Book Bag: May 2010
Hi, my name is Calico Reaction, and I'm a book-a-holic.
This is a RIDICULOUS month. I was feeling all proud of myself on how LITTLE money I spent this month, and then I pulled up my list and nearly DIED at how many titles came in! However, in my defense, the following did happen:
1) I started getting books from Paperback Swap (which means I paid nothing).
2) I got some free books from publishers/authors and one as a gift.
3) Book Closeouts remains crack and dangerous crack at that. But, it's cheap crack!
I'm going to try and keep explanations as short and sweet as possible. Sorry about this… I may start splitting these up like I used to, but we'll see. :)
All of these books I've read, and three of the four are re-purchases from Book Closeouts (The Price of Spring came from Amazon). I'd originally purchased the first three in mass market, but I was getting antsy about when the final installment being released in mass market (there's no date on Amazon). Add to that the fact that I've always preferred the design of the hardcovers, and that this is Jawas Read, Too!'s May challenge, and, well, I couldn't resist. The hardcovers are PRETTY!
A Shadow in Summer: Review
A Betrayal in Winter: Review
An Autumn War: Review
The Price of Spring: Review
And here's the June Challenge for Jawas Read, Too!. Minus the final book, that is. Odd thing: Earthsea was originally published as a trilogy, which is what Jawa is focusing on for June. However, when the fourth book came along, it was considered the final book in the series for a long time, until Le Guin started writing more in that world. Technically, I don't think it's a complete series to date, but I wanted to read what had the matching covers. And I've already read Wizard of Earthsea, but it's short and sweet and worth re-reading now that I've got more Le Guin under my belt. All books received via Paperback Swap.
Buckell, Tobias S.: Sly Mongoose (BCO): I've read Buckell's first two space operas, and while I wasn't wholly wild about the first, the second was more to my liking, and since the third has my favorite title and cover of the series to date, I decided I could afford the BCO price. :)
Dozois, Gardner: The New Space Opera 2 (BCO): Liked the first volume of this anthology series, and I've been eyeing the second for a while. Great names in the table of contents, so I'm looking forward to it.
Morrow, James: The Last Witchfinder AND The Philosopher's Apprentice (BCO): James Morrow is one of those authors who I want to buy every single book ever written. I've had two moments in the past where I very nearly made those orders, but I've held back. At any rate, I love these covers and have been eyeing the books for a while, so even though I have to finish Morrow's Godhead trilogy first, I'm glad to have these on hand.
Briggs, Patricia: Silver Borne (gift): thanks to janicu for sending this my way! Yes, that's the UK cover. The book is read and reviewed already, so if you're interested in the review, just click here.
Percy, Marge: Woman on the Edge of Time (PBS): I'd never heard of this book until Jo Walton reviewed it on Tor.com, and really, what else is there to say? It's obviously a favorable review, and it's SF! By a woman! Need I say more?
Black, Jenna: Glimmerglass (ARC): this came to me via the publisher via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program. Already read and reviewed (you get penalized if you don't review things in a timely manner, and by penalized I mean they won't send you stuff any more), so if you're interested, the review is here.
McDonald, Sandra: Diana Comet and Other Improbable Stories (publisher): this came to me via the publisher via the author, who also sent me another copy for a giveaway! Some of you may recognize McDonald's name from her space opera Aussie trilogy, starting with The Outback Stars, so I was tickled to get my hands on this first short story collection from McDonald. Expect both a giveaway and a review very soon.
Bujold, Lois McMaster: The Curse of Chalion (BCO): I've always wanted to read Bujold's work, and while I've got another one of her books sitting in a TBR pile somewhere, THIS is the book that I've heard nothing but wonderful things about, so I had to nab it when I saw it on BCO.
Huff, Tanya: Summon the Keeper (Amazon): Our July challenge! Still hate the cover, though I appreciate the cat looks like he's up to something no good. This book will either be awesome or awesomely bad. We'll soon find out!
Mitchell, Syne: The Changeling Plague (PBS): So Mitchell's one of those great authors hardly anyone has heard of, and worse, ALL of her books are out of print. But I'm going to read them, dagnabbit, and when I do, I'm going to make YOU want to read them! Of course, I'm forced to resort to PBS instead of actually buying the book and giving the author royalties, but when books are out of print, you don't have a choice.
Sedia, Ekaterina: Running with the Pack (Amazon): I was really tempted to get this when I offered it via giveaway, and when I started seeing positive reviews, I couldn't resist the anthology any longer. Not sure how soon I'll get to it, but yay werewolves!
Andrews, Ilona: Magic Bleeds (Borders): since I've gotten addicted to Andrews's series this year, it's a no-brainer that I'd pick this up ASAP. Hope to read it soon, but I'm not sure HOW soon.
Mantchev, Lisa: Perchance to Dream (Borders): this, too, was a must-buy the instant it came out, as I absolutely adored her Eyes Like Stars. This, too, I hope to read soon, but again, I'm not sure HOW soon.
Harrison, Kim: Early to Dead, Early to Rise (Borders): you know what my favorite thing about Kim Harrison's books are? Her titles! At any rate, I debated getting this second installment in the YA series the instant it came out, but I really enjoyed the first, despite unanswered questions, and I hope those questions are answered in this book. I expect to read this one the soonest of all, but because the first was a short, quick read, and this looks to be the same.
Palahniuk, Chuck: Tell-All (Hastings): this is a joint custody book, and more my husband's buy than mine. How sad is it that Palahniuk used to be one of my favoritest authors EVER, and even though I absolutely LOVED the last book of his I read, Rant, I just can't bring myself to read any more of his work unless my husband tells me it's as equally awesome as Rant was? Yeah, it's weird. So if I read this, it'll be with my hubby's stamp of approval. But he hasn't read it yet.
Pullman, Philip: The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (Borders): another joint custody book. I was shocked to learn Pullman had a new book out, and while I've YET to complete the His Dark Materials trilogy, I couldn't resist showing this book to my hubby, who decided he had to have it. Again, this is one he'll read first, but I do intend to read. However, I think I want to finish the YA trilogy so that if I end up hating this book, my hate won't poison my reading of the YA. :)
Wait, there's one more: Elizabeth Hand's Waking the Moon via PBS. It got skipped when I was downloading book covers, but this is a book I've wanted to read since 2005 and when I was finally ready to purchase it, it was out of print. So I took advantage of PBS. That's what it's there for, after all. :)
That's it from me! HOW SAD IS THIS?!!?!?!
The one thing that consoles me is that if I didn't have PBS and BCO at my fingertips, I would've only had six books that I purchased (see, that's tolerable!), two my hubby and I went joint custody on, and three I got for free via publisher or gift, which only only adds up to 11 books, which is FAR better than the 26 shown here!
What'd you get this month? :)
This is a RIDICULOUS month. I was feeling all proud of myself on how LITTLE money I spent this month, and then I pulled up my list and nearly DIED at how many titles came in! However, in my defense, the following did happen:
1) I started getting books from Paperback Swap (which means I paid nothing).
2) I got some free books from publishers/authors and one as a gift.
3) Book Closeouts remains crack and dangerous crack at that. But, it's cheap crack!
I'm going to try and keep explanations as short and sweet as possible. Sorry about this… I may start splitting these up like I used to, but we'll see. :)
All of these books I've read, and three of the four are re-purchases from Book Closeouts (The Price of Spring came from Amazon). I'd originally purchased the first three in mass market, but I was getting antsy about when the final installment being released in mass market (there's no date on Amazon). Add to that the fact that I've always preferred the design of the hardcovers, and that this is Jawas Read, Too!'s May challenge, and, well, I couldn't resist. The hardcovers are PRETTY!
A Shadow in Summer: Review
A Betrayal in Winter: Review
An Autumn War: Review
The Price of Spring: Review
And here's the June Challenge for Jawas Read, Too!. Minus the final book, that is. Odd thing: Earthsea was originally published as a trilogy, which is what Jawa is focusing on for June. However, when the fourth book came along, it was considered the final book in the series for a long time, until Le Guin started writing more in that world. Technically, I don't think it's a complete series to date, but I wanted to read what had the matching covers. And I've already read Wizard of Earthsea, but it's short and sweet and worth re-reading now that I've got more Le Guin under my belt. All books received via Paperback Swap.
Buckell, Tobias S.: Sly Mongoose (BCO): I've read Buckell's first two space operas, and while I wasn't wholly wild about the first, the second was more to my liking, and since the third has my favorite title and cover of the series to date, I decided I could afford the BCO price. :)
Dozois, Gardner: The New Space Opera 2 (BCO): Liked the first volume of this anthology series, and I've been eyeing the second for a while. Great names in the table of contents, so I'm looking forward to it.
Morrow, James: The Last Witchfinder AND The Philosopher's Apprentice (BCO): James Morrow is one of those authors who I want to buy every single book ever written. I've had two moments in the past where I very nearly made those orders, but I've held back. At any rate, I love these covers and have been eyeing the books for a while, so even though I have to finish Morrow's Godhead trilogy first, I'm glad to have these on hand.
Briggs, Patricia: Silver Borne (gift): thanks to janicu for sending this my way! Yes, that's the UK cover. The book is read and reviewed already, so if you're interested in the review, just click here.
Percy, Marge: Woman on the Edge of Time (PBS): I'd never heard of this book until Jo Walton reviewed it on Tor.com, and really, what else is there to say? It's obviously a favorable review, and it's SF! By a woman! Need I say more?
Black, Jenna: Glimmerglass (ARC): this came to me via the publisher via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program. Already read and reviewed (you get penalized if you don't review things in a timely manner, and by penalized I mean they won't send you stuff any more), so if you're interested, the review is here.
McDonald, Sandra: Diana Comet and Other Improbable Stories (publisher): this came to me via the publisher via the author, who also sent me another copy for a giveaway! Some of you may recognize McDonald's name from her space opera Aussie trilogy, starting with The Outback Stars, so I was tickled to get my hands on this first short story collection from McDonald. Expect both a giveaway and a review very soon.
Bujold, Lois McMaster: The Curse of Chalion (BCO): I've always wanted to read Bujold's work, and while I've got another one of her books sitting in a TBR pile somewhere, THIS is the book that I've heard nothing but wonderful things about, so I had to nab it when I saw it on BCO.
Huff, Tanya: Summon the Keeper (Amazon): Our July challenge! Still hate the cover, though I appreciate the cat looks like he's up to something no good. This book will either be awesome or awesomely bad. We'll soon find out!
Mitchell, Syne: The Changeling Plague (PBS): So Mitchell's one of those great authors hardly anyone has heard of, and worse, ALL of her books are out of print. But I'm going to read them, dagnabbit, and when I do, I'm going to make YOU want to read them! Of course, I'm forced to resort to PBS instead of actually buying the book and giving the author royalties, but when books are out of print, you don't have a choice.
Sedia, Ekaterina: Running with the Pack (Amazon): I was really tempted to get this when I offered it via giveaway, and when I started seeing positive reviews, I couldn't resist the anthology any longer. Not sure how soon I'll get to it, but yay werewolves!
Andrews, Ilona: Magic Bleeds (Borders): since I've gotten addicted to Andrews's series this year, it's a no-brainer that I'd pick this up ASAP. Hope to read it soon, but I'm not sure HOW soon.
Mantchev, Lisa: Perchance to Dream (Borders): this, too, was a must-buy the instant it came out, as I absolutely adored her Eyes Like Stars. This, too, I hope to read soon, but again, I'm not sure HOW soon.
Harrison, Kim: Early to Dead, Early to Rise (Borders): you know what my favorite thing about Kim Harrison's books are? Her titles! At any rate, I debated getting this second installment in the YA series the instant it came out, but I really enjoyed the first, despite unanswered questions, and I hope those questions are answered in this book. I expect to read this one the soonest of all, but because the first was a short, quick read, and this looks to be the same.
Palahniuk, Chuck: Tell-All (Hastings): this is a joint custody book, and more my husband's buy than mine. How sad is it that Palahniuk used to be one of my favoritest authors EVER, and even though I absolutely LOVED the last book of his I read, Rant, I just can't bring myself to read any more of his work unless my husband tells me it's as equally awesome as Rant was? Yeah, it's weird. So if I read this, it'll be with my hubby's stamp of approval. But he hasn't read it yet.
Pullman, Philip: The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (Borders): another joint custody book. I was shocked to learn Pullman had a new book out, and while I've YET to complete the His Dark Materials trilogy, I couldn't resist showing this book to my hubby, who decided he had to have it. Again, this is one he'll read first, but I do intend to read. However, I think I want to finish the YA trilogy so that if I end up hating this book, my hate won't poison my reading of the YA. :)
Wait, there's one more: Elizabeth Hand's Waking the Moon via PBS. It got skipped when I was downloading book covers, but this is a book I've wanted to read since 2005 and when I was finally ready to purchase it, it was out of print. So I took advantage of PBS. That's what it's there for, after all. :)
That's it from me! HOW SAD IS THIS?!!?!?!
The one thing that consoles me is that if I didn't have PBS and BCO at my fingertips, I would've only had six books that I purchased (see, that's tolerable!), two my hubby and I went joint custody on, and three I got for free via publisher or gift, which only only adds up to 11 books, which is FAR better than the 26 shown here!
What'd you get this month? :)