Wednesday books (on Friday)
What I've read lately:
Danse de la Folie, by Sherwood Smith (sartorias), as an iPhone book. It continued enjoyable but not at all transgressive -- it followed the mode of the genre rather than playing with it. Someone pointed out that it might have been written considerably earlier in her career, despit the fact that I just discovered it.
Tortall and Other Lands, by Tamora Pierce, on the iPad. Short stories, mostly but not all set in the land of Tortall. I'd read one of the stories in a Sharyn November anthology. I didn't like it then, and I still didn't on reread. I'm not sure why; maybe because it was too over the top in both the antagonists and the rescuer. Also, unlike much of Pierce's other work, it seemed to totally gloss over the fact that this was amazingly dysfunctional stuff going on that has long-term effects, not just a bad-dream sort of speedbump. General impression of the book was that it was enjoyable, didn't add significantly to the Tortall canon.
Gate of Ivory, by Doris Egan. Yes, at long last, I tackled the brick (the 3-book paperback is almost 800 pages), and started again at the beginning. Just as well that I did, since I had misremembered some events of the first book as happening in the second book. I really liked this, though there's one critical scene near the end where after several rereads I still can't exactly figure out how the thing that happened actually happened.
What I'm currently reading:
carried over from last week:
Battle Cry, by Leon Uris, as a kitchen book
The Silver Stallion, by James Branch Cabell, as a bathroom book. The sequel to Figures of Earth. I'm dfinitely wishing this one were over, and contemplating giving Jurgen a pass.
Two-Bit Heroes, by Doris Egan. The second Ivory book, which I'm about two-thirds of the way through. Most of this is a reread as well, but I couldn't remember where I stopped last time (because I had to return the book to the library).
The Unknown Ajax, by Georgette Heyer. I'm about halfway through. There's a whole discourse on the difference between sheep for woolen and sheep for worsted that made my eyes glaze over the first time I read the book, but this time (after five or so years as a spinner), not only did it make perfect sense, it was interesting and I wish he'd kept on talking.
What I plan to read:
Guilt-Edged Ivory, by Doris Egan. The third of the Ivory trilogy. This may have to take a temporary back seat to the two library books, though.
Bitterblue, by Kristin Cashore. The third of the Graceling books, it just arrived at my library branch a few days ago.
Shadows in Flight, by Orson Scott Card. It just jumped out at me, honestly. I don't read anything else of his, but I keep wanting to know what happens next (or what happened past, in this case) in the Enderverse. I do feel vaguely unclean, though.
Jurgen, by James Branch Cabell, once I finish The Silver Stallion. And then I'll definitely be done with Cabell.
More books from the pile by the bedside.
Danse de la Folie, by Sherwood Smith (sartorias), as an iPhone book. It continued enjoyable but not at all transgressive -- it followed the mode of the genre rather than playing with it. Someone pointed out that it might have been written considerably earlier in her career, despit the fact that I just discovered it.
Tortall and Other Lands, by Tamora Pierce, on the iPad. Short stories, mostly but not all set in the land of Tortall. I'd read one of the stories in a Sharyn November anthology. I didn't like it then, and I still didn't on reread. I'm not sure why; maybe because it was too over the top in both the antagonists and the rescuer. Also, unlike much of Pierce's other work, it seemed to totally gloss over the fact that this was amazingly dysfunctional stuff going on that has long-term effects, not just a bad-dream sort of speedbump. General impression of the book was that it was enjoyable, didn't add significantly to the Tortall canon.
Gate of Ivory, by Doris Egan. Yes, at long last, I tackled the brick (the 3-book paperback is almost 800 pages), and started again at the beginning. Just as well that I did, since I had misremembered some events of the first book as happening in the second book. I really liked this, though there's one critical scene near the end where after several rereads I still can't exactly figure out how the thing that happened actually happened.
What I'm currently reading:
carried over from last week:
Battle Cry, by Leon Uris, as a kitchen book
The Silver Stallion, by James Branch Cabell, as a bathroom book. The sequel to Figures of Earth. I'm dfinitely wishing this one were over, and contemplating giving Jurgen a pass.
Two-Bit Heroes, by Doris Egan. The second Ivory book, which I'm about two-thirds of the way through. Most of this is a reread as well, but I couldn't remember where I stopped last time (because I had to return the book to the library).
The Unknown Ajax, by Georgette Heyer. I'm about halfway through. There's a whole discourse on the difference between sheep for woolen and sheep for worsted that made my eyes glaze over the first time I read the book, but this time (after five or so years as a spinner), not only did it make perfect sense, it was interesting and I wish he'd kept on talking.
What I plan to read:
Guilt-Edged Ivory, by Doris Egan. The third of the Ivory trilogy. This may have to take a temporary back seat to the two library books, though.
Bitterblue, by Kristin Cashore. The third of the Graceling books, it just arrived at my library branch a few days ago.
Shadows in Flight, by Orson Scott Card. It just jumped out at me, honestly. I don't read anything else of his, but I keep wanting to know what happens next (or what happened past, in this case) in the Enderverse. I do feel vaguely unclean, though.
Jurgen, by James Branch Cabell, once I finish The Silver Stallion. And then I'll definitely be done with Cabell.
More books from the pile by the bedside.