Monday, September 19, 2005
Summer Reading List (most recent last)
I have been negligent in my blogging. I have been reading, but not writing. I think I will write more about each of these books at some point. but right now, just wanted to document them. I think I read others and forgot what they were since I last posted anything. One main reason to have this blog was to keep a record of the books I read and what I think of them.
His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman
http://www.philip-pullman.com
This is a great fantasy series. Short interesting and well worth reading. Apparently it is juvenile fantasy. The only difference I see is that the protagonist is a child on the verge of puberty (not a big shift for fantasy), there is no sex or swearing in the books, other than that, it is a good fantasy series. The ideas developed across the three books are really interesting in their depth of thought on consciousness, religion and the meaning of a soul. These books are not for anyone who is uncomfortable with challenges to Christianity.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling
http://www.jkrowling.com
Nope, I wont tell you who dies.
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth03B5N513312634963
OK book, not Earth shattering or anything. Gives and interesting perspective on the life of a Bangladeshi woman in an arranged mariage to an immigrant in London.
Zorro: A Novel by Isabel Allende
http://www.isabelallende.com
OK, at first I thought I was going to hate this book. The last few books I read of hers bored me to tears. Her strong empowered female characters have been making me gag for several books. Why do I keep reading them you ask? I have no idea. Someone hands me the book and I read it? Nothing better to do with a couple of hours and all other books are lost? I actually found this tale quite refreshing from the other books of her's I have read in the last few years. It is not the story of Zorro's escapades, rather the story of how he became Zorro. The story is intermingled with all sorts of great history of California, Mexoico, Spain and New Orleans. I was sucked in by this book. It was a fun adventure.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark
http://www.jonathanstrange.com
OMG! Such a great book, but it is long and you have to enjoy the odd 18oo's England and a bit of magic thrown in the mix. Very impressed that it is a first book. I actually only know of about two people who might like to read this, and one already had it on her list. I want to know who has been reading it to make it a best seller. It is huge (800 pages) by most people's standards, and very very English. I can clearly see why it is a best seller. It is a great book.
Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
http://www.chrismoore.com
How can you say no to Christopher Moore for some good plane reading? The plane trip from Denver to DC is a long one. I sat next to some rather old lady who kept looking at the title of this book askance. Some of the most amazing wacky tales spring from Moore's brain. I want to know what drugs he takes and if he doesn't OMG, how do you explain the stuff he dreams up? This one was silly, enjoyable, but not nearly as good as Lamb or The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove
Currently reading The Confusion by Neal Stephenson
http://www.nealstephenson.com
Kinda feel like he has really gone down that schlocky trail ever since Cryptonomicon, but somehow compelled to read his stuff. This one is the second book in a trilogy. The first one made me want to throw it against the wall in a bitter rage because of how flat, arrogant and predictable his books have gotten while at the same time learning all sorts of interesting things about the time period and physics, who knew? He absolute best book is Diamond Age, if you read anything by him, read that. Good writing and characters that don’t make you want to throw the book at the wall. Not really proud to tell anyone I am reading this.
His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman
http://www.philip-pullman.com
This is a great fantasy series. Short interesting and well worth reading. Apparently it is juvenile fantasy. The only difference I see is that the protagonist is a child on the verge of puberty (not a big shift for fantasy), there is no sex or swearing in the books, other than that, it is a good fantasy series. The ideas developed across the three books are really interesting in their depth of thought on consciousness, religion and the meaning of a soul. These books are not for anyone who is uncomfortable with challenges to Christianity.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling
http://www.jkrowling.com
Nope, I wont tell you who dies.
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth03B5N513312634963
OK book, not Earth shattering or anything. Gives and interesting perspective on the life of a Bangladeshi woman in an arranged mariage to an immigrant in London.
Zorro: A Novel by Isabel Allende
http://www.isabelallende.com
OK, at first I thought I was going to hate this book. The last few books I read of hers bored me to tears. Her strong empowered female characters have been making me gag for several books. Why do I keep reading them you ask? I have no idea. Someone hands me the book and I read it? Nothing better to do with a couple of hours and all other books are lost? I actually found this tale quite refreshing from the other books of her's I have read in the last few years. It is not the story of Zorro's escapades, rather the story of how he became Zorro. The story is intermingled with all sorts of great history of California, Mexoico, Spain and New Orleans. I was sucked in by this book. It was a fun adventure.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark
http://www.jonathanstrange.com
OMG! Such a great book, but it is long and you have to enjoy the odd 18oo's England and a bit of magic thrown in the mix. Very impressed that it is a first book. I actually only know of about two people who might like to read this, and one already had it on her list. I want to know who has been reading it to make it a best seller. It is huge (800 pages) by most people's standards, and very very English. I can clearly see why it is a best seller. It is a great book.
Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
http://www.chrismoore.com
How can you say no to Christopher Moore for some good plane reading? The plane trip from Denver to DC is a long one. I sat next to some rather old lady who kept looking at the title of this book askance. Some of the most amazing wacky tales spring from Moore's brain. I want to know what drugs he takes and if he doesn't OMG, how do you explain the stuff he dreams up? This one was silly, enjoyable, but not nearly as good as Lamb or The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove
Currently reading The Confusion by Neal Stephenson
http://www.nealstephenson.com
Kinda feel like he has really gone down that schlocky trail ever since Cryptonomicon, but somehow compelled to read his stuff. This one is the second book in a trilogy. The first one made me want to throw it against the wall in a bitter rage because of how flat, arrogant and predictable his books have gotten while at the same time learning all sorts of interesting things about the time period and physics, who knew? He absolute best book is Diamond Age, if you read anything by him, read that. Good writing and characters that don’t make you want to throw the book at the wall. Not really proud to tell anyone I am reading this.
# posted by lyskie @ 9:37 PM 
