Books for January, 2004
I've decided to start doing this again. However, my list isn't very long this month. There's been this ice palace, you see, and, um, I've been reading a lot of stuff online.
Wizard of the Pigeons by Megan Lindholm. Re-read. Um. There was much to admire here, but the grayness and mental illness and desperation made it a bit of a slog to get through during a cold, dark January.
Goa by Kara Dalkey
Bijapur by Kara Dalkey
Bhagavati by Kara Dalkey These three books, The Blood of the Goddess triology, have been on my shelf forever and I'm just getting around to them for the first time. I think that it would have helped to have read her Euryale first, which (I think) is the only book of hers left that I haven't gotten around to yet. I admire her for writing a fantasy in a world which hasn't been plumbed very often (that I know of) by American fantasy writers (I dunno, but maybe I'm just displaying my shocking ignorance). The research involved must have been intense, but she renders a convincing, exotic India. Interesting to include the culture clash of the Porteguese Inquisition. Most of Kara's other work, I believe, have been intended for YA audiences, but this was definitely for an adult audience, including adult sexuality. The clash of cultures/religion was thoughtfully explored. But . . . hmm. Perhaps my mood is a bit fussy this month. The third volume felt---well, I was ready for the story to wrap up a little more quickly. And I couldn't buy into the relationship of Thomas and Adita as one of searing cross-cultural passion. What did they really see in each other? Other than pretty bodies? I didn't quite connect as much as I wanted with either of these characters; I felt a little remote from them, although I can't quite pinpoint why, and I can clearly see how she was trying to set them up so we'd connect with them. I feel almost guilty for carping, because of all the careful work she obviously put into it, and I can't articulate my dissatisfaction very well. As I said, it might not have been Kara, but perhaps just midwinter crankiness on my part making me sink a little less deeply into a book than I usually do. Still, a fine achievement, with extra points for a freshly exotic, well-researched world.
(Apropos of nothing, I immediately see the character Lockhart being played by Sean Connery.)
Beauty by Robin McKinley. Re-read (for like, the billionth time). Actually I read this to the girls this month, but I think it's substantial enough to include on my own list. (We're midway through Rose Daughter as an interesting contrast, which I suppose will go on my list for next month).
And that's it for the month. Short, I know. As I've said, I've been distracted.
Wizard of the Pigeons by Megan Lindholm. Re-read. Um. There was much to admire here, but the grayness and mental illness and desperation made it a bit of a slog to get through during a cold, dark January.
Goa by Kara Dalkey
Bijapur by Kara Dalkey
Bhagavati by Kara Dalkey These three books, The Blood of the Goddess triology, have been on my shelf forever and I'm just getting around to them for the first time. I think that it would have helped to have read her Euryale first, which (I think) is the only book of hers left that I haven't gotten around to yet. I admire her for writing a fantasy in a world which hasn't been plumbed very often (that I know of) by American fantasy writers (I dunno, but maybe I'm just displaying my shocking ignorance). The research involved must have been intense, but she renders a convincing, exotic India. Interesting to include the culture clash of the Porteguese Inquisition. Most of Kara's other work, I believe, have been intended for YA audiences, but this was definitely for an adult audience, including adult sexuality. The clash of cultures/religion was thoughtfully explored. But . . . hmm. Perhaps my mood is a bit fussy this month. The third volume felt---well, I was ready for the story to wrap up a little more quickly. And I couldn't buy into the relationship of Thomas and Adita as one of searing cross-cultural passion. What did they really see in each other? Other than pretty bodies? I didn't quite connect as much as I wanted with either of these characters; I felt a little remote from them, although I can't quite pinpoint why, and I can clearly see how she was trying to set them up so we'd connect with them. I feel almost guilty for carping, because of all the careful work she obviously put into it, and I can't articulate my dissatisfaction very well. As I said, it might not have been Kara, but perhaps just midwinter crankiness on my part making me sink a little less deeply into a book than I usually do. Still, a fine achievement, with extra points for a freshly exotic, well-researched world.
(Apropos of nothing, I immediately see the character Lockhart being played by Sean Connery.)
Beauty by Robin McKinley. Re-read (for like, the billionth time). Actually I read this to the girls this month, but I think it's substantial enough to include on my own list. (We're midway through Rose Daughter as an interesting contrast, which I suppose will go on my list for next month).
And that's it for the month. Short, I know. As I've said, I've been distracted.