-Eva-'s 2+0+1+5 Challenge - Part 2

Això és la continuació del tema -Eva-'s 2+0+1+5 Challenge - Part 1.

Converses2015 Category Challenge

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-Eva-'s 2+0+1+5 Challenge - Part 2

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

1-Eva-
Editat: des. 27, 2015, 1:32 pm

This year I'll be going for (2+0+1+5=) 8 categories with 10 books in each. Below is what my categories look like right now, but I'm guessing (from past experience) that at least one of them will be changed during the course of the year.

1. Original Language Fiction - COMPLETED
2. Translated Fiction - COMPLETED
3. Comic Books - COMPLETED
4. Non-Fiction - COMPLETED
5. Audiobooks and Ebooks - COMPLETED
6. Vacation Reads - COMPLETED
7. Native American - COMPLETED
8. Overflow - COMPLETED

2-Eva-
Editat: ag. 31, 2015, 12:59 pm



Original Language Fiction - COMPLETED

1. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding Finished January 15th
2. The Secret Place by Tana French Finished January 29th
3. The Day of Atonement by David Liss Finished February 19th
4. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis Finished June 7th
5. The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea Finished July 2nd
6. The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman Finished July 27th
7. The Martian by Andy Weir Finished August 12th
8. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman Finished August 19th
9. After Alice by Gregory Maguire Finished August 23rd
10. The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland Finished August 30th

3-Eva-
Editat: des. 24, 2015, 1:07 am



Translated Fiction - COMPLETED

1. The Dedalus Book of Portuguese Fantasy edited by Eugénio Lisboa Finished March 29th
2. The City and the Mountains (original Portuguese: A Cidade e as Serras) by José Maria De Eça de Queirós Finished March 31st
3. Den gränslöse (original Danish: Den grænseløse) by Jussi Adler-Olsen Finished June 9th
4. The Inquisitors' Manual (original Portuguese: O Manual dos Inquisidores) by António Lobo Antunes Finished July 11th
5. Kafka on the Shore (original Japanese: 海辺のカフカ) by Haruki Murakami Finished July 29th
6. De oanständiga profeterna i Tibet (original Finnish: Rietas rukousmylly) by Arto Paasilinna Finished September 21st
7. Baltasar and Blimunda (original Portuguese: Memorial do Convento) by José Saramago Finished October 16th
8. The Piano Cemetery (original Portuguese: Cemitério de pianos) by José Luís Peixoto Finished October 28th
9. The Mandarin and Other Stories (original Portuguese: O Mandarim) by José Maria De Eça de Queirós Finished November 28th
10. Cousin Bazilio (original Portuguese: O Primo Basílio) by José Maria De Eça de Queirós Finished December 23rd

4-Eva-
Editat: ag. 13, 2015, 12:44 pm



Comic Books - COMPLETED

1. Saga, Vol. 4 by Brian K. Vaughan Finished January 30th
2. 300 by Frank Miller Finished February 3rd
3. Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil by Michael Mignola Finished February 23rd
4. The Animal Man Omnibus by Grant Morrison Finished February 24th
5. The Dresden Files: War Cry Collection by Jim Butcher Finished March 17th
6. The Sculptor by Scott McCloud Finished April 6th
7. Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson Finished June 21st
8. American Vampire Vol. 1 by Scott Snyder Finished July 19th
9. Fables Vol. 21: Happily Ever After by Bill Willingham Finished July 29th
10. Fables Vol. 22: Farewell by Bill Willingham Finished July 30th

5-Eva-
Editat: des. 27, 2015, 1:33 pm



Non-Fiction - COMPLETED

1. Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine Finished February 15th
2. Harry Potter Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley Finished April 12th
3. Material World: A Global Family Portrait by Peter Menzel Finished April 18th
4. Gubbe och katt by Nils Uddenberg Finished May 22nd
5. Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist Finished June 21st
6. The Seven Good Years: A Memoir by Etgar Keret Finished August 12th
7. The Portuguese: A Modern History by Barry Hatton Finished September 14th
8. Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style by DK Publishing Finished October 1st
9. Good Eats: the Early Years by Alton Brown Finished December 25th
10. The Happy Depressive: In Pursuit of Personal and Political Happiness by Alastair Campbell Finished December 27th

6-Eva-
Editat: jul. 27, 2015, 12:01 pm



Audiobooks and Ebooks - COMPLETED

1. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper Finished January 4th
2. Doctor Who: The Monsters Inside by Stephen Cole February 21st
3. How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell Finished February 27th
4. Blood at the Root by Peter Robinson Finished March 17th
5. Doctor Who: The Deviant Strain by Justin Richards Finished March 28th
6. How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse by Cressida Cowell Finished May 27th
7. Cold Days by Jim Butcher Finished June 19th
8. Doctor Who: The Rising Night by Scott Handcock Finished June 23rd
9. Skin Game by Jim Butcher Finished July 16th
10. Doctor Who: The Winner Takes All by Jacqueline Rayner Finished July 27th

7-Eva-
maig 31, 2015, 10:11 pm



Vacation Reads - COMPLETED

1. Fables Vol. 20: Camelot by Bill Willingham Finished May 2nd
2. Tre män i en båt by Jerome K. Jerome Finished May 4th
3. När djävulen håller ljuset by Karin Fossum Finished May 7th
4. Svarta sekunder by Karin Fossum Finished May 10th
5. Mordet på Harriet Krohn by Karin Fossum Finished May 14th
6. Den som älskar något annat by Karin Fossum Finished May 16th
7. Den onda viljan by Karin Fossum Finished May 18th
8. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher Finished May 19th
9. Döden skall du tåla by Karin Fossum Finished May 20th
10. Sturemordet by Jakob Nilsson (adapted from the story by Stieg Trenter) Finished May 21st

8-Eva-
Editat: jul. 16, 2015, 12:00 pm



Native American - COMPLETED

1. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman Finished January 17th
2. Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman Finished February 2nd
3. Scalped Vol. 1: Indian Country by Jason Aaron and R. M. Guéra Finished February 2nd
4. Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman Finished March 1st
5. Scalped Vol. 2: Casino Boogie by Jason Aaron Finished March 4th
6. Scalped Vol. 3: Dead Mothers by Jason Aaron Finished March 4th
7. Scalped Vol. 4: The Gravel in Your Guts by Jason Aaron Finished March 4th
8. Scalped Vol. 5: High Lonesome by Jason Aaron Finished March 5th
9. Scalped Vol. 6: The Gnawing by Jason Aaron Finished March 5th
10. People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman Finished July 16th

9-Eva-
Editat: nov. 14, 2015, 9:47 pm



Overflow - COMPLETED

1. Hellblazer, Vol. 3: The Fear Machine by Jamie Delano Finished August 30th
2. Three Moments of an Explosion: Stories by China Miéville Finished September 10th
3. American Vampire Vol. 3 by Scott Snyder Finished October 14th
4. Shattered by Kevin Hearne Finished October 15th
5. The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman Finished October 24th
6. Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman Finished October 25th
7. Slade House by David Mitchell Finished November 4th
8. In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson Finished November 10th
9. The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman Finished November 11th
10. The Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman Finished November 13th

10-Eva-
maig 31, 2015, 10:12 pm

Thank you all for the well-wishes - I had a wonderful vacation!! The only problem was that it was over too soon, but that's true for all vacations and there's not much we can do about it. Had a lot of rain in Sweden, but it made for a great change since Cali tends to be sunny all the time (to the point that we're in a serious drought!), so I actually made a point to be outside when it rained. :)

I did do quite a bit of reading while I was away, so I'm hoping to continue that now - had a bit of reader's block before I left, but it feels like I'm cured now. Fingers Xed. I've just started To Say Nothing of the Dog since I read Three Men in a Boat this month and so far it's looking like a great read. I'll make my way around the threads soon to see what you all have been reading. It may take me a while, though, since I can see from the numbers on my Home page that you've all been busy! :)

11cbl_tn
maig 31, 2015, 10:24 pm

Welcome back! I'm glad you had a good vacation. It looks like you've been reading a lot of Karin Fossum. I really liked the two I've read so far. I hope you enjoy To Say Nothing of the Dog. It was a fun read for me.

12mathgirl40
maig 31, 2015, 10:31 pm

Nice to see your Karin Fossum reviews. I'd read the first two books and enjoyed them very much. I really should get back to this series!

13avatiakh
maig 31, 2015, 10:32 pm

Making me keen to look at Karin Fossum, I've been overindulging in Jo Nesbø of late. Pleased that your vacation was restful and rainy, we get lots of rain here at present too. Also pleased that you are over the reading block, seems to be quite a few of us slow reading this year.

14VivienneR
maig 31, 2015, 10:33 pm

Welcome back and happy new thread! You must be a Karin Fossum expert!

15Chrischi_HH
juny 1, 2015, 4:00 am

Good to hear you had a great time in Sweden! :)
Karin Fossum sounds interesting, I'll put her on my "need to get to know" list.

16rabbitprincess
juny 1, 2015, 6:27 am

Love the Fossum binge! I am very happy to hear that When the Devil Holds the Candle is good, as I put it on my to-read list immediately after finishing Don't Look Back.

Glad to hear you had a great vacation and that the reading mojo has started to return!

17bruce_krafft
juny 1, 2015, 6:44 am

Your review of Gubbe och katt makes me almost wish that I was doing more than just reading my Swedish word of the day e-mails. (Today's word: (en) bit: piece)

Jag skulle vilja ha en liten bit tarta, tack. ;-)

DS
(Bruce's evil twin :-))

18AHS-Wolfy
Editat: juny 1, 2015, 9:27 am

I had what I thought was the first in Fossum's series but now I see it's been moved to #2 in the list. It's one I've been meaning to get to for a while but haven't got round to it yet. Looks like I'll have to locate the other book before I do though.

Good to hear that Fables is still providing enjoyment that deep into the series as well.

Ghost Story was probably my least favourite of the Dresden books so far.

19andreablythe
juny 1, 2015, 1:28 pm

So glad to hear Fables Vol. 20: Camelot is good. I've loved Rose Red's journey throughout the series and I can't wait to read this one.

I'm also sad that the series is ending, but like you said it's been solid. I'll be happily rereading at some point, I'm sure.

20DeltaQueen50
juny 1, 2015, 3:28 pm

Welcome back, Eva! Joining in with the others on loving the Fossum love, I also have read the first 2 in the series and admire her style. Was also happy to see that Fables continues to be great graphic series as I am totally hooked on it.

21thornton37814
juny 1, 2015, 10:03 pm

I see you were on a Karen Fossum run in your last thread. I've got several of hers in my TBR pile.

22dudes22
juny 2, 2015, 7:34 am

Welcome back Eva! I get so jealous every year when you go away. I've had Fossum on my radar since someone else here was reading her ( I think from last year's Nordic mystery month), but haven't started reading her yet. May need to move her up the pile.

>18 AHS-Wolfy: - I have Eva's Eye aka In the Darkness as #1. Is this not right?

23AHS-Wolfy
juny 2, 2015, 8:35 am

>22 dudes22: Yes, that's what's now showing as 1st in the series. When I picked one up though I think the 1st to be translated (in England anyway) was Don't Look Back. I guess it shows the popularity that they've since gone back to translate an earlier book.

24psutto
juny 2, 2015, 10:00 am

Welcome back! - I'll be in Stockholm in a couple of weeks, have been there with work in the past but will have a couple of days to have a look round this time, any recommendations?

25-Eva-
juny 2, 2015, 5:17 pm

I went to the library in Sweden and realized that most of their Fossums were checked in, so I made that my main vacation read since they're out of print in the bookstore and I'd rather not read them in English. They're fast and the characters are engaging. Perfect for relaxing!

>24 psutto:
I'm not too well-traveled in Stockholm, but you have to check out Gamla stan (Old Town) and visit the Sci-Fi Bookstore. Check out walking tours in Gamla Stan - the area isn't huge, so they cover a lot of ground. Djurgården is very nice to walk around as well and has the Vasa Museum as well as Skansen.

George R.R. Martin will be at the Sci-Fi Bookstore on June 23rd.... Tickets sales open on June 12th. Just in case you're interested... :)

26mamzel
juny 2, 2015, 5:43 pm

So glad you are home again and you had an enjoyable and literature-filled trip.

I've never heard of Fossum but she sounds like fun.

27psutto
Editat: juny 4, 2015, 8:09 am

Thanks Eva - I believe we are staying in Gamla Stan - visiting a bookstore before going to a Con (we are going to Archipelacon) sounds dangerous ;-)

28-Eva-
juny 4, 2015, 2:15 pm

>27 psutto:
Excellent, you can go to the bookstore after and top up on whatever you didn't get at the con. :) Archipelacon looks great - hope you have a fantastic time!

29bruce_krafft
juny 5, 2015, 6:28 am

>27 psutto: I want to go to Archipelacon! It would be nice to go to a convention other than CONvergence. And Mariehamn sounds like a nice place to visit.

DS
(Bruce's evil twin :-))

30lkernagh
juny 14, 2015, 11:53 am

Happy new thread, Eva and glad to see you had a wonderful trip!

31PawsforThought
juny 14, 2015, 1:30 pm

I'm just going to agree with Eva that visiting the Sci-Fi bookshop is a must. It's the best bookshop I've ever been to, and I always pop by and buy something when I'm in Stockholm. Last time I was there they had Tintin albums at a better price than the online bookshops so I got a few I didn't already have.

32-Eva-
Editat: juny 16, 2015, 1:14 pm



#41



To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

Oxford's history department has been conscripted to rebuild Coventry Cathedral and Ned Henry is assigned to search for the Bishop's bird stump, but because of time-travel induced jetlag, he is "vacationed" to the 19th century to correct a possible time-rip, but without thorough knowledge of the time he's in, Ned gets himself into many Jeromian situations. I recently read Three Men in a Boat and, since this is somewhat of a spin off that, I thought it'd be a good time to pick this up. Turns out it was a great idea since, although Three Men was a good read, this is in a completely different league; Willis may have used the classic as a base for her story, but she has taken something good and turned it into something great. I loved how her time travel elements felt real and that they had consequences that weren't possible to solve with any sort of magic - the fantasy is mechanical and has proper rules to function. The various time threads get a little confusing at times, but I liked the characters enough for it not to matter very much. I'll be checking out the other books in the "series" as well.

33-Eva-
juny 14, 2015, 7:24 pm



#42



Den gränslöse by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Department Q gets a tip about a cold case which leads Carl, Assad, and Rose (with some help from Gordon) to a sun worshipping cult on Bornholm. Another great installment in a series that I adore because of its extremely engaging characters. The mystery is (as usual) a bit extreme (although not as gory this time), but it does all add up in the end and the perp is unexpected. What this series is about, though, is the characters and our main group are in top form in this installment. And, we get another tiny hint of Assad's past, which makes him even more intriguing, of course; Adler-Olson had better reveal all before he finishes the last book about Department Q (this is book six of a planned ten).

34mathgirl40
juny 14, 2015, 9:20 pm

>32 -Eva-: Glad you liked To Say Nothing of the Dog. I did too and I loved all the references to the Golden Age mystery writers. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series. Doomsday Book is my favourite.

35psutto
juny 15, 2015, 4:19 am

>31 PawsforThought: - I expect we'll drop in...

36andreablythe
juny 16, 2015, 11:43 am

>32 -Eva-:
Great review. I love Connie Willis and I love time travel narratives, so I will definitely have to pick this one up.

37christina_reads
juny 17, 2015, 1:18 am

>32 -Eva-: Yay, I'm so glad you liked To Say Nothing of the Dog! I really need to re-read it one of these days!

38hailelib
juny 18, 2015, 10:02 am

>32 -Eva-:

The Willis was a really fun book, wasn't it?

39-Eva-
juny 28, 2015, 4:48 pm



#43



Cold Days by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden is tasked by Queen Mab with killing the Winter Lady, but in addition to the problem of finding out how one actually kills an immortal, Harry must also make sure that Maeve is truly the villain in the piece and that it isn't in fact Mab herself. We've come quite a long way since Harry the PI graced our pages, but I am enjoying the widening scope, even if I sometimes miss the old Harry. As White Knight he is still funny, though, so I'll absolutely continue to follow his adventures. The last installment wasn't great, but this one makes up for it and, overall, this is a high-quality series that I'll recommend to anyone who likes urban fantasy.

40-Eva-
juny 28, 2015, 4:49 pm



#44



Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist

The story of early 20th century New Orleans and the city's elite's attempts at turning the nest of sin into something respectable, while the people who make their living from the vice district fight tooth and nail to keep their seedy, and very profitable, haven. I am a devout lover of everything to do with New Orleans culture, so it was really interesting to read about what the city was like at this time period. This is part history, part true crime, so if that is something that interests you, pick this up. It also talks about racial tensions and has quite a lot of information about the early jazz movement, which is inherently interesting to read about. Krist includes a great Recommended Reading list that added a few gems to my wishlist as well - I had no idea that Louis Armstrong had written about his early life in New Orleans and I immediately bought two copies and sent one to my mum who is a huge fan of his. The "story" (it's non-fiction, hence the quotation marks) jumps around a bit, so the flow of reading sometimes gets interrupted, and there are about 50 pages of Notes that aren't marked inline so difficult to keep track of (they're mainly sources, so I gave up on those). I did enjoy the Playlist, since jazz is not a genre I know a lot about, and thanks to this list and to youtube, I am now slightly more enlightened. All in all, a great read that added many "landmarks" on my to-see list for my next trip to NOLA.

41-Eva-
juny 28, 2015, 4:49 pm



#45



Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

Kamala Khan is a regular girl from a Muslim family in Jersey City, that is until one evening when she has bestowed upon her super powers and becomes the new Ms. Marvel. I'm not very familiar with the legacy of Ms. Marvel, so I came to this without any expectations, which was good and bad. Good because I didn't feel like they did anything "wrong" and a little bad because I didn't know what to expect from the character or what powers she has. She didn't let me down, though - Kamala is a great character who reacts very truthfully to the discovery of her own powers. Her family and friends are also very realistic and seemed like they could be found on any US street. Good start to a series/character that has the potential to become great.

42-Eva-
juny 28, 2015, 4:49 pm



#46



Doctor Who: The Rising Night by Scott Handcock

The Doctor lands in an 18th century Yorkshire village where a landmark called Lucifer's Tombstone has been disturbed and something demonic has been awakened. This was an OK story, but a bit too formulaic (perhaps unavoidable because it's so short) and the audio-reader isn't engaging at all, so this wasn't entirely enjoyable, unfortunately.

43PawsforThought
juny 28, 2015, 5:08 pm

>41 -Eva-: Glad you liked Ms Marvel. I've been eyeing that one ever since I heard about it being written. Sounds very interesting, but I'm always a bit hesitant with superpowers.

44-Eva-
juny 28, 2015, 7:06 pm

>43 PawsforThought:
I've read the second one too and it's quite good as well. I especially liked her fangirl reaction to meeting Wolverine - it's makes her very much a regular girl at heart. :)

My week has been good, even if I haven't gotten very much reading done since a friend of mine got married on Thursday. She's Irish and the groom is half-Scottish, half-Brazilian and grew up in the Philippines, so the reception was awash with interesting accents. :) And, last night one of my coworkers (or ex-coworker I should say - she left about a month ago) was crowned Miss California. Now, I really am not one for pageants, but since I know this girl, it was fun to watch. She is one of those horrible people who are pretty as well as nice, intelligent, sweet, talented, caring, friendly, and funny all at once, so she was the perfect winner. :)

Bookwise, I'm currently reading The Hounds of the Morrigan (a bookbullet from inge87's thread last year) and listening to Jim Butchers Skin Game. I didn't realize that this is the last installment so far, so now I have to wait like everyone else! Any word on a new one coming?

45-Eva-
juny 28, 2015, 7:25 pm

I know June isn't over yet, but I have a chunkster on my hands and it won't get finished in the next couple of days.

June Summary:

Number of books: 6

Category Progress:
1. Original Language Fiction 4/10
2. Translated Fiction 3/10
3. Comic Books 7/10
4. Non-Fiction 5/10
5. Audiobooks and Ebooks 8/10
6. Vacation Reads 10/10
7. Native American 9/10
8. Overflow 0/10

Best read of the month: Den gränslöse by Jussi Adler-Olsen because I love Department Q and I was very happy to spend time with Carl, Assad, and Rose.
Least good read of the month: Doctor Who: The Rising Night because it was and felt too short and the reader wasn't good.

46AHS-Wolfy
juny 29, 2015, 7:54 am

>39 -Eva-: Glad you enjoyed this one. I thought Butcher had got back to his best with that instalment. Just one more to go and you're all caught up again with the series.

>45 -Eva-: I really should get around to picking up the Department Q series as it's something I'm sure I'd like quite a lot.

47-Eva-
jul. 3, 2015, 10:16 pm



#47



The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea

When 10-year-old Pidge accidentally sets free the evil serpent Olc-Glas, the powers of good do their best to assist him in rectifying the mistake, while The Morrigan works hard to gain Olc-Glas' powers for herself. This is most definitely a book that is appropriate for younger readers since, although the quest is serious, the main characters are never in true jeopardy and are helped at every turn by the powers of good so that the story never gets too scary. The main characters are very likable and all the characters they meet are interesting in their own right, so it was a fun read. I prefer a story that has higher stakes for the characters, but I can't really fault the book for being what it is even if it's not my type of story, so I'd recommend it highly to someone who needs a book for a younger reader who is ready for some exciting fantasy.

This was a fun book, but I'm ready for something a little heavier, so I'm on to The Inquisitors' Manual and, though the style takes some getting into, it's already intriguing enough to feel rewarding.

48lkernagh
jul. 3, 2015, 10:53 pm

While I tend to struggle with YA novels - which it seems this one is - the premise sounds pretty darn good!

49-Eva-
jul. 4, 2015, 12:02 am

>48 lkernagh:
It has a lot of elements of Celtic mythology, which I really liked, and the story is solid, but it just was a little bit too young for me to love it.

50-Eva-
jul. 13, 2015, 9:45 pm



#48



The Inquisitors' Manual by António Lobo Antunes

An unseen contemporary inquisitor interviews a plethora of characters who tell the story of Senhor Francisco, powerful state minister and personal friend of Salazar, and his family during the regime of Portugal's authoritarian regime, Estado Novo, through the Carnation Revolution and to its aftermath. Before saying anything else, I have to start with a caveat: although the story and its characters are quite engaging in and of themselves, a little bit of knowledge about Portuguese history is needed to fully appreciate the what Antunes is aiming for here (nothing too daunting is needed - a spin around Wikipedia should be enough). That said, it's still not an easy read; Antunes style is convoluted at best and even if it evokes some haunting images for the reader, it can also get downright confusing - some passages need to be reread once it's clear who actually narrates that particular paragraph. To make things even harder, all narrators sound very alike, though I don't know whether this is due to the translation or if it is the same in the original Portuguese - I have noticed some places where the translation uses Portuguese syntax which makes the read a little clumsy, so it may be the same with the voices. This is a very bleak novel and its characters either lean toward the despicable or toward the pathetic and had it not been for the high quality of the writing, it'd be a tough sell indeed. As it is, I will absolutely read more of Antunes' œuvre, but I'll try to find something with another translator.

I started another "heavy" read, but I'm pausing that one for a while and will squeeze in People of Darkness before it to get a breather and I'm also listening to Skin Game, which is excellent.

51-Eva-
jul. 19, 2015, 3:47 pm



#49



People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman

Acting Sergeant Jim Chee has to decide whether he should join the FBI or be a Hataalii, a traditional healer, while also trying to figure out why someone tries to murder an already dying man. I already like this series, but Chee is my favorite character because he's balancing between the traditional and the modern world, which makes for a great dichotomy and a wonderfully conflicted character. The mystery is really good too and even if parts of it isn't too hard to figure out, there are a couple of aspects that come to unexpected solutions. A great installment in a very entertaining series.

52-Eva-
jul. 19, 2015, 3:48 pm



#50



Skin Game by Jim Butcher

Queen Mab owes a debt to Nicodemus Archleone and pays it off by having Harry be part of breaking into Hades' vault to steal the Holy Grail. What a great installment in a series I already love - the story is tight, the characters spot on (and Michael gets a comeback!), and the ending makes me really wish that the next installment will be published soon! Write like the wind, Jim Butcher.

53-Eva-
jul. 19, 2015, 3:48 pm



#51



American Vampire Vol. 1 by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquerque

Snyder's story follows aspiring actress Pearl in 1920's Los Angeles and her way to becoming turned into a New World vampire, while King's story tells the story of Skinner Sweet, the original American Vampire. Now, this is how you reinvent vampires; Skinner Sweet is just the right mix of Old World haughtiness and New World audacity and Pearl is righteous and nice in all her viciousness. The story also has a genuine "American" feel to it (even if the artist is from Brazil) because both writers have taken advantage of some truly American images, like the history of Hollywood and of Wild West and cowboy life. It was really interesting to see how two different writing styles can be flawlessly bridged by a having a talented artist in common; the Snyder/King/Albuquerque-combo is very close to brilliant. The stories are solid, the art engaging and unexpected and I've already picked up the other volumes published thus far - can't wait to see what's in store for Skinner and Pearl.

54AHS-Wolfy
jul. 19, 2015, 7:35 pm

>52 -Eva-: Got to love a series that even 15 books into still leaves you wanting more.

>53 -Eva-: American Vampire has been on my radar for a while but I guess I should move it on to the wishlist now.

55andreablythe
jul. 20, 2015, 12:59 pm

>53 -Eva-:
I've been looking at American Vampire for a while now. Your review makes me think I should bump it up the list.

56-Eva-
jul. 31, 2015, 9:36 pm

>54 AHS-Wolfy: & >55 andreablythe:
It's got a lot of potential - I really hope it lives up to it!

57-Eva-
jul. 31, 2015, 9:37 pm



#52



Doctor Who: The Winner Takes All by Jacqueline Rayner

Rose and the Doctor return to earth and find that a new scratch game lets people win gaming consoles, where they are tasked with taking over an alien world, and other people are winning trips from which they don't return - but how are the two connected? Really good installment in a sometimes shaky series. The Doctor is fairly true to himself, Rose is less annoying than usual, and Mickey Smith gets a chance to shine, which is nice. The stakes are extremely high and the repercussions for all characters are serious, which makes for a very engaging story, obviously, but we are still in the proper Whoniverse since the "baddies" are aliens who look like giant porcupines and praying mantises and our main characters make it out a bit battered and bruised, but alive and in high spirits. The audiobook reader takes a little getting used to as she plays one of the characters in the TV series (Rose's mum), but she does a really good job once you forget who she "is."

58-Eva-
jul. 31, 2015, 9:37 pm



#53



The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman

A nighttime plane crash, a shipment of cocaine gone missing, and an attack on a windmill coincide with the finding of a mutilated body and Sergeant Jim Chee tries to figure out how it all ties together. The mysteries in this series are good, but what I really enjoy about them is the insight into the various Native American cultures that is presented and this installment has a lot of that, so it's one of my favorites. I especially liked how Hillerman, who knows a lot about Navajo culture, introduces a little bit of Hopi culture as well, via the "Cowboy" Dashee character, but doesn't make any claims on being an expert - it's a good storytelling device to have one character being educated on a topic so that the reader can find out at the same time. I loved this series the first time I read it and am finding it equally interesting the second time around.

59-Eva-
jul. 31, 2015, 9:37 pm



#54



Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

Kafka Tamura runs away from home to escape an Oedipal prophecy and to search for his long-missing mother and sister at the same time as Nakata commits a crime, loses his ability to speak with cats, and goes on a quest, the goal of which is unknown. I've read one other of Murakami's books before and, in very simple terms, this one leaves me with the exact same feeling; I'm very excited about making the journey with the characters and am intrigued at the magic that happens, but in the end, I'm not really sure what the heck went on. I get the ideas that are talked about - the power of music and the discussions on dialectics for example - but I also have a feeling that I'm missing out on some bigger picture. Perhaps I'm supposed to? Perhaps this is part of the point? If so, I'm OK with that since Murakami provides one heck of a fun ride, but I do wish that a couple more loose threads were tied together at the end. I feel as if I've watched a fantastical film that was missing the last 15 minutes with the dénouement - interesting as heck, but not entirely satisfying.

60-Eva-
jul. 31, 2015, 9:38 pm



#55



Fables Vol. 21: Happily Ever After by Bill Willingham

The shift in the Fables’ power structure starts to split the community into two groups - one led by Snow White, the other by her sister Rose Red - and Bigby Wolf returns, but with only the characteristics of "Wolf" present and none of "Bigby's." So, this is the beginning of the end (next volume is the finale) and, although I'm already suffering withdrawals and am in denial, I enjoyed it thoroughly and can't wait to see how it all ends. Especially the revelation about Snow and Rose's background was rewarding - very good twist. The short "in-between" pieces ("last story of...") are interesting and fun and sad all at the same time, since it's a good thing that the characters are not left hanging, but it is really rather sad to say good bye.

61-Eva-
jul. 31, 2015, 9:38 pm



#56



Fables Vol. 22: Farewell by Bill Willingham

One of his cubs does Bigby Wolf a huge favor and the showdown between Snow and Rose's forces come to a head in this last installment in the series. I had high hopes for the ending of this great series, but there was no way any ending could actually live up to the expectations, so it's no surprise I'm a little disappointed with the anticlimactic resolution, even if the reason for it was quite clever. The larger part of this book consists of past characters' "last story of..." stories, some of which are good, some less so. A decent installment, but more a whimper than a bang, unfortunately.

62-Eva-
jul. 31, 2015, 9:39 pm

July Summary:

Number of books: 10

Category Progress:
1. Original Language Fiction 6/10
2. Translated Fiction 5/10
3. Comic Books 10/10
4. Non-Fiction 5/10
5. Audiobooks and Ebooks 10/10
6. Vacation Reads 10/10
7. Native American 10/10
8. Overflow 0/10

Best read of the month: American Vampire Vol. 1 not because it was best - I read a lot of good ones this month - but because there's the potential of a new great series to follow.
Least good read of the month: Fables Vol. 22: Farewell not because it was bad, but because the finale should have been so much more.

63-Eva-
jul. 31, 2015, 9:43 pm

Had a lot of great reads this month, so very happy about that. This weekend I'm house/doggie-sitting for some friends and they have every cable-channel on the planet, so I suspect I'll do no reading at all! :) Have a great weekend everyone!

64cbl_tn
jul. 31, 2015, 9:56 pm

Have fun house & doggie sitting! What kind of doggie are you keeping company?

65-Eva-
Editat: jul. 31, 2015, 10:07 pm

>64 cbl_tn:
He's a 13-year old Chihuahua who basically wants food twice a day, unrestricted access to the yard, and to spend as much time in his basket as possible. It is not a difficult or arduous task I have... :)

66cbl_tn
jul. 31, 2015, 10:16 pm

>65 -Eva-: It doesn't sound like it! You should have plenty of time for reading, or channel surfing, or whatever! TV has been a little easier than reading or using a computer for me lately. Adrian prefers that I keep one hand free to scratch him on his belly or behind his ears. I'm afraid that someone who lives here has spoiled him a little. (I guess that would be me!)

67-Eva-
jul. 31, 2015, 10:19 pm

>66 cbl_tn:
someone who lives here has spoiled him a little
As is right - spoil the heck out of them, I say!

It'll be TV all the way for me - I have loads of Game of Thrones to catch up on since I don't have cable at home.

68rabbitprincess
ag. 1, 2015, 9:38 am

>63 -Eva-: Sounds like a great weekend! Enjoy!

69DeltaQueen50
ag. 1, 2015, 5:01 pm

Oh, say it isn't so! Fables coming to an end makes me sad. At least I have lots of volumes to go before I get to Volume 22.

70AHS-Wolfy
ag. 1, 2015, 9:31 pm

>69 DeltaQueen50: Don't worry too much, there's always the spin-off's still to get to: Jack of Fables , Fairest & Fables: The Wolf Among Us which is still ongoing I believe though not sure how much involvement Bill Willingham has in these titles.

71DeltaQueen50
ag. 1, 2015, 9:49 pm

>70 AHS-Wolfy: That helps with the withdrawal pains!

72cammykitty
ag. 1, 2015, 11:28 pm

Oh! So sad about your review of Fables. I've been planning on reading some of those and sad to hear it has a blah wrap up.

Enjoy the cable!

73-Eva-
ag. 2, 2015, 1:50 pm

>70 AHS-Wolfy:
Agreed, it's a big universe and lots of nice spin-offs to follow.

>72 cammykitty:
I was hoping for something majestic to end, but unfortunately it was a bit anti-climactic. Do not be deterred, though, it's a great series and well worth the time-investment!

Didn't think it was possible, but I'm actually getting tired of watching telly now... :) I'm done with catching up on Game of Thrones and have seen the season 5 finale where Jon Snow "dies" - that part is quite different in the book, so I'm wondering how they'll continue that storyline.

74mathgirl40
ag. 2, 2015, 4:38 pm

>44 -Eva-: I'm glad to hear that the second Ms. Marvel is good too. I enjoyed the first volume and agree that the series seems to have potential.

75cammykitty
ag. 2, 2015, 10:03 pm

I figured your review meant I could read Fables off and on without worrying about actually finishing all of them then.

76lkernagh
ag. 3, 2015, 11:17 am

Sounds like you had a great weekend, even if you grew tired of watching TV. ;-) Like Judy, I have a long way to go before I get to Fables #22, but still sad the series ended on the 'meh' side.

77andreablythe
ag. 3, 2015, 2:17 pm

>59 -Eva-:
I always have mixed feelings about Murakami's books as well. I always leave off reading feeling rather puzzled by what I just read.

78-Eva-
ag. 3, 2015, 2:54 pm

>75 cammykitty:
Oh, absolutely! I would say to read at least the first 11 (ending with Fables: War and Pieces) since those have a separate story arc, one that actually does end with a bang! :)

>76 lkernagh:
I know. :(

>77 andreablythe:
Glad I'm not the only one... :)

79psutto
ag. 6, 2015, 6:41 am

The only Fables I've read recently is the crossover with the Unwritten, which was a bit meh..

kafka on the shore and the wind-up bird chronicle are the onlt two Murakami books I've really enjoyed - I've read a few not so good ones, he's very hit and miss - so nowadays I generally don't bother - I will get round to the hard-boiled wonderland one day though

80-Eva-
ag. 13, 2015, 10:25 pm

>79 psutto:
I have a few of Murakami's earlier ones on Mt. TBR, so I'm hoping they're of the good kind. :)

81-Eva-
Editat: ag. 13, 2015, 10:28 pm



#57



The Seven Good Years by Etgar Keret

A collection of autobiographical essays about the seven years between the birth of Etgar Keret’s son and the death of his father. I am a long-time fan of Keret's flash fiction because he manages to put such an infinite amount of emotion and characterization into a few pages that I find myself sometimes slightly breathless. These essays have elements of his fiction - most of them are "bigger on the inside" - but are not as fanciful, obviously, being technically non-fiction. Although I've read some of these essays before in various publications, the collection is very coherent and each essay is made better by its neighbor. Such a lovely, albeit bittersweet, book. The essays were written in Hebrew and translated into English, but the book itself has not been published in Israel in Hebrew - Keret says that it feels too personal.

82-Eva-
ag. 13, 2015, 10:26 pm



#58



The Martian by Andy Weir

Mark Watney gets left behind on Mars and needs to use every bit of skill and ingenuity he can muster in order to survive. Frankly, this didn't seem like something I would like, but many voices I respect recommended it and I can't be any happier that I listened; this is really very good. There are many math and science "discussions" (that Watney has with himself), but they were interestingly portrayed and mixed in with the action that I didn't even skim those. The real appeal here is Watney himself, though - his character is just sarcastic and funny enough not have his cleverness be believable without going into supernatural. I also liked that whatever happens to him is caused by something in his direct environment, related to equipment and the like, rather than any being inflicted upon him by a force majeure that nobody saw coming. I am really looking forward to seeing the movie that is being made for this one - it'll be very interesting to see how all that equipment will look "for real."

83avatiakh
ag. 13, 2015, 11:24 pm

>81 -Eva-: I have that one home from the library at present. I had noted that he hadn't had it published in Israel.

84-Eva-
Editat: ag. 13, 2015, 11:32 pm

>83 avatiakh:
He was talking about that on NPR - link to the interview. Hope you like it - it has a lot in common with his stories, but is very different at the same time.

85thornton37814
ag. 14, 2015, 6:48 am

>80 -Eva-: I read my first Murakami recently--The Strange Library. It was a strange book to me. I wasn't really certain if there was a deeper meaning that I was supposed to be getting and wasn't. One of the members of the English faculty happened to be returning the book when I was at the desk one day. I asked him if I was missing a deeper meaning. He didn't think one was present. It hasn't really left me wanting to read more. I may choose to do so at some point in the future, but it's not a burning desire to read more.

86lkernagh
ag. 14, 2015, 9:33 am

Yay for enjoying The Martian! Like you, I am looking forward to seeing the movie. I am curious to see who they cast for the roles of Vogel and Venkat. Having listened to the audiobook, I already have a picture in my mind of those two characters, that probably won't be what Hollywood produces. ;-)

87mysterymax
ag. 14, 2015, 9:49 am

>87 mysterymax: Me too, I am always scared to see a movie when I have loved the book.

88psutto
ag. 14, 2015, 11:41 am

Oh - our book club have just chosen the martian so I'll be picking up a copy at the weekend - nice review :-)

89-Eva-
Editat: ag. 14, 2015, 1:48 pm

>86 lkernagh: & >87 mysterymax:
The trailer looks pretty good and I have a coworker who saw an early screening and said it was good, so there's hope! I'm not a fan of the Matt Damon person, though, but that's a personal issue for me only. :)

>88 psutto:
It's a surprisingly fast read, FYI.

90andreablythe
ag. 17, 2015, 3:24 pm

>82 -Eva-:
Great review and I'm glad to hear you liked it, since I plan on reading it in the next month or two. :D

91LittleTaiko
ag. 19, 2015, 9:17 pm

>82 -Eva-: - Like you, I'm really looking forward to the movie. Should be quite fun!

92-Eva-
ag. 20, 2015, 10:17 pm



#59



Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

When his father dies, Charles "Fat Charlie" Nancy learns that he is the offspring of a trickster god and gets to know his brother, Spider, who has inherited all the trickster traits. Neil Gaiman at his best is such a fantastic story teller and when he uses as corner stone a solid mythology, his stories really go above and beyond. This one fuses traditional oral narration with modern storytelling and the reader gets to follow a murder tale as well a story how Spider took the stories from Tiger and what Tiger is doing to try and get them back. As always with a Gaiman book, you can slip away from the "normal" world and find yourself elsewhere without warning and in this book the borders between reality and fantasy are so easily crossed it sometimes takes a second to figure out which is which. The audio version is narrated by Lenny Henry, whose voice Gaiman said he was thinking of when he wrote the book, so, needless to say, the narration is en pointe and highly recommended.

93andreablythe
ag. 21, 2015, 12:02 pm

I liked Anansi Boys a hell of a lot, too. Good fun.

94BookLizard
ag. 21, 2015, 2:04 pm

Hi Eva! I'm so behind on everyone's threads, I realized I just have to jump back in instead of waiting until I have time to read all the posts. (I was 93 posts behind on your thread. LOL.)

Glad you liked To Say Nothing of the Dog. I love how it combines so many different genres and has a little something for everyone.

Glad you enjoyed the most recent Dresden Files. Butcher says the series will end with Book 20. :-( He's starting a new series, which will obviously take away from his time writing about Harry. Grrrrr . . .

I really enjoyed The Martian, but I'm not sure how I feel about the movie. I don't know how well the humor will translate. And when I heard Sean Bean was one of the actors, I was afraid they were going to rewrite the script to kill off his character. ;-)

86> Lori, if you want to see what the cast looks like, go to IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/. It might be a good idea so when you see the movie, you're not obsessed with whether or not the characters match the image in your head.

95psutto
ag. 24, 2015, 10:52 am

I enjoyed The Martian but there are some serious flaws in the science, which start early on and kinda bugged me (being a bit of a science nerd) - but luckily the human story pulled me along well enough - am going to try and see the film on the big screen too

96-Eva-
ag. 24, 2015, 10:53 pm

>93 andreablythe:
It's already on the to-reread list for some time in the future. :)

>94 BookLizard:
I hope he changes his mind and keeps writing Dresden - he can write one here and one there as a break from other books, right? :) At least we have a few left to go before the end.

>95 psutto:
I wasn't too bothered by that - to me it's mainly a story about human perseverance and ingenuity and the Mars world building felt realistic enough for me. The movie looks really good, doesn't it.

97-Eva-
Editat: ag. 24, 2015, 10:56 pm

This was my LTER-book for July - decent enough, but I again made the mistake of hoping for a new Wicked. Still, it was better than Mirror, Mirror.



#60



After Alice by Gregory Maguire

Alice's friend Ada falls down the rabbit hole and tries to find Alice to get her back to Oxford, while Ada's nursemaid and Alice's sister do the same in the real world. Apart from some teenage angst, the Oxford part deals a some with the opinions on slavery and evolution in Victorian Britain which, had it been developed more, could have been properly interesting. As it stands now, it has nuggets of thoughts that make me want to read more on the subject. I do like Lydia as a character and she seems very real in her thought-patterns and actions; I would have preferred if the whole novel had been told from her point of view to be perfectly honest. The Wonderland parts are unfortunately rather poor reproductions of Carroll's stories - we meet some of the same characters, but they don't have the magic spark that the originals did. All in all, the novel is interesting for its potential, but not quite there for execution. And someone please get the thesaurus away from Mr. Maguire - he writes so many sentences that could have made sense in their simple forms, but which only serve to confuse.

98psutto
ag. 25, 2015, 9:27 am

>96 -Eva-: - going to try and get our book group to organise a cinema trip :-) Yeah I gave it 4 stars - the science kinda bugged me but not enough to put me right off

99andreablythe
ag. 25, 2015, 11:48 am

>96 -Eva-:
Have you read American Gods, because as I remember Anansi Boys is a spin off of that. Though they are very differnt kinds of books.

>97 -Eva-:
I feel like most of Maguire's books are three star reads, though I've only read a couple.

100-Eva-
ag. 30, 2015, 4:07 pm

>98 psutto:
That's a great idea!

>99 andreablythe:
I had heard that it was a spin-off as well, but I thought they have very little in common (other than Anansi himself, of course). It was a couple of years since I last reread American Gods, though, so there may be something I'm not remembering. And, I think this was it for my Maguire-reading - I'll reread Wicked instead, if I get a hankering. :)

101avatiakh
ag. 30, 2015, 5:52 pm

>97 -Eva-: I picked up a copy of his Egg & Spoon a few weeks back, hoping it's a good read.

I enjoyed The Martian though I felt I was reading a movie. I watched the trailer and will definitely go see it.

102-Eva-
ag. 31, 2015, 11:34 pm

>101 avatiakh:
I've not heard anything about Maguire's YA, so looking forward to hearing what you think.



#61



The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland

Kevin Crossley-Holland's retelling of 32 Norse myths, beginning with the world's creation and ending with Ragnarök, along with notes on which source was used for which retelling. The stories are very good renderings of the myths, but they aren't very vivid and the characters are a little stiff for a retelling. They are very true to their characters, though, which is what really matters. The various theories of Norse mythology's ties with other countries' myths are interesting, but they seem a stretch, e.g. when the idea (in "Thor and Geirrod") that Gjálp is flooding the river with her menstrual blood. The Prose Edda doesn't say anything about blood and it's more likely (and widely accepted) that she is peeing. The blood part seems to have been added purely to tie it to a random Egyptian myth. In light of this, I would recommend this book as an introduction to the original texts rather than for someone looking for a thorough academic text.

103-Eva-
ag. 31, 2015, 11:35 pm



#62



Hellblazer, Vol. 3: The Fear Machine by Jamie Delano

On the run for murder, Constantine connects with a group of new age travelers whose psychic abilities will be exploited by a defense contractor out to create a Fear Machine. Even if John Constantine as a hippie is on the unlikely side, it's still entertaining to see his acerbic self mingle with more earthy people. Mercury is also a great character and it is interesting to see how Constantine connects with her without being flippant. The first half of the volume is a little slow as Constantine is such a passive character and some "real" magic and action would have kicked the pace up, but after the train "incident," the story picks up properly and comes to a very convincing resolution (other than the absolutely ridiculous egg-situation at the end!). Constantine is one of my favorite comic book characters, though, so I have a hard time faulting his sarcastic, witty self regardless what he does, but I think the story is universal enough to be interesting to all fans of good-versus-evil comic book readers.

104-Eva-
ag. 31, 2015, 11:35 pm

August Summary:

Number of books: 6

Category Progress:
1. Original Language Fiction 10/10
2. Translated Fiction 5/10
3. Comic Books 10/10
4. Non-Fiction 6/10
5. Audiobooks and Ebooks 10/10
6. Vacation Reads 10/10
7. Native American 10/10
8. Overflow 1/10

Best read of the month: The Seven Good Years because Keret sees the world in a grain of sand and conveys his vision beautifully.
Least good read of the month: After Alice because it had a potentially interesting story but got derailed. And Maguire's style was too pretentious to be enjoyable.

105LauraBrook
set. 5, 2015, 3:00 pm

Hi Eva! You've hit me with far too many BBs (as usual). Any plans for the long weekend? My only plans are to read and clean up the house at my leisure.

106-Eva-
Editat: set. 15, 2015, 11:10 pm

>105 LauraBrook:
You're welcome. :) There's lots of local events (like Buskerfest and the International Street Fair) going on this weekend, but since the forecast is for weather in the 90s, I may be catching up on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. instead... :) I'll try to keep my house cleaning to a minimum (dishes obv. need to be done) - it's a holiday weekend after all. Haha! Hope you have a good one!

ETA Yep, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. it was - all caught up and ready for the new season now! :)

107-Eva-
set. 15, 2015, 11:16 pm



#63



Three Moments of an Explosion by China Miéville

A collection of 28 stories of various genres, lengths, and quality. I'm normally a huge advocate of anything Miévillian and I wholeheartedly recommend most of these stories, but some of them are just not up to par. Miéville's strength is imagining an impossible situation (icebergs appearing above London, sentient oil-rigs, elevators to space) and then build a world around it that makes it not only believable, but probable, almost normal. When it works, it's nothing short of genius, but when it falls short it's really frustrating; some of the stories in this collection don't really go anywhere - they just end - and because others are so fantastic, the disappointment is even greater. It's not a collection I'd recommend for someone who hasn't tried Miéville before (if someone wants short stories, Looking for Jake is a much more coherent collection), but for any Miévillian, it's a must read because the great stories are truly great, even if some slogging through mediocre stories is needed to get to the gems.

108-Eva-
set. 15, 2015, 11:17 pm



#64



The Portuguese: A Modern History by Barry Hatton

A layman's engaging history of the Portuguese people, positive as well as negative, as they face modern Europe's economic and political turbulence. This is a great introduction to Portuguese history, if quite brief and sometimes anecdotal. I was looking for something brief - sort of a what-happened-in-which-order - rather than anything too serious or academic, so this was perfect for me. I have grown fond of a few Portuguese authors and knowing something about their country's history is helpful since I have to admit to having had very little knowledge past the Age of Discovery before. Recommended for someone looking for a glance at the country, but not written by an historian, so lacking should you be wanting something more in-depth.

109rabbitprincess
set. 16, 2015, 3:18 am

>107 -Eva-: I was just told about Looking for Jake yesterday! That is a sign that perhaps I should read it, if two people mention it in as many days :)

110psutto
set. 16, 2015, 8:19 am

>107 -Eva-: - Claire's reading that just now and her feedback is very similar to yours...

I'll still read it though :-)

111andreablythe
set. 16, 2015, 1:23 pm

>107 -Eva-:
Sounds interesting, as I haven't read any of his short fiction before.

112avatiakh
set. 16, 2015, 3:07 pm

The Portuguese: A Modern History sounds like a good read. I've got an old copy of The Portugal Story: three centuries of exploration and discovery by John Dos Passos which I picked up in a library sale many years ago that I should make an effort to read.

113mathgirl40
set. 16, 2015, 10:19 pm

>107 -Eva-: Interesting thoughts on Miéville's collection. I've enjoyed his novels immensely but have never read any of his short stories. As you say, his strength is building these improbable worlds and convincing us that they're plausible, but I'd think that it would take the longer length of the novel to make it work well, unless he returns to worlds he'd created previously.

114AHS-Wolfy
set. 17, 2015, 6:44 am

>108 -Eva-: I found mixed results from Looking for Jake so I'm not rushing to get this collection. Besides, I still have a few of his novels to get to first.

115-Eva-
set. 18, 2015, 5:36 pm

>109 rabbitprincess:
Thou shalt hearken when the universe is speaking! Haha!

>110 psutto:
I think he included a few stories that should have been left on the computer. :) Definitely worth it for the good stories! And, say hello to Claire for me - I know she's not around here often.

>111 andreablythe:
It's good, but I would recommend Looking for Jake before this one.

>112 avatiakh:
Very quick and easy read for a summary look. Do you know if the Dos Passos book only deals with the Discovery Age or more areas?

>113 mathgirl40:
Some of the longer stories could potentially have been developed into something much longer. I'm not inherently a lover of short stories, so I would have wanted him to write novels out of all of them. :) The next thing on the publication schedule seems to be a 200+ page novella - I do wish he would write us a juicy-juicy thick novel soon. :)

>114 AHS-Wolfy:
Read his novels first, for sure!

116lkernagh
set. 21, 2015, 10:39 pm

Stopping by to get caught up and darn on the Miéville book. I seem to remember that I burned out while reading Looking for Jake, which does not bode well for Three Moments of an Explosion. ;-)

117christina_reads
set. 23, 2015, 9:52 pm

I'm liking the Miéville talk on this thread, since I'm in the middle of Embassytown and finding it pretty tough! It's a very interesting book, but not the most accessible world to be dropped into!

118-Eva-
set. 23, 2015, 11:30 pm

>116 lkernagh:
I think I paced Looking for Jake really well and may have read the stories in this collection a little too close together. I still think there were a few stories here that shouldn't have been included at all; I just don't think all of them were ready.

>117 christina_reads:
It's one of my favorites of his - such an interesting take on colonial politics. Hope you hit the stride soon, but I usually describe his books as wading-through-treacle; they're delicious, but not fast reads.

119christina_reads
Editat: set. 24, 2015, 8:13 pm

>118 -Eva-: I think I'm getting into it now -- about halfway through the book! The "wading through treacle" comparison is accurate. :)

120-Eva-
set. 27, 2015, 5:33 pm



#65



De oanständiga profeterna i Tibet by Arto Paasilinna

"The Indecent Prophets in Tibet" is about inventor Kalle Homanen and his marketing colleague Lauri Lankonen's travels to India and Tibet to market their electrical prayer wheel, but the wheel has a mind of its own and tends to record and play the most inappropriate of messages at the most inappropriate of times. Paasilinna is great at setting up bizarre situations acted out by odd characters and this book is no different; especially the characters' very placid reactions to whatever befalls them is very representative of Paasilinna's style (and perhaps somewhat indicative of the Finnish spirit...). Although not a laugh-out-loud book, it's still quite enjoyable in its peculiar and quiet humor. Unfortunately not available in English at this time.

121PawsforThought
set. 27, 2015, 6:52 pm

I've never actually read Paasilinna so have no clue what he's like. I've always heard that he has a particular type of comedic writing and I think that's what's put me off so far. I don't usually fare well with "particular" people. Though I am a bit curious about how the Finnish sisu looks in writing.

122-Eva-
set. 27, 2015, 6:56 pm

>121 PawsforThought:
They are a special people.... :) He's not a writer I love, but he's entertaining in small doses - I wouldn't recommend reading his books back-to-back. It's been a long time since I read it, but I think I've enjoyed Kollektivt självmord the most of the books of his I've read.

123psutto
set. 28, 2015, 12:02 pm

I liked the howling miller but haven't checked out any more of his books yet...

I got to meet Johanna Sinisalo at Archipelacon but didn't nab any of her books (there were none in English) - I did manage to snag an interview with Karin Tidbeck (I know Swedish, not Finnish) and Mats Strandberg though:

http://brsbkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/interview-with-karin-tidbeck.html

http://brsbkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/interview-with-mats-strandberg.html

124-Eva-
oct. 2, 2015, 1:36 pm

>123 psutto:
That's so cool! I've not read any Tidbeck yet, but it's on the list of thing to be remedied. :)

125-Eva-
oct. 2, 2015, 2:15 pm

September Summary:

Number of books: 3

Category Progress:
1. Original Language Fiction 10/10
2. Translated Fiction 6/10
3. Comic Books 10/10
4. Non-Fiction 7/10
5. Audiobooks and Ebooks 10/10
6. Vacation Reads 10/10
7. Native American 10/10
8. Overflow 2/10

Best read of the month: The Portuguese because it was engaging rather than dry, which is always nice for a history book. :)
Least good read of the month: De oanständiga profeterna i Tibet because I only read three books this month (I blame television!) and the other two were better.

126rabbitprincess
oct. 2, 2015, 8:04 pm

>125 -Eva-: What did you watch? Anything we should add to our Netflix queues? :)

While I was in the UK I found an episode of Beck on BBC Four. I liked trying to pick up Swedish from comparing the dialogue with the subtitles :) It was also funny that Mikael Persbrandt, whom I last saw in The Hobbit, plays Larsson. This led to me and my brother imagining a crime series involving Beorn the shape-shifting detective ;)

127-Eva-
Editat: oct. 2, 2015, 8:16 pm

I'm working on three seasons of Forbrydelsen, a Danish crime series that was remade as The Killing here in the US. I've not seen the US version, but the original is intense! (Not sure if it's available here.)

"Beorn the shape-shifting detective"
Nice! I'd watch that!

128rabbitprincess
oct. 2, 2015, 8:32 pm

And maybe Radagast could be his sidekick ;)

Wouldn't be surprised if it was available here somehow, what with the growing popularity of Scandinavian crime. Whether it's Netflix or iTunes or something else, I'd have to check.

129-Eva-
oct. 2, 2015, 9:51 pm

>128 rabbitprincess:
I hope so - it's one I'd like to gift to quite a few friends.



#66



Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style by DK Publishing

This traces 3,000 years of human clothing styles, starting with the ancient world and ending with our time's haute couture runways. For a quick ride through the history of costume, this is perfect; the texts are enlightening and the illustrations numerous and pertinent, although sometimes placed away from their description. I've read other DK survey books that were good and this is one of the best ones. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know how or why us humans have come up with such bizarre ways of protecting our bodies from the environment.

130andreablythe
oct. 3, 2015, 2:54 pm

Fashion looks really cool. It would be a great book to buy my sister.

131Chrischi_HH
oct. 3, 2015, 3:08 pm

>127 -Eva-: Thanks for reminding me of Forbrydelsen, I've now officially put it on my wishlist. (Quite annoying though that the German dvds are with German translation only,I would love to have German and Danish on it...)

132psutto
oct. 6, 2015, 4:28 am

The killing was on UK TV in the original Danish - there were two series iirc? I've watched the first.

You should read Jagannath it's one of the best short story collections I've read

133-Eva-
Editat: oct. 10, 2015, 10:46 pm

>131 Chrischi_HH:
Subtitles, you mean, right?! You'd better have a Danish audio-option!

>132 psutto:
I'm on season 3 now and it keeps being good. Season 1 is 20 episodes and seasons 2 and 3 are 10 episodes each, so the story doesn't get quite as convoluted as in season 1.

Reading update:
I'm currently in a bit of a slump, which is really frustrating since I'm reading Baltasar and Blimunda and Shattered and I am liking them both a lot, but for some reason, I'm gravitating towards the telly when I have some sit-down time. I have 13 books to finish for this challenge so I'm not too worried (I can always finish off the year with some graphic novels....).

And, southern California has temperatures in the mid-90s this weekend, which messes with your head; thinking skills resume after sundown. :)

134lkernagh
oct. 11, 2015, 3:29 am

I hear you on the reading slowdown. As for mid-90 temps, that is just crazy for this time of year, isn't it?

135Chrischi_HH
Editat: oct. 11, 2015, 4:07 pm

>133 -Eva-: No, not subtitles. In Germany basically everything is dubbed, so it is with spoken German. Normally this is not an issue, because they have German plus the original language on the dvds, but just this one has German only. I'll be in Denmark again soon, I might look for it there. :)

In the north of Germany we went from 19°C last weekend to 9°C this weekend (both weekends with clear blue sky and sunshine), so here the time for sofa reading with tea and cookies has arrived!

136-Eva-
Editat: oct. 11, 2015, 10:17 pm

>134 lkernagh:
Yeah, we're all quite over it now. Fall is usually our hottest season, but normally we only get a week of insane temperatures and then it goes down and stays in the 70s and 80s. We've been in the 90s for a month now and it isn't fun anymore.

>135 Chrischi_HH:
Oh, I'm sorry, that sucks. Dubbing is not a good invention - hope that the "readers/actors" are at least decent so that it doesn't detract from the story too much. The temperatures are sounding lovely to me, though! :)

Today we decided to fight the heat midday and went to the movies (which are thoroughly air-conditioned!) and watched The Martian and it was everything I was hoping it'd be. Highly recommended! They had added a little epilogue and it wasn't bad at all, but I had wished they had ended it the same way as the book.

137BookLizard
oct. 11, 2015, 11:12 pm

136> Glad to hear the Martian was good. I was hoping to get to it some day this week.

138Tanya-dogearedcopy
Editat: oct. 11, 2015, 11:29 pm

>136 -Eva-: >137 BookLizard: Last year, I listened to the audiobook edition of The Martian (by Andy Weir; narrated by R.C. Bray) and while I liked it, I didn't love it: I thought the set-ups for each challenge were overlong; and I wasn't sure the story was really going anywhere; but I have to admit that the payoff was pretty good. By the end, I was invested in Mark Watney and the outcome. I saw the movie last night, and I honestly don't know how good it really was. I was still carrying the book in my head; so I had all the background to project into each scene. I'm not sure how well the story was conveyed to someone who hadn't read the book, until I saw my 12-year old's face watching the movie. She was caught up in all the drama, the tension, and even the bit of blood... All of the sudden, I saw how both the book and movie were really great: It put the "Science" back into Science Fiction. No magic or wizards or fantastic elements. It was about Science, and human compassion, and duct tape :-) Now I see how this could be a part of the modern canon of SFF (and not just a passing fad) :-)

139BookLizard
oct. 12, 2015, 1:24 am

138> You're right about the Science part. So many YA SF books are dystopias and focused more on the characters and societies rather than the science. Reading The Martian, you kind of forget that it's not real. Somehow the author makes it seem like we almost have this technology or the knowledge to build it, but we're not quite there yet. I mean, just this week the Mars Rover found evidence of an ancient lake on Mars. We're already taking steps to eventually send astronauts there!

140rabbitprincess
oct. 12, 2015, 9:57 am

>136 -Eva-: Glad to hear The Martian is good! The BF and I will get around to it eventually. :)

141-Eva-
oct. 13, 2015, 1:30 pm

>138 Tanya-dogearedcopy: & >139 BookLizard:
The science parts worked very well for me in the sense that I saw them as world building and helped me think of the book as a true document. And to believe even stronger in the power of duct tape, of course. :) I went to see it with a friend who hadn't read the book, so I too saw immediately how well the story worked on film (and I have to admit I found it really exciting too, even if I knew what was going to happen).

142BookLizard
oct. 13, 2015, 6:10 pm

141> Reminds me:

Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

143-Eva-
oct. 13, 2015, 8:29 pm

144-Eva-
oct. 18, 2015, 2:36 pm



#67



American Vampire Vol. 3 by Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque

In the first story in this volume, Pearl's husband Henry goes on a secret mission to Japan to hunt a new breed of vampire and in the second story, vampire hunters Felicia Book and Cash McCogan have personal reasons for going behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Romania and end up finding something quite unexpected. This is a great series with even greater art - Albuquerque is a great artist and this series is worth a look for his sake alone. The vampire genre has veered toward the romantic for a long enough time now and this is a great return to the blood-thirsty monster we all know and love - Nazi vampires are a great combo when you're going for scary.

145-Eva-
oct. 18, 2015, 2:37 pm



#68



Shattered by Kevin Hearne

With the help of Laksha, Granuaile needs to exorcise a sorcerer’s spirit that is possessing her father in India while Atticus needs to teach now "unfrozen" arch druid Owen Kennedy all about the modern world. This is a really fun series and the characters will always get themselves into a heap of trouble and it's always entertaining to see how they get out of the various messes. Owen's voice is very funny, but I'm not sure if the multiple viewpoints is 100% successful - I think I preferred the one, but I'll have to see in future installments. My big problem with this one was my choice of format - I got the audiobook for this installment and the different voices that the reader does are so over the top that they get in the way of the story. His voice for Oberon made me want to fast forward even, and he's usually one of my favorites, so I'll be sticking to the print versions for this series in the future.

146-Eva-
oct. 18, 2015, 2:37 pm



#69



Baltasar and Blimunda by José Saramago

This is the tale of King João V who makes a vow to build a convent in Mafra if the Queen finally becomes pregnant - a convent that ends up eating up a big part of rural Portugal's, already poor, workforce and the country's coffers - while in its shadow former soldier Baltasar and clairvoyant Blimunda fall in love and renegade Padre Bartolomeu Lourenço de Gusmão aspires to build a flying machine, which will attract the attention of the Inquisition for sure. If you like Saramago's experimental style with his sparing use of periods, this is a fantastic story of the arduous work that goes into the building of a monument, but with an emphasis on the human experience; a severe critique of religious bigotry and political whims; and a magical story of love at first sight that becomes a (sort of) happily ever after. As much as I like Saramago's style with his seatbelt-required-length sentences, there are a few chapters in the middle of this one where even I got lost - nothing that a reread didn't rectify, but a bit distracting anyways - but I'm thinking this may be down to translation. My other Saramagos have been translated by the incomparable Margaret Jull Costa and until she has translated this one too, I'll have to trust that the original is clearer than this translation. Note that the original title, Memorial do Convento, describes the overall story better than the English title - our lovers are certainly a big part of the story, but this is not first and foremost a love story.

147BookLizard
oct. 19, 2015, 9:45 pm

145> Yes! I think I listened to part of one book or novella on audiobook, and Oberon was horrible! He sounded like Scooby-Doo.

148-Eva-
Editat: oct. 24, 2015, 8:37 pm

>147 BookLizard:
That's it - it's Scooby-Doo! I knew I knew it from somewhere. So distracting.

149-Eva-
oct. 25, 2015, 8:58 pm



#70



The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman

Twelve-year-old Timothy Hunter, potentially the world's greatest magician, is given a tour of the (DC) magical universe by Phantom Stranger, John Constantine, Doctor Occult, and Mister E to show him the possibilities and the cost of wielding magic. This is one of my all-time favorite comics, one that I reread ever so often when I want to be transported to a world where magic is a real possibility, even for an inner-city boy like Timothy. Of course, if you know his guides beforehand from their own DC series, it adds another layer of meaning, but it's not a necessity - their characters and personalities are very well presented in just a few lines of dialog or drawings. The one I know the best is John Constantine and he is flawlessly true to character, so I have to trust that the others are thus as well. And if not, it doesn't really matter since they fulfill their roles in this story-line perfectly.

150-Eva-
oct. 25, 2015, 8:59 pm



#71



Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman

A collection of Gaiman shorts that have, all but one, been published elsewhere. Despite this, they make for a reasonably coherent whole. There are twists on classic fairy tales, ghost stories, poems, fantasy tales, and one story that follows Shadow Moon (Mr. Wednesday's body guard from American Gods) when he encounters the classic British Black Dog ghost. The best of these stories are a pure joy to read and Gaiman's fantastic imagination is given free reins, which is always a good thing. There were a few stories that only made sense once I found out which publications they had been written for and a few poems that didn't really work for me (especially "Making a Chair," which unfortunately starts the collection), but in Gaiman's defense, I'm not a huge reader of poetry. Note that the Introduction sometimes has spoilers, so read that last.

151mathgirl40
oct. 25, 2015, 10:22 pm

I took a break from Gaiman after reading through the Sandman series and American Gods a couple of years ago, but I need to get back to this talented author! I was really tempted by the Neil Gaiman Rarities pack that Humble Bundle offered in September but decided to pass, because I still have so many works from previous bundles to finish.

152-Eva-
oct. 26, 2015, 1:14 am

>151 mathgirl40:
I looked at the Humble Bundle, but I passed on it as well, for the same reason you did! :)

153mamzel
oct. 26, 2015, 10:44 am

>151 mathgirl40: Me too!
I have Trigger Warningsitting on my shelf for when I'm in a mood for short stories.

154dudes22
oct. 26, 2015, 4:01 pm

I saw Trigger Warning on the express shelf at the library today but I'm trying to read my TBR pile for the rest of the year so I passed it by. Maybe next year.

155-Eva-
oct. 31, 2015, 3:35 pm



#72



The Piano Cemetery by José Luís Peixoto

This is the story of three generations of carpenters/piano-makers and their lives in the working-class district of Benfica in Lisbon. The story is loosely based on Francisco Lázaro, the Portuguese marathon runner who died at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, and is narrated from his point of view, that of his father, and that of his son. The style is experimental and the narrative very disconnected at times, but with some patience you will be rewarded with an inventively told story and characters that seem real. Especially Lázaro's portion, told while he's running the marathon, can get challenging and I lost the thread a few times, which lowered my enjoyment quite a bit. The story is good, but Peixoto lets his style lead and I have a little bit of a problem forgiving him for that - form should never dictate function. I have another of his books on the bookshelf, so he gets one more chance from me (that one has a different translator as well, so it'll be interesting to see what that does to the prose).

156-Eva-
Editat: oct. 31, 2015, 3:48 pm

October Summary:

Number of books: 7

Category Progress:
1. Original Language Fiction 10/10
2. Translated Fiction 8/10
3. Comic Books 10/10
4. Non-Fiction 8/10
5. Audiobooks and Ebooks 10/10
6. Vacation Reads 10/10
7. Native American 10/10
8. Overflow 6/10

Best read of the month: The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman because it's one of my all-time favorites.
Least good read of the month: The Piano Cemetery by José Luís Peixoto because it felt excessively complicated without enough added benefit.

157-Eva-
oct. 31, 2015, 3:46 pm

Have a happy scary Halloween, everybody!!

158DeltaQueen50
oct. 31, 2015, 6:11 pm

Have a great Halloween, Eva!

159lkernagh
oct. 31, 2015, 7:57 pm

Ooooohhh.... Happy Halloween, Eva!

160-Eva-
nov. 7, 2015, 7:04 pm

I found this one at the library and remembered it was the book for the current "One LibraryThing, One Book" group read. Very happy I picked it up!



#73



Slade House by David Mitchell

A series of stories, all centered around Slade House, which exists in a time vacuum and is home to brother and sister soul stealers. This is my first Mitchell and I am now very enamored with his style of writing. The stories start off really strong and the mystery of the siblings makes for a page-turner. Some stories are obviously more engaging than others, but overall they are extremely good. The only thing that slightly taints the overall result is the last story (the denouement), which is unfortunately a little too easy for such a potentially complex book. I still very much enjoyed the characters and the premise and as I understand that one of Mitchell's other books, The Bone Clocks, takes place in the same (or similar) universe, I'm putting that one on the to-read list.

161lkernagh
nov. 7, 2015, 11:47 pm

Mitchell is quite the writer! My first exposure to his works was my recent read of Black Swan Green. Slade House sounds equally good!

162-Eva-
nov. 8, 2015, 7:21 pm

>161 lkernagh:
I'll be reading more for sure!

163AHS-Wolfy
nov. 9, 2015, 11:42 am

>160 -Eva-: I've only read one of his books so far, Cloud Atlas, but definitely enjoyed it enough to want to read more of his work. Glad you enjoyed your first exposure to David Mitchell too.

164LisaMorr
nov. 9, 2015, 6:32 pm

Loved catching up on your thread Eva. I'm way behind on everyone's threads these days, oh well. From your reviews, I'm definitely interested in reading Ms. Marvel, American Vampire, Anansi Boys and Slade House.

As far as Murakami goes, the first book I read by him was a non-fiction book called Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche, about the Sarin gas attacks in the subway. It was a fantastic book. The next book I read by him was 1Q84, quite the tome, which I really thought was great also - and I could hear his 'voice' in the fiction of 1Q84. I recommend it highly. I have a couple more at home to get to - Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage and Wind/Pinball: Two Novels.

165-Eva-
nov. 10, 2015, 5:08 pm

>163 AHS-Wolfy:
I already have a copy of Cloud Atlas, so that one is most likely next, even if I'm interested in The Bone Clocks as I've been told there are things in Slade House that appear in that one.

>164 LisaMorr:
I've been meaning to read 1Q84, but I already have a few others sitting on Mt. TBR, so it'll have to wait. I'll get there, eventually. :)

166-Eva-
Editat: nov. 12, 2015, 12:15 pm



#74



In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson

A skeleton is found in a dried-up reservoir and the solution to the murder lies half a century in the past. This is a great installment in the series, partially because of the structure (we go back and forth in time) and partially because of the growth of the characters (DCI Banks dealing with his divorce as well as his new relationship with DS Cabbot). The mystery itself is well crafted, but the parts about life in Britain during WWII add an enormous amount of texture to the story which makes it particularly enjoyable.

One thing I have to mention is that the reader of the audio version hasn't quite understood who DCI Banks is and gives him a strong Yorkshire dialect, which makes him sound like a life-time Dales farmer rather than a London police officer, so it sounds like he's making fun of whoever he's talking to. So, read a paper version of this one rather than listen to it unless you want Banks to sound like he's mocking everyone.

167-Eva-
nov. 12, 2015, 12:14 pm



#75



The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman

After a man is shot at the Shiprock Wash-O-Mat, Tribal Policeman Jim Chee sets off on a search that moves from a death hogan to the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles and through to a Ghost Way ceremony for one (or more...) of the story's characters. As usual, Hillerman's stories are filled with interesting details about Navajo life and culture, although this one widens the scope to include the FBI and their secret going-on as well. The personal issue that Chee is dealing with (stay with Mary and leave the Reservation or leave Mary and stay in close contact with his culture) is described in a realistic ways with the pros and cons of both decisions taking turns at winning in Chee's mind. This is a series I've read before and I am very happy that I still like it as much as I did the first time around.

168cbl_tn
nov. 12, 2015, 12:22 pm

>166 -Eva-: I keep meaning to start the Inspector Banks series but haven't managed to do it yet. I'll remember your caution about the audio reader's accent.

169-Eva-
nov. 12, 2015, 12:58 pm

>168 cbl_tn:
The previous ones were read by James Langton and he was great! Unfortunately, I went ahead and got this one and a few more from Audible before I realized that the narrator had switched. And, I've passed the 90 days for returns... :( I might just cut my losses and see if my library has paper copies instead.

170mamzel
nov. 12, 2015, 3:20 pm

>167 -Eva-: I loved all the Hillerman books I've read. It's such an interesting setting. Have you read any books by Louise Erdrich? Round House was a terrific mystery that also involves Native Americans.

171RidgewayGirl
nov. 13, 2015, 3:44 am

In a Dry Season is the first Banks book I read, and it certainly got me hooked on the series. Too bad about the narrator.

172-Eva-
nov. 14, 2015, 11:13 pm

>170 mamzel:
I know I've read at least one Erdrich (pre-LT), but not sure how much of an impression it made since I can't for the life of me figure out which one. :) She is definitely my list of authors to read.

>171 RidgewayGirl:
I never like it when they switch narrators on audio series, but if they switch to a bad narrator, it feels like they're just twisting the knife for kicks. :)

173-Eva-
nov. 14, 2015, 11:13 pm



#76



The Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman

In which Morpheus, the Dream King, the Sandman, is pulled to a surprising gathering and goes to correct an anomaly he caused, but things go awry and the outcome makes him so exhausted that Burgess is capable of capturing him, bringing on the sleeping sickness that occurs at the beginning of the original Sandman series. I received news of this prequel to an, in my mind, already perfect series with huge excitement, but also some trepidation - 25 years is a long time and I wasn't sure that Gaiman would be in a position to tell a story that didn't clash with the original series in style. It didn't take too long for my fears to dissipate, though (and J.H. Williams III's absolutely astounding art helped a lot), and it was soon clear that Gaiman has kept the character safe in his mind all of these years; Dream is back, his own insensitive, self-obsessed, responsible, flawed, wonderful, magical self, the way he was when we first made his acquaintance and it is a delight (no pun intended) to meet him (and his family, including his mother and father!) again and to finally find out what made Dream so weak that someone like Roderick Burgess could capture him and keep him imprisoned for seventy-two years - it's a whopper of a tale, if you were wondering, and one that should not be missed.

174-Eva-
Editat: nov. 14, 2015, 11:50 pm

It looks as if I have four more books before I finish, but they're in my "slow" categories, so I'll just take my time - it's a whole month and a half left of the year....! (Yes, that was sarcasm.) For my non-fiction category, I'm reading Good Eats: The Early Years by Alton Brown, and for my foreign fiction category, I'm just about to start The Mandarin and Other Stories by one of my favorite authors, Eça de Queirós.

Right now, my eyes are on the news from Paris rather than any of my books. Anger. Resentment. Sadness. ♥

175AHS-Wolfy
nov. 15, 2015, 6:41 am

>173 -Eva-: Glad to hear tat this still holds true to the original series. Like you say, there was more than a smidgeon of worry over the return to such an iconic story. Thanks for putting those to rest.

176-Eva-
nov. 15, 2015, 9:39 pm

>175 AHS-Wolfy:
Oh, I was so very relieved! The art is absolutely amazing as well, so it's worth the read just for that.

177lkernagh
nov. 16, 2015, 10:02 pm

>173 -Eva-: - Wow... that review has me wanting to go back to the Sandman reads. I think I only made it through the first five or six.

178DeltaQueen50
nov. 16, 2015, 10:42 pm

>173 -Eva-: Oh, this one goes to the head of my wishlist!

179tymfos
nov. 24, 2015, 10:58 pm

You're really doing great on your challenge! Sorry to hear about the narrator change on the Banks series. I just got back to that series -- I have a few on the shelf, don't know why I've let them sit so long. I think I did the first couple on audio. Thanks for the warning about later ones. I'll avoid them.

180mathgirl40
nov. 28, 2015, 9:01 pm

>173 -Eva-: I loved the Sandman series when I did the year-long group read. I too had similar concerns about the prequel, but it sounds like this is a must-read for Sandman fans. I'll have to seek it out.

181-Eva-
nov. 30, 2015, 10:58 pm



#77



The Mandarin and Other Stories by José Maria De Eça de Queirós

A collection of four stories from the Portuguese master, each of which is a gem in itself. The title story, "The Mandarin," poses a moral quandary and explores its repercussions, "The Idiosyncrasies of a Young Blonde Woman" makes short work of romantic love, "The Hanged Man" is a fantastic tale of what-goes-around-comes-around, and the final story, "Jose Matias," is a love story told at a funeral by a Hegelian philosopher. Eça de Queirós is one of my favorite writers and this collection of shorter works are almost on par with his longer novels - I am not normally a huge fan of short stories, but this is as enjoyable as they could be for me. The author has a beautiful style (conveyed masterfully by translator Margaret Jull Costa) that feels very contemporary (especially “Jose Matias” where the narrator's view of reality puts a particular spin on the tale) and even though the style of short story is old (they are the ones that have a “twist”) they stand the test of time really well.

182-Eva-
nov. 30, 2015, 10:58 pm

November Summary:

Number of books: 5

Category Progress:
1. Original Language Fiction 10/10
2. Translated Fiction 9/10
3. Comic Books 10/10
4. Non-Fiction 8/10
5. Audiobooks and Ebooks 10/10
6. Vacation Reads 10/10
7. Native American 10/10
8. Overflow 10/10

Best read of the month: The Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman because the series is one I love and Gaiman kept the character true.
Least good read of the month: In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson, but only because I listened to the audio and the reader was bad (the story was great).

Three more to go before the end of the year!

183rabbitprincess
des. 1, 2015, 4:54 pm

Yay, only three more! Good luck! :)

184-Eva-
des. 8, 2015, 8:58 pm

Hello, everybody. I just wanted to let you guys know that I'll be missing from LT for a little while. Last week, I had to put this little guy to sleep and I'm having a hard time with it. He had a huge personality in a tiny little body and it's really empty not having him around. I'll be back as soon as I regain my interest in reading.

185avatiakh
des. 8, 2015, 9:27 pm

Oooh wishing you the best, it's always a really sad time. Our beagle passed away in July and I'm still missing her.

186DeltaQueen50
des. 8, 2015, 9:41 pm

Eva, I am so sorry you had to say goodbye to him.

187rabbitprincess
des. 8, 2015, 10:16 pm

>184 -Eva-: Oh no! I am so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you. Take care of yourself.

188thornton37814
des. 8, 2015, 11:05 pm

>184 -Eva-: Sympathy!

189RidgewayGirl
des. 9, 2015, 4:17 am

Take care of yourself, Eva. It's really hard to say good-bye to them, and they leave a hole when they go.

190MissWatson
des. 9, 2015, 5:08 am

Take your time, Eva. We'll still be here.

191AHS-Wolfy
des. 9, 2015, 5:26 am

>184 -Eva-: So sad to hear of your loss.

192mathgirl40
des. 9, 2015, 7:47 am

>184 -Eva-: Very sorry to hear about your loss.

193mamzel
des. 9, 2015, 10:36 am

So sorry. Sigh.

194Tanya-dogearedcopy
des. 9, 2015, 10:57 am

Oh no! I'm a dog person myself and completely sympathize. My thoughts are with you and your "Little Guy."

195VivienneR
des. 9, 2015, 2:19 pm

So very sorry to hear about your little pal with the big personality. Take care.

196dudes22
des. 10, 2015, 6:45 am

So sorry to hear about your little guy. We'll be here when you feel ready. {{hugs}}

197cbl_tn
des. 10, 2015, 8:48 pm

Eva, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

198LisaMorr
des. 11, 2015, 6:57 pm

Sorry to hear this Eva.

199luvamystery65
des. 12, 2015, 9:22 pm

>184 -Eva-: I came by to see if there were any dancing girls on your thread yet. I see that you just lost a member of your family. I am so very sorry.

200LittleTaiko
des. 14, 2015, 9:25 pm

Oh, I'm so sorry for you. It really hurts when we have to say goodbye to our furry friends.

201psutto
des. 15, 2015, 5:16 am

sorry that you had to say goodbye to your companion :-(

I thought that I was only missing Bone clocks from my Mitchell library and now I find there is another book too!

I really must get round to reading the new Sandman - I collected the comics but decided that I'd read them when complete...

202tymfos
des. 15, 2015, 11:17 am

Oh, Eva, I'm really sorry for your loss.

203-Eva-
Editat: des. 18, 2015, 9:21 pm

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts! The first time I held Boots he was four days old, all black with all brown paws (hence the name - he looked like he was wearing boots), and he died a week after his 14th birthday, so it's quite a change of pace that he's not here. I'm doing reasonably well now, though, and am just concentrating on remembering the good times. My friends, who thought he was a riot since he was crotchety toward pretty much everyone unless they were Vietnamese (yes, I had an oddly racist dog!), have been wonderful and telling me their funniest memories of him. He was an especially good one and he is missed.

I haven't really been reading much, but I am still in with a chance of finishing the challenge. Barely. :)

Well, I'm "hosting" the January GeoCAT, so I'll head over now and start that thread in case anyone has been wondering where it had disappeared to.

204lkernagh
des. 21, 2015, 3:25 pm

Getting caught up with threads and joining the others in sending condolences on the loss of Boots. 14 years is a good life and I can see how the little guy has left such a huge hole in your life with his passing. Take care.

205luvamystery65
des. 24, 2015, 4:28 pm



Merry Christmas

I know it's a tough time for you this year but sending you my best Eva.

206lkernagh
des. 24, 2015, 4:48 pm

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

207rabbitprincess
des. 24, 2015, 5:37 pm

Thinking of you and wishing you all the best for the holidays.

208dudes22
des. 25, 2015, 7:22 am

Hoping you have peace this Christmas, Eva!

209-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 3:41 pm



#78



Cousin Bazilio by José Maria De Eça de Queirós

When her husband travels for work, the charming but vapid Luiza falls into the arms of her cousin Bazilio and heads for her own destruction. Eça de Queirós is one of my favorite writers and Cousin Bazilio is another of his wonderful satires of bourgeois life in 19th-century Lisbon. It is somewhat reminiscent of Madame Bovary, but this story is peopled by a plethora of characters that are both sympathetic and amusing. There are no real villains or heroes - all characters get to take their turn at being pitied, admired, or despised. It is also quite amusing to think that this was considered quite outrageous when it was first published due to some naughty aspects, whereas by today's standards, it's borderline chaste. I particularly enjoy how the social realist style of Queirós' can't help but display the hypocritical rules of society, especially when it comes to female sexuality and morality.

210-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 3:42 pm



#79



Good Eats: the Early Years by Alton Brown

A run-down of the first 80 episodes of Good Eats, complete with episode descriptions, "Knowledge Concentrate" sections, Alton Brown's dorky humor, technique and chemistry descriptions and tips, and recipes. I do love Alton and Good Eats and this is a great book for fans to get fun background information on the show. It also contains a lot of information from the shows that I wish I had written down when I saw the episodes, especially the chemistry parts (not my forte), so that is quite helpful as well. One caveat is that although there are plenty of recipes here, this isn't really a cookbook I'd recommend if you haven't seen the show - it's more a book about producing the TV show than it is about cooking. For fans of the show, you'll be happy to know that there are more food puns here than anyone could wish for.

211-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 3:42 pm



#80



The Happy Depressive: In Pursuit of Personal and Political Happiness by Alastair Campbell

When Alastair Campbell was asked to give the annual Thomas Baggs Memorial Lecture on happiness, his family and friends laughed in incredulity as Campbell suffers from depression and is widely known to be rather grumpy and glum. In this book, Campbell outlines what he has discovered about being happy and what the pursuit of the same entails (it's a "long game"). The book is short, but it contains a lot in the way of ponderable thoughts and ideas. It's not (or shouldn't be) surprising that it seems as if material wealth is not the way to make people feel content, but rather a close connection with family and friends and a sense of professional achievement. More interesting is that giving (to friends and family or charitable) is one of the most important aspects in creating feelings of happiness. His past in politics also makes Campbell discuss how government could and should concentrate on creating policies that enhance its people's sense of well-being, physical as well as mental. As someone who suffers from mental illness himself (depression), Campbell is very active in raising awareness and working on removing the stigma and discrimination that is commonly associated with mental illnesses. Whatever you think about Campbell's politics, I don't think it's possible not to come away from this read without a high respect for the man and his ideas.

212-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 3:43 pm

December Summary:

Number of books: 3

Category Progress:
1. Original Language Fiction 10/10
2. Translated Fiction 10/10
3. Comic Books 10/10
4. Non-Fiction 10/10
5. Audiobooks and Ebooks 10/10
6. Vacation Reads 10/10
7. Native American 10/10
8. Overflow 10/10

I'll have to pass on my best/least good read of the month entry, since they were all equally good in their own ways.

213-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 3:44 pm

Cutting it a bit close, but this challenge is officially completed successfully. To continue tradition, I'm bringing on the dancing girls:



Top 3 reads of the year (by rating):
The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman
The Seven Good Years by Etgar Keret
Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams

Bottom 3 reads of the year (by rating):
The Sculptor by Scott McCloud
Doctor Who: The Rising Night by Scott Handcock
The Animal Man Omnibus by Grant Morrison

214-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 3:45 pm

Happy holidays to you all!

I had a lovely Christmas with a bunch of friends and got to cuddle with their sweet dogs. :) Santa brought a Le Creuset Dutch Oven, which I have been coveting for a long time - well done, Santa! Hope you all got to spend time with people (and animals) you love.

Off to catch up on your threads now - sorry in advance if I miss someone!

215luvamystery65
des. 27, 2015, 3:50 pm

Woohoo dancing girls are here! Congrats on completing your challenge Eva.

216cbl_tn
des. 27, 2015, 3:54 pm

Yay for a completed challenge! It sounds like you had a nice Christmas surrounded by people and animals you love. I had to leave my Adrian with friends when I flew to Texas, but I knew he was in good hands. They brought him to meet me at the airport and I got plenty of "kisses" as soon as I got to the car!

Also, I appreciate your review of The Happy Depressive. It sounds like it offers a lot of wisdom.

217avatiakh
des. 27, 2015, 4:16 pm

Congratulations on completing the challenge, I do appreciate seeing the 'dancing girls' once again!

I'll also be taking note of The Happy Depressive and I need more José Maria De Eça de Queirós in my reading life.

I agree with you on the Keret book, it was surprisingly insightful.

218dudes22
des. 27, 2015, 4:38 pm

I was hoping the dancing girls would make their appearance soon. Glad you had a good Christmas. That's a nice gift from Santa.

219tymfos
des. 27, 2015, 10:24 pm

Congrats on completing the challenge! And I'm glad to see that you had a nice holiday.

220VivienneR
des. 28, 2015, 3:19 am

Congratulations on finishing the challenge, Eva. Dancing girls are the perfect way to celebrate. After that you can try out your new Le Creuset Dutch Oven - lucky you!

221AHS-Wolfy
des. 28, 2015, 5:33 am

Congrats on completing your challenge! Good to see those dancing girls again.

222rabbitprincess
des. 28, 2015, 9:58 am

Hurray for finishing your challenge! Enjoy your Christmas present, too. :)

223thornton37814
des. 28, 2015, 9:11 pm

>210 -Eva-: I have a friend who would probably really enjoy the Alton Brown book. I'll have to tell her about it.

224lkernagh
des. 29, 2015, 9:26 pm

Yay.... the dancing girls are back!

Congrats on completing your challenge, Eva!

225VivienneR
des. 31, 2015, 5:18 pm

226mathgirl40
gen. 1, 2016, 8:13 pm

Congratulations on finishing your challenge, and see you over in the 2016 group!

227andreablythe
gen. 5, 2016, 1:04 am

A last minute catchup before heading over to the new year. :)

>149 -Eva-:
Glad to see you liked Books of Magic. It's been a while, but I remember thoroughly enjoying the experience, while also wishing that Gaiman had continued it as a series.

>150 -Eva-:
I've heard many good things about Trigger Warning now, so I'm going to have to grab it for myself.

>160 -Eva-:
Slade House sounds fascinating and kind of creepy. I like the house out of time idea.

>173 -Eva-:
I can't believe I haven't read Overture yet. Gah!

Okay, there. Caught up! ;)

228LisaMorr
gen. 5, 2016, 6:37 pm

Congrats Eva on your reading in 2015!