Book Logging
Aug. 29th, 2009 05:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_rckAbe, Shana. The Smoke Thief - I got about a third of the way in and gave up because I didn't care about the characters. I think that, if I hadn't already read the sequel, I might have stuck with it out of interest in the drakon, but I wasn't seeing anything new.
After School Nightmare 9-10 - Part of me would have liked more answers at the end, but I was reasonably satisfied with the questions that were answered. I think I also would have preferred to see happy resolution for the supporting characters. Oh, well, can't have everything.... Still worthwhile for the characterization, symbolism and so on.
Beauty Pop 10 - I had more fun with this series than I expected to and am a little sorry to have reached the end of it. I'm glad, though, that it's not going to stretch on forever with the same handful of jokes. Recommended for those who like light humor and competitive hair cutting.
Bizenghast 5 - I wish I remembered the earlier volumes better. I don't remember what Vincent was investigating, and it's obviously important. I'm also working at not getting cranky with Dinah as she grieves. The episodes in this volume were peculiar because I couldn't tell if they were resolving with Dinah succeeding or just with Dinah surviving. I suspect the latter, but I'm not sure because I can't remember if she's allowed to fail and come back later to try again.
Blue Inferior 1 - One volume of a manga is often enough for me to know that I won't like a series. It's generally not enough for me to be sure that I will like one. That makes series like this frustrating-- I get the first volume through BookMooch and then never see any later volumes. I may have to stop doing that (even if it is interesting) as it drives me crazy.
This series starts out relatively gently by setting the scene. The hero lives in an idyllic enclave, one of an unspecified number of safe areas left on the planet. The world outside is hostile and, according to the older members of the community, populated by 'sub-humans.' Then a girl washes up on shore. She remembers only her name.
This volume has several small reveals that serve to move the story along. If I had another volume, I'd probably jump in and keep reading (in spite of the fact that an ocean voyage seems to be upcoming. Water journeys have the potential to set off all kinds of anxiety for me, even when they're fictional).
Buso Renkin 9-10 - The final volume of this series wound up way too fast. I didn't believe the resolution. I also didn't care for the non-Buso Renkin short that filled out the volume. It was too much with horror and necromancy for my taste.
Castle, Jayne. Dark Light - Popcorn romance. This is another of Castle's (yes, I'm aware of the other names under which she writes. I don't care) books set on the world of Harmony. If you've read one of these, you know more or less what this book is. If you haven't, they're set on another planet that differs from ours in that most people have at least minor psychic powers, long disappeared alien inhabitants left ruins, artifacts and dangerous psychic energy, and the culture is remarkably homogeneous. This time the pairing is a crusading tabloid journalist and a Guild boss.
I keep thinking that the world building for Harmony is thin. Then I remind myself of what (and who) I'm reading and that I shouldn't expect realistic repercussions of cultural fundamentals. After all, I read books like this because they aren't challenging and don't make me think.
Chronicles of the Cursed Sword 22 - I think I'm giving up on this series. I can't track the characters. It's page after page of battles between people I can't identify. I'm not even sure what's going on any more. I'm not sure if the problem is me (my generally inability to track characters, my ignorance of the context, mythology, genre conventions, etc.) or the series.
Dalton, Annie. Night Maze - I'm not sure I understood the ending of the book, the solution to the curse, except that there was a journey and enough symbolism to choke on. That didn't make the book bad. I quite liked it. I also liked that Gerard, even though he was the point of view character for most of the book, wasn't the solution. Harriet got less time but was the one who could fix things (even if I don't quite understand how).
There are a painful few pages of flashback to Harriet's earlier childhood in the middle of the book. They deal with her being a black child in an otherwise white school and hit, among other things, the moment she realized that she wasn't allowed-- by her peers-- certain types of dreams.
Krentz, Jayne Ann. Sizzle and Burn - I only managed half of this one. I grabbed it at the library in hopes that it would be light enough for me to read. It's been a couple of years since I last tried anything the author put out under this name, and I thought there was a chance it would work. Unfortunately, I found it too stressful for me.
Lathen, Emma. Stitch in Time - This was a reread, but I couldn't remember the details of the mystery, so it was like reading the book for the first time. Some bits haven't aged well-- I can't imagine a big, hard fought lawsuit over $100,000 now, and Dr. Bullivant's secret doesn't seem serious. I had to remind myself that the story was set before I was born. In spite of the dissonance of the dated bits, I still had fun reading the book.
Matas, Carol and Perry Nodelman. Of Two Minds - The blurb for this led me to think that the characters had unusual powers, but part of the point is that their powers are normal for their peoples. The two are unusual in their response to their powers. The girl is selfish and irresponsible in using her powers while the boy is reluctant to use his abilities for various reasons that make no sense to his family. I spent rather a lot of the book wanting to smack both characters, but I'm still considering reading the sequel.
Naruto 42-43 - I'm really, really bored with the Uchihas. Yes, there were questions about them and plot threads involving them that needed to be resolved, but-- I'd really rather spend time with other characters, ones I actually like. These two volumes spent an awful lot of time on Sasuke and Itachi and whatshisname.
Night of the Beasts 1 - I've forgotten most of this except that it vaguely irritated me in a but-that's-a-bad-idea! sort of way. If I happen upon later volumes, I'll read them, but I'm not going to look very hard.
Planet Blood 1 - I finished this volume mostly confused. I rather liked what I understood, but I wasn't even completely sure who the story was about. I think it's heading toward being rather John Carter of Mars, but I could be misunderstanding (or misremembering. It's been a couple of months). There's a big war of some sort, more than one, actually, and the (probably) hero has been displaced into another world.
Potter, Ellen. Olivia Kidney - I had a lot of fun with this book and was disappointed to discover that the public library doesn't have any of the sequels. I put in a request, and Cordelia's school library has them if the public library doesn't buy them. The main character meets lots of strange people in the apartment building to which she's just moved. The story does touch on death, so I'm going to wait a bit before pointing Cordelia at it.
RahXephon 1 - Too many panty shots. Too many bathing suits coming off. Too much. Oh, yeah-- and there was story in there too. Somewhere.
Ral Grad 2 - This is still somewhere on the border between amusing and offensive. I'm not entirely sure which side it comes down on for me which leaves me unsure as to whether I'll read more. Not that the hero's attitude toward sex is difficult to believe. It's very adolescent.
Riordan, Rick. The Battle of the Labyrinth - I know I read this, but I remember next to nothing of it. I suppose that's a problem with taking a long time to log a book. I've felt no particular urge to search for the next book-- Is it out yet? I have the impression that it is, but I can't recall for sure. My general impression of the book is 'more of the same.'
Smith, Sherwood. The Trouble with Kings - I spent the first chapter or so of this dreadfully confused because I'd somehow failed to differentiate between two male characters (going back and rereading, it's quite clear which is which, so this is on me. I suspect that I skimmed something, thinking it was visual description, and thus missed important information). After that, I simply had fun. I liked Flian and found her dilemmas and her ethics believable.
Umbrella Academy: The Apocalypse Suite - I couldn't finish this one. I got about a third of the way through and decided that the level of violence, coupled with art that didn't appeal to me, made the book not for me.
Wendell, Sarah and Candy Tan. Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels - Parts of this were great fun. Other parts, I skimmed because they weren't really my sort of thing. I don't think the book contains any surprises for a person who's read the authors' blog.
I think the book could serve as an introduction to talking about romances for those who don't know much about them but who aren't hostile. Most of what's discussed is fairly basic.
Recommended.
Wise Man Sleeps 2 - So the library has this series now. That means I'll read more of it. None of the episodes here made enough of an impression for me to remember them now.
Wizard's Dozen - Unusually for an anthology, I liked most of these stories. I think there was only one that I didn't finish. All the stories are YA fantasy, and several have fairy tale echoes. The final story in the anthology, Sherwood Smith's story, hit me hard and will stay with me for quite a while.
After School Nightmare 9-10 - Part of me would have liked more answers at the end, but I was reasonably satisfied with the questions that were answered. I think I also would have preferred to see happy resolution for the supporting characters. Oh, well, can't have everything.... Still worthwhile for the characterization, symbolism and so on.
Beauty Pop 10 - I had more fun with this series than I expected to and am a little sorry to have reached the end of it. I'm glad, though, that it's not going to stretch on forever with the same handful of jokes. Recommended for those who like light humor and competitive hair cutting.
Bizenghast 5 - I wish I remembered the earlier volumes better. I don't remember what Vincent was investigating, and it's obviously important. I'm also working at not getting cranky with Dinah as she grieves. The episodes in this volume were peculiar because I couldn't tell if they were resolving with Dinah succeeding or just with Dinah surviving. I suspect the latter, but I'm not sure because I can't remember if she's allowed to fail and come back later to try again.
Blue Inferior 1 - One volume of a manga is often enough for me to know that I won't like a series. It's generally not enough for me to be sure that I will like one. That makes series like this frustrating-- I get the first volume through BookMooch and then never see any later volumes. I may have to stop doing that (even if it is interesting) as it drives me crazy.
This series starts out relatively gently by setting the scene. The hero lives in an idyllic enclave, one of an unspecified number of safe areas left on the planet. The world outside is hostile and, according to the older members of the community, populated by 'sub-humans.' Then a girl washes up on shore. She remembers only her name.
This volume has several small reveals that serve to move the story along. If I had another volume, I'd probably jump in and keep reading (in spite of the fact that an ocean voyage seems to be upcoming. Water journeys have the potential to set off all kinds of anxiety for me, even when they're fictional).
Buso Renkin 9-10 - The final volume of this series wound up way too fast. I didn't believe the resolution. I also didn't care for the non-Buso Renkin short that filled out the volume. It was too much with horror and necromancy for my taste.
Castle, Jayne. Dark Light - Popcorn romance. This is another of Castle's (yes, I'm aware of the other names under which she writes. I don't care) books set on the world of Harmony. If you've read one of these, you know more or less what this book is. If you haven't, they're set on another planet that differs from ours in that most people have at least minor psychic powers, long disappeared alien inhabitants left ruins, artifacts and dangerous psychic energy, and the culture is remarkably homogeneous. This time the pairing is a crusading tabloid journalist and a Guild boss.
I keep thinking that the world building for Harmony is thin. Then I remind myself of what (and who) I'm reading and that I shouldn't expect realistic repercussions of cultural fundamentals. After all, I read books like this because they aren't challenging and don't make me think.
Chronicles of the Cursed Sword 22 - I think I'm giving up on this series. I can't track the characters. It's page after page of battles between people I can't identify. I'm not even sure what's going on any more. I'm not sure if the problem is me (my generally inability to track characters, my ignorance of the context, mythology, genre conventions, etc.) or the series.
Dalton, Annie. Night Maze - I'm not sure I understood the ending of the book, the solution to the curse, except that there was a journey and enough symbolism to choke on. That didn't make the book bad. I quite liked it. I also liked that Gerard, even though he was the point of view character for most of the book, wasn't the solution. Harriet got less time but was the one who could fix things (even if I don't quite understand how).
There are a painful few pages of flashback to Harriet's earlier childhood in the middle of the book. They deal with her being a black child in an otherwise white school and hit, among other things, the moment she realized that she wasn't allowed-- by her peers-- certain types of dreams.
Krentz, Jayne Ann. Sizzle and Burn - I only managed half of this one. I grabbed it at the library in hopes that it would be light enough for me to read. It's been a couple of years since I last tried anything the author put out under this name, and I thought there was a chance it would work. Unfortunately, I found it too stressful for me.
Lathen, Emma. Stitch in Time - This was a reread, but I couldn't remember the details of the mystery, so it was like reading the book for the first time. Some bits haven't aged well-- I can't imagine a big, hard fought lawsuit over $100,000 now, and Dr. Bullivant's secret doesn't seem serious. I had to remind myself that the story was set before I was born. In spite of the dissonance of the dated bits, I still had fun reading the book.
Matas, Carol and Perry Nodelman. Of Two Minds - The blurb for this led me to think that the characters had unusual powers, but part of the point is that their powers are normal for their peoples. The two are unusual in their response to their powers. The girl is selfish and irresponsible in using her powers while the boy is reluctant to use his abilities for various reasons that make no sense to his family. I spent rather a lot of the book wanting to smack both characters, but I'm still considering reading the sequel.
Naruto 42-43 - I'm really, really bored with the Uchihas. Yes, there were questions about them and plot threads involving them that needed to be resolved, but-- I'd really rather spend time with other characters, ones I actually like. These two volumes spent an awful lot of time on Sasuke and Itachi and whatshisname.
Night of the Beasts 1 - I've forgotten most of this except that it vaguely irritated me in a but-that's-a-bad-idea! sort of way. If I happen upon later volumes, I'll read them, but I'm not going to look very hard.
Planet Blood 1 - I finished this volume mostly confused. I rather liked what I understood, but I wasn't even completely sure who the story was about. I think it's heading toward being rather John Carter of Mars, but I could be misunderstanding (or misremembering. It's been a couple of months). There's a big war of some sort, more than one, actually, and the (probably) hero has been displaced into another world.
Potter, Ellen. Olivia Kidney - I had a lot of fun with this book and was disappointed to discover that the public library doesn't have any of the sequels. I put in a request, and Cordelia's school library has them if the public library doesn't buy them. The main character meets lots of strange people in the apartment building to which she's just moved. The story does touch on death, so I'm going to wait a bit before pointing Cordelia at it.
RahXephon 1 - Too many panty shots. Too many bathing suits coming off. Too much. Oh, yeah-- and there was story in there too. Somewhere.
Ral Grad 2 - This is still somewhere on the border between amusing and offensive. I'm not entirely sure which side it comes down on for me which leaves me unsure as to whether I'll read more. Not that the hero's attitude toward sex is difficult to believe. It's very adolescent.
Riordan, Rick. The Battle of the Labyrinth - I know I read this, but I remember next to nothing of it. I suppose that's a problem with taking a long time to log a book. I've felt no particular urge to search for the next book-- Is it out yet? I have the impression that it is, but I can't recall for sure. My general impression of the book is 'more of the same.'
Smith, Sherwood. The Trouble with Kings - I spent the first chapter or so of this dreadfully confused because I'd somehow failed to differentiate between two male characters (going back and rereading, it's quite clear which is which, so this is on me. I suspect that I skimmed something, thinking it was visual description, and thus missed important information). After that, I simply had fun. I liked Flian and found her dilemmas and her ethics believable.
Umbrella Academy: The Apocalypse Suite - I couldn't finish this one. I got about a third of the way through and decided that the level of violence, coupled with art that didn't appeal to me, made the book not for me.
Wendell, Sarah and Candy Tan. Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels - Parts of this were great fun. Other parts, I skimmed because they weren't really my sort of thing. I don't think the book contains any surprises for a person who's read the authors' blog.
I think the book could serve as an introduction to talking about romances for those who don't know much about them but who aren't hostile. Most of what's discussed is fairly basic.
Recommended.
Wise Man Sleeps 2 - So the library has this series now. That means I'll read more of it. None of the episodes here made enough of an impression for me to remember them now.
Wizard's Dozen - Unusually for an anthology, I liked most of these stories. I think there was only one that I didn't finish. All the stories are YA fantasy, and several have fairy tale echoes. The final story in the anthology, Sherwood Smith's story, hit me hard and will stay with me for quite a while.
