false 10 16 14 true 6211220 read 0 true 1393756 currently-reading 2 true 1393755 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18455912 to: Alias Grace (Paperback) by Margaret Atwood
I read "The Handmaiden's Tale" a few years back, and "Oryx and Crake" somewhat more recently, but this came at the recommendation of a co-worker whose suggestions I will now trust wholeheartedly.

This was an incredible book. Atwood frequently seems to deal with complex narratives and unreliable narrators, but the way she handles the issue of women's voices in this novel was astonishing and beautiful, and occasionally truly eerie and horrific. It was a fascinating portrait of the 19th century criminal justice system and mental health system (such as it was), but the commentary on class, the "truth," and gender has very modern implications as well. I feel like it is damning the book with faint praise to call it some of the best of feminist literature, because I would hate to think that anyone would write off this novel as a "women's book." It is so much more. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13614031 Kate's review of Across the Nightingale Floor, Episode 1: The Sword of the Warrior (Tales of the Otori, Book 1)
by Lian Hearn

There's sooooo much really quality YA out there that I certainly don't let things slide just because they're not aimed at adult readers. However, I am forgiving of first-novels. If 2 & 3 had continued to improve (like "The Thief" series I reviewed did), then I'd feel differently. But maybe you'll like the sequels more than I did. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18457547 to: The King of Attolia (The Queen's Thief, #3) by Megan Whalen Turner
I read this series completely out of order, which I think actually improved it. Each volume has a different narrator, which allows for more or less the same twist ending to happen three times in a row. My enjoyment of the book, and its picture of the court politics of a fictionalized Greek kingdom, was greatly enhanced by not knowing very much about Eugenidies' true character, which I would have been familiar with if I had read "The Thief" and "Queen of Attolia" first. This is also the most smartly, tightly written of the three ("The Thief" is clearly the author's first real effort), but I was able to overlook some of the less mature writing in the first two because I had already fallen in love with the characters. The series as a whole has a great quasi-historical setting, excellent female characters, a charming, roguish thief-protagonist, and tons of exciting politics and intrigue. Highly recommended! ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18457541 to: The Queen of Attolia (The Queen's Thief, #2) by Megan Whalen Turner
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18457536 to: The Thief (The Queen's Thief, #1) by Megan Whalen Turner
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18457528 to: Empire of Ivory (Temeraire, #4) by Naomi Novik
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18457519 to: Black Powder War (Temeraire, #3) by Naomi Novik
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18457512 to: Throne of Jade (Temeraire, #2) by Naomi Novik
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18457503 to: His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1) by Naomi Novik
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