Reading in June 2009

I had already planned to get Green, so the review didn't change things for me. What I did not know was that he was wrestling with cancer. I haven't read a lot of his work, but what I have read I have thoroughly enjoyed. Sad thing to learn, though I do wish him well.
 
I liked that review too, not least because it gave me enough information to determine I wasn't interested in Green. If I never read about another male-written female fantasy courtesan-assassin it will be too soon. (You can train to be a super courtesan or you can train to be a super assassin, or you can be a mediocre streetwalker/thug, but being a super ninja master irresistable babe is impossible, not least because these characters are always ALWAYS in their early 20s at most.)

Might be a fine book otherwise, but my seething hatred of that particular trope is likely to prevent me from giving the story a fair read, so yeah.

Edit: oh, and also, that the super ninja assassin courtesan is pseudo-Azn is yet another reason I'm turned off.
 
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Due to some recent msg board discussion regarding Fevre Dream by George RR Martin, I went ahead and read the book. It was a refreshing and original take on the vampire mythos set in the era of 19th century Mississippi River steamboats. To be honest, I probably most enjoyed the Abner Marsh character along with the other steamboat workers much more than I did the vampires.
 
For June I'm reading Dragonseed, the last of the Bitterwood books by James Maxey.

I haven't decided what else to read, I might try Best Served Cold but it might be to graphic for my tastes.
 
PeterWilliam said:
Well, I'm going to treat myself to a daytime (lunch breaks, early afternoons) read of Gemmell's Legend. Why not? I deserve it. :rolleyes:
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That's funny cause I decided to do the same thing. Legend is my read-at-work-for-lunch-and-keep-in-the-car for emergencies book right now.

I'm also currently into Midnight Tides. I hear from some its their favorite in the series and least favorite by others. I'm sad that none of the main characters are in it.
 
Seak said:
That's funny cause I decided to do the same thing. Legend is my read-at-work-for-lunch-and-keep-in-the-car for emergencies book right now.

I'm also currently into Midnight Tides. I hear from some its their favorite in the series and least favorite by others. I'm sad that none of the main characters are in it.
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Midnight Tides is one of my favorites in the series*. There is that problem with it though, none of the characters we know (and love, perhaps), but I think it did well with introducing a batch of characters that were just as interesting and enjoyable to follow. And really, you just can't beat Tehol and Bugg.

*It was my favorite, but then The Bonehunters came out. Though I do seem to be one of the few who has no complaints about it. And I consider Toll the Hounds one of the better ones, too! :P
 
Winter said:
Midnight Tides is one of my favorites in the series*. There is that problem with it though, none of the characters we know (and love, perhaps), but I think it did well with introducing a batch of characters that were just as interesting and enjoyable to follow. And really, you just can't beat Tehol and Bugg.

*It was my favorite, but then The Bonehunters came out. Though I do seem to be one of the few who has no complaints about it. And I consider Toll the Hounds one of the better ones, too! :P
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That's really good to hear, thanks.

Yeah, I have a friend who's reading this series, I actually got him started but he's passed me up, and he said Bonehunters is the best in the series. I'm excited for that one.
 
I've just finished The Facts of Life by Graham Joyce and I read Memoirs of a Master Forger by William Heaney (Graham Joyce) before that. Now I am off to either read The Limits of Enchantment, also by Joyce, or reread The Steel Remains by Morgan.
 
I just finished book two of Outremer, and am now beginning the third and final book in the series. For some reason, book two never seemed to grab me in the way book one did, so I'm hoping that book three will prove a little more enjoyable to read.
 
Lies of Locke Lamora

Seak said:
I swear this always happens, but I finished Lies of Locke Lamora today as well as New Spring.

I guess I just have to say that it more than lived up to the hype. What a great read. I have stayed up on numerous nights, easily sacrificing sleep for this book. The characters were just great, the thief "games" were incredibly inventive, and the magic was creative, though not very predominant. My magic, I guess I just mean the Bondsmagi and their order was really interesting.

This book had it all and I was hooked till the end. Thanks Scott Lynch.
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I'm glad to hear this is a good book - I know "zero" about this except that a few people have mentioned it to me as something I would probably like - I'm definitely going to add it to my TBR list.
 
What I'm reading...

For June I hope to finish "Dragonflight" (I unfortunately did not like this - and will be glad to be "over with it".)

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Age of Hereos by Brandon Sanderson
 
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SallyC said:
Two very contrasting experiences in the last couple of days.

Devoured Carol Berg's Flesh and Spirit and Breath and Bone in very short order. I love her writing -it draws me in to an alternative reality and (to my family's disgust) keeps me there to the very last page.

I then tried Gail Z Martin The Summoner, and gave up very very quickly. Trite, shallow, derivative, repetitive - shouldn't this sort of book come with a health warning?
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I met Gail Martin at a scifi/fantasy con - she is a very nice person and we (husband and I picked up The Summoner) I've not read it yet - so sorry to hear that it wasn't your cup of tea.
 
Finished reading Karen Miller's Hammer of God, last of the Godspeaker trilogy.
I found it curiously disappointing. I never really engaged with any of the characters and found the religosity overpowering.

I think I'll go re-read something I know I enjoy as an antidote. Carol Berg's Rai-Kirah trilogy has been on standby for just such a moment.
 
Just finished Before They are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie and started Last Argument of Kings, the final volume in The First Law trilogy.

I liked the second half of Before They are Hanged more than the rest so far. Powerfully emotional at some places.
 
Last night I finished Ursula Le Guin's Lavinia, which is based on Virgil's epic poem about the hero Aeneas, but told through the point of view of his young wife Lavinia. She tells her story, from her youth to the end of her life, and very strangely, she knows she is a fictional character in a poem, and uses this to explain how her spirit has survived all these centuries to tell us her story--because the poem still exists. Sounds odd, but Le Guin pulls this off very nicely.

I must say, I was deeply impressed by this book. I didn't know what to expect, and there were some slow parts in the beginning, but it ended up being a very memorable read for me. The story was beautifully written, powerful, and sad, and the last page left me absolutely in tears.

I also found it fascinating to see this glimpse--albeit one from Le Guin's imagination, not necessarily from history--of how the people living in Italy prior to Rome's founding may have lived.
 
Miriamele said:
I must say, I was deeply impressed by this book. I didn't know what to expect, and there were some slow parts in the beginning, but it ended up being a very memorable read for me.
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Nice to hear! I have Lavinia, waiting on the shelf for the right moment.
 
I finished The Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard the Danish bestselling debut just translated in English. Full review to come on FBC in a week or so, but for now my mini-review:

Very entertaining thriller about books as magic. Set mostly in today's Copenhagen and featuring Lectors who really transform books and reading into magic, the novel is a page turner with very endearing characters and a very clean and readable style.

Fairly predictable in plot and with without too many nuances, heroes being heroic and villains being villainous so to speak, the novel succeeds because of its "book worship" setting and the endearing characters.

Highly recommended for any book lover and after it you will see the act of reading with different eyes
 
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