Threadnsong's TBR Shelf, 2019 ed.

So having a reading challenge that works for me really, um, works for me! I re-read some books that I realized no longer fit my world, and found others that I read and are on my LT shelf as "Read." So yay! Able to start a whole new year next year.

What works for me is to have reading categories. And as I sit and stare at the spines of my books staring back at me, I realize I have several authors whom I adore whom I need to just up and read. And that's a way to categorize my TBR list that works for me:

January TBR author - Guy Gavriel Kay Lord of Emperors
February TBR author - play catch-up with reading stack
March TBR author - Patricia A. McKillip Alphabet of Thorn
April TBR author - Charles DeLint Eyes Like Leaves (and still finishing this book in May)
May TBR author - Mary Stewart The Crystal Cave (yeah, I can't believe I haven't ever read it, either!)
June TBR author - finish continue reading of Mary Stewart. It's been a busy couple of months!
July TBR author - finish The Crystal Cave, start on Juliett Marrillier Son of the Shadows. Also read in the genre of "Good for My Brain" with Robert Hinde Why Gods Persist because it's been on my shelf for years.
August TBR author - Roger Daltrey Thanks a Lot, Mr Kibblewhite, finished Juliett Marrillier Son of the Shadows and still reading Why Gods Persist because it is academic and also good for my brain.
September TBR author - Still deciding. And still reading Why Gods Persist.
October TBR author - C.J. Cherryh The Dreamstone There we go! I've had this book on my shelf for a while, it will allow me the chance to start a smaller book, and also determine if my former low rating of one of her other books was where it was in the series (and I couldn't get into it) or if it was Cherryh's writing style. Onward and upward!
November TBR author - Neil Gaiman Norse Mythology (finally made a decision!) It's fantastic so far.
December TBR author - Neil Gaiman Norse Mythology ended the year 2019 for me! Not a bad choice for this cold and dark time. Oh, and finished Why Gods Persist (finally!)

And since I love the fantasy authors above, I also owe it to myself and them to re-read some of the books that are classics for me.

January TBRR author - Guy Gavriel Kay The Lions of al-Rassan
February TBRR author - Guy Gavriel Kay - continue with The Lions of al-Rassan. Sherri S. Tepper - re-read Grass as part of the SFFKit February challenge
March TBRR author - Patricia A. McKillip The Tower at Stony Wood
April TBRR author - Charles DeLint The Riddle of the Wren
May TBRR author - J.R.R. Tolkien The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers for the group reading challenge
June TBRR author - J.R.R. Tolkien Finishing The Fellowship of the Ring but I may not get to The Two Towers yet for the challenge. Instead, re-reading Irene Radford's Guardian of the Balance
July TBRR author - Irene Radford Guardian of the Balance and Gael Baudino Gossamer Axe because it's been a couple of years since I re-read it. Also re-reading, in the genre "Good for My Brain," Joseph Campbell The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
August TBRR author - Jasper Fforde The Eyre Affair for this month's SFFKit challenge, and possibly Irene Radford Guardian of the Trust. And still plugging away at The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
September TBRR author - Irene Radford Guardian of the Trust to follow closely on the first book in this series. Decided I was done with Campbell.
October TBRR author - Irene Radford Guardian of the Trust, and I'll pick her next one, Guardian of the Vision, for the remainder of the year.
November TBRR author - Irene Radford Reading Guardian of the Vision.
December TBRR author -Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House in the Big Woods finished in a couple of days in November, and of course I had to start with the next one, Little House on the Prairie! Will probably read through most of this series. Cuz.

Great way to tackle your 2019 reading!

Good luck with your author challenge.

Sounds like a workable plan. Enjoy your reading!

Good luck with your 2019 reading!

Enjoy your 2019 reading!

Good luck, I hope you have an enjoyable reading year.

Thank you all so much! Ever since I've posted this thread I've been staring at my shelves with antici-pation rather than guilt ;) I cannot wait to dive into these books again/for the first time. The language that Kay and McKillip use is just . . . extraordinary.

Looks like a great reading year in store for you! Enjoy!

Best of luck with your authors challenge. I wish you a fun year of reading (or rereading) from your TBR.

Have fun with your reading.

Good luck! Happy New Year!

>10 rabbitprincess: >11 This-n-That: >12 hailelib: There will definitely be posts! In fact, Lord of Emperors is currently staring at me across the table, inquiring why I am not, in fact, starting it yet??

>13 The_Hibernator: >14 thornton37814: >15 Tess_W: Thank you for your lovely New Years wishes! And a happy 2019 to you and yours and your TBR piles!

So I've adjusted my "great expectations" about the start of this reading year! I've moved my TBRR of Guy Gavriel Kay's The Lions of al-Rassan to be a book I read in both January and in February. I'm still reading Lord of Emperors and there just aren't enough hours on weekends and evenings to read both in one month!

I will say that reading GGK is like relaxing in a warm bath of sweet-smelling herbs with a cup of the deepest red wine and a plate of rich chocolates to hand. His language is deep and rich and never ceases to amaze me. To be perfectly honest I was not sure if I could manage to read 2 of his books in one month without the fun and richness and joy being somehow compromised, but they are both fitting in nicely together. So onward I go!

Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay
5***** and a heart

I think this is the fastest I've ever read a book by Guy Gavriel Kay, and I'm very glad that I did. I become so enamored of his language and his turns of phrase that when I pick up and put down one of his books over a span of several months, the half sentences he adds can sometimes get lost over time.

And yes, I really, really did read it in a month. Snow days are a wonderful thing!

A continuation to his earlier "Sailing to Sarantium," this book explores the Byzantine Empire from its center, from its Eastern edge, and from its Western beginnings in an alternate Rome. The cast of characters includes Caius Crispus, the mosaicist, though life in the Court of the Emperor of Sarantium, Valerius, is explored with greater depth. And the fact that it is an alternate history means that Kay can play with paths and characters that are composites of historical personae. The Bassanid Doctor, for example, sent from his King of Kings to study in Sarantium after saving his ruler's life, may not have existed but his life's details are well-drawn. The medicine and the rituals of the time are close to those of the desert tribes in what will become Arabia. It is also through his eyes that most of the action takes place.

Chariot racers, Senators and their spoiled sons, military leaders, eunuchs, and rigid secretaries are all beautifully drawn and their lives are explored in this remarkable, intense volume.

Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia A. McKillip
5****

OK, so this one was an extraordinary adventure. No matter what Patricia A. McKillip writes, it seems as though I am in her enjoyment of the world/subject with her. This book is no exception.

It takes place in the library of a castle, buried so deep in the caverns beneath this castle (and the castle is on a cliffside, so dark and damp are two active words here), with a scribe who is part of the library staff. When the new Queen is crowned, she begins the translation of a book of fishes, but surprise! a new book, this one of thorns, is surreptitiously given to her. Just the idea of alphabets written in thorns, in fishes, is pure creative genius. And the interweaving of the story of Axis and his beloved Kane, including the mystery of their kingdom, is an extraordinary mark of genius.

Also blended in is Nepenthe's love interest, a student at the magic school that seems to hover or be invisible, depending on the tasks set out for the students; a new Queen who does not seem equal to the task; twelve Crowns who may go to war for the chance to overthrow this new Queen; and a loving pair of older wizards just to remind us that wisdom is earned and adventures don't only come to the young.

The Tower at Stony Wood by Patricia A. McKillip
4****

I found it hard to believe, but I'm giving this book by Patricia A. McKillip only 4 stars. It's a re-read for me, and one that includes the intricate, extensive language that she is known for. Like Guy Gavriel Kay, reading a book by Ms. McKillip is like sampling rich chocolate with a fine, deep red wine. And because this was a re-read challenge for me, I read through it more quickly than I have read her books in the past. And that's still all good.

I just love the descriptions of embroidery: the threads, the colors, choosing a color and letting it guide one's stitching, the revealing of the picture color by color on linen. They give the reader a viewpoint of why we who do needlework are so drawn to it, and there is a delightful scene where the bard corrects a questing knight about the difference between "weaving" and "embroidery."

But at some point the story becomes convoluted. I like the tale within a tale, the mirror within a mirror, but when Thayne of Ysse begins to fight with Cyan Dag in the tower of the dragon, Thayne shifts into something of light. Part of the dragon? A separate entity? The story of mother Sel, who remains drawn to the sea and embroiders a cloak of browns and greys that look like the sea, is a well-known shape-shifting motif. But in an effort to bring the mountains called The Three Sisters into the story of three towers, the story shifts into the un-reality of fantasy.

Still, it is a glorious book for all of its constant shifting, and probably reading the last hundred pages helped clear up a lot that would otherwise have been too confusing.

The Riddle of the Wren by Charles de Lint
3***

A good early book of Charles de Lint's, and one that is in contrast to his later works, including the ones like "Moonheart" set in modern-day Toronto and early Britain, and his more established Newford works.

It pulls from much Celtic mythology, with the Erlkin standing in for Elves, tall menhir, gates to travel between the worlds, and a version of the Tuatha de Danaan who are the undiminished Good Folk. Young Minda is living with a man she knows is her father who is an innkeeper and a mean, abusive dolt. Fortunately she has friends and support, and when her dreams are keeping her from going to sleep she learns that it is time for her to move on. Her adventure takes her to a menhir where Jan, trapped inside, gives her a protective talisman and a new name, "Talenyn" meaning "Little Wren."

Her flight from Ildran, the Dream Master who has been sending these nightmares, takes her to other worlds and a slew of new people, including a scholar, Huorn the Hunter, a talking badger, and a mischievous tinker. She learns to believe in herself and her own strength by the very end, and the worlds are better for it.

It is obviously an early work, with a slew of almost-Celtic terms abounding (almost too many) and a female protagonist whom he treats with respect and dignity, and creates a place where her story can grow. The idea of taw comes in here, as does an elder race and the idea of a world that is not-quite-ours. Our world is richer for this book.

Eyes Like Leaves by Charles de Lint
3***

Another early book of Charles de Lint but only recently published. He explains in the introduction how his publisher asked him to choose, with this book, whether he would go the route of world-building fantasy or go with the new urban fantasy genre. He chose urban fantasy, and I am very glad as a reader of his that he did so.

Which is not to say that this is not a bad book. It's a well-detailed book with elements of Vikings and Druids and Celtic mythology. And a hero who has self-doubts and a young woman who begins to know herself and come into her own. But it's one of many fantasy books which use these elements of mythology and he could have easily slipped into that genre and been one of many, instead of a pioneer in urban fantasy.

The downside of this book is one that I've seen in other new authors: there's just too much, too many threads, too many stories that have to be interwoven and while they all rely on one another, there's just too many. And honestly, I don't know which story I would want to leave out, but he was able to get all of them included here and it is at last published. And I love his musical dedications, too. It was one of the reasons I am so attracted to his work, is his love and inclusion of music.

Just stopping by to read your updates. It looks like your author challenge is going well. : ) I am not very familiar with most of the books you've read so far but they sound interesting.

>23 This-n-That: Oh wow, This-n-That, thank you for dropping in and for looking at my author challenges! I tend to gravitate towards fantasy authors who do poetry with their writing, such as Guy Gavriel Kay and Juliett Marillier. They write quite large novels, too. I hope you are able to pick one or two up in your reading time. Anything that piques your interest?

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
5***** and a heart

What can I say about this book and its start on this trilogy? Other than I brought it with me to NYC in April to visit the Tolkien exhibit at the Morgan Museum. And it inspired me to visit this exhibit because when else would I ever see these bits and pieces from Tolkien's life?

It is an example of how an author starts a story and it becomes something greater than what he thought it would be. In our case, what starts as a fun continuation of the adventures of one Mr. B. Baggins and his long-awaited party becomes a darker, more sinister, more engaging tale about the fight against evil and darkness from a long, long time ago. And Tolkien is such a skilled writer that even though I've read it for 40 odd years, I always, always find something new in its pages. It changed the face of fantasy literature and initiated movements such as fandom and new archetypes and the Mythopoeic Society, giving fantasy a boost and energy and scholarship.

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
5***** and a Heart

Literally one of the best books I have ever read. Ever. The first time I started it, I was up until 1 a.m. and made it halfway through. The second time was just to re-join the story. And both times I considered it a standalone book, because it's just. That. Good.

But then I found the sequel and decided to buy it, and this Reading Challenge gave me the foundation/courage/gumption to start the sequel. And the sequel is just as powerful as this book.

This third time reading it gave me much more insight into Sorcha's relationship with Lord Hugh of Harrowfield and I saw that story build and become just as important as her relationship with her brothers and her need to make their shirts. The exploration of life in a pre-Norman holding of the Britons was quite good, and her relationships with Hugh's household folk are well written. Further is the intrigue between Lord Hugh and Lord Richard of Northwoods, and how the plotting of the latter causes a huge build-up in the drama about whether Sorcha can finish her task.

My actual review is one of the 110 that is on this book's page.

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart
5*****

Oh. Wow. It is truly an amazing book, a groundbreaking look at Arthur through the eyes of Merlin, and one that acknowledges the disparate bits of history that are traceable as well as Geoffrey of Monmouth's legends. The historical bits are the post-Roman Britons who are struggling to hold onto their lands amidst the constant invasions of the Saxons and the perceived betrayal of the Lord/King Vortigern in his alliances with the Saxons.

In this re-telling, Merlin is the bastard son to a noblewoman, whose father is Ambrosius Aurelianus, exiled to Brittany. Ambrosius is brother to Uther who will later be the Pendragon and father to Arthur, but until then, Ambrosius must claim his crown and train his retainers in fierce fighting and moveable military camps. Merlin's upbringing, his servants, his journey, and his education are well-told and full of an appropriate combination of speculation and research. And also in this book is an embrace of the element of magic through the Sight as well as an intelligent mind. And darkness and mist.

I can see why it was better that I read it at an older age instead of in the "Arthur must be medieval!" thinking of my teens. The historical Arthur was of a certain time period and the court customs of the Middle Ages were definitely anachronistic to his history. On the other hand, there is quite a thrill to see "Excalibur" or to read the poetry of Mallory. I highly recommend this book for students of this legend; it is probably the foundation of modern Arthurian tales.

Guardian of the Balance by Irene Radford
5*****

In all my readings of the Arthurian mythos, the sole representation of the women of that era has been "The Mists of Avalon." Now, there is this book, bringing a character into the warp and weft who is the sole daughter of Merlin. Unlike Bradley's Merlin, but more in the Mary Stewart aspect, Merlin here is allowed one night's liaison with Deirdre, the Lady of Avalon, as long as he swears to all the Dieties that he will raise her in the traditions of ancient Britain. He does, and when his daughter is born, he and Wren travel the length and breadth of this land, keeping an eye on Curyll, the future Arthur, and the other fosterlings of Ector while teaching his daughter the various magicks of his craft.

This book relies heavily on magick (with a k) and ritual and the change of seasons, as well as fairies and the religious change in the world. The overarching theme is balance: balance of the elements, the king balancing the land, humans balancing their needs with the good of their folk, and so forth. Interwoven into this re-telling are the characters of Nimue, Ygraine, and Morgaine (here not a sympathetic character). While Merlin's voice is one of several POV, his is the only male voice that tells a story; the others are given to the women of the time with the exception of Ygraine and Guinevere. Radford also chooses to make Lancelot a contemporary since boyhood of Arthur's and yes, he does fall in love with Guinevere. But Wren and Arthur also share a profound love since childhood, and Radford is able to make that love part of the tragedy that befalls the Arthurian legend.

Looks like you're on a real winning streak right now! I also adore Daughter of the Forest -- I've really liked all the Marillier books I've read.

Thank you Christina! Yes, I just finished Son of the Shadows which took a while to work up the courage to read. Would this book measure up to my reader-girl crush on Sorcha? Happy to report that it did.

Son of the Shadows by Juliett Marillier
5*****

t took me several years to even contemplate buying this book, and several more to read it. I have such a reader-girl crush on Sorcha from the previous book, "Daughter of the Forest," that I didn't want anything to change that story.

And this book brings a new story into the Sevenwaters part of Ireland, partial setting of "Daughter" and the touchpoint for where this family is part of the land. It begins with the younger daughter, a twin, of Sorcha and Red and her path that she has determined for herself: to live at Sevenwaters, perhaps marry, but continue her mother's healing tradition for the people. Of course events transpire that change her view, and also included are the continuations of the stories of Conor and Liam and even Padraig and Finbar. And of course Sorcha.

This book also deals with a child's trauma and how it affects him as an adult, a young woman's trauma when she is given to a man she does not wish as her husband, and the choice to follow what the Old Ones say or to make one's own determination about one's path. Those are the overarching themes; the most immediate ones are the threat of the Painted Man and his band of hired mercenaries who can appear, kill, and disappear, and the role of the Druids and how they control the world around them.

Excellent writing, well-created characters, and a good continuation of the Sevenwaters story.

Thanks a Lot Mr. Kibblewhite by Roger Daltrey
5*****

You know, this is a really enjoyable, well-written, honest autobiography. Roger Daltrey, like Greg Lake, grew up in a working-class, asbestos-infused neighborhood with many alternatives in his life that could have led to his working in a welding factory all his life, rather than becoming a distinctive voice in rock and roll music.

Daltrey brings in observations on his life (the shortened stature of children born in 1944 due to war-time food shortages) and music (the University of Sheffield's paper from 2005 on music and marginalized populations) as well as his family growing up in Shepherd's Bush, London, and their love for one another. And there is plenty of humor as well: he starts the book with a fainting episode that leads to his wondering how on earth he broke his back. The hospital had the X-Rays to prove it, and he had no memory of which of three falls might have done it!

There are also keen observations on his late bandmates, especially the self-destructive drive that led Keith Moon to an early, tragic death, and how John Entwistle died the way he would have wanted to. And there are the humanizing stories about life on the road in the early days, how their management team were so addicted to their own drugs that many of The Who's millions went up their noses, and the smaller venues where the band first played. And like Lake, Daltrey has been married to the same woman for decades.

The style is humanizing, there are plenty of slang terms, and it is easy to read without getting bogged down in self-effacement or band drama. And I am very, very glad that the Muses saw fit to bring Daltrey his first idea for a guitar (another humorous story) that led to a better guitar and finally to being a front-man for an iconic rock band.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
2**

I know this is a classic, and perhaps without this book later mythological studies would not have been so world-encompassing, and I know Campbell was a product of his time. But having to read such a deep book with so much now-disputed scholastic inquiry is a slog. Yes, it is what it is, and I think as more cultures begin to reclaim their own voices, the impact of this book will remain in the far-off footnotes of mythological research rather than at the vanguard of world mythologies.

Having to constantly read through Freud's theories, especially the Oedipal complex, as the reason for male circumcision, strong heroes who overcome the demon (because it's really his father), and the male obsession with wanting to return to the mother as reasons for the Goddess in some religions . . . I just couldn't do it any longer. But I guess that's what scholarship was and I'm very glad it has progressed in the past century.

The Dreamstone by C.J. Cherryh
4****

It was a good book that had language that just totally drew me into its world. I had read the second part of this duology first and had found the language descriptive but without story. The story in this first one is well-explained, through rich language, that says in a few words what a tableau is on the page.

It's a tableau of the Fae and humans, of lands guarded and not, of men and women farming and fighting and working and making their lives. And it also describes a time of transition in both Fae and human, where one last elf lives in her wood that is facing the ravages of time, and a kingdom has lost its king and its direction. And good things do happen as well as tragedies.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
3 1/2 ***

This book and the whole series, really, was a mainstay for me from the age of 7. I loved reading about the inclusion of nature into their lives, how they lived so close to such lovely woods, the story of Grandpa and the panther, Pa riding into town, playing on stumps, and all the sumptuous food. And I was fascinated (now perhaps even more so) about how Ma made stuff, like cheese, and cleaned and washed the house and clothes, all with a well and snow.

Now, of course, I think of stumps in front of the little house and wonder, "What trees were there?" And, "Can panthers really chase a horse for that long distance?" and "Laura not wanting to do everything Mary or Ma told her to do could also mean she had a good sense of self." But the joy in the dance at Grandpas and the putting by of provisions and Pa's fiddle are still there and I do enjoy them much more. But I can't help but wonder about the loss of wilderness and wildlife, and the cruelty of trapping.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
2 1/2 **

I had watched an author recently discuss her biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and I also learned that the prize for children's literature has recently dropped reference to Laura Ingalls Wilder because she is writing as a product of her time. So when I finished "Big Woods" I eagerly jumped into "House on the Prairie" to see if this book also stood the test of time.

In a lot of ways, it does: Pa and Ma are able to navigate across the prairie to a part where there is accessible water, Pa shows a neighbor why a candle lowered into a well that you're digging is a good thing, and Laura watches all of the meadowlarks and sage grouse and is enchanted by the nature and the sky around her. Mr. Edwards and his song "Ol' Dan Tucker" were running through my head thanks to a recording by Bruce Springsteen.

But yes, there are the problematic parts: where is the prairie grass and where are the meadowlarks now? Tilling up the stiff roots to plant potatoes and peas is exactly what led to the Dustbowl, something not foreseen (or ignored) in 1870. And then there are the discussions about the Indians. I remembered the visits from the two Indian warriors to the little house, and admonishments to "wear your sunbonnets, girls, or else . . . " but those were the kinder ones. Yep, I know that Laura was recording a time period, and reading her descriptions and overheard conversations between adults does definitely show how far we've come (and how far we have to go). As a result, the beauty is outweighed by the attitudes and I have to give it this low rating.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
5*****

This is an extraordinary book. It just is. The ability to transcend time and re-tell these tales as tales, or mini-adventure stories, is a skill that few writers have. And Neil Gaiman has that skill in abundance.

It is just that: a book with many of the different tall tales that make up the basics of Norse mythology told with reverence and honor, knowing full well that even a god like Thor would have a hard time eating a dozen sheep. And that giants living in the mountains are hard to find these days of motorized travel and Google Earth. But those very elements contribute to the deific status of the subjects Gaiman writes about: they are larger than life, they are not necessarily good or beneficent beings, but they have powers greater than those of we mortals. And they were the dieties of a peoples who lived quite different lives at a quite different time in very harsh circumstances.

Why Gods Persist by Robert A. Hinde
3***

A good overall look at humanity's need for religion that is well-organized into chapters with logical headings and a summary. He incorporates what could be a strictly Church of England worldview into one that includes Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and even different sects of American Evangelism. And it is good to sometimes wonder what is it within humanity's journey that has created Diety as a necessary part of our lives. He cites various studies over the decades (including his own, which may not be entirely within the parameters of good science?) to make his conclusions.

While I read this book to gain an insight into the subject matter, I think it is geared more towards a classroom setting where discussion could happen and extended research could prove or argue or disprove points. Still, it was readable and well-organized.

Guardian of the Vision by Irene Radford
4****

In this third installment of Irene Radford's series, the descendants of Merlin are a pair of male twins, possibly because the inheritance laws had changed to male-only lines of primogeniture in Elizabethan times. So there is a lot of movement from one part of England, Scotland, and France to another that would have been denied a female of the time (though Roanna does somehow manage to traverse these lands, but usually in disguise as a man). And the number of characters in this book is much reduced from those in her previous book, making the action much more clear.

In the time prior to Elizabeth's ascendance to the throne, her half-sister Mary is sickly, Mary's husband has brought the Inquisition to England, and the Catholic church holds sway. In northern England, near the Scottish border, twins Donovan and Griffin wrestle with their consciences (Griffin is a Catholic priest who has inherited the Kirkenwood magic) and frustrations (Donovan inherits the title and lands but no magic). All of this is against the backdrop of religious and royal conflicts, as well as Griffin's studies in France before becoming a spy of the Bishop.

Great historic research, good plotlines, characters who are believable and wrestle with their inner questioning. Oh, and the descendant of Nimue? Smart and resourceful and malevolent and cunning. And also all too human.