Jacqie - Fort Collins, CO (532 books)

Jacqie added:

The Rebellion of Jane Clarke
by Sally Gunning (Goodreads Author)

read in February, 2012

My rating:

This is a quick little story that packs a lot in. Young Jane decides, without really knowing why, that she doesn't want to marry the man her father chose for her. She can't quite reason it out, yet won't betray the depth of her feeling. Whereupon ...more

Jacqie gave

to:

Among Others
by Jo Walton

read in February, 2012

My rating:

Loved it- this book could have been written just for me. The shy teenager who loves to read science fiction, wishing for people who love the same things she does. The inscrutable fairies were fascinating and we got just about enough of them to stil...moreLoved it- this book could have been written just for me. The shy teenager who loves to read science fiction, wishing for people who love the same things she does. The inscrutable fairies were fascinating and we got just about enough of them to still leave me wanting more. The horrid boarding school reminded me very much of some of the Madeleine L'engle books featuring an introverted heroine tossed into communal life.

Characters: I found Wim vaguely threatening, although I was impressed by his test of whether or not he had free will. Daniel is also a deeply flawed person, although he did seem to be making an effort. The magical explanation for his behavior excused it in a way, and I'm still not sold on the idea of the aunts being witches, although the earring issue was quite creepy. I would really have liked to have seen more of Sam. The mother was such an off-screen, threatening figure that I wasn't sure how to feel about her. Is Mor a trust-worthy narrator? That's really the crux of the book. I did want to believe her- about it all, the fairies, the witches, everything. Mostly because she didn't act like she was living a fantasy. The fairies would ask her to do things, but she didn't get acclaim or even know why she was doing certain things. She had strong feelings about the morality of magic, which someone mentally ill probably wouldn't have thought through, since magic is a way to agency and power.

The climax of the book was rather abrupt, and happened so quickly that I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I wasn't sure if the identity switch was important in any way.

The idea that this book takes place _after_ some great climax was interesting. The Scouring of the Shire, an adventure that takes place after the great adventure was done, was used as an analogy. Mor is just trying to find a way to continue to live after the heart's been ripped out of her, much as Frodo had to. Mor was just a heartbreaking character, pragmatic, lonely, too smart to fit in, bereft. This book tugged at my heartstrings and made me remember those difficult teenage years again, and I loved it.(less)

Jacqie is now following branewurms's reviews

Jacqie made a comment on their review of The Once and Future King

"Marissa wrote: "Excellent, considered review. Thank you for pointing out that White was a product of his era, which I don't think a lot of the review...more"

Jacqie gave

to:

Up Jim River (January Dancer, #2)
by Michael Flynn

read in February, 2012

My rating:

I think I preferred January Dancer to this one, mainly because the harper was much more a main character in this book and I just never liked her. I figured out the twist in the relationships in the story early, as I think we're meant to, but the old...more

Jacqie gave

to:

Already Home
by Susan Mallery (Goodreads Author)

read in January, 2012

My rating:

I've always kind of liked Susan Mallery's frothy little romantic comedies. It looks like now she is trying to redefine herself as an author who's a bit more serious, like Susan Wiggs, maybe. There's still some romance in this book, but it is more o...more

Jacqie gave

to:

Winter's Bone
by Daniel Woodrell

read in January, 2012

My rating:

Gorgeous writing and a striking setting stand out in this book. The toughness of those who live in poverty unimagined to most of us, the unwritten laws of family obligation, and the thread of love underneath the harshness blew me away.

The book w...more

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to:

The Drowned Cities (Ship Breaker, #2)
by Paolo Bacigalupi

read in January, 2012

My rating:

I'll read pretty much anything by this author at this point. Drowned Cities takes place in the same world as Shipbreaker, but there are no crossover characters except Tool. Tool is pretty damn cool, and I want more about him. Hard to tell whether ...moreI'll read pretty much anything by this author at this point. Drowned Cities takes place in the same world as Shipbreaker, but there are no crossover characters except Tool. Tool is pretty damn cool, and I want more about him. Hard to tell whether this came before or after Shipbreaker timeline-wise.

Our main character is Mahlia. Her father was Chinese military who came to the Drowned Cities (near Washington DC after flooding destroyed much of it) to try to stop the collapse of American society into tribalism and civil war. The Chinese failed in that task, and Mahlia is a "cast-off", one of the family members left behind a la Saigon when the Chinese got out in a hurry. She's hard and struggling to survive in a refugee village in the jungle with her friend Mouse. Her benefactor is a doctor who helped save her life after a para-military unit cut off her hand.

Sound much like YA so far? This story could easily have been marketed for adults-only: the author doesn't pull many punches. In fact, one of the few concessions he makes is allowing Tool and Mahlia to have any relationship at all- it's likely that in this grim world, he would have killed her without thinking about it. I used to live near DC, and the way he wrote the ruined, looted city hurt my heart.

This story is another examination of morality- when is it right to fight for others, and when do you save yourself? I'm not sure the question was answered to my satisfaction. It's also an indictment of the futility of war and partisanship. Ideals vs. greed. Lots to chew on here, quite an achievement.

The only critique I've got is the plot doesn't give a lot of time for set-up- things happen quickly. I could have used more book in order to explore these issues more thoroughly. Develop relationships, expand upon conflicts. I wonder a bit why the author is sticking with YA when clearly these issues could have been written more deeply, although he accomplishes a lot. I'm pretty sure it's got to do with a 3 book contract for this series. I hope he has time to write other things, too.

More, please!(less)

Jacqie gave

to:

Zoo City
by Lauren Beukes

read in January, 2012

My rating:

This was a fresh, different kind of book. It's UF, but set in South Africa and romance is not the primary focus. We've got a protagonist who has been judged (sentenced? cursed?) with a totem animal, a Sloth. (Animal totems are capitalized in this...more

Jacqie gave

to:

The Long Ships
by Frans G. Bengtsson

read in January, 2012

My rating:

This book is charming. I've read enough medieval lit translations to see that the style is very similar, plus some dry humor. However, it is on the wordy side, and its mild amusement wasn't enough to make me want to stay the course for 500+ pages. ...more

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Jacqie added: The Rebellion of Jane Clarke by Sally Gunning (Goodreads Author) read in February, 2012	My rating:
This is a quick little story that packs a lot in. Young Jane decides, without really knowing why, that she doesn't want to marry the man her father chose for her. She can't quite reason it out, yet won't betray the depth of her feeling. Whereupon ...more
Feb 09, 2012 09:44am · see review
Jacqie gave to: Among Others by Jo Walton read in February, 2012	My rating:
Loved it- this book could have been written just for me. The shy teenager who loves to read science fiction, wishing for people who love the same things she does. The inscrutable fairies were fascinating and we got just about enough of them to stil...more
Feb 08, 2012 08:36am · see review
Jacqie is now following branewurms's reviews
Feb 06, 2012 08:48am
Jacqie made a comment on their review of The Once and Future King "Marissa wrote: "Excellent, considered review. Thank you for pointing out that White was a product of his era, which I don't think a lot of the review...more"
Feb 05, 2012 10:33am · see review
Jacqie gave to: Up Jim River (January Dancer, #2) by Michael Flynn read in February, 2012	My rating:
I think I preferred January Dancer to this one, mainly because the harper was much more a main character in this book and I just never liked her. I figured out the twist in the relationships in the story early, as I think we're meant to, but the old...more
Feb 01, 2012 02:39pm · see review
Jacqie gave to: Already Home by Susan Mallery (Goodreads Author) read in January, 2012	My rating:
I've always kind of liked Susan Mallery's frothy little romantic comedies. It looks like now she is trying to redefine herself as an author who's a bit more serious, like Susan Wiggs, maybe. There's still some romance in this book, but it is more o...more
Jan 30, 2012 07:21am · see review
Jacqie gave to: Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell read in January, 2012	My rating:
Gorgeous writing and a striking setting stand out in this book. The toughness of those who live in poverty unimagined to most of us, the unwritten laws of family obligation, and the thread of love underneath the harshness blew me away. The book w...more
Jan 26, 2012 07:04am · see review
Jacqie gave to: The Drowned Cities (Ship Breaker, #2) by Paolo Bacigalupi read in January, 2012	My rating:
I'll read pretty much anything by this author at this point. Drowned Cities takes place in the same world as Shipbreaker, but there are no crossover characters except Tool. Tool is pretty damn cool, and I want more about him. Hard to tell whether ...more
Jan 25, 2012 10:14am · see review
Jacqie gave to: Zoo City by Lauren Beukes read in January, 2012	My rating:
This was a fresh, different kind of book. It's UF, but set in South Africa and romance is not the primary focus. We've got a protagonist who has been judged (sentenced? cursed?) with a totem animal, a Sloth. (Animal totems are capitalized in this...more
Jan 25, 2012 10:00am · see review
Jacqie gave to: The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson read in January, 2012	My rating:
This book is charming. I've read enough medieval lit translations to see that the style is very similar, plus some dry humor. However, it is on the wordy side, and its mild amusement wasn't enough to make me want to stay the course for 500+ pages. ...more
Jan 25, 2012 09:49am · see review

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