Although I've only posted a small number of book reviews, I'm a voracious reader, especially of fantasy. There's a lot of crap in that genre, but I'm happy to report that this year I've read at least two thoroughly satisfying series.
Mistborn has been around for a while, but I only just finished the trilogy (yes, an actual trilogy; the third book does conclude the story!) and the best feature of the books is the unique and inventive magic system. Sanderson really fleshes out the world's arcane rules and mechanics, which totally appeals to the gamer in me. Lots of action, plot twists, and interesting characters with great relationships.
The second series I'm really digging isn't done yet. First book is The Warded Man and its sequel, The Desert Spear, just came out this year. Again, I'm attracted to the well designed magic system, and the way its rules govern the world. Plus, the main characters are badass and their adventures much fun to follow.
These two authors have built wonderful standalone universes that are consistent, filled with creative creatures and personalities, and best of all, they both write well. In a sea of tropes and bad fiction, it's nice to find books I'll definitely read again and again.
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
September 5, 2010
January 5, 2010
Fictional Crush
I've been re-reading Hellblazer and falling in love all over again with John Constantine.
I've had a huge crush on him since my teen years. Back then, it was all about the bad boy aspect. A chain smoking mage who nonchalantly fucks over people, plays hardball with demons, doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks, yet is fiercely protective of what he holds dear -- that was a win for me. I don't think he was ever intended as a heartthrob. But damn did I want to hump him hard!
Constantine has been around since 1985 and it's amazing how through various writers and artists, he's remained relevant and consistent. Reading now as a more mature woman, I realize just how dark all his stories are, how haunted and twisted. I see the edge of misogyny in his protective attitude, and I better appreciate his relationship with the occult: a deep furious passion barely controlled, combined with the loneliness and desperation that is often the price of power. I'm probably crazy, but that totally makes me want to hump him. Still.
Of course, it helps that he's always portrayed as a lean rogue with a most eloquent manner of speech and wit. Like many books, the dialogue would sound pretty stupid spoken aloud. But on the written page, he's quite the charmer, even when he's swearing at the devil.
I don't often crush on fictional characters. But Constantine holds a dear spot in my heart.
(Don't even get me started on the film adaptation. It was utterly, disgustingly tragic. For starters, John is blonde, British, and gets along with nobody. Pretty though he is, Keanu Reeves just wasn't right for the character...)
I've had a huge crush on him since my teen years. Back then, it was all about the bad boy aspect. A chain smoking mage who nonchalantly fucks over people, plays hardball with demons, doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks, yet is fiercely protective of what he holds dear -- that was a win for me. I don't think he was ever intended as a heartthrob. But damn did I want to hump him hard!
Constantine has been around since 1985 and it's amazing how through various writers and artists, he's remained relevant and consistent. Reading now as a more mature woman, I realize just how dark all his stories are, how haunted and twisted. I see the edge of misogyny in his protective attitude, and I better appreciate his relationship with the occult: a deep furious passion barely controlled, combined with the loneliness and desperation that is often the price of power. I'm probably crazy, but that totally makes me want to hump him. Still.
Of course, it helps that he's always portrayed as a lean rogue with a most eloquent manner of speech and wit. Like many books, the dialogue would sound pretty stupid spoken aloud. But on the written page, he's quite the charmer, even when he's swearing at the devil.
I don't often crush on fictional characters. But Constantine holds a dear spot in my heart.
(Don't even get me started on the film adaptation. It was utterly, disgustingly tragic. For starters, John is blonde, British, and gets along with nobody. Pretty though he is, Keanu Reeves just wasn't right for the character...)
December 5, 2008
Book Review - Un Lun Dun
Un Lun Dun
By China Mieville
Published January 2008
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
I love China Mieville's writing and while this book doesn't match the complexity and innovation of Perdido Street Station or The Scar, it's a hugely enjoyable read. There's a dash of Alice in Wonderland and the playfulness of a Piers Anthony Xanth novel, held together by Mieville's sparkling language and vivid imagery.
The book follows the adventures of a young girl who finds herself in an alternate London and has to save its citizens from a nasty villain known as The Smog. It's a wonderful journey, filled with interesting characters and creative twists. At times it's almost too clever, but the wit is tempered with heart. While intended for a younger audience, there's plenty for everyone to enjoy, and the usual social commentary lurking in Mieville's work is only a light undercurrent, overshadowed by the general fun of the story. Definitely worth picking up!
By China Mieville
Published January 2008
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
I love China Mieville's writing and while this book doesn't match the complexity and innovation of Perdido Street Station or The Scar, it's a hugely enjoyable read. There's a dash of Alice in Wonderland and the playfulness of a Piers Anthony Xanth novel, held together by Mieville's sparkling language and vivid imagery.
The book follows the adventures of a young girl who finds herself in an alternate London and has to save its citizens from a nasty villain known as The Smog. It's a wonderful journey, filled with interesting characters and creative twists. At times it's almost too clever, but the wit is tempered with heart. While intended for a younger audience, there's plenty for everyone to enjoy, and the usual social commentary lurking in Mieville's work is only a light undercurrent, overshadowed by the general fun of the story. Definitely worth picking up!
November 12, 2008
Book Review - The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book
By Neil Gaiman
Published September 2008
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
As Neil Gaiman stories go, this one is pretty typical. A bit macabre yet light hearted, inventive and whimsical, and a main character with simple roots who grows into something more over the course of his adventures. I don't think it's his best work, but it's enjoyable, written with his usual concise, beautiful language and practical handling of fantasy. The Dave McKean pen and ink illustrations are lovely; it's nice to see his work in another medium.
The plot is relatively simple: a baby orphan of a murdered family is adopted and raised by a graveyard's inhabitants. As he tries to figure out his place between the living and dead, he makes many discoveries, including the friendship of a live girl and the need to avenge his family's deaths. But what makes Neil Gaiman a genius is how he reinvents werewolves and ghouls and tombs and haunts into interesting scenarios and personalities. Overall, it was a fun and short read, good for curling up in the couch on a fall afternoon.
By Neil Gaiman
Published September 2008
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
As Neil Gaiman stories go, this one is pretty typical. A bit macabre yet light hearted, inventive and whimsical, and a main character with simple roots who grows into something more over the course of his adventures. I don't think it's his best work, but it's enjoyable, written with his usual concise, beautiful language and practical handling of fantasy. The Dave McKean pen and ink illustrations are lovely; it's nice to see his work in another medium.
The plot is relatively simple: a baby orphan of a murdered family is adopted and raised by a graveyard's inhabitants. As he tries to figure out his place between the living and dead, he makes many discoveries, including the friendship of a live girl and the need to avenge his family's deaths. But what makes Neil Gaiman a genius is how he reinvents werewolves and ghouls and tombs and haunts into interesting scenarios and personalities. Overall, it was a fun and short read, good for curling up in the couch on a fall afternoon.
June 18, 2008
Book Review - The Orphan's Tales
The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden
By Catherynne M. Valente
Published October 2006
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Absolutely wonderful! I love the prose: it has a poetic rhythm akin to oral storytelling tradition, descriptive but not flowery, clever but not inaccessible. The tone and diction exude a strong sense of enchantment, combined with a commonplace lilt. You don't question anything, the world just exists and all events are told matter-of-fact, despite their fantastic nature.
The structure of the book would be a gimmick, if it weren't so masterfully implemented. We begin in the garden of a middle eastern type palace, where an unruly prince meets a mysterious orphan. The orphan tells a story, in which a character of the story tells another story, in which another character tells another story, and so on, in an elegant nested loop that builds a beautiful mythology. The tales spiral around each other and well-placed interludes bring the narrative back to the garden, grounding the book so you don't get lost. As the concentric stories progress, you start discovering connections on this delightful journey where a wide range of our own cultural legends and archetypes, like the Firebird and Mother Goose, the evil wizard and brave prince, are manipulated into the author's unique creations.
Valente is spinning her own fairy tales and they are amazing ones. Her characters are varied in form and manner, yet their struggles and emotions have a core of humanity which makes the stories meaningful and engaging. My only problem is how it abruptly ends, offering very few resolutions. If I didn't know there was a second book, I would have thrown a tantrum about all the threads left dangling.
It's rare to find well executed writing in conjunction with such marvelous imagination. This book is a definite must-read for fantasy/folklore fans and I can't wait to pick up the sequel and devour more!
By Catherynne M. Valente
Published October 2006
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Absolutely wonderful! I love the prose: it has a poetic rhythm akin to oral storytelling tradition, descriptive but not flowery, clever but not inaccessible. The tone and diction exude a strong sense of enchantment, combined with a commonplace lilt. You don't question anything, the world just exists and all events are told matter-of-fact, despite their fantastic nature.
The structure of the book would be a gimmick, if it weren't so masterfully implemented. We begin in the garden of a middle eastern type palace, where an unruly prince meets a mysterious orphan. The orphan tells a story, in which a character of the story tells another story, in which another character tells another story, and so on, in an elegant nested loop that builds a beautiful mythology. The tales spiral around each other and well-placed interludes bring the narrative back to the garden, grounding the book so you don't get lost. As the concentric stories progress, you start discovering connections on this delightful journey where a wide range of our own cultural legends and archetypes, like the Firebird and Mother Goose, the evil wizard and brave prince, are manipulated into the author's unique creations.
Valente is spinning her own fairy tales and they are amazing ones. Her characters are varied in form and manner, yet their struggles and emotions have a core of humanity which makes the stories meaningful and engaging. My only problem is how it abruptly ends, offering very few resolutions. If I didn't know there was a second book, I would have thrown a tantrum about all the threads left dangling.
It's rare to find well executed writing in conjunction with such marvelous imagination. This book is a definite must-read for fantasy/folklore fans and I can't wait to pick up the sequel and devour more!
March 28, 2008
Book Review - His Majesty's Dragon
His Majesty's Dragon
By Naomi Novik
Published March 2006
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
The book uses a pretty classic dragon-human relationship: a dragon chooses and bonds with a rider for life and the dragon has a utilitarian role in society as an intelligent beast working in tandem with mankind. The personalities of the dragons are also typical - a kind of omniscient, selfless devotee, keenly aware and deeply involved in the rider's thoughts and emotions.
What makes the book stand out is the alternate history setting of the Napoleonic Wars, where dragons are prized as the main components of an airforce that battles alongside the ships and infantry of the age. Another interesting idea is that dragon breeds vary geographically, so a French dragon has slightly different build and innate skills than say a British or Chinese one. More advanced specimens become commanders and trainers, others are relegated to messenger or pack mule roles.
The main character is a British Naval Officer who bonds to Temeraire, a rare, incredibly intelligent Oriental breed, after collecting his egg as booty from a ship raid. Temeraire and his rider, William Laurence, join the British Aerial Corps and the story follows their training and battles. There's an overarching plot concerning betrayal and evil French scheming, but that takes a back seat to the author's ruminations on life in the Corps and the mechanics of dragon fighting.
Slow and wordy in some spots, overall the book is an OK read. Temeraire is actually the most interesting character, though some of the side cast provide entertainment. The world could be more captivating and I really couldn't find a comfortable rhythm in the prose. I know there are two other books in the series and I'd be willing to give the author another chance (this was a debut novel after all), but I definitely hope to see some improvement in the next installment.
By Naomi Novik
Published March 2006
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
The book uses a pretty classic dragon-human relationship: a dragon chooses and bonds with a rider for life and the dragon has a utilitarian role in society as an intelligent beast working in tandem with mankind. The personalities of the dragons are also typical - a kind of omniscient, selfless devotee, keenly aware and deeply involved in the rider's thoughts and emotions.
What makes the book stand out is the alternate history setting of the Napoleonic Wars, where dragons are prized as the main components of an airforce that battles alongside the ships and infantry of the age. Another interesting idea is that dragon breeds vary geographically, so a French dragon has slightly different build and innate skills than say a British or Chinese one. More advanced specimens become commanders and trainers, others are relegated to messenger or pack mule roles.
The main character is a British Naval Officer who bonds to Temeraire, a rare, incredibly intelligent Oriental breed, after collecting his egg as booty from a ship raid. Temeraire and his rider, William Laurence, join the British Aerial Corps and the story follows their training and battles. There's an overarching plot concerning betrayal and evil French scheming, but that takes a back seat to the author's ruminations on life in the Corps and the mechanics of dragon fighting.
Slow and wordy in some spots, overall the book is an OK read. Temeraire is actually the most interesting character, though some of the side cast provide entertainment. The world could be more captivating and I really couldn't find a comfortable rhythm in the prose. I know there are two other books in the series and I'd be willing to give the author another chance (this was a debut novel after all), but I definitely hope to see some improvement in the next installment.
January 18, 2008
Book Review - Fast Food Nation
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
By Eric Schlosser
Published January 2001
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Investigative journalism has never been my thing. When Fast Food Nation was published, I heard snippets of controversy and outrage, but wasn't particularly interested. Books attacking specific industries are often sensationalist, one-sided exaggerations that select only facts that support their arguments. Kind of like Michael Moore in print form.
I decided to give Fast Food Nation a try, after discovering that Schlosser has written for various publications, such as The Nation and Rolling Stone. It made me think the guy might actually be a decent read.
The book does have some informative, objective observations on the influence of fast food companies on culture, business, and society. Though short, the section on globalization is nicely done, using the history of Plauen, Germany, to illustrate the rise of fast food overseas. I found his depiction of the internal workings of a slaughterhouse absolutely fascinating, in that morbid, Sinclair's The Jungle sort of way. I also enjoyed his insights into the lives of fast food chain founders and his explanation of the cycle from supplier to franchise to consumer. The prose moves at a good clip, mingling facts and anecdotes in an engaging manner. He even manages to make subjects like flavor chemistry and potato processing interesting.
There's definitely an overarching "corporations bad!" vibe. Linking fast food companies to shady lobbying practices, the plight of poor immigrant workers, the death of individualism, and rising American obesity is such cliche liberal soap boxing, that frankly, my eyes were rolling. Some of it is blatantly alarmist, such as a section warning of pathogens in beef and another devoted to the death of the great American icon, the traditional western rancher.
The writing is great and there is much I learned about the fast food industry's operations and history. But the call to arms against "Big Business" got on my nerves. I would have enjoyed this book much more if Schlosser had left out his political views. Let the content speak for itself - the data alone should be enough for people to form a similar opinion and change their consumer habits.
By Eric Schlosser
Published January 2001
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Investigative journalism has never been my thing. When Fast Food Nation was published, I heard snippets of controversy and outrage, but wasn't particularly interested. Books attacking specific industries are often sensationalist, one-sided exaggerations that select only facts that support their arguments. Kind of like Michael Moore in print form.
I decided to give Fast Food Nation a try, after discovering that Schlosser has written for various publications, such as The Nation and Rolling Stone. It made me think the guy might actually be a decent read.
The book does have some informative, objective observations on the influence of fast food companies on culture, business, and society. Though short, the section on globalization is nicely done, using the history of Plauen, Germany, to illustrate the rise of fast food overseas. I found his depiction of the internal workings of a slaughterhouse absolutely fascinating, in that morbid, Sinclair's The Jungle sort of way. I also enjoyed his insights into the lives of fast food chain founders and his explanation of the cycle from supplier to franchise to consumer. The prose moves at a good clip, mingling facts and anecdotes in an engaging manner. He even manages to make subjects like flavor chemistry and potato processing interesting.
There's definitely an overarching "corporations bad!" vibe. Linking fast food companies to shady lobbying practices, the plight of poor immigrant workers, the death of individualism, and rising American obesity is such cliche liberal soap boxing, that frankly, my eyes were rolling. Some of it is blatantly alarmist, such as a section warning of pathogens in beef and another devoted to the death of the great American icon, the traditional western rancher.
The writing is great and there is much I learned about the fast food industry's operations and history. But the call to arms against "Big Business" got on my nerves. I would have enjoyed this book much more if Schlosser had left out his political views. Let the content speak for itself - the data alone should be enough for people to form a similar opinion and change their consumer habits.
January 14, 2008
Book Review - The Name of the Wind
The Name of the Wind
By Patrick Rothfuss
Published March 2007
This was a recommendation on Nancy Pearl's NPR list of great sci-fi and fantasy.
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
I was worried when this book started with travelers entering an inn. Luckily, the generic beginning did not lead to generic storytelling. From the inn, the plot progressed to a thoroughly engaging, inventive tale of adventure and personal growth, told in the first person by Kvothe, the innkeeper who, like most interesting characters, is more than what he seems.
The world is pretty typical, with villages of superstitious peasantry who whisper of dark times, a hierarchy of Lords and Noblemen, wise academics, wandering performers, and city slums rampant with thieves and bullies. But this is all balanced by the author taking some conventional fantasy elements, like alchemy, the orphaned boy, the wizard school, the talented musician, the dragon slayer, and adding his own unique spin, showcasing these classic concepts in a new light. The environments and personalities are rendered in prose that is clear and without flourish, yet still heartfelt. The pacing was slow at some points, but despite that and its many pages, I flew through this book. The main character hovers at just the right point on the moral grayscale and presents such a mystery that the moment I finished, I was itching for the sequel, to find out more about his past life.
It's nice to read fantasy written in recent times and find imaginative twists and characters that aren't Tolkien or D&D carbon copies. Kudos to Patrick for an immensely enjoyable debut!
By Patrick Rothfuss
Published March 2007
This was a recommendation on Nancy Pearl's NPR list of great sci-fi and fantasy.
See synopsis and editorial opinions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
I was worried when this book started with travelers entering an inn. Luckily, the generic beginning did not lead to generic storytelling. From the inn, the plot progressed to a thoroughly engaging, inventive tale of adventure and personal growth, told in the first person by Kvothe, the innkeeper who, like most interesting characters, is more than what he seems.
The world is pretty typical, with villages of superstitious peasantry who whisper of dark times, a hierarchy of Lords and Noblemen, wise academics, wandering performers, and city slums rampant with thieves and bullies. But this is all balanced by the author taking some conventional fantasy elements, like alchemy, the orphaned boy, the wizard school, the talented musician, the dragon slayer, and adding his own unique spin, showcasing these classic concepts in a new light. The environments and personalities are rendered in prose that is clear and without flourish, yet still heartfelt. The pacing was slow at some points, but despite that and its many pages, I flew through this book. The main character hovers at just the right point on the moral grayscale and presents such a mystery that the moment I finished, I was itching for the sequel, to find out more about his past life.
It's nice to read fantasy written in recent times and find imaginative twists and characters that aren't Tolkien or D&D carbon copies. Kudos to Patrick for an immensely enjoyable debut!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)