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too many thoughts, not enough brainpower to plot them down coherently.
immediately, personally, holidays were a mess. buoyed by surrounding good cheer, sure, but a mess nevertheless.
the general state of the nation leaves a bit to be desired and the urge to reach out and kick red-tape-wielding bureaucrats is almost too much.
angry and antisocial, parties are seen as things to be endured rather than enjoyed.
instead, we go to ground.
a disproportionate amount of this month's reading has been shovelled into the "young adult fiction" holding pen, which is unfortunate. these rate much higher than paranormal tweenage romances. in order of completion:
Graceling, Kristin Cashore
in this world, to be born with a grace is to have an innate talent written on your face via mismatched eyes. what happens if yours seems to be killing people? if you're niece to a despot, you become his enforcer until you grow a spine and things really get interesting. can't kill dear old uncle, though. his son is your best friend and his first order as a just ruler would inevitably be to call for your head. oh no, things get far more creative and beautiful. echoes of phedre and joscelin.
The Battle of the Sun, Jeanette Winterson
feels like classic, once-upon-a-time questing, reads drier than that. her adult work is incendiary and receives pride of place on my bookshelf. this feels more like prettily-carved kindling by comparison.
Troubled Waters, Sharon Shinn
a little bit of elemental magic in a society which believes everyone's got a story to tell and a gift to bestow -- random blessings come from unexpected places and have practical applications.
Rampant, Diana Peterfreund
savage, carnivorous unicorns? yeah, you read that right. and only a virgin huntress can bring them down? nice twist on the old mythos, there. engaging tale of choices and the occasional lack thereof.
The Man on the Ceiling, Steve Rasnic Tem, Melanie Tem
storytelling woven into biography, the lines between true, remembered and made up have been swept into a pile by two adept writers who know each others' minds and words, memories and nightmares nearly as well as their own. exquisitely crafted, nonlinear narrative, i wanted to keep it to illustrate. some turns of phrase were just that clear, that crystalline, that...inspiring? alas, libraries frown on that sort of thing. instead, maybe i'll find a conspirator, a collaborator like that someday, too.
Hearts at Stake, Alyxandra Harvey
oh dear. foppy, floppy vampires as romantic leads need to be gathered up and marched into the sun. nao,plz. kthxbai.
The Secret Under My Skin, Janet McNaughton
dystopian near-future, the planet hobbles along as best it can after the technocaust. two teenage girls fostered in for very different kinds of work. it's not quite a cinderella story, it's much more important than that.
Once Upon A Marigold, Jean Ferris
charming fairytale about a boy raised in a cave by a troll. he ends up corresponding with a sad and lonely princess via carrier pigeon (p-mail!). sweet and silly.
The Knife of Never Letting Go, Patrick Ness
more dystopian post-technology settings. this is not the world you know, though it feels like it. the differences are elegantly revealed as the plot goes on. a virus has taken hold of this small world of towns and farming communities. all the women seem to have died off, and the youngest boy is approaching adulthood in a place where animals speak and everyone's thoughts are broadcast as Noise for everyone else to hear. occasional shifts in typesetting and font choices make this obvious and chilling. nice effect. really, though? my favourite character was probably Manchee. you'll meet him early on, the protagonist's unwanted talking dog who loves him anyway. interesting thought exercise in defining characteristics of manhood, but an intense and emotionally difficult read.
Misfortune, Wesley Stace
i loved it, plain and simple. sure, it rambles, but in an affectionate sort of way. blend equal parts byatt's Possession, woolf's Orlando and austen's entire ouevre with whispers of winterson's The Powerbook for good measure. a foundling is picked from a dumpster and named heir to an eccentric family's fortune. raised as a girl, her story takes the proverbial road less travelled when it is revealed that she is actually a boy. genderbending and family politics in a picturesque, regency-era english countryside!
Blood and Chocolate, Annette Curtis Clause
confession: a re-read of something i was forced to chew through for school. this stands out from the pack of paranormal teen romances for a few good reasons. our heroine is not only wolfkind from birth, but she revels in it. she's in full ownership of her own sexuality and happens to enjoy it.fitting in at school is challenging if they'd kill her in her other form, but might that cute boy make it worthwhile? what would he do if he knew what she was? oh, vivian. well done.
When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead
i wasn't paying attention when this snapped up 2010's Newbery Medal. late 1970s, middle america. time travel! race/class/family issues deftly woven in as plot points without making themselves obvious. latchkey kids, gameshows, after school specials. did i mention the possibility of time travel? yep. totally deserving of the award.
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
omg. i devoured it and am most of the way through its sequel (a trilogy, really). a sharp bookblogger i've lost the link to described it as "battle royale meets project runway" and maybe that's apt. another dystopian fic under a totalitarian regime. the capitol governs twelve districts of people with few resources. travel between them doesn't happen, but it's "safe" that way. food is scarce and people are slowly starving. every year, as penance for an uprising seventy-five years earlier, each district sends a boy and a girl as tributes to the capitol. (theseus story, much? i think so) these names are chosen at random and our tributes fight to the death in what get called the hunger games. the winner receives a lifetime of luxury back home and regular food prizes for their district for a year. i don't want to give any spoilers, so i'm stopping here... but i will admit to wearing a mockingjay brooch with pride.
immediately, personally, holidays were a mess. buoyed by surrounding good cheer, sure, but a mess nevertheless.
the general state of the nation leaves a bit to be desired and the urge to reach out and kick red-tape-wielding bureaucrats is almost too much.
angry and antisocial, parties are seen as things to be endured rather than enjoyed.
instead, we go to ground.
a disproportionate amount of this month's reading has been shovelled into the "young adult fiction" holding pen, which is unfortunate. these rate much higher than paranormal tweenage romances. in order of completion:
Graceling, Kristin Cashore
in this world, to be born with a grace is to have an innate talent written on your face via mismatched eyes. what happens if yours seems to be killing people? if you're niece to a despot, you become his enforcer until you grow a spine and things really get interesting. can't kill dear old uncle, though. his son is your best friend and his first order as a just ruler would inevitably be to call for your head. oh no, things get far more creative and beautiful. echoes of phedre and joscelin.
The Battle of the Sun, Jeanette Winterson
feels like classic, once-upon-a-time questing, reads drier than that. her adult work is incendiary and receives pride of place on my bookshelf. this feels more like prettily-carved kindling by comparison.
Troubled Waters, Sharon Shinn
a little bit of elemental magic in a society which believes everyone's got a story to tell and a gift to bestow -- random blessings come from unexpected places and have practical applications.
Rampant, Diana Peterfreund
savage, carnivorous unicorns? yeah, you read that right. and only a virgin huntress can bring them down? nice twist on the old mythos, there. engaging tale of choices and the occasional lack thereof.
The Man on the Ceiling, Steve Rasnic Tem, Melanie Tem
storytelling woven into biography, the lines between true, remembered and made up have been swept into a pile by two adept writers who know each others' minds and words, memories and nightmares nearly as well as their own. exquisitely crafted, nonlinear narrative, i wanted to keep it to illustrate. some turns of phrase were just that clear, that crystalline, that...inspiring? alas, libraries frown on that sort of thing. instead, maybe i'll find a conspirator, a collaborator like that someday, too.
Hearts at Stake, Alyxandra Harvey
oh dear. foppy, floppy vampires as romantic leads need to be gathered up and marched into the sun. nao,plz. kthxbai.
The Secret Under My Skin, Janet McNaughton
dystopian near-future, the planet hobbles along as best it can after the technocaust. two teenage girls fostered in for very different kinds of work. it's not quite a cinderella story, it's much more important than that.
Once Upon A Marigold, Jean Ferris
charming fairytale about a boy raised in a cave by a troll. he ends up corresponding with a sad and lonely princess via carrier pigeon (p-mail!). sweet and silly.
The Knife of Never Letting Go, Patrick Ness
more dystopian post-technology settings. this is not the world you know, though it feels like it. the differences are elegantly revealed as the plot goes on. a virus has taken hold of this small world of towns and farming communities. all the women seem to have died off, and the youngest boy is approaching adulthood in a place where animals speak and everyone's thoughts are broadcast as Noise for everyone else to hear. occasional shifts in typesetting and font choices make this obvious and chilling. nice effect. really, though? my favourite character was probably Manchee. you'll meet him early on, the protagonist's unwanted talking dog who loves him anyway. interesting thought exercise in defining characteristics of manhood, but an intense and emotionally difficult read.
Misfortune, Wesley Stace
i loved it, plain and simple. sure, it rambles, but in an affectionate sort of way. blend equal parts byatt's Possession, woolf's Orlando and austen's entire ouevre with whispers of winterson's The Powerbook for good measure. a foundling is picked from a dumpster and named heir to an eccentric family's fortune. raised as a girl, her story takes the proverbial road less travelled when it is revealed that she is actually a boy. genderbending and family politics in a picturesque, regency-era english countryside!
Blood and Chocolate, Annette Curtis Clause
confession: a re-read of something i was forced to chew through for school. this stands out from the pack of paranormal teen romances for a few good reasons. our heroine is not only wolfkind from birth, but she revels in it. she's in full ownership of her own sexuality and happens to enjoy it.fitting in at school is challenging if they'd kill her in her other form, but might that cute boy make it worthwhile? what would he do if he knew what she was? oh, vivian. well done.
When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead
i wasn't paying attention when this snapped up 2010's Newbery Medal. late 1970s, middle america. time travel! race/class/family issues deftly woven in as plot points without making themselves obvious. latchkey kids, gameshows, after school specials. did i mention the possibility of time travel? yep. totally deserving of the award.
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
omg. i devoured it and am most of the way through its sequel (a trilogy, really). a sharp bookblogger i've lost the link to described it as "battle royale meets project runway" and maybe that's apt. another dystopian fic under a totalitarian regime. the capitol governs twelve districts of people with few resources. travel between them doesn't happen, but it's "safe" that way. food is scarce and people are slowly starving. every year, as penance for an uprising seventy-five years earlier, each district sends a boy and a girl as tributes to the capitol. (theseus story, much? i think so) these names are chosen at random and our tributes fight to the death in what get called the hunger games. the winner receives a lifetime of luxury back home and regular food prizes for their district for a year. i don't want to give any spoilers, so i'm stopping here... but i will admit to wearing a mockingjay brooch with pride.