Comments | hamsterwoman: Reading roundup

hamsterwoman

Reading roundup

Oct 17, 2009 14:51

43. Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar (ed. by Mercedes Lackey) -- what this book is, actually, is published and author-blessed fanfic for Valdemar. Weirdly, A Companion to Wolves left me wanting to (re)read some Valdemar stories, and I came across this book in the library and gave it a shot. It's... not very good, but some of the stories ( Read more... )

a: karen russell, ya, a: ysabeau wilce, a: daniel abraham, mckillip, a: charlaine harris, lackey, a: ted chiang, sookie stackhouse, dresden files, a: christopher moore, a: t.a.pratt, short stories, a: delia sherman, a: patricia mckillip, a: jim butcher, reading, a: norton juster, marla mason, a: holly black

Comments 26

travels_in_time October 17 2009, 22:32:22 UTC

Ha! EVERYTHING that you're saying about the vampire book (which I wanted to read, just because of the "small Southern town" angle) could be repeated word-for-word about Twilight. The being-with-someone-only-because-they're-the-first-person-whose-mind-you-can't-read? Check. Infantilism? Check. Power imbalance? Check! Stalking? Check check check! Even Eric sounds like the Jacob of the series, although I haven't read past the first Twilight book and don't really know a lot about Jacob.

I loved The Phantom Tollbooth as a kid. I need to read it to TinyTimelet; I think she'd like it. Unfortunately it's in storage, with the rest of my books. *sigh*

hamsterwoman October 17 2009, 23:00:05 UTC

I haven't read Twilight, but based on what I know, I do think these are better in a lot of respects ( ... )

aome October 17 2009, 23:17:28 UTC

This particular moral doesn't really bother me so much because I think it's something a lot of people need to learn - to slow down and appreciate what's around you. (Also: Seuss does have one moralistic tale: The Lorax. ;-) ) But, anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed all the puns. On Thurs, I set a number of books on top of the shelves in the library that I felt didn't get enough attention, including The Phantom Tollbooth. One of MiniPlu's classmates (who reads WAY above grade level - he just inhaled the Percy Jackson books) snagged it, and, according to his sister, he's been laughing his head off. :)

I didn't know there was another Valdemar "fanfic" compendium out there. I've read "Swords of Ice" which was, like this one (apparently), a mixed bag. I'm really REALLY amused by the Scooby Doo knock-off.

I forgot all about that Beatitudes conversation. Might have to re-read Lamb at some point - at least the first and last parts.

hamsterwoman October 18 2009, 19:31:18 UTC

One of MiniPlu's classmates [...] snagged it, and, according to his sister, he's been laughing his head off. :)

Oh, excellent! The power of the librarian/library assistant :D

The particular moral doesn't bother me at all as a moral, but I'm always a little leery of morals in children's books, even morals I wholeheartedly agree with. (Never read The Lorax, so I'm not sure if it would bother me there or not. I mean, lots of children's books have *implied* morals, and those don't bother me -- there's some kind of threshold, I guess.) But it was a very, very tiny quibble with a book I thoroughly enjoyed!

The Scooby-Doo story in the Valdemar fanfic book was pretty fun. I think it went on a little too long, maybe -- once it becomes absolutely clear what it is, you know exactly how it's going to turn out, and yet there's rather a lot of story left past that point. But it was a pretty good joke!

lookfar October 18 2009, 00:00:21 UTC

I loved Flora, too, especially her friend Udo, in his kilt and maquillage. It's just such nifty and fun and masterful world-building. I also really like the Charlaine Harris books, but I think I've read all I want to of them. They're sort of the same after all, eh?

hamsterwoman October 18 2009, 19:34:51 UTC

I loved the quirkly world-building in Flora -- like the fact that kilts and maquillage are apparently part of military uniform. Udo is a type of (male) character that doesn't come around very often, so I did find him quite entertaining, though he is not among my top favorites.

How many Charlaine Harris books did you read until they started feeling all the same and you'd had enough? I do get like that if I read to much of a series all at once, even with series I profoundly love, like The Discworld. The difference with the good ones is that I miss them after a while and want to read on. I've heard the Sookie books get better as the series goes along, so I do want to keep reading at least for a bit, but I can definitely see how I could feel I've had my fill after a while.

lookfar October 19 2009, 01:33:44 UTC

I think I read five before I felt she had jumped the shark. That may have been all there were at the time, but my sister and I read them together and she's kept sending them to me. I have one on my shelf at work but I've been reading it on and off for months. The weres and shape-shifters have gotten sort of tedious with their turf wars and rivalries. It was the idea at first that I liked; vampires coming out of the closet because an artificial blood has been invented.

hamsterwoman October 19 2009, 06:53:23 UTC

It was the idea at first that I liked; vampires coming out of the closet because an artificial blood has been invented.

I like that too, a lot, and the implications of it. (Somehow I see I've neglected to mention it in my write-up.) And it may be for this reason that I don't find the weres/shape-shifters nearly as interesting so far (though I do like that they are not limited to just wolves).

umihebizanomiko October 18 2009, 01:22:20 UTC

Am I the only person who hated The Phantom Tollbooth as a kid? >.>

I don't remember why, being nine at the time.

hamsterwoman October 18 2009, 19:40:05 UTC

In this informal poll of three, apparently :)

It would be interesting to know what you hated about it. I can see the sub-genre just not being someone's cup of tea, or being turned off by the particular kind of whimsy... I'm always curious to know why people love/hate particular books, which is why I'm so addicted to book review and book meme posts on LJ :)

sheiannasherra October 19 2009, 03:01:49 UTC

Just popping in to say that I'm happy that you liked Lamb which I consider one of Christopher Moore's best. It is certainly my favorite.

Charlaine Harris and the Sookie Stackhouse books are ones that I really like. Yes, Bill is an asshole and I never really liked him. Eric is my favorite of the vampires and things get much more interesting between him and Sookie. It would be best to read them in order if possible since they are a continueing story arc.

hamsterwoman October 19 2009, 06:57:24 UTC

Hi! I've been wondering how you've been, since I haven't seen you around on LJ much lately.

Lamb was really good! I've only read one other book by Moore, and thought that was amusing but nothing special. This one's special. I might be getting my parents a copy, because I think they might appreciate it as well.

I'm glad there's more interesting dynamics between Eric and Sookie! (well, more Eric in general :) Is Bill meant to be an asshole? I think I would feel a lot better about these books if I knew he was meant to be one. :P

sheiannasherra October 19 2009, 16:28:54 UTC

Yeah, my energy levels are still really low. Probably didn't help that I was down with bronchitis for a couple weeks...

I'm not sure if Bill is actually meant to be an asshole but he continues to behave like one through most of the series. Eric gets even more interesting though... ~_^

hamsterwoman October 21 2009, 21:39:48 UTC

Oh no, bronchitis sucks so much! I hope you're feeling lots better now!