Wolfy’s 12 Chunks from the TBR 2015 Category Challenge

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Wolfy’s 12 Chunks from the TBR 2015 Category Challenge

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1AHS-Wolfy
Editat: gen. 1, 2016, 3:27 pm



During 2014 I made what at the time seemed a throwaway comment in Eva’s thread about just reading the larger sized books from my tbr shelves. I’ve also previously admitted to avoiding the big books in order to meet my goals for that year’s challenge. So this year I’ve decided to reverse the arrangement and focus primarily on the chunksters. My target will be one of these books each month and hopefully have time left to read some of the easier options too. To qualify as a chunkster a book must be in excess of 500 pages and not be deemed to be an easy read (i.e. most YA that would otherwise qualify). Omnibus editions may be included but will only count as 1 book no matter how many stories they collate.

Categories:
1. January (1/1)
2. February (1/1)
3. March (1/1)
4. April (1/1)
5. May (1/1)
6. June (1/1)
7. July (1/1)
8. August (1/1)
9. September (1/1)
10. October (1/1)
11. November (1/1)
12. December (1/1)
13. Graphic Novels (1/??)
14. Ongoing series (8/??)
15. Anything else (7/??)

I'm not going to list options for these categories, just pick and choose on the fly, but hopefully there will be enough interest in there to garner a few comments. I hope everyone has another enjoyable year and may all your books be good ones.

2AHS-Wolfy
Editat: des. 9, 2015, 8:46 am

The Chunksters

1. January - The Risen Empire by Scott Westerfeld (Msg21 09/01/15) 4★'s
2. February - The Waste Lands by Stephen King (Msg59 20/02/15) 4★'s
3. March - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (Msg68 19/03/15) 4½★'s
4. April - Heartstone by C. J. Sansom (Msg80 10/04/15) 4★'s
5. May - Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (Msg92 15/05/15) 4★'s
6. June - Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay (Msg99 16/06/15) 4★'s
7. July - Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong (Msg119 21/07/15) 4★'s
8. August - Young Miles by Lois McMaster Bujold (Msg125 20/08/15) 4½★'s
9. September - The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami (30/09/15) N/R
10. October - Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar (Msg141 29/10/15) 3★'s
11. November - Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (Msg145 14/11/15) 4★'s
12. December - Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes (Msg153 06/12/15) 4★'s

4AHS-Wolfy
Editat: nov. 20, 2015, 9:22 am

Ongoing Series

1. This Night's Foul Work by Fred Vargas (Msg39 17/01/15) 4★'s
2. Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (Msg86 23/04/15) 3½★'s
3. Skin Game by Jim Butcher (Msg94 19/05/15) 4½★'s
4. An Uncertain Place by Fred Vargas (Msg96 25/05/15) 4★'s
5. Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi (Msg120 28/07/15) 3½★'s
6. Dead Girl Walking by Chris Brookmyre (Msg126 29/08/15) 3½★'s
7. Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch (Msg133 04/10/15) 4★'s
8. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (Msg146 19/11/15) 4★'s

5AHS-Wolfy
Editat: jul. 2, 2015, 11:40 am

Anything Else

1. The Affinity Bridge by George Mann (Msg52 29/01/15) 4★'s
2. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak (Msg61 28/02/15) 4★'s
3. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore (Msg74 31/03/15) 4★'s
4. Monkey by Wu Ch'eng-en (Msg81 21/04/15) 3½★'s
5. Galveston by Nic Pizzolatto (Msg88 30/04/15) 3½★'s
6. The Door into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein (Msg107 24/06/15) 3½★'s
7. Tigerman by Nick Harkaway (Msg112 01/07/15) 4½★'s

6cammykitty
des. 31, 2014, 11:27 am

Looks like a good plan. I still avoid chunksters sometimes, but I solved the main problem by counting them as two books. So does this mean less graphic novels? Boo hoo. You're the best source of book bullets for GNs.

7rabbitprincess
des. 31, 2014, 4:43 pm

That is an excellent idea! Looking forward to seeing what chunksters you tackle, and wishing you luck with them! Happy new year :)

8lkernagh
des. 31, 2014, 6:52 pm

Great idea! Chunksters continue to daunt me so I am looking forward to seeing which ones you decide to tackle as part of this challenge, and what you think of them!

9mamzel
Editat: gen. 5, 2015, 6:52 pm

I try to get a couple of door stoppers in each year as well. I wonder what I'll accomplish in 2015. Glad to see you back and I look forward to following your reading.

10-Eva-
gen. 1, 2015, 11:34 pm

This is a great idea!! I too want to tackle the chunksters, but I keep avoiding them too. Great to see you here!!

11luvamystery65
gen. 2, 2015, 10:18 am

I look forward to finding out what your choices will be Dave. Here is a little humorous inspiration for your year ahead.


12LittleTaiko
gen. 2, 2015, 8:46 pm

Good luck with the big books!

13whitewavedarling
gen. 3, 2015, 12:32 pm

Good luck! I'll look forward to the reads as well, and hopefully get inspired to tackle some of the ones on my own shelves :)

14AHS-Wolfy
Editat: gen. 8, 2015, 8:57 am

Thought I'd add my own answers to the end of year meme that's going around:

2015 Meme - Answers Based On Books I Read in 2014

Describe yourself: A Dangerous Man

Describe how you feel: Thicker Than Water

Describe where you currently live: Broken Homes

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Silent Land

Your favorite form of transportation: When the Devil Drives

Your best friend is: The Man on the Balcony

You and your friends are: The Republic of Thieves

What’s the weather like: Cold Days

You fear: Infernal Devices

What is the best advice you have to give: Do the Creepy Thing

Thought for the day: By Blood We Live

How I would like to die: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

My soul’s present condition: Purgatory

15cammykitty
gen. 6, 2015, 9:51 pm

LOL! I'll bet you're in purgatory, Mister! It's those thieves you hang out with. ;)

16christina_reads
gen. 7, 2015, 10:16 am

Haha love those answers, especially "Do the creepy thing."

17DeltaQueen50
gen. 7, 2015, 6:32 pm

Great answers, I too, like your advice to "Do The Creepy Thing"!

18VivienneR
gen. 8, 2015, 2:09 am

I like "When the Devil Drives".

19AHS-Wolfy
gen. 9, 2015, 3:09 pm

Thanks all. It's a fun diversion as well as being a quick recap of the books I'd read last year, looking through the list to see what would be a viable answer to each question. I've enjoyed looking at all the different responses that everyone's bee putting up.

>15 cammykitty: At least we never get caught as my best friend is a good lookout.

>16 christina_reads: & >17 DeltaQueen50: I'm just thankful I can use the UK title of this book as The Exchange doesn't quite fit.

>18 VivienneR: Guess I just don't like those quiet uneventful trips and may also be the reasoning behind my destination of choice. Need somewhere to recuperate after the journey.

20psutto
gen. 9, 2015, 3:28 pm

Dropping in to drop a star, liking the set up here

21AHS-Wolfy
gen. 9, 2015, 5:27 pm

January Chunkster - The Risen Empire by Scott Westerfeld

Humanity has conquered death! Not just once but in a few different ways. The eighty worlds of the Risen Empire have accomplished this by dying (d'oh) and then, through the addition of a symbiote, returning to life (woohoo!) but with a somewhat decreased appetite for the general day-to-day experiences. Unfortunately this option is not available to everyone, only the supremely wealthy or those who have provided a special service to the Empire or the Undead Emperor (no, this is not a vampire book) are found worthy of immortality. Another branch of humanity, the Rix, took the technological route, augmenting their bodies and continually upgrading the parts that wear out. Their central tenet is the propagation of the compound mind, planet-sized AI's whom they worship and venerate above all else. A second war between the Risen and the Rix looks likely when the latter takes the Child Empress, sister to the Emperor, as hostage while it seeds a mind on one of the empire's planets. Newly promoted Captain, Laurent Zai, is the one tasked with the rescue mission and failure to save the Empress will result in an Error of Blood, ritual suicide that precludes any chance at immortality. But it's not just the one planet that is in danger here for the Emperor has a secret and if this knowledge should become widely known then the very existence of the empire is also at stake.

To me, Scott Westerfeld is primarily known for his YA series but here he has created a compelling space opera that contains hard science, military action (ground and space), political manoeuvring, philosophical questioning and even a little romance thrown in for good measure (more than a little if I'm honest as it's a driving force behind the primary narrative). The story is told from the perspectives of those characters that are most involved in the current action so the reader is never far from the centre of the story as it unfolds. There are also some flashback segments that help explain the relationships of some of the principals and to underpin some key plot points. The pacing of the book is top-notch, the action parts of the story are brilliantly imagined and will have you on the edge of your seat while the in-between sequences will leave you pondering some weighty subject matter.

If I have managed to pique anyone's interest in this book then I will add a warning that you will need to be careful which version of this title you pick up. Having being written as one manuscript the work was originally published as two books, being split at a major bookstore chain's request. Confusingly republished as a single entity later on under the same name as the first of the duology. As the split occurs just before the story really takes off I doubt I would have had the inclination to continue on to The Killing of Worlds straight away. There's quite a marked difference in the number of people who have book 1 in their LT library as to those who have book 2 so it looks like I'm not alone in that thinking.

That warning aside, this is an excellently crafted space opera that almost makes me wish that Mr. Westerfeld's YA books didn't quite garner the praise they do and then maybe he'd write more of these kinds instead. 4★'s

22electrice
gen. 9, 2015, 5:37 pm

>21 AHS-Wolfy: That's a great review which naturally leads to a BB!

23-Eva-
gen. 9, 2015, 6:06 pm

I have no problem adding any and all of Westerfeld's books to my wishlist. :)

24hailelib
gen. 10, 2015, 12:02 pm

I don't know whether to be glad or sorry that my local library doesn't have it! Sounds like I would really like it.

25Dejah_Thoris
gen. 13, 2015, 10:11 am

Hmmmm....you've interested me in The Risen Empire. I'm definitely a space opera fan so I'll have to keep this one in mind. Thanks for the review!

And I think your idea to push the chunksters to the forefront is great. Maybe I need a category for that next year.

26AHS-Wolfy
Editat: gen. 14, 2015, 5:35 am

@22-25 Hope you all enjoy it if/when you get to it.

It's my 9th Thingaversary today! I have, of course, followed tradition and bought some books. 9 years +1 to grow on I think is the accepted format. I placed my order on Sunday in hope that they would start arriving today. Here's the list:

Tigerman by Nick Harkaway
This Book is Full of Spiders by David Wong
My Favorite Band Does Not Exist by Robert T. Jeschonek
From Aberystwyth With Love by Malcolm Pryce
Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book 9 by Bill Willingham
Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
The Cold Commands
Broken Angels both by Richard Morgan
The White Trilogy by Ken Bruen which incorporates the first 3 books of his Inspector Brant series.

27RidgewayGirl
gen. 14, 2015, 5:41 am

Happy Thingaversary! The book rule is a very good thing, isn't it?

28MissWatson
gen. 14, 2015, 8:02 am

Happy thingaversary and enjoy your haul!

29Dejah_Thoris
gen. 14, 2015, 8:50 am

Happy Thingaversary! That's a fabulous book haul!

30hailelib
gen. 14, 2015, 9:45 am

Happy Thingaversary! Enjoy your new books!

31LittleTaiko
gen. 14, 2015, 4:14 pm

Happy Thingaversary!! Looks like you are celebrating in style.

32rabbitprincess
gen. 14, 2015, 5:36 pm

Excellent haul!

33DeltaQueen50
gen. 15, 2015, 12:36 am

Happy Thingaversary, Dave. You've picked up some very interesting books!

34VivienneR
gen. 15, 2015, 12:39 am

Happy Thingaversary! Great haul!

35AHS-Wolfy
gen. 15, 2015, 6:19 am

Thanks all! most of the selections are just continuations of series that I have ongoing. It seemed serendipitous that Tigerman was released the day after so added that one and I've been meaning to try something else by Ken Bruen other than his Jack Taylor books so added that one also. My Favorite Band Does Not Exist has been on my wishlist for a while and with a title like that how could I resist?

36psutto
Editat: gen. 15, 2015, 9:17 am

Some great books on that list. Saw that Nick Harkaway is launching the paperback of Tigerman at Forbidden Planet London on 22/01/15 - bit far to go for me (and I'm busy) but if you're in the area?

37AHS-Wolfy
gen. 15, 2015, 11:38 am

I'm even further away than you, No chance of me making that one either but hopefully should be dropping into my mailbox sometime soon (the book that is, not Nick Harkaway himself).

38lkernagh
gen. 17, 2015, 11:05 am

>14 AHS-Wolfy: - "Do the Creepy Thing". LOL!

Crazy, but I thought I had already posted a comment about your review of The Risen Empire. Great review and sadly not something that my local library has available for borrowing. :-(

Love your Thingaversary haul!

39AHS-Wolfy
gen. 17, 2015, 11:49 am

Ongoing Series - This Night's Foul Work by Fred Vargas

A new member has joined Commissaire Adamsberg's serious crime team and brought some unpleasant memories from the past with him. Does he have ulterior motives in seeking out Jean-Baptiste? There's also a couple of death's that the drug squad want to take charge of but Adamsberg is reluctant to give them up. There's a 75 year-old nurse, dubbed an angel of death, who's killed a guard and escaped from prison. Does she have revenge in mind as Adamsberg was the one responsible for her incarceration? And what do two dead stags have in common with a couple of apparent grave disturbances? and the theft of some old relics and why are the team even involved with this? To top it all off, there's a ghost in Adamsberg's new house.

This instalment of the off-beat Paris Commissaire and his team focuses on the dissociated serial killer who manages to keep two sides of themselves separate so that one part of their personality is capable of committing the most heinous of crimes while the other hasn't got a clue and continues with a normal life. We get to learn more of the rest of the team and their own little foibles although Adamsberg is still the centre of the action but even the cat plays a part in this one. Another excellent addition to this off-beat police procedural that is again well translated by Sian Reynolds. 4★'s

40luvamystery65
gen. 17, 2015, 3:30 pm

>39 AHS-Wolfy: This sounds like a great series. I'll see if I can get my hands on the first.

41AHS-Wolfy
gen. 18, 2015, 3:05 pm

>40 luvamystery65: It really is a good one. The mysteries aren't really too difficult to work out in some of the books but the characters are what really make it. I've been watching some of the tv movie adaptations (in French with English subtitles) recently and think they've been done very true to the books.

42mathgirl40
gen. 19, 2015, 8:17 pm

I really like your chunkster-themed challenge, especially as I too am trying to attack a number of such books myself. I'm trying to force myself to read one huge book a month and not worry so much about the number of other books I get through. This month, it's The Children's Book -- "only" 613 pages but each page is really dense. Thank goodness there's a group read to keep me on track.

I also enjoyed your review of The Risen Empire. I was much impressed by Westerfeld's world-building in his Leviathan series, and it sounds like he does a good job with that in this series.

43AHS-Wolfy
gen. 19, 2015, 10:17 pm

Thanks Paulina. I thought it was time to clear off some of those titles that have been staring at me for a while. Some of them have even been hanging around since I started the category challenge in 2009. There's a couple I'm a little apprehensive about but thought I'd start off on fairly safe ground with that first one. Although I haven't read that many space opera books previously, I have watched a 95 episode anime series.

44-Eva-
gen. 23, 2015, 12:57 am

Happy Thingaversary from me too! And congrats on the very nice haul! :)

45AHS-Wolfy
gen. 23, 2015, 9:29 am

Thanks Eva.

Quick progress report as I've done something a bit silly. A big part of my reading time at the moment is while I'm at work but after finishing off the Vargas book I started watching the remastered versions of The Wire. Not picked up a new book to start since.

46-Eva-
gen. 23, 2015, 12:10 pm

Haha! Not The Wire, but I did something similar right after new year's - good luck getting back; I've been caught in The Netflix Swamp a looong time now. :)

47LittleTaiko
gen. 23, 2015, 6:35 pm

The Wire - such a good show or at least it seemed to be from the episodes I was able to see. My husband would watch them when I wasn't home so I only saw about half of each season, I think. :)

48Chrischi_HH
gen. 24, 2015, 6:15 am

Great idea with the chunkster challenge! I have quite a few of them on my shelves, too, and started the year with one of them: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, with 800+ pages. After that, at least another 6 are waiting, but I will not focus on those only. Preferred to keep my challenge a bit broader. :) Good luck and enjoy reading!

49cbl_tn
gen. 24, 2015, 5:38 pm

I'm finally making the rounds here and I see that I've already missed your Thingaversary! 9 years! That makes you one of our Senior Citizens in LT time.

I keep meaning to try Fred Vargas but the books don't seem to fit in any of my current challenges. I will keep an eye out for an opportunity.

50psutto
gen. 27, 2015, 10:00 am

Really liked The Wire season 1, haven't got round to watching any of the others yet!

Happy Thingaversary!

51AHS-Wolfy
gen. 27, 2015, 6:22 pm

Hi all, thanks for stopping by. Finally managed to pull myself away to actually get some reading done:

Graphic Novels - Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book Nine by Bill Willingham

I think this one is the largest of the deluxe releases so far containing issues 70-82 and includes a larger selection of sketches in the extras pages for good measure. It all kicks off with a one-shot story of the preparations of the Fables for the impending war. Last minute adjustments to the plans that have been set in place. Cinderella then takes centre stage in a two-part story where she's sent to retrieve a very important package that may prove vital to the war effort. War and Pieces is a 4-part storyline (plus an epilogue) that encompasses the war of the Fables against the Adversary before dealing with the immediate aftermath in Around the Town. Big changes occur within the 5-parter (plus an epilogue) The Dark Ages with a new bad guy in town before finishing with another one-shot Return to the Jungle Book.

Some sad times in this edition as well as some pondering on the very nature of the Fables existence. An end to one story arc and the beginning of the new to get to grips with all served up with the usual deluxe glossy paged treatment. Although Mark Buckingham does most of the work on these volumes there are still a couple of guest artists for the one-shots and it's strange to see well known characters wearing different faces when these come along. But if that's all I've got to complain about apart from the war itself being over a lot quicker than I anticipated then all is well with the series at this point. 4½★'s

52AHS-Wolfy
gen. 29, 2015, 11:33 am

Anything Else - The Affinity Bridge by George Mann

Sir Maurice Newbury works for the British Museum in the anthropology department specialising in religion and supernatural practices of prehistoric human cultures. At least that's what he does on the surface as he's also one of Queen Victoria's special agents who, along with Miss Veronica Hobbes his brand new assistant, helps out on investigations that have taken a turn towards the strange. Currently they are helping Sir Charles Bainbridge, a Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard, look into several murders in Whitechapel (no, not those murders) where the perpetrator appears to be a ghostly policeman. Before getting too deeply entangled in this case however, Newbury and Hobbes' services are required elsewhere when an airship crashes and Her Majesty thinks there may be suspicious circumstances involved. Initial investigations fail to turn up a pilot and to make this even more peculiar it was one of the new, supposedly infallible, automatons that have been installed. What caused the crash and where has the automaton disappeared to and why were the passengers strapped in their seats? Better watch out for those zombies in the thick London fog while they try to find out the answers.

This is very much a starter book for a series with initial character set-up and pointers for future volumes to discover with tantalising snippets being provided that bear more exploration. It's a very quick read which focuses more on the Victorian mystery element which just happens to be imbued with steampunk accoutrements. It's like a bunch of Dr. Who writers had been asked to produce a Sherlock Holmes episode. But it works and was quite an enjoyable read and I'll certainly be continuing with the series at some point. 4★'s

53mysterymax
gen. 31, 2015, 7:26 am

>52 AHS-Wolfy: Good to hear, I have the book on my shelf with a 'Dec' tag, maybe I'll be able to get to it before then.

54lkernagh
gen. 31, 2015, 1:13 pm

So happy to see you enjoyed The Affinity Bridge! It is definitely the most Victorian detective-oriented steampunk-styled book I have read so far. It took my local library forever to get in books two and three in the Newbury and Hobbes series.... time for me to get back to it!

55-Eva-
feb. 1, 2015, 12:55 am

>51 AHS-Wolfy:
It just continues being such a fun series. There are some wonky portions, but overall it's still solid.

56hailelib
feb. 1, 2015, 2:32 pm

Another series I need to consider reading!

57electrice
feb. 2, 2015, 12:05 pm

>52 AHS-Wolfy: Yeah, some love for Newbury and Hobbes!

58AHS-Wolfy
feb. 2, 2015, 3:47 pm

@53-54 & 56-57, It's not going to win any great literary prizes but was an enjoyable read and the rating is used to reflect that aspect or me. When I wrote the Sherlock Holmes/Doctor Who line I didn't realise that he'd written for both characters.

?55 In any long running series there are always going to be peaks and troughs but am happy to report that edition is among the former. Need to catch up a little on Jack of Fables before the next book as it contains the crossover event.

59AHS-Wolfy
feb. 20, 2015, 5:29 pm

February Chunkster - The Waste Lands by Stephen King

This is the 3rd instalment of King's Dark Tower series and this review will include spoilers for previous books thereof. Read on at your peril!

This one picks up a short while after the end of book 2 with Roland mostly recovered from his adventure with the Lobstrocities but feeling the onset of another problem that his actions have accrued. In saving Jake from death in New York he has created a paradox as to get to where he currently is then Jake must have died and subsequently travelled to Roland's world where they meet in the desert town. This is causing conflict in Roland's mind and driving him slowly crazy. Jake is also suffering the same malady back in New York. Can they find a way to stave off this encroaching madness? Meanwhile Roland has been teaching his new companions, Eddie & Susannah, the ways of the gunslinger and it's not long before their new abilities are put to the test.

While the previous two books have been mostly setting up the scene for what is to come this one is definitely more action oriented as well as developing the characters and the world around them. There is much more emphasis on this now being a group quest with Roland, Eddie & Susannah being joined by two others in their travels and each member plays a significant part along the way. I hope the next volume in the series continues on apace as this one has done. 4★'s

I should have been detailing that I've also continued on with the Locke & Key series of graphic novels and have now reached its conclusion. Definitely a series that deserves all the praise that's been lavished on it.

60psutto
feb. 21, 2015, 12:29 pm

Good reminder, still haven't got to the last Locke & Key!

61AHS-Wolfy
feb. 28, 2015, 4:59 pm

Anything Else - Way Station by Clifford D. Simak

Enoch Wallace was sitting on his porch one day when a traveller approached and offered him a very singular opportunity: Become a caretaker for a new way station for travellers to take their ease as they take respite from their journey's. But these travellers are not your ordinary everyday type of people, indeed many of them are not everyone's idea of people at all. They come from all over the galaxy and Earth is a convenient place for a stop along the route for this part of it. Implicit in his acceptance is that he will not divulge his activities to his fellow man and will care faithfully for those who come and go. In return, he will not age while he is inside of the station only when he sets foot outside will his body clock resume. Almost a hundred years have past since he took up his duties, meeting all sorts of weird and wonderful beings who would often bring gifts for the station-keeper, which he has performed admirably but out on his own world someone has taken notice of a story that seems more like a folk-tale. There is a man living on an isolated farm that doesn't seem to age. Has he discovered the secret of immortality or is there something else afoot? CIA agent Claude Lewis has been tasked to investigate and he might just stir up a hornet's nest by doing so.

A simple but intriguing and beguiling tale with few but interesting characters that really suck the reader in. The central character is a masterful creation, at once the loneliest man on Earth but also the only one to feel kinship with many visitors to whom his fellow man remain totally unaware. It's a very moving tale where you feel Enoch's loneliness as well as his anguish over a decision for his and Earth's future which is weighing on his mind. If this is a book about aliens then why does it contain so much humanity? 4★'s

62DeltaQueen50
març 1, 2015, 3:34 pm

Got me! Way Station sounds very interesting, and you've given it a great review!

63RidgewayGirl
març 3, 2015, 8:41 am

That does have a very interesting premise.

64AHS-Wolfy
Editat: març 3, 2015, 5:43 pm

>62 DeltaQueen50: & >63 RidgewayGirl: It's getting on in years as it won the Hugo award in 1964. I think I was lucky in finding a second-hand copy not long after someone on LT posted a good review a few years ago and have only just got around to actually reading it to fit in with the SFF Cat. It falls in the pastoral science fiction category as there are no big explosions, no frantic chase scenes and hardly any fights worth the mention. I will definitely be adding more of his books to the tbr pile when I see them.

65DeltaQueen50
març 3, 2015, 5:21 pm

I admit that I just scrambled around trying to find a copy of Way Station and I did! I just had to order it and of course, I couldn't help but order another 5 books to go along with it.

66AHS-Wolfy
març 3, 2015, 5:45 pm

That's exactly what you had to do. Couldn't let just one book arrive on its own. Wouldn't be right.

67rabbitprincess
març 3, 2015, 8:37 pm

>66 AHS-Wolfy: Agree 100%! I can't even leave a library with just one book; it seems so lonely.

68AHS-Wolfy
març 20, 2015, 5:04 pm

March Chunkster - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

When is a novel not a novel? When it's comprised of six inter-linked novella length stories. Coming into this book I didn't know what to expect. I knew the author was generally well regarded but I hadn't read anything of this book or his work prior to picking this one up, I had it tagged as science fiction and while it certainly fits that category for a couple of parts of the stories (post-apocalyptic and dystopia) it also belongs under historical fiction, contemporary fiction and mystery/thriller too. The book starts in the past with The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing and relates a voyage of a 19th century notary as he leaves Chatham Isle for his home in San Francisco. Told via entries into a diary the idiom is very much of the time period and takes a little while to get into the swing of the narrative style. But just as you do, it's cut-off mid-sentence and the second story begins. Letters from Zedelghen tells the tale of Robert Frobisher, a disinherited former music student at Caius College as he escapes some ruffians attempting to reclaim a debt. He makes his way to Belgium with the intent of seeking the position of amanuensis to Vyvyan Ayrs, a reclusive composer who, due to illness, hasn't produced any new work in some time but is still held in great esteem. We have moved forward to the 1920's and the writing style has also moved with the times. I mentioned that the stories are inter-linked and one of the ways here is that Frobisher finds half of a journal and is disappointed that he is unable to complete it. Yes, you've guessed that it was the earlier journal of Adam Ewing. This part of the story is related via letters sent to Rufus Sixsmith, a friend back in London. Part three of the story, Half Lives, a Luiza Rey Mystery, has an investigative reporter chasing a story of a potential nuclear disaster when rumours surface of a report written by one of the scientists involved in developing a power plant which advises that it might not be as entirely safe as most people seem to think it is. The scientist in question just happens to be Rufus Sixsmith. We then move to a modern day setting for The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish. A publisher needs to hide out after relatives of an author who want a cut of the already spent profits from a surprise blockbuster. His brother sends him to a safe house in Hull which turns out to be a nursing home for the elderly where he promptly has a mild stroke. After a brief convalescence he sets about plotting an escape along with a couple of the other residents. The only worthwhile thing Cavendish has to read during his ordeal is a manuscript for the first Luiza Rey mystery. A future dystopian society is the setting for the next instalment and features a fabricant, Sonmi-451, as she relates her ascension from a near-mindless server in a fast-food outlet to a revolutionary figurehead as related to an archivist who records this on a device called an orison. Sonmi's last wish is to be able to finish watching the tale of Timothy Cavendish. This device then features in the only segment which completes without interruption. Sloosha's Crossin and Everthin After is set in the far future after a cataclysmic event has ripped the world apart. Meronym is a member of the Prescients, a group of people that have retained some of the knowledge of the old world, who comes to spend time with the Valleysmen, a farming tribe, to learn and document their ways. She uses an Orison as a type of multimedia device to record her findings and communicate with her people. We then complete the preceding five stories in reverse order culminating with the second half of Adam Ewing's journal.

Six different stories told in differing styles and use of language sounds weird but when read as a whole works surprisingly well. The connections often seem tenuous but what I've listed above isn't the only way in which they are linked as there are constant themes that are touched upon in each tale. While there is nothing amazing about any of the actual stories (though none are badly written either) I think the accomplishment of bringing them all together is a triumph. Some wonderful characters narrate each of the stories and even when it's not so easy to read within the language of the time that is being used I still wanted to turn the page and find out what happens next. I am quite intrigued as to how they managed to make a coherent movie out of this book though and will be taking a look sometime soon. I'll also be seeking out more of David Mitchell's books to add to the tbr pile as well. 4½★'s

A quick update on the digital comics reading that I've also been doing: As the next hardcover of Fables will be the crossover book I've been catching up on the Jack of Fables and have read the issues which encompass The Bad Prince which details Jack's relationship with Wicked John and the Jack O Lantern one-shot. I've almost completed the Americana story arc as well. These stories aren't on a par with Fables but are still quite fun (hopefully until I'm caught up).

69lkernagh
març 20, 2015, 9:47 pm

I keep avoiding my copy of Cloud Atlas but your review has made the book surprisingly appealing. Good review!

70-Eva-
març 21, 2015, 9:18 pm

>69 lkernagh:
Seconding that!!!

71LittleTaiko
març 24, 2015, 12:18 pm

And I'm regretting that in a fit of purging, I gave away Cloud Atlas before ever reading it, especially now that I have read and enjoyed The Bone Clocks. :)

72AHS-Wolfy
març 24, 2015, 7:16 pm

>69 lkernagh: & >70 -Eva-: Thanks you two! Hope you enjoy it if/when you get to it.

>71 LittleTaiko: I think that the positive reviews that The Bone Clocks have been getting recently were the spur for me to tackle this one. Shame you no longer have a copy but I'm sure another opportunity to pick one up will occur at some point in time.

73mathgirl40
març 26, 2015, 9:17 pm

Superb review of Cloud Atlas! It's on my shelf, and I hope to get to it soon. I saw the movie and wouldn't exactly call it "coherent" but it was impressive in many ways. I plan to watch it again after I've read the book. I just finished The Bone Clocks as my own March chunkster and loved it almost as much as Mitchell's The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.

74AHS-Wolfy
abr. 1, 2015, 5:54 am

Anything Else - Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

This book attempts to rectify the missing parts of the life and times of Jesus Christ. To rectify this oversight the angel Raziel has brought back Levi bar Alphaeus who is called Biff to fill in the gap. Biff first meets Joshua when they are both aged six and Josh is playing with a lizard. They become instant friends and constant companions. Fast-forward to the age of ten when both boys meet and fall in love with Mary from Magdala (call me Maggie) and at the age of 13 decide that it's time to travel so as to avoid witnessing her marriage to Jakan. Josh is uncomfortable with his responsibilities and doesn't feel ready to take up his role as Messiah and so seeks out the three wise men that attended his birth. Biff obviously accompanies him to help keep him out of trouble.

This is a very funny, irreverent fictional account that manages to avoid crossing the line of being too offensive. There is enough research done by the author to fit the times and while liberties are taken with some events and timings it is all done well enough not to seem out of place. Some of the exchanges between Biff and Josh are hilarious and you can't help but laugh out loud at times. There are inklings for what would be used in later parables and sermons such as the origin for turning the other cheek and suchlike. I'm sure I missed a few of these as I'm not exactly familiar with the source material and those who are more conversant with the Bible would probably spot a few more. Not recommended for younger readers due to graphical content and naughty words but should be fine for everyone else. 4★'s

75mysterymax
abr. 1, 2015, 9:12 am

So glad you liked Lamb. It is one of my favorites. Laughed till I cried.

76rabbitprincess
abr. 1, 2015, 5:24 pm

Lamb is on my to-read list. Will have to request it from the library sometime!

77-Eva-
abr. 1, 2015, 11:32 pm

>74 AHS-Wolfy:
I'm planning that one for my next plane ride - figured it'd be entertaining enough to make a few hours disappear.

78psutto
abr. 8, 2015, 4:25 am

glad you enjoyed cloud atlas that one seems to be a bit of a marmite read. I'd thoroughly recommend Number 9 dream next - although they're all good, but I've not got round to reading the bone clocks or ghostwritten yet I've enjoyed all the others...

He translated the reason I jump which I'd also recommend

79AHS-Wolfy
abr. 8, 2015, 6:51 am

>75 mysterymax: That was the 4th of his that I've read and enjoyed them all though this was probably the outright funniest of them.

>76 rabbitprincess: & >77 -Eva-: Hope you enjoy it when you get to it.

>78 psutto: I could definitely see why people wouldn't like it. The constantly changing writing styles to match the time periods and the interruptions to each part of the story would probably upset some. Glad to hear you've enjoyed his other work and I definitely plan to read more.

80AHS-Wolfy
abr. 10, 2015, 6:21 pm

April Chunkster - Heartstone by C. J. Sansom

This is the 5th instalment of the historical mystery series featuring Matthew Shardlake that is set in Tudor times during the reign of Henry VIII. England is once again at war with the French and mobilising for the threat of invasion with Portsmouth the most likely point of attack. That's also the area of the country that Shardlake and his assistant, Jack Barak, find themselves heading to on a case that Queen Catherine Parr has involved them in. The son of one of her old servants lodged an appeal to the Court of Wards to investigate "monstrous wrongs" being committed to Hugh Curteys, the ward of Sir Nicholas Hobbey. The son was then found hanged in an apparent suicide. Due to the Queen's intercession Shardlake, along with Barak and Hobbey's lawyer, Dyrick, and his clerk are tasked with taking depositions of all involved. Meanwhile, Shardlake has also been investigating the past of Ellen Fettiplace, a resident of Bedlam that seems to have taken a shine to him. Maybe he can kill two birds with one stone as the event that caused her malady took place not too far from where he will be staying he will see what he can find out while he's there.

If you've read any of the previous books in this series then you will know what to expect with this one: An accurate portrayal of daily life of the time with real events taken as a backdrop to a clever mystery that unfolds as you turn the pages. Some old familiar faces turn up, some to help and others to hinder while the relationship between Shardlake and Barak continues to develop. Just by reading the book I learnt a lot about the period with the effects of war, not just with the levy of the army and naval forces required to withstand the invasion but the raising of taxes and debasement of the currency that was required to pay for it. Then there is the wholly corrupt issue of the Court of Wards itself. A huge money-making venture for the crown at that time and rife for all sorts of dishonest behaviour. All in all a very good if sometimes meandering entry into the series. 4★'s

81AHS-Wolfy
abr. 22, 2015, 11:31 am

Anything Else - Monkey by Wu Ch'eng-en

The story of how Monkey became a king, learned great power, earned the title of Great Sage - Equal of Heaven, caused such mischief and mayhem that he was entombed beneath a mountain for 500 years before being released to accompany and protect Tripitaka on a pilgrimage to India to bring back scriptures to lead the Chinese people on the path to true enlightenment. Can Monkey, with the help of another two rascals that are recruited along the way and a dragon who is turned into a horse, shield the young priest from the many dangers and trials that he will face on their journey to the west?

The original tale is a sprawling epic of immense length and the translator's, Arthur Waley, introduction tells how this abridged version "omits many episodes, but translating those that are retained almost in full, leaving out, however, most of the incidental passages in verse, which go very badly into English" and it works very well. The inclusion of more of these incidents probably would have made the tale too repetitive as many of them are quite formulaic and follow the same pattern. It is also quite episodic in nature and so could be read in small doses quite easily though some chapters end with a cliffhanger which will be resolved in the next. This is an amusing, somewhat satirical adventure story that pokes fun at the bureaucratic establishment. While some understanding of Chinese culture and allegory would add to the understanding of what is contained in this book it's not at all requisite to enjoying what is on offer. 3½★'s

I've also managed to catch up to the point where I can safely read The Great Fables Crossover as I've now read Jack of Fables Vol.5, which has a tale of Bigby Wolf tracking Jack and his band of outlaws across the Wild West and moves on to the history of each of the Page sisters, and Jack of Fables Vol.6 which shows the war between the Golden Boughs retirement Village and Bookburner whose quest to end all magic in this world is a threat to the very existence of every Fable out there. Not outstanding literature but provides enough of a diversion while waiting for the next Fables instalment to arrive.

82DeltaQueen50
abr. 22, 2015, 10:30 pm

Hi Dave, I am currently enjoying Fables Vol. 5,6 & 7. I love these stories! So should I read all the available Fables before starting on the Jack of Fables?

83AHS-Wolfy
abr. 23, 2015, 5:36 am

Up until now Jack has been pretty much a separate entity with only his departure from Fabletown itself having any impact on the Fables storyline. If you plan on reading the Jack books then you will need to start before reaching Vol.13 of Fables as that's a crossover between the two. I've been using this guide to keep my reading in order.

84DeltaQueen50
abr. 23, 2015, 3:13 pm

Thanks for posting that link, Dave. I think you posted it before but now as I get deeper into the series it is very helpful knowing when to take a break and start in with Jack of Fables.

85luvamystery65
abr. 23, 2015, 9:41 pm

>83 AHS-Wolfy: I'll also add my thanks for the link Dave. I had planned to start Fables this year but there is enough to make it an enjoyable year long read for next year. Bookmarked the link on my computer.

86AHS-Wolfy
abr. 24, 2015, 10:00 am

You're both welcome. Hope you find it as useful as I have.

Ongoing Series - Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

With the discovery at Camp Half-Blood of an entrance into the labyrinth designed by Daedalus and also an arrival of one of Luke's followers who is somewhat befuddled it is assumed that Luke plans to use this as a way to launch an offensive and strike at the camp. Annabeth leads a quest to find Daedalus to enlist his help to prevent this and takes along Percy, Tyson and Grover. The latter of which is about to lose his searcher's license which will end his personal endeavour in locating the wild god Pan.

The characters in this fourth instalment seem to have grown up a bit and the overall tone of the story is a touch darker than previous although not without touches of humour along the way. The pace of the story remains high throughout with this being primarily an action-oriented series but there are a few detours for the reader to catch their breath. Although this is aimed primarily at the younger end of the YA spectrum there is still enough here for me to want to continue to the final book. Not sure yet if I will then move on to the next one though. 3½★'s

87-Eva-
abr. 27, 2015, 11:14 pm

>83 AHS-Wolfy:
That is a great guide! I'm halfway through Jack and almost all caught up on Fables, but it's a series I happily reread (it's usually my go-to if I'm in bed with a cold or something like that), so I'll use this next time around.

>86 AHS-Wolfy:
I liked that series a lot, especially the last two installments, but I'm also not uber-eager to continue with the second part of that series (or whatever we're calling it...). I have something else my Riordan on Mt. TBR, but it's not calling to me (yet, at least).

88AHS-Wolfy
abr. 30, 2015, 3:27 pm

Anything Else - Galveston by Nic Pizzolatto

Roy Cady has a bad feeling about the job his boss, Stan Ptitko, has given him. It should be a routine scare 'em into doing the right thing action but with the final no guns instruction it feels like a set-up. Especially as his partner for the task is the guy he took his ex-girlfriend from who's now with Ptitko. When he finds himself the last man standing when the dust settles, Roy decides his future lies elsewhere and takes the only other survivor of the shoot-out, a young prostitute by the name of Rocky, along for the ride and so that is isn't left behind to face the consequences. Rocky convinces him to make a side trip to her old home and it's not long before he's saddled with another stray, her 3-year-old sister. The trio end up holed up in a motel in Galveston.

Coming to this book by way of the author's phenomenally successful TV show, True Detective, it was always going to be difficult for this book to live up to expectations and unfortunately, for me at least, it doesn't come anywhere near. This ends up being a fairly run-of-the-mill noir thriller where damaged characters fail to be sympathetic for this reader to care enough about what's going to happen to them or who survives past the final page. It's not as bad as I seem to have made out but I think it's the lack of originality that is this book's biggest flaw. The writing is decent enough though that if/when he writes another I will not dismiss it out of hand. 3½★'s

89RidgewayGirl
abr. 30, 2015, 3:39 pm

I didn't know Pizzolatto was responsible for True Detective. I'll have to watch that. I read Galveston long before that and loved it. Funny how expectations play such a role in how we react to a book. Reading it as a first novel from an unknown author, it was very good. Now I wonder if True Detective will hold up to my expectations! : )

90psutto
maig 1, 2015, 5:18 am

I didn't see what people liked about True Detective (the TV show) I found it trite and boring, not read the book though.

91IrishHolger
maig 3, 2015, 8:26 am

>90 psutto: Yeah, I also didn't get TRUE DETECTIVE at all. Gave it about 2.5 episodes and then gave up on it. Life's too short.

92AHS-Wolfy
Editat: maig 20, 2015, 7:00 am

May Chunkster - Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

This is an omnibus edition which contains two stories that are set towards the beginning of the long running Vorkosigan series. The first, Shards of Honor, introduces Cordelia Naismaith and Aral Vorkosigan, two commanding officers very much the products of their very different worlds. Cordelia is a Betan, a scientific/progressive society, and currently leading an astronomical survey team. Aral commands a Barrayaran war cruiser. He is a member of the aristocracy of their militaristic society. They both find themselves thrust together when they have been abandoned on a new planet that both races seem intent on claiming. They have to work together as they traverse across country to reach a supply cache in order to survive. Cordelia ordered her ship to escape from the Barrayarans to avoid capture (or worse) but why was Aral abandoned by his? Barrayar picks up the story of their continued adventures back on the Bayarran homeworld as Aral becomes embroiled in the political machinations of the dying emperor.

You can certainly tell that the two books that for this omnibus edition were written at different times although they do form a complete story arc when read together. Shards definitely has a first book kind of feel of an author testing the waters while Barrayar while initially composed at the same time wasn't completed until several years (and a few other books) later. The writing style was tightened up and the pacing was much improved as was the fleshing out of a supporting cast. While I'm not that well read in terms of space opera books this collection does seem to fit all the standard requirements of the sub-genre. The first book deals with space exploration and interplanetary war while the second investigates the more political side through the clash of ideologies. But at their heart they are still character driven stories and in that respect remind me of the animé series Legend of the Galactic Heroes (though very dated graphically I would still recommend to fans of these books). This is a series that I'll definitely be continuing and I'm looking forward to getting to know young Miles. 4★'s

93DeltaQueen50
maig 13, 2015, 4:34 pm

Great review of Cordelia's Honor and I am happy that you enjoyed these first two books. Reading about Miles and his adventures is great fun and I think you will enjoy the rest of the series as well. I am overdue to return to my reading of the Vorkosigan series and will have to rectify that soon.

94AHS-Wolfy
maig 20, 2015, 10:20 am

>93 DeltaQueen50: Thanks Judy. I'm sure there are many hours of enjoyment ahead for me with that series. Talking about long running series segues nicely into my next review.

Ongoing Series - Skin Game by Jim Butcher

This review will contain at least minor spoilers for the preceding books of the series.

Harry Dresden meets Ocean's Eleven - kind of! Queen Mab is in debt and the one she owes thinks it's time to collect and wants to use the Winter Knight on a heist as his skills are required in order for the job to succeed. Big problem for Harry as the role of Danny Ocean is being played by Nicodemus Archleone, Knight of the Blackened Danarius and back-stabber extraordinaire. Harry's been left no choice but to play along as Mab lays out the consequences if he refuses. Not only will his fate at least match that of his predecessor as Winter Knight but all his friends and family will be at risk also. So what's the job? Nothing too complex. The team that's assembled just need to rob a vault. One that happens to belong to Hades, Lord of the Underworld.

This is another action-oriented instalment (the 15th) of this wonderful series and the quality is once again top-notch and although we've visited this villain before the intensity is ratcheted up even more this time around. It's great to see some of the old familiar faces with Murphy, the Carpenters, Butters, Bob, Molly, Maggie and Mouse all making appearances. There's a myriad of plot-twists along the way and some great pop-culture references to try and spot in amongst the wisecracks. There's also a sneaky author trick towards the end that almost makes you want to read certain passages again but I can forgive Mr Butcher because of how everything turns out and it's not like there weren't little pointers along the way. A good ending but one which also has me longing to find out what happens next. 4½★'s

95luvamystery65
maig 20, 2015, 12:01 pm

>94 AHS-Wolfy: Averting my eyes for the Skin Game review. I did peak at your 4.5 stars. Whoop! White Night is up next for me.

96AHS-Wolfy
maig 26, 2015, 11:11 am

>95 luvamystery65: After what I thought as a poor entry in the series (#13) the last couple have been real doozy's so far as I'm concerned and continue to cement it as one of my favourites. You still have some excellent reading ahead of you.

Talking of favourite series, let's see what's up next...

Ongoing Series - An Uncertain Place by Fred Vargas

As chief of the Serious Crimes Squad in Paris Commissaire Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg is sent to London to attend a conference designed to foster relations for police forces across Europe. He's taking Danglard with him to help translate. While being shown some of the sights by an English colleague they are pointed in the direction of a peculiar incident. Some shoes have been left outside of Highgate Cemetery and the disturbing part of the discovery is that there are feet still in them. So Adamsberg becomes acquainted with the tale of the Highgate vampire and when a particularly brutal murder occurs back in Paris where the body has suffered extreme destruction could there be a connection? There may be risks both personally and professionally in pursuing this case but when has that ever stopped Adamsberg or his team of eccentrics?

All the hallmarks that make this series stand out for me are included in this instalment. The quirky characters with Adamsberg being at the fore once again and the trips to different locations (a fish out of water in London but much more comfortable in small village life in Serbia) help to keep the narrative fresh. The mystery itself is never too important with these stories for me as I do enjoy just spending time with the marvellous characters that Vargas has brought to life with the help of another excellent translation from Sian Reynolds. While it's not too difficult to point an accusatory finger at a would-be culprit the journey up to the final denouement is still an enjoyable one. Glad to know I've still not reached the end of this series and I still have more adventures with the Commissaire and his crew to look forward to. 4★'s

97mamzel
maig 26, 2015, 12:41 pm

How did I not know about this series??? Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

98-Eva-
Editat: juny 2, 2015, 6:02 pm

>94 AHS-Wolfy:
I just started #14, Cold Days, an am already liking it more than Ghost Story. I need some Bob to be truly happy. :)

>96 AHS-Wolfy:
Yep, already wishlisted! :)

99AHS-Wolfy
juny 17, 2015, 5:25 pm

June Chunkster - Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay

Shen Tai has spent the majority of the mourning period for his celebrated father laying to rest the ghosts of dead soldiers who fought in the last war between Kitai and the neighbouring Tagurans. Both sides of the former conflict ensure that he has enough provisions to sustain him during this solitary task and it is on one such supply run that a letter arrives that will shape his destiny and send ripples through the Kitan empire as the news spreads ahead of his return. A gift from the former princess of KItai and now royal consort of Tagur to honour his service to the dead. One Sardian horse would greatly reward a man, four or five would exalt him and possibly earn him a death sentence from jealous rivals but the gift of 250 of the magnificent animals is unprecedented. A stipulation that he must collect the horses in person may just be enough to keep him alive when he returns home and decide how he can deal with this gift. Tai's new found wealth necessitates a visit to the imperial court where much has changed in his absence. Political intrigue abounds with the new prime minister seemingly at loggerheads with a favoured general. How will Tai's arrival with the prospect of so many horses to dispose of upset the balance of power?

This book is set in an alternate version of China around the time of the T'ang Dynasty and includes elements of fantasy and the supernatural throughout. Shamanistic rites, fox spirits and ghostly occurrences all feed into the story and drive the narrative to varying degrees. A wonderful lead character supported ably by a Kanlin warrior, Wei Song, who accompanies him on his journey as his newly acquired bodyguard and Sima Zian, the Banished Immortal and foremost poet of the age, who tags along as it promises to be an interesting trip. It's not just well-rounded characters that draw you in as the setting which they inhabit is also vividly portrayed. From the remote valley at the outset of the story to the sumptuous and slow moving life at the imperial court of Xinan in Kitai and the steppes of a neighbouring country. The only slight let down was the exposition heavy conclusion as the author uses historians to wrap up what happened to all the major players that appeared throughout the tale. It jars a little with the rest of the book which is very much character driven but it is still an enchanting read. 4★'s

Digital reading update:

I've delved into the world of Saga and have read the first three volumes of this irreverent but highly entertaining science fiction graphic novel from Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. There's been quite a few good reviews written for this series lately and I'm happy to report that I've also been hooked with this one.

100DeltaQueen50
juny 17, 2015, 5:34 pm

Hi Dave, I am currently reading (and loving) Under Heaven, so I didn't read the details of your review, but I did manage to see that you liked it too!

101VivienneR
juny 17, 2015, 5:41 pm

Excellent review of Cloud Atlas. I've been putting it off because it is such a "chunkster" but you make it sound very appealing.

102mathgirl40
juny 17, 2015, 10:12 pm

Great reviews! I've read the first Dresden Files book and am looking forward to reading more. I've not read any Fred Vargas but the series sounds very appealing.

I'm also glad to see you enjoyed Cordelia's Honor. The Vorkosigan series is one of my favourites.

103AHS-Wolfy
juny 18, 2015, 6:16 am

>100 DeltaQueen50: Thanks Judy, hope you continue to enjoy it too.

>101 VivienneR: I watched the movie version fairly recently and I'm certainly glad I read the book first. Wouldn't have had a clue what was going on half the time if I didn't do it that way round. The book does take a while to get into and I will add a caveat that it's worth sticking with even if you don't much like the first section. The author uses the idioms and speech patterns of the time period of where that particular section is set and it does take some getting used to. Hope you like it as much as I did when you do give it a try.

>102 mathgirl40: Thank you! The general consensus with the Dresden series is that it doesn't really take off until after the first couple of books. So I'm glad that there's enough in the first for you to want to carry on. I've read quite a few of Fred Vargas's books and really enjoyed them all. She won three consecutive CWA International awards so must be doing something right. I'd read and enjoyed the Vorkosigan prequel, Falling Free, a couple of years ago and meant to join in with last year's group read but circumstances didn't allow. Finally got around to it now and will definitely be carrying on at some point. I've got a couple of odd volumes in the series but will probably just pick up the omnibus editions as and when.

104psutto
juny 18, 2015, 6:32 am

>99 AHS-Wolfy: - seem to remember I didn't like Under Heaven and it was the book that basically turned me off Mr Kay, although I really liked Tigana and The lions of Al-Rassan and the Emperor duology...

glad to see you're enjoying Saga :-)

105hailelib
juny 19, 2015, 11:12 am

>99 AHS-Wolfy: Under Heaven sounds really interesting - I need to look for it.

106AHS-Wolfy
juny 19, 2015, 12:06 pm

>104 psutto: I've not read anything else by him other than the Fionavar books so have none of his other excellently regarded work to compare against. I do have a couple of others sat on the tbr shelves to get to at some point though.

The only problem I have with Saga is that I'm rapidly catching up to the current release and will be waiting for new issues to come out.

>105 hailelib: There's also quite a bit more to the story than I've mentioned in my review, including a whole plotline with Tai's sister. Hope you enjoy it if/when you get to it.

107AHS-Wolfy
juny 24, 2015, 5:18 pm

Anything Else - The Door into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein

Dan Davis is an inventive engineer and he's come up with a product that will revolutionise home-making in the 1970's. He wants to use this success to further his research and has grander schemes in mind. Unfortunately for Dan his two business partners want to sell out and conspire to put Dan out of the picture of his own company. Sold down the river by his best friend and the woman he loves Dan decides to get away from everything and take the long sleep and so sets in motion proceedings for him and his cat to be cryogenically frozen for 30 years. Changing his mind at the eleventh hour he decides to confront the evil duo and see what he can salvage from the situation. Things don't go as planned and he ends up frozen anyway and wakes up in the year 2000 pretty much dead broke. Can he somehow turn his luck around and get his revenge on those who did him wrong? Maybe if he can convince someone to allow him to use that experimental time machine.

Written in the 50's with values very much of the time where women are very much subservient to their male counterparts (though not quite as bad as some I've read). It's a good story of love and betrayal further complicated with the use of time-travel. Cat people will enjoy Petronius the Arbiter (Pete for short) especially the conversations between him and Dan. While I enjoyed this tale immensely it does come with an ickiness factor concerning the ending. Dan leaves Ricky as an 11 year old girl and the next time he sees her they get married with Ricky now a young woman of 21. A helluva lot of changes occur in those ten years so why not get to know each other again before diving straight into that kind of commitment. Is Dan essentially marrying an 11-year-old as no actual time passed for him? Ah! The vagaries of time travel and suspended animation. If you can live with what happens in the spoilery bit or just not think about it too much then this book would be a 4★ rating. As it is I can't justify that mark but am loathe to knock it down too far as it was, although short, an interesting and very readable tale. 3½★'s

I'm also continuing to enjoy the further adventures of Hazel, Alana & Marko having now read Saga, Volume 4

108luvamystery65
juny 24, 2015, 5:55 pm

>107 AHS-Wolfy: Saga, Volume 4 was so good. I am eagerly awaiting Volume 5.

109-Eva-
juny 28, 2015, 5:51 pm

Glad to hear you're enjoying Saga as well!

110dudes22
juny 29, 2015, 7:38 am

Hey Dave - thought I'd pop over to your thread with "news" from a discussion we were having back in Apr after I read The Big Over Easy. I got an email from FictFact today and supposedly the 3rd book is going to be published in 2017. I still haven't gotten to book 2 (and probably won't this year), but thought you might be interested.

111AHS-Wolfy
Editat: juny 29, 2015, 7:52 pm

Thanks Betty, mighty kind of you to think of me. It's not a release I'm holding my breath for and nor will I be first in the queue if/when it does see the light of day but I wouldn't mind reading another Nursery Crimes book if it does happen to cross my path.

Btw, I just got the same e-mail. Just hadn't got around to checking my mailbox before visiting here so you managed to get the notify in first.

112AHS-Wolfy
Editat: jul. 2, 2015, 11:40 am

Anything Else - Tigerman by Nick Harkaway

Lester Ferris' army career is coming to a close. A former sergeant in the British infantry who's seen too much action and has now been given a supposedly quiet posting as brevet-consul for the imminently doomed island of Mancreu. The island is about to be destroyed due to a potential environmental disaster involving chemicals and a volcano. While a NATO protection force oversee the leisurely evacuation it's Lester's job to basically see and do nothing and especially ignore the mysterious fleet of ships anchored just off-shore. He's there just to provide a friendly face and act as a kind of local policeman for the community that remains. This he's done admirably especially with the boy. A street-smart kid who's addicted to comic books. A boy seemingly devoid of family and reticent to expand on himself is quite content in spending time with Lester who has become rather attached. So much so that he's begun making discrete enquiries as to what will happen to the boy when the current situation is all over. So when the boy is badly beaten the two conspire to enact a vengeance on the perpetrators that will set in motion a chain of events that will change everything.

This is a gripping action-adventure tale that uses comic-book superhero tropes while examining large scale political issues as well as familial relationships of a father/son dynamic. The characters that inhabit this world are wonderfully put together with depth for each of them and the odd nod and a wink to the stereotypes that often feature in these kind of tales. There are enough fun moments along the way to keep the mood light and the pace,while not frantic, moving along at a fair rate of knots. It's another book that differs from the author's previous two and I'm very impressed by his scope and versatility and one I can now safely add to my favourite authors list. As the boy would put it "This book is full of win!". 4½★'s

113MissWatson
jul. 3, 2015, 3:54 am

>112 AHS-Wolfy: Wow, that sounds amazing. BB taken!

114rabbitprincess
jul. 3, 2015, 5:47 pm

>112 AHS-Wolfy: Hurrah! I shall have to pick up a copy stat.

115psutto
jul. 5, 2015, 11:45 am

so glad you enjoyed Tigerman that's a great book :-)

116VivienneR
jul. 5, 2015, 11:53 am

>112 AHS-Wolfy: Your BB has hit me too!

117mathgirl40
jul. 14, 2015, 10:37 pm

>107 AHS-Wolfy: I read your Heinlein review with interest. I'd recently reread a couple of Heinleins and I too had mixed feelings, trying to enjoy the very entertaining stories and likable characters while ignoring some distasteful elements which would be considered very politically incorrect these days.

118AHS-Wolfy
jul. 15, 2015, 5:30 am

>113 MissWatson:, >114 rabbitprincess: & >116 VivienneR: Hope you enjoy it when you get to it. I've liked all 3 of his books so far but like I said each subsequent release is quite different to the one that's gone before.

>116 VivienneR: I still credit some of Heinlein's books amongst my favourite science fiction stories that I've read and will continue to pick at the ones I've still never actually got around to. I do make certain allowances for the time in which these books were written but when events occur like that spoilery bit above then it gets a bit much sometimes.

119AHS-Wolfy
Editat: ag. 21, 2015, 2:20 pm

July Chunkster - Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong

Chen Zhen is a Chinese student, volunteers to spend some time in the countryside at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution. Sent to the grasslands of Inner Mongolia to live and work among the nomadic people whose way of life hasn't changed in centuries. Taken under the wing of Bilgee, a tribal elder, Chen learns of a natural order of balance that has successfully provided for the existence of these people which is now under threat from the new way of doing things that the Chinese have brought with them. The intended destruction of the wolves, the largest predator in the region could have devastating effects on the ecology. Who is it that keeps the gazelle's from stopping in one place until that area of grass has either been consumed or trampled into oblivion so there will be none left for the Mongols own herds of sheep, cattle and horses? Who keeps the marmot and rabbit population in check so that their burrows won't proliferate across the land causing untold devastation? Chen's fascination with wolves grows with the more he sees and learns of these creatures and formulates a plan that may have dire consequences. He wants to get hold of a cub and raise it so that he can study it at close quarters. Raising a natural predator within a camp surrounded by livestock, what could possibly go wrong?

This is a semi-autobiographical novel based on the author's own experiences of the time. It explores the socio-political expansionism of the Chinese at the expense of their neighbours as well as providing a very strong ecological message where removing one part of a delicately balanced ecosystem could spell disaster that may be impossible to recover from. It's not a subtle book and does bang you over the head with its message at times. Its also not an easy book to read, I personally couldn't just sit and read large chunks of this novel reading just one or two chapters at a time before having to set it down. It's not that it isn't a fascinating tale, it is, but the narrative doesn't flow and I'm not sure whether that's the fault of the author or the translator or possibly a combination of both. What most appeals about this book though is the way in which the grasslands existence is brought to life for the reader. It's quite an insight into an often brutal reality. An epilogue chapter, where Chen Zhen returns to the grasslands some thirty years later, is quite damning on what has happened in those intervening years. 4★

120AHS-Wolfy
jul. 29, 2015, 8:02 am

Ongoing Series - Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi

This is the 4th book in the series which is a companion piece to the previous one The Last Colony. It's the same story but told from a different character's POV. That character is obviously Zoe, teen-aged adopted daughter of John Perry and Jane Sagan. Not planning on writing another book in the series the author was inundated with requests to fill in the blanks of TLC and to provide more info on Zoe so decided to kill two birds with one stone and so here we are. With the narrator being a teenage girl this has much more of a YA feel than previous entries. It's a fast paced story but it's not without some real pathos in places. It had been a while since I'd read TLC and think this might have been a good thing as I'd forgotten a lot of what was coming next in this tale and so could get caught up in it again. If' I'd read this book in isolation I probably would increase the rating by a ½★ but overall it's still a re-hash of a story I've already read even if it's still a good one. 3½★

121-Eva-
ag. 2, 2015, 2:07 pm

>119 AHS-Wolfy:
That's a shame about the translation(?), since the story seems extremely interesting. BB for me, regardless, since I know close to nothing about the place and time.

122hailelib
ag. 10, 2015, 12:05 pm

>119 AHS-Wolfy:

An interesting subject. I might look for a copy.

123AHS-Wolfy
ag. 11, 2015, 11:35 am

>121 -Eva-: & >122 hailelib: I've also watched the movie version directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud which you could try if you want a taster. It doesn't provide the same depth of the book and nor do you really get a sense of the balance of the natural order of things. The cinematography is good though!

124-Eva-
Editat: ag. 13, 2015, 11:26 pm

>123 AHS-Wolfy:
That's a good idea - thanks!

125AHS-Wolfy
ag. 21, 2015, 7:35 pm

August Chunkster - Young Miles by Lois McMaster Bujold

This is the second omnibus of the Vorkosigan series and contains The Warrior's Apprentice, The Mountains of Mourning and The Vor Game. While the first concentrated on Aral Vorkosigan and Cordelia Naismith this one, as the title suggests focuses on the early adventures of their son Miles. TWA starts with Miles failure to achieve selection for officer candidacy in the Barrayaran Imperial Military Service. With some political unrest occurring at home his parents suggest a visit to his grandmother on Beta Colony would be a good idea to contemplate where the next phase of his life will take him. Miles acquiesces and accompanied by the ever faithful Bothari and his daughter Elena, Miles' childhood friend and secret crush, arrives for a grand vacation on Beta. Well, that was the plan anyway. But it's not long before Miles gets embroiled in a scheme that sees him buy a freighter and headed to a war zone with an arms shipment. Can he break the blockade and avoid getting more involved or will he drag Bothari and Elena to the very heart the conflict?

For tMoM, Miles is back on Barrayar having graduated from ImpSec Academy and is enjoying some downtime at home before his first official posting. His father sends him off to a remote village to investigate a claim of murder. A child born with a physical deformity which could have been corrected with technology available but hadn't reached this backwater place. The father is chief amongst the suspects. Did he do it and if not can Miles find and suitably punish the guilty party?

TVG sees Ensign Miles Vorkosigan's first posting. Hoping for ship duty he is more than a little disappointed to discover he's to become Chief Meteorology Officer at Lazkowski Base, otherwise known as Camp Permafrost. Assured that it's only a temporary assignment and that he'll get his wish if he just manages to stay out of trouble for six months. There's just one little snag. The base commander is predisposed not to like him on account of a run-in with Miles' father some years previous and still holds a grudge. Things again don't go quite to plan and end up with Miles once again in contact with the people he left behind from TWA trying to avert an interstellar war and he might as well try and save the Emperor just for good measure.

This is an excellent collection of stories, two novels bracketing a novella. They set up Miles' character extremely well and could easily qualify for a starting point to the series though personally I'm glad to have read Cordelia's Honor first as you can easily see where he got these traits from. The surrounding cast are also well drawn and the pacing of the stories is just about perfect. Once I actually got time to sit down and read I practically raced through this book. Not only do these books provide all the things you want from a space opera story with battles fought with spaceships and political manoeuvring on both a local and galactic level but there's enough levity to prevent this book from becoming too weighty. Looking forward to continuing this series in the not to distant future. 4½★

126AHS-Wolfy
Editat: ag. 31, 2015, 2:50 pm

Ongoing Series - Dead Girl Walking by Chris Brookmyre

Jack Parlabane is back in a brand new adventure and while we've been out of his life he's not had the best of times. Made a scapegoat for his profession at the Leveson Inquiry and designated a person of interest into an MoD scandal he's finding it increasingly difficult to pursue his normal line of work (detailed in a short story (sold separately)). So it's a bit of a godsend when an old acquaintance asks him to do a job for her. Mairi Lafferty is in music management and currently has one of the hottest properties around in her stable. With a highly anticipated 3rd album about to be released and a big US tour scheduled to promote it all appears that everything is going swimmingly for her. Unfortunately the lead singer, Heike Gunn, has gone missing. She skipped the last date of the recently completed European tour and nobody has seen or heard from her since. Hoping to avoid mass hysteria, Mairi has managed to keep the disappearance quiet and wants Jack to try and find out what's happened to her. A parallel storyline examines what happened on the European tour as told by the band's newest recruit, violinist Monica Halcrow. Monica was brought in to replace Heike's former love interest who was getting too fond of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle and was becoming a liability to the band and so was fired. Can Jack get to the bottom of things before the story he's not aloud to write breaks and what will he find at the end of the trail?

Written more in the style of the recently released Jasmine Sharp trilogy than the previous 5 Parlabane books, this latest release from Mr Brookmyre while not devoid of humour is a much more straight-laced investigative thriller. That's not to say there aren't some humorous moments to enjoy as the natural wit and charm of the old Jack Parlabane that used to land him in so much trouble in the past is still very much present and accounted for. It's just a lessening of the dark situational humour that used to abound in this series. The alternating chapters used to pursue each of the plot threads works well although the female voice in this book wasn't quite as convincing as his earlier efforts. This is a more than competent thriller that breathes new life into a character that had gone a bit stale in the preceding book from an author I really like and can thoroughly recommended to fans of his more recent work but it's not quite up there with his very best efforts. 3½★

127mathgirl40
ag. 31, 2015, 8:51 pm

>120 AHS-Wolfy: I appreciate this review very much, as I am in the same boat as you were in. I bought Zoe's Tale a number of years ago, after finishing the Old Man's War trilogy. When I realized, soon after buying it, that it was a rehash of The Last Colony, I lost interest and it's been sitting on my shelf since. However, I am at the point where many of the details of TLC will have faded and maybe I can enjoy Zoe's Tale now. In any case, it sounds as if you did enjoy it, even knowing how the story plays out.

>125 AHS-Wolfy: Young Miles is terrific, but in my opinion, the series gets better and better with the later books. You'll have lots to look forward to! :)

128AHS-Wolfy
set. 30, 2015, 5:43 pm

September Chunkster - The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

I managed to finish reading this book today. Took me three weeks to struggle through it and this was no fault of the author and is why I'm not going to review it. Been going through some tough times at work over the last couple of months with my continued state of employment very much up in the air so haven't had the time or inclination to really devote to a book of this nature. I've read 4 of Murakami's books prior to this and enjoyed them all to varying degrees so I'm okay with admitting that it wasn't the right time to read this type of book while dealing with what's been going on. Therefore I really don't think it would be fair for me to review this work at this time. Hopefully October will see the resumption of normal service from these parts.

I have, however, been continuing to read and enjoy my digital adventures in the comic book world. Caught up with the adventures of Hazel, Alana & Marko having now read Saga, Volume 5 and it's a shame having to wait until it returns from hiatus to carry on. That being the case I've started in on Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis and have read the first 3 volumes of this series. It's Gonzo journalism meets cyberpunk/transhumanism. It's rude, crude and very offensive so of course I'm loving every minute of it.

129rabbitprincess
set. 30, 2015, 6:22 pm

Hoping that the work situation is resolved soon and that you continue to remain employed. I also hope your October books fit the reading bill for you. It is frustrating when external pressures interfere with one's reading!

130-Eva-
oct. 2, 2015, 2:21 pm

Also sending my well-wishes on the job front - that is not fun to go through! I'm strangely wishing that I hadn't started reading Saga until they were done with it so I didn't have to wait to see what happens. :)

131DeltaQueen50
oct. 3, 2015, 5:32 pm

Fingers crossed for you, Dave and hope that everything resolves itself to your satisfaction. I have Wind Up Bird Chronicle on my shelves and since I have never read any Haruki Murakami, I must admit to being a little nervous about it.

132mathgirl40
oct. 3, 2015, 7:14 pm

Sorry to hear about the work troubles. I hope the situation improves soon.

Glad to hear you're still enjoying the Saga comics. I plan to seek out Volume 4 before too long.

133AHS-Wolfy
oct. 5, 2015, 11:35 am

Thanks all. Didn't mean to imply it was still an ongoing situation as the major predicament of job security has been resolved until same time next year when major client's 12 month extension comes to an end. So there's something to look forward to.

Ongoing series - Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch

City boy Peter Grant leaves home comforts behind and heads off to deepest, darkest Herefordshire on behalf of some due diligence for the Folly. Two girls have gone missing and as there is a registered practitioner in the area, an old retired wizard, it's routine for them to be checked and ruled out of any possible involvement. Hugh Oswald, the elderly wizard in question, is quickly dismissed from any connection but there may be something odd about his granddaughter who is looking after him. So Peter decides to stick around for a bit and help with the search while he's there. He also gets to renew acquaintances with Beverly Brook whom Nightingale has deputised and sent to assist with his enquiries.

This is the fifth entry into the series and continues shortly after the shocking conclusion to #4. It's good to see Peter running his own investigation and employing more of his tech gadgets along the way. We also get to learn some back-story with snippets of what happened at Ettersberg and Beverly is fleshed out as a more fully formed character and some more hints about Molly. The overall Faceless Man storyline isn't progressed too much but there is some foreshadowing of what's to come in the phone dialogue between Peter and Lesley. This book is strongly reminiscent of the first in the series as there's much more of a police procedural feel about it than a few of those in-between. While this is a self-contained story be warned that not all the whys and wherefores are tied up completely. It is, however, another very good entry into an excellent series. 4★'s

134luvamystery65
oct. 5, 2015, 12:33 pm

Good to know you have your job security worked out for the next year. It's very stressful when you are in the midst of negotiating employment.

I liked Foxglove Summer for many of the same reasons you did. I was worried when they left London because the city is so central to the books for me but I enjoyed Peter's time in the country. I ordered Saga Volume 5 and I finally finished TLW trilogy. I thought it was a good ending but it didn't live up to the first two books.

135psutto
oct. 6, 2015, 4:31 am

Saga number 5 you say - I'd best track that down

I've been meaning to get to Transmetropolitan for a while, glad to see it gets a thumbs up from you

136-Eva-
oct. 10, 2015, 9:17 pm

I keep meaning to start the Aaronovitch series, but I have a feeling it'll be a series I want to mow through, so I keep putting it off for a "good time," but that never seems to arrive - I do that with lots of books, but I can't figure out why (unless it's some weird procrastination-bug I catch occasionally). Weird.

137psutto
oct. 13, 2015, 11:30 am

I read the first when it came out, had a vague - "I'll probably read the next one" but haven't so far...

138AHS-Wolfy
oct. 16, 2015, 6:48 pm

My annual pilgrimage to Leeds for the Anime Day segment of their film festival is happening. They announced the line-up of films last Friday but didn't complete the full bill until sometime during this week. Friday only listed 3 films of which I had little interest in going to watch and was even contemplating giving this year a miss. How dumb was I? Checked back today and another 2 had been added and they made it an easy decision to get my ticket booked there and then.

Here's this year's bill of fare:

11.00 The Case of Hana and Alice

13.00 Rakuen Tsuiho: Expelled from Paradise

15.30 Miss Holusai

18.00 Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie

20.00 Empire of Corpses

Just have to wait until 8th November to roll around now.

139mamzel
oct. 17, 2015, 11:06 pm

Isn't it cool that we can catalog movies now too? Those look like some great animas. My library now hosts our little anime club. I set up an LCD projector for them on Friday after school. Nice group of kids and I don't mind watching Friday afternoon toons!

140-Eva-
oct. 18, 2015, 4:13 pm

I love film festivals, especially those times when you go see a film you're semi-interested in and it turns out to be fantastic. Hope you get to see some great films!

141AHS-Wolfy
Editat: nov. 15, 2015, 11:26 am

October Chunkster - Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar

Let me introduce you to the MacRinnalch's, a powerful Scottish clan that are just trying to get by in today's modern world. Verasa is the matriarch that rules her family and extended clan while trying to introduce them to a more modern way of living. Sarapen is the oldest son and quite a traditionalist. Thrix is the oldest daughter currently making a name for herself as an up and coming fashion designer. Markus is the youngest son (and Verasa's favourite) likes to cross dress. The patriarch and current Thane of the MacRinnalch Clan is at death's door and looking very likely not to survive for much longer. The reason? That brings us to Kalix, youngest daughter who has a bit of a wild side. Left to her own devices from a very early age. Uneducated, suffering from bouts of severe depression, bulimia and an addiction to laudanum. Oh! Like the rest of her family she also happens to be a werewolf. One who happens to be on the run from her kin-folk for the vicious assault on her very own father. When he dies and the vote to elect the new Thane is split a casting vote may be had by bringing Kalix to justice. And so the hunt is on. Meanwhile, Kalix has fallen in with two young college students, Daniel and Moonglow, after Daniel helps her escape from some of her pursuers. Comic relief, apart from Daniel's love life, is provided in the shape of a fire elemental queen who is quite anxious over the clothes that Thrix is designing for her for a special social event. Add to this the twin MacRinnalch cousins, Beauty and Delicious, who are happily living the rock-star life in London while not managing to stay conscious long enough to keep a band together for long enough to have a successful gig and there's quite a potential for a fun urban fantasy account.

Despite the fact that there are some interesting characters that are fully fleshed out and the basis for the story being quite appealing it just never really sat that well for me. I got the feeling that there was a good tale in there but the author just kept getting in the way. Constantly re-introducing characters the reader had already met and re-hashing the plot points until you'd felt like you'd been beaten round the head with Kalix's journal. I don't think the extremely short chapters, often just a page or two only, helped with the flow either. Then there was the language used. It often felt like a teenager's first attempt at writing a novel. Having read a couple of other books from the author I know this isn't his usual style and may have been a conscious effort to tell the story in Kalix's voice. For me it just didn't work. This is not a first-person narrative and Kalix wasn't even around for half the events portrayed in the book. Quite a shame really and I doubt very much if I'll carry on with the series. 3★'s

142DeltaQueen50
oct. 31, 2015, 6:02 pm

>141 AHS-Wolfy: I'm sorry to hear that Lonely Werewolf Girl didn't live up to your expectations, especially as I have it and Curse of the Wolf Girl on my shelves. I have a feeling that I would have the same reaction as you so on the shelf they will stay for some time!

143AHS-Wolfy
nov. 9, 2015, 10:52 am

Well, there's a movie marathon done for another year. Here's a quick run-down of how it went:

The Case of Hana and Alice
Quite a sweet coming of age drama with a detective twist. Arisugawa Tetsuko (Alice) is forced to transfer to a new school when her parents split and her new year 9 classmates are not entirely welcoming. She subsequently learns that this may be more to do with where she's sat than anything else as rumours are that the previous occupant of her designated place was murdered by one of his four wives. One of which is her creepy neighbour (Hana) who no longer attends school and stays at home staring out the window. Can Alice break past Hana's barriers and find out what really happened? This was probably the most surprisingly enjoyable film of the day. Very light in tone with quite a few laugh-out-loud moments along the way. Very enjoyable and a good way to start off the day.

Rakuen Tsuiho: Expelled from Paradise
Huge change of pace for a science fiction look at the next stage of human evolution after an end-of-the-world scenario. Humans now mainly exist in digitised form. Though limited resources mean that memory allocation is given on a meritorious basis. The more worth you have to society then the more you get. Angela Balzac is a young security officer who looks for opportunities for advancement. Her latest mission is to discover the hacker that has managed to break past Deva's security and is broadcasting messages to its citizens. It seems as though these infiltrations are being sent from back on Earth so Angela, with the help of a local guide called Dingo, must find the culprit and put a stop to it. A fairly forgettable action-orientated mecha which attempts to take bits of Evangelion and Ghiost in the Shell but fails miserably. The big battle sequence is fairly epic though.

Miss Holusai
A fiction account of the renowned painter Katsushika Hokusai as narrated by his daughter O-Ei who assisted him with his work and also produced her own. Told as a slice-of-life story focusing mostly on O-Ei. It's a fairly bland tale that only comes to life with the interactions between O-Ei and Hokusai's other daughter, O-Nao. Blind from birth, O-Nao provides the emotional heart of the movie and only when her sister takes her from her carer provide moments of joy in the film.

Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie
This is a continuation of the GitS: Arise/Alternative Architecture prequel series and continues the origin story of Major Motoko Kusanagi and the rest of her elite team that went on to form Section 9. Definitely not recommended as a starting point to the franchise as you pretty much have to know who everyone is beforehand. Up until now this new iteration of one of my most beloved anime's hasn't gone down very well. This new movie is the culmination of the rebooted franchise and marks the way forward for its future. Jumping straight into the action of a hostage situation it quickly moves on to an assassination and then the investigation into who was responsible for both events. Are they linked? If so, how? It's very much focused on the action end of the scale and while it does still ask some philosophical questions this is hardly the tone the film-makers are aiming at. Will not bring any new fans to the series but does enough to entertain existing ones.

Empire of Corpses
Sets the Frankenstein mythos in a steampunk world where corpses are re-animated to take the drudgery out of the everyday world. They are also used as cannon fodder in any conflicts that arise. Despite multiple attempts and continuing research no-one has yet managed to reproduce what Victor Frankenstein did and imbue one of these creatures with a soul. John Watson is a corpse engineer who has re-animated the dead body of his friend and is desperate to find a way to accomplish this feat. He is charged by the British government to investigate the whereabouts of Frankenstein's notes he eagerly sets off in pursuit. It's a globe-trotting quest that sees Watson visit many different parts of the world and being assisted or hindered by famous names from around the time (both real and fictional). After a very promising opening setup the film unfortunately descends into a fairly run of the mill chase/adventure sequence which culminates in a final showdown. At least it is quite stunning in the visuals department though.

144-Eva-
nov. 10, 2015, 5:05 pm

The Case of Hana and Alice sounds good - hope it makes it to my part of the world.

145AHS-Wolfy
Editat: nov. 18, 2015, 10:14 am

November Chunkster - Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

The 13th and penultimate book in the Wheel of Time series still sees the reader following many characters towards what promises to be an epic conclusion in the next book. It's been a while since I read the previous one but I had no trouble reconnecting with any of the main story arcs. Perrin features quite heavily in this one with Mat, Egwene and Elayne also prominent. Brandon Sanderson does a wonderful job of pulling together what he needs to and tying up some parts of the story quite nicely. There's still a lot left open for the final book though. 4★'s

146AHS-Wolfy
nov. 20, 2015, 9:20 am

Ongoing series - The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

Second in the Flavia de Luce mystery series featuring an 11-year-old girl as the sleuth. A travelling puppeteer and his glamorous assistant become stranded in Bishop's Lacey when their van breaks down. Not having enough ready cash to get it fixed it's soon decided that they'll put on a show as payment in kind and Flavia is soon tasked with lending a helping hand. A case of soon-to-be motherhood soon comes to light and while a child born out of wedlock was quite shocking for the time it is rapidly trumped by murder. Flavia, of course, decides her help is required to further the police investigation. She also becomes embroiled in a mystery from 5 years previous when a young boy was found hanging in a tree in Gibbet Wood. Was it death by misadventure as the inquest ruled or something more?

If this was another old dear investigates type of story then I doubt I'd be too bothered with this series but the use of a precocious young girl as the protagonist has me utterly charmed. Seeing events and people's interactions through Flavia's eyes is an excellent choice to explore life in a small English village of that time. The pace that the story unfolds is perfect and the characters that surround Flavia have enough depth to add to the tale without getting in the way of it. I look forward to learning more of this young detective and watching her grow throughout the rest of the series. 4★'s

I've also continued with Transmetropolitan by reading the contents of volumes 4-9. Just one more to go to finish another great graphic novel series.

147lkernagh
nov. 20, 2015, 9:32 am

Flavia is fun!

148-Eva-
nov. 23, 2015, 10:21 pm

>146 AHS-Wolfy:
It such a charming series.

149AHS-Wolfy
nov. 24, 2015, 8:10 am

>147 lkernagh: & >148 -Eva-: I doubt I could read another straight away but one every so often makes for a nice change.

150-Eva-
nov. 24, 2015, 10:38 am

>149 AHS-Wolfy:
Definitely a style you could overdose on if you had too many in one sitting! I've read them as they've been published (haven't gotten to the last one yet, though) and it's been a good pace.

151VivienneR
des. 5, 2015, 10:37 pm

>146 AHS-Wolfy: If this was another old dear investigates type of story then I doubt I'd be too bothered with this series but the use of a precocious young girl as the protagonist has me utterly charmed.

You've hit the nail on the head precisely.

152mathgirl40
des. 6, 2015, 6:58 pm

>145 AHS-Wolfy: I'm still at the beginning of the series, having just finished book 2. However, I'm happy to hear that Sanderson has done a good job with the final books. I really liked The Way of Kings and his novella, The Emperor's Soul, and plan to read more of his work. I'm impressed that he can be so prolific while maintaining that level of quality in his writing.

153AHS-Wolfy
des. 9, 2015, 8:45 am

December Chunkster - Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

Detroit detective Gabi Versado may have just landed the case from hell. A young boy has been found murdered, well, half of him has anyway. The upper part has been affixed to the hind parts of a deer. What's happened to his other half? Not only do the mayor's office require a quick resolution but also want the full details of the grisly murder kept quiet to avoid spreading panic in the city. Not only does she have this to deal with but, like many cops before her, Gabi has a broken marriage that she's still coming to terms with and a teenage daughter, Layla, to take care of as well. Layla and her friend Cas are busy doing what teenagers do. Meanwhile, Jonno Haim is also trying to pick up the pieces of his broken life. Recently moved to Detroit after being rejected by the love of his life and trying to resurrect his journalist career after burning too many bridges in New York. His current girlfriend, Jen, suggests he start a video blog in order to get his name out there again so he starts looking into the arts scene around the city. We also spend time with TK, a homeless man who helps out at a local soup kitchen. So what will happen when these stories collide with the killer's?

Set very much at the police procedural end of the crime genre it also includes more than just a touch of the supernatural along with it. Similar in tone to Beukes' previous novel, The Shining Girls, there's a real sense of dread contained in the story and while there's no mystery to who the killer is the tension is not lessened by the early reveal. The setting of Detroit is vividly brought to life, the characters are fully realised and consistent to who they are. There's a lot to juggle in this book but the author handles the day-to-day narrative of the many different lives with a deft touch as she does with the use of social media and how it has become such a huge part of all of our lives. I thought the transcript of a Reddit AMA in the epilogue was a particularly nice touch. This is another fine book from an author who has quickly become a favourite of mine. 4★'s

154DeltaQueen50
des. 9, 2015, 6:35 pm

I haven't read any of Lauren Beukes books since Zoo City and since I enjoyed that one, I really must look for more by her.

155psutto
des. 15, 2015, 5:07 am

I liked Broken Monsters but thought the supernatural element was spurious - the book would have worked just as well, in fact better, without it I feel. It just seemed tacked on, maybe because Beukes's fans expect a bit of a speculative twist? In Shining Girls the speculative element was essential to the plot/characters - in Broken Monsters it just felt like an add on with no real purpose...

Saying that though - I did enjoy it a lot and will definitely read her next book

156RidgewayGirl
des. 15, 2015, 6:46 am

I agree with Pete on the supernatural element in Broken Monsters, but Beukes is getting better with each novel. I can't wait to read what she writes next!

157AHS-Wolfy
des. 15, 2015, 10:43 am

>154 DeltaQueen50: Hope you enjoy her other works as much as I have.

>155 psutto: & >156 RidgewayGirl: You're probably right with the expectations. Says in the interview at the back of my copy that she's done with serial killers so at least we know it'll be something different again next time. Something fantastical and genre bending apparently.

In other news: My portable music player (aka mp3 player) has been on the fritz lately so decided to treat myself for Christmas. Looking around at possible replacements there doesn't seem to be any alternative to Apple in the high capacity stakes and as I'm not interested in their proprietary entanglements I bit the bullet and took my first step into the DAP market.



Here's the link to all the info for those interested in such things.

Now I just have to re-rip my music collection into a lossless format.

158VivienneR
des. 15, 2015, 2:15 pm

Congratulations! I followed the link but there are so many words I don't understand it was like a foreign language.

159lkernagh
des. 21, 2015, 7:05 am

>157 AHS-Wolfy: - Nifty looking player! Like you, I am not a fan of Apple's "proprietary entanglements", especially since purchasing an iPod Touch 4 years ago, which is probably going to become a paperweight in the next year or so since Apple is not pushing any iOS upgrades to the device. ;-)

160AHS-Wolfy
des. 21, 2015, 8:22 am

>158 VivienneR: & >159 lkernagh: Thanks you two! I'm not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination but just can't bear to go anywhere without some music to listen to. After a short burn-in time and a firmware update the new player sounds absolutely bloody fantastic even with fairly cheap earphones (maybe the next thing to invest in). Really happy with my purchase.

Spent the last week going through my CD library and ripping the worthy ones (an embarrassingly low percentage). Next up is the hard part though: Doing the same with my mp3 collection.

161luvamystery65
des. 24, 2015, 4:28 pm



Merry Christmas

162lkernagh
des. 24, 2015, 4:48 pm

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

163rabbitprincess
des. 24, 2015, 5:35 pm

Love the new mp3 player! I might have to look into 3rd-party options if my iPod ever gives up the ghost. Apple seems to be shifting away from dedicated music devices and focusing more on phones :(

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and all the best in 2016

164VivienneR
des. 24, 2015, 5:46 pm



Merry Christmas Dave!

165AHS-Wolfy
des. 27, 2015, 10:17 am

Thanks all. Hope everyone had a good time over the festive period and Santa brought you all many nice things to play with. Got to say that my favourite presents this year were those I bought myself. Not just the new DAP mentioned above but also managed to acquire an original soundboard recording of the final Ziggy Stardust show from the Hammersmith Odeon in 1973. It's recently been made available by the sound engineer for the tour, Robin Mayhew. Anyone interested can view product details at the bottom of this page.

166-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 6:15 pm

>157 AHS-Wolfy:
That looks very interesting. I think I bought one of the last classic iPods and I hope it never dies - it has everything on it... :(

167VivienneR
des. 28, 2015, 3:07 am

>157 AHS-Wolfy: & >166 -Eva-: I gave my old classic iPod to my daughter-in-law who is still using it and is very satisfied. She got my old Apple Powerbook too, still plugging away after many years. I'd no idea Apple was going to discontinue the classic iPod and like Eva, bought one for myself, luckily just before they disappeared. I've been using Apple products since the 1980s without a problem.

168-Eva-
des. 28, 2015, 11:21 pm

>167 VivienneR:
So nice to be able to go out for a walk without any access to internet or phone. Ultimate relaxation. :)

169AHS-Wolfy
des. 29, 2015, 6:22 am

>163 rabbitprincess: & >167 VivienneR: & >168 -Eva-: The problem with going for the phone route is if you listen to music a lot then you're not going to have any life left on the battery for when you need it for its actual purpose.

170AHS-Wolfy
gen. 1, 2016, 3:50 pm

When I finished Broken Monsters my challenge was technically completed but I'm going to regard my reading year as a bust. I was also trying to complete at least 1 book in the SFFFCAT for each month but failed at the last hurdle. Didn't get one done for December due to too many distractions (see Msg 157) chiming in on my spare time.

Inspiration came to me for my 2016 theme while in work today so expect me to post over there in the next day or so. Can't set it up while I'm in work as they block access to picture hosting sites unfortunately.

Thanks to everyone who's stopped by (whether you commented or not) and I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

171luvamystery65
gen. 1, 2016, 3:52 pm

>170 AHS-Wolfy: Happy New Year Dave. See you on the other side.

172mathgirl40
gen. 1, 2016, 8:06 pm

>170 AHS-Wolfy: Happy new year, and I look forward to following your 2016 reading!

173-Eva-
gen. 2, 2016, 7:21 pm

Not sure I'd describe one book short as a bust. :) Ripping CDs just eats time too, so I totally see that! Happy New Year and see you over at 2016.

174paruline
gen. 5, 2016, 2:05 pm

Looking forward on following your reading on your 2016 thread!

175AHS-Wolfy
gen. 5, 2016, 2:58 pm

Year End Summary

Total books read: 28 (real) 24 (digital)

Primary Tag:
Graphic Novel 25
Science Fiction 7
Crime 3
Fantasy 3
General/Contemporary Fiction 3
Historical Fiction 3
Mystery 3
Urban Fantasy 3
Classic 1
Humour 1

Original Language
English 47
French 2
Chinese 2
Japanese 1

Author
Male 47
Female 5

Ratings
3★'s: 1
3½★'s: 6
4★'s: 15
4½★'s: 5
Plus 1 that was unrated (I have never rated my digital reading for some obscure reason)

Biggest disappointments
Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar - Too simplistic writing style and I know the author can do better.
Galveston by Nic Pizzolatto - Expected better from the man behind True Detective.

Overall Favourites
Tigerman by Nick Harkaway
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Young Miles by Lois Mcmaster Bujold

176rabbitprincess
gen. 5, 2016, 5:45 pm

>175 AHS-Wolfy: Very good to hear that Tigerman was a favourite! I bought it for my brother for Christmas with the express purpose of borrowing it later ;)