This is an archive of my shorter book reviews and notes, which historically have been posted over at the 50 Book Challenge on LiveJournal, but which I’m starting to move over here. I’m posting them with altered date-stamps, but they might show up in my LiveJournal cross-post anyway. Bear with me, please.
Note: Many of these books also have full reviews available in the book review podcast (RSS).
#44:
Second in the Tales of the Otori series, a series of historical fantasy fiction set in a pseudo-Japanese culture. Very interesting, beautiful novels, but a little slow.
#45:
A short “coffee table” style book about the history of dice. I thought this would be a “meatier” book, but it was all right.
#46:
I really enjoyed this book, because I *like* it when authors cast a middle-aged woman as the hero.
#47:
An Asimov anthology of utopian short stories. This was interesting reading for before bedtime. I enjoyed it, but none of the stories really resonated with me.
#48:
This book should be left in a bathroom. It’s a bunch of one-liners from Carlin, which means reading it cover-to-cover isn’t really the best way to enjoy it.
#49:
Another joy to read– this one stars a talking squirrel in a squirrel/hedgehog/mole/otter kingdom. Really enjoyable, very fresh. Within half an hour of listening, I was hooked, and am eagerly looking forward to the next in the Mistmantle series.
#49.5:
Eldest, v. 1, by Charles Paolini. Yes, someone actually had the balls to split this novel into two “volumes” to sell them as two book credits on Audible.com. I bought only the first half, and haven’t decided if it’s worth a second. I feel a little cheated, to be honest– I don’t think Paolini is a good enough writer for this kind of ego– Stephen King can only *barely* get away with that kind of thing (like in Green Mile). And Eldest…. isn’t a good enough book to charge twice for it. It’s not until the subplot comes forward that you actually get a character to care about. I’m not sure I know anyone who reads Eldest and says “Yes– I love Eregon so much– more Eregon!” Eregon is, in my opinion, the weeniest Marty Stu ever. Of Eregon, I said that Paolini would be embarrassed when he reads it in ten years. I sure hope that’s the case, but right now, I’m sensing a lot of author ego. I don’t know… does anyone enjoy reading novels where the author’s ego creeps in?