Jan - 2nd Half

First, let me promise you that, contrary to any conclusions you may have drawn from my last post, I do not have some sort of side deal going with Jacqueline Carey. I just like what I like. If you would read her books already, you would understand.

Second, let me assure you that reading will not be equated to dating again in this post (or ever). That may have been ill-advised. But hey, I picked a metaphor and, by God, I stuck to it.

Third, I need to give a shout out to one of my friends and fellow bloggers, JD, over at Condescension and Other Social Activities. If you enjoy that I don't sugar coat my thoughts on the books I read, you should check her blog out. She and I met in college (we were sorority sisters), and her friendship really changed me for the better. She lives her life the way she wants to, stands up for herself in the face of crappy customer service, tells it like it is and is my all around bitchiness idol. Heart you, JD! :)

Now, the books:

Fantasy (you know, cause I like it)

1) Blackveil by Kristen Britain

As I mentioned a few posts back, I felt a bit let down by The High King's Tomb, but I was pleasantly surprised by Blackveil. While I don't read a lot of romance, I am all about the girl getting the guy. Especially when they are soooo right for each other. I think that the thing that upset me most about High King's Tomb was that this didn't happen. Additionally, I felt like the girl did an awful lot of shit for the guy, and he selfishly just led her on, then told her how he felt, then went back to being engaged to someone else. It pissed me off. Also, when I was reading, I was thinking that it was the last book in a trilogy, and I wanted all the loose ends tied up in a nice little bow. Which did not happen.

After reading Blackveil, I am glad that there are more books coming. While Blackveil did end with a cliffhanger, and leave me feeling stressed out about how the love triangle (triangles?) would get resolved, rather than annoying me (like The High King's Tomb), Blackveil made me want to send the author an email to hurry along her writing.

One thing I have enjoyed about Britain's writing all along is that, while it certainly shares some elements with other fantasy series, it is also quite unique. There is no other series that I have read where the magic of the humans or the elves is quite like the magic in Sacordia. The Green Riders are very unique in what they do, the Elves (or Elt, but same dif) are much like elves everywhere, and both parties point out other magic in the world, but we are only exposed by the evil of Mornhavon and his followers (with the exception of all the gadgets that the sisters have in their posession). Blackveil introduces new magic in the form of a ring that sings the siren song of the sea to Lord Amberhill, and Britain drops little hints and tantalizes that there is more to come with this story line in future books.

I can't wait to see what Britain has in store next, and I may go back and give some of the other books another chance. If you are in the mood for some standard fantasy fare, or if you particularly enjoy books about horses (and NOT in the way of Divine by Nature - EW), you should check this series out. The first book is The Green Rider.

2) Archon: The Books of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis

This story kind of reminded me of The Mortal Instruments, although it didn't really have the same kind of melodrama as that series (which is a good thing in my book). Don't get me wrong, I did like The Mortal Instruments, I just felt like it was a little over the top in the angsty teenager department. That is not to say that Archon didn't have its share of melodrama - it was just different.

First, I am not sure of the intended age of the audience for this book - it seems like it is meant for a young adult reader, but it was awfully dark for that age group. The protagonist, Angela (side note: thank God the author makes a little joke about the name, because I seriously couldn't deal with a girl named Angela as the protagonist in a book about angels unless it was meant to be sort of tongue in cheek) is very troubled, and frequently describes previous suicide attempts and her time in a mental institution. She is also described always wearing long sleeves and leggings because her arms and legs have terrible scars from her self harm. And she attempts suicide at least twice in the book.

Similarly, I couldn't understand why the Vatican was the chosen setting. I get that the book was about angels and biblical prophecy, but I can't believe the sorts of things the students (all seemingly high school age) at the academy there were getting into. It seemed such an unlikely place for priests in training to be sleeping with female stuedents in the academy and students to be members of a group called the pentacle society that engages in demonic rituals. It just didn't track for me.

Finally, while I appreciated the whole notion that 'good' isn't always what it appears, and heart-rending beauty can often mask cruelty and the kind of disinterest only achieved through years of decadence, I felt like it went a little too far, and the characters became sort of one dimensional. Perhaps the author was going for archetypes?

I suppose there are worse ways I could have spent my afternoon, but I think this was enough of The Books of Raziel for me.

3) Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews

Another of the books of the Edge, and Andrews does not disappoint. (You can see here that I already read the other two books by Ilona Andrews set in this universe, On The Edge and Bayou Moon.) I love that the other Edgers always make at the very least a cameo in the next book - that way, you can catch a glimpse of how they are doing, but you get to have another adventure. It is always nice for a reader to see that the 'happily ever after' part of a story continues. (True story - I always wondered how Jane Austen imagined Elizabeth's and Mr. Darcy's lives together after they were married. Did they have children? What happened to her sisters? What about Charlotte and Mr. Collins? I REALLY WANT TO KNOW!!!!).

I looked on Ilona Andrew's website about this book series (trying to find out what was on deck), and she mentions there that she and her agent (among others) had a difficult time categorizing these books, and I can see why. I suppose that they are sort of an urban fantasy/spy/romance novels, and as such, follow a particular formula:

Horrible thing happens + Female protagonist meets male protagonist + They hate each other + Then they love each other + They have hot sex + Disaster is averted + They live happily ever after = Awesomely entertaining afternoon with the girly movie of the book world. Except with sword fights, dragons, magic, bounty hunters and impending doom.

I'm not knocking the formula - I know what I am going to get from Ilona Andrews, and I keep coming back for more. While I am waiting for the next book of the Edge, I am going to rekindle my interest in Kate Daniels, starting with book one in that series, Magic Bites.

4) Something from the Nightside by Simon R Green

I came upon this book by way of one of those 'If you like this, read this' books (similar to how I found Maledicte). Since I found that I enjoyed Jim Butcher's work so much, I entered 'Dresden Files' and Something from the Nightside is what popped out. Well, I can certainly see how that link was made. Something from the Nightside features a private investigator with a gift that makes him the target of powerful adversaries, a soft spot for women and a certain disregard for the letter of the law while upholding the spirit.

In general, Something from the Nightside was a pleasant diversion. It was like a combination of The Dresden Files and Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Green tried to use the inspired, gritty language Gaiman employs throughout his work, combined with the maverick PI persona and the more conversational tone Butcher uses in his. The result was a sort of mixed bag. There were parts that really shone, elevating sections to something more than just a fun read, and there were parts that sort of felt abrupt or obvious. And the last paragraph was just...cheesy. It read like the last scene in a t.v. pilot episode.

All told, as a series opener, it was fairly good. The PI protagonist, John Taylor, is likeable and mysterious enough that I want to see what happens to him as the series progresses, and the Nightside itself has the potential to go in many different creative and creepy directions. I will likely pick up the next book in the series, and more by the author, but not until other, more appealing reads are complete.

5) Saint's Astray by Jacqueline Carey

Readers, did you know that I absolutely adore Jacqueline Carey's writing? Well, I do. You can read about how much I totally heart her here, here, here, and here.

Saint's Astray is the sequel to Santa Olivia. I wasn't planning on reading another book this month, but I started it last night and stayed up until 3:30 to finish it - it was just that good. I got very involved with Pilar's and Loup's stories as they faced new and different challenges - each of the girls grew in their own ways throughout the book, both on their own and in their love for each other.

The story was action packed, the prose (as always) gripping, and the underlying message thought provoking and meaningful. Please readers, for the love of God, read some books by this amazing author. You will not regret it. I promise.

Thriller/Mystery ('cause I'm not a one trick pony)

1) The Faculty Club by Danny Tobey

This book is something I picked up at the library the other day when I was playing 'library roulette'. It was pretty short (which seems to be sort of mystery/thriller standard), and it was certainly a page turner, so it only took a few hours to read. The story got a little unbelievable toward the end, but all the same, I really enjoyed it. I don't usually read this type of book, and I will say that it was more than slightly reminiscent of a movie I have seen a time or too.

All the same, I did enjoy the book, and if you are looking for an adrenaline fueled diversion for a few hours, I think you will too.

2) The Lost Sister by Russel D McLean

Another 'library roulette' selection that turned out well. I must first say, I REALLY dislike beginning with the second book in a series. As someone who reads a lot a fantasy, I am used to much of the ground work about characters being laid in the first book, and it being practically impossible to really get the full experience of said book without having read the preceding work. This doesn't seem to be quite as big of an issue with mystery books, but The Lost Sister did make some reference to events in the authors prior work, The Good Son. Thankfully, these were more like little glimpses of the protagonist's back story, and weren't really distracting from the story line.

Having that confession off my chest, I can say that the story here was really, really engaging. The characters were all multi-faceted, and the tale twists and turns as a PI tries to solve a crime based on so much hearsay. I must say that I was surprised at the end, and I look forward to catching myself up by reading The Good Son.

If you are in the mood for a mystery, check this out. I will warn you that it is a little bloody, and there are certainly more cerebral tales, but still, a very enjoyable read.

Jan - 1st Half

Have I mentioned in previous posts that I love fantasy? Well, I do. A lot. So, prepare yourselves, readers, for an entire post about fantasy novels. :)

Although it is my favorite genre, I will freely admit that there is some truly horrid and poorly written fantasy out there, and I had the misfortune to read one such book so far this month. The others, however? Fabulous. This is why, although I am all about pimping books, I'm no book slut when it comes to buying. Before I buy a book for myself, I need a blind date first. Thank God for libraries! Once I am totally enamored with a particular author or book series, then I have no qualms in buying both the "analog" and eBook version for my future reading pleasure.

All the books I read this month were library books, but I will probably purchase Jacqueline Carey's books (natch) and the Anne Bishop series I started reading.

Ready to go steady:

1) Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey

This book could not be more different than the tales set in Terre D'Ange. It is urban fantasy with a sort of post-apocalyptic feel to it. The prose is much different than Carey's lyrical voice in all of her other works that I have had the pleasure to read, but it is still compelling. It has more of a gritty, American author feel to it. Although the book is not an epic fantasy, Carey is still a wordsmith, and Loup's voice is as unique as the tale. I would give this book six stars if I could, and I can't wait to get Saint's Astray from the library!

2) The Black Jewels, Book 1: Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop

This is actually a re-read, but I am SOOO glad that I got back into this series. I love Anne Bishop's work, in particular the Ephemera series, which is a little less dark than the Black Jewels series. I started re-reading because I saw that a new book was published about this universe, and, having made the mistake of reading The Omen Machine without having re-read the rest of that series, I wanted to make sure I got back into the world of Terreille, Kaeleer and Hell.

Although this is set and cast on the shadowy side of things, in Anne Bishop's universe, this does not equate to evil. The darkness represents power, while, in many cases the light is exemplified by envy and truly evil deeds. This disparity between conventional notions of dark and light and Bishop's is made patently clear by the central plot of this book.

While I love nearly everything about this book (memorable characters, engaging plot, court intrigue), I must voice one gripe. I find the names Bishop chose for the characters in this book annoying. I find myself wanting to rename the characters for her, because it can get kind of hard to take the book seriously with all the ridiculous names she uses. Apart from that, I very highly recommend this author and series.

3) The Black Jewels, Book 2: Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop

Loved it even more than the first book in the series. This book also has all the hallmarks of that 'middle' book/movie in a trilogy. I NEED the next book. Now. Not when the one copy at my local library is available. NOW.

One thing that I realize all my favorite authors share - the characters grow and change, and they are imperfect, but with REAL imperfections (not things like crippling clumsiness). The changes that Bishop's characters go through in this middle installment of the series are profound - they heal from old wounds, and receive new ones as they grow and change. I am anxious to see how they deal with their new challenges in the next book in this series, Queen of the Darkness.

Sign me up for seconds:

1) Godslayer Chronicles, Book 1: Shadowfall by James Clemens
While this book certainly had themes similar to other fantasy books, the telling of the tale was quite unique. And I must say, if a book has quotes in the author's own made up language, its a good bet that the book will kind of rock. I was not disappointed. Shadowfall has very real characters who grow, change, love. It is filled with action and humor - everything you could want in a fantastic tale. There was even a nice little twist that left me desperate for book 2.

The only thing that had a little bit of an 'ick' factor for me was the 'humors' of the gods. Imagine, if you will, a whole set of immortal beings whose various humors have special properties. These beings come to Myrilla and are worshiped as gods and goddesses, and they have various handmaidens and men to collect their 'humors'. Blood and tears, I totally get why those are powerful. Semen too, is understandably powerful, and I suppose I can buy menses as the female counterpart to semen, even though that is kind of gross. Likewise, I can deal with the idea that a god's sweat has special properties, and their spit, even though I'm not in love with the idea. I draw the line, however, at imagining the useful properties of phlegm, yellow bile (aka urine) and black bile (aka #2). I'm not sure how Clemens settled on those humors, and I confess to chuckling at the idea that someone would be honored to be chosen as the Hand of Black Bile (that's right - the person whose honor it is to collect and store a god or goddesses' poo). Thankfully, discussion of the humors is fairly infrequent, so it doesn't really detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

2) Kingmaker, Kingbreaker, Book1: The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller

Sort of hard to get into at first, because the author chose to write the voice of the protagonist in a sort of uneducated sounding vernacular, but once I got used to the style, I really enjoyed it. The adversity/challenges started really building rather late in the book, with the most devastating plot points happening in the last 75-100 pages. I'm cool with that though - I've read books by Terry Goodkind - the master of the 11th hour plot clusterfuck that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The very last scene just really grabbed me as kind of horrible and abrupt, and I must get my hands on the next book, stat.

Just friends:

1) The Disillusionists Trilogy, Book 1: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

Intriguing urban fantasy novel, but it was a little complicated at times. It was kind of like X-Men meets Inception - the protagonist is a hypochondriac who learns how to project her fears into the minds of others (the Inception part), under the tutelage of a "highcap" who can see an individual's psychological road map (the X-Men part). There was also the right amount of titillation and humor mixed in to boot. Complicated plot aside, I enjoyed the book and will likely be reading more from this author.

2) Maledicte by Lane Robins
I came upon this book by way of one of those "If you like this, try this" websites, when looking for books similar to those by Jacqueline Carey. While I can see why these authors were compared, I was not so immediately enraptured with the prose in this book. I also found Maledicte to be overbalanced on the violence side of the sex/violence scale. Nevertheless, it is still a story with delicious schemes that also manages to wind together a coming of age of sorts and a love story. At several points in the story, I wanted to throw the book and scream at the protagonist, "You FUCKING idiot! The answers are right in front of your FACE!", but, in the end, my patience was rewarded. I can see myself exploring additional works by this author, but not right away.

Bad dates:

1) Divine by Mistake by PC Cast

I will never get back the time I wasted on this book. Thank GOD it was only about two hours. Now, I did see from reading the back that there was going to be sex. I'm no prude, I like sex. Likewise, I enjoy reading books that include some degree of titillation (see pretty much every other book I read the first half of this month). I thought, "Bring it on!" Boy was that a mistake.

The protagonist in this book is married off to a centaur. Yes, he can change himself into a man to celebrate the more carnal aspect of their marriage, but for much of the book, only his head, arms and torso are that of a man. I could have lived my entire life without having to read about how he could pleasure the protagonist (who is all human) WITHOUT shape shifting.

Now, had this been the only shocking part of the book, I could have dealt with it - after all, the plot was interesting: Modern day Oklahoman is magicked away to a fantasy realm where she is the living embodiment of a goddess, battling a pestilent foe with her people to protect the sanctity of their way of life. So much potential there. Having read the book, I can only say that I am appalled that this author was once an English teacher. If I had turned in papers this poorly written, surely I would have failed out of school. Bestiality AND badly written? I suggest you skip this one over when you are making your reading selections. If you are after fantasy and sex, do yourself a favor and read something by Jacqueline Carey. You won't regret it. I promise.

Books from Before - Part 3

#46. Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt

Read it! I don’t know why, but for some reason, I have always found witch trials to be fascinating. This book, set in England in 1612 showed me an important lesson about historical fiction – if the subject matter is right, you can lose yourself in any book. I really, really liked this one.

#47. State of Fear by Michael Crichton

Read it! All you climate change freaks out there should read this too. I was impressed by the amount of research Michael Crichton did for this book. Being married to a physicist, who thinks “global warming” and “climate change” are utter bullshit, might be one of the other reasons I liked this book so much.

#48. Debt of Bones by Terry Goodkind

Read it. Good, as always. I really liked this little novella. A must read for any Goodkind fan, just so you can get more of the delightful universe.

#49. Letters from Yellowstone by Diane Smith

Read it. This was kind of interesting, and the format was certainly different. The funniest part about this book was that I read it aloud. There was a character named Rutherford. I have two pet rabbits, one of which is named Rutherford. He kept thinking I was talking to him as I was reading. It was presh. And also the most memorable part of reading this book.

#50. Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix by Charles R Cross

Read it, and absolutely loved it. More evidence that when you are interested in the subject, biographies are fascinating. Even though I knew how it ended, I was still bitterly disappointed at the end – to me, the sign of a good writer. I was depressed for a week or two after reading this – all that talent, wasted.

#51. Casting with a Fragile Thread: A Story of Sisters and Africa by Wendy Kann

Read it. Interesting but sort of meh. Story of growing up in Africa as part of a white, colonial family...need I say more?

#52. Even After All This Time: A Story of Love, Revolution and Leaving Iran by Afschineh Latifi

Read it. This autobiography really, really moved me. I recommended it to a few friends, and read passages aloud to my husband. Not only was the part of the book that focused on Iran a compelling look at what has gone on and is going on in that country, the parts about Afschineh's immigration to America are truly, truly amazing. This woman, and her family, have GUTS - I cannot imagine a single pampered American going through these trials and prevailing. I just can't.

#53. Naamah's Curse by Jacqueline Carey

Read it. Jacqueline Carey is always a good choice, and she doesn’t disappoint. I'm not sure how many more times I can say it - READ THESE BOOKS!!!!

#54. The Witch of Cologne by Tobsha Learner – Read it. This book was very moving to me for some reason. Historical fiction at its finest, and an interesting look at how science and intelligence were viewed in 17th century Cologne. And how that view differed based on your religious upbringing.

#55. Dies the Fire by S M Stirling

Read it. Interesting and not my usual thing, even though it was fantasy. I could see myself getting into the series though, but haven't explored it further yet.

#56. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

Read it. Quirky and delightful. And made me realize that I am a huge nerd. A fact with which I am A-OK. Mostly because no matter how big a nerd I am, my husband is a bigger one. :) This book, and most of the Discworld series (at least the 10 or so I have read so far), are really quite humorous as well, which is a nice little added bonus.

#57. Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume edited by Jennifer O'Connell

Read most of it. This was horrible. I guess I just don’t like Judy Blume as much as I did when I was 10. Perhaps this dud is why I just stopped the book blog all together? I sort of felt like I HAD to finish the book, and honestly, I would have rather scrubbed my shower with a toothbrush than read any more of this drivel.

And there you have it. The 30ish books I read but never blogged about because I was too busy earning money. My conscience is clear, and I can move on with my new plan and new format. Thank you, readers, for your indulgence.

Books from before - Part 2

Since I am home and feeling wretched, I thought I would at least post the second installment of my Books from Before. Enjoy!

#36. The Phoenix Unchained by Mercedes Lackey

Read it (and the rest of the series). Typical fantasy, and rather enjoyable too, but a little young for my taste.

#37. The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist

Read it. Depressing and intriguing at the same time, and kind of reminded me of the movie The Island.

#38. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Read it. As far as young adult fantasy books go, it was pretty good. I definitely liked it much more than other YA werewolf books…

#39. Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott

Read it. Really enjoyed it. Although it is a fantasy book, and includes a princess, she is an ass-kicking warrior priestess first. So, that has to count for something. This is a touching fantasy novel that any young adult would enjoy.

#40. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

Read it. Haven’t seen the movie yet (I doubt I could make Corey watch it). This was a pretty good book – I must say it is the first time I considered that Charlotte Lucas might have been a lesbian, and that actually holds up after additional thought. This book definitely gets kudos for making me think of favorite classics in a new way.

#41. The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society by Beth Pattillo

Read it. It was OK. And made me realize that I can live the rest of my life without ever reading another ‘romance’. These books are just so bland, as a general rule. There isn’t really a plot, there is just…melodrama. This genre is like the soap opera of the book world, and I am just fine without that.

#42. On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

Read it (and Bayou Moon)! This is the kind of romance I can really enjoy. Not the soap opera kind, rather the action packed, “I’m a kick ass woman, so you better send me a REAL man” kind. I have read several of the Kate Daniels Books by Ilona Andrews, and this was a little different, but I really liked it. The setting kind of reminded me of the swampy, gothic decay of Charlaine Harris’ Bon Temps, but the writing style and plot lines sure do blow Sookie out of the water.

#43. The Dark Lantern by Gerri Brightwell

Read it! This was like Matchstick Men meets Oliver Twist, only darker. It was kind of intriguing, although I could see how some people may not have enjoyed it - it does take some time for all the plot points to fully unwind.

#44. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker

Read it! Mystery, set in French countryside? Yes please! This was an excellent mystery novel, and reminded me of just how much I love all things French. You should read it. Really.

#45. Three Wishes: A True Story of Good Friends, Crushing Heartbreak and Astonishing Luck on Our Way to Love and Motherhood by Casey Goldberg, Beth Jones and Pamela Ferdinand

Read it! Although the title is a huge mouthful, this book is amazing. As a 30 something woman who feels the ever more insistent ticking of her biological clock, this book was truly heart rending. It touched me in a very meaningful way, and I recommend it to any woman struggling with fertility or any other type of personal adversity.

Books from Before - Part 1

So, are you wondering what happened to those 30 odd books that used to be on my sidebar? Well, I read them. Plus many others. But back to those books (the others are kind of irrelevant at this point). To make the new start nice and fresh, I wanted to give a quick run down on those 30ish books. Just in case you were curious.

#24. First Rider's Call by Kristen Britain

Read it! After The Green Rider, I was really into this fantasy world. I liked the further exploration of Karrigan's powers in this book, and looked forward to finishing up the series with the next book. Except the series didn't end there, but more on that later.

#25. The Cello Suites: JS Bach, Pablo Casals and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece by Eric Siblin

Read it, and totally loved it. As a cellist, I found this book fascinating, and I think that any history lover or musician would enjoy it too. Pablo Casals had such an amazing life, and I really enjoyed how the book itself joined Bach, Casals and the actual piece as well.

#26. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Read it! Maybe the Classics aren’t so bad? This really stoked my interest in politics again, and Corey and I had many debates about it.

#27. The High King's Tomb by Kristen Britain

Read it! First thoughts? “I wish that Kristen Britain would resolve this plot already”. But, I did enjoy it, and will be reading the next book in the series soon.

#28. Cakes and Ale by W Somerset Maugham

Read it, and wish I could get those moments of my life back. This is everything I hate about Classic literature. If you are even tempted to read this book...don't.

#29. Inside Out by Maria V Snyder

Read it! I love Maria V Snyder, and this was just a great read. If you have a young adult reader in your house, buy this for them. They will really enjoy it. The sequel, Outside In, was good too! I can't wait to read her next book (not part of this series), A Touch of Power.

#30. The Other Boelyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Read it! Not so sure it is really historically accurate, but fairly enjoyable all the same. Also, I did quite enjoy the movie, but that could just be because my bestie & I watched it together at a "sleepover" (can you still have those past 28 years old? We made pitas fried in bacon fat and pumpkin cake, so I guess that kind of counts).

#31. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Read it! I.Loved. This. Book. And now I understand why everyone thinks Neil Gaiman is the shit. If you haven’t read it, remedy immediately.

#32. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Read it! Nice little diversion, as always. Patricia Briggs is such a good author for a quick urban fantasy read, and you can depend on her books to draw you in. Plus, I really like her heroine - she isn't really a girly girl, and I dig that.

#33. Green by Jay Lake

Read it, and thought it was so-so. I felt like an entirely new plot started halfway through, which was odd because the original plot was so good.

#34. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R King

Read it, loved it. I thought the whole Sherlock Holmes spin-off was brilliant, and it made me want to read more Sherlock Holmes books. It was like classic literature fan fiction.

#35. Psion by Joan D Vinge

Read it! Really, really liked it. This is what sci-fi should be, in my mind. I have notions of reading the rest of this series in the near future, once I finish what is currently on my plate, so to speak.

I fail at blogging

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I totally suck at this whole blogging thing. It is just so rough for me to make time to log on and post. So, I am switching it up - bi-monthly. And I will just do a mass blog about all the books I have read in those two weeks, along with any news. I think it will be much easier.

So - news first.

1) I obviously did not read 100, or even 50 books, totally missing my goal. This is what happens when you have a job that sucks up hours and hours of your life in overtime. For which I don't get paid since I am a manager. But, c'est la vie. All I can do is move on.

2) I got myself a Kindle. I adore it. It isn't fancy or touch screen or anything. But I still adore it. Also, my husband adored my Kindle and kept "borrowing" it. Guess what he got for Christmas? :)

3) Although I adore my Kindle, I still adore "analog" books. I will post about both e-books and regular books on here, because I love them both.

4) I realized from my experiment in reading and blogging that there are just some genres that I HATE. I can't help it. Classic literature is not my friend - I have read everything I want to read in that genre, and, truthfully, it mostly consisted of Jane Austen. So sue me. Might I try Steinbeck (at Corey's insistence)? Perhaps. Is Vonnegut a brilliant, life altering author? Maybe. I will never know. I am not going to push myself here - maybe I will try one or two classics, but honestly, I read for fun. Some classics are just drudgery for me, and that's that.

5) However, I did learn from my experiment that I enjoy mysteries, biographies, sci-fi, graphic novels, some non-fiction (if I find the subject interesting enough) and well written fiction. So, at least in that the experiment was not a total failure.

6) I have some new rules for this blog's new year:

• I will NOT be limiting myself to genres this time. It sucked. I will just read what I want to read, and post about that. Trust me. It will suck much, much less.
• Since I work ALL THE TIME, I will include audio books as well. A book lover's gotta get her fix somehow, right?
• Finally, I WILL be posting about re-reads. If I like it enough to read it twice (or more), you should read it too. Trust me, I know good books.

Now for the books. Reading highlights for 2011 included some truly delightful reads. Note that every last one is fantasy. I can't help it, I like what I like.

1) Game of Thrones by George RR Martin.

I will admit that the first time I tried to read this book, I failed utterly. It just had SOOOOOO many characters. Enter the HBO series. After watching the first episode, I was totally hooked. I must say, the series has to be one of the best adaptations of a book I have ever seen. I feel like I was the lucky winner at a BOGO sale. Once I got into it, the book was excellent, and I highly recommend it.

2) Codex Alera by Jim Butcher

At the recommendation of one of Corey's friends, I read this entire series over the summer. It is just the kind of epic fantasy that I totally love - magic, magical creatures, a righteous quest. There are 6 books in the series, and you will not want to stop in the middle, so I recommend getting them all at once so you don't have to. Book one, Furies of Calderon is pictured.:)

3) The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind

I seriously bought this book the day it came out. And read it that night. How could I resist another Richard & Kahlan book? I don't know if I expected too much from this book since I was so wrapped up in the characters from the previous 11 books, but it didn't draw me in quite as much as the others did. I still really enjoyed it, and might go back and read the other books then give it another try (this is what my hubby is doing - he hasn't read The Omen Machine yet. I think this is the best course of action).

4) The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

At the recommendation of that same friend of Corey's I decided to give these a try too (there is also one season of a t.v. show, which was pretty good). I am not quite finished (halfway through the last one), but I am still sticking it in this section. These are kind of different - I guess you could call them urban fantasy, but they also have a mystery element to them. Each is a great quick read, and I have read this one almost entirely on my Kindle. Storm Front, pictured, is the only one I actually bought in "analog" format.

5) Naamah's Blessing by Jacqueline Carey

I. Love. This. Author. Seriously. Naamah's Blessing was a fabulous end to the trilogy of books about Moirin. Having recently read another of Ms. Carey's books, I can definitely say that she will never be typecast. Each of her protagonists has their own unique voice. Moirin was definitely not Phedre or Immriel. But she was compelling in her own way, with her own magic and adventures. If you haven't read anything by Jacqueline Carey, and have liked my other recommendations, remedy that immediately. I think you should start with the first book in this trilogy, unless your tastes run a little darker, then you should start with Kushiel's Dart.

6) The Chronicles of Elantra by Michelle Sagara

I read all the books (so far) in the Chronicles of Elantra series over Thanksgiving this year. This is another series with magic and fantastic creatures. Sagara also does a delightful job of blending a police drama with amazing fantasy, and I highly recommend this series as well. It was delightful, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, Cast in Peril. Cast in Shadow, pictured, is the first book in the series.

So, there you have it. I didn't make my goal, but I did read a ton. And I am back to blogging about books. Post about the first half of January next week.