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How is it December already? How is it December already?!
On the other hand, I have successfully braved domestic air travel, seen ma famille in person for the first time in close to two years, and can now break out the balsam fir candles. As far as reading goes:
What I Finished Reading This Week
Rebel Buddha – Dzogchen Ponlop
This book gets to the heart of Buddhism as a modern day practice without a misplaced or extraneous word. I highly recommend this one.
What I Finished Reading At Some Point In The Past Four Months
Senlin Ascends – Josiah Bancroft
Oh my goodness, this is the found family steampunk high fantasy of my dreams. I loved the setting from the get-go, but struggled to maintain momentum through the early chapters while the protagonist learned a series of incredibly painful but necessary lessons. I also worried that Bancroft would accomplish said protagonist’s character growth through what’s probably my biggest narrative plot device pet peeve. To my delight, he appears to be a smarter—and slier—author than that. By the novel's conclusion, the plot was doing everything right and I can’t wait to read the next volumes.
The Kingdoms – Natasha Pulley
Easily my favorite novel by Pulley since The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. There’s an amazing set-up, deeply amoral (even immoral) characters, some nice red herrings, and all the alternate history action and adventure I could ask for. It’s a testament to how well all this worked for me that I'm willing to overlook Pulley ( cut for spoilers ) to pull it all off.
What I Am Currently Reading
In A Dark Wood – Michael Cadnum
Oh god, I always have to power through chapter 8. But now that I have, I can settle in to enjoy the rest of the book.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels – India Holton
The very first chapter had me cackling multiple times per page. I’m now 20 percent of the way in, and the story continues to delight.
Returning to Silence – Dainin Katagiri
This is a little too dated and discursive for my tastes, and is shaping up to be a read and release.
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street – Natasha Pulley
Continuing with my queue of Yuletide requests. If you plan on buying this, buy it in analog format. The ebook lacks—to an inexcusable degree—decent proofreading.
The Winter Isles – Antonia Senior
It’s...competently written, but not grabbing me as much as I’d hoped it would.
What I’m Reading Next
I acquired no new books this week, even after the temptation of an hour spent in Half Price Books.
What I Still Have Left To Review
The Crone ・ The Last Graduate ・ 最遊記ＲＥＬＯＡＤ ＢＬＡＳＴ (1) ・ 最遊記ＲＥＬＯＡＤ ＢＬＡＳＴ (2) ・ 最遊記ＲＥＬＯＡＤ ＢＬＡＳＴ (3)
これで以上です。
On the other hand, I have successfully braved domestic air travel, seen ma famille in person for the first time in close to two years, and can now break out the balsam fir candles. As far as reading goes:
What I Finished Reading This Week
Rebel Buddha – Dzogchen Ponlop
This book gets to the heart of Buddhism as a modern day practice without a misplaced or extraneous word. I highly recommend this one.
What I Finished Reading At Some Point In The Past Four Months
Senlin Ascends – Josiah Bancroft
Oh my goodness, this is the found family steampunk high fantasy of my dreams. I loved the setting from the get-go, but struggled to maintain momentum through the early chapters while the protagonist learned a series of incredibly painful but necessary lessons. I also worried that Bancroft would accomplish said protagonist’s character growth through what’s probably my biggest narrative plot device pet peeve. To my delight, he appears to be a smarter—and slier—author than that. By the novel's conclusion, the plot was doing everything right and I can’t wait to read the next volumes.
The Kingdoms – Natasha Pulley
Easily my favorite novel by Pulley since The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. There’s an amazing set-up, deeply amoral (even immoral) characters, some nice red herrings, and all the alternate history action and adventure I could ask for. It’s a testament to how well all this worked for me that I'm willing to overlook Pulley ( cut for spoilers ) to pull it all off.
What I Am Currently Reading
In A Dark Wood – Michael Cadnum
Oh god, I always have to power through chapter 8. But now that I have, I can settle in to enjoy the rest of the book.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels – India Holton
The very first chapter had me cackling multiple times per page. I’m now 20 percent of the way in, and the story continues to delight.
Returning to Silence – Dainin Katagiri
This is a little too dated and discursive for my tastes, and is shaping up to be a read and release.
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street – Natasha Pulley
Continuing with my queue of Yuletide requests. If you plan on buying this, buy it in analog format. The ebook lacks—to an inexcusable degree—decent proofreading.
The Winter Isles – Antonia Senior
It’s...competently written, but not grabbing me as much as I’d hoped it would.
What I’m Reading Next
I acquired no new books this week, even after the temptation of an hour spent in Half Price Books.
What I Still Have Left To Review
The Crone ・ The Last Graduate ・ 最遊記ＲＥＬＯＡＤ ＢＬＡＳＴ (1) ・ 最遊記ＲＥＬＯＡＤ ＢＬＡＳＴ (2) ・ 最遊記ＲＥＬＯＡＤ ＢＬＡＳＴ (3)
これで以上です。
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