Half-way Point of 2008: 87 and counting

I looked for the 100 challenge group, but it has been removed. So I will share with the 75 book challenge group my reading for the first half of 2008. Glad to meet you all!

Books Read in 2008, * indicates a re-read

1/2 Nylon Angel by Marianne de Pierres
1/4 Snake Agent by Liz Williams
1/6 The Plutonium Blonde by John Zakour & Lawrence Ganem 2.5 tried really hard to be clever, but a little too mechanical about it, didn't really care about the characters. Too comic-booky.
1/10 Beauty and the Beast by Barbara Hambly Only read it because Hambly wrote it. a 2
1/11 Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George 4.5 Really fine! Original, great voice, wonderful characters.
1/12 Dragon Mage by Andre Norton and Jean Rabe. Sequel to Dragon Magic. 2.5 Not necessarily a bad story, but conclusion weak, not done the way Andre would have.
1/14 Goblin Reservation by Clifford Simak.* Reread of an old favorite. 4
1/17 The Demon and the City by Liz Williams 3
1/19 Beka Cooper, Terrier by Tamora Pierce 3.5
1/20 Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien 2.5
1/21 Greenbriar Queen by Sheila Gilluly 2.5
1/25 You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister 2.0 Wanted to like it and find it clever, but too artificial, too clueless, too much gratuitous sex.
2/4 The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters by James Dashner 2.5
2/6 A Marginal Jew: Volume 3 by John P. Meier
2/8 Dragon Song by Anne McCaffrey* Just got a replacement from PBS, and had to reread
2/9 Dragon Singer by Anne McCaffrey* had to follow through. Bad science, good story
2/10 Dragon Flight by Anne McCaffrey still in the good ones
2/11 Dragon Quest by Anne McCaffrey*
2/13 The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey*still a great story
2/14 MasterHarper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey*back story, not that great a story in itself
2/16 Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett First time for this one--Great story!
2/19 Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey*
2/22 Grimspace by Ann Aguirre
2/23 All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey*
2/24 Muddle Earth by Paul Steward and Chris Riddell
2/25 The Skies of Pern*
2/27 Into the Woods by Lyn Gardner
2/28 The Rope Trick by Lloyd Alexander*
2/29 The Labyrinth Gate by Alis A. Rasmussen*
3/2 Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley
3/3 M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman
3/7 Reserved for the Cat by Mercedes Lackey
3/9 Dzur by Steven Brust*
3/11 The Atrocity Files by Charles Stross
3/13 The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross
3/15 The Outback Stars by Sandra McDonald
3/15 Magician's Ward by Patricia Wrede
3/17 The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley*
3/24 The Ropemaker by Peter Dickinson
3/28 The Raven Ring by Patricia Wrede*
3/29 Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
3/31 Angel Isle by Peter Dickinson

4/1 Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul
4/5 Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold*
4/6 The Hallowed Hunt by L.M. Bujold*
4/11 A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold*
4/12 The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
4/12 Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond
4/13 Return to Quag Keep by Andre Norton and Jean Rabe
4/13 Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold*
4/15 Irresistible Forces by Bujold etal.
4/17 The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde*
4/18 Airs Beneath the Moon by Toby Bishop
4/21 Once On a Time* by A. A. Milne
4/21 Charmed Spheres by Catharine Asaro
4/22 Sense and Sensibility* by Jane Austen
4/23 Barrayar* by Lois McMaster Bujold
4/24 Shards of Honor* by Lois McMaster Bujold
4/24 The Warrior's Apprentice* by Lois McMaster Bujold
4/25 The Vor Game* by Lois McMaster Bujold
4/26 Borders of Infinity* by Lois McMaster Bujold
4/28 Brothers in Arms * by Lois McMaster Bujold
4/30 Victory Conditions by Elizabeth Moon

5/1 Code of Contact by Kristine Smith
5/2 Un Lun Dun by China Miéville
5/3 Interworld by Neil Gaiman and
5/4 The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
5/10 The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition by Lewis Carroll (Martin Gardner)
5/12 Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
5/15 Ranger's Apprentice: The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan
5/17 The Keys to the Kingdom: Lady Friday by Garth Nix
5/18 Red Thunder by John Varley
5/20 Make Way for Dragons! by Thorarinn Gunnarsson
5/28 The Myth of Laziness by Mel Levine
5/30 The Gandalara Cycle I* by Randall Garrett and Vicki Ann Heydron (includes The Steel of Raithskar, The Glass of Dyskornis, and The Bronze of Eddarta)

6/2 The Gandalara Cycle II by Randall Garrett and Vicki Ann Heydron (includes The Well of Darkness, The Search for Ka, and Return to Eddarta)
6/5 The River Wall* by Randall Garrett and Vicki Ann Heydron
6/7 Star Surgeon by James White
6/12 I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
6/13 The Shattered Chain* by Marion Zimmer Bradley
6/16 Thendara House* by Marion Zimmer Bradley
6/17 City of Sorcery* by Marion Zimmer Bradley
6/18 Point of Honour by Madeleine E. Robins
6/20 Cotillion* by Georgette Heyer
6/24 Darkover Landfall* by Marion Zimmer Bradley
6/27 Tea With the Black Dragon* by R.A. MacAvoy
6/30 The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis

Wow! Lovely (and long) list.

What did you think of Ysabel?

I would have gone to the 100 challenge if there had been such a group ;-)

I recognise 5 writers on your list.

Is Marion Zimmer Bradley the same who wrote Mists of Avalon? I red that book long ago.

I have two books of Lloyd Alexander, I like those and one from Peter Dickinson

and of course J.R.R. Tolkien, I recently re-red The Hobbit and LotR

I know Jane Austen, once tried to read Emma, but never came further than the first 50 pages, not tried any book of her after that

#2 I was, not disappointed, but off-balance. Kay does such great atmosphere, and the atmosphere here was very prosaic in many ways. I enjoyed seeing the return of characters from the Fionvar trilogy a lot. But I would not put Ysabel on my A list for Kay. It did seem more of a Young Adult for people just starting to read him. But still enjoyable!

#3 Yes, that is the same MZ Bradley.

I read a lot of children's fantasy, always have. My favorite Lloyd Alexander books are the 5-book Prydain series, although he's written many more. I love the way the first book starts as a typical children's fantasy with the character as a fairly ignorant and brash boy, and develops over the books into a mature and thoughtful hero. Peter Dickenson's fantasies have always appealed to my sense of whimsy as well--he is very original.

88. Firestorm by Rachel Caine

I really liked the first book in the Weather Warden series, but it has gotten increasingly weird ever since. The heroine has become too much of a Mary Sue. The situations keep getting worse and worse in every book, and any chance to develop character or interesting themes is buried under the need for action to survive. This is not a series I plan to continue at this point. Even so, this book was easy to get into and to read--I did not need to back out and give it another chance, as I do in many books I don't care for. Things I liked: the concept of the Weather Wardens, the heroine's predilection for classic muscle cars and designer shoes. Things I didn't like: the ever increasing body count, lack of characterization, constant emergency status.

#s 89 and 90 Have a summer cold and couldn't sleep last night, so have a great need for simple and enjoyable comfort books. Picked out two small hardbacks I have that Anne McCaffrey wrote to be at the reading level of her granddaughter that are novella length, No one noticed the cat and If wishes were horses. Both fairy-tale like in that they are set in feudal settings, and both with fantasy elements. Good introductions to McCaffrey for kids from about 5th grade on, before they move on to Dragonsong.

#91 The War of the Oaks by Emma Bull is a re-read. I have a couple of books by Bull that are new to me coming in, and wanted to read the two I have to prepare. This was one of the first of the urban faerie books, and still one of the best. Good characterization, great setting, and a lot of music.

#92 Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee is a book in the Liaden Universe that is not directly about Korval. I enjoy the Miller and Lee books because I think they tell fun stories in an interesting universe with interesting characters. This one is tangential to most of the others, but continues to explore the melanti of Liaden in the context of Terran-Liaden interactions. While I wouldn't necessarily start with this book (you get a lot more out of it if you have some understanding of Liaden culture beforehand), it is a good read.

#93 Finder by Emma Bull Another novel set in the Borderlands between the mundane world and Faerie. I like Bull. She writes good stories.
#94 Ranger's Apprentice: Book 3 by John Flanagan This series is turning out to be an okay but nothing special children's series.
#95 Austenland by Shannon Hale I enjoyed this very much. It was light and fun. I don't typically read chick-lit (this was referred to as that in many of the reviews on LT), but I love Jane Austen AND the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice that is so central to the plot.
#96 Jhegaala by Steven Brust The latest in the Vlad Taltos books, just out this week. Made a special trip up to Mysterious Galaxy to buy it today. I always enjoy Vlad, but I think this will end up being considered one of the "lesser' books in the series.

#97 The Demon Breed by James H. Schmitz is an old favorite--this was a re-read. So was # 98, The Spell Sword by Marion Zimmer Bradley, but this is for a discussion group, along with The Forbidden Tower, which is coming up next. I'm in the middle of it along with Take Back Plenty, which should bring me to 100 in the next day.

#99 Take Back Plenty by Colin Greenland was recommended by someone on LT, I think, and I ordered it from PaperBackSwap.com. It was interesting. A good adventure story, lots of classic science fiction elements, an engaging heroine.

And #100, The Forbidden Tower, a re-read (although it's been a LONG time) for a book discussion group Tuesday.

congratulations reaching 100!

Thank you so much! #101, the third for the discussion group, is Hawkmistress by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It has been so long since I read her Darkover books that it is almost like reading them for the first time. Some of the themes she addresses within books like this one and Thendara House about what being a woman in a stratified society, and how any person can be oneself in a context of interacting with other persons' needs and expectations, remind me of what a seminal force she was in women writing science fiction.

I just read through your thread and the comments on Ysabel struck me. I had similar reactions...enjoyed the characters, loved seeing our Fionavar friends again, felt the atmosphere wasn't "typical" Kay.

Have you tried Last Light of the Sun by him, yet? After Fionavar, it might be my favorite of his. I have to re-read The Lions of Al-Rassan, which is the other contender for the silver medal, when I come to it during my traversal of the house entering things in LT.

Re Ysabel: I'm a Kay devotee, and yet somehow I just haven't been able to pick this one up yet. I've flipped through it, and yes, it really does feel YA. And worse - like weak YA. Perhaps I'm wrong on the weak count though, given that I haven't read it through. I quite like many YA books actually, but it's not what I want from dear GGK. I rely on his atmosphere, and his characterisation, and to read a book from him that is lacking in that department would leave me feeling cheated I think.

Another problem with Ysabel is that the underlying fantasy premise is not all that different from the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot triangle of Fionavar. Usually I find Kay's works to feel like fresh reworkings of myths and legends; this didn't.

I don't want to give the impression I think it's a bad book, however. It's just not Kay at his best.

err...edit to put the word "not" in the last sentence... :-)

The Lions of Al-Rassan is the last Kay I read--I cried so hard! It was beautifully done.

102- Dark Lord of Derkholm
103- Year of the Griffin
Needed some comic relief after the Bradley books, and I love these. They take all the tropes of classic fantasy and turn them on their heads in imaginative and totally funny ways--great comfort reading!

104- Double Contact by James White
Just got this through PaperBackSwap. I'm gradually filling in all my Sector General books this way, as I've never had the whole series. Always interesting and entertaining.

Wanted to pop in and say "howdy" and take a look at what you were reading.

Love Bujold btw. Like you once I read the first book, I read the rest -- though I see you've stuck mainly to the Miles series.

I think it's interesting that she has different authorial voices. Were you not tempted by her less scfi-y books?

No, no, I have everything she's ever written except Dreamweaver's Dilemma, and I hope to get that soon. Paladin of Souls is one of my very favorite books! They should all be in my library--I'll go check after I post this.

Howdy back. I appreciate the comments.

#105 The High Crusade by Poul Anderson. 1960 romp, quick easy read.

Long break due to the crash of my hard drive with the concomitant discovery that my external drive hadn't backed anything up in the last year due to a bad cable. Sigh. Been reloading software and searching on-line mail files ever since trying to retrieve at least some of the info. Oh, well.

#106 Queste by Angie Sage. I have enjoyed this series. I consider it one of the better of the young adult fantasy series spawned by the Harry Potter phenomenon.

</i>Oh, that's terrible...8^(

#107 In preparation for a discussion group of Seeker in a week and a half, I read my first Jack McDevitt book, A Talent for War. This is the first book to feature Alex Benedict as a protagonist, Seeker is the third. I liked this book. I liked the present day action intermixed with "sims" and literature from happenings 200 years earlier and the mystery slowly revealed, as well as the action components. The philosophies underlying the action give depth and meaning to the plot. I shall have to try other McDevitt books.

What did you think of Dark Lord of Derkholm? I love Diana Wynne Jones, and one of my friends highly recommends this book, but I'd love to hear your comments on it.

Dark Lord of Derkholm is a total hoot and now one of my favorite of Diana Wynne Jones' books, even crowding out the Chrestomancis. You know she wrote Tough Guide to Fantasyland humorously pointing out stereotypical fantasy tropes? Well, here she turns them on their head in a great story with great characterizations and a cast of characters you will love. By all means, read it and better have the sequel, The Year of the Griffin, handy for when you are done. These books are clever and funny. I'd love her to go back to that world again, but I suspect she's done with it now. But you never know, look how many years went by before she started playing with Chrestomanci again!

#108 The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe as part of the Sci-Fi coffeehouse group read.

#110 Dreamweaver's Dilemma by Lois McMaster Bujold. I had wanted to fill in my Bujold collection with this book for a long time, and was glad that it finally became available at a reasonable price. This is a collection of short stories, novellas and essays. The best story is already reproduced in Borders of Infinity and Young Miles. The interest for the Bujold fan is in the earlier stories and her essays about her writing. Not a book for the uninitiated, it does deepen your understanding of an already-valued author.

#111 Seeker by Jack McDevitt As noted for #107, this is for a discussion group. After reading reviews, I decided to skip Polaris and go straight to this book, and I'm glad I did. I liked the change in viewpoint from Alex to Chase, and enjoyed the book. I think that I am done with this series, though--as McDevitt may well be--because I think the theme of the two books could be done to death, although the details were very well fleshed-out and individual. Anyone have ideas for the next McDevitt book to try out?

#112 Just got in a Pratchett I hadn't read before through PaperBackSwap and had to go to it right away even though The Claw of the Conciliator is waiting for me. It was Witches Abroad, great fun as a light read. Each of the strands now has its own feel to it, and while I am partial to the City Guard Strand, the Witches strand definitely has its own charm. (There's this dwarf at the ball named Casanunda) What can I say? Granny Weatherwax comes through again, with lots of fun on the way. Now, back to The Book of the New Sun.

#113 The Claw of the Conciliator is the next part of our group read. I don't know what I think of the series yet.

#114 a re-read of The Thread That Binds the Bones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman, a favorite of mine, to balance out the Wolfe series.

I think that's Hoffman's best work...nothing else she's done has measured up to it, though I keep hoping.

#115 The Silent Strength of Stones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
#116 Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton
#117 Spirits That Walk in Shadow by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

#114 started me off on a Chapel Hollow binge-sweet indulgence! The Aunt Dimity book I got as a result of recommendations on LT. It was a fun light mystery/romance. Now back to The Book of the New Sun for the group read!

ronincats: I enjoy the Aunt Dimity series because they are just fun light mysteries and they don't pretend to be more than that. Sometimes I just need something that is more comfortable and fun to read, and the Dimity series is one that I can fall back on.

#118 The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen M. Beckett Brand new. Still digesting.

# 119 Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold A re-read, been too long!

I've looked at The Magicians and Mrs. Quent two or three times in the bookstore and, while I enjoy Austen (I'm in the middle of Emma right now, by coincidence), I keep wondering whether there's really more to Beckett's book than an homage without Austen's writing ability. So, I keep passing it by. Maybe someday in paperback. We'll see.

#36 ronincats: Let me know once you have digested it, how you liked or disliked The Magicians and Mrs. Quent. It looked interesting, but as the first part of a projected trilogy I do not want to start it only to discover I don't like the thing!

#120 Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear
I don't read a lot of the urban fantasy in general, and faerie interfacing the modern world in particular. I really like Emma Bull's stuff, and really don't like Lackey and confederates in their treatment of it. I read this book for a discussion group. Nonetheless, I thought it was quite well written. In fact, there were spots where the elegance of the descriptive prose stopped me in my tracks--a "well-turned phrase". The characters were interesting and, given they were drawn from very familiar archetypes, handled in an original manner. I had read some of Bear's SF (e.g., Hammered and was frankly surprised and impressed with the way she handled this very different genre.

#121 A Sudden, Wild Magic by Diana Wynne Jones I had not read this one before. Not one of my very favorites, like the Derkholm or Chrestomanci books, but still a very enjoyable light read.

Tad and Stasia, The Magicians and Mrs. Quent appears to be a truly magical book--I set it aside to start another pile of books to mail to my sister, and now I cannot find it anywhere!! Others have commented that this seems like 3 books in one. I think this is primarily due to the middle section of the book being written as a journal/letter, with third person before and after. The first section is written with an eye to the society, of social class and family circumstances, much like an Austen but even more like a Georgette Heyer regency. I like both of those authors very much--they wrote about the same period and touched on many of the same characteristics of society, although Heyer of course, writing long after the period, has more to do with aristocracy and romance. The world-building is interesting, with some parallels to Britain and many differences as well. The varying day, I hope, ends up being of some use in lter books--it is almost more of a distraction here, other than to signify the "different" of this world. The first third ends with a clatter. The middle section is like a mix of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Again, I am a big Jane Eyre fan and so that is not a turn-off, although I was glad to know Mr. Quent's wife really IS dead. It is told entirely from the heroine's POV. Although her shift in affections seems to occur too quickly, there are events to support it. Many important things are revealed in this section. The final section is back in London from a 3rd person viewpoint, and a number of threads are drawn together. The climactic moment almost appears too abrupt--and then you realize that there must be sequels coming. One of the POV characters really seems fairly marginal throughout the book, and I have to assume he will come into prominence later on in the series to justify his existence. Britain and our heroine certainly have issues to resolve. But an interesting and worthwhile introduction, I think, to a new author. And readable. While I very much enjoy Jane Eyre and Heyer and Jane Austen, I must disclose that I really did not enjoy Mr. Norrell and Jonathan Strange even though I expected to--it never engaged me and I had to struggle through it. I did not have that reaction to this book. Hope this is helpful.

Hi
Thanks for your post and the references to Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, I'm currently reading an interesting book by Bettina Knapp The Brontes, Branwell, Anne, Emily, Charlotte I'm learning more about this very interesting, intelligen family.

The Brontes are absolutely fascinating. What led to 4 siblings, three of them of a sex where writing was still an unusual pastime, producing such powerful works in that time and place?

#122 The Dragon Heir by Chima Williams Cinda
Perhaps more teen angst than I needed, but this is the third in a young adult series that I would rank up there with Rick Riordan's Olympians. It does seem to resolve the issues, but it's hard to tell whether this is more of a resting place or a final chapter in the story. Good teen characters and lots of action.

#42 ronincats: Sounds like I am definitely going to have to look out for The Magicians and Mrs. Quent and I have added Blood and Iron to Continent TBR as well. Thanks for the recommendations!

Hi ronincats
I agree with you regarding The Brontes. The book I read was very good at portraying the culture at this particular time in history. For example, Branwell was propped up time and time again by his sisters.

I never read Shirley by Charlotte Bronte and need to do so. Bettina Kapp wrote in depth about the fact that Charlotte had an austue observation of society and the limited choices available to women as well as the poor.

Knapp quoted passages from Shirley where Charlotte stunningly made huge swipes at the clergy and their intentional distancing from those they preached others should help.

#123 is a nonfiction book sent me by my mother. My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey tells the story of a neuroanatomist's cerebral hemorrhage, of her experience during the stroke and during her recovery. It was a left-brain stroke and she is able to describe very fully what it was like to be in a right-brain mind and to slowly get many of her left brain functions back. Fascinating, and has several things I will use in working with children with anxiety disorders.

#124 is a sequel to Howl's Moving Castle and a delightful piece of work, House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones.

Picked up a bunch of books at Borders yesterday--it's Educator Advantage weekend, and 25% off, so I had made a list of books unlikely to be moochable for a long time. House of Many Ways above was one of those, simply because I'm a big Diana Wynne Jones fan.
#125 Princess Ben by Catherine Murdock I picked up because I had seen it mentioned on several threads in LT. I'm a big fairy tale fan--my fantasy reading started with the Blue, Red, and Green books of fairy tales, and I love retellings. Ben is an interesting, even somewhat unlikeable, character at the beginning, but always with her own particular voice. What was fun was the way the story avoided some of the obvious fairy tale tropes while slipping others in most deviously! I actually think this will improve with re-reading, which is one of my definitions of a good book.

Ah, choices, choices! Should I read Flora Segunda, Nation, Chalice, Into the Wild or the new Charlie Bone? Such torture!

House of Many Ways is sitting in my to-read stack for the next few weeks. How does it compare to Howl's Moving Castle?

Fog-struck, I think it compares very well. It is a sad romp indeed, with no social redeeming qualities! The atmosphere, action, characters, all pick up and carry on without a hitch from the prior two books. More unforgettable characters. More chaotic action. Lots of fun.

#126 Chalice by Robin McKinley. A mood piece. A romance. An enchantment. It felt very much like the best of Patricia McKillip in atmosphere. She's back on top of her game!

Hmmm. I had sort of given up on McKinley...and the Amazon description of Chalice sounded so generic-fantasy-been-done-a-million-times that I didn't even consider it. However, I'm a huge McKillip fan, so maybe I'll reconsider.

#s 127 and 128 Flora Segunda and Flora's Dare by Ysabeau Wilce. This is a new children's fantasy series set in the nation of Califa in a basically preindustrial but urban setting. It is interesting and original--uses some novel concepts in its magic use, has interesting characters and lots of action. I'll definitely pick up the next book when it comes out!

#53 ronincats: The reviews of both books make them sound like great fun! I will definitely have to look out for them. Thanks for the recommendation.

#129 Airball: My Live in Briefs by L.D. Harkrader
This is a story about a 13 year old boy who is convinced his father is a famous basketball player who came from his small hometown. The reason I read it is that the small town is in Kansas, and the basketball player went on to KU, and the team the boy is on goes to Allen Fieldhouse to meet the player when they retire his jersey--and I am a KU alum and a huge KU basketball fan (did not miss a single home game in 7 years of undergraduate and grad school)! And I grew up in central Kansas, so know the names of the small towns mentioned, etc. But despite that, it really is an engaging sports/coming of age story. The ending was telegraphed fairly early on, although our protagonist has no idea until the end, but it was fun getting there.

#130 Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst.

More of a children's book than the Flora Segunda books-shorter, simpler, less depth. Just a straightforward little adventure with an interesting main character. The supporting staff is not developed as much as I would have liked in terms of character, but think of the egocentric focus of a typical 13 year old and that's what you get, right in the main character's head. A fun premise--Julie is surrounded by characters from fairy tales who have escaped the Wild and are living in our everyday world, including her grandmother and mother. I think the Sisters Grimm books do more with this concept, but this is a quick read, some fun concepts thrown around, great for the 8-12 yr. bunch.

#131 Scent of Magic by Andre Norton I missed this when it first came out in the 90's--well, not so much missed, but was past the point where I paid for hardcover editions of Norton's work. I love Andre Norton (just look at the 121 books in my library) but most of her best work is before the late 80s, IMHO. However, I am a completist, so when I had a chance to mooch this book, I did. Actually, I really liked the initial part of the book. The characters and situations were well set up, as usual the environment was wonderfully drawn, and the premises were interesting. Of course, the usual ending of confronting totally evil magic and overcoming with the aid of animal allies (a favorite theme of mine as well as Norton's) interrupted a perfectly good story. Actually, it worked as well as not better than most. The only sour note is that the change of view of the prince is rather sudden and unexplained. Definitely one of the better of her later books.

As a kid, I loved Andre Norton...Secret of the Lost Race was the book that introduced me to science fiction. Every once in a while, I'll pick up one of those early books and reread it. But, it's always one of the old ones.

I really felt things changed after about 1970. Maybe it was the extreme focus on fantasy. I enjoyed the Witch World books, but my favorites were the SF adventures where we got to see the Patrol or the Solar Queen or the Time Traders. She really moved away from that in the 80s and later.

Or, maybe, I just got old and, as everyone knows, things were much better when we were young. :-)

I forgot to mention it on my thread because I had forgotten who to thank, but thank you, ronincats, for introducing me to The Ranger's Apprentice books. I have only read the first one, which I really enjoyed, but I look forward to reading the others in the series as well.

Norton, Heinlein, Clarke, Asimov, Bradbury: those were the books of my early teens. And I loved them all, but especially Norton. I still remember hovering on the edge of my seat with suspense as the crew of Galactic Derelict struggled back through that series of worlds--would they make it? I was surprised when I went back to read it a few years ago at how slight the story actually was--but it was powerful for a thirteen-year-old in the early 60s! I especially like the Dipple and Warlock and Moon of Three Rings books, and the early Witch World ones, especially Year of the Unicorn and the Gryphon series. The Time Trader books were the first of hers I read (the first two) and also hold a special place in my heart, although I don't think the stories have held up as well over time. I have the copies before she revised it after the Cold War was over.

#59, I'm glad you enjoyed the first. I've read the first three, but am waiting for the fourth to be available in paperback. The Flora Segunda books are better, though!

Unfortunately, my local library does not have the Flora Segunda books. I do have them on Continent TBR, however, and when I see them I will snatch them up.

#132 Mélusine by Sarah Monette 477 pages and I read it in two nights. It was interesting and fast-paced and very readable. Monette is a good story-teller. Why does the story have to be based in so much pain and violence? Oh, not just hers; it seems like there is a whole genre out there of authors who seem to need to ground their stories in torture and murder to make it "real". Makes me long for old-fashioned space opera, it does! Not that I won't get a copy of The Virtu and read it as well--it is well-written. But I have put down and turned away from many of the above ilk that aren't nearly as well done.

I decided to make a quick visit before I call it a night after i read your posts on my 75 thread. Wow! You and alcottacre need a challenge all your own--what a reat list and how many you have read this year!

I forgot about the Prydain series when I was talking about fantasy i introduced my children to--it was a great favorite and when they grew up I bought them both a boxed hardcover edition so I sould have to give up my edition. I reread these books.

I noticed you have a lot of Anne McCaffrey books. A few years ago I bought a used HC volume called Dragonriders of Pern which is a trilogy. Should I try to dig this one out for my scifi fantasy read? Also, one of my college students recommended Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones--she said she'd lend it to me. Do you recommend that? I'd really like to read some stuff I will love. This year my fantasy read was a series called The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper. I enjoyed it--but it was rather uneven--one great book, one very good book and the others just okay. I read rather slowly so I like to make it count!

I've read Mélusine, The Virtu and The Mirador and I know what you mean. They're a good series, though. A bit of dip in the last one, but Corambis is due out next year and, hopefully, the quality will come back up.

63 - The Dragonriders series is quite enjoyable, though they start to feel the same after a while. I really liked the first two she published (no longer the first two chronologically), Dragonflight and Dragonquest, as well as the first several of the Harper Hall stories, Dragonsong and Dragonsinger. If you like these, there are plenty more.

ronincats,

Did you ever try Islandia by Austin Tappan Wright? You might like it.

On one hand, it's only technically fantasy; the country of Islandia doesn't exist, but that's about it. It tends to get classified as fantasy and then readers have the wrong sort of expectations. The story follows an American visiting a country where technology is limited by law and folks pursue a deliberately simple lifestyle. The culture is so not-America that it's like being on an alien world. So, if you're expecting magic or dragons, this isn't it.

On the other hand, a lot of people I've suggested McKinley and her type to, have gone on and read this and loved it. A couple people have commented that there's some feel to the writing...that they can't put their finger on...that is similar between Islandia and things like The Blue Sword.

If you're a fan of Ursula K. LeGuin, she commented in "Language of the Night", "There is nothing else in all of literature like Islandia...It is a genuinely alternative society, worked out thoroughly, pragmatically, and humanely."

It's not for everyone but, if your library has it, you could try a 100 pages. If you don't like it at that point, skip the other 900. :-)

If you do like it, I wouldn't bother with any of the sequels. They were written by other authors and just didn't cut it, imo.

MusicMom, Dark Lord of Derkholm is probably my favorite book by Diana Wynne Jones, and she's written a lot (and I have most of them!). It is hilarious without being total froth. You have The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by her, which dissects the overused tropes of fantasy. This book takes most of them and turns them on their heads. Some of my favorite characters are in this book as well. A strong recommendation, YES!

I'm with TadAD on the McCaffrey books. Your trilogy is probably three of the earlier books--maybe Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon. These three, along with Dragonsong and Dragonsinger (to be read between Dragonquest and The White Dragon, are definitely worth reading. After that, the law of diminishing returns sets in.

I love the Prydain set. So many books based on Welsh or Irish mythology are so depressing. This set remained true to the mythology, but the characterization as it grew through the books, the whole maturing of the language, structure, and subtlety of the books as Taran himself grew, and the integrity of the hard choices throughout makes this Lloyd Alexander's masterpiece and one of my top books overall.

I also really like The Dark is Rising series. I think the second book, just by itself, is a nearly perfect example of a great storytelling book. Everytime I read it, when I get to the end, I just sigh in repletion and satisfaction. I know you liked the 4th book better, and it's my next favorite.

Try Bujold, try Bujold, try Bujold!

TadAD, I've never read Islandia, although I've certainly read references to it. I'll definitely check with my library, based on your recommendation. I'm thinking about dusting off my copy of Earth Abides--it's been a long, long time since I read it.

So, I was wondering whether you ever got through the Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe. I read the series years ago and have very strong images of the themes and characters. I was considering rereading the books now, as an adult, rather than a teen reader and wondered how you felt about the series.

No, I didn't. I tried for the Group Read last month, and got through the first two books of it, but just couldn't find the motivation to read the last two books. I loved The Fifth Head of Cerberus when I read it, probably in my 20s, then tried The Knight a year or two ago, thinking it might be a good match, but didn't care for it at all. I found the first part of The Shadow of the Torturer to be an interesting read, but then it got to the point where I just didn't care about the characters any more, or what they were doing. You might want to go to the group, Group Read: SF and find the threads there for the different books and people's reactions to them for a much broader range of opinion.

#66 TadAD: Thanks for the write up on Islandia. I will definitely look for that one.

#68 ronincats: I read Earth Abides about a month ago, and I recommend dusting it off. I very much enjoyed the book, although my pet peeve with the survivors remains the fact that they did not teach the children to read (or at best, taught them to read poorly).

#132 The Tears of the Salamander by Peter Dickinson I have loved Peter Dickinson's work ever since I first read The Changes Trilogy back in the early 70's--they were so original and different (and multi-cultural--rather a rarity back then!). I also like how he and Robin McKinley found each other and married. They made a deal to each write a book about one of the elements, and this is his Fire book. McKinley's, of course, was Sunshine. This is not at all like Sunshine, but is a children's fantasy of 197 pages--a quick read, but not a shallow one. Highly recommended for preteens on up.

Loved all the activity on my thread this week, everyone. Discussing books is just so much fun! TadAD, I found one (!) copy of Islandia in the entire San Diego Library system and have placed a hold on it, so should get it in a week or so at my local branch. I have the LeGuin book but it's been a long time since I read it, so missed or forgot her reference to it. Thanks!

I have a bone to pick with Robin McKinley. I wrote her back in the mid-80s telling her I how much I enjoyed The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword, and hoping we'd see more of Aerin. She promised me there would be more books about her.

Over 20 years, I'm still waiting!

Yes, I know. We asked her when she was here during the Sunshine tour yet, and she said none of the Damar stories have drifted up to the top of her brain yet. Boo, hiss!

The Tears of the Salamander sounds like something I would enjoy so I will give it a try. I do not believe I have read anything by Peter Dickinson before, so it will be another new author for me to boot. Thanks for the recommendation.

Hi ronincats
I was out of town for a week so I'm behind in reading the posts. I'm catching up on your reading list today and I'm adding your book #130 Into the Wild to my to be read pile.
I'm reading more YA these days and the Sarah Beth Durst book seems interesting.

Thanks for your description of this one.

#133 Nation by Terry Pratchett. I love this man's mind, but he has outdone himself, dealing with the core questions of being with grace and courage, honesty and beauty. Make sure you have some quiet time and space for when you read the last chapter and end of the book, and that you don't have to immediately rush off to something else.

Thanks for the recommendation on Nation, ronincats. I will give it a try.

#134 Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury It's been a long time since my last re-read. I still find it an eerie story, building atmosphere through tumbling phrases of words, but I know some find the lyrical phrase fragments disjointed and off-putting. Not something to read in front of the television or with only half your attention, this book demands that you submerge yourself in it completely to be caught up in the flow of words and to attend to the inpulling of the vast literature/culture/ethos of the world into them.

#135 Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold, under discussion in the Bujold listserv, and I couldn't resist the re-read.

#80 ronincats: I have never read any of Bujold's books. Where do you recommend that I start?

I happened to read Barrayar first, just sort of by accident. It turned out to be a reasonable starting point. However, Shards of Honor would probably be a bit better as it takes place earlier in the timeline.

My first book was The Warrior's Apprentice (3rd in the timeline), encountered purely by accident, and it was so different from what I expected given the title and the cover (this was the notorious "battle nightie" cover) that I was immediately entranced. I agree Shards of Honor would be a good place to start, keeping in mind that it was Lois' first book and her writing style matured a lot. Barrayar, the second book in the timeline, was written later in publication order and shows more of the mature writer. One of the things I love about Bujold's writing is the depth of the characters and the societies. Her characters grow and change and mature over the timeline of the books. There are 12 books directly in the Vorkosigan series, and two that are tangential. Wiki says "There is considerable debate among readers as the best order to read the Vorkosigan series. Some favor reading in publication order, some in order of internal chronology, and some prefer other orders. This illustrates the widely held view that this series consists of independent works which nonetheless gain from their inter-relations." I would think you would also enjoy some of her fantasy, and would recommend first Curse of Chalion followed by its sequel, Paladin of Souls. Again, not frothy stuff, not stereotypical stuff--just good solid story with great characters.

#136 The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. I read this for the SF Group Read. It is a re-read, although since it's been 40 years since I last (and first) read it, that hardly counts. Written in 1951 and basically set in England about a decade or 2 later (there are a multitude of satellites up in the sky, and Sputnik was in 1957), this is a post-apocalyptic tale that will send shivers down your spine. Much is dated by current standards, as the mindset is clearly Cold War, immediately post WW2 England. But the ideas of biological warfare, ecological collapse, and the strong character development of the male and female protagonists are advanced for their time. Definitely interesting as a classic of its time, still a decent story.

#84 Oh, The Midwich Cuckoos started me on a Wyndham reading spree this summer which included The Day of the Triffids. They are both on the 1001 Must Read list, and I read several others, plus have two from the library at home now waiting to be opened. His work is very clean, dated yes as to worldwide events, but not really if you just mentally change a few names here and there. Glad you enjoyed it.

Edited for spelling only--it's too early here!

Hi
I'm glad you liked Something Wicked This Way Comes. Ray Bradbury is at the top of my all-time favorite authors.

I also just finished Something Wicked This Way Comes and I, for one, was drawn to, not put off, by Bradbury's poetical prose. He is a master technician with words and phrases. He is much under-appreciated as a writer.

And I keep reminding you that a pretty good film version was made featuring Jason Robards. Check it out!

I won't forget!!!!! I promise to watch it!!

#82 & 83: Thanks for the input on reading Bujold, TadAD and ronincats. I will try to track down Shards of Honor and start from there.

#87 blackdogbooks: I am in complete agreement.

#137 Charlie Bone and the Shadow by Jenny Nimmo. This series has grown on me over the years. I thought the first was okay, not great, but got into the second more, and now I buy them as they come out. The first set was a continuing story, with pause points at the end of each book. I guess this is the same, but it feels like a cliff-hanger because there is a major plot issue unresolved, and I HATE cliff-hangers!!! This children's series is clever and original, nonetheless.

BDB, I didn't mean that I didn't like Bradbury's prose, but that some people think he's too flowery. They mostly live over in the SF group. ;-) I love his wordplay, although I found myself getting distracted from it on this read-through at times; outside things like tv and animals running through the house kept me from getting totally submerged in it as I have before.

"BDB" Cool, I have a nickname for my nickname!!!!!! I didn't think you meant that you didn't care for his prose. I can totally see how some folks wouldn't care for it, like you suggested. He doesn't have the typical style of a sci-fi writer; his prose is almost poetry at times. But that's why he can cross genres so easily. (WARNING: Another Stephen King reference follows!!!) In the introduction to my edition of Jack Finney's The Body Snatchers, King said of Bradbury that he doesn't fit any mold cast to date of authors who wrote in the sci-fi/horror genre. I am saving Dandelion Wine for my late December push. I have a bunch of non-fiction/true-crime I want to get through and then I am going to read some of my favorite authors to close out the year.

By the way, you seem clued in to the intracacies of the site. I can't for the life of me figure out how to add to my favorite authors on my profile page. Suggestions? Clues? Hints? Cheat codes??? I need to add a couple. I was just putting a couple down when I first started LTing and now want to put my extended list.

#138 The Calder Game by Blue Balliett. I love this series of children's books. I love the way they take art, mental puzzles, visual puzzles, mystery, thinking, curiosity, and kids, and put them all together to create a fascinating mix. This is the third in the series.

BDB, go to the author's page. Scroll down and you will see a section on people who have this author as a favorite, and right under that you have the option of adding the author to your favorites. I finally got this procedure down after losing it a couple of times myself! Glad you like your nickname's nickname. I was writing in a hurry, and 13 letters just condensed themselves into 3!

Thanks!!!!!

Interesting that there are thirteen letters in the name; that's my lucky number!!!

94: blackdogbooks
how funny, it is my lucky number too, 13th of this month is our wedding aniversary ;-)

Well, if you have to come up with a nickname for me, ronincats, please do not make it AA (I do not even drink!).

I am going to have to check out the Blue Balliett books, they look like they would be right up my alley. Could you list the series in the best reading order for me? Thanks!

Stasia

I'll stick with Stasia--short and sweet! The books are Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, and The Calder Game, in that order. Children's books, as I mentioned, but very original in the way they combine creative thinking and the artist mentioned in each title with a mystery.

Whenever I'm told by someone that s/he "hates" science fiction, I ask if they've read Bradbury. I read him in high school (because he's an alum), but also because a friend who was a huge fan recommended him. Then I steer them to "The Pedestrian" as a first choice read, because it's still contemporary--is a man taking a solitary nighttime walk a danger? His language is beautiful and his stories are often more gentle than others of his peak (I exclude H. Beam Piper and Clifford Simak, who wrote similar styles), but intriguing. In person, he's a bit of a gruff person who knows exactly what he wants, so he's been hellish for directors of his works. But the written work--ahhhhhh.

#97 ronin: Thanks for the list - my local library has all 3, so I am going to head over there and pick them up tomorrow.

I am having a hard time settling down to reading for the last week or so. I pick up one book, read a few pages, set it down and pick up another, read a bit of it, set it down, go read LT threads for a while, play a game of solitaire, go read a few pages, put another book down. The only good thing to come of it is that I have started adding some more of my books to my catalog. For a while, I was so busy reading LT that I didn't get any added at all!

Most of us have this from time to time ronincats, it will pass.

Anita

just started The Kite Runner last night and now I have an overwhelming urge to play Solitaire and waste time on the Internet.....

Oh, dear! Kite Runner is near the top of my TBR pile and LT has almost cured me of playing solitaire! Maybe I had better pile a few more books on top of the pile. ;-)

#100: I get that way every once in a while. I can't settle down with one book but end up with five or six started. About the only thing that cures it is I go reread something I enjoy that's quick and light and requires no mental effort. For some reason, that clears things and I can go try to finish off all the things I started. Last time, it was Gray Lensman...definitely in the category of "no mental effort"! *smile*

Tad, you are brilliant, and I hope you feel better soon. I couldn't get started on anything, but picked up Agent of Change to find the formal name of the aliens to put down as my favorite alien in another thread, and ended up reading the whole book. It's the first in a series, so now I'm starting Conflict of Honors. The Lensman books would have worked too. But they are harder to get to.

Gray Lensman! Doc Smith rocks...I knew I liked Tad...8^}

OK, based on the remarks here by people whose opinions I respect (that would include all of you), I am adding Gray Lensman to Continent TBR, even though I have no idea who or what it is about, lol.

Oh dear. Doc Smith wrote the Lensman series in the thirties and forties. This is OLD-style space opera, not to be confused with literature, but remembered fondly by those of us who, granted, were not there to read the original publications, but who were introduced to the series when in our impressionable young teens. Suggested to be read in publication order, which would make Galactic Patrol the best place to start. I myself have the Lensman series and all four Skylark of Space books from the mid-60s and 7 of the 10 Family D'Alembert books, but, dear Stasia, if you do read some, consider it in the light of historical research into the genre rather than on its literary merits. Alternatively, read it just for fun. ;-D

Thanks for the info about the books, RC. I do occasionally read for fun, lol, and will regard the books in that light.

# 139 and #140 Agent of Change and Conflict of Honors by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee. Old favorites, instigated by my desire to look up the species name of the turtles, as noted above. Always hard not to reread everything in the series--don't know if I will be able to resist.

Why resist? I never can - have to read them all through no matter how many times I have read them before!

Well, I'm going to skim through all the parts of Carpe Diem where Val Con and Miri are on Vandar--I should know them all by heart now--and just keep track of the politics before I dive into the next book Plan B.

#107: LOL, ronincats hit the nail on the head when she said that this was old-style space opera and not to be confused with literature. It's just humanity going forth to smite all the wicked villains of the universe...particularly with his Lensmen series (my personal favorite).

If you do read them, you shouldn't start with Gray Lensman...it won't make much sense. My take is that chronological order is the best way to read (Triplanetary, First Lensman, Galactic Patrol, Gray Lensman, Second Stage Lensmen, Children of the Lens) because the six books actually form a single story. Unfortunately, the first novel in the series was glued together out of 3 short novellas and is somewhat inferior to the rest of the books. If you absolutely hate it, I guess don't bother to continue—if you just think it was choppy, try the next one. They're extremely quick reads.

Publication order (put the first two books last) works, but then you know the endings before you read them. What happened was that Smith rewrote some older novellas to make them a consistent part of the four novels he had already done—that became Triplanetary. Then he wrote First Lensman as a bridging novel to get you into Galactic Patrol.

Whichever way you choose, these are just fun!

PS - For the Doc Smith fans...just this year Ron Howard optioned the rights to the books to make them into movies. We'll see if it happens.

Wow. Lensman movies. That could be some serious fun!

Ah, but who play Kimball and Clarissa? They have to be extremely good-looking in an all-American sort of way, determined, extremely athletic, he dark-haired, she red-headed...

And tall, both tall. Julia Roberts in her late 20s? Meryl Streep in her late 20s? Is she tall, though? I'm no good on the guys. I watch way too little commercial TV and movies.

Yes, tall.

My mental picture of him was sort of a young Gregory Peck, maybe about the time he did "Gentlemen's Agreement".

Not sure about her. Nicole Kidman is tall, pretty and redheaded (have to tint it up a bit as I see Clarissa as more carrot-topped)...not sure she comes across as athletic, though.

Finished Carpe Diem but I'm not counting it because, as I said above, I skipped the chapters where Val Con and Miri were down on the planet, except for the denouement. I think I am going to have to go on to Plan B before tackling Islandia. But first I have to grade papers and finish reports.

#141 Diverted myself to read The Uncommon Reader tonight. A short read, intriguing--loved the portrait of Prince Philip and the ending. Lots of nice musing about reading. "Books are not about passing the time. They're about other lives. Other worlds. Far from wanting time to pass, Sir Kevin, one just wishes one had more of it." Thanks, all, for recommending it.

I saw there is a Dutch translation, so I put The Uncommon Reader on my library list ;-)

Thanks to all for the info on the Lensman books. My library did not have Triplanetary, but did have First Lensman, so I am starting with it. We shall see how it goes.

1/11 Dragon Slippers -- I'm going to have to look that one up :) Thanks

#142 Plan B by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Next in the series. Lots of action. Much fun.

A retraction:

I don't know where I posted this, and it's possible I said it more than once. You and others recommended Bradbury and my response was "yuck" (but I hope it was a bit more diplomatic!). Here's the news. Somehow in this lame excuse for a brain, I confused Heinlein and Bradbury. So, I used to enjoy Heinlein (read a mess of ones I enjoyed) and then I ran into several in a row that were tasteless, felt like it should have been in Playboy or something. So I decided no more Heinlein.

Bradbury? Yes! Good stuff. Sorry about that.

Brain freeze! Happens to all of us at some time. Still--both writers at various times are excellent references for "new to science (ugh) fiction."

#143 Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson This is a YA along the lines of Artemis Fowl or Lemony Snicket. The hero is clever, somewhat amoral, and mouthy. On his 13th birthday he discovers that there is a gigantic Librarian conspiracy to control the world,and that he is part of a family with special gifts who is fighting that conspiracy.

I wanted to like this more than I did. Of course, I had somewhat the same problem with the other two series mentioned above. Very clever, but don't suck me into the story completely. Don't misunderstand me, I found it a light, fun read and enjoyed some of the asides about the cruelty of writers in particular. But not for me an engrossing read where I forget I am reading a book and just enjoy the story. I was always aware that I was reading, and often ready to put it aside for a few hours for other activities. I have yet to read Sanderson's adult fantasies, although Mistborn is sitting here on my TBR pile. It will be interesting to read that and compare.

Sounds just like my kind of hero - mouthy! I will take a look at it as soon as I finish reading my daughter's Artemis Fowl books.

>126 ronincats: Looking forward to your opinion on Mistborn :)

#144 Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism by John Shelby Spong. A lucid, scholarly, passionate advocate for the Spirit of Jesus in today's world.

>126 ronincats:: ronincats, this sounds great fun despite your reservations - will have to look out for it. We are all big Lemony Snicket fans in this family, I must admit.

ronincats...I think I might give #144 a try. It sounds good.

#145 Dancing with Werewolves by Carole Nelson Douglas. I liked her original Sword and Circlet fantasy series back in the 80's as well as her Irene Adler books and what of the Midnight Louie mysteries that I had read, so I picked up this paranormal romance/mystery by her. Hoping that the quality of writing would redeem the by-now very tired tropes of paranormal investigation.

And in large part it does. Her skills as a mystery writer make this stand out, I think, from the mass of books in this area. And at least her protagonist is shagging another human rather than a vampire or werewolf. This first book resolves some of the mystery as well as some of Delilah's personal issues, but leaves plenty of material for the second book which, for my sins, I also bought, Brimstone Kiss. Hopefully, this one will resolve most of the rest, because I doubt I'll continue after that unless she hooks me harder than I am now. Sunshine by Robin McKinley stands out for me in this genre, but almost all of the others, even the Dresden Files, just don't really do it for me. But if you enjoy this genre, then this author is doing it quite well.

I like the Sword and Circlet books too. I was not unhappy to find them in this shipment of books even though it means I have duplicates in storage in France. I'll get that sorted out when we return some day.

I love the way you write -- thx for entertaining as well as providing info.

#146 Major Operation by James White. Filling in my collection of Sector General stories, including a number I missed reading at all. This is typical early 70's science fiction about a huge hospital in space treating hundreds of different types of aliens, and some of the situations that arise.

#147 Brimstone Kiss by Carole Nelson Douglas. The second of the series started above in book 145. For fans of paranormal romance, I highly recommend this series--I think she does a good job of doing what she does. But I'm going to stop here. Just like with the Weather Warden series, at first there is enough original to amuse, but eventually it just boils down to a series of battles, each larger than the last, for personal survival. I like the main character, love the Enchanted Cottage (only in Las Vegas), but am not interested enough in the overall scheme to keep going with the series. Although when she writes the book with the CinSim revolt (black and white movie characters superimposed on zombie bodies), I might read just that part. Lots of amusing conceits, but just not up my alley enough.

I found that about Carol Nelson Douglas on her mystery series, too--good for a couple and then repetitious.

Three more to go to meet my goal! And here's a ticker tape in honor thereof.



Edited to correct ticker!

My reading really slows down this time of year, I fear. Not only do I have many reports to write for work, I also am grading papers and projects for the university class I teach this semester, and have KU Jayhawk basketball to watch, and have Christmas preparations, BUT ALSO I am spending way too much of my reading time reading about what you all have been reading. It's lots of fun, but it doesn't COUNT! Oh well, happy holidays, everyone!

Thx for your comment -- I replied there. Oh, you teach too! I'm so impressed -- I think you just became one of my heroes! It's a very elite list with only 2 other members :) (I confine that particular list to living folks. The other two happen to be single ladies living in Central America, but not together.)

Procrastinated pre-ordering The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and once again it paid off! While at Costco today, they had piles of it at $7.09 apiece. What a deal! So book 148 is The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling. Light, quick, and quirky.

Well 150 is very close! Maybe I'll find your book 148 when I'm home at costco too :)

#149 The Wizard, The Witch and Two Girls from Jersey by Lisa Papademetriou. Someone had mentioned this on some thread somewhere (maybe the YA group?) and it sounded kind of entertaining, and the library had it. So I read it.

Rich spoiled white girl with no parental involvement and poor ethnic Hispanic girl with strong family ties (single mother, brother and sister) are trying to grab the last copy of a fantasy at the bookstore that is required for an English paper in HS the next day. The PEHG had read it several years ago, but her mother had given the box of books it was in to charity, so she needed it. RSWG hadn't a clue until her coterie of friends told her it was due, and the teacher was already on her ass. She tries to grab it from the PEHG, and they both go POOF!

They land in the middle of the fantasy and things just go wrong from there. Think D&D type plot, with their arrival throwing all awry every which way. At the end, friendships have been formed and decisions must be made.

The book is clever. It knows its fantasy tropes, and trashes them cleverly. There are some mandatory YA themes. I can see middle school girls, maybe some HS girls, loving this. For me, it was an amusing light read, but without the depth in characterization or quality of prose that would make it a classic that transcends its genre.

nice review -- So will a copy go on your personal lending shelves?

Almost there!

No, Susan, I was glad it was a library book.

#150 A Regency Christmas IX. 5 short stories by well-known regency romance authors. I loved the first few years of this series, but then the stories seemed to get more trite or more far out or more modern in sensibility, not true to the times. I was raised on the Master, Georgette Heyer, and the level of her voice and detail and verisimilitude are generally not achieved in the genre at all. Three of these stories really do try. The Metzger is truest to the period in detail. The McCabe is fun though frothy. The Kelly is sentimental (well, they all are that) but clever in pulling together different elements, clever naming, and with good characters. The Heath is just silly. The Layton is totally unrealistic for the times although an interesting conceit. I'm going to have to go back and read Vols. 1 & 2--as I recall, I liked 4 out of 5 of those stories. And it is Chrismas time!

congrats on 150! Enjoy your christmas reads -- i'm finishing one now, not a regency, which I hated in the beginning. Now that I'm almost done I'm glad enough I persevered that i'm actually keeping it for next year!

Thanks, Susan. I made it! When I started this year, I really had no idea how many books I typically read in a year. Thanks to LT, for the first time I have succeeded in recording all my books for a full calendar year.




Hooray!

Woo Hoo! Congratulations on making your goal!

Thanks, Stasia.

#151 A Homespun Regency Christmas A real disappointment. I read the first two stories, which were much better than the ones in the last collection, and then when I got to the third and fourth ones, realized that they were books I already had in other collections. On the next to last page was "an extension of the copyright page" showing that all four stories were retreads from previous collections, but not in a spot where you would look for it and realize that at the time of purchase. Bummer.

#148 ronincats: I figure that is what used bookstores are for - trading in the books you are disappointed in to get something actually worth reading!

#152 The Sharing Knife: Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold This is the third of 4 parts of a book, and I am expecting an ARC of the fourth book to come in a few days. I had been holding off on reading this until I had the last because it is all one connected story. So I'm not going to comment until I finish the fourth. (At 437 pages, it qualifies for reading purposes as a book, however.)

I'll be interested to see what you think. I gave up after the second one...they just weren't doing it for me. I can't quite my finger on it: perhaps they were too simplistic.

I've been getting approving indicators from those who have read the fourth book to the end, Tad. Bujold was trying to do something different, and I'm trying to be open to whatever it turns out to be. And as it is, it certainly holds its own with a multitude of quest stories out there. But we tend to expect better of Lois.

#153 Hogfather by Terry Pratchett This was on TV last night, and I had never seen it, so was trying to get it read before the movie. Only got half-way through, but it was fun to finish up the second half of the book today, and probably more interesting to see the second half of the movie without remembering what had happened. Happy Hogswatch, everyone!

WOW!
You have read a lot of books this year! Congratulations!

Congratulations on your 2008 list! Some interesting reads here. Thanks for the referrals as well.

Thanks, Whisper and Prop2gether, for stopping by. I had never succeeded in keeping track before so had no idea starting out where I would end up. But decided on 150 sometime during the summer as a good goal. And now I've reached another goal! Posts on my thread have exceeded the number of books I've read. As Stasia would say, WOO HOO! Thanks, everyone.

belated congratulations on reaching 2 times 75 :-)
Anita

Great job for 2008! Congratulations!

Can hardly wait to see what you do in 2009.

I was idly poking around statistics. You're the 75er with the highest number of shared books with me at 529. Maybe we'll bump that a bit in 2009.

She's the 75er I have the most in common with too! She's also the reason I found you guys :)

ETA: Ooh, I lied! TadAD you have the most in common with me numberwise, but I have my screen set to 'weighted' in which Roni does come in first.

I wish I knew the algorithm for the Weighted ranking...is it just a straight percentage overlap or what? (I suspect 'or what' given the way things are done on LT.)

If it is just overlap, it's less than useful. Someone who has exactly my taste in science fiction and reads the same amount as me, but also reads a ton of regencies (which I have none of), would score low even though there would be a high correlation on science fiction books he/she liked.

What I'd really find useful is a Weighted matching that considers how books are rated off the the person's standard deviation. I once asked Tim if he would expose this data via an API and I'd write the software to do it, but they said they don't give that kind of information public access.

I read somewhere that it has to do with the number of folks that have the book ... less popular more points, Harry Potter fewer points

edited to remove comment that I thought might be better said privately -- discretion, at my old age? tis a miracle!

#160 TadAD

"...they said they don't give that kind of information public access."

I have a feeling it isn't because they didn't want to work with you. I think there must be pretty strict privacy issues for a site like this--we have a pretty good idea of how many people have access to the information we put on and what info they can get but having people that aren't actually part of the "controlling group" being able to examine data, manipulate it and look for "trends" might be considered an invasion of privacy. Just a thught.

Yeah, I'm sure that's it.

Tad and Susan, great to come home and open up my thread to your comments! Tad, do you have to check each group member individually or can you do it through the group zeitgeist--which will not load for me! I tried it last night and again this morning! I'm quite happy to share so many books with both of you, and yes, Tad, I bet we boost that number this year as well.

I did it from my profile page, just scanned the top 50 names for someone from here.

ETA: Group Zeitgeist doesn't open for me either. Just a blank page.

Group Zeitgeist or clicking on the number of members don't load at all, maybe post in the bug-collectors group?

I share the most books with alaskabookworm.

I don't share my books with anybody, lol. Too many go missing that way :)

Well, I share 45 books with YOU, Stasia, unreservedly. Good ones, too. I see you have one of Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax books. Have you ever read a charming little book by her called The Clairvoyant Countess?

I enjoyed that one. There's also another with Countess Karitzka in it: Kaleidoscope.

Ah, yes, I have that one as well, although I see I haven't entered it into my library yet--I have a shelf of mysteries that aren't in, and it is on that shelf. I haven't read it nearly as many times, so it may be lack of familiarity, but i didn't love it with the same intensity I loved the first book. The Clairvoyant Countess is one of my comfort reads--about once a year I pull it down and marvel at how the diverse cast of characters become integrated into the overall story. And I love Countess Karitzka--what a great character.

#168: Roni, I have read The Clairvoyant Countess although I do not own it, and it has been a while since I read it. I may have to track it down again and refresh my memory of it.

#154 The Sharing Knife: Horizon by Lois McMaster Bujold. This was an ARC--the book comes out next month. It was also the last of 4 books making up a single story arc. The first book explored the world and the relationship from Fawn's culture, the second introduced us to the Lakewalker culture. Book three is the first part of a journey--part quest and part travelogue, but not either in a stereotypical way. Book four brings them all home again with resolution of major issues and a big malice fight on the way. Bujold has attempted a fantasy with an emphasis on a major relationship in a non-traditional setting for fantasy. Think Valdemar in Ohio for setting. Her characterization has always been one of her strong points, and emphasizing the romance elements takes advantage of that. Those elements are not as strong in the last two books because the relationship has already been established, and we get on to more action. I liked the series quite a bit overall, but it will not displace my devotion to her absolutely outstanding Vorkosigan and Chalion series.

I may get one more book in this year. We leave this morning on a 1500 mile drive to visit family over Christmas and the New Year. I cannot read in a moving vehicle without getting motion sickness, so will be squeezing maybe one more book in between family activities before the first. I'll be offline until Tuesday night.

(ETA correct book number.)

Hi ronincats
I've added The Clairvoyant Countess to be list to be readin 2009. It sounds like a good book.

So, if you can't read, can't you make everyone in the car listen to a book on CD!!!! Don't take no for an answer!!!

Safe travel!

ETA: hmmm wondering if you're traveling old route 66 (I-40/I-44). I'm right off the road for my stay in the States both in Tx and Mo!

I've arrived in Abilene, Kansas. I was on I-40 from Albuquerque to Tucumcari--I try to stay off it as much as possible. And my husband doesn't like to listen to my books, so it was Christmas music instead.

I bought a wonderful piece of pottery in Abilene! Merry Christmas Roni :)

#155 Aunt Dimity and the Duke by Nancy Atherton A light little mystery to read in the evenings in the motels. Actually read this all in one evening at Deming NM. Enjoyable fluff.

Merry Christmas, Susan! And to all of you, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakuh, and Happy Holidays to all!

#156 The Turtle Moves! Discworld's Unauthorized Story by Lawrence Watt-Evans. This was a Christmas gift from my sister, a fellow Discworld reader. LWE provides a synopsis of plots and themes, avoiding spoilers, of the various Pratchett Discworld books, trying to be slightly more clever than he actually is, but since I had long since lost track of what is happening across all the books, I wanted this book to help me navigate my re-reads. And it does work for that purpose.

>156 FAMeulstee:: Roni, you know, I knew him (LWE, not TP) a bit in college and that description doesn't surprise me. :-)

Tad I'm so envious! LOL I think his stuff is great.

#157 Bone Dance by Emma Bull. notes later!

Roni,

Since you read at least some Emma Bull...have you heard any rumors about whether she'll ever publish a sequel to Territory? The story was left hanging but it's been a couple years now with nothing, not even any "pre-order" things on Amazon.

It wasn't as good as War for the Oaks or Finder, in my opinion, but I did enjoy it and would like to find out how it all ends.

Susan, I find LWE's fantasy to be okay but nothing special, which is pretty much what I found this book to be. Interesting, Tad, that you knew him. ;-)

Tad, I have heard naught about a sequel to Territory. The two you mention are also my favorite Emma Bull books.

Bone Dance is subtitled "A Fantasy for Technophiles". It was a good read, interesting dystopian setting, crossed over almost into horror at one or two points, which is not my favorite genre. Don't know if I'll re-read it but glad to add to my Bull collection.

Hey Roni,

I haven't read a lot of LWE -- but his The Unwilling Warlord is on my short list of favorites. Maybe my standards aren't up to par, or this book was especially good. I read this one fairly often (yearly?), and always get a big kick out of it.

I definitely WASN'T impugning your standards, Susan. As you well know, our tastes march alike in many, many ways. This is one, however, that the few of his I've tried haven't stood out from the pack. I may try your favorite next year, however, since you like it so well.

Book #158 is one my sister lent me, When Santa Fell To Earth. Written by the author of Inkheart and Dragon Rider, Cornelia Funke, this is much shorter, (okay, 167 pages) and less layered, a children's fable around Christmas. Quite entertaining, great for the 8 to 11 crowd, I would judge.

I'm going to wait to post my end-of-year stats and awards until I get back home, so probably the middle of next week. For those of you wanting to follow my thread in 2009, it's Ronincats 2009 List of Books for 2009 (nothing like a little redundancy). Several have found it already, but mentioned having some difficulty doing so, since I completely changed the title. Hope to see you there.

Okay, I lied. I couldn't wait. I'll probably refine.

Science fiction 52
Fantasy 90
Nonfiction 6
other fiction 10

For a total of 158. 55 were re-reads--I do like to go back to old favorites.