Starting on Books Read Lately...

[lady_schrapnell]

... for a change!

Both girls are out (unusually), I've finished what I needed to study today, and am saying to hell with organising for the moment.

Let's see - first book read in 2005 was Ursula K. Le Guin's Gifts, about which I'd heard quite a few good things. I haven't come across anyone else who's read it, and would really like to discuss it with someone who had, but... I liked it a lot, while still thinking it wasn't one of her best (out of the admittedly limited number of books of hers I have read - only Left Hand of Darkness and Tehanu of the adult books). Very difficult to explain the quibbles without spoilers, but I thought far too much weight was given in the opening to the importance of a person who was somewhat catalytic at most when he finally appeared. Also - how to put this? - something was presented as if one thing while actually being much less drastic. And I think you could have had the same intelligent and searching questioning of the invented society without using this shock-tactic. Maybe. Anyway, it dealt in a way (or at least ... no, can't qualify that statement without spoiling, so I'll leave it) with the same issue seen in Tehanu: how can a person learn to live without a power which has been defining for him or her? Perhaps.

Any books I mention as having read (unless I qualify by saying I don't own the book or it's a course text!) is definitely up for loan if anyone's interested. Not just so I can discuss interesting ones, either..

Next was Annie Dalton's Rules of Magic, which was a sad disappointment to me after Out of the Ordinary (introduction and loan thanks to Dorian!) I'd looked at the shiny glittery angel series of hers in the bookshops with some concern, but this one sounded so good. There was still something there, and the suspense kept me reading, but quite pedestrian in ways compared to OotO. Anyone interested had better speak soon, as this one will probably go for trade credit at the local...

Oops - only two down and got to save this before I'm logged out! More later.

Comments

[wyvernfriend.livejournal.com]

I notice in your BC wishlist that you're looking to read The Story of the Stone that I co-incidentally own a copy of, not bookcrossed but part of my own permanent collection 8)

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

Is that an offer of a loan? ;) I'm doing my best to keep blinkers on about tempting books at the moment, but will probably be begging hopefully later!

[wyvernfriend.livejournal.com]

Yup... it's in my personal collection and I know where it is so it's not going anywhere for a while.

[dorianegray.livejournal.com]

Oh, send the Dalton my way, please - you've got me curious! Have I lent you the other two of hers that I have? ("Night Maze" and "The Alpha Box")

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

Right. I'll put it aside for you. I'm pretty sure I have read those other two, but will have a look next time I come over to make sure. Oh, do you want a somewhat battered copy of Baroness Orczy's Beau Brocade? I picked it up somewhere (charity shop probably) but am not going to get to it any time soon.

[dorianegray.livejournal.com]

Cool. And yes, I'd like the Orczy too, having enjoyed "The Scarlet Pimpernel".

[vierran45.livejournal.com]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/vierran45/5030.html

I read the book and commented on it early last Autumn (among my first blogs, as can be seen from the list), and liked the book quite a lot.

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link - interesting that you liked the structure while I was complaining (if mildly) about it! Although as I said, I liked it a lot - very moving. Nice start to the reading year, actually...