The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved Bartimaeus, his snarky tone, his irascible nature. Nathaniel, like his master, was extremely well-drawn, and consequently, annoying as hell. Stroud kept me walking that tightrope of being sympathetic to him in his quest for revenge, and also made me want to shake the snot out of him and force feed him a clue or two.
Library copy
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Saturday, February 22, 2025
Review: The Amulet of Samarkand
Review: Everfair
Everfair by Nisi Shawl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Everfair - Nisi Shawl It's an alternate history in which a genocide doesn't happen.
It's about a utopian society that isn't so cleverly set up as to avoid all problems, but in which people work to find different, practical, solutions.
It's steampunk that feels utterly plausible.
It's a book that acknowledges the tremendous breadth and depth of people and cultures throughout Africa, although it focuses on one nation.
It is a marvelous accomplishment in every sense of the word, and I'm sure it's going to be one of my top reads for the year, and probably every other reader's list, because it is a book that makes you go "ohhh" and "ahhh", that constantly delights and surprises, even though it is addressing many of the darkest aspects of colonialism.
It's a book that reminded me of how new and appealing are the many voices in scifi these days, and actually makes me feel optimistic about humanity.
Sweet, fancy Moses, it's just a great, sweeping Victorian "ills of society" novel, such as those of Charles Dickens, but with a light touch. It's just perfect.
Now goo, read it right away, unless you're devoting October to horror, in which case, okay, but then you have to start it on November first.
ARC provided by publisher via GoodReads
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Review: The Ink Drinker (A Stepping Stone Book
The Ink Drinker (A Stepping Stone Book by Eric Sanvoisin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I don't remember how or why I acquired this, but it is a strange little book.
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Review: Varjak Paw
Varjak Paw by S.F. Said
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Once again a matriarchal society has been transformed into a patriarchal one, largely inhabited by male characters, but still, it's about cats, so I had to love it. Plus I really love that cover with the golden eyes. And yes, I did google to see if the breed really existed.
***
Casting about for the next read-aloud after the Penderwicks, we struck on this. Glad I finished it last month. Also, very glad that the McKean illustrations aren't as disturbing as the ones he does for Gaimain's books.
***
It's a cat adventure, therefor good. But this second time through, I'm thinking about the cliche of special training, and the hero who is unusually adept even before the training.
Also, I'm wincing from the contempt for the hunting abilities of pets. I know a cat who doesn't have claws and still managed to kill a mouse by pushing a carton of sodas over on top of it. Pets can kill, too.
***
2008 September 16
Ah, the ending is even better when I'm reading aloud. I"m already looking forward to the sequel.
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Review: The House of Stairs
The House of Stairs by Barbara Vine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not my favorite. I much prefer A Dark-Adapted Eye
Library copy
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Review: A Dark-Adapted Eye
A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I can't remember if I read the book first, or watched the film first, and the two are now inseparable in my mind.
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Review: A Place of Execution
A Place of Execution by Val McDermid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
January 1, 2001
January 9, 2015
I'm sorry I didn't keep any comments from my original reading; I'd love to compare them. What I do know is that I liked the book even better, despite knowing the big twist. The greatest strength of the book is the earnest young detective doing his best to solve a heinous crime in 1963 without any preparation but his own sensitivity. Aces there. And although the book deals with repeated rape and sexual abuse of a minor, there is no titillation in it: all the reactions we see are from people horrified, shocked, and disgusted. Although grooming behavior wasn't identified as such then, that is how it is perceived.
Personal copy
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Friday, February 21, 2025
Monday, February 17, 2025
Review: A Simple Plan
A Simple Plan by Scott Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You know just how bad it's going to be, and then it gets even worse. Gripping.
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Review: If I Die in a Combat Zone Box Me Up And Ship Me Home
If I Die in a Combat Zone Box Me Up And Ship Me Home by Tim O'Brien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the kind of war book that feels like stories told to you by a new friend you're getting to know: they feel revealing, and raw, and painful but also a bit charming. The mix of just-a-regular-guy and the very skilled writer makes you think he's got it all exactly right, as if there could be only one perspective on such an experience. This and Herr's Dispatches are the two best memoirs I've read on Viet Nam.
I also recommend Going After Cacciato and The Things They Carried
Personal copy
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Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Sunday, February 09, 2025
Review: The Three Pigs
The Three Pigs by David Wiesner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wiesner is amazing, and this is my favorite. The hyper-realism, the three-Dimensionality, makes the text so much more meaningful. Both kids have always loved these, and we none of us show any signs of getting tired of his work.
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Saturday, February 08, 2025
Review: The End of All Things
The End of All Things by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Aug 30, 2015
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Review: Earth Below, Sky Above
Earth Below, Sky Above by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I'm ambivalent. I really enjoyed the writing of this segment, just as I did all the others. But I'm really bummed that the story wasn't brought to some sort of conclusion. On the other hand, there will be another series...
I bought it.
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Review: The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads
The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am both very eager to read next week's final installment, and somewhat saddened, because then it will be over.
I bought it.
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Review: A Problem of Proportion
A Problem of Proportion by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We're nearing the end, with more of the puzzle being revealed, and also, more of the characters.
Well done, and touching.
I bought it.
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Review: This Must Be the Place
This Must Be the Place by John Scalzi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A relatively calm, quiet interlude in which Hart Schmidt goes home for a harvest festival dinner with his family. No big adventure, no tricky plot, just good-natured family ribbing and some backstory. Well, okay, some thoughtful observations about class, presented in an amusing way.
As a whole, this is going to be great.
I bought it.
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Friday, February 07, 2025
Review: The Observers
The Observers by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've started really looking forward to these Tuesday episodes. Shouldn't have left the house this morning without downloading this one.
You know what this one is like? Asimov short space mysteries. Not exactly, but the idea of a puzzle for which the solution lies in the specific setting. And the mildly humorous tone. Loved it, again.
I bought a copy.
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Review: The Sound of Rebellion
The Sound of Rebellion by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well here's a new thing: props to Scalzi for showing a woman soldier in peril, but with nothing sexy about it whatsoever.
That sounds sarcastic, but really, it's refreshing not to have bad guys leering at women and threatening them with sexual violence as a plot point.
Anyway, clever, clever, clever. And intriguing. Eagerly awaiting next week. And the rest.
I bought it.
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Review: The Dog King
The Dog King by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A perfect little short story, funny, that fits into the arc. If I thought for a second that diplomacy were anything like Scalzi writes it, I'd be be kicking myself for never having joined the foreign service. He skips over the tedious bits in favor of the clever solution to thorny problems. Such fun.
Interesting that he didn't end each section on a cliff-hanger. Well, interesting because I'm totally enthralled anyway. I'm gonna miss this when it's done.
I bought it.
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Sunday, February 02, 2025
Review: The B-Team
The B-Team by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
7 February 2013
Takes place in the Old Man's War universe shortly after events in prior novels, but with a new cast of characters, many diplomats, with a few members of the CDF for derring-do.
All the things I like about Scalzi are here: clever plotting, a diverse cast that feels natural, snappy dialogue, interesting tech puzzles. Richly enjoyable, but it never feels condescending or empty. This is going to be good.
I bought a copy.
****
1 February 2025
There's a lot to be said for experimentation. Rereading this, I am reminded of the novelty of receiving a chunk of a book each week. The expectation, and also the bonding among the fans. Because Scalzi includes Mary Robinette Kowal, Scott Westerfeld, and Justine Larbalestier in his acknowledgements for Zoë's Tale, they come immediately to mind as other writers who also set challenges for themselves, which in turn means something new and interesting in every book they publish. Every fan will rate their preferences for the experiments differently, sure, but I love that there are writers who keep trying new things. Maybe it's odd me bringing up the concept of novelty in the fifth major work set in the same universe, but these novels and shorter works are never just more of the same. AndN.K. Jemisin and Courtney Milan, too. No doubt more will come to mind as soon as I hit post.
So there, that's today's entry in my gratitude journal: I appreciate writers who consciously experiment: it expands their skill set and takes readers into new genres and styles.
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Review: The Back Channel
The Back Channel by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This section is mostly talking heads, so it could have been info dumpy and dull, but it isn't. It's funny as hell, particularly the conversation over churros.
I bought it.
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Saturday, February 01, 2025
Review: Tales From the Clarke
Tales From the Clarke by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The plotting here is just amazing. There is a lot going on but it never feels overwhelming or much of a muchness. I'm not sure whether I'm more excited to be reading it as a serial, or to re-read the whole thing once it's done.
I bought a copy.
I really should give a read-through. The details are fading from my mind.
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Review: We Only Need the Heads
We Only Need the Heads by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loving it, eager to move on to the next section. Heads, heh.
I bought a copy.
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Review: Earth Below, Sky Above
Earth Below, Sky Above by John Scalzi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I'm ambivalent. I really enjoyed the writing of this segment, just as I did all the others. But I'm really bummed that the story wasn't brought to some sort of conclusion. On the other hand, there will be another series...
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads
The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am both very eager to read next week's final installment, and somewhat saddened, because then it will be over.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: A Problem of Proportion
A Problem of Proportion by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We're nearing the end, with more of the puzzle being revealed, and also, more of the characters.
Well done, and touching.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: This Must Be the Place
This Must Be the Place by John Scalzi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A relatively calm, quiet interlude in which Hart Schmidt goes home for a harvest festival dinner with his family. No big adventure, no tricky plot, just good-natured family ribbing and some backstory. Well, okay, some thoughtful observations about class, presented in an amusing way.
As a whole, this is going to be great.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Observers
The Observers by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've started really looking forward to these Tuesday episodes. Shouldn't have left the house this morning without downloading this one.
You know what this one is like? Asimov short space mysteries. Not exactly, but the idea of a puzzle for which the solution lies in the specific setting. And the mildly humorous tone. Loved it, again.
I bought a copy.
View all my reviews
Review: The Sound of Rebellion
The Sound of Rebellion by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well here's a new thing: props to Scalzi for showing a woman soldier in peril, but with nothing sexy about it whatsoever.
That sounds sarcastic, but really, it's refreshing not to have bad guys leering at women and threatening them with sexual violence as a plot point.
Anyway, clever, clever, clever. And intriguing. Eagerly awaiting next week. And the rest.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Dog King
The Dog King by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A perfect little short story, funny, that fits into the arc. If I thought for a second that diplomacy were anything like Scalzi writes it, I'd be be kicking myself for never having joined the foreign service. He skips over the tedious bits in favor of the clever solution to thorny problems. Such fun.
Interesting that he didn't end each section on a cliff-hanger. Well, interesting because I'm totally enthralled anyway. I'm gonna miss this when it's done.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Back Channel
The Back Channel by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This section is mostly talking heads, so it could have been info dumpy and dull, but it isn't. It's funny as hell, particularly the conversation over churros.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: Tales From the Clarke
Tales From the Clarke by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The plotting here is just amazing. There is a lot going on but it never feels overwhelming or much of a muchness. I'm not sure whether I'm more excited to be reading it as a serial, or to re-read the whole thing once it's done.
I bought a copy.
I really should give a read-through. The details are fading from my mind.
View all my reviews
Review: The B-Team
The B-Team by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Takes place in the Old Man's War universe shortly after events in prior novels, but with a new cast of characters, many diplomats, with a few members of the CDF for derring-do.
All the things I like about Scalzi are here: clever plotting, a diverse cast that feels natural, snappy dialogue, interesting tech puzzles. Richly enjoyable, but it never feels condescending or empty. This is going to be good.
I bought a copy.
View all my reviews
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