Wednesday and Thursday Bout of Books

Eeek, real life got in the way a bit and I didn’t get my posts written for either day, although I did do some reading.

- The Silence of Herondale by Joan Aiken
- 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma
- The Gate of Ivory by Doris Egan
- Promised Land by Connie Willis

So my total stats are:
7 books finished
16 hours read*

* this is approximate because I am REALLY BAD at keeping track of how long I read, plus I care more about the number of books

However, I will note that my goal for this challenge was to get some books off of my TBR shelves so they weren’t full. This only works if you read more books than you add, and as far as that goes, I have failed miserably.

Wise Child by Monica Furlong

Although Wise Child has been around for a long time, and I know several people who count it as a really important book for them, I actually had never read it before. I thought I should probably do something about that.

So, I can see, having read it, why people like it. It’s a quiet book in some ways–no saving the world, or anything as grand as that. It has interesting characters, and a nice feeling of place and time. There are some passages that are really lovely, as well.

Wise Child takes place in medieval Scotland, with Wise Child being the nickname of the narrator and main character. We never get another name for her, and I was curious about that. After her grandmother’s death, she is taken in by Juniper, a cailleach (“it meant a single woman, but more than a single woman, one who had something uncanny about her”). Wise Child is brought up by Juniper and trained to be a healer and a doran, while the people in the village view them with suspicion.

I loved the descriptions of Juniper’s house, which in some ways were my favorite part of the book. Here’s a bit from when Wise Child first arrives: “On the other side of the room was a huge table set on a flagged floor. There were shelves around it that held cooking pots and earthenware jars and vats…There was a big sideboard with earthenware pitchers and plates on it, and a huge pestle and mortar. From the ceiling hung bunches of plats, some of them wrapped in muslin. Afterward, I was to discover that if you went through a door behind the table, you came out into a cool dairy that ran along the back of the house. It too had a flagged floor, white walls, and marble tables with tubs and churns and jugs and strainers, and newly scalded cloths hung up to dry. In one corner was a quern in which I would laboriously grind our meal.”

Doesn’t that just make you want to move there? I love settings that feel real like that.

I enjoyed all of that–the everyday homey bits, the bits about gathering herbs and healing. I liked the characters a lot too, though I did feel that Juniper was almost impossibly enlightened. But I was less wild about the way the tension between Juniper’s way of life and Christianity was resolved. Spoilers follow.

So for much of the book, I wasn’t too bothered by this. I thought that having Fillan be the main antagonist was predictable and the whole portrayal of Christianity a bit stereotypical. But hey, I can live with that. And I liked that Furlong addressed Wise Child’s desire to both live as a doran and be a Christian. In fact, at one point I was quite happy with that. There seemed to be a fair bit of nuance. And then Juniper was arrested and it seemed like all the nuance disappeared and Christianity was just Repressive and Wrong. I don’t know–if anyone has thoughts on the subject, I would love to hear them!

In the end, my impression is of a book that I liked in many ways, but which I couldn’t really agree with. I may still read Juniper–it’s on my list. But I won’t necessarily be rushing out to read it right now.

Book source: public library
Book information: Random House Children’s, 1987; middle grade fantasy

Quicksilver by RJ Anderson

(As a complete side note: every time I try to type Quicksilver, I have to stop because I will try to type Ultraviolet instead. Hopefully by the end of this review, I will be over this.)

Quicksilver is the sequel to Anderson’s 2011 book, Ultraviolet. I meant to re-read Ultraviolet before I read Quicksilver but then I forgot. This wasn’t a huge problem–I actually would say that Quicksilver could be read first, except that it is hugely spoilery for Ultraviolet. So in fact, SPOILERS FOR ULTRAVIOLET AHEAD.

Quicksilver is narrated by Tori Beauregard, Alison’s archrival and nemesis in the first book. Their narration is very different, for a number of reasons. First, Alison has a special way of viewing the world which Tori doesn’t share. Second, they’re just very different people. Third, Alison’s whole conflict is based on her not being able to trust herself, while for Tori the conflict is based on the secrets she has to keep. It’s worth noting, though, that both have trouble figuring out who to trust.

Tori has several secrets and for quite a bit of the book they aren’t spelled out. One of them would be obvious to anyone who has also read Ultraviolet–that Tori is an alien. The other one is not so obvious necessarily, although it’s a little hard for me to say, because I was spoiled for it already. I think that this secret works whether the reader already knows it or not, although I’m trying to avoid spoiling it for people who haven’t already read the book.

I will say, though, that I was very impressed by the way Anderson handled this secret. It’s worth noting that she has now taken on two main characters who are not quite neurotypical and, as far as I can tell* has written characters who are informed by their difference but not defined by it. It’s also worth noting that, not only do neither Alison nor Tori receive a magical cure, the idea that a ‘cure’ would be desirable is not even mentioned.

And I really liked Tori. I liked the way she’s earnest, the way she tries. She keeps fighting, even when her back is to the wall, but she’s very far from humorless or emotionless. I loved her relationship with Milo–and Milo! is awesome! His family is Korean, but again, this is treated as a real thing without being a defining characteristic. He’s also just Milo.

Incidentally, I loved the fact that Tori works in a grocery store–I can’t remember the last time I saw a teen character with a job that was just a teen job, not a quirky part of their personality. (Record stores and coffee shops, I’m looking at you.)

In fact, I’ll just say it: I loved this book. I really enjoyed Ultraviolet, but Quicksilver is, in my opinion, a step up and a truly impressive book that is clever, witty, and fast-paced, without sacrificing heart or character development. If I had a complaint, it would be that I wanted a little more from Tori’s parents because the change there seemed a bit abrupt. But honestly, that’s a minor thing and I only thought of it just now. So, yay!

* I am privileged in this area, so trying to be sensitive here; also, not sure if Tori actually is not neurotypical? Or how best to describe either girl at all? What I am trying to get at is that both of them have a characteristic which could very easily have been mishandled and which I–again, privileged in this area–found refreshingly well-done.

Book source: public library
Book information: Carolrhoda Books, 2013; YA science fiction

Tuesday Bout of Books

Ack! Didn’t do so well today, but then it was a crazy day. I did finish The Silence of Herondale, which I had started last night. I like Joan Aiken a lot, and her mysteries are fun. And read a bit of my Arthur Ransome biography–what a fascinating life!

Total stats:
3 books finished
6 hours read

Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

This is a post for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. You can find out more and follow along there!

This week’s topic is a hard one for me, partly because I don’t tend to gravitate towards gritty contemporary books. So I’m choosing to interpret it as Top Ten Books Which Made Me Cry A Lot. THAT I can do.

1. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Starting out old school here! Tale of Two Cities was one of those books where I can remember so vividly reading it for the first time (lying on on our old green couch in Columbus, sobbing my eyes out). I will admit that I’ve always been a Sidney Carton fan and that even now the last page, even out of context, will reduce me to tears. Heroism, redemption, and revenge.

2. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. I read this one pretty early, as part of my homeschool curriculum in fifth grade. It’s still an incredible powerful book, and all the more so for being non-fiction. Also, this started my interest in/obsession with WWII stories. A story of quiet courage, family, and forgiveness.

3. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Speaking of WWII stories…probably regular readers here are rolling their eyes a bit because, erm, I really like Code Name Verity and I kind of talk about it a lot. Also, I cried for three hours after I finished it the first time. While the summary says this is about WWII–and it is–this book is really about friendship and bravery and grief.

4. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. I can’t help but be touched by this wonderful multi-generational story. I love the characrters fiercely and partly because of their woundedness. And as much as I love Taylor and Jonah (which I really really do), the friendships between Raffy and Taylor, between Jonah and Chaz, between Narnie and Tate and jsut all of them–that’s what makes the book for me.

5. Plain Kate by Erin Bow. I defy you to read the last 30 pages of this book without crying.

6. The Demon’s Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan. SRB is one of those fiendish writers who lures you into thinking everything will turn out all right and then sucker punches you. In this case, a minor character dies and my heart just breaks a little bit. There’s one particular line that I just can’t read without choking up.

7. Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold. For most of the book, Cryoburn is a science fiction mystery, featuring the inimitable Miles Vorkosigan. And then the end of the book comes and OW. Just OW. However, the impact will probably not be as great if you have not read your way through the series and become overly attached to fond of the characters.

8. All Clear by Connie Willis. With this book and the next, I’m not 100% certain that it’s fair to include them on this list. That’s because I did cry a lot…mostly out of sheer relief and love. But this duology does deal with tough things as well, which in a way is all the more vivid for being set against a science-fiction background.

9. Among Others by Jo Walton. The resolution of this book definitely makes me cry, because it’s so exactly what SF/F readers in their heart of hearts long for. And to see that actually acknowledged and played out, even in fiction, is just beautiful.

10. The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien. While all three of the movies make me cry, Return of the King has a special kind of emotional intensity. Whether it’s the Ride of the Rohirrim, or Frodo’s last voyage, RotK has both grandeur and personal journeys, and I love it.

Monday Bout of Books post

We’ll see how tomorrow goes (lots going on!), but at least I got off to a good start today:

- finished Jaclyn Moriarty’s A Corner of White, which I’ll have more to say about later
- read Wooden Bones which tells what happens after Pinocchio ends. I…was not wild about it, for a number of reasons
- started The Silence of Herondale by Joan Aiken

So final stats:
2 books finished
3 hours reading time

So far, so good!

April 2013 reading list

Books I’ve already talked about
Picture Book Monday
A Life in Secrets by Sarah Helm
Georgette Heyer by Jennifer Kloester
Jinx by Sage Blackwood (with a fun discussion in the comments, including an appearance by the author!)
The Toll-Gate by Georgette Heyer
The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier
The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer
Theatre Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones. I read this one hoping I would like it more than the first time–and I think I do see a little more clearly what DWJ was trying to do. But the end still remains incredibly problematic for me, from both a critical and a craft point of view.
The Element of Fire by Martha Wells
The Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells
Emilie and the Hollow World by Martha Wells

Other books
Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb by Kirsten Miller: I liked this one a lot! Maybe just a little bit less than the first book, if only because it’s not shiny and new. But there’s plenty of fun and hijinks.

I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley: Flavia at Christmas! I found this one a bit more forgettable than the others, partly because I’m becoming impatient for something to actually happen–the different subplots are starting to feel a little too drawn out. But still, Flavia!

The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle: Ah, beloved classic of many an SFF nerd’s childhood. Which I had never read before. And which, erm, I suspect must have been read in childhood to be properly appreciated. I didn’t dislike it, but it certainly didn’t have any real attraction for me. I think that if I had read it when I was younger, I would have liked it a lot.

Wizard Hall by Jane Yolen: This was a re-read from a looong time ago (over ten years). I remembered reading it and thinking that it was quite a bit like Harry Potter in some ways, particularly the resolution. Now I’m not exactly sure what I was thinking of. It’s a very slight book and in some ways unsatisfying as an adult reader. WHY did things happen the way they did? and WHAT were the characters’ motivations? Still, it has all of Yolen’s facility of writing.

Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol: It took me forever to read this one, which everyone loved. I liked it a lot–the thoughtful mix of storylines and characters. I also liked the muted palette of the artwork. I didn’t necessarily find it mind blowing in the way others seemed to, maybe because I’m reading so long after publication.

The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand
The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand: These are fun light reads–contemporary romances set in Paris. I enjoyed them a lot, although I’m not really big on contemporary romances at the moment. I think The Chocolate Kiss, with its lovely descriptions of La Maison Sorcières, is my favorite. Florand has just released The Chocolate Rose, which I hope to read soon.

Will Sparrow’s Road by Karen Cushman: I luuurrrrrved Cushman’s recent Alchemy of Meggy Swann, so I was hoping that Will Sparrow would be just as awesome. I have to admit, I didn’t connect with it as much–Will stays a mostly unlikeable character in a way that Meggy doesn’t. I do also remember being very tired when I read this, so my reaction may not be entirely fair. But still, I think I will re-read Meggy and I’m not sure I’ll try to re-read Will.

Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson: A fun middle grade from Eva Ibbotson. I’ve mostly read her adult/YA (depending on packaging) novels, although in the far distant past I did read The Secret of Platform 13. Which Witch? is lots of fun and reminded me of Diana Wynne Jones in some ways. Also, it’s one of those middle grade books where it makes no sense that this is middle grade–it’s about adults, and a wicked wizard getting married, for goodness sake!–but it just IS middle grade, and I defy anyone to say otherwise.

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson: Another book I am really, really late reading! It’s fascinating, though, so if any of you have been putting off trying it, stop! The story of the American ambassador to Germany in the years just before WWII, In the Garden of Beasts tells a complicated story of tangled expectations, loyalties, and friendships. While I’m not sure I ultimately view the Dodds as positively as Larson does, I did find their story riveting.

The Year of Learning Dangerously by Quinn Cummings: I saw this one mentioned on Unshelved and was immediately curious, especially when I saw a mention of a Shakespeare group in Southern California. Could it be Melissa Wiley? Spoiler alert: it was. But more than that, I liked Cummings’ memoir of her first year as a homeschooling parent a lot. It was funny, honest, and open to other ways of homeschooling even if, in the end, Cummings didn’t agree exactly with their methods. I also thought it was helpful to have someone who’s fairly mainstream articulate arguments for homeschooling.

Tum Tum and Nutmeg: Rose Cottage Tales by Emily Bearn
Jack Plank Tells Tales by Natalie Babbitt