Top Ten Characters who…
This week at The Broke and the Bookish the topic is ‘Top Ten Characters who x’:
- Make me love them: Aragorn from Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien) (first book crush)
- Make me hate them: Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones by GRRMartin or maybe his parents – ew!
- I like them even though I shouldn’t: Loki – he’s not exactly the most reliable of narrators but I really enjoyed The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris.
- I want to be friends with: Lady Isabella Trent from A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan or Lord Ermenwyr from Kage Baker’s Anvil of the World.
- I would seek advice from: Wit from Brandon Sanderson’s Way of Kings – okay, I probably wouldn’t understand the advice but it would certainly be entertaining.
- I would want them to stand in my corner: Harry Dresden from the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (he can do magic after all!)
- I would Least want to cross swords with: Inigo Montoya from William Goldman’s The Princess Bride ‘you killed my father, prepare to die’.
- I would hate to meet in a dark alley: Lestat from Anne Rice’s Interview With A Vampire (“I’m going to give you the choice that I never had”)
- I would love to meet in a dark alley: Jean Tannen from the Gentlemen Bastards by Scott Lynch (ahhh, book love)
- I would never argue with: Jorg Ancrath from The Broken Empire series of books by Mark Lawrence (simply because I like my head where it currently sits thank you very much and he can be a bit, mmm, hasty!)
Morningside Fall by Jay Posey
Morningside was my weekend read and the follow up to last year’s Three which I really enjoyed. If you haven’t read Three then beware of potential spoilers.
Morningside continues more or less where Three left off. Wren is the new Governor of Morningside and with his mum and his Council struggles to make the right sort of decisions for the inhabitants. Unfortunately, the Council are not quite as straightforward as they may seem and following a failed attack on Wren’s life Cass has to take action into her own hands. Without wanting to give away the plot Cass and Wren end up back on the wrong side of the walls facing all sorts of life and death situations and finally coming to the realisation that petty politics and bids for authority are the least of everyone’s worries.
Without wanting to be too negative I didn’t enjoy Morningside as much as I did three which is a shame, but not totally unexpected. Part of me thinks second book syndrome had popped up it’s ugly head. Three was really quite unique and so anything that follows won’t have the same impact because the world is now familiar. And, yet, I don’t think that’s the case for me with this book. My main issue with this story lies in the fact that Wren and Cass are not really substitutes for Three – they just don’t hold the attention in quite the same way. Three was such a good character to read about that you definitely feel his loss when reading Morningside. Plus, to be fair to the author I did have issues with Cass in the first book and they continued to a degree in this one – which I think is more to do with me probably than anything to do with the story. I just, for some reason, find it difficult to like Cass. It’s a bit unwarranted and unjustified to be honest. In the first book I found her a little bit irritating and to be frank my feelings towards her haven’t really changed. Why, I just really can’t put my finger on it. The other thing is the whole idea of a city being run by an eight year old. Okay, it could happen. However, in the world that Posey has created here with the constant walking on a knife edge fear of death at any given time type of situation – I’m really not quite sure that would cut it. I simply think that Wren comes across too young, he’s insecure and unsure of himself although he grows in confidence as the book progresses.
On the positive side – which I realise I’ve probably come across as quite critical above The book does find it’s feet again – it just takes a little time. We travel back to some familiar territory – where in a number of situations – things have unfortunately deteriorated! We also have a mystery character who seems to slowly be making his way back to Morningside and we have the slow reveal of another mmm, ‘baddie’ – both these are played in such a way that it leaves a mystery as to who is the good or bad guy in the situation.
On the whole a good read. Yes, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first but I’m still interested in finding out how all this ends and the ending of this leaves a perfect set up for the next instalment.
I received a copy of this through the publishers courtesy of Netgalley. The above is my own opinion.
ebooks vs paper books??
18 April 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Kindle and ebooks, Paper book vs electronic book??
It’s an inevitable question isn’t it. A while ago I had a kindle bought for me. I was a little underwhelmed at the time because to be honest I prefer books. However, that being said it’s amazing quite how easily the kindle becomes a part of your reading life, it inveigles itself and creeps up on you unexpectedly. Let’s face it the books you buy for your kindle are more reasonably priced. There are frequently good deals on some of your favourite books. There are daily deals and many books are completely free, especially the classics. If I was to list my pros and cons they would probably be:
Pros:
- Cheaper books
- No matter how many books you have on the go at any time your place is always saved – no need for bookmarks
- No stacks of books all over the house
- Easy to highlight relevant parts which is great when doing a readalong
- Quick to purchase – ‘one click’
- No postage costs or delivery time
- You can take a thousand books away on holiday with you and still fit clothes into your suitcase
- Really good for reading big chunksters
Cons:
- They’re not books! Books are like trophies in a way, I love having them gathered all over the house. I don’t know why but they’re just a part of my personality and I feel like they say something about me that a kindle just doesn’t.
- No stacks of books all over the house!
- The books are cheaper but if I read a book I love I still want to own the paper version which in reality means I buy the book twice!
- It runs out of battery at the most inopportune times – my fault but nonetheless infuriating when it happens
- They’re pretty useless in terms of glossaries or maps that are usually at the front or back of the book – if you’re reading a book it’s so much easier to flip from front to back. Which means I tend to ignore these things completely!
- I lose the association with the look of the book and the title and author. Sometimes I will struggle to remember a book’s author after I’ve finished reading on the kindle – I know that sounds odd but when you’re reading a book you see the cover and name/author all the time. It just reinforces it somehow.
- I can’t be nosey and look at what other people are reading when they’re using a kindle. I know, I know. I’m a nosey so and so, but, I just can’t help wanting to know what everyone else is reading – well, it could be the next ‘big thing’.
- It really is too easy to buy books this way which means you purchase on the slightest whim – there are no physical inhibitors, no scowling partners – no books taunting you from the windowsill, coffee table, bedside cabinet.
So, it appears evens doesn’t it – and yet, I still prefer the book. I worry about all the talk surrounding the disappearance of paper books, how they’ll soon just become a thing of the past. Let’s face it some books are never printed at all now. What happens to all the gorgeous cover art?? Will it still be needed?
It definitely makes me a bit sad to think electronic books may be the end of paper ones. After all, as much as I’ve grown accustomed to my kindle it’s never going to fulfill my dream of having a library is it!!
And, I wonder what authors make of ebooks. I can’t help thinking it must be really satisfying when you receive that first copy of a book with your name on it – and yet at the same time so many books are self published now which gives some authors a chance that they wouldn’t previously have had) Of course, there’s a whole other argument around that and the flooding of the book market with so many books that probably would never have made the cut through a publishing house.
Your thoughts??
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson – readalong week 3
16 April 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Brandon Sanderson, Readalong week 3, Words of Radiance
Today is week three of a 10 week readalong of Brandon Sanderson’s Words of Radiance arranged jointly by Dab of Darkness and Stainless Steel Droppings. If you’re not joining in already you might want to think about it – it’s not too late!! Alternatively, if you’ve already read this and just want to jump in with comments then that would be cool. (The schedule is here). This week’s questions have come to us from Susan at Dab of Darkness who you need to pay a visit to – mainly because she always has such wonderful insights! So, without further ado: (Oh, fyi – spoilers below, they’re like spren, if you read this they will pop up all over the place – mischievousspren!)
1) We have a new character on the scene: Zahel, a swordmaster. What do you think of his interest in Kaladin?
It’s very curious isn’t it. I like Zahel. Maybe that’s because he wants to train Kaladin – and clearly he had a point as Kaladin very successfully displayed! Although, part of me wonders if part of Kaladin’s success is his improvisation. Anyway, I have mixed feelings – I like Zahel – but in a way it makes me sceptical because Kaladin’s first thoughts were to mistrust. Okay, sitting on the fence here.
2) We learned a bit more about Shallan’s past. What do you think her brother Heralan was doing all those years ago, coming and going as he did, and where did his Shardblade come from?
Again, this was very interesting. Last week I was convinced Shallan hadn’t killed her mum, this week I’m mistrusting that initial thought. I thought she’d probably witnessed it. But, this week, she broke her silence to protect her dad which I wonder if she would have done that if he’d killed her mother? Surely she’d hate him as much as her brother seems to do. Perhaps he was protecting some sort of secret for Shallan. I have no idea why Heralan has a Shardblade – I only hope he knows how to use it!
3) What do you think of Shallan’s recent actions with the caravans? How about her growing friendship with Tyn? And her first interaction with Kaladin?
I was really impressed with her this week. She took control of her situation and I think it was a learning curve for her. It was interesting to here Pattern say that there are different truths. Not sure what to make of Tyn yet, I like her to be honest. Yes, she’s a bit of a con artist, but, I think the two could get along – she’s also free thinking – I loved her comment about she’d eat what she wants – damn straight! She thinks she has Shallan sussed out and so she’s opening up in a way that she wouldn’t otherwise do. The first meeting between Kaladin and Shallan was so funny! It’s now got me thinking that those two would get on famously – I don’t think Adolin would take that well.
4) Kaladin took Syl’s advice and confided in Dalinar concerning Amaram. What do you think Dalinar will do with this information?
Well, it will be good to watch this. Knowing what he now knows, if I was Dalinar I would sit back in the shadows and watch how Amaram reacts to Kaladin when he believes nobody is watching him. It seems to me that Amaram will either confront Kaladin or try to expose him in some bad way and Dalinar needs to keep a low profile and observe. Clearly he can’t just out and out believe one man’s word against the other although I thought he took the revelation well – he didn’t blow up at Kaladin and become all indignant or self righteous so it feels like he’s giving Kaladin the benefit of the doubt.
5) There has been yet another attempt on the King’s life. Do you think this is another faked attempt (as Ehlokar did with the saddle girth in Book 1)? If not, who do you think is the most likely culprit?
I can’t imagine Ehlokar making another fake attempt. I’m a bit baffled to be honest. Plus it’s somebody with a Shardblade – although clearly people let others use their blades so that’s not a definite pointer. Because I dislike Sadeas so much I can’t help wondering if he’s behind it somehow – maybe pouring poison into somebody’s ear and allowing them the use of his blade. Basically I don’t know! And, the attempts seem too easy – like a distraction.
6) Gaz has returned to the story, after having mysteriously dropped out in Book 1. What do you think he isn’t telling Shallan? How do you think the men of Bridge 4 will react upon seeing him again?
I don’t think the bridgemen will throw Gaz a welcome party, he was hardly nice to them after all! Obviously he had his gambling debts but it seems to me he must have done something worse somehow. It was curious to watch his reaction to Shallan, in one way he was admitting things almost in a resigned what difference will it make kind of way and then he just closed up.
7) Eshonai and Adolin had a brief chat on the Shattered Plains. What will come of it? How will the Parshendi ever get a messenger to Dalinar?
I think it can be done and I really think Dalinar will want to have this conversation. How will they get a message through? Could one of the Parshendi who doesn’t have the armour perhaps sneak in as a parshman. Or, maybe, they could use a spren? ahhh – grasping at straws.
If you want more debate then here’s where to look:
A hobbit hole is what we chiefly need….
15 April 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Bookish Things, Top Ten Tuesday
This week over at the Broke and the Bookish the Top Ten Tuesday is :
Top Ten Bookish Things (That Aren’t Books) That I’d Like To Own
As my reading tends to lie predominantly in SFF I’ve decided to find 10 fantasy reading ‘things’ to wish for on today’s list:
- A hobbit hole, all warm and cosy, with lots of pantries and nice quiet spots for reading.
- One of those remote controls that means I can turn down the volume of life going on around me and focus on my current read.
- A time machine so that I can go forwards – and not have to wait for the next in the series and backwards to gain time and catch up on my TBR.
- Magical lights that illuminate as soon as I pick up my book and light up just enough to be easy to read but not too much to be glaring – you want the ambience, right?
- Books that have REALLY creative covers – I’m thinking of that book of Monsters from Harry Potter.
- My own portal that opens up the book worlds and allows me to enter (not all the time of course, brrrr).
- My own personal Brownie – to keep my books in some sort of order, help me with remembering plots and places, come in useful as some sort of dictionary, thesaurus, almanac and general know it all.
- Alien reading skills – the sort where you flip from cover to cover and you’ve completely read the book – imagine! – extreme speed reading!
- Photographic memory – because I’m so bad at remembering names and places.
- Some sort of bodyguard/slayer (okay, that’s probably a bit over the top) to stop all the pesky people on public transport who will insist on saying such things as ‘oh, you’re reading a book?’ – No, I’m just pretending. ‘Is it good?’, let me read it and I’ll let you know, ‘What sort of book is it?’, fantasy ‘Ohhh, I bet it’s that 50 Shades…’ Shut up and go away – I’m READING!!!! Or you know the bodyguard/slayer could just accompany me and scowl at people and look generally menacing.
What are your bookish ‘things’?
