As is usual for my New Year's post, time to list the books I've been reading over the past twelve months. This year I started a 'to read' list, writing down titles of books I should or want to read. Even though this list has no deadline, the sheer fact of its existence is probably the reason why I've read nearly forty books this year. I'm ( Read more... )

I promised I'd review this book so I shall. Incidentally, I intend to review many, many more books than I actually do, but reviews are pretty hard to write (books are hard too.)

So, The Garden of Evening Mists. This book was shortlisted for the Booker, and has won a couple of other prizes. It concerns Yun Ling Teoh, a woman who was held by the ( Read more... )

I feel like I'm coming down with something. Bleargh.

I quite liked Snow Crash. I've picked up and put down Stephenson's more recent works, but their sheer size put me off. But, I was going to PAX and I had long hours waiting in airports on planes and in queues ahead of me, so an easy-to-read brick was just what I wanted in a book.

( More. )

This is a rather odd book to review, mainly because I went in with extremely low expectations. I've read Sandman, Stardust and Good Omens and the latter was the only one I really liked much. But I picked up American Gods for $4 secondhand, so I didn't have much to lose.

Overall, it's okay.

( Read more... )

Attentive readers of this journal will know that I keep a record of every book I read. I generally make a post every new year listing what I've read. I've now decided to start a new list, a list of books I intend to read. Books I'd like to read, books I think I should read, books other people think I should read, and on and on ( Read more... )

Read this book. Especially if you are Australian ( Read more... )

Back from the beach. Lots to tell, but I'm really tired so maybe a more detailed post will have to wait. Instead, Happy New Year! And here is my annual list of books I read. I cracked 30 this year, more than any other since I've been recording them.

Standout books were Blood Meridian which was surreal and horrible and amazing - I loved the ( Read more... )

The anesthetic has all worn off, and I have no further torture sessions scheduled. My jaw is a lot less sore this time, which is good. The different anesthetic helped, but it meant I needed two needles cause it was weaker - but while I felt a bit clammy with nerves I didn't have the overreaction I did last time ( Read more... )

Well, this is new; a book I'm reading almost entirely because the punctuation amuses the hell out of me, and for no other reason. Apparently it's an international bestseller, according to the cover, which tells me only how the word 'bestseller' has been devalued nowadays ( Read more... )

I picked up Blood Meridian when it came through among the new books at the library. It wasn't until after I finished reading it that I realised it was actually published in 1985 ( Read more... )