Loki As Philosopher; Brave Max; Aurora Women
Come As You Are, by Emily Nagoski
So when I read this I was all "Well, this is extremely interesting because it has case studies and stuff but I already knew most of the science and it's not like I have EVER had any issues having orgasms." Then like a month later I went on a new medication and I had to relearn how to have an orgasm (until that side effect wore off like 3 months later and they became easy again, HOORAY). Anyway, it turns out that I ended up remembering and thinking about a lot of the techniques, etc., discussed in the book, and they were very helpful. Gold star for Ms. Nagoski.
(255)
The Gospel of Loki, by Joanne Harris
I liked it because it's about Loki and it's a myth retelling and it's very fluidly written. But I didn't LOVE it because it's about Loki and thus I have Very Strong Opinions and the voice was just not... interesting enough. Not clever enough. Not subtle enough. And not playful enough. Which maybe sounds like I didn't like it? But I did. I just have a very very high standard when it comes to Norse mythology. I also happened to read this *right* before delving into the wonderful wonderful work of Ada Palmer et al (Sassafrass), doing a Norse musical thing with very complex harmonies, and HER Loki is damn near perfect. So close to perfect that, while listening to a live performance, at one point the chorus in my head were all declaiming "SEE JOANNE HARRIS THIS IS WHAT YOU DO." Sorry, Joanne Harris. I keep being disappointed in you and I suspect it is not your fault. I will try at least one more of your books before I give up.
(256)
The Philosopher Kings, by Jo Walton
Absolutely and utterly as wonderful as I was hoping it would be; I'm still all warm and fuzzy just remembering reading it, months later (and also heartbroken / angry / intrigued / intellectually engaged / etc, depending on which part of the story I am remembering reading). AND she pulled off that thing I was lamenting a lack of in another author, earlier today - the thing where I can kind of see how things ought to end but I am hoping for a miracle different ending anyway? She managed said miracle *splendidly* in a way that reframes the whole trilogy, and left me so very eager for the third book, and retrospectively thinking it wasn't a miracle at all, but rather precisely what *would* happen, given all the givens. I am rather lucky, to have more than one ideal author - authors who actually write exactly the books I want to read - and even more lucky that more than one of them are still writing (as opposed to decades or centuries dead). But if I did have to pick *just* one to be able to keep reading - at least just one of the living ones - it might well be papersky.
(257, O50)
No Time for Tears, by Judy Heath
I was rather hoping this would be a book about how to grieve in 15 minute segments or something, which I realize is ridiculous but one can dream. Also see the title. But even though it was NOT what I wanted, it was quite solid, full of good reminders that helped me and helped me help someone else, so cheers to it. Not the best grief book I've read, but a useful one.
(258)
Max the Brave, by Ed Vere (ARC)
A delightful romp of a kid's book, which, for whatever reason, I keep holding on to instead of giving away to some kid I know. Wait, I know the reason - it's because the cover is so damn cute that it makes me grin every time I see it sitting around in my computer room. :D.
(259, O51, A6)
Aurora, by Kim Stanley Robinson
It was very weird to read this book while attending a fantasy convention, because it is so relentlessly sfnal in rather an old-fashioned way. I started to talk about its bleakness or pessimism because it is, fundamentally, a "your dreams are a crock and won't work" kind of a book - but actually I don't think it *is* bleak or pessimistic. The characters are loved by the narrator (and, I infer, the author), and the ending is full of hope. Just a retargeted hope. Plus I'm enough of a dreamer that I don't actually see this as an end to anything - more the antithesis that comes before a synthesis. (Which I realize wasn't even really Hegel and also is more memelike than is trustworthy - but I'm still fond of thinking of the world that way.) I really really love the narrative voice - I think it's fresh and original and makes a virtue out of the infodumping that you just KNOW is always going to be part of any KSR book - and I was fond enough of several of the characters that I kind of wish I knew them and kind of feel that I *do*. I also wish I could quit hoarding-instead-of-reading Robinson's books. I have 3 or 4 stashed away in my house in various places (including the extremely obvious R's-of-hardcover-fiction shelf) that I would really like to read.
(260, O52)
Women of Wonder, by Cathy Fenner
So many beautiful fantasy drawings all in one place, all drawn by women, and lots of them with still working (or easily search-engine-replaceable) URLS so I could go enjoy more of their work. Exactly what I needed in the middle of a very hot summer. Still grinning when I think about this book. (I didn't love EVERY painting in this book - when does that ever happen? But there is so much I did love that I barely remember the duds.)
(261, O53)
So when I read this I was all "Well, this is extremely interesting because it has case studies and stuff but I already knew most of the science and it's not like I have EVER had any issues having orgasms." Then like a month later I went on a new medication and I had to relearn how to have an orgasm (until that side effect wore off like 3 months later and they became easy again, HOORAY). Anyway, it turns out that I ended up remembering and thinking about a lot of the techniques, etc., discussed in the book, and they were very helpful. Gold star for Ms. Nagoski.
(255)
The Gospel of Loki, by Joanne Harris
I liked it because it's about Loki and it's a myth retelling and it's very fluidly written. But I didn't LOVE it because it's about Loki and thus I have Very Strong Opinions and the voice was just not... interesting enough. Not clever enough. Not subtle enough. And not playful enough. Which maybe sounds like I didn't like it? But I did. I just have a very very high standard when it comes to Norse mythology. I also happened to read this *right* before delving into the wonderful wonderful work of Ada Palmer et al (Sassafrass), doing a Norse musical thing with very complex harmonies, and HER Loki is damn near perfect. So close to perfect that, while listening to a live performance, at one point the chorus in my head were all declaiming "SEE JOANNE HARRIS THIS IS WHAT YOU DO." Sorry, Joanne Harris. I keep being disappointed in you and I suspect it is not your fault. I will try at least one more of your books before I give up.
(256)
The Philosopher Kings, by Jo Walton
Absolutely and utterly as wonderful as I was hoping it would be; I'm still all warm and fuzzy just remembering reading it, months later (and also heartbroken / angry / intrigued / intellectually engaged / etc, depending on which part of the story I am remembering reading). AND she pulled off that thing I was lamenting a lack of in another author, earlier today - the thing where I can kind of see how things ought to end but I am hoping for a miracle different ending anyway? She managed said miracle *splendidly* in a way that reframes the whole trilogy, and left me so very eager for the third book, and retrospectively thinking it wasn't a miracle at all, but rather precisely what *would* happen, given all the givens. I am rather lucky, to have more than one ideal author - authors who actually write exactly the books I want to read - and even more lucky that more than one of them are still writing (as opposed to decades or centuries dead). But if I did have to pick *just* one to be able to keep reading - at least just one of the living ones - it might well be papersky.
(257, O50)
No Time for Tears, by Judy Heath
I was rather hoping this would be a book about how to grieve in 15 minute segments or something, which I realize is ridiculous but one can dream. Also see the title. But even though it was NOT what I wanted, it was quite solid, full of good reminders that helped me and helped me help someone else, so cheers to it. Not the best grief book I've read, but a useful one.
(258)
Max the Brave, by Ed Vere (ARC)
A delightful romp of a kid's book, which, for whatever reason, I keep holding on to instead of giving away to some kid I know. Wait, I know the reason - it's because the cover is so damn cute that it makes me grin every time I see it sitting around in my computer room. :D.
(259, O51, A6)
Aurora, by Kim Stanley Robinson
It was very weird to read this book while attending a fantasy convention, because it is so relentlessly sfnal in rather an old-fashioned way. I started to talk about its bleakness or pessimism because it is, fundamentally, a "your dreams are a crock and won't work" kind of a book - but actually I don't think it *is* bleak or pessimistic. The characters are loved by the narrator (and, I infer, the author), and the ending is full of hope. Just a retargeted hope. Plus I'm enough of a dreamer that I don't actually see this as an end to anything - more the antithesis that comes before a synthesis. (Which I realize wasn't even really Hegel and also is more memelike than is trustworthy - but I'm still fond of thinking of the world that way.) I really really love the narrative voice - I think it's fresh and original and makes a virtue out of the infodumping that you just KNOW is always going to be part of any KSR book - and I was fond enough of several of the characters that I kind of wish I knew them and kind of feel that I *do*. I also wish I could quit hoarding-instead-of-reading Robinson's books. I have 3 or 4 stashed away in my house in various places (including the extremely obvious R's-of-hardcover-fiction shelf) that I would really like to read.
(260, O52)
Women of Wonder, by Cathy Fenner
So many beautiful fantasy drawings all in one place, all drawn by women, and lots of them with still working (or easily search-engine-replaceable) URLS so I could go enjoy more of their work. Exactly what I needed in the middle of a very hot summer. Still grinning when I think about this book. (I didn't love EVERY painting in this book - when does that ever happen? But there is so much I did love that I barely remember the duds.)
(261, O53)