#40-43
#40 Sara Donati: Into The Wilderness
A romantic novel, taking place in America at the end of the 18th century. An unconventional couple: a write man, who has grown up with the Indians and an old maid, who refuses a sensible offer of marriage, to go in to the wilderness in so many ways. I liked the book. I could not resist comparing it with Gabaldon's books. More so, because, in fact, the Frasers are mentioned in passing in Sara Donati's book and in the acknowledgements she thanks Gabaldon for support and inspiration. Having said that, the "Outlander" is, in my opinion, much more complex and multifaceted, and therefore more interesting. Whereas I am eagerly awaiting new adventures from the Frasers, I am not sure, I will want to read more about Nathan and Elisabeth.
#41 Shayne Parkinson: All I Want
A poignant and touching short story about a family which did not quite happen.
#42 Arthur Keaveney: Sulla: The Last Republican
That was the only recent biography of Sulla I could find. It is based on a PhD thesis and, although well written, some academic things were rather aggravating. Such as abbreviating the first names. I can guess that L. is Lucius and M. is Marius, but took me some time to figure out what Cn. was. A list in the beginning would be user-friendly. So would be the chronology or some kind of approximate timeline. Most of the controversy was confined to the notes and expressed via references to other opinions rather than included in the text itself. The book itself made me want to re-read Colleen McCullough's wonderful series, which made all those men and women and situations so alive and real.
And I still don't understand, how Hollywood hasn't made a film of it yet. Forget Alexander and Caesar and Spartacus and "evil" Richard III - how about Sulla?
#43 Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter: The Long Mars
The third book in the series, which has started with the Long Earth. And I am still not sure about it. The idea itself is wonderful and gives literally endless opportunities to describe alternative worlds. The action itself, however, is a bit slow and most ideas seem to be only proposed rather than taken to any logical or illogical conclusion.
A romantic novel, taking place in America at the end of the 18th century. An unconventional couple: a write man, who has grown up with the Indians and an old maid, who refuses a sensible offer of marriage, to go in to the wilderness in so many ways. I liked the book. I could not resist comparing it with Gabaldon's books. More so, because, in fact, the Frasers are mentioned in passing in Sara Donati's book and in the acknowledgements she thanks Gabaldon for support and inspiration. Having said that, the "Outlander" is, in my opinion, much more complex and multifaceted, and therefore more interesting. Whereas I am eagerly awaiting new adventures from the Frasers, I am not sure, I will want to read more about Nathan and Elisabeth.
#41 Shayne Parkinson: All I Want
A poignant and touching short story about a family which did not quite happen.
#42 Arthur Keaveney: Sulla: The Last Republican
That was the only recent biography of Sulla I could find. It is based on a PhD thesis and, although well written, some academic things were rather aggravating. Such as abbreviating the first names. I can guess that L. is Lucius and M. is Marius, but took me some time to figure out what Cn. was. A list in the beginning would be user-friendly. So would be the chronology or some kind of approximate timeline. Most of the controversy was confined to the notes and expressed via references to other opinions rather than included in the text itself. The book itself made me want to re-read Colleen McCullough's wonderful series, which made all those men and women and situations so alive and real.
And I still don't understand, how Hollywood hasn't made a film of it yet. Forget Alexander and Caesar and Spartacus and "evil" Richard III - how about Sulla?
#43 Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter: The Long Mars
The third book in the series, which has started with the Long Earth. And I am still not sure about it. The idea itself is wonderful and gives literally endless opportunities to describe alternative worlds. The action itself, however, is a bit slow and most ideas seem to be only proposed rather than taken to any logical or illogical conclusion.