Time for a Book Log!
Apr. 25th, 2003 11:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penmageSo. Here's what I've read over the last week or so, in which for the first time in months, I had ample time to read.
Adventures in Time and Space with Max Merriwell by Pat Murphy. Have any of you read her Max Merriwell/Mary Maxwell trilogy? I've read both this one and Wild Angel, though not There and Back Again by Max Merriwell. As always, I'm not sure whether to be highly amused or mildly frightened by her whole pseudonym concept. (She wrote There and Back Again as a male writer named Max Merriwell. She wrote Wild Angel as Max Merriwell writing as Mary Maxwell. And within each of the books, buried somewhere within, is always a character named Pat Murphy.) This book didn't even try to hide it. Pat Murphy the character was one of the main characters, and Max's pseduonyms were taking on lives of thier own. It was a fun book, and I enjoyed it, even though I'm still not quite sure how to take it.
The Eye of Night by Pauline J. Alama. It's been a long time since I arbitrarily picked up a stand-alone epic fantasy-type book. This one was kind of fun. Alama does an excellent job illuminating her world, piece by piece. It probably says more about me than her that I found some ofthe minor characters (Night, the Larioneth folk, the Folc) more interesting than the main characters.
The Time of the Ghost by Diana Wynne Jones. It's a DWJ. :grins: Naturally, it's fun. Convaluted and confusing and a heck of a good time. And I think one of my all-time favorite lines is "Mother! They're hanging Imogen, and she hasn't noticed!" (My father didn't think it was as funny when I quoted it at him, but...)
Dogland by Will Shetterly. Intriguing. It's growing up in the south in the early 60s, seen through the eyes of a little boy. With dips and tucks into the possibly supernatural. I don't think it's my favorite of Will Shetterly's books, but it's definitly a good read.
To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust. This book was wonderful. Not that that's a surprise, it's by Steven Brust. But even so. It's the revolt in Heaven, the war between the angels, and not many people could have pulled it off - but he did. He did, and brilliantly. This is a wonderful, fascinating book.
Mendoza in Hollywood by Kage Baker. I'm really enjoying Kage Baker's Mendoza books. I loved the first one (In the Garden of Iden), enjoyed the second (Sky Coyote) and am back to loving this one again. The idea she plays with is just so much fun - immortal cyborgs, sent from the future to preserve priceless, destroyed items in history. It's time travel, immortality, and just plain fun. Kage Baker is one of my top two historical science fiction writers for a reason. This book is great - it's got the Wild West and the old-time thrill of the movie industry on top of fun characters and more Mendoza goodness. I can't wait to get the fourth book.
The Marriage of Sticks by Jonathan Carroll. I really enjoyed this Carroll - it's up there with my favorite Carrolls, I think. I love the way his characters are so much larger than life, but at the same time are very falliable and very real.
The Alchemist's Door by Lisa Goldstein. One of the reasons this book was so much fun for me is that it took place largly in Prague, and partially in the Jewish quarter. Two years ago, on our way to Poland, we spent a few days in Prague, mostly in the Jewish quarter - so I was familiar with most of the strange and wonderful landmarks mentioned - the clock that runs backwards, the strange graveyard, the animated clock. But aside from all that, it was indeed an intriguing book, and a good read.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This one was recommended to me by a friend. The language is lyrical, beautiful, and some of the ideas are tremendous. At the same time, there was a niggling feeling that I was being taught something. Hmmmm. I'm still mulling this one over in my head. It's that sort of book.
I also did not reread the Goodkind books. I think that temporary madness has passed, though I'll keep them back from the library until they're due, in case it strikes me again.
I'd also like to say that it's Just Not Fair for Kushiel's Avatar, Golden Fool, A Wizard Alone, and The Princes in the Tower to call come in for me at the library when I can't pick them up for another half-week - and then I'll be too busy to read them.
And in further news, because someone asked for it, here's a link to "Melancholy Elephants" by Spider Robinson.
And that's the book update for now.
Adventures in Time and Space with Max Merriwell by Pat Murphy. Have any of you read her Max Merriwell/Mary Maxwell trilogy? I've read both this one and Wild Angel, though not There and Back Again by Max Merriwell. As always, I'm not sure whether to be highly amused or mildly frightened by her whole pseudonym concept. (She wrote There and Back Again as a male writer named Max Merriwell. She wrote Wild Angel as Max Merriwell writing as Mary Maxwell. And within each of the books, buried somewhere within, is always a character named Pat Murphy.) This book didn't even try to hide it. Pat Murphy the character was one of the main characters, and Max's pseduonyms were taking on lives of thier own. It was a fun book, and I enjoyed it, even though I'm still not quite sure how to take it.
The Eye of Night by Pauline J. Alama. It's been a long time since I arbitrarily picked up a stand-alone epic fantasy-type book. This one was kind of fun. Alama does an excellent job illuminating her world, piece by piece. It probably says more about me than her that I found some ofthe minor characters (Night, the Larioneth folk, the Folc) more interesting than the main characters.
The Time of the Ghost by Diana Wynne Jones. It's a DWJ. :grins: Naturally, it's fun. Convaluted and confusing and a heck of a good time. And I think one of my all-time favorite lines is "Mother! They're hanging Imogen, and she hasn't noticed!" (My father didn't think it was as funny when I quoted it at him, but...)
Dogland by Will Shetterly. Intriguing. It's growing up in the south in the early 60s, seen through the eyes of a little boy. With dips and tucks into the possibly supernatural. I don't think it's my favorite of Will Shetterly's books, but it's definitly a good read.
To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust. This book was wonderful. Not that that's a surprise, it's by Steven Brust. But even so. It's the revolt in Heaven, the war between the angels, and not many people could have pulled it off - but he did. He did, and brilliantly. This is a wonderful, fascinating book.
Mendoza in Hollywood by Kage Baker. I'm really enjoying Kage Baker's Mendoza books. I loved the first one (In the Garden of Iden), enjoyed the second (Sky Coyote) and am back to loving this one again. The idea she plays with is just so much fun - immortal cyborgs, sent from the future to preserve priceless, destroyed items in history. It's time travel, immortality, and just plain fun. Kage Baker is one of my top two historical science fiction writers for a reason. This book is great - it's got the Wild West and the old-time thrill of the movie industry on top of fun characters and more Mendoza goodness. I can't wait to get the fourth book.
The Marriage of Sticks by Jonathan Carroll. I really enjoyed this Carroll - it's up there with my favorite Carrolls, I think. I love the way his characters are so much larger than life, but at the same time are very falliable and very real.
The Alchemist's Door by Lisa Goldstein. One of the reasons this book was so much fun for me is that it took place largly in Prague, and partially in the Jewish quarter. Two years ago, on our way to Poland, we spent a few days in Prague, mostly in the Jewish quarter - so I was familiar with most of the strange and wonderful landmarks mentioned - the clock that runs backwards, the strange graveyard, the animated clock. But aside from all that, it was indeed an intriguing book, and a good read.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This one was recommended to me by a friend. The language is lyrical, beautiful, and some of the ideas are tremendous. At the same time, there was a niggling feeling that I was being taught something. Hmmmm. I'm still mulling this one over in my head. It's that sort of book.
I also did not reread the Goodkind books. I think that temporary madness has passed, though I'll keep them back from the library until they're due, in case it strikes me again.
I'd also like to say that it's Just Not Fair for Kushiel's Avatar, Golden Fool, A Wizard Alone, and The Princes in the Tower to call come in for me at the library when I can't pick them up for another half-week - and then I'll be too busy to read them.
And in further news, because someone asked for it, here's a link to "Melancholy Elephants" by Spider Robinson.
And that's the book update for now.
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Date: 2003-04-26 07:13 pm (UTC)Kage Baker - I never cared much for the Wild West, either, but this one was fun anyway. I adored the period England of In the Garden of Iden, and this was less wonderful, but fun all the same.
Jonathan Carroll - yes pattern forming. Something interesting? I'd never read anything by him until I went to a reading by him at the beginning of this year - he read the first chapted of White Apples. Since then, whenever I read anything by him, I can hear his voice in my head, the way he would read it. It's kinda freaky, but fun.
And I shall keep an eye out for the Zimler book.
I <3 my library.