BeSerene's Reads for 2010

In 2009, I had a goal of 75 books and I read 86 books, exceeding my goal for the first time. So, in logical fashion, I'm going to increase my goal, despite the fact that I may shoot myself in the foot. So, my goal for 2010 is 100 books (since that's a multiple of 10). I'd also like to expand my categories of reading, since most of the books I read are sci-fi/fantasy. To that end, I intend to read in at least ten different genre categories this year (I'm not giving myself a number for each category -- though I'd like to achieve some balance -- because I hate it when leisure challenges end up feeling like homework). I welcome recommendations, though, especially for those categories -- like biography -- with which I have minimal experience.

2010 Categories:

1) Fantasy (since I'm going to do it anyway, it totally counts)
-- #2: Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
-- #3: House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones (YA)
-- #5: The Sea King's Daughter by Aaron Shepard (picturebook)
-- #18: The Underneath by Kathi Appelt (children's)
-- #27: Keeper by Kathi Appelt (children's)
-- #28: White Cat by Holly Black (YA)
-- #33: The Magicians by Lev Grossman
-- #34: Instead of Three Wishes by Megan Whalen Turner (children's)
-- #35: Beastly by Alex Flinn (YA)
-- #36: Glimmerglass by Jenna Black (YA)
-- #38: Moonheart by Charles DeLint
-- #46: Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
-- #47: Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (YA)
-- #50: The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo (children's)
-- #57: Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede (YA)
-- #58: Searching for Dragons by Patricia Wrede (YA)
-- #59: Calling on Dragons by Patricia Wrede (YA)
-- #60: Talking to Dragons by Patricia Wrede (YA)
-- #62: His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
-- #64: The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit (children's)
-- #65: Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
-- #66: Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
-- #67: Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik
-- #68: Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik
-- #69: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik
-- #71: Red Hood's Revenge by Jim Hines
-- #72: The Mislaid Magician by P. Wrede and C. Stevermer (YA)
-- #73: The Ugly Princess and the Wise Fool by Margaret Gray (children's)
-- #75: Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers (YA)
-- #78: Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
-- #82: Troll's-Eye View edited by Ellen Datlow (YA; short stories)
-- #88: Book of Enchantments by Patricia Wrede (YA; short stories)
2) Science Fiction
-- #4: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
-- #8: The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
-- #10: In the Garden of Iden by Kage Baker
-- #12: Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
-- #79: The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
-- #83: Hero by Mike Lupica (YA)
-- #86: D.A. by Connie Willis
3) Steampunk
-- #1: Soulless by Gail Carriger (Jan. TIOLI)
-- #16: The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt
-- #22: The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
-- #31: Changeless by Gail Carriger
-- #37: Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
-- #85: Blameless by Gail Carriger
4) Historical Fiction
-- #23: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA)
-- #24: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees
-- #26: Romancing Miss Bronte by Juliet Gael
-- #29: Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi (YA)
-- #40: Montmorency by Eleanor Updale (YA)
-- #41: Montmorency's Revenge by Eleanor Updale (YA)
-- #81: The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson (children's)
5) Mystery
-- #42: The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom
-- #55: A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
-- #70: The September Society by Charles Finch
-- #77: In the Woods by Tana French
-- #84: The Danger Box by Blue Balliett (children's)
6) Literary Fiction
-- #17: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
-- #39: Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo
-- #44: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA)
-- #45: Century:1910 by Alan Moore (graphic novel)
-- #63: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
-- #76: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
-- #80: Mr. Timothy by Louis Bayard
-- #87: Room by Emma Donoghue
7) Essay
-- #25: This I Believe
-- #30: This I Believe II
8) Biography/Memoir
-- #6: Rosa by Nikki Giovanni (picturebook)
-- #13: A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
-- #32: Lucky by Alice Sebold
-- #43: Dewey by Vicki Myron
-- #54: What Would Barbra Do? by Emma Brockes
9) Non-fiction (History in particular)
-- #11: The Wand in the Word by Leonard Marcus
-- #51: Proust's Overcoat by Lorenza Foschini
-- #53: The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
10) Wild Card (things that defy genre and/or are outside my usual reading purview)
-- #7: Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (chapter book)
-- #9: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham (graphic novel)
-- #14: The Library Card by Jerry Spinelli (children's fiction)
-- #15: We the Children by Andrew Clements (chapter book)
-- #19: Pride of Baghdad by Brian Vaughn (graphic novel)
-- #48: Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix (YA fairy tale)
-- #49: Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix (YA fairy tale)
-- #52: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (children's fiction/poetry)
-- #56: The Stuff of Legend by Mike Raicht (graphic novel)
-- #61: The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (children's picture book)
-- #74: Batman: R.I.P. by Grant Morrison (graphic novel)

Ideas (noting recommendations as well as books I have and plan to read -- TBRs -- in these categories)
1) Fantasy
2) Science Fiction
-- Starship Titanic
3) Steampunk
-- Leviathan
4) Historical Fiction
-- Wolf Hall
-- St. Germain novels by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
5) Mystery
6) Literary Fiction
-- The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (TBR)
-- Vernon God Little (TBR)
-- Her Fearful Symmetry (TBR)
7) Essay
-- Maps and Legends
-- A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again
-- They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?
8) Biography/Memoir
-- Stitches (TBR)
-- Borstal Boy (TBR)
-- A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (TBR)
-- Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman
-- The Sum of Our Days
-- The Glass Castle (TBR)
-- Boy: Tales of Childhood
9) History (non-fiction)
-- Devil in the White City (TBR)
-- Thunderstruck (TBR)
-- NurtureShock (non-fiction)
-- Finding Darwin's God (TBR) (non-fiction)
10) Wild Card
-- Fool or any Christopher Moore book (not sure where these fit)

Postscript: I am also doing some of the monthly Take It or Leave It (TIOLI) challenges this year, so those will be noted here as well.

Soooo good to see you back here!

Happy New Year!

I have my first suggestion for biography/memoir already -- my friend Erica, reading over my shoulder, just recommended Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman. Has anybody read it? I think I'll put it on my list.

Wow, you are quick, Whisper! Glad to be back and a happy new year to you!

First book of 2010, by the way, is already read. :)

#1: Soulless by Gail Carriger
Genre: Steampunk (and paranormal romance, if anyone is interested)
January TIOLI Challenge: Read an author's debut book (check)

This was the most delicious, amusing morsel of a book -- funnier than any steampunk I've read and smarter than most of the paranormal romance I've encountered -- and it put me in a fine mood for an entire day. The novel is set in the Victorian era, but an alternate Victorian age in which vampires and werewolves are an accepted, if not totally approved, part of society. The heroine is a spinster (SPOILER: at least she starts out a spinster -- it is a romance after all) who likes both libraries and food, which instantly endeared her to me. The man with whom she engages in verbal sparring matches is a big hairy werewolf in a top hat, which, frankly, also appealed to me (who doesn't like a sexy werewolf in a top hat?).

Those who have found the heroines of other books in the genre(s) too slick, oversexed and undereducated, will appreciate the cleverness of the heroine and the writing here. Be aware, given the genre, that there are a couple of steamy (and not in the steampunk sense) scenes here, though only one actual sex scene. That will be a bonus for some and a detraction for others, of course. If, however, you need more convincing to give this book a chance, let me give you a hint: the heroine kills a vampire with her parasol. Yeah, her parasol. If that doesn't rock, I don't know what does. :)

Interesting categories! Good to have you back.

Thanks, ronin! Great to see you again!

I am really looking forward to your steampunk recommendations!

Soulless i son my list for this year too. I'm glad you liked it - maybe I'll bump it up in the ol' priority list.

Well now, Soulless sounds interesting... at the very least, I'll be looking forward to your steampunk recs... and what the heck, some of those other categories too! Starred!

>3 beserene:: I've read Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!. If you have a bend toward science it's very enjoyable.

I had to Google steampunk. That's a new one on me! What about young adult as your 10th category? Might be an easy way to sneak in extra sci-fi/fantasy novels.

Some of my favorite memoirs: The Sum of Our Days, She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders, A Girl Named Zippy, The Glass Castle, and Little Heathens.

Debbie

These sound like great books! I haven't read any of them. Is there one you recommend over the others?

>12 _debbie_:: Debbie (dfreeman, may I call you Debbie?), thanks for the list. The Glass Castle is one I've been wanting to read, but the rest are new to me. And I appreciate the suggestion of YA as the 10th category -- I did think about that, but since the division between adult and YA is so nebulous these days, I think I'm going to allow myself to mix adult and YA in any category. For example, my sister got me Stitches for Christmas, and I've seen that listed as YA and as general memoir, but it's definitely going in my memoir list.

>10 dk_phoenix:: Thanks for starring me! :)

>8 alcottacre:: My dear alcottacre (may I call you Stasia -- is that right?), it is marvelous to see you again, but where is your thread? Have you gone into multiples already? :) Perhaps I keep missing you -- I will look at the list again.

By the way, I'm thinking of just leaving the tenth category as a Wild Card slot, designated for books that others recommend that I wouldn't normally pick out for myself (things that don't necessarily fit into the particular genres I've focused on). Is that cheating?

Postscript: Am currently reading and FASCINATED by Jo Walton's Tooth and Claw, which is one of the most original, unique fantasy novels I've read in a long time. I'm sure I'll have more to say about it soon. :)

bragan just reviewed another book about Feynman--a collection of his letters--and there was some discussion of Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman as well as some of his other books. Consensus was that these were very enjoyable books. I've never read any of them, but based on the discussion on bragan's thread, I've added them to my list.

You might try The Lost City of Z by David Grann for a history non-fiction book. I have heard a lot of good things about it and it comes out in paperback in Jan. I think. I am planning on reading it at some point myself.

aruba, I'm delighted to hear it -- that actually makes me feel better, because I think my friend recommended the memoir because she thought the science would make me feel a bit stupid. She thinks I'm a book snob (which, honestly, sometimes I am) and I think some of her recommendations are trying to prove that point. :)

>17 jmaloney17:: J, that's funny you should mention Grann's book -- I actually read some kind of crappy reviews about that one, and was not planning on reading it myself, but perhaps it's worth another look. If you do get to it, I'd love to hear your thoughts! :)

I read The Lost City of Z last year - I thought it was pretty good. The last couple of chapters dragged a bit, but otherwise, I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Despite the fact that I've never particularly been into steampunk or romance, you make Soulless sound like such a good book that I have to read it!

I definitely don't think it's cheating to include a Wild Card category in your 101010.

I just looked through some "Best of 2009" lists from friends and other LTers, so I added some more ideas to my initial post. I'm trying to keep track of the things I definitely want to read this year (or at least definitely want to try to read... does that make sense?).

Hi darling! I found your thread!

You are SO right about Soulless!! I am LOVING it!!!!!!

I hate to say I told you so... wait a minute, no I don't. I DID tell you so! :) I'm glad you got to it -- so much fun!

>13 Whisper1: Zippy, Glass Castle, and Little Heathens are all fairly similar in a big picture sort of way. Main character grows up in a time or place that's way different from traditional and has positively incorporated it into who they are today. I liked Zippy slightly better than Glass Castle, but it may have been that I read it first. Little Heathens was more about growing up on a farm during the depression era as opposed to odd parenting, but it felt similar. The Sum of Our Days really gave me great insight into Isabel Allende, who I wasn't familiar with. After reading this book, I wished I was her friend (and I'm not the type that normally walks away from a book feeling that way). She's Not There was probably my favorite, but I also read it the longest ago so maybe my perspective is off. It gave me a newfound appreciation for the struggle transgendered men and women go through, and it has great insight into the psychology of their transitions on multiple levels (work, family, friends, etc.).

>14 beserene: Yes, please call me Debbie. After I started using the message boards a little, I realized my user name isn't the best for posting, but I suppose I'm stuck with it. ;o) I totally get what you're saying about the young adult thing and keeping a free category. I tried the 999 challenge last year, but quickly abandoned it because I don't do well under restrictions (even self-imposed ones!).

#14: My thread is over here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/78996 if you have not already located it yet.

And yes, you may call me Stasia. Everyone does. It is, after all, my name :)

Thanks for helping me find you, Stasia. :)

beserene

I call Stasia the Goddess of the 75 book challenge.

Quite apt. :)

Hey, just a general note: I decided to do some of the Take It or Leave It challenges. It helps that the book I already read fit the first one...

January: Read an author's debut book.
Completed: Soulless by Gail Carriger

I love stuff that makes me feel good about what I've already done. So satisfying. :)

#28: Stasia is not the Goddess of anything these days!

#30 But you are the official greeter for the 75 book challenge threads. I love that you take the time to say welcome to everyone.

#31: Thanks, Jasmyn!

Jasmyn's right -- that is very cool. And it's also okay for Goddesses to slow down a touch. :)

I agree...Stasia, if you need to slow down that's quite ok...your crown will still sparkle brightly.

Oh, sheesh -- I'm supposed to be posting books!

#2: Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
Genre: Fantasy
Wonderful, brilliant stuff -- this novel exists to answer the age-old question "What if dragons lived in a Victorian-style society, with all its repressions and rules?" -- which happens to create one of the most unique premises in modern fantasy. Walton's dragons are civilized -- on many levels, and with many positive and negative repercussions -- and the depth of detail that has gone into the construction of their society is remarkable. What's more, the characters here are really characters -- the novel never strays into the dangerous territory of caricature, which would have been such an easy stumble, and never reduces them to the status of novelties. The reader is genuinely invested and interested in these dragons, their family relations, their love lives, and the resolution of their problems. The whole thing owes more than a little to classic society novels and novels of manners, like those of Jane Austen, of course, and any reader who is a fan of both Austen and classic fantasy will find many satisfying nods to those literary ancestors here. Altogether, this is one of the best fantasy novels I've read in a long time.

#3: House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
Genre: Fantasy (YA)
This was a quick, fun read for me. I loved Jones' Howl's Moving Castle, years ago, and this newest sequel was almost as much of a pleasure. It does lack the emotional depth within the central character that made the first novel a favorite of mine, but it improves in some measure on the over-convenient ending. I love the little dog and was delighted at the return of Howl and Calcifer, though they are not technically the central focus of the novel. This is much more of a sequel in subject and style than Castle in the Air, which was published quite a while ago. Bottom line: if you (or your kids, since this is a children's book) liked the previous novels, you will probably enjoy this one.

I enjoyed House of Many Ways myself, enjoying the re-emergence of Howl and Sophie and Calcifer. I need to re-read it however; I gulped it down wholesale and then sent it off to my sister to read. Now that I have it back, I need to amble through it slowly--I'm sure I missed parts with my gorging the first time through.

Okay, I simply have to put Tooth and Claw on my wishlist now--since I fit your description as a fan of both Austen and classic fantasy. Thanks!

I have Walton's Farthing here to read, but I will have to look for Tooth and Claw as well. Thanks for the recommendation.

Wow, Tooth and Claw sounds... very different, very odd, and very fascinating. For some reason, I have an urge to find it, now...!

More books!

#4: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
Genre: Science Fiction
Philip K. Dick’s novel is a modern classic of science fiction. The basis for the film “Blade Runner”, this book lays the foundation for many of the tropes that now are common in the genre. The idea of the android, concepts of artificial intelligence, and questions of humanity are all refined here, in PD’s characteristically sharp, often ironic fashion. Like many science fiction writers before and since, Philip Dick envisions a world where human beings have shot themselves in the collective foot – disaster on a national and global scale has struck and those left to struggle onward are herded (like, yeah, sheep) within the comforting illusions created by controlled and controlling media, government, etc.

What may surprise readers who have been previously familiar with “Blade Runner” is the commentary on religion and spirituality which features strongly throughout the book. Though it’s been years since I watched the film, I don’t recall that portion of the novel being carried over. In a lot of ways, however, it’s absolutely essential to understanding the world, and therefore the commentary, that PD has constructed. There is more to that commentary that meets the eye and, even days later, I’m still thinking about the meanings that I may have missed. That continuing occupation of a reader’s thoughts is one of the reasons that this novel and indeed so many of Philip Dick’s writings have become classics of the genre. This is one book that deserves, and demands, multiple readings. An absolutely necessary read for fans of the genre.

#5: The Sea King's Daughter by Aaron Shepard
Genre: Fairy Tale / children's picturebook
Okay, so this is a picture book, which means it is very short with not much text, so I’m not sure whether I will be counting all the picture books I read this year as actual books or just counting them separately. I suppose it will largely depend on how close I get to my goal otherwise (I have no problem making that decision based on my own convenience).

Anyway, this was a lovely fairy tale – a beautifully illustrated version of a Russian legend with which I was not previously familiar. The story is of a classic type – young man enters an unfamiliar world (here the sea kingdom), uses his skills to impress a beautiful woman (the title character), but is warned (in this case by the queen of the realm) that giving in to her will result in being trapped in the new realm forever. I like Russian folktales because they often end in a way that seems radically different from the more familiar European folktales. In the European tradition, or at least what it has become, the goal seems always to be with the enchantingly beautiful object of affection for all eternity; Russian tales always seem a bit more pragmatic and here (SPOILER) our fair hero resists temptation and makes his way home, to eventually marry a nice, ordinary girl. The book ends with a certain sense of longing – not so tangible as to be sad but, like many legends of the culture, as if life cannot always be just happily ever after.

#6: Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
Genre: biography / children's picturebook
This picture book is one I have assigned for my Children’s Literature course this semester. Nikki Giovanni, the author, is relatively well-known for her poetry and her children’s writings – particularly for her focus on African American history and culture – and here she has treated the subject of Rosa Parks’ famous moment on the bus with characteristic directness and respect. I think the watercolor and cut-paper collage illustrations – by Bryan Collier – give the historical moment a very personal feel, meshing neatly with Giovanni’s obvious desire to connect the reader with Rosa on a very human, individual level – the book’s first page, for example, begins in Rosa’s kitchen and depicts a warm family scene of the start of an ordinary day. I appreciate the touches of ordinary that this book includes – heroes of all shapes and moments must, above all, be relatable, and Rosa Parks here seems far more personable than the dry figure so briefly acknowledged by history textbooks – and, overall, I found this to be a great introduction to not only Rosa Parks, but also her significance to American history. It is truly only an introduction, however – Giovanni does seem to assume, in leaving several holes in the narrative and in the logic of the reactions to Parks, that this book will be just a piece in any child’s experience with this historical moment. I think it is a fair assumption to make, but parents and teachers who read this book with their kids should be prepared to provide some context and answer some questions.

And more...

#7: Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Genre: Fiction / children's chapter book
I read this early reader book all in one evening and it was, in a word, adorable. Clementine, the title character, will have anyone who remembers childhood – or who has tried to live with an eight-year-old child – cracking up. Her troubles are amusing, but the first person narrative here is the true source of greatness; Sara Pennypacker has the gift of channeling exactly the manner of thought and speech that a third grader (at least the third grader I remember being) expresses, which is a rare gift indeed, and so the asides, the perfectly logical conclusions, and the leaps from one thought to another are both familiar and deeply funny.

I have assigned this book to my Children’s Literature class this semester and, frankly, I am eagerly looking forward to our discussion of it. In neither purifying nor condescending to her subject, Sara Pennypacker has written one of the best early reader books I’ve ever enjoyed.

#8: The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
Genre: Science Fiction
I love John Scalzi. Let me just say that right now. From his (in)famous blog to his convention crack-ups to, yup, his novels, the man manages to make me laugh every single time. What’s more, his is not a sloppy humor – The Android’s Dream is tightly plotted, logical, well-developed in terms of circumstance and character, and could stand up against any number of respected classics of science fiction – it also has a first chapter that is so funny, I almost peed myself by the last page.

Scalzi first chapter is a masterpiece of political toilet humor, if such a thing can exist. (Nothing “girly-woopsy-poo” here, that’s for sure, for those who want to know.) The rest of the novel follows up with moments of both brilliance and hilarity, and sometimes the two at once, but that first chapter is what sets the reader’s mood for the entire novel. If you cannot appreciate sarcasm or have never found a fart funny, you may not appreciate that first chapter enough to let its tone buoy you all the way to the end of the book, but you might be rescued by the other clever conceit of the novel – that the fate of the world rests on the wooly back of a sheep.

Except that the sheep in question doesn’t turn out to have a wooly back at all, but I’ll stop there so as not to spoil one of the finer moments in the story. Any writer who can take a ridiculous twist and twist it back around on itself the way Scalzi does here is my kind of fella. Essentially, this book is smart fun – Scalzi must have had a great time writing it and anyone with even the least appreciation of science fiction will have a great time reading it.

Postscript: I read Philip Dick’s Do Android’s Dream of Electric Sheep? shortly before reading this one – the title of Scalzi’s novel is an obvious homage and there are several other connections in the book – including one direct allusion that made me laugh out loud – but you don’t have to have read PD’s book to like this one – just know that it exists.

#9: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham
Genre: Graphic novel
This gorgeous graphic novel is a prequel of sorts to the “Fables” graphic novel series. The concept of Fables is that it takes classic fairy tale characters and places them all together in a hidden “refugee” city-within-a-city in modern New York. The 1001 Nights, and yes it is styled after the classic middle eastern folktale collection, gives the reader some insight into what caused the fairy tale refugees to end up in our mundane world in the first place.

I had only read one installment in the Fables series prior to this, but since the characters are so familiar from those childhood stories of which I and so many others are so fond, there was no obstacle to my enjoyment. And enjoy it I did… from the lush drawings (many artists have contributed to the installments in this book and each has a unique but appropriate style for the text) to the clever twists on familiar tropes and figures. I’ve been wanting to read more of this series and this particular volume has only heightened my interest and further whetted my appetite… I suspect it will do the same for others. Recommended.

This week I read quite a few of the kid's books that related to my Children's Literature class -- and, of course, a couple of them were short picture books. I'm keeping those in the list for now, but I'm aiming to get to 100 books this year without having to count them. We shall see. :)

Scalzi's The Android's Dream is definitely a favorite of mine! Glad you enjoyed it too.

Glad you enjoyed 1001 Nights of Snowfall! I actually think it's a much better introduction, both stylistically and tonally, to the series than the somewhat rocky first trade volume.

I am a John Scalzi fan, too. I have not yet read The Android's Dream though. I will have to get to that one soon.

kangaroo, the first volume of Fables was the only one I had read, and I liked it, but I am genetically inclined to love that series, given my great joy of fairy tales in all shapes. I do think, though, that the 1001 Nights of Snowfall is a stronger overview, in terms of giving one a sense of the whole. So, I sort of agree. :)

>42 ronincats:: Yay! A fellow Scalzi fan! The guy just KILLS me every time. :)

It looks as though you are having great fun reading childrens books. I enjoy your descriptions.

Reading, reading... but I'm such a slacker at posting!

#10: The Garden of Iden by Kage Baker
Genre: science fiction
This was one I had started reading in ebook form on my computer and then forgotten about once I realized that I hated reading books in electronic formats. Baker has provided a solid science fiction novel here, with an original take on "time travel", of sorts, and some very cool characterization. I'd say more, but I'm in a bit of a rush to mention...

#11: The Wand in the Word by Leonard Marcus
Contributions by Jane Yolen, Lloyd Alexander, Nancy Farmer, Terry Pratchett, etc.
Genre: Non-fiction (interviews)
I really enjoyed this collection of short interviews with writers of YA fantasy. The focus here, since the book is intended for a YA audience, is on works for younger readers, even with people like Terry Pratchett whose work is mostly for adults. Each author was asked a series of questions related to their life and work -- work habits, inspiration, how life experiences influence their writing, etc. I found it fascinating not only to read the thoughts of these beloved authors, but also to be able to compare them with their compatriots -- putting the interviews together in book format was, I think, a great idea. My only frustration was that it sometimes felt like we weren't getting everything -- like there had been more in the conversation that didn't get put into the official book version -- so there is a choppy feeling to the reading at times, but I suppose that can't really be helped, given the format. Me = picky.

#12: Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
Genre: science fiction
Wow. This is the best thing that Jasper Fforde has ever written (I love the Thursday Next books, but this is a different level entirely) and it's one of the coolest things I have read in a long time. Fforde presents us with a "colortocracy" -- a society in which your value and position are based on your perception of color. We are introduced to this society through a likable, though at first limited main character named Eddie Russett -- all the members of the society have color-related family names, which must have been fun for Fforde to track down. (Gamboge? That's really a color? I had no idea.)

Like Eddie, we the readers are ignorant of what happens behind the scenes in this society until the very end. Unlike Eddie, we don't have our feet under us AT ALL. The feeling of puzzlement -- and I mean that in the genuine sense of having a puzzle to figure out -- in which the reader is immersed at the start of (and most of the way through) the novel is masterfully crafted and maintained. I found myself engaged from page one in figuring out how the world worked in the novel -- there is no boring exposition to slog through, which is both wonderful and challenging -- as I was watching Eddie figure out how things worked in his new town.

The level of detail here is extraordinary. What's even more impressive are the logically extrapolated connections to a future us -- the colortocracy came into being after "Something That Happened" to a future society that seems to be our own -- that pop up more and more frequently as the book progresses. These little connections are what make the reader pause and reassess, a mental process that keeps one constantly engaged with the book (even, for me at least, when not reading it). Just what was the "Something That Happened"? How did the citizens of the colortocracy come to be so different, and yet so similar, to us, or the idea of us (humanity as we know it) Fforde presents? This is a reading experience full of questions, not all of which are answered by the final sentence.

Bottom line: this was awesome. When I finished reading it, I was sad that it was done and I almost started over again at the beginning. That is the kind of awesome we are talking here. Read it.

Oh, and I changed my "History Non-fiction" category to "Non-fiction" with an emphasis on history, simply because I am finding lots of non-fiction books I want to read, but only a few of them are related to history. When all else fails, change the rules. :)

I read about a dozen picture books over the weekend, in preparation for children's lit. I think that, in good conscience, I should not add them to my number count and may end up listing them separately after all. I don't remember all of them, so I'll have to post list and blurbs later, but one of the coolest ones was Snowflake Bentley, a picture book biography of the first person to photograph snowflakes. I wish the book had featured more of his actual photographs, but it gave me a great idea for a lesson, so I'm pretty geeked. Check it out!

Oh, another really positive review for Shades of Grey! I'm really tempted to give in and buy this book even though it's a hardcover, because I think the wait lists at the library are probably too long.

I'm enjoying all of your reviews.

Thanks Zoe -- and I cannot say enough about Fforde's book -- I even dreamed about it last night after I finished it (at 3:00 in the morning because I would NOT put it down until that last page).

Forgot to bring the list with me, but here are a few more picture books that I remember reading this past weekend:

Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl -- a folktale retold in a translated Gullah dialect by Virginia Hamilton, with illustrations by James Ransome. One of the best "Brer Rabbit" stories I've seen, with a brief, thoughtful note on the stories context at the end. Wonderful.

The Runaway Bunny -- Who doesn't like this book? It's lovely.

Urgh. Now I can't remember. I bought a ton of picture books from a library bookshop last week, so I'll have to find the list I scrawled if I want to remember which ones I read. Dang. This is what I get for still not having internet at home!

Picturebooks not withstanding, I have finished another book:

#13: A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
Many thanks to Debbie for recommending this -- I really enjoyed it! Kimmel gives us a true memoir, one not overly colored by the adult she has become, but instead truly invested in representing the perspective and experiences of childhood. And it is HILARIOUS. There were so many moments that I laughed out loud, sometimes in recognition of a familiar figure and sometimes in sheer appreciation of the ridiculous -- anyone who has experienced a small town will understand a lot of the situation that "Zippy" (our hero) gets into. Kimmel's prose is crisp and sometimes gorgeous, so the moments of hilarity have a wonderful context to work within. All around good stuff -- and I'm so glad to have LTers to make such great recommendations!

I've wanted to read A Girl Named Zippy and now your comments prompt me to do so.

I agree with you...LT is wonderful for many reasons including the fact that we obtain so many wonderful ideas about books to read.

Nice Zippy review! I have this at the top of one of my TBR stacks. I read my first Haven Kimmel novel last month (The Solace of Leaving Early) and loved it. Btw, I love your screen name....very calming.

Thanks, Donna -- I try to live by my name, but mostly fail miserably. :)

I'll be looking for more Haven Kimmel books -- thanks for the title and rec.

>54 Whisper1:: My dear, I am always happy to add to someone's TBR list. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)

Also, finished...

#14: The Library Card by Jerry Spinelli
Genre: Children's Fiction (short stories)
I am not sure what to make of this book, really. It is a collection of four stories, each linked to a central motif: a library card, which seems to have subtle magical powers. The first story is very good -- with the exception of the library card as somewhat magical catalyst, it's quite realistic in tone and detail as it shows us two potential hoodlums, one of whom reacts to the allure of the library and pulls himself off of the downward spiral. The rest of the stories, however, are not as fully developed. The last one is sweet, but the middle two are particularly flat. Overall, not something I am going to be running back to, but not bad.

Too bad that the Spinelli book was not very good. It sounded like a great premise!

It wasn't terrible -- it just wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, particularly with that premise. I suppose I expect more out of books with a book-centered theme. It may be that my expectations were simply too high in this case -- it may be seen as more entertaining by its target audience: kids.

My youngest daughter is a fan of Spinelli. I will mention the book to her.

I'd be interested to hear her thoughts, if she ends up reading it. I'm always curious to know what actual kids think about the literature I like/dislike. :)

I checked the local library and they do not have that one, so no telling when she might get a chance to read it.

I can't believe I've only just found your thread! I'm definitely looking forward to keeping up with you for the next eleven months :)

Welcome, Lunacat -- glad to see you here! :)

I remembered to bring my list of picturebooks -- I'm not counting these toward my total, but I'm sharing them anyway.

Already mentioned...
Snowflake Bentley, which was a really cool little biography
Runaway Bunny, a classic, and
Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl, a beautiful rendition of a common African American folktale.

Also read...
The Egyptian Cinderella, which gives great notes on the historical connections of what is one of the oldest Cinderella stories.
Marshmallow, which is an adorable picture book about an adorable bunny. Bunnies! Cutest things in the world. Also a classic -- I think I read it when I was a little girl.
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, a revised fairy tale in which the wolf is just misunderstood (or he's an unreliable narrator -- you decide).
The Three Little Wolves and the Big, Bad Pig, in which the roles are reversed and the ending is, in the modern sense, quite happy (goofy, but interesting if you are comparing perspectives or retellings).
The Tale of Peter Rabbit, another true classic, this time in an oversized hardcover edition, good for sharing.
Brer Rabbit Saves His Skin, a storybook of part of the Disney version of Brer Rabbit, which makes me wish (once again) that they would release "Song of the South" on DVD -- perhaps with culturally aware extras.
The Frog Prince Continued, which answers the eternal question, "but then what happened?" that surely every parent and teacher has gotten at least once -- charming.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which always reminds me that I love Judith Viorst.
John Gilpin's Ride, which is the story that contains the illustration by Caldecott (the first action-oriented children's illustration) now featured on the Caldecott medal. I had no idea, until reading this, that the medal's image came from an illustrated version of Cowper's poem.

Okay, #15 came from a publisher -- I was very excited that I read it right away, but then slacked off and still haven't written a review, so that will have to wait...

#15: We The Children by Andrew Clements
Genre: Children's Fiction (chapter book series)
This is book 1 in the Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School series. I don't have time to be wordy, but the bottom line is that it's intriguing enough that I want to know what happens next, though so little does happen in this first installment that some kids in its target audience (ages 7-9?) might just get bored.

#16: The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt
Genre: Steampunk
Holy cow. This book contained everything but the kitchen sink. The central plot is interesting, the main characters are vaguely likable, but Hunt has crammed so much other stuff in here, it's actually hard to get through sometimes. It took me more than a week to read this -- unusual for me -- and there were moments when I found myself distracted from the text, wondering why the heck some new idea or verbal toy had just been thrown at me. I'm not sure that I will be reading the next one. Bottom line: if you really like steampunk, you will probably like this, even though it is overworked. Also, a note for the squeamish: this is jam-packed, especially in the second half, with violence and some seriously gory descriptions -- not for those who experience nausea at the idea of eating a human heart (it's described more than once).

Okay, I had to edit and add one thing I did like: Hunt did not go for a predictable, everyone-ends-up-happy-and-together ending. Good work there. :)

#66: I almost picked up The Court of the Air at the library today, but since I am of the squeamish variety, I am glad I did not!

#48 -- I adored Shades of Grey as well! It literally blew me away. For some reason I had postponed reading the Thursday Next books, and so went to read The Eyre Affair next and was rather disappointed by it...
Now I'm feeling stuck -- incredibly anxious to lay hands on the next 'colors' books (which I figure has to be at least a year away -- it's not even showing up on Amazon's UK page yet...) and looking at the Thursday Next books as second best. Ho hum... I think what you nailed was the dilemma that always faces a book set in an alternate/dystopic world -- how to handle the necessary exposition. And in this case Fforde did it brilliantly, without doing so much that it felt tedious, or too little or in too muddled a fashion, leaving us confused and floundering.

My opinion of The Court of the Air lines up with yours pretty much exactly. I'm a steampunk fan, but I'd only reluctantly recommend this one.

DrNeutron, I'm glad we agree. :)

#17: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Genre: Literary Fiction (Young Adult?)
I only barely participated in the group read of this book, but I am awfully glad that I read it. I find it funny that in France (its country of origin, where apparently the general populace is more intellectually enlightened) the book is considered young adult/children's, whereas in the United States, I doubt very many children have jumped on this one. One review called it a philosophical fable, and I think that's just about right. This is not a plot-oriented book -- it's value lies in its characters almost exclusively -- and the reader doesn't necessarily like those characters all that much at first. They grow on you, though. These internally-oriented figures deliver Barbery's philosophical gems -- and they are gems, which makes sense given Barbery's experience as a philosophy professor -- with a mix of humor and sadness, depending on the moment. I found myself dog-earing pages (shocking, I know) and sticking bits of paper in to mark my favorite passages, which is a sign of a good book for me, but I suspect that there are a lot of people who would run out of patience with it. Recommended for those who like their fiction to unfold slowly and who appreciate heavy doses of philosophy.

#18: The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
Genre: Fantasy (Children's)
This kids/YA novel was not at all what I expected, but was wonderful none the less. The language is so fluid and simple -- poetic without being pretentious, prosy without losing the elegance of the spoken word -- that one longs to read passages out loud just to hear them. It is equal parts sweet and sad and, especially for those who love their pets, should be read with tissues near to hand for certain moments. Overall, another one I am awfully glad to have read.

edited to fix numbers... oops!

Almost forgot one...

#19: Pride of Baghdad by Brian Vaughan
This is an intense graphic novel based on the true story of lions escaping from the Baghdad zoo during the bombing of Iraq back at the beginning of the war. It was not what I expected, but I was very impressed by it, though there were points where it was tough to read. The art and text struck a nice balance -- the lions are very human -- and the last line is pitch perfect. Overall, recommended.

Are you reading The Anubis Gates with us in the group read? Since you already have the category...

I don't know. I have a hard time reading books where animals die--and of course, they do so all the time. The Underneath sounds so alluring, except for that. And I loved your review of The Elegance of the Hedgehog--I've been reading so much about it on the threads, but your review was the first that really made me want to go out and get it.

I do want to participate in the group read, I just am really bad at keeping up with comments (as evidenced by my minimal participation with the Hedgehog group). So, the short answer is "yes", but we shall see how that goes. Have you guys already started?

And thanks!

so glad you liked The Underneath. It really is a marvelous gem. Your comments capture the essence of the book.

#71: Loved both of those!

#72: I already have that one in the BlackHole. Maybe some day I will actually get my hands on it.

I'm not counting this toward my total, since it's a picture book of only 30 pages or so, but I wanted to share.

I assigned Woolvs in the Sitee by Margaret Wild to my children's literature class and just recently reread it and had discussion about it in class. This picture book introduces a boy who can't spell, alone, in a seemingly blighted urban landscape. The boy warns us from the beginning about the "woolvs" who spare no one, but does not explain who or what those wolves are. The dark, atmospheric illustration enhance the "creepy factor" (as my students put it) but, unlike in other picture books, never clarify -- the rough edges and blurred images suggest many things, but define nothing.

It really is a book about what you don't know, more than anything you do. There isn't much plot, there isn't much clarity, but the point is not what's happening, rather what HAS happened, or what might have happened. And you don't know -- we could have conversed for hours on whether the circumstances of the book were an illusion or a delusion, a post-apocalyptic world or a representation of singular grief. We found in this book a dystopia, an environmental fable, a story of suspense, a story of schizophrenia... the list goes on. I was so reluctant to cut short our discussion of this text that my class ran long, and I still wish I had another day for it.

Anyone teaching children's literature or anyone who has kids, especially kids who gravitate toward chillers or darker stories, should read this book. You will have the discussion of your life. It is the most beautifully frustrating conversation piece I have ever seen in a picturebook.

Okay, gushing over. :)

#76: Loved the gushing!

haven't been on in a while, but I have finished #20, The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson, which I found not as good as his other books, and #21, The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, which freaked me out so successfully that I had to sleep with a flashlight last night. Seriously.

Longer posts later. No idea what's going on with the touchstones, but I have to dash.

A flashlight? You know you shouldn't tell me these things, right? =)

I'm with Stasia...I loved your gushing description. And, naturally, I'm adding it to the pile.

Thanks for the wonderful recommendation.

Thanks, all!

Except David -- you are NOT allowed to mock me about the flashlight, at least until you have read it yourself, Mr. Ghost Adventures!

I forgot to add what is now #22: The Anubis Gates, which I love. Also read #23: Chains, which was wonderful but stopped abruptly in a "surprise, it's a series!" way, and #24: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, which I have only just finished and still haven't decided how I feel about it -- though part of me found it wonderful, which is surprising.

More later, as soon as I can get a second to breathe. Busy, busy!

Thanks for the review of The Android's Dream. I had always wondered if that book was connected to Dick's. I didn't realize at all that it was a comedy! I think this might be my next plane read.

The Android's Dream would be a perfect plane read -- strikes just the right tone, I think. I hope you enjoy it.

I've been nibbling my way through This I Believe but keep dog-earing and pausing and going back and rereading (great stuff), so I'm not done yet. I'll try to go back and do some reviews of recent books as soon as I can.

Thanks for having patience with me!

Finished #25: This I Believe -- and it was wonderful. Granted, there is a dimension missing in comparison with the actual radio broadcasts, but reading the essays allows one to pause and consider. Many of these thoughts and pages are tagged for later review -- there is much here to digest.

Still no time. Argh. Be back soon. Really, I promise.

Hi There! You are missed!

Congratulations on reaching the 25 book point! You are 1/3 of the way done.

Look, I got to your thread before you did! =P

>87 tapestry100:: Yeah, yeah, yeah -- all hail Mr. Fancy-pants! :)

>85 Whisper1:: Hi Linda! Here I am! Though how long I will actually have to spend, I have no idea. Life is surely chaotic.

>86 alcottacre:: Thanks, Stasia. I'm totally aiming for 100 in my heart of hearts, but will be delighted to get past 75 again, so I will pat myself on the back for the 1/3 mark. :)

Moving right along...

#26: Romancing Miss Bronte by Juliet Gael, my most recent Early Reviewers book, which was a very inconsistent read. Some parts of it were absolutely awash with brilliantly rendered emotion -- I wept, I felt my heart tighten -- but then some parts, particularly in the beginning, were awkwardly written and felt stilted. I think Juliet Gael really wanted to write the definitive biography of Charlotte Bronte, but knew only about 5 people would read it, so she settled for inventing a bit of romance and slathering it across the latter half of Bronte's life. A mixed blessing -- shining moments and agonizing moments in almost equal measure.

#27: Keeper by Kathi Appelt, an ARC from the publisher, was a delight. I am in awe of Appelts ability to take a situation where very little actually happens and thread it through life and non-linear time to create an utterly compelling story. As with her extraordinary The Underneath, much of this book is about the internal person and his/her ability to create family out of chaos. Great stuff.

I needed to resolve a few things regarding The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott (#24), so let me take a moment to revisit it here.

Normally, I hate the books that attempt to cram fiction into the lives of my favorite authors. I also hate the insulting implication that literary geniuses like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott must have had love affairs in order to write brilliantly about relationships between people -- as if these authors do not have enough skill, imagination, and observational power to write such stories on their own.

So, I was a bit nervous when I sat down to read Kelly O'Connor McNees' The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott. And I continued to be a little bit on edge as I read the first half -- as the author settled in to Louisa's mode of writing, as the circumstances of the novel unfolded through fade-in images that were half-familiar, as the persons with whom I had been acquainted through non-fiction became characters.

In the end, however, after all that nervousness, and after a considerable period of "getting used to" the novel, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. McNees is incredibly respectful -- instead of twisting the facts as others have done, she has done her research and found an empty space in Alcott's life, one just the right size for a romance. The love interest she created for Alcott is not too much like Laurie (of Little Women fame) to be cloying, but has echoes of the character enough to allow us to see McNees' inspiration. The light hand and gentle tone of the writing echo -- again, respectfully -- Alcott's own, particularly in Little Women. It did take some getting used to, this approximation of another author's voice, but as I read I realized that it was necessary.

Is this a great and lasting piece of literary genius? Probably not. But it is a sweet and tactful offering, from one Alcott fan to the others of us who have not been so bold as to take up the pen in imitation of our hero. Overall, well worth the read.

The Appelt book is definitely in the BlackHole since I loved her book The Underneath. Thanks for the recommendation of that one.

I am still on the fence about the Alcott book. I will have to think about that one for a bit, but I like your input on it.

You are entirely welcome, Stasia. :)

The Alcott book is a tough call for Alcott fans, because not everyone is going to like it -- for example, I saw some reviews that said it was too YA, but I thought that the YA tone was actually appropriate given the connection to Little Women -- but I was glad I had read it. Good luck with your decision on that one.

edited for oopsies.

#28: White Cat by Holly Black
This was the last in a batch of ARCs for me -- I think it comes out in May. I did enjoy it, though I don't think it was as finely written as some of Black's other work has been. For sheer power of story, though, I give it some serious thumbs up. I really wanted to keep reading, to find out what was going to happen to the characters. There is little I can say without giving something away, but it is dark contemporary fantasy -- Black's particular area -- definitely for teenagers, involves an interesting magical premise, and will keep you pinned until the end. Entertaining stuff.

edited several times because I can't seem to type today.

#93: I think I will skip that one. Holly Black does not do it for me.

(I understand about the typing thing - sometimes my fingers do not think they are connected to my brain)

>93 beserene:: I plan to give White Cat a tentative try... but making no promises that I'll get through it :) Just finished the anthology that she edited though, Geektastic, and it was a lot of fun!

>94 alcottacre:: Stasia, if Holly Black doesn't do it for you, then this one definitely won't. It isn't her fairyland stuff, but it is dark and "edgy" -- I guess that's the word for it. It takes a look at organized crime as if it was a product of magical abilities, which is a cool idea, but there is still much about it that is distinctly HB.

>95 dk_phoenix:: Planning is something I often do. Accomplishing the plan is another thing all together. You will not get any heckling from me on that front. Thanks for letting me know about the anthology, though -- I had not heard of it. :)

Planning is something I often do. Accomplishing the plan is another thing all together.

Ha, this sounds like me.

#96: OK, I will not worry about it then.

#97: Me, too!

Glad we are all on the same page re: planning vs. accomplishment.

#29: Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
I read this YA novel this morning, straight through. A compelling piece of fiction, set in a realistically depicted middle ages... I will be investigating the sequel.

This is one that I had assigned for my children's literature class -- I have all sorts of ideas for discussion! :)

Okay, must dash... again.

#99: That one looks good. I think I will pick it up next time I am at the library. Thanks for the recommendation.

Stasia, my students agreed with me -- they enjoyed reading it, some even couldn't put it down. It's compelling and thoroughly researched -- doesn't sacrifice historical accuracy for the convenience of the plot -- and speaks to themes of identity and freedom in a big way. I love Avi anyway, but this makes me love him more.

Oh, and...

#30: This I Believe II
While this isn't as strong a collection as the first This I Believe volume, it does contain remarkable personal essays and I dog-eared almost as many pages here as I did in the previous. Well worth reading, though hearing these essays is still preferable (and free, on thisibelieve.org and through the NPR website). I found myself gravitating toward the web archives yesterday and thinking of ways to introduce my students to these deep, thought-provoking and often emotional expressions of belief. Great stuff.

Message 90...Thanks for posting your thoughts regarding this book. I rec'd. it as an early review copy and hope to read it in the next few weeks.

I'll read Kathi Appelt's book. Stasia recommended The Underneath and I loved it!

I updated my list at the top of the thread, but I am not sure if I categorized The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott and Romancing Miss Bronte correctly -- should they be literary fiction or historical fiction? Technically, they are literary historical fiction... darn these arbitrary categories we call genres! A little help, anyone? :)

#103: I have not read either one, Sarah, so I am going to be no help whatsoever!

#31: Changeless by Gail Carriger
I concur with LTer tapestry100's assessment that this novel suffers from second book syndrome. It felt like Ms. Carriger was laboring to get to a particular point here, ostensibly to set up the final installment. On its own, this is not nearly as sharp or funny as its predecessor, Soulless, but still has a few laugh-out-loud moments. Fun and worth reading, but not as fabulous as the first.

edited for caps -- oops.

>104 alcottacre:: Thanks for the thought anyway, Stasia. I'll just leave them where they are for now and worry about it at the end of the year -- when I see which category needs the numbers! ;)

#106: There you go!

I finished reading The Magicians, but I can't remember if that is actually #32 or if I read something else in between it and Changeless. I think I did -- I'm sure I did -- but what the heck was it?

You know you are getting old when you have to go home and check your stack to remember what you read earlier in the week.

#33 (technically): The Magicians was really for people who felt that Harry Potter needed more alcohol, sex, and bitterness. It was post-modern fantasy, in the sense that it took a good story and sucked all the joy out of it, rendering its details in an atmosphere of despair and despondence rather than with childish exuberance that is typical of most fantasy literature. I can see why "literary types" (and I say that with some self-conscious irony) liked it -- the novel is conscious of itself as more "real-world" than the fantasies of our childhood, like Narnia (which, along with HP and Tolkien, receives almost continuous homages throughout), and seems to hold itself superior to those classics. Our "hero", Quentin Coldwater, finds himself depressed no matter how wondrous or magical his circumstances, and through him the book comments on the human tendency to wait for a fantasy rather than appreciate or find joy in reality. The process of reading this novel is sometimes painful, often awkward, and occasionally thought-provoking -- but rarely is it genuinely pleasurable.

It strikes me that this is exactly what it appears to be -- a novel written by someone who loved children's fantasy growing up, but who was bitterly disappointed that adult life turned out to have nothing to do with that beloved literature, that the happy ending, long awaited, never came. As such, it really has no hope -- unlike its fantasy predecessors, it is not about the spirit of adventure and faith in mankind or any such dreams -- it is rather an internal text, about our own struggle with ourselves, as so much post-modern literature is. The end result is that some people will find this book profound, edgy, gritty, and a welcome alternative to the "childish" fantasy that is so prevalent currently. Others, however, will find it to be self-obsessed, pompous, and depressing. It's not necessarily for everyone, so approach with caution.

Edited for an oops. Oops. :)

#108: I was one of the people who found The Magicians to be self-obsessed, pompous, and depressing. The book just did nothing for me and I was hugely disappointed in it. I am glad you liked it better than I did, Sarah.

Nicely written review! I'll wait to read this until I can find library copy and have some extra time.

ETA I went to the book page to give your review a thumbs up, but you don't seem to have posted it there yet. Please consider doing so.

I'm with Stasia. At my age, I'm way past teen angst...8^}

ETA: Roni's right. It's a good review, and I'll thumb it if you put it on the work page.

Done and done. The review of The Magicians should now appear on the book's page. Thanks for the compliments, all.

I am always running behind on getting my reviews attached to the book pages -- need to work on that.

>109 alcottacre:: Stasia, I may have liked it better than you did, but I'm still not sure I actually liked it. It's just that kind of book -- I can definitely see your perspective.

And I still can't remember what I read before... dang it. Must go check again. And must get internet back at the house -- so much easier.

By the by...

#34: Instead of Three Wishes by Megan Whalen Turner was just lovely. A nice restorative collection of fairy tales after such angst. And Turner is a dab hand at updating the tales and putting unexpected spin on the familiar. Recommended.

At the moment, I am busy grading essays and reading science fiction short stories in an attempt to end one semester and prep for another, so no further books to report, except for the ones I've forgotten. I'm sure I'll remember them by the time I post the next new one, right? :)

edited to fix the numbers.

#113: Instead of Three Wishes looks good. THanks for the recommendation of that one, Sarah.

Hi. I've missed your posts. Certainly, I know what end of semester details mean. The good part is there is a short break until it begins all anew.

I like your description of Instead of Three Wishes and I've added it to the pile.

Thanks, Stasia and Linda -- good to know folks are still out there, reading, even if my posts are sporadic.

OMG -- I figured out what I'd read right before that Magicians book! (And it's no wonder that I was sensitive to the angst, given the book.)

Tada!

#32: Lucky by Alice Sebold
If you know Alice Sebold from The Lovely Bones, which I have not yet read, you may be interested to take a step back into her memoir, originally published before the novel, and get a sense of some of the personal tragedy that has influenced, at least in part, her other writing. Let me be clear -- this is not a memoir for the faint of heart. It is not sweet and clever, as so many memoirs strive to be. It is instead profound, torturous, dark, and illuminating, all at the same time.

The focal event of the book is Sebold's brutal rape, which she endured as a young college co-ed, and the struggle to bring her rapist to justice as well as to heal from that damaging event. There are graphic, painful moments here, and not only in expected places, but throughout. Toward the end, further tragedy infests the lives of Sebold and her friends in such a way that, had this not been a real-life account, the reader might have been struck by disbelief -- the events described here seem at times to be too devastating and repetitious for reality, yet we (through Sebold's eyes) feel them as all too real.

This is a remarkable book and I suspect that it can help many people who have been on the same side of brutality, but it is not an easy book to read and it does not leave the reader with a warm, fuzzy feeling at the end. There are no such conveniences here, nor should there be.

edited to fix the numbers.

#117: I read Lucky when it first came out several years ago. I agree - it is not an easy book to read.

I have just found your thread and loved your review of The Magicians! I think I would need to be in the right mood to enjoy that one but your review made me smile :-)

ditto what Stasia said. While the book was well written, the subject matter was difficult to read.

>119 souloftherose:: Welcome, souloftherose -- glad you liked the review. :)

>118 alcottacre: & 120: I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt this way about Lucky. I do think that such books are important, and I appreciate the quality of the writing, as you said, Linda, but sometimes I actually had to put the book down for a while because it got so intense. I thought about moving on to The Lovely Bones right afterward, but found I could not do it. But then I watched the movie. Weird.

Okay, so now we resume our regularly scheduled numerical order with...

#35: Beastly by Alex Flinn
This modern, urban update to the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast" has a lot of teen appeal. Flinn takes a new perspective -- that of the Beast -- and runs with it, from the beginning (pre-Beast, when our hero is the hottest guy at an exclusive NYC prep school) to the happy ending (not much of a spoiler, if you've read the fairy tale in any version, to say that the Beast gets both the girl and an important lesson).

I was surprised at times how faithful Flinn was to many of the aspects of the traditional story. Issues of freedom and abduction, which many modern retellings have a tendency to soften, are fully explored here. I like many of Flinn's plausible details -- including the Brooklyn greenhouse that stands in for the magic, all-season garden and the blind tutor instead of invisible or transformed servants. There are a couple of things, however, that seem unnecessary here -- for example, the chapters are divided by chat transcripts from an online transformation support group, which is a clever nod to omnipresent technology, but seems too artificial as the novel progresses, occasionally feeling like an all-too-convenient window to possible companion novels. A certain twist at the end (which I will not spoil) also seems a little forced.

Overall, this is a good read, especially for teens who have read the original fairy tale but not too many urban revisions of it. As far as quality goes, Robin McKinley's versions (Beauty and Rose Daughter) and short stories by the likes of Angela Carter, Tanith Lee, and others are both more elegant and more consistent, but this novel has a good measure of fun that makes it appealing. It's worth the time and may be a good gateway book to other, stronger fairy tale revisions (some of which Flinn even lists in her end notes, an addition that I found thoughtful).

#122: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I hope I can get my hands on it soon.

#122 - Sounds interesting. I may have to borrow that one when I get back from vacation!

#36: Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
This was an early reviewer book for me and, as such, I'd like to give it high praise... but I really can't, because it simply wasn't that great.

Not that it was terrible -- in the realm of YA fantasy, there are WAY worse books out there -- but it was a bit forgettable. Glimmerglass is a contemporary fantasy that approaches the classic fantasy concepts of the realm of Faerie and half-fey offspring (the results of interspecies relationships are popular topics these days -- frankly I think it's a cultural thing) and has a few things going for it in how it characterizes Faerie itself -- the descriptions of border control are particularly enjoyable -- but there is little here that doesn't seem borrowed from more experienced authors. Of course, Faerie is a politically volatile realm, full of scheming lords and ladies, large bodyguards (most of whom have hearts of gold), smokin' hot young men, and one or two random monsters, just for thrills. And of course, amidst this whirlwind of emotional and physical stimulation, our heroine (a pretty girl with daddy issues who, SPOILER, turns out to be the most powerful type of half-breed possible) feels lost, confused, and angsty. Yup, I have read this before.

The funny thing is, I would not mind reading the same old set-up again, if things really made sense in the novel. Unfortunately, the super-rare-and-powerful-half-breed reveal seems disconnected from the heart of the story and many of the money shots (monsters, the heroine rescued, the heroine in danger again) feel anticlimactic or illogical. Add to that the heroine's realization that her alcoholic mother is really just misunderstood, and the whole thing starts to feel like the fantasy version of an after-school special (for those who are old enough to get that reference).

Like many of its ilk, this novel is a pleasant enough read, as long as you don't slow down to think about it. Once you do, what pleasure you had seeps away as you remember the others authors you have read who have simply done this better (Tad Williams' The War of the Flowers jumps to mind, but there are plenty of others). I think Jenna Black has potential -- this novel isn't terrible -- but I suspect that if she keeps tripping down the Stephanie-Meyer-inspired primrose path, her books will not get much better. On the flipside, her publication timing is good, so she may make a boatload of money regardless.

More...

#37: Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
By all that is steampunk, I swear I loved this book. I'm not saying it's perfect, but I loved it just the same. Really, the only issue I had with it was that the end lacked the drama that one expected, given the set up, but it still made sense with the novel as a whole... and that's all I will say about that.

As to the good stuff, Priest's novel gives you airships, goggles, a half-abandoned walled city, zombies, boiler-driven machines, an antagonist reminiscent of Dr. Loveless -- and I meant that in a good way -- a heroine with sense in her head (refreshing) and a young man's coming-of-age-style adventure. What more could you possibly want? What more could you possibly fit in here?

Priest is one of the best of the newer fantasy authors on the scene anyway, but every tight detail of this adventure further convinced me of her wicked coolness. The descriptions here are taut and satisfying -- the reader can practically feel the sluggish stickiness of the Blight gas, the annoying rub of mask straps, the gloom of the sun-starved city. The characters are, if you will forgive me, real characters, and each one is more badass or more endearing (as appropriate) than the last. The story moves along at a solid clip, neither rushed nor strained. The best part, though, is that when you break away from the novel, you find yourself glancing over your shoulder, opening windows, and otherwise feeling haunted by the novel itself. I didn't have to go to bed with a flashlight -- this was no mere creep-factor, but a genuine sense that this adventuresome book clings to you, as only the best reads can.

I'm not sure what "rollicking" really means, but I think this is it. Read it. :)

Oh, and one more...

#38: Moonheart by Charles DeLint
Charles DeLint rocks. Have you read him? No? What on earth have you been doing? DeLint practically invented the urban fantasy that seems common to us today and this is one of his classics. Written around 1984, it does show a few age-spots -- raise your hand if you remember cassette tapes, early IBM computers that presented all data in horizontal green lines, and pre-cell-phone communication devices that involved coins -- but the story itself is still magnificent. DeLint weaves images, ideas and characters from North American and Celtic folklore with music, fantasy tropes, and carefully drawn characters to create a solid, intricate tapestry of a novel (sorry to spring the cliche on you, there, but I simply could not think of another way to put it -- DeLint is the novelist, not me). Its richness is typical of DeLint's best work; it also carries a certain edge of darkness -- there are some scary moments here that had me pulling my toes back from the edge of the bed. Anyone who likes fantasy with a strong dose of folklore should read DeLint -- it was a pleasure to encounter one I had not read.

Wow. Nice reviews. Boneshaker is a new fave and Moonheart is one of my long-time faves!

Boneshaker has been on my PBS wish list forever, I think. I imagine I am just going to have to break down and buy it.

Moonheart is on my nightstand waiting for me to get to it. Thanks for the reminder, Sarah!

>128 drneutron:: Thank you for the compliment! Glad to know I am among fellow DeLint fans too.

More books read...

#39: Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo
This quick read of a novel was published under the Guideposts label, so I was a little nervous that it would be a bit too preachy for me. I was pleasantly surprised; while this was not any magnificent icon of literature, it was a solid, straightforward read and I enjoyed it. Of the contemporary I-love-Austen novels, Shannon Hale's Austenland still gets my vote as the top of a short pile -- this one lacked the brightness and humor of Hale's work, but it made up for it in sheer volume of emotion. There is nothing subtle about the book -- the foreshadowing is overly obvious, the emotional manipulation is sometimes clunky -- but even so, something connected to my emotional soul and I even found myself, toward the end, a bit overwrought. Perhaps I felt too much kinship with the main character, a 30-something English professor trying to restart her life. Perhaps I'm just hormonal. But this was a guilty-pleasure style read, perfect with wine, chocolate, and tissues (especially for those who find Austen's lost letters a tragedy worth crying over).

By the way, for those who have been paying attention to my rantings about the Jane Austen wannabe-sequels, please note that this volume features a frank author's note in which Pattillo explains her joy in Austen and her motivation for writing the novel. There is no pretense to greatness here, which I appreciate, just a fan making a connection that, in the end, is more about modern life than Austen's world.

#40 & 41: Montmorency and Montmorency's Revenge by Eleanor Updale
These were the first and fourth volumes in Updale's series. Set at the turn of the 20th century, the series deals with Montmorency, a thief who becomes a gentleman and eventually (spoiler) a government agent. While the books were fun to read, I didn't find myself caring enough about the characters to invest in the rest of the series (I had purchased #1 and got #4 for free), so I read what I had and will leave it at that. Overall, not bad, but not compelling enough.

Also, the other day I calculated the potential lifetime reading remaining to me, which comes out to about 3500 volumes, given my average reading speed, annual reading volume, and years of life remaining (theoretically). 3500 volumes is not very many, so why would I waste two of those on a series that made me go "meh"? That's my justification and I'm sticking to it. Plus, it's a little depressing to think that, of all the millions of books in the world and yet to come, I'm only really going to get to experience 3500 of them. *sigh*

Oh, and one more...

#42: The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom
This mystery novel, the first in a supposed series -- though I've yet to see a second, here in the US at least -- was a charming, quirky and quick read (I read it all in one day). It's set in Northern Ireland, where the author resides, and therefore has that odd mix of resignation and absurdity which often characterizes literature from that region -- a place where sectarian violence has only just, in historical terms, simmered down and where rural life rubs elbows with urbanity. For anyone who has experienced or lived in Ireland, parts of the novel will inspire gales of laughter, while other parts prompt slow, knowing nods and bittersweet smiles. There is a great deal here to love and, though the mystery itself is not terribly mysterious, quite a bit to puzzle over as well. Enjoyable.

#131: I will give Jane Austen Ruined My Life a try, since she is not trying to pick up Austen's characters and make them detectives, live out the rest of their supposed lives, etc. which seems to be in vogue right now. I liked Hale's Austenland too.

#133: I received one of Sansom's books from the ER program, The Bad Book Affair, and could not finish it. I made it to page 85 before giving up on it (Linda Panzo did better than I did - she made it to page 100). I have no desire to read any more of his books, lol.

Stasia, I suspect that Sansom is not for everyone -- his writing is genuinely absurd at times. I was delighted to find a $1 copy of the second in the series, Mr. Dixon Disappears, at a library shop the other day, but I know that most of what I like about the books comes from my own experiences rather than the book itself. Fortunately, there are a great many other books out there. :)

Speaking of a great many other books...

#43: Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
Sweet, sweet, sweet, occasionally straying into the saccharine, sometimes swinging toward the "awww" followed by a chuckle, this memoir of a cat and his librarian is exactly what one might expect it to be -- no more and no less. There are cute and clever photos at the beginning of each chapter, accounts of Dewey's cleverness and cuteness throughout, cute recollections and clever quips abound... I could go on. The book is also peppered with the human angle, reflections on life in Iowa from the librarian who both cared for Dewey and wrote the book, with a bit of help on both counts... it's all carefully arranged so that the reader loves Dewey, loves his people, loves Iowa (a small miracle for some), and then needs serious tissues at the end. It's not great literature, but I enjoyed it, mostly because of how gosh darn cute and clever that Dewey was. People who don't understand pets or don't like cats will not, however, appreciate this book in quite the same indulgent way.

#44: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
This is one of the most important teen novels written in the last few decades. Anderson is an excellent writer and this, her most famous novel, tackles issues of rape, peer pressure, repression and authority in a smart, tightly written and unpatronizing way. The book follows a young teenage girl, Melinda, through her freshman year of high school, after a traumatic night about which she feels she cannot speak. The ways in which she copes are written with a closeness that makes the reader feel the emotional experience of the character -- that closeness will reach out particularly to those readers who have struggled to articulate trauma themselves. In Melinda, Anderson gives us a truly relatable character. Universal, relatable themes of voice (obviously, given the title) and identity are common in teen books, of course, but rarely does an author successfully write from within a character's skin in the way that Anderson does here. I have yet to encounter a bad Anderson book, but this is the one that young women especially need to read.

#45: Century: 1910 (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) by Alan Moore
Moore has written some sequels to his original two-volume League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novels. This sequel heads up a new, assumably continuing, follow-up series that follows that manifestations of the League through the decades of the 20th century. As is typical of Moore, the book is chock-full of literary allusions -- you could spend a career analyzing all of Moore's intertextual references -- as well as nudity, violence, and a healthy measure of general weirdness. Moore uses shock with a deft hand, interspersing moments of gore or brutality with folksongs and moments of high-brow literary mystery; the overall effect is sometimes fascinating and sometimes unsettling. Those who have not previously encountered Moore and the League would be lost here -- best to begin at the beginning if you are new to the sparse series -- and those who are familiar will recognize both the strengths and flaws of this modern master. The end is no end at all (Moore seems to dislike actual endings), though it does lead into the prose passages, as usual, which seem random and confusing but do clear a few things up in the long run. Overall, this is worth reading, but doesn't possess anything near the power of the original.

#46: Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
Since the last few things I'd read had all centered on either death or brutality, I decided to lighten things up a bit with a touch of the Pratchett. I love Terry Pratchett, but I recognize that not everyone does -- apparently, not everyone appreciates a very British, humorous take on the tropes and icons of fantasy literature -- however, this particular volume centers on Granny Weatherwax and a couple of other witches, favorites even of readers who don't care much for the rest of the Discworld series. The novel is also a huge play (teehee) on Shakespeare's 'MacBeth', a fact which had me lesson-planning all the way through the book. This was a perfect antidote to the gloomy trend I had set myself -- I laughed out loud on more than one occasion -- and so I heartily recommend it to those who are like me. :)

If you have not encountered the Discworld series before, you might wish to know that this is #6, I think, in a series that may eventually hit fifty-bajillion volumes (or, like, 30). The first couple novels in the series are a little weak, then things get really good, and the quality fluctuates again a little ways down the line. Dedicated Pratchett readers read all the volumes in the series, but that's not strictly necessary -- I have hopped around in it quite sporadically myself and not had much trouble keeping up with the happenings. Just an FYI.

Edited for an oops. Oops.

I edited my masterlist at the top of this thread, in case anyone cares. It's getting a little long for the space, but I like the idea of keeping the whole list together. I also labeled the YA books appropriately, since I was curious as to how much of my own recent reading was technically for "younger readers" -- I'm pretty well balanced, with about 20 YA/children's books read and 26-ish adult books read (I use "about" and "-ish" because a couple of my books are unplaceable in terms of age group). Not that it really matters, but there you have it.

I love master lists, so I'm glad you're keeping it updated.

Master list looks good to me!

136: I'm glad to have read your opinion of the Discworld series. I thought I should read them in order and picked up The Color of Magic only to be dozing off in the first few chapters. I think I'll stick with it, but I'm glad to know it only gets better. I've heard good things about Wyrd Sisters so maybe I'll skip ahead... :)

Skip away! And may I also heartily recommend the YA Discworld stuff -- The Wee Free Men is, I think, the funniest thing Terry Pratchett has ever written.

I finished Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid and enjoyed it, but an official review will have to wait until I'm a bit more awake. Must dash.

#141: I liked Wee Free Men but I do not think Pratchett's humor is for me. I have tried several of the books now.

I am ready for your review of The Red Pyramid, Sarah. Dash back and write it, will you?

Okay, okay, I guess I can write this review for you, Stasia. ;)

#47: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
I genuinely enjoyed this first installment in Riordan's new YA fantasy-mythology series, 'The Kane Chronicles'. Those who liked the latter half of the Percy Jackson series will find much to love here. Those who preferred the first half of Percy's series, however, will be a little surprised by where Riordan starts this one. The first half of PJ was lighter and funnier -- plenty of comic relief and charm -- than the last couple of books in particular; with the Kane series, Riordan has jumped feet first into the dark end of the pool. This series seems like it is written for an older audience, right off the bat, and some of the descriptive passages -- particularly of the demonic minions of Set -- are downright gruesome. Just a heads-up, especially for parents of younger kids who want to jump on the Riordan bandwagon.

There is plenty of good stuff otherwise, though. I like the fact that Riordan has made room for both female and male protagonists here -- Sadie and Carter are typical YA heroes, but it's a particular pleasure to see a girl acting heroically in a YA myth-fantasy by a male author. I also like the emphasis on teamwork -- the two siblings are extraordinary as a team, rather than simply being individually (and unattainably) awesome. The narrative of the novel, which bounces between Sadie and Carter's perspectives, can at times be a little inconsistent and the interrupting asides are a bit annoying, but I think these are things that will smooth out as the series continues. I'm not as familiar with Egyptian myth as I was with Greek, but it seems to me that Riordan has taken as much care to follow the traditional rules as he did previously, using the characterizations of the Egyptian gods and monsters in a respectful way and opening the door to kids who will no doubt devour the older stories as they become fascinated by this series.

So, bottom line: it's not perfect, but I liked it and I look forward to the next installment.

Will that do, Stasia? :)

Also read...

#48 & #49: Just Ella and Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix
I like Haddix in general, but I especially like the way she looks at fairy tales and apparently says, "okay, magic whatever, then what happened?" These quick YA novels take the traditional model of the fairy tale and spin it out into empowering explorations of female agency, proactive individuality, and happy beginnings rather than endings. All this without being completely cloying and cliche. Yep, I do like that Haddix.

Just Ella picks up the Cinderella story after Ella has been whisked off to the palace by the Prince, just before she starts to realize that being royalty isn't all it's cracked up to be. Palace of Mirrors -- which isn't a sequel technically but does share a world and a character with the previous book, so it's nice to read them in order -- uses a "Prince and the Pauper"-esque story, touched with political realism, to examine the idea of what a "true princess" really is. While these are not challenging books, I genuinely enjoy Haddix's pragmatic eye and her wonderfully strong characterizations. I think that these books would be great to pair with the traditional fairy tales for a children's literature class or even just for parents who want their girls to find joy in fairy tales but keep their feet on the ground when it comes to expecting those happy endings. Good stuff overall.

And last night I read...

#50: The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Kate DiCamillo writes great children's books. Even if you don't love all of them -- because they do vary in many senses -- you have to admit that she is excellent at her craft. This slim novel is no exception. The Magician's Elephant unfolds with the slow, melancholy sweetness of a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. It's magical events are tinged with both gloom and hope. As with other such modern fairy tales -- Gaiman's Odd and the Frost Giants comes to mind -- one cannot come to this book with expectations of realism or detail. Instead, the reader simply has to let go and be captured by the pure charm of the world, the characters, and the images that populate the story. I find that DiCamillo's books are often best when read in one sitting -- I did just that with this one and was swept up by the deceptively simple text and the atmospheric illustrations. I loved it. That's about all I can say.

#143: Yes, it will do! Thanks.

#144: I definitely need to read The Magician's Elephant soon. I have really enjoyed the couple of DiCamillo's books that I have read.

I'm glad you like DiCamillo. I think I have read most of her recent stuff, except for the Mercy Watson series of Early Readers. I know David hates The Tale of Despereaux, a fact which never ceases to amaze me, but I have loved pretty much all her books. The Tiger Rising is the only one I didn't really get into, though I still generally enjoyed it.

#51: Proust's Overcoat by Lorenza Foschini
There seems to be quite a bit of buzz among literary folk about this slim volume (to be published in August), so I was pretty excited when I received an advance reader copy through Shelf Awareness. Unfortunately, my excitement didn't last once I started reading. Though the story of Jacques Guerin, the man who collected and preserved many of Proust's manuscripts and artifacts, is interesting, I found the book itself to be scattered and difficult to follow. Part of the problem is a general lack of transitions -- could be simply a result of translation or something that will be polished out of the final draft -- which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the jumps from Guerin's narrative to Proust's and back again. The inclusion of the author herself and her experience further complicates things -- though mostly confined to the introductory and concluding sections, there were moments when the author's insertions seemed intrusive.

Luckily, the book is short enough that the choppy, awkward style is not too much of a detriment and there is still quite a bit of charm here, particularly for those who love Proust or for whom collecting is a religion rather than a hobby. If you don't fall into either of those categories, you might want to skip this one. Perhaps I am a little too mainstream, but I don't see much here for those who don't already have a foundation of strong interest in the subject. Comparisons (in blurbs on the copy) to Winchester's The Professor and the Madman seem a little unfounded. In fact, I have started reading that book, just to be sure. :)

#146: David hates The Tale of Despereaux?! I am with you in the amazed camp!

Somehow I lost your thread...I found you again and will be sure to visit often.

I hope to read The Magician's Elephant soon. Your description is lovely.

>148 alcottacre:: Stasia, there is no accounting for it -- you would think he would like that book, but he even made fun of me for assigning it in my children's lit class -- he thinks it's that bad. Luckily, my students did not share David's attitude and it was a hit. :)

>149 Whisper1:: Linda, welcome back to the thread. I'm glad you found me again, as I have missed your thoughtful comments. Glad to see you! :)

On another note, I just read the other review for Proust's Overcoat, which praised its narrative style as "light and playful" and the translation as "lucid and precise". These are the moments in which I feel like I'm losing my mind. Maybe the prose of that book wasn't scattered -- maybe it's just me.

Oy.

edited for touchy touchstone.

I want you to read post #151 *very carefully* and then remember that the next time you're giving me crap for not liking Despereaux! =P

And to clarify, Stasia, I have even told Sarah that I'm surprised that I don't like it. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane? Beautiful! I simply love that book. Despereaux just did not click for me, and even I was surprised by that fact. I do admit to giving her a certain amount of grief for assigning that to her class, but I'm glad that it was such a hit!

**wanders off grumbling for being picked on over such a silly book as Despereaux**

That's okay, dear -- I never claimed to be immune to that same phenomenon. I admit it -- I am a hypocrite.

But it's still fun to pick on you. :)

I loved The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.

I haven't read Desperaux. I tried it, but it didn't hold my interest at the time.

Just posting a hello as I finally visit your thread. I noticed on your profile page that you had rated Boneshaker highly so thought I'd visit & read your comments. I'm about to read it but have promised myself to read Leviathan first.

Anyway I've added 3 or 4 books to my tbr list including Tooth and Claw and the new Appelt one and I've also made a promise to myself to read Shades of Grey as soon as I can.

#152: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was the first of DiCamillo's books that I read and I absolutely loved it. While I like Despereaux, I love Edward Tulane.

I have her The Magician's Elephant home from the library now and hope I enjoy it as much as I have the other two of hers.

#154, #156 Thank you, Linda! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one that didn't really like Despereaux. It seems that we all agree across the board about Edward Tulane, though, which doesn't surprise me at all.

The 52nd book that Sarah is about to post is a lie. She just doesn't want it to look like I'm getting ahead of her for the year. Just ignore the next post of hers and carry on. Nothing to see here.

>155 avatiakh:: Hello right back! You will have to let me know what you think about Leviathan as I have not yet read that one. Glad to add to anyone's TBR list.

>156 alcottacre:/7: Okay, even I can admit that I liked The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane better than The Tale of Despereaux. :)

And...

#52: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
This is a slim, short (takes 15 minutes or so to read) novel for children, written in poetry, in the form of a school journal... and it is WONDERFUL. I love it. And now I want to read Walter Dean Myers, who is referenced in the book. And I want to teach poetry. And I want to shake Sharon Creech's hand. Great book. Highly recommended.

>158 tapestry100:: David lies a lot. You should not believe anything he types here. He is just jealous that I posted #52 before he did.

#159: I read Love that Dog and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are wanting to try something different by Creech, I can recommend Walk Two Moons.

Love that dog is a favourite with me as well.
My favourite DiCamillo is Because of Winn Dixie, I read it in one sitting. I feel in some ways that her style is more suited to adults wanting to read lovely children's books than to children themselves, maybe she's too subtle for me.

I think you make a fair point about DiCamillo's audience -- many of her books seem best suited to, well, us rather than the young audience for whom they are purportedly written. The exception might be the Mercy Watson books, but I have no experience with those firsthand. I also notice that many of DiCamillo's books work best when you do read them all in one sitting -- Edward Tulane was that way for me -- and I suspect that adults are the ones sweeping through the books in that fashion. But I could be wrong.

#53: The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
I may be the last English major on earth to have read this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it despite my tardiness. Here is great, entertaining non-fiction -- detailed enough to be satisfying to those in the know, sensationalist enough to keep one's attention, and organized enough to be accessible to the average reader. Though not everyone in the world is as fascinated by (and in love with) the Oxford English Dictionary as I am, I suspect that the readership for Winchester's brand of non-fiction is broad, so give it a try... if you haven't already.

#164: I liked that one too when I read it a few years back. I am glad you finally got around to it, Sarah :)

I second Stasia's recommendation of Walk Two Moons It is a fantastic book.

I've now added Love That Dog to the tbr pile.

Thanks!

I've had a copy of The Professor and the Madman sitting on my bedside table for nearly 2 years now... I really have to just pick it up one of these days!

>166 Whisper1:: Linda, thanks for the second. I keep seeing Walk Two Moons on bookshelves at used bookstores, but for some reason I have never picked it up. Will have to do so now.

>167 dk_phoenix:: Do, dk_phoenix -- it's a quick read, for non-fiction, and a must for any word lover. I really liked it. :)

I'm almost done with What Would Barbra Do? by the way -- been laughing my butt off the whole time -- so I'll post thoughts on that later in the week.

looking forward to your comments on your latest read.

Here we are!

#54: What Would Barbra Do? by Emma Brockes
This fun little book was part memoir, part musical review (teehee). Brockes, a journalist, reflects on her own love of musicals -- both the stage and film variety, with some emphasis on film -- and her experience with others who both loved and hated them. I was reading an old ARC, so the fact that the writing was a little inconsistent may simply have been a lack of final polish. Otherwise, this book was full of moments that made me laugh out loud. This is definitely for musical-lovers -- if you don't feel abiding love for Julie Andrews, don't bother, because you won't get half the jokes. It's not the most elegantly written text, but I highly recommend it for those who need a break from seriousness for a little while. :)

Also, today I read a whole book because I had the day off and felt singularly unmotivated, so...

#55: A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
This was an elegant cozy, a historical mystery set in the Victorian era and featuring a sharp, gentlemanly sleuth named Lenox. I'm a fan of the Victorian era in literature, so this was going to make me happy anyway, but the mystery itself was clever, the characters were intriguing and charming, and the fine details were gratifyingly vivid. There were even humorous moments, particularly when Finch played with some of the familiar character tropes (the various butlers are great). Overall, a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

#171: I will have to add the Brockes book to the BlackHole. I love the old movie musicals, so I would probably enjoy that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Sarah!

I am scheduled to read A Beautiful Blue Death this month for my Walla Walla TIOLI challenge, so I am glad to see that you enjoyed it.

I may have to borrow the Brockes sometime. It sounds perfect for me.

No problem, dear -- anytime.

I have been reading, but am too sleepy to review. Here they are, with comments to come:

#56: The Stuff of Legend by Mike Raicht -- which was awesome!
#57: Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
#58: Searching for Dragons ditto
#59: Calling on Dragons ditto
#60: Talking to Dragons ditto
#61: The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

Fun stuff, all the way around. More later.

Hope you enjoyed the Wrede and Estes books--great light summer reading! Quick, too!

Love Patricia Wrede!

Ohmygosh, it's been ages. I've been working late and busy with general busy-ness, so poor LibraryThing has been neglected. I did indeed enjoy the Wrede books, and the Estes, and I promise I will write reviews as soon as I can.

I have also now read...

#62: His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
#63: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith -- such a lovely book, I wish I'd read it sooner!
#64: The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit -- read before, but always a pleasure.

I am now reading the second of Novik's Temeraire books, Throne of Jade, and I fully expect to tear through the series because these books are AWESOMENESS! It's like Jane Austen, Patrick O'Brien, and Anne McCaffrey had a literary baby. I love it.

More later, really. Thanks for popping in!

Hey, Sarah! Glad to see you back, if just momentarily! I hope work slows down for you soon.

Thanks, Stasia -- it's the end of the semester (again! how did that happen so fast!) so I am swamped with grading (because for the entire semester I read books instead of student papers, basically) and have had some family stuff going on as well, so I just haven't had a moment to really write even a blurb.

But I did finish Throne of Jade and enjoyed it, if not quite as much as the first, then definitely enough to carry on in the series.

I am now reading Black Powder War, which so far strikes me as the weakest of the three I have read -- I'm almost done with it, but it lacks the gorgeous detail and compelling tone of the first and second. it may be too transitional. But I must dash, so more about that later...

Hi There!

I'm adding A Beautiful Blue Death to the tbr pile. You mentioned that you enjoy Victorian mystery books. Have you read anything by Anne Perry? If not, you might want to try her mystery series.

I've been enjoying the Temeraire series too and it looks like we are pretty much in the same place! I'm hoping to get hold of Empire of Ivory soon. Hope things ease up for you soon.

>180 Whisper1:: I have fantasy novel by Anne perry -- Tathea, I think -- but I have not read her mysteries. Look, that's more for the TBR mountain! Thanks! :)

>181 souloftherose:: Okay, the Temeraire series was great. I ended up blowing through the last four books all in one week (in that same week, my grandfather had a stroke, a friend passed away, my car had a minor heart attack, and the sewer backed up into my basement, so I definitely needed an escape) and they were perfect. I hope you are enjoying them as much as I did (but without the personal stress context, of course). :)

So, I left off the list with...

#65: Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik -- good
#66: Black Powder War " " " -- not as good, but who am I to complain?
#67: Empire of Ivory " " " -- really, really cool
#68: Victory of Eagles " " " -- really, really, really cool
#69: Tongues of Serpents " " " -- a fascinating, if unexpected, finish (?) to my Novik binge

And then I moved on to...
#70: The September Society by Charles Finch -- every bit as good as his first
#71: Red Hood's Revenge by Jim Hines -- more fun fluff in the kick-butt princesses department
#72: The Mislaid Magician by P. Wrede and C. Stevermer -- third in a delightful fantasy/mystery series set in the early 1800s, which was a delight

I hope I have not forgotten anything, but you never know with me. Sorry about the lack of review blurbs, but I have only just finished my grading for the semester and am on my way home to pack and prepare for a week-long trip up north so that I can RELAX (and read!) before the next semester starts (in two weeks!). Busy, busy, busy.

I hope everyone else is enjoying the summer.

Hello to you. I read A beautiful Blue Death...finished it this morning. It held my interest. I will read the follow up. But, I thought it was somewhat mediocre.

#182: Sorry to hear about all your troubles, but glad you had some good reading to help pull you through.

>184 Whisper1:: Linda, I probably should have warned you that I am not much of a mystery reader, so my opinion of Finch's cleverness isn't based on any broad experience. I did really like his book, though, and I liked the sequel -- I am especially fond of the Victorian period lately, so the details were particularly satisfying to me. I'm sorry to hear that you did not like it quite so well.

>185 alcottacre:: Thanks, Stasia. Nothing like a good book (or 4) to make your troubles fade away (temporarily). :) They were just what I needed at the time.

So, I've just found out that Caroline Stevermer wrote a book that crosses over with the epistolary fantasy-mysteries she did with Patricia Wrede. It's called Magic Below Stairs and I am terribly excited to read it. Has anyone else encountered this one? It's on my wishlist but I am trying to resist an instant gratification purchase unless it's REALLY good.

Then resist it. I bought it right away and read it in mid-July. Here's what I wrote on my thread:
This children's fantasy is set in the household of one of the couples from the Wrede/Stevermer Sorcery and Cecilia trilogy, but is the story of a young boy. It is a good story for 9-10 year-olds, but doesn't really have the heft to be that interesting to adult readers of children's fantasy.

**le sigh**

Look at you, zooming passed me all whizbang like that with so many books read, and now you're on vacation and will have even more read! I'll never be able to catch up at this rate. =)

I guess I'll have to go read my autographed Tim Powers book to make me feel better... #taunt

You've read some great books lately! I tore through the Temeraire books earlier this year, and I have very fond childhood memories of Dealing with Dragons et al. It may be time for a reread....

Re: #187: Thanks for the heads-up; I will put that one on low priority. There are definitely more books to read out there.

#188: Ha. You are just jealous, my dear fellow, that I am such a speedy reader. Of course, if you weren't so busy being Mr. Fabulous Book Guy, you might get to read more. Oh, wait, is that MY jealousy showing? :)

#189: Thanks! I have been loving the dragon books lately - if you have any further suggestions that you have liked, please feel free to share. :)

I did read several more books on vacation but I have not patience enough to mess with touchstones via my,mobile phone, so I will have to post them later.

Hi. I hope you had a great vacation!

Thanks. I did. Of course, now it is straight back to work. Between the new semester and my new phone, I have hardly read a word since I got home. The shiny new toy syndrome better wear off soon or David us going to catch me up! :)

I am such a slacker. But, I did get the super-cool LibraryThing scanner app for my new phone, so I can scan in books! I've only done about 50 so far, but I like it.

Ah, *cough* -- I do, of course, realize that I could have been posting reviews in the time I spent figuring out that new app, so to make up for that, I will start to catch up here...

#73: The Ugly Princess and the Wise Fool by Margaret Gray
I can't recall if I read this before or after vacation, so I will just put it here anyway. It was a cute "original fairy tale" (quoted from the blurb) for early readers, with a solid message about valuing the internal over the external. A good option for girls who have been reading a lot of shallower chapter books, as this one has the romance factor, but teaches the lesson that we should not judge by appearances. I liked the Fool character quite a bit and, in addition to his antics, adults may get a kick out of the fairy-tale in-jokes. Overall, this is not brilliant, but it is cute and safe.

#74: Batman: R.I.P. by Grant Morrison
I am a huge Batman fan, but some of the recent direction-changes in the Batman comic series have left me cold (and, frankly, stopped me buying and reading). This collection of relatively recent issues (Batman #676-683, apparently) pulls together the story of **SPOILER ALERT** the supposed death of Bruce Wayne, but makes it pretty clear at the end that we should all be awaiting Bruce's return. It sets up the even more recent "Battle for the Cowl" storyline and events that come after that, but because this collection is only the central story and it moves pretty quickly to reassure you, in typical comic book style, that the end can't possibly be the end at all, it doesn't quite resonate with the impact one might expect from a story about Bruce Wayne dying. The book is beautiful and Morrison's writing, as usual, is serviceable and sometimes clever, but I can't feel much fondness for the book, given my irritation that DC has once again fallen back on the dead-but-not-really-dead superhero storyline. Plus, I believe that you can't have Batman without Bruce Wayne, so they should just stop trying to. But that's my bias -- feel free to form your own opinion.

#75: Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers
Okay, so this might not strictly have been #75, because I've kind of lost track of the order in which I read things, but we will just pretend, okay? I liked this book very much. It's a children's/middle grades book, set in a British historical museum (no, not that one -- the other, not-so-famous one), with elements of both historical fiction and fantasy. The best part of the book is Theodosia herself, who narrates the book with quiet wit and a good dose of realism. Other than her peculiar gift, which allows her to see evil curses on the ancient artifacts her curator-parents insist on bringing into the museum, Theodosia has no special powers or supernatural heritage. She is an ordinary girl, who occasionally locks herself in a sarcophagus -- with her cat, preferably -- because the things that go bump in the museum at night frighten her. Theodosia is one of the more endearing characters whom I have met lately, made even more so by her frank admissions of fear, ignorance and impatience. The fact that she never lets any of these flaws overcome her -- she reads ancient texts to figure out how to defeat curses, she makes amulets to protect herself, she occasionally manipulates her parents because, after all, sometimes parents just don't know what's good for them -- will, I think, make her a likable character for younger readers as well. (Not all kids will have patience with Theodosia's narrative style and moderate pacing, though, so this is not for the Captain Underpants crowd.) Overall, this was a charming read, with a few tingly-but-not-too-scary moments. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Congratulations on having reached the goal of reading 75 books this year!!! Regardless of which book was technically #75!

Theodosia sounds like fun. I shall put her on the wishlist and check the library.

ETA is this the first in the series? I see 3 Theodosia books under the author's name.

Congrats!

The rest of my vacation books were as follows:

#76: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
David was right -- I was not allowed to read this one last year (it was being talked about and displayed right around the time that my dog died). Even so, I still sobbed after concluding this novel, so be warned: tissues are a necessary accessory for this book. It's an interesting example of the dog book, because it has cross-gender appeal (racing cars play an essential role) but retains its sweetness (doesn't just play up the poop and puppy-disasters element). I particularly liked the novel's thoughtfulness. Overall, well worth the time.

#77: In the Woods by Tana French
I know I am late to the party on this, but I was incredibly impressed by French's procedural/mystery novel. I don't usually read police procedurals and I have limited experience with mysteries, but I found this to be compelling, detailed (but not to the point of bogging down the momentum) and, in the end, frustrating as hell (not all the questions get answered in this one -- be warned). I look forward to reading more from French.

#78: Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
This novel is billed as a "fantasy classic" and I can understand why, but one should know before going in that it ought to be more accurately billed as "a classic of Jungian psychology". Those who go looking here for sweeping adventure and charm will be seriously disappointed. Instead, Holdstock has used a loose fantasy plot (involving an ancient wood, an old house, and two brothers) to explore ideas of mythic archetypes and the creative/destructive unconscious. This is a rich and interesting book, but it is also slow and tilts toward exposition in a major way. Patience is necessary with this one.

#79:The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
Quite a few people, better read than I, have recently proclaimed this to be possibly the best stand-alone science fiction novel ever written. I think they might be right. Be aware that this is dark, with much implied violence, but there is a lot of power to both the story and its message, so nothing is gratuitous. Connections to The Count of Monte Cristo -- one of my all-time favorites -- make the experience richer for having read both. Awesome stuff.

#80: Mr. Timothy by Louis Bayard
Bayard is an extraordinary writer. Every sentence in this book is precise and elegant; every character has depth and richness. The story itself is darker than one might expect from a novel that picks up on the tale of Dickens' Tiny Tim; Bayard gives us a Tim who is all grown up, neither tiny nor saccharine, and dealing himself with the odd resolution between who he was as a child and who he is as a grown-up. The plot is full of mysteries, ghosts, and real-world devils, dealing with the violent underbelly of Victorian London. As historical fiction, this is wonderful. As an homage to Dickens, it is startling, but truer to the whole of that writer's work than The Christmas Carol itself probably was. Overall, highly recommended.

And now I must get back to work. Alas.

You had some great summer reads!

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos sounds like a lot of fun!

>194 alcottacre: & 196: Thanks for the congratulations (and for the fun smiley, Stasia).

>195 ronincats:: Yes, the first of the series is Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, and the second (which I don't yet have, but will soon) is Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris. I am hoping that the second book is as fun as the first. :)

#200: You are welcome, Sarah.

I found out that the Theodosia books are available for my Nook, so I have already downloaded the first one. I hope I enjoy it as much as you did!

Congrats on 75!

I am, naturally, extraordinarily jealous of you reaching 80, but still, congratulations! It looks like you've had a couple of good reads recently!

And, uhm, **blink blink**, maybe you could bring Theodosia with you on Friday? =) It sounds like a lot of fun!

And I am glad that you finally read The Art of Racing in the Rain, and I'm equally glad that you waited awhile before reading it.

Thanks dear. I will try to remember Theodosia for Friday, though you may need to remind me.

I forgot one of my vacation books: Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson. I can't do touchstones when posting from my phone, though, so I will have to officially list that later. It was a fantastic book -- the reason I forgot it was nothing to do with its quality, but rather that I had given so much evidence of enjoyment as I read it that my sister stole it as soon as I put it down and has only tonight returned it to me. #81!

I've got Mythago Wood lined up to read, I was waiting till I had books 2&3 as well, but maybe I should just get on to it. I read and enjoyed Star of Kazan last year along with a few others by Ibbotson.

Huh, I didn't even know Holdstock had written sequels. Good luck with that -- myself I think I will wait a while before tackling more of his.

Oh, and Ibbotson pretty much rocks. I have yet to encounter something of hers that I dislike. :)

Okay, so now with touchstones...

#81: The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson, which I loved. It has charm, engaging characters, sweetness, and then -- surprise! -- suspense, tension, villains, and then... well, I won't spoil it. But it's a wonderful book, great for both kids and adults.

#82: Troll's-Eye View edited by Ellen Datlow
I enjoyed most of these stories -- fairy tales taken from the perspectives of the villainous characters. Some were better than others, but there was enough good here to make the collection well worthwhile. As always, Neil Gaiman's poem was a highlight, but that might be my bias showing. :)

#208: I already had The Star of Kazan in the BlackHole and now Troll's-Eye View can join it. Both of them are even available at the local library too!

Glad to hear it, Stasia, because I think you will like them both.

Based on the lack of action on my thread, you might think that I have dropped off the face of the earth. Don't worry, I have not, but the fancy-pants phone will not let me do touchstones, so I keep waiting into I am at work to post reviews. Unfortunately, I also have to, you know, work while at work, so the posts aren't getting done.

Bottom line: I have read three more books, but proper posts are forthcoming. In case you are interested, the books are:

Hero, by Mike Lupica
The Danger Box, by Blue Balliett
Blameless, by Gail Carriger

I did not care for Hero, but enjoyed the others very much. More later, I promise.

I really have enjoyed the first three books by Blue Balliett. Does this one continue with the same characters?

No, roni, this is not a part of her art series, and the characters are very different. There are still some of her key elements, though, including a puzzle.

I have also enjoyed Blue Balliett's books, so I will have to look for The Danger Box. Thanks for the mention!

Belated congratulations on reaching and zooming past the 75 Book milestone.

>197 beserene:: Your comments on The Stars My Destination may get me to actually read this book sometime soon. It has been languishing in one of my TBR stacks for such a long time.

I'm glad you pointed out the connection to The Count of Monte Cristo, a book that I am looking forward to reading. Maybe I'll do a companion read. When I read a long book like 'The Count,' I like to have a shorter, lighter book to read along with it to give me an occasional break. Even better that these two are different genres to keep them separated in my mind.

Thanks! I would not call Bester's novel 'light', Donna, but it is a good pairing. I will be interested to know what you think.

Hey, guess what? Instead of grading student papers like I should be, I'm updating my LibraryThing thread! Surprise!

Okay, moving on... here are some recent reads:

#83: Hero by Mike Lupica
Let me start by saying that I am not Mike Lupica's target audience. It may be that the problems I found with this book might all be chalked up to the fact that I am not a twelve-year-old male. Or, there could be issues yet to be cleaned up, since I was reading an ARC. Honestly, though, I don't think either of those will really erase the problems that this start-of-series YA novel has.

Lupica's journalistic writing style has all the charm of a Tweet -- he writes as if sentences came with legal length limits in the 25-character range. Some may find this style blunt, modern, even Hemingway-esque, but for experienced readers, it comes across as hurried and choppy. For all its hurry, however, it took quite a while for me to read this, largely because the novel glosses over details that would help the reader care about the main character.

This is an especially grievous sin, given the fact that we are reading a superhero novel, one of many that uses the "special male child loses parent and finds destiny" plot, so the level of detail is really all there is to distinguish any participant in such an overstuffed tradition. Lupica falls short in that -- the reader neither cares about the main character nor his friends or family, despite obvious attempts to provide quick hooks (the female "sidekick" figure, for example, is smart and sassy, though not in any original way). There are some inconsistencies -- the main character reflecting on something that was supposedly said in a previous conversation, though it wasn't actually said in the dialogue -- that also interfere with the investment of a reader's belief. Overall, though, the big block is simply how fast and trite everything here is. Every character is a post-modern archetype -- other than the main character himself, who is a common cookie-cutter image, we also meet a Kennedy-esque character, an Alice-the-housekeeper, a classic football captain bully for our misunderstood and rebellious hero to foil, a mysterious-old-man who speaks in riddles, etc. -- but none of these figures transcend the models set for them. Unlike other authors, Lupica seems content to stitch together patterns, rather than build them up into something more.

There's not much that redeems here, but I will give Lupica this -- if he had constructed this as a graphic novel, I think it would have worked just fine. His terse, minimalist style would have been complimented and expanded by a visual story, perhaps by a classic comic book artist. This should be a comic book, bottom line, but without a visual element, it's left feeling half-written.

#84: The Danger Box by Blue Balliett
This, on the other hand, I loved. I sped through this book in a day. Those who are familiar with Balliett's series of art-inspired mysteries will find some familiar elements here, but this is a separate piece with new characters and circumstances. The narrative style and perspective might not be for everyone -- the book is told from the perspective of a boy who is legally blind and, though it is not explicitly stated in the book, mildly autistic, which may make some readers uncomfortable. I thought the unique style and perspective was wonderful -- not quite as well done as, say, Mark Haddon's in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, but still a great avenue for prompting the reader to look at things in a new way.

And this is a book that's all about looking at things in new ways. I won't give much away here, but the history-mystery (which connects with real places and artifacts, as is typical of Balliett) is a great deal of fun. There is enough darkness and tragedy here to lend realism to the narrative, but no need to worry about younger kids being upset -- this is solidly in the children's section, more advanced than a chapter book but perhaps not quite as involved as Balliett's art series -- everything is balanced with charm and a pervading tone of security. I found the characters sweet -- but not saccharine -- and clever, with a good measure of quirkiness. Overall, very much recommended for kids, particularly those who like mystery puzzles, and for adults who want a light, quick read.

More...

#85: Blameless by Gail Carriger
You all know I love this series -- it's clever, funny, steampunky take on the romance novel has a great deal of escapist appeal -- and I am happy to report that this newest installment is more of the same. In fact, I think it's a bit better than the previous book, Changeless, because our heroine -- Alexia Maccon, nee Tarrabotti -- is at her best (funniest, snarkiest, parasol-whackingest) when NOT happily married. Marital strife, in other words, suits her. We get plenty of Carriger signature blend here -- Victorian stuffiness, sharp wit, a hint of sass, and excellent outfits -- not to mention some delightful cultural bonuses -- Templars, for example -- that add to the hijinks. For those who are a bit tired of the dark paranormal romances where everyone has angst, this series is the perfect antidote. Rather like a nice cup of tea, it's a pleasant pick-me-up for any occasion. :)

#86: D.A. by Connie Willis
I liked this novella better than David did, but it still isn't perfect. More to the point, it isn't really Connie Willis' style -- her longer novels, however, are WONDERFUL.

#87: Room by Emma Donoghue
I loved this book, but I freely acknowledge that it's not for everyone. I want to write pages and pages about it, but there is an adorable bearded man pestering me to watch football (gah!) right now, so I will have to expound later.

I will look out for the Balliett--I have enjoyed his other books.

Wow, Sarah! When you update, you really update! Several there are making their way to the BlackHole. Thanks (I think, lol)

>219 alcottacre:: Stasia, that's because I am a procrastinator. You too can update in this style -- just leave everything to the last minute! :) Seriously, though, I am glad a few caught your eye. What else is LT for if not to provide tons and tons of new book ideas?

>218 ronincats:: Roni -- Do. I think you will like The Danger Box, even though the characters and setting are new. (I especially like the setting, since I live in Michigan and Three Oaks -- the little town Balliett used -- is about 3 hours away.)

Whew! *wipes forehead* -- I've just updated the master list at the top of this thread, for those who care (and for myself, of course). It cracks me up that I started this year wanting to diversify my reading, yet here we are almost to October and fantasy is still dominating in a big way. Ah, well, at least I know what I like.

Also, it appears that I forgot a book in all my tracking, listing and reviewing this year. back in July, when I read Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles, I forgot to include the last book I read, which was a collection of short stories, some of which were related to the series. So, because I don't want to re-number things, let's just call that one...

#88: Book of Enchantments by Patricia Wrede
This brief collection of fantasy stories is loosely related to Wrede's Enchanted Forest series, as I mentioned, but really only features a couple of stories that connect with familiar characters from the previous books. The other stories within are a mixed bag, but most are enjoyable and entertaining -- some are even thought-provoking. By far the star of the show, however, is the Frying Pan of Doom. For the short story "Utensile Strength" -- and its famous pan -- alone, any fantasy fan should really read this book.

Okay, so let's talk for a minute about...

Room by Emma Donoghue (#87, as listed in message 217)

Room is a novel that is not for everyone. I know that could be said about most novels, or most anything, for that matter, but here is the key difference: this novel is extraordinary. It looks at a horrific situation and makes the moments within that situation celebratory. It looks at motherhood and childhood and considers the realities of such relationships under strain, but refrains from romanticizing. It creates a story of release, rediscovery, and readjustment, but it isn't really about those things -- or the victimization that makes them necessary -- at all. For all these reasons, and more, this is an extraordinary novel.

But you still might not like it.

One of the reasons for that is the narration -- though that very narration is a major contributing factor to the elevation of this story to something beyond the everyday. The entire novel is told through the eyes and voice of five-year-old Jack, whose whole world consists of Room (an 11' x 11' windowless but skylit cell), its furnishings and objects, and Ma. The narration never shifts from Jack's understanding, even as his world shifts beneath his feet. That perspective is compelling -- it's part of what kept me turning pages -- but it also takes some getting used to. Jack's grammar is particularly articulate for a five-year-old, but has unusual structure and vocabulary. The way Jack thinks about some things can be disturbing -- what he finds commonplace may be squirm-worthy for the reader -- and that too contributes to the way this story sinks under one's skin.

If you can get into the narration and let Jack's eyes be your own for a while, the novel rewards. I won't spoil it all here, because that would be mean, but things change -- as they must -- and part of the glory of this experience is watching Jack try to change too (some of his change-related moments are funny, some cringe-worthy).

I had the good fortune to attend a recent reading of Emma Donoghue's and she described her novel as "celebratory of motherhood" -- I found it to be so, of course, but perhaps even more celebratory of childhood -- both of its charms and its limitations. Jack is our focus, and in many ways he is our hero, though not in the archetypal way. He is also a very real five-year-old boy (apparently Donoghue had young children in the house while writing the novel, so listened in and took advantage of observational opportunities). I appreciated Donoghue's realism throughout the novel, as well as her focus on staying away from sentimentality -- even in the face of significant temptation, given the subject matter. Using a circumstance more suited to a thriller or horror novel, but with no "seen" violence, Donoghue has crafted a work that escapes our voyeuristic tendencies and substitutes a more satisfying focus. Where one might expect to be shocked, one finds delicacy; where one might expect to feel dirtied, one emerges cathartically cleansed.

Bottom line: this is an amazing book. It's probably the most uniquely rendered piece of fiction you will read all year. Though some may not like its narrative style, give it a chance to impress you.

Whether or not I ever read the book, that is an outstanding review, Sarah! Thumbs up!

Did you read D.A.?

Thanks! Everyone who reads Room seems to feel strongly about it one way or the other, so I expect we will see many more good reviews as the book spreads farther.

And yes, I did read D.A. -- David's copy, which I think will soon be leaving us -- and liked it well enough. It's a clever little puzzle story -- doesn't take but half an hour to read -- and it has a smart resolution, but there just isn't much there to sink one's teeth into. I love Connie Willis but I only liked that one.

Have you read it before?

#221: Well, rats. The local library does not have Book of Enchantments even though it has the entire Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Arg!

#222: I already have Room in the BlackHole. One of these days, I will get to it.

>224 beserene: No, I hadn't, which is why I was so glad to get David's copy. Beyond the surface story, which I grant you is slight, is a homage to Robert Heinlein's content and style in his SF juveniles, which takes it to a whole new level. I love Willis' sense of humor.

>226 ronincats:: Ohmigosh, I didn't even catch the Heinlein connection -- and I teach science fiction, for heaven's sake! *hangs head in shame*

Thanks for pointing that out.

And I too love Willis' humor -- To Say Nothing of the Dog almost made me pee myself, especially since I had read Three Men in a Boat just before.

Have you read the new one, Blackout? I haven't yet, but I am curious about it.

>225 alcottacre:: Don't worry, Stasia, you'll find Book of Enchantments -- it tends to pop up unexpectedly. I got mine for 25 cents at a library sale. :)

Almost forgot! I am reading still, of course, but have gotten bogged down these last couple of weeks with Mr. Toppit by Charles Elton. Has anyone else read this? Does it get any better?

Not that it's bad, it's just so... tedious. I rarely put a book down once I am in the middle of it, but I just can't seem to latch on to this one. Any and all kernels of hope are welcome.

It's cramping my speedy style -- David may catch me up!

#227: I do not think Blackout is available yet, Sarah. I have it on pre-order from Amazon and don't expect it until late October.

I stand corrected. It is the next book in the series, All Clear, that does not come out until October. See Roni's post.

I have Blackout sitting here, to be read right before the 19th when the second half of the story, All Clear comes out, to be read before I go have Connie Willis sign them at Mysterious Galaxy on October 28.

Have you read Willis' Bellwether? That is the other laugh-out-loud funny books of hers, pointing fun at academia and fads. I adore both Three Men in a Boat and To Say Nothing of the Dog, especially together--absolutely delightful!

Ah, that makes sense. I have gotten spoiled by Early Reviewers and my darling bookstore boyfriend -- apparently I am TOO used to ARCs now if I am forgetting about release dates!

Well, something to look forward too, then. :) Thanks!

>229 alcottacre: & 231: Oh, or is it All Clear coming out in October?

>230 ronincats:: I have NOT read Bellwether! Obviously, I need to. Thanks for the recommendation! Is that connected to her time sequence, starting with Doomsday Book?

Edit: Obviously I am too slow for you fast-posters, but I am glad we cleared it up. Blackout is currently available; All Clear is out in a few weeks. Cool.

#232: I have both books arriving together, which only partially explains why I am totally confused :)

>233 alcottacre:: Aha! Mystery solved.

I look forward to seeing what you think of those, Stasia. It's going to be a while before I can get to them -- even my TBRSRTL ("To Be Read Sooner Rather Than Later") pile is stacked up at the moment -- and that's the one that's supposed to be under control (I've given up trying to control the unruly TBR mob).

#234: I've given up trying to control the unruly TBR mob

We are supposed to control it?! I have never been able to control the BlackHole, lol.

I am not sure when I am going to get to the Willis books. I am supposed to be reading them with Carolyn, but she has been MIA for a bit now.

Yes, All Clear is supposed to be in the bookstores on the 19th, along with Bujold's newest, Cryoburn. Yum!

Bellwether is a stand-alone that is not connected to any of Willis' other books.

OK, Connie Willis experts. My interest is sufficiently piqued. What should I read first?

Oh, dear, that is hard. Her books are so different from each other.

Lovely little adventure fantasy with Cynthia Felice, Water Witch.

Time travel books:
Fire Watch (book of short stories)
Doomsday Book serious and at times gut wrenching
To Say Nothing But the Dog gently humorous homage to Victorian writing and Three Men in a Boat
and the new ones, Blackout and All Clear

Bellwether: satirizes academia, grants, and fads

Passage: Explores near death experiences and does what no other author, to my knowledge, has done re the main character.

Remake: novella re: SF Hollywood and movies.

Lincoln's Dreams: haven't read this yet.

and assorted books of short stories.

>237 tapestry100: & 238: David, I second the statement that Willis' books are radically different from one another, so it really depends what you are in the mood for.

If, on the other hand, you want to go the practical route, I own Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog, and Passage, so you are welcome to start with those. :)

>236 ronincats:: You like Bujold too? I read her -- ah heck, what's it called? Um, the really cool series? Crap. Starts with The Curse of Chalion (just had to look that up on Amazon, embarrassingly enough). Anyway, I liked that series, though there were inconsistencies, but I really haven't read much else of her -- I hate The Sharing Knife series covers, so have not picked those up -- and I haven't even heard of Cryoburn before. Sounds like scifi. Bujold does scifi?

I am learning so much today, as I sit in a hotel room in Des Moines, trying to convince myself that I can sleep in a hotel bed (bedbug paranoia big time these days).

#239: trying to convince myself that I can sleep in a hotel bed

If all else fails, sleep in the bathtub :)

That sounds chilly. If something bites me during the night, however, the bathtub is where I will be. I did check the edge of the mattress and the sheets. Been keeping an eye out for movement as I've been playing on the computer.

For now, though, I think I'm going to have to be brave and go to bed, because I am terribly tired (after today's ten-hour drive) and I have a presentation in eight short hours. Urgh.

Good night, LT-world. If you hear a blood-curdling scream during the night, you'll know I found a bug.

Good night, Sarah. I hope you get some rest!

Bujold? Only own everything she's ever written. Love The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls. Does she write science fiction? Does she write science fiction!!!

Cryoburn will be the 16th book set in what is known now as the Vorkosigan Universe. Two early books deal with how Miles came to be (his parents). Shards of Honor is the first of those chronologically, but is her earliest written book and therefore probably her weakest in writing style. On the other hand, the characters come through marvelously even so, and great characters are a Bujold characteristic. Barrayar, which is next chronologically, was written several books later and is marvelous. Then we have 11 books dealing with Miles, starting with Warrior's Apprentice. Characters don't stay the same in this story arc, but grow and change--people treat them as real people, because they come to be. And there are two auxiliary books, in the same universe but not directly related to the Vorkosigan story lines. It's space opera, in the best sense of the word. Oh, Sarah, lucky one to be able to experience them for the first time!

You can start with either Shards of Honor or The Warrior's Apprentice, but eventually you will want to read them all. But read on from those starting points in chronological order, because as the characters do grow and change, skipping around in the series will cause you to miss out on a lot of what is going on. Wikipedia has a listing under Bujold's name of both publication and chronological order, without any plot spoilers.

ETA grammatical corrections.

>243 ronincats:: Wow. I had no idea. LT has lists of that series too, so onto the wishlist that series goes. I also second your assessment that great characters are a Bujold characteristic -- that's what made me love The Curse of Chalion so much.

>242 alcottacre:: I am happy to report that there were no bedbugs and, although I didn't sleep steadily because I kept thinking about things to say in my presentation (and I still forgot to mention minimum GPAs, darn it!), it wasn't for a lack of comfort. Well done, hotel, for not traumatizing me.

Oh, and I just saw the comment that I am getting a copy of the McKinley book from ER. Me = EXCITED! Love her!

I got it too!!! Was raving about it in my thread. My top choice!!! Woo-hoo!!!! I can't wait to get it.

Congratulations to you both! I am getting an ER book I dearly wanted too, so the 75ers are doing good with that program this month.

I received the graphic novel version of Dante's Divine Comedy, as well!

Go us! w00t!

Hello to you!

Hello yourself, dear. How are things?

It seems like I have been reading Mr. Toppit forever, though since I posted my review of Room on the 27th of September, it can't actually have been forever (never mind about the other hyperbolic issues of that statement), but I do have good news to report: the bloody book has finally gotten good!

It took 200 pages and almost two weeks (when was the last time I took so long to read 200 pages?), but I am actually intrigued now and suspect that I will have this one finished soon.

And then on to faster things, please!

#251: 200 pages to get into the book? I think I would have lost patience with it by page 50!

Short version: Well, it ended up okay, despite the (very) slow start.

#89: Mr. Toppit by Charles Elton
Most readers can imagine the trouble that often happens when a writer uses his/her child as the model for fiction -- think Christopher Robin Milne, etc. -- especially when that fiction becomes a phenomenon. The impact such a phenomenon could have on a family, in this case a family that (like most) already has significant problems, is the premise for Charles Elton's post-modern novel.

For most of the novel, Luke Hayman -- the boy who was fictionalized as "Luke Hayseed" in his father's popular children's series 'The Hayseed Chronicles' -- is our guide to the psychological and emotional collapse that his family is undergoing, mostly as a result of the fame and misrepresentation related to the books. Unfortunately, Luke is not much of an engaging narrator. That is part of the point, in some ways, because as a character he is distant and struggles to relate to those around him anyway, but lack of relatability is an even bigger issue for the reader. I struggled to push myself through the first 200 pages of this book, largely because there was no character -- including the primary narrator -- toward whom I felt any attachment.

Another impediment to the engagement of the reader is the narrative style. While most of the chapters are through Luke's eyes, we sometimes jump to the perspectives of other characters, including (occasionally and randomly) reading through letters or other communications. The narrative itself is non-linear for much of the book, jumping from Luke's father's death (not a spoiler -- this happens at the beginning of the book, though it is a later event in the chronology) to his teen years to his childhood and then bopping back and forth a few times. While I appreciate the efforts of an author to "mix it up", all the jumping around was also an impediment to any genuine connection with the book.

About 200 pages into the book, the event promised since the very beginning -- again, not a spoiler, the books get popular in America -- actually occurs (instead of just being alluded to) and at that point things start to pick up. What has been distant becomes emotionally intense, what had been inactive becomes a rollercoaster. The last 100 pages roll out quickly, with the inevitable tragedy toward which the book has been driving unfolded in one brief, sharp, emotional scene.

Truthfully, I cannot really recommend this book for those who like their fiction to be consistent and engaging -- the work that it took to get into this book will not be worth it for many. I did find that the book left me with a lot to think about, but it was not a genuinely enjoyable read. The post-modern trend of convoluting the narrative in any possible fashion annoys me, because it always seems that the author of such a narrative would rather be admired than loved. So, there is much here to push one away. In fairness, some may find the emotional payoff worth it. I did not. Not one I will be reading again.

#253: I think I will give that one a pass, Sarah. I hope your next read is a more enjoyable one for you.

BTW - You might want to think about starting a new thread before the Thread Police show up on your doorstep :)

Wow. I've never had to start a second thread before. How does one go about linking the next thread here? Any tips welcome.

I will try to start a new thread early next week, when I am on a computer rather than this phone - less chance of a screw-up that way.

Thanks.

I can help you start a new thread next week. =)

Just tried to start a new topic, but it didn't give me 75 Books Challenge 2010 as a group option. Um, help? What did I miss?

Did you try going to the 75 Book Challenge group page and clicking "post a new topic" from there?

While you did not enjoy your last read, I enjoyed your review. Your writing skills are incredible!

New thread started here.