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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no subject
Date: 2003-04-25 09:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-25 10:17 am (UTC)Talking of Diana Wynne Jones, have you read "Dogsbody"? It's one of my old favorites, but nobody seems to have heard of it.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-25 10:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-25 10:38 am (UTC)Gnaaaa!
(This temper tantrum is brought to you by the "Why the fuck has my life given me a vast need of books and no money to buuuuuuuuuy them?" association of America.)
no subject
Date: 2003-04-25 11:18 am (UTC)Glad you enjoyed it!
no subject
Date: 2003-04-25 11:36 am (UTC)Actually, according to my mother, the Queens library system (the one I grew up with, that my family still uses) is the best and biggst one in the country. :shrugs: I'm liking NYPL a lot better. It might be the novelty, but the Queens library system wouldn't have gotten me Kushiel's Avatar this fast.
And I certainly wasn't expecting to get it so soon - last I checked, I was #15 on the waitlist...either they have a lot of copies, or people are reading it really fast...
I'll say hi to Phedre for you.
:evils:
no subject
Date: 2003-04-25 11:38 am (UTC)I love my library! I saw it in Barnes and Noble when I had no money, and sadly passed it up. And then it made a miraculous appearance in my library!
Do tell me what you think when you get your hands on it.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-25 11:42 am (UTC)Every time Mendoza does something stupid, I have once of those faceslap moments: Oy. And I'm really not sure what's up with "I know Nicholas/Edward will come back again, because he promised. And then we'll ride off into the sunset, and all will be happy and joy-filled forevermore."
There are definitly flaws, but I can't help but enjoy them all the same.
Kage Baker
Date: 2003-04-25 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-25 07:25 pm (UTC)DWJ rocks!
I couldn't finish To Reign in Hell. It was too painful. I could see how badly everything was going to go, and how people really did care about each other but that emotion was going to get manipulated and twisted into mistrust and hate. Why are we all so quick to believe bad things about other people, about ourselves? Anyway, the only Brust I haven't been able to read once started.
Kage Baker. Mendoza irritating, yes. I agree with you about the settings and the other details making them worthwhile. Never cared for the "Wild West" though so may give this one a miss.
Jonathan Carroll, despite pattern-formation, is still very good at taking normal reality and shaking it up and making me look at my life differently. And also just giving me the shivers. That one was really uncomfortable, but very interesting.
Must also read that Lisa Goldstein. She's almost as hard to find as Pat Murphy.
You might like, if you can find it or haven't already read it, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon by Richard Zimler. A really well-drawn historical setting, lots of Kabbalah, murder mystery, social commentary...a really good read and one that stands up well to rereading. Not that you need more books to read or anything.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-26 08:14 am (UTC)Re: Kage Baker
Date: 2003-04-26 07:08 pm (UTC)no subject
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.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-26 07:14 pm (UTC)I can't wait for more serious reading time.
no subject
Date: 2003-04-27 01:53 am (UTC)Dave Duncan, Past Imperative (Round One of the Great Game)
I just looooove worlds with gods and rivalry and coming-of-age. Doesn't get much better than that. CanNOT wait till Summer!~