Bout of Books 6.0
So, over on the Bout of Books site, something kind of awesome is happening. Here’s a blurb about what it’s all about from the Bout of Books site:
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 6.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books 6.0 team
I thought I’d participate in this awesomeness since it will Jhelum me with my own reading goals for 2013. I’m going trip try to read 4 books during the Bout, or at least 1,000 pages. I’ll probably be doing most of my updating on twitter. There’s also a very cool page on the BoB site with links to other participants. I hope you check some of them out too!
Happy New Year
The new year has arrived and with it I am starting a new challenge. This year my goal is to read 110 books that are new to me and 200 books over all. I finished out my 100 in 2012 challenge at 113 books, so I should make it easily. I didn’t actually track re-reads last year so I don’t know what my actual total was.
The train trip up to PA allowed me to get a major jump-start on that goal. My very first book of 2013 was Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal. This is the third book in her regency fantasy series. It will be coming out in April from Tor. I highly recommend the series. I reviewed the first book, Shades of Milk & Honey earlier in this blog. Jane and Vincent go to London to work on a commission. Jane takes her younger sister in the hopes of finding her a husband. I love all three books in this series, but I especially like this one. Jane makes mistakes and jumps to conclusions in this book. She is entirely human and real and I feel like I know her. Not just because I’ve now spent three books with her, but because I have seen her failures and her triumphs. Mary Robinette Kowal does an excellent job weaving the history and politics of the time into her stories. Mount Tambora erupted in 1815 leading to global cooling. In the glamuralist world Mary has built there are glamorists who can call forth cool breezes and on cold enough days, actually create ice. These magicians are being blamed for the cold weather and crop failures. She masterfully links the plight of the coldmongers with that of the weavers who are being displaced by automated weaving frames. Jane and Vincent get caught up in a tangle between the cold mongers, Vincent’s father, and the army that has been called out to suppress any rebellion.
The next book I read was The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson. This one will be out in May from Macmillan. It’s a fantastic YA about a world where some people can bring their drawings to life. The Rithmatists are able to sketch wards and protections against the wild chalklings that threaten the country. Joel is a 16-year old student who wants more than anything to be a rithmatist, but he was not chosen. He has to be content with sneaking into classes when possible and reading the books on rithmatics that he can sneak out of the library. Joel’s entire world is turned upside down when students start disappearing and all the evidence points to a rithmatist as the culprit. What can a regular boy do against a rogue magician? Joel will have to gather his courage and find out before more of his classmates are lost.
My third book of the year was John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War. I read this for the Sword & Laser book club this month. It is a really cool story. In the future you can join the Colonial Defense Force when you’re 75. They get you back into fighting shape and send you off to fight aliens. No one is allowed to come back to Earth so none of the new recruits know exactly what happens. One of the things I like most about this book is that when you take away the external trappings it’s a very personal story about a man going to war after he loses the woman he loves. Granted, he’s 75, she died of a stroke, and the war is in space, but it’s still a very intimate narrative. It reminded me of Starship Troopers, but has less of a political message. I’m ordering the next book in the series and I’ll let you know how it goes.
The last book I’ve read this week is actually a re-read of Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch. I first encountered Gini at LepreCon in Phoenix, at the same time I met Kevin Hearne. She was a hoot so I picked up the first book in her Aliens series. It’s fantastic. It’s on the romance side of things, but with a really great sense of humor. Kitty is leaving jury duty when a perfectly normal traffic accident becomes something out of Men in Black. The man involved in the accident suddenly turns into a monster with razor-sharp wings. Kitty does the only logical thing and stabs him with a Mont Blanc pen out of her purse of many wonders. Before she knows it the news is hailing her as a hero for taking out a terrorist and several very attractive men in black Armani are hustling her away to a secret lab. It turns out that aliens are here on planet Earth and only some of them want to kill us, the others want to protect us and look damn hot while doing it.
I’m now listening to Trapped by Kevin Hearne and reading Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Book Store. I’ll keep you posted on those!
Holiday Madness
I’m working straight through until Christmas. I’m off Christmas day and then I’m working again until Saturday. So, I’m a little frazzled. Yesterday was possibly our single biggest day of the year at the bookstore. I hope the holidays are treating all of you well.
I’ve got a little adventure planned. I’m headed up to Pennsylvania on the TRAIN! I’m really excited about it. I’m trying to plan out what to take to entertain myself on the trip. I’ll be on the train for around 22 hours each way. I’m taking my iPad so I can try to do some writing. I’m taking my knitting project. And I’m going to take some books. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore has been suggested. I’ve also gotadvance copies of Fragments by Dan Wells and Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear. Do any of you have any other suggestions? Leave a comment and let me know!
#79. Unnatural Habits by Kerry Greenwood
This is the 19th book in the Phryne Fisher series. It’s not actually out in print in the US yet, but you can get it on Audible. Phryne inadvertently gets in between a beating and its victim in Little Lonsdale street one night. Said victim is Polly Kettle, intrpid girl reporter! Polly is investigating a number of disappearances from a lying-in hospital for expectant, but unwed mothers. Phryne makes some suggestions, which Polly ignores, and soon Polly is missing too. Phryne’s investigation leads her all over town, into houses of ill-repute and the homes of the gentry.
This is another exciting romp through 1920’s Australia. Australian television has done two seasons of these as tv shows, but they aren’t available in the US yet. I believe that Netflix has bought US distribution rights, but I haven’t heard about a start date yet. I really really want them to be available soon! The only downside to these books is that they’re over too soon.
#80. Book of Killowen by Erin HartThis is book 4 in the Nora Gavin series. I’m at a bit of a disadvantage because I haven’t read any of the other books in the series. However, I didn’t find that too much of a problem. After a pretty awesome medieval prologue (I want to read that book!) the story opens with Nora and her archaeologist boyfriend going down to investigate a 9th century bog body, which has been found in the trunk of a submerged car. Once investigators remove the ancient body they find a much more recent corpse. Nora’s skills as a pathologist are quickly called into play.
The couple along with Cormac’s father and a nurse companion are staying at an artist’s retreat near the bog. Everyone there is interesting and kind, but they’re also all hiding something. And every single one of them is a suspect in the murder. Early indications suggest that the murder may hinge on the victims well-known predilection for younger women who aren’t his wife. However, evidence soon points to the possibility that the motive may very well have to do with medieval illuminated manuscripts like the mythical Book of Killowen.
I liked this book fairly well. Cormac’s father was a very touching character for me. Mr. Maguire suffered a stroke prior to the start of the book (possibly in one of the earlier stories) and has lost much of his ability to communicate. His frustrations and those of his son resonated with me. My own mother has advanced Alzheimer’s. I think Hart did a great job of compassionately conveying the hardships experienced by both the victim and their families. I loved everything to do with the illuminated manuscripts. (I might have several coloring books of illuminations). The archaeological aspects were well done. But the plot overall relied a little too heavily on coincidence. I’ll probably go back and pick up another book in the series to see how it is. I liked the tone of the writing and the voice of the characters, but the way the mystery played out stretched my credulity a little bit.
Top 10 List
So, dear readers, the thing is, I work in retail. It is the holiday season. I’m going a wee bit nuts. Please bear with me. Or, poke me with sticks. That could be fun too. This week, I’d like to post my top 10 list for the year. This is something I make up every year to post at Little Professor. It’s not in any particular order because I love them all for different reasons.
Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway
Joe Spork; clockworker, heir to a criminal empire, and all-around nice guy has, through no fault of his own, started the end of the world. He really feels that it’s his moral obligation to fix that.
Riveted by Meljean Brook
I just reviewed this one, but quick pitch:
Epic steampunk world-building meets Icelandic legend with some really hot romance.
Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Best graphic novel since Zita the Spacegirl! Or, a science fiction Wizard of Oz. Zita, our heroine, is trying to get home after being tossed unexpectedly across the universe and becoming a galactic hero. Then it gets complicated and awesome!
Partials by Dan Wells
Post-apocalyptic, dystopian, YA that knocks my socks off. Over a decade ago androids wiped out over 99% of the human race with a war and a plague. Kira is a medic who think she can cure the plague, but to do so she’ll have to track down one of the Partials and learn from it before it kills her or she sparks another war.
Hollow City by Dan Wells
Michael is a schizophrenic. That doesn’t mean that some of the monsters he sees aren’t real.
Blackout by Mira Grant
It’s hard to encapsulate this one since it’s the final book in a trilogy. **Spoiler for book 1**
Experimental cures for cancer and the common cold combined and created the zombie plague. We won. Mostly. Georgia and Shaun Mason were bloggers who uncovered a massive conspiracy in Feed. Georgia died. Now it’s getting worse.
Renegade Magic by Stephanie Burgis
This is the second book in the Kat, Incorrigible series.
Kat and her family go to Bath where ancient rituals, unexpected bathing, and a new friend conspire to get Kat into even more trouble with her Step-Mama. But more than her social standing is in danger; all of England might be at risk.
The Rook by Daniel O’Malley
“The body you are wearing used to be mine.” That’s the first line. Need I say more? Well, ok. James Bond meets the X-Files. More? Myfanwy Thomas (pronounced ‘Miffany’) has woken up with no memory, surrounded by dead bodies that are all wearing latex gloves. There is a letter in her pocket telling her that she used to be someone else. Good luck!
The Far West by Patricia Wrede
My quick pitch for this series is Harry Potter meets Little House on the Prairie. And I love it.
An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd
British nurse, Bess Crawford has succumbed the Spanish Flu. After a long recovery she can’t remember if the dead body she saw just before her collapse was real or a hallucination. When she discovers that the orderly who showed it to her is mysteriously dead she knows she has to keep looking.
Judge a Book by Its Cover, I Dare You
So, covers. We’ve been told not to judge books by them since 1860 when George Elliot wrote the phrase (according to Wikipedia). But, let’s be honest – we all do. There are things I own entirely because of the covers. Granted, most of those are new editions of books I already love. Lots and lots of things from Penguin spring to mind. Here, for example, is the Penguin Classics Deluxe Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Yep. Got it. I have the Three Musketeers too. And Jane Eyre. 
And Pride & Prejudice. I have some of their cloth bound hardcovers too. And some of the Penguin Threads editions. I love you Penguin! (Look, I’m a fangirl. I admit it. I love their design teams so hard.)
The Magicians by Lev Grossman is another book with an amazing cover. That’s actually a model. How cool is that?
Random House did a pretty cool job with Angelmaker. Harper did well with Partials. But sometimes, there’s a swing and a miss.
Stephen King did a really interesting article for Entertainment Weekly back in 2007 about a novel called Fieldwork. His basic argument is that it’s a really interesting book that no one will ever pick up because it has the most generic, uninteresting cover ever. That apparently hit home with the design department at Farrar, Straus and Giroux because while the misty grey/green book on the left is the hardcover dust jacket, the bright and exciting book on the right is what they put together for the paperback release. Which one of those would you be more likely to pick up?
I’ve been thinking about covers lately since we’re putting together our holiday displays at Little Professor. We’ve got an entire display of awesome Penguin covers (fan-girl, remember?).
Maybe it’s wrong of me, but I do judge books by their covers. When I’m browsing I’ll pick something up if the cover art is good, or interesting, or even horrible. But the problem is with books where the cover art just doesn’t catch my attention. Sometimes the title can make up for it. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is one with an attention grabbing title, but not particularly compelling cover art for me. It’s fine. It’s yellow. But it makes me think of Post-It Notes not fascinating novels.
I also read widely in the fantasy genre. Covers can vary widely there. The Magicians has a pretty awesome cover. Stephanie Burgis’s Kat books have awesome US covers. The UK covers are very different, but still charming. Then there are others. Cracked.com did an entire article on best and worst fantasy covers. I’ll let you go read that rather than doing my own run down.
Sometimes, a book will really surprise me. I didn’t expect much from The Iron Duke when I first picked it up. But it was steampunk and romance and one of my book clubs was reading it. It’s awesome. But, the cover is still a little off for me. There are some comic books I can barely read because their covers are so… implausible. Richard K. Morgan’s run on Black Widow springs to mind at the moment just because I’ve been looking at his website today. I’m not sure what’s going on in the picture I linked, but I’m positive she’s going to need a chiropractor after it’s over. There are lots of people taking on the position of women in comics and women’s position on comics. The Hawkeye Initiative is pretty hilarious.
I’m a visual person. I think lots of readers are. So, book covers, while not vital to me, are important. I need them to be attractive, or at least cool. Nick Harkaway’s first book, The Gone Away World, was hot pink and fuzzy, like a peach. It wasn’t pretty, but it was distinctive. What do you think about covers? Leave me a comment about it. I’ll chose a random comment and send you one of the amazing books from Penguin!
#77. Riveted by Meljean Brook
I’ve read the other books in this series already (#19 and #24). I love this series, but at the same time, I don’t love the covers. It’s not that they’re bad. They’re a little… silly? I’m not sure if that’s the word I mean, but I think it is. I think I’d probably like them more if they were painted or sketched rather than being photographed. The limitations of photography and costuming lead to some slightly unfortunate things. This one is probably my favorite of the three covers, but I don’t feel it accurately represents the characters. Oh, wait, a fantasy/sci-fi cover where the people don’t look right? That never happens!
Annika and David Kentewess are our protagonists. Annika is from a hidden community in Iceland. Their primary goal is to remain hidden, to stay safe. Secrecy is so important that Annika doesn’t dare tell anyone what country she’s from, much less anything about her actual life. David is kind, but he is also threat to Annika’s entire village. He is coming to Iceland as part of a geologic survey. Ostensibly, he is working on a planned railroad that will connect the coastal villages. Annika is drawn to him, but cannot risk exposing her family to outsiders. Things are further complicated by the fact that David’s mother originally came from Annika’s village. David has sworn an oath to return her necklace to her home and he knows Annika holds the clues to completing his quest.
The story has all the drama and danger of the previous books. But the coolest part is the world building. I’m convinced the Ms. Brook knows what’s happening on every continent of her world. She’s fleshed out the mythology and history of Iceland. David is half Native American and though his father’s history doesn’t come into play much, it’s still a part of the story. They meet in Navarra, a Castilian port city where the poor are legion and charity is a crime. I never want this series to end because I want to know about all the different places. I’d love a story set among the native settlers of the New World. I want to know what’s going on inside the Horde controlled territories. How is Australia faring? What about South East Asia? I want it all? I want the loss of Venice. I want Leonardo da Vinci’s clockwork army fighting the Horde and the zombies. I’m very demanding, but I want to know! And the thing is, I’m pretty sure Meljean Brook already does. I just need her to tell me.
As a side note, this book made it onto my Top Ten list for the year. I’m not saying you have to read it. I’m just saying that I’ll judge you if you don’t.
#78. On Basilisk Station by David Webber
I blame the Sword & Laser podcast for this one. I don’t actually read very much hard sci-fi. Most of my experience with that kind of thing is Heinlein and Richard K. Morgan. I almost never read space opera. But this one has a kitty! Look, I’m not saying I read this book entirely because there’s a telepathic tree cat. I’m just saying that historically speaking, I’m more willing to read hard sci-fi if it has some sort of furry companion, preferably of the feline variety (Werehunter, Sholan Alliance, The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, The Door Into Summer, Patient Zero). David Weber has created Commander Honor Harrington, an officer in the Royal Manticorian Navy. Honor is given command of the light cruiser Fearless which has been refitted with a ridiculous weapons array at the whim of Admiral Hemphill. When tactical exercises prove that the load out on the Fearless is tragically flawed, Honor and her ship are banished to Basilisk Station by the embarrassed Admiral. Basilisk Station has long been the dumping ground for the unsatisfactory elements of the Navy; people that can’t quite be drummed out of the service, but just aren’t good at anything. When Honor shows up planning to actually do her job not everyone is happy. Furthermore, Basilisk is a bout the be the sight of a dramatic fight and Honor has only one light cruiser to stop a full scale invasion.
I listened to this on audio and it was long, but awesome. The audio is almost 16 hours so it took me quite a while to listen to it. The narrator is excellent, however, and I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys audiobooks. Another cool thing- Baen Books is going to be doing a 20th Anniversary leather bound edition of On Basilisk Station that will come out in April of 2013.
What You Should Read
I know, I promised I’d do these weekly. I lied. I do that. But I hope you will find it in your internet-y hearts to forgive me. But, I’m back with a new book (really a series) that I demand you read! I’ll be doing more in-depth reviews of the entire series later since I’ve devoured all of them this year. I blame my friend Kelly. She got me hooked.
T
he series is the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne.
Atticus O’Sullivan is the last druid left in the world. He is over 2,000 years old, but he looks 21. He owns an occult bookstore, an Irish wolfhound, a magical sword, and a vendetta from a Celtic god. That’s what you need to know to get started. After that, things get complicated.
I started this series in August and I’m on the fourth book now. I’ve already bought the fifth book. Amusingly enough, I actually met the author over a year ago at LepreCon in Tempe, AZ. I’d made a mental note to pick up his first book, but since my brain is incredibly cluttered I forgot. So I’m late to the party, but I’ve got five books to read instead of just one, so that’s kind of awesome.
In other news, I’m now at 57,000 words on my NaNoWriMo project. I’m hoping to be finished by the end of the year.
It’s 70 in December?
The weather today is freaking me out. It’s 70 degrees on December 2 and as pleasant as that is, it’s WRONG! It’s supposed to be cold and blustery and Christmas-y. I am not supposed to be overly warm in my long sleeved shirt. It’s just strange. Speaking of weather phenomena, I am finally getting around to reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. The Nothing but Reading Challenges book club on Goodreads started it today, so I’m giving it a whirl. I don’t have a reason for not reading it earlier. I’ve just never picked it up. I’ve just finished the first chapter. I’m interested, but not captivated so far, which is a fair place to be 18 pages in.
#74. The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner, Illustrated by Jeremy Holmes
The Templeton Twins are somewhat unusual. Their father is a genius inventor and college professor. Their mother has, alas, passed away. Their dog is still an unrealized hope in their little, child-genius hearts. They also have a very intrusive narrator. (Yes, you are! You know you are! Look, do you want to write this blog Mr. Smarty-pants Narrator? No? You’re sure? Well then.) Sorry about that. That guy just can’t butt out.
As I was saying, the Templeton twins are geniuses. Their father is a genius inventor. He has created a personal flight device, which will revolutionize individual travel. Unfortunately, someone else would like to claim that device and in order to do so has kidnapped the twins! Can their skill at planning and creating unique devices help get them out of the kidnapper’s basement?
Some reviews have thought that the narrator was overly intrusive and the story was slow to start. I, personally, found him deeply entertaining. The illustrations are fantastic. The obvious comparison with this book is to Lemony Snicket and his authorial presence in the Series of Unfortunate Events. And, I can see that, but I don’t really agree. It’s like saying everything with magic in it is another Harry Potter. And yes, I’ve used the Harry Potter analogy myself. But, it’s often a little lazy. Although, the narrator did send us a really entertaining letter. He called me a “Valued and Important Bookseller.” That made me happy. And I would very much like to recommend this book. You should read it. I don’t want to talk too much more about the story since it would be hard not to spoil something.
#75. Chocolat by Joanne Harris
I read Chocolat for my book club. I had seen the movie and I thought it would be a pleasant, uncomplicated read. I was foolish.
The story of Chocolat in the film takes place in a small French village in the 1950’s. Vienne, a wandering chocolatier settles with her daughter Anouk, and immediately finds herself butting heads with the Comte de Reynaud, the mayor and chief moral authority. Vienne’s allies are Armande, an old woman who is estranged from her family; Josephine Muscat, who copes with her abusive marriage by indulging in a little kleptomania; and Roux, an Irish river rat who drifts into town with a fleet of houseboats. Ranged against her are the Comte, his secretary Madame Clairmont, and Father Henri, a young priest who has recently been transferred to the parish and is completely under the Comte’s thumb. There is tension, there is danger, but there is also charm and laughter. Vienne’s origin is shrouded in romance. Her father met her mother on an expedition to the jungles of the Amazon. She came back to France with him, but her people always answered the call of the wind and so one day she and the baby were gone; headed somewhere that needed them more. And so Vienne’s own life goes. The wind sweeps her hither and yon, to the places her particular magic is needed.
Now, forget about all that.
The story of the book is very different. First, the time period is the late 1980’s or mid 1990’s. There is no Father Henri or Comte de Reynaud. Father Franics is the parish priest and has been for years. He hates Vienne, in a way that is entirely absent from the film. Madame Clairmont is not a widow, she is a smug, self satisfied wife; a pillar of the community, first in line for communion, and first to pass around gossip. Armande is a little bit of a witch herself, but she and Vienne aren’t quite so much like mother and daughter. Roux is still handsome and winning, but there’s less of a fairy tale romance. The bones of the story are still the same, but everything is harder. There’s less whimsey in the book, which may make it better, but ended up making me sad. I love the movie. I watch it probably once or twice a year. But I don’t know that I’ll read the book again. I’m glad I read it, but once was probably enough.
I rarely say that a movie is better than its source book. Sense & Sensibility is one of the others that I’ll say that about. I love Jane Austen in general, but I’ve tried to read Sense & Sensibility three times. My problem with it is that there is neither dialog nor description in 90% of the book. Things happen. Ms. Austen tells me so. But she doesn’t show me how, or where they happen. I know, for example, that Fanny talks John down from giving his step-mother and half sisters a reasonable yearly allowance to no money at all and a present of game from time to time. But I don’t actually get that conversation. I get Ms. Austen telling me about the conversation. Much less fun.
To return to the book at hand though, I did like Chocolat enough to want to know about the next part of the story. So, I skipped over the second book in the series and jumped straight into:
#76. Peaches for Father Francis by Joanne Harris
Years after the events of Chocolat Vienne and her daughters return to Lansquenet. Armande wrote a letter that was to be sent to Vienne eight years after her death. In it, Armande tells Vienne that Lansquenet needs her. Father Francis needs her. Vienne resists going, but decides to see what has happened in the time she’s been gone. A new community has sprung up in the years Vienne has been away. Comprised mostly of Tunisian and middle eastern immigrants, the new Muslim community has an uneasy relationship with the tradition bound French villagers. A mysterious woman who observes strict purdah starts a school for girls in Vienne’s old shop. When the school is burned everyone blames Father Francis. His awkward efforts to reconcile with the immigrant community only make him seem more guilty.
The Diocese sends another priest to ‘assist’ him. Father Henri has radical new ideas; electric guitar instead of the organ during services, power point presentations mixed into the sermons, padded plastic chairs to replace the narrow wooden pews. Naturally, Father Francis hates him, and in his hate alienates most of his congregation. Vienne has a difficult task ahead of her if she is going to keep Lasquenet from erupting into violence and hate.
Much like Chocolat I’m glad I read this, but it was much darker than my usual fare. Although the story ends well for the participants, it is not triumphant. There is no final vanquishing of evil. It’s like a meal where you are perfectly well fed, but there is no desert. Perhaps it’s more realistic (although that seems an odd word to describe a book based in magical realism), but it is not as unequivocally satisfying for me.
NaNoWriMo
So, I mentioned a while ago that I was working on a NaNoWriMo novel. Well, I just wanted to let you all know 
that as of today I am a NaNoWriMo winner! I validated my novel today at 50,181 words. I estimate that I’ve got around 20,00 more words to go before the story is finished.
In other exciting news, I have read my 100th book! Book #100 was Mr. Churchill’s Secretaryby Susan Elia MacNeal. Review to follow soon. I’m going to continue keeping track until New Year’s Eve and just see how many books I can actually read. Next year’s goal will be to push that outward by ten or so. I should have lots of time over the holidays to both read and work on my novel since I’m going on a long train trip! I’m so excited about this. One of my bestest friends in the whole wide world is from Pennsylvania. She’s invited me to come to her family’s New Year’s Eve festivities and I, being the type of person that I am, have decided to take the train. I’ll be traveling for about 22 hours each way, so I’ll have lots of time to entertain myself and to write. You never know, I might even get all 100 reviews posted before the year is over.
The bad news, is that I’m still without a computer. I have ordered one though! I’m not sure when it’ll ship, but I should have it fairly soon. I got it from Woot. If you haven’t been to Woot, it’s really fun. They sell one thing from midnight until they’re sold out. It could be anything from a 60″ tv to water bottles. There’s also ShirtWoot, which has pretty awesome tee shirts; one shirt every day for $12 or you can get the most popular shirts from the Reckoning for $15. 
So, just because I know you’re terribly interested, here’s what I’m reading now: Touch of Steel by Kate Cross and I’m listening to What’s a Ghoul to Do by Victoria Laurie. At Mary’s suggestion I just finished Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews. You were right, it’s pretty awesome. I promise to listen to you in the future. I’ll have some more reviews up on Sunday, but I’ve got to scoot for now. My co-worker needs the computer.
The List
Hi guys! You get a bonus, Twas the Night before Thanksgiving post. Mostly because I’ve got a road trip coming up tomorrow and I need a new book to listen to. That book could be my 100th new book of the year. But, I don’t know what to read! So I appeal to you, dear followers, for suggestions. Below is the full list (which is also a sneak peak of upcoming reviews).
1. The Wide Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
2. Cooking the Books by Kerry Greenwood
3. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
4. Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill
5. Renegade Magic by Stephanie Burgis
6. Clover Twig & the Perilous Path by Kaye Umaske
7. Longitude by Dava Sobel
8. The Witness by Nora Roberts
9. Assassin’s Code by Jonathan Maberry
10. Sherlock in Love by Sena Jeter Nausland
11. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
12. Claire Dewitt & the City of the Dead by Sara Gran
13. The Confession by Charles Todd
14. Smut by Alan Bennett
15. Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
16. Partials by Dan Wells
17. Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie
18. Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway
19. Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
20. Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina
21. Her Own Devices by Shelley Adina
22. Scones & Bones by Laura Childs
23. Timeless by Gail Carriger
24. Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook
25. Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson
26. The Rook by Daniel O’Malley
27. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
28. Caress of Twilight by Laurell K. Hamilton
29. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
30. Plain Kate by Erin Bow
31. Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick
32. The Hollow City by Dan Wells
33. Heart of Brass by Kate Cross
34. A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
35. Cruel Numbers by Christopher Beats
36. The Cat Who Sang for the Birds by Lilian Jackson Braun
37. Beauty in the Beast by Christine Danse
38. The Cat Who Brought Down the House by Lilian Jackson Braun
39. Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry
40. Tom Brown’s Body by Gladys Mitchell
41. The Cat Who Went Up the Creek By Lilian Jackson Braun
42. An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd
43. Home From the Sea by Mercedes Lackey
44. Shades of Milk & Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
45. Ironskin by Tina Connolly
46. Seduced by Moonlight by Laurell K. Hamilton
47. The Snarkout Boys & the Baconburg Horror by Daniel Pinkwater
48. A Stroke of Midnight by Laurell K. Hamilton
49. Mistral’s Kiss by Laurell K. Hamilton
50. A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton
51. The Darcys & the Bingleys by Marsha Altman
52. Od Magic by Patricia McKillip
53. Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton
54. Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton
55. The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress
56. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
57. Ridiculous by D.L. Carter
58. Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey
59. The Fashion in Shrouds by Margery Allingham
60. Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
61. God Save the Queen by Kate Locke
62. Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff
63. The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede
64. Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton
65. The Return of Captain John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller
66. Courtship & Curses by Marissa Doyle
67. The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton by Elizabeth Speller
68. The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
69. Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
70. Turning Point by Lisanne Norman
71. Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle
72. Princess Elizabeth’s Spy by Susan Elia MacNeil
73. The Art & Making of ParaNorman by Jed Alger
74. The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner
75. Chocolat by Joanne Harris
76. Peaches for Father Francis by Joanne Harris
77. Riveted by Meljean Brook
78. On Basilisk Station by David Weber
79. Unnatural Habits by Kerry Greenwood
80. The Book of Killowen by Erin Hart
81. Feed by Mira Grant
82. A Reckless Magic by Stephanie Burgis
83. Deadline by Mira Grant
84. Halloween Party by Agatha Christie
85. Blackout by Mira Grant
86. Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen
87. Hounded by Kevin Hearne
88. The House on First Street by Julia Reed
89. Undead by Kirsty McKay
90. Death Warmed Over by Kevin J. Anderson
91. Hexed by Kevin Hearne
92. Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd
93. Hammered by Kevin Hearne
94. My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland
95. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
96. Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey
97. Rosemary & Rue by Seanan McGuire
98. Death of a Lovable Geek by Maria Hudgins
99. Extinction Machine by Jonathan Maberry
100. ?????????????
Favorite cover – Od Magic
I love Kinuko Craft. She does all the covers for Patricia McKillip. I saw the original canvas for The Tower at Stony Wood once. It was so beautiful that I cried. I have several children’s books that she illustrated. They’re all amazing.
Favorite Illustrations – Zita the Spacegirl
Ben Hatke is crazy talented. And the things in his brain are amazing. I want them all. Even the mean ones. Because they’re still awesome.
I can’t really name my favorite book, because it would be half the list. Obviously, I read lots of Laurell K. Hamilton. But those books wouldn’t be on the list. They’re my Fifty Shades of Grey. They’re a bit naughty, but well written. I read them like I eat Pringles; quickly and with no remorse, but I didn’t feel full at the end.
Some AMAZING YA from my list – Stephanie Burgis and the Kat, Incorrigible series. I cannot recommend these too highly. They are fantastic. I would really like to have tea with Kat.
Jonathan Maberry’s Benny Imura series. Those are some awesome books. They’re post-zombie apocalypse. They’re great for boys who love adventure stories, but hey, I’m a girl and I read them too. Benny isn’t perfect. He’s flawed and real, and I kind of want to hug him, but he might hit me.
Partials by Dan Wells. Ok, so we’ve all ready the story about me freaking out when I met Dan Wells. Obviously, I’m a big fan. But seriously, read Partials. Please. Pretty please. With sugar and cyborgs on top.
If you put a metaphorical gun to my head and told me I could only save one of these books from some sort of catastrophe and it would be the only written material I’d have for the next year or so… Well, first I’d cry. Then I’d call you a variety of things that shouldn’t be said on nice blogs like this one. Then I’d clutch my copy of Angelmaker to my chest like it was my Precious. My Preeeeecious. Mine, my precious…
Oh. Right. You’re still there. Sorry about that. I have… issues. I may have treated his previous book, The Gone Away World, like a teddy bear. But it’s not my fault! The publisher made it FUZZY! Blame Random House. They confused me with their pink, plushy book full of awesomeness. And mimes. Did I mention there were mimes in that book.
(Also, I’m on a really lot of cold medication right now. You can’t really blame me for anything I’m saying.)
So, Angelmaker is fantastic. And awesome. And if I really really really really really really really, no kidding had to pick a favorite I would pick it. Today. Ask me again tomorrow and I really can’t tell you what I’ll say. But there’s a pretty good chance it would be something about Nick Harkaway being awesome. Did I mention that I got to interview him? Cause I did. It was over email, which was good, because it’s MUCH easier to control my fan-girling when I can edit.
So, there, gentle reader. You have my list. Let me know what you think. Suggest books for #100. The only rule is that I can’t have read it before. And have a Happy Thanksgiving (if you’re in the US. Have an awesome Thursday otherwise)!
I Know…
I know. I disappeared again. There were a couple of deaths in my extended social circle and my computer died. I haven’t quite figured out WordPress on the iPad yet. I’m squeezing time on the computer at work. It is very strange to be without my computer at home. I hadn’t realized how much time I spent at it even if I wasn’t directly interacting with it. I reach for it constantly to look something up or confirm a thought I’ve had, or even to figure out how to spell a word. I’m definitely not ready to go to tablet only computing.
The other thing that’s taking up my time right now is NaNoWriMo. For those not in the know that stands for National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel over the month of November. That works out to 1,667 words per day. There’s great community support. Each region has a Municipal Liaison who helps to set up events and cheer people on. Birmingham is currently in a battle with Delaware and Southampton, England to see which area can be the most prolific. Southampton is currently in the lead. I’m doing pretty well so far. I’m staying on target as far as my word count goes, so that’s awesome. This is the first year I’ve made it this far. Usually I loose my momentum after about 10,000 words.
My 100 in 2012 book challenge is going well. I just finished my 96th book last night. I don’t think I’ll get through all the reviews before the end of the year, but I’ll post the full list as soon as I finish. In the meantime, here are a few more books from the list.
#72. Princess Elizabeth’s Spy by Susan Elia MacNeil
This is the second book in what I believe is going to be an ongoing series. The first book was called Mr. Churchill’s Secretary and chronicled the journey of Maggie Hope, a half-English/half-American mathematician in London in the early days of WWII. Maggie has come to England to handle the sale of her grandmother’s house, but ends up becoming one of the secretaries to Prime Minister Churchill. There is much intrigue and adventure, which I won’t get into here as it might spoil the book.
Princess Elizabeth’s Spy picks up some time after the end of the first book. Maggie is in training to become an undercover agent in the hopes of being dropped into France. However, her physical skills are a bit underwhelming and so she is reassigned as the personal bodyguard to the crown princess. The royal family has taken residence in Windsor Castle. Maggie is placed in the household as the princess’s new maths tutor.
All is not well at the castle. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor are in exile and known to have Nazi sympathies. A member of the staff at Bletchley Park, England’s code breaking facility, as been murdered. Another death occurs on the castle grounds. Maggie has to figure out how all of this might be connected with a plot against the princess. On top of that, her boyfriend is missing in action and her father is a suspected German spy.
This was a fun read. I need to go back and read the first book and get introduced to Maggie. I would recommend that you read them in order. There were some subplots that I missed out on because I read them out of order. WWII isn’t really my period. I’m a huge WWI fan, but I don’t venture into WWII stories as often. I did however, watch The King’s Speech. There was something about having seen that before I read this book that added a layer of richness. Princess Elizabeth is only in the film for a minute or two, but seeing her for that brief moment there made me more sympathetic to the fourteen-year-old Lilibet. The book would be perfectly entertaining without that extra layer, but it’s nice that I had it.
#73. The Art & Making of ParaNorman by Jed Alger
This was an awesome book. Mostly because it told me all about an awesome movie. I don’t really have a ton to say about it other than that. If you’re interested in finding out about the process behind a stop motion film then this book is really informative. If you’re interested in the people and personalities behind ParaNorman, then this is the book for you. If you like miniature anything, pick this book up. Also, if you just like cool visuals.
Medusa's Library 