I've actually been voraciously reading pretty much EVERYTHING in the house, most of it crap. I'm terribly behind, so I'll just list what I've read since last updating, and then start with what I'm into right now. Deal?
Books Read since last update:
A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3)
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 4)
Terry Goodkind: Debt of Bones (Sword of Truth Prequel)
Terry Pratchett: Color of MagicThe Best of Mrs. Beeton's Household Tips(imported paperback)
Kate Elliot:
King's Dragon (Crown of Stars Volume 1)
Prince of Dogs (Crown of Stars Volume 2)
I've just begun the third volume in the Crown of Stars series by Kate Elliot. Not terribly loving it (it's obnoxious... actual words with one letter changed to make it "fantastical" annoy me to no end. It's a lame crutch used by uncreative writers.) But the story is appealing and there's a lot of books in the series and they're long books, so they'll keep me occupied while other, better books, get published and/or get put into paperback (I rarely buy hardback books, I'm hard on bindings and it's difficult to read a hardback in the bath.)
04 July 2008
01 February 2008
Info: Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) by George R. R. Martin
InfoTitle: Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
Author: George R. R. Martin (he TOTALLY looks like an epic fantasy novellist should, doesn't he? Seriously, check out his photo. Brilliant! He also has a rather neat-o website. I shall be perusing more! I also added his not-blog to my LJ friends list. Handy!)
Publisher: Random House / Bantam Dell / Spectra
Publish Date: 1997
ISBN: 0553573403
Type of Book: Fantasy
Date Started: 29 December 2007
Date Finished: 28 January 2008
Acquired from: Barnes & Noble (ugh)
Purchase price: $7.99
Rating (out of 5): *****
Finished: Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
(not really) spoiler alert (they say it on the back of book two)
THEY KILLED HIM AUGH! NO FAIR!
I totally had a crush on Ned. Bastards. I do see how it's completely necessary for plot advancement, but, c'mon, couldn't you have waited a little longer? *pout*
Well, finished book one. On to book two.
*loving them*
Info post with rating to follow.
THEY KILLED HIM AUGH! NO FAIR!
I totally had a crush on Ned. Bastards. I do see how it's completely necessary for plot advancement, but, c'mon, couldn't you have waited a little longer? *pout*
Well, finished book one. On to book two.
*loving them*
Info post with rating to follow.
13 January 2008
Reading: Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Ahh.... nice retreat back to high epic fantasy. It's all about intrigue, hack and slash, royal politics, overthrown houses, chivalry, cowardice, even tourneys!
So liking this. At first it was a "dive right in there" sort of world, they just start you out and plop you in the middle of the story, and things explain themselves as you go along. Not my favourite way to start a book, but definitely interesting. The beginning colours how you view the rest of the book as you're reading. You keep it in mind while you're watching the characters make judgements based on information they don't have.... that you do. So very like a mystery but crowded out with high fantasy. Totally loving it.
Sometimes the vocabulary is a bit... repetitive. I think he's used the word "gordet" way too many times. There's GOT to be another way to say "protective neck armor". I AM having to look up words, which is nice. Mostly ones that are "this author has a thesaurus and picked out a word for courageous that sounded more fantasy-y" (ie doughty).
Oh, then there's all the fantasy animals I've only sort of heard of, like direwolves and manticores and such. There's even an overshadowing of extinct-but-maybe-not dragons and all sorts of beasties that lurk in the shadows. Too much fun!
Anyway, I'm totally digging this series. I'm a bit bummed that it's only four(ish) books, but it's taking me a while to get through them, so I'll just enjoy them while I'm here.
Just to point out, each chapter is from the viewpoint of a different character, so you get everyone's story. It's similar to the way Terry Brooks handled the Sword of Shannara and Terry Goodkind wrote the Sword of Truth books. However this time it's formalized, with each character's name titling the chapter. I really kind of like this rigid form.
Speaking of Terry Goodkind, I plowed through the Terry Goodkind Sword of Truth books and I heard (saw) that the final book, the Confessor, is out. I'll be picking that up as soon as it's in paperback and will definitely blog it. I'm extremely interested in the ending. Every book in the series has had the same general structure - stuff is good, shit goes wrong, they work it out, shit might go bad again. I'm wondering how they'll end the cycle. Anyway, that's for the future.
I almost forgot! Game of Thrones even has the "highborn girl that doesn't want to be a lady, but a swordswoman". I LOVE those books! It's just about got EVERYTHING. Loving it!
So liking this. At first it was a "dive right in there" sort of world, they just start you out and plop you in the middle of the story, and things explain themselves as you go along. Not my favourite way to start a book, but definitely interesting. The beginning colours how you view the rest of the book as you're reading. You keep it in mind while you're watching the characters make judgements based on information they don't have.... that you do. So very like a mystery but crowded out with high fantasy. Totally loving it.
Sometimes the vocabulary is a bit... repetitive. I think he's used the word "gordet" way too many times. There's GOT to be another way to say "protective neck armor". I AM having to look up words, which is nice. Mostly ones that are "this author has a thesaurus and picked out a word for courageous that sounded more fantasy-y" (ie doughty).
Oh, then there's all the fantasy animals I've only sort of heard of, like direwolves and manticores and such. There's even an overshadowing of extinct-but-maybe-not dragons and all sorts of beasties that lurk in the shadows. Too much fun!
Anyway, I'm totally digging this series. I'm a bit bummed that it's only four(ish) books, but it's taking me a while to get through them, so I'll just enjoy them while I'm here.
Just to point out, each chapter is from the viewpoint of a different character, so you get everyone's story. It's similar to the way Terry Brooks handled the Sword of Shannara and Terry Goodkind wrote the Sword of Truth books. However this time it's formalized, with each character's name titling the chapter. I really kind of like this rigid form.
Speaking of Terry Goodkind, I plowed through the Terry Goodkind Sword of Truth books and I heard (saw) that the final book, the Confessor, is out. I'll be picking that up as soon as it's in paperback and will definitely blog it. I'm extremely interested in the ending. Every book in the series has had the same general structure - stuff is good, shit goes wrong, they work it out, shit might go bad again. I'm wondering how they'll end the cycle. Anyway, that's for the future.
I almost forgot! Game of Thrones even has the "highborn girl that doesn't want to be a lady, but a swordswoman". I LOVE those books! It's just about got EVERYTHING. Loving it!
Info: Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Info
(I read this, but didn't blog it. I was on vacation in Oklahoma visiting family for the holidays. I intend to start up again when I'm not so addicted to Puzzle Quest... still.)
Title: Sword of Shannara (Sword of Shannara, book 1)
Author: Terry Brooks
Publisher: Orbit / Del Rey / Random House
Publish Date: 2006
ISBN: 1857231511
Type of Book: Fantasy
Date Started: December 2007
Date Finished: 22 December 2007
Acquired from: Border's
Purchase price: $7.99
Rating (out of 5): ****
(I read this, but didn't blog it. I was on vacation in Oklahoma visiting family for the holidays. I intend to start up again when I'm not so addicted to Puzzle Quest... still.)
Title: Sword of Shannara (Sword of Shannara, book 1)
Author: Terry Brooks
Publisher: Orbit / Del Rey / Random House
Publish Date: 2006
ISBN: 1857231511
Type of Book: Fantasy
Date Started: December 2007
Date Finished: 22 December 2007
Acquired from: Border's
Purchase price: $7.99
Rating (out of 5): ****
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