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1LShelby
Hello, this is L. Shelby, and I'm entering the challenge for the third year, after not making it to 75 the first year, and passing it with ease the second year (even if you don't count the manga.) This year I'm going to try say something brief about each listing. I tried that the first year and it didn't work, so the comments may end abruptly at some point, but I want to give it a go. If you want to know more, please feel free to ask questions.
86 books read in 2011
Categories:
Fantasy: 38
Regency Romance: 18
Mystery: 6
Western: 2
Science Fiction: 2
Young Adult: 25?
Poetry: 1
Non-fiction: 15
Manga/Graphic Novels: 100+
Authors New to Me: 34
Re-reads: 22
Books by Me: 4
Last year's threads:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/80739
http://www.librarything.com/topic/93689
86 books read in 2011
Categories:
Fantasy: 38
Regency Romance: 18
Mystery: 6
Western: 2
Science Fiction: 2
Young Adult: 25?
Poetry: 1
Non-fiction: 15
Manga/Graphic Novels: 100+
Authors New to Me: 34
Re-reads: 22
Books by Me: 4
Last year's threads:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/80739
http://www.librarything.com/topic/93689
2alcottacre
Happy Christmas, Shelby!
Glad to see you back with us in 2011.
Glad to see you back with us in 2011.
4LShelby
Thanks for the welcome!
I've only read one "real" book in 2011 so far, but I've read a few manga that I'd like to record before I forget.
1: Cryoburn, by Lois McMaster Bujold (sf)
This is not my favorite Miles book, but then they can't all be my favorite. It's a nice solid book and a good read. Ironically, I had the end of the book spoilered for me by someone who was complaining about how it had been spoilered for them. Fortunately spoilers don't bother me much. :)
Library Wars: Love & War Vol. 3, by Kiiro Yumi (manga)
I never could buy the premise of the world (censorship so out of control that their needs to be a special miitary force put together specifically to defend public libraries from the book-burners), but I find the romance very cute, and plan to keep reading. :)
Captive Hearts Vol. 4-5, by Matsuri Hino (manga)
This is a very silly, total "guilt" read. The last book (the story ends on Vol. 5) felt really choppy to me, and I can't tell if that was because it was more choppy than the others, or if it was just that there was finally some real plot, so I finally noticed.
Kitchen Princess Vol. 6-7, by Natsumi Ando (manga)
Incredibly cute romance manga series. Comes with recipees! (Not that I actually have any use for them, but it's a nice touch.) The story gets a little darker than one might expect, but it's very hard to take the sad parts seriously when embedded in so much cute.
Now to go back and fix my first message. This time, I'm going to figure out how my little progress bar utility worked. (Well, I know HOW it works, I MADE it, I just can't remember the arcane symbols that summon it across the web anymore.)
Edited to add:
Hah! Got it.
Note to self -- I was supposed to build a "get" statement url, so it's image from source my-site /Utilities/phpbar.php and then I add the little question mark, n = current number, & t = total, & c = color-code (if I want a different color than the default). Now that I've written it down here, hopefully I won't forget again. :)
I've only read one "real" book in 2011 so far, but I've read a few manga that I'd like to record before I forget.
1: Cryoburn, by Lois McMaster Bujold (sf)
This is not my favorite Miles book, but then they can't all be my favorite. It's a nice solid book and a good read. Ironically, I had the end of the book spoilered for me by someone who was complaining about how it had been spoilered for them. Fortunately spoilers don't bother me much. :)
Library Wars: Love & War Vol. 3, by Kiiro Yumi (manga)
I never could buy the premise of the world (censorship so out of control that their needs to be a special miitary force put together specifically to defend public libraries from the book-burners), but I find the romance very cute, and plan to keep reading. :)
Captive Hearts Vol. 4-5, by Matsuri Hino (manga)
This is a very silly, total "guilt" read. The last book (the story ends on Vol. 5) felt really choppy to me, and I can't tell if that was because it was more choppy than the others, or if it was just that there was finally some real plot, so I finally noticed.
Kitchen Princess Vol. 6-7, by Natsumi Ando (manga)
Incredibly cute romance manga series. Comes with recipees! (Not that I actually have any use for them, but it's a nice touch.) The story gets a little darker than one might expect, but it's very hard to take the sad parts seriously when embedded in so much cute.
Now to go back and fix my first message. This time, I'm going to figure out how my little progress bar utility worked. (Well, I know HOW it works, I MADE it, I just can't remember the arcane symbols that summon it across the web anymore.)
Edited to add:
Hah! Got it.
Note to self -- I was supposed to build a "get" statement url, so it's image from source my-site /Utilities/phpbar.php and then I add the little question mark, n = current number, & t = total, & c = color-code (if I want a different color than the default). Now that I've written it down here, hopefully I won't forget again. :)
5alcottacre
I leave notes for myself on my wiki, Shelby, so I know how that goes! :)
6LShelby
Funny how if you write it down, and don't lose the paper you remember, but if you write it down and do lose the paper, you don't.
...Or does it only seem that way, because franticly searching all over for a piece of paper makes a far bigger impression than glancing at a piece of paper that is readily to hand does?
...Or does it only seem that way, because franticly searching all over for a piece of paper makes a far bigger impression than glancing at a piece of paper that is readily to hand does?
7alcottacre
No, I do not think it just seems that way. I think that is the way it really is!
8ronincats
I had the ending of Cryoburn spoilered for me, too, and then I anticipated it the whole book, which did not help. Definitely one of the tamer of Miles' adventures so far, but very appropriately themed considering the spoiler, which I thought was handled very well.
9LShelby
@alcotttacre - I just might believe you. :)
roni - I agree that it was thematically appropriate.
When I mentioned that I'd been spoilered to my husband, who had already read the book, he told me it didn't come up until the very end, so I didn't have to worry about it showing up until it did, so I guess I was lucky.
roni - I agree that it was thematically appropriate.
When I mentioned that I'd been spoilered to my husband, who had already read the book, he told me it didn't come up until the very end, so I didn't have to worry about it showing up until it did, so I guess I was lucky.
10Aerrin99
It's funny, I read Cryoburn and almost wished I'd had it spoiled, because I was reading it at a restaurant during my lunch break and it was like a sucker punch to the gut.
11LShelby
2: Nomad, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Non-fiction)
My son got this out of the library for me, because I had read the copy of Three Cups of Tea that he had been given, so obviously I "liked that kind of thing". I found it interesting, but I can't say I liked it. Somebody talking about how their family was broken and how she blamed their religion and culture isn't exactly enjoyable, IMHO. I did find myself in sympathy with much of her basic premise -- I believe good traditions are good, and harmful traditions are harmful, and much of the stuff she was describing appeared to me to fall firmly into the second category.
3:Sunshine, by Robin McKinley (urban fantasy/paranormal)
Not going to be my favorite Robin McKinley, but a good solid story, IMHO. So much of the background was left unexplored that I felt more books that left fewer unexplained bits flapping about loose would definitely be apropo. Are there any sequels?
4: Storm Front by Jim Butcher (urban fantasy/paranormal)
This was a pretty fun mystery adventure "noir" thingy. I am very willing to look for the next book.
5: Wizard Squared, by K.E. Mills (fantasy)
Third in a series, which has it's moments of darkness that are maybe a bit too dark for my tastes. I think I'm going to be a bit wary about approaching a fourth book.
Kitchen Princess 9-10 (manga)
Ten is the last book in this series. It ended completely sappily, which was very fitting with what came before, and about what I expected. :)
My daughter is now trying to figure out which manga series she wants to try getting out of the library next.
I also reread some of my own stuff, because I've been working on it:
Pavane in Pearl and Emerald (fantasy novel)
The Raven and the Veil (imaginary history novella)
My son got this out of the library for me, because I had read the copy of Three Cups of Tea that he had been given, so obviously I "liked that kind of thing". I found it interesting, but I can't say I liked it. Somebody talking about how their family was broken and how she blamed their religion and culture isn't exactly enjoyable, IMHO. I did find myself in sympathy with much of her basic premise -- I believe good traditions are good, and harmful traditions are harmful, and much of the stuff she was describing appeared to me to fall firmly into the second category.
3:Sunshine, by Robin McKinley (urban fantasy/paranormal)
Not going to be my favorite Robin McKinley, but a good solid story, IMHO. So much of the background was left unexplored that I felt more books that left fewer unexplained bits flapping about loose would definitely be apropo. Are there any sequels?
4: Storm Front by Jim Butcher (urban fantasy/paranormal)
This was a pretty fun mystery adventure "noir" thingy. I am very willing to look for the next book.
5: Wizard Squared, by K.E. Mills (fantasy)
Third in a series, which has it's moments of darkness that are maybe a bit too dark for my tastes. I think I'm going to be a bit wary about approaching a fourth book.
Kitchen Princess 9-10 (manga)
Ten is the last book in this series. It ended completely sappily, which was very fitting with what came before, and about what I expected. :)
My daughter is now trying to figure out which manga series she wants to try getting out of the library next.
I also reread some of my own stuff, because I've been working on it:
Pavane in Pearl and Emerald (fantasy novel)
The Raven and the Veil (imaginary history novella)
12alcottacre
Looks like you have made a really good start to your reading year, Shelby. Congratulations!
13Whisper1
Hi There
I'm compiling a list of birthdays of our group members. If you haven't done so already, would you mind stopping by this thread and posting yours.
Thanks.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/105833
I'm compiling a list of birthdays of our group members. If you haven't done so already, would you mind stopping by this thread and posting yours.
Thanks.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/105833
14LShelby
6: The Bonemender's Oath, by Holly Bennett (fantasy)
This is a sequel to one I read a couple years back, and liked well enough to to be willing to try the next. I liked the this one about the same, and will put the third on my wishlist.
7: Imprudent Lady, by Joan Smith (regency, reread)
This one's an old friend, re-read for the umpteenth time. I have it in hardback even.
8: Prodigal Gunfighter, Lewis B. Patten (western)
This one, on the other hand, I didn't even realize I owned. Maybe my dad left it here last time he visited? He has the habit of picking up books used, reading them, and then deserting them wherever he happens to be at the time. I used to read a lot of westerns, and then I switched to regencies. I still like the westerns, apparently -- it's just that there aren't a whole lot out there. (Besides the dialog tends to not be as witty.) This one was particularly nice in that the hero was NOT an amazingly fast gunfighter, and had to defeat a villain who was. That sort of thing appeals to me.
9: The Lady Disguised, by Elizabeth Mansfield (regency, reread)
Another reread from my regency shelves. I've been coming down with a cold, and that seems to put me in the mood to just start randomly pulling out regencies.
10: Wheel of the Infinite, by Martha Wells (fantasy)
I confess that characters just sort of falling into bed with each other is not something I find appealing. Other than that, this was a pretty good book, with Martha Wells' usual great worldbuilding and etc.
11: Idylls of the King, Lord Alfred Tennyson (poetry)
I was pulling stuff of of my "classics and misc" shelf and entering them in LT (that's how I found the Prodigal Gunfighter book) and I just happened to start reading this one, and, well...
It's, um, Arthurian. And poetic. And, er... classic?
12: White Cat, by Holly Black (fantasy)
Urban fantasy, but NOT paranormal romance. In fact, there don't seem to be any vampires or werewolves in this world at all. A bit of a relief, really. (Not that I'm utterly opposed to vampires or weres, it's just that I've been seeing so much of them, it's getting... old.) I found the character's voice engaging, and the plot interesting, but this was definitely on the edge of my tolerance for, um... the lacking-in-optimism factor. I can handle bad things happening but I like a hopeful outlook, and prefer that endings drenched in irony and cynicism not be such a clearly appropriate conclusion to what went before.
13: The Tenth Power, by Kate Constable (fantasy)
I'm afraid I didn't think this worked to well as a stand alone novel. Of course, it's not supposed to be a stand alone novel, it's supposed to be the third in a set, and the climax and conclusion and all that. Unfortunately I read the previous two so widely spaced and long enough ago that this one would have had to have worked as a standalone to do much for me. :(
14: Fine Feathers, by Lillian Lincoln (regency, reread)
Another reread. See earlier comments about my reading habits when coming down with a cold.
15: Otherwise Engaged, by Jacquelyn Gillis (regency, reread)
Ditto.
I also read the following manga:
Skip-beat! Vol 1 and 2, by Yoshiki Nakamura
Girl is determined to make it in show-biz in order to get revenge on the boyfriend who used her. So far I'm finding it amusing. My daughter has warned me that it doesn't seem to have got to an end yet. I hate never-ending series. But with manga I'll generally read the first dozen or so before I start getting too bored to want to continue, so expect to see more of these listed next time. :)
Love*Com Vol 1, by Aya Nakahara
Teeny-bopper romance: she's tall, he's short. They're convinced they couldn't possibly be right for each other, and bewildered and annoyed at how everyone else seems to assume they're a couple. Dumb but cute. I told my daughter that if she got out the next one out I would read it.
This is a sequel to one I read a couple years back, and liked well enough to to be willing to try the next. I liked the this one about the same, and will put the third on my wishlist.
7: Imprudent Lady, by Joan Smith (regency, reread)
This one's an old friend, re-read for the umpteenth time. I have it in hardback even.
8: Prodigal Gunfighter, Lewis B. Patten (western)
This one, on the other hand, I didn't even realize I owned. Maybe my dad left it here last time he visited? He has the habit of picking up books used, reading them, and then deserting them wherever he happens to be at the time. I used to read a lot of westerns, and then I switched to regencies. I still like the westerns, apparently -- it's just that there aren't a whole lot out there. (Besides the dialog tends to not be as witty.) This one was particularly nice in that the hero was NOT an amazingly fast gunfighter, and had to defeat a villain who was. That sort of thing appeals to me.
9: The Lady Disguised, by Elizabeth Mansfield (regency, reread)
Another reread from my regency shelves. I've been coming down with a cold, and that seems to put me in the mood to just start randomly pulling out regencies.
10: Wheel of the Infinite, by Martha Wells (fantasy)
I confess that characters just sort of falling into bed with each other is not something I find appealing. Other than that, this was a pretty good book, with Martha Wells' usual great worldbuilding and etc.
11: Idylls of the King, Lord Alfred Tennyson (poetry)
I was pulling stuff of of my "classics and misc" shelf and entering them in LT (that's how I found the Prodigal Gunfighter book) and I just happened to start reading this one, and, well...
It's, um, Arthurian. And poetic. And, er... classic?
12: White Cat, by Holly Black (fantasy)
Urban fantasy, but NOT paranormal romance. In fact, there don't seem to be any vampires or werewolves in this world at all. A bit of a relief, really. (Not that I'm utterly opposed to vampires or weres, it's just that I've been seeing so much of them, it's getting... old.) I found the character's voice engaging, and the plot interesting, but this was definitely on the edge of my tolerance for, um... the lacking-in-optimism factor. I can handle bad things happening but I like a hopeful outlook, and prefer that endings drenched in irony and cynicism not be such a clearly appropriate conclusion to what went before.
13: The Tenth Power, by Kate Constable (fantasy)
I'm afraid I didn't think this worked to well as a stand alone novel. Of course, it's not supposed to be a stand alone novel, it's supposed to be the third in a set, and the climax and conclusion and all that. Unfortunately I read the previous two so widely spaced and long enough ago that this one would have had to have worked as a standalone to do much for me. :(
14: Fine Feathers, by Lillian Lincoln (regency, reread)
Another reread. See earlier comments about my reading habits when coming down with a cold.
15: Otherwise Engaged, by Jacquelyn Gillis (regency, reread)
Ditto.
I also read the following manga:
Skip-beat! Vol 1 and 2, by Yoshiki Nakamura
Girl is determined to make it in show-biz in order to get revenge on the boyfriend who used her. So far I'm finding it amusing. My daughter has warned me that it doesn't seem to have got to an end yet. I hate never-ending series. But with manga I'll generally read the first dozen or so before I start getting too bored to want to continue, so expect to see more of these listed next time. :)
Love*Com Vol 1, by Aya Nakahara
Teeny-bopper romance: she's tall, he's short. They're convinced they couldn't possibly be right for each other, and bewildered and annoyed at how everyone else seems to assume they're a couple. Dumb but cute. I told my daughter that if she got out the next one out I would read it.
15MickyFine
Lots of reading going on and it looks like most of it is enjoyable. I wasn't a big fan of White Cat either but I think my problem with it was that I just found it too predictable and I didn't really connect with the characters. Hope you are enjoying more lovely books and that your cold disappears quickly.
16LShelby
15
Hi, Micky! Thanks for commenting.
I read regency romances, manga and fairy-tale retellings -- "too predictable" isn't a complaint I'm likely to ever voice. :)
White Cat is one of the freebie books I got at World Fantasy Convention last October, and it's the only one I've tried so far that I've enjoyed enough to actually *finish*.
My tastes and the current trends in fantasy just don't seem to be alignment. :(
Hi, Micky! Thanks for commenting.
I read regency romances, manga and fairy-tale retellings -- "too predictable" isn't a complaint I'm likely to ever voice. :)
White Cat is one of the freebie books I got at World Fantasy Convention last October, and it's the only one I've tried so far that I've enjoyed enough to actually *finish*.
My tastes and the current trends in fantasy just don't seem to be alignment. :(
17alcottacre
#14: Adding a couple of titles there to the BlackHole. Looks like lots of reading going on at your house, Shelby!
18justchris
I'm unfamiliar with the Elizabeth Mansfield and Joan Smith books you mentioned, though I have read and enjoyed others by them. So maybe I'll look for them. Or maybe I'll hold off, since my recent returns to Regencies have been rather disappointing, including Her Man of Affairs by Mansfield. I appreciate the manga reviews. I'm unfamiliar with the genre, but a friend has offered to loan me some, and I used to read assorted comic books and graphic novels in college, including the early days of Akira.
19LShelby
18 I am now up to Vol. 17, and still enjoying Skip-beat!. I told my husband so, and he held his hand to my forehead. "Are you still ill?" :chuckle: I informed him that the heroine had a *life* -- something to do with herself other than be sweet and good, and he said "Wow, it *does* have more going for it than most." (For all his sarcasm, however, he probably reads more manga than I do.)
But I really have trouble saying anything much specific about the regencies. They are my favorite reads when I'm under the weather, and that may be why they mostly all kind of blur together for me. :rueful:
Your review of Her Man of Affairs (I own that one too -- I have about two feet of Mansfield) makes me very dubious that you will find much in the way of "less shallow" romances by switching to manga. But maybe in the different format it wouldn't bother you as much?
I find I am more tolerant of certain things in one medium than another. (I'm much more into sad songs than sad books, for example.)
But I really have trouble saying anything much specific about the regencies. They are my favorite reads when I'm under the weather, and that may be why they mostly all kind of blur together for me. :rueful:
Your review of Her Man of Affairs (I own that one too -- I have about two feet of Mansfield) makes me very dubious that you will find much in the way of "less shallow" romances by switching to manga. But maybe in the different format it wouldn't bother you as much?
I find I am more tolerant of certain things in one medium than another. (I'm much more into sad songs than sad books, for example.)
20justchris
19: Thanks for the feedback, lshelby. I suspect that yes indeed, my expectations for a graphic medium are different than those for strictly text. The funny thing about romances is my very uneven reaction to them. The Phantom Lover, also by Elizabeth Mansfield, is still one of my all-time favorite Regencies that I never tire of rereading. I tend to pull them out as well when I am feeling stressed, down, or otherwise under the weather, and most of them blur together quite easily. I have a tendency to write delayed reviews, and I inevitably have to look up information on each one, because I so readily forget the names of the characters and so on.
I don't think I was necessarily expecting the manga to be largely romance storylines. I tend to think of them as more action adventure with perhaps some romance thrown in. Maybe that's my experience with western comics shaping my expectations.
I don't think I was necessarily expecting the manga to be largely romance storylines. I tend to think of them as more action adventure with perhaps some romance thrown in. Maybe that's my experience with western comics shaping my expectations.
21LShelby
Manga is a very wide catch-all term -- it isn't 'mostly' anything. There are romantic girl manga and action adventure boy manga and steamy adult manga, and so on, and so on.
Most of the manga I've listed in the past two years have primarily romance driven comics story-lines and are largely intended for teen girl audiences, because that's what my teen-aged daughter brings home the most of.
The rest of the family are more interested in stuff with action, but less diligent in hunting it out and bringing it home, so I see much less of it. Besides, we all seem to like action better in Anime form than in Manga form, anyway.
Most of the manga I've listed in the past two years have primarily romance driven comics story-lines and are largely intended for teen girl audiences, because that's what my teen-aged daughter brings home the most of.
The rest of the family are more interested in stuff with action, but less diligent in hunting it out and bringing it home, so I see much less of it. Besides, we all seem to like action better in Anime form than in Manga form, anyway.
22LShelby
16: Lord Iverbrook's Heir by Carola Dunn (regency, reread)
17: Lady Fiasco, by Kathleen Baldwin (regency, reread)
18: Jemima Dancer, by Corintha Bennett (regency, reread)
19: The Thief of Hearts, by Rachelle Edwards (regency, reread) Although I'm not sure this one was worth rereading. :(
20: Bid for Independence, by Karla Hocker (regency, reread)
21: A Serious Pursuit, Ellen Rawlings (regency, reread)
22: A Worthy Wife, Barbara Metzger (regency, reread)
23: Mary Ashe, by Barbara Sherrod (regency, reread)
24: The Wild Rose, by Rebecca Ward (regency, reread)
25: Saved by Scandal, by Barbara Metzger (regency, reread)
26: The Bumblebroth, by Patricia Wynn (regency, reread)
27: The Diamond Key, by Barbara Metzger (regency, reread)
28: Rivers West, by Louis L'Amour (western)
Um... it's a Louis L'Amour book. There's a Manly Hero and a Strong (but feminine) Woman with whom he has about six conversations, because mostly he's too busy getting in fights and meeting colorful minor characters. But I still find it fun. :)
And also:
Skip Beat! Vol 3-21
I really like this one, but alas, there's only one more volume out in english, and the story isn't anywhere near finished. Waaah! I HATE being left up in the air like that. I don't usually read serials until they are ALL out for that very reason. (I also have entirely given up on reading webcomics.) ::Sigh::
Love*Com Vol 2-3
This one, on the other hand, my daughter says the library has 17 Volumes of and I'm already losing my interest.
Sugar Princess by Hisaya Nakajo Vol 1-2
There only appear to be two volumes of this? Anyway, cute very lightweight story about figure skating.
17: Lady Fiasco, by Kathleen Baldwin (regency, reread)
18: Jemima Dancer, by Corintha Bennett (regency, reread)
19: The Thief of Hearts, by Rachelle Edwards (regency, reread) Although I'm not sure this one was worth rereading. :(
20: Bid for Independence, by Karla Hocker (regency, reread)
21: A Serious Pursuit, Ellen Rawlings (regency, reread)
22: A Worthy Wife, Barbara Metzger (regency, reread)
23: Mary Ashe, by Barbara Sherrod (regency, reread)
24: The Wild Rose, by Rebecca Ward (regency, reread)
25: Saved by Scandal, by Barbara Metzger (regency, reread)
26: The Bumblebroth, by Patricia Wynn (regency, reread)
27: The Diamond Key, by Barbara Metzger (regency, reread)
28: Rivers West, by Louis L'Amour (western)
Um... it's a Louis L'Amour book. There's a Manly Hero and a Strong (but feminine) Woman with whom he has about six conversations, because mostly he's too busy getting in fights and meeting colorful minor characters. But I still find it fun. :)
And also:
Skip Beat! Vol 3-21
I really like this one, but alas, there's only one more volume out in english, and the story isn't anywhere near finished. Waaah! I HATE being left up in the air like that. I don't usually read serials until they are ALL out for that very reason. (I also have entirely given up on reading webcomics.) ::Sigh::
Love*Com Vol 2-3
This one, on the other hand, my daughter says the library has 17 Volumes of and I'm already losing my interest.
Sugar Princess by Hisaya Nakajo Vol 1-2
There only appear to be two volumes of this? Anyway, cute very lightweight story about figure skating.
23LShelby
Hmm, been a while since I posted.
29: The Small-Engine Handbook, by Peter Hunn (non-fiction)
Yes, I read a book about engines. What can I say, I have eclectic tastes. (Okay, the real reason is that I'm a writer, and it was stuff one of my characters would know. I also read bits of another book about outboard engines -- same reason.)
30: The Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry (fantasy, YA)
I considered this one a Cinderella retelling, but when I referred to it as "you know, that Cinderella book you loaned to me" the daughter who loaned it to me didn't recognize it. I finally hit on some other descriptor, and she said "Oh, yeah!" and then "What do you mean, Cinderella?" When I explained it, she went "D'oh!" though, so I think it's safe to say that it *is* a Cinderella retelling, even if it doesn't contain anything as obvious as a glass slipper. It's not a bad story. Prince Charming I think gets short-changed, as is far too frequent in Cinderella tales. The other main male character had more screentime, and partly as a result of that, seemed more interesting.
31: The Castle of the Silver Wheel, by Teresa Edgerton (fantasy, reread)
32: The Grail And The Ring, by Teresa Edgerton (fantasy, reread)
33: The Moon and the Thorn, by Teresa Edgerton (fantasy, reread)
This trilogy is an old friend. It's based on Celtic mythology/culture, but isn't a retelling. There's a previous trilogy set in the same world that I don't reread ever, but only because we lost one of the books, and I'm too lazy to hunt down a replacement copy, when I can just reread this trilogy instead. Goblin Moon is another Teresa Edgerton favorite of mine -- it has a more 17th century-ish setting.
34: Um-- slips, stumbles, and verbal blunders, and what they mean, by Michael Erard (non-fiction)
I went on a linguistics and language kick. This was a fun way to start off. A look at what we can learn about language from verbal mistakes. Interesting, informative, and frequently amusing.
35: Chinese for Dummies by Wendy Abraham (non-fiction)
I found this a fairly easy read. I was dubious I could ever learn much Chinese from it, but since I was actually trying to learn *about* Chinese that wasn't an issue. I'm not sure I learned a lot about Chinese, but I came out knowing more than I started, and I was entertained in the meantime, so I think that's an overall win.
36: The language Instinct, by Steven Pinker (non-fiction)
Another writer who manages to be engaging, interesting and even amusing.
37: A Thousand Pieces of Gold, by Adeline Yen Mah
A fascinating look at Chinese history from the perspective of a contemporary chinese woman. It was a bit odd going straight from the Steven Pinker debunking that whole "you can't think it if there isn't a word for it" type of thing, to Ms Mah taking the exact same thing as a generally accepted linguistic fact, though. Personally I'm on Pinker's side of that argument. As a fantasy writer, I have to make up words to fill in cultural concepts that english doens't have words for, but my characters do. How could I do that, if I can't think about anything I myself do not have a word for?
38: A Perfect Gentleman, by Barbara Metzger (regency)
My husband brought this home for me -- I actually hadn't read it before. Amazing!
39: Cupboard Kisses, by Barbara Metzger (regency, reread)
He also brought home this one, which we already owned (but with different cover art, which is why he thought it didn't look familiar). I read it again anyway. Why not?
40: The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin (YA, reread)
A fun book that my kids happened to have out of the library -- so I read it again. It's sort of a mystery, but not in the classic solving the crime sense, more of a figuring out the puzzle type of thing.
41: Gilded Latten Bones: A Garrett, P.I., Novel, by Glen Cook (fantasy/mystery)
This is the nth book in a series that is starting to take up quite a bit of shelf space, and to be perfectly honest I'm wondering why I'm still reading the things. I like fantasy, I like mystery, I used to enjoy the voice -- but I am sooo tired of this guy's girl problems like I can't even say.
42: They Have A Word For It, by Howard Rheingold (non-fiction)
Back to books on linguistics. Mr. Rheingold has collected an interesting collection of "untranslatable" words, but I didn't discover that knowing them expanded my mental horizons as much as he thought that they would. Maybe because I already regularly read about cultures other than my own?
43: Mr. Monk Goes to Germany, by Lee Goldberg (mystery, media tie-in)
Someone got this out of the library, because they knew various members of the family had been watching the TV series on DVD, and thought we might be interested. I read it, because it was there. And I don't regret reading it, but I'm not particularly eager to get the next one.
I also read the following manga:
La Corda d'Oro, Vol. 1-2, by Yuki Kure
We watched the anime, in which our heroine doesn't end up with ANY of the seven or so potential love interests. (Not too surprising when you realize that it was based on a dating sim.) A claim was made that the manga actually did get her together with someone, and it was debated between my daughters and myself whether or not getting some romantic resolution would be worth it, if none of our favorite ships were likely to be the one. The first volume was duly ordered from the library, and it was decided that it followed the anime too closely to be worth reading further, but eventually someone was bored and got the second one out anyway. I really enjoy the musical theme, so I didn't mind revisiting the story again -- besides, the second volume had a lot of stuff with my favorite ship. :)
Naruto, Vol. 1, by Masashi Kishimoto
This simply does not appear to be my cup of tea. I suspected it wouldn't be, but someone got it out of the library, and I figured I might as well try it, just in case.
Dramacon, Volume 1 - 3, by Svetlana Chmakova
She goes to an anime convention with her boyfriend, (her first con ever!!), Her boyfriend is a jerk. She meets this other guy... I was amused enough to read the next couple volumes, but then I'm a sucker for anything that looks vaguely romantic.
RIN-NE, Vol. 1-4, by Rumiko Takahashi
By the author of Ramna 1/2 which was vaguely amusing but went on for way too long, and Inu-Yasha, which I started out enjoying and then decided it was going on for way to long. This time our romantic leads are helping spirits stuck in this world pass over. I'm still enjoying it, but then I'm only on volume 4.
Tegami Bachi, Letter Be Vol. 1-4, by Hiroyuki Asada
Fantasy Adventure manga, the main characters are letter carriers who make their deliveries across a dark monster-infested wasteland. The story and characters are pretty fun so far, and I'm interested in the revealed bits of back plot and worldbuilding.
Skip Beat!
I forget what volume I'm on, but I've read as many of these as are out in English. The last volume was sadly lacking in charming romantic bits, but that wouldn't have bothered me if I didn't have to wait so long for the next volume to be published. I *like* the fact that the heroine has a life beyond boyfriend. :)
Edited to add:
Library Wars Vol. 4
(I just finished, and I'm afraid if I wait until I make another one of these posts I'll forget that I haven't already listed it.) Volume 4 contains the big revelation of who our heroine's mysterious "Prince Charming" from her childhood is, which has been painfully obvious since Vol 1, and even the author knew that, but, as she says in the sidebar notes, knowing that everyone already knows it, and actually officially revealing it are two different things.
29: The Small-Engine Handbook, by Peter Hunn (non-fiction)
Yes, I read a book about engines. What can I say, I have eclectic tastes. (Okay, the real reason is that I'm a writer, and it was stuff one of my characters would know. I also read bits of another book about outboard engines -- same reason.)
30: The Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry (fantasy, YA)
I considered this one a Cinderella retelling, but when I referred to it as "you know, that Cinderella book you loaned to me" the daughter who loaned it to me didn't recognize it. I finally hit on some other descriptor, and she said "Oh, yeah!" and then "What do you mean, Cinderella?" When I explained it, she went "D'oh!" though, so I think it's safe to say that it *is* a Cinderella retelling, even if it doesn't contain anything as obvious as a glass slipper. It's not a bad story. Prince Charming I think gets short-changed, as is far too frequent in Cinderella tales. The other main male character had more screentime, and partly as a result of that, seemed more interesting.
31: The Castle of the Silver Wheel, by Teresa Edgerton (fantasy, reread)
32: The Grail And The Ring, by Teresa Edgerton (fantasy, reread)
33: The Moon and the Thorn, by Teresa Edgerton (fantasy, reread)
This trilogy is an old friend. It's based on Celtic mythology/culture, but isn't a retelling. There's a previous trilogy set in the same world that I don't reread ever, but only because we lost one of the books, and I'm too lazy to hunt down a replacement copy, when I can just reread this trilogy instead. Goblin Moon is another Teresa Edgerton favorite of mine -- it has a more 17th century-ish setting.
34: Um-- slips, stumbles, and verbal blunders, and what they mean, by Michael Erard (non-fiction)
I went on a linguistics and language kick. This was a fun way to start off. A look at what we can learn about language from verbal mistakes. Interesting, informative, and frequently amusing.
35: Chinese for Dummies by Wendy Abraham (non-fiction)
I found this a fairly easy read. I was dubious I could ever learn much Chinese from it, but since I was actually trying to learn *about* Chinese that wasn't an issue. I'm not sure I learned a lot about Chinese, but I came out knowing more than I started, and I was entertained in the meantime, so I think that's an overall win.
36: The language Instinct, by Steven Pinker (non-fiction)
Another writer who manages to be engaging, interesting and even amusing.
37: A Thousand Pieces of Gold, by Adeline Yen Mah
A fascinating look at Chinese history from the perspective of a contemporary chinese woman. It was a bit odd going straight from the Steven Pinker debunking that whole "you can't think it if there isn't a word for it" type of thing, to Ms Mah taking the exact same thing as a generally accepted linguistic fact, though. Personally I'm on Pinker's side of that argument. As a fantasy writer, I have to make up words to fill in cultural concepts that english doens't have words for, but my characters do. How could I do that, if I can't think about anything I myself do not have a word for?
38: A Perfect Gentleman, by Barbara Metzger (regency)
My husband brought this home for me -- I actually hadn't read it before. Amazing!
39: Cupboard Kisses, by Barbara Metzger (regency, reread)
He also brought home this one, which we already owned (but with different cover art, which is why he thought it didn't look familiar). I read it again anyway. Why not?
40: The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin (YA, reread)
A fun book that my kids happened to have out of the library -- so I read it again. It's sort of a mystery, but not in the classic solving the crime sense, more of a figuring out the puzzle type of thing.
41: Gilded Latten Bones: A Garrett, P.I., Novel, by Glen Cook (fantasy/mystery)
This is the nth book in a series that is starting to take up quite a bit of shelf space, and to be perfectly honest I'm wondering why I'm still reading the things. I like fantasy, I like mystery, I used to enjoy the voice -- but I am sooo tired of this guy's girl problems like I can't even say.
42: They Have A Word For It, by Howard Rheingold (non-fiction)
Back to books on linguistics. Mr. Rheingold has collected an interesting collection of "untranslatable" words, but I didn't discover that knowing them expanded my mental horizons as much as he thought that they would. Maybe because I already regularly read about cultures other than my own?
43: Mr. Monk Goes to Germany, by Lee Goldberg (mystery, media tie-in)
Someone got this out of the library, because they knew various members of the family had been watching the TV series on DVD, and thought we might be interested. I read it, because it was there. And I don't regret reading it, but I'm not particularly eager to get the next one.
I also read the following manga:
La Corda d'Oro, Vol. 1-2, by Yuki Kure
We watched the anime, in which our heroine doesn't end up with ANY of the seven or so potential love interests. (Not too surprising when you realize that it was based on a dating sim.) A claim was made that the manga actually did get her together with someone, and it was debated between my daughters and myself whether or not getting some romantic resolution would be worth it, if none of our favorite ships were likely to be the one. The first volume was duly ordered from the library, and it was decided that it followed the anime too closely to be worth reading further, but eventually someone was bored and got the second one out anyway. I really enjoy the musical theme, so I didn't mind revisiting the story again -- besides, the second volume had a lot of stuff with my favorite ship. :)
Naruto, Vol. 1, by Masashi Kishimoto
This simply does not appear to be my cup of tea. I suspected it wouldn't be, but someone got it out of the library, and I figured I might as well try it, just in case.
Dramacon, Volume 1 - 3, by Svetlana Chmakova
She goes to an anime convention with her boyfriend, (her first con ever!!), Her boyfriend is a jerk. She meets this other guy... I was amused enough to read the next couple volumes, but then I'm a sucker for anything that looks vaguely romantic.
RIN-NE, Vol. 1-4, by Rumiko Takahashi
By the author of Ramna 1/2 which was vaguely amusing but went on for way too long, and Inu-Yasha, which I started out enjoying and then decided it was going on for way to long. This time our romantic leads are helping spirits stuck in this world pass over. I'm still enjoying it, but then I'm only on volume 4.
Tegami Bachi, Letter Be Vol. 1-4, by Hiroyuki Asada
Fantasy Adventure manga, the main characters are letter carriers who make their deliveries across a dark monster-infested wasteland. The story and characters are pretty fun so far, and I'm interested in the revealed bits of back plot and worldbuilding.
Skip Beat!
I forget what volume I'm on, but I've read as many of these as are out in English. The last volume was sadly lacking in charming romantic bits, but that wouldn't have bothered me if I didn't have to wait so long for the next volume to be published. I *like* the fact that the heroine has a life beyond boyfriend. :)
Edited to add:
Library Wars Vol. 4
(I just finished, and I'm afraid if I wait until I make another one of these posts I'll forget that I haven't already listed it.) Volume 4 contains the big revelation of who our heroine's mysterious "Prince Charming" from her childhood is, which has been painfully obvious since Vol 1, and even the author knew that, but, as she says in the sidebar notes, knowing that everyone already knows it, and actually officially revealing it are two different things.
24ronincats
Hey, L., thanks for the reminder about Teresa Edgerton--she's one of those authors that I found one book by ages ago and never saw anything else by them. I have the first book of the first trilogy Child of Saturn and thanks to Wikipedia and PaperBackSwap, I now have the other two books of that first trilogy on order. It's been so long since I read and liked the first book, I'll read the first trilogy before I order the second, but it looks like they are all available too.
26drneutron
I'm with you on Goblin Moon - haven't read it in years, but it was a favorite at one time. Perhaps I need to visit it again!
27LShelby
44: Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (paranormal)
Second in the Dresden files series, Jim Butcher's version of a romantic subplot appears to be that there are women around his character wouldn't mind going to bed with, and at some point he actually does go to bed with one. Other than that, I found it a readable mystery adventure and am not opposed to trying the next one.
45: Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith (paranormal)
I really enjoyed this fun romantic adventure with a nice dash of swash, right up until the end, which didn't look or feel like an end to me. I am hoping there's supposed to be sequel.
46: Elissa's Quest by Erica F. Verrillo (YA, fantasy)
Although the kid chosen to save the world is one of my least favorite tropes, and the whole talks to animal thingy is exactly the sort of thing I was deliberately NOT doing with the talks to animal thingy I am writing, both aspects were handled well enough in this book that I wouldn't mind reading the next one.
47: How not to write a novel : 200 classic mistakes and how to avoid them--a misstep-by-misstep guide by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman (non-fiction)
This covers pretty much the same stuff as nearly every How To Write book does, and since I've already read lots of those, I wouldn't have checked it out of the library myself. But since one of the kids got it out I figured I might as well read it. Turning all the advice on its head does make for some very fun examples.
48: Empires of the Word : a language history of the world, by Nicholas Ostler (non-fiction)
History AND Linguistics. Yum.
49: Heartless by Gail Carriger (paranormal)
The voice is as fun as ever, but this book seemed to be a little light on plot, as much of the book focused on character backstory. I hope the next installment makes a comeback in that department.
50: Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop (fantasy)
This is the second book I've read in this series, and alas, I do not think the concept is wearing very well for me. If caste has a strong influence on character, and most of the main characters belong to just a few castes, then there is a sort of sameness to the main characters. I would prefer more variety.
51: Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn (fantasy)
This is much more action oriented than most of Sharon's stuff I've read, and I liked that aspect. I also liked the romance. Like so many of her books (as in, every one I've read) there was a dramatic reveal near the end that was, for me, neither dramatic nor revealing, as I had figured out the secret some time earlier.
Edited because I forgot to add:
Monkey High! Vol.1, 2, 5
This is a cute little romance that was fun enough for volumes one and two, but when my daughter forgot to tell me that she had 3 & 4 out, I managed to pick up 5 without having felt that I'd missed anything. Basically, after the protags admit that they're a couple, everything else is just going back over the same emotional territory again and again.
Second in the Dresden files series, Jim Butcher's version of a romantic subplot appears to be that there are women around his character wouldn't mind going to bed with, and at some point he actually does go to bed with one. Other than that, I found it a readable mystery adventure and am not opposed to trying the next one.
45: Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith (paranormal)
I really enjoyed this fun romantic adventure with a nice dash of swash, right up until the end, which didn't look or feel like an end to me. I am hoping there's supposed to be sequel.
46: Elissa's Quest by Erica F. Verrillo (YA, fantasy)
Although the kid chosen to save the world is one of my least favorite tropes, and the whole talks to animal thingy is exactly the sort of thing I was deliberately NOT doing with the talks to animal thingy I am writing, both aspects were handled well enough in this book that I wouldn't mind reading the next one.
47: How not to write a novel : 200 classic mistakes and how to avoid them--a misstep-by-misstep guide by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman (non-fiction)
This covers pretty much the same stuff as nearly every How To Write book does, and since I've already read lots of those, I wouldn't have checked it out of the library myself. But since one of the kids got it out I figured I might as well read it. Turning all the advice on its head does make for some very fun examples.
48: Empires of the Word : a language history of the world, by Nicholas Ostler (non-fiction)
History AND Linguistics. Yum.
49: Heartless by Gail Carriger (paranormal)
The voice is as fun as ever, but this book seemed to be a little light on plot, as much of the book focused on character backstory. I hope the next installment makes a comeback in that department.
50: Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop (fantasy)
This is the second book I've read in this series, and alas, I do not think the concept is wearing very well for me. If caste has a strong influence on character, and most of the main characters belong to just a few castes, then there is a sort of sameness to the main characters. I would prefer more variety.
51: Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn (fantasy)
This is much more action oriented than most of Sharon's stuff I've read, and I liked that aspect. I also liked the romance. Like so many of her books (as in, every one I've read) there was a dramatic reveal near the end that was, for me, neither dramatic nor revealing, as I had figured out the secret some time earlier.
Edited because I forgot to add:
Monkey High! Vol.1, 2, 5
This is a cute little romance that was fun enough for volumes one and two, but when my daughter forgot to tell me that she had 3 & 4 out, I managed to pick up 5 without having felt that I'd missed anything. Basically, after the protags admit that they're a couple, everything else is just going back over the same emotional territory again and again.
28alcottacre
I really must look for Empires of the Word. Thanks for the recommendation, Shelby.
Congratulations on passing 50 books for the year!
Congratulations on passing 50 books for the year!
29LShelby
52 Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede (YA, fantasy)
I really liked this one, but I guess I've already mentioned that I'm prejudiced in this author's favor, right?
This is the sequel to Thirteenth Child -- our frontier heroine, now a young lady, has got a job as the assistant to a naturalist doing a survey of the wildlife across the Great Barrier. Most particularly a survey of the magical wildlife... and they discover that something is decidedly amiss.
53 Omnitopia Dawn by Diane Duane (SF)
A near future story involving virtual worlds. I found the corporate environment of Omnitopia rather implausibly utopic, but if you're tired of seeing the corporation as always the bad-guy, I guess here's your counter example. :)
54 The Ralestone Luck by Andre Norton (YA, reread)
An old friend I pulled off my shelves. This is one of Norton's contemporary adventure/mystery type stories. The children of a family with a very colorful past return to the old family manor, hoping for a new life... and maybe even a chance to find the long lost family "luck".
55 The Well-Favored Man by Elizabeth Willey (Fantasy, reread)
I was a bit disappointed rereading this after it had been sitting on my shelves for a long time. I had it in my head as being mannerly, which it was. But I think I was really in the mood for romantic -- which it wasn't. Anyway young mage/lord taking over the throne from his recently deceased mother, has to deal with a dragon and missing relatives, and mysteriously reappearing relatives and so on and so forth.
56 Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (YA, supernatural romance)
She's a teen angel. He's an ordinary teen. It reminded me a lot of Twilight.
57 Dzur by Steven Brust (Fantasy)
One of the many books about an assassin/minor crime lord and his draconic-ish familiar. Don't start here. Start with Jhereg. I was wondering as I read this why I like these stories when I don't actually like the main character, and frankly, I think the banter between him and his familiar is a huge part of the appeal. And the rest would probably be the solid worldbuilding and the plots that don't drag.
58 Blue Bloods by Melissa De LaCruz (YA, Urban Fantasy)
I've been at least starting on pretty much anything my daughter brings home recently. This was one of the ones I finished. I thought it worked quite well as a story, but by the end of it I was so sick of brand names, as I just can't even say.
59 Great Spanish Plays (non-fiction)
This is just what it sounds like. Translations of a selection of "Great Spanish Plays". I think Shakespeare has more character depth and better dialog, but hey, it's a translation. The last play in the book reminded me of Wuthering Heights, which is a nice trick, since mostly all I remember about Wuthering Heights, is that that there was a dark and brooding man who I thought was an idiot, and some woman mooning over him, who I thought was even more of an idiot.
60 Clarity by Kim Harrington (YA, supernatural romance)
I mostly enjoyed this teen romance/mystery story with a heroine who reads the past of objects, but I wasn't enthralled by the hints about what was next that showed up on the last page or so. Puts me in a quandry as far as picking up the next one goes. Maybe I'll flip a coin.
61 The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B Dunkle (YA, fantasy, romance)
62 Close Kin by Clare B Dunkle (YA, fantasy, romance)
63 In the coils of the snake by Clare B Dunkle (YA, fantasy, romance)
"The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy". The Goblins (most particularly the Goblin King) must steal brides from the Humans and Elves if they are to maintain the strength of their race. No Human or Elf ever volunteers to be a wife to the deformed Goblins. But when Kate discovers her sister is missing...
64 The Corpse Wore Tartan by Kaitlyn Dunnett (mystery)
Um... it's a mystery story. Murder while stuck at a fancy hotel in a snowstorm. That kind of thing. :)
Manga/Graphic Novels:
Land of the Blindfolded 1-9
I liked that the clairvoyant aspects gave a bit more substance to the romance, but I found the ending a little, um... forced? Over-played? I liked the series right up to the end, though.
Full Moon 2
The library didn't have the first volume, but my daughter had read it elsewhere and so picked up two. Not only did I have extreme difficulty following the story, half the time I couldn't even tell who was talking. Sigh.
Alice in the Country of Hearts 1-5
My first reaction was "there are way too many guys in this". Apparently its based on a dating sim? It also is weirdly dark. But I like trying to figure out the rules of a strange world, and naturally I ended up with my favorite ship that I wanted to cheer on, so now I'm waiting for the next one to come out.
Aqua 1-2
This is technically science fiction I guess, but mostly it's just a really, really cute series about a girl who wants to be a gondolier. There wasn't much of an over arching plot, though. Just lots of short little... incidents. I ended up recommending it to my youngest daughter, and she loved it and wanted more. As for myself, two volumes was enough.
Mouse Guard Volume 1: Fall 1152
The brave mice of the Mouse Guard must defend themselves against a secret scheme. I'd read the next one if someone brought it home, but I haven't gone looking for it.
Rapunzel's Revenge
In a fairy tale/western-frontier-ish cross, Rapunzel rescues herself from the tower and vows revenge on the witch. Highly recommended. I read the sequel Calamity Jack first, and enjoyed that one too.
Slam Dunk 1-12
Basketball manga. The main character acts like an idiot teen-aged boy, and my daughter wishes I would stop requesting these on her library card. I might. Mostly because the entire series hasn't been published yet, so I can't get to the end anyway.
Translucent 1-2
A strange but charming little story about a girl who turns partially invisible.
Utahime-The Songstress 1
The songstress' songs help protect the kingdom, and as a result they are kept locked in towers. I might read on. I'm a bit worried that it might turn dark.
Miki Falls 1-4
The "world" premise made everyone in the family that read it go "you have GOT to be kidding me!". But other than that it's a nice little romance.
Swan 1
Ballet manga. I'd be willing to read more, but I haven't bothered to hunt down the next one.
Song of the Hanging Sky
This guy finds a boy with wings. The worldbuilding/cultural stuff is interesting. Another one I might get around to reading the next volume of eventually.
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You 1-9
A high school romance manga that very astonishingly hasn't bored me yet, and I'm on Volume 9. :)
Skip beat! 1-6 (reread)
Yes, I've gone back to the beginning and am starting over. Gotta get my "fix" while waiting for the next volume to come out. ::rueful::
I really liked this one, but I guess I've already mentioned that I'm prejudiced in this author's favor, right?
This is the sequel to Thirteenth Child -- our frontier heroine, now a young lady, has got a job as the assistant to a naturalist doing a survey of the wildlife across the Great Barrier. Most particularly a survey of the magical wildlife... and they discover that something is decidedly amiss.
53 Omnitopia Dawn by Diane Duane (SF)
A near future story involving virtual worlds. I found the corporate environment of Omnitopia rather implausibly utopic, but if you're tired of seeing the corporation as always the bad-guy, I guess here's your counter example. :)
54 The Ralestone Luck by Andre Norton (YA, reread)
An old friend I pulled off my shelves. This is one of Norton's contemporary adventure/mystery type stories. The children of a family with a very colorful past return to the old family manor, hoping for a new life... and maybe even a chance to find the long lost family "luck".
55 The Well-Favored Man by Elizabeth Willey (Fantasy, reread)
I was a bit disappointed rereading this after it had been sitting on my shelves for a long time. I had it in my head as being mannerly, which it was. But I think I was really in the mood for romantic -- which it wasn't. Anyway young mage/lord taking over the throne from his recently deceased mother, has to deal with a dragon and missing relatives, and mysteriously reappearing relatives and so on and so forth.
56 Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (YA, supernatural romance)
She's a teen angel. He's an ordinary teen. It reminded me a lot of Twilight.
57 Dzur by Steven Brust (Fantasy)
One of the many books about an assassin/minor crime lord and his draconic-ish familiar. Don't start here. Start with Jhereg. I was wondering as I read this why I like these stories when I don't actually like the main character, and frankly, I think the banter between him and his familiar is a huge part of the appeal. And the rest would probably be the solid worldbuilding and the plots that don't drag.
58 Blue Bloods by Melissa De LaCruz (YA, Urban Fantasy)
I've been at least starting on pretty much anything my daughter brings home recently. This was one of the ones I finished. I thought it worked quite well as a story, but by the end of it I was so sick of brand names, as I just can't even say.
59 Great Spanish Plays (non-fiction)
This is just what it sounds like. Translations of a selection of "Great Spanish Plays". I think Shakespeare has more character depth and better dialog, but hey, it's a translation. The last play in the book reminded me of Wuthering Heights, which is a nice trick, since mostly all I remember about Wuthering Heights, is that that there was a dark and brooding man who I thought was an idiot, and some woman mooning over him, who I thought was even more of an idiot.
60 Clarity by Kim Harrington (YA, supernatural romance)
I mostly enjoyed this teen romance/mystery story with a heroine who reads the past of objects, but I wasn't enthralled by the hints about what was next that showed up on the last page or so. Puts me in a quandry as far as picking up the next one goes. Maybe I'll flip a coin.
61 The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B Dunkle (YA, fantasy, romance)
62 Close Kin by Clare B Dunkle (YA, fantasy, romance)
63 In the coils of the snake by Clare B Dunkle (YA, fantasy, romance)
"The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy". The Goblins (most particularly the Goblin King) must steal brides from the Humans and Elves if they are to maintain the strength of their race. No Human or Elf ever volunteers to be a wife to the deformed Goblins. But when Kate discovers her sister is missing...
64 The Corpse Wore Tartan by Kaitlyn Dunnett (mystery)
Um... it's a mystery story. Murder while stuck at a fancy hotel in a snowstorm. That kind of thing. :)
Manga/Graphic Novels:
Land of the Blindfolded 1-9
I liked that the clairvoyant aspects gave a bit more substance to the romance, but I found the ending a little, um... forced? Over-played? I liked the series right up to the end, though.
Full Moon 2
The library didn't have the first volume, but my daughter had read it elsewhere and so picked up two. Not only did I have extreme difficulty following the story, half the time I couldn't even tell who was talking. Sigh.
Alice in the Country of Hearts 1-5
My first reaction was "there are way too many guys in this". Apparently its based on a dating sim? It also is weirdly dark. But I like trying to figure out the rules of a strange world, and naturally I ended up with my favorite ship that I wanted to cheer on, so now I'm waiting for the next one to come out.
Aqua 1-2
This is technically science fiction I guess, but mostly it's just a really, really cute series about a girl who wants to be a gondolier. There wasn't much of an over arching plot, though. Just lots of short little... incidents. I ended up recommending it to my youngest daughter, and she loved it and wanted more. As for myself, two volumes was enough.
Mouse Guard Volume 1: Fall 1152
The brave mice of the Mouse Guard must defend themselves against a secret scheme. I'd read the next one if someone brought it home, but I haven't gone looking for it.
Rapunzel's Revenge
In a fairy tale/western-frontier-ish cross, Rapunzel rescues herself from the tower and vows revenge on the witch. Highly recommended. I read the sequel Calamity Jack first, and enjoyed that one too.
Slam Dunk 1-12
Basketball manga. The main character acts like an idiot teen-aged boy, and my daughter wishes I would stop requesting these on her library card. I might. Mostly because the entire series hasn't been published yet, so I can't get to the end anyway.
Translucent 1-2
A strange but charming little story about a girl who turns partially invisible.
Utahime-The Songstress 1
The songstress' songs help protect the kingdom, and as a result they are kept locked in towers. I might read on. I'm a bit worried that it might turn dark.
Miki Falls 1-4
The "world" premise made everyone in the family that read it go "you have GOT to be kidding me!". But other than that it's a nice little romance.
Swan 1
Ballet manga. I'd be willing to read more, but I haven't bothered to hunt down the next one.
Song of the Hanging Sky
This guy finds a boy with wings. The worldbuilding/cultural stuff is interesting. Another one I might get around to reading the next volume of eventually.
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You 1-9
A high school romance manga that very astonishingly hasn't bored me yet, and I'm on Volume 9. :)
Skip beat! 1-6 (reread)
Yes, I've gone back to the beginning and am starting over. Gotta get my "fix" while waiting for the next volume to come out. ::rueful::
30LShelby
I remembered when I went to alter my first message that I'd been trying to track which of my own stories I've reread. Only I didn't write them down, and now I can't remember when I read what.
I know I reread the Raven and the Veil the day before yesterday, just because I was in the mood for it. (I think I'd like to reread Across a Jade Sea because I'm in the mood for it too, but it's not really in readable condition. 800+ handwritten and very much scribbled-all-over pages. Oi!)
But I think I've reread Dicing With Flames and Cantata in Coral and Ivory in the past couple of months also. Cantata because I was doing a bit of editing and, well, I got caught up in the story again. Dicing with Flames, because I've started working on the sequel.
I need to start writing them down somewhere. I haven't wanted to enter them into LT. It makes me feel self-indulgent and uncomfortable to litter the system with books that aren't published.
I know I reread the Raven and the Veil the day before yesterday, just because I was in the mood for it. (I think I'd like to reread Across a Jade Sea because I'm in the mood for it too, but it's not really in readable condition. 800+ handwritten and very much scribbled-all-over pages. Oi!)
But I think I've reread Dicing With Flames and Cantata in Coral and Ivory in the past couple of months also. Cantata because I was doing a bit of editing and, well, I got caught up in the story again. Dicing with Flames, because I've started working on the sequel.
I need to start writing them down somewhere. I haven't wanted to enter them into LT. It makes me feel self-indulgent and uncomfortable to litter the system with books that aren't published.
31LShelby
65 - Keeping It Real, by Justina Robson (fantasy)
Cyborg special agent acting as bodyguard to elf rock star, gets sucked into a larger plot that will effect the fate of the multiverse. Urban Cyberpunkish Fantasy. I finished it, but it's not my cup of tea.
66 - Pegasus, by Robin McKinley (fantasy)
Each member of the royal family is paired with their own Pegasus. This is supposed to support the alliance between the two species, but does it? More interesting than fun, but certainly interesting. The story ends VERY abruptly, and without tying up hardly anything -- I assume there is a sequel coming.
67 - Titanic #1: Unsinkable, by Gordon Korman (Juvenile)
Kid's mystery adventure -- it popped up in the library search when I was looking for non-fiction (see following entries) and I thought I'd see what it was like. It was an fine story, but there was nothing that particularly spoke to me personally, to motivate me to request the rest of the series.
68 - Picture History of the Normandie: With 190 Illustrations, by Frank O. Braynard (non-fiction)
69 - SS Leviathan: America's First Superliner, by Brent Holt (non-fiction)
70 - The Complete Titanic: From the Ship's Earliest Blueprints to the Epic Film, by Stephen J. Spignesi (non-fiction)
I was doing research on ocean liners.
71 - Diesel's Engine: From Conception to 1918, by C. Lyle Cummins, Jr. (non-fiction)
And I was also researching diesel engines.
(Technically I didn't finish reading this book, but it's big enough to be four or five books, and I did read at least a book worth of stuff out of it, so I'm listing it.) :)
72 - In Like Flynn, by Rhys Bowen (mystery)
73 - Evan's Gate, by Rhys Bowen (mystery)
Fine writing, good stories, characters and style were not my cup of tea.
74 - Innocents Abroad, by Mark Twain (non-fiction)
Apparently this is the book that made Mark Twain a big name author, and I'd never heard of it before it popped up on the steamship search. It's the tale of his real-life adventures on a pleasure cruise via steam-ship across the Atlantic and through the Mediterranean to the "Holy Land". Of course it wouldn't be a popular study nowadays -- Twain is incredibly politically incorrect. But I laughed through the whole thing anyway, because he's just so horribly witty that I couldn't help it.
75 - My Fair Godmother, by Janette Rallison (YA, romance, fantasy)
This book was a FUN, clean, funny, cute, teen romance about a hapless teen whose romantic problems have just become an extra-credit project for a common-sense challenged teen fairy godmother. My daughter brought it home, and the entire female portion of the household rejoiced, because we all like FUN books, and are finding them hard to discover. As she put it, "I struck gold!"
76 - My Unfair Godmother, by Janette Rallison (YA, romance, fantasy)
And the household consensus is that this one was even better than the first.
77 - The Revenge of the Cheerleaders, by Janette Rallison (YA, romance)
We weren't quite so enthused about this one, because of the sad lack of fantasy elements. :( But it was still fun and cute.
78 - Prom and Prejudice, by Elizabeth Eulberg (YA, romance)
Retelling of Pride and Prejudice as a contemporary teen romance. No where near as witty as the original, but then, you gotta expect that. It was quite readable.
Manga/Graphic novels:
Skip Beat! 7-22 (re-read)
In spite of my manga loving daughter and I making a rule that we had to request these one at a time, we are nearing the end of what's available in the library. This time through the series, we also sucked two of my other daughters in, and so now there are four Skip Beat! addicts in the house. The male portion of the family remains puzzled as to what we see in it.
The Courageous Princess, by Rod Espinosa
Cute little adventure. I thought it would have been better for the addition of a nice little romance, but I'm prejudiced in that direction.
My stories:
Across the Jade Sea
I broke down and decided to read it anyway. Read it through three times (just because I was enjoying it so much) in spite of the awkwardness of the 800+ scribbled all over handwritten pages. And then I started to transcribe and revise it. I'm now just over two thirds of the way through transcription, and expecting the story to end up over 200K words long -- about twice as long as my stories usually are.
Cyborg special agent acting as bodyguard to elf rock star, gets sucked into a larger plot that will effect the fate of the multiverse. Urban Cyberpunkish Fantasy. I finished it, but it's not my cup of tea.
66 - Pegasus, by Robin McKinley (fantasy)
Each member of the royal family is paired with their own Pegasus. This is supposed to support the alliance between the two species, but does it? More interesting than fun, but certainly interesting. The story ends VERY abruptly, and without tying up hardly anything -- I assume there is a sequel coming.
67 - Titanic #1: Unsinkable, by Gordon Korman (Juvenile)
Kid's mystery adventure -- it popped up in the library search when I was looking for non-fiction (see following entries) and I thought I'd see what it was like. It was an fine story, but there was nothing that particularly spoke to me personally, to motivate me to request the rest of the series.
68 - Picture History of the Normandie: With 190 Illustrations, by Frank O. Braynard (non-fiction)
69 - SS Leviathan: America's First Superliner, by Brent Holt (non-fiction)
70 - The Complete Titanic: From the Ship's Earliest Blueprints to the Epic Film, by Stephen J. Spignesi (non-fiction)
I was doing research on ocean liners.
71 - Diesel's Engine: From Conception to 1918, by C. Lyle Cummins, Jr. (non-fiction)
And I was also researching diesel engines.
(Technically I didn't finish reading this book, but it's big enough to be four or five books, and I did read at least a book worth of stuff out of it, so I'm listing it.) :)
72 - In Like Flynn, by Rhys Bowen (mystery)
73 - Evan's Gate, by Rhys Bowen (mystery)
Fine writing, good stories, characters and style were not my cup of tea.
74 - Innocents Abroad, by Mark Twain (non-fiction)
Apparently this is the book that made Mark Twain a big name author, and I'd never heard of it before it popped up on the steamship search. It's the tale of his real-life adventures on a pleasure cruise via steam-ship across the Atlantic and through the Mediterranean to the "Holy Land". Of course it wouldn't be a popular study nowadays -- Twain is incredibly politically incorrect. But I laughed through the whole thing anyway, because he's just so horribly witty that I couldn't help it.
75 - My Fair Godmother, by Janette Rallison (YA, romance, fantasy)
This book was a FUN, clean, funny, cute, teen romance about a hapless teen whose romantic problems have just become an extra-credit project for a common-sense challenged teen fairy godmother. My daughter brought it home, and the entire female portion of the household rejoiced, because we all like FUN books, and are finding them hard to discover. As she put it, "I struck gold!"
76 - My Unfair Godmother, by Janette Rallison (YA, romance, fantasy)
And the household consensus is that this one was even better than the first.
77 - The Revenge of the Cheerleaders, by Janette Rallison (YA, romance)
We weren't quite so enthused about this one, because of the sad lack of fantasy elements. :( But it was still fun and cute.
78 - Prom and Prejudice, by Elizabeth Eulberg (YA, romance)
Retelling of Pride and Prejudice as a contemporary teen romance. No where near as witty as the original, but then, you gotta expect that. It was quite readable.
Manga/Graphic novels:
Skip Beat! 7-22 (re-read)
In spite of my manga loving daughter and I making a rule that we had to request these one at a time, we are nearing the end of what's available in the library. This time through the series, we also sucked two of my other daughters in, and so now there are four Skip Beat! addicts in the house. The male portion of the family remains puzzled as to what we see in it.
The Courageous Princess, by Rod Espinosa
Cute little adventure. I thought it would have been better for the addition of a nice little romance, but I'm prejudiced in that direction.
My stories:
Across the Jade Sea
I broke down and decided to read it anyway. Read it through three times (just because I was enjoying it so much) in spite of the awkwardness of the 800+ scribbled all over handwritten pages. And then I started to transcribe and revise it. I'm now just over two thirds of the way through transcription, and expecting the story to end up over 200K words long -- about twice as long as my stories usually are.
32ronincats
Good to see you back here, Shelby.
I recently read Coronets and Steel from your July post, which I would not have know about otherwise, and then immediately read the sequel, Blood Spirits. Now I have to wait a while for the third book to come out. Very enjoyable--thanks for the recommendation.
Of your newly posted books, I plan to read Across the Great Barrier but don't want to spring for the hardback version. I have Omnitopia Dawn but haven't read it yet. I also have The Ralestone Luck--well, I have about everything Andre Norton ever wrote--and always enjoy it as well. And I love the repartee between Vlad and Loiosh. The series has books I like better and those I like less--but I love the series. I haven't reread The Well-favored Man, but I remember being disappointed in it the first time through. I loved Pegasus but I probably wouldn't have bought it yet (I got it as a free ER book) because I knew from the start that it was only the first half of the story, and as slowly as Robin McKinley writes--they are projecting mid-2012 for the second half, but I'll be surprised if it is out by then. On the other hand, I found it fascinating with some great set-ups for the second book.
So would you recommend The Hollow Kingdom trilogy?
I've put My Fair Godmother and its sequel on my wishlist--thanks!
I recently read Coronets and Steel from your July post, which I would not have know about otherwise, and then immediately read the sequel, Blood Spirits. Now I have to wait a while for the third book to come out. Very enjoyable--thanks for the recommendation.
Of your newly posted books, I plan to read Across the Great Barrier but don't want to spring for the hardback version. I have Omnitopia Dawn but haven't read it yet. I also have The Ralestone Luck--well, I have about everything Andre Norton ever wrote--and always enjoy it as well. And I love the repartee between Vlad and Loiosh. The series has books I like better and those I like less--but I love the series. I haven't reread The Well-favored Man, but I remember being disappointed in it the first time through. I loved Pegasus but I probably wouldn't have bought it yet (I got it as a free ER book) because I knew from the start that it was only the first half of the story, and as slowly as Robin McKinley writes--they are projecting mid-2012 for the second half, but I'll be surprised if it is out by then. On the other hand, I found it fascinating with some great set-ups for the second book.
So would you recommend The Hollow Kingdom trilogy?
I've put My Fair Godmother and its sequel on my wishlist--thanks!
34LShelby
Thanks for the congrats drneutron!
ronincats - My daughter and I both enjoyed the Hollow Kingdom series. I liked the first book best. In the other two books, I felt as if it was a bit a case of the characters being there to show off the cultures, more than the cultures being there because the characters happened to be from them. (I hope that made sense.)
ronincats - My daughter and I both enjoyed the Hollow Kingdom series. I liked the first book best. In the other two books, I felt as if it was a bit a case of the characters being there to show off the cultures, more than the cultures being there because the characters happened to be from them. (I hope that made sense.)
35LShelby
I haven't posted since October? Tsk!
But here's my books for the rest of the year anyway.
79. Spellfall, by Katherine Roberts (YA, Fantasy)
I'm afraid I read this one so long ago that I can't remember much about what I thought of it. :(
80. The Bonemender's Choice, by Holly Bennett (YA, Fantasy)
Third in the Bonemender series. Solid book. It didn't matter too much that I read it such a long time after the first two. ::rueful:
81. White Tiger, by Kylie Chan (Fantasy)
82. Red Phoenix, by Kylie Chan
First two books in what looks like a trilogy. I found the first book rather fun --ancient gods, cute kid, romance, martial arts -- what's not to like? The second book didn't seem to me to move things very much forwarder though. Stuff kept happening, but I didn't care as much.
83. Snuff, by Terry Pratchett (Fantasy)
This was a good thought-provoking book, but I didn't find it all that funny. Moments of humor, certainly. But just moments. IMHO. YMMV.
84. Oath of Fealty, by Elizabeth Moon (Fantasy)
85. Kings of the North, by Elizabeth Moon
The first two books in the sequel series to the Deed of Paksenarrion. Nice solid epic fantasy. I need to look up the next one, clearly.
85. Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn
First in a new series, I think? I believe this is now my favorite of her books.
86. The Dream-Maker's Magic, by Sharon Shinn.
Um... it's a lot like the other two books in the series?
Manga:
Maximum Ride, by James Patterson
Skip Beat! 23-25
Libaray Wars 5
But here's my books for the rest of the year anyway.
79. Spellfall, by Katherine Roberts (YA, Fantasy)
I'm afraid I read this one so long ago that I can't remember much about what I thought of it. :(
80. The Bonemender's Choice, by Holly Bennett (YA, Fantasy)
Third in the Bonemender series. Solid book. It didn't matter too much that I read it such a long time after the first two. ::rueful:
81. White Tiger, by Kylie Chan (Fantasy)
82. Red Phoenix, by Kylie Chan
First two books in what looks like a trilogy. I found the first book rather fun --ancient gods, cute kid, romance, martial arts -- what's not to like? The second book didn't seem to me to move things very much forwarder though. Stuff kept happening, but I didn't care as much.
83. Snuff, by Terry Pratchett (Fantasy)
This was a good thought-provoking book, but I didn't find it all that funny. Moments of humor, certainly. But just moments. IMHO. YMMV.
84. Oath of Fealty, by Elizabeth Moon (Fantasy)
85. Kings of the North, by Elizabeth Moon
The first two books in the sequel series to the Deed of Paksenarrion. Nice solid epic fantasy. I need to look up the next one, clearly.
85. Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn
First in a new series, I think? I believe this is now my favorite of her books.
86. The Dream-Maker's Magic, by Sharon Shinn.
Um... it's a lot like the other two books in the series?
Manga:
Maximum Ride, by James Patterson
Skip Beat! 23-25
Libaray Wars 5
36ronincats
Echoes of Betrayal, the third in the Paladin's Legacy series, is coming out on February 21, just a little over 4 weeks away. Do I like this series? Whaddaya think? I am in awe that Moon could come back to this series after 20 years and start it up again as if she'd never left.
I haven't read Troubled Waters yet. My favorite Shinn so far is Wrapt in Crystal. I just put TW on hold at the library.
I haven't read Troubled Waters yet. My favorite Shinn so far is Wrapt in Crystal. I just put TW on hold at the library.
37LShelby
Yes, Moon coming back to Pak's world was certainly awsome. :)
I hope you like Troubled Waters. I actually met Sharon Shinn before this came out and heard her talking about the world just a teensy bit, so it was kind of cool to have someone else bring that one into the house and go... "Oh! This was what she was describing at World Fantasy."
I haven't read Wrapt in Crystal yet. Clearly I need to hunt that one down.
I hope you like Troubled Waters. I actually met Sharon Shinn before this came out and heard her talking about the world just a teensy bit, so it was kind of cool to have someone else bring that one into the house and go... "Oh! This was what she was describing at World Fantasy."
I haven't read Wrapt in Crystal yet. Clearly I need to hunt that one down.
