The third in a fantasy series that I am really…into. These are sexy books with great imagery and interesting ideas. You can read it just for the one level, or you can read deeper; your choice. Mmmmmm.
We have decided to do re-reads this year (or each book will be a re-read for at least one of us).
January: “A Study in Scarlet” by Arthur Conan Doyle
February: “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
March: “Rebel Angels” by Robertson Davies
April: “Possession” by A.S. Byatt
May: “The Fool’s Progress” by Edward Abbey (new to me)
June: “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger (new to Dad)
July: “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville
August & September: “His Dark Materials” (the trilogy) by Philip Pullman
October: “Sabbath’s Theater” by Philip Roth
November: “The Old Devils” by Kingsley Amis (new to me)
December: “King Hereafter” by Dorothy Dunnett (new to Dad)
If you use that search bar over on the right and type in Lanagan, you will find this is an author I adore, this book no less than the rest. Some of these take place in that middle ages/medieval-ish type fantasy land and some are very, very modern. And my very favorite was “Wealth” which I have read over and over both because it’s fantastic and because it feels like it’s part of the same world as Hunger Games.
I have a friend who refers to Laurie Colwin books as “tomato soup and grilled cheese.” They are usually quiet and somewhat reserved but really quirky and funny when you get to know them. She writes great dialogue that feels refreshingly real. I think Misty was my favorite character but really I would love to be friends with any of these people.
Our challenge book for August.
I liked it more than Dad did (he reports having to flog himself through it) but overall, as time has passed, it didn’t leave that much of an impression. It felt like there was an awful lot of that male midlife meandering (the way Philip Roth and David Hodges novels are getting to be)… The modern stuff was a lot sharper, the drooling down memory lane stuff (moonings over mama and cricket) bored us both. Dude’s wife was a totally infuriating character; that relationship was nearly inexplicable. We both liked Chuck but his role is weirdly peripheral and pivotal at the same time.
It was a decent enough book but we have no idea why it got the hype it did. I guess the 9/11 references were probably what brought it to people’s attention. Eh.
This is what I’ve learned on the subject of women: never delay. The more quickly you act, the greater the chance of success.
“It’s funny,” said Daniel. “A few weeks ago, I’d never have expected to be wrapping a werewolf in a quilt and giving her a hot water bottle. Now it’s almost second nature.”
I am reading Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar and it is fantastic.
Bought on a whim.
Really hilarious, irreverent, charming.
Have looked at it in the bookstore a few times so picked it up when I saw it at the library the other day.
Three brothers, sister, insane mother all in different stages of romantic mess-ups sit shiva for their dad for a week and contretemps ensue.
Occasionally a bit crass but entertaining. Both funny and sad in parts, I liked the main character and I really loved Penny.
At some point you lose sight of your actual parents; you just see a basketful of history and unresolved issues. …
Penny’s honesty has always been like nudity in an action movie: gratuitous but no less welcome for it. …
You can’t let your dog crap on the sidewalk, but it’s perfectly acceptable to blow carcinogens down other people’s throats. Somewhere along the way, smokers exempted themselves from the social contract.
A random library pickup.
Entertaining. Along the lines of “fantasy goes forensic”.
But I thought some of the transitions were choppy / and seemed to have some editing issues / a character would seem to be replying to something that wasn’t actually in the other character’s dialogue.