2016 reading

[blamebrampton]

I have been meaning for some years to keep a list of books I read at LJ. In all likelihood I will get three entries in and then be hopelessly distracted by something else, but I'll give it a stab! Possibly another stab, this seems a very familiar caveat

Comments

[wedjateye]

I loved this book. I actually really like fantasy as a genre but the older I get, them more pegged off I am about stereotyped gender roles in fic. On the day I bought this, I really wanted something with real women in it. With strength of their own and flaws and their own motivations. I know Novik's writing from fanfic and was thrilled to find her novel and it really hot the spot for me. All the characters had their own hopes, dreams, fears - felt rounded and real. The women as much as the men.

This comment is not letting me correct typos!

[blamebrampton]

Don't worry: typos don't count in informal communications unless the communication is a grammar flame ;-)

And YES! Women characters! We want women who are people and who do things, and it shoudn't be that hard to get them!

I liked her dragon books, too, because there were lots of views of the same situation given, which I though was a strength in Uprooted, too. And I agree with you that fantasy can be a particular problematic when it comes to women. CJ Cherryh did some good fantasy to go with her sci-fi, and there were a few good Vonda McKintyre (sp??) books that I loved, though some others were a little too 70s for me. Frances Hardinge is my favourite writer in the genre now, but she's as much Gothic Magic Realism as fantasy.

Anyone you'd rec to me?

[bloodbelieve]

I read this on your recommendation and really enjoyed it!

[blamebrampton]

Yay! I'm so pleased! Have I raved at you about Frances Hardinge yet? I feel as though I should start a genteel and restrained fan club in which we would just send her tweets once a year that said 'Another excellent book, thank you so much' and her writing is so beautiful and spooky that anything else would seem overblown and girlish. But seriously, beautiful writing. And spooky ;-)

Any you'd suggest I should chase?

[bloodbelieve]

Ooh I will definitely check those out!

I'm not sure about recs back - have you read the Raven Boys? I've mostly enjoyed that series. And I quite want to read Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here, even though it's not in the same genre really, just for the incorporation of fanfic communities in it.