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Have I really missed two weeks' worth of WAIRWs? I definitely finished several books during that time, but I couldn't tell you what they were. At any rate, here's what I've tackled this week.
What I Just Finished Reading
The Good Fairies of New York – Martin Millar
I love this book so. Much. Don’t let Millar’s deceptively simple style fool you; he is a second coming of Shakespeare, with all the bard’s mastery of pacing, sly humor, devilishly intricate plots, and affection for his characters and their foibles. I have read The Good Fairies at least half a dozen times, and always find something new and delightful each time I revisit it. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.
The Tailor of Gloucester - Beatrix Potter
Being a limited edition run by Hatchards printed in a special font based on Potter's handwriting, this is my first toe-dip into the holiday season.
Sorcerer To The Crown – Zen Cho
A lighthearted and charming, if not exactly filling, novel. Cho treats plot elements like a five-year-old treats new toys on her birthday: she’s so excited by each that she can barely play with it for more than moment or two before she abandons it to pick up another. Her enthusiasm is delightful but hardly fosters narrative cohesion, with the end result that Cho introduces a wealth of enticing themes—critiques of gender, race, class, and colonialism; intriguing worldbuilding in realms human and fairy; a romance, several murder mysteries; a comedy of manners; a tale of political intrigue—but fails to much develop the potential of any of them. That said, neither does she wallow in the social justice bona fides these themes suggest, and if the female protagonist predictably ends the novel with All The Money, All the Quest Items, and All The Magical and Temporal Powers, at least she routinely and unapologetically puts her self-interest first. End verdict: a solidly decent first effort, and I will proceed to the sequel.
Thor: First Thunder – Bryan Glass & Tang Eng Huat
There were kernels of an interesting plot, but the execution was rushed even by superhero comic standards. At its best, Glass’s dialogue harks back to the silver age era; at its worst it’s confusing. None of this is helped by Glass’s complete ignorance of the archaic second person and inability to consistently stick to thou or you...even in the same sentence.
What I Am Currently Reading
The True Queen – Zen Cho
At first blush, it seems at least some of the action will take place in Malaysia, which is very cool.
Vote Loki – Christopher Hastings, Langdon Foss, Paul McCaffrey
So far, this one is doing quite nicely as palette cleanser for the Glass/Tang debacle above.
The Virtu – Sarah Monette
This year, I’m rereading all the written canon for my Yuletide requests, and as the darkest, Monette’s series comes first.
The Starless Sea – Erin Morgenstern
I’m 40 pages in and so far Morgenstern seems to have struck upon a narrative approach and tone that addresses the elements I didn’t like in her debut. I’m looking forward to reading more.
What I'm Reading Next
This week, I picked up Yoon Ha Lee's The Raven Strategem, Morgenstern's Starless Sea (which I've already started), and Robin McKinley's Sunshine in ebook (to avoid having to cart my analog copy around). Once I've finished The Virtu, I may pivot to Addison, Pulley, or Whalen once I wrap up The Virtu.
これで以上です。
What I Just Finished Reading
The Good Fairies of New York – Martin Millar
I love this book so. Much. Don’t let Millar’s deceptively simple style fool you; he is a second coming of Shakespeare, with all the bard’s mastery of pacing, sly humor, devilishly intricate plots, and affection for his characters and their foibles. I have read The Good Fairies at least half a dozen times, and always find something new and delightful each time I revisit it. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.
The Tailor of Gloucester - Beatrix Potter
Being a limited edition run by Hatchards printed in a special font based on Potter's handwriting, this is my first toe-dip into the holiday season.
Sorcerer To The Crown – Zen Cho
A lighthearted and charming, if not exactly filling, novel. Cho treats plot elements like a five-year-old treats new toys on her birthday: she’s so excited by each that she can barely play with it for more than moment or two before she abandons it to pick up another. Her enthusiasm is delightful but hardly fosters narrative cohesion, with the end result that Cho introduces a wealth of enticing themes—critiques of gender, race, class, and colonialism; intriguing worldbuilding in realms human and fairy; a romance, several murder mysteries; a comedy of manners; a tale of political intrigue—but fails to much develop the potential of any of them. That said, neither does she wallow in the social justice bona fides these themes suggest, and if the female protagonist predictably ends the novel with All The Money, All the Quest Items, and All The Magical and Temporal Powers, at least she routinely and unapologetically puts her self-interest first. End verdict: a solidly decent first effort, and I will proceed to the sequel.
Thor: First Thunder – Bryan Glass & Tang Eng Huat
There were kernels of an interesting plot, but the execution was rushed even by superhero comic standards. At its best, Glass’s dialogue harks back to the silver age era; at its worst it’s confusing. None of this is helped by Glass’s complete ignorance of the archaic second person and inability to consistently stick to thou or you...even in the same sentence.
What I Am Currently Reading
The True Queen – Zen Cho
At first blush, it seems at least some of the action will take place in Malaysia, which is very cool.
Vote Loki – Christopher Hastings, Langdon Foss, Paul McCaffrey
So far, this one is doing quite nicely as palette cleanser for the Glass/Tang debacle above.
The Virtu – Sarah Monette
This year, I’m rereading all the written canon for my Yuletide requests, and as the darkest, Monette’s series comes first.
The Starless Sea – Erin Morgenstern
I’m 40 pages in and so far Morgenstern seems to have struck upon a narrative approach and tone that addresses the elements I didn’t like in her debut. I’m looking forward to reading more.
What I'm Reading Next
This week, I picked up Yoon Ha Lee's The Raven Strategem, Morgenstern's Starless Sea (which I've already started), and Robin McKinley's Sunshine in ebook (to avoid having to cart my analog copy around). Once I've finished The Virtu, I may pivot to Addison, Pulley, or Whalen once I wrap up The Virtu.
これで以上です。
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