Reading actual books

[fenchurch]

You know, I should probably sit down and do an entry about all the books I've read this year. Sadly, it wouldn't be a very lengthy post... because as of this evening, I've finished reading exactly eight books (although the good news is that's already more than I was able to finish in 2007). I'm slowly regaining the habit of reading... something I lost after the car accident, when it became almost impossible for me to hold books to read them, at least for any decent length of time.

Tonight, I finally finished Ill Wind by Rachel Caine, which is part of her Weather Warden series. I've mostly been reading it while riding the Lifecycle at the YMCA and it's been a good way to pass the time there... and, um, it wasn't exactly BAD, but I don't know if I would go so far as to classify it as GOOD. To be honest, it read like a first fanfic that wasn't based on another source, but with decent grammar and no spelling errors, if that makes any sense (and yeah, I know, I should just say it's badly written original fiction, but it does really have that badfic/fanfic feel to it). The main character was practically a Mary Sue -- everyone loved her, she attracted the hot guys, she had an amazing ability and, in the end, she became an amazing magical creature because of her self sacrifice.

Other than that, the storytelling was fairly straightforward, but enjoyable and I liked the premise, even if it seemed like it was both overly complicated and overly simplistic. A weird combo that I think had more to do with the author's writing style than with the universe she's created.

I'm not sure how interested I am in reading any more of the series... although there is one part of me that is really curious about where she could possibly take the character from here. I think I would have been much more likely to want to read the other books if she had left Joanna as a regular old human Weather Warden... because by removing the humanity portion of her character so quickly, it seems like she's been separated from the reader a bit too much. And it seems like the sort of thing that could have waited for a few books to better establish the character and the world... I think it might have had more impact.

So, anyway, I guess what it comes down to is that I enjoyed the book, but ultimately didn't find it satisfying. Everything felt too rushed and a little bit too orderly (in the way of stories written by people who are still figuring out what they're doing).

Comments

This is funny...

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

I wiki'ed the book you mentioned because I was just curious, and it came up with the author's page. Rachel Caine, right? The first thing I thought was, "Well, she wrote that book back in 03, looks like it was her first, she must have gotten better". Then I noticed that, under a pseudonym, she wrote one of the Stargate SG-1 Fandemonium books, "Sacrifice Moon", which I absolutely despise. In fact, I call it 'Snackrifice Moon' because of the endless descriptions of what everyone's EATING throughout the book, which is only one facet of it's annoyingness. I even co-wrote a review of it for GateWorld (http://gateworld.net/books/sacrifice_moon.review.shtml).

So, um, *clears throat* I just wanted to share that.

Re: This is funny...

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I am *so* not surprised. I just took a peek at her Buffy fanfic and, oh, the badness! It burns!

[molly_may]

Rachel Caine's Buffy fanfic. Obviously under a different name now, but that's her.

I read the first three books in the Weather Wardens series before giving up. She did deal with the problem of Joanna being made seemingly too powerful too fast in the second book, but I couldn't get engaged enough to keep reading past book three.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Wow... I just took a look at those and, um, yeah. As I just mentioned in my reply to allisnow: The badness! It burns!

The thing is, I know a few people who have moved from writing fanfic to writing professionally and are actually *good*. You'd never be able to tell that they started out writing fanfic. And there are certainly fanfic writers whose fic reads like professional fiction already (and I really wish they would make the leap to writing books). All I can think is that Rachel Caine was in the right place at the right time... showing up during the big influx of urban fantasy in the past few years with an interesting idea and decent grammar.

Thanks for the info on the other books... I think I'll just give them a pass for now. Too many other good things to read already on my Teetering Pile!

[sp23.livejournal.com]

I've come to the point in my life where I don't continue to read a book that doesn't engage me fairly quickly, and if I do finish the book, but find it disappointing, I pretty much strike the author from my list unless someone can assure me that they get better. Life's too short to read bad fiction. *g*

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

I'm reading all the comments here with interest - I met Rachel when she was a guest at the last Writercon. I've never read her original fiction or her Buffy fanfic, but I'm a huge fan of her HP fanfic.

Read something GOOD already

[spacebumby.livejournal.com]

RE: the Weather Warden books--can you say "shot her wad"? As the second book proves, there *wasn't* anywhere to take that character after the ending of the first book...and by the end of the second volume, Caine had to reverse almost everything related to character or story progression in that book just to give herself something to do in the future. I think her universe needs to be taken away from her and given to someone competent.

You have *got* to get back on the horse, woman. It's too bad I don't live closer, or I'd nag you more productively. As it is, how can I give you suggestions if I don't know what you haven't read yet? (Though if you're still checking the DWJ list, you've got my last year in review post.) I know you have more books than I do and I can hear them crying from neglect from 800 miles away. :)

[jerusha]

LOL! I almost bought that book, but I have a nasty habit of flipping to the end of it to see if I'm going to be sad. There was something about it that just didn't quite feel right, so I guess I'll avoid it like the plague now.