I'm Reading: Birthday Library Books

For my birthday this year, I got myself twenty books... from the library.

I sat down with my ridiculously long list of Books To Read and starting requesting them from my local library. (Most of them were recommendations from Forever Young Adult.) I was really hoping that they'd come in a bit more spread out than they did... Within three days I had this pile sitting on my kitchen table:

Since I catch public transport to and from work every day now, I am getting through the pile at a pretty good rate. Still a few to go, but books are still trickling in - I have at least one waiting for me at the library right now.

I highly recommend this as a birthday present.

Review 16: 'White Tiger'

Before I start, can I just take a minute to gloat over the fact that Luke quote "loved" his last Challenge book? Thanks. Oh and bro, you're probably not up to it yet, but there's a new one coming out later in the year. More Jacky Faber adventures!

Anyway, White Tiger. I don't think I'd go straight to 'love', but I did enjoy this book. As Luke said, main character named Emma, strong female protagonist, what's not to, um, enjoy?

I did enjoy all the modern China stuff, which the author clearly knows about from personal experience, as well as the history. Cute little girl, kickarse sidekick dude, fight scenes with girls kicking butt, it had a lot of things I enjoy. It was easy to read, and moved along quite well, building up the bad guys at a nice pace. And who doesn't love a good training montage?

I have three issues with the book. The first is that I didn't realise the major battle was, you know, the major battle. I would have liked it a bit more spectacular and terrifying. The second was the way her friends kept calling her 'cold blooded'. Now I know (or at least assume) that this is to set up the reveal in one of the later books about her true nature, but come on, no-one says that! A simple, "Dude, that's cold," would have done exactly the same thing and sounded like something someone somewhere might actually have said. And finally, the fact that Emma and her insta-love boyfriend are constantly not having to say anything, they just know, words aren't needed - then stop using words to tell me words aren't needed.

Despite that final paragraph to the contrary, I did enjoy this book, and would read the sequels - if Luke could assure that Emma was not going to continue to annoy the ever-loving shit out of me.

Challenge 16: 'White Tiger'

Continuing our recent string of strong female protagonists, I present to you:

 White Tiger

 

 This is another of those books which I had kept seeing on library shelves and thinking to myself "That looks kinda cool, maybe I'll borrow it." And then never doing so. Eventually I did get around to it, and stayed up 'till about 4am. It was quite good. Reasonably action-y, but delving a lot into chinese mythology White Tiger has a very different setting from most of what I have read, and it takes a bit of time to adjust to that. Emma (Woo! and she's Australian, Woo more!), the protagonist, explains the differing culture well.

And then we get to the part where she learns that the Gods and Demons she loves reading about are real, and has to learn martial arts to defend herself. Yeah, she kinda kicks demon butt.

If you aren't excited to read it after that, I don't know what more I can say, except: Go read it, you'll see.

 - L

 

Review 13: 'The Final Empire'

When I went to borrow this book, the librarian who checked it out for me said that she'd read it, but "didn't like where the magic came from." I had no idea what she meant, but when I started the book and figured it out, I actually thought that having the different powers come from different metals was a pretty cool idea - if somewhat problematic if you think too hard about things like earrings and whatever, although that was explained somehow. Either way, I tend not to think too hard about things like that so it was all good.

I did enjoy this book, although that is not the same as saying I will now go and seek out all the books that claim to be similar. I remember that I finished it and really wanted to know what happened in the next books - without having to actually to read it. I need the TL;DR version.

There is a lot of religion stuff in there, which I find fascinating if done in the right way. And it was interesting here, in a 'I wonder where it's going with that' sense.

I don't KNOW why I didn't like this book more. It did have cool characters, it did have strong female protagonists (Luke knows what I like), and I do want to know what happens next. I'm just hard to please, I think.

Review 12: 'The Scorpio Races'

'Why Luke will like it: It is a "horse book".. kind of.'. This left me less than amazingly enthusiastic about this book. What that sentence doesn't tell you is that they are bloodthirsty killer horses that rise up out of the sea. I really like books that centre around legends and mythology, whether they are from Earth, or some fantasy world. I like a bit of romance. I'm a fan of life and death struggles. This book has all of these and yet I had to push myself to read it. I think Emma is partly right when she says most of the books I read are written in fairly basic prose, not in that they are, but in the fact that they don't waste words trying to sound pretty.* The Scorpio Races, I feel, spends too much time sounding pretty and not enough time doing things.That said, I did like how well Stiefvater portrays the emotions of the characters, and Puck's desire to remain on the island and in the house where they grew up.

So yeah, that's my take on this. I liked the fantasy, the story and themes, but it took too long to get anywhere. It is however, still a good read. You're up now Em.

- L

* Amusingly enough, both the books I read immediately before and after this challenge were of the  more complex/pretty/descriptive of the books I generally read.

Challenge 14: 'The Scorpio Races'

The book: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is a very hard book to describe. It's about horse racing, and killer sea horses, and magic and superstition, and living on an island and moving away, and feminism and independence. I said when I finished it a few weeks ago that it was the best book I've read this year, but trying to convince other people to read about killer horses that come out of the ocean was a bit of a hard sell.


Why I liked it: I loved the phrases that Stiefvater chooses. I loved the connection that Puck and Sean have to the island and to the horses. I loved their relationship and their independence.

Why Luke will like it: It is a "horse book"... kind of, but only in the loosest sense of the word, and definitely not a giggly girly horse book. There is a boy main character and a girl one who kicks arse. There are fantasy elements to the story, although it feels very grounded to me, and while they're not like anything he's probably read before, I think that side will appeal to him.

Why Luke should read it: I may be wrong, but I think most of what Luke reads is written in fairly basic prose. I want him to appreciate language, and the poetry of word choices, and to feel like he just has to re-read or underline or email me a particular turn of phrase because it's just so perfect. Not to say that this is the best ever example of that, or that there aren't other books that could do this (in fact I have another one in mind for a future Challenge), but I think The Scorpio Races is a nice place to start.

Challenge 13: 'The Final Empire'

The Final Empire is the first in the Mistborn series, but can be read by itself. It is centred on Vin (female)*, who starts as a street urchin and is revealed to be a Mistborn, and Kelsier (Also a Mistborn), the leader of a group of thieves who plan to topple an oppressive Emperor. The Mistborn can burn some metals ( Iron, Steel, Tin, Pewter, Zinc, Brass, Copper and Bronze)** in their bodies to give themselves magical powers. This is the primary reason I chose this book for the Challenge, the magic in The Final Empire is very different from that in most other books, and is a nice change.

I read this one a fair while ago, so I can't remember all the details, but  I remember liking the way Kelsier's background was slowly revealed, which suited his character (Mysterious, always with a plan, and never revealing all of his motives.). Vin was less complicated, but still had an entertaining history.

This is your Challenge: Read it, preferably all the way through this time (I'll forgive you DNFing the last book, it did look kinda long).

 - L

*Hey, look! More female protagonists!
** There's actually more than this, but they're the basics. Each metal does something different.

I'm Reading: 'A Game Of Thrones'

I requested A Game Of Thrones from my library approximately a bajillion years ago. Then it came in for me, and I decided it was too much of a big undertaking (have you seen how thick this book is? Not to mention the many many books after it) so I gave it back, and requested it again. I think this may have happened a couple of times, and all the while I was itching to watch the TV show, but couldn't (COULD. NOT.) because I hadn't read the book.

It came in again recently (well, in the recent past. See: OMG SO LONG), and I started reading it, even though I was in the middle of my Challenge book. Bad idea, what was I thinking, etc.

In the first place, my Challenge book was obviously not going to read itself. And secondly, really not a good plan to read two books at the same time that feel the need to include family trees and/or maps in the front, and feature royal houses and multiple battles and things like that. I got a little confused, especially as wolves figure prominently at the start of each book and wait doesn't the wolf mean this? Or was it that? I soon forgot about my Challenge book's things, though (yay?), so it was all good.

I really enjoyed it. Even though it was SEVEN BAJILLION PAGES LONG and felt like it took me a trillion years to get though it, it felt like a quick read - as I was reading it. Does that make sense? I felt like I'd fly through a chapter or a few chapters, and then I'd look and there would still be a million chapters to go.

Since chapters are dedicated to specific characters, I didn't find it hard to keep them straight (even with my other-book issues). I also found it quite easy to put down, but I always wanted to pick it up again. And turns out there is not much need to keep people straight, as most of them will be dead by the end of the series (according to Facebook friends who clearly have more time/dedication than I do).

Also, Game of Thrones brings people together! I was at a party last weekend with different 'groups' like work friends and school friends and things, but at one point, there was a massive group comprised of people from all these groups, all going on about A/Game Of Thrones and then I ran away because ARGH SPOILERS.

Recommended! (Or you could just watch the TV show.)

Review 9: 'The Ambassador's Mission'

For the first time I went into this challenge full of enthusiasm. The first few chapters of the book were a tad confusing as they referenced an earlier series which I haven't read (Will be getting onto them now though). I gradually figured out what had happened, and from there on in I enjoyed the book immensely. I think I might have gotten more out of it if I had read the books before it, but they really aren't necessary.

I can't really compare this book too much to The Way of Shadows, as they are fairly different; TWoS is far more action-y, whereas The Ambassador's Mission focuses more on the politics (Well hello, 'Ambassador's Mission'?) and intrigue.

I would definitely read this again, probably after I have read the earlier series. After which I'd read the books which immediately follow it - as much as I want to go straight to them (Cliffhangers #rage) - I think I'd enjoy them more after I know all of the back story.

Challenge 9: 'The Ambassador's Mission'

For once, Luke gave me a Challenge book that I was actually excited to read. And wouldn't you know it, it's crazy hard to come by. I am on the waiting list at my library, but in the meantime, I thought I'd go ahead and issue Luke with his next Challenge.


Your Challenge: The Ambassador's Mission, by Trudi Canavan.

This book was chosen solely for the fact that its cover art reminded me of that of Brent Weeks' The Way of Shadows, which I happen to know Luke loves. Since my aim was to get Luke trying a new author that he would enjoy, I'm really hoping similar cover art equates to Luke having a similar love of the contents.

Or he'll at least enjoy describing in detail the many ways in which it's inferior. Still fun!

(LUKE: Sweeeet, I've actually been wanting to have a look at this for a while.)

Review 3: 'The Colour Of Magic'

I have three main people in my life with whom I discuss books. All three of them have read, loved, and recommended to me Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic.

This would be a much funnier post if I hated it and now have to search for three new friends with better taste in books, but actually I enjoyed it, too. Damn you guys.

The Colour of Magic is the first book in the Discworld series, so named because the world in which it is set is a disc, resting on the backs of four elephants, which rest on a giant turtle swimming through space. That's how the book begins, and it pretty much continues in that vein.

The first thing I thought when I started reading it was The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, and check it out, I just noticed that the cover hails TCOM as "The wackiest and most original fantasy since Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy." It has the same sense of 'just go with it' that I got from that, where the author is taking you on this trip whether it makes sense at the moment or not, but probably it will all make some kind of sense later, and if not, the ride is going to be fun anyway so just carry on reading.

I liked the style of writing; it moved along nicely and was a nice quick read, but still managed to convey a whole different world. Pratchett has lots of fun with words (like the Rimbow and the Circumfence and inn-sewer-ants and reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits) and ideas (like how dragons only exist if you believe in them - and the practical consequences of not believing in them).

I'm told there are plenty more books in the series (whoa, apparently there are 38 total!). There is also a live-action miniseries, a couple of scenes of which I was shown in preparation for reading this book, which I would watch, just because I loved the Luggage, trotting along on its many many legs. I'm sure I will grab another Discworld book from the library sometime - one attraction is that series order doesn't matter - as they are a fast, fun read when you are in the mood for something a bit odd and clever and funny.

Challenge 3: 'The Colour of Magic'

Your mission, and you have no choice but to accept it, is to read:
The Colour of Magic, by (Sir) Terry Pratchett.

The Colour of Magic is the first book in the Discworld series. Me, I love Discworld, and it seems that everyone else either loves or hates it; there is no middle ground - comic fantasy isn't for everyone. Hopefully Emma will love it, as there are plenty more books in the series (40ish, I think).


One of the beauties of the Discworld series is that the books don't have to be read in order - you can skip pretty much straight to the good ones. While The Colour of Magic isn't (in my opinion) the best Discworld book, it is the first and that is why I am assigning it. Hopefully Emma will like it enough to read some more.

I am honestly unsure how much Emma will like this book, it does have some very... odd... humour. I love it, and I know quite a few people who do too, but it isn't for everyone. (So if you hate it Emma, I apologise :P).

In the end, Discworld is really summed up by this quote from T.P. himself:

"There are no maps. You can't map a sense of humor. Anyway, what is a fantasy map but a space beyond which There Be Dragons? On the Discworld we know There Be Dragons Everywhere. They might not all have scales and forked tongues, but they Be Here all right, grinning and jostling and trying to sell you souvenirs."

I'm Reading: New Pern Books

Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series was the first of its kind that I ever read. When I was old enough to explore my parents' bookshelves, I quickly discovered the series, as well as a good number of her books based in other worlds.

When she starting bringing out books co-written with her son, I have to say I wasn't a massive fan (I'm talking about Dragon's Kin, Dragon's Fire, and Dragon Harper). The characters weren't ones I loved, they weren't based around the dragons as much, as I just felt the books weren't as detailed and rich as the earlier ones.

I recently re-read Dragon Harper, then discovered (a) it was better than I remembered, (b) I was a bit behind on the series, (c) my library had the next two books, and (d) I had study to procrastinate! I've just finished Dragonheart and Dragongirl, and apparently just in time, as two new books are scheduled to be released this year.

I did enjoy those three, although that may be the procrastination talking. I won't say I'm happy just to have new books coming out, because I would like an awesome series to stay that way, and we have certain standards to maintain. I don't love them like I love the earlier ones. I think they're doing a good job of exploring different aspects of Pern, while remaining true to most of what's already established. I have to say the theme of Dragongirl was absolutely flogged to death, so I would wish for a bit more subtlety in future books. Overall, however, as most jacket cover comments seem to say, good additions to the series.

(PS: If you have no idea what I'm talking about here, go and find yourself a copy of the first book, Dragonflight.)

(PPS: Exciting news: apparently, Dragonflight is going to be made into a movie!)

Review 1: 'The Way Of Shadows'

I wanted to like this book. I really did. Not just because Luke would yell at me otherwise, but because the premise - street rat turned apprentice assassin - was one I really liked. In my head, it was a lot like Graceling (which I really enjoyed and would recommend; it's about a girl whose Grace, her skill, is killing) but I've discovered that I really need to stop hanging on to what I think books are going to be like.

I've also discovered that 'having' to read books is a massive drag. I rarely liked the books I was forced to read in school, probably because I rarely approached them with the same enthusiasm I would a book I'd picked up at the library. Same goes with parentally-recommended books, most of the time (sorry, Dad). Despite Luke's assurances that it was awesome, and even my own interest in it, it was really hard to pick up The Way Of Shadows. Probably because it's 650 pages and I'm out of shape.

Anyway, the book. I did enjoy it. I would read the sequels. I can't say it's my favourite book ever, or that I would read it again (unless it was to prepare to read the next book in the series). At times I thought the writing was not great but it nevertheless kept me interested most of the time. I even cast longing glances at it during one of my uni lectures.

Disclaimer: Nothing in the next two paragraphs is supported by anything more than a 'feeling' I have about the book. Probably none of it stands up under scrutiny.

I think my main problem was that I never really felt like I understood the world I was in. The author clearly had this grand idea for it, and had this whole world in his head, with all different societies and interests going on, but a lot of the time I wasn't feeling it. Given that the book relies on politics a fair bit, I need to understand the world in order to be invested in it.

There was a bit of telling instead of showing, especially when it came to characters' motivations, which at times I have to say confused me. I'm pretty sure you have to show someone feeling remorse before you can say, 'And because of that remorse he was feeling all that time, he's now going to do this.' And people lying, then saying 'Just kidding,' and having people accept that... if they've lied once - or if, say, they're an assassin - why would you be taking anything at face value anyway?

I wanted to like Durzo Blint more, but he wasn't in it as much as I liked and wasn't constantly being awesome (although when he was, he was). I really wanted it to be the two of them against the world. (Maybe in the next one?) (Luke: You may have to read it to find out.) Azoth/Kylar is meant to be the main character, but I am much more interested in other characters. As Luke promised, there are some good strong (arse-kicking, I hope) female characters who look to be about to be awesome. And there's all kinds of other people, nobles and soldiers and magic types, all taking their places ready to get into it - say it with me - in the next one.

(Luke: Personally I like the third book the best, as it does bring together some of the things you have talked about, and you have a better feeling for the world and its politics.)

Challenge 1: 'The Way of Shadows'

Today we see a momentous event, one which has potentially world changing consequences:

The inaugural Victory Book-Sharing Challenge challenge!

For our first ever challenge I will be assigning to Emma:
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks.

The Way of Shadows is a dark-ish fantasy which centres around Kylar Stern, an assassin-in-training, and his master, Durzo Blint. There is a lot of Light / Dark contrast in this book (Enough so that I wrote an essay on it in high school), and that is partly why I love this book so much. It is also fairly action packed, but also detailed - lots of minor plot lines, most of which eventually converge, but I won't post any spoilers. Oh, and there's some epic Evil villains.

I think Emma will like TWoS, it has a couple of reasonably strong female main characters (More-so in the sequels - maybe you should keep reading to get to them *winks*) as well as a good storyline and engaging characters. I don't think she is as massive a fantasy fan as I am, but for this book, you don't really need to be.