calm counting - 75 in 2010 - part 3

The first thread is here

http://www.librarything.com/topic/79013

second is here

http://www.librarything.com/topic/87980

All my reads are going to be in this group but for those interested in some of my goals for this year my 1010 thread is here

http://www.librarything.com/topic/70719

As I reached the 75 book target I am going to try to double it, so my new target for the year is 150 books!




Comments and suggestions are welcome. I must admit to lurking and reading other people's threads but not posting very often (my bad!). I'll try to comment elsewhere occasionally.

Books 1 - 41 on first thread

Books 42 -77 on second thread

78) Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (post 4)
79) Nine Lives by William Dalrymple (post 17)
80) The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (post 22)
81) Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb (post 28)
82) Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman (post 35)
83) The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (post 40)
84) The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull (post 46)
85) Flight of the Hawk by G. R. Grove (post 58)
86) The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester (post 62)
87) Kraken by China Mieville (post 68)
88) Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier (post 82)
89) Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay (post 88)
90) Watermark : A Novel of the Middle Ages by Vanitha Sankaran (post 101)
91) Celtic Saints Passionate Wanderers by Elizabeth Rees (post 102)
92) Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (post 107)
93) The Unadulterated Cat by Terry Pratchett (post 108)
94) Hyddenworld Spring by William Horwood (post 118)
95) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (post 124)
96) Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie (post 130)
97) XIsle by Steve Augarde (post 132)
98) The Gathering Night by Margaret Elphinstone (post 141)
99) Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel (post 143)
100) Codex by Lev Grossman (post 149)
101) The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (post 156)
102) Montana 1948 by Larry Watson (post 157)
103) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Burrows (post 169)
104) The Ash Spear by G.R. Grove (post 177)
105) One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (post 178)
106) The Stonor Eagles by William Horwood (post 193)
107) Heroes and Villains by Angela Carter (post 194)
108) Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson (post 199)
109) Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (post 206)
110) Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (post 212)
111) An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro (post 213)
112) Elementals by A. S. Byatt (post 227)
113) Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (post 235)
114) Kanthapura by Raja Rao (post 236)
115) The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (post 244)
116) The Hero of the Ages By Brandon Sanderson (post 248)
117) Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones (post 249)

For what?

78) Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (7 June - 8 June)

This is an enjoyable YA, steampunk novel. This is set at the start of the First World War, in an alternate history. Britain has built on Darwin's work and created beasties; other parts of Europe have developed machines. The stage is set for the clash of Darwinists and Clankers. Two 16 year olds are at the centre of the action - Dylan, who wants to fly in the living Leviathans of the British Airforce, and Alek, a young Austrian nobleman.

Westerfeld has created an imaginative alternate world. A lot of thought seems to have gone into the development of both the mechanisation of the Clankers and the evolved creatures. There is reasonable development of the two main protagonists and supporting characters. This is an engaging story and sets the scene nicely for the future books of the series.

Hi Stasia, Trying to get some space before you got here;-)

1 for intro and tickers
2 for list of books
4 for my latest read

Oops! *backing slowly out of calm's thread before I get hurt*

No worries, you are always welcome.

Whew!

checking in and starring...
*waves*

hey, no lurking! post a bit now and again, would ya please :)

>4 calm: Oh, I'm very glad you liked Leviathan, calm! Stasia sent it to me, and I devoured it. Lovely idea, this one, and while I'd feel comfortable giving it to anyone over 13, it has a lot to say to adults as well.

Stasia - pleased you came back

Kath - I hear and obey, I must admit it's not always easy for me to type - I've got carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spondylitis so it hurts:(

Richard - should have credited you with the rec, now all we have to do is wait for Behemoth!

*pats foot, awaiting Behemoth with such patience as he can muster*

Just de-lurking (and harking back to your last thread) to say that I'm glad Jersey Royals are your favourite *grins proprietarily*.

Oh and I'm another reader eagerly awaiting The City and the City to arrive from Amazon - everyones comment have made me really really want to read this.

Thanks for stopping to visit my thread :)

and Bekka, good luck with that one.. lol

Richard - that's one of the reasons I usually avoid starting to read new series. I don't want to wait to find out what happens next.

Bekka - so nice to have fresh seasonal treats to look forward to and lovely that Jersey Royals and asparagus are in season at the same time - perfect combo! Hope you like The City and The City. I've just reserved his latest book, Kraken, at the library.

Kath - I visit most days- I just rarely post:)

I've not actually read any of his yet - so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I like this one.

Re Jersey Royals - it's another reason to visit my Dad at the moment. They have fields behind the house so I can generally poach a bag of fresh crop off him! Mmmmmm...

I spotted this on Suzanne's (Chatterbox) thread earlier this year and borrowed it from the library. Unfortunately someone else has requested it so I have to return it to the library and didn't take as much time to read it as I hoped.



79) Nine Lives: in Search of the Sacred in Modern India by William Dalrymple (10 June - 13 June)

Nine lives; nine paths to spirituality in modern India; nine heartbreaking stories of individuals who hold on to tradition while India changes. The paths of these people are not easy — whether it is learning the sacred songs; sculpting the religious idols; living as a sacred prostitute or simply roaming the roads of India, forsaking home and family.

Dalrymple has travelled through India and talked to the people who have found a calling. Some through family tradition, carrying on as their ancestors did and trying to pass on their knowledge to the next generation; but the spread of education and technology means that their are now other paths to follow. Some to find a new life and community, even when their families object. What brings these stories together is the joy that many find in the way of life they follow. The acceptance of the community for these differing ways; a degree of religious tolerance that has lasted centuries. There are and have been challenges - the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the suppression of the Buddhist monasteries; Partition and the splitting of Muslim and Hindu; the Taliban and extremist views; the thought that traditions are mere superstition. Is India going to lose part of that long standing multi-religious tradition or will these paths always exist?

This was a fascinating glimpse of a culture. Dalrymple has a wonderful ability to tell these tales in a non-judgemental way, capturing the essence of nine characters and their paths in life.

That sounds very interesting... I'll keep an eye out for it.

I already have that one in the BlackHole thanks to Suzanne's review. Unfortunately, the local library still does not have it.

Found you again! Nine Lives keeps beckoning. This one looks good enough to buy so that I can take my time with it. I don't know what it is about India that is so fascinating to me. I've loved every book that has been set there.

Sorry to hear about your carpal tunnel problems. Typing must be excruciating. I hope you can turn the pages of a book without pain. :-)

Faith - hope you can find it.

Stasia - I think lots of people were interested after Suzanne's review. I was just lucky my library had a copy, but as I said someone else also reserved it so I had to read it very quickly!

Donna - definitely worth taking your time with, I wish I could have just read one story a day ... oh well ... not sure of it's one I would want to re-read but India seems to be a country I want to learn more about.

The carpal can be a pain but most of the time I can still hold a book, though most of my reading is done lying on my side in bed so I don't have to hold the book - just turn pages;) If it's a good one I can get lost in the story and forget the pain.

80) The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (8 June - 17 June)

Books, Historians, Libraries, Archives ... Vampires ... what's not to love? Well actually a few things. This is a long book that reads long. The style is very formal and almost scholarly, letters and old documents are reproduced at length and the tone of these is very similar — even when supposedly written at different times by different people. Because of the format there is a distance to the characters so that I felt little empathy with what they were going through. That said I didn't hate this book. I liked the descriptions of places and cultures; the feel of the different eras of the twentieth century and the research into medieval Eastern Europe and the story of Vlad the Impaler.

This is a book that slowly unfolds its story. There are wonderfully descriptive passages and it is an interesting story. I think it is worth persevering with though not one for everybody.

#22: Hah! One on your list that I have actually already read :)

I am sure there have been a few of those;) Pleased not to add to the Black Hole this time. Did you like it?

Yes, I did although I must admit it has been a while since I read it. I read the book when it originally came out several years ago. From my recollection of it, I agree with your summary of the book.

:) whew! Glad to find another positve review.. you and Suzanne liked it, so I am hoping that whem I get my lazy self to pick it up that I will like it too :)

Thanks Stasia.

Hi Kath, I hope you like it as well. It's not a quick or easy read but I think it's worth it.

81) Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb (17 June - 19 June)

Robin Hobb has created a fascinating world, well thought out and developed over the course of 11 books. This is the conclusion to the story started in The Dragon Keeper, which ended on a cliffhanger.

This is a book about the journey — the physical journey through the Rain Wilds in search of the lost Elderling city of Kelsingra and the emotional journey of the characters. The hardships of travel, and close proximity between dragons and humans, change the dynamics of the group. Sexuality; leadership; acceptance of society's rules; are all questioned and developed against the backdrop of the search for a place to belong.

If you've been following the story started in Assassin's Apprentice all those years ago I think you will welcome this addition to the series and will look forward to many more books to come.

I own Assassin's Apprentice and one of these centuries I may break down and read it.

I read the first three, the Farseer Trilogy, and enjoyed them. I went on and tried the Liveship and the Soldier's Son series. I didn't love them quite as much and just fell out of the habit of Hobb. (Ooh, nice alliteration there, Tad)

Would you say that theTawny Man and whatever the Dragon series is called are more like the Farseer books or more like Liveship?

I used to read that sort o fantasy all the time. Haven't really latly though. It still peaks my interest when I come across one. Don't ask why I stopped.. not sure :P

Hi Stasia - whenever you are ready to read it, books are patient;)

Hi TadAd - I must agree with you about not liking the Soldier Son as much as Farseer. But not knowing what you didn't like about Liveship (except that the Farseer trilogy was a hard one to live up to and suddenly you are in a completely different part of the world) it's a bit complicated to say as, IMO, all the series (except Soldier Son of course) build the bigger world. So I think they should be read in published order.

All I can say is that the Tawny Man series continues the story of Fitz and The Fool, so you might like that. You are back in the Six Duchies but it does also follow the Liveship trilogy. Then the Rain Wild series has a new cast of characters. I just like Hobb's worldbuilding.

Hi Kath - I'm not reading as much fantasy as I used to. I think part of it was so many long running series and waiting for the next book to come out. I still have my favourites but I'm trying to avoid starting new ones.

#32: Yes, they are and in my case, it is a good thing!

#28 I read and enjoyed Assassin's Apprentice and subsequent books and I really liked Hobb's writing but I found the series so traumatic to read. I got all the way through to Golden Fool and then decided I couldn't take any more! I never read any of the Liveship trilogy though, just the Fitz books.

Anyway, glad you enjoyed it. I wish I wasn't so much of a wuss sometimes!

82) Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman (19 June)

This is a delightful children's story from Neil Gaiman. Odd, a young Viking boy, isn't very lucky. His father is dead, he is crippled and the man his mother marries doesn't like him. Returning to his father's old hut in the middle of winter leads him on an adventure.

Drawing heavily on Norse mythology and the gods constant battles with the frost giants, Gaiman gives just enough flavour to this short book. Odd is an engaging hero and, in few words, Gaiman has recreated the world of Norse myth in a way that is approachable for a modern audience. A truly wonderful piece of story telling.

Hi Heather, Hobb's writing is wonderful. Sorry you found them traumatic. I don't think you are a wuss! Different people like different things;)

Have you tried any of the books she wrote as Megan Lindholm? I think they are a bit lighter but just as well written. There's are a few to try - the Windsinger Quartet; The Reindeer People and its sequel Wolf's Brother and I've also read The Wizard of the Pigeons.

#35 That one's already on the list :-)

#36 I'm trying to remember why they upset me so much. I think it was because I really got to know and love the character of Fitz and the misfortunes that befell him seemed to be endless, particularly in the second trilogy. I might look out for the Megan Lindholm books if they're a bit less harrowing - thanks :-)

#35: I liked that one too! Glad to se it has found another fan.

Heather- I hope you get to read Odd and the Frost Giants soon it is a delightful book. I'm definitely not adding to your list with the book I've just finished as I found it on your thread. Comments on The Book of Lost Things coming later, I still need to think it over.

Stasia - I can't imagine anyone not being a fan of Odd;)

Thanks to Heather (souloftherose) for reading this book earlier this year. It led me to bump it up the TBR.



83) The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (19 June - 21 June)

A wonderfully complex world of twisted fairytales. David's main connection with his mother was the stories they shared. The myths and folktales she first read to him as a child which he read to her as she lay dying. After her death it isn't long before his father remarries and a half brother is born. Retreating further into books David finds the barriers between reality and another world growing thin.

Connolly reworks the common themes of many folktales into an amazing coming of age story. David's travels through this other world and his growing realisation of what is important in life make this an interesting and unsettling book to read. Not one for children.

40: It's going on my TBR--thank you to you, and to souloftherose.

Karen O.

#40: Another one I do not have to add to the BlackHole, since I read it last year. I feel like celebrating :)

Congratulations on reading 83 books thus far! And, many of them oh so good!

Karen O - I hope you like it

Stasia - Pleased to see my "do not add to the Black Hole" strategy is working (some of the time!)

Whisper1 (Linda?) - Thank you, I like to think that I read good books or at least ones that suit my tastes;)

lol, calm.

While in a second hand book shop, with the Africa TIOLI challenge in mind, I remembered that this was one which someone had read and recommended. So for due credit - I spotted this on Mark's (msf59) thread.



84) The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull (21 June - 24 June)

Kenya just after the First World War has been opened up to ex-service men who are given a chance for land and a new life. Africa is harsh but beguiling and the characters reflect this. The shifting points of view allow us to see this world through different eyes as a cast of opportunists, established settlers, natives and newcomers fill the pages of this book.

Bartle Bull knows this land and tells the history of a few years at a pivotal point in time. As a picture of life this is a wonderful piece of storytelling. The love for a country and hope of life is captured in such a way that I was drawn into the story and hoped that things would end well. I must say that few of the characters are actually likeable all the time, and some of the violence (and sex) is sadistic, but that was all part of the highly descriptive nature of this book. In the end I found this book gritty and hard but also strangely appealing, just like Kenya.

#46: I already have that one in the BlackHole because of Mark's review. Unfortunately, my local library does not have it yet. I will get to it one of these centuries I am sure!

#40 Glad you enjoyed that one!

#46 I'm undecided about that one but I liked your review. Do you think you'll read the others in the series?

First Mark and now you too, calm .... darn, you make The White Rhino Hotel sound so appealing.

Hi Stasia - one of these centuries sounds about right given the size of the Black Hole!

Yes Heather that was a very nice recommendation from you, thanks.

I'm not sure about continuing the series. I luckily stumbled on The White Rhino Hotel in a second hand shop at a very reasonable price and as I said I remembered that somebody had recommended it. If I spot any more by Bartle Bull he's on the radar as a good writer so I'll probably pick them up but I'm not in any hurry. So many books on the TBR shelves and I should probably get them read before adding too many more.

Hi Caroline - Appealing! Well, it is very readable ... if you've got a strong stomach;)

I am doing as rd does in stasia's thread...skipping blue text and photos..
working so far :)

Hi Kath - don't worry about the blue text and pictures it's just nice to see you here. I think rd is neglecting me. He hasn't posted here for ages;(

The White Rhino Hotel sounds interesting and I like gritty so I'll add it to my list too.
I also enjoyed The Book of Lost Things and Odd and the Frost Giants, I've just got hold of another by John Connelly, The Gates which I hope to read soon.

Hi Kerry - Thanks for stopping by. I'll look out for your thoughts on The Gates.

Hi! *runs away from pretty pictures and blue words*

see? I knew that is what he was up too.. he is the one who taught me how to avoid those things ya know :)

Hi Richard - I knew mentioning your name would make you delurk:) Even if you do run away from the *pretty pictures and blue words* you are always welcome here.

Yes Kath he's a bad influence ... I wonder if I could get away with it on his threads;)

85) Flight of the Hawk by G. R. Grove (24 June - 27 June)

Second in the Storyteller series. Britain in the 6th century AD and once again Gwernin is travelling, this time with Taliesin's apprentice Neirin, heading towards the Pictish kingdoms in Scotland. Tensions are rising between the many petty kingdoms of the time and the Saxon invaders are also a threat. The loss of the Druidic culture and the rise of Christianity also has a part to play in this story.

What felt like fewer stories and more about the journey and encounters that Gwernin has makes this a more cohesive, less episodic book. For a picture of Dark Age Britain G.R Grove has written a wonderfully descriptive book. The land; customs and people feel as though they really existed.

#58: I sure wish my local library had Grove's books!

Stasia - can you ask your library to get them? It's one of the things I love about our library system, you can request any book and, if they can afford it, they get it for you. I try to only request things I think other people would also like to read and I've only had one refused request in all my years of using it. The book I wanted was out of print and even then they asked if I was willing to pay!

Checking in - rather late, as always these days it seems! My apologies... *must do better, must do better*

86) The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester (28 June)

I loved this fast paced story. The society and characters are an extrapolation from the 1950's but, allowing for the attitudes of that time, I like how Bester's imagination works. In a future where Espers are increasingly common in society murder is thought impossible. Ben Reich looks for a way to commit the perfect murder, failure means Demolition.

The differences between Espers and "normal" humanity; the way the society is structured and the conflicts of business all feel possible. Good writing, good characters, good story = good read!

Hi Ellie, no need for apologies and thanks for stopping by. I think I'm even worse at posting on other people's threads;) I love your thread; your stories about your life - £100 on books! swans, owls, new furniture, your shop and your family makes good reading.

#62: Woot! The local library has that one.

ALFRED BESTER! I had *completely* forgotten him. I'll have to locae that one.

xo

Stasia - Very pleased to hear that. Hope you like it

Richard - you forgot Bester! how can you do that? Hope you can locate a copy. My favourite is still Tiger! Tiger! ... bah the touchstone comes up with The Stars My Destination. I think that's the American title but it will always be Tiger! Tiger! to me as that's how I first read it.

#62 Another good book I haven't read!

87) Kraken by China Mieville (28 June - 2 July)

Weird and convoluted I found this fascinating reading. This is London's underbelly, a world not of dreams but nightmares. Billy Harrow is a curator at the Darwin Centre, when one of the specimens goes missing he is drawn into a world of cults and magic. The criminal Tattoo; the murderous Goss and Subby; Londonmancers; various cults who are looking forward to their various Armageddons; the FSRC - the Fundamentalist and Sect-related Crime Unit — all want Billy and what they think he knows.

What a warped and twisted imagination Mieville has and I am delighted to read his work. Wonderfully inventive and imaginative, this is complex reading. Multiple strands and POVs entwine to create a novel so rich and dark; descriptive and atmospheric that I am in awe of Mieville's ability to write such a roller-coaster of a ride.

I just don't think that China Mieville is for me.. but I would like to read the
G.R Grove series some time .

#68: I am willing to give Mieville another try despite my problems in reading Perdido Street Station and The City and the city. Thanks for the recommendation, calm.

Kath - I hope you manage to find the G. R. Grove sometime, I have the third home from the library at the moment but I'll be reading a few other things before I get to it. I agree that China Mieville isn't for everyone. I guess I just like his take on things and the way he writes.

Stasia - If you had problems with The City and The City I doubt that Kraken will be to your taste. I haven't read Perdido Street Station yet but you've given Mieville a good try and, even at the speed you read, life's too short to keep reading things that don't suit your tastes;)

#71: I liked The City and the City for the most part. I have tried 3 times to read PSS and gotten nowhere. Which one does Kraken come closer to, do you think, calm?

Stasia I would say that City and the City is more tightly focused and an easier, less challenging read. I haven't read PSS yet but from what I've heard about it I would probably think that Kraken is more like that - a vast cast of characters and weird things happening. Hope this helps.

#73: OK, I think I will take Kraken back out of the BlackHole :) Thanks, calm.

One day I will read Grove.. I have it on my intended list :)

Just stopping by to say hello, and thanks for the html advice on my thread!

Kraken sounds kind of interesting . . . hmmm . . .

Stasia - you know I'm trying not to add to the Black Hole and also trying to avoid creating one of my own;-)

Kath - do you read ebooks? If so G. R. Grove (gwernin) offers PDF's of her books for review. Check out her profile

http://www.librarything.com/profile/gwernin

Hi Terri - thanks for stopping by. I'm pleased the html advice worked. There are so many helpful threads on the subject but I can rarely remember how to find them;)

Hi calm...this thread looks pretty active for such a calm person!

Mieville is a new author to me, but you lost me with "warped and twisted imagination." Oh well, there are plenty of other authors out there.

Bester? Surprisingly, I have a book by him on my TBR Tower -- The Stars My Destination. Someone in my distant past recommended it to me as the best example of Sci Fi ever!!! That stuck with me so I picked it up for $1.00 at one of the library book sales. Have you read it -- and, if so, do you agree with that praise?

Kraken sounds different and therefore interesting ... off to the obese wish list it goes.

Hi Donna - thanks for visiting. Whatever gave you the idea that I'm a calm person?

I discovered Mieville last year when I read Un Lun Dun - his YA book - I'm slowly reading the rest of his books as I come across them. I really think he's good but I can say "Definitely not for everyone!"

The Stars My Destination is my favourite Bester book. Lucky you for finding a copy at such a bargain price;)

The best sci-fi ever? There's a lot of good sci-fi out there and, though it is very good, I think it might be a little dated now. My copy went AWOL years ago and, even though I remember it very well, I'd need a re-read to say for sure.

Caroline - if you like different I think you'll like Kraken;)

>32 calm:: I'm not sure why the Liveship stuff didn't grab me as much as the Farseer stuff. The latter just had such great characters and tragedy. Maybe I should retry the former, I don't know.

>78 Donna828:: I'd have a hard time calling The Stars My Destination the best sci-fi ever written. I can think of several books in that genre that were harder to put down. It certainly was better than the usual 1950s sci-fi and had some original ideas in it that sparked people like Gibson and his successors...though the main plot line isn't super original. The story is intriguing. I guess I'd have to say "makes the top list, probably...best ever, no".

Let's start with a thankyou to Caroline (cameling) as I first heard about this book on her thread.



88) Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier (2 July - 5 July)

I'm trying to think of words to review this book and they just will not come. Nothing I can say can describe how I feel about this book. There are already plenty of reviews for this book and there has been a very mixed reaction. I'll just say that this might just go onto my list of all time favourites. So no review on the book page - just a few comments here.

This is a definite keeper, one I will want to re-read.
There is something about this book that spoke to me. It is hard to say what makes this so relevant to me and to my life. Why it hit such a chord and will stay with me. I originally borrowed it from the library and while still reading it I spotted a copy in the local second-hand book shop which I immediately grabbed off the shelf. Maybe when I do reread it I will be able to find the words.

Calm and Tad, keep in mind that it was a comment from 20+ years ago that landed The Stars My Destination on my TBR pile. I have a really good memory for some things. I'll read it someday and will probably never know where it stands in the Sci-Fi line-up as that is a genre that I have limited experience with.

You've totally intrigued me, calm, with your comments on Night Train to Lisbon. To buy a copy when you're still reading the library book is high praise indeed. Onto the list it goes.

Oh I'm so glad that you liked the book, calm .... sometimes I worry about rating the books and then being responsible for others picking it up for a read, because I feel guilty if they turn around and say that they hated it.

I'm keeping this one on my re-read shelf too. It's just too good to only read once.

Oh, I've gotta get it! Night Train to Lisbon sounds scrumptious. Wishlisted.

#82: I have that one set aside to read this month. I am glad to know you enjoyed it, calm!

Donna - it's probably twenty years since I last read The Stars My Destination and I still remember so many details - so it is worth reading. I hope you are one of those who likes Night Train to Lisbon when you find it.

Caroline - No guilt to anybody - I choose the books I read. I know that other people have different tastes and I'll only pick something up that I think I will like even if it is highly praised. I'm the same about recommending books, all I can do is say how I felt about the book, it's up to every one else to make their own choice about whether it will work for them.

Lynda - scrumptious? The pressure! The responsibility! If you like books within books, philosophy and good characters I think you'll enjoy reading it.

Stasia - yes I saw that you planned on reading it on the TIOLI wiki page. I'll be interested in finding out how you get on with it.

89) Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay (6 July - 8 July)

I think that part of what sets Kay's work above others is the depth of his research into an area and its history. Normally he takes that and creates another world but this is set firmly in ours, with the typical Kay twist. I don't know why but I was a bit dubious about reading this book, I love Guy Gavriel Kay's writing, maybe it was the YA tag. I now admit I was wrong to be worried - this is a wonderful piece of writing. Steeped in the rich history of Aix-en-Provence, Kay's mix of modern and ancient seems right, not as deep and complex as some of his other fiction but none the worse for that.

#88 aaaaah, you did it again! another to my wishlist.

Sorry Lynda!

*preen* I have already read it.

I know Richard - who persuaded you that Guy Gavriel Kay was worth reading? Even if it is fantasy!

A chorus of yodels convinced me to give it a try. I thought Ysabel was very good. I can't say the same for Tigana, which I've had to abandon at about p123,987 or thereabouts because it's a horrorshow of Princess Yranjamoox meets Lord Blaglablooq and the page Scruffkins and that sorta crap. Hate it.

I just read Ysabel a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it too, calm. I loved the way he mixes history in with the fantasy. *ignoring Richard's scathing remarks about Tigana which I loved*

So what are you reading next?

#88: Well, I get to dodge that BB because it is already in the BlackHole :)

Richard - sorry to hear that about Tigana; given your love of Provence I'm not sure whether I should say give A Song for Arbonne a go or not.

Caroline - I'm reading one of Teelgee's recommendations Watermark : A Novel of the Middle Ages by Vanitha Sankaran. It kept me up reading last night, so it has a promising start at least. I'm also still reading about Celtic Christianity, at the moment Celtic Saints Passionate Wanderers by Elizabeth Rees. Not sure which one of the two I will finish next.

Stasia - well dodged;)

Some good reading but happily everything is already on my wishlist!

I had both of those Kay novels, but they wandered off.....Cory I think?

Heather - Some good reading, yes, I hope you can find copies of the books on your wishlist.

Kath - wandering books! It's when I hear of things like this that I am glad that no one else has access to my book shelves. At least you've got some idea of where they might be;)

>88 calm:: While it wasn't my favorite of his works, I loved Ysabel (which I guess gives you a good idea of where he ranks as a fantasy author for me). I think the thing I liked most about it was re-encountering Kim and Dave. I've always wondered how they made out and, for me, it felt right. :-)

Thanks to Teelgee for reading this first.



90) Watermark : A Novel of the Middle Ages by Vanitha Sankaran (8 July - 11 July)

The early fourteenth century; Southern France and a girl is born. Albino and mute she must make her way in a world of suspicion of heresy and witchcraft. The attention of inquisitors has been drawn to the small town where she lives. Her father's craft of paper making is looked on as a way for heresy to be spread. What protection is there for one so different?

Vanitha Sankaran's historical novel is an interesting book, well researched and well written. The feel of the times; the people; crafts and ideas are described acurately (as far as I can tell). Auda, the protagonist, is naive; intelligent and a well developed character. The conflict of family and societies expectations unfold in a tale that could have taken place.

A good debut novel and I look forward to reading more of Vanitha Sankaran's work.

Part of my continuing research into early Christianity in Britain



91) Celtic Saints Passionate Wanderers by Elizabeth Rees (2 July - 11 July)

This is a look at the sites where early Christians have left their mark. Whether it is a place name; artefacts or just a legend the footprint of these people is still visible in the landscape. It is interesting to see the sphere of influence that these man and women had, whether through their own travels or followers naming sites. There is a similarity in many stories, each saint's life was written down years later by medieval biographers and certain elements were expected. If you want to know where to go to find the traces this is a book worth reading. If you want to find out more about what is known about the real lives, well a lot has disappeared, legends have built up and finding the truth is unlikely.

>102 calm: THAT sounds wonderful!! I have wishlisted it, with a special tag indicating it's a birthday wish.

*crosses fingers*

Richard hhmm! - I wouldn't call it wonderful. Interesting if you are travelling in the British Isles (or Brittany) and want to know where some of these sites are. But it seems very repetitive which I suppose is a result of the subject and the sources. Every time I read of another healing well that cured rheumatism or some other ailment I almost groaned. It would also have been nice to have some photos, there are maps, some simple line drawings and a reasonable bibliography though.

I think I better add those comments to my review;)

While reading your remarks on Watermark I couldn't help but be reminded of People of the Book. Have you read it and if you have are the two books somewhat similar and if you haven't I highly recommend it.

Hi Lynda, I've read People of the Book. I think that they are very different, though both good books. Watermark is tightly focused to a different, earlier period of time and one main character.

92) Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (11 July - 12 July)

Set in Victorian England this story of two girls and how their lives become intertwined was definitely very readable. I was caught in the story straight from the start. I can't say too much about the plot as anything I might say would be spoilerish. Wonderful descriptive prose and a twisted plot line make this an atmospheric, almost gothic read. Just great storytelling and a compelling read.

Richard - look away from this one:)



93) The Unadulterated Cat by Terry Pratchett (12 July)

This is a quirky and irreverent look at our feline friends. Short, humorous and appropriately illustrated by Gray Joliffe it made me laugh. But then I'm British, owned by cats and love Terry Pratchett's work as he observes things so well ... so I am the ideal reader:)

STOP IT, JUST STOP IT Already!! OK, sorry about the rant, I simply must succumb to the fact that I want to read everything you've read.

Hi calm, I'm ready to begin Part 3 of Fingersmith. Agreed that this is one you don't want to give too much info about. I've already been "gobsmacked" a couple of times!

Oh my! Pratchett! Running off for that one IMMEDIATELY.

CAAAT!! CAAAT!!

Oh yeah...that's not helpful, hollering a warning in a cat person's thread. Silly moi.

Lynda - sorry can't stop reading. I hope that you'll manage to dodge some of the BB's some day;)

Donna - Fingersmith is a hard one to review. It's a great read though, I'm going to have to read some more Sarah Waters soon.

Luxx - hope you find a copy and find it as amusing as I did.

Richard - :)

Watermark looks very good. I was going to add Celtic Saints to my wishlist as well until I saw your additional comments about it. Why don't authors understand that readers would really like to see photos when they're describing a particular place or object? Or a map when they're describing an area? It makes it so much easier to understand what the author is talking about.

Watermark is already in the BlackHole. I think I will pass on Celtic Saints. Fingersmith was the very first Sarah Waters book that I read and I really liked it. I am passing on the Cat book, too.

Whew! I am now caught up again.

oops three days since I last checked in. I have been reading but not LT threads! I'll be back later with some updates, after I check to see what I've missed;)

carlym - teelgee found a good one with Watermark. For a debut novel it was pretty good. I think the problem with Celtic Saints was all about my expectations. I must say that I thought the illustrations a bit amateurish and there are maps but I still got a bit lost with all the places. As I say as a guide book it's not too bad.

Stasia - great to see you back. I hope you had a few days good rest and are feeling better. Time for me to track down your (probably new) thread the last one I was reading had got to over 250 posts;)

#116: You checked into my new one before I got to yours this morning, lol!

94) Hyddenworld Spring by William Horwood (12 July - 15 July)

Nearly fifteen years since his last book William Horwood's new fantasy novel was a welcome return. In this, the first of a planned quartet, we are introduced to the Hydden - a race of small humans living in our world but unseen. Most societies have myths of the "little people", what if they are true but with the coming of technology people can no longer see what is really there.

In some ways this is a standard quest fantasy novel. There is a prophecy; a cast of characters - good and bad and a journey. After a slow start I was drawn into the story and look forward to the rest of the series.

I like the sound of Watermark: that one can go on the wishlist.

I shall probably add the Pratchett cat book as well: I've flicked through it in a second-hand book shop before now, and thought it looked quirky and fun, but since I'm not a cat owner I mentally put it in the 'maybe later' pile.

#118: Thanks for the recommendation of that one, calm. I will see if I can locate a copy.

Hi stasia - glad to see you back on form. A long list of your name as the last post in the 75ers;) Kudos to you for catching up!

I've had a few days of varying reasons for having little or no access to LT (broadband problems, thunderstorms and power-cuts amongst others) and am so far behind reading other people's threads that I'll never catch up.

EEKS - can't type fast enough.

Hi CatyM - hope you like Watermark. I spotted the Pratchett in a second hand book shop on Monday - first time I'd ever seen a copy though it had been on my wishlist for years (not enough to buy new but I wanted it) and had read it by the end of the day!

Stasia - Hyddenworld is a recent hardback publication hope you manage to track down an affordable copy. I borrowed it from the library.

#121: I will give you my two-step method for catching up, ready?

1. Do not ever get more than three days behind on everyone's posts.

2. Spend an entire night, once three days behind on everyone's posts, catching up!

95) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (15 July -16 July)

Margaret Lea lives in a flat above her father's antiquarian bookshop. She helps to look after the books and writes biographies based on the diaries of the long dead and forgotten. Vida Winter is a reclusive best selling novelist who has told as many different stories about her early life as she has given interviews. Margaret is invited to write Miss Winter's biography. What follows was as compelling as Margaret's reaction to her first reading of the Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation - a collection of short stories based on fairytales.

This is a wonderful mystery. A tale of a family living in an old crumbling house. A tale of secrets. If you like gothic stories; if you like classic literature; if you like a well told story read the Thirteenth Tale.

#124: I am dodging that book bullet. I have already read it.

#109 "I simply must succumb to the fact that I want to read everything you've read."

Seconded!

Watermark and Fingersmith are my book bullet hits today (and I only dodged the Pratchett because I have it!)

Eek, how were there so many new posts in the time it took me to write that one! Anyway, The Thirteenth Tale is already on the wishlist so I dodged that one! Not sure about the Horwood, I was always strangely put off by the Duncton Wood series.

Agree about the eek! I can't keep up on my own thread.

Stasia - I'm more than three days behind on some (lots) of threads so I better just try to stay caught up from here;)

Heather - nice to see you here. Good choices on the BB's. About the Horwood ... there are similarities to Duncton Wood, mainly some of the characters have a familiar feel, but Hyddenworld isn't quite as graphically violent. I think my favourite of his novels is The Stonor Eagles.

Well, just try not to get more than three days behind from this point forward, lol.

Thanks to Richard for reading and recommending this one



96) Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie (16 July - 17 July)

In 1970's China intellectuals are looked on with suspicion and their children sent away. In this novel two teenage boys are sent to a remote mountain village for re-education. The nameless narrator tells the story of his and his friend Luo's time adapting to village life; their trials and tribulations; the impact they have on the village and their relationship with the titular little Chinese seamstress. Finding a forbidden cache of books changes their lives.

This novel gives a real feel of life at this time. The muck, the lice, the villagers hunger for stories. Life isn't easy but their are moments of humour; chances of love and the hope that they will be one of the few people sent for re-education who get away from the village and back to their families.

If, like me, you know very little about this time and place in history this is a good place to learn something about the impact of Mao on China, its culture and people.

I have this one and should read it soon. I tried to get my book group to read it, but they said no :(

Read for my alphabet challenge.



97) XIsle by Steve Augarde (17 July - 18 July)

This YA post-apocalyptic novel is certainly compelling reading. The world has been devastated by floods and the survivors eke out a living scavenging and trading. At the start of the story a mob of people wait on the shore hoping that there is room on the island for some of their children. On the island there is food and shelter, the boys work at cleaning and labelling the cans of food recovered from the drowned supermarkets, but it is thought of as a better life than the struggle to live on the mainland. We follow two boys as they take the journey, what they find on the island and how their lives change.

Steve Augarde has created a world that seems all too likely in the wake of a global catastrophe. Memories of the days before, what people have to do to survive and the need for hope. I am a bit wary of the YA tag as this is violent and disturbing; containing religious mania and prostitution. Having said that this is a brilliant novel. The characters are interesting and the story fascinating. I scarcely wanted to put the book down as I needed to know how the story would end.

#130: I am glad you enjoyed that one, calm. I like it too.

#132: I will have to see if I can track that one down. Thanks for the recommendation!

Hi carlym - That's too bad, I think it would be a good one for a book group. I hope you manage to read it soon.

Stasia - pleased to hear that you liked Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. It was a good one. XIsle is an interesting one, definitely not for the squeamish though.

Calm, well, I know it's a long shot, but: Go here!

>124 calm: I'm currently reading The Thirteenth Tale too and am really liking it! Gothic storytelling is my bread and butter.

Richard - I've replied on your thread;)

hello wisechild - it's very atmospheric isn't it? A great bit of storytelling.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie & XIsle by Steve Augarde are now on my get list. Thanks!

Hope you enjoy them both jadebird;)

A LTER book.



98) The Gathering Night by Margaret Elphinstone (18 July - 19 July)

In Mesolithic Scotland a family of hunter gatherers sit and tell the story of an earlier, traumatic time. A young hunter disappears and life changes for his parents and sisters. Told by each person involved the story is a simple one of daily life, moving from camp to camp as the seasons change and different resources become available. The conflicts within the tribe and their resolution.

Margaret Elphinstone has taken the scanty evidence of life of this time and written a beautiful story. Each voice is very much part of the story and as the tale passes from person to person different aspects and attitudes of life are revealed. To be honest when I started reading I wasn't sure about this passing of the story from person to person but it does work very well. She has created a wonderful portrait of a way of life, full of human emotion.

#141: That one sounds interesting. I will have to look for it. Thanks for the recommendation, calm.

99) Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel (July - 21 July)

Hilary Mantel's look at spiritualists and turn of the Millenium Middle England is black indeed, bleak and depressing. Colette's marriage is failing and she seeks help from psychics. She meets Alison Hart, a medium, and is taken on as her assistant. Alison is haunted by her past and the relationship between the two women is troubled. Will either of them manage to get beyond black?

This is an observational novel; scathing of British lower middle class society and its obsessions with "bettering" oneself. Decay litters the pages and even the occasional touch of humour is dark. Don't get me wrong I loved this book. There was something about it that kept me reading. It is full of descriptive prose that seeps into your consciousness; the characters are flawed and unlovable but somehow compelling. An unsettling read but, for me, worth it.

>143 calm: Hmmm...dunno about that one...doesn't sound like *me* somehow. Loved the review, though!

Thanks Richard. I'm not sure who to recommend this to - I think you would like the writing, but the story ... not so sure.

#143: I already have that one in the BlackHole, but really have not had much luck with Mantel. I liked Wolf Hall a lot, but The Giant, O'Brien was just OK for me and Fludd I do not think I ever got.

book # 94 ... adding to list!

hi Stasia - This was only my second Mantel, I do like her writing but I'm not sure about Wolf Hall - I'm not that fond of the Tudors;)

Kath - I hope you enjoy it and that he doesn't take too long to write the rest of the series.

100) Codex by Lev Grossman (22 July - 23 July)

This is a drifty kind of book. I was intrigued by the premise - a young investment banker called in to do some work for a client, cataloguing a semi-forgotten library, and the search for a medieval book. There were some interesting characters, who we don't discover enough about; a passable plot and some nice descriptive passages, of New York, the MOMUS computer game, book restoration, etc., but overall it was unsatisfying. There were moments that showed the possibility of this being a better book but the end was definitely flat.

#149: I did not care for Grossman's other book, The Magicians, so I think I will give that one a pass.

I hope you enjoy your next read better, calm!

Congratulations on reaching 100, calm!

I was mildly intrigued by the premise of Codex - but after your review, and seeing that it's averaging fewer than 3 stars, I don't think I'll bother with it.

Hi again Stasia, I've already got The Magicians on the TBR shelves so I'll get around to reading it one day. Next up is The Uncommon Reader and hope I like it as much as some of the other 75ers who have already read it.

Thanks CatyM. Codex wasn't bad enough at any point for me to want to stop reading it. I was hoping I would be one of the people who really liked it and I did, until the last few pages, but then it just seemed to fizzle out. So, unfortunately, it ended up being a meh read.

Boo hiss on ~meh~! I'd rather hate it than ~meh~ it.

#152: I love The Uncommon Reader - I have read it twice now. I hope you enjoy it, calm.

Richard if I had hated it I wouldn't have read it.

Stasia - I loved it! Thoughts in next post.

101) The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (23 July)

This is a real book lovers book. Short and sweet it takes a look at one person's discovery of the pleasures of reading. The fact that this person is the Queen of England, who has led her life ruled by duty, is additionally delightful and the changes that reading brings to her life are a pleasure to read. Not a word is wasted and everything that needs to be said is said by Bennett with acerbic wit. Also his observations of the impact of the change of life style of the Queen on her entourage are wonderful.

Thanks to Richard and Kath, and a few others;), for the recommendation.



102) Montana 1948 by Larry Watson (23 July - 24 July)

From the prologue with its short series of memorable images we learn that the then twelve years old David Hayden's experiences in 1948 have stayed with him for life. The descriptions of characters and events are crystal clear, so much so that you feel as though you are there in that small Montana town. Shockingly honest about David's family's life and the events that unfold this a brilliant piece of writing by Larry Watson.

I still haven't managed to get ahold of The Uncommon Reader... boooo! One of these days...!

#156: Glad you enjoyed it!

#157: I have a copy of that one I am going to get to one of these days.

Faith - I hope you manage to find a copy. It's a very good read.

Statsia - who wouldn't enjoy it! ... hhhmm ... apart from a non-reader:)

Montana 1948 is short and won't take you more than 5 minutes to read:) I recommend that you bump it up to the top of the pile.

You've been reading some really good ones! Let me jot those titles down!

#160: I just have to find my copy! My hubby moves my books around and then I have to relocate them.

I have Hyddenworld Spring on my tbr and am looking forward to reading it, will now have to find out more about The Stonor Eagles. I also enjoyed X Isle and want to read his Touchstone trilogy, just need to find an extra few hours in the day to read all these books.

Thanks jadebird - I hope you enjoy your choices.

Stasia - I hope he remembers where he moved it to.

Kerry - I hope you find the time to read all that you want :) Pleased to find another person who enjoyed XIsle and I also want to try the Touchstone trilogy.

The Stonor Eagles is the story of an artist; his childhood; his relationship with his father and the art he creates inspired by sea eagles. Within his story you get the story of Cuillin, one of the sea eagles.

I too, am having trouble finding time.. and for the life of me I don't know what I am doing differently than last year..

Just stopping by on my way through. I really ought to read The Uncommon Reader soon!

*sigh* .... I was away for a while but I'm back now.

Congratulations on reaching your Century point!

I've already got Watermark in my TBR Tower, so I'm glad that you enjoyed the book. I've got to move it up a step or 2 now I think.

The Gathering Night sounds really interesting, so off to the obese wish list it goes. :-)

oops - I keep forgetting to check my own thread.

Hi Kath - time seems to be really slippery this year - I have no idea where it is going;)

Heather - I hope you get around to reading it soon. It is a lovely book.

Caroline - Thanks for stopping by and for the congratulaions, all that travelling you do must play havoc with keeping up on threads;) Hope you enjoy the books.

103) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Burrows (26 July)

This is a book that I am pleased to have finally read. To be honest, from comments I had seen elsewhere I was scared that it was going to be too saccharine sweet for my tastes. Fortunately this was not so. Briefly this is the story of the occupation of the Channel Islands.

Just after World War II writer Juliet Ashton has just published a collection of her wartime newspaper columns. A letter written to her by a Channel Islander starts a chain of correspondence with him, his friends and neighbours.

The voices in the various letters are distinctive. The characters are quirky and interesting and the story told in such a way as to be neither too harrowing nor too distant. Mary Ann Shaffer dealt with the Occupation and its aftermath in a form that was interesting, kept me reading, informed and entertained me.

Well, this is already on my TBR, otherwise your review would have prompted me to add it. Thanks!

Karen O.

Whoopeeee.....another fan of The Guernsey .... we will drown the agonizing gurgles of Richard for sure at this rate. So glad you liked it , calm.

whoo, hoo! Congrats on reaching 100!!!

Add my name to the list of those who enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Loved that book! I also had suspicions of it being too sappy for me, but I was totally engrossed. Glad you enjoyed it too.

I want to read ALL of your recent reads! Well...I did read The Uncommon Reader already and I absolutely loved it!

Congratulations from me too.

Karen, I hope you enjoy it when it works its way to the top of the TBR:)

Caroline - It's a keeper for sure. As for Richard ... we can't all like the same books ... and he is good people;)

Lynda - Thank you

Linda - that's getting to be a long list;)

wisechild - not really sappy at all, I wonder why it got that reputation.

Angela - thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy whichever books you manage to find copies of. The Uncommon Reader is a good one. I just recommended it to someone who doesn't quite get the lure of book reading. Don't get me wrong they do enjoy reading ... but only if they can have uninterrupted time to sit and finish a book ... not the kind to always have a book with them to read whenever you can fit in a few uninterrupted minutes.

104) The Ash Spear by G.R. Grove (24 July - 27 July)

The third book in the Storyteller series, continuing the tale of Gwernin and his apprenticeship. This time we get descriptions of battle and cattle raiding and the chance of being actually involved in these, and not just telling stories about them, leads Gwernin into trouble.

Gwernin is an ideal protagonist - he has his flaws that make him interesting to read about. The stories and poetry flow nicely within the narrative. The touch of the mystical seems real to beliefs of the time. G. R. Grove's ability to write wonderful descriptive passages and generally write, what seems like, a realistic piece of historical fiction makes this a strong continuation of this series. I'll definitely be following Gwernin's story when the next book is published.

105) One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (27 July)

This is a day in a work camp in 1950's Russia. Just one day, one simple day. Following one man's day - the hardships and the pleasures. It's cold but not cold enough not to work. There's food but never quite enough. Deceptively simple this book is powerful. Solzhenitsyn has created a picture of a life that I'll never experience, made it real, stark and compelling but ultimately uplifting in its portrayal of life.

I love The Uncommon Reader and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, so I'm glad you enjoyed them both.

I last read Solzhenitsyn's One Day in the Life about 15 years ago, so I probably ought to re-read it sometime soon! As you say, it's incredibly powerful.

Thanks Caty. It was my first read of One Day in the Life - even though I've probably had access to a copy for around 15 years. A long time to be unread! Ah well at least I finally got around to it.

I'm stopping by to say thanks. The Uncommon Reader was on my tbr pile since last year.Your excellent review inspired me to finally read it. I finished it this morning and it is delightful!

176- Well, if they read The Uncommon Reader and they STILL don't get it...perhaps they never will! I loved the image of the Queen hiding books in her carriage. :)

Linda - you're welcome, pleased you finally got around to reading it. As you say a delightful book.

Angela - if they don't get it, as far as I'm concerned it's their loss. To me it describes perfectly how reading can give you so much - a connection to the world and people. An ability to empathise and stretch your mind.

I am just waving as I catch up on threads, calm. Have a great day!

What am I wating for? the covers alone of the Gwernin books appeal..
well, they are on my list so someday.

Hi, calm. Checking in on your thread...

Hi Stasia, thanks.

Kath, books are patient .. whenever you get to them;)

Hi jadebird, nice to see you here

Cute gif, Linda.

Minor grumble ... my broadband is wonky and I keep losing connection ... they've promised to fix it within 48 hours ... I'll try and catch up with as many threads as possible when it's stable.

Good luck with getting the broadband up and running again, calm!

Good evening calm. I just wanted to pop by and say: "Hello". It has been forever. I hope you are having a wonderful year of reading and that all else in your life is wonderful as well.
You take care of you.
hugs,
belva

Sporadic internet access - don't you just HATE that???

Hi Stasia, Belva and Angela. Thanks for stopping by.Fingers crossed the broadband seems to be back (for now). I'll try and post a couple of reviews.

After the conversation earlier in this thread I decided to re-read this book.



106) The Stonor Eagles by William Horwood (28 July - 3 August)

I love this book. The story of James MacAskill Stonor is interwoven with that of Cuillin, last of the Skye sea eagles. In 1917 Liam MacAskill, Jim's father sees a lone sea eagle near his home on the Isle of Skye. Years later he shares his stories with the young Jim and the tale of the eagle, and the near extinction of the species, exerts a strange influence on Jim's life as an artist.

This is a book filled with loneliness - the loneliness of Cuillin, flying the dark sea to find others of her kind; the loneliness of Jim, as a young boy growing up in an English coastal town and as a man trying to find his place in life; the loneliness of Liam, haunted by the First World War, estranged from wife and children. A story of exile; of the search for a home and family; of the ability to "fly true" and live a life to the best of your ability.

Horwood's writing hits my emotions, he is a wonderful story teller. The stories of the eagles reflect Jim's own journey through life, so the two strands of the novel reinforce each other, adding to the power of the story. I found this as enthralling on re-reading as I did the first time I read it.

107) Heroes and Villains by Angela Carter (3 August - 4 August)

A very strange post-apocalyptic story. Margaret is the daughter of a Professor in a barricaded community. Outside roam barbarians who occasionally raid the village. The ruins of the earlier society litter the landscape. Dream like and hallucinatory Margaret's story is told. First as a child in the community and then wandering the land with Jewel, the barbarian who takes her from her home.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Angela Carter's prose is wonderful; the story is a bizarre and strangely compelling read; the ending is in some ways anticlimactic. As a picture of what might occur when society as we know it is destroyed this is a fascinating read but also vaguely unsatisfying - too dreamlike and inconclusive. It is a book I'll come back to again, someday, as I think it deserves a second chance.

Glad you got your broadband back!

I absolutely love Angela Carter. In fact I did my Master's thesis (nerd alert!) on the use of the gothic in her short fiction. That being said, Heroes and Villians is not one of my favourites. For science-fiction-y type fare, I love The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman, but it's not for everyone. For more 'lighter' far, Wise Children and Nights at the Circus are beyond awesome, and if you haven't read her short stories, the you must check out The Bloody Chamber.

Sorry to ramble on with recommendations, but I could talk Carter all day!

I am adding the Horwood book to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, calm.

Congratulations on reading 107 books!

Hi wisechild, no need to apologise. I like recommendations:) I haven't read as much Angela Carter as I would like. I did read The Bloody Chamber and Nights at the Circus years ago but, as they were borrowed from the library, I don't have copies. I have got another of her books on my TBR, Love, and read one of her collections of short stories, Black Venus, last year. I do like her writing so I'll keep my eyes open for the ones you mentioned.

Stasia, Hope you like it - if it ever manages to appear out of the Black Hole;)

Thanks Linda, good of you to stop by, hope you are feeling better.

108) Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson (4 August - 6 August)

Intriguing and inventive, Brandon Sanderson has created an inspired world for this first book in a fantasy trilogy.The tag to this book is "What if the Dark Lord won" - a thousand years ago the Lord Ruler took control of the world, suppressing all opposition. The world is beset by ash fall by day and mists by night. There is a slave race - the Skaa; nobles; inquisitors, all controlled by the Lord Ruler and rebellion is impossible. So, of course, the story is about a group of people who attempt to change things.

I like the world building, magical system and characters. Sanderson has created a well thought out world. The different ranks in society; the affects of the ash and mists on people, landscape and customs; the power of the Lord Ruler; the magical system - all combine to become plausible. A good pace kept me interested in the story, there were enough twists and turns and development of characters. This is not just your standard fantasy novel. Sanderson tells a good story and I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.

Final Empire sounds great. Nice review!

They are indeed great books! Elantris is also very good.

I am going to get to the Sanderson series eventually!

Jess is right...your review is a good one!

Thanks Ren, if you like fantasy Sanderson is definitely an author to look out for;)

Jim - I read Elantris years ago, when it was first published. I don't know why it took me so long to finally getting around to reading The Final Empire... so many books, so little time I suppose!

Stasia - I'm sure you will:)

Thanks Linda, it's nice to get comments like yours:)

Kath, books are patient .. whenever you get to them;)

true and fortunate!

All of your books look good. I have added a couple to my possible list :)

109) Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (6 August - 9 August)

I'm still not entirely sure what I feel about this book, I don't know how much is lost by reading in translation. Overall I felt like it was more "tell" than "show", so I didn't fully connect to the characters or the story. Isabel Allende takes on a vast subject and, told from several points of view, it sometimes felt disjointed and some chapters were definitely better than others. No real surprises but it was interesting enough and it kept me reading.

Hi Kath, pleased you found something of interest to add to your possible list. Hope you enjoy:)

Thanks for your thoughts on Daughter of Fortune. I have that read coming up in a few books. I'm not sure if I will like it.

I have had Daughter of Fortune home from the library a couple of times and have yet to read it. I am not going to rush right out and grab it again, I don't think.

Hi Jess and Stasia

oops ... I made it sound bad ... didn't I?

It wasn't bad or I would not have finished it and there were bits that I loved so don't let me put you off! Different people like different books. There are lots of good reviews for Daughter of Fortune but I just didn't connect with it.

I am going to try some more of Isabel Allende's work - one day:)

I will get to Daughter of Fortune - one day, too :)

110) Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (9 August - 15 August)

It is difficult to know what to say about this without any spoilers. I suppose that most people know about its unusual structure so saying that it is a series of linked stories isn't going to surprise anybody. What I loved about it were the different voices and structures of the separate sections. Mitchell's vision is amazing.

I must admit that I preferred certain sections and actually forgot about one strand whilst reading, so it loses half a star. Other than that I thought it was an astounding piece of work. So much so that I actually bought another David Mitchell book while still reading Cloud Atlas. I look forward to reading more of his work and hope it lives up to Cloud Atlas.

111) An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro (15 August - 16 August)

My first Ishiguro and it won't be my last. A memoir of an ageing artist in post WWII Japan, this is a gently unfolding story. I love the picture of the country as it deals with the consequences of the war and the guilt felt by certain people.

Told purely through the eyes of Masuji Ono, the artist of the title, it is a story that reveals his youth and idealism. A portrait of a life that has changed, his confusion at those changes; his relationships with family and friends, his teachers and students. I found this a powerful story and loved it.

A sure sign my wishlist is too big: I was just about to comment that I'd never come across that particular Ishiguro but thought it sounded great and would add it to my wishlist - only to discover it is already on my wishlist. Not only that, I only added it six weeks ago. Thank you for reminding me of it, calm, even if I ought to have been able to remember it without assistance.

I shall try to remember it this time.

Dodging book bullets today - I have already read Cloud Atlas and I own An Artist of the Floating World, which I imagine I will read it eventually :)

Hi Caty, I know what you mean. I was standing in a charity shop yesterday trying to remember whether a book was on my wishlist or already on my TBR mountain (no longer just a shelf!)

Following inspiration from your thread I am going to add my book hauls from the last week. Any recommendations to bump any of them towards the top of the reading list much appreciated;)

9 August (Charity shops)
Vita Brevis : A Letter to St. Augustine - Jostein Gaarder
I Am Legend - Richard Matheson
The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards

10 August (Car Boot Sale)
The Sky : Mystery, Magic, and Myth - Jean-Pierre Verdet
Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Edible Woman - Margaret Atwood
Ghostwritten : a novel in nine parts - David Mitchell
I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith
Rusalka - C. J. Cherryh
The Tower and the Emerald - Moyra Caldecott
Passage - Connie Willis
Red Earth and Pouring Rain - Vikram Chandra

13 August (Charity shops)
The Owl Killers- Karen Maitland
Spirit : or, the princess of Bois Dormant - Gwyneth Jones

16 August (Charity shops)
Nights at the Circus - Angela Carter
The Game : A Novel - A. S. Byatt
Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones
Feast of Souls - Celia Friedman
The Little Stranger - Sarah Waters
Knotwork : The Secret Methods of the Scribes - Aidan Meehan

oops - it looks bad written out like that. In my defence I had a visitor last week - one who likes visiting charity shops and car boot sales - so I had more opportunities to pick up books than usual. Also you never know when you'll next see a copy if you don't buy it when you see it;) And I had to go to the dentist yesterday so thought I would treat myself while in town.

Stasia - well dodged. I hope you manage to get to read An Artist of the Floating World soon. It's just a novella so shouldn't take too long to read;)

No thoughts on bumping... nice list though!

#216: Wow, you got some very good books in your hauls, calm. Enjoy!

You found some nice gems at your August sales ............and August isn't over yet.

Glad you found Ishiguro. He is a marvelous writer and I look forward to delving into more of his books.

Stasia, Kath and Lynda - yes some nice books. It's such a mixed bag that it's hard to know where to start. I think I'll see if any of them fit next month's TIOLI, along with the rest of the book mountain:)

Note to self - Must resist more book buying until I move some off the mountain:)

Lynda - Ishiguro was well worth discovering. An Artist of the Floating World was a gem of a book. I have seen the film of Remains of the Day so am not sure if I want to add that to my wishlist but I am sure there is more to delve into;)

I Capture the Castle is SUCH a lovely book, one of my favourites and I love Cassandra Mortmain... it's one of those you can read anytime, anyplace. I Am Legend was a recent read of mine, rather enjoyed it, quite a quick, pacy read too... some of the others are on Mount TBR waiting their turn (er, I think)... In other words, nice haul!

Thanks Ellie. My TBR's have got out of control since I discovered LT- so many recommendations for good books that would probably never have crossed my radar pre-LT!

I loved Dodie Smith's animal books when I was younger - The One Hundred and One Dalmatians; The Starlight Barking and The Midnight Kittens but somehow never got around to reading I Capture the Castle. It's good to know that you love it. There's been a lot of talk about I Am Legend around the threads recently and it's years since I saw The Omega Man, which I believe was based on the book, so I'm looking forward to reading it.

I must re-read I Capture the Castle soon... and I just nicked an old copy of 101 Dalmatians from the shop too. I never read it when I was little, so I thought it was about time I got that sorted! I nicked The Wizard of Oz too, even though I hate the movie. How did I miss this stuff when I devoured so many books over the years?

I second Ellie's thoughts on I Capture the Castle!

Stopping by to say Hi and congratulations on all the great book finds!

Hi Ellie, hope you enjoy 101 Dalmatians. I need to re-read Wizard of Oz sometime myself, though I only ever read the first in the series. Missing books? How about "so many books so little time" :)

Thanks Carly, I'll make sure it's near the top of the mountain.

Hi back to you Angela. It's a great time of year here for book finds. The books the students unloaded before leaving town for the summer are just appearing on the charity shop shelves:) Some real bargains to be found!

112) Elementals : Stories of Fire and Ice by A. S. Byatt (15 August - 17 August)

A collection of six short stories from A.S. Byatt. Themes of memory, sadness and alienation run through the collection. The use of language and imagery is wonderful, with the use of light and colour being most noticeable to me. As always with collections I preferred some of the stories, but all of them had aspects that I enjoyed. All in all a delightful read.

#227: You remind me that I still have Byatt's Matisse Stories around here somewhere to read. I will have to add Elementals: Stories of Fire and Ice to the BlackHole though.

>228 alcottacre: I remember liking her Matisse Stories, so I'll have to look for Elementals as well. Though I have found her a bit hit and miss. I loved Possession but couldn't get through The Biographer's Tale.

>227 calm: I don't quite know what it is, but Byatt and I appear to be on different cycles. I just don't get into her work. I don't understand it.

Stasia - hope you enjoy;) I noticed you added An Artist of the Floating World to the TIOLI, I'll be interested to see what you think.

Ray (?) - I've heard that about Byatt as well, so far I've only read Possession and Elementals. I have another (The Game: A Novel) waiting on the mountain:) I'll have to see what the library has and remember to skip The Biographer's Tale!

Richard - it's a pleasure to see you here. You read plenty of things that don't catch my fancy and I can see that Byatt wouldn't be for everyone. There are enough books out there to not waste time on someone you don't click with.

He he...actually it's Karen. I probably should have introduced myself earlier. I enjoy reading your thread. :)
If you like her short stories you'll probably like Matisse Stories. I haven't read anything else by her.

sorry Karen, so many people go by their real names here that I try to get them right.

There's at least one other person with my real name here so to save confusion I'm happy to stay with Calm (my initials!)

I'll have to check with the library about Matisse Stories - according to the online catalogue one of their copies was due back in January 2001! and the other is supposed to be in the spare stock room. So no guarantees:)

#231: Not sure when I will get to it, but I will let you know what I think of An Artist of the Floating World when I do.

113) Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (17 August - 19 August)

I enjoyed this book, a modern ghost story. After the death of Elspeth Noblin we follow the stories of her lover, Robert; her nieces, Valentina and Julia (who inherit her flat); and Martin, the occupant of the upstairs flat. All living in a house adjacent to Highgate Cemetery in London.

There is a nicely twisting plot, suitably atmospheric. I can't say that any of the twists were that surprising to me but I liked the build up of the story and the characters. Overall a good read.

114) Kanthapura by Raja Rao (19 August - 21 August)

If you are at all interested in the history of India I recommend that you read Kanthapura. Set in 1930's India, the story of the lives of the inhabitants of a small village are told by a nameless narrator. The impact of Mahatma Gandhi's ideas bring change. I must admit to not knowing much about this period of history or Gandhi's influence on the lives of the people of India. It did take me a short time to get used to the narrative style - heavily influenced by the traditional story telling of India - but it made the characters seem real. A very interesting book.

Hi calm, thanks for your review of Her Fearful Symmetry. I've wanted to read it because I enjoyed The Time Travelers Wife so much but I was hearing so many negative comments about it I chose to put it on hold. Your review, however, has tempted me to add to the wishlist and seek it out.
I've wishlisted Kathapura, for like you, I know little about that era. Keep this up and I will rename you Stasia II.

I've wishlisted Her Fearful Symmetry, which I've pretty much ignored until now, but your review makes it sound very intriguing. And I've wishlisted Kathapura too - it sounds fascinating.

WOW! You are reading some incredible books. And, your reviews are great. For now, I'm adding An Artist of the Floating World. I'll be back to add more.

Adding Kanthapura to the BlackHole. Thanks for the review and recommendation, calm.

#212 I am kicking myself for not snapping up a copy of Cloud Atlas when I saw an ex-library copy...

#213 An Ishiguro I haven't read but will get to at some point!

#216 Oooh, nice haul! I'm glad it's not just me who has so little self-control around charity shops!

#220 "Note to self - Must resist more book buying until I move some off the mountain:)"

Me too - it'll never happen though!

#235 I'd also heard more negative things about Her Fearful Symmetry but I did enjoy The Time Traveller's Wife. Perhaps I will check that one out at some point.

Her Fearful Symmetry may just gain some fans thanks to your review :)

Lots of visitors! Thanks for stopping by:)

Lynda and Caty and Heather- I can understand some of the negative comments about Her Fearful Symmetry but I was drawn into the story and found the characters interesting, not always likeable but none the worse for that.

Lynda and Caty and Stasia - Kanthapura is an interesting one. Hope you like it.

Linda - Thankyou, pleased you like my reviews and hope you like An Artist of the Floating World.

Stasia - Hope you manage to find a copy. So many good books out there that I'm pleased to add to the BlackHole:)

Heather -
1) I'm sure you'll find another copy of Cloud Atlas one day.
2) Ishiguro is definitely on my read more of list
3) Nope absolutely no self control but there were plenty left on the shelves. Hope I don't end up kicking myself for the ones I didn't pick up:)
4) Already broken that one -
from the local second hand book shop
The Flowers of Adonis by Rosemary Sutcliff
Rocannon's World by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Chronicles of Magravandias by Storm Constantine:-
Sea Dragon Heir (Book 1)
The Crown of Silence (Book 2)
The Way of Light (Book 3)

From the car boot sale
Incendiary by Chris Cleave
The Other Hand (Little Bee) by Chris Cleave
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Kath - Is that good or bad? Have you read it? Can't remember what you thought if you have.
Oh well everyone can make up there own minds:)

115) The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (21 August - 22 August)

Starting a year after the events of The Final Empire this deals with the consequences of the ending of that book. We learn more about the world, its inhabitants and magical system. Maybe this is not quite as good as the first in the trilogy but, as that was an amazingly original novel to me, it is still very good.

Yodeling a hallooo to you!

#243: Calm, you will be glad to know that the local library has a copy of Kathapura. I hope to have hold of it soon.

Nice haul!

Hello to you too Richard!

Stasia - that's great, libraries can't have every book but it's good when they have some of the ones you want to read;)

Absolutely no will power when it comes to buying books, I suppose there are worse addictions in life:)

116) The Hero of the Ages By Brandon Sanderson (22 August - 24 August)

An amazing end to the trilogy, Sanderson pulls together all the hints and foreshadowing of the earlier books to create an unexpected end to the series. I still like the characters and their struggles to survive the disasters afflicting their world. Once again the magical system is expanded and taken in another direction. This is a trilogy that I will want to read again.

117) Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones (24 August -25 August)

A fascinating insight into the effect of civil war on a group of South Pacific islanders. Told through the eyes of Matilda, a child on Bougainville in the 1990's. The eccentric Mr Watts, the last white man in the area after an evacuation, takes on the role of school teacher. He brings his love of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, the only book they read, and invites the local adults to tell of anything they find of interest. But the violence and atrocities of civil war are not far away.

This is a wonderful coming of age story. The way that Pip from Great Expectations captures the imagination of the children; the uncertainty of a village caught between rebels and blockaders; the traditional way of life and the effects of colonialism - all combine in a way that is simple yet compelling. Matilda has a great "voice" and the events seem to unfold naturally.

Post 250 so it's time:)

New thread

http://www.librarything.com/topic/97408

I seem to have fallen behind on too many threads this summer - trying hard to catch up again. You've been reading lots of good books. I'm going to go back up-thread and take closer look at some of them. Much belated congratulations on reaching 100 books already this year. And also on your amazing hauls at local shops and sales this month! I think the only acquisition of yours that I've already read is Half a Yellow Sun which I highly recommend.

Hi Sandy, thanks for the recommendation. I agree about the threads I don't know if anybody (apart from Stasia) can keep up with them all. I read as many as I can but ... to paraphrase ... so many threads, so little time:)

As for the books I only read things I think I'll like and so many have been added after reading about them on other people's threads!