Reading in October 2006

[zorobnice]

Started with James Barkley's Dawnthief. I had to give myself a break after Deadhouse gates. JB's books are nice and relaxed, and i am thoroughly enjoying the story line.

 

[Randy M.]

Catching up since the beginning of the month. I've finished:

[...]
Beloved - Toni Morrison (10/10)
[...]
Witches of Eastwick - John Updike (9/10)

[...]Beloved is a masterpiece, beautifully written and moving. I was expecting it to be difficult, but I found it simple to follow, the flashbacks being identified, and metaphors becoming clear quickly. The fantasy is due to the presence of a ghost throughout.
[...]
Witches of Eastwick was a very good look at the motivations of divorced suburban mothers. I was expecting somethign different, having seen the film years ago; the book mostly focuses only on one witch, and the visitor to the town is not the devil, nor particularly evil. In fact the 3 primary witches are much more nasty!

I'm glad to hear you read and enjoyed these, Yobmod, since they're books I list when people ask for certain kinds of fantasy/horror. It's always kind of a relief to know someone else who enjoys genre fiction also enjoys these.

By the way, since you enjoyed the Updike, I'd suggest Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic: It's sort of like Witches... but kinder and gentler, though not all that much gentler, written as though Hoffman was channeling Ray Bradbury. Sort of.

And if you think I have a hard time saying what it's like, I'd have an even harder time defending that reading, though I stand by it.

Randy M.

 

[ravenlynne]

Finished Armageddon's child by Terry Brooks. Starting Dies The Fire by S.M. Stirling. Anyone read it? Any thoughts?

 

[intensityxx]

Having read all of Neil Gaiman's novels, I have to say I'm very disappointed so far in Anansi Boys. I'm a little more than halfway finished with it, and am finding it tediously cute and fluffy...Hopefully something changes before I reach the end of the book.

I'm glad to say that the remaining half of the book was much better. I think there was just too much buildup and maybe too much cuteness. I'd say it's worth reading, but I don't believe it's the best Gaiman's capable of. I'm not surprised it's as much of a mainstream commercial success as it is.

 

[AJ_]

Today I finished reading Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire. I thought it was an ok read, but not one of his better books.

Tonight I was planning to start reading Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. That book seems to have a lot of mixed reviews, I hope I like it.

 

[Mithfânion]

Starting Dies The Fire by S.M. Stirling. Anyone read it? Any thoughts?

Yes. Great concept, tedious and twee execution. Stirling spends so much time describing the world and minor events that I just got bogged down. Wanted to like it for it's cool post-apocalyptic setting, but found it had very few hooks.

 

[intensityxx]

Tonight I was planning to start reading Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. That book seems to have a lot of mixed reviews, I hope I like it.

Your comment surprised me, because all I can find are glowing reviews. Can you remember where you found any mixed or negative ones?

 

[Zsinj]

I just started H. Rider Haggard's "King Solomon's Mines" today, and I'm really enjoying it so far. I really like the fun, pulpy style of the book, it's very similar in feel and tone to E.R. Burroughs' "Tarzan," IMO.

 

[Amaunette]

Regarding Stirling's "Dies the Fire":

Yes. Great concept, tedious and twee execution. Stirling spends so much time describing the world and minor events that I just got bogged down. Wanted to like it for it's cool post-apocalyptic setting, but found it had very few hooks.

I disagree. I enjoyed the description of the world, that's what makes the post-apocalyptic stories interesting to me. Still, it wasn't excellent -- above average, let's say.

I finished the short story anthology I was reading, and after years of a friend pushing it at me, I've finally decided to read "Jackal of Nar," by Marco. Very good so far, but it could go badly. Reads like his first novel? In other words, it has great potential.

[Edit for consistency check]

 

[Evil Agent]

Royal Assassin!

Just finished my re-read of Robin Hobb's Royal Assassin, the 2nd book of the amazing Farseer Trilogy. Man.... I don't even know where to begin.

Although the entire trilogy is spectacular, Royal Assassin is my personal favorite. This is one of the best books I've ever read, period. Somehow, some people have found it boring, or found Fitz annoying. Personally, I feel more attached to these characters than almost any other ones I've ever encountered. Hobb's gift is definitely character building, and emotional investment. Between Nighteyes (best animal character ever) and Burrich, Fitz, and Molly, this book has reconfirmed that Robin Hobb is one of my favorite authors of all time.

Before I move on to the final volume, I will focus on finishing Black Sun Rising for the book club thread.

 

[Gildor]

Nigh on finished Black sun Rising, and i've moved on to Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock.

 

[intensityxx]

Although the entire trilogy is spectacular, Royal Assassin is my personal favorite. This is one of the best books I've ever read, period. Somehow, some people have found it boring, or found Fitz annoying. Personally, I feel more attached to these characters than almost any other ones I've ever encountered. Hobb's gift is definitely character building, and emotional investment. Between Nighteyes (best animal character ever) and Burrich, Fitz, and Molly, this book has reconfirmed that Robin Hobb is one of my favorite authors of all time.

Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm, Evil Agent. I really need to get around to reading these. With so many shiny new books calling, it's hard to pull my attention away to the good older ones.

 

[sic's mom]

Well I read the Anansi Boys a while ago and really liked it. So I decided to get American Gods and am really enjoying it right at the moment. I have read some other threads on it and it seems to be one people really liked, although most say the ending is anti-climatic. We'll see. I also just finished the first three books in Kelley Armstrongs' Women of the Otherworld series. Really liked those and will have to get the next three.

 

[AJ_]

Your comment surprised me, because all I can find are glowing reviews. Can you remember where you found any mixed or negative ones?

Good question. Maybe I was confusing it with something else. I found it to be an easy read, kind of light and fluffy, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Now I'm reading The Naming by Alison Croggan.

 

[Hobbit]

I have to admit that I'm not a fan of Gaiman's writing. I was one of the few who didn't like American Gods and found it overrated, often from people who have similar tastes. I am therefore happy to admit that this is one that just isn't for me.

However, I'm also finding a similar problem with Fragile Things, I admire Neil in lots and lots of ways, but can be underwhelmed with his writing. I often like it (sometimes a lot!), but rarely love it.

Now I'm trying to put that into a review.....

Hobbit

 

[SteveF]

This month I have read:

The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie

Noonshade - James Barclay

The Kings Buccaneer

Enjoyed all the above very much. In fact, I haven't actually read a bad fantasy novel in a while now, partly as a result of recommendations on this site.

I am now reading Stormcaller by Tom Lloyd.

 

[lirael17]

this month ive read

song of susannah - stephen king

royal assassin - robin hobb


and im just starting the dark tower - stephen king

its been a slow month for me

 

[s271]

I have to admit that I'm not a fan of Gaiman's writing. I was one of the few who didn't like American Gods and found it overrated, often from people who have similar tastes. I am therefore happy to admit that this is one that just isn't for me

I liked American Gods , but Anansi Boys I liked a lot more.

 

[Gildor]

Everything I've so far read by Gaiman has been wonderfully, essentially, Jaw dropingly, head churningly, mind blowingly, tear inducingly, throat chockingly, I running out of words to aptly describe my delightingly feelingingly ingly er, hah .. so yeah he's pretty good. Well I am slightly a Gaiman fanboy.

Read Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock which I found to have all the right ingredients that made his other books, i've read so readable. Namely some familiar traits he employs so succesfully. Theres always a really well concocted mode of retelling the exploits of someone or some people, revealing piece by piece the mystery of Ryhope wood, I love it! Wonderfully evocative images of the actual wood, the ancient figures of peoples imagination, some legends and tales thrown in for good measure, a fight against evil, and theres always some down and dirty sex ... always, without fail.

Now i've just got a few chapters into The Etched City by K.J.Bishop, and its looking like its something of a treat so far, i'm loving the wild Western brutality of the initial parts, though I suspect theres some more delights to come ... ooh Goody!

 

[intensityxx]

Read Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock which I found to have all the right ingredients that made his other books, i've read so readable. Namely some familiar traits he employs so succesfully. Theres always a really well concocted mode of retelling the exploits of someone or some people, revealing piece by piece the mystery of Ryhope wood, I love it! Wonderfully evocative images of the actual wood, the ancient figures of peoples imagination, some legends and tales thrown in for good measure, a fight against evil, and theres always some down and dirty sex ... always, without fail.

Thanks for mentioning why you like this. Mythago Wood is another of those books I really need to read one of these days, but keep forgetting about. I had thought all of Holdstock's books were part of the same sequence that begins with Mythago Wood, so I'm wondering which of his other books you've already read. Have you found stand-alones?