Reading list from 2010 (a year late)
I never posted my 2010 list of books, so here it is--a haphazard list of books that I hadn't read before, if I remembered to write them down, mostly with brief commentary.
2010
The Season, by Sarah MacLean-Spies and plots as well as regency romance, with three unconventional and bookish young ladies at the center-but their ideas and behavior are a tad anachronistic.
Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire-sequel to Hunger Games; still gripping; the story goes on to another book.
One Christmas Night, by Ruth Langan, Jacqueline Navin, Lyn Stone-historical romance novellas, mildly enjoyable but full of anachronisms, especially the first one, where the author seems to have no idea of value and cost (she had a bag of flour costing most of 3 gold coins-it should be a few pence - see, for instance, http://www.economics.utoronto.ca/munro5/SPICES1.htm -- especially the chart at bottom).
Cast in Shadow, by Michelle Sagara-Kaylin, as a Hawk protecting the city, tries to find the truth about children dying when she was young and again now.
Soulless, by Gail Carriger-entertaining story, some inventive twists in the setting. I’m dubious about the historical or scientific accuracy of some of the details, but I’m looking forward to the next book anyway.
Cloud and Ashes, Greer Gilman-all numinous, all the time.
Half a Crown, Jo Walton-completion of books started with Farthing, set in alternate England in which Hitler was appeased and still controls the continent.
Onion Girl, Charles de Lint [audiobook]-I’m finding it rather depressing, especially as we watch the one character’s slow descent. We’ll see if it redeems itself.
Rosemary and Rue, by Seanan McGuire-also urban fantasy, also kind of grim (and I never like the trope where the main character misses out on long stretches of her child’s childhood), though a bit lighter than Onion Girl. October Daye is a half-blood changling operating as a private investigator in the real world. Lots of loose ends left at the end, presumably for future books.
Enchantment Emporium, by Tanya Huff-like a cross between Huff’s Summon the Keeper and Hoffman’s Thread That Binds the Bones, only funnier.
Sherwood Smith, King’s Shield-third book about Inda; mostly back on land; still good.
The magicians : a novel / Grossman, Lev-a college of magic in Upstate NY has got to be worth reading about. Though going through a magic gateway in Brooklyn only to find yourself in a college in upstate NY seems like a waste of perfectly good magic-why not take the train? Lots too much angst; a few good bits but Quentin’s problems seem to overshadow much of the book. The Fillory books are an interesting device, but often seem to be way, way too close to the Narnia books they are clearly modeled on.
Megan Whalen Turner, A Conspiracy of Kings-Very engaging. What happens to Sophos.
Kerry Greenwood, Death Before Wicket-Phryne Fisher is a lady detective in 1920s Australia-lots of resonances with Lord Peter Wimsey, especially in the cricket scenes and the bohemian night life.
Diana Wynne Jones, Enchanted Glass-Andrew inherits Melstone and the field-of-care around it, but doesn’t know what that means. Aidan finds his way to Andrew’s house, pursued by social workers who aren’t really, and more uncanny things. The uncooperative housekeeper and gardener try Andrew’s patience, but the housekeeper’s nephew and the gardener’s secretary niece join the household. To say nothing of the dog.
Patricia Briggs, Silver Borne-interesting correspondences between Enchanted Glass and this, even though they are very different in most ways.
Charlaine Harris, Dead in the Family
[Diana Wynne Jones, House of Many Ways] Hm, I seem to have not noted it when I read it first. Very good, of course. Charmain is sent to look after the house of her uncle, the King’s wizard, while he is being cured by the elves. She has no practical knowledge of how to keep a house, especially this one, which is almost a character in its own right, but is helped (?) by the little dog Waif and the boy Peter. And then she has to help the king with the library as well. There are also evil lubbocks, disappearing royal treasure, magically multiplying laundry, Sophie, her toddler, and Howl in disguise, gnomes, etc.
Sharon Shinn, Mystic and Rider-Senneth and Kirra, with their magic, travel with two Riders and others to discover the mood of the Twelve Houses for the King. Obvious parallels between the rising anti-magic fanaticism and certain current political/religious movements.
Dogs and goddesses / Crusie, Jennifer-enjoyable and kind of goofy romance, but, possibly as a consequence of being written by several people, I found it hard to keep straight which woman was who (they all seemed somewhat Mary Sue-ish). I liked the dogs.
Charlaine Harris, Touch of Dead-short stories about Sookie, most from early to mid-series (so no spoilers for the most recent books).
Robert van Gulik, The Lacquer Screen-one of a series of mysteries about Judge Dee, a historical detective and statesman in 7th century China. Engaging. One can see him as one of the antecedents for a certain Imperial Auditor. While on holiday, Dee investigates several mysteries in a provincial town.
Barbara Hamilton (Barbara Hambly), The Ninth Daughter-Abigail Adams solves a mystery during the months of unrest leading up to the Boston Tea Party.
Mary Balogh, Irresistible
Tamora Pierce, Beka Cooper: Terrier-quite good. Beka starts training in the guard as a Puppy with two experienced Dogs. Her background in the poorer areas of the city give her insight into her job.
Tamora Pierce, Trickster's Choice
Tamora Pierce, Beka Cooper: Bloodhound
Patricia Wrede, Magic Below Stairs-younger person’s introduction to the world of Sorcery and Cecilia.
Summer knight / Butcher, Jim
Houses by mail : a guide to houses from Sears, Roebuck and Company / Stevenson, Katherine Cole.
Craftsman-style houses
Finding the houses that Sears built : a guide to the 60 most popular designs / Thornton, Rosemary Fuller
A river in the sky / Peters, Elizabeth-and another Amelia Peabody Emerson book set in the period before Ape That Guards the Balance, etc. The Emerson family in Jerusalem, combining archeology and mystery.
Feed / Grant, Mira (who also writes as Seanan McGuire) Georgia and Shaun are blogging the presidential race in 2040; they grew up after the zombies started terrorizing the world. You wouldn’t think a world with zombies would be particularly relevant, but the parallels with our world are striking. Georgia writes in her blog:
“The trouble with the news is simple: People, especially ones on the ends of the power spectrum, like it when you’re afraid. The people who have the power want you scared. They want you walking around paralyzed by the notion that you could die ant any moment. There’s always something to be afraid of. It used to be terrorists. Now it’s zombies.
What does this have to do with the news? This: The truth isn’t scary. Not when you understand it, not when you understand the repercussions of it, and not when you aren’t worried that something’s being kept from you. The truth is only scary when you think part of it might be missing. And those people? They like it when you’re scared. So they do their best to sit on the truth, to sensationalize the truth, to filter the truth in ways that make it something you can be afraid of.
If we didn’t have to fear the truths we didn’t hear, we’d lose the need to fear the ones we did. People should consider that.”
Though of course mostly it’s show, not tell. And not particularly horrific yet, though I’m still avoiding reading it just before bed. Okay, finished-definitely good. Perhaps I shouldn’t have finished it before bed-not because of horror, which it wasn’t, but because it was fraught and gripping and made me cry and then I had to read half a Georgette Heyer.
In the Bleak Midwinter, by Julia Spencer-Fleming-Clare is the new priest at an Episcopal church in upstate NY who works with Russ, chief of police, to solve a mystery. Well, several mysteries-first who left the baby by the church steps, then who is killing various people connected with the baby.
Out of the Deep I Cry, by Julia Spencer-Fleming-third of the Clare Fergusson mysteries; again, there are several layers of mystery involving events in the 1920s and ‘30s when the local reservoir was filled as well as today, and the poignant relationship between Clare and very-married Russ is developed further.
Fountain Filled with Blood, by Julia Spencer-Fleming-second Clare Fergusson (the library had the third but I had to wait for them to get the second from another library in the system). Russ’s mother is protesting a local development; someone is perpetrating hate crimes.
To Darkness and to Death, by Julia Spencer-Fleming-another gripping mystery about Claire Fergusson and police chief Russ Van Alstyne, involving logging, selling ancestral lands, and trouble with the bishop.
Faking it / Crusie, Jennifer-romantic romp, with strong bedroom-farce elements. The last chapter is a hoot.
All mortal flesh / Spencer-Fleming, Julia. The most gripping, convoluted, and fraught one yet, striking closer to home for Claire and Russ.
Aunt Dimity slays the dragon / Atherton, Nancy Renaissance fair in the village
Connie Willis, Blackout-in the same universe as To Say Nothing of the Dog, historians time travel from Oxford a century or so back to the Blitz, Dunkirk, and other fraught moments of World War II, but then their drops to get back won’t open, and they start worrying that maybe the theory is wrong and they are changing the delicate balance of history.
I Shall Not Want, by Julia Spencer-Fleming - not as fraught as the last one, but still with some twists.
Connie Willis, All Clear-the completion of the story started in Blackout. All the threads get wound together.
2010
The Season, by Sarah MacLean-Spies and plots as well as regency romance, with three unconventional and bookish young ladies at the center-but their ideas and behavior are a tad anachronistic.
Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire-sequel to Hunger Games; still gripping; the story goes on to another book.
One Christmas Night, by Ruth Langan, Jacqueline Navin, Lyn Stone-historical romance novellas, mildly enjoyable but full of anachronisms, especially the first one, where the author seems to have no idea of value and cost (she had a bag of flour costing most of 3 gold coins-it should be a few pence - see, for instance, http://www.economics.utoronto.ca/munro5/SPICES1.htm -- especially the chart at bottom).
Cast in Shadow, by Michelle Sagara-Kaylin, as a Hawk protecting the city, tries to find the truth about children dying when she was young and again now.
Soulless, by Gail Carriger-entertaining story, some inventive twists in the setting. I’m dubious about the historical or scientific accuracy of some of the details, but I’m looking forward to the next book anyway.
Cloud and Ashes, Greer Gilman-all numinous, all the time.
Half a Crown, Jo Walton-completion of books started with Farthing, set in alternate England in which Hitler was appeased and still controls the continent.
Onion Girl, Charles de Lint [audiobook]-I’m finding it rather depressing, especially as we watch the one character’s slow descent. We’ll see if it redeems itself.
Rosemary and Rue, by Seanan McGuire-also urban fantasy, also kind of grim (and I never like the trope where the main character misses out on long stretches of her child’s childhood), though a bit lighter than Onion Girl. October Daye is a half-blood changling operating as a private investigator in the real world. Lots of loose ends left at the end, presumably for future books.
Enchantment Emporium, by Tanya Huff-like a cross between Huff’s Summon the Keeper and Hoffman’s Thread That Binds the Bones, only funnier.
Sherwood Smith, King’s Shield-third book about Inda; mostly back on land; still good.
The magicians : a novel / Grossman, Lev-a college of magic in Upstate NY has got to be worth reading about. Though going through a magic gateway in Brooklyn only to find yourself in a college in upstate NY seems like a waste of perfectly good magic-why not take the train? Lots too much angst; a few good bits but Quentin’s problems seem to overshadow much of the book. The Fillory books are an interesting device, but often seem to be way, way too close to the Narnia books they are clearly modeled on.
Megan Whalen Turner, A Conspiracy of Kings-Very engaging. What happens to Sophos.
Kerry Greenwood, Death Before Wicket-Phryne Fisher is a lady detective in 1920s Australia-lots of resonances with Lord Peter Wimsey, especially in the cricket scenes and the bohemian night life.
Diana Wynne Jones, Enchanted Glass-Andrew inherits Melstone and the field-of-care around it, but doesn’t know what that means. Aidan finds his way to Andrew’s house, pursued by social workers who aren’t really, and more uncanny things. The uncooperative housekeeper and gardener try Andrew’s patience, but the housekeeper’s nephew and the gardener’s secretary niece join the household. To say nothing of the dog.
Patricia Briggs, Silver Borne-interesting correspondences between Enchanted Glass and this, even though they are very different in most ways.
Charlaine Harris, Dead in the Family
[Diana Wynne Jones, House of Many Ways] Hm, I seem to have not noted it when I read it first. Very good, of course. Charmain is sent to look after the house of her uncle, the King’s wizard, while he is being cured by the elves. She has no practical knowledge of how to keep a house, especially this one, which is almost a character in its own right, but is helped (?) by the little dog Waif and the boy Peter. And then she has to help the king with the library as well. There are also evil lubbocks, disappearing royal treasure, magically multiplying laundry, Sophie, her toddler, and Howl in disguise, gnomes, etc.
Sharon Shinn, Mystic and Rider-Senneth and Kirra, with their magic, travel with two Riders and others to discover the mood of the Twelve Houses for the King. Obvious parallels between the rising anti-magic fanaticism and certain current political/religious movements.
Dogs and goddesses / Crusie, Jennifer-enjoyable and kind of goofy romance, but, possibly as a consequence of being written by several people, I found it hard to keep straight which woman was who (they all seemed somewhat Mary Sue-ish). I liked the dogs.
Charlaine Harris, Touch of Dead-short stories about Sookie, most from early to mid-series (so no spoilers for the most recent books).
Robert van Gulik, The Lacquer Screen-one of a series of mysteries about Judge Dee, a historical detective and statesman in 7th century China. Engaging. One can see him as one of the antecedents for a certain Imperial Auditor. While on holiday, Dee investigates several mysteries in a provincial town.
Barbara Hamilton (Barbara Hambly), The Ninth Daughter-Abigail Adams solves a mystery during the months of unrest leading up to the Boston Tea Party.
Mary Balogh, Irresistible
Tamora Pierce, Beka Cooper: Terrier-quite good. Beka starts training in the guard as a Puppy with two experienced Dogs. Her background in the poorer areas of the city give her insight into her job.
Tamora Pierce, Trickster's Choice
Tamora Pierce, Beka Cooper: Bloodhound
Patricia Wrede, Magic Below Stairs-younger person’s introduction to the world of Sorcery and Cecilia.
Summer knight / Butcher, Jim
Houses by mail : a guide to houses from Sears, Roebuck and Company / Stevenson, Katherine Cole.
Craftsman-style houses
Finding the houses that Sears built : a guide to the 60 most popular designs / Thornton, Rosemary Fuller
A river in the sky / Peters, Elizabeth-and another Amelia Peabody Emerson book set in the period before Ape That Guards the Balance, etc. The Emerson family in Jerusalem, combining archeology and mystery.
Feed / Grant, Mira (who also writes as Seanan McGuire) Georgia and Shaun are blogging the presidential race in 2040; they grew up after the zombies started terrorizing the world. You wouldn’t think a world with zombies would be particularly relevant, but the parallels with our world are striking. Georgia writes in her blog:
“The trouble with the news is simple: People, especially ones on the ends of the power spectrum, like it when you’re afraid. The people who have the power want you scared. They want you walking around paralyzed by the notion that you could die ant any moment. There’s always something to be afraid of. It used to be terrorists. Now it’s zombies.
What does this have to do with the news? This: The truth isn’t scary. Not when you understand it, not when you understand the repercussions of it, and not when you aren’t worried that something’s being kept from you. The truth is only scary when you think part of it might be missing. And those people? They like it when you’re scared. So they do their best to sit on the truth, to sensationalize the truth, to filter the truth in ways that make it something you can be afraid of.
If we didn’t have to fear the truths we didn’t hear, we’d lose the need to fear the ones we did. People should consider that.”
Though of course mostly it’s show, not tell. And not particularly horrific yet, though I’m still avoiding reading it just before bed. Okay, finished-definitely good. Perhaps I shouldn’t have finished it before bed-not because of horror, which it wasn’t, but because it was fraught and gripping and made me cry and then I had to read half a Georgette Heyer.
In the Bleak Midwinter, by Julia Spencer-Fleming-Clare is the new priest at an Episcopal church in upstate NY who works with Russ, chief of police, to solve a mystery. Well, several mysteries-first who left the baby by the church steps, then who is killing various people connected with the baby.
Out of the Deep I Cry, by Julia Spencer-Fleming-third of the Clare Fergusson mysteries; again, there are several layers of mystery involving events in the 1920s and ‘30s when the local reservoir was filled as well as today, and the poignant relationship between Clare and very-married Russ is developed further.
Fountain Filled with Blood, by Julia Spencer-Fleming-second Clare Fergusson (the library had the third but I had to wait for them to get the second from another library in the system). Russ’s mother is protesting a local development; someone is perpetrating hate crimes.
To Darkness and to Death, by Julia Spencer-Fleming-another gripping mystery about Claire Fergusson and police chief Russ Van Alstyne, involving logging, selling ancestral lands, and trouble with the bishop.
Faking it / Crusie, Jennifer-romantic romp, with strong bedroom-farce elements. The last chapter is a hoot.
All mortal flesh / Spencer-Fleming, Julia. The most gripping, convoluted, and fraught one yet, striking closer to home for Claire and Russ.
Aunt Dimity slays the dragon / Atherton, Nancy Renaissance fair in the village
Connie Willis, Blackout-in the same universe as To Say Nothing of the Dog, historians time travel from Oxford a century or so back to the Blitz, Dunkirk, and other fraught moments of World War II, but then their drops to get back won’t open, and they start worrying that maybe the theory is wrong and they are changing the delicate balance of history.
I Shall Not Want, by Julia Spencer-Fleming - not as fraught as the last one, but still with some twists.
Connie Willis, All Clear-the completion of the story started in Blackout. All the threads get wound together.