I do still read!
Though the days where I could burn through new books have gone. Stupid attention span. Young me would be so dissapointed.
Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 2: The Magicians of Caprona / Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones
These are great, with only fleeting appearances of Chrestomanci himself but with such wonderfully drawn worlds filled with great characters it doesn't matter. Witch Week manages the most realistic portrayal of the horrors of school life, my only complaint is the endings a little too pat and suddenly happy with the school kids now friends after the plot ex machina happens.
Chronicles of Chrestomanci: Volume 3: Conrad's Fate and the Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones
Conrad's Fate is unlike the rest of the series as it is told in the first person, though the old "trusted person uses oblivious main character for nefarious ends" crops up again. Finally in The Pinhoe Egg there is a direct sequel to Charmed Life, with those characters showing up and getting to play an important part. And it has an adorable baby griffin. Win!
Miss Marple Omnibus: Volume One: The Body in the Library / The Moving Finger / A Murder is Announced / 4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie
I've become a great fan of Agatha Christie, downright cosy even with all the murders but very clever misdirection and myriad of suspects are more interesting than gore porn. The police are idiots as always, though it's good to see things mixed up a bit with some actually aware and making use of Miss Marple's detective skills, and in the Moving Finger she only shows up at the last minute while in 4:50 from Paddington she has a young female sidekick to do the legwork, the frighteningly competent Lucy Eyelesbarrow. Pity she's hinted to get married of at the end, instead of the duo of Marple and Eyelesbarrow going off to do more super sleuthing.
Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 2: The Magicians of Caprona / Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones
These are great, with only fleeting appearances of Chrestomanci himself but with such wonderfully drawn worlds filled with great characters it doesn't matter. Witch Week manages the most realistic portrayal of the horrors of school life, my only complaint is the endings a little too pat and suddenly happy with the school kids now friends after the plot ex machina happens.
Chronicles of Chrestomanci: Volume 3: Conrad's Fate and the Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones
Conrad's Fate is unlike the rest of the series as it is told in the first person, though the old "trusted person uses oblivious main character for nefarious ends" crops up again. Finally in The Pinhoe Egg there is a direct sequel to Charmed Life, with those characters showing up and getting to play an important part. And it has an adorable baby griffin. Win!
Miss Marple Omnibus: Volume One: The Body in the Library / The Moving Finger / A Murder is Announced / 4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie
I've become a great fan of Agatha Christie, downright cosy even with all the murders but very clever misdirection and myriad of suspects are more interesting than gore porn. The police are idiots as always, though it's good to see things mixed up a bit with some actually aware and making use of Miss Marple's detective skills, and in the Moving Finger she only shows up at the last minute while in 4:50 from Paddington she has a young female sidekick to do the legwork, the frighteningly competent Lucy Eyelesbarrow. Pity she's hinted to get married of at the end, instead of the duo of Marple and Eyelesbarrow going off to do more super sleuthing.