Bright Lilim's journal
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Sunday, February 7, 2010
I’m relistening this book and realized that I haven’t written a review of it yet. However, the Curse of Chalion is difficult book to review because anything I say won’t do justice to it. It’s a very good book; go and read it.
Even though CoC is often said to be epic fantasy, it doesn’t really feel like that to me: it centers on political intrigue, it doesn’t have violence porn, and it has only one viewpoint character who is in his mid-thirties. The magic is also quite understated. Oh and it doesn’t have a map. The last one seems to really irritate many fantasy readers.
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Thursday, February 4, 2010
Booking Through Thursday
The northern hemisphere, at least, is socked in by winter right now… So, on a cold, wintry day, when you want nothing more than to curl up with a good book on the couch … what kind of reading do you want to do?
I think this has been asked a few times already. No, my reading tastes don't change with the season. Stress and available time are the ones that influence what I read. When I'm more stressed it's hard to concentrate on reading and I tend to watch TV on DVD more.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
By Ellis, Hitch, and Neary.
The first in the Authority trades. It contains two story archs: the Circle and the Swiftships.
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Thursday, January 28, 2010
Booking Through Thursday
So, today’s question is in two parts.
1. Do YOU like books with complicated plots and unexpected endings?
2. What book with a surprise ending is your favorite? Or your least favorite?
1, Yes, I like both as long as they're appropriate for the story and the characters.
On the other hand, I don't think I've ever read a book with a truly surprise ending where the bad guys win or the murderer isn't found. The bad guys might get away with it but not even revealing whodunnit? Of course, that would anger readers a lot.
2, I think answering this would defeat the purpose. :) I really enjoy a surprise ending when I don't know in advance that there's a twist.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Part of the following challenges: to-be-read-pile, 2nds, speculative fiction, and take the journey
This is the second in the science fiction series about document examiner Jani Killian.
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The third in the romance/epic fantasy series the Twelve Houses. This time, the focus is on the King’s Rider Justin and one of the Silver Lady’s Daughters, Ellynor, who is not from Gillengaria. The other familiar characters have also significant roles.
Huge spoilers and sorry for the length!
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Friday, January 22, 2010
One more challenge to go: 1st in a series challenge 2010.
2. There are four levels:
-- Curious– Read 3 novels that are first in a series.
-- Fascinated – Read 6 novels that are first in a series.
-- Addicted – Read 12 novels that are first in a series.
-- Obsessed – Read 20 novels that are first in a series.
3. Any genre counts.
I'm aiming again for 20 books. I have over 90 1st in a series books in my to-be-read-pile, so this shouldn't be a problem. I think I'm going to read mostly mystery and urban fantasy genres in this challenge.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Booking Through Thursday
Who’s your favorite author that other people are NOT reading? The one you want to evangelize for, the one you would run popularity campaigns for? The author that, so far as you’re concerned, everyone should be reading–but that nobody seems to have heard of. You know, not JK Rowling, not Jane Austen, not Hemingway–everybody’s heard of them. The author that you think should be that famous and can’t understand why they’re not…
Well, I mostly read science fiction and fantasy, so the majority of the reading public doesn't read any of my favorites. Also, since I read mostly in English and live in Finland, the majority of other Finns probably doesn't read the same books.
But even among those who read SF and fantasy, most doesn't seem to read
Anne Logston, who wrote short, self-contained, light-hearted fantasy books and
Kristine Kathryn Rusch who writes great and complex science fiction.
Even a great story-teller like Lois McMaster Bujold seems to be mostly unknown and I can't figure out why.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I'm going to sign up for two more challenges this year. The next one will be the 2nd Reading Challenge 2010.
The great thing about this challenge is that it's not just for your second in a series books, but the second time you've read an author as well. This encourages you to give authors another try if you haven't liked the book you've read or simply another excuse to read a book by an author you loved.
There are four levels:
-- Curious – Read 3 novels that are 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author.
-- Fascinated – Read 6 that are 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author.
-- Addicted – Read 12 novels that are 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author.
-- Obsessed – Read 20 novels 2nd in a series or second time you've read the author.
I'm aiming for Obsessed again. I have about 30 of these in my to-read-pile, so I shouldn't have any problems completing this one. :)
I'll try to read the ones I planned to read last year but didn't:
Kristine Smith: Rules of Conflict
Jim Butcher: Fool Moon
Michelle West: Hunter's Death
Cherryh: Chanur's Venture
SPQR 2
Megan Whelan Turner: The Queen of Attolia
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The eight book in the delightful historical mystery series about Amelia Peabody and her family. The year is 1900.
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Monday, January 18, 2010
I noticed a very interesting and timely reading challenge, TBR 2010. The goal there is to read as many books as you can from your to-be-read-pile and post the reviews once a month. Keishon has even suggested themes for each month.
Memory ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) xicanti had an awesome success lowering her TBR last year so she inspired me to join this challenge and try to lower mine, too. I counted my TBR which is currently 257 books including ebooks and 20 short story collections.
I’m afraid that I’m going to ignore most of Keishon’s themes except maybe the SF/F theme on April. Anyway, my themes would be more along the lines of “finish that series!” or “start all of those series!” or “stand-alone month” rather than genres. Actually, Keishon’s August theme (authors you’ve never read before) fits in with that. Maybe August will be my “start that Urban Fantasy series” –month.
This month my TBR book is Peters’ Hippopotamus Pool. Next Peters’ book, Seeing a Large Cat, is coming from the library, though.
I’m aiming for 24 books read from my TBR this year.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
By Waid, Hitch, Neary
This is an oversized graphic novel which touches on personal faith and spirituality. Not so much on organized religion, though.
A huge space craft enters Earth’s solar system and proceeds to kidnap Earth. The JLA are on their Moon base and need the help of the Flash to teleport aboard. They set out to both find out what just happened and to calm down the humans on Earth.
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Thursday, January 14, 2010
Booking Through Thursday
Do you read the inside flaps that describe a book before or while reading it?
I didn't know at first what an inside flap is. Apparently, it's the inside of a dustjacket which either has a synopsis of the book or the author's biography. No wonder I didn't know what it was; the vast majority of the books I read are paperbacks. Also, in my native Finland dustjackets are really rare; usually the covers and the text in the back are printed directly into the hard cover.
In answer to the question: neither. I had a rant a while back about how erroneous or spoilery back covers tend to be. I might read the synopsis after I've read the book but most of the time I don't bother. However, I'm curious enough about the writers so I usually read the biography if it's available.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I had so much fun reading comics for the comic book challenge last year that I couldn't resist joining the Graphic Novel Challenge 2010.
I intend to start with the oversized JLA graphic novel Heaven's Ladder and to continue with the Authority. Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on the new Buffy comics, too.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
My next reading challenge will be the Historial Reading Challenge 2010.
2. There are four levels:
-- Curious – Read 3 Historical Fiction novels.
-- Fascinated – Read 6 Historical Fiction novels.
-- Addicted – Read 12 Historical Fiction novels.
-- Obsessed – Read 20 Historical Fiction novels.
This time I'm aiming for 12 books. I'll start with Elizabeth Peters' Hippopotamus Pool and hopefully I'll be able to read so many of the Peabody books that I'll be able to start getting them from Audible. I also started a couple of historical fiction series last year in the 1st in a series -challenge and I may continue with them.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The fifth book in the Temeraire-series. It starts again straight from the events at the end of the previous book
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Saturday, January 9, 2010
My third challenge this year is going to be the Fantasy Reading Challenge by
I'm trying again to reach the highest level which is Obsessed with 20 fantasy books.
I'm starting again with
1, Naomi Novik: Victory of Eagles
2, Elaine Cunningham: Wizardwar
3, Caleb Fox: Zadayi Red
Friday, January 8, 2010
My second reading challenge this year will be
 In this challenge, the participants try to get as many points as they can. Points come from various books-related stuff, such as posting reviews, reading to a child, going to a con, or reading a new author. I'm going to just read and post reviews.
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