Majkia's Whibbly Wobbly Timey-Whimey Challenge

Converses2015 Category Challenge

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Majkia's Whibbly Wobbly Timey-Whimey Challenge

Aquest tema està marcat com "inactiu": L'últim missatge és de fa més de 90 dies. Podeu revifar-lo enviant una resposta.

1majkia
Editat: des. 28, 2015, 9:10 am



Great Blue Heron on Beach at St. George Island

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/St-George-Island - we're camping there from 25 Feb to 10 March.




Pages Read:



Currently Reading

 



Next Up

New year!


Favorite Books of the Month:
January To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis
February The Dreaming Void - Peter F. Hamilton
March The City & The City China Mieville
April Pandora's Star - Peter F. Hamilton
May The Serpent Sea and The Siren Depths - Martha Wells

State of the Science:

CCI - Heisenber Uncertainty Principle - Random -
304/2015 pages
CCII - Schrodinger's Cat - Mystery -
400/2015 pages
CCIII - Chaos Theory - Thrillers -
992/2015 pages
CCIV - The Big Bang Theory - SFFF CAT -
1375/2015 pages
CCV - God Eschews Dice - Bingo Dog
25 Books
9/25
CCVI - The Multiverse - BAC -
1206/2015 pages
CCVII - Quantum Entanglement - Group Reads -
254/2015 pages
CCVIII - Special Relativity - Early Reviewer Books -
275/2015 pages
CCIX - String Theory - Reading Thru Time, History CAT -
752/2015 pages
CCX - Wave/Particle Duality - Genre Benders -
1408/2015 pages
CCXI - Quintessence - Horror -
1/15
CCXII - Cosmology - All Things Shiny and New -
3/10
CCXIII - Hydrogen - TBR Challenge -
11/12 - or at least 12 books
CCIVX - Imagination - Books That Make Me Think -
320/2015 pages
CCVX - Ro..Ro..Romance - Heyer in Order -
304/2015 pages

2majkia
Editat: des. 17, 2014, 6:55 am

Yes, that's a nod to the Doctor but really my challenge celebrates a slightly different fellow. 2015 is the Einstein Centenary.

One hundred years ago, our cuddly Albert wrote down his famous field equations of General Relativity, with its central idea that space and time are dynamical and influenced by the presence of matter.

Each category is based on a principle of physics dreamed up by Albert and his friends.

RULES: Each category will be considered complete when I've read 2015 pages , but I can still add new books to each category as the year progresses.

RATINGS: I have been sitting still in front of the screen frozen, because I'm unsure how to rate a book. So, altho I will use the star rating system when I'm writing a review, when I talk about my books instead I will rate books firstly, by type, since an Excellent Historical Fiction novel is a whole lot different (in my mind at least) from an Excellent Thriller. So:

By Genre or Type:

Excellent: Love the book or the series and will recommend and fangirl it to death.
Very Good Just short of fantastical, miraculous and compelling.
Good: Solid entry to a series or for a stand alone by an author I'm enjoying. Recommend for most folks.
Fair: I had some issues with this book, be it authorial, style-wise or plot bunnyish. I'll hopefully expound as I write about the book.
Poor: Definitely disappointed and do not recommend to anyone, without serious reservations.
Abandoned: I'll explain, I hope.
Crappity Crap: Books that really piss me off, for one reason or another.

Now:

 



3majkia
Editat: juny 7, 2015, 8:50 am

RandomCAT and Randomly chosen from my To Read collection



I. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle - i.e. there is a fuzziness to nature, and nothing is as simple as we’d like it to be. {books from RandomCAT and books chosen using random.org}



1. The Dark-Adapted Eye - Barbara Vine - 304 pages

Random.org selected: (if it selected a book in a series, I chose the next book up in that series):

The Dark Adapted Eye - Barbara Vine 1/15
The Preacher - Camilla Lackberg - touchstone wrong
The Water Room - Christopher Fowler
Jumper - Steven Gould
Blood Song - Anthony Ryan
Alexander Outland - G.J. Koch
Next Georgette Heyer (reading in pub order)
The Women of Nell Gwynn's - Kage Baker
Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke
Knight Tennebrae - Julianne Lee
the next Malazan book - Steven Erikson - read Reaper's Gale 5/15
The Labyrinth Makers - Anthony Price

2015 pages completes the category.

4majkia
Editat: jul. 2, 2015, 5:05 am

Quests, Mysteries, Searching for...

Here Schrodinger is talking about Quantum Mechanics, not his poor cat.

II. Schrodinger's Cat - The famous thought experiment describing the paradox that mere observation of a phenomenon can alter its state. (Is it Alive or is it Dead?)
{books about mysteries or quests or searches}

1. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag - Alan Bradley
2. Dark Jenny - Alex Bledsoe
3. The Red Wolf Conspiracy - Robert V.S. Redick
4. The King's Gambit - John Maddox Roberts

2015 pages

5majkia
Editat: juny 15, 2015, 4:05 pm

Thrillers/ Puzzles


III. Chaos Theory: Chaos is the science of surprises, of the nonlinear and the unpredictable.
{Thrillers, or books that deal with messy situations that need to be resolved}

1. Charming - Elliot James
2. Pandora's Star - Peter F. Hamiton
3. Ghost Country - Patrick Lee
4. Deep Sky - Patrick Lee

2015 pages

6majkia
Editat: jul. 12, 2015, 11:59 am

SFFCAT plus any other SFF I read



IV. The Big Bang Theory No, not the TV series. Bazinga! Instead the actual theory of how the universe first formed.
{SFFFCAT and other SFF books}

1. Black Ships - Jo Graham - 341 pages
2. To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis - 521
3. Thieftaker - D.B. Jackson - 336
4. The Dreaming Void - Peter F. Hamilton
5. The Iron Jackal - Chris Wooding
6. The Way Station - Clifford D. Simak
7. The Midwich Cuckoos - John Wyndham
8. City of Bones - Martha Wells
9. Under the Empyrean Sky - Chuck Wendig

2015 pages

7majkia
Editat: des. 19, 2015, 4:20 pm

Bingo Dog

  But if there is a god, I bet she plays:



V. Bingo DOG:
{Books I read for the Bingo DOG challenge}

24. Black Ships - Jo Graham
7. Emperor: The Gates of Rome - Conn Iggulden
5. To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis
25. Thieftaker - D.B. Jackson
3. A Dark-Adapted Eye - Barbara Vine
22. Willful Child - Steven Erikson
16. Foxglove Summer - Ben Aaronovitch
19. Way Station - Clifford D. Simak
2. The Midwich Cuckoos - John Wyndham
1. The City & The City - China Mieville
9. Quicksilver - Neal Stephenson
21. The Flinck Connection - Estelle Ryan
6. The Egyptologist - Arthur Phillips
11. Reaper's Gale - Steven Erikson
18. Libriomancer - Jim C. Hines
23. The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russell
17. Ha'penny - Jo Walton
14. The Summoner - Gail Z. Martin

Possibles:
The Man Who Smiled - Henning Mankell - Translated
The Speed of Dark -Elizabeth Moon - Autism
Encrypted - Lindsay Buroker - Language
Artifact - Gregory Benford - With Scientists
Shutter Island - With natural disaster
Point of Hopes - Melissa Scott- LGBTQ
Pawn of Prophecy - David Eddngs - prophecy
The Sea-Hawk - Rafael Sabatini - 1915
Ice Forged - Gail Z. Martin - progentor's name

8majkia
Editat: març 30, 2015, 8:22 am

British Author Challenge



VI. The Multiverse: The hypothetical set of infinite or finite possible universes that together comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, and energy as well as the physical laws and constants that describe them. Yes, I was hard-pressed not to put a Firefly quote here.
{British Author Challenge}
1. Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro (246 pages)
2. Decline and Fall - Evelyn Waugh (304 pages)
3. The City & The City - China Mieville
4. The House on the Strand - Daphne Du Maurier

2015 pages

9majkia
Editat: feb. 7, 2015, 8:44 am

Group Reads



VII. Quantum Entanglement: A quantum mechanical phenomenon in which the quantum states of two or more objects have to be described with reference to each other, even though the individual objects may be spatially separated, even by lightyears! And no, I couldn't resist that picture.
{Group Reads}

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (254 pages)
2.
3.

2015 pages

10majkia
Editat: abr. 12, 2015, 1:02 pm

Early Review Copies/ Gifts

This came out pretty small, so I'll point out that quote was by Carl Sagan.

VIII. Special Relativity: General relativity generalizes special relativity and Newton's law of universal gravitation, providing a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space and time, or spacetime.
{Gifts/Early Reviewers/Books given to me for review}

1. The Alehouse Murders - Maureen Ash (SantaThing gift)
2.
3.

2015 pages

11majkia
Editat: feb. 18, 2015, 9:20 am

Reading Thru Time Challenge & HistoryCAT



IX. String Theory: Attempts to provide a complete, unified, and consistent description of the fundamental structure of our universe. (For this reason it is sometimes called a 'Theory of Everything’)
{Reading Thru Time, History CAT}

1. Black Ships - January RTT - 341pages
2. The Dreaming Void - Peter F. Hamilton - Feb Theme (Religion)
3.

2015 pages

12majkia
Editat: maig 8, 2015, 9:46 am

Genre Benders



X. Wave/Particle Duality: The wave particle duality principle of quantum physics holds that matter and light exhibit the behaviors of both waves and particles, depending upon the circumstances of the experiment. This, needless to say, gives a lot of people grief.

{Genre-Benders.  Books that are neither fish nor fowl, but instead refuse to be easily stuck into a box. (Unlike Schrodinger’s cat)}

1. The Devil's Eye - Jack McDevitt
2. Judas Unchained - Peter F. Hamilton
3.

2015 pages

13majkia
Editat: ag. 31, 2015, 1:17 pm

Horror, Dark Fantasy, Noir



XI. Quintessence: a hypothetical form of dark energy postulated as an explanation of the observation of an accelerating rate of expansion of the universe announced in 1998. It has been proposed by some physicists to be a fifth fundamental force.
{books deemed noir, horror, dark fantasy, or otherwise kinda icky}

1. Still Life With Crows - Preston/Child
2. Brimstone - Preston/Child
3. The Way of Shadows - Brent Weeks
4. The Warded Man - Peter V. Brett

4/15

14majkia
Editat: març 23, 2015, 7:35 am

Shiny and New!



XII. Cosmology: Tthe study of the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe.
{Books that are shiny and new and have their own gravitational pull}

1. Willful Child - Steven Erikson - 352pp
2. Foxglove Summer - Ben Aaronovitch - 336pp
3. A Red Herring Without Mustard - Alan Bradley

2015 pages

15majkia
Editat: ag. 31, 2015, 1:20 pm

TBR Challenge

  Thanks to PolymathicMonkey it looks as if this might be attributable to Edward R. Harrison, a cosmologist. I have found a somewhat similar quote known to be his.

XIII. Hydrogen:  The basic building block of the universe.
{books from my TBR challenge}

The TBR list:

Main:
1. Emperor :The Gates of Rome -Conn Iggulden ✔ 01/15
2. The Last Kingdom - Bernard Cornwell 03/15 ✔
3. Thomas the Rhymer - Ellen Kushner 4/15 ✔
4. The Iron King - Maurice Druon ✔ 5/15
5. Lions of Al-Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay ✔ 6/15
6. A Madness of Angels - Kate Griffith ✔ 7/15
7. A Conspiracy of Paper - David Liss
8. The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russell ✔ 8/15
9. Cranford - Elizabeth Gaskell
10. Bellman & Black - Diane Sutterfield
11. Howard's End - E.M. Forster
12. Bring Up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel

Alternates:
1. Imperium - Robert Harris ✔ 03/15
2. The City & the City - China Mieville ✔ 03/15
3. The Princess Bride - William Goldman ✔ 5/15
4. Among Others - Jo Walton
5. Quicksilver - Neal Stephenson ✔ 03/15
6. Restoration - Rose Tremain ✔ 7/15
7. Sharpe's Tiger - Bernard Cornwell
8. Armadale - Wilkie Collins
9. The Summoner - Gail Z. Martin
10. The Tenderness of Wolves - Stef Penney
11. Under the Eagle - Simon Scarrow
12. Garnethill - Denise Mina

Hoping to read all of them.

16majkia
Editat: maig 24, 2015, 9:25 am

Books that Need Further Thought



XIV. Imagination: Einstein: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will get you everywhere.”

{books that make me think}

1. The Dragon's Path - Daniel Abraham
2. Siren Depths - Martha Wells
3.

2015 pages

17majkia
Editat: feb. 13, 2015, 2:55 pm

Georgette Heyer in Pub Order



XV. Ro..Ro… Romance?: Obviously a major element of any theory.
{Georgette Heyer reads}

1. Beauvallet - Georgette Heyer
2.
3.

2015 pages

18majkia
Editat: des. 9, 2014, 12:15 pm

no idea what needs to go here, lol.

19majkia
Editat: maig 21, 2015, 4:05 pm


My Bingo DOG planning:



1. Set in a country not your own
The City & the City - China Mieville

2. Genre Bender
The Midwich Cuckoos - John Wyndham

3. Reminds you of your childhood
The Dark-Adapted Eye - Barbara Vine

4. Chosen by someone else


5. Where an animal is of importance
To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis

6. Correspondence/letters
The Egyptologist - Arthur Phillips

7. Owned for more than a year
Emperor: The Gates of Rome - Conn Iggulden


8. Translated from language you don't speak


9. Centered around major historical event


10. Published in 1915


11. Prophecies, portents
Reaper's Gale - Steven Erikson

12. Book with Scientists


13. Read a CAT


14. Author shares ancestor's first name


15. With a natural disaster


16. Mythical Creatures
Foxglove Summer - Ben Aaronovitch

17. LGBTQ main character


18. By an LT author


19. About language
Way Station - Clifford Simak

20. Outside your comfort zone


21.About autism
The Flinck Connection - Estelle Ryan

22. Inspired by another piece of fiction
Willful Child - Steven Erikson

23. Subject unfamiliar with


24. Based on fairytale or myth

Black Ships - Jo Graham

Protagonist of opposite gender
Thieftaker - D.B. Jackson

20.Monkey.
set. 2, 2014, 5:01 am

Will be curious to see what develops here. :)

21sturlington
set. 2, 2014, 10:00 am

I love all the quotes. Your categories definitely have me intrigued!

22MissWatson
set. 2, 2014, 11:05 am

Me too, I love the quotes. This is going to be very, very exciting.

23BookLizard
set. 2, 2014, 1:32 pm

Some great quotes, and I love the picture for String Theory.

24PawsforThought
set. 2, 2014, 1:37 pm

I LOVE this challenge! You're making me want to read Carl Sagan with all your quotes.

25.Monkey.
set. 2, 2014, 2:28 pm

Like everyone else, I love this!
Also, because I was curious re: >15 majkia:, as I didn't recall Neil saying something like that, I looked it up and found something from 2 yrs ago that says "Attributed to Edward R Harrison." I have no idea who that is, but it's a lead? :)

26majkia
set. 2, 2014, 2:38 pm

PM: That is a lead! I tried to find something on it but didn't see anything. I'll check out Edward R. Harrison! Thanks!

27christina_reads
set. 2, 2014, 2:46 pm

Loving the science quotes! Also, I totally agree about those new books that exert their own gravitational pull.

28mamzel
set. 2, 2014, 5:22 pm

How metaphysical!!

29Her_Royal_Orangeness
set. 2, 2014, 7:07 pm

Albert Einstein and Georgette Heyer. Now there's a combination you don't see very often. :)

30rabbitprincess
set. 2, 2014, 7:55 pm

Yay, Doctor Who and science! I like the quantum entanglement and string theory pictures. Great idea for a challenge, too! I didn't know it was the Einstein centenary.

31DeltaQueen50
set. 6, 2014, 5:25 pm

I love your theme and set up, Jean. Most science is over my head but I will enjoy visiting your lab here next year and finding out what you are currently experimenting with.

32majkia
set. 8, 2014, 8:43 am

Thanks for all the comments! I've added a few BingoDog ideas to a message. I haven't chosen them all, and might wait until the last minute for the easier ones.

33dudes22
set. 13, 2014, 7:36 am

Science was never a good subject for me, but I'm quite looking forward to your challenge and the books you read.

34-Eva-
set. 15, 2014, 1:10 am

Excellent theme!! Einstein is my blame-guy when my holidays go by too fast or my workdays too slowly. :)

35Poquette
set. 21, 2014, 10:02 pm

Seconding everybody! Totally awesome thread here.

36Bjace
set. 22, 2014, 4:41 pm

Very erudite challenge. Takes me back to when I used to watch Numb3rs.

37majkia
set. 25, 2014, 12:12 pm

I added some text to my first post. Primarily this is because I tend to freeze when I have to assign a star grading to a book. I look for different things in different genres, for instance so:

Ratings: I have been sitting still in front of the screen frozen, because I'm unsure how to rate a book. So, altho I will use the star rating system when I'm writing a review, when I talk about my books instead I will rate books firstly, by type, since an Excellent Historical Fiction novel is a whole lot different (in my mind at least) from an Excellent Thriller. So:

By Genre or Type:

Excellent: love the book or the series and will recommend and fangirl it to death.
Good: Solid entry to a series or for a stand alone by an author I'm enjoying. Recommend for most folks.
Fair: I had some issues with this book, be it authorial, style-wise or plot bunnyish. I'll hopefully expound as I write about the book.
Poor: Definitely disappointed and do not recommend to anyone, without serious reservations.
Abandoned: I'll explain, I hope.
Crappity Crap: Books that really piss me off, for one reason or another.

38DeltaQueen50
set. 25, 2014, 2:19 pm

>37 majkia: Ratings by genre is an excellent idea. You are so right about there being grading differences in the various genres. The 1 - 5 star rating system doesn't really explain one's feelings very well. I find most most of my books fall in the 3.5 to 4.3 range. (Look out I may have to steal a version of this rating system of yours!)

39cyderry
set. 25, 2014, 10:16 pm

Very interesting!

40majkia
set. 25, 2014, 11:00 pm

Feel free to beg, borrow, steal, or alter any ideas found here. :)

41majkia
oct. 9, 2014, 8:14 am

this seems appropriate for my thread:

42PawsforThought
oct. 9, 2014, 2:00 pm

>41 majkia: Ah, love it! (I really should read more science-related books, but for now I'm just going to revel in the fact that I sort-of know what the Higgs boson is, and understand why people made such a big deal about it.)

43majkia
Editat: nov. 12, 2014, 7:45 am

Made a small change to my CAT 6: The Multiverse. I've been roped into the British Author Challenge in 75rs so will put those books in CAT 5 along with any I read for the HistoryCAT, Reading Thru Time and whatever else might fit.

44DeltaQueen50
nov. 12, 2014, 1:37 pm

>43 majkia: I thought 15 categories would be more than enough, but I am scrambling through mine trying to find places for the British and American Author Challenges. Thank heavens for a Catch-All Category!

45majkia
nov. 12, 2014, 1:57 pm

gosh, I know what you mean, DQ. I'll have to read 24/7 to get through all the challenges I'm getting sucked into.

46majkia
des. 9, 2014, 12:16 pm

ok, I've been adding books. Sigh. This is far more planning than I normally do. Not sure I like it. :(

47rabbitprincess
des. 9, 2014, 5:56 pm

>46 majkia: Plan now, move the list somewhere else later so it isn't on your thread? That way you can have the fun of planning but not feel bound to the plans you've made. I've been planning some of my categories in a Word doc instead of my thread, just to scratch that planning itch (which is indeed very tempting as 2015 inches ever closer).

48Tanya-dogearedcopy
des. 9, 2014, 10:33 pm

>47 rabbitprincess: What a great idea! Ironically, I had plastered a bunch of titles in a "pre-sort" on a google doc; but then transferred a few over to my thread as "unseeded" possibilities. I should just remove it all and keep it clean!

49BookLizard
des. 10, 2014, 1:48 am

47 & 48> I've been using Microsoft OneNote since it's easy to cut & paste and have a link back to wherever you found the book. Good for those, "Why did I think I wanted to read this? moments.

I also did a separate planning thread this year so i can kick around ideas without committing to much.

50majkia
des. 10, 2014, 6:57 am

I like the idea of a separate planning thread. I'll try to remember to do that next year. And I use OneNote as well. I love that program! All my reading planning is in it.

I might just remove the possibles.

51christina_reads
des. 10, 2014, 9:52 am

You all have inspired me to remove my possibilities as well! The whole point of my challenge is to be completely open, so I really don't want to box myself in!

52majkia
des. 10, 2014, 10:28 am

yeah. I've removed my possibles, except for the TBR challenge which is indeed set.

53Tanya-dogearedcopy
Editat: des. 10, 2014, 11:40 am

>51 christina_reads: Exactly! I wanted something more organic to the way I was actually reading! I was already getting myself cornered: listing books, pre-sorting stacks, and basically setting up a reading schedule for myself for a whole year! So, I've removed the possibilities from my thread, tucked them onto a document, and made the decision to approach each month as it comes. Even with January just around the corner and the launch of the CATS a few days away, I had already changed my mind on the first reads several times. Now, we'll see what I actually end up with! :-)

54Poquette
des. 10, 2014, 4:13 pm

I see what y'all mean by being over-organized. This is my first year in the challenge, so even though I've lurked off and on over the years and kind of have an idea of what gives, it is still another thing to actually be doing it! But the way I set myself up required that I list possibilities so that I knew I would have enough for each category. It seems insane but it is the only way it will work for me under the plan I created. We can have this conversation again in six months and see whether I'm still enjoying my self-inflicted restrictions! ;-)

55mamzel
des. 10, 2014, 4:36 pm

We should have a challenge motto - Whatever works! Can someone translate that into Latin? Quod opera according to Google translate.

56mysterymax
des. 10, 2014, 4:44 pm

Great motto! I vote yes! For here and everyone else in my life.

57lkernagh
des. 25, 2014, 7:55 pm

Good old Eistein - such an inventive fellow - and happy to see the pages read as the category completed indicator. Great challenge setup and I love the science quotes. So many great ones to choose from!

58majkia
Editat: des. 25, 2014, 8:16 pm

#56 by mysterymax>

quaecumque opera ? or quidquid operat ?

59mysterymax
des. 26, 2014, 9:19 am

I'd go for quaecumque opera.

60majkia
des. 26, 2014, 10:15 am

#59 by mysterymax> Yeah, I think that one is closer to correct.

61LoisB
des. 26, 2014, 10:34 am

Your BingoDOG is so cute!

62majkia
des. 26, 2014, 10:52 am

>61 LoisB: thanks!

63The_Hibernator
des. 27, 2014, 6:06 pm

This looks like a fascinating challenge. I'm totally following!

64cammykitty
des. 29, 2014, 11:01 pm

Love the challenge! Love all the science and the quotes, and what exactly is the higgs- boson particle. It has to do with plasma, the 4th state of matter? Right? Or am I losing geek stripes.

65majkia
des. 30, 2014, 8:35 am

>64 cammykitty: The Higgs boson is an elementary particle predicted long ago but has been very elusive to find. CERN finally got proof of its existence in 2012. It is sometimes called the God Particle and there were fears that if CERN found it it could destroy the Earth. CERN built their LHC (Large Hadron Collider) in hopes of finding particles like the Higgs Boson.

Physicists believe it will provide the info we need to determine if the universe is stable, unstable, or metastable (stable for a limited period of time). The Higgs Boson experiments are currently pointing at a metastable universe but that it won't blow up or decay for a very very long time.

66majkia
des. 30, 2014, 8:36 am

Hi, Rachel, welcome!

67VioletBramble
gen. 3, 2015, 4:04 pm

Happy New Year Jean! Love your categories and the graphics.

68majkia
gen. 4, 2015, 1:34 pm

1. Black Ships - Jo Graham (Categories: CCIV:SSFCAT, CCV:BingoDOG, CCIX - RTT)


Genre: Historical Fiction/Magical Realism
Rating: Very Very Good

A retelling of the Aeneid, told through the eyes of a young girl enslaved when Troy falls. She is hurt, and no longer able to work, is then given to the temple of the Lady of the Dead as an acolyte, who when grown, becomes the chosen of the Lady and the Sybil to Aeneas.

Written beautifully, plainly and clearly told with no fake embellishments, moving and engrossing.

What a great book to start the year with.

69casvelyn
Editat: gen. 4, 2015, 2:10 pm

>68 majkia: Book bullet! *casvelyn tries to hide behind the thickest book she own, which is... The Oxford Universal Dictionary on Historical Principles at a giant 3.3 inches*

I rate books by genre as well. Everything is on a 5-point scale, but when I'm rating a mystery, I'm comparing it in my mind to other mysteries. There's some cross-genre comparison on things like plot ratings, though, because either the plot had holes or it didn't. (I'm mostly not rating the quality of the plot, but the execution.)

70majkia
gen. 4, 2015, 2:11 pm

Yeah, I can't really, in all conscience , compare between genres. My expectations are very different for different genres.

I hope you'll enjoy Black Ships as much as I did.

71casvelyn
gen. 4, 2015, 2:16 pm

I'll let you know in 2018, which is likely how long it will take me to get to it. :)

72BookLizard
gen. 4, 2015, 7:32 pm

69 & 70> I'm glad I'm not the only one who does that. It's like apples and oranges comparing genre fiction and "literature." Some of the greatest "classics" were genre fiction at one point - Charles Dickens anyone?

73DeltaQueen50
gen. 6, 2015, 1:36 pm

You did choose a great book to start the year with! Black Ships was a five star read for me.

74electrice
gen. 6, 2015, 3:50 pm

>68 majkia: First BB of the year !

>69 casvelyn: and >70 majkia: That's true for me too, I don't read comics or classics with the same expectations, they both have their own merits ; so same scale, 1 to 5, but different meanings.

75-Eva-
gen. 8, 2015, 11:54 pm

>68 majkia:
Yep, that's a BB for me too!

76majkia
gen. 9, 2015, 1:34 pm

#73 by DeltaQueen50> I suspect Black Ships was BB'd to me by YOU!

77majkia
gen. 10, 2015, 2:01 pm

2. Emperor: The Gates of Rome - Conn Iggulden. (Categories V -Bingo Dog and IX - Historical)


Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: Very Good

I was surprised to read that this was Conn Iggulden's first novel. He did a bang up job as a new novelist.

He begins the story of Julius Caesar when Julius (Gaius as he was known as a child) was still a young boy living on his father's minor estate. From there we follow him, and his childhood companion Marcus into the city of Rome and their immersion into the politics and the pitfalls of the city. Young Marcus, with no money of his own, and no family to help him rise, is the fist to join the legions and head out to make his name in the military.

Julius remains in the city and is taken under the wing of his mother's brother, a consul of Rome and a great General.

But Julius's life is thrown into doubt when Marius and his rival General Sulla, fight over Rome itself.

Colorful and nicely written, the time, the city and the boys come to life.

78AHS-Wolfy
gen. 11, 2015, 7:59 am

>77 majkia: I'm partway through his Conqueror series and hoping to get back to it this year. He does manage to draw you into the story. Good to hear that the Emperor series starts off well also.

79majkia
Editat: gen. 14, 2015, 2:54 pm

3. To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis (Category CCIV - SFFCAT and CCV - BingoDog)

Genre: Speculative Fiction/Time Travel
Rating: Very very good!

The second book of the Oxford Time Travel Series. The first book, The Doomsday Book, dealt with the Black Death. This one is a comedy of manners, and takes place during WWII, involving the search for some missing artifacts from Coventry Cathedral which was bombed during the war.

Tongue in cheek from the very beginning, poor Ned is sent through time to jumble sales all over England in search of ‘The Bishop’s Bird Stump’ an admitted atrocity of Victorian proportions but still wanted to go into a reconstruction of the cathedral.

But time goes awry nearly from the beginning when a young woman save a cat from drowning, and Ned adopts Cyril the bulldog. So suddenly the problem is finding what has messed up the future, to say nothing of retrieving the cat who is accidentally transported into the future.

Highly recommended!

80Dejah_Thoris
gen. 14, 2015, 8:25 pm

>68 majkia: I keep hearing great things about Black Ships, but I keep thinking I should read The Aenied before I read fiction about it, right? For some reason I've just never gotten around to it, although I know Homer's work pretty well.

>79 majkia: I adore To Say Nothing of the Dog! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

81majkia
gen. 14, 2015, 9:19 pm

#78 by AHS-Wolfy> He's good at making these folks who are larger than life accessible, isn't he?

82majkia
gen. 14, 2015, 9:20 pm

#80 by Dejah_Thoris> I do wish I'd re-read the Aeneid before I started it. It isn't necessary, but I think it would help.

And yeah, To Say Nothing of the Dog is just a hoot.

83BookLizard
gen. 14, 2015, 9:30 pm

Yay! I love To Say Nothing of the Dog! I'm glad you enjoyed it too!

84majkia
gen. 14, 2015, 9:32 pm

#83 by BookLizard> :)

85hailelib
gen. 15, 2015, 7:20 am

Happy Thingaversary!

86majkia
gen. 15, 2015, 7:21 am

#85 by hailelib> Thanks! 8 years, wow. Am buying books to celebrate!

87BookLizard
gen. 15, 2015, 8:17 am

Happy Thingaversary, and happy shopping!

88Dejah_Thoris
gen. 15, 2015, 9:27 am

Well look what I found - a celebration! Happy Thingaversary! Let us know what books you end up with!

89AHS-Wolfy
gen. 15, 2015, 11:46 am

Happy Thingaversary!

90DeltaQueen50
gen. 15, 2015, 12:56 pm

Happy Thingaversary and congratulations on eight years! Have fun shopping for your books.

91luvamystery65
gen. 15, 2015, 4:47 pm

#68 is a BB for me too!

Happy Thingaversary!

Awesome way to set up your challenge. I actually understood some of the terms since I read The Theory of Everything last year. Just don't ask me to explain any of it. ;-)

92majkia
gen. 16, 2015, 7:20 am

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. And yes, I bought books:

1.Black Wind - F. Paul Wilson
2.Why Mermaids Sing - C.S. Harris
3.Dead Medium - Peter John
4.Sick - Brett Battles
5.Andromeda's Fall - William C. Dietz
6.The Barrow- Mark Smylie
7.Nefertiti's Heart - A.W. Exley
8.Malice - John Gwynne

and one to grow on:
9.A Fine Summer's Day - Charles Todd

93MissWatson
gen. 16, 2015, 8:22 am

Enjoy your haul!

94Dejah_Thoris
gen. 16, 2015, 9:14 am

>92 majkia: Excellent book haul! You have some fabulous reading coming up; and I'll be looking forward to several of those reviews.

95rabbitprincess
gen. 16, 2015, 5:47 pm

Yay, new books! Enjoy!

96mysterymax
gen. 17, 2015, 12:18 am

Nice way to celebrate!

97majkia
gen. 17, 2015, 2:07 pm

4. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro



Genre: historical fiction

Rating: Good

The story of one man’s life as a butler during the run-up to World War II.

I’m unsure what to say about this book. Beautifully written, but depressing and rather hopeless. Talk about living your life through others and letting them be your conscience and your guide. But he certainly maintains his dignity throughout.

98lkernagh
gen. 18, 2015, 4:34 pm

Great reviews and belated Happy Thingaversary wishes. Love the book haul!

99whitewavedarling
gen. 18, 2015, 5:07 pm

Ditto >98 lkernagh: 's message. I'm also so glad you enjoyed Black Ships :)

100majkia
gen. 19, 2015, 2:32 pm

5. Thieftaker - D. B. Jackson (Categories: IV- SFFCAT, V- BingoDOG)



Genre: Alternate History

Rating: Interesting!

We’re in 1765 Boston, where Sam Adams and his buddies are beginning to stir up Boston against the Crown and its taxes. During a night where the rabble attack and break into three houses of prominent Bostonians, a girl is found dead, with no apparent wound on her.

It turns out the girl is from another prominent Boston family and so Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker, a conjuror, and a convicted felon, is called in to search for a valuable brooch she was wearing, and if he can, to find out who killed her.

I thought the setting was drawn very well, the miseries of the poor in Boston and the relatively easy life of the wealthy made all too clear. The magical system was intriguing.  Ethan, who’d nearly been hung as a witch, but had been instead sent to Barbados to work in the sugar cane fields, is hiding in plain sight. People ‘know’ he’s a conjuror/witch, but mostly because he’s been no threat, they leave him alone. But when he’s employed by a wealthy merchant to find out about the merchant’s daughter, that draws way too much attention to Ethan and he finds himself up against not only the only other thieftaker in Boston, but also up against a conjuror far stronger than he.

I’ll definitely be continuing this series.

101LittleTaiko
gen. 19, 2015, 4:27 pm

Ooh, that sounds right up my alley.

102AHS-Wolfy
gen. 19, 2015, 5:12 pm

Sounds good to me also.

103christina_reads
gen. 19, 2015, 8:22 pm

I'm late to the game, but I'm so glad you liked To Say Nothing of the Dog! It's one of my favorite books.

104majkia
gen. 21, 2015, 7:15 am

Hi Stacy! Welcome. It was indeed a very interesting historical setting, not to mention the mystery and the magic!

Dave, Thanks for stopping by. It is pretty gritty but well worth treking through Boston in the rain and the muck, not to mention stopping in the Green Dragon to hear the talk of sedition!

Christina, I can see well why To Say Nothing of the Dog is a favorite of yours. I'm going to have to re-read it at some point, I think. Just to laugh again. :)

105mysterymax
gen. 21, 2015, 8:11 am

Ah, Thieftaker is on my Jan TBR list. After your review I have moved it up to 'next in line'.

106hailelib
gen. 21, 2015, 9:20 am

Thieftaker sounds interesting.

107BookLizard
gen. 21, 2015, 7:22 pm

104> What do you mean by gritty? And you say it's a series . . . is it a cliffhanger ending?

108majkia
gen. 21, 2015, 8:35 pm

>107 BookLizard: No, not a cliffhanger ending. The story is told completely.

Gritty in that the miseries of the world are depicted plainly and Ethan's world is dangerous.

109BookLizard
gen. 21, 2015, 8:40 pm

108> OK, so not gritty as in gory or scary. I'm a wimp.

110majkia
gen. 21, 2015, 9:55 pm

#109 by BookLizard> No, not scary and not written too gorily. :)

111BookLizard
gen. 21, 2015, 10:28 pm

110>Thanks! Possible Book Bullet for the SFFCAT. Which BingoDOG square did you use? Genre bender?

112majkia
gen. 22, 2015, 6:51 am

#111 by BookLizard> That would certainly work. But I used 'opposite gender protag'

113BookLizard
gen. 22, 2015, 7:55 am

112> I see. It's great how flexible the Bingo categories can be. I'll shut up now - I'm not usually such a Chatty Cathy! :-)

114-Eva-
gen. 23, 2015, 2:18 am

A belated Happy Thingaversary from me. And congrats on a great haul!

115majkia
gen. 26, 2015, 11:13 am

6. The Dark-Adapted Eye - Barbara Vine (Category I - Random and Cat 5 - BingoDog (reminds me of my childhood)


Genre: Historical Mystery
Rating: Very Good

I had no idea when I began reading this that this book would dredge up so many childhood memories. I’m sure the pain of revisiting some of that colors my thoughts regarding it, but I will say that the book was riveting, emotional, and very much a story that could only happen during the timeframe it is set. Times have changed, attitudes are different, circumstances would be very different at other times.

It is the story of a murder, dredged up from the narrator’s past, when a writer contacts the family and wants to write a book about the murder and the circumstances of the murderer’s life.

The narrator, Faith, revisits what she knows, what she didn’t learn until too late, what she thinks is true, and how it is that the truth is never clear or logical.

Very much a psychological tale, examining all the characters in an extended family and how secrets and lies lead up to misery and hatred.

My personal experience is that lies and family secrets most certainly do that.

116majkia
gen. 26, 2015, 11:27 am

Hi Eva, thanks! And Liz, you talk all you want to!

117Bjace
gen. 26, 2015, 11:31 am

Good review of the Barbara Vine. When Ruth Rendell (Barbara Vine's real name) is good, there's almost no one better.

118LibraryCin
gen. 27, 2015, 12:10 am

Ok, thought this was a super-busy thread, until I saw that half of the posts were before the year started! :-)

119RidgewayGirl
gen. 27, 2015, 2:08 am

I'll admit that the idea of having a Barbara Vine-style childhood is terrifying! But it's been years since I read A Dark-Adapted Eye. It would be fun to reread all of hers as they were so good the first time around. Have you read anything by Morag Joss? She reminds me of Vine.

120majkia
gen. 27, 2015, 7:47 am

#117 by Bjace> I love her approach to this. I've got a few more of hers. I'm looking forward to them.

121majkia
gen. 27, 2015, 7:49 am

#119 by RidgewayGirl> No, I haven't read Morag Joss. I'll look into her stuff. Thanks!

122majkia
gen. 27, 2015, 7:53 am

#118 by LibraryCin> yeah, it's slowed down a bit now.

123Bjace
Editat: gen. 27, 2015, 6:01 pm

#120, majkia, if you haven't read it and you don't own it, A judgement in stone is worth looking for. It is surely the strangest motive for murder I've come across. I believe H. R. F. Keating named it as one of his 100 best.

124whitewavedarling
gen. 28, 2015, 9:14 am

Heavens--I drop by to catch up, and find two bbs in those last two books! I really am going to have to look up Thieftaker soon, though, especially since you mentioned it's not a cliffhanger ending!

125majkia
feb. 1, 2015, 7:53 am

January Summary

A slow January for me with only a total of 6 books read. Well finished. Books unfinished and set aside: The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt. I was enjoying it, but was just not in a good place to listen to it and pay attention.

Books Read: 6
Authors: 3 Female/ 3 Male
Genres: 2 Historical, 1 Magical Realism, 1 period mystery, 1 Alt Reality, 1 Sci Fi/Time Travel
Total Pages Read:2689
Oldest Book Read (original Pub date) - A Dark-Adapted Eye - Barbara Vine - 1986

1. Black Ships - Jo Graham
2. Emperor: The Gates of Rome - Conn Iggulden
3. To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis
4. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
5. Thieftaker - D.B. Jackson
6. A Dark-Adapted Eye - Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell)

Best Book of the month: I enjoyed all of them, so hard to choose, but I think I'll have to choose: To Say Nothing of the Dog.

126majkia
feb. 1, 2015, 7:57 am

#123 by Bjace> Put it on the wishlist!

127majkia
feb. 1, 2015, 7:58 am

#124 by whitewavedarling> Of course you know his life goes on, but the story is definitely wrapped up.

128majkia
feb. 1, 2015, 8:07 am

7. Still Life with Crows - Preston/Child (Cat XI - Horror)



Genre: Horror/Thriller

Rating: Best of the Series I’ve Read so Far

Agent Pendergast, just as mysterious as ever, turns up in a tiny Kansas town after a bizarre murder is found with the scene set as a ritualistic tableau.

But the next murder makes no sense, at least none that anyone can figure out, since it breaks all the rules regarding serial killers.

Pendergast, unloved by the local cops, finds a young girl, an ousider like him, to assist and he and she set out to catch the killer.

Very good descriptions of the country, the scenes, the local flora and fauna, complex mystery, and lots of crazy chases.

129majkia
feb. 3, 2015, 12:26 pm

8. Willful Child - Steven Erikson (Cat X!! - Shiny and New)



Genre: Sci Fi Parody
Rating: Good

This is an all out over-the-top parody of Star Trek. Take all the silliness of the original series, stir, and and a biting wit, and you get The Willful Child.

If you adore Star Trek, don’t read it. Unless, of course, you can admit that the series was fun rather than an example of serious Sci Fi.

This couldn't get any more different from his Malazan series!

130majkia
Editat: feb. 8, 2015, 5:36 pm

9. Pride and Prejudice – Jan Austen


Not much to say. My umpteenth reread of it. Great fun.


10. The Weed That Strings The Hangman's Bag - Alan Bradley


Genre: Historical Mystery

Rating: Very Good!

Second in the Flavia DeLuce series. I know a lot of people find Flavia annoying, but I think she’s utterly hilarious and I envy her dreadfully for being so interesting and complex.

Terrific characters, and intriguing world.

Wonderful series I’ll happily continue.

131lkernagh
feb. 8, 2015, 6:10 pm

Happy to see another fan of that wonderful imp Flavia!

132AHS-Wolfy
feb. 9, 2015, 6:45 am

>130 majkia: I still have to get around to reading the second Flavia book also. Glad that it holds up well to the first.

133Bjace
feb. 9, 2015, 9:30 am

Working on the 2nd Flavia now. I wasn't that crazy about the 1st one, but I'm willing to be charmed.

134DeltaQueen50
feb. 9, 2015, 5:26 pm

I also wasn't particularly charmed by Flavia when I read the first book, but I intend to give her a second chance eventually and try the second one.

135BookLizard
feb. 9, 2015, 5:29 pm

Glad I'm not the only one who didn't love Flavia, but I love some of the titles of the later books, so I'll probably give her a second chance.

136majkia
feb. 9, 2015, 8:23 pm

I'm listening to the audio, and love the narrator. Maybe that helps. :)

137LibraryCin
feb. 9, 2015, 9:20 pm

I love Flavia as a character, but the books are merely ok. What brings it all to life for me is the narrator of the audios - Jayne Entwhistle. If I wasn't listening to the series, I don't know if I'd be reading them otherwise.

138mysterymax
feb. 10, 2015, 11:23 am

You mean some people actually read cozy mysteries for the plot?

I've never found one where the guilty party wasn't quite obvious from early on, what makes them so endurable are the characters and for me Flavia was tops! Anyone that can get back at big sisters by putting poison ivy in their lipstick, rides her bike with arms straight out, and reads with her legs hanging over the arm of the chair is good for me.

139VivienneR
feb. 10, 2015, 1:52 pm

>130 majkia: Jane Austen and Flavia de Luce: so different and yet both wonderful!

140LibraryCin
feb. 10, 2015, 8:47 pm

>138 mysterymax: Well, there are barely any mysteries to the Flavia books, anyway!

141majkia
feb. 12, 2015, 8:20 am

11. Decline and Fall - Evelyn Waugh (CAT VI - British Author Challenge)



Genre: Satire
Rating: Fair

Evelyn Waugh’s first novel, written in 1928, a satire of the British public school system, with our hero having been sent down, landing a job at a public school of questionable value. Not as good as some of his later books, but quite funny nonetheless.

12. Beauvallet - Georgette Heyer (CAT XV - Romance)



Genre: Historical Romance (Elizabethan)
Rating: Good

Written in 1929, Heyer’s 5th novel, follows the adventures and romances of a pirate, Nick Beauvallet, and the Spanish lady he captures when he attacks a Spanish ship on the high seas. He decides he must have her, even if he has to risk his neck by going to Spain to get her.

Lots of intrigue and adventures even if Nick has all the fun and poor Dominica has to just wait to be rescued from the evil clutches of her aunt. Not my favorite Heyer, but it does have its virtues.

142majkia
feb. 13, 2015, 2:42 pm

13. Foxglove Summer - Ben Aaronovitch (Category XII - Shiny and New and Bingo Dog - supernatural critter)



Genre: Urban Fantasy/Police Procedural
Rating: Excellent

5th in the Peter Grant/Rives of London series.

Apprentice wizard and policeman Peter Grant, city boy down to his tiny toes, has to trek off to the wilds of the British countryside, when two little girls vanish. Just due diligence, just to make sure there wasn't any supernatural critter involved in the abduction.

'The Starling' as he finds himself called, learns a whole lot on this jaunt:  about bees, about himself, about his boss, and about the aspects of magic in the countryside. Not to mention the unicorn and castle.

Excellent addition to the series.

143mamzel
feb. 14, 2015, 2:47 pm

I've read the first book of the series and really have to get back to it and catch up to this one.

144Dejah_Thoris
feb. 14, 2015, 8:40 pm

>142 majkia: Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed it so much! I thought it was excellent, too, and was disappointed that so many people have been, well, disappointed with it. I look forward to the new book each January....

145BookLizard
feb. 14, 2015, 9:58 pm

144> For the record, I wasn't that disappointed! I gave it 4 stars which I gave to all of the books except the previous one. Sheesh! LOL.

146Roro8
feb. 15, 2015, 4:20 am

Ok, so I'm way behind as well. The Thieftaker sounds great. It might just conjure it's way into my hands.

147Dejah_Thoris
feb. 15, 2015, 8:56 am

>145 BookLizard: Snicker - I didn't necessarily mean you, you know! Over on the 75er's threads reaction has been pretty mixed.

148majkia
feb. 15, 2015, 10:38 am

#147 by Dejah_Thoris> what's their issue with it?

149Dejah_Thoris
feb. 15, 2015, 10:50 am

>148 majkia: I think some people didn't like having Peter out of London, largely without his usual cast of supporting characters (well, he wasn't entirely on his own - the rivers of London can be pretty mobile). For some folks I think it was too much of a police procedural and I think others were simply disappointed that the shocker/cliffhanger from the end of Broken Homes wasn't more completely addressed.

I don't think I've read of anyone disliking it, just some folks who were a little let down.

150BookLizard
feb. 15, 2015, 11:47 am

149> Has anyone else complained about lighting-quick ending? Not that I'm complaining! I thought the book was heading for another cliffhanging ending, so I'm glad it didn't.

151majkia
feb. 15, 2015, 7:39 pm

hmm. I enjoyed Peter out of London, and a chance to see the greater, wider view of how magic works in this reality.

I'm glad they didn't jump right into the issue at the end of the previous book. I'd like Ben to draw that out and make it complex and interesting rather than a quick resolution to it all.

152majkia
feb. 18, 2015, 7:36 am

14. The Dreaming Void - Peter F. Hamilton (CAT IV-SFF, and CAT IX - HistoryCAT Theme: Religion)


Genre: Space Opera
Rating: Very Good!

It is the far future and humankind have spread across the stars, and met a host of alien species. Wars are over, and things are going pretty well. Except for this massive thing sitting in the middle of the Galaxy. At first it is thought to be a black hole devouring the Galaxy, but then it becomes clear it is something else entirely.

Then one man, an astrophysicist who is studying it, begins to dream. Through the existing tech that connects the worlds, his dream is broadcast across the stars and people begin to believe that within the Void humans live and are happy and prosper. This spawns a religion around the Dreamer, Inigo.

But after several centuries, the Dreamer disappears. Has he died? Or has he simply pulled out of society and hidden himself somewhere.

Then, suddenly, there is a second Dreamer. This sparks the Living Dream, the religion spawned around the first Dreamer, to suddenly awaken from its slumber and call for a pilgrimage into the Void. ; But many scientists, and all the alien species, rise up in alarm, afraid such a thing will cause the Void to speed up and begin, once again, to destroy worlds and civilizations as it chews its way through the Galaxy. The pilgrimage must be stopped!

Hamilton does a great job at creating a Galactic civilization, Religion, and people who are complex and intriguing. The societies are various, with different worlds having quite different problems and opportunities, not to mention goals. Some people, the wealthy of course, live for centuries, and have augmented bodies and minds, and a mental connection to the mass of humanity through the vast gaianet that lets thoughts and dreams spread across worlds and peoples.

I’m excited to read the next outing. Oh, and Fifty Shades doesn’t hold a candle to the future folks and their versions of sex and erotica.

153majkia
feb. 22, 2015, 11:04 am

15. The Iron Jackal - Chris Wooding (CCIV - SFF and Fantasy February



Genre: Steampunk, SFF

Rating: Very Good

Third episode in the Tales of the Ketty Jay series, our ‘heroes’ are feeling pretty smug. For a change, things are going fairly well. That is, until Frey decides to do a train job. From there, things definitely get buggered.

Pirates, thieves, outcasts, former slaves, and a demonologist on the run make up the crew of the Ketty Jay. Lots of shades of Firefly in many parts, particularly The Train Job!

I love the characters. Everyone is a mess, and doing their best to make do with what they are, and somehow remain part of a crew.

Frey, leader of the crew, is shallow, narcissistic, and knows it. But for the first time in his life, he’s beginning to actually feel responsible for his crew and aware of his limitations. And is trying to do better. We’ll see if he can manage it!

154christina_reads
feb. 22, 2015, 11:58 pm

>153 majkia: Ooh, I still have this one and Ace of Skulls waiting on my shelves…thanks for reminding me to get to them sooner rather than later!

155majkia
Editat: feb. 26, 2015, 7:31 am

16, Way Station - Clifford D. Simak (Cat IV - SFFCAT) and Bingo Dog - about language


Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: Quite Good
Originally published in 1963. Hugo Award winner and deservedly so.

Enoch is a quiet man. He keeps to himself and gives his neighbors no reason to be upset with him. He has little to do with anyone other than getting his mail and buying supplies now and again.

The neighbors do notice, however, that he has lived far longer than is normal, but well, he’s no trouble and nice enough so no one wants to make waves about weird goings on.

No one guesses that this quiet man is keeper of an intergalactic way station where aliens arrive most days, say awhile to rest, then continue on their light year journeys. Until, that is, a deaf mute girl local girl seeks his help from her abusive family.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Told in a very quiet, simple way, with an intriguing premise and interesting characters.

156Dejah_Thoris
feb. 26, 2015, 9:14 am

>155 majkia: You got me with Way Station - I just requested it from the library. Thanks!

157AHS-Wolfy
feb. 26, 2015, 4:38 pm

>155 majkia: I can't look at your review just yet as I'm currently in the middle of this book right now.

158majkia
feb. 26, 2015, 4:48 pm

156 and 157 Oh, I'll be sure to check out reviews!

159majkia
feb. 26, 2015, 5:42 pm

17. The Midwich Cuckoos - John Wyndham (CCIC - SFFCAT written before 1980)


Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: Very Good
Made into the movie Village of the Damned.

A small town of no known importance is suddenly blocked off from the rest of the world, and all its inhabitants are cut down. At first the authorities assume they are all dead. Instead they discover the people and animals and every living thing in Midwich is asleep. After 24 hours, everyone awakes and all appear to be fine.

But then it is discovered that every woman of child bearing age who has been hit by the DayOut is with child.

Very intriguing take on alien invasions. Quite different from the movie, of course.

160majkia
març 3, 2015, 8:37 pm



Mr Majkia playing with fire. And the photo at the top of the thread he got this afternoon on the beach. The heron was deigning to accept Jim's shrimp he was using to fish with.

Alas, he didn't catch any fish.

161rabbitprincess
març 3, 2015, 8:44 pm

Great photo! That heron looks very dignified indeed.

162AHS-Wolfy
març 4, 2015, 4:13 am

Glad you enjoyed Way Station a much as I did. I've also enjoyed every Wyndham book that I've read so far (admittedly not that many) including The Midwich Cuckoos.

163majkia
març 4, 2015, 9:42 am

18. The Last Kingdom - Bernard Cornwell (Cat IX - HistoryCAT and Cat XIII - TBR Challenge)



Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: Good

I confess to knowing nothing whatsoever about this period in Britain’s history so I have no idea how accurate the historical details are, although Cornwell does say something with regard to that in the afterward.

The action takes place when the Danes were overrunning England and had captured essentially most of it with the exception of West Sussex where Alfred, to be called Alfred the Great, is keeping them at bay.

The tale is told by a young man whose family is killed in a Danish attack. The boy attempts to kill one of the Danish leaders, Ragnar, and is subsequently adopted by the same fellow. He finds the young boy’s spirit that of a Dane and a Viking, and so the boy grows up as a Dane, learning how they fight, how they believe and how they think. He still dreams of his home though, and secretly wants the Danes out and the English to regain their homeland.

The story follows the boy’s life up until he is grown and finds himself torn between the two worlds.

Intriguing character development and interesting to me as I knew nothing about the Vikings nearly conquering England.

164Chrischi_HH
març 4, 2015, 5:00 pm

>163 majkia: BB! I lived in Denmark and learned quite much about Danish history, but this part is new to me, too. Sounds very interesting!

165majkia
març 5, 2015, 5:25 pm



Storm coming in but folks are still on the beach

166Roro8
març 6, 2015, 12:35 am

>163 majkia:, I enjoyed that book too. In fact, I have read all 8 books in the series and they are all pretty good.

167MissWatson
març 6, 2015, 3:53 am

>166 Roro8: He's up to 8 books now with Uhtred? Jeez, I'm so behind...

168mathgirl40
març 6, 2015, 9:05 pm

The Last Kingdom sounds really interesting. This is a period of history that I don't know much about. A number of people have recommended Bernard Cornwell to me. I really should pick up one of his books sometime.

169rabbitprincess
març 7, 2015, 9:10 am

Ditto on The Last Kingdom! I also heard it was being adapted into a TV series, which would be interesting as well.

170majkia
març 7, 2015, 9:42 am

#169 by rabbitprincess> oh wow. that would be interesting.

171Roro8
març 9, 2015, 5:56 am

>169 rabbitprincess:, I would definitely be watching that one.

172majkia
Editat: març 9, 2015, 11:57 am

19. The City & The City - China Mieville (Cat VI - British Author Challenge)


Genre: Urban Fantasy Noir
Rating: Amazing

Mieville has an ability to imagine world and city-scapes that are so alien and fascinating.

Two cities/two worlds superimposed over each other, where citizens of one must ‘unsee’ those of the other. Areas of shared scape or totally separate cities, intermixed who knows how or why. The citizens just have to live there.

A detective of one city finds a dead body. But he begins to suspect that this isn’t only about his city, and that means the mysterious Breach might be invoked, the mystery that citizens of both cities fear.

Again, Mieville creates a world that is as much a character in the story as the humans living in it. Wonderfully imaginative, nicely noir and convincingly complex.

173majkia
març 9, 2015, 2:24 pm



St George Island. We're here until Wednesday when we leave for Suwannee River State Park.

174DeltaQueen50
març 9, 2015, 6:14 pm

That is a lovely picture!

175-Eva-
març 11, 2015, 2:18 pm

>172 majkia:
So great, isn't it!

>173 majkia:
Looks very relaxing.

176majkia
març 12, 2015, 6:22 pm

 



Our site at Suwannee River State Park.

Notice the trees are pretty bare and all the leaves on the ground?

For those of you not familiar with Florida, these trees are called live and scrub oak. They keep their leaves all winter and only lose them in spring, when they produce seed pods. In a month they'll be offering heavy shade.

177VivienneR
març 12, 2015, 6:39 pm

What a wonderful life in very beautiful places.

178Roro8
març 12, 2015, 11:42 pm

>176 majkia:, that looks like a lovely spot.

179majkia
març 14, 2015, 8:47 am

20. Quicksilver - Neal Stephenson (CAT XIII - TBR Challenge)


Genre: Alt History/Historical Fiction/SFF
Rating: Wow

I’ve been putting off saying anything about this book, because I wasn’t sure how to put it. It is an ambitious book, a retelling of the history of science, taking on the change from alchemy to science, and the massive social changes coming from the Reformation and the Plague.

If you don’t like science, you probably won’t like it. We meet many of the fathers of science, and they aren’t always figures to look up to, at least not personally, even if they are brilliant and driven.

I found it fascinating.

180MissWatson
març 14, 2015, 10:22 am

>179 majkia: Looks like I need to move this up my list.

181majkia
març 15, 2015, 5:33 pm

21. Lament for a Maker - Michael Innes


Genre: Golden Age Mystery

Rating: Convoluted and Intriguing.

Timor Mortis conturbat me.



Third in the John Appleby mystery series.

As with all the Appleby books, extremely literary and quite convoluted. Quite a few twists and turns I did not see coming.

I do enjoy the series, even if it shows up my poor literary education. ;)

182Bjace
març 16, 2015, 5:56 pm

I liked Lament for a maker, but I thought it was kind of creepy. I also agree with you that the plot was convoluted.

183majkia
març 20, 2015, 2:30 pm

It is that time of year again: My infamous white wisteria.

184dudes22
març 20, 2015, 4:24 pm

That's really pretty. I love wisteria although I don't have any in my yard. I've got a few hyacinths and crocus poking throught the ground. Usually I'd have some crocus already blooming, but that area was some that was covered with a lot of snow. And there are predictions for another 2-4 inches tonight which was supposed to start 20 minutes ago.

185-Eva-
març 21, 2015, 9:19 pm

>183 majkia:
Oh, those are so lovely.

186majkia
març 23, 2015, 7:30 am

23. A Red Herring Without Mustard - Alan Bradley (CAT XII - Shiny and New (to me!))

 

Genre: Period Mystery
Rating: Pure Flavia

The third entry in the Flavia DeLuce series, has Flavia mixed up with Gypsies and old fears and murder!

Flavia is at her most stubbornly determined when she finds an old gypsy woman beaten near to death. She just can’t let it drop, of course, and keeps digging to find out whodunit, even in the face of yet another murder.

Flavia is, I realize an acquired taste, one some folks never quite get used to, but I do adore her. And some of the things she says and does brings back my own childhood so doubly a reason I adore her.

187mamzel
març 23, 2015, 11:39 am

I am one who enjoys her and I'm glad you do too! Like you said, it reminds me of my childhood, not because I taught myself organic chemistry but that I was surrounded by adults who never talked down to me.

188VivienneR
març 31, 2015, 9:19 pm

I'm another Flavia fan. The series reminds me of when I first started reading mysteries, which would have been in Flavia's day.

189mathgirl40
abr. 1, 2015, 8:34 pm

I'm happy to see your positive reviews of The City and the City and Quicksilver. I'd rate The City and the City as "Amazing" too. As for Stephenson, I'm hoping to fit Anathem or Cryptonomicon into this year's reading. I'd like to read the Baroque Cycle eventually, but its size is intimidating.

190majkia
abr. 2, 2015, 4:33 pm

25. City of Bones - Martha Wells (CAT IV - SFF)



Genre:& SFF, Post-Apocalyptic

Rating: Very Good

Quite an interesting take on post-apocalyptic fiction. With well drawn and complex characters, and an interesting world. the magic is intriguing also. Too bad it’s a stand alone. I’d like to read more of this world.

191majkia
abr. 7, 2015, 11:16 am

26. Charming - Elliot James


Genre: urban/country fantasy
Rating: I’m liking it!

First in the Pax Arcana series.

A blonde walks into a bar.  And the bartender avoids her. He knows she’s not human. He’s not quite human. But when the vampire walks in they end up having to work together whether he likes it or not. And just how did she know his name was John?

So much for hiding out in a small NC town.

Fun and quite well developed world a bit reminiscent of the Dresden Files, in that John is a reluctant hero, but not a mage. Told in the first person, we learn not only about John’s problems but he gives an ongoing commentary about fighting vampires.

I'll definitely be reading more of the series.

192christina_reads
abr. 7, 2015, 2:52 pm

>191 majkia: That one has caught my eye at the bookstore a few times, but I've hesitated to pick it up. Looks like I should give it a try!

193majkia
abr. 7, 2015, 4:41 pm

it is certainly not grand literature, but it is a lot of fun.

194VioletBramble
abr. 7, 2015, 9:18 pm

>179 majkia: Quicksilver is on my maybe list. I didn't really like Snow Crash and I've been avoiding Stephenson ever since. Quicksilver sounds a little bit like The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson - which was about the origins of science and math -with reincarnation thrown in for good measure.

195Tanya-dogearedcopy
abr. 8, 2015, 12:03 am

>194 VioletBramble: I just read The Years of Rice and Salt a couple of months ago and I loved it! The meticulous care KSR took to interconnect the characters was amazing. I don't think a day has passed since I've read it that I don't think about some part of that book! :-)

I'm not so sure I'm going to go for Quicksilver though. I read both Snow Crash (dated) and The Diamond Age; and both were so wordy and detail driven that reading them both became a testament to my stubbornness in finishing what I started! Interesting ideas and story line buried in all that detail though! :-)

196BookLizard
abr. 10, 2015, 10:28 am

191> I have Charming somewhere on my Kindle. Will have to try it since you gave it such high praise. Just not anytime soon - I have so many series to get through. Book 3 is due out in August, so maybe I'll make the first 2 summer reads.

197majkia
Editat: abr. 10, 2015, 10:33 am

Liz, I am so with you on the too many series. Sigh.

Tanya, Stephenson is one of those writers who appeal to some and not to others. If you want to try something very different by him, try Reamde. It's a wonderful, exciting thriller I couldn't put down. For all 1000 pages or so!

Hi Kelly. Life is too short to read stuff you don't enjoy. I'll have to look for The Years of Rice and Salt . Sounds like something I'd enjoy!

198majkia
abr. 10, 2015, 9:31 pm

27. Pandora's Star - Peter F. Hamilton (Cat III - Thriller with puzzles)


Genre: Space Opera
Rating: Whoa!

Humans are scattered throughout the Galaxy. Their civilization is surprisingly peaceful, prosperous, and integrated with multiple aliens.

But then a dyson sphere is placed around two worlds and they feel they need to discover if it  spheres are for protection from an invading alien race, or instead is it there to stop whoever is on those worlds from escaping.

Then things really begin to go wrong.

Great space opera, encompassing multiple societies and lots of surprising alien viewpoints. Very thoughtfully presented with some deep subjects, like life and death and how we'd deal with a species that is so different from us that we can't hope to come to some sort of accommodation.

My only complaint is the book ends with cliff hangers. But at least there is only one more book in the series.

199majkia
abr. 12, 2015, 5:58 pm


28. The Alehouse Murders - Maureen Ash (CAT VIII - A SantaThing Gift

Genre: Historical Mystery
Rating: Pretty Good for the Start of a Series

Bascot de Marins is a Knight Templar, returned from the Crusades, having been held captive and then served as a slave until he’d escaped. His faith has flagged and he’s taken leave of the Templars. He’s unsure what his future path is.

The Templars arrange for him to recover his health at the Castle of Lincoln. While there, three people are found murdered at the local Alehouse. The chatelaine of the castle asks de Marin to look into the deaths and discover what he can of them.

Quite interesting setting and seems quite well researched. But there are a few places where I felt modern ideas intruded into the atmosphere that bothered me a bit.

The mystery was pretty complex and I was unsure of the identity of the murderer until quite near the end, which is a surprise for me.

200majkia
abr. 19, 2015, 9:17 am

29. Labyrinth - Kate Mosse (CAT IX - Historical Fiction)


Genre: Thriller/ Historical
Rating: Right up my street

A volunteer on an archeological dig uncovers a cave that holds two bodies.  She discovers a ring, and sees a labyrinth carved into the wall of the cave.

This begins a deadly earnest race between two organizations who want to control the ring and use it to discover the secrets of the Grail.

I can see why some folks might not like this sort of book, but I adored it. Puzzles, ancient secrets, theories and commonly accepted beliefs turned upside down.

It is a complete book, and although it is part of a trilogy, could certainly be read on its own. I’ll undoubtedly read the rest of the Languedoc series.

201majkia
abr. 20, 2015, 6:08 pm

30. The Flinck Connection - Estelle Ryan (CAT V- Bingo Dog - Main Character has Autism)



Genre: Art Heist Thriller


Rating:  Did I say I loved art thieves?


Fourth entry in the Dr Genevieve Lenard series.  Jenny is a high functioning autistic woman who has somehow acquired quite the band of former thieves.  Due to past incidents they work toward recovering stolen art, but pose as crooks and cons.


This time out, they are invited to a house to see a Flinck painting, and when Colin, the art thief, checks the place out, he finds a body.


I really enjoy this series. Interesting characters, lots of fascinating interplay among them, and the art heists are cool.

202dudes22
abr. 21, 2015, 6:18 am

>200 majkia: - I have the first two of this series on my TBR and keep meaning to get to them. Maybe this summer.

>201 majkia: - Also dodged a BB on this one as this series came to my attention here a bit ago ( ok - it was 2013) and I just picked up book 1 at a sale a little bit ago. Maybe I should think about starting this series too.

203-Eva-
Editat: juny 2, 2015, 5:34 pm

>200 majkia:
Labyrinth has been sitting on Mt. TBR for quite some time now, mainly because people seem to either love of hate it and I don't want to be one of the "haters." It's safer when it's on the bookshelf as a potentially great one. :) I will get to it, though. Eventually.

204majkia
maig 1, 2015, 10:09 am

Catch-up Post:

There at the end of our RVing trip to Topsail I became lax about posting about my reading. Here's what I've read since my last post:

31. Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner. Meh. Not nearly as good as her Riverside books. Well written, but constrained by the fact it is a retelling of fairy stories.

32. The Dragon's Path - Daniel Abraham
I really enjoyed the world and the diversity of the inhabitants of that world. The plot was a bit hard to follow, what with quite a few threads woven through it, but then I like that sort of thing!

33. The Devil's Eye - Jack McDevitt
I really enjoy this series. Lots of action, archaeology in space, complex worlds and interesting and fun characters. The first of the series was told from the more staid character's viewpoint, but the rest are told from his female partner's POV and she's a lot of fun.

Unfinished: Maze - J.M. McDermott - I found it repetitive even if well-written. Just wasn't in the right mood for it, maybe. I wanted more fun and it wasn't providing that, alas.

205Roro8
Editat: maig 1, 2015, 4:29 pm

It seems like you've been on your RV trip for quite a while now. It's fun to go on a big trip, often just as nice to get back home afterwards too.
I also liked your review of Kate Mosse's Labyrinth, it sounds like something I would like too.

206majkia
maig 18, 2015, 12:08 pm

May reading so far:

34. The Egyptologist - Arthur Phillips.
Genre: historical mystery of sorts, epistological
Rating: Uneven but interesting.

An interesting mystery, not only with regard to things archaeological, but also with regard to two missing men, seemingly unconnected, from different parts of the world.

35. Judas Unchained - Peter F. Hamilton.
Second in the Commonwealth Saga.
Genre: Sci Fi, definitely of the hard variety
Rating: I really love the sprawling sort of tale that builds galaxies rather than just worlds

Definitely have to read this after the first of the series. The action picks up directly after Pandora's Star and involves alien plots, and alien planets and lots of neat theories with regard to tech and how people themselves might evolve.

36. The Princess Bride -William Goldman
Genre: fantasy
Rating: Meh.

I liked the movie better.

37. The Serpent Sea - Martha Wells
Genre: SFF
Rating: Excellent sequel to The Cloud Roads.

Imaginative, entertaining and excellent world building.

38. The Butcher of Anderson Station - James S.A. Corey
Genre: Sci Fi
Rating: Meh

I'd hoped to get a better feel for the guy, but this didn't really seem to add a lot to what we know of Fred and his decision to join OPA.

Judas Unchained was 1024 pages and I'm deep into another thousand pager, Reaper's Gale.

207majkia
maig 22, 2015, 9:27 am

39. Reaper's Gale - Steven Erikson
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: Amazing series (this is the 7th book) 1280 pages would you believe.

Who can't love a series with characters whose names are: Ublala Pung, or Karsa Orlong, or an elder god who runs around disguised as a servant named Bugg? And dragons! Did I mention dragons? And Moranth explosives! Sappers Unite!

40. Ghost Country - Patrick Lee
Genre: Sci Fi Thriller
Rating: Intriguing

Second in the Travis Chase series, the Breach, which seems to be a doorway into another universe/time/planet/? keeps sending odd and mostly entirely alien 'things' through it. This time though, it sends two things through that see to show the Earth's future. And it is very, very bleak. Can our heroes stop the all too soon destruction of human kind? And what exactly did happen and who did it?

208-Eva-
juny 2, 2015, 5:36 pm

>206 majkia:
The Princess Bride is a fantastic movie. I can't actually remember what I thought of the book, but I can't imagine it'd be better. :)

209majkia
ag. 1, 2015, 11:06 am

I've been in a posting slump for quite some time. I'm going to try to be better and update my threads, beyond the number of books read and such.

I"ve read quite a few good books, but haven't felt like commenting on them. Sigh. Better than a reading slump I guess. ;)

210rabbitprincess
ag. 1, 2015, 5:54 pm

Glad to hear that the books have been good! :) A reading slump would be horrible. I had one in May and it was very frustrating.

211majkia
ag. 2, 2015, 4:05 pm

My reading for the past couple of months included these books that I especially enjoyed:

June:
Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines. Imaginative urban fantasy with lots of humor.

Lions of Al Rassan - G.G. Kay. His usual highly emotional, beautifully written sort of fantasy. I'm always swearing I won't read him again because his stories are all so bloody heart wrenching.

The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V.S. Redick. This one surprised me. Very interesting world-building and well-drawn characters.

Just One Damned Thing after Another - Jody Taylor . Rollicking good fun with one sarcastic heroine you have to fall in love with.

July:
A Madness of Angels - Kate Griffin. Very intriguing urban fantasy. One of those books that doesn't explain a lot of what is going on but drags you onward until all finally becomes clear - ish.

Why Mermaids Sing - C. S. Harris. One of those period mysteries that just entertains so well.

Cold Magic . Kate Elliot. Very surprising book. Great world-building and great characterization. I couldn't put it down.

Honorable mention:
Off to be the Wizard - Chris Meyer Just fun.

212DeltaQueen50
ag. 3, 2015, 12:57 am

Great to see you back and telling us about your books, Jean. I love Guy Gavriel Kay and The Lions of Al Rassan is my favorite. Libriomancer, Just One Dammed Thing After Another and Why Mermaids Sing are all books that I want to get to one of these days.

213Roro8
ag. 3, 2015, 6:49 am

Nice to see you back in posting action. I like your brief thoughts on your recent reads.

214Tanya-dogearedcopy
ag. 3, 2015, 10:29 am

I should probably give 'Libriomancer' another shot! I DNF-ed it a couple of weeks ago after I got it in an e-Book sale. I didn't have much patience for it then; but perhaps if I go in with a better attitude ;-)

I loved 'A Madness of Angels'! There was something about it that got under my skin and had me dreaming about it! I read the second book in the series; and have the other two on hand; I just to get back to them! :-)

215majkia
ag. 3, 2015, 10:46 am

#214 by Tanya-dogearedcopy> It's really hard to describe A Madness of Angels. I found myself thinking about it too when I wasn't actually reading it, pondering some of the implications of the created world and the plot. I'm looking forward to reading more of the series.

Like most humor, I expect books like Libriomancer will appeal to some folks more than others. But then that's true of a lot of books. :)

I finished Ha'penny yesterday. Another created world that makes me think long and hard and shudder a whole lot.

216mysterymax
ag. 3, 2015, 11:12 am

I loved A Madness of Angels and all the others in the series. Her other series The Glass God and Stray Souls features a fun female in Mathew Swifts world. Matthew has appointed her the Deputy Midnight Mayor and then disappears. Kate Griffin is an awesome writer. Her YA series under her real name Charlotte Webb was great too. In fact, I found them first and loved them. Starting with The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle.

217mathgirl40
ag. 4, 2015, 9:48 pm

>215 majkia: I haven't read any Hines but I would like to someday. I've read his blog on occasion and enjoyed his writings there.

I really liked Walton's Farthing and I've been meaning to continue with Ha'penny. I've also got her new book, My Real Children, on my TBR shelf right now.

218majkia
Editat: ag. 13, 2015, 1:27 pm

Finished The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. I believe I read this eons ago and no doubt I hated it then too. It was a struggle to finish it. Meaningless cruelty in the name of religion, in my opinion. Your mileage will no doubt vary greatly.

219mamzel
ag. 17, 2015, 6:18 pm

In regards to the name of your thread: Monsieur finally saw the "Weeping Angels" yesterday and couldn't believe how good it was. I just blankly looked back as him and keep the, "Well, duh!" to myself. We both were very annoyed with the unbelievably annoying narrator. To view "Water of Mars" I suggested he DVR it and fast forward through the commercials. My daughter went to a Comicon nearby and brought back a #10 Doctor Who doll for me. Yay!

220majkia
ag. 18, 2015, 7:33 am

LOL. Well, duh! Oh, a doll! Good daughter!

221majkia
ag. 19, 2015, 9:52 am

Sadly, I've given up on Carpe Diem by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Too much romance for my tender tastes. I wanted to like this series, but the whole lifemate thing, constantly at front an center annoyed me, and the action was minimal. Sitting around on a primitive farm not to my taste.

So beginning A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss instead.

222mysterymax
ag. 19, 2015, 12:03 pm

> I love David Liss's work and that was one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy it.

223majkia
set. 25, 2015, 1:14 pm

224VivienneR
set. 25, 2015, 2:52 pm

>223 majkia: Gorgeous!

225majkia
set. 30, 2015, 4:53 pm

Month of September reading:

1. A Fine Summer's Day - Charles Todd TIOLI 20, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT
2. Replay - Ken Grimwood TIOLI 17
3. A Conspiracy of Paper - David Liss, TBR
4. A Perfect Evil - Alex Kava TIOLI 15, AlphaKIT
5. Cranford - Elizabeth Gaskell TIOLI 1, TBR
6. Annihilation- Jeff Vandermeer SFFCAT TIOLI 6, AlphaKIT
7. Osiris - E. J. Swift TIOLI 20, SFFCAT, AlphaKIT
8. Angelmaker- Nick Harkaway SFFCAT, AlphaKIT
9. The Adamantine Palace - Stephen Deas TIOLI 7, AlphaKIT

I think I enjoyed Angelmaker and The Adamantine Palace the best.

226majkia
des. 1, 2015, 7:15 am

Due to participating in NaNoWriMo I had a pretty slow reading month.

1.The Water Room - Christopher Fowler
2.Bellman and Black - Diane Sutterfield - TBR
3.Bloodsucking Fiends - Christopher Moore TIOLI 8 Horror
4.Blackout - Connie Willis
5.Skinwalker - Faith Hunter
6.Blindsight - Peter Watts SFFCAT

Blindsight was ... wow. Hard Sci Fi. Imaginative, very different than any other first contact novel I've read. It's a slow read, because it makes you think, which is intriguing. It redefines a lot of basic concepts we consider quite settled: intelligence, consciousness, communication.

227mathgirl40
Editat: des. 1, 2015, 7:25 am

I finished Blindsight and Echopraxia recently too, and I definitely agree with your assessment. They're quite mind-boggling books. A couple of weekends ago, I was at a small Canadian SF convention, and Peter Watts was one of the guests of honour. He had lots of interesting things to say on his panels and was tremendously funny too, which might be surprising given his books' subjects!

228majkia
des. 1, 2015, 7:39 am

Oh that's interesting. I'm looking forward to Echopraxia. And the funny part is a surprise! Although, given his imagination, I shouldn't be!

229luvamystery65
des. 24, 2015, 4:34 pm



Merry Christmas

230lkernagh
des. 24, 2015, 4:44 pm

Stopping by to wish you the very best this holiday season, Jean!


231rabbitprincess
des. 24, 2015, 5:25 pm

Following the others with Christmas cheer! :) Happy holidays.

232majkia
des. 25, 2015, 5:44 pm

Thanks for the cheer! I'm officially declaring my challenge complete, as I've finished book 100 today. An excellent period mystery, Wings of Fire by Charles Todd.

233luvamystery65
des. 25, 2015, 8:09 pm

>232 majkia: Whoop!!!

234majkia
des. 25, 2015, 8:41 pm

:)

235Roro8
des. 25, 2015, 11:56 pm

>232 majkia:, Hooray, you've completed your challenge!

236lkernagh
des. 26, 2015, 12:08 pm

Congratulations!

237-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 7:26 pm

Congrats on finishing!

238paruline
des. 31, 2015, 8:52 pm

Congratulations!