The month started off slow, but I wound up finishing a whole bunch of books. There were some much anticipated new books from favorite authors, and even a nonfiction book on the list.
The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro
I haven’t read any Ishiguro and this one was apparently not the one to start with. It was a major slog to get through. It wasn’t a long book either. It takes place in medieval England which is plagued by a loss of memory from a spell. The story follows an old couple who remember their son and set off from their village to find him. In the process they witness the animosity between Saxons and Britons, meet a knight, meet one of Arthur’s aged knights, search for a dragon, and have many other adventures. And it was so boring. Each character was constantly talking, repeating themselves, and talking over each other. I really can’t recommend this book.
Victories Greater Than Death, Charlie Jane Anders
This is Anders first foray into young adult. I really liked her two adult speculative novels and this one is just as good. Tina is an alien child that was hidden on earth to save her life. When her beacon is activated, she becomes embroiled in an intergalactic war against a faction that wants to break the peace. She brings along several brilliant earth kids and they travel the galaxy on a death-defying adventure. Well-imagined, representative characters with some fun world building.
The Guest List, by Lucy Foley
I listened to this one and it was really good. It wasn’t as spooky as I’d been hoping for, but it was an excellent mystery. The story takes place on an island off of Ireland with an old manor house that is hosting a posh wedding. The story starts the day before the murder and ends with the body being found. We get the viewpoint of a several of the guests and the bride as the story builds up to the murder. By the time it happens there are numerous people who would want the victim dead (and you will too). A very original, very well written mystery.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown, by Talia Hibbert
The third (and final) book in the Brown Sisters romances. This time we get the story of Eve, the youngest sister who can’t seem to get her act together. After an argument with her parents, she goes on a long drive and comes across a B&B interviewing for a chef. One of her numerous accomplishments is as a cook and on a whim she interviews for the job. It doesn’t go well and then she hits the owner with her car and suddenly has to manage the inn while he goes to the hospital. She ingratiates herself with the guests as the cook, even while knocking heads with the handsome, controlling owner, Jacob. This was just as fun as the other books in the series. I think my favorite was the second one, Take a Hint, Dani Brown, but all three are a delight.
The Book of Old Houses, by Sarah Graves
An audio. The description of this book was misleading, at least to me. I didn’t realize this was the tenth entry in a long-running mystery series set in Maine. I just saw the bit about an ancient book hidden in the walls of an old house and figured it would be a mix of my favorite themes—scary, gothic, books. It was not, but it was fine. The series sounds like fun, but I’m not interested in reading any more.
Natsume’s Book of Friends, vol. 21-25
Finally caught up with my old favorite. Natsume and Nyanko-sensei had more adventures. I still really enjoy this series after ten years of reading it.
Sabriel, by Garth Nix
I was watching a show or movie that inspired me to reread Sabriel. I haven’t actually read the book in a long time. I listened to the audio a whole bunch (so much so that Tim Curry’s narration was in my head as I read), but even that I haven’t listened to in a number of years. It is such a good book. The magic, the odd collision of the Old Kingdom with Ancelstierre (our world), Sabriel’s rapid growth, and the non-stop action make this book worth reading again and again.
The Buried Giant, by Kazuo Ishiguro
I haven’t read any Ishiguro and this one was apparently not the one to start with. It was a major slog to get through. It wasn’t a long book either. It takes place in medieval England which is plagued by a loss of memory from a spell. The story follows an old couple who remember their son and set off from their village to find him. In the process they witness the animosity between Saxons and Britons, meet a knight, meet one of Arthur’s aged knights, search for a dragon, and have many other adventures. And it was so boring. Each character was constantly talking, repeating themselves, and talking over each other. I really can’t recommend this book.
Victories Greater Than Death, Charlie Jane Anders
This is Anders first foray into young adult. I really liked her two adult speculative novels and this one is just as good. Tina is an alien child that was hidden on earth to save her life. When her beacon is activated, she becomes embroiled in an intergalactic war against a faction that wants to break the peace. She brings along several brilliant earth kids and they travel the galaxy on a death-defying adventure. Well-imagined, representative characters with some fun world building.
The Guest List, by Lucy Foley
I listened to this one and it was really good. It wasn’t as spooky as I’d been hoping for, but it was an excellent mystery. The story takes place on an island off of Ireland with an old manor house that is hosting a posh wedding. The story starts the day before the murder and ends with the body being found. We get the viewpoint of a several of the guests and the bride as the story builds up to the murder. By the time it happens there are numerous people who would want the victim dead (and you will too). A very original, very well written mystery.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown, by Talia Hibbert
The third (and final) book in the Brown Sisters romances. This time we get the story of Eve, the youngest sister who can’t seem to get her act together. After an argument with her parents, she goes on a long drive and comes across a B&B interviewing for a chef. One of her numerous accomplishments is as a cook and on a whim she interviews for the job. It doesn’t go well and then she hits the owner with her car and suddenly has to manage the inn while he goes to the hospital. She ingratiates herself with the guests as the cook, even while knocking heads with the handsome, controlling owner, Jacob. This was just as fun as the other books in the series. I think my favorite was the second one, Take a Hint, Dani Brown, but all three are a delight.
The Book of Old Houses, by Sarah Graves
An audio. The description of this book was misleading, at least to me. I didn’t realize this was the tenth entry in a long-running mystery series set in Maine. I just saw the bit about an ancient book hidden in the walls of an old house and figured it would be a mix of my favorite themes—scary, gothic, books. It was not, but it was fine. The series sounds like fun, but I’m not interested in reading any more.
Natsume’s Book of Friends, vol. 21-25
Finally caught up with my old favorite. Natsume and Nyanko-sensei had more adventures. I still really enjoy this series after ten years of reading it.
Sabriel, by Garth Nix
I was watching a show or movie that inspired me to reread Sabriel. I haven’t actually read the book in a long time. I listened to the audio a whole bunch (so much so that Tim Curry’s narration was in my head as I read), but even that I haven’t listened to in a number of years. It is such a good book. The magic, the odd collision of the Old Kingdom with Ancelstierre (our world), Sabriel’s rapid growth, and the non-stop action make this book worth reading again and again.