Sky rockets in flight, afternoon delight…
Every Tuesday over at the The Broke and Bookish we all get to look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) examples to demonstrate that particular topic. The topic this week is:
‘Top Ten Bookworm Delights’
- First on the list has got to be book tokens. I know people would sooner buy an actual gift or book but it’s not possible really because it’s highly likely that people would buy me a book I already own! I. Love. Book. Gift. Vouchers. Guilt free book shopping! And, in fact, I usually feel quite disappointed if I don’t receive book tokens for birthdays and Christmas!
- The next one is a double edged sword. This is when people come to you, in work, or friends, etc, and say ‘ohh, you like reading, I’ve brought you some books that I’m getting rid of’! 1. I don’t like to look a gift horse in the mouth. 2. I’m always really excited to receive a bag of books. 3. Very rarely does that aforementioned person have the same taste in books; and finally, 4. Just because I like reading doesn’t mean I want everybody’s old books! Unless they’re SFF of course – and then yes please! Basically this never quite lives up to expectations.
- Checking out forthcoming books – I really shouldn’t but I can’t help it. I love to look at up and coming releases!
- Seeing somebody out and about reading a book that I love – this actually turns me into a bit of a book stalker because I desperately want to speak to that person and see if they’re loving that book! Which is really bad – because there’s nothing that annoys me more than people speaking to me, that I don’t know, about the book I’m reading! Ahh, the dilemma, the conflict!
- Going on holiday – no work, no chores, no gardening = lots of free time, not to mention travel time. Beautiful, book reading time.
- This is the best one on the list I think – finding a brilliant book when you least expected to. Nothing makes me happier.
- Finding out about new books from my favourite authors. Oh yeah!!
- Reading a book that makes me want to find out more about something. Makes me want more knowledge – history for example! Sometimes I read a book and then I have to go and check out the facts and just cram myself with more information about a certain character or period of time.
- A definite date! No, not that type of date – a definite, confirmed, bona fide release date for a book that I’ve been keeping my beady eye on.
- Finding a lovely comfy chair, a nice glass of something delicious, a wonderful book – and then falling down my own book hole!
Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey, Week 6 readalong
24 April 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Jacqueline Carey, Kushiel's Justice, Readalong week 6
Today is week 6 of our readalong of Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey. The schedule and participants are below. All welcome to join in or to simply jump in with the comments. This week we cover chapters 38-46, and our host is Emma Wolf. Without further ado, to the questions with the customary warning of spoilers!
1. At some point before she died, Dorelei made Urist promise to bring Imriel back to the City of Elua and Sidonie for fear that, if he didn’t go, he would be driven to bitterness. What do you think of this promise? Do you agree with Dorelei that Imriel would turn bitter?
Yes, I think she read him very well. I think he would have dwelled on it all, probably found himself totally guilty and no doubt after wallowing around in guilt and despair would probably have turned very bitter! Okay, I’ve laid that on a bit thick but I really do think Dorelei knew Imriel very well and I think she was sending home to somebody who would love him and help him to cope.
2. Imriel questions whether there was no way to escape the fate of his son foreseen by the Maghuin Dhonn. What do you think?
Well, I’m not sure. I don’t know whether I totally buy into the ethos that all things are fixed or pre-determined. I think some of what actually happened in the vision seemed to hinge upon the fact that Imriel had left his son after Dorelei died and perhaps there was bitterness that turned even worse. So maybe knowing that Imriel could have made a difference by simply raising his son?
3. Urist explains the politics underlying the matter to the other Cruithne by noting that Imriel was good enough for Dorelei and Alba, good enough to father Alban heirs, but not good enough for Terre d’Ange. What do you think of his observation?
I think he made a very good point – which also brings me back to our comments (was it last week) when it was noted that Ysandre had never visited Alba. I do wonder about Ysandre sometimes. There have been moments along the way where I’ve definitely felt a little annoyed with her behaviour. Plus I didn’t like what she said to Imriel about Dorelei when she found him with Sidonie. I know that she was angry but it really did sound as though she was almost accusing Imriel of being behind Dorelei’s death somehow.
4. We see new places and new peoples. Imriel wonders about the tanner and his wife and their story and how he will never know it. Of all the minor characters we’ve met so far, are there any you wish you knew more about?
Ohh, this is a difficult one. I sometimes think it would be good to spend more time with Drustan. I think I would like to know more about him and how he deals with having such a long distance relationship with Ysandre. It would be good to be inside his head for a while and see if we could discover more about the real Ysandre as a result.
5. What do you think of what’s become of the Yeshuites? Of Micah ben Ximon? Do you think the written word is more open to multiple interpretation than the spoken one, as Urist hints?
I’m not sure what has become of the Yeshuites to be honest. Perhaps I’ve missed something so will wait for all the answers on that one. – (I think I misunderstood this question – blame it on being tired! I think I was reading into and thinking something bad had happened to them and I’d missed it – apologies!)
I guess the written and the spoken word are open to misinterpretation depending on the language used and maybe even the wishes of the person listening or reading. But, it seems to me that people started recording things in writing in order to keep an accurate record whereas the spoken word, I think, can quite often develop and become adapted as time goes by – like Chinese whispers or a fisherman’s tale! So, in that respect I think the written word is probably more correct – providing of course it was accurate in the first place.
Here is the schedule:
Week 1: Chpts. 1-7, Mar 20 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 2: Chpts. 8-14, Mar 27 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 3: Chpts. 15-22, Apr 3 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 4: Chpts. 23-29, Apr 10 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 5: Chpts. 30-37, Apr 17 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 6: Chpts. 38-46, Apr 24 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 7: Chpts. 47-56, May 1 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 8: Chpts. 57-65, May 8 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 9: Chpts. 66-END, May 15 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
And here is the current list of participators:
Allie at Tethyan Books
Lynn at Lynn’s Book Blog
Emily at Emma Wolf
Susan at Dab of Darkness
Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow
An Artifical Night by Seanan McGuire, Readalong No.3
23 April 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: An Artificial Night, October Daye, Readalong week 3, Seanan McGuire
Today is week three of our readalong of An Artificial Night (October Daye #3) ) by Seanan McGuire) arranged by Lisa from Over the Effing Rainbow. This week I am hosting the Q&A. I have to say that this book is so good! And I also have to say, who chose to end the chapters there exactly – oh the torture – we’re all looking at you Lisa! Torture…..
The details are over here on Goodreads – the schedule is below. If you want to join in or jump in with the comments then please do so. Without further ado here are the questions and answers with a customary word of warning that spoilers will be lurking below:
Week 1: Saturday 9th April, Chapters 1-7, hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 2: Saturday 16th April, Chapters 8-17, hosted by Books By Proxy
Week 3: Saturday 23rd April, Chapters 18-24, hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 4: Saturday 30th April, Chapters 25-End, hosted by Over the Effing Rainbow
1. We’ve seen a good deal more of May and her interactions with Toby – any speculation on how this might play out yet??
Well, I must confess that I’m liking May very much and in a strange and unexpected fashion I hope that she’s going to stick around. Maybe she’ll be a permanent feature constantly reminding Toby of how close to death she becomes. The fact is I’m not sure that she will stick around although I would like it if she did. She seems to really be trying to help Toby which is so great because she’s absolutely working against her own objectives and that makes me think that maybe she’s going to take the fall here somehow because she’s started to care. Somebody is going to have to pay Blind Michael somehow – unless he’s defeated, of course, so I’m thinking that maybe May will take Toby’s place at some point??? I hope not. I’m hoping this will all work out. But, at the end of the day she is Toby’s fetch and I definitely don’t want toby to die!
2. Tybalt – what did you make of his rather cryptic comment about what he found out and particularly that he now knows that Toby didn’t lie to him?
I am really puzzled by this and kind of hoping that somebody else can shed some light on it. Tybalt is clearly looking into something and he obviously had a spell there where he suspected that Toby wasn’t being honest – or maybe he suspected everyone and has at least found out that Toby was being honest – but about what?? Chuck me a bone somebody??? Is it about Toby’s abilities or what she inherited from her mum?? He seemed really surprised in the last book when Toby resurrected somebody and I wonder if he thought this was something she was aware of already?
3. We finally discovered a little bit more about Luna. What are your thoughts on her now, why did she run away, thoughts about her character, why she sent Toby into Michael’s realm?
This is a very complicated situation. She obviously ran away from home and she’s been hiding ever since – and quite successfully by the sounds of it. It does make it a little bit clearer now as to why she always seems so sad and reflective. I really don’t blame Luna for running away – things were obviously not okay. As a result of course Michael now has the hunt and steals all these children to help him search for her (unless I’m reading it wrong) – she must feel so incredibly bad. If she wasn’t in hiding then surely Michael wouldn’t take these other children. It’s a really awful situation and one that part of me thinks she needs to step up and do something – but then the other side of me completely understands why she’s staying in hiding! It’s so incredibly conflicted.
4. What were your first impressions of the Court of Cats?
I loved paying a visit – I loved even more that they’re so selective who they let in – and yet even more I loved that Tybalt said that Toby is always welcome! It kind of reminded me of the alleys and fight grounds in West Side Story. I don’t know why and I can’t even describe it but that’s what it reminded me of!
5. And, finally, back to Tybalt – what on earth just happened!!
I don’t knowwwwwwww! What just happened. Is he just exhausted? Has he travelled too far too fast. Or has he taken Toby to somewhere that he can’t exist? What happened. I’m almost sure that Tybalt hasn’t died – almost!!! However, there is still a tiny tremor of dread! No, Ms Mcguire – just no. No messing with the King of Cats!
‘Death, is only the beginning…’
22 April 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Neil Gaiman, The Friday Face Off, The Graveyard Book
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme being hosted by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite books covers. The rules are fairly simple and can be found here. Each week, following a predetermined theme choose a book, compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Simples. This week the theme is:
Dead Men Tell No Tales
A cover which features something or somewhere relating to death
This week I’ve gone for The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and a whole bunch of covers to choose from:
So, from the top-
- Very creepy cover with the two characters
- Not sure about this one – bloody knife with a little toddler running along the edge – I understand why – ‘there was a hand in the darkness… and it held a knife’ – very creepy though
- I really like this one – the whole floating graveyard!
- I really like the simplicity of this cover and the angel gravestone
- This is beautifully illustrated, I admit this cover originally made me think this was a children’s book but I really like it now.
- This is the version I own – and I do love it – plus it’s signed!
My favourite this week is difficult to choose but I think I would probably go with this one:
Next week’s theme:
Like One, That on a Lonesome Road
A cover which features a road
#Waiting on Wednesday: The Waking Fire by Anthony Ryan (The Draconis Memoria #1)
20 April 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Anthony Ryan, Breaking the Spine, The Waking Fire, Waiting on Wednesday
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday we get to highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week I’m highlighting: The Waking Fire by Anthony Ryan (The Draconis Memoria #1). Epic fantasy and steampunk – colour me happy!
The Waking Fire is set in a vibrant new world where the blood of drakes—creatures similar to dragons—is valued beyond reckoning, and can be distilled into elixirs that grant fearsome powers to those who are “blood-blessed.” The novel follows an unregistered blood-blessed as he searches for an elusive variety of drake so potent, its capture would mean unrivalled riches; the second in command of a blood-burning ironclad ship; and a young woman in a lifelong contract to a trading syndicate, whose espionage mission places her on the front lines of a newly declared war. As empires clash and arcane mysteries reveal themselves, these characters are tested again and again and soon discover that the fate of the world rests on their shoulders.
The Draconis Memoria is a remarkable new epic fantasy series with steampunk flavor, full of the phenomenal worldbuilding and non-stop action that have gained Anthony Ryan a global fan base.
Due July 2016
