Reading in April 2005

[BeardofPants]

Currently re-reading GRR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, and wishing he'd hurry up with his next book!

 

[Starlight]

now reading

I am currently reading Maximum Ride, The Angel Experiment by James Patterson. I just finished The Autumn Castle by Kim Wilkinson.

I don't know if I love the Angel Experiment, its kinda corny, but its a fast read.

I absolutely loved the Autumn Castle. For those of you who are Urban Fantasy Genre lovers you must read it.

Next I am going to tackle Stephen Kings the Gunslinger and that whole series. I just picked up all the books for $50 total.

 

[diamondgal]

I cant decide what new book to read at the mo so im rereading the Sword of Truth series (skipping Pillars of Creation) and The Farseer Trilogy

Love both of these... this will be about the 9th time for SOT and 4th for TFT.

I need to buy new books....

 

[Spears&Buckler]

I'm currently reading The Year of Our War by Steph Swainston. This book is pretty unique, as the main character/narrator has a pretty serious addiction to a strong narcotic, which leads to other situations in the storyline. If you want to check out a good first novel that is off the beaten path, check out The Year of Our War.

 

[Priestvyrce]

I've just finished reading Elizabeth Hand's Glimmering . Published in 1997, it has some hallmarks of Stephen King's The Stand , but with a better command of her prose.

 

[northerain]

I've been reading ''Neverwhere'' by Gaiman, and some swedish writer named Guilou. Besides that, I read Palahniuk's ''Survivor'', and some chapters of the ''Golden Bough'' by Frazier.

 

[KatG]

I'm currently reading Sara Douglass' "The Wayfarer's Redemption" and I'm afraid I'm finding it moderately awful, at least so far. But she's popular, especially in Australia, her homebase.

 

[Gary Wassner]

I am currently reading the Etched City and sad to say, I feel the same way about it as you do KatG, about Douglas' book. In fact, even sadder to say, I was drawn away from it to a trashy bio named Front Row about Anna Wintour, the editor/dominatrix of Vogue. This at least kept me interested. Maybe I need to give Bishop another chance. I read about 100 pages and it just didn't hook me. So many people rave about her. What am I missing?

 

[Miriamele]

I'm currently working my way through Tad Williams's Shadowmarch, vol. 1. I'm about halfway through and I can't decide what my opinion is on it. Some parts are beautifully written, exciting, and fabulous (namely the parts describing the fairie-like Qar)...other parts (namely the parts about the human twins, Barrick and Briony) are rather dull. Some of the book's characters are captivating while others seem like a rehash of characters from Williams's other works.

I keep changing my mind about whether or not I'm enjoying the book. But I will of course reserve full judgement until I've completed it, at which time I'll post what my final thoughts are.

 

[Mithfânion]

Miriamele,

Being 3/4th into Shadowmarch, a book I had looked forward to tremendously, I agree with your sentiments. M,S&T is considerably better, though obviously Shadowmarch is only one book in and has more than enough room to become as good or better. It could happen, but sofar MS&T had much more flair. Not having read other Williams books I can't say how it compares to for instance War of the Flowers or Otherland.

The book is very slow and while I initially really liked the atmosphere of it, outside of the events of the Qar, nothing interests me here. This remind me again of how great someone like Martin is at political intrigue and characterization. Barrick? Worthless. Briony? Not bad but certainly not a super character. A bunch of secondary characters that doesn't stand out. They're all very bland imo. Not to mention the downright awful Qinnitan segments, which I actually skip. Sofar I've only enjoyed the chapters with Flint or the Qar in them, and to some extent Vansens. Sometimes I really like the tale, at other times I find myself well and truly bored.

 

[FicusFan]

I am currently reading the Etched City and sad to say, I feel the same way about it as you do KatG, about Douglas' book. In fact, even sadder to say, I was drawn away from it to a trashy bio named Front Row about Anna Wintour, the editor/dominatrix of Vogue. This at least kept me interested. Maybe I need to give Bishop another chance. I read about 100 pages and it just didn't hook me. So many people rave about her. What am I missing?

It really isn't that hot. I am not sure why people rave about it. It is written okay, but it doesn't seem to have a purpose or a coherent underlying theme.I never really cared much about any of the characters except the main guy, but he just drifts along, and doesn't really do anything. Even as a fly-on-the-wall story it just wasn't interesting enough to grab me. Didn't hate it, didn't think it was awful, but it didn't interest me and it didn't move me.

Now Year of Our War was awful. Just badly written and incoherent. Good character study of the vile main character - but everything else is a miss.

I have The Axis Trilogy and the 2nd trilogy from SD around here somewhere. Since I have heard what others had to say I am in no hurry to read them.

 

[Nimea]

Gary,
we discussed The Etched City in January in the Book Club and the author took part in that discussion. Might be interesting for you to read that thread.


So far I have finished Gary's The Twins and Erikson's Blood Follows. The comments on Twins will follow sometime later in Gary's forum. But about Blood Follows: I kinda liked it BUT . . . mmh, so far I have read only his Gardens of the Moon and that I really liked. I have the rest of his books in my to read pile and I really really want to read them. I just got the impression after that first book and the novella that he likes it too much to use some mysterious secondary characters that do the main act behind the scenes or at least are the ones that really do the trick. Know what I mean?

I am now reading Newton's Cannon by Greg Keyes for the Book Club and so far I like it - well, at least the style. Good to read.

 

[seancuig]

Just started on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell.
Have had it since XMAS but had not been in the mood to launch into such a biggie. Not far enough in to have a full impression, but so far, all the "Gentlemen" are a touch irritating. Also, her continual use of huge footnotes, I am finding a touch distracting.
Curious as to what others thought.

 

[Jay_T]

Just started on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell.
Have had it since XMAS but had not been in the mood to launch into such a biggie. Not far enough in to have a full impression, but so far, all the "Gentlemen" are a touch irritating. Also, her continual use of huge footnotes, I am finding a touch distracting.
Curious as to what others thought.

Quite simply this was the best fantasy novel written last year IMHO, in a strong year that featured releases by Stephenson, VanderMeer, Mieville, Wolfe and Stross. For my full thougths I reviewed it HERE

Now Year of Our War was awful. Just badly written and incoherent. Good character study of the vile main character - but everything else is a miss.

Strongly disagree. I find that most people that dont like this book require a character to "care for", the notion that such a requriement is necessary to label a good work is absurd IMHO. This story is displayedifrst person of a character that is often times either jacked up, or going through withdrawal, what kind of coherence does one expect? IMHO very imaginative, and established a good foudation for future work which was released yesterday No Present Like Time. Terrific depiction fo Jant IMHO. Have I read better? Sure. But I have certainly read much worse. My full thougths are al sodisplayed in a review HERE

This can be a simply a matter of stressing different aspects in what we enyoy also because I found Kirsten's Etched City to be a damn good read, and deserving of its nomination for the World Fantasy Award Best Novel.

I have been reading or about to start reading :

Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro which is simply the best book wirtten thus far this year IMHO.

In the Palace of Repose by Holly Phillips

The Genizah at the Hosue of Shepher by Tamar Yellin, which I'm look forward to, a lot of reputable sources are showering it with praise.

Firethorn by Sarah Micklem was very solid, especialy for a debut novel.

 

[Gary Wassner]

Thanks Ficus. So it wasn't only me. I hate so much to criticize another author when there is nothing specific to criticize, when the effort is heartfelt and when the book has gotten so much attention already. I also hate to not finish a book. I rarely put anything down after I decide to read it. So, I will try again, but so far, i have to agree with you in almost everything you said.

I am going to go back to that discussion Nimea and read the comments. It does amaze me how so many can have such totally different opinions about the same read. It shouldn't I suppose, but it does. Ainul - what was it particularly that you loved about it? It seems so antiseptic to me so far. Everything has a grey tinge to it. I see no color as I read. Nothing has happened that draws me in and the characters just don't interest me terribly. Is that the point?

 

[Jay_T]

First, greetings Mr. Wassner,

Ainul - what was it particularly that you loved about it? It seems so antiseptic to me so far. Everything has a grey tinge to it. I see no color as I read. Nothing has happened that draws me in and the characters just don't interest me terribly. Is that the point?

I didn't say I loved the The Etched City. I do think it's a good novel, and I did say that I felt it deserved it's recogintion for its nomination of the WFA. What I liked about it? I thougth Ashamoil is an example of one of the great settings in recent fantasy along with Mieville's New Crobuzon, and Jeff VanderMeer's Ambergis, or Mirenburg by Moorcock. I think the latter portions of The Etched City especially are gifted with some of the most vivid examples of prose in one can read.

I think an issue some have regarding the plot is that it is often hard to distinguish dream sequences to those that are not, and this seemingly troubles people's rationale, however the characters themselves share this element with the reader at times. The same people that don't blink when their introduced to a mystical elf in other works. This is bascialy a yearning for familiarity both in content and a desire for the common neo-classic story structure. Both are not present in The Etched City.

In short I liked it for it/s overall beauty in prose, the setting, and the surreal atmophere that makes The Etched City as Kirsten said herself on a brief visit she made at my forum, it's really a western with roots from Sergio Leone's films, which displays noticable infleunce by work by Michael Moorcock, and one of the finest works of speculative fiction ever written, M. John Harrison's Viriconium series. I also was really surprised at how capable Kirtsen was depicting action sequences

It's very hard for me to say what I like about, when IMHO there just isn't much to dislike.

I will agree that readers that have been conditioned by traditional fantasy, who require a neo classical format with a simple linear reading experience, and doesn't put much stock into an author's quality of prose, and doesn't really gravitate to nihilistic themes, probably will not enjoy The Etched City at all. That said there are some who do like those elements that won't like it either, as everyone reacts differently to a work on some level.

I'm just the type that would rather read a solid effort of a novel that I haven't read before than read a perfect copy of a former solid or even brilliant work. When I finished, The Etched City I felt like I read something new, and combine that with the vivid descriptions and prose, and not targeted to be understood by a largely juvenile base (no offense to juveniles or authors that write works accesible and targeting them at all, this is a personal preference, I am an adult) that qualifies for a good novel most of the time IMHO, and if not, at least one I would come way with having respect for.

I just think the Etched City it's a compelling read and falls under this quote by an author I enjoy: "Things are gritty and tricky, just as in real life. This is fantasy not as comfort-food, but as challenge."

That all said I respect anyone else's opinion, but I'm still looking forward to Mrs. Bishop's next project with great anticipation.

EDITED for spelling and to add Moorcock's Mirenburg

 

[Gary Wassner]

Thanks. I appreciate those insights. I have to admit that I have been reading it in bits and pieces. I haven't truly had an opportunity to sit for an extended period of time and really get into it. But for me, so much of what I read translates visually, and the atmosphere is so stark and drab that I loose my sense of adventure and fantasy. I am not one who reads for pure entertainment. I adored TDTCB and TWP. I appreciated Perdido Street. The deeper the book, the more intellectually and emotionally moving it is, the better. But I want to be moved and stimulated. But I need to find the world to be a compelling one, and I need to have a reason for spending time in it.

The prose in the beginnning is slow. It doesn't flow well in my opinion. The sentences are very very short and not very descriptive. I found it somewhat flat. It begins to change as the story unfolds, and maybe Bishop intended to mirror the starkness of the environment by the short, staccato sentences. I need to read more. I probably need to read it again from the beginning.

 

[Jay_T]

But for me, so much of what I read translates visually, and the atmosphere is so stark and drab that I loose my sense of adventure and fantasy

This is the nihilistic nature of this work, and a common element in most what is being referred to as "New Weird" in this thread, or post modern writing.

I adored TDTCB and TWP. I appreciated Perdido Street.

Great books IMHO, me to, however admitedly not in that order

Another thign I do respect about Mrs. Bishop is that in several interviews she always admits she has to work on her overall plotting skills which is much more gracious than soem authors I have read (ie Goodkind).

EDIT (Sorry about keepign to edit, but I have peopel over taht wanted to wacth the NFl Draft on teh big screen, so it's a bit mad here at the moment.

I just wanted to add since she was mentioned earlier, I will be interviewing Steph Swainston, and it will be up on my site next week as she was most gracious in accepting my offer to particpate.

 

[Spears&Buckler]

Hi Ainu. Your site. Is it fantasybookspot?

(Sorry. I know I'm promoting spam, but I'm not sure.)

 

[Gary Wassner]

The element of world-weariness is certainly obvious. Nihilism itself is not a stimulating theme though. I can appreciate the intense interest in it and I can appreciate how some authors might find the starkness of the imagery and the coldness of the state of consciousness, the edginess of relationships, temporality, impermanence and tentativeness of existence compelling. But it's not new. I said earlier that I can appreciate Mieville, and I can read Sartre and Beckett if I choose. I just need more passion in my choices. I am still a fan of sentimentality, not in a bourgeois way, but in a heartfelt way, if that makes sense. I want to be moved by what I read. I am already too familiar with depression and the destructive process of existential wanderings. To me, hope is just as serious a need in literature as realism. We all live with reality after all, don't we? I don't need a book to remind me that life can be hard and cruel and stark without also allowing me to feel that their still may be a reason to exist and to love.