(no subject)
I have had SUCH a lovely weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon. Yesterday was lunch by the rivver, Arden of Faversham, an ice cream and a wander around the shops, a very delicious meal in a DESERTED restaurant, The Roaring Girl and then a drink at the Dirty Duck <3 and then today we had a leisurely breakfast, another wander around the shops, a drink by the river and then home.
And THEN I did my good deed for the day and gave blood. I was so down on the idea of going because my last two attempts have been failures but today I left my home at 3:20 and was back again at 4:20 having given with no trouble at all (although the guy did use extra pressure apparently and my veins ARE at a slightly odd angle *g*)
So I owe more reviews of course now but in the mean time let's talk about books... It was one big book and then a handful of others this time and I've got a new key to go with what I've read because I've started counting short stories/essays I read outside a book for one very good reason- as of next month the list is likely to be ALL Hugo nominees all the time *g*
♣ read on kindle
♥ graphic novel/comic book
♦ short form
May reviews
The Age of Wonder- Richard Holmes (subtitle: How the Romantic generation discovered the beauty and terror of science). I LOVED this book. It covers everything from the Herschels discovering comets, stars and whole galaxies to Davy's invention of the safety lamp to Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein and in between it talks about invention and discovery and ambition and what science was before it was ever called science and, above all, about wonder. It makes science and art seem not so far apart after all and it puts Coleridge right at the heart of what made this generation of scientists great and I was enthralled. I also have a little reading list culled from the bibliography now that I want to read... I am SO glad I picked this up.
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent- Marie Brennan I've been meaning to read this book for a while and it didn't disappoint because it might be a fantasy world with, obviously DRAGONS but actually it reads very much like the life stories of any number of Victorian (or earlier) women who wanted to be scientists. Isabella makes a great narrator and I love the mixture of her naive views as a young woman and the way she looks back on them with greater experience. Also I love Jacob and her relationship with him and how they fit into society. The end of the book though /o\ I want the sequel but that can never be made right.
Rule 18- Clifford Simak So this is the start of my 1939 Hugos reading, it turns out Dad already owns quite a lot of the novellas and novelettes. IDK that I ever expected to read SciFi about Football and American Football at that (which is tool me a stupidly long time to remember it was) but it's a fun concept.
Lumberjanes #2- Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson & Brooke Allen I didn't include Lumberjanes in my April reviews because I was dithering about including comics but now I've started adding short form things (stories & essays) I read separately I'm adding it back in! I love Noelle's style (Nimona is breaking my heart right now) so it's great to have a physical comic by her too and I love the little visual jokes that are tucked away in the story plus it's just great fun- a girls adventure summer camp with something supernatural looming in the background. Also I am a tad suspicious of Jo right now but I love all 5 main characters and also poor Jen.
Ten Years Later- Alexandre Dumas We're getting away from the original musketeers now- Athos and D'Artgana make notable appearances and Aramis is very much involved but although Porthos is mentioned he never appears. The focus is on the French court and various people falling in love with Princess Henrietta (Charles II's sister and wife to the French king's brother). Mostly I feel horrible sorry for our "hero" Raoul because he's far too innocent for this lot. I love Montalais and want only good things for her but Louise and "Madame" both need shaking for different reasons. Unfortunately the next book is called Louise de Valliere... I'm still enjoying the sarcastic way Dumas looks at the world though.
To Say Nothing of the Dog- Connie Willis I do love the world Connie Willis has built here and I also rather liked Ned & Verity who we spent most time with- especially Verity's Lord Peter Wimsey obsession.I guessed one twist ahead of time but I enjoyed the journey a lot and the characters and the way everything slot together (almost) at the end.
The Chemical History of a Candle- Michael Faraday Technically I guess these are lectures not a book but I read them so they're counting. This was the first of the things I dl'd inspired by Age of Wonder because I just had to try the very first Royal Institute Christmas Lectures having grown up watching them. He starts from a simple candle and ends up explaining combustion, the products of a candle burning, the chemical make up of water and air and then onto biology and what we breathe (via a short mention of social justice issues- how can you expect people to live in slums with poor ventilation etc.) and all of it is accompanied by experiments. Even just reading his words I can see why he was so popular!
And THEN I did my good deed for the day and gave blood. I was so down on the idea of going because my last two attempts have been failures but today I left my home at 3:20 and was back again at 4:20 having given with no trouble at all (although the guy did use extra pressure apparently and my veins ARE at a slightly odd angle *g*)
So I owe more reviews of course now but in the mean time let's talk about books... It was one big book and then a handful of others this time and I've got a new key to go with what I've read because I've started counting short stories/essays I read outside a book for one very good reason- as of next month the list is likely to be ALL Hugo nominees all the time *g*
- The Age of Wonder- Richard Holmes
- A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent- Marie Brennan
- Rule 18- Clifford Simak ♦
- Lumberjanes #2- Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson & Brooke Allen♦♥
- Ten Years Later- Alexandre Dumas♣
- To Say Nothing of the Dog- Connie Willis
- The Chemical History of a Candle- Michael Faraday
♣ read on kindle
♥ graphic novel/comic book
♦ short form
May reviews
The Age of Wonder- Richard Holmes (subtitle: How the Romantic generation discovered the beauty and terror of science). I LOVED this book. It covers everything from the Herschels discovering comets, stars and whole galaxies to Davy's invention of the safety lamp to Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein and in between it talks about invention and discovery and ambition and what science was before it was ever called science and, above all, about wonder. It makes science and art seem not so far apart after all and it puts Coleridge right at the heart of what made this generation of scientists great and I was enthralled. I also have a little reading list culled from the bibliography now that I want to read... I am SO glad I picked this up.
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent- Marie Brennan I've been meaning to read this book for a while and it didn't disappoint because it might be a fantasy world with, obviously DRAGONS but actually it reads very much like the life stories of any number of Victorian (or earlier) women who wanted to be scientists. Isabella makes a great narrator and I love the mixture of her naive views as a young woman and the way she looks back on them with greater experience. Also I love Jacob and her relationship with him and how they fit into society. The end of the book though /o\ I want the sequel but that can never be made right.
Rule 18- Clifford Simak So this is the start of my 1939 Hugos reading, it turns out Dad already owns quite a lot of the novellas and novelettes. IDK that I ever expected to read SciFi about Football and American Football at that (which is tool me a stupidly long time to remember it was) but it's a fun concept.
Lumberjanes #2- Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson & Brooke Allen I didn't include Lumberjanes in my April reviews because I was dithering about including comics but now I've started adding short form things (stories & essays) I read separately I'm adding it back in! I love Noelle's style (Nimona is breaking my heart right now) so it's great to have a physical comic by her too and I love the little visual jokes that are tucked away in the story plus it's just great fun- a girls adventure summer camp with something supernatural looming in the background. Also I am a tad suspicious of Jo right now but I love all 5 main characters and also poor Jen.
Ten Years Later- Alexandre Dumas We're getting away from the original musketeers now- Athos and D'Artgana make notable appearances and Aramis is very much involved but although Porthos is mentioned he never appears. The focus is on the French court and various people falling in love with Princess Henrietta (Charles II's sister and wife to the French king's brother). Mostly I feel horrible sorry for our "hero" Raoul because he's far too innocent for this lot. I love Montalais and want only good things for her but Louise and "Madame" both need shaking for different reasons. Unfortunately the next book is called Louise de Valliere... I'm still enjoying the sarcastic way Dumas looks at the world though.
To Say Nothing of the Dog- Connie Willis I do love the world Connie Willis has built here and I also rather liked Ned & Verity who we spent most time with- especially Verity's Lord Peter Wimsey obsession.I guessed one twist ahead of time but I enjoyed the journey a lot and the characters and the way everything slot together (almost) at the end.
The Chemical History of a Candle- Michael Faraday Technically I guess these are lectures not a book but I read them so they're counting. This was the first of the things I dl'd inspired by Age of Wonder because I just had to try the very first Royal Institute Christmas Lectures having grown up watching them. He starts from a simple candle and ends up explaining combustion, the products of a candle burning, the chemical make up of water and air and then onto biology and what we breathe (via a short mention of social justice issues- how can you expect people to live in slums with poor ventilation etc.) and all of it is accompanied by experiments. Even just reading his words I can see why he was so popular!