rj_anderson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rj_anderson) wrote2008-11-07 08:01 pm
rj_anderson) wrote2008-11-07 08:01 pm
We are experiencing technical difficulties
I was rather looking forward to finishing my revision of Wayfarer and having it sent off to my editor at HarperCollins (which I did yesterday evening), so that I could get back to blogging some of the thoughts and topics that have been on my mind these last couple of months but which I've really had no time or energy to talk about.
*looks up at that sentence* Wow, that was long. Anyway, back to the topic at hand: I was looking forward to it, as I said. However, for the last three days I have been battling some sort of coldy-fluey* thing and basically, my brain is fudge. So those thoughtful, intelligent blog posts that exist solely in my ambitions at the moment will have to wait.
In the meantime, I give you... book reviews!
Alex and the Ironic Gentleman by Adrienne Kress (fantasy/adventure, contemporary, MG): I loved this LIKE CHOCOLATE FUDGE PIE WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE DRIZZLED OVER THE TOP. Well, maybe not that much. But I did adore it. I love a good kitchen-sink book** and this one fit the bill nicely.
Graceling by Kristen Cashore (fantasy/romance, secondary world, YA): Once I got over some initial suspension of disbelief issues related to worldbuilding, and once I had assured myself that the MC was not in fact going to be a Mary Sue (it was touch and go there for a few chapters), I quite enjoyed it. Certainly the UST is the smoulderingest*** I've read in a long time, though I was surprised that it was resolved so early in the book.
The Name of the Wind (fantasy, secondary world, adult) by Patrick Rothfuss: Definitely worth the fuss people are making of it. Lovely writing, a compelling and sympathetic protagonist, a world that feels like it really has been around for thousands and thousands of years (a trick not nearly as easy to pull off as you might think), and a clever framing device that allows the author to make good use of both third and first person without confusing the reader. I liked the clarity of this: I had no difficulty keeping track of the characters or following the basic plot, which is more than I can say for some other recent fantasy doorstops I've read. Next book, please?
There you are, some actual content for a change. Nothing earthshattering, but it's a start.
---
* It's like timey-wimey, only not nearly as much fun.
** Note to self: When brain is working again, do a post on what you mean by "kitchen-sink books", with examples and explanation of why you love them so very much. Surely you cannot be alone in this.
*** Yes, I know this is not a word, but it should be.
*looks up at that sentence* Wow, that was long. Anyway, back to the topic at hand: I was looking forward to it, as I said. However, for the last three days I have been battling some sort of coldy-fluey* thing and basically, my brain is fudge. So those thoughtful, intelligent blog posts that exist solely in my ambitions at the moment will have to wait.
In the meantime, I give you... book reviews!
Alex and the Ironic Gentleman by Adrienne Kress (fantasy/adventure, contemporary, MG): I loved this LIKE CHOCOLATE FUDGE PIE WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE DRIZZLED OVER THE TOP. Well, maybe not that much. But I did adore it. I love a good kitchen-sink book** and this one fit the bill nicely.
Graceling by Kristen Cashore (fantasy/romance, secondary world, YA): Once I got over some initial suspension of disbelief issues related to worldbuilding, and once I had assured myself that the MC was not in fact going to be a Mary Sue (it was touch and go there for a few chapters), I quite enjoyed it. Certainly the UST is the smoulderingest*** I've read in a long time, though I was surprised that it was resolved so early in the book.
The Name of the Wind (fantasy, secondary world, adult) by Patrick Rothfuss: Definitely worth the fuss people are making of it. Lovely writing, a compelling and sympathetic protagonist, a world that feels like it really has been around for thousands and thousands of years (a trick not nearly as easy to pull off as you might think), and a clever framing device that allows the author to make good use of both third and first person without confusing the reader. I liked the clarity of this: I had no difficulty keeping track of the characters or following the basic plot, which is more than I can say for some other recent fantasy doorstops I've read. Next book, please?
There you are, some actual content for a change. Nothing earthshattering, but it's a start.
---
* It's like timey-wimey, only not nearly as much fun.
** Note to self: When brain is working again, do a post on what you mean by "kitchen-sink books", with examples and explanation of why you love them so very much. Surely you cannot be alone in this.
*** Yes, I know this is not a word, but it should be.