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highlyeccentricCurrently Reading:
Fiction: Zen Cho, Sorceror to the Crown. Mostly enjoying, occasionally skidding off slight embarrassment squick. 'A Hand of Knaves', in which I have read the first story and then re-read my own and been delighted with both, but no further progress since Saturday. Also, technically, Redwall.
Non-Fiction: None
Lit Mag: Technically but not actively, Meanjin Summer 2018. I did put a handful of links in the last Monday links post, but haven't got further since then
Recently Finished: Oops I had a binge-reading episode.
Sabriel by Garth Nix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have not re-read this book for a long time! I loved it. I loved it even more now that I've outgrown my emetophobia (my gosh there's a LOT of nausea in this book????).
My fundamental reaction remains the same, although sadly as a teenager I did not recognise it: Sabriel could walk all over me and I would thank her. Touchstone's only saving grace as a character is that he shares this eminently sensible opinion.
Flâneuse: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice, and London by Lauren Elkin
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
This is not what it says on the cover. It is not a critical analysis of gender and urban space. It isn't even a pop history of Famous City Women.
It is Lauren Elkin's Memoirs of Paris, Contrasted With Cities That Are Not Paris. Interspersed with tedious heterosexual angst. One star, do not recommend.
KJ Charles, Band Sinister: Previous review stills stands.
KJ Charles, The Magpie Lord and A Case of Possession. Previous reviews (1, 2) can stand. Enjoyed! I note my previous reviews of subsequent books suggest I wasn't happy with the further romantic plot, so I think I shall just... stop here.
A Fashionable Indulgence by K.J. Charles
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Update 2019: if the historical grounding is what kept me going last time, it's what has me bouncing off it HARD now. Oh the difference between July 2016 and May 2019. Look, there's a lot of disbelief I'm willing to suspend, but there are some things you cannot and should not attempt to 'both sides' your way around, and the Peterloo Massacre is one of them. I can't respect the MC; I can't be satisfied with 'he was granted a large sum of money and became a philanthropist'. There are two things that would satisfy me: one is the entire band becoming ardent democrats and advocating for reform of the electoral system, and the other is S (love interest of book 2) setting R's house (MC of book 3) on fire with literally all the lead characters in it as an act of righteous direct resistance. Unfortunately I know (having read the series before) neither are on the table.
Needless to say, I will... not proceed with rereading this series. (click through to compare to 2016)
Up Next: I have 'Educated', and I need to start thinking strategically about academic non-fiction. I will probably, in actual fact, re-read Spectred Isle and Think of England. I don't have a book by a non-white/poc/ethnic minority author lined up after Sorceror, and I want brain candy, so maybe I'll buy another Alyssa Cole or Lydia San Andrés book.
Music: Um. Music... happened. No new purchases (my self-reward went to the Nix book). Revisiting Lorde and Halsey. That's about it, really.
Wait no. I haven't been listening to this YET, but I am starting now and expect to do so more on Saturday:
Fiction: Zen Cho, Sorceror to the Crown. Mostly enjoying, occasionally skidding off slight embarrassment squick. 'A Hand of Knaves', in which I have read the first story and then re-read my own and been delighted with both, but no further progress since Saturday. Also, technically, Redwall.
Non-Fiction: None
Lit Mag: Technically but not actively, Meanjin Summer 2018. I did put a handful of links in the last Monday links post, but haven't got further since then
Recently Finished: Oops I had a binge-reading episode.
Sabriel by Garth NixMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have not re-read this book for a long time! I loved it. I loved it even more now that I've outgrown my emetophobia (my gosh there's a LOT of nausea in this book????).
My fundamental reaction remains the same, although sadly as a teenager I did not recognise it: Sabriel could walk all over me and I would thank her. Touchstone's only saving grace as a character is that he shares this eminently sensible opinion.
Flâneuse: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice, and London by Lauren ElkinMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
This is not what it says on the cover. It is not a critical analysis of gender and urban space. It isn't even a pop history of Famous City Women.
It is Lauren Elkin's Memoirs of Paris, Contrasted With Cities That Are Not Paris. Interspersed with tedious heterosexual angst. One star, do not recommend.
KJ Charles, Band Sinister: Previous review stills stands.
KJ Charles, The Magpie Lord and A Case of Possession. Previous reviews (1, 2) can stand. Enjoyed! I note my previous reviews of subsequent books suggest I wasn't happy with the further romantic plot, so I think I shall just... stop here.
A Fashionable Indulgence by K.J. CharlesMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Update 2019: if the historical grounding is what kept me going last time, it's what has me bouncing off it HARD now. Oh the difference between July 2016 and May 2019. Look, there's a lot of disbelief I'm willing to suspend, but there are some things you cannot and should not attempt to 'both sides' your way around, and the Peterloo Massacre is one of them. I can't respect the MC; I can't be satisfied with 'he was granted a large sum of money and became a philanthropist'. There are two things that would satisfy me: one is the entire band becoming ardent democrats and advocating for reform of the electoral system, and the other is S (love interest of book 2) setting R's house (MC of book 3) on fire with literally all the lead characters in it as an act of righteous direct resistance. Unfortunately I know (having read the series before) neither are on the table.
Needless to say, I will... not proceed with rereading this series. (click through to compare to 2016)
Up Next: I have 'Educated', and I need to start thinking strategically about academic non-fiction. I will probably, in actual fact, re-read Spectred Isle and Think of England. I don't have a book by a non-white/poc/ethnic minority author lined up after Sorceror, and I want brain candy, so maybe I'll buy another Alyssa Cole or Lydia San Andrés book.
Music: Um. Music... happened. No new purchases (my self-reward went to the Nix book). Revisiting Lorde and Halsey. That's about it, really.
Wait no. I haven't been listening to this YET, but I am starting now and expect to do so more on Saturday: