Finally got around to reading Martine Leavitt's Keturah and Lord Death.

As I'd heard, it's a book written in a lyrical style that suits historical fantasy so well. The worldbuilding is unobtrusive but fresh.

The ending wasn't surprising, but the power it carried was.

Recommended for that mood for something artistic, and with emotional weight, rather ( Read more... )

I dreamed this morning I was back in Japan, I believe volunteering help, and was being helped get settled in at a dorm by, as far as I can tell, Ok Taecyeon...


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I'm starting another discipline-season of writing poems!

Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, so my dear friends...consider yourself forearmed.

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Day 22

How about summer books?

I'm going to try and come up with books that aren't summer just because it's scorching out during the book, so let's see...

Magic or Madness (Justine Larbalestier) is dry and scorching in the presence of its magic and the feeling you have about the world, though also opening in an Australian summer, where they make 'em ( Read more... )

Day 18 of the Obsessive Book-Lover's Month of Books

What books have you read where you didn't expect to like them, and then were surprised?

I guess my list got less inspired after day 17--and I know why. Let's try and think of a way to rewrite this, so it's more fun...

You're handed a book, and it looks dull. Serious. Somehow not your thing. But you ( Read more... )

What books are the first you remember being read?


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Day 2

What characters did you read about and think, “Oh, I know what you mean”? Characters you feel you are like, inside.

This may sound really egotistical, but I really get Sophie. Her wanting to shrink away from the gorgeous creature that is Howl, and her way of fading in behind her work, and just keep thing running. Her ability to be the ( Read more... )

I'm going to tell you about this book I am reading, tho' I haven't even 3/4ths finished it yet, and am not going to do it today, as it is the kind of day for reading Pride and Prejudice or Howl's Moving Castle* which involve no intense physical duresses or particularly gritty life situations.

Also a day for looser pants than what I am wearing, la.

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I can't quite describe to you why I loved The Magician of Hoad so much.

Something in the writing takes old ideas, the bedrock epic tropes, and mints it new.
It's not just that the book feels fresh and alive, using those ideas, either. It's like they're bright coins to jangle in my hand, tossing up and catching, hearing the new notes.
I want to ( Read more... )

I'll readily admit I spent more time in the last year or so reading comics than books.
Maybe more than I wrote, though definitely not more than I spent on work, if we include spinning...

Anyway.
It's been a torrid affair.

I wanted to do a Round Up and someday I'll have a really funny list of awards to all my favorites. Not today.

Let me just tell you ( Read more... )