4)Sherwood ed. Jane Yolen (YA Robin Hood anthology) 134 pages. Source: Library Started: 8/6 Finished 8/7
Why Read: I found this on GR when I looked at a list of Jane Yolen's books. I love Robin Hood, so I took it out from my neighboring city's main library.
Comments: The standout story was "Robin Hood v.1.5.3" by Adam Stemple about a Robin Hood virus that takes over a corporate computer. It was hilarious and quite clever. Nancy Springer's story "Know Your True Enemy" had some excellent characterization. Other stories seemed formulaic. I'm going to give the anthology a B.
5)Alpha Female by April Christofferson (thriller) 356 pages. Source: Supermarket Started: 8/7 Finished: 8/8
Why Read: I saw this on a book e-mail, but wasn't interested in the summary I saw then. When I picked up the book at the supermarket, the back cover copy told me that it was about the wolves in Yellowstone.
Comments: Very suspenseful and excellent characterization of the MCs who are a federal judge for the Yellowstone court system and a park ranger who has dedicated his life to the park's wolves. I'm giving it a B+. It's a good read.
Why Read: I saw this on Author Buzz, I think. It's about a relationship between an Amish woman and an Underground Railroad conductor for escaping slaves in the 1850's. It sounded like it could be powerful.
Comments: I liked the characters, but I found the happily ever after resolution not quite believable in this case. Maybe it is possible. I'm giving it a B. I know there's going to be a sequel.
7)Come On Shore And We Will Kill And Eat You All by Christina Thompson (memoir with historical background) 256 pages. Source: Goodreads giveaway Started: 8/9 Finished: 8/12
Why Read: The title certainly attracts attention, but my main interest was in the relationship of the American author with a Maori.
Comments: I think that this author's self-awareness of her family's history with regard to American Indians does her credit. She did research on it when a cousin of her husband told her she should know her own roots before she explored the roots of their family. The Maoris described in the book impressed me as resourceful survivor types--particularly the author's husband. Civilized intellectuals like myself and Christina Thompson tend to admire these qualities because we don't possess them. I was involved with an Irishman who was also a resourceful survivor type. I was interested to discover that the ancient Celts had many similarities to the Maoris. There was a tantalizing reference to the Maori Christian group called the Ratana. Their symbols seem syncretistic (a combination of religious traditions). I'd like to know more. Rating B+
8)Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey (alternate universe fantasy) 645 pages. Source: Library Started: 8/13 Finished: 8/15
Why Read: I loved the Kushiel series when it focused on Phedre, who was an extraordinary character. Now Jacqueline Carey is expanding her universe to other countries and will be focusing on Naamah, the Goddess of Desire, who I think is a more conventional deity than Kushiel. But I'm interested in finding out how the Celts live in this universe.
Comments: It started out in Dalraida, which would be alternate Scotland. And I thought I was reading one of the many Celtic fantasies out there. So this isn't exactly unique. Moirin, the MC, does have some unusual powers and courage. I admired her. I also admired Snow Tiger, the Chinese warrior princess, and Bao, the half-Mongol thief. Bao's mentor Master Lo Feng was also a great character. His concept of elemental breathing was fascinating. I had read in a Zen Buddhist memoir that there is a kind of breathing that can keep you warm in the cold. Marion Zimmer Bradley also mentioned it in her Darkover novels as a technique of the Cristoforo monks. So it gets more interesting in China. Rating B+
Why Read: It sounded like the MC was a kind of Zorro. It's very different from the previous book, so I felt I could read two books by the same author in a row.
Comments: Kind of disappointing. She's like the mutants in Christine Feehan's Game series. There are others and the U.S. military wants to use them. She briefly becomes a sort of Zorro. But then she decides to take up boxing. You really have to love boxing because it goes on and on about her training. There's a lesbian relationship, but it's not graphic. I also didn't find it very interesting. I rated this book C+.
Why Read: I found this on GR when I looked at a list of Jane Yolen's books. I love Robin Hood, so I took it out from my neighboring city's main library.
Comments: The standout story was "Robin Hood v.1.5.3" by Adam Stemple about a Robin Hood virus that takes over a corporate computer. It was hilarious and quite clever. Nancy Springer's story "Know Your True Enemy" had some excellent characterization. Other stories seemed formulaic. I'm going to give the anthology a B.
5)Alpha Female by April Christofferson (thriller) 356 pages. Source: Supermarket Started: 8/7 Finished: 8/8
Why Read: I saw this on a book e-mail, but wasn't interested in the summary I saw then. When I picked up the book at the supermarket, the back cover copy told me that it was about the wolves in Yellowstone.
Comments: Very suspenseful and excellent characterization of the MCs who are a federal judge for the Yellowstone court system and a park ranger who has dedicated his life to the park's wolves. I'm giving it a B+. It's a good read.
6)Rachel's Secret by B.J. Hoff (historical fiction) 265 pages. Source: Library Started: 8/8 Finished: 8/9
Why Read: I saw this on Author Buzz, I think. It's about a relationship between an Amish woman and an Underground Railroad conductor for escaping slaves in the 1850's. It sounded like it could be powerful.
Comments: I liked the characters, but I found the happily ever after resolution not quite believable in this case. Maybe it is possible. I'm giving it a B. I know there's going to be a sequel.
7)Come On Shore And We Will Kill And Eat You All by Christina Thompson (memoir with historical background) 256 pages. Source: Goodreads giveaway Started: 8/9 Finished: 8/12
Why Read: The title certainly attracts attention, but my main interest was in the relationship of the American author with a Maori.
Comments: I think that this author's self-awareness of her family's history with regard to American Indians does her credit. She did research on it when a cousin of her husband told her she should know her own roots before she explored the roots of their family. The Maoris described in the book impressed me as resourceful survivor types--particularly the author's husband. Civilized intellectuals like myself and Christina Thompson tend to admire these qualities because we don't possess them. I was involved with an Irishman who was also a resourceful survivor type. I was interested to discover that the ancient Celts had many similarities to the Maoris. There was a tantalizing reference to the Maori Christian group called the Ratana. Their symbols seem syncretistic (a combination of religious traditions). I'd like to know more. Rating B+
8)Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey (alternate universe fantasy) 645 pages. Source: Library Started: 8/13 Finished: 8/15
Why Read: I loved the Kushiel series when it focused on Phedre, who was an extraordinary character. Now Jacqueline Carey is expanding her universe to other countries and will be focusing on Naamah, the Goddess of Desire, who I think is a more conventional deity than Kushiel. But I'm interested in finding out how the Celts live in this universe.
Comments: It started out in Dalraida, which would be alternate Scotland. And I thought I was reading one of the many Celtic fantasies out there. So this isn't exactly unique. Moirin, the MC, does have some unusual powers and courage. I admired her. I also admired Snow Tiger, the Chinese warrior princess, and Bao, the half-Mongol thief. Bao's mentor Master Lo Feng was also a great character. His concept of elemental breathing was fascinating. I had read in a Zen Buddhist memoir that there is a kind of breathing that can keep you warm in the cold. Marion Zimmer Bradley also mentioned it in her Darkover novels as a technique of the Cristoforo monks. So it gets more interesting in China. Rating B+
9)Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey (science fiction) 341 pages. Source: Library Started: 8/16 Finished: 8/17
Why Read: It sounded like the MC was a kind of Zorro. It's very different from the previous book, so I felt I could read two books by the same author in a row.
Comments: Kind of disappointing. She's like the mutants in Christine Feehan's Game series. There are others and the U.S. military wants to use them. She briefly becomes a sort of Zorro. But then she decides to take up boxing. You really have to love boxing because it goes on and on about her training. There's a lesbian relationship, but it's not graphic. I also didn't find it very interesting. I rated this book C+.
To Be Continued...