book round-up: March 2011
Post #999!
And, the books I read this month:
1. The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw. Okay, yes, I admit it, I bought this mostly because it had 'Atlantis' in the title and the cover was shiny. This is a poor man's Da Vinci Code, which I pretty much guessed from the title and summary, so I guess I got what I paid for. Main character is a Gary Sue professor who's oh so smart when it comes to languages and good-looking and personable and his only failing is that he just doesn't get women. Of course, who ever could've guessed that sleeping with the only two women in your group-on-the-run within days of each other might cause some friction? An understandable error. *rolls eyes* Also, too much in the way of information dumping, and half the time it's unnecessary to the plot and seems designed purely to show off the author's main character's linguistic genius. There's a sequel. Two guesses as to whether I'll be reading it. ;)
2. Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop. It's Anne Bishop. It's set in the Black Jewels universe. Thus, being a fan of the Black Jewels 'verse, I loved this book to pieces. Most women rock, a few are witchy witches with nefarious schemes, some men are helpful and others are useless. Oh, and there's romance. If you're familiar with Bishop, you're familiar with the greatness. :) (I really, really liked this one, even for a BJ book. 'T'was excellent.)
3. Twilight's Dawn by Anne Bishop. The ever-awesome quietlybemused bought this for me for my birthday, so that I don't have to endure an entire year before it's released in paperback. Hee! A collection of four short(ish) stories set in the BJ universe. See above for general summary of awesomeness. It could even stand as the end of the series if need be, but hopefully this isn't the case.
4. Changes by Jim Butcher. Book number... eleven? twelve? I've lost count... of The Dresden Files series. I was spoiled for the hugely big spoiler ending (by the following book, no less -- I read the summary for Ghost Story before I read Changes and it gives the ending of Changes away!) but it started off with an entirely different type of spoiler and just got more awesome as the book went on. Although sometimes I have to wonder how Harry keeps on keeping on with all the trials he faces; talk about the underdog and life not giving you a break. I am upset about the timing of that thing that interrupted that other thing with Murphy. ACK! I've been waiting since book one, people! Make it happen already!! (I also have one or two theories about how Harry's going to get out of this latest "predicament" but alas, I'll have to wait until Ghost Story is released in paperback, probably next March.)
(5. Branded by Eric Walters. I read this in February but had to re-read it because I forgot to do the questions for the librarian. Whoopsies.)
ETA: Oops! Forgot a book!
6. Humans by Robert J. Sawyer. Canadian author who has things happen in Canada. Woot! Book two of three. A scientist (Ponter) from a world where modern-day humans died out and Neanderthals lived accidentally finds himself on our version of Earth. Well, actually, that was book one; this time, he returns to Earth on purpose, ostensibly to learn more about us and open trade but really because he misses Mary. Aww. Be warned that a triggery event happens to Mary in the first book (Hominids) and is frequently referred to in Humans. Ponter's pov and world is more interesting than Mary's, IMO. Interesting take on humanity, its strengths and weaknesses (we have a lot of the latter...), and more mundane things such as how we construct our buildings and live our lives.
And, the books I read this month:
1. The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw. Okay, yes, I admit it, I bought this mostly because it had 'Atlantis' in the title and the cover was shiny. This is a poor man's Da Vinci Code, which I pretty much guessed from the title and summary, so I guess I got what I paid for. Main character is a Gary Sue professor who's oh so smart when it comes to languages and good-looking and personable and his only failing is that he just doesn't get women. Of course, who ever could've guessed that sleeping with the only two women in your group-on-the-run within days of each other might cause some friction? An understandable error. *rolls eyes* Also, too much in the way of information dumping, and half the time it's unnecessary to the plot and seems designed purely to show off the author's main character's linguistic genius. There's a sequel. Two guesses as to whether I'll be reading it. ;)
2. Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop. It's Anne Bishop. It's set in the Black Jewels universe. Thus, being a fan of the Black Jewels 'verse, I loved this book to pieces. Most women rock, a few are witchy witches with nefarious schemes, some men are helpful and others are useless. Oh, and there's romance. If you're familiar with Bishop, you're familiar with the greatness. :) (I really, really liked this one, even for a BJ book. 'T'was excellent.)
3. Twilight's Dawn by Anne Bishop. The ever-awesome quietlybemused bought this for me for my birthday, so that I don't have to endure an entire year before it's released in paperback. Hee! A collection of four short(ish) stories set in the BJ universe. See above for general summary of awesomeness. It could even stand as the end of the series if need be, but hopefully this isn't the case.
4. Changes by Jim Butcher. Book number... eleven? twelve? I've lost count... of The Dresden Files series. I was spoiled for the hugely big spoiler ending (by the following book, no less -- I read the summary for Ghost Story before I read Changes and it gives the ending of Changes away!) but it started off with an entirely different type of spoiler and just got more awesome as the book went on. Although sometimes I have to wonder how Harry keeps on keeping on with all the trials he faces; talk about the underdog and life not giving you a break. I am upset about the timing of that thing that interrupted that other thing with Murphy. ACK! I've been waiting since book one, people! Make it happen already!! (I also have one or two theories about how Harry's going to get out of this latest "predicament" but alas, I'll have to wait until Ghost Story is released in paperback, probably next March.)
(5. Branded by Eric Walters. I read this in February but had to re-read it because I forgot to do the questions for the librarian. Whoopsies.)
ETA: Oops! Forgot a book!
6. Humans by Robert J. Sawyer. Canadian author who has things happen in Canada. Woot! Book two of three. A scientist (Ponter) from a world where modern-day humans died out and Neanderthals lived accidentally finds himself on our version of Earth. Well, actually, that was book one; this time, he returns to Earth on purpose, ostensibly to learn more about us and open trade but really because he misses Mary. Aww. Be warned that a triggery event happens to Mary in the first book (Hominids) and is frequently referred to in Humans. Ponter's pov and world is more interesting than Mary's, IMO. Interesting take on humanity, its strengths and weaknesses (we have a lot of the latter...), and more mundane things such as how we construct our buildings and live our lives.