Reading List Update

[jedibuttercup]

I finished a couple more books this weekend-- one serious fantasy and the other just fluff:

23. Orphans of Chaos by John C. Wright. Paperback, 336pp. Wow. This one had (a) fascinating main characters and (b) fascinating abilities and even (c) a fascinating world structure, but it also had one big flaw that nearly made me stop reading several times: the story is deeply rooted in Greek myth, to the point that it made me feel dense. You know how when you're reading a good novel, little clues tend to stand out along the way, and usually end up being integral to the climax of the storyline? I kept getting the feeling of "clue" about little descriptive asides dropped all through the book, but as I don't know much about the Greek gods and myths I couldn't understand them, and it was very frustrating. It didn't help that the ending was a total reset, either. I'm not sure whether I'll pick up the sequel or not.

24. Hot Stuff by Janet Evanovich and Leanne Banks. Paperback, 304pp. The page count on this book is actually misleading-- the font size was several points higher than the other! This was total fluff, your generic hardworking intelligent good girl with wacky friends meets attractive mysterious bad boy and gets mixed up in a dangerous plot, which the bad boy is integral in solving and saving her from, and of course he's really pure gold in a bad boy disguise, and they end up living happily ever after. Silly fun.

Next up: Sir Apropos of Nothing, by Peter David.
~

Comments

[kerravonsen]

Wow. This one had (a) fascinating main characters and (b) fascinating abilities and even (c) a fascinating world structure

(grin) Yep.

I kept getting the feeling of "clue" about little descriptive asides dropped all through the book, but as I don't know much about the Greek gods and myths I couldn't understand them, and it was very frustrating.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I think I just let it all flow past me when I was reading it.

I do intend to pick up the sequel, but I'll probably wait for the paperback.

[jedibuttercup]

I think I may do a little recreational research before the sequel hits paperback, and make another go at it. Because that was seriously good stuff-- I just really hate the sensation that the author is pitching to a specific audience that I'm not informed enough to be a member of. More information = problem solved. Hopefully.

[jedibuttercup]

> I do intend to pick up the sequel, but I'll probably wait for the paperback.

Picked up Fugitives of Chaos the other day, and I saw the third book of the trilogy, Titans of Chaos, on the same shelf in hardback. *crossing fingers*

[kerravonsen]

Yep, I've got "Fugitives of Chaos" in my to-read pile. I just finished "Alphabet of Thorn" yesterday, and that was lovely; classic McKillip. Better than "Od Magic".

[jedibuttercup]

I'm not sure I've ever read much McKillip, though I remember seeing books by that author on the shelf next to Robin McKinley. If you had to recommend one to start with, which would you pick?

The more I read, the more I realize how much my early reading history was limited by what Dad, or my high school friends, favored. This reading-list project has made me try a lot of new things.

[kerravonsen]

If you had to recommend one to start with, which would you pick?

If you feel up to reading a trilogy, I'd recommend the "Riddle-Master of Hed" trilogy; that's her most accessable work, IMHO.

If you don't, then I'd suggest "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld", or, indeed, "The Alphabet of Thorn".

Patricia McKillip's strength is atmospheric, lyrical and dreamlike prose; her weakness is a tendency to have plots that are difficult to follow or lack logic, but she doesn't always fall into that trap.

[webtarkeena.livejournal.com]

Gotta say that the summary on "Apropos of Nothing" makes it look like a good read! Peter David was one of the few authors I learned to trust when I used to read Star Trek novels. Glad to see he's broken out of "Fan Fiction for Pay" :)

[jedibuttercup]

Hee, yes. "Q-in-Law" is one of my favorite Star Trek books of all time. I'm looking forward to this one. And if it turns out well, there are apparently already two sequels out to snap up and enjoy. =)