I recently finished Alchemy of Stone, by Ekaterina Sedia. It was beautiful! Has anyone here read it?
Every planet has its own weird customs. About a year before we met, I spent six weeks on a moon where the principal form of recreation was juggling geese. My hand to God. Baby geese. Goslings. They were juggled.
Wash ,'Our Mrs. Reynolds'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Calli - Aug 15, 2008 5:49:41 am PDT #6978 of 28387
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs
Kat - Aug 15, 2008 6:02:53 am PDT #6979 of 28387
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo
Have not read it, Calli. What's it about?
I just finished The Lace Reader which was intriguing. I love the fact that from the very first you know that Towner will be a totally unreliable narrator and as you go through the entire story, you are questioning what is real and what isn't. At some point, I gave up the ghost and just really decided to let her narration be the "truth" of the story. But then you hit the end and it's all whoa. Beautifully done, but sad and disturbing. Highly recommend.
Calli - Aug 15, 2008 6:50:54 am PDT #6980 of 28387
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs
The Alchemy of Stone is a sort of steampunkish novel about an emancipated, intelligent automaton who is also an alchemist. She's only partially independent, though, because she has to be wound up every few months, and her maker has her key. The story is set in a sort of middle European country with the usual melange of computers and corsets of a steampunk novel, although less directly Victorian than some. The book is engagingly plotty, with interesting characters, and some lovely passages and conflicts.
Aims - Aug 15, 2008 8:42:25 am PDT #6981 of 28387
Shit's all sorts of different now.
Ok, so I am in Minneapolis, right? Guess where I might get to go tomorrow??
WALNUT GROVE!!!
Redemption of Nellie Olsen, here I come!!
Kathy A - Aug 15, 2008 8:52:42 am PDT #6982 of 28387
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
Cool! I know that the underground house on Plum Creek is long gone (I don't even think a depression is left in the bank), but there should be some tourist-y things to do there.
Hil R. - Aug 15, 2008 9:32:03 am PDT #6983 of 28387
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l
I remember reading that you can go visit where the underground house used to be -- the people who own the land have a path and a sign there.
DavidS - Aug 16, 2008 2:25:58 pm PDT #6984 of 28387
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Looking for Ann of Green Gables: The Story of L. M. Montgomery and Her Literary Classic.
Which contains a link to Oops! NY Times reviews which were completely off the mark on enduring classics.
CaBil - Aug 19, 2008 12:11:36 pm PDT #6985 of 28387
Remember, remember/the fifth of November/the Gunpowder Treason and Plot/I see no reason/Why Gunpowder Treason/Should ever be forgot.
Joss Whedon is among the 'experts' used in the trailer for Brad Meltzer's upcoming title, Book of Lies.
Polter-Cow - Aug 19, 2008 12:18:49 pm PDT #6986 of 28387
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Which sounds pretty cool. I didn't know he wrote novels.
P.M. Marc - Aug 19, 2008 12:32:27 pm PDT #6987 of 28387
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear
Meltzer? Yeah. He writes thrillers. They're so-so. Amusing fanboy moments (chacters with obscure-ish comic book names), less amusing gender issue stuff (needs a whap with a clue stick at times), writing varying between the solid and the clunky, but never hitting sublime.
Rucka's novels are better.