Reading not writing 2008 #2
I realised to my horror that I had only written one of these posts so far this year. I have actually still been reading though, so I'll make this a double one.
6. A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman. This had been languishing on Mt TBR for nearly two years, but when I finally got into it, it was really good and I thoroughly enjoyed it. TFO had recommended it way back when I first knew him, but I had been distracted by other books. It's a very personal examination of the five senses - how they work, the impact they have on us and how we describe them. Well worth a read.
7. Clerkenwell Tales by Peter Ackroyd. Another book that had been languishing for a very long time. Ackroyd is also known for his massive biography of Dickens, which I read a few years ago, but he also writes literary historical novels usually based in London. The conceit of this one was based around the characters in the Canterbury Tales. It wasn't too long, but I prefer his non-fiction.
8. The Sword in the Stone by TH While. I have the wonderful metallumai to thank for this book. I've never seen the Disney movie apart from the odd clip, so I wasn't completely spoiled. I enjoyed it and it was an interesting take on the Arthurian legend.
9. The Queen of Air and Darkness by TH White. The sequel to The Sword in the Stone. Sadly, White was getting all too serious with this novel, and the tone is totally different from the first book. I can't say I liked it much, so much so that I couldn't face the third book. I think by making the first book so much a children's book and then discovering that he wanted to write something much more litry, perhaps, White produced something pretty uneven, and I can't see any ten or eleven year old who enjoyed the first book, thinking much of the second, until they were much older.
10. The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black. I'm ambivalent about this one. On the one hand I thoroughly enjoyed it as a sequel to Christine Falls, which came out last year, on the other, the author, Irish litry institution John Banville is very dismissive of it as something he knocked off in six weeks. I suppose just because you like a piece of fiction doesn't automatically mean you have to like the author as well. But it helps.
11. Jimmy the Hand (Legends of the Riftwar Series) Raymond E Feist & Steve Stirling. I have enjoyed most of the Riftwar books, and Jimmy the Hand is one of the most engaging characters therein. This novel takes a peek into his early life and it's great fun, although not probably if you haven't read Magician et al.
12. Lost Temple by Tom Harper. You know I can't actually remember what this was about apart from it being another one of the DVC-like historical thrillers. It can't have been that great.
13. Sword of God by Chris Kuzneski. This was even worse. I've only given it two stars in my ongoing books read list. It's another of these DVC historical thrillers. Emminently missable.
14. The Butcher of Smithfield by Susannah Gregory. I've already reviewed this on Only Two Rs. I really liked it - my only regret is that I didn't read the first book in the series before this one. I've enjoyed Gregory's 14th century medical series for a while now. This is a restoration spy. Great stuff.
15. The Wounded Name by DK Broster. Fans of slash will love this 1920s historical novel set during the French Revolution. Others may find it just too ridiculous. See Only Two Rs for a complete review.
6. A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman. This had been languishing on Mt TBR for nearly two years, but when I finally got into it, it was really good and I thoroughly enjoyed it. TFO had recommended it way back when I first knew him, but I had been distracted by other books. It's a very personal examination of the five senses - how they work, the impact they have on us and how we describe them. Well worth a read.
7. Clerkenwell Tales by Peter Ackroyd. Another book that had been languishing for a very long time. Ackroyd is also known for his massive biography of Dickens, which I read a few years ago, but he also writes literary historical novels usually based in London. The conceit of this one was based around the characters in the Canterbury Tales. It wasn't too long, but I prefer his non-fiction.
8. The Sword in the Stone by TH While. I have the wonderful metallumai to thank for this book. I've never seen the Disney movie apart from the odd clip, so I wasn't completely spoiled. I enjoyed it and it was an interesting take on the Arthurian legend.
9. The Queen of Air and Darkness by TH White. The sequel to The Sword in the Stone. Sadly, White was getting all too serious with this novel, and the tone is totally different from the first book. I can't say I liked it much, so much so that I couldn't face the third book. I think by making the first book so much a children's book and then discovering that he wanted to write something much more litry, perhaps, White produced something pretty uneven, and I can't see any ten or eleven year old who enjoyed the first book, thinking much of the second, until they were much older.
10. The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black. I'm ambivalent about this one. On the one hand I thoroughly enjoyed it as a sequel to Christine Falls, which came out last year, on the other, the author, Irish litry institution John Banville is very dismissive of it as something he knocked off in six weeks. I suppose just because you like a piece of fiction doesn't automatically mean you have to like the author as well. But it helps.
11. Jimmy the Hand (Legends of the Riftwar Series) Raymond E Feist & Steve Stirling. I have enjoyed most of the Riftwar books, and Jimmy the Hand is one of the most engaging characters therein. This novel takes a peek into his early life and it's great fun, although not probably if you haven't read Magician et al.
12. Lost Temple by Tom Harper. You know I can't actually remember what this was about apart from it being another one of the DVC-like historical thrillers. It can't have been that great.
13. Sword of God by Chris Kuzneski. This was even worse. I've only given it two stars in my ongoing books read list. It's another of these DVC historical thrillers. Emminently missable.
14. The Butcher of Smithfield by Susannah Gregory. I've already reviewed this on Only Two Rs. I really liked it - my only regret is that I didn't read the first book in the series before this one. I've enjoyed Gregory's 14th century medical series for a while now. This is a restoration spy. Great stuff.
15. The Wounded Name by DK Broster. Fans of slash will love this 1920s historical novel set during the French Revolution. Others may find it just too ridiculous. See Only Two Rs for a complete review.