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Wed Reading Meme
Oct. 15th, 2014 07:11 pmNot much to report. I think I do this to keep track of what I've read more than anything else. In which case, I need to get better at tagging. Since it's hardly helpful if I can't find the posts.
1. What you just finished reading?
Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison Book 13 in the Rachel Morgan Series.
If you decide to try and read this series - I recommend you stop with "Ever After".
Or maybe Pale Demon. The writer sort of runs out of juice after "Ever After".
This one felt phoned in, and while I liked how she wrapped things up - it was too much plot and far too much explanation and not enough character moments. At any rate, the book fell flat and I wouldn't have finished it if it weren't for the fact that I'd read books 1-12, and wanted to know how things wrapped up.
2. What you are currently reading?
Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt - this is book 6 in her Maiden Lane Series, which features a vigilante dressed as a harlequinn clown (sort of remains me of an old Disney serial entitled The Scarecrow that mother adored - except that took place in the US during the 1700s. This takes place in England. Hoyt rather likes the 1700s. I know it's the 1700s, because the men are wearing white wigs. They didn't do that in the 1800s.) Hoyt borrows heavily from the Batman trope for this story - which is basically the tortured rich guy, who decides as the result of a traumatic event, to become a vigilante - to seek the justice that was denied him as an impressionable child. Bruce Wayne watched his parents die and becomes Batman to avenge the helpless. Note "avenge" not necessarily save. He's not a "superhero" or "superman", he's "batman" - there is a difference. And Batman, unlike superman, has his roots in noir, which is about a dark world, and dark, heroes - who struggle to stay out of the abyss...often they become "anti-heroes", and hope for redemption which may never come. Here, in Hoyt's novel, the Ghost of St. Giles is a Duke (Maximus Wakefield - Hoyt has a lot of fun with names in her novels - if only she was as talented with titles...) who witnessed the murder of his parents - and has devoted his life to avenging their deaths, out of a sense of overwhelming guilt that somehow he failed them (apparently his father died saving his life). And like Batman, he wants to clean up St.Giles and London - through vigilantism and well, political action.
That said, this isn't an action comic book, it's a romance novel. So the focus is onBatman the Ghost's romance with a poor relation of the rich heiress he's currently courting. He falls for her poor relation, Artremis, who has had a difficult time of it, yet remains quite headstrong, and isn't prone to self-pity. She's a rather refreshing take on the long suffering heroine trope, of which, I'm not a huge fan. Mainly because long-suffering heroines tend to either be incredibly self-righteous or self-pitying (not that they don't have reason), and it grates on my nerves. Artremis is neither - thankfully. She's actually quite witty and self-deprecating. Makes a rather good match for the Duke.
If you are not a fan of the "Batman" trope or it annoys you to no end - pushes your buttons, etc...I wouldn't recommend reading this. But if you are like me, and consider this trope one of your story kinks - ie. it floats your boat...then have at it. Although there's probably better written material out there.
I'm enjoying it so far - the two lead characters are interesting and, to me at least, likable. I'm about 10% of the way through, the Duke hasn't done anything despicable yet, so this likability factor could change.
3. What are you reading next?
Probably the sequel to this one...Darling Beast - which is about Atremis' twin brother, Apollo. It's available on Kindle now. Apparently Hachette and Amazon resolved their differences amicably. My guess is it had to do with the percentage they paid Hachette of the price, and distribution charges. Not so much cost of the e-book, although that probably played a factor.
But I may jump ship and go read a Courtney Milan, Daniel Silva, Meredith Duran, Fannie Flagg, or Lev Grossman. Who knows?
The best thing about being an adult and no longer in school or in a book club - is you can read whatever you dang well please for pleasure. Isn't that nifty?
1. What you just finished reading?
Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison Book 13 in the Rachel Morgan Series.
If you decide to try and read this series - I recommend you stop with "Ever After".
Or maybe Pale Demon. The writer sort of runs out of juice after "Ever After".
This one felt phoned in, and while I liked how she wrapped things up - it was too much plot and far too much explanation and not enough character moments. At any rate, the book fell flat and I wouldn't have finished it if it weren't for the fact that I'd read books 1-12, and wanted to know how things wrapped up.
2. What you are currently reading?
Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt - this is book 6 in her Maiden Lane Series, which features a vigilante dressed as a harlequinn clown (sort of remains me of an old Disney serial entitled The Scarecrow that mother adored - except that took place in the US during the 1700s. This takes place in England. Hoyt rather likes the 1700s. I know it's the 1700s, because the men are wearing white wigs. They didn't do that in the 1800s.) Hoyt borrows heavily from the Batman trope for this story - which is basically the tortured rich guy, who decides as the result of a traumatic event, to become a vigilante - to seek the justice that was denied him as an impressionable child. Bruce Wayne watched his parents die and becomes Batman to avenge the helpless. Note "avenge" not necessarily save. He's not a "superhero" or "superman", he's "batman" - there is a difference. And Batman, unlike superman, has his roots in noir, which is about a dark world, and dark, heroes - who struggle to stay out of the abyss...often they become "anti-heroes", and hope for redemption which may never come. Here, in Hoyt's novel, the Ghost of St. Giles is a Duke (Maximus Wakefield - Hoyt has a lot of fun with names in her novels - if only she was as talented with titles...) who witnessed the murder of his parents - and has devoted his life to avenging their deaths, out of a sense of overwhelming guilt that somehow he failed them (apparently his father died saving his life). And like Batman, he wants to clean up St.Giles and London - through vigilantism and well, political action.
That said, this isn't an action comic book, it's a romance novel. So the focus is on
If you are not a fan of the "Batman" trope or it annoys you to no end - pushes your buttons, etc...I wouldn't recommend reading this. But if you are like me, and consider this trope one of your story kinks - ie. it floats your boat...then have at it. Although there's probably better written material out there.
I'm enjoying it so far - the two lead characters are interesting and, to me at least, likable. I'm about 10% of the way through, the Duke hasn't done anything despicable yet, so this likability factor could change.
3. What are you reading next?
Probably the sequel to this one...Darling Beast - which is about Atremis' twin brother, Apollo. It's available on Kindle now. Apparently Hachette and Amazon resolved their differences amicably. My guess is it had to do with the percentage they paid Hachette of the price, and distribution charges. Not so much cost of the e-book, although that probably played a factor.
But I may jump ship and go read a Courtney Milan, Daniel Silva, Meredith Duran, Fannie Flagg, or Lev Grossman. Who knows?
The best thing about being an adult and no longer in school or in a book club - is you can read whatever you dang well please for pleasure. Isn't that nifty?