to lots of good stuff is true always and of most everything, I think...look at the paranormal explosion! Much of that is dross, with the very occasional gem.

The more of something there is, the less good it becomes. Look at Toyota!

#188 look at the paranormal explosion

I try not to.

(Pretty much for that reason.)

ETA - And, yes, I agree that statement applies to many, many things.

I agree with CatyM - I haven't yet found a spinoff that captured the characters well enough for me to like them.

richard : What's not to like about Disney movies? I can only think of a handful (not even) of Disney movies I don't like (present tense used because I still watch them when they come on tv)

Hmmm, just got a notice that I'm going to get an ER copy of a book called Heartless. Do we have a theme going yet? Soulless, Heartless, what's next? This looks like it could be a good fairytale spinoff, or really bad. I can't wait for it to get here to find out.

Sorry,Tad. I think all my Jessica DayGeorge and Shannon Hale and Patricia Wrede listings finally pulled in this one for me.

#191 Brainless?

>190 cameling: What's NOT to like? What's TO like? The Love Bug...deathless cinema, no? And The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes! Ages far hence shall warble its praises!

Or the cartoons...the sentimental smarm of Bambi and The Little Mermaid, the culturally tone-deaf Mulan or Pocahontas or The Jungle Book. Now that's entertainment!

Hey, how about Mickey Rat and Donald Sucks and Goofy (a dog that talks) and Pluto (a dog that doesn't)...all speaking in incomprehensible gibble-gabble, except Pluto, for no apparent reason.

Ghastly.

>192 Eat_Read_Knit: Nice try, Caty, but one has to draw the line somewhere. I refuse to read anything by that woman. ;-)

#185: I have not picked up any of the so-called sequels or Mr. Darcy take-offs, simply because I hate to have my favorite characters "polluted" by other's extrapolations of their lives.

I tried exactly one of those books (and the title escapes me at the moment), got 25 pages or so in and threw the book at the wall. Nope, no more of them for me.

#187: I never yet came across a Jane Austen spinoff/fan fic/whatever that captured the characters or the period or the tone of the originals particularly well.

That is the problem I have with them as well.

"Soulless, Heartless, what's next?"

I am holding out for "Pancreasless" - the story of a diabetic denizen of darkness, doomed to live an eternity on lower sugar diets. Maybe I should write it myself - I could be the next Dan Brown with that concept.

*sigh* You just can't help some people. *shakes head*

How about Legless? (I love the fact that that touchstone defaults to Reach for the Sky.)

Noseless?

*shakes head again*

Sirfurboy, you may have to get writing.

Perhaps Jeff Lindsay of Dexter fame should be writing some of those...

>191 ronincats: Gormless...it's set in England.

I'm with Richard regarding Disney. They take classic stories and bowdlerize them so that millions of kids think that the Disney Jungle Book, for example, is what Kipling's Jungle Book is all about--and it ISN'T! And they change key things that made them classics in the first place. Disney didn't do this particular one, the art team that split away from them did it, but they changed the story of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH so that it became a fantasy with magic instead of a science fiction story about what it meant to be sentient, and the implications thereof. Even though I love some of their original work like Monsters, Inc. and Toy Story, I will never forgive them for that.

@200: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was one of my favorite childhood finds. I too was disappointed by the animation. Sigh. But I still tend to prefer animated movies to most of the live actor stuff out there.

Hi Roni! I have about 50 posts to catch up on in your thread (!!!), but I wanted to dash over here to say that I had fun tonight racing you to the top of the coverguess hourly list! (You probably didn't even notice me, but I had fun with it, anyway!)

YOu are right, I was only looking at the numbers and didn't even think to check the names! It was my first time trying it. I got up to second place, I think, for those playing at that time. Were you number one? I had to stop when they kept giving me covers that I was the first to label--can't make much progress that way! Next time I'll remember to look at who's playing and see if any other 75ers are on. Thanks for the call-out!

I was number one when I stopped, I think. It was kind of fun, but I was definitely experiencing cover fatigue by the time I stopped (and, yes, I think they start giving you more uncommon covers the longer you play...). Makes it more interesting if you recognize the other players, though!

Book # 24 Galactic Patrol by E. E. (Doc) Smith

Finished my reread of this for the group discussion starting tomorrow, so I'll save specific comments for the spoiler thread!

Chris, I love the animateds too, but rarely get to go see them in the theater because they are automatically "kid stuff" in my husband's eyes. I just watched a reprise of the nominations for animated in the Oscar previews--I have GOT to see some of those.

Book # 25 The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander

Also a re-read in preparation for the group read discussion this coming Wednesday. With my favorite books yet to come, I may not be able to wait before indulging in preparation for the next two months!

Book # 26 Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

A year or two ago, this book was getting some discussion on LT and I mooched it. It's been sitting around for over a year, so it meets my Off the Shelf criteria.

This is a book with which I was slightly out off sync all the way through. I didn't like the gods, although I'm not sure you were supposed to, and it took a while for me to warm up to Neil and Alice's story. I did enjoy episodes, and the ending chapters were certainly the best, but felt in a way the book was trying to be too clever and the story never caught me out of myself. So for me, a light read and just so-so.

#207: I have that one on my shelf waiting for me to read. Perhaps I will just let it sit a while longer. Or maybe I will just read it and get it over with. Who knows?

In re to the Austen sequels/spinoffs, I've read a few and not really enjoyed them. I do, however, love one, and exactly one, with a passion: Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken, who is an author on par with Austen in my own personal pantheon.

#207

I just wanted to say that your short review completely summed up what I felt about Gods Behaving Badly. It tried far too hard to be funny and witty, and fell massively short. I wish I hadn't bothered, and I couldn't see what everyone else loved about it. Yawn.

Your review of Gods Behaving Badly also echoes my thoughts. It was an alright book, but failed to be as clever as I had hoped.

Chiming in on Disney. Yesterday I went to the movies and saw Alice in Wonderland...I loved the creativity!

@207: I'm like you and these others and was very so-so on Gods Behaving Badly. I thought it didn't quite commit to the premise and was trying a bit too hard.

My son has seen the previews for Alice In Wonderland and was turned off by them. He said it did not look like anything he wanted to watch and seemed kind of violent and cruel to him. He is 11. (I want to see it secretly).

Saw it this weekend with much anticipation, especially the wife who is enamored of Mr. Depp. Both pretty disappointed. There were some good things, but it just seemed off the down beat in some way, just off. Also, though I like Depp, they had to work much too hard to get the Hatter in more scenes to capitalize on his popularity.

I saw Alice in Wonderland on Friday and I loved it, but I am not that familar with the story so I wasn't bothered by any changes they made to it. I too loved the creativity!

I've heard this version is more like an extension of the original story than a retelling of it. Someone wrote in their review that it was like the completion of a trilogy based on the two books. From what I've seen of the trailers, that definitely would make sense.

FWIW, the original books had some definitely violent and cruel components in them. Ameliorated to some extent by the Red King pardoning everyone behind the Red Queen's back. But the Duchess' song to the baby while it was turning into a pig...

I would probably exempt Tim Burton from any charge of bowdlerization by Disney, Linda, given his rampant originality.

Jenny, Jenny, and Steph, thanks for the feedback on Gods Behaving Badly. Nice to know there are kindred spirits out there in LT land!

Marcia, I will check out Jane Fairfax, and you check out the Stephanie Barron series, at least the first book. I agree with you, Aiken is definitely a quality author.

Hmm... just yesterday someone else on here reviewed Gods Behaving Badly and really liked it, I think... and now you're so-so about it... oh, darn it all, I'll just have to pull it off my shelf and decide on my own!

#218: That was my reaction when Deborah (arubabookworm) liked it and Roni did not!

I have read the first few of the Stephanie Barron series and enjoyed them. I'll have to pick up with the series again at some point!

#220 I just picked up Jane and His Lordship's Legacy; I really liked the first one.

#26 Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

I mooched this book some time back after discussion on LT, so it qualifies as an Off The Shelf challenge book.

Let's see. How do I say this? I admired this book more than I enjoyed it. It was a quick read. I must admit, I never once thought of Emma while I was reading it for, I am convinced, Emma's machinations were the merest taradiddles compared to Flora's wholesale machinations. I was most appreciative of the satirical nature of the writing, even when the turgid imitation of contemporary "literature" knocked me completely out of the story. But I didn't really care about any of the characters. So, amusing, clever, entertaining. But I didn't love it. Put me in the camp with wisewoman and TheTortoise on this one.

#222: Ah well, at least one more off your shelf, Roni. I hope your next read is more to your liking :)

Stasia
I seem to remember that Cold Comfort Farm is one of your favorite books. Am I right?

Roni, I tried to read this one, but couldn't get into it. I vow to try again through.

Speaking of TheTortoise...anyone heard from him. I connected with him last month. I miss him!

#224: While I liked Cold Comfort Farm a lot, I would probably not say it is a favorite. Actually, the more I think about it, this may be the rare case where I prefer the film version to the book.

I sent TT a message the other day, but have not heard back from him. I miss him too.

>224 Whisper1:: Did he mention why he was no longer posting here?

>223 alcottacre: It wasn't a bad read, Stasia. I enjoyed it--I just didn't love it, and that's okay. I'd considerate myself fortunate if I never read any books I liked less! Did that come out right? Oh, you know what I mean, anyway.

Book # 27 The Accidental Sorcerer by K. E. Mills

This is an entertaining fantasy adventure. It starts off light and bumbling, develops some likable individuals, and then plummets into darkness and tragedy. Luckily the connection made with the characters carried me through this part, and on to the end. Not the greatest of literature, nonetheless I read it in a day and I will read the second book when it comes out.

#227: Yes, I know what you mean.

#228: That one looks fun. I will see if I can track down a copy. Thanks for the recommendation, Roni.

We talk about 'clettering' the dishes in our house, after reading CC Farm -- I agree that the movie and the book are both very very fun and funny. Occasional references too, to Something Nasty in the......say.... litterbox?

224
Tad, TT is busy writing books. I believe he said he has three in the works.

It was great to hear from him.

I'm sorry you didn't like Cold Comfort Farm more! I think part of the reason I enjoyed it so was that it was assigned for school, and it was so not the typical assigned read. Did you find it amusing at least? Gibbons' humor is quite distinctive, and whether you like that or not is probably the determining factor. Of course, there are some books where I've enjoyed the prattle but ultimately come away feeling empty. The Importance of Being Earnest was like that for me....

Happy reading!

>232 ncgraham: Oh, yes, I found it amusing, and admired its cleverness greatly. What I was saying is that I tended to enjoy it from outside the story rather than inside the characters. I think that for its time, it was undoubtedly a great satire on literature of the times and dealt with issues often not directly addressed, and think it well deserves being considered a classic for those reasons.

I read Cold Comfort Farm after seeing the movie, which is hilarious. I loved the book, too, but for once not quite as much as the movie, which is one of my all time favorites. I'd recommend it to you, Roni, especially since you found the book to be amusing satire but didn't love it.

I remember I loved the movie, Cold Comfort Farm, so much that I went directly from the movie theater to Barnes and Noble to buy it. I was really disappointed. As I recall, the book had a condescending/disparaging tone that really irked me (a hot button for me).

Now I have to go to the library to see if I can obtain a dvd of Cold Comfort Farm. I'm fortunate because between two local libraries, I'm usually able to find the movie I want.

Wow, I'm surprised that two of you liked the movie so much but disliked the book! It must be the writing, because I actually thought the film was incredibly close to the book. There were things I missed in it, but there were also a few places where I thought the movie improved on the book (there are some great lines that are original to the film: "Seth, drain the well; there's a neighbor missin'" and "I'd take her too, but she's gloomy" are two of my favorites). Whisper1, ronincats, I do suggest you give the film a try too.

#228

I'm surprised to see you found this book as bearable as you did. I found it pretty substandard, all things considered! I'm glad you didn't find it a complete waste of your time though :)

Enjoying the Cold Comfort Farm discussion here.

Not much reading from tonight through Sunday--reports to write for work and too much March Madness!!!! Go, Jayhawks!!

Linda -- thx for the update on TT. Richard and I were discussing him (the other month?) and it's nice to know he's still kicking!

Roni, whew! gf you read some good stuff and generate great discussions :)

ETA Cold Comfort Farm is actually on my shelves and I keep thinking of taking it down... but then I grab sf, fantasy or regencies LOL

Hey, Susan, luv ya! Thanks for stopping in. My prayers are still with you, constantly.

hmmm... I'm confused. I just left you, Roni, a note and thought I was on your thread. Oops. Thx dear. We need them. Last night was espec hard and it doesn't look like today will be much easier. xox

Book #28 Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Book #29 When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Supposed to be writing a report right now, so will come back later and write my reviews, but wanted to get them down. (I do not do delayed gratification well, alas.)

Back for reviews. First for When You Reach Me, the Newbery Award winner this year. I really enjoyed this. Miranda's voice is strong and distinct. The family and peer relationships are well-developed. I liked the plot development a great deal; it reminded me of Skellig by David Almond.

Heartless: I have mixed feelings. This is supposed to be the first of a series, but reads as a complete story. I was carried along in the story action, which moves along well. But there are some major problems. The character of Una is central, but her character is surprisingly undeveloped and passive, her judgment poor. We never know why Aethelbald enters the scene in love with this unknown princess and why he perseveres. When Felix is in the land of Faery, the author is spared the trouble of inventing it by making all the creatures invisible to mortal eyes. Fidel and Felix make emotional decisions that are completely counterproductive to the good of their country. That said, there are some very good evokings of despair and loss, of mood, in the book. But the emotion of love, which is supposed to be the bedrock of the story, is shown as very idealized and surface.

LOL you crack me up :)

let's see...

WOOT WOOT Books 28 & 29!!! Way to go!!!

;->

Book # 30 Superior Saturday by Garth Nix

I decided I didn't want to take the time right now to re-read the entire series, so went ahead and read this book today, and plan to read the last book starting at bedtime tonight!

Arthur has succeeded in gathering 5 of the 7 keys of the kingdom, and now has to figure out how to get into the Upper House into the domain of Superior Saturday to find the 6th key. In addition, he has to block a nuclear strike on his city back on earth to combat plagues released by the activities of Denizens and Nithlings from the House. As I was warned, it ends on a cliffhanger, and I will dive directly into Lord Sunday for the climax tonight!

A very original children's fantasy series, stepping well outside the usual fantasy tropes--recommended.

I am glad you liked When You Reach Me, Roni. I loved it - but then, I am a died-in-the-wool Wrinkle in Time fan.

I picked up the first book in the Nix series at the library the other day, so I will be reading it in the upcoming weeks.

When You Reach Me was a good book. I read it before it received the Newbery Medal and since I'm on a quest to read all the Newbery books, it served two purposes, ie reading a great book and working toward yet one more Newbery winner.

> 244 I'm preparing to read When You Reach Me as I now have it out of the library. It's good to have another positive review going in. I'm sure I'm going to enjoy it.

When You Reach Me is already on the wishlist and Garth Nix is an author I have been meaning to try but someone mentioned a group read of the Sabriel trilogy over the summer so I am waiting patiently (and it's not like I don't have enough books to read!)

Glad you enjoyed them!

You're certainly not giving me a lot to look forward to with Heartless! Haha. Hmm, the touchstone doesn't seem to be working... anyway, my copy is sitting next to the keyboard here, and I had mixed feelings about reading it to begin with. But, it's an ER book so I'll get to it soon. Looking forward to the action you mention, but not the rest... o_O

Check out wisewoman's review too. She has it posted on the book site, and also commented on her thread in the Club Read group. Just put the book name in the Search Talk box above, and it should come up.

About time for another thread, Roni?

Oops, yes, I meant to at 250 and then it slipped past! I'll do it when I get home from work this evening. Thanks, Stasia.

Hope you enjoy Lord Sunday!
I also very much enjoyed When you Reach Me!
I think I'll skip Heartless

Time to move to a new thread! Let's see if I can make this work.

Roni's Thread 2