What. The. Heck. Everything in this book came out of nowhere. It wasn't quite as bad as "somehow, the Emperor returned," but it wasn't far off, eitherWhat. The. Heck. Everything in this book came out of nowhere. It wasn't quite as bad as "somehow, the Emperor returned," but it wasn't far off, either. Don't get me wrong; I enjoyed the book, but it did not really connect to the events of the first two books at all. And an interesting major character from the first two books is written out with a "She wondered what happened to him". It's like this was supposed to be book 4, and book 3 just mysteriously disappeared. I honestly wondered if my audio copy was missing a couple of hours from the beginning. I was really disappointed in this book. I would tell people not to bother with the series because of how disappointing and disjointed the ending is. ...more
I didn't know what I was expecting when I started, but it has a much slyer sense of humor than I was expecting from an end-of-the-world book.I didn't know what I was expecting when I started, but it has a much slyer sense of humor than I was expecting from an end-of-the-world book....more
A solid 3.5. It was a fun little book to read, partly because my copy is old and tiny and has lots of little typos that sometimes made reading it an aA solid 3.5. It was a fun little book to read, partly because my copy is old and tiny and has lots of little typos that sometimes made reading it an adventure. It was more influenced by Christianity than I was expecting; I thought it would be fairy tales, when the stories were more King Arthur-ish - knights and ladies with some (questionable) history and miraculous things thrown in. Some of the stories were only a couple of paragraphs, more parables or fables than legends, but it was fun. I would read out bits to my husband from time to time. ...more
A delightful urban fantasy in the vein of The Dresden Files. This one is lighter, though, and the humor isn't so...dad-ish? Discovering the magical siA delightful urban fantasy in the vein of The Dresden Files. This one is lighter, though, and the humor isn't so...dad-ish? Discovering the magical side of London through Peter Grant's eyes is delightful. Yes, there are scary things and some quite terrible moments (murder is murder, after all, no matter how much magic is involved), but all in all, it's thoroughly delightful. ...more
Stephen Fry reading his own funny and very, very English retelling of Greek myths may be one of the greatest audiobook experiences of my life. (And yeStephen Fry reading his own funny and very, very English retelling of Greek myths may be one of the greatest audiobook experiences of my life. (And yes, he totally went there when he was talking about Danae being visited by Zeus in the form of a golden shower.) So. Much. Fun. ...more
Young adult fantasy is a rather crowded field, but this one stands out not only because of the African-esque setting, but because the main characters Young adult fantasy is a rather crowded field, but this one stands out not only because of the African-esque setting, but because the main characters sometimes make dumb choices that have devastating consequences. And they aren't dumb choices that are made just to move the plot along; the characters justify their choices to themselves. The characters are teens, and they act like it, sometimes putting their own desires above the greater good. Flawed characters are so much more interesting than characters who start out good and only get better. (Also, listen to the audiobook if you can. Bahni Turpin does a fantastic job.)...more
Le Guin is such a powerful writer. I could see the planet, the Terrans, the Atsheans, everything. I felt the feelings of the different characters, eveLe Guin is such a powerful writer. I could see the planet, the Terrans, the Atsheans, everything. I felt the feelings of the different characters, even the ones whose mindsets I will never be able to understand/agree with. Also, although I have read a fair amount of Le Guin's work, I have never read a Hamish Cycle book, and it didn't matter. I didn't feel lost at all, which is good to know, because I've never been confident enough to start it since there isn't a definite beginning. ...more
These books just keep getting better. I love Murderbot, I love that he keeps finding humans who are worth caring about, and I love his relationship wiThese books just keep getting better. I love Murderbot, I love that he keeps finding humans who are worth caring about, and I love his relationship with ART. I love that despite his attitude towards and exasperation with stupid humans, he is willing to save them from situations that they get themselves into. And I loved his solution to convincing people of the truth. Good media can make people see the truth. ...more
I highly recommend reading this book as #5 in the series; it makes a lot more sense for the overarching growth of Murderbot as an independent being. II highly recommend reading this book as #5 in the series; it makes a lot more sense for the overarching growth of Murderbot as an independent being. I adore Murderbot. I am sometimes uncomfortable at how much I understand it - I, too, would like a job that entails sitting around watching media all day. (Well, I would probably still read, so maybe "processing media" is a better fit for me.)...more
It's only a middling Agatha Christie book. She does NOT do a murder mystery/spy thriller nearly as well as John le Carre does. If that's what you're iIt's only a middling Agatha Christie book. She does NOT do a murder mystery/spy thriller nearly as well as John le Carre does. If that's what you're in the mood for, read A Call for the Dead instead. ...more
Wow, what a story! I vaguely knew that Alexandre Dumas père had had an adventurous father who fought alongside Napoleon, but I didn't know the full exWow, what a story! I vaguely knew that Alexandre Dumas père had had an adventurous father who fought alongside Napoleon, but I didn't know the full extent of his story. This was a gripping read that helped me fit the French Revolution and Napoleonic conquest into wider world history. It was fascinating to learn about racial/class issues in Revolutionary France. I even loved the story of what Reiss went through to get his sources. Amazing from beginning to end. ...more
Loved it as much as the other one. My only wish is that a musical soundtrack were included - when a whole criminal enterprise is set in motion by a teLoved it as much as the other one. My only wish is that a musical soundtrack were included - when a whole criminal enterprise is set in motion by a teenage girl's love of the Jackson 5, we need to hear those songs!...more
A different kind of fantasy. The world is kind of dense, and it's revealed bit by bit, so have some patience. There are shapeshifters and dragons and A different kind of fantasy. The world is kind of dense, and it's revealed bit by bit, so have some patience. There are shapeshifters and dragons and intelligent cats and lots and lots of Deaths, who seem to have some kind of agenda of their own. The last of humanity is fighting to save itself, but that's mostly in the background; hopefully, that comes into play more further on. I liked the main character quite a bit; he's a bit cheeky, which I always like, and he didn't fall in love with anyone, which I get tired of in fantasy. I get the feeling it's self-published, but I've never seen a self-published auidobook before, so maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, it's a fun book to read. ...more
Rounded up from 3.5, mostly because I really liked the novella-within-the-novel. I kind of wish the author had turned that into a full book and not reRounded up from 3.5, mostly because I really liked the novella-within-the-novel. I kind of wish the author had turned that into a full book and not really bothered with the book hunt part. I did like that part, too, but some things felt...off. The grant organization just sort of disappeared; it was too easy. The hatred between Harriet and the former stake president should have been explored a little more deeply. And I was really bothered that Danny didn't seem to see his privilege when it came to the stake president and all that he did for Danny. He fixed Danny's past AND future, but you can tell (thanks to the well-written character) that if Danny had been a young woman, the stake president would not have been as open-handed. (Okay, that might be a bit of bias on my part, but still. I'm right.) I did like the elusive "The Infinite Future," and I wish that Wirkus had written some more of the "Salgado-MacKenzie" stories that were mentioned. ...more
It is a rare book that I enjoy enough that I buy the sequel as soon as it comes out. This is one of those books.
I've only read two of Whitehead's preIt is a rare book that I enjoy enough that I buy the sequel as soon as it comes out. This is one of those books.
I've only read two of Whitehead's previous books, and neither The Nickel Boys nor Underground Railroad are known for their humor. I loved those books, but this is different. It's lighter and more fun while still showing the daily effects of racism in the lives of everyday people. Ray Carney is a bit of a scoundrel, but he's a generally honest one. It was wonderful to watch everything unfold from his eyes, where he knows he's a crook, but he's not that bad, so is it really bad at all? I loved the variety of Black people shown in the book; each character is different, with lives and experiences that inform who they are. Harlem is lively to the point that it's almost a character. It was a joy to read. ...more
The short stories were fun, but I was surprised to find many of Christie's novels here. Well, not the actual novels, but many of the stories were expaThe short stories were fun, but I was surprised to find many of Christie's novels here. Well, not the actual novels, but many of the stories were expanded to novel length. Maybe it's the other way around - maybe she used the solutions of her novels to write some quick short stories. Either way, it feels like cheating. Some of the narrators weren't fabulous, but Hugh Fraser or David Suchet read most of them. ...more
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