Not What It Seems

Mei-Ling Reads

This week’s “completed” list makes it look as if I read a lot this week.  Actually, I finished a lot, and several of the books were quite short.

A reminder, the Friday Fragments is not a book review column; it’s a list of what I’m reading and maybe a bit about my opinions.  I always read the comments section and enjoy learning what other people are reading.  Oh, and I don’t usually list shorter works unless in a collection or articles, I also don’t usually list scattered research reading.

Completed:
The Cartoon History of the Universe: From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great.  (Volumes 1-7).  One of the oddest, but most enjoyable, history series out there. 

Paladin’s Faith by T. Kingfisher (aka Ursula Vernon).  Book Four in the Saint of Steel series.  As with the rest of the series, this could stand alone, but certain elements are best appreciated if you’ve read the series in order. 

Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race by Chris Grabenstein.  Audiobook.  Beneath the chaos and silliness, this middle grade series takes on some pretty serious issues.  This time it’s research in the age of the internet, when facts can be changed but also found, and the quest for Truth is more important than ever.

Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones. Audiobook.  Diana Wynne Jones has a gift for capturing the fear and doubt that often plague kids because they misinterpret what adults say.

The Devil’s Wedding Ring by Vidar Sundstol.  Translated from the Norwegian by Tiina Nunnally.  In this Noir detective tale, interlaced with folklore, Max has never gotten over events that led him to quit his job when he was a young police officer.  Newly widowed, he returns and finds out that those events have a shadow that goes back far beyond his own life. 

In Progress:

Conrad’s Fate by Diana Wynne Jones.  Audiobook.  Twelve-year-old Conrad has had instilled in him that in his past life, he did something terrible.  Now it looks as if that deed is catching up to him.

Among the Gray Lords by D.J. Butler.  Third book featuring sword and sorcery duo Indrajit and Fix.  Just started.

Also:

Finished an issue of Smithsonian and am just starting the latest American Archeology.