50 Book challenge

[fenchurch]

I decided to try the 50 book challenge (50bookchallenge) this year, since I've noticed a definite drop in the number of books I read these days. In part, I blame the internet and fanfic... the former taking up the spare time I used to use for reading and the latter filling the mental niche that books used to solely own. But the thing that caused my bookreading to take a major hit last year was the car accident. I had a few months where holding a book to read was very difficult (and, in the beginning, pretty much impossible) and I plain and simply got out of the habit.

I'm not off to a particularly fiery start this year, either... but I got a bit stuck on one book and kept thinking I should finish it before seriously moving on to another. I finally got smart, put it down, and picked up one of the other numerous books that I had on my Teetering Pile (several of which I'd already started reading previously).

So, without further ado, the first six books of the year, in the order I finished reading them.

1) Blood Price by Tanya Huff. I've had this book for ages but had put off reading it due to a less-than-stellar experience with one of the author's other books (which I'll get into if anyone is interested), but the television series and ensuing LJ discussions of the series got me curious. Fun read! I'm now trying to track down a copy of the sequel.

2) Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey. A re-read. I was just in the mood. The typographical errors bug me even more than they did the first time I read the book, back in middle school.

3) Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey. See above.

4) Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Blackout by Keith R. A. DeCandido. Yay, professional fanfic! Surprisingly good professional fanfic! I thought the author did a really good job of capturing Spike's personality... and making him a sympathetic character while still being, technically, a bad guy. If you're a Spike fan and haven't read this one yet, it's definitely worth picking up.

5) The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. This one has been on my Teetering Pile for years... and um, yeah. It's an interesting mystery... how the heck this book became such a raging bestseller. Wow, was that BAD. It's written like a poorly done Young Adult novel. Make that an *extremely* poorly done Young Adult novel. Although I guess it takes talent, of some sort, to take such a convoluted plotline and make it so facile, straightforward and linear. And the conspiracy aspect very quickly became really silly... which mostly made me want to reread In the Country of the Blind by Michael Flynn, because he at least knows how to handle the silliness of the issue while still keeping the story from becoming a farce.

I also have very little respect for an author who feels the need to deliberately withhold information from the reader in order to create an artificial sense of suspense... and he also apparently went to the Marti Noxon school of chapter endings where every single one needs to end on a cliffhanger, no matter how manipulative the writing has to be in order to make it happen.

Ugh. I could go on (and did, at length, to taradaktyl one morning when we were walking), but it's mostly rehashing what I said above but with more specific examples.

At least I know not to bother with any of his other books.

6) Conrad's Fate by Diana Wynne Jones. After the last book, I wanted to read a GOOD young adult novel... and what a difference this was, on every level (but I would expect no less from DWJ). CF is a very typical DWJ tale, complete with my least favorite aspect of her stories: the adult (usually a close family member) lying, misleading and manipulating a child into horribly self-destructive acts. I know it's most likely a reflection of her own childhood... but it reminds me a bit of the vilification of fathers over in the Whedonverse. After awhile you almost have to roll your eyes and say "Here we go again."

All that being said, it was a delightful book... entertaining and with some real plot twists and a fairly complex storyline.

Comments

[mirandaflynn.livejournal.com]

Which one of Tanya's didn't you like? I didn't care for Child of the Grove (the heroine has White Hair! and Green Eyes! A lot!), but that was her first book, and she got better.

[gillo]

Yes, you can really tell DWJ had issues with her own parents - since the family in Time of the Ghost is pretty much a portrait in some respects, it's not totally surprising. At least Chrestomanci (Christopher) is a good father. Did you get The Pinhoe Egg?

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I can pimp Audible.com to you if by "reading" you don't always mean...er... reading. >:)

Also worth reads: Neil Gaimen's "Anansi Boys" (Light and amusing) and "A Short History of Nearly Everything" which, despite its title, is quite long, but also informative and amusing.

(And, you can...probably log in as me and download them from my Audible if you want... not that I'd suggest anything baaaad).

[hesadevil.livejournal.com]

Greetings fellow community member. I totally agree with your assessment of the Da Vinci Code. Kate Mosse's 'Labyrinth' handles similar subject matter with much greater literary style.

YA book?!

[spacebumby.livejournal.com]

What an insult to young adult books. :) Don't kid yourself: The Da Vinci Code is exactly like a poorly written adult thriller. (I'd say more, but I don't have time for my usual rant on adult readers who lack the reading prowess for anything more complicated than The Bridges of Madison County.)

I preferred The Pinhoe Egg--seemed more like the DWJ I learned to love years ago. The Game is also very good, but too short.

I'd tell you how many books I've read this year, but you wouldn't believe me anyway.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

It was Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light. It had a number of Mary Sue-ish characters, which I can forgive... but the core premise of the book is based around a filk song I know, and she got it wrong. Not only did she get it wrong, but the way she did makes absolutely NO SENSE.

The song, btw, was "Wind's Four Quarters" by Mercedes Lackey (http://www.bardicarts.org/songs/Elements/windsfourquarters.html). It runs through the four quarters of the wind, which are represented by different stages of womanhood and grant different powers. The chorus goes:
Wind's four quarters, air and fire
Earth and water, hear my desire,
Grant my plea who stands alone,
Maiden, Warrior, Mother and Crone

Only Tanya Huff dropped a comma and reinterpreted it as "Maiden Warrior, Mother and Crone" and, well, how they heck would that be four quarters?!?! It's a fairly small thing, but it was so central to everything in the book that it constantly drove me to distraction... and made me VERY reluctant to read any of her other books.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I'd heard about that... and it explained quite a lot. Although, thankfully, she's also capable of writing a decent family life (see Archer's Goon).

I picked up The Pinhoe Egg when we were in England and read it on the flight home! Good book... and a bit better than this one, but I really enjoyed both.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I've been tempted by Audible, but the only time I can really get into an audiobook is on long roadtrips. Otherwise there's too much around to distract me and I lose track of what I'm hearing.

Also worth reads: Neil Gaimen's "Anansi Boys"

I loved that book... even more than American Gods. In fact, I had been reading it aloud to rackham on our roadtrip to Utah back in 2005 and had just finished it the day before our car accident.

"A Short History of Nearly Everything"

I've seen this one around but hadn't heard whether it was any good... I'll have to add it to the list of books to buy!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll add that one to my Books to Remember wishlist out on Amazon. There's really nothing like a poorly written novel with an interesting premise to get you searching for more but better books in the same vein.

Re: YA book?!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

What an insult to young adult books. :)

Heh! Well, you know the ones I mean... books written by adults who firmly believe that Young Adult really means "dumbed down."

The Game is also very good, but too short.

That's the one that just came out, right? I still need to see about picking it up.

I'd tell you how many books I've read this year, but you wouldn't believe me anyway.

I can imagine!

[pmgoose.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the Buffy fanfic recommendation! :)

[gillo]

I remember your looking lustfully at my then very new copy when you were here. I orefer it to Conrad's Fate too - though there are very few DWJ books I don't enjoy.

Have you read The Game yet? Well worth seeking out.

Re: YA book?!

[spacebumby.livejournal.com]

Me: What an insult to young adult books. :)

Heh! Well, you know the ones I mean... books written by adults who firmly believe that Young Adult really means "dumbed down."

Yes, but we shoot them on sight these days. It's very satisfying.

Speaking of literary maturity, I read the most mature *juvenile* series the other day, derived from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, about Jack Sparrow as a teen. Absolutely not what you'd expect from a Disney sort-of novelization. It always cheers me up to find such books available for my impressionable children.

Tanya Huff

[spacebumby.livejournal.com]

The one I liked by her was Summon the Keeper, though the later books in the series got a little goofy. I also read one of the semi-medieval books, Sing the Four Quarters--not really my thing.

Notice how I have nothing better to do today than post on your LJ? I'm avoiding work.

[zotel.livejournal.com]

I've read a few of the Dragonrider series - not usually "heavy" reading but still nice reads.

[wisemack.livejournal.com]

Hee! Putting down books that fail to hold one's interest is a good thing. THROWING books that infuriate and annoy against the nearest wall? Even better. ;)

(*ahem* Lucky for me, the person from whom I had borrowed that Dan Brown abomination had already slammed it into several walls herself, so I didn't feel too bad about flinging it. And it just felt sooooo good!)

I have a Teetering Pile, too. In fact, I think I've hit the library's 50-item check-out limit, which is kinda embarassing. But I got inspired and joined the community because I'm always reading and looking for more worthwhile books. Should be fun!

[julietvalcouer.livejournal.com]

Finding "Blood Debt" et al shouldn't be too hard, as (probably because of the TV show) they're back in print. I had to scrounge my copies at used bookstores. They're good, as vampire stories go.

So that's what this fifty book thing I've seen on people's LJs is. Don't take this the wrong way, folks, but...fifty in a YEAR? Seriously, how many books do you read? I could do that in a month. Probably have.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I ordered it from Amazon earlier today, which means it should be here by Friday! Of course, then it will get tossed on the Teetering Pile and who knows when I'll get to it (although I have been making serious progress there lately).

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Hee! Putting down books that fail to hold one's interest is a good thing. THROWING books that infuriate and annoy against the nearest wall? Even better. ;)

LOL! Well, this is a book that I actually do want to finish reading someday... it's For Us, the Living by Robert Heinlein. The first book he ever wrote and there's a definite reason it wasn't ever published during his lifetime. It's interesting to see where some of his later characters and plots got their start... but it isn't so much a novel as it is a rant thinly disguised as a story.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

You know, there was a time when I plowed through books like that... and it really wasn't all that long ago. I don't know, I guess I just reached a point where there was entirely too much else pulling at my time. And then, as I mentioned, there were over three months last year where I really couldn't hold books to read them, and I got completely out of the habit.

[julietvalcouer.livejournal.com]

I just read lots of books at the same time. I've slowed down over the years, so instead of finishing one a day I have several going at once (unless it's a Harry Potter, in which case, seven hours, tops.) Maybe it's because I read when I eat, have a book by the computer, in the bathroom, etc. I don't really have anyone to talk to unless I'm at work (when my hands are occupied) or dancing or skating.

[lyr]

I am entirely with you on The DaVinci Code. I can go off on Dan Brown's technical and mechanical flaws for hours. Seriously, hours. I just do not get what draws people to that book.

[mirandaflynn.livejournal.com]

That was an earlier one too and also not one of my favorites. She's better with urban fantasy.

[wisemack.livejournal.com]

Hee! Okay, the book I threw was that DaVinci piece o' crap. Badly written but aimed straight at the gullible occasional reader, it was a theological mess, true; but what cracked my shit up was the bit about Rosslyn Chapel. Hey, I read Dorothy Dunnett, and the chapel is not only featured in her last Niccolo book (Gemini) but is quite clearly explained in the DD Companion. "Rose Line" my ass! The name Rosslyn comes from a couple of Gaelic words that refer to its site - a fortress above a crag. Duh.

Never actually tossed a Heinlein (yet) although I was tempted by the Spider Robinson/Heinlein "collaboration" Variable Star which had only faint echoes of the Master, IMO. However, I checked just now and went and pulled For Us, the Living off the library shelf and will definitely let you know how long it takes me to get through it. ;)

BTW, one "new" Heinlein which I quite enjoyed is the de-sanitized Red Planet, which is, as explained in the foreword, a clear predecessor to Stranger.

[helenajole.livejournal.com]

I've been wanting to read Conrad's Fate. Sadly, we have misplaced a library book (Knuffle Bunny) in our recent apartment move, and I need to get that taken care of before I can check books out again. Oh the a-go-ny. I will have to go do that this week.

I've been re-reading some Vorkosigan books, backwards, again. I like A Civil Campaign so much I just have to read that one first.

I haven't been reading so much lately, either. I blame the computer (Photoshop, mostly). Though I've recently discovered that my daughter will go to sleep listening to me read a "big person book" to her. (If it's a picture book then she wants to look at it, but if there aren't any pictures then she can just listen and fall asleep. This is good.)