H-mb's reading journal in 2014

Here we go with :

Cut & run by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux.
Less than 400 pages : the characters got shot, blown up, had severe concussion, were chained and bricked in a cellar... and I left a few ones on the side. I'm kind of overwhelmed. The last one was too much as I'm clautrophobic! Of course, they still go on, being tough guys and FBI men to the core. The suspension of disbelief became harder and harder. Also a bit too melodramatic for my taste.

Cohérence cardiaque 3.6.5 by Dr David O'Hare (French edition)
Just trying it.

Speculative Fiction 2012: The best online reviews, essays and commentary… by Justin Landon and Jared Shurin
Interesting choice indeed.
I had already read some chapters but I managed to add another book to my TBR pile. Dont acte.

On a regular basis, I'm surprised by the discussion about women in SFF/ femal writers in SFF. Well, I'm fast approaching my dotage, which might explain some of it. I can remember the time I was the only girl reading SFF, the only girl playing D&D : I'm so used to the invisibility of women that I forget to fight it - unfortunately. I'm not really in touch with the French blogosphere so I don't know if it's as hot a topic there but I never read anything of the sort. Then again, I feel the relationship between men and women aren't as hard and problematic here ("not as" doesn't mean "aren't"). I can't imagine a French writer publishing something like Spinrad's A world between or Tepper / Jordan's novels.

About blogs, reviews and "professional" criticism, two remarks:
1) I'm used to reading the litterary supplement in my newspaper or some magazines. I can attest some articles aren't much better than what can be found on blogs, GR or LT. Sometimes, I'd be hard pressed to find the "arguments" or litterary analysis which are supposed to make the difference. Sometimes, there are very rich and cultured reviews in unexpected(?) places.
2) This is part of a greater context. The experts are loosing ground - and they don't like it, of course. I can see it at school where the teachers aren't anymore "the person who know" vs the "ignorant" pupils. I can hear it in Peter Strohard's complaint.

Interesting thoughts about bloggers and "professional criticism".

I would rather read other peoples reviews on LT to discover if a book that I am interested in was for me. I might read a professional review if I needed more background information, but because I suspect some "professionals" have hidden agendas: they might be in the business of selling books, or dishing a fellow author, then I am on my guard.

Your answer says it all : no real trust, plus you're the one to decide. At the core of Strohard's position, I think there's the idea that you and I aren't able to decide what's good for ourselves if some enlighted person doesn't offer counsel - which I find annoying as you can guess.
On the other hand, there's a real possibility to run in circle, never discovering something new and interesting because there's nobody around to make us notice it and/or because marketing works on bloggers and gamma readers as well as on professional critics.
That's why I read both! But I would be hard pressed to find new SFF books if I had to rely on the "serious" newspapers to guide me...

The Road to Middle-Earth: How J.R.R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology by Tom Shippey
Kind of lost in the meanders of this book... Talk about "The lost road"!
Jackson's movies are still "parasitizing" my memories and I haven't read LoR since they went out - which is a real hindrance while reading this book.
Going to re-read the Eddas now.

Oh I remember I liked Shippey. But if you read The Book of Lost Tales and all of the appendices in the Rings series it doesn't give you too much news...

Bouquiner : Autobiobibliographie by Annie François : fun!
Conversation with myself : "I'm nothing of the sort"..."oh, that's exactly how I do it" or "how I felt". The pages on the management of eating, drinking, smoking and reading at the same time were great. I sympathize...

Needed to light the mood.

From Hell (Demon Squad Novella, 0) by Tim Marquitz
I am not a real fan of victorian stories, least of all about the Riper. I'll need to try another one by this author.

The pride of Chanur by C. J. Cherryh
I never read this one in English even though I loved the series. So now listening to Dina Pearlman struggling with Stsho, Knnn and Tc'a ;-) I never tried to read that aloud!
What Cherryh does with that series is astounding : reflexion on gender roles, first contact with a twist, politics, space opera and NO melodrama : I loved what she did with the Kif. One seldom encounter this kind of tunraround.

Stranger on the Shore by Josh Lanyon

Josh Lanyon as usual. This is familiar but his characters are so endearing, so strong facing their weaknesses that I succomb to the charm each and every time!

Manga: Histoire et univers de la bande dessinée japonaise by Jean-Marie BOUISSOU
I started reading some manga two years ago and felt utterly stupid when I discovered the hard way they were to be read "from end to beginning". This book gave me some context - and added to the TBR pile, as usual.

The sea without a shore by David Drake
A very pleasant book : The Sissies are back in great form! This series is some kind of regressive pleasure with the repetitive elements but it isn't completely static. Strangely (?), in this book, I found that secondary characters evolved more than the two main protagonists. I do appreciate the mixed historical background that inspired the adventures and context.

Clean: A Mindspace Investigations Novel and Rabbit trick by Alex Hughes
I listened to the audio version read by Daniel May. I really like his deep voice! He made it possible for me to be swept by the story. I'll listen to the next book even though UF isn't my favourite kind of fantasy. I don't think I would read it (I could say the same of Hearne's series : if it wasn't for Luke Daniels and his hilarious rendering of Oberon and each and every character I would have stopped). Here May made me live inside Adam's head : really uncomfortable but interesting.

Whyborne and Griffin, Books 1-3: Widdershins, Threshold, and Stormhaven and Eidolon: A Whyborne & Griffin Short Story by Jordan L. Hawk

Silent blade by Ilona Andrews
A bit disappointing. To much romance, too little SF. The society evoked the Liaden world of Lee & Miller but we get only a glimpse of it.

The haunted heart: Winter by Josh Lanyon
Creepy atmosphere: I never would have stayed in that house!
On the left, suicidal man, on the right, "PTSD man", but they go on - and something rings true in the way they behave (something I'm used to hearing in Lanyon's books, now that I think of it).

Payoff: A Mindspace Investigations Novella by Alex Hughes
This reminds me of Memory by Bujold : what happens when what makes you you disappears?

Cards On The Table by Josh Lanyon

Sharp: A Mindspace Investigations Novel, book 2 by Ales Hughes
Again, bravo to Daniel May.
I'm more used to read epic fantasy and space opera, so this kind of SF with detective and paranormals isn't my first choice but Daniel May made it possible to stick with the story and live it from the inside.
There are some carelessness in the writing (too many repeated words) but I like the way she paints this damaged world with small touches and I like what she makes of Adam, his strength with telepathy, his addiction, his will to make amend and his damned pride!

Those who hunt the night by Barbara Hambly
This time, it's more like James Bond or Mission: Impossible, with wampires. Again not exactly my cup of tea. However, the three main characters are interesting, their relations might become interesting ; so perhaps I'll try the next one.

A passage of stars by Kate Elliott aka A. A. Rasmussen
My memories are a bit fuzzy so I don't know if this is the same world as in the Jaran books ; it could be and it's an interesting world. But something doesn't exactly clinch in this book for me, I can't be fully engaged with the characters. I experienced something of the kind with Jaran, perhaps because something's jarring in the female characters' reactions - jarring for me, not because it's inconsistant. They aren't focused on the relationship with their lover or with the revolution they participate in or..., they're able to balance everything (I don't mean easily but they never let one element overwhelm everything). They're deeply engaged in the situation as a whole, without losing their inner center. I find myself thinking "err..." each time I notice it and I feel a bit disconnected from the story. To be candid, I think I keep my distance because I'm displeased with myself. Arghh!

Hunted (The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book Six) by Kevin Hearne
Again, for Luke Daniels' performance. This is the sixth volume and it's turning a bit stale. It's a chase all right and the varied pantheons are fun but there's no real challenge. It feels like a cars chase movie.

Border T5 by Kazuma Kodaka

The water that falls on you from nowhere by John Chu
I seriously doubt society could stand without lies. It could be interesting to explore further.

IronStar by Grant Hallman
Stranded on a backwater planet. Classic situation but everything is really too easy for the godess-like heroin and all the characters are black or white. I don't think I'll read the next volume.

Shattered: The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
Luke Daniel's narration : once more, essential in my appreciation of the book. I like the voice he chose for the archdruid : raugh, forceful, domineering, on par with Owen's temperament!
An improvement over the last book. I like the divided narration between Atticus, Granuaile and Owen.
At time, I was a bit annoyed how easy it was for Atticus to discard all the unpleasantness and go play with Oberon or Granuaile. But afterwards, I felt it's fitting. After two thousand years, I guess he had to learn to be zen, to live in the here and now. At some point, he tells Owen how important it is to find something/someone to laugh and to love when immortality is the matter.

Chanur's venture by C. J. Cherryh

Too much of "gods' rot" but I noticed the American language tends to stick to one swearword...

Stress isn't really all that good for my health! I would implode if I were in any of the character's shoes. Fortunately I already read these books years ago in French translation so I know things won't be too horrible.

In the meantime , I want to carefully watch how Cherryh deals with the risk of melodrama or rather how she refuses to take the easy way with black and white characters or clear frontiers. Donaldson made a point about the difference between melodrama and drama in The real story and how the role of Victim, Villain and Rescuer sticks or moves between the protagonists. So here we've got Tully and the Chanur as Victims, the Kif as Villain and the Mahe as Rescuers - and Goldtooth might yet be suspicious.

On to The Kif strike back

Marked (Mindspace Investigations, 3) by Alex Hughes
Nice balance between the world building, the investigation and the characters' development.

Traveling with the Dead by Barbara Hambly

The silence of Medair & Voice of the Lost: Medair Part 2 by Andrea K. Höst
This really is one book in two parts, so better to get the second one on hold. I could say it's an interesting reflection on responsability, loyalty, racism and love but it's a very incarnate reflection. We approach these themes through Medair's thoughts, feelings and actions. She sometimes seems to be running in circles but the course of action takes a very short time and, as a matter of fact, her adaptation is fast.

What annoyed me was the historical timing. A jump of five hundred years is way too long. In 1514, which were the political powers in North America or Australia? The Iroquois confederation? If I remember correctly, Cortez hadn't conquered Mexico at the time. In France, the king François 1er hadn't yet ordered to use French instead of Latin when writing the laws. In 1015, William, a French duke of Norman origin, hadn't conquered England. In 515, the first king of barbarian tribes (the Franks) had just died. Before that, France was known as Gaul - because the Gallic tribes used to live there under the power of the Roman empire.

Just imagining somebody coming back in a country five hundred years later and understanding the language is impossible. My great grandmother used a past tense in her everyday speach which is now reserved to formal writing language. Five hundred years ago, people in France didn't use the same word to say "yes" depending on their location north/south of the country.

So... Medair should have passed her first year back learning the new language. Plus, there were too few political and technical changes in the five hundred years of her absence. This is a usual failure in fantasy books and I generally don't mind it very much. Unfortunately, the five hundred years gap is at the core of Medair's problems and I couldn't escape it anymore than her!

Forsworn: A Powder Mage Novella by Brian McClellan

A Ghost of a Chance by Josh Lanyon

Ghosts gave me the chills.

Fire with Fire by Charles E. Gannon

The way Caine learns and masters all the necessary trades is a bit easy but the twists of the politics are fun.

>37 h-mb: FYI, your touchstone goes to the wrong book.

Thanks! I'll try to correct that.

Ring of Swords by Eleanor Arnason

What an extraordinary book! I had never heard of it before reading Jo Walton on Tor.com and it's really a shame. If I remember correctly, she called it "anthropological SF" and compared it to Cherryh's Chanur series : yes, on both account. This is the kind of book where I run a backyard commentary in my head with questions and hypothesis, "what if" and "but". It makes me think and imagine a thousand different things and it's a joy.
Plus, reading the interactions between the main characters, I found myself scratching my head a few times (I like to be surprised by their reactions as I would be by a real person's behaviour) or feeling admirative at other times. At times, I was reminded of the Vorkosigans (Cordelia and Aral) and their terrible clarity about themselves or the choices to be made.
Great reading!

PS : nothing like Tepper's black (male) and white (female) societies.

Glory Main: The Sim War: Book One by Henry V. O'Neil
A bit too many details about the fights and combats for my taste as usual (again, why do I read military SF ?) but the setting might be interesting.

The lost starship by Vaugh Heppner
Quite forgettable. Everything will always end well for the characters and their relationships and reactions don't hold water.

The Kif Strike Back (Chanur 3) by C. J. Cherryh

Chanur's Homecoming (Chanur 4) by C. J. Cherryh

This is great! Confusing and complex politics, hard stress, beautiful turn about. I like that humankind is kept in the background - we are so full of our own importance.

The Boy with the Painful Tattoo: Holmes & Moriarity 3 (Volume 3) and Fair Game by Josh Lanyon

I like this Holmes! He makes me smile.
It seems the sequel to Fair Game will be out in November, so I had a good reason to re-read it.

Lord of the White Hell Book One (The Cadeleonian Series 1) and Lord of the White Hell Book Two (The Cadeleonian Series 2) by Ginn Hale
It is really one book in two parts.
This refracted image of Al Andalous is very attractive and I would like to know more about it and its cultures. As in Wicked gentlemen, the setting is facinating and the book less so. This one has a YA feel : the protagonists are young, the focus is on their relationship and I'm left unsatisfied. I do like my fantasy on epic mode and this one wasn't. I'm frustated in my expectations but the story is well told (I tried the sample and immediately bought the book) : Kiram's voice is compelling.

Generation V &Iron Night: A Generation V Novel & Tainted Blood: A Generation V Novel by M.L. Brennan

Fair Play (All's Fair Book 2) by Josh Lanyon

The White Knight (The Dark Horse Book 2) by Josh Lanyion

Nothing added since November the 15th... "Winter is coming", yes. I tend to hibernate at that time of the year. I'm convinced I was a marmot in a previous life.

Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier

Legion: Skin Deep by Brandon Sanderson
As usual magnificent performance by Oliver Wyman ; I immediatly know which character is speaking : tone, rythm, each is individualized.

The Terror: A Short Story by Giles Kristian

Gabriel's Journey (Evan Gabriel Trilogy) by Steve Umstead

The Duchess War (The Brothers Sinister Book Book 1) by Courtney Milan
I forgot to add this one. I read it following Justin Landon’s Open Letter To Dudebros (don't know if I qualify as a dudebro but nevermind!) and Smugglivus advise. It's full of politically correct thoughts and feelings but I didn't really adhere. I like romances when they are crazy : The grand Sophy or Frederica by Heyer are more to my taste. The best moment was the scene in the train when the cousin and old friend of the hero ruin the tête-à-tête with their nonsense talking.