Ginormous backlog of book comments
Since it's been ridiculously long since I last made a book post (February, I think), I am only going to be including very short comments with this update.
5. Carla Cassidy: Pregnesia
I read about this book at Smart Bitches and just had to read it, since it sounded so ridiculous. Or what do you think of a Harlequin romance where the female is about 8 months pregnant and suffering from amnesia...? It was a quick okay read, but nothing too memorable.
6. Anatole France: Teatteritarina [Histoire Comique]
Nice story set in the theatre world of 19th century Paris.
7. Diana Wynne Jones: Enchanted Glass
This is not one of her best, but still enjoyable. I didn't like her fat politics and the way one of the characters who very much felt like he had Down's was used. Still, I do enjoy the way mythology and magic are included in everyday life in her books.
8. Laurie R. King: The Art of Detection
This book sort of combines her Mary Russell and Kate Martinelli books, since Kate is called to solve a murder case that involves a possibly unknown Sherlock Holmes manuscript. I thought it very enjoyable and decided to read more of the Martinelli books, since I already like the Mary Russell ones.
9. Malinda Lo: Ash
YA book retelling the Cinderella story, but with a lesbian slant to it. Ash's existance with her cruel stepmother is very bleak and she withdraws into her dreams and legends of the fae folk in the forest, even knowing how capricious and dangerous contact with them can be. I liked how she grew up and essentially saved herself in the end.
10.-11. Fumi Yoshinaga: Ooku: The Inner Chambers 1-2
After I heard about the upcoming Japanese movie and it's premise, I was interested in reading the manga as well. These take place in an alternate history Japan, where most of the male population was wiped off by a mysterious plague, leaving women to take up the government. The gender politics in the book are interesting and the characters are well drawn.
My only complaint is about the translation which uses very archaic English that often jars one out of the story. Still, the writing and the story were so compelling that once I got used to the language, I devoured both books and have already got the third one waiting.
12. Gabriel Zaid: So Many Books
Very enjoyable little essay type book about the way publishing has changed and how there is a overabundance of books for all kinds of consumers. But with the number of books being released, it has become impossible to read them all, so one must pick and choose what to read. I quite liked this one.
13. Laurie R. King: A Grave Talent and 14. To Play the Fool
After The Art of Detection, I wanted to read more of the Kate Martinelli books, so I decided to start the series from the beginning. Kate has recently moved to the department and is paired up with an experienced detective Hawkin to solve a murders of several little girls. The investigation leads them to a closed community and a mysterious artist called Vaun Adams. The second book revolves around homeless people and a holy Fool who only speaks in riddles and quotations. Very enjoyable mysteries both, I'll definitely be reading more of these books.
15. Yoshiki Nakamura: Skip-Beat! 20 (manga)
Latest addition to the manga and as much fun as ever. Kyoko tries to make Christmas a happy time for Maria, since it's her birthday, but also the anniversary of her mother's death.
16. A. M. Dellamonica: Indigo Springs
First novel where magic starts to seep into the world. After the death of her father, Astrid inherits his house and discovers something magical and starts to remember bits of her past that she had forgotten. However, she can't help sharing the secret with her best friends which leads to all kinds of trouble. The story is told in flashbacks narrated by Astrid to an investigator who is trying to find out what really happened. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
17. Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan: Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels
Fun and irreverent look at romance novel tropes and clichés by the people behind the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books website. Though I have to say that after a while I got a bit tired of the cutesy euphemisms. Still, I did enjoy reading this a lot.
18. P. C. Hodgell: To Ride a Rathorn (reread) and 19. Bound in Blood
I really love the original fantasy world Hodgell has created in her Chronicles of the Kencyr. These books continue to follow Jame's exploits in Tentir, the rathorn military college. In TRaR she arrives at the school and tries to adapt to it, as the school and it's teachers try to adapt to her. The second book has some interesting revelations about the past that also greatly affect the present. Can't wait to read the next one!
20. Bill Willingham et al.: Fables 13: The Great Fables Crossover (graphic novel)
This wasn't the best collection in the series, for several reasons. 1. I don't like Jack, so a book that very much concentrates on his exploits is not interesting to me. 2. The story got way too meta at times. 3. After the conclusion of the great war, I've been feeling like dropping this series for a while and this book didn't do anything to convince me otherwise. I still want to know what the witches are planning so I might get the next one, but there is a high possibility I'll drop this series after that.
21. Angela Knight; Lora Leigh; Alyssa Day; Virginia Kantra: Shifter
Paranormal romance anthology with shapeshifters as it's theme. Okay light reading, but nothing too memorable.
22. Sharon Lee & Steve Miller: Saltation
Or the continuing adventures of Theo Waitley. This is a sequel to Fledgling and tells a story that runs parallel to the develops in the main Liaden sequence. Theo continues to learn piloting and without meaning it, gets involved in all kinds of trouble. This is a highly enjoyable fast-paced story of adventure and growth.
23. Mike Carey & John Bolton: The Sandman Presents: The Furies (graphic novel)
Okay story concentrating on Lyta Hall and what happened to her after the last volume of The Sandman. Fantasy, horror, mystery and mythology all wrapped together.
24. Ekaterina Sedia: The Alchemy of Stone
Interesting story set in a city where the Alchemists and Mechanics are vying for control. In the middle of this is Mattie, an intelligent automaton who was built by the Mechanic Loharri, but who decided to stury alchemy and try to become independent. The city is in a state of turmoil as people start to rebel against the current rule. Mattie has to choose her side which is not easy, since she has sympathies for both sides. A compelling and thought-provoking story with a likeable main character.
25. Christine Feehan: Safe Harbor, 26. Turbulent Sea, and 27. Hidden Currents
These are three last books in Feehan's Drake Sisters series. The series tells of a family of witches and how they find their chosen partners. The romantic stories have a bit of magic and a bit of suspense thrown in to the mix with each of the novels. I quite liked the books apart from the last book. That one almost destroyed the series, because of the brutal torture and rape scenes in the beginning of the book. The ending also felt very rushed and "easy" after all the build up to it.
28. Laurie R. King: The God of the Hive
The second part of the story started in The Language of Bees. Holmes and Russell are on the run, trying to find out who is the mastermind behind everything has happened to them. Traumas left behind by the first World War are one of the major themes, as are questions about the moral bounds by which people behind the scenes must work by. (being deliberately cryptic)
It's a nice continuation to the series, though not one of the best, in my opinion.
29. Lisa Kleypas: Married by Morning
Latest book in the Hathaway family series tells about Leo and Marks. There has been clear attraction between the two for several books already, but this one resolves matters. Marks had an unhappy childhood that made her reluctant to trust anybody, but she has found a kind of peace with the Hathaways. If only that pesky older brother didn't bother her so much.
30. Julia Quinn: Ten Things I Love About You
Very typical lovely Julia Quinn story with nice and likeable main characters who meet, become friends, and slowly realize they love each other. Annabel Winslow needs to find a wealthy husband, and her family is trying arrange her match with the old and odious Earl of Newbury. Things become complicated when she encounters Sebastian Grey, Newbury's hated nephew. There is instant attraction and understanding between the two, but things seem rather hopeless. Of course, all ends well.
Phew, finally got that done. I really must try to write these more often so that there won't always be this huge a backlog...
5. Carla Cassidy: Pregnesia
I read about this book at Smart Bitches and just had to read it, since it sounded so ridiculous. Or what do you think of a Harlequin romance where the female is about 8 months pregnant and suffering from amnesia...? It was a quick okay read, but nothing too memorable.
6. Anatole France: Teatteritarina [Histoire Comique]
Nice story set in the theatre world of 19th century Paris.
7. Diana Wynne Jones: Enchanted Glass
This is not one of her best, but still enjoyable. I didn't like her fat politics and the way one of the characters who very much felt like he had Down's was used. Still, I do enjoy the way mythology and magic are included in everyday life in her books.
8. Laurie R. King: The Art of Detection
This book sort of combines her Mary Russell and Kate Martinelli books, since Kate is called to solve a murder case that involves a possibly unknown Sherlock Holmes manuscript. I thought it very enjoyable and decided to read more of the Martinelli books, since I already like the Mary Russell ones.
9. Malinda Lo: Ash
YA book retelling the Cinderella story, but with a lesbian slant to it. Ash's existance with her cruel stepmother is very bleak and she withdraws into her dreams and legends of the fae folk in the forest, even knowing how capricious and dangerous contact with them can be. I liked how she grew up and essentially saved herself in the end.
10.-11. Fumi Yoshinaga: Ooku: The Inner Chambers 1-2
After I heard about the upcoming Japanese movie and it's premise, I was interested in reading the manga as well. These take place in an alternate history Japan, where most of the male population was wiped off by a mysterious plague, leaving women to take up the government. The gender politics in the book are interesting and the characters are well drawn.
My only complaint is about the translation which uses very archaic English that often jars one out of the story. Still, the writing and the story were so compelling that once I got used to the language, I devoured both books and have already got the third one waiting.
12. Gabriel Zaid: So Many Books
Very enjoyable little essay type book about the way publishing has changed and how there is a overabundance of books for all kinds of consumers. But with the number of books being released, it has become impossible to read them all, so one must pick and choose what to read. I quite liked this one.
13. Laurie R. King: A Grave Talent and 14. To Play the Fool
After The Art of Detection, I wanted to read more of the Kate Martinelli books, so I decided to start the series from the beginning. Kate has recently moved to the department and is paired up with an experienced detective Hawkin to solve a murders of several little girls. The investigation leads them to a closed community and a mysterious artist called Vaun Adams. The second book revolves around homeless people and a holy Fool who only speaks in riddles and quotations. Very enjoyable mysteries both, I'll definitely be reading more of these books.
15. Yoshiki Nakamura: Skip-Beat! 20 (manga)
Latest addition to the manga and as much fun as ever. Kyoko tries to make Christmas a happy time for Maria, since it's her birthday, but also the anniversary of her mother's death.
16. A. M. Dellamonica: Indigo Springs
First novel where magic starts to seep into the world. After the death of her father, Astrid inherits his house and discovers something magical and starts to remember bits of her past that she had forgotten. However, she can't help sharing the secret with her best friends which leads to all kinds of trouble. The story is told in flashbacks narrated by Astrid to an investigator who is trying to find out what really happened. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
17. Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan: Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels
Fun and irreverent look at romance novel tropes and clichés by the people behind the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books website. Though I have to say that after a while I got a bit tired of the cutesy euphemisms. Still, I did enjoy reading this a lot.
18. P. C. Hodgell: To Ride a Rathorn (reread) and 19. Bound in Blood
I really love the original fantasy world Hodgell has created in her Chronicles of the Kencyr. These books continue to follow Jame's exploits in Tentir, the rathorn military college. In TRaR she arrives at the school and tries to adapt to it, as the school and it's teachers try to adapt to her. The second book has some interesting revelations about the past that also greatly affect the present. Can't wait to read the next one!
20. Bill Willingham et al.: Fables 13: The Great Fables Crossover (graphic novel)
This wasn't the best collection in the series, for several reasons. 1. I don't like Jack, so a book that very much concentrates on his exploits is not interesting to me. 2. The story got way too meta at times. 3. After the conclusion of the great war, I've been feeling like dropping this series for a while and this book didn't do anything to convince me otherwise. I still want to know what the witches are planning so I might get the next one, but there is a high possibility I'll drop this series after that.
21. Angela Knight; Lora Leigh; Alyssa Day; Virginia Kantra: Shifter
Paranormal romance anthology with shapeshifters as it's theme. Okay light reading, but nothing too memorable.
22. Sharon Lee & Steve Miller: Saltation
Or the continuing adventures of Theo Waitley. This is a sequel to Fledgling and tells a story that runs parallel to the develops in the main Liaden sequence. Theo continues to learn piloting and without meaning it, gets involved in all kinds of trouble. This is a highly enjoyable fast-paced story of adventure and growth.
23. Mike Carey & John Bolton: The Sandman Presents: The Furies (graphic novel)
Okay story concentrating on Lyta Hall and what happened to her after the last volume of The Sandman. Fantasy, horror, mystery and mythology all wrapped together.
24. Ekaterina Sedia: The Alchemy of Stone
Interesting story set in a city where the Alchemists and Mechanics are vying for control. In the middle of this is Mattie, an intelligent automaton who was built by the Mechanic Loharri, but who decided to stury alchemy and try to become independent. The city is in a state of turmoil as people start to rebel against the current rule. Mattie has to choose her side which is not easy, since she has sympathies for both sides. A compelling and thought-provoking story with a likeable main character.
25. Christine Feehan: Safe Harbor, 26. Turbulent Sea, and 27. Hidden Currents
These are three last books in Feehan's Drake Sisters series. The series tells of a family of witches and how they find their chosen partners. The romantic stories have a bit of magic and a bit of suspense thrown in to the mix with each of the novels. I quite liked the books apart from the last book. That one almost destroyed the series, because of the brutal torture and rape scenes in the beginning of the book. The ending also felt very rushed and "easy" after all the build up to it.
28. Laurie R. King: The God of the Hive
The second part of the story started in The Language of Bees. Holmes and Russell are on the run, trying to find out who is the mastermind behind everything has happened to them. Traumas left behind by the first World War are one of the major themes, as are questions about the moral bounds by which people behind the scenes must work by. (being deliberately cryptic)
It's a nice continuation to the series, though not one of the best, in my opinion.
29. Lisa Kleypas: Married by Morning
Latest book in the Hathaway family series tells about Leo and Marks. There has been clear attraction between the two for several books already, but this one resolves matters. Marks had an unhappy childhood that made her reluctant to trust anybody, but she has found a kind of peace with the Hathaways. If only that pesky older brother didn't bother her so much.
30. Julia Quinn: Ten Things I Love About You
Very typical lovely Julia Quinn story with nice and likeable main characters who meet, become friends, and slowly realize they love each other. Annabel Winslow needs to find a wealthy husband, and her family is trying arrange her match with the old and odious Earl of Newbury. Things become complicated when she encounters Sebastian Grey, Newbury's hated nephew. There is instant attraction and understanding between the two, but things seem rather hopeless. Of course, all ends well.
Phew, finally got that done. I really must try to write these more often so that there won't always be this huge a backlog...