lizzardgirl

Eeeeeeeeeek!!!!

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 05:48:32 GMT

The new Cormoran Strike book comes out 18th September!!!

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Books 31-46

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 19:47:28 GMT

31-40: The St Mary's Institute series, by Jodi Taylor

The ninth book came out this year, and so I re-read 1-8 plus the short stories (which I'm counting as one book, since most of them actually came in a collection book). I thought I might not really enjoy it, because I've noticed that some of the twist got a little repetitive, but I actually did really like the re-read. Sure, there are some points that might have benefitted from a stricter outline for the whole series, but on the whole, reading them all in one go was definitely a good thing because I was reminded of all I loved about the series (especially how much you can tell the author loves fun with history) and the ninth book, featuring a bit of a different sort of plot, didn't disappoint at all - quite the contrary! Read the summer short story and now can't wait for the next book - whenever that comes out!

41-44: The Invisible Libary series, by Genevieve Cogman

I stumbled upon these on kindle during my holidays and downloaded the first one, not expecting all that much - but I was pleasantly surprised! These books are really neat, a sort of Urban Fantasy that has, at its core, the premise that there are multiple universes held together, in part, by a giant library that collects books from all the incarnations of worlds (all the worlds are sorts of variations on each other) trying to find unique books that define the universes. The heroine is a Librarian who kicks arse, and the books are real fun romps through different universes, with the promise of an over-arching mystery about the deeper, gritty secrets of the Library - unfortunately, since the series is far from ending and book 5 is coming out in December, I can't say yet whether the overarching mystery plot will hold up, but so far, I can definitely recommend!

45: Competence by Gail Carriger

I'd really been looking forward to this since I've quite fallen for her universe, and I wasn't disappointed at all. The adventure plot was not all *that* exciting, although nicely done, and the love plot was meant to be foreseeable, but the journey towards the resolution was very rewarding, because the character development was very convincing. There is a very very strong LGBT-positive vibe in the book that I found very refreshing, although of course it was obvious that the author also has an agenda there. But hey, I've read books with far worse agendas, and this was very diverting and didn't drift into preaching territory. I do hope she continues the series. I want, in particular, a story about Percy.

46: The Grand Sophy, by Georgette Heyer

I found this in a charity shop for a pound, and picked it up for nostalgic reasons, because it was one of my very first Heyer reads. I can't actually remember liking it this much when I first read it, but this time around, I really rooted for the main couple and couldn't stop reading even though I knew how it would end!

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Books 3-30

Tue, 01 May 2018 17:44:33 GMT

3-14: C.S. Harris, The Sebastian St. Cyr Series, 1-12

I'm not going to list all the titles separately :) Shem kept raving about this series so I tried it out since the first books were rather cheap on kindle. With the first two or so I wasn't convinced, but I kept going, and they really got much better. The mysteries are sometimes a bit too convoluted and you could start a drinking game with the scenes where Sebastian kills attackers in self-defense, but I really like most of the returning characters (except Kat, but she gets less annoying!), most especially Hero. I also like the slow-burning over-arching mystery about Sebastian's past and whatever Jarvis end-game might be.

15-25: Rhys Bowen, The Royal Spyness Series, 1-11

So when I finished with the Sebastian St. Cyr I wanted a new series to binge (still on the kindle, more thoughts about that later) and I stumbled on this one while browsing and remembered I always wanted to give it a try. I really loved this too. There are some weird plottings where too many dead herrings just make you wonder why they were ever introduced, but it's such a fun, fast-paced, light romp with such quirky recurring characters and a wonderful main man for our heroine (and a really lovely relationship development so far) that I was very quickly hooked. Can't wait for the next book to come out this summer.

26: Sophie Kinsella, My Not So Perfect Life

I was at a loose end after the two series' and picked this up from the library. It was nice, rather. I liked how the happy-ever-after developed, not the stereotypical "Surprise, he was in love with her all along!"

27: C.S. Harris, Why Kill The Innocent (Sebastian St. Cyr 13)

So of course I had to get this when it came out :) It took me a bit to get into it, but I did like it as a new installment. Just a bit disappointed that the new puzzle pieces about Sebastian's past and what happened in the Jarvis household were few and far in-between. Guess I'll have to wait till the next one.

28: T.C. Boyle, The Terranauts

Ugh. This was one of those books that try too much and end up being just a disappointment. I was really interested in the premise, and it was nicely-enough narrated, but when I was through with it I felt that I had missed something. It was like the author built up to a big climax that just never happened because he decided to end the book just before it was to go down, as if he couldn't be bothered any more. Also, none of the characters were likeable, which wouldn't have been a big thing, but it was written as if we were to sympathise with them.

29: Ethan Cross, Spectrum

Another disappointment this one. Unevenly paced, far too much telling-not-showing, contradictory (and not in the good way) characters that just aren't engaging, weak mystery and somehow the author seems to think that white people are an oppressed minority in South Africa. Total waste of time.

30: Petra Hülsmann, Wenn Schmetterlinge Loopings fliegen

I needed a brain cleanser after #29 and this was just what the doctor prescribed. It's a German romantic comedy. Not at all the innovative, "edgy" stuff that 28 & 29 tried to be, but guess what? Believable characters with real chemistry (with each other and the reader), good pacing, well-tied plot and no weirdly racist messages in the subtext.

About the kindle reading:

Objectively, what's not to love about the kindle? I love that I can get all the books, instantly, it's on my phone so I almost always have them all with me, can read wherever, and unless they're brand-spanking newly out, the books are cheaper. It's ideal for bingeing longer series and I used the hell out of that. However - big HOWEVER - it just doesn't feel like the real thing! I just love having to hunt down a book in the library, having to lug it around with me and it just feels like a much more real experience when I have it in my hands and can turn the actual pages and feel like I'm reading an actual *book*. I do know that I will continue to use the kindle app (there's a few series that I'm still having an eye on - I'm also very open to suggestions! - has anyone read the Molly Murphy series by Rhys Bown, or anything by Deanna Raybourn?) - I think it's going to be very useful too when I go on holidays - but I do need me some real books too!

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Book 2: The Essex Serpent

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 19:49:22 GMT

2: The Essex Serpent, by Sarah Perry

Part of the reason why it took me so long to get books read this year was that I had started this late in December and it just took me a long time to read it. Don't get me wrong, I loved it, but it's one of those books where you really want to savour every line.

I'm not even sure how to describe it without giving too much away. When I was reading it, I was constantly wondering if it would turn out to be an Urban Fantasy Novel, a character study, a murder mystery, a novel of manners or something else altogether.

The premise of the book is that in an out of the way Essex village, there is a mysterious reptile(ish) animal that may or may not be killing people on the coast. Drawn there is a London widow, who herself brings a whole cast of characters in contact with her.

It's an incredibly vivid, detailled, many-facetted story of the late Victorian times, with a rich cast of characters and a lot of surprising developments.

While reading, I was wondering if she'd manage to keep it all together and give us a satisfying solution/ending, but in the end, she did.

I should think quite a few of you might enjoy reading it - little caveat tho: there is adultery, I know some of you don't like that cropping up. It's actually plot-relevant though and I found I could make my peace with it.

Now I'm reading my way through the Sebastian St. Cyr series - almost caught up just in time for the new book to come out in April. I'll write more about that, and reading on the Kindle app (very mixed feelings about that!!) when I'm done with it.

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Fri, 15 Sep 2017 05:28:00 GMT

I've been lured into the Time-sucking void that is Pinterest ... anyone else there?

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Sun, 30 Apr 2017 09:41:19 GMT

Anyone know if there is an Option to Post pics Directly from my phone on dw, without having to Upload them somewhere?

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Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:57:23 GMT

In other news, it is So. Friggin'. Cold.

I know, I know. You Maineiacs and Midwesterners and others used to really cold weather will laugh at me now, but seriously.

SO. COLD.

(approx. -5°C today, but felt way colder because of the icy wind.)

I leave the house looking as if I were on an Antarctic expedition. You know how Sheldon says that at the North Pole, you lose 5000 calories daily just by heating your body, and then serves hot chocolate with a stick of butter? Suddenly, it makes total sense.

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Book Six

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:44:07 GMT

( Book Six: The Little Book, by Selden Edwards )

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Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:56:39 GMT

Just saw an advert on TV: Apparently there is a new reality soap coming up, showing people 'in an existential situation of life.'

Wow.

I suppose that is existential as opposed to .... in a hologram???

Seriously. When dealing with complicated words, dictionaries are your friend.

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