by Blue Balliett
Grade: Good
I love the scholarly-ness. This is the kind of book that will make me always fascinated in the painter Vermeer. I also love Brett Helquist illustrations.
Otherwise it was simply All right.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The Truth
by Terry Pratchett
Grade: All right
This was ruined slightly by listening to most of an abridged audio version first. I didn't get the proper Terry-Pratchett-reading-experience.
However, I thinked I would have adored it if it weren't for that. There are some excellent scenes, including
--Tulip's and Pin's death scenes. Seems rather C. S. Lewisian or something. Though Pratchett probably doesn't think so.
--Death on page 289:
He sighed deeply. WHO KNOWS WHAT EVIL LURKS IN THE HEART OF MEN?
The Death of Rats looked up from the feast of potato.
SQUEAK, he said.
Death waved a hand dismissively. WELL, YES, OBVIOUSLY ME, he said. I JUST WONDERED IF THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE.
--And Lord Vetinari, of course.
Grade: All right
This was ruined slightly by listening to most of an abridged audio version first. I didn't get the proper Terry-Pratchett-reading-experience.
However, I thinked I would have adored it if it weren't for that. There are some excellent scenes, including
--Tulip's and Pin's death scenes. Seems rather C. S. Lewisian or something. Though Pratchett probably doesn't think so.
--Death on page 289:
He sighed deeply. WHO KNOWS WHAT EVIL LURKS IN THE HEART OF MEN?
The Death of Rats looked up from the feast of potato.
SQUEAK, he said.
Death waved a hand dismissively. WELL, YES, OBVIOUSLY ME, he said. I JUST WONDERED IF THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE.
--And Lord Vetinari, of course.
Golden
by Cameron Dokey
Grade: All right
My last Cameron Dokey! After reading all of hers (that are in the library), and re-reading Beauty Sleep, I still adore Beauty Sleep and don't really like any of the rest. (Although Sunlight and Shadow was really useful for understanding the story of The Magic Flute.) I think it all comes down to the princes. I liked Oswald--he was quite unlike most other princes I've read about, being rather like Eustace Scrubb--and I didn't really care for any of the others. They were too ordinary, perhaps? I don't know.
Grade: All right
My last Cameron Dokey! After reading all of hers (that are in the library), and re-reading Beauty Sleep, I still adore Beauty Sleep and don't really like any of the rest. (Although Sunlight and Shadow was really useful for understanding the story of The Magic Flute.) I think it all comes down to the princes. I liked Oswald--he was quite unlike most other princes I've read about, being rather like Eustace Scrubb--and I didn't really care for any of the others. They were too ordinary, perhaps? I don't know.
Thief of Time
by Terry Pratchett
Grade: Good
I didn't like it as much as the other Death books, partly because there wasn't much Death in it. A lot more Susan (whom I do like as well) and lot of the History Monks. But there were some smashingly good parts, especially concerning the Auditors. I loved Lady LeJean.
There also seemed to be a paraphrase of Chesterton, when the Auditors think how strange it is to stuff things down holes in one's face. Recently I also came across an interview of Pratchett where is quote Chesterton's, "The opposite of funny is not serious, the opposite of funny is not funny." Seems to definitly establish him as a Chestertonian.
Grade: Good
I didn't like it as much as the other Death books, partly because there wasn't much Death in it. A lot more Susan (whom I do like as well) and lot of the History Monks. But there were some smashingly good parts, especially concerning the Auditors. I loved Lady LeJean.
There also seemed to be a paraphrase of Chesterton, when the Auditors think how strange it is to stuff things down holes in one's face. Recently I also came across an interview of Pratchett where is quote Chesterton's, "The opposite of funny is not serious, the opposite of funny is not funny." Seems to definitly establish him as a Chestertonian.
Carpe Jugulum
by Terry Pratchett
Grade: All right
It was T. Pratchett: it was wonderful. But, compared to some of his others, it was All right. I didn't like Rev. Oats. Being Omnian, and therefore Catholic (or maybe Anglican?), made me a bit uncomfortable, especially when his other side comes out.
The witches are cool, but I like the City Watch and the Wizards and Death better.
Grade: All right
It was T. Pratchett: it was wonderful. But, compared to some of his others, it was All right. I didn't like Rev. Oats. Being Omnian, and therefore Catholic (or maybe Anglican?), made me a bit uncomfortable, especially when his other side comes out.
The witches are cool, but I like the City Watch and the Wizards and Death better.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Maskerade
by Terry Pratchett
Grade: Good
I don't like the witch books as much as the Death or City Watch books, but it was still hugely amusing. I'm looking forward to reading the next book about Agnes (Perdita) Nitt.
Grade: Good
I don't like the witch books as much as the Death or City Watch books, but it was still hugely amusing. I'm looking forward to reading the next book about Agnes (Perdita) Nitt.
Magic's Child
by Justine Larbalestier
Grade: All right
Too much "stuff". It wasn't quite as good as the other two. I wasn't quite sure of her point at the end, either. Is magic supposed to be good or evil? I suppose we're just supposed to imagine what happens to the child at the end.
The only neat stuff practically was about numbers. They are amazing things, and I adore them.
Grade: All right
Too much "stuff". It wasn't quite as good as the other two. I wasn't quite sure of her point at the end, either. Is magic supposed to be good or evil? I suppose we're just supposed to imagine what happens to the child at the end.
The only neat stuff practically was about numbers. They are amazing things, and I adore them.
Monstrous Regiment
by Terry Pratchett
Grade: All right
"All right" compared to some other Terry Pratchett, that is. It was still quite marvellously entertaining. Too many women for my taste, but they were all interesting characters in their own right. And Lieutenant Blouse wasn't a women, at least. I wonder how they got so many women to actually look like men? I mean, they'd all have to have such strange voices and everything...and so many of them...
Grade: All right
"All right" compared to some other Terry Pratchett, that is. It was still quite marvellously entertaining. Too many women for my taste, but they were all interesting characters in their own right. And Lieutenant Blouse wasn't a women, at least. I wonder how they got so many women to actually look like men? I mean, they'd all have to have such strange voices and everything...and so many of them...
Friday, May 15, 2009
Night Watch
by Terry Pratchett
Grade: Good
Wohoo! Terry Pratchett!!! I'm beginning to LOVE him. He understands people SO well. His part on guns (pg. 125) was a perfect description on how silly some of these gun rules are nowadays.
The young Vetinari was totally cool. Vetinari might even be my favourite character now, over Death. Maybe. Death is pretty darn awsome as well. I think I might need to own a whole whack of Terry Pratchett someday...
Grade: Good
Wohoo! Terry Pratchett!!! I'm beginning to LOVE him. He understands people SO well. His part on guns (pg. 125) was a perfect description on how silly some of these gun rules are nowadays.
The young Vetinari was totally cool. Vetinari might even be my favourite character now, over Death. Maybe. Death is pretty darn awsome as well. I think I might need to own a whole whack of Terry Pratchett someday...
Belle
by Cameron Dokey
Grade: All right
Just waiting for Golden. It would be too bad if the only one I liked was Beauty Sleep. The problem with this one is the usual ones: too follow-your-heart-y; the man doesn't appear till two-thirds of the way through the book; the whole first half of the book is used to set up the story, so the second half is always way, way too short. Beauty Sleep, for some reason, seems to be the only one that doesn't do this. Well...it is pretty follow-your-heart-y. But one doesn't mind that in one book: it's a problem in five.
Grade: All right
Just waiting for Golden. It would be too bad if the only one I liked was Beauty Sleep. The problem with this one is the usual ones: too follow-your-heart-y; the man doesn't appear till two-thirds of the way through the book; the whole first half of the book is used to set up the story, so the second half is always way, way too short. Beauty Sleep, for some reason, seems to be the only one that doesn't do this. Well...it is pretty follow-your-heart-y. But one doesn't mind that in one book: it's a problem in five.
The Wall and the Wing
by Laura Ruby
Grade: Good
It would have been much better if I'd read this one first, before the sequal. Much better. As it is, I didn't like it all that much. But the inventiveness of the world is still awsome. If she writes any more, I will definitely get them.
Grade: Good
It would have been much better if I'd read this one first, before the sequal. Much better. As it is, I didn't like it all that much. But the inventiveness of the world is still awsome. If she writes any more, I will definitely get them.
Good Omens
by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Grade: Good
Wow, what a book. These two authors are definitely the only equivalent to the literary revival of the last century. Too bad they're athiests.
Partly it's their characterisation. Crowley and Aziraphale are marvellous. And the Four Motorcyclists of the Apocalypse! It was nice to see Death again. I liked this quote:
"WHAT ARE THOSE GLITTERY THINGS? he said, in the tones of one who knows he won't be able to understand the answer but wants to be seen to be taking an interest."
The thing about these two, especially Pratchett, is that they know how people think, and can figure out what they're thinking by how they're saying it, and realize that most people are a bit like sheep: they all think and say pretty much the same thing. Kind of. It's what is seems like, at least, working with the public, as in Country Grocer.
Grade: Good
Wow, what a book. These two authors are definitely the only equivalent to the literary revival of the last century. Too bad they're athiests.
Partly it's their characterisation. Crowley and Aziraphale are marvellous. And the Four Motorcyclists of the Apocalypse! It was nice to see Death again. I liked this quote:
"WHAT ARE THOSE GLITTERY THINGS? he said, in the tones of one who knows he won't be able to understand the answer but wants to be seen to be taking an interest."
The thing about these two, especially Pratchett, is that they know how people think, and can figure out what they're thinking by how they're saying it, and realize that most people are a bit like sheep: they all think and say pretty much the same thing. Kind of. It's what is seems like, at least, working with the public, as in Country Grocer.
Magic Lessons
by Justine Larbalestier
Grade: Good
Yeah...it wasn't that Good, actually. I didn't like most of the characters, especially Danny, although I think the part with him might actually turn out to be a rather essential plot twist. But I'll read the sequal, and I still don't know whether Esmeralda is good or not, and the new form of magic was rather fascinating.
Grade: Good
Yeah...it wasn't that Good, actually. I didn't like most of the characters, especially Danny, although I think the part with him might actually turn out to be a rather essential plot twist. But I'll read the sequal, and I still don't know whether Esmeralda is good or not, and the new form of magic was rather fascinating.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Making Money
by Terry Pratchett
Grade: To Own
Wow! More Moist von Lipwig! A fake and utterly mad Lord Vetinari! The Gloop! Mushroom hands! Bank restoration! The invention of paper money! Female golemns! Lots of other cool stuff!
In other words, a good sequel. I can't wait till Raising Taxes. I bet Moist will just be absolutely fabulous at raising taxes. He is so awsome.
Here's a Gladys quote:
"'Don't you listen to him, it wasn't that bad,' said Peggy, with sisterly fellow feeling. 'Men always make a big fuss over a little pain.'
'They Are Just Big Cuddly Babies, Really,' said Gladys. That caused a thoughtful pause.
'Where did that come from?' asked Moist."
Grade: To Own
Wow! More Moist von Lipwig! A fake and utterly mad Lord Vetinari! The Gloop! Mushroom hands! Bank restoration! The invention of paper money! Female golemns! Lots of other cool stuff!
In other words, a good sequel. I can't wait till Raising Taxes. I bet Moist will just be absolutely fabulous at raising taxes. He is so awsome.
Here's a Gladys quote:
"'Don't you listen to him, it wasn't that bad,' said Peggy, with sisterly fellow feeling. 'Men always make a big fuss over a little pain.'
'They Are Just Big Cuddly Babies, Really,' said Gladys. That caused a thoughtful pause.
'Where did that come from?' asked Moist."
The Chaos King
by Laura Ruby
Grade: Good
Similar to the last book, it was really confusing in a good way. A really good way. I though, "Awesome! I've never seen a book like this before!" But then, some things weren't explained, and it got strange. THEN I realized it was a sequal. Which is really disappointing. I hate reading the sequel first. So I'll see what I think of the first. Maybe I'll be able to read it.
Grade: Good
Similar to the last book, it was really confusing in a good way. A really good way. I though, "Awesome! I've never seen a book like this before!" But then, some things weren't explained, and it got strange. THEN I realized it was a sequal. Which is really disappointing. I hate reading the sequel first. So I'll see what I think of the first. Maybe I'll be able to read it.
Magic or Madness
by Justine Larbalestier
Grade: Good
The twists and mysteries were good. By the end, I still didn't know who was bad and who wasn't. It reminds me of LOST in some ways. And at the beginning, you have no clue. I like that, actually. It seems much more realistic.
Looking forward to the next one.
Grade: Good
The twists and mysteries were good. By the end, I still didn't know who was bad and who wasn't. It reminds me of LOST in some ways. And at the beginning, you have no clue. I like that, actually. It seems much more realistic.
Looking forward to the next one.
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
Grade: Good
Wow. Wow, wow, wow. I stayed up till 5:30 (!!!) reading this book! My dad was similar, but over a couple days. Not quite as extreme. You simply cannot put this book down once you get a certain ways through it. I have never read a book quite like this one in that sense. Yet, strangely enough, I didn't love anything about it: not characters, plot line, style. The world it took place in was quite fascinating, though. I did love that.
EDIT: I don't like to correct reviews of books when my opinion has changed, even if it's drastically changed. But for this one I felt compelled to, I don't know why. Anyway, I do love the plot line and characters and style. All of it. So I don't know why I wrote that I didn't. I suppose I meant that I didn't love any of those aspects, and the gripping-ness was by far the best part?
Grade: Good
Wow. Wow, wow, wow. I stayed up till 5:30 (!!!) reading this book! My dad was similar, but over a couple days. Not quite as extreme. You simply cannot put this book down once you get a certain ways through it. I have never read a book quite like this one in that sense. Yet, strangely enough, I didn't love anything about it: not characters, plot line, style. The world it took place in was quite fascinating, though. I did love that.
EDIT: I don't like to correct reviews of books when my opinion has changed, even if it's drastically changed. But for this one I felt compelled to, I don't know why. Anyway, I do love the plot line and characters and style. All of it. So I don't know why I wrote that I didn't. I suppose I meant that I didn't love any of those aspects, and the gripping-ness was by far the best part?
Keturah and Lord Death
by Martine Leavitt
Grade: Good
I love the style, I love anthropomorphic personifications (as in Lord Death), the secondary characters are great, even Keturah manages not to be annoying. So it's Good.
However! I think it's partly just a stage, but I found the "love story" part a bit hard to manage, as well as some of the descriptions of Lord Death. So it's almost All right.
Grade: Good
I love the style, I love anthropomorphic personifications (as in Lord Death), the secondary characters are great, even Keturah manages not to be annoying. So it's Good.
However! I think it's partly just a stage, but I found the "love story" part a bit hard to manage, as well as some of the descriptions of Lord Death. So it's almost All right.
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