Gah. I need help. I have this book I need to recommend but can't remember author/title.

Anyway, the author is an LJ stalwart, the book is called something like Melisande, it's got excellent dark worldbuilding and is roughly equivalent to Georgian London/Paris, and the main plot is about a tattooed sorceror who's being used to destroy the magical foundation of teh world.

Ring any bells? Cause, damn, it was good.

Is it Sarah Monette's Melusine? Which I haven't read, but I know the author on LJ.

Yes. Thank you. Guys, it's very good fantasy, with a solidly thought-out background, and with grim, realistic settings but not being drive-me-to-suicide dark. Good book.

I want to read that, but I hear it's part 1 only, so I'm waiting until it's (a) out in paper and (b) finished.

So I got a box of books from the parents tonight, and one is a copy I already have. It's Beirut Blues. I recall enjoying it as a broody politics and personal book I read when I was heavy into a modern middle east phase. If anyone is interested, speak up and I'll ship it to you. Sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Huh. Just read the reviews. It is kinda maze/puzzlelike and leaves things to be filled in. But I like that. I read it in conjunction with Map of Love (which has this extended metaphor and puzzle thing happening that is just AWESOME,) Drinking the Sea of Gaza , Nine Parts of Desire and Persian Mirrors.

I had never heard the phrase "to show willing" before, but it was in both books I started reading yesterday ( Anansi Boys and Woken Furies ). Weird.

Did we know about Talk to the Hand (by Lynne Truss, the "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" lady) and I was just not paying attention? Have people read it? Is it good?

I got Talk to the Hand for Christmas this year but haven't read it yet.

Suela -- what do you mean Part 1 only? Because the book seemed complete in itself to me -- although a sequel would be fun.

I should add this to my 2005 best of list -- it was very enjoyable.