Massive Book Post
I'm giving up on counting and posting number. I am pleased to say that I've been reading down my shelves a bit more lately. I have 2 tall bookcases of unread books, and really, that's too much.
Toad Words and Other Stories - T. Kingfisher, who is Ursula Vernon but for grownups - Vernon's inimitable take on fairytales. If you like her live journal, you should read this.
The Golden City -
The Seat of Magic - J. Kathleen Cheney - first 2 books of a trilogy, am waiting excitedly for the next. Set in alternate universe turn of the 19th century Portugal, with magic creatures. Mystery/Suspense and Romance, in a nice mix. Very much enjoyed both books, and both aspects of the series so far.
Frostflower and Thorn - Phyllis Ann Karr - interesting take on the sword and sorceress duo. Very much conceded with the friendship between the 2 lead characters, who are both women. I'll be looking for the sequel.
The Steerswoman
The Outskirter's Secret
The Lost Steersman
The Language of Power - Rosemary Kirstein - my only complaint is that the rest of the series isn't written yet. Neither SF or fantasy, but both. Well characterized women at the center of the story. I do hope she finishes the series.
Ancillary Sword - Anne Leckie - oh boy was this good and I am eagerly awaiting the third in the trilogy, and the first book won the Hugo as it should have, and this book is just as good in its own way, which is a middle book way, not a first book of introducing you to the place and people, or the last book of tidying all the ends up.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo - interesting take on cleaning up. The book preaches a focussed 6 months or so of working on it, rather than a do a bit at a time. Also, one asks oneself as one is touching each possession, "Does this give me joy?" I am hoping it will help.
China Dolls - Lisa See - interesting story of Asian American women, who are stage performers throughout WWII. Worth a read.
Dreaming Spies - Laurie King - ARC of the latest Holmes/Russell. Excellent! "I was delighted to win the newest Russell & Holmes mystery in the LibraryThing early readers group. I was not disappointed! Nicely paced, characters are interesting as always, mysterious mystery, very much enjoyed."
Never Cry Wolf - Farley Mowat - interesting, relatively short book recounting the experience of a Canadian biologist who lived a year studying wolves in Manitoba. Funny, in parts. I also wonder if he is a dumb about dealing with people as he sometimes makes himself out to be.
iD - Madeleine Ashby - continuation of vN, which ends the story. Decent SF read.
Hob's Bargain - Patricia Briggs - lovely little romantic/ fantasy fluff. Very much enjoyed.
Redemption in Indigo - Karen Lord - recommended. Very hard to describe. Based on a Senegalese folk tale. Much enjoyed.
Hild - Nicola Griffith - I wanted to like this book more than I did.
Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red
Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out - Harry Kemelman - decent enough mysteries.
Rosemary and Rue
A Local Habitation
An Artificial Night
Late Eclipses
One Salt Sea
Ashes of Honor
Chimes at Midnight
The Winter Long - Seanan McGuire - yes, I inhaled them in little more than a week. Excellent urban fantasy, highly recommend.
Death and the Chapman - Kate Sedley - nice medieval mystery.
The Shape of Desire - Sharon Shinn - shapeshifter romance. Not bad, exactly, but I expect the heroine to have more interests in life than just only the hero.
Skin Tight - Carl Hiaasen - Another Carl Hiaasen. Like Dick Francis, the books are enjoyable, but tend to blur together.
Serenity Vol. 1 - graphic novel continuing the Serenity series. How Book became Book.
Tiny Book of Tiny Stories - Joseph Gordon-Leavitt - um, small, cute, and forgettable.
Stand on Zanzibar - John Brunner - one of those classic SF things. Sexist by today's standards. A bit homophobic. Interesting structure, of short clips of different types, rather than a straight narrative. Amusingly, the biggest fact the world is built around is the earth holding 7 billion people. And now it does. And it is somewhat different than Mr. Brunner anticipated.
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site - Sherri Duskey Rinker - not enough, not any female construction equipment. Otherwise amusing book about all the construction equipment going to sleep for the night.
The Rainbow Fish - Marcus Pfister - I am a little leery of this book, which either teaches young children to share, or shames them into giving up their scales.
Books I did not finish:
Jack the Bodiless - Julian May - I got Julian May and Gillian Bradshaw mixed up. This book is about super psychic humans in the future, and not to my taste.
The Conquest of Cool - Thomas Frank - nonfiction about advertising. Lost interest….
This entry was originally posted at http://redrose.dreamwidth.org/202653.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
Toad Words and Other Stories - T. Kingfisher, who is Ursula Vernon but for grownups - Vernon's inimitable take on fairytales. If you like her live journal, you should read this.
The Golden City -
The Seat of Magic - J. Kathleen Cheney - first 2 books of a trilogy, am waiting excitedly for the next. Set in alternate universe turn of the 19th century Portugal, with magic creatures. Mystery/Suspense and Romance, in a nice mix. Very much enjoyed both books, and both aspects of the series so far.
Frostflower and Thorn - Phyllis Ann Karr - interesting take on the sword and sorceress duo. Very much conceded with the friendship between the 2 lead characters, who are both women. I'll be looking for the sequel.
The Steerswoman
The Outskirter's Secret
The Lost Steersman
The Language of Power - Rosemary Kirstein - my only complaint is that the rest of the series isn't written yet. Neither SF or fantasy, but both. Well characterized women at the center of the story. I do hope she finishes the series.
Ancillary Sword - Anne Leckie - oh boy was this good and I am eagerly awaiting the third in the trilogy, and the first book won the Hugo as it should have, and this book is just as good in its own way, which is a middle book way, not a first book of introducing you to the place and people, or the last book of tidying all the ends up.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo - interesting take on cleaning up. The book preaches a focussed 6 months or so of working on it, rather than a do a bit at a time. Also, one asks oneself as one is touching each possession, "Does this give me joy?" I am hoping it will help.
China Dolls - Lisa See - interesting story of Asian American women, who are stage performers throughout WWII. Worth a read.
Dreaming Spies - Laurie King - ARC of the latest Holmes/Russell. Excellent! "I was delighted to win the newest Russell & Holmes mystery in the LibraryThing early readers group. I was not disappointed! Nicely paced, characters are interesting as always, mysterious mystery, very much enjoyed."
Never Cry Wolf - Farley Mowat - interesting, relatively short book recounting the experience of a Canadian biologist who lived a year studying wolves in Manitoba. Funny, in parts. I also wonder if he is a dumb about dealing with people as he sometimes makes himself out to be.
iD - Madeleine Ashby - continuation of vN, which ends the story. Decent SF read.
Hob's Bargain - Patricia Briggs - lovely little romantic/ fantasy fluff. Very much enjoyed.
Redemption in Indigo - Karen Lord - recommended. Very hard to describe. Based on a Senegalese folk tale. Much enjoyed.
Hild - Nicola Griffith - I wanted to like this book more than I did.
Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red
Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out - Harry Kemelman - decent enough mysteries.
Rosemary and Rue
A Local Habitation
An Artificial Night
Late Eclipses
One Salt Sea
Ashes of Honor
Chimes at Midnight
The Winter Long - Seanan McGuire - yes, I inhaled them in little more than a week. Excellent urban fantasy, highly recommend.
Death and the Chapman - Kate Sedley - nice medieval mystery.
The Shape of Desire - Sharon Shinn - shapeshifter romance. Not bad, exactly, but I expect the heroine to have more interests in life than just only the hero.
Skin Tight - Carl Hiaasen - Another Carl Hiaasen. Like Dick Francis, the books are enjoyable, but tend to blur together.
Serenity Vol. 1 - graphic novel continuing the Serenity series. How Book became Book.
Tiny Book of Tiny Stories - Joseph Gordon-Leavitt - um, small, cute, and forgettable.
Stand on Zanzibar - John Brunner - one of those classic SF things. Sexist by today's standards. A bit homophobic. Interesting structure, of short clips of different types, rather than a straight narrative. Amusingly, the biggest fact the world is built around is the earth holding 7 billion people. And now it does. And it is somewhat different than Mr. Brunner anticipated.
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site - Sherri Duskey Rinker - not enough, not any female construction equipment. Otherwise amusing book about all the construction equipment going to sleep for the night.
The Rainbow Fish - Marcus Pfister - I am a little leery of this book, which either teaches young children to share, or shames them into giving up their scales.
Books I did not finish:
Jack the Bodiless - Julian May - I got Julian May and Gillian Bradshaw mixed up. This book is about super psychic humans in the future, and not to my taste.
The Conquest of Cool - Thomas Frank - nonfiction about advertising. Lost interest….
This entry was originally posted at http://redrose.dreamwidth.org/202653.html. Please comment there using OpenID.