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Wed Reading Meme...well sort of
Apr. 13th, 2016 09:23 pm1. What I just finished reading?
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs which was more entertaining than the three books I read, so there's that. But in the urban fantasy genre, it's not quite as well written as Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, and Kim Harrison's novels, but it's entertaining. Actually, I think Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series may have ruined me for the urban fantasy genre. No one can touch her.
What I'm reading now?
* Hamilton by Ron Chernow -- which has become a tad controversial due to the fellow historian jealousy factor. They're all jealous that his book got adapted into a hip and revolutionary musical and as a result is getting an insane amount of attention. So they keep poking holes at it.
It's good. Definitely gripping. Considering I'm reading it in much the same fashion I read Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin...it may take me six years to finish it. Blind Assassin was only 500 pages and took three years and was not as huge a book. Hamilton has tiny print, is huge, and over 700 pages.
* Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs - unfortunately not much improvement over the previous novel. Lots of summarizing, and expository dialogue. Also, the male characters aren't that distinguishable, and there's hardly any female characters, except in the background or supporting. Women hate Mercy apparently. I think Mercy needs a female friend to talk to. While the book has humor, there's not enough of it. It's making me miss the Kate Daniels series.
This round the mystery is about a sorcerer turned vampire. In Brigg's universe, a sorcerer is basically a wizard who conjures up demons or makes deals with demons, leading to all sorts of mayhem. A vampire sorcerer is well definitely a bad idea. Mercy and company are tasked with helping the vampires find this sorcerer before he turns their town upside down. It's also a bit dicy, because not all the vampires believe the nasty sorcerer exists and think it is just a couple of their own.
Also there's vampire politics involved. And the vampire at the center of the whole thing, an old Italian vampire, named Stefan, has a thing for Mercy.
Apparently every guy in the book has a thing for Mercy. This is a tired trope in urban fantasy.
Only two writers don't do it or so I've found-- Ilona Andrews and Jim Butcher.
I've read that the third book is the best, so will stick it out until at least that book and maybe the fourth or fifth. Don't know yet.
Urban Fantasy is a bit fun, it's basically action/mystery/paranormal with romance. Also most of the writers, with the exception of the male writers, tend to subvert the paranormal and fantasy genres, doing gender flips, and pouncing on the rampant sexism and misogyny and racism that exist in the fantasy and gothic genres. Actually that's the central theme of these books - racism and sexism.
Brigg's books have a bit of Christian focal point. Which makes me miss Ilona Andrews which was decidedly not Christian, a rarity. Almost all the urban fantasy novels are annoyingly Christian mythology, which has been overdone. But, Brigg's does understate it, which is nice.
I'm basically reading them because the writing style is crisp, clear, and often witty. The lead character is relatable and likable, as are the other characters. And the plots are interesting me at the moment.
What I'm reading next?
Most likely another Mercy Thompson book. Because it fits my mood right now. Also I like the characters, particularly Mercy, who is a tough auto mechanic.
2.) Bernie Sanders apparently has promised to turn the US into a country like Denmark, where everyone is happy, lives with less, and pays 60% in income taxes. Considering Denmark is a relatively small country about the size of maybe Rhode Island or half the size of Massachusetts, and has a small population that keeps declining: 5.2M at last count (to put this in context, NYC alone has somewhere between 8.6M - 12M, which is double the number of people that Denmark has), mostly elderly and...is a homogenous population with few immigrants or minorities...good luck with that, Bernie.
( Read more... )
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs which was more entertaining than the three books I read, so there's that. But in the urban fantasy genre, it's not quite as well written as Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, and Kim Harrison's novels, but it's entertaining. Actually, I think Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series may have ruined me for the urban fantasy genre. No one can touch her.
What I'm reading now?
* Hamilton by Ron Chernow -- which has become a tad controversial due to the fellow historian jealousy factor. They're all jealous that his book got adapted into a hip and revolutionary musical and as a result is getting an insane amount of attention. So they keep poking holes at it.
It's good. Definitely gripping. Considering I'm reading it in much the same fashion I read Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin...it may take me six years to finish it. Blind Assassin was only 500 pages and took three years and was not as huge a book. Hamilton has tiny print, is huge, and over 700 pages.
* Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs - unfortunately not much improvement over the previous novel. Lots of summarizing, and expository dialogue. Also, the male characters aren't that distinguishable, and there's hardly any female characters, except in the background or supporting. Women hate Mercy apparently. I think Mercy needs a female friend to talk to. While the book has humor, there's not enough of it. It's making me miss the Kate Daniels series.
This round the mystery is about a sorcerer turned vampire. In Brigg's universe, a sorcerer is basically a wizard who conjures up demons or makes deals with demons, leading to all sorts of mayhem. A vampire sorcerer is well definitely a bad idea. Mercy and company are tasked with helping the vampires find this sorcerer before he turns their town upside down. It's also a bit dicy, because not all the vampires believe the nasty sorcerer exists and think it is just a couple of their own.
Also there's vampire politics involved. And the vampire at the center of the whole thing, an old Italian vampire, named Stefan, has a thing for Mercy.
Apparently every guy in the book has a thing for Mercy. This is a tired trope in urban fantasy.
Only two writers don't do it or so I've found-- Ilona Andrews and Jim Butcher.
I've read that the third book is the best, so will stick it out until at least that book and maybe the fourth or fifth. Don't know yet.
Urban Fantasy is a bit fun, it's basically action/mystery/paranormal with romance. Also most of the writers, with the exception of the male writers, tend to subvert the paranormal and fantasy genres, doing gender flips, and pouncing on the rampant sexism and misogyny and racism that exist in the fantasy and gothic genres. Actually that's the central theme of these books - racism and sexism.
Brigg's books have a bit of Christian focal point. Which makes me miss Ilona Andrews which was decidedly not Christian, a rarity. Almost all the urban fantasy novels are annoyingly Christian mythology, which has been overdone. But, Brigg's does understate it, which is nice.
I'm basically reading them because the writing style is crisp, clear, and often witty. The lead character is relatable and likable, as are the other characters. And the plots are interesting me at the moment.
What I'm reading next?
Most likely another Mercy Thompson book. Because it fits my mood right now. Also I like the characters, particularly Mercy, who is a tough auto mechanic.
2.) Bernie Sanders apparently has promised to turn the US into a country like Denmark, where everyone is happy, lives with less, and pays 60% in income taxes. Considering Denmark is a relatively small country about the size of maybe Rhode Island or half the size of Massachusetts, and has a small population that keeps declining: 5.2M at last count (to put this in context, NYC alone has somewhere between 8.6M - 12M, which is double the number of people that Denmark has), mostly elderly and...is a homogenous population with few immigrants or minorities...good luck with that, Bernie.
( Read more... )