Booklog 7: Words born of fire

[soupytwist]

Apparently it's AUGUST tomorrow, so... booklog. I seem to have managed more books than I thought this month!

Comments

[alpheratz]

Is The Reluctant Widow the one with the adorable teenage boy? I think I liked that one quite a bit, as I like most of her books where the love interest isn't the domineering douchebag archetype.

[soupytwist]

Yes it is. He's good fun, isn't he? :D

[alpheratz]

Teenage characters aren't terribly common in historical novels, so I always enjoy them when they crop up. It's always interesting to see what parts of teenage experience as universal and what's tied to the historical context. I really love Margaret Dashwood in the S&S movie, too, but I'm having trouble thinking of other characters like that.

[rachel2205]

Children of Men is weirdly antiquated, but I really liked the idea. The movie is very good, and almost entirely different...

[elder_goddess]

One thing I really, really love about Wyndham's stuff (most of which I've re-read yet again quite recently, as it happens) is that it's very much of its time and yet somehow not dated. The author has always come across to me as a savvy and forward-thinking man, and his portraits of middle-class England of the era are sharp as a sharp thing.

Joe Hill is definitely his father's son, and also not anywhere at the peak of his own powers yet, but he has some good chops IMO.

So glad you grok Tiffany Aching! Her coming-of-age processes across the next three novels are teh awsum. She's Granny Weatherwax without the bitterness and loneliness..

[alpheratz]

Also, skimming fail! You read more Fandorin. \o/

I haven't read that book in a really long time, so I don't remember the bit you're asking about. If you explain in a little more details, I may be able to help?

[soupytwist]

Indeed I did! I meant the bit right at the start - the killer pretends to be Fandorin by looking like his official description and knowing some of the plan and gets on the train before it arrives in Moscow and shoots the guy.

[alpheratz]

Oh, that. Not that I know of. In fact, it sounds so much like something out of a detective novel that it probably is. :)

[amaterasu]

LA LA LA NOT READING ANYTHING ABOUT DANCE WITH DRAGONS...

I'm glad to hear your thoughts on Children of Men - I saw the film when it came out and was all but blown away by it, and have been curious to read the book ever since. I heard they were very different, but even so, I was incredibly underwhelmed by the sample I read. I think you put your finger on it: it felt outdated and the idea deserved better. (For what it's worth, I thought the film did it justice.)

Still kinda curious to read it, 'cos, well... ;-)

PS - I am now stealing 20th Century Ghosts off my husband's Kindle.

[soupytwist]

That was why I put it at the top, so the spoiler-averse would be less likely to accidentally see. :D Have you read the other books in the series?

I now want to see the movie!

I hope you like 20th Century Ghosts. (and aren't e-readers the best ever!)

[amaterasu]

Yes! I've read the entire series, plus some of the Dunk & Egg stuff, and seen the TV series (WHICH IS AWESOME, BTW). The only thing is, I haven't picked up any of the books since the last one came out 6 years ago and canNOT remember most of the details now. I had to make the Prof promise not to laugh at me when I ask dumb questions.

I just finished 20th Century Ghosts this afternoon and ZOMG!!! Colour me incredibly impressed (you're right, Pop Art is a fantastic story).

(And yes, e-readers are the greatest thing since bread came sliced. I didn't realise how used to the Kindle I was until I started Dance with Dragons the other night - in hardcover! - and nearly sprained something trying to hold the damn thing up.)