Books 22-30

[deense]

Hi, My name is deense and I have been crap at my bookblog this year. Actually, I've been crap at reading overall, but considering I've watched most of the west wing two times over since the beginning of August, I think I know why.

22. The Court of the Air, Stephen Hunt. This is honestly the epitome of a novel gone wrong. Steampunk, which means it's something I love. About Orphans on the run, which, again means I'm predisposed to like it, and all sorts of characters that normally I'd find endearing for all of their quirks. Only there were too many of them. Too many characters, too many sub-plots, it's a book that got lost in it's own cleverness. I honestly think this would have been better as three books in a series, as some storylines never got wrapped up, and others were rushed. So much potential, and in the end, nada.

23. & 24. Blaze of Glory & Heart of Gold by Michael Pryor. Wow, so I went to hunt around for his books on the net, and found that he is in fact Australian, and three of his books have been CBC notable books, and those (not these ones) are about the only ones you can find on Amazon. Anyway, everything bad I had to say about Court of the Air I have GOOD to say about these two books. Steampunk, young adult and wow. The sort of book that carries you through to the end and then made me go buy the second one the next day. The third is not out yet, but the second, Heart of Gold has been shortlisted for 2 Aurealis awards, Best Fantasy Novel, and Best Young Adult Fantasy. Srsly. CJ, I think these might come your way next package. Honestly, they are everything about YA Fiction done RIGHT.

25. Escape, Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer. With the FLDS in the news these days, this book was amazingly topical. Honestly it was also just great. Seriously. Carolyn's story of being married to a fifty year old man with three wives already at eighteen. She had eight kids over seventeen years with him, and she was the first to escape with her children and keep custody of them. It's the sort of book that could easily be over sentimental but it isn't. I couldn't put it down, and immediately foisted it off on Anna to read who also couldn't put it down.

26. For a Few Demons More, Kim Harrison (re-read). Fifth in the Hollows series. I love these books, and if the often crappy Urban Fantasy genre I find Harrison, Jim Butcher and Kelley Armstrong consistently put out very readable plot centric books with characters I like (and ones I hate). This one made me cry. Again.

27. jPod, Douglas Coupland. I was HUGELY disappointed by this book. Two problems really. I waited over a year to read it, and Microserfs is one of my favourite books. This book felt trite and try hard. I liked it, it just wasn't great. I expected great. I got gimmicky and over the top. I do want to see the tv series though.

28. The Gum Thief, Douglas Coupland. From one Coupland straight into another. This book was utterly different, and I honestly think it's one of his best. A combination of epistolary and excerpts from a novella one of the characters has been writing, and it's that sort of book that makes you cringe because you've been there. You've had that moment. But it's well written and put together and I found myself invested in the three characters and their lives as they unfolded.

29. & 30. Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader, CS Lewis. (re-reads). PC is still one of my least favourite of the series, and DT is still my favourite. Do I have to say more?

I've also read quite a few copies of the New Scientist (auntyyolly this is your fault), the first two volumes of Order of the Stick, all of Runaways so far, and a metric crapload of XFactor and XMen comics. So um, yes.

the rest of what I've read this year

Comments

[butterflysteve.livejournal.com]

Have you read the sixth one yet?

[butterflysteve.livejournal.com]

I am of course talking about Kim Harrison... shush I'm tired.

[deensey.livejournal.com]

lol, i figured you weren't talking about, you know, narnia.

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Not yet! At $60 a pop, I try to avoid books in hardcover, though I did buy the last in hardcover. Grah. I get so tempted though.

[butterflysteve.livejournal.com]

When I get paid do you want me to buy you the paperback and send it to you? SERIOUSLY YOU NEED TO READ IT! SOOOO MUCH HAPPENS.

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Theoretically it came out in paperback in April in Oz. In actuality you can still only get it in hardcover, and the paperback is still 'coming soon'. I'm hoping soon means the next2-3 weeks, if it does, I'll manage to make it through. BARELY.

[cjmarlowe.livejournal.com]

Aw hell. Court of the Air is actually next up in my to-read pile.

[deensey.livejournal.com]

I wouldnt give it a miss by any means, because there is some great stuff in the book. Really great stuff. It just tries to do too much and the book gets lost in it. I think part of my reason for disliking it overall was the potential it had.

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

which reminds me. one of the cookery books you sent me aint' mine, and I'm missing one that is, and I can't remember what tis. Bah. Must find it. Plus, Keri Arthur. I can't remember what you have, so I can't get more. Makes sense?

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Yep, we've been over the cook book thing already, I'd mixed up your book and Kazzia's book. As to the others, I have them all in a neat little pile. I shall do the checky thing tonight and let you know which ones I have.

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

*nodnod*

And I shall either get my butt over to yours for a visit, or postem.

[sadi.livejournal.com]

have you read girlfriend in a coma? If not, don't. Huge waste of time. but Hey nostradamus was pretty good.

I started reading Jpod a while ago (I didn't get a chance to finish) and it seemed alright, very much in the style of coupland...lots of words nothing much said

[deensey.livejournal.com]

I loved Hey Nostradamus and Girlfriend is one of my least favourite books of his. I think my issue with jPod was just that. It's alright. I was expecting more, but then I often find his books hit or miss, and this one was a miss.