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November Books
Dec. 3rd, 2017 10:41 pm 46: The Golem and the Djinni Helene Wecker [Kindle]
This was recommended to me by a friend a year or more ago, and I am so glad that I 1) bought it, and 2) finally got round to reading it. I enjoyed this so much - the plot is great, and the characters are interesting and well written. Really good blend of fantasy and reality, similar to the way it works in American Gods. I am very pleased to see from Goodreads that a sequel is forthcoming.
47: The Peril on the Royal Train Edward Marston [Kindle]
Another good Railway Detective novel, the characters stay true to form, and the plot is good. I like this series for when I want an easy read.
48: The Hundredth Queen Emily R. King [Kindle]
Brilliant fantasy loosely based on ancient Sumerian and Indian mythology and culture, that is full of strong female characters (I loved it when the heroine fretted about where to put her slingshot in an outfit with no pockets) - and I have just bought the sequel. I won't wait so long before reading that.
49: The Last Kashmiri Rose Barbara Cleverly [Kindle]
A re-read as I have now bought the first 4 books as an omnibus edition, and as I read it a long time ago, I wanted a refresher. This is a well written mystery, with a good plot and characters, even if the rapid rise through the ranks of the main characters is a little improbable, even in the post-war shortage of men.
This was recommended to me by a friend a year or more ago, and I am so glad that I 1) bought it, and 2) finally got round to reading it. I enjoyed this so much - the plot is great, and the characters are interesting and well written. Really good blend of fantasy and reality, similar to the way it works in American Gods. I am very pleased to see from Goodreads that a sequel is forthcoming.
47: The Peril on the Royal Train Edward Marston [Kindle]
Another good Railway Detective novel, the characters stay true to form, and the plot is good. I like this series for when I want an easy read.
48: The Hundredth Queen Emily R. King [Kindle]
Brilliant fantasy loosely based on ancient Sumerian and Indian mythology and culture, that is full of strong female characters (I loved it when the heroine fretted about where to put her slingshot in an outfit with no pockets) - and I have just bought the sequel. I won't wait so long before reading that.
49: The Last Kashmiri Rose Barbara Cleverly [Kindle]
A re-read as I have now bought the first 4 books as an omnibus edition, and as I read it a long time ago, I wanted a refresher. This is a well written mystery, with a good plot and characters, even if the rapid rise through the ranks of the main characters is a little improbable, even in the post-war shortage of men.
23: A perfect red: empire, espionage and the quest for the colour of desire Amy Butler Greenfield
A fascinating subject matter, but very badly let down by cost-cutting in the paperback edition - the photograph section was printed in black and white, and on normal paper, not glossy, which rendered most of the pictures as blurry blobs. What made it worse is the use of colour in the pictures is referred to in the text - and of course you can't get any of that benefit. This is a real shame, as cochineal has had quite an impact on world history.
24: The book of lost things John Connolly
This was May's read for the book group - and a re-read for me (rare with book club books). If anything I loved it more on this second reading. But then again, dark mashed up fairy stories are very much my thing, especially with the touches of humour. I also love the comprehensive end matter in this edition. It wasn't universally liked though, which did lead to a good discussion (although I am more convinced than ever that when it comes to fantasy, my book group are a bunch of philistines)
25: The Canterbury Tales by Night Omnibus Paul Doherty
Three books in one (which explains the low numbers this month) - one of which I had read before, but so long ago I couldn't actually remember that much about it. I did enjoy all three mysteries, and I very much like the connections he is drawing between the pilgrims. My main complaint is that, because these are quite old, there are some historical myths in there that jar a little.
A fascinating subject matter, but very badly let down by cost-cutting in the paperback edition - the photograph section was printed in black and white, and on normal paper, not glossy, which rendered most of the pictures as blurry blobs. What made it worse is the use of colour in the pictures is referred to in the text - and of course you can't get any of that benefit. This is a real shame, as cochineal has had quite an impact on world history.
24: The book of lost things John Connolly
This was May's read for the book group - and a re-read for me (rare with book club books). If anything I loved it more on this second reading. But then again, dark mashed up fairy stories are very much my thing, especially with the touches of humour. I also love the comprehensive end matter in this edition. It wasn't universally liked though, which did lead to a good discussion (although I am more convinced than ever that when it comes to fantasy, my book group are a bunch of philistines)
25: The Canterbury Tales by Night Omnibus Paul Doherty
Three books in one (which explains the low numbers this month) - one of which I had read before, but so long ago I couldn't actually remember that much about it. I did enjoy all three mysteries, and I very much like the connections he is drawing between the pilgrims. My main complaint is that, because these are quite old, there are some historical myths in there that jar a little.
