FF: How Do You Read?

This week, in addition to the books listed below, I���ve been reading a lot of sections from various works, mostly as research but sometimes because I get interested and keep reading, even when the research is done.�� How do you read?�� One thing at a time or a bunch all mushed up?

Perspehone’s Favorite Character is Awful

For those of you who don���t know��� The Friday Fragments feature lists of what I���ve read over the past week. ��Most of the time I don���t include either short fiction or magazine articles.

The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.�� If you���re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.�� It���s just a list with, maybe, a few opinions tossed in.

Recently Completed:

Archer���s Goon by Diana Wynne Jones.�� Howard has a Goon in his kitchen, a sister called Awful, a father who is a self-absorbed writer and still loves his family.�� Only Diana Wynne Jones could make this work, but she does.

A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold.�� Audiobook.�� My low tolerance for romance novel tropes meant this one nearly lost me.�� It got better toward the end but, between the low comedy associated with the butter bugs (honestly, I couldn���t understand why anyone in a universe where terraforming is a major industry wouldn���t think a creature that well-engineered wouldn���t be a huge benefit, even if the end result isn���t attractive), the romance stuff, and the actually quite serious political elements the novel felt unevenly balanced.

Gray Heroes: Elder Tales from Around the World edited by Jane Yolen.�� I enjoyed.�� Glad I took the time to read it all.

Winterfair Gifts by Lois McMaster Bujold.�� Audiobook.�� This novella is a follow-up to A Civil Campaign.�� Stronger overall, but both the crime element and why the bride to be is crying so much were not handled satisfactorily.�� That said, I really like Taura.

In Progress:

Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett.�� I���d just finished reading Soul Music when I learned Pratchett had died, so I picked up this one just because���

Also:

For one reason and another, I���ve been reading lots of stuff in bits and pieces.���� Hard, really, to put on a list.�� That���s why I asked how you handle reading���