What an odd children's book! This would've given me nightmares if I'd read it as a very young kid. Not because of the wolves, although their inclusionWhat an odd children's book! This would've given me nightmares if I'd read it as a very young kid. Not because of the wolves, although their inclusion is an unusual choice (and one I rather liked) in this alternate British history. The casual child neglect would've got young Stephanie far more than the perilous, slavering wolves. Things got positively "Dickensian workhouse" for quite a while there. Adult Stephanie is sufficiently intrigued to want to read the rest of the Wolves Chronicles, though; I want to see where she goes with this alternate history....more
Went into this one pretty much blind based on a friend's recommendation, and I'm so glad I did! I've read a lot of dystopian literature, but none quitWent into this one pretty much blind based on a friend's recommendation, and I'm so glad I did! I've read a lot of dystopian literature, but none quite like this. The author blends the realism of "normal" life seamlessly with the new normal of like post-apocalypse, weaving different characters' plotlines together beautifully. My only gripe is that the climax felt a little...anticlimactic, but I think that was because the build-up was just so darned good. Human literature more than genre science fiction, it sidesteps cliche and is entirely its own creation. Great stuff!...more
My first foray into Wodehouse, believe it or not! The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job. Too much Wodehouse is probably a little too much of a goMy first foray into Wodehouse, believe it or not! The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job. Too much Wodehouse is probably a little too much of a good thing--the humor is repetitive in style, and I totally see where Jacques got his idea for the hares' personalities in the Redwall books--but in moderation, this is good fun. I'll probably hunt up more of his work in a bit....more
Good fun, as always! I read this while on trains in Germany and Austria, and it kept me awake even while jetlagged, so that's saying something. I'm aGood fun, as always! I read this while on trains in Germany and Austria, and it kept me awake even while jetlagged, so that's saying something. I'm a big fan of Pratchett's Death character, so any story that gets to explore him and his relationships (such as they are) works for me. Maybe a bit imperfect and rushed at points, but, like the old teddy bear from childhood, I love it in spite of/because of its flaws....more
I heard of this book long after A Cinder's Tale was published in the Five Glass Slippers anthology. I'm always terrified of inadvertently plagiarizingI heard of this book long after A Cinder's Tale was published in the Five Glass Slippers anthology. I'm always terrified of inadvertently plagiarizing other people ("Is this my idea or did I read it somewhere?"), and I wanted to read it to make sure that the story wasn't too similar to mine. No fear there: while both stories are definitely scifi retellings of Cinderella, they're otherwise very disparate. That was reassuring. However, I struggled to finish Cinder; I just got bored. I would normally skim over-description of character reactions, but that's tough to do with an audiobook. In spite of all that over-description, I wasn't invested in the characters, and their reactions often made little sense. Subplot threads were dropped and never were picked up sufficiently. Since the plot was easily predictable from the get-go, there wasn't much reason to keep reading. I managed to finish it but just read the Wikipedia synopsis of the remaining books in the series....more
I will be so sad when there is no longer new Tolkien material coming out. I know we can't have much longer; Christopher Tolkien is 93, and there is noI will be so sad when there is no longer new Tolkien material coming out. I know we can't have much longer; Christopher Tolkien is 93, and there is no obvious successor who knows his father's work so completely. Seeing how the story of Beren and Luthien developed over time from its early drafts was lovely. I remember reading The Lay of Leithian years ago and being so struck by these lines: "Farewell sweet earth and northern sky, for ever blest, since here did lie, and here with lissom limbs did run, beneath the moon, beneath the sun, Lúthien Tinúviel more fair than mortal tongue can tell. Though all to ruin fell the world, and were dissolved and backward hurled unmade into the old abyss, yet were its making good, for this— the dawn, the dusk, the earth, the sea— that Lúthien on a time should be!"
Wonderful, moving story in any of its incarnations!...more
Definitely better than a lot of modern YA I've read; I'll call this 3.5 stars. This one kept me enthralled and eager to find any opportunity to hear mDefinitely better than a lot of modern YA I've read; I'll call this 3.5 stars. This one kept me enthralled and eager to find any opportunity to hear more of the audiobook. The dystopian world-building was solid and plausible, and the characters were (mostly) interesting. I had some fairly major quibbles with plot realism towards the end, especially, and the ubiquitous YA love triangle is frankly ridiculous, but I'm still impatiently checking my Overdrive app for when my hold on the second book comes through....more
It'd been too long without some Steinbeck in my life. I've not read too much of his nonfiction, but I really enjoyed his travelogue and subsequent socIt'd been too long without some Steinbeck in my life. I've not read too much of his nonfiction, but I really enjoyed his travelogue and subsequent social musings. There is debate as to whether some of the travelogue is fictionalized, but that doesn't seem relevant to me. Even if Steinbeck invented some dialogue, the spirit is true, and the impression that he's shaken by much of what he finds across the country he loves but does not know anymore feels to me like an unstudied, raw, true feeling....more
My knowledge of the Chicago World's Fair (or more properly the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition) before reading this book was as follows: it occurMy knowledge of the Chicago World's Fair (or more properly the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition) before reading this book was as follows: it occurred. I had a little more knowledge of the serial killer H. H. Holmes, since I had read up on him a bit after hearing of his existence earlier in the year. This book alternates long chapters about the planning, construction, running, and destruction of the World's Fair with shorter chapters about H. H. Holmes' predations on fair-goers and newcomers to Chicago. I learned why today's fairs have midways (the Midway was a mile-long row of sideshows at the fair), that the fair featured the first ferris wheel (designed and built by Mr. Ferris specifically to try to outdo Eiffel's Tower at the Paris Exposition), and that the fair actually piped in water from Waukesha County, Wisconsin, since Chicago's drinking water at the time was deplorable. The book seemed unbelievable, both that the vast scope of the Fair could have been achieved and that a serial killer could have operated without hindrance or the smallest police suspicion for so long. But the research was meticulous (abundant footnotes fill the back of the book), even if Larson did do an awful lot of speculation based on said research, and the story was well-told. My main gripe was that the planning and construction of the fair was told quite so thoroughly; it did become monotonous and dull after a time, especially compared to the far more sensational story of H. H. Holmes. The connection between the two halves of the book was a little tenuous at times, but I found I didn't mind too much since both stories were so intriguing....more
Part of my love for this book is undoubtedly due to the narrator of the audiobook version, who had the perfect mannerisms to depict an aging, gentle,Part of my love for this book is undoubtedly due to the narrator of the audiobook version, who had the perfect mannerisms to depict an aging, gentle, grief-stricken Kumalo. However, the book's treatment of the situation leading up to apartheid was gentle, unswerving, and nuanced, so I would have savored it for that even without the narrator's voice. Exceptional, revelatory, graceful literature....more
The fourteenth and final Oz book to be completely written by L. Frank Baum. I'll be ready for a bit of an Oz break after we finish book 15 (based on BThe fourteenth and final Oz book to be completely written by L. Frank Baum. I'll be ready for a bit of an Oz break after we finish book 15 (based on Baum's notes). I would probably have enjoyed this more if I'd had a bit of a breathing space beforehand, but we're trying to finish reading the series aloud before our big Oz party in August. There were some neat ideas in this one, and we get to meet yet more unusual Oz denizens.
One weird thing: the original manuscript featured Red Reera as a wired-together skeleton with red eyes burning in its skull. What the heck, Baum?? He changed Red Reera to a gray ape in an apron for the printed manuscript because, hey, why not? Less trauma for the kiddos, his editors probably thought....more
I wanted to brush up on my German history before going to Munich, and I found this free ebook...but it soon became clear that there was a good reasonI wanted to brush up on my German history before going to Munich, and I found this free ebook...but it soon became clear that there was a good reason it was free. Written in 1906, it obviously can't cover any modern history, but it doesn't do a terribly good job of history before that either. The author focuses excessively on German art that, while important in 1906, is less so today; the English authoress must have really enjoyed certain artists regardless of their endurance capability. She did do a good job of covering the reigns of Ludwig I, Maximillian II, and Ludwig II, which are extremely interesting. The story of Lola Montez and Ludwig I was enthralling; I had never heard of her before....more
My husband and I are taking a trip to Munich this July, and I wanted to learn more about German culture and etiquette. This little book was perfect! IMy husband and I are taking a trip to Munich this July, and I wanted to learn more about German culture and etiquette. This little book was perfect! It's full of useful information, like these gems:
--Don't jaywalk. This will earn you a fine. --Business and pleasure do not mix. Don't try to take your German coworkers out for Happy Hour. --Credit cards aren't used much; debt is frowned upon. --Almost nothing is open on Sunday. --Germans start counting on the thumb, so be careful when using your fingers to specify how many of something you want.
It also highlights cultural differences I wouldn't have considered otherwise. In the US, it's common for people to say, "We should get together sometime" or other casual statements without firm intention of following through. "I'll try to make it" means "probably not." In Germany, these statements are far more binding (which is how I believe they should be). "We should get together sometime" will probably be followed up with, "How about next Tuesday at 7:00?" "I'll try to make it" will be perceived that you will do your level best to be there. I'm interested to see how many of these cultural differences still exist in the younger generation today; globalization has tended to smooth out the differences between cultures....more
I saw the movie MirrorMask and found it intriguing but fairly disjointed. Turns out the movie was quite a bit more coherent than the novella; the bookI saw the movie MirrorMask and found it intriguing but fairly disjointed. Turns out the movie was quite a bit more coherent than the novella; the book felt very sparse and unfinished, although that could be because I listened to it on audiobook instead of read it with the illustrations. Even so, the movie did better with world-building. A rare instance of the movie being better than the book. ...more
Good grief, this book was terrible. Why in the world does it have so many good reviews? Such awkward dialogue! Such bland characters! Such nonsensicalGood grief, this book was terrible. Why in the world does it have so many good reviews? Such awkward dialogue! Such bland characters! Such nonsensical actions committed by these oatmeal bowls of mush. This is sloppy mystery writing x 2: neither plot line (the one taking place in Doyle's day and the one taking place in the modern day) is plausible or even interesting, and the "solutions" at the end don't account fully for the previous events. I would've stopped reading, but I had this on audiobook while I was painting the doors in our new house and was covered in paint. In retrospect, watching the paint dry might have been more entertaining....more
I don't know what to say about this book. It's allegorical meta-fiction (at least initially, it seems to be semi-autobiographical for Martel), which iI don't know what to say about this book. It's allegorical meta-fiction (at least initially, it seems to be semi-autobiographical for Martel), which is tough to pull off. I'm not sure Martel does pull it off. Don't expect it to be like Life of Pi, or like anything you've read, for that matter; this is new ground, although it does still use animal characters extensively. Martel tries to do a lot in this book; there is so much symbolism that I think the meaning gets somewhat lost. He definitely lost me a couple times at any rate, although unlike some of the rage-fueled reviewers, I ultimately thought his treatment of the Holocaust was actually effective, albeit brutally so. If Martel wanted me to look at the Holocaust with fresh eyes, he succeeded. What, exactly, he was trying to say with the taxidermist's actions at the end was less clear to me and seemed to derail the book. A mixture of literary success and failure....more
Finding presents for Ozma's birthday is a pretty flimsy excuse for a story, seeing as how she's an immortal fairy and all, but I guess Baum was runninFinding presents for Ozma's birthday is a pretty flimsy excuse for a story, seeing as how she's an immortal fairy and all, but I guess Baum was running a little low on ideas to get folks out of the Emerald City and into the Oz hinterlands at this point. He was definitely running out of villains; the Nome King gets recycled yet again and is defeated in the same way as before. But the magic flower on the island was a neat touch....more
Not the best Discworld novel, perhaps, but all Discworld is entertaining, so I feel greedy for complaining. This was the first novel I've read in whicNot the best Discworld novel, perhaps, but all Discworld is entertaining, so I feel greedy for complaining. This was the first novel I've read in which Willikins featured prominently, and I enjoyed him thoroughly (enhanced perhaps by the excellent voice work of the audiobook narrator). Dark at times but genuinely laugh-out-loud funny at others, with a surprising amount of adept social commentary. Pratchett knew what he was about....more
Such a good book! Such abysmal pacing! I am so torn. I love these books and enjoy them tremendously, but they make the editor in me squirm. The sheerSuch a good book! Such abysmal pacing! I am so torn. I love these books and enjoy them tremendously, but they make the editor in me squirm. The sheer volume of pages spent on some topics (Felurian, the Ademre) was frustrating and a little dull. The way (for me) to love this book is by putting any expectation of plot movement on the shelf and just enjoying Rothfuss' way with words, but after a few hundred pages in which nothing of significance has happened, an itch starts up in the back of my brain. Nevertheless, I will eagerly devour book 3 as soon as it makes its belated appearance and will no doubt love/hate it too. Darn it all. ...more
I had trouble getting into this book at first, but I think that was due to 1. it being in audiobook format and 2. my lack of love for Oliver Twist byI had trouble getting into this book at first, but I think that was due to 1. it being in audiobook format and 2. my lack of love for Oliver Twist by Dickens. Pratchett's take on Dickensian London is enjoyable, and Dodger and Solomon are great fun. Other characters *ahem* you know who you are *ahem* were bland as dishwater, at least for the majority of the book. The plot was unrealistic, but forgivable given the circumstances of the author's creation of the story....more
This was Pratchett's last novel before his death, and I understand it was polished up a bit by others before publication. The afterword discussed howThis was Pratchett's last novel before his death, and I understand it was polished up a bit by others before publication. The afterword discussed how he would undoubtedly have done more work on it before allowing it to be published, had he been alive. Neil Gaiman tantalizes with a scene Pratchett would have included but could not. Plotwise, I did feel as though this was the weakest of the Tiffany Aching books, but it was so nice to be back with these characters one more time, when it seemed we wouldn't even get that, that I didn't mind terribly. Goodbye, Discworld. We will miss you!...more
I was expecting this to be hilarious, which may account in part for my low star count; 1.5 is probably fairer. This was NOT funny. This is Aesop's FabI was expecting this to be hilarious, which may account in part for my low star count; 1.5 is probably fairer. This was NOT funny. This is Aesop's Fables for adults, with at least some amount of gore every story. The animals are animals in name only; these are people at their hypocritical worst. The social commentary bites without humor to dull the edge and leaves the reader feeling depressed....more
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